Show and Tell

I thought it was time for a "Stash" post.

I've just been reading Jo from Serendipitous Stitching's latest blog post and it got me thinking about just how many charts, magazines, books and kits I've got hanging around.

I'm a lover of Fantasy Fiction and my stitching tastes often tend in the same directions as my reading tastes.  I'm yet to stitch any of her designs but Teresa Wentzler has long been one of my favorite designers.

One of my earliest chart purchases was the beautiful pair of English Samplers - the English Garden Sampler and the English Cottage Sampler.  They begged me to buy them even though, at the time, I was nowhere near skilled enough to even consider tackling them.  I admit to being scared of them for a long time, although, that fear in no way stopped me from buy more TW charts!



Next up, I fell in love with the Four Seasons Carousel Horses and the Four Seasons Fairies.  They are simply stunning.  The incredibly intricate work in the borders alone was enough to compel me to spend money once again on something that would languish for many a year in my "one day" pile.

Somewhere along the line, I discovered the wealth of on-line cross stitch freebies.  This set me off on a search for any freebie TW's that might be out there... if you're a Teresa Wentzler fan, you would, I'm certain, know of her TWdesignworks website and the long list of complimentary charts she has posted there for her loyal fans.

Sadly, as of a couple of years ago, Ms Wentzler is no longer designing.  She has generously left her freebies available for those who wish them and many of her charts are now available at Patterns Online.

One day, browsing in my (not so local) LNS, I stumbled upon The Fortunate Traveller and it was love at first sight!  I love the text in this one.   It will most likely be my first TW stitch...I hope one day in the not too distant future - I'll definitely be putting a TW on my 2012 "to do" list.

Lastly, I have two of the four collections:  Christmas Collection and Fantasy Collection.

Given the amount of work in just one of these charts, how likely is it that I will complete them all?  Slim chance, I'd have to say, but oh how lovely they are to look at!  Would any of you begrudge your fellow addict the pleasure of these "pretties"?

No, I didn't think so.

Hmm, I've just remembered I've also got the set of six Rocking Horses waiting in my shopping cart at Patterns Online... They are very pretty and much smaller that most of these other pieces...  Now see, I can control my addiction when I want to!  Those Rocking Horses have been in my shopping cart for a good two years now!

LOL.

So... Confession time, my fellow addicts!  Who's your favourite designer?  What have you got stashed away - awaiting that elusive "one day"?

Seriously, It's May Already?

Time got away from me in the last couple of weeks.  Haven't picked up my needle since the "OMG, it's 3am" post.

I had every intention of finishing both the L and the June sampler by the end of this week but as the saying goes: The best laid plans of mice and men...

I finally got some stitching in today and finished my cheeky little monkey...

He's number four of a set of six.  I'm planning on turning them into a cube for a friends baby boy.   Only two to go - a bright blue parrot and a cute yellow snake.











It's Mothers Day in Australia tomorrow. DH raided my wishlist at 123stitch and ordered a pile of beads and threads that I had on the list!  I think he picked a new chart too.  They should arrive by the end of the coming week - exciting!  Probably worthy of a blog photo, 'cause after all, how many of us don't love admiring a pile of sparkly bits being added to the stash!