Month: February 2007

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Stitch-alongs

Christmas Ornie SAL

Anne S

This month I cheated a wee bit – instead of stitching a new ornie from scratch, I pulled out a half-finished one and put the final stitches into it.  I can now say I’ve set a new record for myself for the smallest piece stitched!  The ornie used a Just Nan charm frame, which I didn’t have, so right from the start I thought about stitching the middle part on a separate piece of fabric but using a Nun’s stitch around the sides and attaching it at the end.  Last night I stitched the wee over-one section and did the Nun’s stitch tonight before putting it all together.  Now it’s headed for the finishing pile with the rest of the ornies 🙂 


“A Little Joy” by Just Nan, Inc
from 2002 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue
stitched on 28ct Mushroom Meran, and 32ct Flax Belfast
using recommended threads and beads

Here’s a couple of photos using Mum’s hand as a model, and a packet of Piecemaker needles, to show just how tiny this little centre piece is.  I was originally giving this one away to an online stitching buddy, but I have to say I don’t think I’ll face doing that over-one section again, so I think now I’m going to be keeping this one for myself! 😉

The other stitching news is that I FINALLY finished off my Peace needleroll ornament into a needleroll – but I forgot to take piccies, so I’ll have to do that later.  It’s been pinned together for so long just waiting to have the seam stitched, I’m surprised the pins haven’t gone rusty! LOL.

Nothing else to report, really – I’m partly through my Etui stitching, but not entirely happy with my colour choices, as they seem a lot paler with just a couple of strands … I need to replace my Soie Cristale blue with something a tiny bit deeper, so tomorrow we’re hoping to drop into Bustle & Bows in Surrey Hills to check out their silk selection – ideally I’d like something similar in colour to Needle Necessities 101 floss (or just slightly darker), so fingers crossed we can find something.  It means there’ll be a bit of frogging to do, though, as I’ve almost completed 3 of the little pyramid triangles (apart from the edges, as I’m still waiting for the threads to arrive from Hand Dyed Fibers).  I won’t bother showing you a piccie until I’ve got all the colours to hand and I’ve got at least one piece totally stitched.

Rightio, off back to the TV where I’m pretty sure Mum has just fallen asleep … I think I’m going to have to start taping her favourite TV programmes for her – every night we’ve watched CSI ‘cos she loves it, she’s fallen asleep halfway through!  She’s a worry!!

Cross Stitch, RAK Registry

RAK Registry

Anne S

  It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the RAK (Random Act of Kindness) Registry for stitching bloggers – but seeing as I’ve had a couple of new enquiries recently I thought I’d give it another plug 😀

I thought it would be nice to have a ‘central register’ for my fellow stitching bloggers’ likes and dislikes for sending a small RAK, as it’s often I think I’d like to pop something small into the mail ‘just because’ or for a birthday, but don’t have all the recipients details to hand.  Some people have wishlists and likes/dislikes held in different bulletin boards/groups, of which you need to have membership – this way no membership is required, just an active stitching blog.

If you would like to send any of the RAK Registry participants a small RAK, please send an email to me (shakatak at iinet dot net dot au) and I can arrange for address details of your intended recipient to be given to you. Due to privacy and security reasons I can only release this information to an existing stitching blogger (with an active blog), and preferably to one that is participating in this list (unless I can vouch for you personally).

If you’d like to join the list you just need to complete the short questionnaire below and email it to me, and I’ll add you to the website … it’s as easy as that!  Here’s the questionnaire you need to complete:

Blog URL:
Preferred first name/screen name:
Fave colours:
Fave designers:
Fave styles of designs/stitching styles:
Fave thread types/brands:
Fave fabrics:
Any dislikes:
Pets/children:
Birthday:
Wishlist URL:
Any small RAK’s that would be enjoyed:
Fave holidays:
Holidays not celebrated or liked:
Full snail mail details:

I’d also love to make the birthday list more comprehensive, including those that aren’t actually participating in the RAK Registry, so if you’re a stitching blogger and you’d like your birthday to be included in the list please leave me a comment with your details (either here or the RAK Registry blog), and I’ll add you in straightaway 😀

Lastly, here are some quick links from the RAK blog itself for you:

Here’s the link directly to the birthday list (for stitching bloggers – in date order, but note not all these bloggers are taking part in the RAK Registry)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For full RAK blogger details (in alphabetical order by blog name) – click on the letter below to take you straight to the relevant post where you will find their complete information with likes and dislikes, and wishlists where supplied:

