JUNE WIPocalypse

So instead of posting all the updates for my work in the last month, you can see all my updated progress by clicking here.  I have one other piece I've been working on but it is a gift so I haven't posted any progress pictures, I'll post some as soon as it is complete!

I do want to highlight a piece I've been working on the past few days (I'm counting it for this WIPocalpyse update!).....the Around the World in 80 Stitches SAL by Papillon Creations.  Oh my goodness, I am LOVING this SAL!  

This SAL takes you 'around the world' and introduces you to different specialty stitches around the world!  This SAL comes in 24...yes....24 installments!  When I first heard about this months ago, I thought to myself....two years is way too long...I can't do it!

But then I saw Lesley work on her's and I knew I just HAD to do it!   You can check out her progress at her blog:  Lesley's Stitching Diary 2012 

She has been such a dear...answering my questions about the chart and giving me tips and pointers!

You can get more info about this SAL at the Papillon Creations site.  They also have a gallery of pictures for this piece....there are so many variations out there!

This piece is stitched using 3 "greens" and 8 "floral" colors.  It also includes a metallic thread and 2 sets of beads.   Each stitcher gets to choose whatever floss colors they want!  I chose a subtle lot of colors....boring to some but to my liking :)


Here are the colors I chose:

Work can be done on either 28 count or 32 count for the specialty chart (there is also a cross stitch only chart for those wanting to work on aida).  I chose 28 count sage laguna.

The SAL is already into month 2, but I'm just starting month 1 (I'm hoping to catch up before month 3 comes out!)

There are 2 hearts in month 1....I've just finished the first one and hope to have the second one complete in the next few days.


Here's my first heart:

and some close-ups of the specialty stitches:

The Berwick stitch and partial eyelets

 

The Norwich stitch, ray stitch and eyelets



The Lazy Daisy stitch, ray stitch and eyelets


Those Lazy Daisy stitches threw me for a loop!  I re-stitched them 3 times!  I'm happy with how they look now......I think.....

I'll add the beads on after all the stitching is done, so I can continue to use my hoop and not ruin any of them.



I'm off to work on the second half of month 1 (more Lazy Daisies...oh no!)....... then look at everyone's updates!   



-lesli

Memorial Day Giveaway WINNER!

Before I announce my winner I just want to say ...WOW!  Thank you to everyone that dropped in to enter!


Here is a full list of those names in the drawing:

And.....Mr. Random Generator.....do your thing.......

The winner is.....MELINDA!!   

Melinda has a beatiful blog that I've been following for some time now.
 
Drop on over and check it out:  Family Business 
She has a gorgeous piece she is working on, Fancy Dancing....and a good amount of HAED WIPS going as well!  (and now you'll have another to add to the mix!)


Congratulations, Melinda!   And thank you again to everyone that entered....I found some great new blogs to follow! :)


-lesli

A Gift and a MyMemories Giveaway

Yesterday I was blessed with a beautiful gift in my mailbox!!   Nia from Caixinha de Pirlimpimpim spoiled me with a beautiful hand stitched card and a souvenir from her home, Portugal!

Look at how cute this card is!   And he's holding my favorite flowers...tulips!!!   She also included her adorable business cards....that look just like her blog, isn't that little girl the cutest?

My Portugal souvenir is this handpainted Rooster of Barcelos.  He is a legend/symbol in Portugal and there are many different versions of the history and story of him, one of which you can find here.  

This gift just brightened up my day...my week!  We've had nothing but rain and thunderstorms all week, the tail end of the tropical storm I suppose...and this little rooster and card brought sunshine to my eyes.   Isn't Nia just a doll!?  

 

So let's see...it seems I'm doing more giving away than I am stitching...hahahaha...which is fine by me because it is FUN!!

The folks at My Memories, a digital scrapbook software company offered me a download of their software along with a download to give away to one of you!! 

Now I'm sure you're thinking...what the heck do you do with a digital scrapbook?

If any of you are like me...you have folders and folders of pictures saved somewhere on your laptop, your smart phone...maybe even still on your camera!!   Believe me, I LOVE the art of scrapbooking itself...but I just don't find I have the time to get any of it done (I blame my stitching!)...so this is a fantabulous alternative!

The beauty of this software is that you can create lovely scrapbook pages, even books....quickly and easily!   You can save them for yourself, use individual images to load elsewhere or create scrapbooks to send to others (my parents live out of town, so this was perfect to make a quick book of pictures to share with them of the kiddos!)

When I say quick...here's a sample that I put together in about 10 minutes (my first try, so now that I have the hang of it, it goes quicker!)

They offer pre-created layouts, but also allow you to create your own!   I picked out all the cut outs, the paper colors/textures and just popped the images in (you can zoom in/out and crop them with their software too!)

They have nine...NINE pages of free themed kits you can download once you have their main software loaded!   A themed kit means you can download templates for holidays, occasions, moods...you name it! 

So.....now for the giving away part!  :)

I'll be giving away a free download of their software (once you have it loaded, you can get all those free kits too!) to one of you...here's how you enter:

• Be a follower of my blog
• Visit their MyMemories site and post a comment that includes the name of one of their kits and tell me why you like that kit
• Include your email address so I can contact you

Easy Peasy!!

