Yes, this is another new project! Well, this one is a gift for Simon's Mum's birthday and it has to be stitched and framed by 24 June. I normally have around 30 - 45 minutes free before I got to work, so I thought if I did half an hour a day on this project, I would start making some progress. Having it sit in the cupboard keeping reminding me that I've only got 5 months to get it done and framed is makign me a bit anxious. That's my excuse anyway!Here's what it looks like....
All the "sea" is only tent stitch so the only parts with full crosses are the dolphins themselves and the coral, so I should think this will grow quite quickly anyway. It's one of those horrible Chinese kits like my celestial one, only this one doesn't have an English translation. Good job I did the other one first so I have an idea what to do!
Some of the colours are blended, but they conveniently sorted them onto a thread organiser with the ones that need blending in the same holes, so that bit was easy. I noticed one or two of the symbols on the chart don't correspond to the colour key so if I stitched it as it says, some of the sea would be orange! But I'll figure that out later. I made a quick start this morning on one of the blended colours which forms a big chunk of the background. I thought I would so as much as I could in this colour first. Here's my first few stitches....
It's stitched on white 14 count Aida and helpfully ALL of the four edges are selvedge, so no fraying. I had to start in the middle because the chart doesn't tell you how big the design is. I imagine it will be about 10 x 16 inches though, or thereabouts. The tent stitch on 14 count doesn't give brilliant coverage, but it was the same on the celestial design - it's not supposed to because it makes the important bits, like the dolphins, stick out more. I'll just do an update on this about once a week as I won't be spending much time on it to begin with.
There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE! 
,I must be holding my 
