YOTA #5

 

Hi Stunners!

 

 

Welcome to YOTA #5.

 

I've had a very busy craft month. I just wish it meant more stitching than stashing and organising. But now that is done, I'm good to settle into seriously fun stitching.

 

 

I've added another project to my YOTA SAL. I kind of had to otherwise this project kept getting pushed aside and I really want to keep up. Saying that I'm already behind. This is the Passione Ricamo 2014 SAL. We just received the 3rd page today but below is the first page minus the Castle at the top. But that will be done by next YOTA...stop laughing, it will I swear. Plus I will  have the 4th page of Guardian Angel done too...it's not funny!!

 

 

PR 2014 SAL

 

As per my previous blog post I bought a full set of DMC so I had to turn this....

 

 

 

into this.....



 

 

It took almost 2 days, and 1 and a third bobbin chests, and a sore wrist, but well worth it as now I won't be wasting money kitting up for every chart. I will just keep replacing them as they get a bit low.

 

 

Okay that's it for YOTA and now for the stash enhancement. Just a quick warning for the faint hearted maybe you should pour yourself a glass of wine, or grab a coffee before proceeding...

 

In my defence, ahem ahem there were just too many awesome sales on.

 

Shelley Lee of Tilton Crafts and Sarah of Paine Free crafts offered a very generous promotion that if you RAK'd (random act of kindness) a chart for someone they selected a chart from your Wish List and sent it to you for free. There was so much rak'ing going on as cross stitcher's are such a lovely, kind and giving mob that my stash grew quite large.

So here they are...ta da!


These are Tilton charts that were gifts from 3 awesome girls!



Cinderella - gift from Kim H 

 

Falling in Love - a gift from Kim N

 

 

World - a gift from Gwen





Gwen and I are rocking this one out together, our first post will be the 1st June! Woo hoo!! Stay tuned.

 

I've added a link to their blogs in the captions, these girls are amazing stitchers' as well as just being amazing ladies! Thank you again ladies, I'm truly very grateful. Mwah!

These are the Tilton charts that were gifts from Shelley of Tilton.

Alice ReDo

Gaia (my challenge chart!!)

 

Music Room

 

Planets Align II

 

Sanctuary



Happy Halloween

 

Save the Queen (which I will be changing to Save the Princess - as god knows I need it!)

 

 

Gifts from Sarah - Paine Free Crafts

 

Arwen

 

 

Farewell to Lothlorien

 

 

 

These were gifts from me to The Crafty Princess:

 

Tilton Crafts

 

Magical World

 

Kim H and I are stitching this one together. We started it for the Stitch-a-thon for Sophia and I managed to get half of the first page completed by the end of it. Pics to come next post. Kim recently told me that we have 49 of the same charts. We will be doing SAL's together for 3 lifetimes. Luckily she's a fantastic person and I adore her so this is totally cool with me!! Poor Kim though being stuck with me.   :'(




Metropolis

 



Alice Vignette



Spring

 

Love thy Thread

 

Loneliness of Autumn

 

Heaven and Earth Designs

Dreaming Too

Nikki who is an administrator for HAED requested this chart with me in mind. How sweet is that?? It was the first one I bought during the sale. She knows me so well LOL!! I will stitch her as soon as I finish (or at least get halfway) through Feel the Magic). Thanks again Nikki!

Large World Traveller Bookshelf

Enchantment of the Wolf

 



Lord Bucket - I love how he still manages to look so regal whilst standing in a bucket. A very difficult thing to pull off!!!

Matilda and Theodore's Secret Place

 

 

 

Whew that's it. I have now reached 330 charts (including my 52 wips).

 

I have a good mind to just start all of them and to hell with it, but as I already miss ones that don't get worked on for a while, I think this is me being just a little too indulgent!!!

 

Thank you for stopping by, I promise next post (wipocalypse) will be only stitching pics and no more stash enhancements.

 

Stop sniggering!!!!!

 

Take care my beautiful fellow crafters. Have a great month of May and may it only be filled with sunshine and rainbows!

 

xoxo Alicia

 



 



Wipocalypse and IHSW #4

Hi Stunners!!

