Cross Stitch Cafe......where your "to do" list gets longer by the day

chickywiggle

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Well I continue to be amazed/baffled by the weather. I have got home this evening, made a hot water bottle, put the heating on ( +1) and stuck my thick jumper on. Was it my imagination that on Monday afternoon I was sat out in the sun drinking rose wine/enjoying a bbq.. ??

So I thought I would set another poll. When it comes to buying stash, whats important? Is it speed of delivery (sew and so for example) or price (eg a cross town stitching). Would you wait to receive something (say a week + ) if you knew it would cost you less and is loyalty important? Do you feel you would spend more/stick with one retailer if they offered an incentive - i.e. points/regular discount e-mails etc?

I think we maybe did dream the hot weather - horrible cold wind and rain here today.


I tend to vote with price. HOWEVER saying that if something is a few pence cheaper with a reliable retailer/ someone I've used before I tend to go with that.
Also if using ebay (which i tend to do then stars/ feedback are important. I bought an item on Tuesday and paid 10p more because the cheaper of the 2 only had 1 feedback and obviously new on the scene.

Regular discounts/ loyalty's would be nice, but not if they charge twice as much.

Also website accessability is important. I think it's across town that has the most awful website to navigate so i switch straight off it. (but have used their ebay site before)

*Louise*

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Hi Louise :wave: picked up your stitching yet ?

ps poll for today - would you ever stitch for a magazine (for money of course!) (I wonder how much they pay) and would you only stitch designs you liked or stitch anything even if you hated it? What do you think the backs of these stitches are like (that we see in mags) :rotfl:

I'm about to pick it up as soon as I've caught up on here

If I was to stitch for a magazine, I could only do a design I liked, otherwise it would become a UFO. :oAnd I would make extra effort to have the back neat and tidy, knowing someone else was going to look at it.

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Well I continue to be amazed/baffled by the weather. I have got home this evening, made a hot water bottle, put the heating on ( +1) and stuck my thick jumper on. Was it my imagination that on Monday afternoon I was sat out in the sun drinking rose wine/enjoying a bbq.. ??

It has been interesting reading your replies about whether you would like to stitch for a magazine. Everyone seems to be in the "no" camp. I don't think I would like to stitch for a magazine either. It would take the enjoyment out of stitching for me, knowing it was not something I had picked and that there was a deadline. I imagine the mags have quite high standards too....

So I would like to think I will do some stitching this evening although I fear this is unlikely. I'm looking forward to Secret Eaters at 8pm. I might try to do some stitching during this as the ads/the faff annoy me.

So I thought I would set another poll. When it comes to buying stash, whats important? Is it speed of delivery (sew and so for example) or price (eg a cross town stitching). Would you wait to receive something (say a week + ) if you knew it would cost you less and is loyalty important? Do you feel you would spend more/stick with one retailer if they offered an incentive - i.e. points/regular discount e-mails etc?

The weather is much the same here - Tuesday was glorious. I stuck the heating back on earlier tonight. Thankfully we got all the fencing and planting done on Tuesday

I watched Secret Eaters...that programme just makes me want chocolate.... :rotfl::o:rotfl:

For stash...it depends what I'm buying. If I'm desperate to get something I will use sewandso and pay the price. If it's just for stash that I need in the future I don't mind using a slow delivery place like cross stitch heaven.

In general I will start with across town and If they don't have what I'm looking for then I will branch out, but I always check my regular sites first.

Flat_Eric

Well I didn't manage any stitching last night and I only watched some of secret eaters as I fell asleep ! must try harder !

winniepooh

I fell asleep early too. Felt absolutely dreadful. ...headache, sore throat and a nose like a tap. I swear its because the weather is all over the place.

flowerofscotland

Interesting questions FE
I wouldn't want to stitch for a magazine because that would be turning my favourite way of relaxing into a job. I already have a job with lots of deadlines and pressure and need my stitching to unwind
From what I've read the pay isn't very good and the standards are high. I believe you have submit examples of your work before being given any work. I've looked closely at quite a few stitched models in shops and at shows and the standard of stitching is high
But I can see that it wild suit some people

