Queen Bee ~ finished with her jewelled crown

Fit for a Queen, she is now all finished up and wearing her jewelled crown.

DESIGNER ~ Little House Needleworks

PATTERN ~ Queen Bee chart

FABRIC ~ 35ct WDW Straw

THREADS ~ Crescent Colours (Antique Lace, Hickory Sticks, Queen Bee) & DMC (644, 780, 3011, 3740)

STARTED ~ 23 August 2009

FINISHED ~ 30 August 2009

My Queen Bee has been adorned with those golden beads, and they have been made to create her regal crown. The pattern has this done in cross stitch but mentions if you want to 'doll it up' you can add glass seed beads instead. So I thought that's just what this Queen needs. I hunted in my stash and found a SB kit aptly called Queen Bee Sampler which had the right coloured beads in it. Since their kits always come with more beads than you need, I decided to put some of them to good use. I really like the way it's turned out.

I adore this fabric colour and the picture below (top right) probably shows its true toning more. It has such a warmth to it and suits this LHN design so well.

All the thread colours worked well together and I'm pleased with the change in the DMC Grape from 3835 to 3740 I made. I think the original would have been too bright for it with the fabric I chose. I'm just so thrilled with the overall finish.

This was such a fun and quick design to do and one where you feel enjoyment while stitching it up!

What will I do next, I wonder...

Buzz, Buzz

Do you ever feel like the weekends go by so quickly that you never have enough time to get everything you want done? This is how I'm feeling after the end of another weekend is nearing. If only they made them three days instead of two. One can dream I guess....

So Friday rolled around and I had planned to stitch some more on Queen Bee. I didn't even lift up my needle. After getting home from work and having some tea (dinner), I sat down to watch a bit of TV and started to close my eyes a little. Then a little became a lot, and I ended up nodding off for about an hour! Upon waking up, there was a movie starting called Sleepless In Seattle which I love, so I ended up watching that. So there was not a stitch to be seen on Friday night.

Saturday rolls around and I get some housework done. Meanwhile the weather just starts to get worse and worse, with rain setting in for most of the day. Yippee! Stitching time!! So down I sit and get out that little bee project and away I go. I managed to get the bee done and made a start on the top of the design by completing one of the flowers.

Queen Bee - 29 August 2009

I wonder what all those beads are doing there?

Maybe this is a hint of what's to come...

I'm having so much fun with this design. Please look out for finished photos tomorrow.

A little more of Queen Bee

I did a little more last night and added some honeycomb along with four small bees. Aren't those bees just cute?

Queen Bee - 26 August 2009

I'm very happy with the purple colour I chose in replacement of the original. It's not as bright and goes well with the other threads and fabric I'm using. I can't speak highly enough of this fabric too. I'm just loving it! It's so soft and a lovely, warm tone to it. Weeks Dye Works Straw - go buy yourself some if you can, because I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm hoping to get some more stitching in tomorrow night, and over the weekend. Keep watch for more progress pics. :)

Queen Bee started

I had a busy weekend which meant I didn't get much of a chance to start on Queen Bee. Late yesterday afternoon though, I was able to sit down and get a few stitches in.

Queen Bee - started 23 August 2009

Since I'm working on a 35ct fabric, I decided to do this design using one thread over two. Gives it a more delicate look I think. I've only ever used a 35ct once before and find it not much different to a 32ct really. Just a slight adjustment in the weave. I'm also loving the colour of the Straw fabric. I may have to get some more of it in the future. It certainly suits this design well. Speaking of design, what a cute one this is. I love the simplicity of LHN patterns.

If I get some good stitching time in, this one won't take me too long to complete. (Sorry about the dark photos - this morning was very gloomy and overcast.)

Too easy

I guess that was an easy preview for all those LHN fans out there, to guess what my next project was. Congratulations to those of you who picked it was their Queen Bee chart.

I thought I would do something easy and small next. Since we're heading towards Spring here in Australia, this one is just right.

LHN - Queen Bee chart kitted

The fabric I've chosen is a Weeks Dye Works one called Straw. It's a 35ct and has a warm, honey colour to it. I thought it would be ideal for this little bee design.

I'm going with the threads called for (DMC and Crescent Colours), but the only one I'm substituting is the purple DMC. I didn't have 3835 in my stash, so I've chosen a similar one being 3740. I think the colour will blend in with the others.

Now all that's left to do is to cut the fabric to size and get stitching!