Saturday 19 May 2012

Oops I did it again!!


Hi Stunners!!!


Welcome aboard to my new followers Tamara, K.Marie, MoniqueH, Any, Xstitch2k, and Terry. Thanx for joining the journey, final destination unknown but I hope you find the ride fun anyway!


Confession:  I succumbed and bought some more charts from the HAED sale....but in my defence it was 50% off!! 50%!!! and also from fox collections.

So my new additions to my ever growing (but ending) stash are dah dah daaaaaa!!


Aimee Stewart's QS Mini Gypsy Firefly!

QS Mini Gypsy Firefly

and

Myka Jelina's Melody


Melody

and

Thomas Kinkade's Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love


                           Kinkade / Disney - Beauty and the Beast - Cross Stitch World

Now for the justification!!!

Gypsy firefly is not only a Quickstitch but a MINI Quickstitch (self explanatory I think). For the Thomas Kinkade, well I have always loved the Disney collections and have looked on with whimsy and want at some of the stitchers blogs that are working on Cinderella and Snow white, but resisted getting them myself. BUT when this one came along it was inevitable that I had to own it. You all know I'm always thumping on about love and the importance of it in our lives - well this is the ultimate story of unconditional love so I ask you dear and treasured readers how could I pass it up? Plus if you spent over 100 bucks you could buy a floor lamp for half price - so justified! Now as for Melody OMG as if I could resist all that vibrancy and colour..I was drawn like a moth to the flame, a bee to the flower, a Princess to bling, psychotic men to me!!!!

So outta my hands! They will be added to the rotation when I finish the current wips in their category. So (chuckle chuckle) not long now.

I have devised not only a new rotation but have included a focus piece! Truthfully I had to. My current rotation involves 26 projects which means that they only see the light of day 2 weeks in a year...at that pace I would never ever see another finish. So what I have decided to do is to have a focus piece. So every alternate week I will work on this one project until of course I finish then move another wip into the focus piece category. So after I start White Hammock tiger and Beauty and the Beast - no more new starts until my rotation is halved!  So again (hee hee) not long now!


The current focus will be Golden Wood - as I am currently in a challenge with Mrs.Dibble and losing quite badly.  Here is my wip:




and here is Mrs. Dibble's Golden Wood

I have my work cut out for me huh??? Challenge ON!!!

I am also currently working on my stash list and will add a stash page. It's taking a while as I have um er ah quite a few and trying to post the pics of them. Hopefully will be finished soon.

Ok so now for the Wipocalypse Goals update

Goal 1 : Faery 2





Goal 2 and 3 - ugh No progress.

Goal 4: QS Lovers



I realised I made a mistake with his hair, see the purple blob in the first pic. But I fixed it so all good, smallest frog I've ever had to do. YAY!


Goal 5: I managed to put the backstitch in the bear caboose and add a bit more border, but I left the project at work so haven't got a pic. Here it is without the outline just imagine it with dark brown backstitch. It may help to squint!



Goal 6: The pieces I worked on my rotation were QS Lovers (see goal 4) and I was working on Faces of Faery 164 but I was hating it. I was avoiding working on her so the week went by without any real effort. I realised it was because I just can't stand using 2 strands over 1 on 25ct...just too tight and awkward for me. So I went to do a restart and got 20 rows done on 22ct and still found myself feeling despondent about it. So just gave it up altogether. Thea (gizzimomo) has just finished this chart (and I mean literally like 3 hours prior to this post) and it looks amazing, so I don't know why I was struggling so much with mine.

Anyhoo I began a new faery - FOF 162 and I loved every minute of her.


Faces of Faery 162



I know the fabbie looks a little crazy but in reality the purples and greens go really well with this chart, not to mention the bling in it! She is being worked 1 strand over 1 on 28ct Mist Forest opalescent evenweave (which I bought from those lovely boys at "Sew it all" at the last craft show). When I finish Golden Wood she will be my next focus piece.

I found it really hard to put her down, and this has been my struggle with sticking to rotations. I always seem to need to just finish that row or page or some ridiculous kind of goal, instead of just putting it away and start the next one. So the week turns into 2 weeks yadda yadda yadda. 