Sorry for the lateness (again) but I have lots of pics so I hope that makes it up to you!

Wipocalypse 

Before

After

IHSW 

Before

After

Here is my new start "Lady Hatter" from Gecko Rouge. This is page 6 completed. I really love working on her, it's a very relaxing project with just enough confetti for detail but not so much that it drives you crazy. She is being worked on 18ct white Aida 2 over 1 full crosses.

I always forget to answer Measi's questions for the Wipocalypse. So I thought I would combine March and April's questions as they are kind of related in my case. 

March: Show us your favourite places to stitch.

My favourite place to stitch is in my Craft Room! It's nice and bright and as it faces north it gets the sun all day long. 

Here is my Rachel Anderson wall which helps keep me inspired and in a magical and creative mood.

The opposite wall has my Jasmine Becket-Griffith poster print and my 40" TV. Which I totally could not live without. Plus some random painting. I was watching Dr Who at the time of this pic and David Tennant is my favourite Dr. 

This is my "love" section. It's some of the gifts, cards and lil trinkets that my friends and family have given me. Plus my fairy calendar with all my important craft dates. So I always know how late I am with my updates at a glance.

And here is where the magic happens! Laugh.

I love my large chart holder. It allows me to attach all my fav magnets, needles, winning lottery tickets, girly tweezers, needle minders, threaders and have just enough space left over for the chart page that I'm currently working on.

My craft bed for wee naps when I get a little weary from all the stitching. That's my new chair, it's called The Bathurst Racer. So so comfortable and I love that it's red as it gives me a sense of speed to help me get through my ever growing stash!

April: How do you keep your stash organised?

Each project has it's own bag which contains a floss box with the chart pic on the front and all threads wound onto plastic bobbins, a re-seal-able plastic bag containing the skeins of colours that needed multiples, fabric, and a plastic folder containing the chart. I love storing the chart in a plastic sleeved folder because it's really cool to be able to just flip ahead and see what I have to look forward to without ruining the pages from too much handling.  I also try and match the box and folder to the main colour of the chart. 

All the charts that are in my focus rotation are stored in the bookshelf near my desk for easy access. Along with my fav DVD's (which I watch over and over again) and the Xbox games that I'm playing. 

My other wips are stored in 2 large nylon barrels - one is a HAED barrel but as the new starts kept increasing they kinda spilled over into the other barrel.

 The 2 plastic bags on top of my wooden bobbin chest is the full range of DMC threads (including the 16 new colours) which I ordered from 123 stitch. I intend to just work from this bobbin chest and not kit up each chart individually. I will only buy threads that need multiple quantities and put them on the bobbin ring to keep with each project. I have 16 new starts planned and as you can see those poor barrels are full to bursting, so storage has become an issue, something had to be done. I'm hoping this solves some of my storage dramas.

The only danger of having a full set of threads to work from is that it makes new starts a little too easy and for an new start addict like me, it could get feral. 

That's all from this Princess. Thank you for visting!

To those stitchers that are involved in the stitch-a-thon for Sophia, I'm looking forward to playing with you all over the next week. 

Take care stunners and I will see you for YOTA!

Alicia xo

March Mayhem

Hi stunners!

Well it's been an exhausting March and I'm very happy to see the end of it! I've had to drive 5000 kilometres to avoid fringe benefits tax on my leased motor vehicle. Now I love going for drives, but after 6 hours it can be a tad tiring. Anyway it's all done now but unfortunately as my days off was spent driving and doing other boring life necessities it left me very little time to stitch. I really really missed it. So this post is the March wipocalypse, IHSW and April YOTA all in one.

Wipocalypse

This is as far down the columns that I will go on the bookshelf. It's not quite a full page there is still 20 rows or so to go but it cuts too far into the second shelf and I want to stitch along one shelf at a time. So once I finish that little bit in the right corner I will start back up the top on page 2. 

IHSW

Managed to reach the end of the row at least, but not much else. 

YOTA

No change for my poor Angel. Sorry man will put in extra time on you this month.

