Margaret Sherry and more stash downsizing ...

Dear all

You know I have been ranting about the desire to be a minimalist in all areas of my life ... well when you have over 100 stashed project this is not something that can be easily achieved. Last month with a lot of caffeine I was taking stock ... and was considering whether I can actually downsize to 50 .... doubtful. How about 75 ... slightly more doable ... with 5 projects a month to be downsized either through completion or letting go.

If I am going to stick to this new rule (until it drives me crazy or I get bored with it) I need some accountability ... and where else to post my wins and losses than here ... I cannot believe it but I have made the target this September. I had two finishes in September and was ready (yesterday) to list three more projects on eBay.

Well talking of going for easy wins to achieve this... I was hoping to get this little one finished quickly and after consistent stitching over the past two weeks I am still going. So not quite an easy win I was hoping for. The Cross Stitch Crazy magazine does say this projects takes approximately 55 hours so I am unsure what I was thinking ... even with half the stitching done that was never going to be a quick win.

The Spring Bouquet by Margaret Sherry ...

WIP- September 2019

Excuse the bad lighting (it is a grey rainy morning here in the UK). Fingers crossed that I can do all the backstitching in the week ahead ... and will be one project down towards my October target.

There is still time to enter my giveaway this month by commenting on the post that can be found HERE.

Until soon,
Lija

Angela (and another mini) finish, stash & minimising ramblings

Dear all

Something I discovered as important on the journey towards minimalism is the power of easy wins.

When I commenced my decluttering journey I did not delve into emotional objects (or my hobbies). A year and a half later and I am finally ready to address a number of my hobbies. Cross stitch has definitely got slightly out of control on the stash front.

As such I first pulled out projects I was not planning on stitching and listed them on eBay. I then decided to start stitching and obtained a few wins...

Another completion (as of this morning):

Complete - September 2019

'Angela'

by the Snowflower Diaries

I was going through my paperwork pending box ... and have discovered I have put two more cross stitch projects in there. My craft drawer is bursting at the seams ... so instead of trying to stuff it I decided I will aim to finish them next.

One had about 30 minutes work left in it ... so I completed on the spot and put the magazine in the good bye pile.

Complete - September 2019

So two wins in one morning ... I feel great.

On the stash front however since I have incorporated wips and other projects in, the starting number has increased to a massive 130! I am beginning to think I was delusional when I thought that I could get it down to 50 by the end of the year (I am down to 93 at present). 

To get down to 75 I need at least 5 finishes per month.  So if I get down to this amount that would be a win ... however any progress is progress.

Until soon,

Lija

P.S. If you are interested in a giveaway which is still open just comment on my earlier post HERE.

Wipocalypse, downsizing stash, another giveaway and more ...

Dear all

Here goes nothing ... sometimes when I disappear for a little bit (or longer), but still stitch it is very hard to get back in to writing a report on stitching ... as there so much to address.

Wipocalypse - August 2019 check in:

As noted earlier I have embarked on a journey towards minimalism in all areas of my life. In turns this means for cross stitch, yikes,  downsizing stash.

I am saying goodbye to old projects that are no longer me and selling them on eBay ... and others I am stitching to complete. As such I had a few months of quick wins ... smaller projects that are not too huge to complete:

1) I have completed Autumn Glory ... something I started awhile back but put down.

Autumn Glory by the Snowflower Diaries
August 2019

2) Spurred on by an easy win I stitched Under the Pear Tree by the same designer which I also completed in the month of August: 

Under the Pear Tree by the Snowflower Diaries
August 2019 

3) My next project is 'Angela' by, again, the Snowflower Diaries ... can you see the theme? Progress so far (only the border and minimum backstitching to go): 

WIP - September 2019

 

4) My other progress progress includes 'Miserable Old Twit-Too'. All the stitching is done ... only the painful backstitching to go. Judy Rossouw's designs look amazing but a pain to backstitch.

WIP - July 2019

 5) Love at First Sight by Judy Rossouw ... a new start this month. I had an accident with spilled wine (red) which made me slightly unwilling to pick it up. I have rescued the work from the stain ... however I am yet to pick it up again.

