Cross-stitch cafe 2010

*Louise*

Ohhh that's a smidge cheaper than the ones I saw - thanks

I have got about a million charts so shoudl find something suitable :rotfl:

Totally tempted by the santa ones still.......stop me pleeeease!!



*gets DS to hide bank cards*


*remembers she knows card numbers off by heart*:o


*books in for a lobotomy*:D

:rotfl:

cassolete

I wanted to answer the "why do you spend so much money on magazines?" question.

I haven't purchased any cross stitching magazines yet, at all. I suppose the reason is that I haven't seen any patterns in magazines that were my style.

Among my purchases have been <a href="http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/thebook.htm">the subversive cross stitch book</a>, my girl-on-the-beach pattern (twice, haha!), <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56848210/cool-cross-stitch-patterns-set-of-four">these phone patterns</a>, and <a href="http://compare.ebay.com/like/370420966373?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&amp;var=sbar&amp;rvr_id=167142798286&amp;crlp=1_263602_304662&amp;UA=?*F?&amp;GUID=36a3c1a912b0a041b673b753ffff049d&amp;itemid=370420966373&amp;ff4=263602_304662&quot;&gt; this fairy book. Especially in the case of the subversive and phone patterns, I made the purchase even though I could probably have uploaded the pic and then figured it out on my own because I wanted to support the people who had the ideas in the first place. Unlike music (which I think the artist gets very little of the profit in comparison to the record label company) I suspect the people who make these pictures actually do receive compensation for their work, and I want to contribute to that as I can.

I don't feel too badly about spending money on threads, patterns, etc. Partly I don't feel guilty because it's not very expensive in comparison to other hobbies/vices (as has been mentioned earlier.) However, another reason I don't worry about the money I've spent is because divided out among the hours I've spent working on my cross stitch projects, it's much less expensive per hour than, say, going to a movie or a night at the karaoke bar. There have been times when I've been bored and I've thought "Hm, maybe I should go to the mall and see what's playing at the movie theater" and then thought to myself, "Nah, if there's nothing I want to see right now, I'll work on my cross stitch instead." I think that's a money-saving event right there, wouldn't you?

I need to write out a list of UFOs. I don't think it's quite as extensive as ya'alls, but it would probably be an eye opener for me. It's possible I have way more than I think I do!

Dorastar

Anybody fancy tidying my house and feeding my kids so I can do some stitching?

niamhirl

Haven't done much this week.
Last Week

This Week

I got a call for 2 weeks supply at 8:15 last Monday :j I did my first week, tired but it's worth it. It's nice getting some work again and getting paid. Things are eventually picking up with demand for supply staff. I even got some info on long term offers - which I can't accept because I made a committment to the MOSI free lance post when things were slow.
Still the MOSI post is really interesting so looking forward to getting started not that my 4th CRB cert has arrive (Riduculous system that you need one for each different company) Wonder how much money is wasted on that, that could go to pay uni tuition fees. :mad:
Right I'll climb down off my soap-box now, sorry for mini rant.

Lilliant to answer your questions I'm relatively new to cross stitch. Did a little during half terms when I 1st started teaching in '99 then got promoted and had no work life balance- hence now doing supply and being a normal teacher and enjoying the job again.

I've only bought one x-stitch magazine ever, 2 weeks ago as a treat after my aunt insisted on paying me fuel money when I gave her a lift to the train station.

I started off buying kits, but then thanks to the lovely peps on here, I've got a huge stash of anchor threads and some aida fabric from e-bay.
I volunteer in a BHF on Saturdays organising the book stock and nab any cross sitch pattern books I find 25% staff discount on already heavily reduced books, unless the Tuesday lady (who I've never met) nabs them before me :rotfl:

I think between the two of us, the actual customers don't have a hope of every getting a cross stitch book from the shelf lol!

Welshlassie

Hi all, haven't been posting here for a few weeks as haven't really felt I've much to add, but have been beavering away on various presents.

There have been some stunning pieces of work posted over the last few weeks, well done to everyone. I especially love the dictionary's and Louise's map.

I actually finished a long time UFO this pm, (have taken a picture just need to upload it), which was a book mark I bought around 7 or 8 years ago. I had finished the stitching but needed to put the tassel on and back it so did that this pm. I have also dug out the baby sampler I did for DS1 (picture to follow). I need to wash and prepare this for framing, but will hold off on framing it until I finish the sampler I'm doing for the current baby on board (due in 3 weeks - scary), so I can get matching frames.

I need to finish a christmas present for the in laws from the grandkids, just some backstitiching and framing to be done on that. I also have a thank you card I have to finish which I took away with me a couple of weeks ago that just needs backstitching and hiding a mistake, (which I have no desire to unpick), and mounting.

