Stitch from Stash - September 2014 and I have a new start ...

Dear all,

I am not certain about this month's report ... or rather whether to weep or be proud. I spent ... a total of zero pounds/ dollars/anyothercurrency (a first since I embarked on this challenge). I was way too busy with the move, and poor with spending all that hard earned cash on letting agents, rent, additional rent, and even it seems now going to be overlapping rent. It's not that the money went to  something nice (like a brand new printer for which I will need to start saving again soon) but hey ho that is life, and a girl needs a place to call home. And things should settle down soon, deposits and fees are a pain, but they tend to attack suddenly at the start.

But on the even brighter side ... I made a start from stash! Perfect!  And I have £/$45.03 to carry to the next month (or whenever I will actually have money). For the hardcore addict that I am it is sooo nice that I managed to resist the urge.

It is 'Harmony' by the amazing Nancy of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. I bought the chart from her in June (the spree month to be precise ... and if I am not buying any time soon I am planning on starting plenty from stash!). Fabric is evenweave (28 count I think although might be 32), it was bought and accounted for in August (and still for some reason coming out grey when it is more cream/peachy).  

latest threads won - featuring 1840 red violet in which I am stitching

The threads that I am using are of course hand dyed by Nancy herself, which I won awhile back and forgot to share photos of. I wish I could afford the entire collection (as do many others no doubt) ... one day. Nancy is soo generous, and this was actually a second time I won a giveaway from her. And this is my entire collection so far:

after a few projects stitched already there is still plenty!

Till soon,

Smalls #6 - very late

Hello all,

Encouraged by the relative success of the last post I have decided to update you on my last month's Smalls progress. I was sad to realise this morning that I missed last month's TUSAL, oh well that's what happens when internet goes off for almost a month.

Last month I have finished another letter by Nancy Turner of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. It is another A.

It was done on evenweave dyed with onion skins (aluminium mordant) by my mum. Stitched using Nancy's hand dyed floss: 1765 Burnt Russet, which I won in one of her generous giveaways. Speaking of generous giveways... I was also lucky enough to win more floss from Nancy. And I would obviously brag (but sigh I am updating from the phone). So I will share a photo of the chosen threads soon (along with a gorgeous new quaker sampler start).

I will update this month's Smalls (I do have a finish) and TUSAL in the next day or so.

Till soon,

Lija

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.

Smalls #5 - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe + a giveaway

I know I know it is Tuesday and no Tuesday Extravaganza (to be fair there is almost no progress from the last picture). I am seriously behind in several other updates too and will try to catch up in the next week or so. I thought of posting this finish as it is inoffensively simple (only one photo pretty much).

This is an 'Alphabet Ornament Collection: A' by Nancy Turner of The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

I have stitched this with 'the best orange' (hand dyed by Nancy) on evenweave (dyed by my lovely mum with red onion skin and aluminium mordant).

The green fabric is essentially a bit more green than what my camera took. It looks nice, I love the green and the threads (especially the blended effect from light to dark on A), it was a pleasure stitching! But I think I will be restitching this design again. As I feel there is too much of a military sense about it. Not sure why. Must be this shade of green. Maybe once I will make it into a proper finish it will feel less so. I wander what will happen if I stitch green on orange? maybe the second side to this ornament? what do you think? And have a cord in orange and green. I am also planning on stitching another A from the same set of charts. It has a bird in the pattern!

Would you like to stitch something in Nancy's threads, if so she is having another one of her generous giveaways:

click here

You have until 15th of June 2014. 

Till soon,

P.S. a sneak update for next month's finish ... the sheep are coming ... you can probably guess what I am stitching next