Caught Up in SALs

I ran across several blogs that had SALs, but it's what I want to do at this time, and since it's an enjoyable hobby, and not a race, I've decided to just get caught up with the SALs I joined and forget about my WIPs for a while. See? No stress any more. I've decided to take the advice of many and just stitch what I want and enjoy it.

I love these little guys. Each owl is cuter than the one before, and I'm anxious to get caught up so I can await the next month's surprise. Tonia Pappan does a nice job on designing the owls.

After royally screwing up the placement of January's bird (last post), I have finished February's bird. I love stitching these pretty little fellows! The colors are scrumptious. Again, nice designing job by Tonia!

I'm loving this Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden of The Specialty Stitches Yahoo group. She designed this and a Little Lace hardanger piece that we're SALing in the group. I have not yet begun the Little Lace hardanger piece but I'm proud of the Tree of Stitches progress, though I'm behind since it started at the first of the year, I believe. Each part is made up of a different specialty stitch. Abi's clear, concise instructions make it a pleasure to work on.

What Is Wrong with This Picture?

I'm so frustrated! I got caught up in SALs I've seen on several blogs, and Karen of Sushine Stitches is a bad influence on me. Not really - she inspires me to join Yahoo groups and forums in which there are SALs going on that started at the beginning of the year. This means that I have a lot of catching up to do. In OakHaven Designs Yahoo group, there are two monthly SALs going, and I decided to do them both. Why? Because one is cute; one is pretty. I did the January owl without a problem (no pic yet). We're talking about simple here. Tonia Pappan of OakHaven Designs does wonderful, easy-to-see, easy-to-do and quick-to-stitch pdf charts. They're no-brainers. If I had a brain, the above would never have happened. I had bought 2 large pieces of 14ct aida in two different colors, mainly because it seemed that aida was being used by most of the members, and I liked this linen-look aida, although I nearly always buy linen or evenweave now. I do have nice colors of aida in my stash, even hand-dyed colors, that I will use from time to time just to get it used up. Anyway, I calculated the size I needed for the bird SAL and the owl SAL. The owls are bigger up and down; the birds are bigger side to side. I stitched the owl correctly. I stitched the bird you see on the right so that the others coudn't be stitched 3 across and 4 down, the way I had planned with the size of aida I had them cut for me. Sooo... I stitched the bird on the left the correct way, but it's one stitch off. The birds all are the same basic size and shape, just different colors and different surroundings. If I don't frog the 2nd bird, it won't match up with the other birds. I have yet to frog the first incorrect bird on the right, just so you could witness a no-brainer's work.

I'm a slow stitcher, so I've had to abandon my rotation to get a start on these SALs, and the thought of doing the same bird makes me sick. To think I've just joined The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group to do another SAL, the Tree of Stitches (featured on their homepage) and yet another SAL with the Merry Members of the SanMan Originals message board makes me even sicker. I've had different sweet souls tell me to weed out the ones that don't thrill me and just do the ones that do. Well, they all thrill me! So I've decided to put my rotation on hold and concentrate on these SALs to try to get caught up. It's supposed to be fun - that's what one of the sweet souls said to me, and she's right! My plan to get the SALs started are what thrills me right now and makes me happy, so that's what it shall be, and my other WIPs will wait. It's not a race, thank goodness!

The problem is that 2012 will bring another string of new SALs that will call to me, and I'm weak. I have no discipline, which is why I have a Chatelaine, Convent's Herbal Garden, along with the shocking sales receipt from European Cross Stitch from about 2004 or 2005 - untouched. I just bought the linen for it a couple of years ago - still untouched. My intentions are good, and I recently took it out to look at the pattern and instructions but that was before I got sidetracked by all these 2011 SALs that stole my heart. I have to get them going, then back to my other WIPs I had on the go, then I dearly want to do the Chatelaine, The Sampler Girl's Jane Austen's Mansfield Park Sampler, Ink Circle's BoInk that I never got to when the Tracy's Yahoo Group was going (it has since closed, but I printed the charts while there), and Garden Spot Sampler (circa late 18th century or early 19th century), and a host of Little House and Country Cottage Needlworks thread packs and kitted others, not only LHN and CCN, but tons of others. Why, oh why, can't I live a whole lot longer?

Stash Alert! And Scroll Down For a Giveaway...

This seems like a lot of stash, but it has been collected since the Super Bowl Sale at my LNS. Some things were bought to finish projects already in my stash that hopefully soon to be projects "on the go." Of course there is some that is quite self-indulgent and not needed at all, but as I saw a design say, "Need has nothing to do with it." I tell you - it's an illness.

Several cuts of fabric bought at Super Bowl Sunday at my LNS.

A couple of Heaven and Earth Designs bought from their site on sale. The first is Storykeep (bookmark) Seasons Spring; the second is Autumn Magic, a full size graph. I must be nuts!

Hand-dyes for projects I am doing or want to do.

A Stitcher's Journey by Blackbird Designs. A "must have" for me.

A liitle basket kit from Stoney Creek, targeted for a Christmas gift this year. So sweet!

Hob Nobb for a cute little St. Patrick's Day piece that I didn't get a start on this year. It was marked down at my LNS.

The Prairie Schooler new spring designs with the freebie little card. I ordered these in a special offer from Mary Kathryn at ehandcrafts.com.

Since I acquired these, I bought the 3rd month of the Stoney Creek Pattern-of-the Month (an 8 month program that my LNS is ordering from). Actually, they advertise them as free, but there is a S&H charge of $3.95, which is what my LNS charges for the individual patterns. There is the raw/gold linen and beads, threads, and embellishments so far.

Some stash ordered from J.J.'s Collectibles Super Bowl Sale, all on my wish list.

Lizzie Kate LE Spring scissor fob, marked down at my LNS. A couple of patterns from J.J.'s Collectibles again. I'm working on one, Winter Lineup now.

I saw this on the Internet and had my LNS order it for me - a pricey pattern and one that I may never do, but I just love it!!! There is a lot of stitching to this one - several pages!

I think this is the last Charles Wysocki's artwork turned into counted cross stitch kits that I needed to complete my collection I may never do (may sell). This is Maggie the Messmaker, and I got it for 40% off.

The Sampler Girl had a 25% off sale on patterns so I purchased Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and Quaker Boo, the last of which was on my wish list also.

More stash from LNS Super Bowl Sale, all on wish list.

The 32ct hand-dyed evenweave for previously shown Mansfield Park.

32ct hand-dyed linen for the following BAP Garden Spot Sampler (a replica of an antique sampler).

I don't know how I came into possession of this pattern, though I remember having a broken leg at the time, and there were a few girls on the Internet who were doing a SAL with this. That was in 2005, and I just came across this with the following Vikki Clayton silks for it - the way she used to package her silks.

The silks packaged by Vikki nearly 6 years ago. The following Vicky Clayton silks were purchased by me recently to do Mansfield Park.

And if you've hung in there with me this long, there is a giveway on Deborah's blog, Cranberry Samplings. Hop on over there to see what that's about. She has done some wonderful stitching!