Before I start this post I wish to point out that I haven't yet turned 39! (That happens in a few weeks, 4 1/2 to be exact, LOL!) Anyway, I have been having thoughts about how I would like to mark my 'big birthday.' There's no harm in thoughts and I have a few ideas in mind, one of which we are currently saving for, LOL!
So, one thing I would definitely like to do is cross stitch something to commemorate the occasion. I have decided I will start stitching it at the beginning of next year with the hope of finishing it in time. I know what I can be like sometimes at making choices, especially when it comes to what to stitch (although my current 'to do' list would argue otherwise!) I started googling, I had something in mind linked with what we are saving for! As I will have mentioned before I am a bit of a Disney buff! I actually really like the older traditional Disney characters, I quite like the pencil drawn Mickey Mouse images, my mouse mat (no pun intended) is a perfect example of these and being the saddo that I am I just scanned it in to show you!
Whenever you think of Disney you think of Mickey and Minnie Mouse so that's what I googled for. I couldn't believe it, almost instantly an image popped up and I just knew that was the one! I googled some more just really to tease myself but nothing compared to the one I'd seen first. Next came a VERY big problem! It was discontinued and had been for a very long time, worse still, when it was available it could only be bought in the Disney parks! That makes it incredibly rare. So after some disappointing links where you think it's in stock but it's not (and they were all in America anyway) I headed over to my friend Ebay! I was lucky, there was just one auction where it was available (and no completed listings which meant one hadn't been sold for some time) but as it is so rare it was listed at more than I would have felt comfortable paying. They did have a 'best offer' function set up on the auction and bearing in mind of the shipping (from America) and import taxes etc. I submitted my best price but after trying counter offers we couldn't reach a deal. I REALLY wanted it but there had to be a limit. Then I absolutely could not believe it, one happened to come up in the UK a couple of days later!! I just felt it was meant to be, there hadn't been one sold on Ebay for so long but I happened to look at the right time. It was a new listing and was running for a week......a week, how could I calm myself, LOL!! I slowly watched it going up and up in price and felt I had to be realistic, I wasn't stitching it until next year, there was every chance another could come up but would one? Oh the dilemma! I decided to set my limit at what I was prepared to pay for the American one including shipping and taxes. I waited until the very last minute to bid! I watched the clock go down and in the last few seconds someone bid against me but I was still in the lead. It ended around £10 less than my highest bid!! I was, and still am delighted! Now I have received the kit I probably would have been prepared to go a little higher but that doesn't matter now. (In fairness I actually think I got it at a very good price, the suggested framing size for this piece is 20"x16" so it's fairly big!) I won the auction yesterday afternoon and it arrived today! The seller was lovely and was delighted with my intentions. She had bought so many kits over the years she has overwhelmed herself and had decided to let some go. What I love about the image is that it's Mickey and Minnie as we know and love them but I think it has a slight vintage feel about it. Just to note, I am only going to stitch Mickey and Minnie (and the moon.) As much as Pluto is a cutie I just love the two of them together. (I will also be missing off the fishing rod and can!) I can't wait to get started on it, it's going to be very hard to resist not putting a few stitches in but I will! This project will be started on the 1st of January 2014! What do you think.......do you like it?
