Blackman Street in London progress and the final post of 2019

Dear all

First up is the progress on the Blackman Street by Yiota's Xstitch ...

WIP 28/12/2019

I have made it to the top left corner of the picture. As a work in progress I am a little disappointed in the colour ... however I am hopeful that once it is stitched the colours would blend into each other a little better.

The other very small disappointment is how slow the project is coming along. Generally speaking my progress on the cross stitch has slowed down in the recent month or so. I have instead picked up knitting and daily yoga (or almost daily) in addition to reading, on top of a busy season at work.

As regards to 2019 ... I am grateful for restarting blogging in earnest and hopeful for an even better 2020. In addition, as I progress on my minimalist journey, I have also started with a huge endeavour - decluttering my hobbies, something I did not think was possible. In turn this made me stitch and knit more.

In 2019 I have managed to decrease my stash from 130 to 88 kits/charts by stitching/selling/donating. I may need to take stock to ensure that it is 88 as I think a few projects may have got missed from the initial list. (I will update the stash tab as it is a little messy).

By the end of 2020 I would like to decrease the stash to 50 projects! Anyone else in on such a stitching challenge? To decrease the stash dramatically and to stitch more in the process.

Anyhow until next year,

Lija  

A finish and a new start

Dear all

I can't believe I have not posted since November. Well, I have started the blog post ... but ultimately got sidetracked by other things and never finished. So her is to attempt number 3. As they say third time lucky.

This is an awful picture but here is 'Cardinal Winter' by Little House Needleworks complete. It was part of the Ornament of the Month 2011 series, No 1.

Complete - November 2019

In addition back in November I was visiting my sister ... who has awful lighting ... by which it is impossible to see even weave fabric, so I needed a project that used larger squares. So I started 'Blackman Street in London' (very appropriate as my sister lives in London) by Yiota's Xstitch.

WIP - November 2019

I am not sure I am a huge fan of the colour of the sky and not sure it does the image justice, but perhaps once it is all done it will make complete sense ... and I just need to have a little faith in the process.

So I am now down to 88 projects (from 130) and still many to go.

Until soon
Lija

A belated Halloween finish ...

Dear all

A finish ...'Scaredy Cat' by Love thy Thread.

I was trying to stitch it as fast as I could for the Halloween, however ended up a bit late on the finish. But here it is...

Complete - November 2019

It was stitched on hand dyed fabric (by us at ILiNi designs ...click HERE ). 

I believe I am now down to 88 projects ... and am slightly behind in my downsizing of stash. I am also at present visiting my sister, who has downsized her cross stitch chart and has returned a bunch of charts and kits I shared with her at some stage in the past. I think I will need to reassess my stash on my return home.

Until soon

Lija

Halloween is fast approaching ... part 2

Dear all

Some progress on 'Scaredy Cat' by Love thy Thread ... (the quality of photo is not the best).

WIP - 27 October 2019

With only 5 days remaining until Halloween... time is quickly running out. I'm really loving this project. The fabric used is hand dyed. 

Until soon,

Lija

Halloween is fast approaching ...

Dear all

I was hoping to finish stitching Tobermory, however got a little distracted with some other patterns in my stash.

The plan was to pick the next couple of projects to follow Tobermory; as I wanted to pick charts rather than kits I was unsure whether I had all the threads already for the projects. In any case I got a little bit excited about sorting out my stash.

Whilst sorting the stash I came across some Halloween designs I wanted to stitch up next. I then realised that if I continued with my then current project I would not have enough time pre Halloween.

So here I am ... 'Scaredy Cat' by Love thy Thread.

WIP - October 2019

With some stitchy luck I may be able to finish by Halloween. I have been stitching for a week and am about one third into the project ... so need to apply double effort across the next week. Fingers (or thread) crossed for me.

Until soon,

Lija

Tobermory - some progress

Dear all

Some progress on Tobermory ...

WIP - 13/10/19

I was a little bit disappointed at the progress I have made on this ... however I have only been stitching it for a week and two weekends. And to put it in perspective some progress has been made.

A finish would have been lovely. And perhaps this can be achieved in a week or two. I only have the boat, the water and some backstitching to do. We will wait and see.

Until soon,
Lija

Stitch before it's gone ... stitching from stash and lack of progress ...

Deal all

Very little progress on my stitching this week. I have been trying to stitch just a little every morning ... a sort of morning ritual. And this week it seemed either I started super early at work or had to travel for a day to London, or just did not have that much time to spare. So have been playing some catch up other the weekend.

Anyhow here is to progress however small. This is Tobermory by Susan Ryder (Heritage Collection). I started it awhile ago, but I do not think I ever photographed progress. I have decided to use my own fabric.

