Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Wipocalypse - February 2015

Dear all,

You might have noticed an updated Wipacalypse tab that I use to dump all my wips into. (I do need to tidy up those pesky tabs as well they are messing up the look of my blog!)

Well as I have missed out on January you can find an introduction to me on my 'Grow your Blog' post (Click HERE). I have some goals outlined in my Wipocalypse page/tab.

But essentially I am not going to stress out over completing all of them (as I never manage all of the set goals), so as long as I have some major finishes, a few goals met, a general decrease in the UFOs, decrease in the unstitches stash (to something more manageable in one lifetime) I will be happy.

And now onto progress update:

I have done quite a bit of work on the 'Ember II' by Maia. I only had the top left flower and some of the stem of the top right flower the last time you saw this:

February 2015
I am hoping to complete for the March update. But we will see if it is doable. My sister thinks it is a bit of a large goal and might take a little longer. 

I have promised to update you on the progress that I made on 'Harmony' by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. Well here it is:

February 2015
This is another of my wips that I am planning on completing at the start of 2015! To get ahead of my set goals. I say I don't care about the set goals, but in reality I do just a little.

Till soon,

 

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

The Sheep #2.7 and #2.8? or in other words I have a finish ...

Dear all,

I have finally completed 'Joyfulness' which I was stitching along with Sarah, Kaye and Anne.


Sarah has already turned hers into a gorgeous pillow! Click HERE to see. But mine will remain uncompleted for now.
 


So this is my first finish of 2015! How exciting. With slightly more time on my hands I have managed to update a few of my tabs: I have updated the pre-2015 finishes and started a new one for new finishes. Mainly since the other one was getting too large to manage. 2014 was a bit of a disappointment on the finishes front.

I have also updated the 'Stash'. It remains scary to look at but I am hopeful for 2015. I will make it more manageable and will try to stitch from it more! No new starts until I have a finish, and no new buys until two finishes (so should provide a decrease). But this is likely to prove to be a bit of a hard challenge.

I will need to deal with Wipocalypse tab in the next few days as I am already behind. Missed the first check in and should be doing my second one by now!

Till soon,




P.S. There is still some time to enter the giveaway on my 'Grow your Blog' post click HERE.

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Stitch from Stash - January 2015

Month: January 2015
Spent: £0
Earned: £0


Dear all,

If you are looking for the Grow Your Blog party post CLICK HERE. Or scroll down.

Sorry for a very boring/quick update ... just to say 4 days to go to the January deadline!

Thank you so much for those who have managed to visit me so far on my blog party, I will reply + return visit this weekend or rather next month! For those of you who came via SFS I am having a giveaway so scroll down for more info on the grow your blog post.

I know, I know a boring month for spending ... not for the lack of trying. I am still trying to get an order through that I started ordering last November! Then there is a kit I am craving but it is very very very expensive. So will require saving/earning spending money. Otherwise no time to shop. I had some progress on my wips, but no time to update you on it. You might have to wait till next month to potentially see some finishes (!) I hope anyhow.

I will be using £25 as my currency/budget. If you look at prices of threads in the USA you'd know why I have chosen to do so. And even though I do buy some charts (not threads) from USA I am trying to avoid it now as much as possible due to the import tax + £8 Royal Mail charge. Plus its sooooo much easier.

Till soon,

 

Sunday, 25 January 2015

Grow Your Blog ...

Hello all,

My name is Lija and I am a stitchaholic / stashaholic and bunch of other things. I started blogging a few years ago just when I came across an old project I never got to finish as a kid. I thought if I could post pictures of my finishes I would incidentally actually have many finishes. After all you cannot have a blog post without a finish ... oh how wrong and naive I was back then.


I have recently moved across country (England) to start as a tax trainee and am in love with my job. In my spare time (which I do not have a lot as of recent in view of it being a January) I stitch, sometimes knit, create art dolls, read (after all I used to be a part-time librarian for eight and a half years), blog, paint (exhibited in over 15 exhibitions) and grow orchids. I also started a handmade bags and accessories business with my family called ILiNi designs (sidebar for more info). 

