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.

New Stash!

Well, since I haven't posted for awhile, I thought I'd better tell you what I've been doing with my stitching - nothing! How lazy have I been? No new pics to show, but I have added a few items to my SB stash. They are: Come Tarry, The Stockings, and Busy kits.

Merry Christmas to all!

Off on my holiday!

Hi there, sorry I haven't posted for a while. To tell you the truth, I haven't been doing any stitching since my last post. I feel really bad that my craft is being neglected, but I have been busy on other things lately, which I won't go into.

Just thought I'd post before I head off to Queensland tomorrow for a 12 day break. Escaping the cold Victorian weather, and enjoying the warmer climate up north. I look forward to it!

One sad thing I had to do was to drop my two cats off at the cattery. There's no one to look after them while I'm away, so this was the next best alternative. My one year old, Sasha, is taking it all in her stride. My four year old, Sophie, being more timid, doesn't think much of the ordeal at all. It's their first time away from home, but at least they'll be looked after. I'll be excited to pick them up when I get back. It sure is quieter at home without them.

Well, this is bye for now. Hope to write some more when I arrive home.

Little Witch HD

Finally got her finished today. Another Shepherd's Bush one too. This piece would only take about a week of solid stitching, but I managed to stretch it out over about 4 1/2 months! I've done very little stitching of late, so I'm very pleased to have this one completed.

Loved the fabric, and the colours of the threads with this piece. I moved the pumpkin button from the top of the vine to the ground, and put a rose button in its place. The witch is one stitch shorter in her legs, because I made a mistake with the vine, and had that one thread shorter. Not to worry though, because I know what it's like being short:)

A fun one to do, so any SB fans out there, get this one for your stash.

Now... what will I start next? That's right, I was going to do Little House Needleworks: Colonial Dry Goods. A non SB for a change.

My SB Stash

I am absolutely hooked on SB, and to prove it, here is a list of their items I have in my stash. I've been collecting since 1994 (approx.), with my first SB purchase being Shepherd's Earth chart. It captivated my eye when I saw it, and little did I know where it would lead to. I'm hoping to stitch them all eventually, so here's to living to a ripe old age so I can achieve it:)

2004 Fob Kit/Scissors
2005 Fob Kit/Scissors
A Lamb’s Egg Kit
A Rosey Garden Kit (with mat)

Adore Kit
Advent Sampler Kit
All Through The Year Chart
Americana Folio Chart
Americana Roll Kit
Americana Scissor Fob Kit
An American Sampler Kit
An Elizabethan Needle Cushion
Angel Song Chart
Angel’s Song Kit
Antique Heart Roll Kit
Apple Kissed Autumn Kit
Autumn Chart
Baa Baa Little Sheep Chart
Baby Bug Ball Kit
Beekeeper’s Cottage Kit
Be Happy Freebie Kit
Bertie’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Bethlehem Christmas Chart
Better Not Pout Kit
Birdhouse Roll Kit
Bloom Kit
Blackberie Sampler Kit
Bramble Hearth Chart
Bulb MM Chart
Busy Kit
Buttoned Yule Chart
Buzz Buzz Bee SE Kit
Charmed Heart Kit
Checkered Sheep Chart
Christian’s Snowman Kit
Christian’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Christmas Drawers Kit
Christmas Treat Bag Kit
Columbine Kit
Come Tarry Kit
Cornwall Sampler Kit
Costswold Sampler Kit
Cranberry Pinafore Kit
Dancing Lambs Chart/Button
Dartmoor Sampler Kit
Devon Hedge Chart
Earth Gatherer Kit
Easter Egg Roll Kit
Easter Parade Kit
Easter Treat Bag
Egg Kit
Egg Basket SE Kit
Elisabeth’s Stocking Charms
Emmanuel’s Song Kit
English Christmas Roll Kit
English Garden Chart
Evening Sampler Chart
Fair Philomel’s Sampler Kit
Fa La La Kit
Fear Not Kit
February YIS Chart/Button
Flag MM Chart
Folk Heart Roll Kit
Forget Me Not Kit
French Heart Kit
Garden Gate Kit
Gentle Flock Chart
Girl & Goose SE Kids Kit
Gloria Kit
Grow Love Kit
Gypsy Heart Kit
Happy Day Roll Kit
Harry’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Harvest Moon Kit
Heart Blooms Kit
Heart Treat Bag Kit
Herb Gatherer Kit
Hive MM Chart
Hollyhock Hill Kit
January YIS Chart/Button
Joy Kit
Joyful Christmas Chart
July YIS Chart/Button
Lamb MM Chart
Liberty Child SE Kit
Little Witch Kit
Long May She Wave Roll Kit
Love Kit
Love MM Chart
Love Scissor Fob Kit
Mary’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Merry Souls Kit
Millennium Child SE Kit
Mistress Mary SE Kit
Mother’s Hearts Kit
My Earth Kit

My Garden Kit

My Heart's Garden Kit

Oh Say Kit
Old Glory Kit
Pansy Roll Kit
Pansy Walk Kit
Patriotic Thoughts Kit
Peace Kit
Peace For All Kit
Peter’s Patch Kit
Peter’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Plaid Heart Kit
Primrose Kit
Pumpkin Stew Chart
Queen Bee Kit

Reed's Stocking Chart

Rejoice Kit

Road To Bethlehem Kit
Robert’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Roma’s Garden Kit
Sailor’s Collar Kit
Santa’s Christmas Chart
Santa’s Fill SE Kit
Santaberry Pudding Chart
School Needle Roll Kit
Sheep In The Meadow SE Kit
Shepherd’s Earth Chart
Shepherd’s Eve Chart
Shepherd’s Hill Kit
Shepherd’s Purse Kit
Shepherd’s Roll Kit
Shepherd’s Scissor Fob
Shepherd’s Spring Kit
Sheree’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Simple Egg Kit
Simple Threads Chart
Skelton School Sampler Kit
Snow Child Kit
Snow Fall Roll Kit
Snow Folio Chart
Snow Hill Kit
Snow MM Chart
Snow Patch Kit
Snow Treat Bag Kit
Snowy Morn Kit
Sophie’s Roses Kit

Spooky Spots Kit
Spring Chart/Buttons
Spring Folio Chart
Spring Scissor Fob Kit
St Peter’s Fair Kit
Summer Chart/Buttons
Summer Song Kit
Sunflower Summer Kit
Sweet Land SE Kit
Sweet Pea Kit
Thankful Sheep Kit
The Orchard Mini Chart
The Potting Shed Kit
The Promise Kit
The Root Garden Mini Chart
The Stockings Kit
Thoughtful Heart Kit
Three Pale Eggs Kit
Tina’s Stocking Chart/Charms
Toy Gatherer Kit
Trick Or Treat Kit
Victorian Sampler Kit (pink)
Violets Mini Chart
Wandering Vine Chart
Water Woods Kit
Welcome Baby Roll Kit
Winter Chart/Buttons
Winter Dreams Kit
Winter Hearts Chart
Winter Moon Kit
Wintertide Sampler Kit
Wool Gatherer Kit
Wooly Winter Kit
Yuletide Sampler Kit