Stitch from Stash - August 2014

Dear all,

Just a quick check-in, as I am in the process of packing up to move tomorrow. The saddening part is that I cannot take all my stash with me, so had to be a little selective of few projects that I will work on in the next few months before I get a chance to travel back up North for the weekend.

My shopping last month was mainly fabrics. Hmm most of which I have to leave behind (ignore the grey undertone of my photo taking).

Mostly evenweave, just one 18 count (bottom picture left). Total cost £36.25 and £15 for a dmc 310 cone (sorry no picture). Total spend £51.25

Minus £25 (£/$) exemption ... I have £/$26.25 - £/$21.28 (previous month carried forward) ... £/$4.97 from current month's £/$25 .... so that is a total of £/$20.03 to carry to next month. It is a good thing we had the exemption this month or I wouldn't have made it.

Till soon,

Stitch from Stash report #6 ... this is my skip month, get ready to drool and faint ...

Dear all,

Get ready to drool ... ready? Well this is my skip month, so I have spent loads. Some women love bags, others love shoes, me ... I go for cross stitch. Lets say I am not looking forward to my credit card bill next month.

Some of you might remember the free postage offer Maja of the Snowflower Diaries had. Well, I contacted the lady to enquire about a few charts, then thread, and fabric. She is so lovely!

chart, fabric, and threads

charts, fabric, and threads

By then I spent over the monthly budget and needed to decide whether I was not going to buy one of the fabrics and replace with one of my own ... or use up the skip month. And as per last month's advise. Use skip month wisely and buy, buy, buy ... 

chart and threads

I bought one more. Click here to see all charts available to buy. And don't forget Maja has loads of free charts too on her blog here.

And I can actually share what arrived! As the package came yesterday, while I was at work and it was a lovely surprise to come to.

some threads Maja offered to send along with the purchase

And oh my goodness, she also sent me an extra chart! She is one generous lady.

But my shopping did not stop here!

I bought a chart from Gaynor of the Stitchers Anon Cross Stitch Designs

click here to go to her website. It was 3 Euros on sale. I just couldn't resist. 

Then there was a purchase from Love Thy Thread:

Maiko

After I purchased it, I was offered a 20% discount for registering with the website ... so of course I had to buy a few more:

Bewitched Park

Geisha

New Age Cross Stitch e-zine

All available to buy from here.


I bought 4 charts from Tilton crafts, 'Alice Series (Mizoguchi)':

Click here to buy or view.

I bought three charts from Livia Rovaris. The sheep have made an appearance on HAED page on facebook (not that they are extremely relevant to HAED stitching .... but sooooo cool). 

All available from here with reasonable postage.

Some more charts from Nancy of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe:

All available to buy from her eBay shop (there is a sale on at the moment). Click here.

I also made my first purchase from 123 and although I have an eye out on some kits and charts I felt I could not justify anymore stash in those departments ... so I bought some fabric instead (sigh I know I know this is a mad spree).

32 Count 18 x 27
Vinatage Country Mocha Belfast Linen

32 Count 18 x 27
Country Vintage Pebble Belfast Linen

32 Count 18 x 28
Vintage Cork Belfast Linen

And finally 32 Count Vintage Autumn Field Belfast Linen 18 x 27 which is now unavailable on 123 so I cannot copy an image over.

Available to buy from here.

Oh and I almost forgot ... also some Anchor threads enhancement:

50 anchor threads for £6.94 not bad

Oh no, no, no ...  last minute I could not resist and bought 3 kits from Michael Powell:

I will stitch them as one. There is a sale on until Sunday (up to 20%). So I saved on that and will get 2 extra charts (Greek Village and Mini Cottage 1) - as per what the email said, plus as I am registered for emails so I got an extra 5% discount. 

I better sign off before I remember a last minute purchase that I needed to make.

Puppy Love by Margaret Sherry

Dear all,

Days seem to fly by, 'to do list' seems to grow, and I fall behind with it. There was a Wipocalypse check in recently ... hmm 3 whole days ago. But as I only have little time before I depart for work I decided I can't face such a big task. So I will skip (or rather fall behind) the Wipocalypse, graduation, and the Edinburgh trip updates (I do have some pictures to share).

Instead you can see my Puppy Love final post ... since I was going only to do 4 of them ... they are all done now ...

Puppy #1

Puppy #2

Puppy #3

and the last one ...