When buying stash the priorities for me are usually price, reliability and then speed of delivery. Of course sometimes speed is the most important but rarely for me as I have amassed a lot of stash over the years. When I started xs again in the early 90's I bought a lot from the USA because what I liked wasn't easily available here so I suppose I became accustomed to waiting for orders to arrive

Another cold wet and windy day here So different from lat week!

flowerofscotland

ocemeer wrote: »

[IMG]http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/<a href=http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/little_red_gecko/media/X-STITCH WIP/041.jpg.html target=_blank>[/img]http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/little_red_gecko/media/X-STITCH%20WIP/041.jpg.html

My latest stitch - I think I am just putting off other projects but needed to get my mojo back and the MP bookmark is at the complicated stage - oodles of blended then BS.
Now I need to crack on with something WTP for a friends baby before its born in August..... not got a clue what to do, maybe a few bibs or waste canvas on some sleepsuits.
I have no kids so not sure what a new mum would appreicate?

PS I give up with trying to get the photos to work apologies I'll get DH to explain what I am doing wrong sometime

Just my opinion but I would do a small birth sampler You can stitch the picture in advance and just add baby's details after the birth. Many will fit a standard photo frame. This makes a unique present which can be displayed for years whereas sleep suits etc only last for weeks

Or something like this photo and stitching frame
http://http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/Winnie-Picture-Frame__DMC-RL137-fslsh-70.aspx
Every new parent I know loves to display photos of the new arrival

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
watched a bit of the horder next door last night, i just felt so sad for that little old lady
cracking on well with poppy cushion ive jusr got the band left along the top edge and ive done all of the greens on that - just the little background poppy heads to go.

not looking quite so windy here today and sun seems to be out which is always a bonus, busy weekend so not sure how much stitching ill get done, school fun day and DS1 has his first gig at a local pub so well have to go and suport him with that. dont think it will be entirely acceptable to sit in the corner stitching while hes singing will it?

hope everyone has a lovely weekend

re the paid for stitching, i once did knitting for a designer boutique really complicated styles cables fancy stitches knitting in cotton etc. really tight deadlines and workin for peanuts, DH worked out after the first couple i was being paid about 15p an hour!!!!!! he told he hed give me extra money to stop and if i accepted another pack off them he would take it in the garden and burn it LOL. i often wondered what they sold for i got about £8 for knitting and sewing up.

tellmeitsfriday

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

re the paid for stitching, i once did knitting for a designer boutique really complicated styles cables fancy stitches knitting in cotton etc. really tight deadlines and workin for peanuts, DH worked out after the first couple i was being paid about 15p an hour!!!!!! he told he hed give me extra money to stop and if i accepted another pack off them he would take it in the garden and burn it LOL. i often wondered what they sold for i got about £8 for knitting and sewing up.

How rude!!

mrs-moneypenny

should add it was about 26 years ago when we had our first,, but £8 still wasnt a lot of money then.
the worst one was when i turned a cable the wrong way and didnt notice till i was going to sew it up i had to pull about 5 inches down from one shoulder to redo it. thankfully it was a V neck and i'd done it above the divide. now i knit to give away or for myself. i dont think id ever do it paid again.
i will knit if people ask me but only if i like them;)

shelly

Hi ladies.

FOS. Very nice finishes, I especially like the birthday card/coaster.

nmm. Cute teddy, look forward to an update pic.

FE. In answer to your poll questions....
I'd probably stitch anything if the price was right! Though if I had a tight deadline I'd be stuffed because we have all seen the leisurely pace at which I stitch :rotfl:

When it comes to buying stash, it's price, retailer reliability and customer service all combined that I look for. I usually try acrosstown first to set my price to aim for then I will go to sewandso then I will do a general google. If I found a site doing a good deal but had never dealt with them I'd ask here in the Cafe if anyone could recommend them. I will buy from ebay too if the feedback looks good.

Soulie. Thanks for the update. Sending positive thoughts and best wishes