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

Project #2 out of 50 totally finished

Anne S

This one is a bit of a cheat … the actual challenge started on 1 September, so I get to include my two needlerolls that I finished the stitching of last week. My personal criteria, though, is that I’m not allowed to include them as part of the 50 Project Challenge until they’re “finished” into needlerolls (seeing as I’d already done the stitching before I personally accepted the challenge) … and I’m pleased to say “1 down, 1 to go”. I just couldn’t get motivated in the afternoon to stitch, but rather my finishing pile screamed to me louder! I popped into Spotlight on the way back from the PO, and picked up some Christmas fabric for ornie backings – I might even get organised enough to get some finished off during the next two months 😉

I did my finishing while watching another DVD rental – Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School … it was a pretty good ‘chick flick’, and perfect for my equivalent of a Sunday afternoon (yeah, I know it’s only Friday, but it was the end of my personal weekend as I’m back to work again, hence my Sunday). Today was an interesting day, as I just wasn’t in the mood to be back there again – not helped by the fact that Sandra that I work with told me I looked awfully pale this morning hmmm 😦 Oh well, at least I survived the day in one piece 😉

Not sure what I’ll do tonight – I managed to get a couple of hours stitching into Dolphins Domain (aka The Dratteds) last night, which I have to admit I really enjoyed, even though it took me much longer to stitch than normal. I won’t bother posting a progress piccie until I’ve stitched a bit more on them. Once I’ve finished my 10 hours rotation I’ll get my current RR piece stitched, then I need to work on my final exchange for a while – the scissor fob exchange on the Robin’s Nest BB. Then in the New Year I’m committed to another Quaker RR with some close online buddies, so I won’t be taking on any other stitching commitments while that’s underway.

Rightio, off to get dinner cracking, then the dishes, then kitting up a new small project for a gift … the Dratteds can wait a day or so 😉

Cross Stitch, Exchanges

Redwork exchange received

Anne S

Just a quick note to upload some piccies, and say a HUGE thank you to Leslie for my Redwork exchange piece … isn’t this the most gorgeous thing? I just love it! It’s just so rich and scrummy … I have most definitely fallen in love with redwork – I just can’t get enough of it now! (Don’t worry, though, I’m still most definitely a blue girl at heart, and that won’t change LOL.) As well as the beautiful stitched ornament (which I adore), Leslie also sent some extra goodies along – some GAST threads and a fat 1/4 of some lovely quilting fabric … all very very useful! 😀 As well as that, she also sent the chart and remaining charms that she stitched mine from – which I also love, and it’s going to be very very handy as you’ve just given me a great idea for an upcoming gift 🙂 This poor exchange has been sitting at the Post Office since just before last weekend, but this is the first time I’ve been anywhere near work during daylight hours to pick it up.

Before I forget, for Cindy – I used the flat-fold instructions from Judy Odell’s book, which is wonderful … but Kim has put very good instructions on her website here – the only major difference is that Judy attaches her ribbon before the pieces are put together, and she stitches the pieces together instead of using glue, using a ladder stitch – hope that helps 😀

And here is the before and after photo of the Kitty Pi Mum knitted for me … I’ve conned her into making another one (one for the lounge, and one for the bedroom), but I’ve found where I can buy the proper wool (ie Noro Kureyon) here in Melbourne, so we’re going to get some of the ‘Real McCoy’ to use next time. As you can see, the ducks are seriously impressed with it! 😉 Just for a change, I thought we’d go “blue” LOLOL – the actual colour is more muted than the photo looks.

As for today, nothing much done except for housework – the lounge is tidy now (including my stitching corner, will miracles never cease??) … the next job is the dining table which is a pigsty, but I figure just doing a bit every day will eventually get the clutter put away – after that, I start decluttering the bedrooms, and that’s a full-time job haha. I had a shocking night’s sleep last night due to horrendously high winds making a racket, so I’m just taking it very very easy today, and I’ll have an early night tonight … hmmm, I wonder what rocket fuel cocktail I could make tonight to knock me out? LOL. Other than that today I managed to get Zohrah’s replacement mail art exchange in the mail … I haven’t felt too creative this week, so I’ve just re-done the original mail art I did (praying this one turns up, as I don’t think I could stitch it three times!!).

