Author: Anne S

Brightening my life one stitch or one card at a time, and sharing my joy of needlework and card-making.
Finishes, Needlerolls, Stitching Smalls

It never rains, it pours … & I’m flooding!

Anne S

Edited to add this positive news:

Tonight I decided to start a new project, being Sapphire Star canvaswork by Laura J Perin … after getting everything out, and making a working copy of the chart, I realised I’d goofed … I thought I had everything aside from the one thread that’s still on back order from months ago, only to find I don’t have any 18″ stretcher bars … doh! Oh well, it’s not as if I don’t have any other projects to choose from …

Instead I frogged the bottom band on my A Stitcher’s Needleroll by Lorri Birmingham … actually I ended up frogging part of it twice! Firstly to fix the error in the chart by removing the extra space between the body of the design and the bottom band (it was bugging me, and I couldn’t just leave it in) … then because I’d thrown all the kit threads out, thinking it was finished at the start of September, I re-kitted using the colour key … the second bit of frogging was due to misprint in the colour key (geez, I love Lorri Birmingham designs, but I seriously HATE all the chart errors!!!) – I ended up dragging my 500 series of threads out and colour matching with the rest of the finished stitching. I also subbed the bright pink ribbon, thinking a nice purple one would blend nicely, and it’s finally finished into an actual needleroll – which means I can finally add it to my 50 Projects tally … the stitching was done just prior to signing up, but it was within the official starting date of the rules – my compromise was that I wouldn’t add it to my tally until it was finish-finished … and now I can woohoo 😀
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
A Stitcher’s Needleroll by Lorri Birmingham
stitched from the kit contents
Photo compliments of Photobucket … bah humbug Blogger!
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Well, the good times just keep on rollin’ in my neck of the woods! Today I was worried I hadn’t heard from Mum and she said she’d phone today … so I thought I’d give her a quick call, only to find the home phone not working. The phone line is fine, as my PC is working with the internet with no problems … but I can’t get a true dial tone and use my home phone. A quick test using my mobile phone and it’s ringing on my mobile, but not ringing on the home phone … which means it’s likely my home phone needs to be replaced! I just cancelled my ‘messaging’ service on my home phone to save money, so the next phone will have it’s own answerphone … I guess my new phone will be my next ‘essential’ purchase. I could actually do without a home phone if it wasn’t for keeping up to date with Mum, and that’s critically important for me.

Anyway all I can say is “bring it on!!!!” … perhaps you can think of something else to add to the ever-increasing list of crappy events before the holiday season is over … well I’m not caving in!!! OK, that’s my rant for the night … now I’m off to sulk in my stitching corner to focus on all the positive things in my life right now … I refuse to let this latest event get me down! Mind you, with the way my financial situation is going, my 50 Projects Challenge may end up as a 100 Projects Challenge haha … although I’m likely to run out of DMC by then LOL. Right, I’m off to start something new to cheer myself up!

And on another negative note, I can’t believe it, but some thieving scumbag has stolen quilts from Amitie Textiles in Bentleigh … I’m absolutely gobsmacked that someone could do this. Here’s the link to the announcement on their blog … I thought I’d mention it in case any of my Melbourne readers are interested. I’m still shaking my head in disgust!

Now I also have a request from you – do any of you have any wonderful tried-and-tested bread recipes for a breadmaking machine, that don’t use a million different ingredients (or even those that do)? I have used a couple of recipes from the machine’s instruction manual that are good, but I also have a cookbook especially for bread machines, and the three loaves I’ve made so far have been dismal, and the book’s going out in the bin! I’d love to find some good recipes out there for trialling 😀 And another apology to Mum – if you don’t hurry up and get over here for a holiday, there’ll be no beer left … I have another loaf of Wholemeal beer and mustard bread baking … my fave recipe so far – guess who’s having cheese and pickle sandwiches for lunches next week again? haha.

Finishes

Happy Dancing!!

Anne S

And a great big happy dance it is too! Today I put the final stitches into Pacific Pohutukawa … and seeing as the Pohutukawa is the New Zealand Christmas tree, it’s finished at an appropriately festive time of year 😀 I have to say, though, my right thumb is quite tender after dragging the thread through those corner Pohutukawa flowers … and if I don’t see another skein of DMC Rayon or Metallic thread over the next 12 months, it’ll be too soon!! LOL. Actually the scan doesn’t do the colours justice – they’re extremely vibrant! 😀


Pacific Pohutukawa by Jen’s Jems
stitched as charted
with recommended fabric and threads

It also means my stretcher bars are now freed up ready to start my Laura J Perin piece woohoo 🙂 And seeing as Blogger photo uploading is playing nicely today, here are the next two ornies I put the finishing touches into yesterday.


