Cross Stitch Cafe 2011

23rdspiral

ejs2311 wrote: »

23rd Spiral - you weren't on a stall at Rode Hall Farmers Market at the weekend were you!?!? I remember speaking to a girl with a needle and thread tattooed on her arm!!!

nope not me i'm afraid. my tattooist had been tattooing for donkeys years here and in the USA and had never done one before, and i've not seen another in real life. though i guess with the rise of craft they are becomming more popular.

here's a pic i took today, just for you lovely lot (and when i'm old and wrinkly the pic will be nice to have to remind me what it was! lol!!)




if anyone's interested here's a pic just a few moments old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23rdspiral/5821295849/in/photostream/

and here's one of it being done (it's not gory because it wasn't!) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23rdspiral/5821294327/in/photostream/

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I think that even when we don't get time to do our own stitching, visiting the cafe and seeing pics of other members work and all the talk of cross stitch soon gives us a much needed "cross stitch fix" and has us rushing for our needles at the earliest opportunity....

I would also like to finally say that cross stitching for me helps keep the depression demons at bay and the cafe helps enormously with this so thank you one and all :smileyhea

ditto and ditto

catchooky wrote: »

gutted, every time i see one of these fab books, ie joan elliott, they run out will beg Smiths to check again for me tomoz xx

i've a voucher for WHSmiths, so might get 2 copies if i can... one for me and one to pass on at cost price... if anyone needs one...

sorry, forgot to say HELLO! to the newbies, Trying to be Old Style and Trying Hard... I'm gonna have to try hard not to muddle you up!

Flat_Eric

nykied wrote: »

Oh, I'll close my listing then now, if it offends you

I went to WHS this morning and got a copy. After I'd super-cleaned the kitchen, the bathroom, done 2 loads of washing, taken my boyfriend's car to the garage and taken a TV to the tip

Oh no I'm not offended - if I had the time and the patience (and the funds), I'd buy half a dozen copies and list them but I got put off selling on ebay when an item I sold (a cross stitch mag with free margaret sherry collection booklet funny enough) was sold but the buyer *claimed* not to have received it. I'm not sure what made me suspicious but after immediately refunding her I had my doubts. I had sent the item recorded delivery but it was forever listed as waiting to be delivered. On this though, I have had recorded delivery items shoved through my door before so the postie hasn't bothered to knock for a signature. Anyway waffling. long and short of it was I set up a search for the item for her postcode and lo and behold, said item came up for sale albeit she had a different username so that put me off and i can't be bothered with all the faff with photos, listings etc then its money to list it, money to paypal to get your dosh etc so actually £29.99 by the time you have allowed for all the expenditure and the hassle, there is not much money to be made.

I haven't managed any stitching today nor did I go into town. Is the new issue of Cross Stitch Gold out by the way ? I know the new issue of Cross Stitch Collection is - there are four cats on the front I think ? if you have this mag, can you tell me who the designer is and is the mag worth buying ? is there a tiger design in this issue or am I imagining this ?

I've had a browse of the margaret sherry bookazine and I think the first thing I would like to stitch will be the mouse gift tags on page 120. It calls for rustic evenweave - I don't have this and can't see the same on sew and so. what do you think would look good instead ?

although following a tidy up today :T (including sorting all my socks into pairs :rotfl:), I found the other Margaret Sherry book I've got and I'm thinking of stitching the archie bear with the accompanying text "chocolate makes my clothes shrink"

chickywiggle

ohh 23rdspiral i LOVEEEE that tatoo - wish i had the guts ti get one - i've always wanted a butterfly in that 'hole' at the bottom of your spine above your bum (if you know where i mean).... but despite having been stabbed with needles twice a week for months with tinywiggle i can't stand the thought of them doing that to me.

:hello::hello: tryingtobeoldstyle (will PM you back when i get a min) and trying hard... can't wait to see some pics of your UFO's.

Just given in to hubby and blown £350 in a PS3+ accessories (including the move pack and a couple of games for ME ME ME) :T so now he HAS to be on best behaviour and carry on not smoking or I've told him he will be getting a divorce.

