Stitch from Stash: March

Month: March
Spent: $12.98 (Kreinik and Mill Hill beads)
Earned: $0
Carry-Over: $14.38 + $12.02 this month = $26.40

I did have a finish this month: "Winter Friend" (picture is in my previous post), but I purchased it in October and started stitching it in November, so it doesn't count as a finish from stash.  But it is one more WIP complete! : )

I was lucky enough this month to be the winner in a giveaway hosted by Carolyn Mazzeo, a wonderful Floss Tuber who has some really helpful tutorials on parking and the pinhead stitch (if you're interested!)   The prize was a gift certificate to one of my favorite online stitchy stores, and I decided to use it to kit up the Spirit of Holiday Giving Angel Ornament (Brooke's Books):

I love the 3D nature of these ornament designs, which despite being labelled "ornaments", are pretty sizeable (5"x7"). I plan on stitching her this winter, and will probably use her as a windowsill/bookshelf decoration, rather than a tree ornament. I purchased the Kreinik, beads, and perforated paper for the design with the gift certificate plus $12,98 of my own (this is all I spent this month), so all I have left to purchase to completely kit this up is the DMC. 

I will post updates of my progress on my WIPs next week!  Happy Stitching!

Happy Dance! Winter Friend

My first finish of 2015! Started Nov 18, 2014. Finished today, just shy of 4 months old!

Please forgive the hoop marks, I was too excited to wait for the iron. : )  

This project had several firsts for me: it was my first Bothy Threads kit, my first time working with Lana and light effects thread, as well as using ribbon in a cross stitch design.
She is also the first project I have completed for myself. I will post another picture once she is pressed and framed!

A finish also means I get to start something new today (yay!), and I have chosen "Autumn Sampler" by Janlynn.  It will look like this when complete:

I really like the colors and detail of this design!  I will post my progress on it in my April WIPocalypse update.

Happy Stitching! : )

WIPocalypse Check-In: March

Hi all!

We got 3" of snow and ice yesterday and today, which in TN means everything shut down, so I got a welcome break from school, and some extra stitchy time! : )  Here is my progress on my WIPs for the month (I made myself some needleminders this month too, and left them on so you can see!)

Winter Friend

Before:

After:

Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love
Before:

After:

Aurora Cabin
Before:

After:

Sleigh Ride at Dusk Stocking
Before:

After:

The Wave
Before:

After:

Quiet Time
Before:

After:

The question for this month is:
If money – and time – were not limiters, what projects would be on your stitching bucket list?

Oh, so many projects, I would be stitching for hundreds of years. : ) 
I definitely want to stitch at least one of the Chatelaine mandalas in my lifetime, my favorite being the Hummingbird Sparkly Garden Mandala.  There are also several HAED patterns I would stitch, especially those by Josephine Wall (Psyche's Dream, Fly Me to the Moon) and Aimee Stewart (Dance like a Dervish, Butterfly Ball), and a whole bunch of Mirabilias!

Happy Stitching!

Stitch from Stash: February

Month: February
Total Spent: $24.97
($18.90 on "Indian Peacock", $5.99 for "Tree Frog Trio" and 8 cents (!), for Carousel Horses in Cross Stitch)
Earned: $0
Total Carry-Over to March: $14.38 ($14.35 carry over from January + $0.03 carry over from February)

Yes, this month, I spent almost my entire budget. :P  But I spent it on pretty patterns! 
At the start of the year, I was determined not to buy any more patterns/kit stash, and keep my spending to fabric and floss for the patterns I already own. I don't have as many patterns as some of you wonderful stitchers, but I do have enough to last me at least the next 4-5 years, so I've been trying not to accumulate too much more. I lasted a month haha.
I had a sort-of excuse: I just passed my big comprehensive exam for my master's program (whew!), so I decided to celebrate by purchasing a kit.  But then I got to the store and they were having a sale!  So I got two.  I know, I'm terrible. : )

The first kit I got is one I have been eyeing for about six months now.  It is "Indian Peacock" by Dimensions:

I love peacocks: mostly because of the colors, I think!   I really like the blues on this one.

The second kit I got is for my bf: he went shopping with me, and liked the design. He is very supportive of my hobbies (the other day he asked me how my WIPs were going... he actually said "WIPs", and I about melted), but it is not often that he says he would like me to stitch a certain pattern.  So of course once he said he'd like to see me stitch it, I had to get it!  It is called "Tree Frog Trio," and should be a pretty quick stitch compared to what I've been working on so far this year:

I'm planning to give it to him either framed, or as a small pillow: what do you all think?

I also found a cross stitch book on Amazon used for under $2, which, after using the remaining $1 and some change that I had on a gift card, ended up at a total of 8 cents!  It is Carousel Horses in Cross Stitch (Linda Gillium, Kooler Design Studio), and it has a carousel horse for each month of the year. Once it arrives, I will post a picture, and then try to decide which one I want to stitch first!

I will update you on my WIP progress in my WIPocalypse post next week!
Happy Stitching!