So as not to bore you a few pictures ...

my first ever exchange ...
I do need to get back into stitching Margaret Sherry's designs with their whimsical look. I actually signed up for a SAL last year which requires my attention.

cross stitch with a bit sketching
I have participated in another exchange of Valentine cards, which promoted me to create in a similar style another Valentine card, and two thank you cards one with butterflies another with a bee. I love when cross stitch interlinks with an image. But this was slightly short lived deviation from the hobby as although I continued to make cards but somehow without the cross stitch.

So far we have created 3 art dolls, and are working on the next two. I am responsible for the drawn out faces and the individually sewn a strand at a time hair with a few extra details. I have knitted the cardigan for this one.
my first ever art doll in conjunction with mum
A Snowflower Diaries design stitched in hand dyed threads ...


I know, there is a first time for everything and lets say although I am not a convert into the hand dyed stuff ... as I do like to be able to reproduce exact same design as others rather than gamble on the tone of how particular shade turned out. And the lack of steadfastness definitely a put off. If one stitches a huge piece how is one expected to wash it. I can appreciate how this can work in smaller pieces.

orchid closeup
I do promise more pictures of orchids in the future. Oh how I wish I had a working camera. I own over ten orchids back up North with mum. And 5 down here with me. I am even attempting to grow a vanda. Not sure how that is working out. The flowers fell off and the instructions from the florist of soaking once a week made quite a few leaves rot. I am now spraying the roots with water every morning.


LHN sheep 'Hope'
And a sheep is one of my recent finishes through a SAL.

This is just a few thoughts etc. 

Giveaway:
I will be also having a giveaway. Deadline to enter is 15 February on this post. Just leave a comment. No rules (almost). I need to be able to contact you. So either leave your email in the comment or make sure you're replyable. 

The prize would be something made by me + something that you could use in your own hobby ... a bit vague I know. So another request ... please leave a link to your blog if you have one so I can get to know you. Or if you haven't got a blog say a little about yourself.


So till soon,

 


Check out the other blogs participating HERE.

Friday, 23 January 2015

The Sheep #2.5 and #2.6 ... have I caught up yet?

Hey all,

Only 9 days to go to the deadline! I am frequently becoming the last person out of office ... but hey ho it is great to be alive. I love it. Mind I wouldn't mind dreaming about the missing thread and fabric again! So I guess I am battling my addiction for cross stitch and becoming a workaholic? Or is that just wishful thinking? Still have the cravings to buy stash... but as I am doing Stitch from Stash (or stashers anonymous ... only joking) I am not allowed, gotta save to buy. But more on that later.

So the sheep:

1000 stitches



1200 stitches

1200 stitches
I also have some progress on 2 of my wips to share soon.

But until then,




Thursday, 15 January 2015

The Sheep SAL #2.3 and #2.4 ... or in other words I am soooo behind

Hi all,

Are you surprised hearing from me? Well I am.

This is my first post of 2015! Lets hope I'm not gonna spend the year with how I am starting ... late.

Most of you know how I moved down South (of England) for a job back in September ... well the business is taking hold of me. I am a tax trainee and with the tax returns being due on the 31 January following the fiscal year this is one busy period. Last week I managed 61 hours! I love it! It is amazing ... I sit down at the desk and don't realise how the time just disappears. The only issue is back pain. It is slightly better once the lovely person who sits next to me fixed my chair (it was locked in a silly reclining position).

Anyhow that is me to the end of the month sorted! It does have a slight limitation on my other activities. I still stitch about an hour before bedtime but not always am able to work on sheep as for example I tried yesterday and could not see the holes! It is 35 count even weave. Then there is the issue of photography (I know I know excuses excuses excuses).


