2009 Stacy Nash Group ~ last kit for the year

Here's the latest kit from the Stacy Nash 2009 Group. It's a winter mitten done with her traditional style of stitching on the front.

This is how the front and back looks.

Included is a piece of 28ct Flax Linen, muslin, homespun, and a small cut of wool.

Threads are DMC, 829 and 918.

The group is continuing into next year, so if you want to go on the waiting list for when people drop out, then contact Jeanne at the Country Sampler in Wisconsin.

I've completed one of the Bugs in Baby Bug Ball, so I will take some pictures to show you next time.

Tonight I've been to the pictures to see Julie And Julia. Meryl Streep did such a good roll and the movie was enjoyable to watch. I've also seen Couples Retreat recently which I thought average. Too much arguing in it which let it down a bit. Funny yoga session though!

Well, I should be getting to bed as it's a work day tomorrow. Happy stitching til we meet again.

~*~* Cast Your Spells ~*~*

I received my third Stacy Nash 2009 Group kit last week, and as I promised to show you, here's a few pictures of it.

Third 2009 Stacy Nash Group kit - Cast Your Spells

I guess you could say it's got a Halloween/Witchy theme to it with its title being Cast Your Spells. Stacy's made the pattern into a pincushion with a striped backing fabric in black and tan. There's also a piece of black wool to place a heart shape on the back of the pincushion.


The linen that the design is stitched on is a flax colour and also included with the kit are three DMC threads.

At first I wasn't sure whether I liked it that much, but once stitched and finished, I think it will look good.

My plan was to stitch each kit as I received them and finish it off before I received the next one. With only one finished so far, two to do, and one left to receive, that theory's gone out the window. I'll do them when the whim takes me. I like to go with the mood I'm in when deciding what project to do next. If I change my mind, that doesn't bother me. It is a hobby after all and is meant to be enjoyed. No use doing something because you feel you 'need' to. You need to 'want' to do it instead.

Before I go, I thought I would mention that I did get to see The Proposal at the cinema yesterday. I loved it! I'm not usually a big fan of Sandra Bullock, but she played a great part in this one. It had a well chosen cast, and Ryan Reynolds was a bit of eye candy for us girls. Lots of funny moments to have a chuckle at too. If you're a fan of romantic comedies (as I am) then get yourself to this one if you haven't already. You won't regret it!

My next Stacy Nash Group project has arrived!

The much awaited Stacy Nash Group kit arrived in the mail yesterday. This is the second one out of four. It's a gorgeous velvet sampler bag with another of her peacocks on the front, this time in blue.

2nd 2009 Stacy Nash Group kit - Country Sampler Velvet Sampler Bag

I haven't even opened up the kit yet to see the supplies included. I'll do this on the weekend and take some photos. There's not a lot of good natural light before and after work these days, so I find the weekends best for photo taking.

I've also ordered some other items which were sent with the kit. These too I'll include in the photos I take. You'll just have to wait a bit longer to find out what they are I'm afraid. I know, I'm mean to keep you waiting. I'm sure you'll find it worth the wait though.

Happy stitching!

A Strawberry Emery

Since completing my Stacy Nash Heart Pinkeep from the 2009 Group last month, I've been wanting to get the little Strawberry Emery finished as well. I thought, surely it can't be any more difficult, and I was right. I got myself sorted out yesterday with the idea to compete this little project. How fun it was to do. Not difficult at all, and I even added my own adaptation to the finishing. I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out.

Stacy Nash 2009 Group - Strawberry Emery

The extra something I added was not in the instructions but it was done on the heart pinkeep. I did very primitive looking crosses down the back of the emery. I thought it would tie in with the crosses on the outside edges of the heart.

I now have my first Stacy Nash 2009 Group project completed.

Now I'm just wondering what the next one will be. It would have to be something to do with Easter, don't you think? I know she's done patterns for bunnies before, so maybe it will be similar. I should be getting it in another month's time. We'll just have to wait til then.

Before I go, I just wanted to mention what happened last night. No, the power didn't go off again. :) We had an earth tremor. About 8:55pm I was sitting there watching The Wedding Singer (love this movie) on TV and all of a sudden I felt movement. In the first second I thought it was a wind gust but then it got more intense and then I realised it was a tremor. The floor started to shake from under me. In all it probably lasted about five seconds and it wasn't too bad - nothing damaged. It was recorded at 4.6 on the Richter scale. I rang my sister who lives in the same town as me to see if she felt it, and she had. We were both amazed by it all. Luckily it wasn't anything serious.

Handmade with love

Thank you all so much for your help with my finishing woes. Your encouragement and advice has gone a long way. In fact it made me want to get back into it today and try to finish it off properly. I admit I was a bit deflated yesterday after things weren't going according to plan. I'm just like Tammy, whenever something doesn't turn out how I imagine I get a bit disappointed.

