HAED Sales & willpower

I have no idea what it is with Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) sales that reduce my willpower to resist to zero.  There was a 50% off sale recently that totally got me and I caved and bought 11 charts!  I won't share all of them with you at it will be photo over load but this is a few of them:

Alicia Aliana - Lynn

Snow White's Fall - Nielsen

Princess Izzy - Lynn

The Ghost - Sinz

Black Rose - Kuik

Portrait With a Spiderling - JBG

I chose a really varied selection with different artists and muted and bright colours.  I've no idea how I'm ever going to get everything stitched that I want to, especially when Michele keeps bringing out such new and beautiful charts!  I need to learn to stitch faster!

Also, this week I found out that my cousin is going to be a father and so that means another birth sampler!  Just when I thought I may be able to get a nice run of stitching for myself I have another sampler!  It took a while to find one that I liked and that him and his partner would like, but I finally chose this one:

It is both cute and modern with nice bright colours and I don't have to wait to find out if they are having a boy or a girl to complete most of it!


As a final note, for those of you who aren't aware, Heaven and Earth Designs are having a 25% 4th of July sale which lasts until 9th July, I doubt my willpower will hold out until then so expect more new purchase pictures!  Even if you don't fancy stitching something so big, have a stop by just to look at the beautiful artwork.  

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend - June

Sorry I'm posting this a little late but I was so close to a finish I just wanted to hang and and get the last little bit of beading done!

So after being a UFO for 5 years or so, Henry VIII is finally finished!

I'm so happy to get this done and it feels so good to see it completed.  I have to say I'm not 100% happy with it and I know that there are a lot of people who could have done it much better, but it's not too bad.  It's going to be going to my mum, who has loved it from the day I bought it as she was with me.  She's going to get it framed herself so that she can choose the right frame for her.

Thanks very much for all the encouragement that kept me going when it was close to being thrown back in the cupboard!

WIPocalypse - June

Sorry this is a day late but at least I made it eventually!  It's been a fairly productive month and I have a finish!

First up, TT Violet Sometimes:

Feels great to have a finish and I think it looks pretty good for my first HAED project, I even managed to frame it myself!

May

Next one, Henry VIII:

April

 

June

This is nearly done now.  All the main stitching is done so just a small amount of back stitching to do as well as the beading.  I've never actually beaded anything before so fingers crossed it works out!

Now for SK Blue Moon:

April

June

I'm really struggling with this, the amount of confetti is crazy but I am determined to get it done.  It may only be a few stitches, but it's a few stitches nearer the finish line!  It may take me a while, so you'll have to bear with me on this one.

I haven't done anything on Endless Dream or Fanciful Fairy this month but I've been a little naughty and made a start on QS Clara - Hannah Lynn.

June

I've not really been struck by her artwork before, then I spotted this and it really grabbed me.  Since then her artwork has really grown on me and now I have an even bigger list of charts I HAVE to do!

Just to keep you informed, HAED are having a 25% off sale until 11th June, this time it includes the minis.  Sadly I've been banned by my OH from visiting the site....I've spent far too much in the recent sales and I stitch far too slowly....although if you don't tell him, he'll never know!  Michele is too naughty and keeps adding such beautiful artwork that I just NEED to stitch.

That's it for now, thanks for reading.  Please feel free to leave a comment, it's always nice to read your thoughts.

TT Violet Sometimes - Framed

Just a short update to show you my framed finish.  I framed it myself as it was a smaller sized project and I'm really pleased with how it looks.

I also caved and bought more HAED charts!  As well as the other Winkler charts I mentioned in my last post, I also added these:

Faces of Fairy 185 - Jasmine Becket-Griffith

Suzanne - Fred Winkler

I really need to start getting more stitching done and do less stash enhancement!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend

Well I've had a really successful International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW)!

I managed to finish TT Violet Sometimes!

I'm really happy with how it turned out, but I feel a little guilty calling this my first HAED finish as it's a small chart so feels like I'm cheating.  Thank you to everyone that has provided such supportive and helpful comments along the way, it's very much appreciated!

I also managed to put a few stitches into Henry VIII but not enough to really notice any progress.  This will be my next focus piece as it's so close to a finish it makes sense to push on and get that last bit done.

I also have to tell you how lovely people in the cross stitch community are!  In the past month I've been lucky enough to be gifted 2 HAED charts, Mini Memory (Nene Thomas) from Sam and QS Snap Dragon Fairy (Jasmine Becket-Griffith) from Liz.  I really cannot express how much this kindness is appreciated and I cannot thank you enough.

 

Mini Memory

QS Snap Dragon Fairy

Just as a final note, one of the HAED artists, Fred Winkler is being retired at the end of June.  He's an amazing digital artist and I love his works, thanks to Michele for the "head's up" so that we have a chance to snatch up his charts before they are no longer available and if you are quick, there is a 50% off sale just to help you a little.  Although I have enough charts to last me a few years, I'm still going to purchase a few of Fred's as they are lovely.  These are a few of the ones I like, it may prove to be expensive!

   

WIPocalypse - May

Well it's that time again and I can't believe how fast this comes around!