Merry Yule by Erica Michaels Designs
2005 JCS Christmas ornament magazine
stitched on 32ct natural Belfast linen
with recommended threads and embellishments


Christmas Tree by Elizabeth’s Designs
2005 JCS Christmas ornament magazine
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
with recommended threads and beads

That means another 3 projects off my 50 Project Challenge … leaving me with 34 left to go, I think – woohoo! 😀

Finishes, RAK Registry

RAK Registry & Ornies

Anne S

Thanks to everyone who has supported the RAK Registry database (for stitching bloggers) to date – this has been a really fun project to coordinate. For those who have asked, there is no deadline to sign up for this, as it’s an ongoing project – you just need to send me an email with your details, and I’ll enter you into the blog database immediately. You can either send me an email requesting the questions, or just copy and paste the following and email your answers straightaway to mailto:shakatak@iinet.net.au :). Then if you want to send someone a RAK just drop me a line and I’ll send you their full contact details. Likewise if there’s someone you’d like to send to, and they’re not in the database, drop me a line with their blog details, and I’ll approach them with a request to sign up, or to get their contact details … then they still don’t know who it’s coming from so there’s still a surprise element attached 🙂

A link to the RAK Registry blog is in my sidebar, if you want to check it out. Thanks again for the support, my fellow stitching pals.

First/screen name:
Blog name/URL:
Fave colour(s):
Fave designer(s):
Fave styles of designs/stitching styles:
Fave thread types/brands:
Fave fabric(s) (eg count/colour/type):
Any dislikes (eg colours, design styles etc):
Pets/children:
Birthday:
Withlist URL:
Any small RAK’s that would be enjoyed (eg tea sachets, stationery, chocolate, fridge magnets, postcards etc):
Favourite holiday(s):
Holiday(s) not celebrated/liked:
Full name and mailing address:

As for me, while I was in ostrich mode with my head in the sand yesterday it left my hands (and mind) free to stitch … I managed to put the finishing touches into an ornie I started during the night shifts (the only reason to love that shift is that I get chance to pick up a needle very now and then inbetween calls ‘cos there’s no management around haha) – I didn’t have the right overdyed threads, so I substituted the WDW Kudzu for NN Grecian Olive, and Crescent Colors Blue Moon with NN Blue is Blue – I also swapped 28ct fabric for 32ct to make it slightly smaller … I think it still turned out OK.

Photobucket - Video and Image HostingWinter’s Eve by Country Cottage Needleworks
from JCS 2006 Christmas Ornament magazine
stitched on 32ct natural Belfast
with thread substitutions
I also managed to put the final stitches into two more ornies as well that have been sitting here just waiting for the embellishments to be added. I haven’t taken any piccies/scans yet, though, so they’ll have to wait until later and I’ll add them in. Hopefully by then Blogger will be playing ball with photos again, as I’ve been having to use Photobucket for the last two posts 😦 Perhaps they’re giving me the un-subtle hint to hurry up and move to Beta haha.

All these ornies are destined for a home elsewhere … unfortunately they won’t be gracing someone else’s tree for this Christmas due to financial constraints, but they will be sent out some time in the New Year ready for next Christmas …

And talking of ornies, Nicki and I are discussing having a Christmas ornie SAL on the 4th weekend of every month, and wonder if you’d be interested in joining us? I’ve cheated and copied most of Nicki’s post to save me being witty and thinking something up … and Nicki’s is perfect already

From the words of Nicki:

“Christmas is nearly here and I’ve realised that trying to do all my Christmas stitching in two weeks isn’t a great idea! So Anne and I are thinking of organising a monthly Christmas ornament SAL for next year.

The idea is to stitch one ornament each month, so at the end of the year we’ll have lots of pretties to give as gifts or put on trees. We’ll stitch on the fourth weekend of each month. (That seems to be what works best for everyone who’s answered so far).

If you’d be interested, let one of us know. You wouldn’t have to stitch each month of course. It’d just be a fun way of getting some Christmas ornaments stitched through the year and relieving the pre-Christmas rush!”

