Pics and SALs

Yep, I'm quite sure I've been remiss and a bit absent.  Busy, busy, mostly in the personal sense..not so much in the stitching or business sense.   Probably will be still hustling a bit over the next couple months. Trying to get an organized routine down---as helpful as it is hurtful!!

Anyway, so a burst of the other last pics of 2012 that I didn't get out here.  Top is Fractal 76 from Cross Stitch Collectibles, 1x1 on 28ct white.  Then SK Blossoms, SPML, HAED, 2x1 on 18ct white.  Letter R, Selina Fenech, HAED, 2x1 18ct white(sparklies are Kreinik #4 braid 1/2 only 2 strands).  And Forgiveness, Galbreth, HAED, 1x1 on 28ct white.

Other than that, main progress has been starting the HAED SAL, Mystic Garden, 1x1 on rose 25ct.  And a FB SAL, with a Tilton Crafts one, Vermilion Paradise 1x1 on 28ct white.  I had thought I was moving right along on QS Pale Rose, too....but messed up on it pretty good I guess while I was sick, so I tossed that--we just won't talk about that one right now.  At least I do want to restart it.

Another WIP Pic

Hmm, poking around at my pics on the desktop, I found this other pic of SK Blossoms.  It's older, from last year, but I don't think I uploaded it here. Hmm, maybe I did...but it was a while ago.  I've done a nice bit finally, in the last few months, so it's farther along, but this should tide you over for a little while.  Amazing how difficult some of these confetti spots can be.

I am getting antsy.  I still have to break my day down into very small bits.  I do make a mental list, now that I can get away from having to write on paper there for a while......so at least I do have goals and errands in a clear light, of what needs to get done.  I just can't get it all done, by far.  I am the XMAS tree decorator, for example.........but even with the tree assembled and the ornaments out and unwrapped, it took me 3 days(one day off in the middle, too sore) to do lights, garland and a few ornaments, in between a few other errands out of the house.


I will be looking forward to some serious stitching pretty soon.  I got my first charts ordered from Tilton Crafts, too.  More of the same, unsual and interesting charts. You guys may have to help me figure out which one to start first!

HAED, and just an update here

So, I've seen all the buzz lately about HAED having a tough time keeping their doors open, and Appreciation Week Sep 10-14.  Nice, but I don't know why it took so long for people to pick up on this/panic.  I know I've been hearing they've been having real trouble, for I dunno...the last year??  My timeline is screwy, don't ask me.....it's probably been even longer.  Just sayin'.  Nothing mean-spirited in that, kudos really for people stepping up(although I think that has probably become a headache to handle as well, in itself)....just wondering why it took so long for other folks to notice--and no, I'm not some secret insider.  I know it would be an absolute shame if they couldn't continue, same owners or not; this stitching and art brings such a joy to people.

Anyway, yep, I've been MIA for far toooooo long. I've been tied up with this medical stuff for the better part of this entire year so far, and nearly nothing else.  I'm a bit tired of it, but I'm trying not to think about it.  It's been life altering, in nearly every facet, some of which I am really not liking at the moment. And, generally speaking, it seems like I am starting over....at nearly everything.  Physically, I don't have a lot of strength either, so I am juggling multiple things, at a pace that is even making me pretty impatient, have to go really slow.

My stitching site? Still in the works.  With the medical issues, as I heal, that is one of the few things I should be able to do and would be good for me.  The continual slow track, I'll need something to keep me busy.  I just don't think it would be ready, or wise, to open anything before at least Jan 1....I'm not in shape for XMAS, etc.  I have only started stitching again in the last week or so. Bits and pieces on October Birthstone, the blue fractal, SK Blossoms, even Summer (Mucha) and such... Did I mention I was in on the 2012 SAL?  SK Blue Moon, gridded, but nary a stitch.....blah.

Some Progress, Pics, Order?

Ok, so some pictures finally. The weather is a little weird here, not that it usually means much....but good for any picture taking is hit and miss. I was hoping to have one more picture, but maybe in a few days. Anyway, SK Treasures at the bottom, not a lot of stitching. Once again, not sure I will finish it--I have sooo many other things going on (and for pay) that it may get put away for quite some time. SK Blossoms in the middle, tried to adjust the colors, but still not quite it. I haven't worked on it in the last week or so at all, but it's been coming along nicely; not as confetti heavy as I thought(top and bottom, middle is easier). And at the top, my blue fractal. Lightened that a little too, so you could see some detail better. That is what I have been working on the most right now. BAP for sure, but enjoying the big blocks of color, and a nice scattering of other colors as they come along. Really thinking I would like to get this finished in a reasonable amount of time.