I think this arvo I’m going to drag out the Dratteds and put a few stitches into them … I really wanted to get them finished by Christmas, and that date is looming really really quickly!! After that, I think Egyptian Garden Mandala will be replacing them as my focus piece on my rotation … I can’t wait to stitch on this one again 🙂

Finishes, Works in Progress

Small ‘finishing finish’

Anne S

Another quiet day … even though it sounds like I’ve been very busy, I’ve actually been very relaxed and lazy all day – I did a small load of washing, and felted my Kitti Pi bed (thanks to Jo for putting that on her blog) that Mum knit for my four-legged friend that hasn’t arrived yet … it’s currently drying on top of my washing basket, so I’ll show the before and after piccies when it’s finished.

Aside from that I did a very tiny bit of stitching on my Bordeaux Sampler this evening, so here’s this week’s progress piccie … the only difference to last week is a tiny part of the right-hand border, a bit of gold, and two groups of those dratted over-one grapes. I’m soooo tempted to leave all those until the end, but if I did that I know it’d never ever get finished, so I’m forcing myself to stitch them as I go, and complete each band … I still have the four little grapes on the first dividing band to stitch yet, though.

The final thing I did today was to finally finish my Stars are Brightly Shining ‘ornament’ (by SamSarah Designs in the JCS 2005 ornie issue), and make my first ever flat-fold … I don’t have any suitable ribbon, so no embellishments are on it yet – I’ll probably add some red cording and a red ribbon bow on the top, but not entirely 100% sure of that yet. Oh well, that’s one thing crossed off my to-do lists for the year, as a flat-fold was one of my key goals for 2006 (the rest of my list is a bit of a whitewash, though!). Even though the curved needle had a mind of its own for a while, eventually I managed to tame it enough to do a fairly decent job of doing the ladder stitch joining up the sides 🙂 (The first piccie is a better representation of the actual colour – it’s a Country Stitch Kiwi Pearl, so not named, and it’s absolutely divine!) It’s shocking that it’s taken me so long to finish this off … it’s been sitting there just waiting to have its carrot nose stitched on, and that’s it! {shaking head} We didn’t have a button the right size, so Mum and I made one out of Fimo last Christmas (yes, it’s really been sitting here that long! LOL).

Tomorrow will see my final day of being lazy, as it’s back to work on Saturday again … thankfully to decent shifts this week of 8am-4pm for a few days – followed by 5am-1pm shifts … I’ll just have to make doubly sure I get all my sleep regularly for that 🙂 And I’m back to taking the Voltaren again to try and get my back pain under control – I stopped after just 3 days last week, which was a bit dumb … this week I’m determined to get it all fixed up and get my health back under control 🙂

And before I forget … for Nicki – I really loved the World’s Fastest Indian … what a wonderful feel-good movie, I can definitely recommend it! The only thing that took some getting used to was Anthony Hopkins’ weird ‘Southland’ accent … sounded a bit more like something out of Cornwall, rather than Invercargill, but then again it’s been a long time since I’ve been in Dunedin/Invercargill 😉

Finishes

1 out of 50 Projects Completed

Anne S

It took me forever to do just a tiny bit of stitching last night … I’m still struggling to get my needles active again – but I persevered until the final stitches were put into my little bee project … “Bumble the Bee: Waxer Pocket” by Moss Creek Designs. I only had the beads and chain stitch left to do on the main piece, and the whole of the name label. It might be a while before it’s actually finished into the pocket itself, but at least the stitching’s finished 🙂

The pictures are totally out of proportion, too … the little name label on the right is actually only marginally over an inch in size! When I cropped it on the scanner, it automatically resized it hmmm.

Now I’m off to have a quiet day again … I’ve had a couple of minor dizzy spells today, so I’m taking it majorly easy and just pottering … not sure whether my needles will see the light of day today … time will tell.

Uncategorized

Health all OK

Anne S

My wee health scare yesterday was just a scare after all … all my test results came back OK, which is great news. Nothing concrete given as the reason for it happening, but we think perhaps my continued lack of sleep and the pain in my neck/shoulder/back just sent me over the edge. Let’s just say, the next time I do these shifts, I’ll be taking a sleeping tablet on the first night to get me in the rhythm … that is if I can find them! I was going to take one last night, but couldn’t find them – but even without them I managed to sleep off and on for 11 full hours … crikey!!

