It's been a while...

Hi, I haven't written anything for a while, so I have to excuse myself for my laziness. The last time I stitched was in April, and this is a picture of the latest piece I'm working on. All I have to finish is the border and then I'm done. Sounds simple enough, but unless I pick up neelde and thread, nothing's getting finished. Over the Winter period here in Australia, I rarely get the enthusiasm to do my needlework. You'd think it would be the opposite, and I'd get a lot done during the colder weather, but I never feel inspired. I love stitching when the sun is out and the temperature is mild.
While I haven't been stitching I've been shopping. No I haven't been buying more needlework (although I'd like to), I've bought a few primitvie country looking pieces to decorate my house with. I've been paying off a cupboard which I found at a country shop. Just about ready to pick it up too. It's a burgandy candle cupboard originally from America I think. The shop I found it at usually imports a lot of items from the US.
I must curb my spending now though, because I want to save up and do an overseas trip. To the US of course. Only been to Hawaii before and not to the mainland, so I would dearly love to go. I'm interested in the West and East coast, so two trips may be the order. While there I would try to go to Ogden, Utah, and if you're a Shepherd's Bush fan you would know why. Yes, that's where the sisters have their shop. That would be a dream to see it. I'd stand outside with my mouth wide open not believing I'm there. Then once inside I would spend hours walking round and going over every little thing they have on offer. Hopefully the SB ladies would be there and I could meet them in person. A photo would have to be taken too. What a memory! So I must save and work out exactly where I want to go and for how long.
While I'm trying not to spend any money on needlework, I still have items that I want to add to my stash. SB's Autumn Blessings and Hunt kits, and I love the new stocking called Jillian. Whenever they use darker colours it always catches my eye. They use the softer tones so often (which I like) so it's nice to see a darker design now and then.
I can't log on to the SB bulletin board anymore. I haven't made a comment for quite some time, so I've been kicked off it. My own fault I guess. It's a shame because although I wasn't commenting I was still looking at the site at least once a week to see what was happening with everyone and find out any news. I don't like it when these boards get too exclusive. I might try and rejoin in the future.

Colonial Dry Goods

This is my current wip. I decided to get back to LHN Colonial Dry Goods which I started the middle of last year. This one is stitched on 32ct R & R Americana Blend fabric. It uses DMC as well as Crescent Colour threads. All cross stitch using two threads, so it's quite an easy one.

Haven't been doing a lot of stitching lately, but I've been doing plenty of buying. I really must control myself, but it's a hard thing to do. Still looking out on eBay for older charts of SB. It's amazing what comes up. I've been able to get most of their vintage designs, whether it be chart, kit, or magazine. I will do a list of what I have once I think I've finished getting the ones I want.

SB is without a doubt my passion. I don't think I will ever collect their entire range, but I will have most of their designs. Even if I don't stitch them all in my lifetime, just having them in my possession gives me joy. I love looking through my stash every now and then. Drooling over all the wonderful things there are - charts, kits, beads, buttons, charms, threads, fabric - you know what I mean.

I've just discovered that DMC brought out the middle of last year a range of linen threads. How divine the colours are. Most would suit SB patterns. So far there are 24 colours in the range and I was able to pick up a skein of each as a set on eBay recently. I got them for less than half the price I would pay in Australia for them. Pretty pleased about that.

New SB releases!

I've just been prowling the SB site and discovered they have some new goodies out. They've been a bit quiet lately with their releases, but it's always worth the wait when they do show their new items. Now, what takes my fancy out of these? I do like Love Letters kit. A bit like Thoughtful Heart, only on a smaller scale and in the shape of a heart. Floral Heart kit looks like a cute little design (what I enjoy stitching at the moment). Eggs chart captures my eye as well. Easter designs are always happy looking. Better put them down for a future stash enhancement!

Since going back to work, I haven't done any stitching, which I'm not too impressed with. Haven't even started Heart Treat Bag, so I may give that one a miss for a while. Won't say what I'll do next, or when I'll do it. Just have to see what time I get in the near future.

I've been taking a couple of dancing lessons with my sister lately. Latin, which seems to be the most popular dance at the moment. Mainly concentrating on the steps rather than the moves first. Think I'll need a few lessons to get the swing of it though!

Better late than never!

Well, here's Millennium Child in 2006! Doesn't really matter what year you do some of these things, does it?

