TUSAL August 2016

Hello.... surprise, surprise!! I am on time for this month's ORTs report!

This month's ORTs are sitting with my latest WIP.  This is my wild card entry for the JCS SAL July piece (not quite finished.... just needs beads now which I will do tonight).  The design is called "Christmas Festoon" designed by Patricia Ann Designs.  It was published in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015 edition.

What made up the ORT's this month?

Besides the red and green from the Christmas Festoon piece, I also worked on some other WIP's - pictures below:

Free Gift - Snowman and Penguin Christmas Card
Last stitched on in May for Stitch Maynia

May 2016

Now looks like this:

July 2016

Free Gift - Kate Knight Peacock
Last stitched on in January 2016

January 2016

Now looks like this:

July 2016

Nora Corbett's Christmas Eve Couriers - Comet

16th July 2016

31st July 2016

Halloween Sneak Peek"" - The Trilogy
Last stitched on in October 2015

October 2015

July 2016

I do have one more WIP but I am saving that one for the GG post later this month as it is one of my 2015 GG pieces...

So that's it for this ORT report and WIP update!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx




What is a TUSAL and an ORT Report??
Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 
Next New Moon - 1 September 2016

TUSAL... and WIP's

It's TUSAL time again.....

The suitcase on the left is my ORTs collection so far this year... and the ones on the right are for the last month.  Can you see that gorgeous pile of purple ORTs on top?  Aren't they adorable?

Here they are stitched up.....

I am using this gorgeous variegated thread for the new Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL.  The colour is called "Heliotrope" and it is a blend of blue, purple and pink - just stunning and perfect for this design!  The thread is from an Australian hand-dyed thread company called Cottage Garden Threads.  I bought a few of these threads when I went to the craft show recently - I have seen them a couple of times at the craft show but this year was the first time that I actually managed to remember to go and buy some.  Serendipity!

I started this new SAL on Saturday afternoon and I have almost finished 6 of the 12 circles.  My plan is to stitch all the circles in "Heliotrope" and then I will decide what I am going to do with the twiddly bits around the edge of the circles... I just want to make sure I have enough thread to completely stitch the main part of the circles before doing anything else!!

The fabric I am using is "Silver Springs" 32ct Jobelan from Colour Cascades Fabrics.  I should have ironed this before taking a pic... oops!  The colour of the fabric doesn't show up too well in the photo...  Hopefully when it's finished I will be able to get a good photo of it all.

That's me done for now.... I am going back to the couch and stitching!  I am still recuperating from my gallbladder removal operation last Monday.

This was me last Monday night (27/6) trying to stitch.... I had 2 cannula's in my left hand and I couldn't move very much but I did manage to get some stitches into that piece.  And as you know it is now finished... I tried to return to work yesterday, but after being in the office for an hour or so it became very obvious that it wasn't sustainable for me to sit at work all day... so I went home at lunchtime.  Today and tomorrow I plan to stay home and do some work from home and then I will see how I am tracking for Thursday and Friday.

I am way behind on my blog reading and email answering.... I will try and catch up on everything over the next week or so - but no promises!  Thank you all for your lovely comments on all my posts.  Take care... talk soon!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx


What is a TUSAL and an ORT Report??
Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 
Next New Moon - 3 August 2016

TUSAL... late as usual!

Oops.... I nearly forgot to show you my ORT's for the last month - and there is one or two to show!!

I love the colours of this month's ORT's - they are so pretty....  You may notice that in the background there is a very old WIP that has come out to play!  "Jingles" by Lizzie Kate :o)

I decided that "Whine and WIP's" is a very appropriate SAL to pull this out of the stitching box and to show it some love for a couple of days!  I have now finished the "Joy to the World" block and started on the border between blocks.  Updated progress photo to follow in the next few days :o)

That's it.... another ORT report done and dusted!  See you next time

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx



What is a TUSAL and an ORT Report??
Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. Next New Moon - 4 July 2016

TUSAL.. Bling... Stash...

As they say a picture paints a thousand words.... so who wants to see lots of pictures?

I have a rather boring TUSAL photo... then some bling... and then some stash acquisitions!

TUSAL
Well here they are... my ORT's for the last month.  Lots of gorgeous colours in that tin!

Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 
Next New Moon - 4 June 2016

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As my credit card will reliably inform you I have been on a bit of stash/bling buying frenzy!  And slowly all my purchases are landing in the the mail box!

First up I have Bling...

Gina (Gina's Unique Boutique) was having a moving sale so I just had to indulge... to be honest I do not know what I will do with them all (except have them in the craft room collecting dust) as I tend to only use them when I am stitching on large projects!  But they were so pretty.... :o)

I have a couple more coming from Julie (Nifty Needle Nannies) and once they get here I will show you a pic...