WIP - 6 October 2019

I am aiming for this to be my next win. By my plan I need to downsize four more projects this month either through stitching them or by saying good bye ... so I better get my head down and stitch. Here is to 'stitch before it's gone' my personal stitching challenge.

Until soon,

Lija

Wipocalypse, an actual finish, slow downsizing and taking stock ...

Dear all

I may be a little early on the Wipocalypse update ... as the link is not up yet. However it is 29 September where I am and I am super excited.

I have finally finished 'Spring Bouquet' by Margaret Sherry. A design I started stitching back in 2014! That is 5 years ago! And here it is (I have just finished it after a couple of weeks of intense stitching ... backstitching alone took two weeks ... and in my excitement to post I have not washed of the grid marker ... fail):

Complete - September 2019

Complete - September 2019
Closeup

The fabric is gorgeous ... and perfectly suits the colour scheme. The fabric was a gift from a fellow blogger Sarah a number of years ago.  I may make it into a cushion.

Also last month has seen the following finish (I have blogged about it awhile ago ... I decided not to include Home Sweet Home amongst the wins):

Complete - September 2019

'Angela'

by the Snowflower Diaries

After a spell of non blogging and minimal stitching I am super happy to rediscover this hobby I had. I am, as you may have already gathered, also stitching down my stash one project at a time. I am down to 89 projects (if I am to be honest I am excluding a couple of magazines I kept back as well).

Coming up in October I need to stitch or say good bye to four more projects to be on track to downsize to 75 by the end of the year.  Does the sheer volume of projects make you also freeze up? Unaware what to stitch next?

Until soon,
Lija

P.S. final chance to win a giveaway by commenting on the following post - click here.

Margaret Sherry and more stash downsizing ...

Dear all

You know I have been ranting about the desire to be a minimalist in all areas of my life ... well when you have over 100 stashed project this is not something that can be easily achieved. Last month with a lot of caffeine I was taking stock ... and was considering whether I can actually downsize to 50 .... doubtful. How about 75 ... slightly more doable ... with 5 projects a month to be downsized either through completion or letting go.

If I am going to stick to this new rule (until it drives me crazy or I get bored with it) I need some accountability ... and where else to post my wins and losses than here ... I cannot believe it but I have made the target this September. I had two finishes in September and was ready (yesterday) to list three more projects on eBay.

Well talking of going for easy wins to achieve this... I was hoping to get this little one finished quickly and after consistent stitching over the past two weeks I am still going. So not quite an easy win I was hoping for. The Cross Stitch Crazy magazine does say this projects takes approximately 55 hours so I am unsure what I was thinking ... even with half the stitching done that was never going to be a quick win.

The Spring Bouquet by Margaret Sherry ...

WIP- September 2019

Excuse the bad lighting (it is a grey rainy morning here in the UK). Fingers crossed that I can do all the backstitching in the week ahead ... and will be one project down towards my October target.

There is still time to enter my giveaway this month by commenting on the post that can be found HERE.

Until soon,
Lija

Angela (and another mini) finish, stash & minimising ramblings

Dear all

Something I discovered as important on the journey towards minimalism is the power of easy wins.

When I commenced my decluttering journey I did not delve into emotional objects (or my hobbies). A year and a half later and I am finally ready to address a number of my hobbies. Cross stitch has definitely got slightly out of control on the stash front.

As such I first pulled out projects I was not planning on stitching and listed them on eBay. I then decided to start stitching and obtained a few wins...

Another completion (as of this morning):

Complete - September 2019

'Angela'

by the Snowflower Diaries

I was going through my paperwork pending box ... and have discovered I have put two more cross stitch projects in there. My craft drawer is bursting at the seams ... so instead of trying to stuff it I decided I will aim to finish them next.

One had about 30 minutes work left in it ... so I completed on the spot and put the magazine in the good bye pile.

Complete - September 2019

So two wins in one morning ... I feel great.

On the stash front however since I have incorporated wips and other projects in, the starting number has increased to a massive 130! I am beginning to think I was delusional when I thought that I could get it down to 50 by the end of the year (I am down to 93 at present). 

To get down to 75 I need at least 5 finishes per month.  So if I get down to this amount that would be a win ... however any progress is progress.

Until soon,

Lija

P.S. If you are interested in a giveaway which is still open just comment on my earlier post HERE.

Wipocalypse, downsizing stash, another giveaway and more ...

Dear all

Here goes nothing ... sometimes when I disappear for a little bit (or longer), but still stitch it is very hard to get back in to writing a report on stitching ... as there so much to address.

