Little Hedgehog

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Heather

Spring is very slow in coming this year. We actually made it up to 6°C today, but the wind made it feel so much colder. We still have pockets of snow hanging on in all the places the sun doesn’t quite reach. The only hint that spring is actually on its way is the two fat little robins I’ve spotted and the bird song we have heard while walking to school. That isn’t enough. So, I set the cold, wintery stocking aside for a little bit and worked on this little cutie for a few days.

Hedgehog - wip

Hedgehog – wip

It is the cover kit from issue 225 of World of Cross Stitching magazine. It doesn’t seem to really have a name, and I have no idea what brand of floss it comes with. It has stitched up nicely so far, and I think it will look adorable when I add the back stitching. The daffodils are a lovely bit of spring colour when the outside is still all dull, muddy, and a wee bit snowy.

Smalls SAL – If you haven’t check-ed in for March yet, you still have some of time. The link list will close to new entries around mid-night Eastern time on April 1st. April’s check-in will take place on the 29th. Hopefully we will finally be having some spring weather by then! 😉

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Smalls SAL – March 2015 Check-In

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Heather

Welcome to the last Wednesday of March and to the check-in day for the Smalls SAL.

2015SmallsSALI hope you’ve managed to have a productive stitching month. I know that in many places around the world the weather has been a bit crazy, leaving lots of time to stay indoors and pick up your needle.

Santa's Night, designed by Mill Hill

Santa’s Night, designed by Mill Hill

This month I stitched Santa’s Night from Mill Hill. It is a kit from their 2005 series Charmed Mittens. It is stitched as per instructions with the included threads, except I didn’t attach the petite beads with an X, using a half stitch instead. Even though I was using a thin beading needle, I had so much trouble with the small beads. I think I have been spoiled by Delicas.

So, what did you stitch this month? I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s smalls. Please leave your link using the form below. Also, please be sure to link to your actual post, not to the main page of your blog, and try to select a picture of your small. The list will remain open to new entries until April 1st at about midnight Eastern time. Remember: for each month you share a finished small you get an entry into the end of the year draw.

Also, please consider visiting some of the other participants and leaving comments. We all love visitors!

April Check-In: The next Smalls SAL check-in will take place on April 29th. If you’d like to receive my reminder email, you can sign up on this page.

Thanks for taking part in the Smalls SAL!

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18 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,

Stitch from Stash March Check-In

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Heather

Oh, March. The most changeable of months. We began the month with several feet of snow on the ground, and it looks like we will be ending it with clear lawns and lots of rain. And, personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course, April is still a week a way and a snow storm could blow up out of anywhere between now and then. 😉

Stitch from Stash 2015ASince it is the end of the month, it is time for the Stitch from Stash check-in. Yay!

Month: March
Spent: $13.99
Earned: Not tracking

My only purchase this month was an (overpriced) magazine. It has a birth sampler in it that will make the perfect gift for a baby that is almost one! (Yes, I am very behind and I feel terrible.) I hope to get it kitted up and started very, very soon. I did purchase some other crafting supplies this month; about $42 worth of scrapbooking and related supplies from Michaels. I really wanted to get a circle punch, an embossing board, and a scoring board. But, oh my goodness, scrapbooking supplies are way too expensive! I couldn’t justify the cost when all I plan to do is work on a couple of kits from Craftsy. (Festive Fall Leaves and Halloween Decor.) I’ll just have to make do with what I have. I also bought some beads for a necklace idea I have. That brings my crafty total for the year (leaving out gifts) to $134.75. Yikes! That is way higher than I am comfortable with. :/ And, I think I’m also leaving out a February trip to FabricLand for interfacing. 🙁 Ugh.

Anyway. As per nearly always, my stitching was all from stash this month. There was this month’s small, which I will share for the Smalls SAL check-in tomorrow, and I also put a little bit of time into Santa’s Journey Stocking. Stitching has been slow going this month because of Sock Madness. (Which it self is going slow because of my sore hand/arm. When will I learn?!)

Santa's Journey Stocking - WIP

Santa’s Journey Stocking – WIP

I hope all of you who are taking part in Stitch from Stash had a successful month. If you feel the itch to buy something, may I make a suggestion? I’m a big fan of craft magazines. I used to buy piles of them. Then I discovered that my local library system carries many of them through Zinio. I can download them for free and keep them forever!! They don’t carry every magazine I like, but they do have a great selection, and downloading new magazines every month often helps scratch that itch.