That will just leave 4 outstanding projects.
- New baby sample referred to earlier,
- Minature szchnaer as a gift for a friend, who has been amazing during my pregnancy, helping to look after me and DS when DH hasn't been around because I haven't been able to drive, including giving us a 4 day break in her caravan with her a few weeks ago.
- New baby sample for another friend who has helped out alot during my pregnancy and is due her 3rd (and final baby) in March, so doing a sampler with all her childrens names on.
- Black labrador for DH - a request from him. Not really looking forward to starting it as think its got lots of shades of black and dark grey so going to be difficult to see in the dark nights.

I also came across some fresh aida and threads. No idea where these have come from, but I have a 2 hour cross stitch book that I will look through for some more thank you card designs to save buying the kits. I really should start buying separately as so many of you do, but lacking a little bit of confidence in buying the right volume of stuff.

Where/how do people store all their threads and material when not in use? Obviously kits are quite easy to store, but what about individual stuff. DH won't let me buy anymore kits, but I could probably get away with individual threads, patterns and materials occasionally.

Sorry for the mamouth post.

*Louise*

Welshlassie wrote: »

Where/how do people store all their threads and material when not in use? Obviously kits are quite easy to store, but what about individual stuff. DH won't let me buy anymore kits, but I could probably get away with individual threads, patterns and materials occasionally.

Spooled thread in thread boxes (living room sideboard), spare skeins in a vanity case (bedroom) kits in a big plastic storage box (bedroom cupboard) Fabric in a small suitcase (DD's cupboard) charts in A4 files (middle section of my wardrobe)

Dorastar

Can't believe no-one took me up on my offer of my kids and the cleaning in return for letting me stitch:p

Roll on bedtime - am tempted to change the clock to persuade them to go away earlier

Elle1267

Sorry Dorastar but I have a whole load of ironing that I'm trying to ignore. It just keeps getting bigger! I have selective sight. :P

23rdspiral

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Hope this helps...we do try to get the best deals we can for our sewing stuff, after all that's what it's about isn't it!! Most of us don't have extravagant lifestyles and find that sewing keeps us happy and out of trouble....well, some of the time!! Some folk have had problems with depression, myself included, and I have found creating things with my hands has helped immensely.

So you see, we are careful with our money, and every so often, having saved money elsewhere, reward ourselves with a new project to work on. Life would be very dull and boring, if not downright horrendous, if we couldn't give ourselve treats every once in a while. Creating a lovely piece of work, possible as a present for someone else, is our way of enjoying ourselves...not bad eh!!

:T well said Keiss! if i could write better and say what i'm thinking i'd have written something along these lines. thanks!! :T

cassolete wrote: »

Especially in the case of the subversive and phone patterns, I made the purchase even though I could probably have uploaded the pic and then figured it out on my own because I wanted to support the people who had the ideas in the first place. Unlike music (which I think the artist gets very little of the profit in comparison to the record label company) I suspect the people who make these pictures actually do receive compensation for their work, and I want to contribute to that as I can.

:T i think you're right here cassolete. some of my mates have 'copied' the subversive xstich patterns by simply enlarging them on the screne. whilst i think some are great, they dont justify the book cost for me, but i also wouldnt blatently steal them and be proud like they did either. :T

Welshlassie wrote: »

Where/how do people store all their threads and material when not in use? Obviously kits are quite easy to store, but what about individual stuff. DH won't let me buy anymore kits, but I could probably get away with individual threads, patterns and materials occasionally.

humm, well lassie, my books are in the book case, my threads are in an M&S scottie dog shortbread tin, by aidea is in a cuboard and my mags are currently all over the living room floor! :rotfl: (i was looking for a teacup chart i thought i'd seen for witchwoopiggy).

witchwoopiggy - have a nice time away... :wave:

louise - i did it!!! :j i unpicked that dratted reindeer leg! and restitched it in the right place! still not finished but now back on track. thanks!!

shelly

Welshlassie wrote: »

Where/how do people store all their threads and material when not in use? Obviously kits are quite easy to store, but what about individual stuff. DH won't let me buy anymore kits, but I could probably get away with individual threads, patterns and materials occasionally.

I don't have much spare fabric but what I do have is just folded up, put in a paperbag and stored in the bottom of my stash box (footstool that goes with the sofa)
My threads are stored individually in small zip lock bags (bought these very cheaply off ebay) with a slip of paper inside stating brand and code number. Then the zip lock bogs of thread are stored in a large square pencil case type thing from the poundshop.
I keep my charts in a plastic wallet, also in the bottom of the stash box.