Didn’t do much today, aside from a bit of light housework (more tidying up in general), and making a big pot of pumpkin soup. Tonight I intend sitting on my big bum in front of the TV and trying to stitch for an hour or two and taking it easy – I picked up two DVD’s from Video Ezy before going to the GP (they’re right next door to one another … very convenient), so I’ll be watching The World’s Fastest Indian and Walking the Line. I couldn’t stitch at all last night ‘cos we had a power cut … the flat looked really pretty, though, with about 20 candles lit around the place 😉

That’s all for me for the night … Thanks for all your well wishes – they’ve been very very well received! {hugs}

Uncategorized

Small health scare

Anne S

Well, my walk around the waterfront didn’t eventuate … instead I ended up having a walk around the block in the other direction – to the local Medical Centre. I got up from the computer to walk to the kitchen, and started blacking out and falling over … I caught myself on the kitchen chair with my arm, and the table collected my forehead, and while hanging on for dear life my legs and body started having, for want of a better word, convulsions. I have to say it scared the bejeezus out of me, and I phoned work to say I was too worried to drive … so this arvo I ended up having a multitude of blood tests done as well as an ECG – the GP is marking it as urgent so I can get the results back tomorrow afternoon … which also means I’m off work for tonight and tomorrow night. I know I hate the 6pm shifts, but this isn’t what I expected to get me out of them!! The GP thinks it’s possibly just anaemia (which I had when I was younger, and had to have vitamin B12 shots about 7 years ago), and the lack of sleep just sent me over the edge … he doesn’t think it’s true convulsions – rather the anaemia that caused me to black out, and I panicked which caused the convulsions. My blood pressure is a little bit high, but he said that’s to be expected after my body reacted how it did. Fingers crossed anaemia is all that it is … gave me a pretty big scare, though 😦 If nothing else, I’m definitely going to take a sleeping tablet tonight to give me a good rest … at least there’s no work tomorrow to worry about sleeping in! 🙂

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Budget reduction (updated thanks Jess!)

Anne S

Today I feel like death warmed up … these shifts are going to be the death of me this week – thank goodness tonight is the final 6pm-2am shift! Last night/this morning I didn’t get to bed/sleep again until 4am (standard stuff on this shift), but I was awake again at 6am, and couldn’t get back to sleep until almost 9am, tossing and turning the whole time … I kept dozing on and off until just after 12 noon, but after the 3rd night of only getting about 5 hours sleep, I feel like crap (‘scuse the language!) and everything, especially my stitching, is suffering ‘cos I’m wandering around like a zombie {heavy sigh}.

Yesterday I tried to blow away some cobwebs before work and went for a walk and signed up for membership at the local Video Ezy store … I then came home and put my Homescreen membership on hold for 3 months, because I think I’m wasting money unnecessarily each month by not sending my movies back quickly enough … I think it might be better to pop up the road on my days off and pick something up when I really need it, rather than having them turn up on inconvenient days etc. I’m hoping this money will be better spent on other things … such as … a trip up to Sydney to visit friends, and a trip home either just before (unlikely, though) or just after Christmas.

With those goals in mind, I’ve also reduced my Monthly bits cost at SB&B to a lesser monthly amount, and cancelled my Silkweaver FOTM for the timebeing. The way I look at it, especially after looking at the list of all the projects I can stitch from my stash (gulp), I really don’t need it all … admittedly, though, the Monthly Bits from SB&B are just threads that I need for specific projects, so that’s not so bad – I’ve also asked if I could get the WDW/GAST threads more quickly than the rest, too, as those are needed more quickly (and it’ll also give me more choices to substitute from for other charts).

Anyway, time to really cut back on unnecessary items, and focusing on the things I really need rather than just want … not something I’m very good at! LOL. Luckily I get a travel discount through work, but with all the airport taxes and fuel surcharges it still makes it a costly exercise to travel these days … but it would be so worth it to catch up with everyone. At least the room rental’s cheap where I’m travelling to LOL … so fingers crossed that all going well I’ll be heading north to Sydney in November, and then back across the ditch in December/January. I’ve decided to try and get back to NZ for one week every year from now on.

As for right now, I think I’m going to drag myself out and get some fresh air by walking round the waterfront for an hour … I have no idea how I’m going to survive the night at work tonight – but I’m thinking tonight might be a fantastic time to try out those sleeping tablets I’ve had sitting there ‘just in case’ I need them, I’d KILL for a good night’s sleep 😦

Then tomorrow I can finally pick up a parcel that’s been lurking in my PO Box since before the weekend … they’ve been closed each night this week as I’ve been going to work late, but tomorrow I’m on 3-11pm, so they’ll be open woohoo … I LOVE getting those little slips of paper in my PO Box, which means there’s something larger than the usual bills waiting for me … it also usually signifies stitching stuff has arrived! Yippee!! 😀

And to finish, here’s another cultural experience I had … attending an Indian wedding not long before I left Auckland to move here – that’s me in the blue (shock, horror!) sari … what an awesome experience!!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Piccie by Photobucket ‘cos Blogger won’t uplift for a change …

Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Travel

50 Projects lists

Anne S

I decided not to list a list of projects I want to complete as part of my 50 Project Challenge, as I need the flexibility to pick and choose as the mood fits … and considering my HUGE list of possible candidates in my current stash, there should be no problem whatsoever in finding 50 projects. My relatively full stash list is here, and is by no means complete (eg I have most of the TW charts in existence from a stash collection spree years ago).

