Valentine Peacock - KLT Charting as of 02.03.14

I am loving stitching this design and thought it deserved a post of it's own.  The colours in the thread are so vibrant it's a joy watching each stitch appear.

Here's my before and after pictures.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Northern Expressions Needlework Model as of 28.02.14

Before and after pictures for the Northern Expressions Needlework model for this week.

The top photo was taken in artificial light and the bottom in natural light - amazing what a difference it makes.

My small project which I stitched on during the days this week was the Valentine Peacock from KLT Charting, it's stitched on 20 count aida with hand dyed thread called Peacock Feathers from Jodyri Designs.  I am stitching it as part of a joing SAL between Jodyri Designs and KLT Charting.  Here's my progress:

No more stash bought to date so doing well with the stitch from stash challenge.

Evenings next week will be spent stitching on my Chatelaine and days hopefully getting Valentine Peacock finished.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Holly & Hearts Sampler - Christmas Mystery 2013 - Lizzie Kate - FINISHED 21.02.14

So happy to be posting my first finish of 2014.  I had so little to finish on this piece I really don't know why I didn't finish it last time.

Here are the pictures I took of my progress with this piece.

I really enjoyed stitching this piece.  I got the thread pack with the charts and the colours are beautiful.

I just need to save up now to get it framed - hopefully before Christmas.  If anyone is interested in buying the patterns I am selling them via my Facebook destashing page.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Model for Northern Expressions Needlework as of 21.02.14 & February Stitch from Stash

I've been working on the model for Northern Expressions Needlework this week.  Here's my before and after photos.

I'm going to be stitching on this next week as well but I have decided to change my rotation slightly.

So each month in the evenings I will work on the following:-

Week 1 - Chatelaine
Week 2 - Northern Expressions Needlework Model
Week 3 - Northern Expressions Needlework Model
Week 4 - Learning Sampler
Week 5 (if there is one) - Free choice

Then if I get chance during the days to stitch on a Wednesday and at the weekend I'm going to firstly work on my Lizzie Kate Christmas Mystery and when that is finished I have two small designs from Jodyri Designs and KLT Charting that I want to stitch for a SAL I'm participating in.

My stitch from stash budget this month was £15.19 as I had nothing to carry forward from last month.  I am really pleased to say that this month I've only spent £8!  I bought two new charts from KLT Charting:

Tribal Butterfly

Tribal Owl

I was also lucky enough to be RAKd two charts

Tribal Heart

Valentine Peacock

So having only spent £8 of my £15.19 budget I have £7.19 to carry forward giving me a budget for March of £22.38.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework as of 14.02.14

I've had the Learning Sampler on my frame for the last two weeks as I've not really had as much time to stitch as I would like.  Here's my before and after pictures.

I am really enjoying learning the new speciality stitches and hope to incorporate them into lots more projects in the future.

I've signed up to join in with the Stitching Bandits Chatelaine Challenge.  So I'm committed to working on one of my Chatelaines at least one week each month.  I think for consistency and so I remember I will work on it the first week of each month.  I'm going to be concentrating on the Seaside Mystery and look forward to making progress with it.

I'm slowly but surely starting (again!) to make an inventory of all the charts I own so that when I come to start a new project I can see all the ones I have.  I'm trying to categorise them by size and type so that if I finish a small project I can add another small one in it's place so I'm not constantly stitching BAPs!  Will have to see how it goes!

I'm hoping in the next few months we will have sorted things out enough in our house that I can finally transform our spare room into my crafting room.  I'm also hoping that once everything is organised and in one place it will make it much easier to see where I am up to with all my projects.

The next rotation on my frame is the model stitch for Northern Expressions Needlework and this is going to be my focus project which I intend to work on for two weeks out of every month.  I think I may put those two weeks together so I see more progress.

My next update will also include my update on the Stitch from Stash challenge.  We have been given an exemption this month and are allowed to spend an additional $100 dollars.  Unfortunately as much as I would like a splurge there is no actual money in my budget to allow me to do so and I'm just sticking to the original budget.