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – XYZ

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Below are links to the blogs of all RAK participants to date (in alphabetical order of blog name):

A Kiwi Stitching (Katrina – NZ)
A Tree Hugger’s Wife (Missy – USA)
Bible en Broderie (Renee – France)
Coffee Cup Thoughts (Christine – Canada)
Colourful Creations (Karen – Canada)
Contemplating My Needle and Thread (Su – UK)
Coonie and Plume (Sylvie – France)
Coral’s Blog (Coral – South Africa)
Craftee Cab (Michelle – USA)
Cross Stitch and Coffee (Tracy – NZ)
Fairy Tales & French Knots (Erin – USA)
Feather Stitching (Anne – Australia)
Garden of Stitches (Carol – USA)
It Will Be Funny Tomorrow (Cathy – USA)
Kitty Couture (Isabelle – France)
Ladybug’s Stitches (Nicole/Elanor – Switzerland)
Lavender Rose Ramblings (Deborah – USA)
Leslie’s Cross Stitch Heaven (Leslie – USA)
Mainely Stitching (Barbara – Netherlands)
Melissa’s Ramblings (Melissa – USA)
Mrs Sew and Sew (Clare – UK)
Mundane Musings By Me (Virginia/Vee – Canada)
My Favourite Things (KarenV – UK)
Mylene’s Blog (Mylene – Netherlands)
Now We Are Six (Carina – USA)
Once Upon A Stitch (Annemiek – Netherlands)
On the Dry Side (Von – USA)
Plush (Nicki – NZ/UK)
Random Stitching Ramblings (Cindy – USA)
Señorita Stitches ¡Ay Carumba! (Veronica – USA)
Smokey of the Netherlands (Judith – Netherlands)
Spirit Blooms (Carissa – Canada)
Stitchcats Thread Garden (Margaret – NZ)
Stitched With Love and Cat Hair (Renee – USA)
Stop The World! I Want To Get Off! (Faye – USA)
Tale of a Shooting Star… (Jenna – USA)
The Craft Room (Andrea – UK)
The Twisted Stitcher (Vonna – USA)
They Came From the LNS… (CathyMK – Australia)
Threads of Desire (Kathryn – USA)
Wendy – Home at Work (Wendy – Canada)
With Needle And Thread (Cathy – USA)
Virpin ristipistoja (Virpi – Finland)

PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt – Soft

Anne S


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No real explanation needed for this week’s theme – this is most of my collection of “Soft” Toys, in particular my ducks … yes, I’m definitely duck-mad, and a girl can never have enough of these fine feathered friends in whatever shape or form! 😀 The second photo is one of my all-time favourite ducks 😀 There have also been a couple more added since this photo was taken – and some have now spilled over from the bedroom into the lounge room 😉

Cross Stitch, Round Robins, SBQ, Works in Progress

Quaker update & Bordeaux

Anne S

I finally managed to get my stitching finished on part one today – I’m using 32ct Country French Linen in Chantilly, with DMC Variations 4030 … definitely a non-traditional Quaker colour 😉 I really enjoyed stitching this one, although it took longer to stitch than I expected, and I’m looking forward to receiving part two as part of this Round Robin 😀

This is my first ever Quaker piece, but I’ve got a few charts waiting in the wings to be stitched, so it definitely won’t be my last!  It’s lovely stitching this one with some of my closest online buddies 😀  (This photo is a lot brighter than it is in real life, but I can’t get a decent one at the moment.)

It’s also Bordeaux SAL time for the week with Carol and Leslie – I actually did my stitching two days ago, as it was still sitting on my floor stand and it was easiest to pick up and stitch without too much effort haha.  I’m still a couple of weeks away from finishing this band, but I could probably say I’m at the halfway mark now of the whole project, give or take a grape or two 😉  I’m really looking forward to the next band, as it looks like a nice easy one … although I hope it’s all Rhodes grapes not over-one ones, or I’ll be slitting my wrists LOL.  This week’s progress sees one new boxer and basket, and a 4-letter “F” word

Thanks for all the lovely words about my new Pyramid Etui thread choices – I’m about to start stitching this soon, so we’ll be able to see if my choices actually work together.  In answer to Terri’s question … I signed up for the class pretty much sight unseen – I put my hand up before knowing which projects were going to be taught, as I was so keen to attend a CA Wells class – then on seeing a photo in someone’s online album the colours didn’t look as pale as the actual threads that turned up … they were still pastels in the photo, but not quite as ‘bland’.  I absolutely ADORE the Etui design, though, and still very glad I signed up for the class … but I have to say I’m MUCH happier now I’ve changed the colours to be more “me”. 