Puppy #4

I got the chart from bookazine "The Best of Margaret Sherry". And the 4 chosen puppies were stitched on fennel dyed evenweave. 

A few giveaways:

#1 - 'Cherries per te' blog birth giveaway @ In the World of Cooking

One of the ladies whom I follow posted about this small giveaway ... apologies for a late notice. Franca is only starting out in the world of blogging ... and I do hope she will stay for a long journey ... she has already posted 2 exciting recipes that I would like to try (she has a google translate on her blog - excellent for me), very exciting. 

To enter click HERE.

Deadline: Tonight midnight (not sure what time zone)!

The next two giveaways belong to a very friendly lady, Bernadett, whom I follow. Thanks to her I have potentially found a new place for bargain shopping online 

#2 - Blog Anniversary Giveaway @ Petite Armoire

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 31st July 2013

#3 - 200 Followers Giveaway @ Petite Armoire 

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 31st July 2013

Well on this very pleasant note I will say goodbye, lets hope till soon when I can share my last weeks adventures and last months of stitching (most of which you have already saw).

Fabrics and other ...

Dear all,

It has been a week since my last post ... and it does seem that I only get a little me time for posting during the weekends. But that is okay I do still get my daily intake of cross stitching and reading other blogs. I am hoping once the faulty component from my computer comes back and I will yet again expand the ram the new refound speed will help me to get about the internet world faster with less crashes.

In this as promised I will share all the fabrics my mum dyed. I will mention what substance she has used for the dye, and what mordant (where I had made a note).

all the dyed fabrics in their plastic packets

bottom row from above ...

top row from above ...

... now without the packets ...

#1: 

evenweave

dyed - curry

mordant - aluminium

#2:

evenweave

dyed - onion skins

mordant - white vinegar

#3:

evenweave

dyed - onion skins

mordant - aluminium

#4:

evenweave

dyed - red onion skins

mordant - aluminium

Another picture:

The camera did not do justice to this deep green. It is gorgeous ... and more appealing in real life.

#5:

Another green ... same colour but a lighter shade.

evenweave

dyed - red onion skins

mordant - vinegar

#6:

evenweave

dyed - curry + elderberries

mordant - ?

#7:
This fabric I am currently using for the puppies from 'Puppy Love' by Margaret Sherry

evenweave

dyed - fennel

mordant - ?

#8:
 In real life the colour is brighter ... more orangy peach.

bookmark

dyed - paprika

mordant - ?

#9:

? count (larger squares than 14)

dyed - red onion skin

mordant - none?

#10:

 I am giving some of this away in my giveaway - click here - for details.

22 count

dyed - turmeric

mordant - ?

#11:

Again picture does no justice ... the colour is more clean in real life - light peach.

14 count

dyed - onion skins

mordant - none?

#12:
 again less grey more light yellow (close to ochre)

16 count

dyed - little of turmeric + basil + marigold mixture

mordant - ?

Probably overall the closeups ended up worser than the whole together capture for the fabric colours.

Anyhow just wanted to share some of the gorgeous fabric that I own. These are all of the ones my mum has dyed. But I have also purchased quite a few pieces during the exams stress... so now I have a little draw of stash.

I have two more small finishes to share ... but till the next post ... and maybe by then I will have my third.

Giveaways:

Yes, a few more to share. 

#1 - Special (floss) Give-away @ Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

One of my favourite regular give-aways ... of course I never win. And this one for entering someone else rather than yourself. But I love looking at the dyed floss ... and keep promising as soon as I sort my finances out I will invest in a more independent floss than DMC/Anchor. It is right at the top with purchasing my very first LHN. 

To enter click here.

Deadline: 30th July 2013.

#2 - French Giveaway @ EmiliaSoVa

The lady creates gorgeous dolls; and generously is having a giveaway for some beautiful fabrics.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 15th June 2013

#3 Fabric Giveaway @ MoiSkrapinki

A very creative lady is having a generous giveaway of some of her fabrics.

So, take a peak at her blog.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 8th July 2013

#4 Giveaway @ Murzilka Moya

Some more fabric being given away:

The fabric:

But the lady is also giving away some other bits and bobs so take a look at her blog.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 15th July 2013.

#5 Giveaway @ Тайские всякости

And for my last to be mentioned giveaway there is something very pretty:

To enter click here.

Deadline: 15th July 2013

Till soon, when I will show off my small finishes.