Monday, June 11, 2012

World Update, A Gift and A Giveaway

World Update

I've finished part 1 and part 2 on the Around the World in 80 Stitches SAL!  WOO!!   I'm finally caught up in time for part 3 to be sent.   :)

Here's what part 1 and 2 look like:


Part 2 brought with it.......Hardanger!  There's a reason the word "hard" is in there!   This stuff is difficult (at least for me it was!)

I'm crossing my fingers I did it right.  I will say, the instructions were spectacular for all of the specialty stitches...if they weren't, I probably would have given up with that lazy daisy stitch!

Here are a few close up pics, you can also go to my World tab for more pictures:





A Gift

I woke up this morning and checked my email...and much to my delight, I was RAK'd by Lesley!   She is such a complete sweetheart!

She sent me this Heaven and Earth Designs chart - SK Lavender Breeze:


Isn't she just lovely!?  I immediately searched my floss and found I have everything I need to kit her up (my most favorite thing in the world to do!)


A Giveaway

Yiota of Yiota's XStitch offered one of her beautiful cross stitch kits for me to review.  I chose Exotic Flower by William Morris because of the beautiful colors.

Here's a picture of the kit:

It comes neatly packaged with a color image of the final piece. 

Inside Yiota has sent all of the necessary floss to complete the work, each color individually sorted and labeled for you (it's like pushing the "easy" button for those of you who know the Staples commercial I'm talking about!) 



She also includes the fabric you'll need (you can choose either aida or evenweave, I chose evenweave) along with a needle


And here is a close up of how easy the chart is to read:


The symbols are easy to make out and the floss key gives you both the label # as well as a DMC # if you want to use DMC or use the chart for future use.

I want one of my blog readers to give Yiota's charts a try too, so I'm giving away a Gift Voucher to her site for £20.00!   You can use it to buy a kit or some charts!

How to enter:
  1. Be a follower of my blog
  2. Post a comment telling me which pattern(s) you like at Yiota's cross stitch site
  3. Include your email address (if it isn't in your profile) so I can contact you if you win
This giveaway ends at midnight EST on Friday, June 15th!  Winner will be chosen the next day by Random Generator and the Gift Voucher will be mailed.

-lesli

21 comments:

Linda said...

Wow Lesli. What a great giveaway. My favorites are:
Schnauzer Pair (they look like mine)
Victorian Gathering
Beach Chair

Thank you, Linda

sharine said...

Great work! Around the world in stitches rocks.

lanybleu said...

Bluebell woods No 2 is my fav, I enjoyed reading your review and your 80 Sts is fantastic.

Lesleyanne said...

Great review. Lovely progress on Around the world. It looks gorgeous. Love your new chart - are you going to start it soon?

Valma said...

Ho my ! Your world is gorgeous !
Really, Lesli and Lesley are doing a great job =)
The fairy you received is just lovely
And the giveaway ! can't wait to see the exotic flower stitched by you, seems to be lot's of stitches but it will be wonderful,I'm sure =)
Nia made me discovered Yiota"s Xstitch some weeks ago, it's really difficult to make a choice among all those wonderful designs !
I love the butterfly fairy and the autumn fairy
but also the mackintosh coasters (1,2 or 3) and the blackwork biscornu
choice will be hard to do if I win =)
big hugs
xxxx

Cath said...

I'd love to enter please .
I really like the wolf kits that Yiota has on the site.
Thanks.X

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

I love your Papillon SAL parts 1&2 Lesli. The colours are really lovely and the hardanger is brilliant :)I am still finishing my second tulip!
Exotic flower is very pretty and so beautifully presented. Looking forward to seeing your progress on it.

Petrina said...

Wow another awesome giveaway!
I quite like the cat designs especially 'cats eyes'.
My email is rooneypetrina99@gmail.com.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lesli :) Me again -- add me to your list -- I love the pattern: Hope by Klimt from Yiota's XStitch website. If I don't win - i will have to purchase it as it would be a great gift for me to make for a family member. You have not doubt created a monster -- I was happy with 6 pieces in progress-- but it keeps growing...and honestly I love it all! :) I love your blog as well and now a new addicition has been created - I started my own too - :)

Cindy said...

Your stitching is beautiful.
I would love to be entered. I love the dragon designs in her fantasy section.

Cindy in MA
ccflo3@gmail.com
http://homeofaflossjunkie.blogspot.com

Veronica said...

Beautiful stitching on your SAL. Aiks! I did not realize there are hardanger in this design. Looks lovely but scary to cut the fabric ^.^

Hugs,
Veronica.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Oooh I love your around the world what a neat piece and a fun way to expand your stitching knowledge!

♥ Nia said...

Gorgeous work! Very pretty stitching :)
Such a lovely fairy! What a kind gift from your friend =)
I have one chart from Yiota too, I need to find sometime to stitch what I already have! heheheh I'll leave the chance to another friend :)
hugs&smiles

Jan Gartlan said...

I have just become a follower. I love this giveaway. I live The Coffee Fairy pattern. Your World design is looking stunning.

Anonymous said...

Birdhouse #2 sherry2911@yahoo.com

Sophia said...

I'd love to enter. I love Pegasus and Butterfly Fairy.

My email is christascritters@gmail.com

Thanks

Kay said...

Thank you for a great giveaway. I follow via email now. I have been over and looked at lots of cross stitch charts and particularly like the Mackintosh designs and the William Morris designs. I had William Morris wedding invitations so it would be nice to do something of his.
ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

Anne said...

Love your Papillon Sal!! Wow The colours you chose are perfect together!! I have never tried HARDanger because it's probably sooo hard!! Shoot I missed the giveaway. Oh well, congrats to the winner! And lovely chart you chose from Yiota too!!

Anonymous said...

i have ever done hard anger so congrats to you as i wouldn't dare start something like that, and lucky you on the lovely haed!

Ewa said...

Around the World is so beautiful! The colors you picked work fantastically well!

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

beautiful stitching on your world!