A Dictionary of Cakes!

September 29th 2013
Yesterday I started "A Dictionary of Cakes" by Bothy Threads to hang in my kitchen. I love the fun "Catchphrase" style of these designs - look at each picture carefully!

"A Dictionary of Cakes" by Bothy Threads.

As I've spent all weekend in recovering from a cold, I've managed to make a lot of progress already. I've decided I'll post al the pictures of this project to this post (just like I did with the chocolate labrador) so we can see the transformation.

29/9/13 - Total Progress so far.

28/9/13 - "Short Cake": finished (minus backstitching)

29/9/13 - "Layer Cake": finished (minus backstitching)

October 10th 2013
I powered through the first two images, but the next one took me a little longer, mostly due to work commitments and being ill. But, I finally finished it today!

10/10/13 - About half way through!

12/10/13 - "Rock cake": finished! (without backstitch detailing)

Middle row: finished! (Left to right) Rock cake, Short cake, Layer cake. Get it??

October 13th 2013
Next, I began work on "Sponge Cake". The background for this mini-design is puzzling me though. The majority of the background is made up of one symbol, which translates to cross stitching in 1 strand of a variegated thread. The variegated thread is actually just 3 strands of 3 separate colours; normally I'd put a strand of each colour together and stitch with that, but the instructions clearly say it should be 1 strand. Looking at the cover picture, the 3 different colours are stitched in patches, but there's nothing on the chart to say this - so I'm guessing I'm meant to make it up as I go along? Anyway, I've decided to leave the background for the moment!

13/10/13 - "Sponge Cake": Finished! (except for background and backstitching)

Overview so far! (Left to right, Top to bottom: Rock cake, short cake, layer cake, sponge cake)

October 27th 2013
I soon began work on the next cake, but progress was slow. Then, last week I was struck down with the most dreadful flu - it was so bad I didn't even have the strength to pick up a needle until today!! (8 days after I first became ill). So, I've just finished the fifth cake picture that I was working on, and I finished the background for "Sponge Cake". The mystery of the variegated thread for the "Sponge Cake" background was easily solved by the way: if you remove the thread from the thread keeper, it's easy to see that the colour does actually change throughout the strand - my eyes were just too tired to see it!! The finished result looks really good!

27/10/13 - "Cupcake": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

27/10/13 - "Sponge Cake": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

Overview so far! 27/10/13 (Left to right, Top to bottom: Rock Cake, Short Cake, Layer Cake, Sponge Cake, Cup Cake)

October 28th 2013
After not doing any stitching for so long, I felt the urge to do loads today! Once I got started it was very hard to stop! It has taken me most of the day (on and off) but, thankfully, I think I can say I'm fully recovered from the flu now! (except for still eating tiny irregular meals)

28/10/13 - "Peace of Cake": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

Overview so far! 28/10/13 (Left to right, Top to bottom: Rock Cake, Short Cake, Layer Cake, Sponge Cake, Cup Cake and Peace of Cake)

December 31st 2013
I'm ashamed to say I've neglected this project in favour or various other projects, but I've made it my January Goal (I make monthly goals rather than New Year's Resolutions) to finish and frame "A Dictionary of Cakes". The last time I was working on this, I made a rather frustrating mistake on "Upside Down Cake" so I started by correcting that. Of course, I went on to make an even bigger mistake that I was unable to fix, but hopefully you can't tell!

31/12/13 - "Upside Down Cake": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

Overview so far! 31/12/13 (Left to right, Top to bottom: Upside Down Cake, Rock Cake, Short Cake, Layer Cake, Sponge Cake, Cup Cake and Peace of Cake)

January 1st 2014
Happy New Year! I'm pleased to say that progress on this January Goal is good! Last night, I started "Fruit Cake" and I finished it tonight. The final cake is "Cake Walk" and then it'll be time to do the banner across the top.

1/1/14 - "Fruit Cake": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

Overview so far! 1/1/14 (Left to right, Top to bottom: Fruit Cake, Upside Down Cake, Rock Cake, Short Cake, Layer Cake, Sponge Cake, Cup Cake and Peace of Cake)

January 2nd 2014
I decided to power through with "Cake Walk" and have just finished! Onto the banner at the top now!

2/1/14 - "Cake Walk": Finished! (Except for the backstitching)

Overview so far! 2/1/14 (Left to right, Top to bottom: Fruit Cake, Upside Down Cake, Cake Walk, Rock Cake, Short Cake, Layer Cake, Sponge Cake, Cup Cake and Peace of Cake)

January 5th 2014
It's taken me a few days, but I've finished the banner that goes across the top. All of the cross stitches are done now so the next stage is all of the backstitching!

Finished Overview (except for backstitch) 5/1/12: The banner will read "A Dictionary of Cakes"

January 6th 2014
I've already made a good amount of progress with the backstitch and I'm so pleased with how well it's turning out! All of the black outlines in this picture use two strands of black thread but the rest will use only one to create depth.

If you didn't get the "Catchphrase" style jokes before you might now!

I've also just finished "Fruit Cake" Here's a "before" and "after" comparison:

"Fruit Cake" before ...

... and after!

I'm going back to work again tomorrow so progress will be greatly reduced from now on, but I'm pleased with how far I've come and I'm sure I'll be finished by the end of January!

January 8th 2014

I managed to backstitch "Upside Down Cake" and "Cake Walk" tonight. They took about 45 minutes each, whereas "Fruit Cake" took me hours because of all of the detailing to make the fruits.

January 12th 2014
I've made lots of progress with my cross stitch this weekend. In fact, I've finished it!! All I need to do now is to frame it.

Bicycle and Signpost: finished!

In the end, this design took me just under a couple of hours to finish - it was fun and simple. I haven't decided how to finish it yet (all ideas welcome!) so it's sitting safe in my wooden sewing box for now.

Designed by Mouseloft

My next project...

I've decided to keep the Christmas stocking project until October half term so that I can have plenty of time to get my head around the instructions, and also it will help to get me into the Christmas spirit!

Having finally succommed to the kid's cough and sneeze germs, I'm feeling pretty rough today so I'm going to take it easy and start a new sewing project. Nothing better than sewing in bed while watching TV to make you feel better!

Left: "Bicycle and Signpost" by Mouseloft
Right: "A Dictionary of Cakes" by Bothy Threads

My boyfriend enjoys taking cycle trips around the country so I originally bought the mini kit to sew and make into a keyring or something similar. Funnily enough, he's currently on such a trip, although I'm not sure it works for motorcycles?! I love the Bothy Threads Dictionary of Cakes - am planning on sewing it for my kitchen to honour my new found enjoyment of baking cakes.

Also, check out my (not-so-new-but-as-you-haven't-seen-it-yet) new sewing box. From Homebase of all places! Never seen anything like it!

It's got my essential equipment in: tacking thread, a spare needles, scissors, a pencil, tape measure and spare piece of aida. I wish it had my masking tape in though - no idea where I put that!!

My New Christmas Project

When I was a child, my mum made 2 Christmas stockings from felt, sequins, beads and stuffing. I loved them becase they were so fun and looked amazing - I still love to see them hanging up at Christmas time all these years later. I love the way that the stuffing enhances different parts of the stock to create a 3D effect and the sequins and beads look really effective.

So, I was flicking through a Christmas craft catelogue the other day when I saw some similar kits for sale and saw one that was perfect for me! So, I thought I'd order it and give it a go - wish me luck and stay tuned!!

"Joy" - purple, blue, silver and shiny =D