So what I ended up doing was to take out all the lavender (I'll use it for something else), I took Melissa's advice (thanks!) and cut into the outer fabric to the stitched line at intervals (which I hadn't done), then stuffed it with the normal stuffing. Chrissie has just informed me that fluffing the stuffing up a bit can cause less lumps which sounds like an idea I'll keep for future, so thanks Chrissie! This time though I got my iron out and ironed straight onto the front of the heart. Some of you may think this is a bit unconventional but you can understand, I was desperate. It actually helped funnily enough. My heart still has a bit of cleavage in the top area front and back, but hey, it is handmade. Overall I can say I'm a lot more happier with it than I was yesterday.

Stacy Nash Heart Pinkeep - finished 15 February 2009

Thanks again for all your encouragement and support because without it I would have put this aside and not got back to it for a while.

It was alright until the finishing

I had hoped to finish this off today but things didn't go according to plan. My finishing skills have shone through I'm afraid. It's turned out somewhat a disaster. I stitched my pieces together, turned it inside out, then saw that it was puckering up in some areas. I didn't worry too much because Stacy said this may happen, in her instructions, and that it would resolve itself once you stuffed it. I then started to fill it with stuffing and the puckering wasn't disappearing. Then my stuffing looked a bit lumpy, so I thought about the dried lavender I still had. So I took the stuffing out and replaced it with the lavender. But that didn't go well because I didn't have enough! I went up to the shops to get some more, but they'd run out of it. So feeling a bit disheartened I think I'll put my pinkeep aside for the moment and start on something else. I don't know what yet but let my rummage through my stash and see what jumps out.

Stacy Nash Heart Pinkeep - 14 February 2009

Before I go, I just wanted to wish everyone a lovely Valentines Day. Hope it's filled with love and joy!

Ready to be pieced together

What a fun and simple pattern this one was. I've now stitched the front of my heart pinkeep.

Stacy Nash Heart Pinkeep - 12 February 2009

I also managed to cut out the extra pieces of wool needed to make the scissor pocket on the back, and the little strawberry emery. I'm loving the colour of everything in this kit and can't wait to see it all finished. I'll try to work some more on it tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to complete the pinkeep by stitching the front and back together, stuff it, sew it up, then add the wool pocket on the back for some scissors to be placed inside. Can't wait!

My next project started

I'm really in the stitching mood lately and have made a start on the Stacy Nash Pinkeep Heart. This is the first kit from the 2009 Group I've joined. It's something completely different to what I've stitched before and also the first time I've done one of Stacy's designs.

You need to cut out templates and set it all up before you start the stitching side of it. So last night I did all that and then I started on the cross stitching.

9 February 2009

I did a little more tonight but didn't work on it for too long. It's a simple design and will stitch up quick I think.

10 February 2009

I also wanted to take the time to thank the people who have contacted me asking whether I was OK after the bush fires that ravaged our state last Saturday. The other members of my family and I live along the coast of Victoria and were not in the area of the fires, thankfully. It's just been so devastating watching the news on TV with all the heartbreaking stories, scenes of homes and even whole townships destroyed, and hearing of lives lost. My heart goes out to the ones that have survived and those who have lost loved ones.

Stacy Nash Group 2009

Recently I got an email about a new 2009 Stacy Nash Group and inviting me to join up if I was interested. Well, just the thought of hearing something about Stacy Nash (one of my favourite designers) is enough to capture my interest. So after investigating and seeing a picture of what was to come, I immediately did what was required to join. The idea is that four times during the year you will receive a limited edition kit designed by Stacy Nash herself, through the mail. I received the first kit last week and it's in keeping with a Valentines theme being a heart.

I'd like to do these kits throughout the year, so we'll have to see whether I can achieve that. This one includes the chart (naturally), 32ct natural linen, a piece of tan cotton velvet, a bit of brown, red, and mustard wool, and three different colours of DMC thread. The major design is a heart pinkeep, and there's wool included to make a small strawberry emery. Since I'm not very experienced with finishing techniques, this will be somewhat of a challenge for me. I haven't had a chance to read through the instructions but I'm hoping they're easy to follow.

Stacy Nash Group - first limited edition kit for 2009

I've also been naughty and put some more stash on order. The Silver Needle has their annual Superbowl Sale and it's a good way to try to pick up some things missed during their New Year's Sale. I'm trying to get the SB Glad Tidings Fob kit I couldn't get last time, and I thought I'd try to get the mats for SB Life And Liberty. I've also got a few other things ordered but I'll have to wait and see what comes through. I should receive them in a few weeks time. You know I love my stash, and you can never have too much in my opinion. :)

I've been really lazy today and haven't finished all my housework, but I do want to try to stitch a little more on Chocolat tonight. The weather's more comfortable now and there's a nice breeze, so I've opened up the windows. Better conditions to do some needlework.