Cross Stitch Cafe 2016 - Spend Less and Stitch More

Elizabeth_Braun

Hmmmm, purples - yum! My favourite colour too. Loving your new start, nmm!

blue_eyed_girl

Lovely finish mrs ceejay :T:T


Had a bit of culture on Monday and visited an exhibition called Plots and Spangles which showed the needlework of Helena Wintour (daughter of Gunpowder Plot conspirator Robert Wintour. She dedicated her life to creating these beautiful vestments. I will certainly look at my humble cross-stitch 'masterpieces' in a new light. :rotfl:

http://www.aucklandcastle.org/events/show/plots-and-spangles


New WOCS mag arrived today and I was hoping to be inspired - sadly this didn't happen .



b_e_g

Elizabeth_Braun

I know what you mean blue eyed gal. It's at times like those when we see the gaping difference between the dedicated, consummate professional and the enthusiastic hobbyist. I do all manner of styles and work and sometimes get well OTT compliments on it, but I've seen enough to keep a realistic view of my abilities.....:p

I also agree about WOCS (although I appreciated being their Blogger of The Month back in February ). Most XS mags no longer do it for me. I find the designs too 'simple', not realistic enough. I like the quarterly Ultimate ones and have 3 of that type - 2 on wildlife and scenery and 1 orientals. Anyone else into those?

blue_eyed_girl

I think you're probably right Elizabeth - it could be the fact that most of the designs are quite basic really that puts me off. I keep buying them in the hope that one day you never know there will be something that appeals.

Will have to look up Ultimate mag and see if I can come across any extra hours going cheap that I could allocate to cross-stitching .

Enjoy the weekend everyone. From what I can gather this lovely weather that we have had this week will be disappearing tomorrow .


b_e_g

Mrs_ceejay

Agree with you all on the mags,I bought them every month with out fail,loved them,now a quick glance while in newspaper shop,haven't bought one in an age.they all seem the same,
I haven't seen the Ultimate mag,the oriental sounds good,will try and find it next time I go to Nottingham.
I have found an old,very old mag with an old fashioned map of the world which has taken my fancy,got all the threads and enough aida,but I like working on linen,decisions!decisions!!
Have a good weekend and good stitching

Mrs_ceejay

B.E.G
Just had a look at the exhibition,aren't they gorgeous,all one women's work,the colours are still good,the pearls stitching,and so many,it must have been worth a kings ransom in those day,a life's work indeed
Wished we lived nearer,certain worth a visit

blue_eyed_girl

Mrs_ceejay wrote: »

B.E.G
Just had a look at the exhibition,aren't they gorgeous,all one women's work,the colours are still good,the pearls stitching,and so many,it must have been worth a kings ransom in those day,a life's work indeed
Wished we lived nearer,certain worth a visit

It was incredible Mrs ceejay. The exhibition has been running since October and should have finished a couple of weeks ago but has been extended for a couple of weeks (ends at weekend) so that it catches people going to a large food and craft festival we have on. Would have been such a shame to have missed especially when it was less than 5 miles away from us.



b_e_g

Elizabeth_Braun

Mrs ceejay: The oriental designs magazine was last spring, so you won't find it in the shops now. You could probably get it on eBay though, search ultimate cross stitch oriental.

I hope the mags do improve, blue eyes, but I'm not buying stuff I'm not going to use.

Coxy11

Hi everyone,


Having broadband issues at home, so I'm on quickly at work


Spent the weekend decorating the spare room. It was our son's room until we had an extension a few years ago - battleship grey with black curtains. Can now confirm it is a lovely pale pink with a roller blind from Dunelm Mill with a blue background and pink flowers. Very girly. Anyway I digress, this room is where my wardrobe and chest of drawers is, but also my craft stash. I spent yesterday sorting through bits and bobs and tidying up. Also wound the last of the DMC threads I bought in America last year onto the bobbins.


I managed a few hours cross stitch yesterday on Collecting Shells. Feels good to be stitching again after a break. Things at home are a little stressful as DH can't get online to job search aaargh! Engineer now coming on Wednesday (was meant to be tomorrow but S*y having system issues and our appointment got messed up - go figure).


Have a good day all,
Coxy

nmm

Hi guys, been busy lately so not caught up with the thread but wanted to post my latest update on Butterfly and Blooms. I promise to read it all tomorrow, its quiet Tuesday here