This month I've tried to focus on TT Violet Sometimes as it's so near to being completed, this has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated.  For some reason, now that I am near to finishing, I've completely run out of steam and seem to spend more time sitting and looking at it rather than stitching on it!  This is where I'm up to:

April

May

I did manage to get a little time to work on Henry VIII and have a little progress to show:

April

May

 







I was also a bit naughty, when I should have been working on SK Blue Moon, I started a new project!  It is the Fanciful Celtic Fairy From CrossStitcher Magazine (Issue 227 - July 2010) that I had kitted up and had ready to go and I just couldn't help myself!  It's my first Joan Elliott design (the first of many though) and my first time using the lovely hand-dyed Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten, I went with Dawn Blush for this project.  If you haven't shopped there before I strongly urge you to take a look!  I'm not very far yet but this is my start:

So no progress on SK Blue Moon....again

This month I've done some MAJOR stash enhancement and I promise to post next week when the last of it arrives to show you what I've bought, although I am a little scared to see it all together!

Thanks for reading!

IHSW - April

Well I actually managed to remember that it was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW) and I managed to get a fair bit of stitching done as I was watching the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.  I won't go into the politics of whether it should have taken place, but it was a good race.

I've managed to get a fair bit of stitching done on TT Violet Sometimes and I've decided that instead of rotating, I'm going to stick with it until it's completed....well that's the plan anyway!

I have to apologise for the poor quality photo, I couldn't find the batteries for the camera (OH "tidied" them away) so I had to take the photo with my phone and that camera sucks.

Hope you all managed to get some stitching in and I can't wait to stop by your blogs and check the photo's out!

WIPocalypse - April

Well it's that time again!  There's a new start this month, my first full size HAED, I'll start with that.  It's Endless Dream by Christophe Vacher:




























Next up is Henry VIII, which is a kit from DMC.  Quite pleased with how this is coming along, still hoping for it to be finished by June, which I think it fairly realistic as long as I continue making progress on it.  Nearly finished with the wives and after that just the border, backstitch and beading to do:

March

April

Lastly, TT Violet Sometimes; I'm pretty happy with the way this is turning out.  I did get a little bored of the black and dark blue so did some of the lighter colours too:

March

April

As I made a new start, I didn't get a chance to work on SK Blue Moon, but I am planning to work on that this week so next month there will be an update.

Thanks very much for taking the time to check out my work.  Please feel free to leave a comment, it's always very much appreciated!

OMG I got an award!

I am in shock.....I've gone through life as a person who is pretty unnoticed.  I was never picked first in sports and have always been very average, so for someone to pick my little blog and deem it award-worthy came completely out of blue!  Now that I've stopped jumping around the living room and have calmed down a little I guess I'd better tell you more.

Nikki from Nikki's Stitching was kind enough to award me with a Liebster Award, these are the details and the requirements that are attached to it:

Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved, and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition. The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster to.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

It's very difficult to narrow down all the blogs that I read on a regular basis and pick 5 that I want to award a Liebster Award to in return, so I apologise if I haven't picked your blog.

1. Robindefender's blog called Threads of Memory.  She was my first followers and always has nice and supportive comments to give whether things are going right or wrong!  She's a beautiful stitcher and her blog is really well worth a look at.

2. Beth of Beth's Blog.  She stitches lovely and bright designs and it's always lovely to read her blog.  She leaves thoughtful and supportive comments.

3. Next up is Pull the Other Thread.  This lady makes stunning cards as well as being a beautiful stitcher.  Whilst I've only recently come across her blog, I've spent time having a look through her posts and love the range of projects that she tackles.

4. Cindy from Home of a Floss Junkie. I love seeing Cindy's posts each week and not only have I been following the stitching progress of those naughty little Spangler Dragonlings but I've been keeping a keen eye on her hubby's Lego Death Star!

5. Last and by no means least.....Dana from Dana's Blog.  She's had a bit of a rough time health wise but always has kind words and encouragement for others and I wanted her to know that it doesn't go unnoticed.  I love seeing her foodie posts as much as her stitching posts!  Can't wait to see the progress pictures when she starts her first HAED chart.

Now for the 5 facts about myself that people don't know:

1. I am a trashy action movie junkie.  If it has bad acting and lots of fight scenes then I love it! Can't beat anything with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal.

2. Last year our dog accidentally broke my nose whilst I was asleep.  He got cold in the middle of the night and jumped on the bed and fell asleep between my boyfriend and I.  He woke with a start, headbutted my face and broke my nose!  I wondered what on earth was going on when I woke up with my nose hurting and my eyes streaming.  It's still slightly wonky!

3. I met my boyfriend whilst playing an online computer game!  We became friends and chatted by e-mail as well as online, then on the phone and finally in person.  3 months after we met in person, we moved in together and we are getting married later this year after 8 happy years.

4. I have had a working human heart in my hands.  I was a Cardiology nurse and during a night shift I was involved in an emergency where the patient had recent bypass surgery.  I had to assist a surgeon until the rest of his surgical team (who were dealing with another emergency) could arrive.  The patient survived and recovered without further complication.

5. I bought my house when I was 21.  Not a very interesting fact, but something that people don't know!  It's the same house I live in now, it's not very big but it's ok for the 2 of us and our dog.

Thanks for reading!