600 stitches

800 stitches
Believe it or not I am almost done with the next 200 (due last Sunday). 50 to go. So who knows maybe this Sunday you will see 2 sheep and me catching up.

Thank you so much for your comments on my failed goals. Some of you had amazing ideas.

I particularly liked Shebafudge's ... to pick up a UFO and work 1 or 2 strands. Surely if I follow this advise I will get it done eventually ... when I am 200 years old knowing my dedication to those pesky UFOs. 

I am also limiting myself to what I join this year ... but more on that later. And I am definitely sticking by the sheep. If Sarah doesn't kick me out for being terrible at posting updates.

Till soon,




Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Sheep #2.2, TUSAL and Wipocalypse final post ...

Dear all,

I know I promised to have posted earlier ... but it has been really busy with the holidays (and then work) here ... my mum and little brother are were here to visit ... so we have been eating non stop, spending money, and eating more.

Hope everyone's festivities went well, I even managed to get a bit of stitching in. I got my sister a cross stitch present ... a kit for a bookmark. She is almost done with it already!!!

400 stitches in! I almost done the next lot ... but still have till tomorrow
[aside: I started composing this post earlier than it was posted].

TUSAL ... a bit of a failure on the posting front as the year worn on ... I have here September till now (as I left the beginning of the year's ORTs up North):


Next up is the Wipocalypse update ... (to some degree probably a failure):

1) Good Heavens by Margaret Sherry [Goal: Complete]

December 2013
No progress whatsoever, so back to being a UFO.

2) Christmas Candle - HAED [Goal: Complete another 5 3 pages]
So only 1/5 3 (goal) and 4/36 (total)

December 2013

only one page done a year later!

and I started the next page
Another page and a bit and I will reach the end of the first row. This project has been a struggle for me. I still love it for most part. Unlike the dragon for which I picked the wrong fabric this one is okay to stitch (apart from balancing the massive frame). It is just that I have soooo many projects, new and old, that it seems never enough time to concentrate just on one.

3) Yiota's Xstitch: Field of Poppies [Goal: Complete]
Based on Van Gogh's painting

January 2014
Nothing done at all. So a massive failure for this goal.

4) 'Picture of elegance'. [Goal: Complete]

December 2013 
Ehm, as above. This update is getting more upsetting by the minute.

5) Literate Dragon - HAED [Goal: complete the full SAL]


December 2013

This one has actually had some work done ...


1/4 pages done!

Regarding my UFOs ... lets say they remain mostly as such ... no change to:

6) Xmas Chums [Goal: Complete by next Christmas ... as if]

June 2012
Back to the lack of progress shame.


7)  'Tending the Flock' [Goal: Pick up and work on even if just a little]

Before 2012
No movement whatsoever.

8) Making Lickle Wishes [Goal: turn to a WIP]

April 2012
Ehm ... a pattern beginning to emerge of UFOs remaining UFOs?

9) Cabin Fever by Dimensions (Gold Collection) [Goal: turn into a WIP]

September 2012
July 2014

A tiny, tiny bit of progress!

10) John Clayton: Venice [Goal: complete]

December 2012
Still not unpicked!

New Starts:


11) JR01 Lean on Me by Judy Rossouw (anchor) [Goal: complete]

January 2014
  
May 2014
12) QS Poisonous Beauties by Jasmine Becket-Griffith - HAED [Goal: Complete 1 page]
So far 0/9


July 2014
I blame the move for the lack of progress.

 13) Ember II by Maia [Goal: Complete]


May 2014
14) Harmony by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe


November 2014

I really like how this project is coming along. I actually have more of the border stitched over Christmas.

15) Venice by Michael Powell

This is a triptych that I am stitching as one, and the first of the three has 6 pages. So I have done approximately one and a half.

December 2014

 

16) Brollies by Heritage Crafts (Twilights Series)

December 2014
This is actually a finish ... if you remember I had 'Boats' done from the series back in 2013 (I think).

And the photos of stash promised in the lats post:






Till soon,