Next up I have some new pretty Stash Acquisitions.....

I am the first to admit that I am normally very boring when it comes to threads... DMC all the way! Occasionally I will branch out to Weeks Dye Works or NPI Silks or Caron Waterlillies as required by a specific chart but I haven't ventured very far into the world of hand-dyed variegated threads before! Until now that is!

Have a look at these stunning threads that I ordered from Jodryi Designs in the UK.  I also bought the April Limited Edition Fabric (Cairn's Birdwing Butterfly) and the matching thread (thread is the one on it's own on the right).  It helps that she was having a sale which meant that I could order twice as many as I might have normally ordered!

Next up we have a Mira added to my stash....

One of the many Mira groups that I am in on Facebook is having a "Queen of Peace" SAL and I have always wanted to stitch that gorgeous design.... but as it is an Out of Print chart I was not able to find it in Australia.... so I when I did find someone (Hawkins Hobbies in the UK) who had it for sale I just had to buy it (along with the Krienik, beads and treasures).  The kit also came with the fabric but that went into my stash as I am doing this on something else.... as you will see very shortly!

I am hoping to have this stitched and ready to take with me to the Mira Retreat next May (yes I did say next May - 2017!) in Katoomba.... after all I don't want to be the only one without a Mira lady to show at the retreat!! :o(

So that's it... my credit card has melted now from overwork!

So til my next post, happy stitching
Hugs xx

TUSAL March 2016

It's New Moon time again....

This month's new moon crept up and sneaked past me... as usual! Think I need to put a bell on the new moon so that I have a better chance of being on time!!

ORT Report:
My ORT's have slowly been filling up the little tin this month.  The picture below has quite a bit of red on top which is from my current WIP along with some green from one of GG WIP's.... pictures of both to come in the next few days!

Next month I will try and remember to take a picture of the big ORT's suitcase as these are just my ORT's since the last new moon.

ORT's - TUSAL March 2016

If you are wondering about the lovely piece of quilting and embroidery that the ORT's are sitting on... I can't take the credit for it... this is my Hubby's Mariner's Compass table runner he made last year.

So that's it for another ORT report.... not very exciting I know... must try harder!! :o)

Til next time... happy stitching!
Hugs xx


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Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 

Next New Moon - 7 April 2016

TUSAL Feb 2016 and another Finish!

ORT Report:
Yes.... I know... late again... but only by a couple of days this time!  So without further ado... here are the ORT's :o)

Jan / Feb 2016 ORT's

In the background you can see my Joyful World stitching.  I took this photo on Monday night and didn't get to post it until today... but that was a blessing in disguise as I can now show you this piece all finished!!

Finish #4:

The Snowflower Diaries - Joyful World SAL (January)
started 4 Jan 2016 - finished 9 Feb 2016

January was my Day 4 start for the Crazy Challenges and is Finish #4. I am starting to get used to these happy dances.... :o)

This delightful piece was stitched on a piece of linen that I had in my stash - it is a bamboo colour and was 28ct from memory.  All threads are DMC and I added some bling... the centre of the snowdrops and the 3 centre stitches in the border all have a clear bead added to them.  I now have February to complete and March will be released by the time you read this.... ♥♥♥♥♥

If you are interested in stitching these SAL pieces you will find the free designs on the Snowflower Diaries blog as well as on the FB page that she was set up specifically for the SAL.

So that's the latest... I do have a new start to show you but will come back in a day or so to give you a sneak peek on that one.  You never know it might be another finish by then!!

Til next time... happy stitching!
Hugs xx


********************
Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 

Next New Moon - 9 March 2016

TUSAL & Stitching Update

A new year, a new moon and a whole lot of new ORT's to collect!

ORT's December 2015 / January 2016

The picture shows all the ORT's from the last TUSAL pic to the other day in the small tin... the big tin is all of my 2015 ORT's.   I managed to collect quite a few last year... let's see what happens in 2016!

Stitching Update:

As I mentioned in my 2016 stitch goals post I am again doing the January challenges and a couple of other SAL's this year.  Below are the pictures from the last 14 days of stitching starts.

As you will probably notice most of these are little starts from my collection of magazine freebies... which means I should have lots of finishes this year!

Before I go, I must apologise as I haven't been around blog visiting for ages - I just don't seem to find the time at the moment but I am working on a plan to organise my spare time (what spare time!) so that I can fit in blog reading again......

Thank you to everyone that visits my blog and thank you for all the lovely comments everyone leaves.... I noticed that a lot of you liked my mention of Fantales from the "F" post so I think it might be giveaway time soon with the prize being "Fantales"! :o)

Be back soon with start #15 and more info on the previous starts as they become finishes....

Til next time, happy stitching