Stitch from Stash – April Check-In

Oh, friends, I have given in to temptation. You may remember that back in February I mentioned that Passione Ricamo was starting another mystery SAL, but that I had decided not to buy it? Well, on the last day, at about the last minute, I bought it. Oh dear. Add to that the latest issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine, and my total for this month is:

$28.49

There is good news though, even though I am over the $25/month budget, I had banked $75 worth of budget by not spending anything for the first three months of the year. So, I’m still in the running. I wish I could have held out longer, but I really wanted to get the chart for the Passione Ricamo 20th Anniversary Sampler.

Would you like to see my progress:

Look at all that stitching! Way to go, me!!

Look at all that stitching! Way to go, me!!

Okay, I haven’t started it at all. Life has been too busy with everything involved in buying a new house and getting our condo ready to sell. My stitching time has been dedicated to finishing up my small for this month’s Smalls SAL check in (next Wednesday!).

I’m still loving this whole Stitch from Stash idea. It is really helping me reigning in unnecessary spending. Instead, I’m pinning pictures of charts and kits I want to buy on Pinterest. (Don’t worry. I am not pinning full charts. That is wrong, wrong, wrong.) And, I have to say, I don’t understand all the people who are really down on this challenge. First, it is voluntary. So, if you don’t like, you don’t have to do it. Second, the budget of $25/month was clearly laid out. If you don’t like that, again, don’t do the challenge. The idea is to stitch from your stash, not to try to bend or sneak around the rules. I wish I had more willpower, so that I could truly stick to stitching only from stash. But, things like the PR anniversary sampler, or the Mirabilia mermaid in the next issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework, make it just too difficult for me. But, I’m doing well (and doing it honestly), and that makes me feel great!

Oh, and speaking of doing well, my total spent on all crafts this year is about $89. I also spent about $15 on beads to give to my mom so she can make me a couple of bracelets, and I spent around $40 on some items that I may use to make things for my etsy shop. So, that bumps the entire total up to around $145. Still not bad at all. 😉

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7 Responses to Stitch from Stash – April Check-In

  1. Thoeria says:

    Oh I think you’re doing pretty well! I would have signed up for this challenge….but being rather sloth like I only saw it after it closed…..next year! Having said that though I really would not have fared well this year…..I had a bit of a splurge party but I promised I wasn’t going ot feel guilty about that 😀

  2. Susan says:

    Great job staying within your budget. You definitely purchased some wonderful things. Looking forward to seeing your progress on the PR sampler. I, too, am having a difficult time with people being negative about something that is voluntary and had very clearly laid out rules. Besides, challenges are not supposed to be easy (I thought the $25. budget was very generous, I’ve participated in some challenges that allowed no purchases). Good luck with the house hunt and selling your condo.

  3. wendy says:

    Well I think you’re doing really well, well done you! And you’ve still not touched all your budget for the year.

    Really, people are down on this challenge? Why on earth would they be?!?

  4. Joanne P says:

    I’ve not seen the negative comments. I’ve had nothing but admiration for sticking to budget and praise for the idea.

    I knew I could not do zero spends each month but thanks to an opening balance of £40 Christmas money I have kept within my £15 limit overall.

    It has definitely focused my mind on what I do and don’t really need to buy.

  5. Kay says:

    Good for you! Besides this stitching form stash stuff is voluntary and you are still meant to enjoy your stitching. I work on the theory that sometimes a chart is just too good not to have! x

  6. Kaisievic says:

    I think it is awesome you are doing the challenge. I just wish that I had more willpower! You should see what’s I bought on my last trip to my LNS!

  7. Rose Koslap says:

    I agree about people dumping on the great challenge! if you don’t want to do it don’t. It has really inspired me to work on some long overdue UFO’s and patterns in my stash and the patterns I have bought I really thought about.