SAL #5 - First update

Well hello, long time no post!!!  It has been a little while since I last stitched on a Margaret Sherry design, but last night I finally started on my SAL #5 - Spring Bouquet.

Now, I know there isn't a lot to show at the moment, but I really wanted to let you now that I have finally started on this really sweet design.

April update - started 26/4/2014
SAL # 5 - Spring Bouquet

The fabric that I am stitching on is a 14 ct Aida - white with pink spots.  I think that this cute design will look really lovely on such a feminine looking fabric.  As you can see I have started in the middle... which unfortunately means I will be hitting all that "lovely" white on the kitty very soon!!

Hopefully I will be able to come back again real soon to show you more of my stitching on this cute design.

Hugs,

Hi again y'all!! This week is my spring break from school so I'm hoping to get a lot of cleaning (boo!) and stitching (yay!!) done.

I don't currently have any of the SAL patterns, but I found an older kit that is very similar to SAL #5 so I am working on that for the time being. This is about 5 nights of progress!



I hope to show more progress soon :)

SAL # 6: SUNNY SNOOZE

I thought I would let you all know how my SAL # 6 is coming along.

My stitching on this one has been slow, mainly because it has been incredibly hot here and I have been too tired by the end of each day. As in all Margaret Sherry designs, there are lots of colour changes and little details, which have slowed me down too, but the end results are worth it.

I did the backstitch on the little mouse last night and it really helps the picture to come alive.

Happy stitching everyone! I hope to see your progress on your SALs soon.

2014 SALs (stitch-a-long)

Just to clarify, all groups members can stitch any design they want, at any time. SAL is a group activity, you can join or not, it's up to each one of you. Of course, the more stitchers who join, the more fun we will have :) but each stitcher decides if they have the time and willing to do it.
The goal is to stitch the same design and post photos to show our progress along the year. For almost everyone, this is a motivation starter, watching others progress on their projects, motivates to stitch more on their own as well :) A great way to keep stitching and not give up on big projects!

So, after this definition, we would think it's best to pick bigger designs to stitch along the year, than smaller things that we can easily make at any time, don't you agree? I think we should pick other things besides Sports&Hobbies, everyone can easily stitch one of those charts in one weekend. And, with so many options on that series, we wouldn't be stitching the same thing at the same time.. not really the goal for a SAL, right?

I'm taking a risk with bigger designs and I hope you will all be pleased and join to stitch :D

Did you notice the title? Plural :) After reading all your comments and thinking a lot about this.. let me tell you, it's not easy to be the one to decide something for the whole group :p So, I thought, we could open more than one SAL and each person will join the one they like the most! Is that good?
Not too many options, otherwise, there will be 3 persons doing one design, another 3 on other, and so on.. I think it's more fun to keep 2 big groups.
Let's keep it simple: 2 options :) Is it good for everyone???

For 2014, SAL #5 and #6 :)

#5 Spring Bouquet
Stitchers: Lija, Julianne, Preeti, Noni, Heather, Ana Ferreira, Debbie Vermeulen, Judith

Pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 174

#6 Sunday Snooze
Stitchers: Amber, Noni, Angel, Debbie Vermeulen, Judith

Pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 180

Updated 2014.01.19
#7 Bags of Fun
Stitchers: Amber, Anne Fraser, Noni, Angel, Ana Ferreira, Debbie Vermeulen, Laura, Judith, Zurainny

Pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 185

You can join one or all, it's up to you! The deadline would be the end of the year, each person can stitch at their own pace and post a progress photo during the first week of each month (from Februrary to December).

Does this work for everyone? :)
Would you like to stitch #5? #6? #7? All?

2014 SAL

Who's up for another SAL (stitch-a-long) in 2014? :)

It hasn't been easy to find a recent Margaret Sherry chart...
... published on magazines, so everyone can easily buy it;
... that it hasn't been stitched here on the group yet;
... that we could break in different parts, like we did with Puppy Love, for those who don't want to stitch the whole chart and prefer to make small parts of it.
(If you can find a good idea, please, share it with us!)

So far, I have 2 suggestions :)

#1 Spring bouquet
I think this design is so pretty and cute, I haven't seen anyone stitch it yet! Am I right?
It's a bigger chart, not easy to break in parts so everyone would stitch at their own pace and show us their progress along the year. No specific dates to post, just the end of the year as a deadline to stitch it all!

#2 Sports & Hobbies (thanks to Heather for sharing her idea!!)
Sports&Hobbies series has many different charts, some have been stitched by our group members but there are a lot of options, maybe we could work with that :)
The idea would be to stitch one design every 3 months, total of 4 designs along the year. Each person could make their own choice, pick which designs you'd like to stitch and then show us your finished piece :) One piece posted until the end of March, another until the end of June, another until the end of September and the last one until the end of the year.

What do you think about both ideas?
We can pick the most voted or even keep both and let everyone sign up as they wish! Share your thoughts :)