Hi everyone,
First of all, welcome to the merry band of new followers! I really appreciate you all taking time to have a little peep at what me and my friends are up to.
I’m so pleased to show you my completed first stage of Cirque des Cercles from Ink Circles.
I’m beginning to get used to sewing on the black evenweave fabric. It was difficult at first but I think it is going to be well worth the effort. I’m stitching along with Claire over at Claire93 and Izz at Isabel’s Needleworks. Claire is stitching the same design as me and Izz is stitching a sampler which she has wanted to complete for years but just hadn’t got around to it 
Why not pop over to take a look at their first stage posts when they are published some time today? Our next completed stage will be revealed on 23rd February as long as we are all ready to post by then.
When I mentioned the fabric and thread colour I was going to use in an earlier post, I received a lovely email from a lady called Christine with a photo of some of her stitching with the same thread choice (DMC 111). Look at what she sent me. Isn’t it beautiful?
The wonders of the internet never fail to amaze me. It’s so nice to be crafting alongside like minded people all over the world when I’m really just sitting at home on the sofa, stitching away in my own little world
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Avis x
Sewing Beside the Sea 
Debbierose
/ February 2, 2014I knew the 111 would look lovely, but it has exceeded my expectations, its beautiful
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014Ah, that’s good! Thank you 🙂
claire93
/ February 2, 2014I agree with Debbie – the result with 111 is really stunning ^^
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014I like it too. Thanks Claire, I’m looking forward to the next stage already but there are so many other lovely things to try in the meantime 🙂
Carole
/ February 2, 2014That looks lovely, especially in those shades, and isn’t Christine’s piece gorgeous too.
The internet is definitely a wonderful thing when used like this.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014Thank you! Yes, Christine’s stitching confirmed for me that I had chosen a good colour to use. This is actually the colour that the designer used as well.
witchylin
/ February 2, 2014Fantastic Avis. The colour choice of evenweave and thread is perfect for the design. Christine’s is also lovely. Variegated threads take the work to a whole new level. Looking forward to seeing the next installment.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014And there are no complicated thread changes. You get all of the effect without the effort! Win win 🙂
E.C.
/ February 2, 2014Beautiful design and handwork. This could rival any master tapestry from days of yore. You must have the patience of a saint to work with the dark fabric. Well done!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014I do have a lot of patience and I wrestled with the black fabric for a while but it is improving. If we had better daylight here up north, it would be a lot easier. I have to use an overhead lamp which then causes shadows from my hand but I’m getting there 🙂 I initially tried lighting from underneath but that was a nightmare!
E.C.
/ February 2, 2014Oh dear, lighting would be an issue. I never even thought of that. I admire your persistence and patience, it’s definitely paying off with your beautiful artwork.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014He-he! Well there has been plenty of Grrr! and Arrrgh! but I’m smiling through it 😀
E.C.
/ February 2, 2014I like that, Keep on smiling and stitch-on. 🙂
Isabel's Needleworks
/ February 2, 2014Beautiful work Avis, I understand about the grr and arg.. stitching and picking ! The variegated colours are amazing, let’s get stitching lol
…Izz
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014Thank you Izz 🙂 I actually started the second stage this afternoon and will have to give up. Even with the lamp, it is now too dark to sew on black. Oh well, there’s always knitting or crochet to do this evening! Enjoy Stage 2 😀
Christine
/ February 2, 2014It’s beautiful Avis! Thanks for showing my completed piece. Thanks for all the sweet comments too. I don’t have the Cirque Des Cercles design so I had no idea that the designer used the colors I chose for my Pelin Tezer design. Wow…I feel like I’m in great company…especially being ‘color challenged’. LOL!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014Thank you Christine 🙂 I like a lot of the Ink Circles designs. It was Claire who sent me to their website when I said I would like a challenge and now we are stitching one together. I am looking for the next challenge already. I love the fractal designs here
http://xs-collectibles.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=247
but I’ve already been told that I’m on my own if I decide to stitch one of those LOL. So, I’m searching for a “victim” 😆
claire93
/ February 3, 2014you don’t seriously think anyone is going to join you in your fractal Madness, do you lol?
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 3, 2014There is an open invitation to the whole wide world 🙂 How could anyone resist?
Christine
/ February 3, 2014Oh, Claire! C’mon…..it’ll be fun! I’ll stitch one with YOU & Avis! Let’s start with the smaller bookmark size. 🙂
Christine
/ February 3, 2014Avis,
I like a lot of the Ink Circles designs too. I don’t have any of the patterns yet though. 😦
OMGosh….I LOVE the fractals! I’ve been collecting those free bookmarks for years & just told my friend a few days ago that I need to actually stitch one. Sooooooooo…..I would like to be a victim right along with you! Would you stitch one of the big ones or start with one of the smaller bookmarks? I actually have several large ones on my Wish List. LOL! I can’t start until next year though because I have some things that must get done this year.
Christine
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 3, 2014Hi Christine, I can’t wait to tell Claire LOL. I’ll send you an email 🙂 YIPPEE!!
Christine
/ February 3, 2014Just replied to your email Avis! I was looking at the fractals!
I bet Claire will stitch one of the bookmark size fractals. 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 3, 2014I hope so 🙂 Come on Claire!!!
claire93
/ February 4, 2014you’ve got to be joking both of you ^^^^^
I can’t believe there are two live Mad Hatters out there lol
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 4, 2014😆
Debbierose
/ February 4, 2014a friend of kine is doing a fractal dahlia, gorgeous but very time consuming, and NO I would never attempt one
opusanglicanum
/ February 2, 2014black fabric is more fun for freehand work, its hard to count threads on (but then I’m too lazy to count anyway, so what do I know!)
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 2, 2014He-he! I have to stick to counting because I have zero artistic ability. I would love to be able to do free style embroidery but it just isn’t going to happen 🙂
linnyjcreations
/ February 3, 2014Avis such a stunning piece of embroidery. You are so clever and patient. Cheers Linny
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 3, 2014Thank you! It’s just counting and following a chart 🙂
*Wisher*
/ February 3, 2014love the gold colour on black.. this is stunning.. can’t wait to see the progress.. 😀
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ February 3, 2014Me too! Thank you Angela 🙂
sonyamayhem
/ February 4, 2014Gorgeous. Such beautiful work. I love cross stitch and this just makes me happy to see.