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.