Stitch From Stash - March 2015

Hello again!

Here are the financial details of March's Stitch From Stash:

BROUGHT FORWARD - £5.90
MARCH BUDGET - $25 = £16.19 (at 01/03/2015 exchange rate)
EARNED - $28.00 = £18.14
AVAILABLE TO SPEND - £40.23
SPENT - £1.25
CARRIED FORWARD - £38.98


Spending:
* £1.25 for cross stitch chart from ebay

Qualifying projects worked on: (post to follow on 31st March)
* my treasure
* flower power

Non-qualifying projects worked on: (post to follow on 31st March)
* daisy hugs
* dreaming of dolphins
* April showers
* Cookie and Cream
* winter owl

Qualifying projects completed: (all $4 each)

waterlogged                                puddle duck

dragon of air                   dragon of fire

dragon of Earth               dragon of water

Lizzie Kate March flip-it stamp

Non-qualifying projects completed:
* none


I've got a fairly big outlay next month so am glad I've managed to earn lots of bonus money. I doubt there will be any more bonus finishes for a while so the remainder of SFS might be quite a challenge!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

Challenge Finishes 5 and 6

Good morning!

I have another two Challenge finishes to proudly show you!

Not being content with finishing the first two dragons in this series, out came Dragon of Earth from 10th January. He didn't call to me as much as the previous two, mainly because of his drab dark colours, but I still felt the urge to finish him and am pleased with the result.

Dragon of Earth

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.

Stitch count 38 wide by 69 high

Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Started - 10th January 2015
Finished - 22nd March 2015

Total stitching time - 14 hours 15 minutes

And not wanting to be left out, Dragon of Air from 3rd January pleaded with me to complete him too. Well, why not? I had intended to use a blending filament in the clouds but decided against it as none of the other dragons had any sparkle. I think I made the right choice.

Dragon of Air

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.

Stitch count 37 wide by 68 high

Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Started - 3rd January 2015
Finished - 24th March 2015

Total stitching time - 11 hours

Once again, the recommended Kreinik was substituted for normal DMC on both dragons and I used a different blue for the darker parts of Dragon of Air's tummy.

I've got a few ideas about how I would like to frame the four Elemental Dragons, with costs ranging from £4 to £30. But until I look into them further these two finishes will join their siblings in my box of shame.

6/59 Challenge pieces down, 53 to go, although I think these will be my last Challenge finishes for a while.

Love and hugs,
Rachel x

Lizzie Kate March Flip-It Stamp - finished!

Hello all!

Long time no see! I've really enjoyed my posting holiday but guess it's about time I returned to the blogosphere. So here I am!

My posting holiday didn't mean a stitching holiday though and I've been beavering away at various projects which I'll post about at a later date. But for now I have a small finish to share with you.

March Flip-It Stamp by Lizzie Kate

Stitch Count 47 x 47

Stitched on 16ct Rustic Aida 2 over 1

Started - 19th March 2015
Finished - 21st March 2015

Total Stitching Time - 11 hours 15 minutes

Once again I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this stamp, especially as it stitched up quickly due to allowing myself  a couple of l-o-n-g stitching sessions. Naughty, but definitely needed for my sanity at the moment!

Hopefully I'll be back to posting more regularly now that my "holiday" is over.

Love and hugs

Rachel x

Challenge Finishes 3 and 4

Hello fellow bloggers!

The blogoversary giveaway prizes have been claimed and I am glad to see so many other entrants congratulating the winners. That's how nice stitchers are. On behalf of the winners, thank you.

But..... the main reason for this posting..... I have two more Challenge finishes!

Firstly, sitting majestically on the crest of a wave is Dragon of Water from 24th January. All I had left to do were the tail, the waves and the backstitching. Once I'd picked him up I couldn't put him down so was very naughty and finished him in one stint, stitching well into the early hours. Ooops!

Dragon of Water

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.

Stitch count 38 wide by 69 high

Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Started - 24th January 2015
Finished - 4th March 2015

Total stitching time - 10 hours 20 minutes

Secondly, Dragon of Fire from 17th January. I love his bright colours and seriously had to force myself to put him down each night instead of staying up to finish him. I might restrict the amount of sleep I have but I do need some!

Dragon of Fire

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.

Stitch count 38 wide by 69 high

Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Started - 17th January 2015
Finished - 9th March 2015

Total stitching time - 15 hours

On both dragons I am glad I substituted the recommended Kreinik for normal DMC. Not only do I avoid Kreinik whenever possible but I also think they look fine without any sparkle.

These two will probably sit in my box of shame until their siblings are finished which will be..... who knows when?! Then I'll decide if I am going to frame them separately or as a quartet.

4/59 Challenge pieces down, 55 to go!

Love and hugs,
Rachel x

Blogoversary Giveaway Winners

Hello all!

Oh wow! You have left some amazing comments for my anniversary and giveaway. Thank you all so very very much. Starting the blog was probably one of the best things in my life and it's so comforting to know that you like reading my ramblings and seeing my work. You have been very generous in your praises and, as some of you have mentioned, I too hope there are many many more blogoversaries to come. Thank you all.

I was so overwhelmed with the generous comments that you left that I have decided to be generous too and give away 2 prizes!

