Stitch from Stash and Blog Plans for 2014

I have decided to take up the challenge from Mel to Stitch from Stash in 2014 - you can see all the details here and you can join up if you want to before 2nd January.

The budget for each months stitching stash is $25 which works out as £15.19.  I'm quite lucky that I paid off a large lay away with Crafty Kitten with my Christmas money so will have that to look forward to receiving in January without having to worry about taking it out of my stitching budget.  The rules are that if you don't spend the total each month you can carry it forward - basically my total stitching spend for the year must be less than £182.28.  Having had a quick review of my stash earlier today this really shouldn't be a problem as I have enough threads, fabrics and patterns to last me a life time which is the main reason for doing this.  I may need to be the odd thread here or there to finish off a project or a piece of fabric if I don't have something suitable but I don't think that will happen often.

So my blog plan (hope) for the year is a weekly post detailing what I have been stitching that week and a monthly post detailing what (if any) money I have spent that month.  I hope you enjoy watching my diminishing stash pile during 2014.

Also I am hoping that early on in 2014 we will finally sort out our spare bedroom so it can become my craft room.  I will try and post some pictures of me organising my stash in a way that works for me and trying to keep some sort of inventory so that I don't spend money on items I already have.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy New Year - thanks for sticking with me through 2013 even though I didn't post as much as I wanted to.  I hope 2014 brings you everything you wish for.  I wish for health and happiness for all my friends, family and blog readers.  Happy New Year!

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Review of 2013

I've not posted as much as I would like to this blog during 2013 but I decided as the end of the year is approaching I would go back and review the projects I've been working on during the year and show you photos of where I am up to with them now.

My plan for 2014 is to take part in the Stitch from Stash challenge so I'll be limited to a budget of how much I can spend on new stash during 2014.  It's about time I have some finishes from the stash I have rather than keep buying new stuff.

So here's my review of 2013.

WIPs

Perpetual Calendar - Samsarah Designs

This is the eight designs which I have completely finished.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle - Chatelaine

Dragon Dance - Paine Free Crafts

Not worked on this for a long while.  It's harder than I thought stitching on black aida but will hopefully get chance to pick it up again in the New Year.

Merry Christmas by the Letter - Lizzie Kate

Another one that didn't get much attention during 2013.

Black & White - Maggi Co's Village

Started this as a present for a friend but it got lost in the world of UFOs!

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework

This is one I started this year but having completed quite a few sections in my colour selection I decided I didn't like the colours I'd chosen.  The first picture is where I got up to with my first colour choices - the majority of which is now unpicked and the second picture is where I'm up to with my new colour choices which I like much more.

FINISHES

Gerbera Daisies - Just Cross Stitch Magazine

This was a very long-term WIP that I have been stitching.  My favourite flowers are gerberas and as soon as I saw this design I loved it.  The colours are amazing and so vibrant.  I've not decided how to finish this yet but I can see it being made into a cushion - hopefully during 2014!

Friends Heart - Alessandra Adelaide

This was a free design for the Alessandra Adelaide Facebook group.  When I saw this design I instantly loved it and had to start it straight away.  I think it was one of the quickest designs I have ever finished as I stitched on it everyday.  I also knew straight away that I was going to give it to a good friend and this inspired me to keep stitching on it.

Heartz SAL - Thread Pickerz Silkz

This was another free design from the Thread Pickerz Silkz Facebook group.  One heart was released each week and it was great fun.  I enjoyed picking the different colours for each heart.  I added the border myself from a book I had already.  I'm still not sure how I'm going to finish this one off but again could see it being a cushion.

Damask - Jodyri Designs

I was delighted to stitch a model of a design called Damask from Jodyri Designs for my good friend Michelle.  I tried to add different texture with the variegated threads by stitching the different sections in different directions.  I can see this one hanging on the wall in my bedroom someday.

I Still Do - Ink Circles

This year it was my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary.  I am so proud that my parents are still married after 40 years as so many of my friends parents have split up.  My sister and I stitched this together and I think that makes it even more special.  We would each spend a week stitching on it and then swap over.  We gave it to my parents in August on their anniversary and I am delighted to say they loved it.  Every time I go round to there house I spend a little time looking at it on the wall and love the memories of stitching it.

NEW STARTS NOT PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ON MY BLOG

Model - Northern Expressions Needlework

This is a model I am working on of an as yet unpublished design from Northern Expressions Needlework.  I am stitching over 2 on 40 count linen for the first time and have been surprised at how easy I am finding it.

Christmas Mystery 2013 - Lizzie Kate

I completed part 2 on 19.12.13 - this will definitely be finished and framed for Christmas 2014.

Promise Me - Lizzie Kate

I stitched this for a friend as part of a Secret Santa exchange and forgot to take a photo of it before I wrapped it up.  I haven't finished it yet as I want her to decide if she wants it framing or making into a cushion or something like that.  So once I get it back I will take a picture of my stitching but for now this is a stock photo from the internet.

Keep stitching and smiling

Gerbera Daisies - FINISHED 21.10.13

Well I don't know exactly how long I've been working on this project but probably about 5 years as it was published in a copy of Just Cross Stitch Magazine from 2009.