Wipocalypse - August 2019 check in:

As noted earlier I have embarked on a journey towards minimalism in all areas of my life. In turns this means for cross stitch, yikes,  downsizing stash.

I am saying goodbye to old projects that are no longer me and selling them on eBay ... and others I am stitching to complete. As such I had a few months of quick wins ... smaller projects that are not too huge to complete:

1) I have completed Autumn Glory ... something I started awhile back but put down.

Autumn Glory by the Snowflower Diaries
August 2019

2) Spurred on by an easy win I stitched Under the Pear Tree by the same designer which I also completed in the month of August: 

Under the Pear Tree by the Snowflower Diaries
August 2019 

3) My next project is 'Angela' by, again, the Snowflower Diaries ... can you see the theme? Progress so far (only the border and minimum backstitching to go): 

WIP - September 2019

 

4) My other progress progress includes 'Miserable Old Twit-Too'. All the stitching is done ... only the painful backstitching to go. Judy Rossouw's designs look amazing but a pain to backstitch.

WIP - July 2019

 5) Love at First Sight by Judy Rossouw ... a new start this month. I had an accident with spilled wine (red) which made me slightly unwilling to pick it up. I have rescued the work from the stain ... however I am yet to pick it up again.

WIP - July 2019

Phew that was a lot of stitching to cover. I think my next port of call is to update my stash page (101 projects that I am aiming to decrease to 50 by the end of 2019). I have sold a few on eBay already, finished (as above others) and will continue to minimise!

Another giveaway:

The last draw has taken place and the makeup bag was posted to Astrid of Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid. (A slightly belated draw with no valid excuses on my part).

But there is a new giveaway ... a biscornu / pincushion. All you need to do to win is comment.

Until soon,

Lija

P.S. If you are curious about my ramblings on minimising do check out my other blog 30+ minimalist wannabe.

A little something different ... silk embroidery

Dear all

As I say more and more 'the best laid plans of mice and men'...

I am a little scared on catching up on my missed cross stitch shenanigans. Although I have been absent from the blogging world I (surprisingly) have not stopped the actual stitching.


In the moments I recompose myself and brave the update on the completed and in progress projects ... as well as the decrease in my stash (yes there has been a significant decrease ... or rather I think I have) I am sharing a few silk embroidery finishes.

The first is 'Lisianthus & Lavender' by Di Van Niekerk:

I completed it into an album as a gift for friends' wedding:

And another one 'Live Love Laugh', again by Di van Niekerk:

Potentially another album ... but who knows.

Until soon,
Lija

Bunny Love completion and new blog

Dear all

My podcast listening has continued across two weekends and I am pleased to report a finish!

This is a completed 'Bunny Love' by Judy Rossouw stitched in Anchor.

June 2019

June 2019

I wonder what can I achieve in one more weekend... I know it is not quite an entire weekend. I was stewarding an exhibition earlier, so am a little behind on the creative side. I do have a new start (also by Judy Rossouw) and a completed silk embroidery piece that I will be somehow attaching to a photo album ... that will be an interesting feat. 

Talking about my journey towards being a minimalist. I am still stitching down my stash, will be posting seven sold items on eBay (good bye cross stitch projects amongst other items), and have also started a blog documenting my thoughts and journey:

https://30plusminimalistwannabe.blogspot.com

Until soon,

Lija

Bunny Love and listening to podcast

Dear all

I have been having one of those great weekends. A weekend that I do not actually need to do much. My 'to do list' is finally only one page long and is being ignored for the time being. No studying or urgent work related tasks. I am in denial about needing to buy some train tickets to a wedding I have been invited to later this month. But I do need to look into it. My solution for a gift is silk ribbon embroidery (I will post a picture once it is complete ... I am getting close).

I am stitching and listening to podcasts. And I am giving 'Bunny Love' some love ...

I promise to add a picture of where I get to with it.

For the podcast I started listening to Dave Ramsey's, however I got a little tired of people calling up with similar issues (half are not relevant - I have no cars and pensions/children saving are different in the UK). I have been listening to it on the way to and from work since February and whenever I'd be cooking etc. I also started answering the questions in my head. Anyhow I thought I may need a little break from my gazelle intensity of cutting expenses down. By that I do not mean go and spend ... but focus on the other side of the equation ... make money.

So for the time being I am now listening to Christy Wright on my podcasts and reading Business Boutique in the mornings. She is one inspiring lady.

And of course continuing to stitch down my stash. Minimalism here I come!

Until soon,

Lija

Wiposalypse, sheep, bunnies, Sara Moon, another giveaway and minimalism

Dear all

I am slightly late with my entry, but better late than never.


Wipocalypse - May 2019 check in 

I have a finish to report:

May 2019 - Complete!!!