Thanks also to Nicki, who’s sending me some leftover Summer Shadows silk thread to save me having to buy an entire new skein for the Etui … you’re a real sweetheart!

  I’m also aware I’m now very overdue with the SBQ’s so here goes trying to catch up …

7 Feb – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

“Have you ever been to a stitching retreat?”

My answer would be yes, but only a very small one.  I attended a weekend retreat through the Counties Embroiderers Guild in Auckland when I was a relatively new member (and didn’t know anyone) – and we had the short class taught by Shelley Warner for her Cream button bag (which I only just completed recently).  Other than that I attended a Heart of Cross Stitch festival in Sacramento, CA many years ago … although that probably doesn’t class as a “retreat” in the true sense of the word.

14 Feb – Today’s SBQ is:

“Do you like to buy “chartpacks” that include charms, buttons, and/or beads or do you prefer to gather all materials yourself?”

This is a good question – and my answer depends on the chart itself.  On the whole I’d usually prefer to kit up my own threads, especially if there are pinks in it (yeah, I know, that’s an obsession of mine … for example, I adore the Au Fil de Reves Stitcher’s Bourse and accessories charts, but would replace the pink for a powder blue instead, so would prefer chart only for that).  In saying that, though, sometimes you only need a tiny piece of each thread, in which case I prefer to have them as a partial kit.  I don’t generally need Mill Hill beads, as I have loads in my stash, but if charms or bigger beads are needed I’d prefer to have those as part of the chartpack, as it’s sometimes a pain in the neck to find the right ones or a decent substitute, the same goes with any ribbons etc – the downside to chartpacks, though, is that they generally cost an arm and a leg compared to kitting it up yourself.

21 Feb – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:

“What is the smallest count fabric you have ever used? Did you stitch over one? Conversely, what is the largest count fabric you have ever used?”

The smallest count I’ve stitched on so far is 36ct, which I’m using for the Bordeaux Sampler, and I’m really loving it.  I wouldn’t mind trying 40ct as well some time in the future, but don’t own any as yet.  On the 36ct for Bordeaux I’m stitching a fair amount over-one with the lettering and grapes … which is interesting.  I don’t know how Carol manages it on 40ct!!  As for the largest count I have to say it’s an 18ct fabric I used for Jenna’s hardanger lavender sachet, which was a big difference to other linens I’ve stitched on.  My favourite is generally 32ct, but now I’ve tried the smaller counts I’m starting to convert 😉

Uncategorized

Pyramid Etui – final version!!

Anne S

After Nicki kindly offered me some blue silks to come up with a new colourway, I started thinking I’d love something in “Monet” colours … then a few minutes later I remembered I had a Silk ‘n’ Colors thread that was in that sort of colourway.  No sooner had I found that thread, that I looked at my couple of RG Splendor threads I had, and found a dusky mauve that matched … there was no hope after that! 

I’ve been dragging threads from all over the place, including pilfering one from the Stitching Leporello kit, and utilising the green from the original Pyramid kit.  Anyway, I can’t believe it, but I think I’ve come up with a colour scheme that I’m really really happy with!  It means I just have to buy a couple of skeins of silks, as some colours need extra lengths – plus I need to buy about 4 skeins of the Hand-Dyed Fibres premium silk (in Midnight) … anyway, without further ado I’ll show you my final choices (I just hope like hell I can get the remaining skeins from Karen at Dragonfly Dreams super-quick!).  The threads are in the same order that I’d be stitching them on the bargello bands.

I hope CA Wells isn’t too upset I’ve totally changed her colour scheme – but I have to admit I really love this new one so much better.  I wasn’t really looking forward to stitching it before, but now I can’t wait to get started, and that’s gotta be a good thing! 😀

The new threads are, from left to right:  Silk ‘n’ Colours 982 Summer Shadows, Hand-Dyed Fibers Midnight, mystery green silk from the original kit, Soie Cristale 7063, NPI silk 352, RG Splendor S936, and AVAS Soie d’Alger 2212.  Rightio, I’m off to start ordering (yes, you’d be right in thinking “aren’t you supposed to be stitching today?” … but there’s always tonight in front of the TV right? LOL).

