Friday, December 30, 2016

My Stash Diet

It is sad, but true that I need to go on a stash diet.
This is my closet where some of my stash lives. I may post more photos of my mess later, but this will show some of my problem.
Since it is my diet, I am making my own rules.
Rules:
1. I get $25 per month to spend. I can spend the year ahead of time, but that will give me a negative total. (Don't like that idea!)
2. I will give myself $6 to $20 for Mill Hill bead kits that are completed. I have quite a collection and need to make a dent in them.
3. If anything is given away, I get an extra $5. It is out of my house so I deserve a bonus!
4. Doesn't matter when I started the piece, only when I finish it. It needs to be stitched, not framed or finished to count. The only exception is my HAED-Reptiles. I paid by the page for it.
This is from Epic Stitching who used to host a Stitch from Stash Group.
40 x40 stitches or less - $2  
40 x 40 stitches to 60 x 60 stitches - $4
60 x 60 stitches to 80 x 80 stitches - $6
80 x 80 stitches to 100 x 100 stitches - $8
*
100 x 100 stitches to 120 x 120 stitches - $12
120 x 120 stitches to 140 x 140 stitches - $14
140 x 140 stitches to 160 x 160 stitches - $16
160 x 160 stitches to 200 x 200 stitches - $18
5. My needlepoint counts. I will measure the piece and pay myself by the square inch.
6. Any monetary gifts I receive can be added to my spending money. I am starting with the money my mom and dad and my MIL gave me. Hey! They said I could spend it how I want!
7. I also do paper crafts so I will give myself $1 for every art journal page or scrap booking page I do.
I have a separate blog for it, but will keep my totals here. (I have a stash of paper supplies too.)I will have to subtract art supplies from my total too. :(
Last but not least....
I get $1 for every pound I lose a month or if my weight stays stable.  I found out in this past July that I am pre-diabetic. I have lost 20 pounds but need to lose 20 more. I have several friends who have lost 50+ pounds but have gained some or all of it back. I can't do that. I know how difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off and I feel like I need a carrot to keep at it. $1 won't break me and it will motivate me.   I may add $1 for every aerobic mile I do too. Again, it won't break me and it will motivate me.

I am a visual person and I like seeing the amount I have. I need to search for a container to put my money in although I will use slips of paper rather than the real deal. Maybe I need to find some fake money at the store....

When to post? The 30th (or last day of the month), since that is the day I am writing this? Or the 1st as that is the day of new beginnings? I am thinking the 1st.......

Remember:MY DIET, MY RULES! The above is subject to change as needed.
 
 

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Zooming Along

Thanks for all the nice comments. I am still resisting the sale as I realized I have 3 of Kathy's pieces in my stash! Crazy!!!Well, actually four if you include Spirit of Jean, but I am working on it.

The Sprats Head variation went quickly and I hope adding the Kreinik will too. I am avoiding my Drawn Thread Sampler. Too much Christmas up still. Maybe next week I will bring it back out.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

A Finish!

Not a great photo, but it is done! Now I have one less thing to stitch in 2017.

Which reminds me: I am putting myself on a stitching diet starting in January. Looking at the mess in my basement, I need to do something. But ...Kathy Rees is having a sale at her site. At least I thought I saw something about it on Facebook.

Monday, December 26, 2016

My Christmas Stitching

I thought I rotated this photo but the tablet disagreed.  Anyway, I got a bit more done on this kit. It won't be done before the end of the year, but I am making progress.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Spirit of Jean's Amadeus Stitch

I took some time tonight and did some stitching. Yipee! I need to add one more stitch in Kreinik to these, but it is fun to see progress.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

One Bag Done

The larger Mill Hill kits have multiple bags of beads so it is easier to stitch. So I have made some progress.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Gift from Friend

Sorry for the bad photo, but look at the lovely wall hanging my friend made for me! I am not stitching much, but lots of baking is getting done.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Won't be Ready for Christmas

But I think I can get this done by February. When people see it they often are startled by it, especially kids. I don't think I could hang it in my house but I do love the colors.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Luke-Nativity Trilogy

 The above photo is from November sometime. The one below I took today. Waiting for doctors gives me time to stitch...Not sure why the color came out so funky...

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Smyrna Border

First, the Nativity Trilogy ornaments will eventually go on a wreath or at least that is the plan right now. I need to finish the other 5 before I decide.

I was working on this last night and I stitched up to the bottom diamond shape when I realized I made a mistake and ripped it all back out. Note to self: DON'T STITCH WHILE YOU HAVE A COLD! After I ripped,I watched some tv then crawled to bed. Hopefully I will feel like stitching this evening.

I also need to start my list of things I want to stitch this year. I do that every year and I have a few things to finish in 2017...How about you? Do you make a list?

Friday, December 2, 2016

Mill Hill Finishes

I decided it was past time to start my finishing for the year. I started with my Mill Hill kits as they are the easiest. First I placed them on fusible interfacing, the kind that has glue on one side. Then I iron them and then cut them out. Sometimes I get fancy and use felt and glue, but not this year...
Here they are all cut out.
 The last thing I do is cut out the picture that comes with the kit and place it in my stitching journal.
I am not very good about keeping notes on my stitching, but it is fun to look and see all that I have stitched over the years.
As far as the Nativity series goes, I still have 5 more to do! Two were on my list for this year, but never were completed. The other  3 are in my basement....

Thursday, December 1, 2016