All entrants and their corresponding numbers are as follows:

1  Pull the other thread
2  Preeti
3  Adatina
4  Annie
5  Miamina
6  Heather
7  Mii Stitch
8  Mrs. GraceWorks
9  Katie
10 Leigh
11 Elaine
12 homeschooljewelrymom
13 Tina
14 Sasha
15 Linda
16 Sarah L
17 Justine
18 Stitching Angel
19 Aubs Ogrady
20 Claire Sutherland
21 mlhummy
22 Elnel
23 Allison CB
24 Diann
25 Gill
26 Sarah
27 Michele T


Using the Random Number Generator, winner number 1 is:

Number 11 - Elaine

And winner number 2 is :

Number 10 - Leigh


Congratulations to the two of you and commiserations to everyone else. Nevermind, there's always next year!!!

If Elaine and Leigh could both send me an email with your preference of fabric, voucher or RAK I'll get back to you and see what we can sort out. Please ensure you include an email address as you're both no-reply bloggers.

Love and hugs,
Rachel x

Challenge Finishes 1 and 2

Hello blogger friends!

A few people have said they're missing my daily posts so, to satisfy their withdrawal symptoms, I'm posting this sooner than anticipated. So much for taking a posting holiday!!

I have a couple of cute little Challenge finishes to share with you. These were my smallest two pieces so it's not surprising they were finished first.


First up, Waterlogged from 26th February. I only had the backstitching to do so he took just over an hour to finish.

Waterlogged

Stitch count 36 wide by 33 high

Stitched on 16ct Light Blue Aida 2 over 1

Started - 26th February 2015
Finished - 1st March 2015
Total stitching time - 4 hours 15 minutes

Secondly, Puddle Duck from 12th February. He only needed his wellies, the puddle and the backstitching so was finished fairly quickly too.

Puddle Duck

Stitch count 29 wide by 34 high

Stitched on 16ct Light Blue Aida 2 over 1

Started - 12th February 2015

Finished - 2nd March 2015

Total stitching time - 4 hours 20 minutes

I haven't shopped for a frame yet but intend to mat, frame and hang them..... somewhere!

There, are your withdrawal symptoms passing now? Have I filled a little hole of sadness? Can I return to my posting holiday?!!!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

PS There's still time to enter the blogoversary giveaway if you haven't already done so. See the 3rd March posting for details.

1st Blogoversary Giveaway

Hello fellow bloggers and friends!

I'm back with a rather special posting, although I had to schedule this post as I'm on a school trip at the moment and can't be with you to celebrate!

Happy blogoversary to me! Happy blogoversary to me! Happy blogoversary crazy Rachel! Happy blogoversary to me!

Yes, at the exact time of this posting I will have been in the blogosphere for a whole year. In that time I have started numerous projects, finished a few, joined Stitch From Stash and A New Stitchy Start 2015, completed the insane DSDUCJFC 2015, enhanced my stash, gained many followers but, most importantly, made lots of friends. My blog wouldn't be what it is without fellow bloggers like you who read my waffle, leave lovely comments and pop over for a chat sometimes. So, as a thank you and, as seems traditional on blogoversaries, I'll have a giveaway!


I have on offer to the winner ONE of the following three options:

1) A cut of Autumn Woodland 32ct Belfast Linen pictured here which I am no longer using for Scarlet Macaw Preening (as I hate the linen!) Size of cut negotiable from the full 30" x 40" piece.

2) About £10 / US$16 (or local currency equivalent) gift card for an ONS of your choice (providing they do them of course!)

3) A RAKd pattern (or more) from, for example, HAED or Tilton Crafts or Paine Free Crafts again to the approximate (negotiable) value of £10 / US$16.


So, what do you have to do to win one of the above?

Easy. Just be a follower of my blog and leave a comment! You don't even have to choose which option you would like until your name has been drawn and I contact you for a decision, although you can mention it in your comment if you like.

You have one week from the time of this posting to leave a comment. There is a countdown timer on my blog indicating how long you have left. So, go on, do it now - you've got nothing to lose. The countdown has begun!

The winner will be picked by the Random Number Generator on the evening of 10th March (GMT). Good luck everybody!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 59 - THE END

Good morning all!

Well, I've done it! I've completed Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge 2015. This is the chart I finished off with and it just happens to also be the largest of my 59 starts.

The Panda
Featured in Young'uns by Gloria and Pat

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

I must say I have enjoyed every single day and every single one of my new starts. There's not one that I won't look forward to returning to, which is good.

I definitely have my favourites starts - Dreaming of Dolphins tops the list followed by the Elemental Dragons and the Lickle Teds from January and the Four Seasons, Little Black Cats and Pretty Little Cities from February. All the others aren't that far behind though! I don't know in which order they'll reappear as I'll just stitch whatever theme or colours take my fancy at the time.

I agree that I have been mad to start 59 new projects, but none of them will go to waste. I don't intend any of them to become discarded UFOs sitting in a box collecting dust. Afterall, I need to whittle them down before starting another 15/31/59 next year!!!!

I want to thank all of you who have stayed with me throughout this adventure, especially those who have commented daily (Justine, Katie, Linda, Mii) I really appreciate the time that you have taken to do that. This Challenge has meant more to me than just starting project after project knowing that I've got support out there, even if it is accompanied by being called bonkers, crazy, insane or certifiable in the process! Thanks - I think!

More importantly, I did it all in Debbie's memory and hope she would have smiled at my achievements. I only knew her for about a month before her passing but even so her love of stitching and serial starting obviously infected me - badly!

I am now giving myself a well-earned posting holiday. I shall still be reading and commenting on blogs but it may be a while before I post again. And who knows what that post will be about - progress on a BAP or perhaps a finish (or two!) but DEFINITELY NOT a new start (although there should be a rather large restart if all goes well!)   :)

Happy stitching and cheerio for a while.
Crazy Rachel x