I’ve really missed doing an ornie SAL for the latter half of this year, and hopefully this will motivate me again into stitching every month … I’m actually thinking of making my own personal goal to stitch two every month so I get to keep an odd one or two as well as give them away, but I’ll still be happy with getting one done

Home & Family TO BE FIXED, PhotoHunt, Travel

PhotoHunt – Red (& Old)

Anne S


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This week’s theme is “RED” … going by the current festive season, I’m sure there will be a few Santa suits on the blogs, but I opted for something different. This is a friend ‘Sha’ at her wedding not long before I moved from Auckland – my first Indian wedding, it was a wonderful cultural experience and this photo in no way does her stunning outfit justice! 🙂

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My second choice for this week’s theme is a scene from outside the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tsai Temple in Hong Kong … I took this photo just because of all the red colour that was predominant 🙂

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

And lucky last, here’s another archive theme – this one is “OLD” … again I had a few choices for this theme, but I opted to use this one, which is one of my all-time favourite photos I’ve taken … “keeping OLD traditions alive” – starting a fire in Fiji 🙂

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Uncategorized

L&L conversions

Anne S
Just a quick post … for those of you who are lovers of the colour blue, and also of Lavender & Lace designs, check out some of the conversions for the Celtic Ladies … oh la la!!! Hmmm, I see another couple of additions to my stitching wishlist now … those charts sitting in my stash are offering a whole new dimension to me again!!

Celtic Noel
Celtic Winter
Celtic Winter (work in progress – page down for the latest piccie)
Celtic Autumn

Celtic Summer (edited to add this one – wow!)

And a link to the actual conversion process by Nathalie (from the WIP link above) – Celtic Winter.

As you can see, I’m wasting time today – I managed nearly 6 hours sleep, which is awesome, and now I’m pretending I’m an ostrich and burying my head in the sand for the rest of the day … my car issues can wait until tomorrow … I just don’t want to think about it any more today – there’s plenty of time to stress out tomorrow 😉

Alas today I also logged into Blogger, only to get the Dashboard notice saying my new ‘beta’ blogger is ready for me to move over … considering all the problems people still seem to be having, I think I might wait until they drag me by the hair kicking and screaming into the new blogger dimension … even though they say “all my layouts and contents will stay the same” … yeah, right! Time will tell … but that time’s not right now! 😉

Uncategorized

Downright fed up!

Anne S

The heading of this post really sums it up today … I was feeling quite good after completing my overnight shifts, and coming home for my days off work – even after only having 4 hours quality sleep each night (or ‘day’ to be more precise), I feel OK, and happy … then driving home that wonderful feeling disappeared.

After driving for a while with a slight knocking sound coming from the passenger side of the car, I drove to an open gas station that’s about halfway home and checked around the car, only to find a bloody great bolt head sticking out of the passenger side front tyre … here I was thinking my financial woes are finally going to be put to rest on Tuesday, my bills are all going to be paid, and I’m going to live it up with fresh veges on the dinner table and my stress levels will return to normal … well, so much for that idea! Now it’s likely I’m up for a brand new tyre on top of everything else … fed up? Too bloody right I am!! 😦

I did have an extra bit of excitement on the drive home, though … I saw black smoke billowing on the horizon, and thought it looked like fire smoke … sure enough, I drove past an art supply store that was billowing flames out the front – it was like being on the movie set of Ladder 49 or something, especially at 5.30am with the sky only just lightening up, the colour was quite vivid and very spectacular – I only wish I had my camera, as watching the fireman dealing with it with the flames pouring out the front was incredible!

Then to top it all off a stupid driver started reversing out really fast from his driveway, into the main road, right in front of me … I had to haul on the brakes to miss driving straight into him – between the tyre, the fire, and that moron my heartrate was definitely up by the time I got home … I was grateful just to pull into my driveway! Anyway, the bolt is still sitting in my tyre … I figured I’d drive home slowly and change the tyre etc when I can see it in daylight – and here I was thinking I’d have a relaxing day stitching on my day off … mutter mutter mutter.

Anyway, I have to say I’ve pretty much reached my limits … and can’t take much more testing of my inner strength … whoever’s doing the testing, could you just give me a passing grade, and let me get on with ‘life as I know it’ … enough already!!!!!

Sorry for the rant … it’s now 6am and I just wanted to get it off my chest before trying to get to sleep … ‘cos at the moment I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry, but I feel too tired to do either!