WIPocalypse: February Check-In

Hi all,

I can't believe we're already into February!  Things are starting to get hectic again now that we're into the third week of the semester, and I'm trying to readjust myself after the relative peacefulness of winter break. : ) 

I had quite a bit of progress on my WIPS in the first half of the month when I was still on break, but haven't had as much time now that school is started, so my progress is pretty much on pace with what I am usually able to get done in a month.  I am hoping to have at least a couple of my WIPs completed by June so that I will have some artwork for the new place!
So, here are my before and after photos for the month of January:

Aurora Cabin Before:



After:

Winter Friend Before:

After:

Beauty and the Beast Before:

 

After:

Sleigh Ride at Dusk Stocking Before:

 

After:

The Wave Before:

 

After:

Quiet Time Before:

 

After:

The topic for this month is: How do you overcome that feeling that you’re in a rut with a particular project?

My rotation has really helped me stay focused and interested in my projects.  Prior to 2014, I was a one-at-a-time stitcher for the most part, and would get bored.  Now, I have 6 WIPs going at all times, so if I'm having difficulty working with one, I can put it aside for awhile and work on another. 

 

Happy Stitching! : )

Stitch from Stash 2015: January Check-In

Month: January
Spent: $10.65 (all on floss for my Mirabilia Stargazer, 25 skeins at $0.39 ea + tax)
Earned: $0 (no finishes this month)

Hi all,

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this year I joined Stitch from Stash, hosted by Mel at Epic Stitching:


With lots of big life changes coming up mid-year, I am trying to be careful about my finances.  The goal is to spend under $25/month on cross stitch supplies, and for each finish from stash, you get extra funds to spend.  Whatever you don't spend carries over each month until June.

For a WIP/finish to count as a stitch-from-stash, it has to be at least six months since you purchased the pattern.  Because of this, I believe 3 of my 6 WIPs count as Stitches from Stash: "Quiet Time," "Aurora Cabin," and "The Wave." 
I was gifted "Beauty and the Beast" and purchased "Winter Friend" in October and "Sleigh Ride at Dusk Stocking" in early December, so none of them count (yet...I'm pretty sure I'll still be working on both Beauty and the Beast and the stocking past the six-month mark!)

I will share pictures of my progress in my WIPocalypse post on Feb 4! : )

Also, for some reason the reply function on my account isn't working, but please know that I read and appreciate your comments, and as soon as I can get it working again, I will respond to you!

Happy Stitching!

Happy New Year! 2015 WIPocalypse

Hi all,

Happy New Year!  Lots to be excited about for this coming year, and lots of resolutions to follow!  Cross stitch resolutions are my favorite, because they are always fun to work towards, and (almost) always stress-free.  To that end, I have again joined the WIPocalypse SAL, hosted by Melissa at Measi's Musings.

I'm excited to do this SAL properly this time around, and participate for the full year (since last year I didn't join until May!)

For the initial post, we introduce our projects and establish our cross stitch goals for year.  I discovered last year that I get a little overly ambitious when coming up with goals (to adapt a cliché, my eyes are faster than my hands), but at least this gives me plenty to work towards!

The first six goals deal with my current WIPs (yes, I added one more to my rotation...I found I liked that number working on Christmas presents earlier in the month!), and the rest will be new starts from my stash (also joined Stitch from Stash this year, which I will be posting about in the second half of each month.) 

2015 Goals:

1: Finish "Aurora Cabin" (Dimensions kit, WIP):

I've had a bit of progress on it in the last week: hopefully it will continue to progress at this rate, for a mid-year finish! :)

2: Complete 5 out of 25 pages on "Quiet Time" (HAED, WIP):

I've currently completed one full page, and part of page 2.

3: Complete 1/2 of "Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love" (Disney Dreams kit, WIP):

4: Finish "The Wave" (Dimensions kit, WIP):

5: Finish "Winter Friend" (Bothy Threads kit, WIP):

 

I am loving the Lana for the snowflakes!

6. Finish "Sleigh Ride at Dusk" stocking (Dimensions kit, WIP):

I started this one on Dec. 29, and I hope to have it finished for Christmas 2015!

7: Start "The Balloon" (Gorjuss - Bothy Threads)
This is what it will look like:

 

8: Start "Stargazer" (Mirabilia)
It will look like:

 

Only I will be stitching it on a dark blue hand-dyed opalescent fabric.  I think her dress (and the stars)  will really pop on a dark blue background, but I am a bit concerned that all the sparkles on such a dark fabric will overwhelm her: I was hoping for a night-sky effect, but I think I will have to stitch her face and see how it looks.  If it seems like too much, I may end up purchasing a similar fabric minus the sparkles.

 

9: Start set of nativity ornaments.
These will be the same as the four I made for my mom last year, but for my tree! : )

10. Start "Snowfall"



It will look like:

 

11: In June, create organized space(s) for stash and crafting in new home!

This year has a lot of unknowns for me because I graduate in May and will be moving in June, so the amount of free time I will have the second half of the year will depend on the job I am able to land (yikes!)  Mid-year I may have to adjust my goals a little, depending on how much I am able to get done in the spring.  But here's hoping I can get these goals completed! : )

Happy New Year to all of you! May 2015 be full of stitching!