Then I read some awesome advice on Vani's blog. Vani only had a tiny bit to go on Shoreline to finish the current page, however she was strong and put it away until it's next turn as by doing this it would give her something to look forward to when she worked on it again. It was like an *epiphany* for me. So without too much regret I put her away until I see her again. Thanx Vani for that insight! Simple but effective.

Due to the blah blah feelings I was having with FOF164 I only managed to stick to 2 weeks of my rotation in the last month, but I'm on track again now and will post more frequently so you poor stunners don't have to plow through my monthly massive blogs!


Now for the blog quote!

I found this quote that explains what it is to be me. Just think of the things that are in your dreams and that is my reality...LOL!


I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake.  ~Rene Descartes, "Meditations on First Philosophy



On that note - happy Wipocalypse to my fellow Wipocalyptans (hmm sounds like a tea) and happy dreams to all!

Love you stunners

xoxo Alicia


 

26 comments:

  1. Loving the new charts, I've had gypsy firefly in mind for a while, and FoF 162 has been sat in my basket for ages (along with a couple of others, obviously).
    Can't wait to see your new rotation progressing

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    1. Thanx Kim. I'd go for it. The colours in gypsy are beautiful and go really well together. As for FOF162 there's alot of lovely purples and blues and heaps of blocks of colour so hopefully will sail through this one. Sorry if I'm enabling you but I truly recommend them.
      Alicia xo

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  2. Love your new charts and it's great to hear an update from you x

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    1. Aww thanx Nic! Yeah I've been hopeless with updates but now got my comp back and a fully organised rotation I'm hoping to post weekly at least! Thanx for the comment and interest.
      xo Alicia

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  3. Your new charts are great. And hey I think restraining your self to only two with 50%of is pretty good!

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  4. Hey I know right! Thanx Sharine for helping my justification further. You're a real stunning star my friend! Alicia xo

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  5. Everything looks great Alicia. Love the FOF that you had to put down. Sorry it just wasn't your thing. But I love the one you put in it's place. Purple is my fave color, lol. And your caboose is cute too. Lovers is looking fab as well. I have a tendency to want to linger over things and just do a little more, but I've been forcing myself to put them away. I had twenty in my rotation, so I was working on them a little bit more than two weeks a year. So I halved my rotation down to ten, and I start the new rotation... Well, it's hard to say. My current WIP in the old rotation is also in the new rotation. So I started it under the old, and am finishing under the new. Then I'll go on to the piece that is next after my current WIP instead of starting from the top. I wanted to see some finishes too, lol. Guess we're a lot alike, lol. Hope it works out for you, and works out well. Sending a huge hug from Ohio!

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    1. OMG Julie we are practically twins with our way of thinking LOL! It's so cool to find a kindred spirit. Good luck with your new rotation too. Thanx for the hugs they came just in time as it's freezing here atm. Big hugs from down under to you too stunner xoxo

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  6. Oh dear you do have a lot to catch up. I am starting a summer extravaganza with my sister. But we are stitching different things. Even so I am scared I will be the one to fall behind schedule. I do like the 1st of your new purchases. Was hovering over the add to cart button for a while. But I missed the 50% sale so only had 30% justification, so sadly it is the Christmas candle for me. Good thing I have practiced the self-restraint or I would have not had enough money to buy fabric, easy grid marker from America, and now tread - the horror. One project thread is £50! How can you stock up on few? I need a better job I keep telling myself. Stop being tempted by the charity shop quirky clothes, and the buy two products get something free offer on at Boots. Good luck keeping the rotations going!

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    1. Good news Michele has put on another 50% sale for memorial day so you still have a shot. Ooh sorry if I shouldn't have told you but hey we are all in this together. I am the eternal optimist and have every faith in my guardian angel to keep me alive to finish my 200 plus stash. Good luck with your summer extravaganza I will cheer for you. That's an awesome way to express some healthy sibling rivalry. Thanx for your comments stunner xo

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  7. I just found your post while looking at the WIPocalypse page, and I have to tell you, I really enjoyed reading it. Isn't it amazing the lengths we go through to continue our stash additions and our attempts at rotations? It seems we all play these games, some more successfully than others. I have tried rotations, not very good at it. Oh well, maybe I will come up with one that works for me....