This is a shop exclusive kit from Shepherd's Bush which is only available if you order direct from their shop (makes sense). I did a big buy up last year and ordered a few of their SE kits. Bought their 2005 scissor/fob which I haven't done yet. Another one that won't get done in the actual year it's meant to.

I'm cruising along just nicely with my finishes lately. Things will slow down from now on. It's back to work on Monday, so the normal routine will kick in. Not as much needlework time I'm afraid.

The next piece I'm thinking of doing is SB (who else) Heart Treat Bag for Valentines day. I hope to have it finished by then. Let's just see, shall we? ...

A Parcel In The Mail

More items to add to my stash! A parcel arrived today from The Silver Needle in the US (just love getting mail from overseas). It's quite embarrassing all the needlework stash I have, but it's like an addiction, I can't stop getting more. I'm sure there's lots of people out there who are the same. I can't be the only nutty one, surely.

The items I received are:
(all Shepherd's Bush BTW)
Adore Kit
Bethlehem Inn Charm
My Heart's Garden Kit
Reed's Stocking Chart
Rejoice Kit
Spooky Spots Kit

All on sale, which is even better. Love those bargains.

Another Sheepie Finish

Here's my latest finish - Thankful Sheep. Another SB which are such fun to do. This is number three for 2006. At this rate I'll have 52 things completed by the end of the year! I don't think so...

I'm on my annual leave at the moment, so I have a bit of extra time I wouldn't normally have to get back into my stitching.

What can I say about this one? Very easy to do, I took three sessions to complete it, and the colours are of course devine.

Now, what next?

eBay win!!!

Boy am I excited! As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I've been checking out eBay lately. Been able to buy a few SB (or should I say Tina Richards) vintage design books/charts. Well, today I was successful in winning a class kit, never been released as retail, called Nantucket Roll. I was quite pleased with myself, I might add.

You never know what you'll see on eBay. Need to keep a regular eye out for things of interest. Needless to say SB is of my interest. I don't know whether I'll get to stitch all the things I have in my stash, but it sure is fun collecting them. It's the discovery, the chase, and in the end, the reward.

Happy hunting!

Fa La La

Another finish called Fa La La, which is a small Christmas kit by Shepherd's bush released in 2004. Again this only takes two afternoons to complete. One of their many little sheep designs which are such a joy to do. Just love the hat button on the sheep's head. There's always a button or a charm to go on SB kits, which I adore.
I'm on a roll at the moment, so the next one I'll do is called Thankful Sheep (yeh, another sheepie!). This is a similar size as Fa La La, so another quickie. I'm trying to go for quantity this year. I've been very lazy in the latter part of last year, so I want to make up for it by getting a few finishes out of the way. The only way I can achieve this is to stick to the smaller kits of SB. They're so enjoyable to do anyway.

First Finish For 2006

Happy 2006!!! I've got my first finish out the way for this year. It's called Fear Not and it's by my favourite designers, Shepherd's Bush. One of their small kits, it only takes two days of stitching to do (maybe only one if you want to spend a full, solid day at it!). Easy to do and a little cutie.
I haven't had much luck with some of the larger pieces I've started in the past, so I think I'll stick to the smaller ones for now. At least I'll feel as though I'm accomplishing something.
Lately I've been looking at eBay for the earlier SB designs. Been successful in buying a few of them, so I'll post a listing of them all when I get them in the mail. The Internet is such a great resource for things like that. A good list for Tina's (SB) earlier work is www.crossstitchcorner.com/sb/index.html where there's a section called Vintage Tina. Some of the listings have links to pictures, to give you an idea of what they look like. I've had a look at that site many a times.
I'm keeping my SB stash list up to date as I get more, too. I recently purchased some items in a sale from The Silver Needle in Tulsa, USA. They had a 25% off everything in stock sale over the New Year. They have such a great and detailed website http://www.thesilverneedle.com/ so take a look at it when you can. I really should put some links for the needlework shops I buy from. Definitely will do that in the near future.
I try to buy my needlework when there's a sale on. Just keep an eye out on the net for them on a regular basis. We don't get the sales in Australia like they do in the US. Plus the items are so much dearer out here.
So my stash keeps growing, and I'm not stitching fast enough to keep up with it. I keep thinking of when I'll retire, and have all this time on my hands to stitch all day long, how often I like. I'm afraid though, that's too many years away, so I'll have to keep at it for now, and do what I can, when I can.