14 January 2020

Sneaking up on the New Year

Breaking news: I'm back and I have a finish. I repeat: I'm back and I have a finish. 

Happy New Year, everybody! Grab your favorite hot beverage and snuggle down because we have a lot to catch up on!

I've finally emerged from the fog that was December. I didn't bounce back from the strep throat (and the trip) as quickly as I'd hoped. If it had been one or the other I think I would have, but both at the same time knocked me out for a while. This beautiful little design shouldn't have taken as long as it did, but I just poked at it now and then when I felt like it so it took a few weeks. Believe in Magic is available in this Etsy shop. I stayed pretty close to the suggested colors, except I swapped out the blue for GAST Weathered Barn. This is stitched on 28 ct. PTP Wren with GAST: Oatmeal, Baked Clay, Weathered Barn, Maple Syrup, and Wood Trail, and Weeks Garrison Green. More subdued than my usual color choices, but I like it. It's peaceful and quiet.


My 2019 blog book arrived last week! This is one of my cherished New Year traditions, having the previous year's posts turned into a book. I use Blog2Print and have always had excellent results. They often have great discount codes on Facebook and Twitter, so if you decide to have a book made, make sure to take advantage of those.


New fabric ALERT! This gorgeous grey fabric is new from Zweigart. It's called Basalt Splash and is available at 123 Stitch. I ordered a small piece back in early December just to get a good look at it and liked it so much I ordered (and just received) a larger piece. It's a bit darker and not quite as blue as this photo. I'd say it's a bit more bluish than DMC 04 but not quite as bluish as DMC 414. A nice, dark grey. Lovely color. Already have a project chosen for it.

Wee fabric bundles from my LNS. It's like choosing chocolates from a candy box!

It's been years since I've bought a regular issue of JCS magazine, but the February issue has a few winter projects that caught my eye. I have plans for this one!

I'm knee-deep in winter stitching--or about to be--but I couldn't resist this little spring sheep and all his lovely green shamrocks. I have no power to resist green fabrics and threads.


My Christmas treat for myself was a couple of new Russian kits from this Etsy shop. It's a rare treat indeed because the shipping will make your eyes water (though the kits themselves are often less expensive than American kits), but I have ways to justify it! (Let me know if you need reasons!) I've raved about my love for Russian kits before, and at length. For my taste, there's just nothing in the American market that compares right now. The designs are beautiful, colorful, and detailed. The kits are well-made with huge charts. And there are oodles of them available on Etsy. The one on the right is a particular favorite. New Year designs are few and far between and I just love this one.

Everybody knows about the devastating brushfires Australia is battling. But you may not know that there's a growing list of designers and shops working to raise donations for relief efforts. The fund raising efforts vary, from designs like this one that are free, with the shop making a donation for each stitched finish, to designs offered for sale, with the proceeds going to fire relief. I've chosen to stitch this one first. Once finished, you simply share a photo of your finish with the shop--via email, Facebook, Instagram--by 29 February, and they'll make a donation. 

Here are a few more fire relief efforts from designers/shops:

Links to three designs here 

Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

Heaven and Earth Designs (only available until 13 February)

Fiddlesticksau

The Little Stitcher

Tiger Lily breezed through her trip to Texas and had a lovely Christmas with a fat stocking. Santa brought her a pretty new orange collar, with glow-in-the-dark snowflakes!


So that gets us all caught up on the stitchy happenings at my house. Hope your new year is off to a safe and peaceful start. Many prayers being offered on behalf of our Aussie friends. Mr. Wonderful has served with Aussies and has nothing but good to say about them. I wish we could send y'all some of our snow and ice.

Happy Stitching, all! (And don't forget to stitch a koala or two!)

15 comments:

  1. Thank you for the links for Austalian Wildlife relief. I love those Russian Cross-stitch patterns that you bought. That bell really speaks to me. Tiger Lily's collar is really pretty. So glad that you are feeling better.

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  2. Honeybee, your finish is gorgeous! While I am a lover of blue, I like your change to the Weathered Barn color and would have changed the blue to a red. What lovely little bundles of fabric you picked up! I really like the color of the one on the bottom right in the picture. What is that one? The JCS issue you shared -- does it have the winter scene on the cover? What lovely kits you treated yourself to! Thank you for providing the links to the various relief support to Australia.

    I am glad you are feeling better! I was wondering if you had received your 2019 blog book yet. Miss Tiger Lily's new color is cool! Thinking of you!

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    1. Thanks, Robin! Fabric on the bottom right is 25 ct. Vintage Country Mocha Lugana. And yes, that JCS issue is the one with the deer in the snow on the cover.

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    2. Thanks for the answers, Honeybee! Good to know about the JCS issue; I have it ordered so I don't need to make an order.

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  3. Cute Winter design.
    You blog book looks awesome, what a great idea.
    Those Russian kits are beautiful!
    Pretty Tiger Lily in her awesome collar. :)
    Marilyn

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  4. I will be looking our for the JCS edition as the cabin design is so pretty. Hoping you are feeling all improved and better now. x

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  5. This is a great catch up post and I'm glad that you're feeling better. I hope you were still able to enjoy your Stitch Planning Week. I really like your winter finish, and that beautiful new fabric. Also those Russian kits are gorgeous! Thank you for the links for the Australian fire relief efforts. Enjoy your winter stitching!
    Mary

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  6. I don't think I've ever commented but I have always enjoyed your blog. The cross stitching you create is simply beautiful. I can only dream I can be as prolific as you in putting out beautiful work. Well... today I went to the Etsy shop you recommended and was like a mad woman filling my cart with so many wonderful projects. (If my husband asks, I'll say the Copper Fox made me do it! Now I just have to get started. My mantra for 2019 was "Finish It!!" Undone house projects, garden stuff, craft stuff. Got things done but not as much as I would like. This year 2020 will certainly be the year to finish it...so I shall now get started. Thank you for the inspiration.

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    1. Aw, thank you Theresa! So nice to finally "meet" you! I hope you enjoy your new goodies and get lots of stitching done. There are so many great designers on Etsy, you'll never run out of things to stitch!

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  7. So many wonderful goodies. I always order my blog book for a Christmas present. I agree they are wonderful. I just love looking back on mine. Love your new fabrics and new projects. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. I'm always so impressed when I see your blogging journal, it's so professional in it's appearance and lovely to just flick through from time to time.

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  9. You always have such beautiful stitches here on your blog! So far, you have added the Victorian House #9 (currently in progress) to my stitching and you also have given me the "courage" to try stitching on paper (Mill Hill kit not yet started)....NOW, you've gone and dangled those Russian kits in front of my weakening will power! lol! Seriously....thank you for introducing me to so many happy threads! :-)

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    1. You're most welcome, moose, and thanks so much for being here! I love to hear that a fellow stitcher has learned or discovered something new.

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  10. I wasn't going to purchase anything until market in March but the cute sheep in the hoop had me looking ever since I first saw it. I love green!
    Love your kitty :) She reminds me of our calico girl. She was diagnosed with a tumor last Thanksgiving and it was a furious one. We had to say good bye before years end but grateful for 13 years of happy with her.

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    1. Oh, Angie, I'm so sorry to hear that. Our girl is 13, too. I hope it won't be too long before there's room in your heart for another fluffer. Take care.

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