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    1. Hee hee thanx Beth for your comments. I had to giggle cos I agree with you about all the games and justifications we go through. Sometimes I think if I spent as much time actually stitching as I do devising rotations and dreaming up justifications for more stash adds I may actually have finished a few baps at least. LOL! Good luck with a rotation that works for you. I'll have to find you as well and cheer you on. Thanx for your comments too stunner xo

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  8. I just love your progress! And the new charts you bought are adorable =)
    QS Gypsy Firefly looks very tempting and Quickstitches are also so cheap when they are 50% off! I am already tempted because Fred Winkler will be retired and I think about getting some of his charts as long as they are available.
    I just said to myself "Well, I should resist, I have so many charts left to stitch. I will go and read some blogs to avoid buying charts (hahaha)" And now I am here, I fear something went wrong ;-D
    And I am so jealous of your Beauty and the Beast kit! :D

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    1. LOL Oh I'm sorry if I caused a break in your resistance, but like I said before we are all in this together. It makes such a difference having a blog and chatting to such amazing people like yourself. I find that this blog spurs me on and I wouldn't get as much done if it weren't for my stunning followers and guest stars. So I truly thank you. I already have Winkler's Gaia in my stash and I'm happy with just that one, but I hope you get at least one of his charts they are so beautiful. Thanx for your comments stunner xo

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  9. Your new stash is wonderful, especially Gypsy. And I had to laugh as you talked about your rotation - I think every stitcher has done that at some time or other and I include myself. I've cut down on the number of pieces in mine and I've actually had some finishes!

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    1. LOL! Thanx Bea, yep us stitchers are a special breed. I think I can justify anything when it comes to stash additions and rotations. Thanx for reading my post. Take care stunner xo

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  10. Hello

    Lovely new charts!

    Your stitching is looking lovely!

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    1. Hi Milly
      Thanx I'm glad you like them. If I'm good and stick to the rotation it won't be too long before they are added to the rotation. Thanx for popping in. Take care stunner xo

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  11. wow :) you've been busy! I love your new stash! Good luck catching up with Golden Wood!

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    1. Thanx I will need it. But I'm determined to give her a good challenge so will be working hard on the ladies. Stay tuned stunner xo

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  12. Great new stash. Look forward to seeing your progress with your new rotation. All of your projects are gorgeous.

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    1. Thanx Lesleyanne I'm enjoying it so far. Ok I know it's only been 2 weeks but my stitching mojo is on fire atm. So will be doing more updates as there will be more to see. Thanx for your interest and comments stunner xo

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  13. He he, let's see if I can remember everything I want to say, you've been posting such long posts recently :D Your new start on FOF 162 is great, I've always loved that chart and purple is one of my favourite colors.

    I love your new charts too and must say I squealed when I saw you've bought Beauty and the Beast! :) I got it too a couple of weeks ago! It has been always one of my favourite stories from Disney, and this looks so much fun to stitch with. Though I'm not looking forward to all those french knots and backstitching, but maybe I can live with it. I was secretly hoping Kinkade would paint a picture of a Little Mermaid (and it would end up charted eventually), but when I heard he passed away recently, I've gave up the hope and bought this one when it was still available.

    I like the idea of your new rotation, we can assume lots of finishes then! :) Although it must be very hard to limit the time you're stiching and stop when the time's up. And I must admire your determination to work on one WIP until it's finished, I could never restrict myself like that, LOL! :D

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    1. OMG Nina I didn't know Thomas Kinkade died recently. How sad, he is such a beautiful artist. Well thanx for letting me know now I can feel even more justified in buying his artwork.

      You're so cute for squealing cos this is usually my reaction LOL! Yay maybe we can do SAL with Beauty - that would be cool. I'm thinking of using beads instead of the french knots cos somehow those little buggers elude me. One will work and the next one won't...frustrating!!

      As for sticking to the rotation - I'm finding it easy now that Vani pointed out that it gives you something to look forward to when you pick it up again! SO true.

      Thanx for your lovely comments stunner. You're too cool! xo

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  14. Don't know how I haven't found your blog before now but I love it. Awesome wip's and new stash. Looking forward to following your progress.

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    1. Aww thanx Tammy I'm so glad you have joined me in this lunacy oops I meant journey LOL! I hope to post more often as it keeps me motivated and I love meeting people like yourself through our love of all things crafty. Thanx again stunner xo

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Hello Stunner! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope it made sense as I can rave on lunatic style when left unchecked. Any comment is appreciated and thank you for taking the time and brightening my day! xoxo