Cross Stitch, Stitching Smalls

Pyramid Etui update

Anne S

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments – I think KarenV hit the nail on the head, the problem I have with the colours are that they really are “drab”! I’m usually quite a bright person where colours are concerned, so I was really disappointed when I opened up the kit to that not-so-wonderful array of colour 😦 And that pink just sticks out like a sore thumb – and of course just happens to be the one shade of pink I absolutely abhor!  Anyway, I’ve scanned a small piece of the colour piccie that came with the kit so you can see the difference of the photo piece and the threads sent (and the scan is pretty accurate for the colours).  I think even in the scan of the stitched panel the pink sticks out like a sore thumb – and the colours are sure as heck a lot different between the scan of the stitched panel and the threads! 

The first instruction is to do the 4-sided stitch around the outlines in the blue thread … right … um, blue … I guess that’s the drab greeny-looking thread second from the right.  I like the idea of perhaps finding a peach thread to soften it a bit, but I have to admit that if I’m truly honest with myself, I want the change the whole lot!  The problem I have is I spent every spare cent I have, pretty much, on the kit costs for these two projects and still have to pay for the airfare etc, and I don’t think I have enough silk in my stash to rekit the whole thing from scratch – I may hunt through my variegated silks, though, to see if it gives me any ideas for rekitting (in the back of my mind, though, I’m thinking rich jewel tones – not blues for a change haha).  I could always stitch up one band in the current colours, but replacing the pink with peach, and see how I feel about it stitched up, as the way I’ve gridded the fabric I’ve been very frugal and have enough left over for one more panel …

In the meantime, though, I may follow the good advice of a few of you and stitch up the peacock one first while I’m mulling over my options for the other one.  I also may re-chart up the design in my XS program and play with the colours on there to see what would work, ie with the peach vs powder blue etc.  I don’t have much time to play with, as I was supposed to have one panel stitched by the end of the weekend, so I’m behind the 8-ball already timewise oops.  Luckily the fact I’m on leave at the moment gives me chance to catch up, though.

Edited to add:  Actually Mum and I have been playing with the colours, and think if we just tone down the pink with a more muted and ‘dusky’ version I could live with it … barely … so we’ve decided DMC 778 is do-able, as long as I can find a silk in similar tonings.  We tried a couple of different colours, and the muted blues/turquoises all mean we’d have to change the variegated silk, and I don’t have anything in my stash that would suit.  I really liked the apricot on the screen, but IRL it was lost between the ‘ecru’ and gold … so, I guess the pink it is for now mutter mutter mutter LOL.  If everything turns pear-shaped trying to find another pink silk, I’ll just use the original pink and stitch with my eyes closed

Edited again to add:  My apologies for not posting this before, but here is a piccie of the actual project I’m harping on about … The photos are compliments of the Needle in a Haystack class they held – you can click on the link for further info and a description of the project itself.  Here’s a photo of the Etui both open and closed (and in fact probably show the colours closer to what I actually have now … perhaps she’s changed the colours since the original photos and instructions were done?).

 

Right now, though I’m off to get my Quaker RR stitched up … fingers crossed my thread choice turns out OK for that one! 😉 (and it’s certainly not drab LOL)

Uncategorized

Pyramid Etui

Anne S

Yesterday afternoon/evening I finally started laying out all the pieces for my CA Wells class for the Pyramid Etui – no mean feat in approx 36C heat, and I hate ‘gridding’ at the best of times. Anyway, my next challenge is to make a decision before I can start stitching. I keep thinking of the Sesame Street song “one of these is not like the others” … if you know me well, you’ll know where my dilemma is when you see the following piccie:  

I just can’t bring myself to have that dreadful lolly pink in my stitched Etui … in fact, if I’m honest I’d personally change ALL the colours to richer yummy ones, and one day I may stitch it again and do just that.  Anyway, the next piccie is what I’m thinking of doing, and wonder if it will look OK?  I had in the back of my mind that I’d rather substitute the pink, which is a stark contrast to the other colours in a way anyway, to a muted duck egg blue or very light turquoise – I found this NPI silk in my stash and think it might work out OK, what do you think? It’s either that, or find a pastel blue from somewhere, but there’s definitely no way the pink is staying! 😉

On the other hand, the Peacock Needlecase colours are just totally scrummy, and I can’t wait to stitch with them!  Check these out … it gets a resounding “mmmmmm, yummy” from me! 😉  I’m going to stitch the Etui first, mainly because I know I won’t enjoy stitching with those muted colours as much, and my treat at the end will be to stitch with these yummy ones!

