Stash Enhancement

Yesterday I visited a lovely friend who had been 'clearing out' as we all do.

She had in her "I dont' need these anymore" pile a bunch of Shepherd's Bush designs so I decided to rehome them for her. Aren't I helpful? They are:

• Simple Threads
• Angel Pie
• French Openwork (I REALLY like this one)
• Wandering Vine (an afghan), and
• Gathered Hours

I've not stitched a SB design but the are so sweet, I think I 'could' become addicted. The stockings are very cute too and one day I could be tempted to stitch a couple of them for the littlies...before they become 'biggies"

I need more hours...

Wow! Take a look at these!!

Have you seen all the lovely new things over at DragonflyDreams? I've not been over there for a week or so and my jaw literally hit the floor today!

I'm very tempted to pick up a few of the Satin Stitches hardanger designs - they're really beautiful and I really enjoy hardanger. Also Karen has some new candlewicking designs. I've not tried this yet, but my mother is very good at it! I could however, be tempted with these...lovely! Now where is my credit card?

Given my new found interest in stitching smalls I was also really taken by the Cat's Whiskers Alyssum Scissor Pocket, Blessed With Happiness Box, The Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag and the Peacock Stitching Chair although I suspect the latter two would REALLY test my modest finishing skills!

Last time I visited DFD I picked up the Needleprint Samplers (yes I got all four!!!!) They are just charming and I can't wait to start one (or all) of them! The sampler printed inside the dust jacket of "Quaker Schoolgirl Samplers" book is wonderful too and I am just so tempted to drop everything and start one!

I've had a really busy and exhausting few weeks and asked my boss for some 'more' time off this week - so I am going to spend a week stitching and just doing things for me.

(Just for a laugh, the Blogger spellchecker asked me if I wanted to change 'hardanger' to HEADBANGER...I know some will get a giggle out of that because hardanger is a source of great frustration!)

I'm turning into a 'stitcher of smalls"!!!

Here it is...biscornu number two! This one is a motif form the Ackworth Motif book and I used Caron Watercolours in Bark and a really creamy uneven natural linen. It has a very open weave so the watercolours covered really nicely. Again I didn't button it because I didn't want to cover the design up AND I only decided to stitch it yesterday AND I didn't have a suitable button handy ha ha ha! Excuses excuses!

It's for a friend and I doubt she will look at my blog before she gets it so am happy to post a picture today!

I really like these things and I have a few large designs which would lend themselves to bigger versions of this, like REAL cushions!

Can you tell I'm a little distracted from my 'normal' stitching?

I've been making jewelry (SP) too. My dear mum's birthday is in a few weeks and I have started something special for her so will post a pic when that's done as she doesn't read my blog! I'm really happy with how it's moving along.

I'm also thinking about doing a class in polymer clay so I can learn how to make my own feature beads....that should be fun. Will certainly let you know how that goes and show you the results!!

Blocked at every pass!

My wonderful friend Janine and I have very similar tastes....so much so, that every time I find something on e-Bay that I think I might bid upon, Janine has already bid on it! Bugger! I guess she just needs the stash more than I do...hee hee hee...I don't believe that for a single minute!

But happier news...today was my last day at work for a whole month! Saturdayweek, SOH, LHM and I move into our very own house :) I am so excited - a place for everything and (sooner or later) everything in its place! I am looking forward to some of my stitching friends visiting on the 27th! I haven't seen some for a very long time and I am looking forward to catching up :)

A very funny thing happened today while I was cleaning up my desk...I found a parcel, closed and addressed ready to send....I "think" that it may have been a present for Kaz at some time but I can't recall what is in it. I am so slack. I will open it up, placer her Christmas Pressie in it (that I've also not sent yet) and post it tomorrow!

Might stitch tonight.....An Open Heart MAY get a few more lengths of thread :) It's much cooler tonight and more stitching-friendly temperature wise :)

They're here!!

Woohooo I am so spoilt! Three parcels in three days!

My ebay purchase was a modern reproduction of "The Praise of the Needle" which was written by John Taylor in 1631.

