I'm not fat by Margaret Sherry and some unexpected downsizing to stash

Dear all

'I'm not fat...' by Margaret Sherry is coming along well. I have now completed stitching the cat and am onto the cupcake with only the frame and backstitching to go.

WIP - 2 March 2020

I may take a break from this design to stitch a couple of magpies. 

Speaking of my magpies, this is the chart I am designing based on one of my paintings I gave you a sneak peak last time, after commencing stitching I have realised I hate 14 count fabric. Having not used 14 count in so long I forgot how with using 2 strands the white comes through the design. If a kit has empty space for a background I swap the fabric out for even weave and where there is full coverage I prefer 18 count (with 16 at a push). Interestingly I tried either 20 count and hated it as the fabric was less structured.

So I will be saying good bye to 5 packs of 14 count fabric. Not quite the kits or charts that I am tracking, but there is definitely space appearing in my cross stitch / knitting drawer.

Until soon

Lija

New starts, some downsizing, and resolution not to wash my finished projects

Dear all

I was digging in my stash on Friday night to find an easyish project to work on. Ideally not a large one. So the one that took my fancy was 'I'm not fat ...' by Margaret Sherry.

WIP - 16 February 2020

Years ago I bought two kits from Sherry Lewis Kits, this was when Margaret Sherry ventured out into a partnership with Cathy Lewis. However the business was subsequently dissolved. For years I have picked the projects out and put them away. But now it looks as if at least one will be completed. I have replaced 14 count with even weave fabric.

Whilst digging through my pile of stash I have decided to say good bye to 'Love' by Livia Rovaris and 'Let's do coffee' by Ursula Michael. Both are charts stitched in one colour that at this point in my life I don't see myself ever picking up. I still love Ursula's chart ... however I do hate backstitching so lets be realistic ... will I ever pick up a chart that predominantly uses backstitching? Both have joined the eBay pile. Hopefully someone will give them a much needed love. So here is to downsizing my stash list by further 2 projects. 

Having slightly improved my stash / projects in respect of my desire to minimise ... I have went and done the unspeakable ... I started a new project that is not on the list! I have designed my own cross stitch chart of two magpies based on original art work by me. Assembled the kit ... and am now stitching and manually adjusting the pattern. 

WIP - 14 February 2020

And speaking of assembling threads I have decided to rinse a few that were what I felt a little stale from storage ... and yikes the navy DMC 939 bled so much in the sink! It made me resolve not to wash my finished projects going forwards!

Until soon,

Lija

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

Welcome to 2016 ...

Hello all and welcome to 2016 ...

... I can't believe I haven't posted since October. I do need to be better this year (blogging is one of my 10 New Year resolutions), so here we go off to a flying start with a sum up of a year and setting up goals for the year ahead.

I have only completed 3 of my goals in 2015 ... so hopefully 2016 will be better.

1) Christmas Candle - HAED

Before:

December 2014

After:

December 2015

The goal was to complete the last two pages of the top row, which as you can see I have not managed.

The plan for 2016 is therefore the same goal as last time ... complete the two top pages. 

2) Ember II by Maia. Complete this project ... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

May 2014

After:

April 2015

3) Yiota's Xstitch: Fields of Poppies. Complete one page ... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

January 2014

After:

April 2015

Seven more pages to go ... so I think I will set myself a target to stitch another one.

4) Literate Dragon HAED. Complete the bottom left page... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

April 2014

After:

December 2015

Guess what I think I will go for the top right this year ... that way we might finish this by 2017!

5) QS Poisonous Beauties (complete page 1) - not stitched. Ditto for 2016.

6) Harmony by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe (goal complete) ... some progress made here, but not quite enough.

Before:

November 2014

After:

December 2015

Lets get this one complete in 2016!!!

7) Venice by Michael Powell (goal: complete the first triptych) ... again progress was made

Before:

December 2014

After:

December 2015

Ditto for 2016.

8) Spring bouquet by Margaret Sherry (goal: complete). Very small progress:

Before:

After:

Ditto for 2016.

9) I feel a bit light headed by Judy Rossouw (goal complete)... no stitching

10) unassigned as Xmas chums was scrapped.

11)  'Tending the Flock' (goal: complete 2 colours) ... no joy ...

12) Making Lickle Wishes (goal: 1 colour) ... ditto ...

13) Cabin Fever by Dimensions (goal complete the cabin) ... I think I stitched about 2 crosses before giving up.

14) John Clayton - Venice (goal complete) ... this is becoming slightly monotonous.

15) 'Picture of elegance' (goal complete) ... ditto

16) Good Heavens by Margaret Sherry (goal complete) ... finally I have some progress to share (and see how good my new camera is ... the fabric actually appears blue):

Before:

December 2013

After:

December 2015

I then scheduled some starts ... but what I started and what were schedule are slightly different.

Starts:

17) Iris by John Clayton (Connections)

December 2015

18) Autumn Glory by Snowflower Diaries

December 2015

19) Twilight & Magic by Suzanne Gyseman HAED 

December 2015

20) Sheep SAL (LHN designs) So far in this SAL I should have had 6 sheep ... instead I am slightly shy of 6 ...