I've made a note of new people to add to the list and will get round to it...... promise!! ohhh perhaps i outta update my sig as it's now june not april.

nykied

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Oh no I'm not offended - if I had the time and the patience (and the funds), I'd buy half a dozen copies and list them

I haven't listed one, I was just claiming to have listed that one for £29.99

I think it's ridiculous, when it's only just out yesterday for a third of the price. Mind you, when I upgraded my mobile contract years ago, I got the same phone I had already but in black and I liked the silver one, so I listed the black new one on ebay and it went for more than the buyer would have paid had they gone into Tesco and bought it :eek:

Flat_Eric

talking of Margaret Sherry, I have just found this on sewandso....
http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/Charlie-Alphabet---Yellow__HER-CFCAY869.aspx

Marru

My wonderful BF went to day to Smiths while I was at work and got me the MS thingy :j I am definitely going to do some of the cats to my mum (and for me).

Oh and using cross stitch to rein the black dog in seems to be a bit of a trend. Before coming to this thread I used to spend time in the cutting down, quitting alcohol thread as I was self medicating which wasn't very smart. Cross stitch works so much better. However no cross stitching for me tonight. Must stitch some batches on DD's beaver uniform.

nmm

23rdspiral, completely off topic noticed your sig about broken £ sign, as an alternative you can press Alt and 0163 (on the numpad)

blue_eyed_girl

Just put stitching to bed for the night. Came to a bit where there is quite a lot of white on antique white aida - not good at this time of night when the old eyes are starting to go (tired). However have managed two spells of stitching today :j:j

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

Happy Stitching

chickywiggle

ok girlies......... tis lengthy but I think I have summed up the thoughts/ ethos.
I am going to put a note with it to tell them to pick and choose what they like for it as I wouldhate for it to be completly me.

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1) When did you set up the group and why did you decide on a virtual club rather than a real-life club? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I cannot take the credit for this; it was set up by another member (who has since discovered a love for a different craft so no longer comes to the ‘caf!’ back in May 2008. Having been a stitcher for about 8 years wanted to talk to likeminded people. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The original group [/FONT][FONT=&quot]took off to such an extent that in June 2009 another member opened a new ‘branch’ the UFO (Un-Finished Objects) group, with the aim of encouraging people “to get those part kits and projects finished "before" we part with any more cash for nice new things to do”. To help each other out members were encouraged to post pictures of their UFO’s along with weekly/ monthly updates as to how we are getting on. I joined in September 2009, and opened the new refurbished caf! in time for January 2010. By November 2010 we had 55 regular members and, as it now turns out, a few people lurking in the shadows, reading and cracking on with their projects but feeling too shy to post. Some of these people have since come to join us and at the last count the 2011 caf! has nearer 70 posters.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The virtual caf! is ideal, as many of us found there were no stitching groups local to us. Combine that with our life choices (children, caring for a loved one, working shifts) or simply being too shy to attend ‘real’ meetings and you have the perfect setting for a group.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What the members have to say:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“One of the benefits of an online club is that we can come and visit whenever we feel like it, need to vent, cry or want to show off[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. We don't have to set aside a specific time, which would stop me attending a 'real' club to be honest, and we don't have to wait a week/month to visit again. On an MSE side, we can share news about sales the minute we find out about it! We have members from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, maybe more so than you would get in a 'real' club. Also because we don't actually 'know' each other we can talk about things that you maybe wouldn't say in person.” (Vickietm)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Everyone was very friendly so I wasn't afraid to ask 'silly' beginner questions (23rdspiral)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Even with local friends who stitched I found it hard to meet up with them as we all have our separate lives and families to try to fit in that a weekly or monthly meeting was virtually impossible. Online we can all come and go when we are free and catch up with what others are doing when we have the free time. (mummyclaire)[/FONT]

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2) How did you begin recruiting members? [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We don’t set out to recruit members. The way MSE works is the threads are searchable by keyword or rise to the top of their section list every time someone posts, this means people who haven’t seen it before spot it and join in. You can subscribe so whenever someone posts it lets you know. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Many of the members have their monthly challenge they have set themselves in their ‘signature’ – people read these and if they want to know more will either message the person to find out how to get involved or search for the thread. There are also a few members who have joined because they have had it recommended to them from another forum/ facebook or a ‘real life’ friend/ relative.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What the members say:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We all gravitate towards the words 'Cross stitch' because we are addicts [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot] Also, a lot of people have details about our thread in their signatures so when posting on other parts of the board other posters will notice and perhaps join us. (*louise*)[/FONT]
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I joined when I was looking for something to fill a hole in September 2009 and everyone was so kind and cared. (bubbles911)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A real life friend of a friend had shown me some of her stitching and I was I interested but didn't know her well enough to ask her how to start. When reading up on frugal cooking tips I saw someone had the Cross Stitch Cafe in their signature so I went looking for it. (23rdspiral)[/FONT]



