Smalls SAL update #2

Oh dear, I am a little late ... only by a little bit this time. For Smalls SAL February update I have another witch by the Snowflower Diaries. Spring Witch, chart available free over HERE.

It was stitched on Zweigart 28 count Quaker Linen in Confederare Grey.

Stitched in DMC: 310, 3770, 738, 3833, 3364, 818, and Anchor: 8, 360, 128, and Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Heather A (a gift from Nancy ... the rabbit). Isn't it gorgeous! Speaking of Nancy and her floss. She is having another giveaway. Click HERE and enter by the 10th March 2014. 

Till soon,

Reports, reports, reports ... Wipocalypse #2 and Stitch from Stash #2

Dear all,

I am as always being busy, busy, busy ... apologies for a belated (as per usual) update on Wipocalypse, but for one I really wanted to have some progress to show ... and not just a fabric with two extra crosses.

First up is QS 'Literate Dragon':

December 2013

February 2014

page done!!!

Well it doesn't look like much, but this progress took me about 4 nights. I have finally finished off the bottom right page properly (so many colours for so little! Each colour seemed to only have one cross or so). Yuppy! And started on the bottom left next.

My other progress is on the 'Lean on Me' that I started as part of Stitch from Stash last month:

January 2014

February 2014

I wanted to have this one done, but didn't quite make it before posting. Just the backstitching left. I was also going to start another piece from stash, but didn't get around. I have started the prep and all:

all colours for QS Literate Dragon and Christmas Candle

with those additional skeins and kreinik

I know this is for my current major projects, but now I do not have to be frustrated when I go search for some colour. Hence I was able to finish that page on the 'QS Literate Dragon'. I also now started to gather the threads for the next few projects I am going to start. I already bought threads awhile back for 'QS Poisonous Beauties', then I am starting a Margaret Sherry Sal as mentioned previously so I got the list of threads, put it together with that of 'Alice Enchanted' (gifted to me last year), and the list of LHN small projects. Then I got together all of the skeins I already had into a bag (well actually two, as half of them stink of cigarettes from when I bought them so continuing to get rid of smell through putting cloths for tumble drier in there). And ordered the rest ... so naturally time for my buying report:

Margaret Sherry had half price on her website (click here). The kits are no longer on sale, but the hen one is ridiculously cheap now ... as in 75% off! Wish I waited.

£9.47

£11.97

So that is a total of £21.44 spent.

Full report:

£/$21.50 was brought forward, then this moth's allowance is £/$25. This lets me carry forward £/$25.06! Go me.

But wait you'd say that I mentioned that I bought some threads too.

Well yes, I have. I bought 99 skeins of dmc, large bobbin storage box, 2 metal craft rings, 18 count aida (magic guide) for 'QS Poisonous Beauties', all for a total of £48.96. This was all bought from Cross Stitch Heaven. I was putting this massive order off for the next month, but that exemption/splurge weekend came in handy. Especially since I am planning a trip to a charity shop (I hear they have cheap floss at the moment).

And just before I go I will answer Measi's Wipocalypse question:

Topic: How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!

A very hard question indeed. I have as you know 11 official wips and increasing, but then there are the smalls I no longer count towards wipocalypse too. I get a little panicky when I think about 'the number', but they are better being stitched on than waiting in the stash pile ... right? I do not do rotations per se, but I choose whatever I feel like stitching (sometimes I ask mum if I can't decide) and stitch till I get bored with it and then move on. Having said that if I have some SAL/exchange etc commitments, that would take priority over my random picks. I have also started making jewellery and art dolls, so that takes some time away from cross stitching too. 

Belated winner announcements ...

Before I start I want to state that the blog party giveaway winner was drawn on time, contacted, and should have the package somewhere en route now. I just was bad at blogging the announcement, sorry. I blame the cold and fever and throat pain. Yuk! Glad that's out of the way now. Although I still haven't recovered all my strength entirely.

Okay so onto the winner announcement ... as always with a little help from my seven year old brother. I printed all the comments, cut them out, and placed face down. Guess who he has pulled out?

It is Sarah of Sarah in Stitches. I am so happy that my little brother pulled out Sarah, whom I met through last year's blog party and I won that day's giveaway from. So I think very appropriate.

Also, I know ... I know my Wipocalypse update is extremely overdue (is it a week?). I will hopefully be able to post it in the next few days. 

Till soon,

TUSAL - post #2 and the giveaway announcement ...

Hello all,

I have finally made up my mind what I am giving away as part of the Grow Your Blog! party. So I thought maybe I should post a few pictures before the giveaway concludes. I am a little ill, headache, throat ache, leg pains, so apologies if I make little sense.

But before that let me show you my TUSAL jar:

jar #2 and 2014

2014 so far

Now onto the giveaway. To enter click HERE and follow the instructions at the bottom of the post.

5 threaders

5 charms

1 chart and a chart booklet

2 small kits

a bookmark and speciality stitch charts

Hand dyed fabric with logwood and aluminium mordant by my mum

Once the winner is picked he or she can pick what part of the giveaway they want: all or some (and whatever is unwanted will roll over to the next drawing). I might add more prizes in the next few days (or maybe not) but for now that is how the giveaway stands.

Till soon,