Stitch from Stash: April

Month: April
Spent: $22.58 ($15.59 on "Orchids and Hummingbirds" (Dimensions) + $6.99 for Hummingbird Quartet Leisure Arts pamphlet)
Earned: $0 (I technically finished a page on "Aurora Cabin," but I'm going to wait to count it until I finish all the couching and French knots!)
Carry-Over: $26.40+ $2.42 this month = $28.82

What I got:
"Orchids and Hummingbirds"

"Hummingbird Quartet"

WIPocalypse Check-In:April

Hi all,

Happy Easter!
Can you believe it's April already?! March has been a bit crazy with school and work: I picked up several additional hours at my second job, and was working like a madwoman on my final thesis draft (which I defended on Friday, and passed, whew!) Because I had such limited stitchy time, I abandoned my usual rotation and just stitched on what was calling to me at the moment, which ended up being 2 of my WIPs.  I finished one, so I also got a new start. : )  Hopefully this month things will slow down a little and I will be able to resume my rotation! 

The first WIP I worked on, "Winter Friend," I ended up finishing: my first finish of 2015!
I posted a picture of it earlier in the month, but here it is again:

I will post another picture when I get it framed. Because I finished this, I also put a few stitches in on a new start, "Autumn Sampler" by Janlynn:

This is what it will look like when finished:

I also worked on "Aurora Cabin," which went from here:

To here:

So close to completing the cross stitch on this!  Once that is done, there is a bit of backstitching in the cabin, rocks, and trees, and several french knots for the stars.  I'm hoping it will be a finish before I move in June! : )

The question for this post is: Which specialty stitches do you love doing on projects?  Which do you dread?
My knowledge of specialty stitches is fairly limited, and I plan to learn more: besides all the variations of the standard cross stitch, I know backstitching, french knots, couching, and satin stitch.  My favorite is probably backstitching simply because I like the way it can make a pattern like "Winter Friend" come to life, and it progresses so much more quickly than cross stitch!  I don't really have any that I dread (probably because I don't know that many yet): I know many people dislike French Knots, but I have never really had a problem with them, although I do want to improve my technique because my knots are not always the same size..."Aurora Cabin" should give me some needed practice. : )

Here's to hoping I get some solid time in on all of my WIPs this month!
Happy Stitching! : )

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! : )