No big progress on Summer, either, so no pic there. And I do have Forgiveness on the frame, so maybe I'll have something worth showing next month!

I've been resisting buying charts that are being retired. Really hard with Julie Fain, but I did not buy any and do not have any of hers. Now Drazenka Kimpel, that's another story. I did buy Purple Orchid already, so I am not totally distressed(still need the Anchor threads). That is on my bucket list, and probably my favorite on my bucket list. But I am very big into faces, bodies.....and I love her stuff. Most of it. Still torn over HAVE TO HAVE Breath & Lady of the Camellias . Luna was on the list for a while, but I think I can pass on that one. So, anybody up for an order? I need to place an order anyway, but I wasn't for sure planning before 11/15. I will not be getting extras, so if you want one, 15% off, plus shipping, prepaid on paypal---let me know!

And yes, I do need to place an order, soooon. I've been on the fence where I wanted to order my next ones, and it looks like it will be HAED, not sure I can manage an order from two places at once right now. So, next couple days on the retiring charts please. I specifically want to get some of the charts for the new site in the works. Frustrated that I don't hardly have those here. Some are BAP, too, wow.

I will be doing some updates and revisions to my info page(see link on left, to stitch), and the website itself. I may publish the full website soon, and just let it hang out for a couple of months, tweaking it, before being really ready at the start of the year. This includes a tiny bit higher pay amounts, and longer deadline times. Also, I hope to get/make a list of acceptable chart submissions, for the smaller sizes. Not talking about mini's--yet. But the SK, PAB, QS, small items, for those alternate misc projects, that I would like to see most. And some that just stitch up faster.

And the mini's. Whheee. Great idea for HAED. Little dismayed that it will all be about mini's now though. Working a BAP will be for old timers and stubborn......hey! that's me, all the way. The jury is out. I'll accept them in the Misc section of my new site, but am otherwise on the fence. And I don't know of anyone working both a full size and a matching mini, the exact same way, for a comparison. I wasn't thrilled with the mini mockups. More on that later. But certainly, more than nearly anyone anyway, I am all about FINISHES. Completed work. So, we'll see.

Basic FAQ for interested stitchers

So I've created a page, website..... for those thinking about stitching for me. There is a little more to add to it, but for now, the basic idea is up and rolling. I've had some interest already, (yes, interested enough to do it), and some other inquiries. At this point, there will not be a limit to how many can stitch. I may, however, have to restrict some categories, the smaller, easier ones. I have to have the BAP's worked on, and some variety--plenty with the options I've made. So it doesn't matter if I have 5 stitchers, or 15, or 50.....there's room. I will work on the sales end, as long as the product is available, and/or requested. (Of course, the longer you wait, the longer it will take!! And this is definitely the slow race.) Stitch For Me

Anyway, I've been trying to stitch. Bad timing, just getting hard with the holidays and end of year stuff coming up. I should be putting the finishing stitching into Frogpile(not yet), and working SK Treasures(nooo),Summer(barely), and the felt XMAS stocking I started while I was resting......but alas. I have, however, done a bunch on SK Blossoms, pulled out the bap blue fractal. And I need to finish SOMETHING, anything....but I can tell I will get Forgiveness on the frame, any day, I just can't stand it any more. I'll see if I can get a couple progress pics up later this week.

SK Blossoms, Stitchers to Work

Ok, SK Blossoms after this week. It's not quite this orange, more a salmon pink, maybe I'll get that better next time. The cell phone is always the more handy/easy photo taker!!

I'm thinking of how I want to set up an area to discuss things with possible stitchers. Business stuff needs to be kept private.(As much as it can be these days.)Random browsing on the web will not show this info. I was thinking of a FB group, maybe, maybe not. Maybe G+. And possibly a single website page of FAQ, only for those that are participating. I'll need a little time to get that together. Pay, or pricing, I know that is probably the number one thing. I had already posted on one of the FB groups that Train of Dreams for example, using a set formula, would probably go retail at about $300. Never stitched it, or seen the thread count, etc....don't plan to(and it's not particularly one I want done.)