7 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,

Stitch and Connect

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Heather

Since you are reading my blog (and most likely have one of your own), you know how great the internet is at helping stitchers connect. Well, the most recent issue of Cross Stitch Collection (April 2015, #247) has a great article about stitchers on the internet, and it is well worth a read.

Stitch & Connect (Yes, the text is blurry on purpose. Sorry.)

Stitch & Connect (Yes, the text is blurry on purpose. Sorry.)

Okay, I’m featured in this article so I may be a little biased. Also, I don’t live in the Prairies. I live just above those lakes where the two dots from the American ladies are. 😉

If you read the article, please let me know. And, if you’ve found me because of the article: Welcome! Please leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to stop by your blog in return.

Also, why not share with me how you use the internet to connect to other stitchers? Do you take part in online SALs (like my Smalls SAL), do you belong to a group on Facebook (should I belong to it too?), do you have a blog, or maybe you take part in exchanges? I’d love to know!

2 Comments | Posted in Crochet | Tagged ,

Tiny Stocking

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Heather

Goodness, March really is speeding along. Tomorrow is the first day of spring (and not a moment too soon!), and this month’s Smalls SAL check-in will take place this coming Wednesday–March 25th.

Tiny Stocking

Tiny Stocking

This is just a wee peek of what I’ve been working on this month. I’ll have my completed small ready to share on Wednesday, and I hope you will too.

2015SmallsSAL

If you haven’t signed up for the Smalls SAL, there is still time. Head over here for all the info. Remember, this is a super easy going SAL. Stitch a small every month or only once in a while. All that is required is that you add your link to the check in page at the end of the month, if you’ve finished a small. You can also sign up for a reminder email so that you will never forget a check-in day… unless I forget too. 😉

1 Comment | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged ,

Creativity Mini-Course and eBook Bundle Return

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Heather

Oh, I love it when I get the chance to get in on something I missed the first time around. You may remember that I wrote about a great little creativity mini-course back in February. Well, it is available again, but just until Friday, March 27th.

This is a super little email course that helps you figure out what you’d like to be doing with your creativity and helps you find time to do it. Best of all, it is totally free. I found the course really helpful, and I highly recommend it. You can sign up right here!

I think the best news of all is that the DYI Bundle is coming back for a flash sale. It will be available again for just 48 hours–from March 30th to April 1st. I’ve loved working my way through many of the books in the bundle, and I’m so glad that there is another chance for you to get yours. If you’d like to learn more, check out this post from the original sale, and you can check out some of the really cool things I made using patterns included in the bundle. (Note that the purchase links in those posts won’t work until the flash sale is live on March 30th.)

I also wanted to let you know that I’m putting together a little series on organization. I’ll be looking for your input on some of the posts too, and I can’t wait to hear your ideas.

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Problems, Fixes, and Socks

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Heather

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! While it isn’t something we really celebrate in our house, being 1/2 Irish, I feel I should at least acknowledge it. So, I’ve painted my nails green and the little man is wearing a cute green shirt.

Full-Color Holiday Vignettes - 18

Now: an explanation of where I disappeared to this time. Unfortunately, there was a small issue with our web host (and it as totally our fault), which took some time to notice and then to fix. But, I’m finally able to post again and hopefully the problem won’t reoccur.

So, what have I been up to? Sewing, knitting, and stitching! What else? Sock Madness has started, and I was able to finish the first round sock with about 12 hours to spare. I was much slower than normal because I had some hand issues (again…) and because I wasn’t in love with the sock. Even though I was knitting it at the required gauge, the first sock turned out quite large. Once I got over the dreaded second sock syndrome, I knit its mate in a couple of days.

Alohomora socks

Alohomora socks

The pattern is Alohomora, and the yarn is Kramer Saucon Sock in colour Y5030 Turquoise. The yarn is a bit stiff and scratchy to knit with, but it blooms and softens nicely when washed. And, thankfully, I don’t need to rip out the toes of the socks and start again; they fit my mom reasonable well and have gone to live with her. Yay!

Now I am (not very) patiently waiting for round two to begin. Until it does, I’m stitching away on my small for this month’s Smalls SAL check-in. How is your small coming along? Don’t forget, check-in day is March 25th!

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