There are a few projects in the “highly desirable/pretty definite” pile, though, and these are:

  • Lavender Rose Sewing Case – Fancy Work
  • Bordeaux Sampler – Sampler Cove (WIP)
  • Egyptian Garden Mandala – Chatelaine (WIP)
  • Dolphins Domain (aka “The Dratteds”) – Cross My Heart (WIP)
  • Winter Queen – Mirabilia (WIP)
  • Stitching Leporello – Chatelaine
  • Star Spangled Scissor Finder – Calico Crossroads
  • Apricot (“Marine”) Elegance – Cindy Valentine (WIP)
  • Autumn Arbor – Drawn Thread
  • For the Birds – Drawn Thread
  • Summer Solstice needleroll – Eventide Designs
  • Quaker Swan Case – Fancy Work
  • Golden Garden Sweet Bag – Forget-Me-Nots In Stitches
  • Raphael’s Raspberries – FMNIS
  • Secret Garden needlecase – FMNIS
  • Folding Cross Needlebook – Indigo Rose
  • Le Jardin Silk Sampler – JCS magazine (WIP)
  • Pacific Pohutukawa – Jen’s Jems (WIP)
  • Polynesian Paradise – Jen’s Jems
  • Evening Star – Just Nan
  • Winter in the Square – Just Nan
  • Sapphire Star – Laura J Perin
  • Angel of Love – Lavender & Lace
  • Coffee Menu – Little House Needleworks
  • Needle Nick – Lizzie*Kate
  • Sun needleroll – M Designs
  • Schwalm Whitework Pinkeep – Moss Creek Designs
  • Lavender Blue Celtic Knot Quilt – Nancy’s Needle
  • Onyx – Paw Printings
  • Here Comes Santa Claus 2005 – Prairie Schooler
  • Rainbow Lorikeets – Ross Originals
  • Flight of the Bumblebees – Ruth Schmuff Designs
  • Nature’s Resting Place – Stoney Creek (UFO/WIP)
  • French Monogram – Twisted Oaks (WIP)
  • Crimson Fire – The Victoria Sampler
  • Bunnies in my Garden – With My Needle
  • Strawberries So Faire – With My Needle

Other than that I have the freedom to choose a project at will 🙂 So much for not making a list!! oops hahaha

Thanks to everyone for their comments on the Aussies vs Kiwis – it is true that every country/race has their minority that are less than tolerant of other cultures, and friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) rivalry … and yes, the Brits vs Scots and Yanks vs Canucks are definitely right up there too! LOL. Personally I’ve always been very accepting of all races and cultures, and that’s been part of the wonderful experience that life has given me so far. While I’m certainly not perfect on that score, I try not to be judgmental and accept everyone for who they are … and have made some great friendships and learnt a lot by doing that. One of these life experiences was staying with a Fijian friend’s family outside of Suva, in a typical Fijian home (they were very poor) … they taught me a lot, and I treasure a lot of the memories from my time there.

Still no stitching news … tried again last night, but to no avail – I took a Shepherd’s Bush needleroll into work again, but not much chance to stitch, plus I was very tired last night after only 5 hours sleep (and last night it was the same, so heaven help me tonight! – geez I hate these 6pm shifts!!). I have had great plans of stitching a gift for a friend, but can’t get my head around designing/choosing the project … it might end up being a late arrival, as this week just isn’t the right time for me 😦

I’ll end of saying “welcome” to the new commenters here … it’s been nice to hear from you, and I’ll be popping over to your own blogs soon to return the favour 😀

Uncategorized

Back at work again & eye candy

Anne S

Last night was my first day back at work since Mum returned home, and my great plans of getting some stitching done was foiled by having to do work … bummer haha. I returned to 3 full pages of unread emails that kept me busy for a few hours, then the phones were quite busy.

