A confession

I've been putting off writing this post for a while. I haven't been able to stitch on The Astronomer for ages now. Nearly 3 months. I cant bring myself to pick it up.

I have recently been diagnosed with OCD. I am trying different medications but will not be trying CBT therapy as it is not something that has worked well for me in the past.

Stitching became such a mammoth task due to rituals and compulsions i had to follow before i could even sit down to stitch. Constant checking of symbols and placement of stitches became overwhelming. The smallest mistake would end in tears. I started washing my hands till they bled in case dirt or oil got on to my work.

Im done for a while. I WILL stitch in the future but for now i need to get my meds mix right and concentrate on getting better. I want stitching to be relaxing again and fun. not how it has been for the last few months.


So for now have some pics!

Esmai recently broke her nose while riding her bike. She went straight into a lamppost. The very next day she was back on her bike. Shes fearless! The lamppost was replaced a week later as she had dented it. She will be 4 next month!

Connor is doing amazing! He can now ride his bike without stabilizers and is learning to ride one handed. He is still enjoying being Home Educated. He is doing very well at beavers and has earnt a lot of badges. He recently had his first sleep over with the beavers and enjoyed every second.  Connor has just turned 8!!

I have lost a tonne of weight- well not a tonne. 8 stone since last January. All thanks to a stomach ulcer. Im enjoying the slimmer version of me. I still Hate clothes shopping with a passion though! 

Quick progress pic :)

Just a quick progress pic. Im really enjoying this.

*Thank you for all your kind words about Smokey. He is still very much missed.*

Progress on The Astronomer and Some Sad news

I have progress!! I have only managed to stitch for one night recently,as life has got pretty busy.

But i feel i have accomplished a good amount. Some of the Milkyway? has been filled in. I managed a ton of black and can now make out another glass discy thing. (Technical right?) The small unfilled black area is the Crow!! 

Im not sure if im going to get a chance to work on this again this month. I am learning to drive and have a intense week of lessons starting this Monday. After that i will go back to doing weekend lessons so hopefully by the start of April i will be able to get a few hours in a night. I had my theory test today and failed on the Hazard perception part of it. 

Last week one of our cats passed away. We had to put him down after he became poorly a few weeks ago. The children have taken it very hard. He was very cuddly and because we dont know completely why he was poorly they are struggling to understand. My partner rescued him 3 years ago driving 3 hrs to pick him up. 10pm at night from a lady on Facebook. Not getting home till 1am. He was very poorly looked after. Fleas, Ticks and a birth defect in his jaw. His teeth was rotten and he was under weight. He slowly came to feel at home with us. Over the last year he has started cuddling anyone he could. Generally the children or guests. Covering them in cat fur haha. He was the worst cat possible. Unable to jump fences, balance, running into windows. Ect. He once set himself on fire-TWICE-in the same night! He is going to be missed. 

Pathetic, Pitiful but progress....

2 Months since my last update. I had hoped to get so much more done.

For Xmas i got a new floor stand with a rolling frame, i was so excited about this but haven't been able to get on with it. The frame is not keeping my tension tight enough so i have gone back to using my hoop. I think this is part of the reason i have stitched as much as i had hoped. That and i have restarted my driving lessons and am studying for my theory. 

So this is how far i have got. I am loving the colors and slowly working which parts i can make out. Its nice to have a bit more color in this page. I am  really looking forward to doing more of the telescope, but it looks like confetti hell!

The Astronomer Page 1 Finish!!

I finally have a page finish!! Admittedly a few days ago, but I posted on the HAED Facebook group, so I get points for that right?

The Astronomer started!

I have finally started!! 

Just under 400 stitches

Block of 1600 stitches.

Im actually quite liking the magic grid fabric. Its taking some getting used to as its in blocks of 20X20 and i have only worked in blocks of 10X10, but if i continue to confuse myself i might get a fabric pen and spilt the grid up, ill see how i go.

I have started adding colour to this section as after working only in black on Tribal Dragon i have just about had enough of black.

I decided to start at the top left corner to save my fabric getting too dirty.

The astronomer Thread pack

All sorted and ready to stitch.... when i get a night off....

Pre Birthday update

Well its been a while since i last updated. In my last post i was working on a Cross Stitch for Esmai, i never finished it. I lost interest and it was clear i wasn't going to be able to finish in time for her birthday so decided to stop pushing myself as i wasn't enjoying it.

I instead started doing some more crochet, something about the end of summer makes me yearn for yarn. I have been able to crochet for years (My Nana taught me) but i  have never been able to read a pattern. My Nana would speak it to me and i would crochet it then its stuck in my head. This time i  wanted to read and work it out for myself.... it didn't go so well, mainly as i wasn't quite grasping the concept of working in the back loop- to create the cable rows i needed. I eventually found a you tube tutorial of the pattern i was using. The lady on the vid finished them in about 30 minutes, she made it so simple and i was able to watch and re watch over and over. The complete set of wrist warms took me around 2 days to finish and I'm pretty sure now i know how to do it, i can do it faster. I plan on making lots more in the future. Now if only i could find some matching boot cuffs.....

 Not stitching related but I'm so chuffed that i HAVE to share. Finally after moving out of my parents just over 9 years ago and moving house 7 times ,i FINALLY have decorated my bedroom...a proper adult room.No where near perfect but i managed to do it all myself!

This is the colour it used to be...i hated it!

 Last night we had a fantastic storm. The first roll of thunder was so loud it sounded like a explosion! All the neighbours ran out and was screaming. This is NOT my picture, it was posted on a local facebook group for our area. Look how fantastic it is! This was taken on my estate, one road down from me.

*~*~* I *think* if you click on the pic to make it bigger you can see the photographers credit, but im not sure. When i find out details i will update.*~*~*~*

Its my birthday soon and my amazing family have got me  The Astronomer by Myles Pinkney!!! Im sooo excited! i fell in love with when i first saw it,i cant wait to start it. Only 17 days to go........