Update and SBQ

The lack of updates doesn't mean I haven't been stitching - just means I've been too lazy to download and post my pictures.

Here is my Christmas Chickadee - didn't manage to get the finishing done though.









Since that finish, I've been working on the March house for the country house SAL, finally finishing it up today. I'd miscounted the border and had to redo part, which took a bit longer than expected. I'm not sure if I'll catch up with January and February in March though. I'll work on A New Baby for a while then, and will try to get a picture in before I'm off to the hospital.









This week's SBQ is:
Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have to frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do?

It depends on how many I have to frog. If its just a few, I'll use my needle. If there are a lot, but the back is clear, I'll use my little beaded frogging tool (see pic). If there is a lot, or there are a few colours making the frogging more tangly, I'll use my boo-boo snips (see pic) to get me started. I've never tried a seam ripper.

Stash and SBQ

The SBQ this week goes very well with the stash I've just received, so I'll post about them both together.

Do you like to buy “chartpacks” that include charms, buttons, and/or beads or do you prefer to gather all materials yourself?

My answer is very similar to Renée's - if there are accessories or special flosses needed to complete a project - I'd rather buy them all together. I am able to buy DMC (very expensively) and Anchor threads locally, and occasionally needles and DMC linen. But other than fabric and notions, nothing else is available locally. While I don't particularly like to buy kits if they're just plain floss and white fabric, I would (or at least chartpacks) if there are special items - I'm just to much of a wimp to do much adapting to patterns so far. I don't mind ordering fabric separately, but having to order accessories just gets difficult. Kitting up Gingham Stitches (see below) took 4 separate orders to get everything together. I'm sure I paid enough in shipping to make up for a slightly higher cost.

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And here is the lovely stash I received recently in the mail. Still waiting on one package, hope it gets here soon, as I really need to get cracking on the baby sampler and my fabric is in that one.

I bought the pattern for Gingham Stitches (Erica Michaels) as well as the fabric, GAST and buttons recommended. That gingham linen is hard to find though. I also have the finishing instructions for the Design Ladies Accessory book, the stiching instructions are on their way as well. Also 3 Treasure Braids and the DMC I needed for Cranberry Sampler. My monthly stash enhancement package is a kit for a cute little ort basket by Susan Greening Davis. My FOTM is Amsterdam Blue Cashel Linen. With all this, I guess it's time to go stitch!

SBQ

I signed up for the SBQ a while ago, but never got around to answering them. I won't try to catch up! but here is this week's, suggested by Danielle:

Have you ever been to a stitching retreat?

No, I haven't. I don't even know anyone IRL life who stitches (other than a cousin in France) and I'd be way too much of a wimp to go on my own. Plus, stitching is not particularly popular in Quebec, which means I'd have to travel a long way to get to one. Maybe sometime, but its not in my plans for the moment. Some of the reports I've read sound fun though.