I had a guy at work give a great compliment to the Kiwis, which was wonderful to hear … and it reminded me of a very different situation on my last day of work last week … After having two different staff members come through being exceptionally rude about Kiwis, I snapped … one stated a bomb should be dropped on my homeland and nuke all its inhabitants – I warned him to stop before he went any further as I was a Kiwi (this is the Readers Digest Condensed version!) … then the next insult was a girl ranting about how Kiwis annoy her, and they want to become another state of Australia, and we sure as hell don’t want them here (very condensed version!!) blah blah blah … I very bluntly told her to nip it in the bud, that I am a Kiwi, and I was finding her comments very offensive, and that I’m sick of hearing it … mutter mutter mutter.

On the whole, I have a very good sense of humour, and can take a lot of bantering … as a Kiwi living in Aussie, you need a thick skin haha (and if anyone wants any sheep jokes, I think I’ve heard every single one known to man … although every once in a while I do get surprised with a new one LOL). I absolutely adore Aussie and the majority of its people, and this is likely to be my home for a long time to come … there are just a few pig ignorant ones in tiniest minority that tarnish the image in my eyes. I will continue to laugh at a friend who baa’s like a sheep to me every time I pick up the phone, and I find it highly amusing to have the mickey taken out of my (and that of my countrymen) accent (mind you, I’m a real mimic with accents so I have a great Aussie twang going, and is probably why people don’t pick up that I’m a Kiwi) … but when you start saying you’d like to drop a bomb on my head or don’t welcome me in your country, don’t expect me to laugh … Sorry, dunno where that little rant came from …

And just to prove I DO have a sense of humour, my fellow Aussies and Kiwis will laugh at this one (especially the Aussies) … those of you in the ‘outer regions’ may not get the joke, as it’s based on the Aussies taking the mickey out of the Kiwis’ accent, and you probably need to know the nuances of the accents – but I think it’s absolutely hilarious! (You’ll have to click on the link to enlarge it to be able to read it.)

And don’t ask me why, but that reminds me to check out Google to see if there’s a Billy T James DVD for sale … a great Kiwi comedian from my ‘youth’ …

Back to stitching … I forgot to post a few weeks ago about some new ‘smalls’ designs that have me drooling (but no, I’m still not tempted until my challenge is over LOL). If you haven’t seen them before, check these out … aren’t they all gorgeous?? The great thing about being abstinent for so long, is honing that wishlist down to seriously droolable items haha … ;P

Old Italian Sewing Set by Giulia Punti Antichi

While I Darn Sewing Set by Giulia Punti Antichi

Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities by With My Needle

Uncategorized

50 Projects Challenge

Anne S

Over on The Wagon BB, HasturTorres has decided not to buy any more charts until she has completed 50 of her existing projects, and offered up the challenge for anyone else to join her … after considering it seriously (well, actually I just woke up this morning and decided it still sounded like a good idea LOL) I’ve decided to join her in her challenge 😀 Originally I was allowing myself up until my birthday in February, but now that’s on hold, and the goal is 50 projects instead. Seeing as I have a mix of both small and large items I want to stitch, this could take me some considerable time, but I really don’t need any more charts, and have enough on hand to do the challenge at least 4 times over … and I love being able to see my progress – it’s just another excuse to start another list! haha.

I’ve been given the OK to use my two latest needleroll finishes towards my efforts, as they’re not actually ‘finished’ yet, and have only just been stitched (and I’m probably going to re-do that wonky band on the LB one so the two bands match as it’s niggling me in the back of my mind), so I have a good start on it already. The only exceptions I have to the chart buying are the JCS ornie issues, and a recent XS magazine that has the Michael Powell Greek design in it (I’m still stalking the newsagents for that one to arrive down under as I ADORE Greek scenes with all that blue – surprise surprise). I still permit myself to continue my monthly stash programs – fabric from Country Stitch and Silkweaver (although I intend the latter to be more short-term) and threads from SB&B, and any fabrics/threads that I need to complete a project (which should be minimal) but that’s it for a while … perhaps it will give me more incentive to stitch faster ;D

Now I’m off to see if Blogger is playing ball this morning … last night I tried to catch up on some blogs, but many of them showed an internal server error and I couldn’t display them. I’ve also been tidying up my sidebars a tiny bit, and have moved all of my links to other blogs I like to read to a separate post, which makes my blog a lot quicker to scroll down, and makes it easier for me to add new blogs to the list … also, I don’t use the links myself anymore as I use a subscription service instead. Talking of which, off I go to add another 10 to Bloglines …