Flosstube #99 Show Notes

Happy Saturady!!! It's March!! and it's my birthday month!!

I'm pretty bummed that I'm not at Market... but that leads me right into my best new thing!

Best New Thing: 

• SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AT MARKET!!!! 
• Would you LOOK at this Instagram feed?!?! LOOK!
• And there are AMAZING Flosstube videos up already, not least of which are provided by Gary Parr of FiberTalk Fame!!
• Check out his Kathy Barrick preview!

• AND with Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor!! 

So we can be there without BEING there! Thank you SO much to everyone who is posting.

FFO

• None this week, but I should, SHOULD, have one next week! 

Finishes: 

• Are you ready for this?! Wacky Witches in Stitches is DONE!!

I made that picture EXTRA LARGE because I EXTRA love this. I only made a few changes, mostly to the witches' skin tones to diversify the piece a bit. I also used DMC e940 glow in the dark white in place of B5200 and used Gentle Arts Blackboard in place of DMC 310.

I'm SO proud of myself!!! 

WIPs (Works in Progress): 

The big finish on Wacky Witches left me with only two WIPs this week:

• My first WIP for this week was Barbara Ana's I Give You My Heart: 
  

Here is where I was last time:

And here I am now: 

It didn't get a whole lot of love due to Snowpocalypse, but I did decide on a name for her: Rose Weasley. She's a FLAMING gorgeous redhead and (get ready for controversy...) I ship Hermione as a POC. So, CLEARLY, Rose Weasley will be a POC redhead!!! I'm stitching her in DMC 436 and I LEGIT cannot wait. 

1. I love this project
2. Use code BENDY10 at https://www.loveyoumorestudios.com/ to get 10% off of a sleeve
3. The needleminder is from MadForMinders on Etsy
4. I copied Abby TopKnot Stitcher's idea of turning a beautiful postcard into a threadkeep.

• Next, of course, my evening project, Contessa with Squid from Heaven and Earth Designs:  
  

Or, as I affectionately call them, Josephine and Humphrey. Here is where I was last week:

And here is some more AMAZING progress for this week: 

I totally hit my February goal of a page 2 page finish even though I missed one day of stitching on her. So I'm out for the OFFICIAL Full Coverage Fanatics 90 Day Challenge, but I'm going to keep going on #TheYearofJosephine, because really, what is ONE missed day!?

• Last but not least, I've picked up Alice in Wonderland from XStitchEu on Etsy (click here to shop): 

Here is where I am with it: 

This project has ALL of the blended threads and ALL of the half vs full crosses and THAT is what is gong to make it AMAZING.

I'm stitching it on 16 ct Aida that I dyed with Navy Rit. I love, love, LOVE this chart. I love it so much that when Hanna contacted me for a review of one of her charts last month (review and chart are coming!) I asked her if I could rep for her!! 

And I CAN!! Use code BENDY10 at Hanna's Etsy store, XStitchEu, for 10% off everything! 

Thrifting:

• We hit an estate sale last weekend! It was almost completely bought out, but I did score two vintage (1975!) Crewel kits for Michelle, Romantic Tangle: 

• And I also scored a really cool 1941 Childrens' Dictionary:

Purchases: Just a few....

• First up is my OwlForest Whale kit from 1884 Stitchery:

This is currently sold out on 1884 Stitchery but keep an eye on the site and especially on McKenna's @1884stitchery Instagram (set your post notifications!) to know when they come back in stock. 

Flosstube Shoutouts: 

• Hillary, Rustic Threads: she's on Flosstube #2. She maaaaay be in California, but I'm STILL not totally sure. She's stitching the CCN Houses of the Month AND dyeing her own GORGEOUS flosses. I can't wait to see more. 

Books:

• This week I finished reading The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks: 

I chose this book to fulfill the February Reading Extra Credit in the School of Magical Stitches & Literature group on Facebook of "Read a book with an elf in it"

I didn't finish the book until March 1, so it didn't count for the February Magical Stitches Extra Credit, but it did count for the yearly reading challenge. So, win.