But I have Gratitude complete!!!

December 2015

I will try to get Faith done shortly so that I am officially caught up...

December 2015

Now I feel fully ready for 2016! With 10 New Year resolutions set and stitching plans made I just now need extra hours in a day. (To see my 2016 stitchy goals check out the wipocalypse tab)

Till soon,

Wipocalypse and TUSAL update - July 2014 (two months worth)

Hello all,

I have internet again! Feels very strange to be able to access emails and other necessities of life in a few moments. I am going to move South in September, so desperately trying to find a place to live. It is harder than I originally thought. Oh well, persevere, persevere, persevere.

This is belated (nothing new). So hopefully I can get all the late July posts out of the way and move on to the promised giveaway. But before I can do that I do need to look at my stash again, just to see what I no longer need.

First up is TUSAL ... with the baby orchid. Remember I have mentioned that one of my orchids had a baby (or keiki as they are known), well this young plant that has been potted on its own for only 5 months has now flowered!

Wipocalypse:

Christmas Candle (HAED)

May 2014

July 2014

Almost there. A bit more on the hair and leaves and a page finish is slowly coming along.

QS Poisonous Beauties:

May 2014

July 2014

Cabin Fever

September 2012

July 2014

There is not much progress on this one, but some progress is better than none, and after almost two years of no stitching this is now hopefully turning into a wip.

I have a few starts as well:

MSherry SAL update:

'Spring bouquet' by Margaret Sherry from CrossStitch Crazy issue 174 (March 2013):

July 2014

I feel a bit light headed by Judy Rossouw (Anchor kit)

July 2014

A close up if you can't see what I have stitched

Brollies (Heritage Crafts):

July 2014

Venice Palazzo by Michael Powell:

July 2014

and thats how huge the entire design is!

I know my starts are a little pathetic, but hey ho maybe they will grow by the next update.

Till soon,

P.S. in view of Wipocalypse question (always forget them). I haven't started any Christmas stitching. Not sure when (or even if) I will get around to that.

Reports, reports, reports ... Wipocalypse #2 and Stitch from Stash #2

Dear all,

I am as always being busy, busy, busy ... apologies for a belated (as per usual) update on Wipocalypse, but for one I really wanted to have some progress to show ... and not just a fabric with two extra crosses.

First up is QS 'Literate Dragon':

December 2013

February 2014

page done!!!

Well it doesn't look like much, but this progress took me about 4 nights. I have finally finished off the bottom right page properly (so many colours for so little! Each colour seemed to only have one cross or so). Yuppy! And started on the bottom left next.

My other progress is on the 'Lean on Me' that I started as part of Stitch from Stash last month:

January 2014

February 2014

I wanted to have this one done, but didn't quite make it before posting. Just the backstitching left. I was also going to start another piece from stash, but didn't get around. I have started the prep and all:

all colours for QS Literate Dragon and Christmas Candle

with those additional skeins and kreinik

I know this is for my current major projects, but now I do not have to be frustrated when I go search for some colour. Hence I was able to finish that page on the 'QS Literate Dragon'. I also now started to gather the threads for the next few projects I am going to start. I already bought threads awhile back for 'QS Poisonous Beauties', then I am starting a Margaret Sherry Sal as mentioned previously so I got the list of threads, put it together with that of 'Alice Enchanted' (gifted to me last year), and the list of LHN small projects. Then I got together all of the skeins I already had into a bag (well actually two, as half of them stink of cigarettes from when I bought them so continuing to get rid of smell through putting cloths for tumble drier in there). And ordered the rest ... so naturally time for my buying report:

Margaret Sherry had half price on her website (click here). The kits are no longer on sale, but the hen one is ridiculously cheap now ... as in 75% off! Wish I waited.

£9.47

£11.97

So that is a total of £21.44 spent.

Full report:

£/$21.50 was brought forward, then this moth's allowance is £/$25. This lets me carry forward £/$25.06! Go me.

But wait you'd say that I mentioned that I bought some threads too.

Well yes, I have. I bought 99 skeins of dmc, large bobbin storage box, 2 metal craft rings, 18 count aida (magic guide) for 'QS Poisonous Beauties', all for a total of £48.96. This was all bought from Cross Stitch Heaven. I was putting this massive order off for the next month, but that exemption/splurge weekend came in handy. Especially since I am planning a trip to a charity shop (I hear they have cheap floss at the moment).

And just before I go I will answer Measi's Wipocalypse question:

Topic: How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!

A very hard question indeed. I have as you know 11 official wips and increasing, but then there are the smalls I no longer count towards wipocalypse too. I get a little panicky when I think about 'the number', but they are better being stitched on than waiting in the stash pile ... right? I do not do rotations per se, but I choose whatever I feel like stitching (sometimes I ask mum if I can't decide) and stitch till I get bored with it and then move on. Having said that if I have some SAL/exchange etc commitments, that would take priority over my random picks. I have also started making jewellery and art dolls, so that takes some time away from cross stitching too.