Zodiac chart progress... With pictures!!! [3.5/12]

 Well, I finally got around to purchasing a card reader for my camera chip. I laid my Zodiac cross stitch flat and took a couple of shots.

As you can see, I finished most of the work in old gold, sans the external dotted border and some small ovals.

 
I put in a close up of Capricorn and Aquarius, both of which are complete except for some back-stitching details.

 
In the close-up shot of Pisces and Aries, you can see that I have nearly completed the Ram except for its head, and the tail of one of the fishes need to be completed. I'm currently alternating between stitching in the Zodiac signs in black, and adding in the the pale yellow outlining against the golden border. I might have Pisces and Aries completed within the week!

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Shopping; Zodiac chart progress; Camera frustrations

It has been over a week since I've last updated my blog. Here is what I have accomplished in the mean time in regards to my cross stitching.

Shopping:

Laurel's stitchery: This retailer did not have the needles I wanted in stock, so she ordered some in for me. Laurel has confirmed that she will be mailing out my DMC six stranded floss (135 skeins!) and tapestry needles (Size 28), come this Monday.

Update: Order shipped on Monday, April 19, 2010.

Nordic Needle: I contacted this web retailer for the status of my order which included my special ordered fabric (25 count lambswool Jobelan) and my Handi-clamp scroll frame. Turns out that the manufacturer of both items are slow to respond, therefore my order has yet to be filled. While I was with customer service, I ordered myself some lovely 20 count ivory Lugana that was on sale.

I'm not really concerned about the length of time it is taking my order from Nordic Needle to come in as I had meant to start the HAED once I had my Zodiac chart completed. This experience has taught me to order supplies a month in advance just so that I am not faced with any last minute shopping frustrations. Right this moment, however, I am content to wait.

Zodiac chart progress:

I have now completed 95% of all of the cross stitching in this project done in old gold. All that remains to be done in this colour are some minor details which will require at most an hour to complete and some back-stitching (but that would be the last step of the project). Therefore, I currently have all the little frames for the zodiac signs to sit in stitched and ready.I made a little bit of progress on Pisces before I came to the conclusion that I disliked the little fishes. I moved on to Aries and completed half of the Ram.

Camera frustrations:

I wish I could post a picture of Zodiac chart as I progress, but that isn't possible right this moment. I found my Sony Cybershot DHC-H7, but discovered that the data transfer cable got misplaced when my family moved a few months back. I will be visiting Canada Computers sometime this week to purchase a few items for my brother. I'll pick up a cable for my camera at the same time. I did take pictures of my work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping I will be able to post my pictures by the end of this week.

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EMS Zodiac Chart Update...

I've actually stopped stitching Pisces halfway through. Instead, I am focusing on completing all the border work done in old gold and pale yellow floss. I've finished two skeins of old gold floss, and am working on my third skein. The border work should be complete in another week at most. I guess I can work on the actual figures of the zodiac signs after that. I tried to cross stitch by finishing one zodiac sign at a time, but that just isn't working for me. I'd much rather exhaust an entire colour before moving on to the next.

Zodiac chart freebie by Ellen Maurer-Stroh [2/12]

I finished my Dimensions kit about two weeks ago, and have since been working on the Zodiac chart freebie provided so generously by Ellen Maurer-Stroh. I am using DMC threads on 14 count navy Aida by Charles craft.

I did make two colour changes to the original design. The royal blue threads that form the background for the zodiac signs, I replaced with very dark violet, and the dark royal blue forming in the rings I replaces with pewter. The end result is that impression of the night sky seen from in between metal grills. I quite like the effect.

At present I have completed Capricorn and Aquarius. I am now working on Pisces.