Here is the fabric that I bought at the Stitches and Craft fair at Rose Hill. It's all from the lovely boys at Sew it All. I've no idea what I'm going to do with most of it but I will be starting Randal Spangler's "So many books so little time" on the 28ct cream Jobelan. It's such soft fabric and it's totally beautiful to stitch on. This little dragon is going in the library as my second love is books!!! Ok it's really shoes but books are cool too.

So many books so little time!

I also bought the new e-zine "New age Cross stitch". This is like a dream come true. All my favourite cross stitch designers in one collection. Woo Hoo! I plan on stitching the HAED Adventures in reading (also planned for the library) and maybe Deep in the Forest or Bluebell Fairy. 

That's all for now my lovelies. I will have more stitching to show next post which I believe is the April Wipocalypse. I have started 2 new projects and will have something substantial to post. 

May all your lives be filled with laughter, sunshine and rainbows. And to steal a line from Carly and Tresne who were contestants on My kitchen Rules

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right!" 

Kisses and hugs

Alicia xo

March YOTA

Hi stunners

Welcome to all my new followers and thank you for joining me on my cross stitch adventure.

Our third YOTA for the year! Seriously what is going on with father time? March already!

My YOTA wip is Guardian Angel and thanks to Pull the other Thread for organising this SAL, he is getting quite a lot of attention. My angel is really starting to fill out. I'm hoping to have this page finished by next YOTA or at least all of the angel. I've just got the top of his second wing to go plus a lot of background.

February YOTA



March YOTA

My latest purchase "Lady Hatter" from Gecko Rouge arrived and I had to get started on her straight away.

Check out the kit:



I love how they set this out. Normally when I buy kits I end up bobbinating the threads and store them in a organiser box. However Kimberley from Gecko Rouge sets out the kits in such a way that it would be redundant to remove them from their boards. The threads are organized on cards according to how they appear on the symbol legend (not in numerical order) and are marked by their representing symbol. It's so easy to find threads and to re-store unused bits that are left over.

I've started her from the middle point which is something I don't normally do, but I just wanted to start stitching on the lady straightaway. So I have stitched the left side of the hat band, her left eyebrow and hair. I haven't decided whether I'm going to stitch upwards, down or sideways but once I finish this page I guess I will see how I feel. Pics to come next post.

Ok kids I'm off to the Stitcher's and Craft show at Rose Hill and will get to meet up with the lovely boys from Sew it All. I have a few fabric purchases I need to make as my wips have ballooned to 52, where I'm going to stop.

52 is a nice number as it is the number of the house where I grew up and has lots and lots of brilliant memories. But that's it no more additions to the rotation. I have about 15 more kitted up and once I start those I will settle down and just work on these 52. I would love to get some finishes in and I have had some requests from a couple of my beautiful blog followers to work on Faery 2 and Fragile heart. And as I aim to please I will be trying to focus on these. And Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) I actually have a plan to complete Fragile Heart this year so never fear my dear!

Thank you stunners for visiting and have an awesome, laughter filled weekend.

Lots of love and hugs

Alicia xo



Wipocalypse #2 - Unfashionably Late and IHSW kinda on time!

Hi Stunners!!!

Apologies for the lateness of this post but I was away on holidays and the internet reception was sporadic at best. I tried to keep up with all your blogs too but leaving comments proved to be too taxing for my internet reception on my phone. Boy you guys have been prolific for the last 2 weeks on the blogosphere, awesome to see. I have a lot of brilliant craft reading still to do though. 

 

Wipocalypse #2

 

My wipocalypse project is HAED's Large Treasure Hunt Bookshelf and Golden Kite's The Arrival of Guests, Venice. I managed to get a page finish on the Bookshelf however, the poor guests failed to make an appearance.

 

IHSW

 

Here is my IHSW effort. Not a lot accomplished as I was on nightshift for Saturday and Sunday night. Saturday night proved to be too busy so I didn't even get a chance to throw in a few stitches until an hour before my shift ended. But on Sunday I almost got the acrobat's pants on, he's still got a few holes on his bum.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and read the instructions on my camera. I seem to be a little hit and miss with the clarity.

 

SURPRISE!!

Don't you love it when you go to your mail box expecting the usual hum drum mail and you find a padded parcel with your name on it. That is the best, the unexpected but always loved and welcome gift. Even better when it's craft stash with chocolate!!!!

