Mel's January SFS2015-A Report

Looking for January log-in/reporting for SFS2015-A? See post below this one to get your blog counted! 

 

There is sunlight for a few minutes after work these days. A sure sign that it is getting later in January and yet somehow I can notice the light change but not the days going by! 

I did okay on budget this month, with only a couple eBay items from the same seller. I swear without eBay I would be a lot better at this challenge! Though it does help that some goodies I ordered over Christmas arrived too. 

 

Spent: $19.25

Finishes: none $0 credit

 

I'm going to be able to count 1/2 a page of Dragons that has been worked on since January 1, 2015 soon. As well as most of the piece for a friend I am still doing. As I hate stitch counting I will be patient and wait for my pieces to be finished or page finished before racking up any finishing amounts.
Both the above pieces have deadlines (or at least hopeful deadline for Dragons) that I fear are fast approaching so time to get back to stitching!

SFS2015-A: January Reports for Participants

A few quick SFS2015 clarifications: 
- Shipping does not count in budget
- HAED page finishes or 100% stitching is now worth $15 for 100 x 70. 
- No more emails for reporting. Just link to your blog post below.
- Only stitching from Jan 1, 2015 forward can be counted for credit.
- Stitching carries forward. Don't worry about counting every stitch in a month; you can carry forward your stitching and count the finish in a different month!


The timeline for January (for email participants) is Jan 21 - 28. 
Please use the link provided via email to send an automated email to stitchfromstash@gmail.com from your computer or smart device. 

This link list to report for January (for bloggers) will remain open from Jan 21 - 28.

Please ensure your SFS post is at the top of your blog and adheres at minimum to this basic template:

Month: (the month you're reporting in for!)
Spent: (the amount you spent from your budget)
Earned: (put the amount earned from finishes that month!)

Of course we want pictures and more information if you'd like!! This is merely the minimum requirement for reporting. Please ensure you link to the exact SFS post on your blog and not your general blog page. 

Blogger Reporting for January SFS2015-A: 

Issues, concerns, confused, etc?  

Please feel free to leave a comment here and I will respond via email or comment back if you don't have an email connected to your blogger profile. 

OR 

Email me (Mel) direct at stitchfromstash@gmail.com

Itty Bitty Mill Hill Stitchy's

A finish and a start to share with you all today. Both are from Mill Hill’s little kits that are on perforated paper.

I’ve been asked before why I do these simple little kits and like them so much. It’s  a good question and so I will revist it. I LOVE these little guys because they are a quick (2-3 night at most) activity to get a quick finish. They are super cute, colorful, and have lots of fun beads. With about a 50/50 split between stitches and beads I find  them to be quite satisfying in terms of look (when finished) and journey to the finish. Also, I do not have many projects with beads and would hate to start losing my technique with them so I like doing the bead parts the most.

The other big reason I love these is they are easy. Sometimes when I’m not feeling good, really tired or just not in the mood for any of WIPs then these little kits always satisfy without taking up all my brain strength.

This is Witches Hat all done up except for cutting out and backing:

And this is the start of Caterpillar:

I’ve been trying to work on Dragons every couple of days. As it’s just filling in the white, cream and light yellow areas it’s fast but easily boring so I tend to do a little of it and then switch to something else for the rest of the night. It’s working so far and I’m about 2/3 of the way done the page already!

Amazing, so far I’ve not spent anything which is good news for Stitch From Stash. I’m going to try and get through the whole month. Should be able to as I still have items I ordered coming to me in the mail. I find that getting them in the mail is as exciting as having placed the order. So it’s like two days of buying but only paying once. LOL!

Happy Stitching!

Seminar Dreams...

Note SFS Participants: There will be an email coming out tonight confirming you're in. If you don't receive one please send a message to StitchFromStash@gmail.com to inquire. 

Some of you may remember that at one time I was a member of a guild in Cochrane (just outside my city of Calgary) that was a part of the EAC. Which is the Embroiderers Association of Canada. They many things for members throughout the years.

After leaving my guild I let my membership lapse and carried on in my own little ignorant of EAC world. Until today... 

I just saw that a week of seminars/classes and other fun stuffs are being held here in Calgary!!! Just blocks away from where I work in the downtown core. And there's even a class being taught by the lovely, (and local) Jeanette Douglass that looks gorgeous (see pic to right). So, of course, I immediately went over to see if I could attend. Suddenly I had a dream that in May of this year I could be at a 2-day course, learning new speciality stitches with a designer I admire. 

That was until I saw the costs... and then my DH said... um... yeah, not gonna happen too much money. :( 

I won't lie, crushing defeat ensued. 

Obviously last year with the creation of SFS I was trying to SAVE money on stitching not spend it. And I seriously have enough stash, even at only 31, to stitch for the rest of my life. So of course I do have to concede that almost $500 for the 2-day class + membership + supplies is just too much money for only 2 days. Besides SFS would barely get me my supplies over the next 4 months in budget. And who are we kidding me, only get the supplies for one class and nothing else. HA! That is a dream indeed!! 

Okay I'm done whining now. (lol) No need to feel bad for me, but I just had to share that I was so excited and then experienced the crushing reminder of reality as we all do at many times, over many things. Maybe when I'm much more senior in my job or retired I will be able to do these things. But with a mortgage, appliances starting to go and other house costs I just can't do it. 

So I will remember that I LOVE my house that I get to own and change as I like; and keep stitching Dragons. I've got a finish for next week to share. :) 

Happy Stitching! 

2015-A Stitch From Stash BEGINS!

The date changed, and that means it's the first day of Stitch From Stash 2015-A!
I went on a smallish spending spree during the break and am hoping that will keep my buying bug under control for at least a month. Lol. We will see.

I got the calendar girls series for almost half price at ABCstitch which is sooo exciting. They will be my fall start I think (gotta wait that 6 months) for this year. I'm going to do the girls all in a long row, with no months underneath but with their dividers between them.
I think my faves are August (with the books!) and October (with pumpkins of course!)



I also got a few other new projects that I'll share as they come in up the stash. :)

Other projects happening on holidays:  has been white, white and more white on Dragons. It may be quick to stitch but there's a lot of it and it's pretty boring. I'll be very excited to move onto the last page which is a little less white.
A new start: on a cute little mill hill kit. Finish to be shown soon!
Gift stitching: Two down, one to go. I will be sharing some progress of the third project (I think it's safe, lol).

For now I hope everyone is staying away from online shopping and focusing on  all the goodies they got over the last few weeks.
Happy Stitching!