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,

            

Book reviews and blog giveaways ... what else can one need?

A while ago I have attempted to start a reading blog, which was a bit of a failure ... so here is an attempt at slightly merging the two. I have put up a new tab for crafty books that I browsed through/read/used ... so if anyone interested in some to browse that will have the full list.

The three additions:

'Quilting on the go!' by Jessica Alexandrakis 2/10
I am not too into repetitive patterns of various shapes. If you are then this book will be great for you.
Interestingly it also has a bit about quilting and blogs, links, online quilt-alongs, and where to buy materials. It has all the different templates to actual size, and the layouts for assembling them.





'Little Sew & Sew' by Christine Leech 1/10
Too simple for me; most designs are in outline stitching.

   

'Vintage Craft' by Pearl Lowe 2/10
It is a very beautiful book, but most projects are not very practical. Has anyone ever got dried leaves and plants for decoration? They never keep long and become very horrible with dust. Quite a few projects in this book are only for a short term purpose too. I would personally use the book as inspiration for style, rather than specific projects. There was something that caught my eye though - an office in a wardrobe. The one in the book was of course not very practical, more for decoration, but it reflects those storage facilities that are so expensive to acquire. With enough DIY any one of us can turn an old wardrobe into a great storage/office... and even make it attractive.



For my 100 followers giveaway check out the previous post. But there are so many more out there (a sidebar with links I seen on a few blogs looks very neat I think). Will add one for the giveaways I come across, regardless of my entering them.

So to start it off...

#1 - 25 follower giveaway @ Wisdom with Needle and Thread 

Some of the gorgeous things Kim is giving away:

To enter click here.

Deadline: 1st July 2013.

#2 - 100 follower giveaway @ Cross Stitch Cottage

Meggie has reached 100 followers, just like me ... so go visit her blog too.

To enter click here.
Deadline: 30th June 2013.

Till soon (when I hopefully get around to sharing some pictures of all the gorgeous hand dyed fabric that I have).


           

Lack of Maths ...

I have now written my last ever exam, so that calls for the update on all the projects I have not listed here in the past two months.

That's almost true. Even though I have now completed my maths degree (I hope - still need to keep my little fingers crossed for the results which come out next month) I have an offer for a graduate 9 month course starting in September. If I get the grade [sigh]. Next lie was the total update of the last 2 months of cross stitch. I will exclude two finishes for now; they were on the Wipocalypse list, and the next update is in just over a week. So I might wait till then. But even so there is quite a bit to admire...

I have mentioned a few cards for friends' birthdays. The first up I haven't made up into a card yet ... it is the dreaded rose:

You can see where I have run out of yellow and green. After I have stitched it someone pointed out that the person I have stitched it for was colour blind. It is hard for him to see a clear difference between red and green. So I have put it in the box of completed embroidery (it bound to come in handy some time in the future) and made my friend a replacement: 

 One can't go wrong with a black and white image, right? The design was from the World of Cross Stitching issue 164, from a selection of the 'Blackwork Garden' by Liz Almond. For my two colleagues at work I have done another 2 quick stitches from there:

... and the second ...

They were surprisingly very fast to stitch. And for my other two friends, who's birthdays also came in the month of all birthdays I have made two cards from the World of Cross Stitching issue 189, 'Current Classics' designed by Rhona Norrie:

Rhona does beautiful designs, that appear in the current issues of cross stitching magazines, and also on her website. I have a few designs on my list of things to purchase. Her blog is Tangled Threads if you are intrigued.

Ok that's it ... me done on my little update on all but two finishes. What's next you'd ask. I have an entire summer before me. I'm still in the process of getting a list (and it is huge already). For starters I have a part time job, so that cuts the free time down. Then last year I have started my own little business of handmade bags and accessories. The plan is to sell online ... but my website is still at the design stage. So eBay it is for now. My latest project is this amazing (even if I say so myself) silk scarf covered in oranges:

Each orange was individually drawn out in gutta and then painted. I am now adding on bits of felt to make it even more special. It is almost done and I am already planning the next one. Do note one of my oil paintings in the background. Art has been neglected in the extreme in the past year or two, so sketching by the river, and painting in the studio, is definitely on the list. Speaking of art I need to start up the Life Drawing sessions again, which I lead here at Durham. Complete the long distance course for my certificate in Life Drawing, maybe dig up that long distance course on creative writing that has been hiding in the bottom draw. There is over 40 books I need to read and return to the library. Tax returns to fill, invoices to do... downgrade my belongings to two car loads before I need to move (at the moment there is a total of three!)...there is also that summer exchange to stitch for. I might stop listing now ... and actually do something... 

But before I go I have another announcement to make. The Summer Extravaganza. After some time in the blogging world I had come across something called HAED. It confused me to great deal. But with time I came to realise I want to stitch one of those. One of my motivators for typing 60 odd pages on the WKB approximation in April was to glance at a picture of my chosen design. And now it is almost reward time. The Summer Extravaganza, since it is summer, and the start is the 1st of June, will consist of my sister (who decided to join me on this little adventure) stitching our chosen designs, and posting each week to note the progress on our blogs. Still need to think of a prize ... since most SALs here have one available.

This is all the dmc thread that I will need for mine

In reality to make it a little more fair we have decided to stitch the same amount of stitches as each other, so my sister has 3 projects, and I one large, plus will need to make up a few thousand stitches somewhere else. Do check out Snoopy's blog. 

