February TUSAL and my Stitching Library

      

It's TUSAL time!

Here is my TUSAL jar with two of my current projects:

The ORTs are still in the little tins I used for every day.  The top one has my bath-time and travel ORTs, mostly Christmas Elegance.  The bottom one shows how few ORTs you have when you stitch over one on 25 count!

I'll empty the tins into my jar now and start again.  Jardin Prive 12 Days of Christmas will produce some nice bright red ORTs to start the month.

What's on my Shelf?

This is a new feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...

Title: Fantasy Cross Stitch
Author: Julie Hasler
Publisher: David & Charles 
ISBN: 9780715305713

Julie Hasler was one the first designers I knew by name when I started stitching.  She's a tattoed, cat-fan biker and was quite prolific in her designs back in the 1990s.  But I've never seen anything of her presence online in recent years.  

The Zodiac signs were what drew me to this book originally.  Still haven't stitched any of them!

Leo and Virgo below:

These gorgeous cushion covers were also an attraction but I knew I would never stitch all that white.

The mirror frame was another possibility

Rather magnificent pair of Vikings!

I have stitched one design from the book.  A very small pair of moons!  The whole frame is very shiny metal and does look good.

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart.  Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.  It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February. Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart

Does that make sense to everyone? I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply". I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.