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Wednesday 31 January 2018

The First Pie of the New Year

We have reached the end of the first month of the year so it is time for the first pie of the year!  And the first reckoning for Stitch From Stash.  Yes, I am SFS again.  I don't have a lot of spare money to spend and what I do have I spend on my hobby.  So I won't be claiming fictious money for my finishes but I will be monitoring my spending to see what my weaknesses are!

2017 was the year of the Magazine whereas 2016 was Charts closely followed by Fabric, thanks to two large purchases for my special Birthday that year.

You've seen most of my stitching progress this month already for my WIPocalypse post.  But here's another new start!  This is another one of my "18 in '18"; Satsuma Street's Libra.  For my husband and my older son (also my Dad and my Grandad, there are a lot of Libra men in my life!).

stitched on 28 count Black Jobelan

Not much there but you can tell it is Libra already.  The goal is to stitch the smaller bird on the left this month; the larger bird on the right next month and the base the following month.  Then move on to Aquarius for my younger son.

You can see from the Pie chart that I spent 2 days on that design:


The Discworld Mappe got the most days as my January focus piece followed by 12 Days for 12 Days of Stitchmas and Dracula which has been my work lunchbreak piece.

Here is the expenditure for the month:
January
Mrs Peggotty Alice £5.32
JN Chart return -£10.00
Belfast Fabric £13.95
JN Charm £2.31
Total £11.58

There is a return on there because the chart I ordered last month was supposed to come with an embellishment pack but it was missing.  So SewandSo gave me a rebate which I spent on some 32 count County Mocha (a store cupboard essential) and a cute charm for my last Just Nan Small:

Noah's Rainbow and Charm

A lot of the Just Nan charms are no longer available so Nan is discontinuing the charts.  I was lucky to snap this one up.  Most of the rest of the charms are generic butterflies or bees but this one is unique.

It doesn't bother me if I don't use the charted charm, half the fun is finding an alternative on eBay or Etsy.


Finally, a number of people have already signed up for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop but there is still time for more.  The deadline for photos is 10th February.  In case you are stuck for inspiration, here are a few freebie designs.  Most of these would stitch up in a few days:


And of course we must never forget the Patron Saint of Free design - Gazette 94!
(there are 22 designs labelled Couer or Heart).



21 comments:

Linda said...

Great new start and finish Jo.

Linda

Kaisievic said...

I am a Libran, too! Great pie, Jo and good work with your Stitch from Stash - I have fallen off the wagon already! Big time! Lastly, please count me in for the Secret Valentine - I will have a pic to you by next week. hugs, Kaye

RJ said...

You pie is excellent Jo. You have done a wonderful job with stitching from stash. I need to get in the habit of doing that more often too. Great job as always. RJ

Stitching Noni said...

We Librans are the best people!! :) love seeing your pie chart... I generally don't count the stitching sessions on a piece. I do note what I work on each day in a journal though, so maybe I should do a graph and have a more visual view each month- might be a good way to see what I am stitching on! I have stitched a new piece for the blog hop this year... just need to try and get a decent picture of it to send to you:) hugs x

Barb said...

Your chart never ceases to amaze me. I am such a one-at-a-time stitcher, my chart would be very boring!!

Pamela said...

Thanks for all the links!

Mary said...

I need to discipline myself and stitch from stash. Nice start on the Libra, do your Libra men share a common personality trait?

Thanks for that great list of free charts!!!

Clare-Aimetu said...

I love your pie - I don't log any of my stitching in time, size or stitches. A lovely list of charts too, thanks 😍

Beth in IL said...

I have no self control is what I discovered when I tried Stitch from Stash. But now that I am not doing it, I only want to stitch from stash. Hmmm. What does that say about me?

Katie said...

I enjoy your pie charts. Great new start. Good luck with your spending. The charm looks perfect. Glad you could find it.

Rhona said...

You are so organized....love the chart! Thanks for the links to all the freebies....guess what I'm doing after posting this comment?!!! :)

Kay said...

Thank you for the great list of freebies. x

Preeti said...

Lovely stitching ! Good job of charting the stitching statistics. I don't keep any statistics for my stitching, one less work there for me.

Leonore Winterer said...

Great start - you're right, you can already see that it's going to be Libra! And Noah's Rainbow looks awesome with the charm. I've been wondering why so many Just Nan charts were getting discontinued, that's really a pity :(

Julie said...

Noahs Rainbow looks fab with the new charm. Libra is looking so bright.

rosey175 said...

I can't think of a single Libra in my life! Weird. You've got a good plan for doing it in bits.

I'm also endeavoring to track crafty spending, although a lot less techy than you; I'm just scribbling down purchases in my planner. I already know my weakness is yarn sales haha (there aren't enough floss sales :<).

Christine said...

Great pie! I must get a sweetheart stitching piece done - thanks for the list

Bethan said...

Lovely charm for your Just Nan small! What do you use for your pie to track your sewing? I'd love to do similar. Have a great February x

Brigitte said...

Stitching from Stash is always worth a try. And you are doing great so far.
I have been doing it for quite some years now and just buy the occasional new chart. It's always fun to go through my stash and look for something new to start.

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Stitch from Stash is a great idea. I don't actually do it but I now make a deliberate effort to stitch what I have and tend to buy other bits when on sale or if I still want it after a few months. I also use Ebay for buying substitute charms for my Just Nan designs.

Mia said...

Thank you so much, Jo, for the great inspiration. Be sure, my friend, that I will visit ALL the links you suggest. Kisses!!!