More updates on the excitement of a maths free life to follow.

Lija

P.S. Thank you for all those well wishes for my exams. They did help me in the motivation for the horrendous revision.

Oh dear ... I have missed some out

I have been tidying up ... and managed to find more unfinished projects .... how is it possible that they keep appearing in the most unlikeliest places.

So the updated list:

1) Handpicked by Fizzy

2) Country Trio

3) Lickle Ted with a daffodil - I have found the unfinished project

4) Xmas Chums

5) Good Heavens

6) Making Lickle Wishes

7) John Clayton: Big Ben

8) John Clayton: Venice

9) John Clayton: Calla Lily

10) does my bum look big in this?

11) A "secret" card

12) The Snowman Card

[and now the added ones]:

13) 'Meet Baby Newton' from The World of Cross Stitching issue 128. I have definitely forgotten this one.

14) Fizzy Moon card kit. Again my backstitching is lacking.

15) 'Tending the Flock' from Cherished Teddies and Friends. A matching pillow hopefully to one in my earlier posts.

16) 'Picture of elegance'. I have started Sara Moon from The World of Cross Stitching issue 181. 

Oh well, I now have a 16 instead of a 12 list ... I guess there is a bigger choice for me to crack on with.

Thank you for the lovely comments on the previous post. Yes, I tend to stitch an entire colour before going onto next, unless they are broken up. Start in the middle and unless there is a massive gap continue with one colour. I guess it will be different with huge pieces that require many many chart pages. That way I can see progress, and will not get annoyed with finding more and more missed crosses of colour.

My New Year Stitching Resolutions for 2012

Well, one of my resolutions should be to stitch less ... after all I have thousands of things that need to be done apart from my lovely projects. 

But even so I want to mark some progress in this year. So my 12 projects - one for each month. This is a rough guide, as they are all different sizes, and would take various lengths of time. Also again my availability to stitch would vary from month to month. So in no order of preference:

1) 'Handpicked by Fizzy'. This is from a Calendar that came with World of Cross Stitching magazine. I have not begun the project yet. But it was in my list to do last year. I have stitched one other design from the 4 in the magazine last November - December. If I were to be honest I'd put all the Fizzy Moon designs I could find on the list to stitch. They are so lovely! I have done one 3 so far. One small card with a rose and another Christmassy were both given to my mum as presents. The third is yet to go up to the blog in March after it will be given as a present.

2) 'Country Trio'. One of three flowers is left to complete. 2 of them have been stitched and given as cards. I do not yet know who will receive this third one. 

The one to do!

3) Lickle Ted with a daffodil. I do not have a picture of this little project ... as I still need to locate it amongst my many belongings. It has been begun half a year ago ... and only needs half the backstitching to do. It is so tiny - I do not know why I haven't managed to complete it yet.

4) 'Xmas chums'. Fizzy Moon again! I have begun it as a present for christmas during summer ... managed to stitch the entire face before realising I have stitched it 10 squares lower than the centre. How silly! I then did not know whether to continue and have the design lower than the centre or unpick everything! I know it is not much ... but I hate unpicking so much. So I have stitched a different project instead.

5) 'Good Heavens'. An Anchor kit I bought on sale. Begun after finishing the walking home women, just to abandon to do the Fizzy Moon for Christmas present rush. I haven't yet managed to talk myself into picking it up again.

6) 'Making Lickle Wishes'. Maybe one of my more ambitious projects. It just seems so huge and scary. I begun it last March or April ... just to put aside to do smaller projects. Starting projects is so fun, yet the novelty always disappears fast, and all is left is annoyance at a blank canvas with its lack of stitches to count by. One has to change threads, and I do like completing colour by colour ... progress that way could be seen more clearly. Oh well ... believe it or not but I have done an entire colour in it - Ecru, and begun another. And this is the progress after quite a bit of work. 

7) John Clayton: 'Big Ben'. This I haven't yet begun, yet have contemplated. So I want to be hopeful that I'd get some time to start it this year.  There are several John Clayton kits I have acquired from eBay ... but decided to only aim to do 14-count. Scared for the others at the moment as they are even-weave, and I haven't yet done any on this type of fabric before. And probably want to buy some equipment to enlarge the fabric ... and not ruin my eyes further.

8) John Clayton: 'Venice". Again yet to begin.

9) John Clayton: 'Calla Lily'. Same as before. The last of John Clayton kits I want to attempt this coming year.

10) 'does my bum look big in this?' I saw this in a shop and just had to have it. Such an amazing morale boost ... I just keep telling myself that I am not fat ... I just look fat in the clothes I might be wearing. Sort of optimistic view of life. As you can probably see I have finished cross stitching it ... only need to backstitch it. The thing I hate most after unpicking! Anyhow hopefully this year it will be done.

11) A card kit that came along with one of the back copies of a magazine I have especially ordered for this card. I only have french knots to do. But again since it is a present it will only be pictured here once it is given - which should be by the end of the month I hope!

12) The Snowman card. I have begun this around last January ... hoping it would be done for the end of year festivities ... but it got put aside due to other more exciting projects. Stitching white on white is one of the things that put me off ... there seems to be no progress with this sort of stitching.

So the entire list is done ... good luck to me. I set off on this adventure intending to complete all of them ... yet as always this might be too hopeful. Fingers cross for success.

Till 9th of January then,

Lija