Heirloom Christmas Sampler

I've started doing a slightly more structured rotation using a randomizer app on my iPad.  Yes, I know that sounds like an oxymoron.  ;-)

The last choice the randomizer made was the Heirloom Christmas Sampler from the Victoria Sampler.  I've had this as a UFO for quite awhile but never bothered to take it off the scroll frame.  Finally, I can say that I've made progress on it!  The Christmas tree was giving me fits due to the large number of needles and branches.  Now, the tree (first band) is done as are bands 2-5!  I would've done band 6 as well, but the skein of Caron Waterlilies that it calls for seems to have vanished.   Since I'm planning a floss order soon, I'll add that to the list.

Oh, I'm doing this in the red/green colorway and I'm doing the long version.

Here's the picture of my progress so far.

I'm also planning on blogging more frequently.  Hopefully, there will be product reviews and designer profiles here in the near future!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

A bit of organization

While I don't follow FlyLady as well as I should, I have picked up tips from her.  Getting rid of clutter, organizing necessary items and being frugal.  Here's one instance:

I'm sure that many of you have these floating around your homes:  personalized mailing labels sent by various organizations as a donation incentive.  I knew that I had a couple of sheets on my desk and I thought that I might have some more in a basket but I wasn't sure.

Today, while looking at a catalog from Colorful Images, I noticed that they have an organizer specifically for labels.  Well, I'm too cheap to buy something like that, so I came up with my own method.

I'm a big fan of office supplies, so I took a look in my storage closet.  I found a thin 3-ring binder (about 1/2" spine) and some page protectors.  Then I searched my desk areas and gathered together all of my labels.  Most of them are sheets that are either folded or microperfed.  I unfolded or separated each sheet so that all of the labels are visible.  Then I put 2 sheets back to back and put them in a page protector.

Now I know I don't need to purchase any mailing labels (for probably several years) and I can find any style that I would like at any time!

Stacy

Stitching progress & WIP

Here's my progress on 12 Days of Christmas by Teresa Wentzler.  Days 1-3 are complete.

Here is how I store my WIPs when they are waiting to be worked on.  As you can see, each one has the appropriate flosses kept with it.  The patterns are kept in a 3-ring binder.  I laminate the floss keys and 3-hole punch them so that they stay in good condition and fit in the binder.




Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Progress picture of Rapunzel (HAED)

Here is the first page of Rapunzel (Dawe) from Heaven and Earth Designs. 

I'm doing this 1 strand of floss over 1 on 28ct. 

There are only 13 colors in the entire project!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Think Spring?

I know that magazines in general put each issue together months in advance but my Cross-Stitch & Needlework (March 2012) that came today is already talking about Spring cleaning!

Well, Spring or not, I think CSN has inspired me to organize my craft room a bit.  Of course, they didn't have an article on just cleaning, there is an article on creating/organizing your craft room!

I think I'm going to wade through all my cross stitch stuff and weed out the fabric, patterns, magazines, etc. that I'll never get around to and put them up for sale on my website!  For those that don't know, I already have some items listed for sale:  http://home.comcast.net/~rjcsmc/  click on Store in the menu list.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Twilight Repose finished!

Here is Twilight Repose finished and framed.  This took me roughly three months to stitch.  I started it in mid-August and finished mid-November 2011.

The frame and mats were purchased from Picture Frames.com.  The frame is Black Tie Affair (#7BK) and the mats are Black Watch (top) and Bar Harbor Gray (bottom).

None of the photos that I took nor the one at the Heaven and Earth Designs website do this justice.  Within the bobcat and the bottom of the feather is Kreinik 032 Blending Filament which provides areas of sparkle.

This was my first HAED finish.  Now I can get back to the 4 other designs from HAED that I have started!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Being Frugal...

I've discovered that being frugal is great but it also has it's funny side!  We use alot of Resolve (Spray 'n' Wash) in our house.  When I ran out, DH went to Walmart to get some more...not a single one on the shelves!  This wasn't good as DH was running out of clean shirts. 

I decided to go across the street and get one (just one) bottle at Rite Aid.  I knew I'd be paying more, but really needed to do some laundry.  Lo, and behold, Resolve was on sale!  Normally at Walmart, I pay $2.49-$2.79 (can't remember for sure).  Rite Aid is normally $3.99; sale price was $2.00.  That's really great 'cause it's even less than WM. 

When I looked at the bottles, I saw .65 cents off coupons right on the bottles.  There were only two bottles in stock...I bought them both.  $1.35 each for 30oz. bottles (normally they are 22oz.) is great.

Later this week, DH got a rain check for ten more; I got a rain check for 10 more; my SIL got a rain check (for us) for 8; my FIL got a rain check for 4.  Today, DH went across the street to buy some more since we knew the delivery truck had been there yesterday.  When I looked in the laundry room this morning, I have a full case of Resolve.  I have a feeling that I'm going to have Resolve stored in all sorts of places around the house.  Our house is now the kingdom of Resolve!

Total savings:
46 bottles @ $1.14 less each = $52.44
30 oz instead of 22 oz = 368 oz for free!

Stacy