Stitch From Stash May 2015

Monthly budget for May:       £20
Spent in May:                         £27.13
Earned:                                   £0
Carried forward from previous months: Jan £10.51; Feb £3.74;  Mar £11;  Apl £23.80 = £49.05
So carried forward into June: £41.92


It's reporting time for Stitch from Stash again.   This month I have spent more than my monthly budget of £20 by spending just over 35 euros on some wonderful linen band by Vaupel & Heilenbeck.  I saw  on Instagram a piece stitched on the hearts linen and had to track it down.   I have been a huge fan of linen for many years so this was simply irresistible for me.    They are a German company and this is what they say on their website

For years we have been producing fine linen tapes and ribbons here in Wuppertal, and we take great care to supply consistent top quality.

Linen has always been near to our hearts and it is our pleasure to offer - besides our traditional linen tapes - products and ideas that are new and out of the ordinary, and all centring around this special material.

"Sold exclusively through specialized dealers."

I found an Italian site that sold the linen called www.casacenina.com and I was blown away by their range of stitching goodies.   I could have gone mad but in the end restricted myself to 2 pieces of linen band spending just enough to benefit from free postage (not often offered for international sales).  The package arrived in the UK 3 days after I placed the order which I think is wonderful service.

I liked the linen even more when I got to see and feel it and having started stitching a small design on the lavender band I love it.

No earnings this month although I have made a start on a wedding sampler using chart, threads and fabric from stash.

As I mentioned in the SFS update in April I went to the Malvern Quilt Show with some stitching buddies and did some non cross stitch spending there.  However I set myself a budget first and kept under it so I was quite pleased with myself and delighted with my purchases.  They are a mix of things I needed such as the Pigma pens, wonderclips and replacement rotary cutter blades, a few things for presents and a few things I just fell in love with.   So my stitching to do list continues to grow.

Thanks for popping by and I look forward to reading how everyone else has got on.

Gifted Gorgeousness May update

This year long SAL is hosted by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching and the check in date is the 15th of the month so I am late in posting.

However I do have reasons for the delay.

Firstly I spent Thursday and Friday with some stitching buddies and there wasn't time for blog posting.  We went to the Malvern Quilt Show and had a great time in spite of the dreadful weather and awful traffic.

Secondly it wasn't until Sunday that I collected the framed wedding sampler that is the main subject of this post.

I have never been disappointed when taking pieces to this framer - they aren't cheap but they know how to lace needlework and how to enhance a piece.  For this one they suggested a round aperture might look good and I agree.

Not only is this piece a gift but I also won the thread I used (variegated perle by Riotous Colours) so double qualification for this update.

Now that I have finished this gift piece I have room in my rotation for another.

Shepherd's Bush stockings are a great favourite of mine and I have stitched around 14.  Last year I didn't stitch any but I did still buy the latest addition to the set - Lula.

I have made a small start on it and it is intended as a gift for a dear friend.  Just not sure whether it will be finished for this Christmas!

As I am trying to Stitch from Stash as much as possible I am using DMC instead of the overdyed threads which I would have had to purchase.

This is what is will eventually look like:

It is stitched on 18 count Floba with #5 perle threads which are very easy on the eyes and ideal for stitching outside (where I can't use my magnifier).  

Thanks for popping by.

2015 WiPocalypse May 4

Time to check in with Measi on progress made on the WIPocalypse SAL.

The topic set for the May 4 check in (Star Wars Day) was;

"Do you find yourself more productive with stitching in summer or winter?"

I'm afraid my answer is going to be very boring as I don't think the season has any influence on my stitching output.  What impacts me is time and every season has time challenges.  For example 4th May was a Bank Holiday in the UK so a 3 day weekend.   Always very welcome although as usual I had more things I wanted to do than time to accomplish them all.  Monday was a glorious spring day  - perfect for stitching outside in the wonderful natural sunlight.  Except that after 2 days of rain I wanted to get some gardening done.  Winter might seem like a perfect season for stitching except that Christmas brings a host of extra activities and tasks.  And so it goes on.  I just try to fit in as much stitching as I can whatever the season.

Which brings me neatly to the subject of progress on my WIPs.

This month I managed to make reasonable progress on Mirabilia's At the Met and I was sorry to have to put her down and move onto completing the wedding sampler which had a deadline.

The Wedding Sampler (All You Need is Love) is now at the framers so I hope to be able to show it off in my Gifted Gorgeousness update and / or my Stitch from Stash update.

The Zodiac Sampler by Cloudsfactory has continued to frustrate me.   I really really dislike stitching with the satin floss so have only stitched a little bit more than last month.   I use Thread Heaven.  I use short lengths and a bigger eye needle.  I've tried dampening the floss.  Nothing stops it slipping and springing as well as shredding.    Never again!  It's such a shame as I really like the design and love the fabric I chose.    But at least I haven't given up and this check in is helping to prevent it becoming a UFO.

I have been far more successful at keeping up with the other monthly SAL - Story Time Sampler by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.

April's story was The Wizard of Oz and Dorothy and Toto were completed just ahead of the release of May's part which is Charlotte's Web.   I have stitched the frame and the spider.   A very appropriate story given the birth of Princess Charlotte on 2nd May.   I love the way that the theme of the story for the month isn't known in advance.   We have been promised The Lady of Shalott and Little Women (one of my favourite books from childhood) but the others will be a surprise.

I like to encourage wildlife in the garden and particularly birds.  So I decided to vote for Britain's National Bird     There is a short list of 10 and voting closes at the same time as voting in the General Election.  I voted for the Blackbird and so I decided to get out my Blackbird Designs piece and put in a few hours on that.

And finally I also managed a few stitches on The Way to Happiness.  The end is in sight for this one so I would like to be able to report a finish in next month's update.   Then I have to decide whether to stitch the French version ............