Rightio, time to get motivated and put a few stitches into something – thankfully the heat is a lot lower today, so it should be a more productive day.  We still have a couple of DVD’s left to watch (we got ones that we can keep for 2 days), so that sounds like another perfect day of stitching and movies … at least for part of the day anyway.  Then we have to have a tidy-up session (there’s stitching stuff everywhere LOL) before we make a call to kick real estate agent butt! 😉

Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Melbourne

A Walk on the Wild Side & an unexpected gift

Anne S

Actually the title should probably be “Animal Quackers” ‘cos there are a few birds in these shots (surprise, surprise haha).  We survived a day at Healesville Sanctuary yesterday in the sweltering heat (38C), although we were exhausted by the end of the day.  We finished the day off with a quick stop at Emerald Lake Park, but we were so tired from the heat by then we just took a couple of duck photos and left again.  Anyway, we thought we’d share a couple of our favourite shots of the local wildlife from yesterday … makes a change from stitching 😉 (all the piccies are clickable for bigger versions)

 
An Aussie wildlife park just wouldn’t be the same without a Wallaby or two!


A Lace Monitor – he chose the time of our visit to clamber around, so it was hard to get a photo of him sitting still … but I love the pose in this one!


The pelicans reminded me of a holiday in Greece – two were casually walking among the visitors … I went a bit pelican-mad photo-wise, so I’ve just chosen one to share.


A male Lyrebird – first time I’ve managed to catch sight of one – the last time I visited I couldn’t find him in the aviary!


A Kookaburra taken through fine mesh wiring, so it came out really well considering … I really love this shot.


I’m not sure what type of duck this one is but she’s cute!


Awwww, I just love this one – my favourite type of all ducks, she’s just beautiful!!

Today we braved the elements outdoors for a shorter period of time and just walked up to the local Video Ezy store to pick up a few DVD’s to watch – even with just an hour in this heat and we were ready to retire in front of the electric fan for the afternoon.  I had an unexpected birthday gift left by my apartment on our return, though … it decided to give me a piece of the architraving – such a generous gift, but I really wish it hadn’t!  So tomorrow will be spent giving my real estate agent a kick in the pants, as well as phoning the landlord directly because the agent is doing sod all about these cracks … I took a few other piccies as well of cracks that are worsening, but I won’t bore you with those.  I will, however, share the lovely birthday gift we came home to … or at least where it “used to be” 😦

PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt – Antique

Anne S


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Not being into ‘antique’ items, such as brooches, furniture etc (I’m more of a modern girl at heart), I struggled with this week’s theme – I thought of putting Mum’s photo up, but she wasn’t amused 😉 (actually she did suggest it later when I was still struggling).

This is the best I could come up with … some ‘antique’ buildings from a visit to Egypt about 10 years ago.


Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel (an extremely long day trip from Aswan, but sooooo worth it!!)


From the Temple of Kom Ombo on the banks of the Nile


Inside the tomb of Ramses IV in the Valley of the Kings

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Gifts TO BE FIXED, Melbourne, Stitching Smalls, Works in Progress

Leporello & more birthday gifts

Anne S

As promised yesterday, I can finally share Nicki’s beautiful gift with you – every time I’ve seen one of Nicki’s gorgeous over-one stitched letters I’ve drooled … now I can drool over my very own one!  I just adore my pinkeep, it’s stitched and finished perfectly as always … and once again very scrummy colours! 😉  As well as my gorgeous pinkeep, Nicki also sent a really cute notebook too, which will come in very handy! 😀  Thanks again Nicki, I love everything and will treasure my pinkeep always! And I love the clever personalisation on the back! 😀

   

The other photos I have to share are of my Stitching Leporello – part one is now all finished.  I just realised I had the stitching on a bit of an angle, so the camera has blurred the bottom part of the ‘frontal’ photo as I used my SLR, but you get the idea … also I tried to take one photo on an angle to show up the beads.  I really need to get a tripod so I can take better photos – another challenge for the year, I think, to improve my photography skills!  In the meantime, though, these’ll have to suffice.  As usual with this sort of design, the photos don’t do the project justice whatsoever … it’s just gorgeous in real life!  Unfortunately, though, it won’t see the light of day for at least another 3 months, as my upcoming stitching time will now be spent on the CA Wells class projects plus a birthday gift or two.

 

And on that note, I’ll shut down for the day, as Mum and I are off to Healesville Sanctuary for the day – and if we have time we’ll call into Emerald Lake Park before coming home.  It will be nice to have a day out in the fresh air.

Thanks again to everyone who has left me birthday wishes – I really appreciate all the comments, e-cards, and private emails I’ve received … thanks for helping to make the day extra special {{hugs}}.