I cannot believe it but not only did I miss the last SAL Sunday but it has been six weeks since I last blogged. I have in general been trying to avoid using the computer so much. Having had a few migraine, which seemed to be connected to long periods on the computer, there seemed to be a need for that action and it has worked. Though in general I have not been too good over the last month so there is that too. If I had been around to post last time you would not have seen any progress as there had been no stitching for over a month, well a little but not on my SAL piece. However a week and a half ago I suddenly felt the urge to go back to GE so here is how it was last time 
I am now please to tell you that all those little crosses are done, and I have now started on the back stitching, which in itself is another mountain to climb, but hey ho, I never thought all the cross stitch would ever be done so that warranted its own little happy dance. 
you may be able to spot the start of the bs on the two ladies on the far left.
This is a SAL with a difference as we are all working on very different projects, the aim being to encourage each other to reduce our UFO lists and turn them into finished works. Please visit the other blogs and see what everyone else has been up to.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Susan, Kathy, Margaret,
Cindy, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Mary Margaret, Timothy
My charity Christmas cards are now all done and have moved on to pastures new. I took a box of almost 200 down to the local school during last week, ready for their Christmas fayre.
I thought I would share this one, made yesterday, which my cousin asked me to make for her special friend.
I have now started on my own Christmas cards but as a number of my friends look at this blog I will not be showing them until they have all been posted and received as all my cards are on a theme this year – so though I do not batch make (no not even for Christmas cards), I cannot show one without giving away my theme.
Well that is all for now folks. Hope to be with you again soon
Hugs
Stitchery Nook 
Congrats on the finish for all the X’s! I’m sure you’ll get the backstitch finished in no time 😊 Maybe just in time to have it displayed for the holidays.
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Oh what a wonderful thought, though not a possibility I think. It will cost too much to have it professionally framed, so unless I have a frame (I do have quite a few) that will fit then its just a matter of waiting until the next one comes along.
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I agree. I think if I frame anything I will attempt to mat and frame it myself 🙂
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Hi Helen – I was wondering where you’d got to! Your X stitch is looking fabulous and I just love that card you made, gorgeous! the multiple ribbons underneath that little Poinsetta look very effective
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Hi Bella, my father bought the kit for me (along with another which may see the light of day if I can get a few more ufo’s out the way), shortly before he died, almost 13 years ago. If however you would like my copy it is untouched and once I am finished you are welcome to it. Email me privately with your full name and address if you would like it.
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Oh Helen that’s so kind of you! Thanks for the kind offer but to be honest – I fear it would just sit untouched in my ever-growing pile of projects I’d like to stitch (I already have 4 large cross stitch projects in my queue) so I don’t want to waste your time, but thank you so much for the kind offer 😀
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Looks fantastic well done. Migraine are the horrible, I’ve had a couple this week due to the weather. I hope your feeling better
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Thank you Lucy Ann, yes feeling a lot better now but going to try to limit my time on here to under an hour at a time – easier said that done as I come on for two mins and before I know it three hours have been eaten away lol.
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Yes, easier said than done. I have to set an alarm sometimes.
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oh well done Helen! I hate backstitching too, but at least you’re now on the last leg of this project
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Yes its wonderful to have an end in sight.
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I hope you are feeling better. It’s looking lovely, and as Claire said, the backstitch means it’s almost done! Look after yourself
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Thank you Catherine, yes I am hoping I may be happy dancing by the next SAL reveal.
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Welcome back. Migraines are awful, indescribable, hope yours have stopped again.
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Thank you. Yes a lot better I just need to learn to control my time on this wicked machine lol.
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Hope you were able to kiss those migraines good bye, Helen! I get sick of back stitching too, but I also mind it quite motivating when a section comes into focus under my needle. Helen’s going to be done by Christmas…keep that chant going in your head!😄
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Oh I am hoping to be done much sooner than that Kathy, now I can see the end my needles are on fire and I am hoping by next SAL Sunday I will be doing the Happy Dance – fingers (and toes) crossed
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Well done on finishing all the cross-stitch, you can watch it come alive now with the back-stitch 🙂
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Thank you x
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It’s great that you now only have the back stitch to do. One last push and it’ll soon be on your wall for everyone to admire. Well done 🙂
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The back stitch and then lots of French knots for the snow, but I don’t mind doing those.
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Back stitching is always the hardest for me to get done. Before you know it you’ll be done with it. It is looking great so far
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I’m not keen on back stitching either but it’s going fairly well at the moments
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Hopefully you won’t mind the back stitching so much when you see how it makes the image sharper and the details jump out. Glad you’re feeling better…
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Ive managed to get a good start and it’s definitely adding definition so far.
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Beautiful Helen!
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Thank you
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The black stitches really makes the embroidery come alive. That´s what I think and that makes it more fun to stitch them! You are making such beautiful cards!!!!
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I was unsure about the back stitch but now I have quite a bit done and I can see the difference it makes, adding definition to the characters etc.
Thank you for your comment about my cards too xx
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It really is nice to be done with all the X’s, isn’t it? I hope your migranes do not come back!
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Yes Connie, it was wonderful putting that last cross in place. With the b/s and French knots still to do I still have a way to go but at least now I feel like I am on the last leg.
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I know what you mean about having to avoid the computer due to migraines. That’s one reason I’m only just now getting around to see what everyone’s been doing. Glad you’re feeling better finally. You’ve made wonderful progress on this piece. Maybe the backstitching will go faster than you expect and we’ll see it completed the next time around!
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Do not worry, I am too still trying to read a few each day. Happy to report b/s is almost done then I have a marathon of French knots to do but as they are placed randomly for the snow I do not have to keep stopping to study the pattern. Fingers crossed.
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