Monday, January 25, 2016

Mail call

I got stitchy mail today, which always puts a smile on my face!


My newest issue of the World of Cross Stitching arrived, I only have one left before my subscription runs out :(
And my fabrics from Steph's sale are here! The Elizabeth on the left will be for Box of Delights blackwork and the Jack's Rum is for 99 bottles from Ink Circles. Can't wait to start them, 99 bottles won't be for a bit but I may start Box of Delights in the next day or two. 

Now I'm just waiting for a couple pieces from Colour Cascades and one more piece from Steph, plus I have my fotm from Dye Stitch Love and the new bewitching pixies but those haven't even been shipped yet. 

Xx

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Time to rotate

Got lots done this week! I made it to the point I wanted to with Celtic Spring so now its time to switch it up. 


I never set a day/time limit on my rotations, I just start stitching and as I go I kind of map out which part of the pattern I want to get through before moving on. In this case it was the decorative panel on the right. I would've finished earlier this afternoon but I had a million loads of laundry to do and 4 beds to strip and remake. Adulting is the worst!

I have no clue what I'm going to work on tomorrow. I really should work on my HAED challenge and I need to get my butt in gear and work on my lighthouse. 

I'm hoping some stitchy mail will show up this week, I have I think 2 packages in transit so its mailman stalking time!

Til then
Xx

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Resist the urge to start

I'm still here! I was fighting an upper resp infection last week and stitching this week so I'm working away. I did some filigree on the top of the Hogwarts crest last week. 

After that I rotated back in Sleeping Beauty. I started what I thought was the upper left corner, but things started not lining up. On closer inspection it was the bottom right corner. Thankfully the flowers are all similar on all four corner so minimal frogging was required to set it right. 

Now I'll be getting back to Celtic Spring. I had run out of one or two colours but I made a small Michael's run on the weekend and am ready to get some good progress made. This is my starting point. 

I'm also working on the Heaven and Earth Designs challenge, I've almost got 5 blocks done, I'll post a pic once they're actually done. 

I was so hoping to save some money this month but no. Mira fans out there will know that new designs come out every month on the 15th. I've been thankful that the past couple haven't been my style but they put out two new Bewitching Pixies this month and I just had to order the charts and bead packs. 

Next time I think I will start to show some of my fabric stash. I made a list of my current fabrics this afternoon. Several of them were bought with specific projects in mind but I have a few that are just part of my beginners stash. 

All I want to do right now is start Raven Queen from Mira but I'm trying to be good and wait until I have one of my current wips closer to being finished. 

Time to deal with my tantruming 3-year old. Til next time
Xx

Saturday, January 9, 2016

My 2016 plans/goals

It's been a quiet stitchy Saturday for me so I had the chance to jot down my stitching plans and goals for this year. It'll be nice to look back in December and see if I've made any progress at all haha. 

STARTS
Sleeping Beauty - Mirabilia
Celtic Spring - Lavender & Lace
The Raven Queen - Mirabilia
His Way Home - Heaven and Earth Designs
Ana & Gigi - Nora Corbett
Elephant Birth Sampler - Cross Stitcher 292
Heart Birth Sampler - Historical Sampler Co
Storytime Sampler - Frosted Pumpkin
Winter Gorjuss - The World of Cross Stitching 222
99 Bottles - Ink Circles
Box of Delights - Elizabeth Almond

The top two in italics are started already, I just started Celtic Spring last night and am making good progress considering I ran out of a colour. 

I have Raven Queen and the Heart Birth Sampler completely kitted up and ready to start. I have fabric on hand for Nora's Bewitching Pixies, I paired up Mari and Luna on one piece of fabric last year and plan to do the same for Ana and Gigi. Everything else I have the fabric ordered its just a matter of waiting now!

Out of the WIPs I posted last time I need to have the Hogwarts Crest done by June, and it would be nice if the Artecy Lighthouse was done in time for xmas, but thats more of a dream than a goal. 

I have a few completed pieces from last year that need to be framed or finished as well. The Mari and Luna I mentioned need a frame. I also finished The Garden Party from Mirabilia and am hunting for a perfect frame. And lastly I did Lizzie Kate's Christmas Rules in the fall and have been trying to decide how I want to finish it. I went to Fabricville to get some festive fabric as a finish aid and they were having a huge sale so I got a bunch, so I would also like to do a few ornaments throughout the year to practice various finishes and get comfortable with my new sewing machine. 

Thats about it for me, I'll probably continue on with Celtic Spring tonight and tomorrow and then put in some serious time on Hogwarts starting Monday. 

Xx

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

WIPs from 2015

I finally got around to photographing all my current WIPs from last year. 

Up first, the oldest, Lighthouse at Sunset from Artecy started on May 13/15. This is going to be a gift for my mom if I ever get it finished, but the confetti is killer so I've taken a longer than intended break from it. 

Next up is another confetti filled nightmare gift, the now retired Middle Earth from Heaven and Earth Designs started Oct 28/15. This will be a gift for hubby who is a huge Tolkien nerd. I absolutely see this being a multi-year project. 

I just realized that all my current WIPs are gifts lol. Third is the Hogwarts Crest started Dec 7/15. This will be a wedding gift so this is the only one with a definite deadline which I feel comfortable that I will meet. 
 
Lastly is Aurora Cabin, my first Dimensions kit, started Dec 12/15. This one will be for MIL unless I fall too deeply in love haha. 

So there you have it, I am trucking away on these, some admittedly less than others. In my next post I think I'll go over my 2016 stitching goals including which of these I want to finish. Most days I feel like I have way more starts planned than I could ever possibly finish, but I guess thats motivational in a way. 

Til next time
xo

Friday, January 1, 2016

Hello stitchers!

Greetings stitchy friends. This is my project for 2016 and hopefully beyond. 

I'm Amber, 29 (yuck), stay-at-home mom to 3 gremlins. I've been stitching on and off since I was a teen but its something I really committed to as a hobby late in 2014. 

I'll be chronicling my ups and downs, starts and finishes, faves and first tries, and everything in between. Tomorrow I will try to get a pic of my existing WIPs from 2015 but for now lets finish my first post with my first start of 2016. Mirabilia's Sleeping Beauty on Emerald Dream opal linen from The Crafty Kitten.