Tiffstitches a Blog

My first new start is Remember You Are Braver from Zindagi Designs. I'm making this for a good friend who is amazing and awesome and isn't as confident as she could be. I'm thinking I might try and make it into a pillow when it's complete. 

Here's a floss toss:

I'm stitching this on 20 count oatmeal Aida (I think) with Soie Cristale silks and here's where I'm at now:

I also finally finished the bookmark gift for my friend and gave it to her this weekend for her birthday. I used some felt to back it and she really liked it.

Happy Stitching!
Tiffstitch

Last week I posted about what project I was going to start next and I'm sending a prize to whomever guessed my next start correctly. I will actually be starting 2 projects, so there will be 2 winners!

I've already started #5 Remember You Are Braver, although of course I forgot to take a photo. That means Pull The Other Thread is winner #1!

The second project is #1 Box of Delights which I haven't started yet, but hope to soon. So winner #2 is Happiness is Stitching.

Thank you everyone for playing along and I'll try and email both winners tonight. Congrats to both of you and happy stitching,

Tiffstitch

Kate is on holiday and I'm a couple posts ahead, so I'll take a break for a bit until she's back posting. That will give me more time to stitch, so I should have some WIP pics up soon. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

I've loved reading since I was a kid and used to wish I could stay in the library overnight to read all the books. I know, NERD ALERT! Now I'm happy if I have any time to read. Generally I stick to audio books since I can listen in the car and while I'm stitching. Here are a few of my favourite books that I've listened to or read. 

1. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
I discovered this series by borrowing the 8th book in the series from the library. I had no issues following the story, so you don't need to start from the beginning, but I do feel this is one of the best books of the series. I've listened to it several times and the other books probably at least twice each. 
The story is told from the Mary Russell's perspective. She is an orphaned child living with a horrible aunt in Sussex. She happens upon Sherlock Holmes, retired detective and beekeeper, while out walking. This meeting changes her life as she becomes an amateur detective appren…

Happy Memorial Day to those of us in the U.S.A. and thanks for joining Kate and I to check out another day of lists. I'm going to mention a few of my favourite blogs today. My blogging time is somewhat limited, so I tend to spend as much time as I can on stitching blogs. This list isn't all stitching blogs though, and here are some of the ones I try to catch as soon as they post something new:

1. Mrs Milkybar Kid's Musings
I met Mrs MBK on the Cross Stitch Forum and I love to catch her new blog posts since they always contain some amazing stitching and beautiful threads. She also has some videos on YouTube expanding on some of the threads and stitching she discusses in her blog. Check out her latest progress today on a tricky hardanger piece and a drawn thread WIP. 
2. The Suddenly Kate Show
I discovered Kate's writing and stitching blog when I was following another blog. She has a definite gift with writing that draws me into whatever she posts and I'm always happy to…

Thanks for following along with Kate and I. We're one-third of the way done now. 

Today I'm going to pick the first 10 movies that come to mind. These are movies I can watch over and over and over without ever getting sick of them. 

1. The Princess Bride

I can't wait until DD is a little older and I can watch this with her. This is my favourite movie of all time and has been since I saw it in the theatre when I was 11. My parents took my younger brother and I and I am sure we drove them crazy with the rhyming all the way home (1/2 hour). 

And has there ever been a better sword fight in any movie ever? 


2. Return to Me
This movie isn't as well known, which is too bad. It's a great movie and I love the pairing of David Duchovny and Minnie Driver as the love interests. I don't want to discuss the movie too much because it ruins some of the early scenes, but if you haven't seen it and you like great storytelling, humour, tragedy and heartbreakingly touching scenes, w…

I tend not to sit down and read novels any more since I want to spend my sit-down time stitching. Therefore I listen to all the books I can. I do make an exception for graphic novels because if they're worth it, then the time doesn't feel wasted to me. 

10 Graphic Novels I Can Read Over and Over

1. V for Vendetta

I was introduced to this one by a great Chapters clerk. Chapters is a bookstore chain similar to Barnes and Noble, but it's in Canada and is now Chapters/Indigo I think. I've read this book several times and had both a hardcover and softcover edition until I gave the softcover away to a friend. 

"A powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality, V For Vendetta takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet." from Forbidden Planet

2. Marvel 1602

I really enjoy this collection. Seeing such futuristic style characters in the Elizabethan era is a refreshing change to the frenetic pacing of some of…

White Wolves is 100% complete! I finished all the back stitching last night and it's done, done done! 

And now I have about 6 months to get it framed. I think that will be possible. I'm so happy it's done and I can cross it off my WIP list. 
30 Day Challenge - Giving up refined sugar
I'm having serious cravings for my sugar-full treats. I'm trying to stave them off by having honey in my tea and hot chocolate with maple syrup, but it's not going well. I slipped on Sunday and I feel another slip coming on. If I can make it through work and get home without heading over to the bagel shop then I think sorting the colours for my new project might keep me occupied enough to stop thinking about eating goodies. 
30 Day Challenge - Lists
Don't forget to check out Kate's list today too. She has some great app info if you're looking for new apps for any of your devices. 
10 Words DD Can Say
Let me preface this by saying we're teaching her both French and English,…

I need to find a good way to organize my threads. I seem to add new ones before I use up old ones and hunting through a big tub isn't the most efficient way to determine colours. Plus I don't think it's the best way to store threads either. I quite like the way Twisted Stitcher has her threads organized, but it will take more time than I have right now. 

Also, there seem to be a few new hand dyed thread dyers in the market now like Mo's Sale, Fiberlicious, Jodyri and Chromatic Alchemy so I need to make room for more threads too. :)

Here's a quick list of threads I have in my collection:

1. Weeks Dye Works

I really enjoy stitching with WDW thread. It seems pretty smooth and I love their range of hand dyed colours. I've stitched many different projects with them and have never regretted my choice. I've found there is a slight difference in dye lots, so it is good to make sure you have enough of the colour you want before you start. 
2. Caron Soie Cristale/Waterlil…

I did it!! All the cross stitch on White Wolves is complete! I'm so excited about it, and it feels like such a huge relief. The refrain from Pirates of Penzance keeps running through my head: "Oh joy unbounded! Oh sweet relief! Oh rapture unexampled!" :)

And here it is:

And for my list, I plan to celebrate finishing this piece and being 1/3 of the way through my Crazy January Challenge by starting a new project. Here are the 10 I'll choose from:

1. Blackwork Box of Delights by Elizabeth Almond

2. Fleur de Lys by Brodeuse Bressane

3. Though  She Be But Little, She is Fierce by Zindagi Designs

4. Office Sweet Office by Zindagi Designs

5. Remember You Are Braver Than You Believe by Zindagi Designs

6. Life on the Line

7. Flowers of the Month by EMS Cross Stitch Design

8. Faerie Mother by Joan Elliott

9. Autumn Stained Glass by Ursula Michael

10. Acorn Scissor Keep

I have a good idea which one I'll start, but I'm going to have a contest. If you can guess which one I'm goin…