WIP - July 2019

Phew that was a lot of stitching to cover. I think my next port of call is to update my stash page (101 projects that I am aiming to decrease to 50 by the end of 2019). I have sold a few on eBay already, finished (as above others) and will continue to minimise!

Another giveaway:

The last draw has taken place and the makeup bag was posted to Astrid of Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid. (A slightly belated draw with no valid excuses on my part).

But there is a new giveaway ... a biscornu / pincushion. All you need to do to win is comment.

Until soon,

Lija

P.S. If you are curious about my ramblings on minimising do check out my other blog 30+ minimalist wannabe.

Bunny Love completion and new blog

Dear all

My podcast listening has continued across two weekends and I am pleased to report a finish!

This is a completed 'Bunny Love' by Judy Rossouw stitched in Anchor.

June 2019

June 2019

I wonder what can I achieve in one more weekend... I know it is not quite an entire weekend. I was stewarding an exhibition earlier, so am a little behind on the creative side. I do have a new start (also by Judy Rossouw) and a completed silk embroidery piece that I will be somehow attaching to a photo album ... that will be an interesting feat. 

Talking about my journey towards being a minimalist. I am still stitching down my stash, will be posting seven sold items on eBay (good bye cross stitch projects amongst other items), and have also started a blog documenting my thoughts and journey:

https://30plusminimalistwannabe.blogspot.com

Until soon,

Lija

Wiposalypse, sheep, bunnies, Sara Moon, another giveaway and minimalism

Dear all

I am slightly late with my entry, but better late than never.


Wipocalypse - May 2019 check in 

I have a finish to report:

May 2019 - Complete!!!

And I have moved on to the next sheep 'Kindness'. This is how far I have got to so far:

May 2019

Next up is 'Bunny Love' by Judy Rossouw (Anchor), on which I worked just a little. 

May 2019

And another project I have added to the list of work I would like to complete in 2019. It is 'Picture of elegance' of Sara Moon:

May 2019

I have had a look through my stash recently and I am very curious about the next project I will add to this list. Keep an eye out on the progress.

The question of the month is: Where do you love to shop for stash?

My answer is in my stash. You will understand why if you read a little bit about my journey to minimalism and financial freedom below.

Giveaway

The February's giveaway winner was Sue of Random Stitching. And the makeup bag was shipped on time (I just have not mentioned this on here yet due to lack of posting).

The next giveaway up for grabs is:

This is a handmade makeup or other purposes bag with a cross stitched summer witch (as can be seen in the picture). The cross stitch design is by the Snowflower Diaries. 

All you have to do is comment on this post before the end of June. And a winner will be contacted shortly afterwards, and announced in the next post after the end of June. 

Minimalism

As mentioned in my previous post I am on a journey to becoming a minimalist. If you have a look at my stash list you can start to imagine the difficulties I will face in reforming years of collecting and hoarding. 

In addition to discovering Marie Kondo, I have also started following the Dave Ramsey plan to financial freedom. I started it officially mid February and am busy with Baby Step 2. This is a step when you repay all your debt. And for those who have not come across this crazy gentleman before ... some of the things that you would not consider to be debt (e.g. car payments or a credit card that is paid off monthly) are. The deeper you sacrifice the quicker the success can be achieved.

I have been selling anything and everything on eBay as part of my minimising journey as it were. However I have been getting even more gazelle intense and have just went through my stash and am finally ready to say good bye to some of my cross stitch projects. Hopefully it will reinvigorate me into stitching more from my stash. It would be nice to decrease the projects both stashed and ongoing to 50. I have 101 officially listed in stash (however I do own a few magazines and projects I have  not got around to adding) and about 21 projects that have been started. Do you think this is doable?     

My big 'Why' that pivoted me towards this journey is a purchase of a home. If I am ever to move from the rented property I am in I would like to make the transition as smooth as possible without the need to hire two large vans! I discovered Dave Ramsey by chance and am now making the financial side of the equation possible as well.

Until hopefully soon,

Lija