Giveaway ends at midnight EST on Friday, June 8th....and I'll use Mr. Random Generator to pick out a winner!

Also, they've offered all of you a $10 off code for purchases....in case you want to buy before I draw a name, or if your name isn't drawn

Just enter this code when you check out:   STMMMS17078

You'll receive $10 off the software, and the purchase will also come with a $10 coupon to buy kits!

-lesli

Bracelet Winner!

We survived Tropical Storm Beryl!   Luckily, we were only hit with heavy rainfall and gusts of wind.  Had many friends and family members that lost power, but ours remained on through it all. 


Thanks to everyone who checked out my bracelet giveaway and entered to win!  I hope you found some cute stuff at Mel's Etsy shop, like I did  :)


And now to announce a winner........


Here's a list of those that entered:

And....drumroll......Mr. Random Generator chose:

Congratulations, Gizzimomo (Thea)!!!  

She chose the Kumihimo Silk Fibre Bracelet in Grey, Blue & Purple (beautiful choice!)

Check out my current giveaway of a Heaven and Earth Designs chart, with fabric and floss here!



-lesli

Memorial Day Giveaway

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.

It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,

but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”  

 -Arthur Ashe

I had planned to do a giveaway tomorrow, in honor of Memorial Day....but since there is a tropical storm heading for me, I thought it be best to post it today (in case I have no power or internet tomorrow!)

I'm giving away a beautiful Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) chart along with the fabric and floss needed to finish it.

I sifted through all the fantabulous (I think that's my favorite non-real word!) charts they have and I finally decided on this one:



QS Yesterday's Gone; artwork by Molly Harrison



I chose this one for a few reasons -

• This is one of my favorites....I love all the watercolor looking background colors and the colors in her wings. 
• I also chose it for it's name "Yesterday's Gone"....which I felt kept in-line with the idea/meaning of this holiday. 
• I decided on the "quick stitch (QS)" version of this chart, as I know many of my blog followers have not stitched a HAED before and I didn't want anyone to run away (like I did the first time I saw them!)

The chart's stitches are 175 W x 161 H, so it isn't nearly as large as the "regular" charts!

Along with the chart, I will send the winner all the floss necessary to complete.  I'll be sending full skeins of DMC floss, as I'm lazy and can't bring myself to measure, cut and wind them all!  (this way you can also use whatever floss is leftover for other projects!). 

Aren't the colors puuuuurty!

The chart calls for 032...some stitchers choose to use a Krenik braid, but I've substituded with DMC Metallic floss.  If this isn't your preference, I apologize!  Krenik braid isn't so easy to get my hands on around here!

I will also include fabric for this chart in the following choices
(I don't have any 14 count left in my stash....but if you REALLY want 14 count, let me know and I'll get some!) :

28 Count Cream Linen
28 Count Cream Evenweave
25 Count Cream Evenweave
22 Count White Hardanger
18 Count White Aida
16 Count White Aida

The fabric will be cut to allow for a minimum of 3 inches on each side for a border (in some cases it may be bigger...again...because I'm lazy and don't want to cut the fabric!)

 

How do you enter?

• Be a follower of my blog
• Enter a comment on this thread
• Include your email address
• Let me know which fabric you prefer.

That's it!! 

This giveaway will end at midnight EST, Friday, June 1st.  The winner will be chosen using Mr. Random Generator and will be announced Saturday, June 2nd. 

P.S.: The chart will be in the form of a PDF file.  It will be sent to you via the Heaven and Earth Designs "RAK (Random Acts of Kindness)" program, which means you will receive an email from HAED which will contain a weblink created just for you.  When you click on the link it will take you to their site and a download button for you to download and save the chart.  If you have any issues getting through this process, just let me know and we'll walk through it together!!

 

-lesli

Epic Stitching Giveaway!

Mel, from Epic Stitching is a complete sweetheart and sent me one of her beautiful bracelets!!  (She posted about them on her blog and I asked her some questions about what they are made of...and *poof*...just like that, she sends me one!)

I am SO IN LOVE with it!!

Some pictures:

Close up...look at the purty colors!

those veins in my hand look weird, don't they?

My daughter Kella asks me everyday, "Mommmmm, where is mine!?"

And if you're wondering..... "Where is yours!?"  ..... you can check out Mel's Etsy shop and pick one, or two or three out!   (I've already chosen another one for me and of course, the one for Kella)

Here's a sneak peek of some of the pretties she sells:

While I was checking out her shop, I thought to myself., "Why not give one away too!"


So without further ado...adieu?.... anyway.... let's give one away!


How to enter:
Post a response with the following info:

• The name of the bracelet you'd like from her Etsy Shop
• Your wrist size (inches or cm)
• Your email address (so I can contact you if you win!)

I'll draw a winner sometime on Monday, May 28th....and they'll win whichever bracelet they named!


p.s. - If you haven't already, check out her stitching blog Epic Sitching!  She won the HAED contest in December where she gets a free chart each month...I LOVE checking out what she's chosen!


-lesli