Saturday 23 August 2008

HC Update

The hardanger cutting is all done and the hearts have been infilled with doves eyes - though not as neat as I would have liked. I do not know why but try as I might I never seem to get two eyes that look anything alike. I still have the bottom part to infill but I am giving it a rest and will then do that. I am not putting it completely away as I really would like to get this one done for Christmas this year (we shall see). Once the bottom is done then I have all the beads to sort out and put on and the ribbon work to do.
There are ribbon roses on the tree and also some colonial knots in ribbon which i have been trying to come to terms with and having no success, but now I have hope. Thanks to Karan I have found a brilliant site showing video footage of different stitches and it makes the Colonial Stitch look so much easier than all the diagrams do. If you click on the video library of stitches on the menu - top right - there are quite a good selection of stitches and the instructions are very clear. Anyway I need to practice both those and the roses as I have never done any ribbon work before.

As we have been without a printer for the last month I have been unable to carry on with my Tuesday UFO at Stitch and Stash forum. I run each bit of chart off as I need it so when the printer went crazy I was stuck. We had only had it 11 months so it was still under guarantee but it took over a week of doing different tests each night and downloading alsorts of bits of software before Kodak decided we needed new printer heads. These of course were out of stock so took well over a week to reach us. I was so pleased when they arrived and then ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh they did not solve the problem. More tests and download patches and then finally they agreed that we needed a new printer - mind this was the person on the other end of the phone but they could not sanction this only recommend it - someone "upstairs" had to say yes. Three days later they phoned to say yes we were getting the new printer and to tell me what to do when it arrived and give me the instructions for returning the faulty one. And that decision made the new printer arrived the following day - amazing. It is now up and working and when Keith gets back from yet another walk with the dog he is going to do whatever it takes to connect it to my computer too. So tonight I am going to do some on my UFO and I am really quite looking forward to it.

Hope you all have a great weekend and if you are in the UK then I wish you a really great Bank Holiday Weekend.

And lastly as always thank you for the wonderful comments you leave me they are so much appreciated.




may your frogs stay in their ponds

17 comments:

Erica said...

That is soooo gorgeous Helen!
You are so brave to be able to cut those holes. I would be scared to death!
Hope your printer woes are over soon! (I have a cumputer DH Keith too)!

Sue said...

Wow, your hardanger looks great ;)

jane said...

HC Christmas is looking great - must get mine out and do a bit more.

Anonymous said...

it stitching is absolutely gorgeous and i am so glad you got you eventually got your new printer well done.

Julie said...

Stunning! i hope you can get it finished for Christmas.
UFO on a Saturday ... brownie points from Mr Stick i think LOL

stitcherw said...

It's looking beautiful, I love Hardanger work. Sorry to hear that your printer has been giving you such fits. Hopefully the new one is up and running and you have no more issues. Loved your earlier finish of Teddy, very cute. I like the color change in his blanket you made, it made the piece more colorful and cheerful.
Sue

Karan said...

HC is looking gorgeous. Glad the link has proved useful - I couldn't be without it, as I need to see new stitches being worked before I can try them. :0)
Hope the printer is sorted soon. Mine has given up too. :0(

Karen said...

your hardanger is looking great

Angela said...

There is an award for you on my blog.

Stitch Wizard said...

Your hardhanger is just gorgeous!! Oh how pretty! I have always thought I would like to learn to do that but never have had the chance to take a class. It is so pretty and lacey looking and yours is really beautiful!

Ken's choice said...

Helen will you please have a look at my Blog,
Thanks,
Henny

Sally said...

HC is looking gorgeous Helen. The hardanger bit is lovely. I'd be scared I cut the wrong bits!

Clare-Aimetu said...

Your hardanger looks lovely, and neat too. It is always the nerve wrecking bit when cutting but it really looks beautiful.

Elisa said...

Wow your HC is looking fantastic...you are very brave trying all those new techniques and stitches....I have noted that site and hope to use it in the future.

Von said...

Helen, I make the same complaints about my dove's eyes too. But I can't see anything wrong with yours! :) Really, you're doing an excellent job on this wonderful design and I'm cheering for you that you'll finish by Christmas!

Christine said...

Your Heirloom Christmas is looking fantastic Helen.
Glad you've got your printer sorted out.

otoƱo said...

It is so gorgeous, I love hardanger.
KISSES. OLGA.