 

 

 

 

Nina has done it again and sent me this lovely little present. I've never seen Ear buds before they are too cool! We are both fans of "The Walking Dead" and the Zombie magnet now has pride of place holding my cross stitch charts in place. Every time I look up and see it I can't help but smile out loud. Thank you Nina you are such a generous, thoughtful and stunning STAR! This Ecards for you LOL!

 

 

 

STASH STASH BABY!

HAED had a 50% of sale recently so I thought it would be the perfect time to complete my Tcherevkoff shoe collection. My friend Mrs. Dibble had already RAK'd Salvatore when this designer frist emerged on the HAED website, so I added two more. I have this beautiful fabric I purchased from Sew It All called Pebbles Design

 

The lovely boys kindly sparklied it for me as well and when the shoes are stitched on them it will look like discarded shoes lying on wet pebbles. I hope it turns out as good as I envision it. So now I have the charts, the fabric...just need the threads and a space on the rotation. My wip's have skyrocketed  to 51!!! 



Paradise Found

Shoe Fleur



 Salvatore

And from Gecko Rouge's Etsy shop may I present "Lady Hatter"! The charts are only sold as kits so she will just have to be started when she arrives.

Lady Hatter

 

I plan on getting all my new starts started and then I can just settle down and pick one at random to work on.  I love setting goals and organising schedules to stitch and markers to reach, but that is just not realistic for me. So I don't know why I set them. I love how the SAL's are helping me get some progress done on specific Wip's and I think I will just leave it at that for goals and such.

 

 

Passione Ricamo 2014 Mystery SAL

 

Also for some unknown reason I found myself joining in the Passione Ricamo 2014 mystery SAL....why oh why did I do this seeing as I didn't put one stitch into the 2013 one!!!! (Technically I did but made a bad error - see post back in September - New Start Fail)

 

The word "mystery" gets me sucked in every time. If I was a cat I would be dead in an instant due to my unwavering curiosity. But as a human it keeps me intrigued and stash enhancing. I love anything where the meaning is hidden and awaits discovery...It doesn't start until March 25th so there is time to collect all the requirements.  Anyone want to join me??? The link takes you to the Mystery Sal page.

 

Good luck to those of you participating in YOTA looking forward to your posts next Saturday.

 

Take care my beautiful creative friends. Enjoy life and may it be filled with rainbows and magic.

 

I'm going to go back and leave comments on your blogs. Sorry for the absence but I was silently stalking you all. Bwah hah hah!

 

xox Alicia

 

 

 



February YOTA

Hi Stunners!

 

Welcome to my new followers, thank you for joining me and all my guest stars on this stitching adventure. Thank you to everyone that left a comment on my last post. I love to reply to you personally but a lot of them were no-reply blogger ones. So thank you to all of you. You guys make me laugh and smile out loud!

 

Now for February YOTA.

I can't believe we are already in February, wasn't it New Years Eve last night????

 

 

My YOTA project is Guardian Angel and I'm hoping to finish the top row of pages by the years end. I have 3 completed and 3 to go.



 

I started stitching the background and I wanted to finish his wing, but I just couldn't wait so I just started working on the Angel. His arm looks a little bit too pink though but I'm sure it will blend in more when I have stitched his cloak around it. Thank you to Pull the Other Thread for organising YOTA, my Angel and I are very grateful as I think it will really help with this project. You're a star! For more info on YOTA just click on the Guardian Angel picture on the left hand side.

 

I also wanted to share with you this beautiful dreamcatcher that my bff gave me for Christmas. I finally got around to hanging it up and it's just gorgeous. She's the first thing I see when I wake up, so I always wake up happy.

 

 

Isn't she beautiful??? Do you recognise who the artist is? I'm pretty sure HAED fans will know.

I'm on holidays at the moment and as soon as I get off the computer and finish packing I'll be in the car and heading to Fingal Bay in Port Stephens. A week on my own on a beach, woo hoo!!!  I'm taking a few cross stitches, audio books and plan to relax and stitch on the beach between, swims and quaffing down seafood.

Take care my beautiful and amazing crafty friends. I'll be back for the Wipocalypse.

xoxo Alicia