I really enjoyed it. Gave it 3.5/5 stars. I liked the story, despite how derivative it is of Tolkein (you just can't help that). I was a little annoyed that every time a dangerous creature opened its mouth "it's jaw split to expose a gaping maw filled with [sharp teeth]". Mr Brooks could have used a thesaurus for that phrase. 

Instagram Auction Items!!

• Auction will take place soon through Saturday, March 9 at 6am PST on @michellebendy on Instagram. Here's an amazing diagram describing how to bid: 
  

Under the picture of the item that you'd like to purchase, you put your bid in $1 increments AND you tag the person who bid above you. Only the person who bid DIRECTLY above you!

There are more detailed pictures on my Instagram, but for now, here's a peek at this week's items:

• First up is another needleminder from House of Meng on Instagram, this week it's Wonder Woman!! 
  
  
  

• Second we have a full EXCLUSIVE Dyeing to Stitch retreat kit called The Celebrate Collection by The Purple Thread: 
  
  
  
• Third is an exclusive set of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe flosses, the Bewitching Spells set: 
  
  
  

• Next we have a set of three Nora Corbett charts that I've NEVER seen before: The Silver Dragonfly, Butterflies of Gold, and Butterflies of the Meadow: 
  
  
  

• Last but not least is full brand new, unopened Bothy Threads Gorjuss Kit called New Heights: 
  
  
  

Outside Links:

• School of Magical Stitches & Literature on Facebook
• Full Coverage Fanatics on Facebook
• XStitchEu on Etsy (use code BENDY10 for a discount)
• That's So Kelly Co on Etsy for Bitzy Bobs
• Acorns & Threads
• @HouseofMeng on Instagram (for needleminders)
• Gulf Coast Stitches
• BagzPlus by Corina
• Love You More Studio Co for book/project sleeves (use code BENDY10 for 10% off)
• 1884 Stitchery

I know I trick you guys into coming here now, but I hope you enjoy. I love having this format to look back on my progress as well! 

Flosstube #98 Show Notes

Happy Saturady!!! It's February 23, 2019 and I'm BACK on the Blog!! AGAIN!! YAY!! It feels good. Again.

I got SERIOUSLY busy and something had to go and it was the blog. But I miss it. So I'm back. But as a compromise with myself, I'm back in an abbreviated version. The show notes won't be as robust as they used to be. And hopefully the blogging will take me fewer hours. We shall see.

I'd also like to be able to blog about more than just show notes for my Flosstube, so again, let's see.....

Best New Thing: 

• I'm just going to leave this right here: 
  

FFO

• None this week, but I should, SHOULD, have one next week! 

Finishes: 

• Again, none this week, but I'm very hopeful--and my SFS budget is VERY hopeful--that there will be two or even THREE next week. Cross your fingers. Hard. 

WIPs (Works in Progress): 

I've been working on three WIPs most every day this week: one in the morning, one at work as a lunchtime project, and one in the evening. 

• My morning project has been Wacky Witches in Stitches by Cloudsfactory: 

• This WIP turns two years old today so it has been my focus piece for the School of Magical Stitches & Literature (SMSL) for a couple of weeks now. Here is where it was last week: 
  
  
  
  
  
• And this is what it looks like now: 

I completely changed the middle block because I think the original design looks cranky. So, yoga! 

This fulfilled all four SMSL homework assignments for me this week: 

1. Stitch on a project with a skeleton: I adapted a skeleton from TinyModernist Haunted Mansion SAL to join my witch in yoga class
2. Stitch on a project with one of the four things that caused the Basilisk's victims to be petrified rather than killed: in the next block over there is a ghost, and Justin Finch-Fletchy looked at the Basilisk through Sir Nicholas. 
3. The Phoenix appears, stitch on a project that you restarted: I don't have any projects that have been completely restarted, but I did rip out three or four or five people on here to change their skin tones.
4. Fight the monster, stitch on a project with a weapon: the bottom right panel has a witch with a wand, clearly a weapon. And the O in Halloween is a giant eyeball, the Basilisk's weapon of choice. 