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3) What's the age range of your members and are you all UK based?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We range from early 20’s to around 50 years of age (well those that admit it……)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Most are UK based. Although the person who formed the original group was based in Germany and we have had a few from other parts of the world stop by for a coffee over the years. It’s always lovely when someone joins and you can say “ohhh I have a friend there”, “oh I went to primary school there does Mrs X still run the corner shop?” and my personal favourite over the years “ohh I’m going on holiday there next week is it nice and sunny, where’s the best pub?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] We have had a lot of people going on holiday or weekends away in certain parts of the UK just to visit a stitching stop on the say so of another member due to the welcoming nature and fantastic prices of the shop owner.[/FONT]
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4) Any funny/uplifting stories you can share with us? [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We have had so many happy stories: helping people through bouts of depression, weddings, and new babies. Unfortunately there have recently been a few not so happy times which are a bit too close and fresh in people’s minds to discuss publicly. I think I speak for the whole caf! when a member’s loss affects us just as much as if we were there in ‘real life’. Sometime you just want to be able to reach out and give someone a hug and make them a proper cup of tea.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We recently discussed our longest UFO’s to date….I believe ejs2311 won this competition after admitting she started her ‘Titanic’ piece back when she was 19. After leaving it lurking in her cupboard destined to never see the light of day again she was spurred on at the age of 31 to finish it off thanks to encouragement from the group.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]At the end of the day we all agree 23rdspiral sums the ethos up in her view that “stitching is good for the soul.” So much so that we could never disband as she has “actually had my needle and thread tattooed on my arm! it's my 'permanent post-it note' that says to me 'if in doubt, sew'”[/FONT]
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pic of tattoo included here

[FONT=&quot]What the members say:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Every time someone puts up a link to a special offer or sale and begins their post with 'I know it's not technically Moneysaving BUT'.........[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (you can’t help but look at the link they have sent)

Also, everyone is so willing to help each other out. If someone needs to find a chart, MSE is a better place to start than Google. Many posters have sent threads to people who have ran out a few stitches short, sent spare materials to someone who is just starting out and everyone has shared countless tips and tricks (*louise*)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Bearing in mind I'm fairly new I just want to add that this forum has given me the encouragement to start stitching again. I used to stitch with my mum but sadly she died suddenly 5 and a half years ago. I inherited her kits and half finished pieces of work as well as having my own. Unfortunately, I didn't have the enthusiasm to actually do any stitching.

I stumbled across the cafe earlier this year and took the plunge to join and have posted quite a few times since. Since joining I have completed my oldest UFO - the Mother & Baby, which I started about 13 years ago and I am very proud of. I have also finished several cards, I'm nearly finished a house warming gift for my nephew and also I am so organised now that I am almost finished a wedding sampler which isn't needed until June 2013. (Ailsb)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I agree with everything that has been said I found the group just after I had my still born and picked up a needle for the first time in years to keep myself busy I never told anyone at the beginning what I was going through but just coming on and seeing what everyone was up to helped allot. (maria and the imps)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]When Chickywiggle announced her pregnancy we were all very pleased for her. This immediately meant we named 'tinywiggle' our next newest cafe member... even though he was a long time off being born! Of course, when he finally arrived we all gathered round like any group of excited and delighted friends eagerly awaiting news and photos. (23rdspiral)[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]5) You mentioned the quilt joint stitch project which sadly went missing... Will you do any more joint projects do you think? And what would you do with the finished article? [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We loved the quilt project (I would be ever so grateful if you could give public thanks to Sew&So (www.sewandso.co.uk) for their kind donations towards this as without them it would never have got off the ground.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We have never really discussed doing a joint project again after this all went sadly wrong but this article has brought us about discussing it again. While many of the members are still wary of participating again it would be lovely to feel we could help someone somewhere especially given some of the situations people have found themselves in recently where if it hadn’t been for certain organisations being around they may have found life much harder, or not be here to continue to tell their tale.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The verdict is that we are considering stitching solo projects during the next year; either a work we would not normally stitch, a piece by our favourite designer, or something we simply enjoy doing. Once done these finished pieces will be auctioned or sold off to raise the money to donate. The benefits of this are that:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1) [/FONT][FONT=&quot] we can all dig into our own ‘stashes’ and use leftover aida/ threads/ charts/ kits without the need to request donations. For our members with smaller stashes the group will rally round as we always do to ensure they have everything they need. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Stitches of all levels can participate….from a basic card to a Heaven and Earth Design there is something for everyone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]With a year to complete a piece in there is no pressure to finish it quickly which can be off-putting to busy members.[/FONT]

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6) Are there any plans to ever meet up in real life? [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It would be lovely to meet up and have a “stitching retreat” as ‘postingalwaysposting’ suggests. Unfortunately the logistics of this with so many members spread so far apart is quite slim. It would be amazing to be able to say one day that a hotel chain has offered us free use of their facilities overnight for a weekend so anyone who could make it could just turn up (as we never know what life will throw at us to book anything in advance).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A couple of members recently met at a stitching show when one person had a free ticket available but sadly for many of us facebook is a close to putting a face to a name as we will get. Perhaps next year we will have a larger (or 3 or 4 smaller) gatherings in various parts of the UK at stitching shows.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What our members say:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The benefits of online rather than real life are that we can talk about things "privately". Although any one can read it, no one actually knows who I am.
I am sure that now we all "know" each other, we'd get on stunningly in real life, but we'd never have "met" up in other circumstances. We could meet - it would be nice, but would slightly defeat the anonymity of the club. (tellmeitsfriday)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I know I have now made new friends and we are on facebook now (sweetcarer)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I would love to in future but not ready to travel yet. I would be scared to really as my expectations would be so high! (bubbles911)[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]
7) What are the benefits of being part of an online club over a real-life club?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The club is completely anonymous - although we all know so much about each other (for me I have told people things on the thread that my ‘real life’ friends don’t know about me) you could bump into them in the local store and not know who they are.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The members agree they like the fact you can pop in whenever you feel like it, there is no set time you have to set aside, you can read up on what someone is doing while sat at work, sat on the sofa in your PJ’s, crashed in bed feeding a baby at 3 in the morning or relaxing in the bath and nobody knows, or cares, what you look like….where could you get away with that in ‘real life’??[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]You can get instant quick responses and pass on information the minute you find out about it. How often have you wanted a chart by yesterday and couldn’t find it anywhere….post on here and there will be someone around soon to let you know they have it. Whenever someone gets notification of an online sale they can post it straight away so members can grab the best bargains as soon as possible.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What our members say:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Benefit for me is to share the enthusiasm with other likeminded people, to see other people's work. For example I wouldn't have known about Woodland Folks if it hadn't been for PAP. And it speeds up the needle for me to get a bit more done for my next update. (Marru)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Also this site is here 24/7 so we can visit the cafe day and night to ask questions, share info or just give advice. We can log on even when poorly because no-one is going to catch our germs. (shelly)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Real life clubs could be only once a week. We are here every day, all day, anyone can pop in when they have time, they can leave messages in the dead of night if they can't sleep, it's 100% flexible (*louise*)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I like the face that geography isn't an issue for us, nor are time constraints. We all help each other and you're welcome here whether you stitch every day or not. And you don't always have to talk about cross stitch (nykied)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]That we are all here for each other no matter what - we share good news and bad news - just to know there is someone out there for you. (sweetcarer)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]You meet people from all over the country or abroad, it’s varied ages with lots of different personalities and situations. Also, it gives me the confidence to say things I couldn’t to anyone else, my family used to ask how I felt all the time but how do you tell them you don't want to be here? Because this place was online it was easier to type how I felt and I could never share how I felt at a normal club. Between here and Bridge (Registered Charity no. (England) 802227, www.bridgementalhealth.org) I found the will to live again. (bubbles911)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I would say that the cafe gives me confidence to say what I want to and I personally would be reluctant to go to a 'real' group as I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to meeting new people. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Also here I don't feel embarrassed to show you my teeny weenie little projects. If we were non-virtual there is no way I would turn up with a 4" sq stitched piece when others turn up with their HAED ones lol!!! (observer)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]One of the many reasons this cafe is successful is the fact its open 24/7 - I mean how many cafes open this early on a morning?? (blue_eyed_girl….posting at 6.40am)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Incidentally I would never ever have dared to join an actual group for many reasons - quite shy (yes really) and I would have been afraid that my 'masterpieces' were not up to standard (blue_eyed_girl)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]its open 24/7, you can give only as much as of your time and your-self as you choose, it doesn't have any fees, and doesn’t cost any money to travel to.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After a bad day a work, with the boiler playing up so I can't shower, I'm looking and feeling like a wreck but I can still visit the cafe and no-body minds (or knows!) (23rdspiral)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Its great being able to post a stitching query and get half a dozen replies/tips/advice. I love seeing other members work and watching the designs progress. I would like to think that I could share anything with you all and sometimes I almost want to hug my laptop when reading other members posts to send my virtual hug on its way [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I think that even when we don't get time to do our own stitching, visiting the cafe and seeing pics of other members work and all the talk of cross stitch soon gives us a much needed "cross stitch fix" and has us rushing for our needles at the earliest opportunity....

