Tart!

I've been slacking on my blogging. I know I said I'll update once a week especially with this SAL that Carol, Jessie and I got going. I finished stitching 'Tart' last week but didn't have a chance to post until now.

I'm now officially halfway through Sweet Threats. Ice Cream is next. My absolute favourite among all of 'em. I've yet to start it though. By the way, Carol has already finished her Sweet Threats. If you haven't already seen it, check it out here. Isn't her stitching beautiful? Guess I lost our mock SAL competition >.< Fair and Square #8 package from Michele.

I love them, Michele. The colours are so sweet. Thank you so much! Here's a close up of the square:

The design is 'I Love Cross Stitch' (how appropriate ^.^) from the July 2008 issue of The Gift of Stitching magazine by Maryse Dupont of Les grilles de Maryse. The website is in French so click here for the translated version from Google if you're as clueless as me.

Michele also sent me a card and a a pretty Seattle tin containing peppermints.

I received another blog award - Arte y Pico - this time from Noreen. Thank you, Noreen.

The first time I saw this, it was on Nina's blog which according to her, means 'The Best Art'.

As usual, the rules for every award:

1. Choose 5 blogs deserving to receive the award (conception, creativity, interesting equipment and contributing to the community of bloggers whatever the language).
2. Every award must contain the link towards the blog of his author so that it can be visited.
3. Every winner must show the award-logo and put back the name and the link towards the blog that attributed it for her.
4. The winner must show the blog link the Arte y Pico.
5. To Post the rules.

I've nominated a number of blogs before for the last two awards that I've received but I'm gonna go ahead and nominate another 5 more as per requested anyway because in my opinion, there are way too many stitchers out there with wonderful blogs who deserves some recognition.

Thus, once again in alphabetical order:

• Biblo's Blog ~ Wendy from Malaysia
• Kathy’s Designs & Kreations ~ Kathy from England
• Lil' Needlecrafter ~ Lillie from Malaysia
• Stitches with Camels ~ Mel from Dubai
• Xstitch - Christina ~ Christina from USA

Before you leave me to visit these talented stitchers' blogs, here's my latest update of Just Nan's Queen of the Needle.

Finally got through the dreaded band. Did I mention I don't like confetti stitches? >.<

Cupcake!

I got Cupcake all stitched up! Told ya I'll be more diligent in stitching and updating my blog when I’m in a SAL. So here it is…

I’m finally not too far behind Jessie and Carol. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I think this brings me more or less to the same progress as Jessie. I've now started on Tart so watch it, Carol, I just might catch up to you ^.^ I know, I know, an SAL is not a competition... but hey, whatever drives you to keep on stitching, right? Then again, these designs are so fun and easy to stitch I doubt I'll lose interest anytime soon.
Now, you might have noticed that I left some of the brown French knots on the cupcake and white confetti stitches around the block off. Don't worry, I didn't forget. I'll be replacing them with beads later on. I reckon they would look nicer. Of course, that has nothing to do with the fact that I hate confetti stitches. Say you believe me?
I got a lot more done on Gingerbread Cottage as well. This picture shows a much truer colour of the fabric that the previous sloppy, last minute, close up picture I took of the house.

Once again, yes, I've left out some stitching. I guess you can guess what I'm gonna do about the confetti stitches at the top and bottom border. As for the other missing items, I'm still playing around with an idea I have. Nothing is concrete yet. You'll see soon enough what I have in mind :)
Last week, I mentioned that there were more stash that I might have forgotten to show you and since a number of you mentioned that you don't mind me raving about my stash, Here's more... :P

I think I'm addicted to band samplers. I mean, look at the collection I've accumulated since "discovering" them. It's getting out of hand. Here's another one - The Drawn Thread's Prairie Garden. Even though I've yet to start this one, I'm already contemplating getting the other 3 gardens in the set. Someone tell me, am I insane to even think about it? I bought it during Mary Kathryn's Handcrafts Online summer sale. Love her reduced postage bargain. I swear, some ONS just charges their overseas customers an exorbitant amount for shipping cost. And when the package arrives, it's actually only a couple dollars.
Rant aside, look what I found on Ebay:

Just Nan's Out of Print Patience. It says on her website that this design is limited to only 3000 copies. I'm so lucky to have won all 4 chapters with their embelishment packs still intact. And as an added bonus, a very huge bonus, I've gotten to know the seller, Dixie (no blog). Her Ebay name is dws1010 and she's an avid stitcher like me too. Not only is she very friendly, she went over and beyond the call of duty to have the package shipped to me at the lowest rate possible. Most sellers would have just charged an estimated amount that's usually more than the actual shipping cost and leave it at that.
My Vikki Clayton order arrived in record time as well. Seriously, these two are great examples of what I call excellent customer service. Many people just don't realize how much giving or withholding good customer service can affect a business. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth.
Back to the original topic, look at these lustrous silk - Vikki's conversion for LHN The Rose in Morning.