And my parcels from Dragonflydreams and Colours Downunder arrived as well so all in all I'm a happy little stitcher!

I just love Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly! I only get it for the pictures you know.... :)

Australia Post Service...or Not!

I got cards for two parcels today...nothing unusual about that...was expecting them.

However...one card directed me to the local post office which incidentally is just across the road from my house...but it closes early...it NEVER stays open until the times it says on the door - never!
The other card directs me to the Area Post office about ten minutes away from my house. So I wander across there hoping that the Dragonflydreams parcel is the one I can pick up tonight. I am really looking forward to catching up on SANQ!

No such luck...it's my ebay purchase.

So, now I have to telephone the local PO (across the road from my house) tomorrow, ask them to send my parcel to the area PO so I can pick it up after I finish work. This means it will be another two days before I get it!

Now I am also expecting a parcel from Colours Downunder, so I bet what will happen with that one, I will have the DFD parcel redirected to the area PO and on the same day I will get a card saying my CDU parcel is at the local PO and I will have to go through it all again!

Waaaah I am being stalled in all directions!

More stash.....

I am so bad...last night I made an order for three samplers - it was very late, I am sleep deprived - I didn't know what I was doing. I've been a bit naughty with stash this week, first a nice order on it's way from Dragonflydreams, and some stash from Alison of course, and now some lovely charts from Colours Down Under.

I ordered:

• With My Needle - Adorn Thy Heart
• The Sampler House - Band of Many Colours
• The Needle's Prayse - The Garnet Sampler

I've wanted the first two for a very long time....and the third, well I had to make the postage worthwhile didn't I?

Now I am VERY impatient for the postman!

Stashy Mail

How exciting - my first stash mail in what seems like forever.

I got from Alison C. Drawn Threads "Generosity" chart (which is really cute) and Victoria Sampler's Pansy Sampler and Accessory Pack...lovely! I had only seen the VS one on the web and the chart photo is lovely...I ove the box top, my bedroom is lavender and green and white so that might make a nice pillow for my bed :)

I must admit though I have been off work with the flu for two days and I've been rather impatiently waiting for a parcel from Dragonflydreams with 3 issues of Sampler and Antique needlework Quarterly....I was so hoping it would be here before the weekend! Just to make it all worthwhile posting, I also ordered two long dog charts too!

Anyway much to my disgust of Australia Post - it hasn't arrived and it's making me stash-cranky!

Day 1 of the 'next ten days' down....9 to go.

I did a good two hours on DT's An Open Heart this evening...I am now down to the the area below the dividing bands after the first line of the verse....not very far I know but further than I was yesterday...

I also have some new things coming in the mail, the past three issues of SANQ and 2 Long Dog's Rosemarkie and St George from Dragonflydreams (the best INS on the web) - I think I will do those at work in my lunch breaks...the one colour stitching will help alleviate stress I think. I also am waiting on a book from ebay, a Victoria Sampler chart and accessory pack and DT's Generosity Sampler chart from Alison C . I have assisted her in de-stashing by taking these unwanted items off her hands. How helpful of me. : )

After stitching a while, it is funny how much more relaxed and open to my economics textbook I was....still doesn't make any sense but at least I am doing it!

Stash Empire Building!

Boy have I acquiring on a large scale lately......a summary of the latest additions to my stash are...

Indigo Rose
- Fair Little Girl
- Skyler Wayne
- Nathaniel
- Six Hem Sampler (already completed)

Scarlet Letter
- Pattern Record

Hesters Needle
- My Path

Samplers and Such
- FR Spanish Sampler

Homespun Sampler
- Bless This Child and Keep Him

Needle Adventures
- Bargello Fantasy - a gorgeous needlepoint /bargello chart!

I also received a heap of books I ordered from e-Bay, mostly sampler books and some OOP stuff :) and the magazine fairy sent me a Dutch magazine with the 1808 Spanish Sampler that I have been looking for.

I am treating myself to a large start...Permin's 1663 Dutch Sampler reproduction.....it's gorgeous and I am doing it over 2 on 30 count fabbie so it will be quite large. I can't wait to start!

So many samplers.......so little time...........