Finishes, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Picture heavy post!

Anne S

I remembered to take a piccie of my wee Christmas tree during the daylight yesterday – even though it’s only tiny (121cm/4ft tall), it really makes my place feel festive 🙂 My dream is to get a bigger tree, though, so perhaps next year I’ll be able to treat myself 😀 I love the LED lights I have on this tree, they really pack a punch at night!

This piccie is very very sad 😉 I bought this half tree last year in the sales when I decided to start making Christmas ornies myself … last year I just made the one, and it looks so lonely on there all by itself! LOL.

I figured the little half tree would be good just especially for my home made ornies, until I can get a bigger tree later (and I figured it would take me quite a while to stitch enough for a bigger tree). But because it looks so sad, I just HAD to put a couple of my ornies together yesterday to give that poor orphan ornie some family to play with! 😉 Not entirely thrilled with my choices of finishing, but they’ll do (I’m going to replace the white cording on the pinkeep one to a dark blue cording instead next year – hence the reason they’re just pinned instead of permanently attached, although I like the pinkeep look!). I’m stitching one each year for myself with the date on it, and this year that’s my Elizabeth’s Designs Christmas tree one.

Actually, these photos make it look like they’re all taken on different furniture! In fact the left one is hanging off my stitching recliner, but the other two are hanging off my lounge suite … the true colour of the suite is midway between the two piccies – I can’t get a true life piccie of that any time I try!

I have to admit, I really really miss our Christmas ornie SAL on the FGBB – it was a great motivator to get something stitched every month. As soon as the BB stopped, so did my ornie stitching 😦 Maybe I need to set myself a weekend every month and get back into it again next year! Hmmm …

The rest of the photos are for Mum’s sake … my little flat is coming apart at the seams – literally! The landlord is aware of the surface cracking, and he reported it to the Body Corporate months ago, but it’s got a lot worse recently, so a call to the landlord is in order again, me thinks. Apparently all those beautiful avenue of elm trees out the window are what’s causing the subsidence … thanks to their far-reaching and huge roots! Mum reckons I’m going to wake up one morning with the roof on my head LOL.

Rightio, back to it … I’m not sure what, but I know I should be doing ‘something’ – I had a shocking nights sleep last night, so I’m feeling a bit aimless today … fingers crossed I’ll be able to nap for an hour or so later on before work 🙂

Uncategorized

I don’t feel well ;)

Anne S

I really really can’t be feeling well … it’s now 6am and I’ve just walked in from work, after being up for almost 24 hours straight (the first night on doggo’s is a killer!) … anyway I’m driving home and thinking about a couple of XS charts I’d like to stitch. OK, so there’s nothing really unusual about that … BUT I’m envisaging how they’d be all stitched over-one … what the? I HATE over-one stitching – and only do it when I really really have to, so what on earth is possessing me to think I’d actually enjoy doing some of these BAP’s over-one?? If my head starts spinning around on my shoulders and spewing obscenities, at least I’ll then know I’m obviously and clearly possessed … right now I just think perhaps sleep deprivation has made me temporarily potty!

And what projects do I think would look great … I’ve already pretty much decided to stitch Graham Ross’ Rainbow Lorikeets that way, but on the way home I started thinking about By the Bay Needleart charts (such as this one), plus another Greek scene from an old magazine, and then a L&L design … crikey, I’d better get myself to bed quick smart and get some quality sleep before I do something really rash and actually start one of these things over-one!!! Someone bring me a cold compress and some Panadol, I’m obviously running a fever!!!

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Christmas in Elwood

Anne S

I’ve had a very lazy day today … but tonight I put a bit of effort into getting my Christmas decorating almost finished – I just have to stuff a Christmas tree Mum made for me, which will sit in the middle of my dining table, plus finish of a couple of Christmas ornies I stitched during the year for myself … the following photos are mainly for Isabelle who wanted to see my decorations once they were up 🙂

First of all my little flat’s lounge in all it’s glory … and the Christmas tree with it’s animal guardians – I couldn’t get a good photo tonight with the lights on (well, it’s actually just after 1am), so I’ll try to get a better photo tomorrow.



As you can see there are little bits of Christmas all over my small space – and here are some of the pieces in detail (this isn’t all of them, but I’m starting to get tired, and think I should hit the hay soon – I may put some more piccies up during the week).


