Wednesday 29 April 2009

My UFO that needs attention....

Hi all! Thanks to Jen for letting me join....I certainly need to be motivated on all my UFOs, but the one I have chosen is a special case. My sister-in-law (DH's sis) is married to a great guy from New Zealand and they have 3 kids. We visited them down under way back in 2000, and got the grand tour of the North Island. While in Taupo we visited a cross stitch store (of course, you say!) and SIL offered to buy a chart by Susan Ryder for me if I would stitch it for her and her Hubby. It was the Heritage Stitchcraft map of New Zealand, and not looking too closely, I said Sure! So I get home and start it the next year (2001), and quickly discovered how LARGE it was! At the time I had not stitched anything so large, and with so MANY color changes, so by the time I had done the coastline of the South Island I was in trouble! There is a small pic here in the center of the page if you are interested in the final product. It's been languishing ever since, and after several large project experiences, including three Chatelaines, I feel like it's time to drag it out for some attention....plus, SIL and family are here in the US for an extended visit and are returning in August, so IF I can get it stitched by then, she can take it home and get it framed down there! How's that for brilliant? ;-)

I'd like to give it a few days in May and see how much I can get done, then decide if it's possible to finish it by the end of August....or continue on and mail it for Christmas (still to be framed there due to the cost of shipping it so far already framed). Here's the last pic, as of the end of 2001.

8 comments:

Mel said...

wow, those are quite the designs! I can see how you got discouraged. Glad to hear that you are picking this back up again. Hopefully the motivation that she is coming in August will help! Even if you are not done at least she can see some progress on it.

Jen said...

My canal map (see first post) was by Heritage Crafts and possibly the same designer. Once you get to grips with the funny half cross stitches it's OK. Don't be afraid to change the number of threads used in places if you think it looks too clumpy as this was one of the things that turned my map in to a UFO originally. Look forward to seeing your progress. It will look great once it is finished.

Dancing With Pussycats said...

Wow, Kathy. What a herculean task! I love the border on this. Good luck. I look forward to watching your progress.

Carolyn NC said...

Will be lovely - I'm sure it will be so treasured!

grannyanne said...

I think maps are great fun and this will look great when it is finished. In one of my many moments of madness I bought charts for several countries. I think I will be putting them on Ebay.

Justflo said...

I think this will be fantastic when you finish it. You have motivation with your sister being in the States but you know Christmas is a good an idea, possibly better so you don't have to over stress on it. Just think how nice for your sister then . Looking forward to seeing your map come to life.

Sharon said...

This is quite the under-taking! Now that you have encouragement, I'm sure you can reach your goal...you have to start somewhere and you have a great start. What a treasured gift this is sure to become!!!

StitchinKat said...

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I'll be putting it on the floor frame soon I hope! Gotta finish pt. 2 of Castles in the Air first, and sometime squeeze in a biscornu, and hope to get a good week on this map after that! If that works out I'll do a week a month until it's done.