Smalls #4 - a lovely The Snowflower Diaries finish, my new orchids & TUSAL #5

Hello all,

a slightly belated post on my latest finish for the smalls sal. It is 'Cherry Tree' by TheSnowflower Diaries. If you remember it was gifted to me as a kit for Christmas by my sister. 

I am not sure if many of you are aware but I was struggling, through my own fault, with this design. The green grass on the bottom left I stitched in columns of six (as I was stitching from centre outwards and did not want to make a counting error). Well, as you know this hand dyed stuff tends to be slightly variated. So I had myself columns of six highly visible. I was then debating of whether to leave it that way or unpick it. In the end I unpicked half of the stitching (as the rest was not too bad) and tried matching the shade of floss to the remaining block (to avoid the dreaded line). I think it has worked. 

fabric and thread info

Here are some close-ups of my new orchid. I bought it for £6 (half price!) in a ceramic pot. Pretty good deal as a pot normally costs £2 at least.

And my Tusal update. Not a lot as my last update was soooo late.

2014 so far in a jar

and after some prodding

Till soon (I have another finish to show off),

TUSAL #4 & Wipocalypse #4 ... some progress and new starts

Hello all,

and here is finally me with a stitchy update. I finished work early this afternoon and came home with a full intention if sitting down and posting. Instead as it was nice weather I have repotted three orchids. I have separated mum and baby (one of my orchids had a baby, or keiki), last time I potted them together, but I thought maybe they want their own pots. I could have left them for longer before repotting but the mum had two new roots one of which was growing straight into the cable tie support. I also finally braved cutting off flowers from the third and repotting it (it got left out last time). Since one of my others is in bloom (3 huge purple flowers) I am not as upset with the repotted one. I recently bought a sixth orchid to my collection cheaply thinking I could save it. But I do not know. It is very different to my others and I found 4 spiders on it so far. So at the moment it is in quarantine in the bathtub. I will try repotting it the next time.

orchid that lost its flowers and a biscornu (I might have forgot to share this finish with you)

But I promised cross stitch, so ...

Tusal:

2014 and 4th lot

2014 so far

I definitely need a bigger jar. Though I must admit some of the threads were not from stitching but the sort of my thread shopping from a charity shop (I mentioned it a while back) ... so finally got to it. But more on it in the next Stitch from Stash update.

Wipocalypse:

Christmas Candle:

March 2014

April 2014

Alright this actually looks like no progress whatsoever hmmm. I promise you I did do a few night of stitching on it.

QS Literate Dragon:

March 2014

April 2014

Slightly more progress than on the previous piece. Need to get this one out again soon. I have missed it.

Lean on Me:

March 2014

April 2014

A bit more backstitching done.

Okay now onto real progress. I have started two new projects. The kit was from stash, and the HAED was started using stashed threads and chart, fabric bought last month, and the frame my mum got me for Christmas.

So the new starts are:

QS Poisonous Beauties by Jasmine Becket-Griffith (9 pages)

April 2014

and

Ember II by Maia

April 2014

One flower is almost fully stitched.

closeup

That's all for now. I need a small finish for next week's update ... and I am at a loss. I have completed the kit my sister gifted to me on Christmas ... but as I stitched the grass in columns of 6 crosses using hand dyed floss ... it looks slightly wrong. So I do not know whether I should unpick and start that area again.

Till soon,

P.S. Almost forgot to answer ... how do I keep my stash organised? [edited to include photos]

in the cupboard on the right ...

1 shelf full of progress in individual folders/pockets (and a box of winded thread)

1 shelf full of stashed kits, free kits from magazine in the purple box, and bits and bobs including needles in the yellow one

In the centre set of drawers:

1 drawer of fabric and hand dyed floss

a bit ruffled

Then ...

1 drawer (this one in my desk) of current haeds as in box of winded threads and printed charts

the bottom box with umbrellas has buttons, needles, etc, transparent box on top has all my finishes, and behind the picture ...

2 boxes with a total of 4 drawers full of dmc threads

1 cardboard box of anchor threads under bed (top one)

2 frames next to drawers with stitching

and under drawers 5 bags of threads and some fabric ... you can see one of the bags here

and 3 boxes of cross stitch magazines:

the one in the centre ... the rest is some of the knitting ones ... I have more of those

half the box on the bottom

Mind, there is also a binder with magazines, which I forgot to photograph.

Not one, not two, but three finishes to show ...

Dear all, 

Before I show off my latest finishes I wanted to make a claim to fame. Some of you have already noticed that I was featured in the latest issue of the World of Cross Stitching, on the reader panel.