And now “something I prepared earlier” …

Since stitching Coffee Menu I haven’t picked up a needle in this whole time – I’ve been having way too much fun getting the RAK Registry together. I spent 2 hours chatting to Mum today on the phone, and was telling her about it, and she rightly said it sounds “right up my alley” … any excuse to organise something and make lists haha.

Actually, Mum also told me I should share this little story with you as well … as you know I’ve been struggling a lot financially over the last 1-2 months, and haven’t been buying any groceries except for milk and the occasional few onions etc, but living out of my pantry and freezer. Well, the main contents of my freezer have been chicken breasts … about 3-4kg of chicken breasts, to be exact! Mum said to me a few weeks ago, “you must be sick to death of chicken by now!” … “you’re not kidding”, is my reply. Well, here my sick sense of humour kicks in …

My bathroom is a combined laundry/bathroom (typical apartment), and I have my cat basket and supplies sitting in the laundry tub while waiting to get a real life kitty to take up residence … anyway, as I’m climbing out of the shower a week or so ago, I look over at the pile of kitty stuff, and think to myself, smirking, “oh well, if I ever get desperate enough for food, there’s always that big bag of Hills Science kitty biscuits” (not that I would ever actually do that!!) … and I grinned a bit … then I read the label, and totally cracked myself up and howled with laughter … the flavour just HAD to be “Chicken and Rice”!!!!! You probably had to be there, but Mum and I shared yet another chuckle about it today – it’s true that things have to be really really bad for me to lose my sense of humour! I get that from my Mum, we can usually find something funny in most things 😉 And yes, my sense of humour is definitely starting to return, and things are brightening up 🙂

I must say though, a week on Tuesday I get paid, and I’m going to go mental shopping!! After finally paying Mr Tax-Man, I’m going to go crazy buying fruit and vegetables!!! That’s the one thing I’ve really REALLY missed – I’ve pretty much been living on protein and carbs for the last 1-2 months, with the occasional frozen vege and tinned tomatoes thrown in, and I am seriously craving salads! I could quite easily sit down right now with a whole head of lettuce and scoff the lot in one sitting!! I’ll still be frugal for quite some time, if not right throughout 2007, but I will definitely be having one huge salad for dinner a week on Tuesday! 😀

Anyway, I guess I’d better hit the hay and get some shut-eye … I’ve tried to keep myself awake really late tonight, to try and get myself into the right frame of mind for tomorrow, as I’m back on overnight shifts again – oh yippee :/ I start work at 9pm and finish at 5am for 4 nights … that should keep me out of mischief this week, and I might actually get caught up on those 600+ blog posts I’m still trying to read hmmm 😉 In the meantime I hope life is treating everyone well 😀

Gifts TO BE FIXED, RAK Registry, SBQ

SBQ & RAK photo

Anne S

I didn’t want to lose Isabelle’s gorgeous RAK photo among all the other photos yesterday, so waited until today to give it it’s own wee place – finally here is my RAK in all its glory … complete with open box on the choccie haha. Thanks again Isabelle, it’s so so sweet of you {{hugs}}.

And for this week’s SBQ, here goes …

“How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically,do you or have you ever used a waste knot?”

Yes, I use waste knots quite regularly when doing specialty stitches, as a lot of times there’s not much to anchor it on the back until you’ve worked a few stitches. Have to say I hate doing it, as it wastes thread and I hate having to cut off the knots and reweave the ends through at the end 😦 Unfortunately, though, it’s sometimes a necessary evil! If I’m using overdyed threads, and I have a solid line to stitch, I’ll put a small knot in the end of the thread, take the needle down into the fabric in the middle of the line, about an inch away from where I’m going to stitch, then back up at the beginning to start stitching – that way I’m stitching over the line and catching the ‘tail’ under my stitching as I go, and I cut the knot off at the back as I get closer and the tail is well anchored. If I’m using plain ol’ DMC I do a ‘loop start’ usually.

The RAK Registry is almost finished (just tidying up of the sidebars etc), and I’ve made a little ‘blinkie’ in my Links sidebar here which takes you straight to the RAK blog. Hopefully more people will join in and fill in those spaces in the alphabet, and this will be a good resource for the days to come. If you think you’d like to see someone’s details on there, either let them know about it, or drop me a line with their blog details and I’ll send them an email saying I’ve had a request to have them join in the fun 🙂 I’ve really enjoyed setting this up for us! 😀