I am very pleased to say I have finished Gerbera Daisies - I think I will make this into a cushion or at least try.

Keep stitching and smiling

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - Parts 1 & 2 - Completed 15.09.13

I recently found out about the Learning Sampler by Northern Expressions Needlework.  It is being released in parts over about 18 months (I think).  I loved the design when I saw it and liked the idea of learning lots of new speciality stitches, it can only help with my Chatelaine when I get back to it.

This is the picture that I first saw.

I decided I wanted to stitch it in purples and I've chosen six Dinky Dyes colours to stitch it in.  I am stitching on 32 count Pearl Grey Murano.  I had originally thought I would stitch the border in white as shown but I am now doing it in DMC 4215.  The first part of the pattern was released on 1st September and was the border and the first five letters A-E.

Here is mine with part one of the satin stitch border completed.

And a close up of the corner.

When I first looked at the chart I thought the border looked very complicated but the diagram breaking down the border into three easy steps helped a lot.  I did miscount one stitch though which meant frogging a good portion of it but from start to finish the whole border took me three days of stitching possibly an hour or two a day.  I really like how it's looking so far.

And here is part two letters A-E.

And the whole

Keep stitching and smiling

Gathering my thoughts and projects

I feel like I have been neglecting my blog recently.  I haven't posted as many updates as I would like to and feel a bit lost as to where I am with all my WIPs and all those new projects that I want to start.  Sometimes I feel over whelmed with all the projects I want to stitch that I kind of come to a stand still and don't actually stitch anything.  Does any one else ever feel like that?

I am thinking that I will set up a couple of new pages on the blog one for WIPs with photos of the piece as it will look when finished and the most up to date WIP picture.  Then another page for future projects which I will try and prioritise.

As I type this I realise some people may think this is all a bit too much and that you should just enjoy your sewing projects and do what takes your fancy.  Unfortunately I have a bit of OCD when it comes to things like this and I like to know things are organised.

I am currently stitching on two projects that are being released in parts the first is the Learning Sampler from Northern Expressions Needleworks and also the Lizzie Kate Mystery Christmas SAL.  I really want to keep up with the parts of these as they are released so these will be my two main projects.  I am also committed to stitching two more model stitches in the near future so when I have the materials from those I will be making them a priority as well.  I would then like to concentrate on some of my current WIPs.  I also need to go through all my WIPs and decide which are UFOs and if I will ever actual finish them or if the fabric could be put to a better use on a different project.

I hope you will enjoy seeing my updates and I hope to make them more regular again.

Keep stitching and smiling

WIPocalypse - 20.08.13

Hearts SAL - Finished 22.07.13

Damask by Jodyri Designs - Finished 08.08.13

Keep stitching and smiling

Damask as of 08.08.13 - FINISHED

Doing a happy dance today as I've finished Damask by Jodyri Designs.  I loved every stitch of this.  The design is gorgeous as are the threads and fabric and they are all by the amazing Michelle at Jodyri.

So here's a picture of the original design and my step by step progress.

Keep stitching and smiling

Secret Ink Circles Project - REVEALED

So for the past couple of years I have mentioned a secret Ink Circles project I was working on.  I started stitching I Still Do by Ink Circles for my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary which was in August 2013.  I changed the colours to blues and purples because I thought my parents would prefer this to reds.

I made quite a bit of progress and then part way through 2012 my sister offered to stitch the project with me as well.  That way it would be a joint present we could both give to our parents and it would also mean that it would definitely get finished on time.  On 20th January 2013 it was finished are here below you can see our progress pictures.

This is where I stitched to on my own then my sister and I swapped it between us.

My update

My update

The final completed project finished on 20th January 2013

We gave it to our parents today and they loved it.  You could tell they were really pleased and I can finally share my secret project with the world!

Keep stitching and smiling

Hearts SAL - FINISH - 22.07.13

I'm not posting this on the day I actually finished it as my WIPocalypse post also went out on the same day.
So on 22nd July I finished the Hearts SAL from Thread Pickerz Silkz.

It is stitched on 20 count aida from Crafty Kitten in Feb 2011 Ltd Ed.

The hearts are stitched in the following threads

Heart border - Jodyri - Smoke & Mirrors
Heart 1 - Jodyri - Colour Cascade
Heart 2 - Thread Pickerz Silkz - Robin's Nest
Heart 3 - Thread Pickerz Silkz - Amazon Parrot
Heart 4 - Jodyri - Cha Cha Cha
Heart 5 - Jodyri - Arctic Splash
Heart 6 - Jodyri - Rascal's Rainbow
Heart 7 - Jodyri - Perfect Purples
Heart 8 - Thread Pickerz Silkz - Cream Latte
Heart 9 - Jodyri - Sherbet Dip
Heart 10 - Thread Pickerz Silkz - Peacock Blue
Heart 11 - Crafty Kitten - Raspberry Crush
Heart 12 - Crafty Kitten - Dragon Forest
Heart 13 - Crafty Kitten - Moonlight Magic
Heart 14 - Jodyri - Sea Wall
Heart 15 - Thread Pickerz Silkz - Ocean
Heart 16 - Crafty Kitten - Aleanna's Garden

Here is my latest update on Damask by Jodyri Designs.

Keep stitching and smiling