I've been naughty girl and started it. I'm stitching it on 32 count natural Italian linen. However, there's not enough progress to warrant a picture. Next time, perhaps.
The silk package for the Little House Neighbourhood that I've been going on and on about was in that same package too but I'm still waiting for the fabric to arrive. Will do a floss toss then.

F&S Exchange, RR, SAL, Stash!

To make up for not making an actual stitching post for more than half a month, be forewarned that this post will be a long one with tons of pictures. And now without any further delay, here goes...
My squares for my first Fair and Square Exchange to Michele W. arrived more than a week ago. I just didn't have the time to post until now. This is what I stitched for her:

Design: Heart and Home
Designer: Diane Williams
Fabric: 32 count Natural Italian Linen
Fibers: DMC

I've been reading her blog for quite some time now and knew that she loves sunflowers and LHN designs. Well, truth be told, this isn't exactly a LHN design but as I told her, it's designed by Diane Williams, so it pretty much qualifies ^.^ It was originally published in Leisure Arts' Joy In The Journey leaflet but sadly, it's now out of print. So how did I get my hands on this design then? Especially since it's not until recently that I fell in love with LHN. Well, my dear stitching friends, the good news is, this design along with most if not all of the other designs in the leaflet can be downloaded from the Leisure Arts Library for a small price. Isn't it neat? :D Here are both of my squares together.

Fair & Square Round #8 Exchange for Michele W.

I also remember telling you that I've been busy stitching on Renée's RR. Finally, I can now show you the result after three weeks working hard on it.

Design: Winter Cat
Designer: Sudberry House (Donna Vermillion)
Fabric: 28 count White Zweigart evenweave
Fibers: DMC

So what took me so long? Besides the fact that it is a rather large square (which I don't mind) with a lot of colour changes and quite a bit of back stitches (which I'm okay with), what really gets to me is the fractional stitches. Let's just say that fractional stitches are not my forté >.<

Renée's Four Seasons Cats RR

Looking at it... what can I say? I'm very satisfied :)
According to the title, two down, two more to go... On to the SAL, I first noticed Carol stitching Sweet Threats. As it is on my to-do list and I've already had it kitted up, I asked her if she would like to join me in a SAL. Knowing myself, having a stitching partner would go a long way towards helping me finish this a lot sooner. Carol graciously agreed to stitch along with me. Then, Jessie mentioned on the LHN Yahoo Group that she has just started hers so I invited her to join in too. Thus, our 3 members informal SAL is formed. We've agreed to update at least once per week so here's mine (better late than never, right?)

Anyone else who's interested in stitching this, you're cordially invited to join us. After all, as Carol said, the more the merrier.
The rest of my Sweet Threats thread packs arrived today too, just in time for me to continue on to the next block. Talk about perfect timing.

Just like the last item in my title suggests, for the past week or so, stash has been arriving in my mailbox at a pretty frequent basis.

My first Shepherd's Bush design - She Tends with charms and the recommended floss and fabric from Drema of Needlecraft Corner. I love that she kits it up at a discounted price. Huge savings, less trouble and great customer service. What more could a girl ask for?

Just Nan's Lady Scarlet's Journey I, II and III. Drema specially ordered these for me. So pretty... my hands are itching to start stitching >.<

Hi! My name is Veronica and I'm a LHN-aholic. Need I say more? Seriously, I didn't realize that most of the charts I've purchased are LHN designs until I had them lined up like this. The chart I'm most excited about however, is the one in the top row center - Little House Neighbourhood. Finally, the chart has arrived! Now if only the floss (I'll be using Vikki Clayton's silks) and the fabby will arrive soon, then I can start. I've got a lot of catching up to do on the SAL. The other items in the picture includes a Star De-Tailor which I can't wait to try and materials for various other projects I have in mind.

A variety of linens and charms from A Charming Place for various projects.
Hmm... I think I might be missing one or two pictures of other charts I've purchased. Oh well, I think you've had enough of my stash for today. I know some of you are probably sick of looking at stash pictures but I'm so excited I just gotta share.
'Til next time, Happy Stitching!