And I have moved on to the next sheep 'Kindness'. This is how far I have got to so far:

May 2019

Next up is 'Bunny Love' by Judy Rossouw (Anchor), on which I worked just a little. 

May 2019

And another project I have added to the list of work I would like to complete in 2019. It is 'Picture of elegance' of Sara Moon:

May 2019

I have had a look through my stash recently and I am very curious about the next project I will add to this list. Keep an eye out on the progress.

The question of the month is: Where do you love to shop for stash?

My answer is in my stash. You will understand why if you read a little bit about my journey to minimalism and financial freedom below.

Giveaway

The February's giveaway winner was Sue of Random Stitching. And the makeup bag was shipped on time (I just have not mentioned this on here yet due to lack of posting).

The next giveaway up for grabs is:

This is a handmade makeup or other purposes bag with a cross stitched summer witch (as can be seen in the picture). The cross stitch design is by the Snowflower Diaries. 

All you have to do is comment on this post before the end of June. And a winner will be contacted shortly afterwards, and announced in the next post after the end of June. 

Minimalism

As mentioned in my previous post I am on a journey to becoming a minimalist. If you have a look at my stash list you can start to imagine the difficulties I will face in reforming years of collecting and hoarding. 

In addition to discovering Marie Kondo, I have also started following the Dave Ramsey plan to financial freedom. I started it officially mid February and am busy with Baby Step 2. This is a step when you repay all your debt. And for those who have not come across this crazy gentleman before ... some of the things that you would not consider to be debt (e.g. car payments or a credit card that is paid off monthly) are. The deeper you sacrifice the quicker the success can be achieved.

I have been selling anything and everything on eBay as part of my minimising journey as it were. However I have been getting even more gazelle intense and have just went through my stash and am finally ready to say good bye to some of my cross stitch projects. Hopefully it will reinvigorate me into stitching more from my stash. It would be nice to decrease the projects both stashed and ongoing to 50. I have 101 officially listed in stash (however I do own a few magazines and projects I have  not got around to adding) and about 21 projects that have been started. Do you think this is doable?     

My big 'Why' that pivoted me towards this journey is a purchase of a home. If I am ever to move from the rented property I am in I would like to make the transition as smooth as possible without the need to hire two large vans! I discovered Dave Ramsey by chance and am now making the financial side of the equation possible as well.

Until hopefully soon,

Lija

Welcome back - Wipocalypse, sheep, bunnies, and a giveaway

Dear all

Welcome back. It seems I have been gone a while. Precisely for the full 2018 (and only two posts in 2017). New year comes with new resolutions, and one (or two) of mine are to blog and stitch more. So here I am. Humbly returning to the blogging sphere.

One of the things I loved a few years ago was participating in Wipocalypse SAL. So lets add that to my monthly posting list.

Wipocalypse - January 2019 check in

I like having a number of goals that I can hopefully tick off. I decided to make it easier for myself by picking one at the start of the month. I can then stitch on it or any prior month selection for the challenge.

In January I had little chance to stitch, however I picked up my lengthly ignored sheep. The desired goal is to finish them all (so far 6 done, 2 partially stitched, and 4 not started). I started them as part of a SAL a number of years ago... however fell off the grid since.

January 2019

There is only the remnants of the border left ... so hopefully I will have a finish for you next month.

I did start a new project last year 'Bunny Love' by Judy Rossouw (Anchor), although I have not blogged about it. It has progressed significantly in the initial push so here is the start image for my February goal.

January 2019

I'd love to get this one finished, however there is still quite a bit to go. So fingers crossed for this upcoming month and lots of progress.

Question of the Month: What SALs are you participating in this year?

I am participating in this one ... and maybe will join the Smalls SAL (if the sign up is still open) ... after all there are six sheep still to go (including the nearly finished one).

Giveaway

Sometime last year I have decided I wanted to be a minimalist. An interesting decision for a hoarder that took sometime to formulate in my head, and will take even longer to achieve. Many of you will understand what a difficult challenge that is (all you need to do is look at the amount of stash we stitchers accumulate!). And this is reflective of a lot of areas of my life. 

As part of the process of decluttering ... one needs to discard, sell and giveaway the items one no longer keeps. So for the embracing the giveaway ... I will host monthly giveaways. 

This is a handmade makeup or other purpose bag with a cross stitched winter witch (as can be seen in the picture). The cross stitch design is by the Snowflower Diaries.

Approximate measurements:

length: 16 cm

height: 10.5 cm

width of base: 3.5 cm (decreases to top)

All you have to do is comment on this post before the end of the month. And a winner will be announced in the first few days of March. Please make sure I can contact you.

Until soon,

Lija