• My next WIP for this week was Barbara Ana's I Give You My Heart: 
  

Here is where I was last time:

And here I am now: 

There isn't much to say aside from:

1. I love this project
2. Use code BENDY10 at https://www.loveyoumorestudios.com/ to get 10% off of a sleeve
3. The needleminder is from MadForMinders on Etsy
4. I copied Abby TopKnot Stitcher's idea of turning a beautiful postcard into a threadkeep.

• And last but not least, my evening project, Contessa with Squid from Heaven and Earth Designs:  
  

Or, as I affectionately call them, Josephine and Humphrey. Here is where I was last week:

And here is the AMAZING progress for this week: 

Last week I was crazy talking about stitching 1000 stitches per day and finishing her in a year. Well. That's not going to happen as I also need to eat and sleep and work and be with my family. maybe even go outside sometimes. However, 1000 stitches are sometimes attainable on weekend days and I can usually put in 200-300 on weeknights.

My goal for February is a page finish and I'm only about 1100-1200 stitches away. It should be easily obtainable this weekend. I hope. 

Thrifting:

• I've been good lately. Or, I've been working full time, not sure which one is the ACTUAL excuse.... but either way, I haven't been thrifting this week. HOWEVER. There's a good estate sale today... so maybe next week. 

Purchases: Not so many this week!! 

• I didn't buy anything this week!! At least nothing that has been shipped to me yet, hahah! Once again... maybe next week. Actually, DEFINITELY next week. =D

Flosstube Shoutouts: 

• Kim Hollenback,she's one of the admins for Full Coverage Fanatics on Facebook. Go and see what her first ever cross stitch project was. 0_0
• Highway Stitcher Colette Kingsley, Colette and I met at a First Thursday meetup at Acorns & Threads. She lives in Utah, sometimes makes it up to OR. I love being able to watch her on Flosstube when I can't connect with her in person. 
• Nicole, Stitching Happens, she has four Flosstubes and started a month ago. In her second one she says, "I started making a list of things to talk about in this video right after I finished filming my first one. Nicole has the bug. BAD. 

Books:

• This week I finished reading The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman: 

I chose this book to fulfill the February Reading Extra Credit in the School of Magical Stitches & Literature group on Facebook of "Read a book by an author with the initials TR (Tom Riddle) or LV (Lord Voldemort)"

I really enjoyed it. Gave it 4/5 stars. None of the characters were exactly as they first seemed and that's something that I enjoy. Also, the ending was very much left up to the reader and while I don't ALWAYS enjoy that aspect, I did very much in this case. 

Instagram Auction Items!!

• Auction will take place soon through Saturday, March 2 at 6am PST on @michellebendy on Instagram. Here's an amazing diagram describing how to bid: 
  

Under the picture of the item that you'd like to purchase, you put your bid in $1 increments AND you tag the person who bid above you. Only the person who bid DIRECTLY above you!

There are more detailed pictures on my Instagram, but for now, here's a peek at this week's items:

• First up is a needleminder from House of Meng on Instagram, it's Loki!! 
  

• Second we have a full kit of Rosewood Manor's Barnwood Buttons: 
  

• Third is an exclusive chart and finishing instructions booklet from a Sue Hillis Cross Stitch Cruise (WHAT IS THIS MAGIC!?!). I threw in two pieces of fabric that should be big enough for all of the pieces: 
  

• This is my LAST Impie, Hattie, & Bea finishing set. It comes with the full kit, chart, linen (not the called for, I threw in some 30 ct R&R), overdyed flosses, and IHB finishing items: 
  

• Last but not least is an FFO that's been hanging on my wall for three or four years, it's a GIANT full coverage piece of a gorgeous alternative take on Alice in Wonderland: 
  

I can send this to you framed (US ONLY) or take it out of the frame, but I have to tell you, there isn't a lot of room on the edges for other forms of framing (my fault)

Outside Links:

• School of Magical Stitches & Literature on Facebook
• Full Coverage Fanatics on Facebook
• @StitchNButtonCrafts on Instagram (for project bags)
• That's So Kelly Co on Etsy for Bitzy Bobs
• Acorns & Threads
• @HouseofMeng on Instagram (for needleminders)
• Gulf Coast Stitches
• BagzPlus by Corina

Thanks for coming back to the blog y'all. I hope you have a fantastic day. and if your day isn't fantastic, maybe this will help: