Finally able to post a piccie :) (updated)

It appears from the SBEBB that Paula has received her Melanie's Exchange I stitched for her, so I can post a piccie. I have to admit, I really really struggled with the choice for this one ... I was originally going to stitch a pinkeep for Paula, and had the design all mapped out, then Jo beat me to it by stitching a pinkeep for the Spring exchange (which was beautiful!), so it was back to the drawing board again (but at least I got to keep the mock run one, which you've now seen!) ... in the end I decided on a needleroll, and the design is a collaboration I made from various design sources - there are bands from Just Nan's Evening Star, Dragonfly Stitches freebie needleroll (for the blackwork 'flowers' and other bands), Indigo Rose online freebie for the Rhodes hearts, as well as another freebie online chart for inspiration for the beaded bands. The only thing is that I struggled to find some narrow ribbon to match for it, and ended up using something that I had on hand ... and I wished I'd waited to check out a few more stores before posting - but it looks OK. Here's a photo of the actual stitching, and the finished needleroll. I tried stitching our names inside the back 'flowers', but it's very teeny tiny LOL. I really enjoyed stitching it :)


I should also have another photo to share a bit later on today - I'm in the middle of stitching The Sweetheart Tree Strawberry needleroll, for our weekend needleroll SAL ... I started it last night, and slept in this morning so missed the charity walk (oops! - mind you, it turns out we were all doing it 'on our own' so it probably doesn't matter - the money is still being donated anyway) ... so I've been sitting up in bed catching up on taped TV programmes from during the week and doing a bit more stitching. I was originally going to start a Shepherd's Bush one, but I needed to stitch some calico to the sides as the fabric is quite small, and I can't stitch in hand ... the Strawberry fob was the only one basted up and ready to go :) It also means that I'm now inadvertently copying Katrina, as that's the needleroll she's planning on stitching too :) It's really pretty so far - the colours are lovely ... the DMC 816 is such a rich red, it's gorgeous! I'm about 2/3 finished, so should be able to post a piccie by the end of the day :)

I should be stitching my fob for the scissor fob exchange on StitchNZ, but I just wanted to take some 'time out' from commitment stitching and stitching something else - and the needleroll SAL is the perfect thing to a quick "me" stitch :)

(Update before day's end) And here's the final piccie for today - the finished stitching of my strawberry needleroll ... which also means I met the 24 hour challenge on the FGBB as well yippee! :D Leaves me tomorrow free for working out my scissor fob yay :)