The World of Cross Stitching issue 206

... and here is proof ...

Following my comment on the Gorjuss chart the publishers were kind enough to post me a second copy. And so you know my predictions came true!

And now onto stitching ...

#1 - Biscornu #671 

These biscornus will be made up soon ... I promise ... but for now here are the panels. The chart was acquired from the Floss Box (check out the sidebar for that). Fabric is 14 count aida - cream ivory in colour. I have used just anchor for this project: 211,149, 146, 266, 29, 144, 27.

back

front

#2 - Come With Me by Snowflower Diaries

I completed it on evenweave dyed with fennel (like the puppies I stitched earlier) using dmc 102 variated. Purple is my favourite colour so I am quite happy with it. A proper finish finish is to follow.

And finally .... something you probably were not expecting to get finished/or have forgotten entirely about ... I finished the backstitching... finally:

#3 - Kiongozi - Dance Leader

Original art work by the Kenya artist Gakonga.

Stitched in anchor on count 18 cream Aida.

Kit by Fleur de Lis

 Till soon,

               

TUSAL - post 7, several finishes, new favourite online shop and some giveaways to share ...

Dear all,

I am going to Edinburgh tomorrow to visit the zoo and their pandas! I am very excited. And it is my graduation (again) next Wednesday ... so there are tonnes of excitement in my life.

On to updates.

TUSAL:

July 2013

2013 so far and July

2013 so far with July 

So many orts ... will need to push them into the glass soon ... or get a larger jar.

Some finishes and a new favourite shop:

The new shop came recommended by the amazing Sarah of 'Sarah in Stitches'. Click HERE to see her blog.

And the shop (you might ask) is The Floss Box. To check it out click HERE.

It has long been my desire to stitch a biscornu or two, so I have asked Sarah what shop would she recommend, and she was kind enough to respond with some suggestions. At the Floss Box the charts can be either downloaded, sent to you by email or post. I stuck to downloading ... and had them immediately on payment. They are also quite cheap and could be bought with paypal. I bought 4 so far, and have stitched 2 already (3rd is in progress).

The finishes include:

Biscornu #105:

I have used slightly different colours by Anchor:

168

302

304

311

316

877

and this is how it came out:

 

Biscornu #330

This biscornu is in monochrome. I used DMC 69 on black fabric. The thread is variated colour.

back

front

I love how this one turned out, though it took longer than expected to stitch it. I do have the final puppy by Margaret Sherry to show you ... but I'll leave that for a separate post.

Giveaways:

#1 - Cushion give away @ Eline Pellinkhof a designer's journal / Ard's - Catch 22

To enter you need 2 messages:

- 1 here

- 1 here

Deadline: 17th July 2013

#2 - 50 followers giveaway @ Heather's Stitches

A lady that I follow is currently celebrating reaching 50 followers with some stationary and tea giveaway (I do love tea).

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 31st July 2013

#3 - 60th Birthday giveaway @ Everybody loved Clark

It was recently brought to my attention that this lady is having an extremely generous giveaway. So I am passing on the information (which to be fair most of you already have).

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 15th July 2013

#4 - 200 Followers Bunny giveaway @ Cross Stitch Cottage

It seems only recently did this lady celebrate her 100 followers giveaway, but she is becoming increasingly popular; pop along to see her knitting and embroidery creations ... and her magnificent cat. I need one of those.

To enter click HERE.

Deadline: 31st July 2013

#5 - A spotty giveaway @ PatchMania

A lady who creates some great patchwork is having a giveaway. I am so jealous of the quality of her photos. 

love the spots ...

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 25th July 2013

#6 - Giveaway @ A House by the Sea

Another kind giveaway:

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 24th July 2013

#7 - Varnish/Silk giveaway @ Sunny world of Yamir

This lady is doing two giveaways ... silk yarn and nail varnish.

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 20th July 2013

#8 Giveaway with a surprise @ Handmade by Natulja

Another blog I have discovered where a lady makes adorable toys from linen. I will begin my own soon ... I promise (my will be fluffy and cute ... I think)

To enter click HERE

Deadline: 25th July 2013

#9 - 2nd blogaversary Giveaway @ Sub Rosa Cross Stitch blog

A lady that I follow is having a giveaway of 3 cushions! There will be 3 winners. She designs some lovely designs. One could lose track of all the things I want to buy.

But if you are not the winner or are and want the patterns the lady is giving them free if you purchase one of her charts (till 31st July 2013). I might be very tempted by this (will wait for my pay first to see if I can afford a little stash enhancement).

To enter click HERE.

Deadline: 20th July 2013

Till soon,