I would also like to finally say that cross stitching for me helps keep the depression demons at bay and the cafe helps enormously with this (flat eric)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]we can just pop in and out to catch up with what each other is doing to fit in with our own daily routines. e.g. after work, once children are in bed, etc. and we don't need to find someone to look after the children. or have travel expenses trying to get to somewhere to meet up if we don't have cars. (mummyclaire)[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]
8) Can you sum up the ethos of the club for me in 3 words?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For me it’s “supportive stitching friends”[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For other members of the group:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Moneysaving Stitching Experts (*louise*)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]supportive, friendly, helpful (maria and the imps)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]friendship, kindness and fun (sweetcarer)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Support, stitching-addicts, FRIENDSHIP! (bubbles911)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]friendly, supportive and non-judgemental (ejs2311)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]friendly, thrifty, stitch (23rdspiral)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]special stitching friends (flat eric)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Encouraging, diverse and dangerous! (to the pocket!) (keiss21)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Fun, Social, Interesting (mummyclaire)[/FONT]
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[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Stitching stories and pictures[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]23rdspiral’s latest project was a wedding sampler for her cousin. It was very ambitious for her as although she used a butterfly and heart border from a chart in a book, the given wording was a humorous jibe at men always being right. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]With advice from the girls in the caf! she found the confidence to decide upon and chart the backstitch words, and even design several of the very twiddly letters herself as they weren't in the original text. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The sampler was the first piece she'd ever properly framed and as she recall’s “it was the day before the wedding and I was distraught to realise my fianc! had gone to work with key to the shed, with the double sided tape locked inside, but I knew I could get help here... within minutes of posting my plea alternative suggestions had been given - from odd places I could get tape out of hours, to how to lace it up instead. This could not have happened without the club being available to members online 24/7. This may be a little thing to some, but the reassurance I received meant that I didn’t panic and my wedding gift was finished in time. I was so proud to give it to the bride, but her thanks can't only be for me... credit needs to go to the girls in the Cross Stitch Cafe too. “[/FONT]

hopefully pic of the finished bit here

[FONT=&quot]*Louise* started her ‘Vision at the Lake’ (a Heaven and Earth Design) in 2009 after falling into the trap of looking on a suggested website. The caf! watched this come to life on the forum with her weekly update. The design was approx 36" wide and 21" high with 120,000 stitches in total and took her just 7 months to complete (stitching a small bit each day). *Louise* says that it when the going got tough, or the eyes went funny, it was the “support and encouragement from people on here that kept me motivated to finish it.” This project is one example as to why the virtual caf! works better then a ‘real-life’ one…. I don’t think *Louise* would fancy transporting this + lap frame + threads etc to a meeting every week on the bus (besides the travelling would take away valuable stitching time).[/FONT]
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vision at the lake pic (yes i was able to grab it off the thread)

[FONT=&quot]Sweetcarer’s proudest piece of work was her floral alphabet. She started this when her late hubby was around as he had bought it for her. Unfortunately after his death she left it abandoned in the shed not wanting to finish it because of the memories it held. After hearing of this on the forum we encouraged her to wash it (it was very dirty and had rust marks after 5 years in the shed) and crack on with it. [/FONT]

floral alphabet (yes i was able to grab it off the thread)

chickywiggle

ohh and I don't think we ever agreed on a charity for the quilt so (assuming the magazine send me the kits they had advertised as the prize for appearing) is everyone happy for us to go with 'bridge' as per bubbles suggestion for the 'prize' to be auctioned for??

What would people prefer.....do you want me to:
a) send them the kits and tell them to 'do what they wish'
b) ebay em and see what they make
c) compose a list of what we get, scour the internet for the best current selling price, then post a list here of what there is with a reduced price (say 20%-25% cheaper then best online and sell them on a first come first saved basis then do (b) or (a) with any leftovers.
d) something else...........what??


personally I like (c).......but only incase I see something i like in there


ohhh and have updated the member numbers.....haven't I been a busy bee.....but on that note hubby has switched the PS3 on so i think i will abandon him with tinywiggle and go to bed.