And last but not least I would love it if you would head over and check out my cousins brand new cross stitching design business.  It's called KLT Charting and the website can be found here and the Facebook page here.  Thanks for looking.  I'll show you in my next post the two charts I bought this month out of my stitch from stash budget.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Too many projects too little time

No stitching update from me this week as I didn't get much stitching done.

I have a question though and I'd love to hear any ideas you might have.  How do you work out what projects you want to work on?

I currently have four projects in rotation.  Numerous WIPs and UFOs and too many to even contemplate projects I want to start.  From one minute to the next the project that is calling me the loudest changes.  At the moment I've got another three projects that I want to start "right now".

Then I'm browsing on line and I see more and more gorgeous projects that I would like to do.  Thoughts pop into my head of stitching certain things for certain people and then I spend hours (like this afternoon) browsing the internet looking for suitable things for me to stitch.  If I actually looked at the patterns, fabric and threads I already have I could probably find a suitable project for any person/occasion.

So please comment and let me know if you've found the magical solution to organising your projects so that you don't spend time you could be stitching looking at new stash and thinking about all the extra things you could be buying.

If anyone comes up with the solution there will be a prize!

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Model for Northern Expressions Needlework as of 31.01.14

Here's my progress on the model for Northern Expressions Needlework.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Seaside Mystery - Chatelaine as of 24.01.14

I have had a new start this week with Chatelaine's Seaside Mystery.  I am stitching it on Crafty Kitten's Sunlit Water 32 count Jobelan.  I'm using the recommended threads but I'm going to substitute the DMC threads with conversions from Silk Mill.

As only five parts of this design have been released so far I have no idea what it's going to look like when it's finished but at the moment I am loving the design and the colours.  The letters are done over one and the rest of the design is over two.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Christmas Mystery Sampler 2013 - Lizzie Kate - as of 18.01.14

I've been working on the Christmas Mystery Sampler this week and am really close to a finish but I'm putting it down because I'm treating myself to a new start, but more about that later.

Here's my progress picture.

I decided to do satin stitch for the windows instead of cross stitch and I am also going to do this for the door.  I've also decided to change the colour of the door as I love the maroon/red colour and am going to use this.

Now call me stupid but do you see all those letters in light green in the background.  It took me until I stitched x, y and z before I realised they were letters - I thought they were just supposed to represent snow and were odd shapes!  Looking at the picture now it is so obvious they are letters I really don't know how I didn't see it.

So my new start is the Chatelaine Seaside Mystery - I've already received parts 1-3 of the pattern but have been waiting until I paid off my layaway for my fabric and threads to arrive.  Well my parcel came this morning and the hand dyed fabric and speciality threads are absolutely stunning - I just cannot wait to get started.  

With regards to the stitch from stash I have now spent my budget for January of £15.19.  I decided to buy silks from the Silk Mill for my Chatelaine to substitute for the DMC threads - they cost me just over £25 but luckily I still had some Christmas money left.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Model for Northern Expressions Needlework as of 10.01.14

Here's my latest progress on the model I am stitching for Northern Expressions Needlework.

I'm rotating onto the Lizzie Kate Christmas 2013 Mystery Sampler next.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework as of 03.01.14

This week I've been working on the Learning Sampler from Northern Expressions Needlework.  I've now completed part 3 and have started on parts 4 and 5 - part 6 has just been released so I'm trying to catch up.  I was keeping up to date as each part was released but then I decided to change the colours I was stitching with.  I am also slowly unpicking what I previously stitched so I could use the same piece of fabric I just started again at the opposite end.

I'm currently rotating three projects the Learning Sampler, the model I'm stitching and Lizzie Kate's Christmas Mystery.  I'm picking up the model next.

So far this month (I know it's only 3rd January!) I haven't spent any of my stitching budget.

Keep stitching and smiling

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