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,

Some great eBay sellers, another review, and yes more giveaways ...

Dear all,

Aren't I'm frequent? 1st of all hello to my new followers, it is always nice to make new friends.

I think it is probably that I haven't been blogging for some time during the exams that I have so much to say. I should get my results next week, so both excited and scared at the same time.
There are certain things people end up doing due to stress and to calm down. What was my vice during long days revision do you think? And no it was not to pick up cross stitch more often ... I forbid me to do that. Instead it was eBay shopping ... dare I say, stash!

eBay:

So wanted to share 2 'stories' with you.

#1:
Remember the following fella by Judy Rossouw:

does my bum look big in this?

Well one of my eBay searches was concerning can I find anything else by this lady... And I am now a proud owner of the following kit:

Love at First Sight

I bought it from a lady on eBay; and not only that but once I mentioned I am having difficulty finding patterns/kits by this artist/designer the lady responded saying she came across a chart with Flamingos by Judy Rossouw ... she then looked up the issue name and number and found me another seller on eBay who sold this chart! Talk about amazing service! The flamingo chart (which I own as well):

hooked on you

This lady is selling more cross stitch stuff HERE. So do check out Lovinastitch (that's what she calls herself). I love the 28 count fabric ... but after the amount I have bought I think I am placing myself on a ban (though most individually were great deals).

#2:

Concerns DMC threads. Threads are so expensive! About 70/80p in shops per skein. Browsing the web so far one can get it down to 42p + postage. Well I found an even better offer!!!

Not sure how long its for as it is a sale. Click HERE.

If you are buying over 105 it is 30p per skein, and 35p for numbers below that, and free delivery. Have to warn you though it does not come from smoke free environment if you are squirmy about such stuff. I am airing all my threads before adding them to mine, but for such value one doesn't mind pegging them outside. 

Bargains right? 

Review:

Now a review. This one is actually getting a good rating:

'20 Floral Bags to Make' by Susan Cariello 7/10
This book one doesn't get for the bags, but for the flowers. There a few techniques I will be trying from this book. It is definitely time to venture into the 'More' of the 'Stitching in Crosses and More ...'

 

Giveaways:

#1 - 300 Follower/300th post giveaway @ Kitten Stitching
Kaye is giving away some pretty exciting stuff; to be fair if you are not already following this lady, you probably should.

look at the cat Kaye stitched!

To see more pictures, and find out how to enter click HERE.

Deadline: 2nd July 2013

#2 - Bear No.80 Giveaway @ Bears with Numbers

The giveaway is for the following items. Lydia is very kind don't you think? I do love her bears and looking forward to following the blog. Do 'bear' [wink] she writes in russian.

To enter click here. 

Deadline: 21st June 2013.

#3 - 1st Blogaversary Giveaway @ Igrushkin House 

Another pretty toy from a russian blog:

Did I mention I was going to sew a soft toy? I will mention in another post sometime.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 23rd June 2013.

#4 - SANQ Vol. 9 Giveaway @ A Stitcher's Story

Vickie is giving away a few samplers' charts. These are just a few of them:

I am myself not that into samplers so won't participate ... but they look so good I just had to share.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 23rd June 2013

#5 1st Blogaversary Giveaway @ by-ekaterina 

the blog is called differently ... but in russian, but it does have the lady's name in the title.

Ekaterina is giving away this gorgeous handmade notebook:

Isn't she very talented?

To eneter click here.

Deadline: 25th June 2013.

#6 - A Special give-away, please enter now @ Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

Nancy is having yet another exciting giveaway. I really need to win the lottery so I can buy everything I want. Her threads are definitely on the list. This giveaway is for you to enter a friend. I have entered my sister. Who will you enter?

To enter click here.

Deadline: 30th June 2013

#7 - Blog Birthday @ Pontinhos da Kat

And the gorgeous giveaway is:

I have been wanting to stitch a bicycle for some time now. 

To eneter click here.

Deadline: 30th June 2013

#8 - Just a Giveaway @ Rukodelkin Dom

Another generous lady from Russia giving a gift.

To enter click here.

Deadline: 30th June 2013

And lastly ...

#9 - Chart giveaway @ Tangled Threads

One of my favourite designers Rhona Norrie is giving away the following chart:

I am not entering myself, but I bet someone else would like a chance to win this chart. 

To enter click here.

Deadline: 24th June 2013

Till soon,