Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

I managed to finish the Shisha flower, getting a bit carried away so I now know what amounts to too much stitching (not that much, unfortunately), and what I can and can't do (no two-handed stitching, but it is possible to manipulate sequins and beads with minimal second-hand involvement). Still, it's my first finish of 2026! And I've made it into a card, for our minister's wife who has been organising some great Ladies' Socials as well as celebrating her 60th birthday this week.

Beautiful. You are very clever in the way you combine colours and materials into always-interesting pieces. Whoever receives this lovely card will be well chuffed!

(Rest that hand!!)

Hear hear! It’s a lovely finish.

I started this little tulip back in December, in the Netherlands, because I needed something to show how to attach passing thread to my cousin's two daughters that I was doing goldwork with. That sounds more complicated than it was. Anyway, I stitched the flower, and the gold on the central petal; the idea was to have more gold, experimenting with single/double and different outlines but then the hand happened. Last weekend I tried to add some of it. It's not as even as usual, but I like the look of it. Now it's back to resting the hand. Yes, I required painkillers after these bits of couching. But if I don't try, I don't know!

It's only human to push the boundaries or (in this case) check the state of play in the healing process. And to have such a lovely little piece to show for it is very special.

lovely work! I hope your hand continues to heal well.

The fracture clinic consultant said to let pain be my guide - discomfort is fine, pain means stop.

More gold to go on in a few more short sessions, then it will be made into a card to send to a Turkish refugee family we got to know while they stayed in the refugee hotel in our village; they have been moved to another place and I want to send them a Hope You're Settling In card (and keep in touch about how their right-to-remain interviews are going) and a tulip felt right because although they are thought of as the typical Dutch flower, they originated in Turkey

A bit more physiotherapy in the form of couching

Couching is a much under-rated technique.

So beautiful!!

Finished! though not yet made into a card.
Sadly the Turkish family had their application for right to remain turned down, and the poor lady lost her baby possibly because of the stress. I'm afraid a tulip card doesn't really seem at all adequate at a time like this.

What a tragedy for everyone.

Perhaps not adequate, as I don’t think most things would be. However, it does show you care and are thinking of them.

A doesn-'t-matter-what-it-looks-like-but-it-exercises-the-hand project in progress:

I love it!

The card I sent to the Turkish family I mentioned. The daughter is settling in at her new school and they're appealing their application decision.

Fingers crossed that what's best for the child and family is what actually comes to pass. I'm sure they would have appreciated your card.

Wishing the best for them.

A small finish - with the ladybird dedicated to my grandson who loves looking for them in the garden, and my granddaughter who dressed up as one for World Book Day. I can only guess that she was a Ladybird Book.

So cute!