Author: Anne S

Brightening my life one stitch or one card at a time, and sharing my joy of needlework and card-making.
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I have the power!!

Anne S

Well, actually I have the “heat”! Woohoo!! My landlord has just been in – I now have the vent reinstalled in the toilet ceiling, and the ducted heating has been re-lit. He’s very impressed with my tenancy, and has said it’s OK to add a couple of picture hooks in the lounge … AND it’s OK for me to have a cat!! Now I have to make the decision whether to go ahead or not … it would be so lovely to have the company – I really miss having a cat around, as I adored Rio, but I also have to weigh up the extra costs etc too. He’s also asked me if I intend staying here long term, as he’s thinking of getting rid of the real estate agent, and I can deal with him directly – which is fine by me, as the landlord seems really nice, and very fair and easy to deal with. I have his email addy and mobile number so it’s easy to contact him, and he only lives just around the corner, so it’s very handy. He’s most impressed that I’m putting up curtains too haha.

So, that’s all my news from this morning – not very exciting to anyone but me, but I’m rapt! Now I’m off to The Warehouse to check out cheapo glasses, if they have them – and tonight I’m off to a Hotline team dinner at The Curry Club in Richmond … which will be fun 🙂

SBQ

SBQ – on time! LOL

Anne S

Yep, the weather will be changing all around the globe, because today I’m answering the SBQ on the actual day it has been received in my inbox!! Will miracles never cease?!!!

Today’s SBQ was suggested by Vash and is:

“What is the biggest mishap you have had with your stitching material (ie spillages)?”

In actual fact I’ve been really lucky so far and have had no major spillages – the worst thing is not having quite enough fabric to have the borders as wide as I’d like them, but I still haven’t actually run out of fabric at all, and it’s all been workable … so nope, no major disasters to date (… touch wood!). Actually, I take that back … I just thought of one … when I was first learning to stitch I had Graham Ross’ Tiger chart on a tapestry frame for ages, and went overseas for a while, and when I finally moved it off the frame I noticed there were not-so-lovely stripes on it … Dad had been smoking in the lounge back in those days, and it was covered in nicotine stains … then to top it off when it was off the frame I left a needle in it, and it all rusted – that piece was a testament very early on to learning what “not to do” with your projects! 😉 I never did get all the rust marks off – it will always serve as a reminder of those learning days …

I was just reading online last night, that you can buy cheap optical goods (ie glasses) in Hong Kong, so I might wait a month to see what I could buy some from over there … it looks like we’re off on holiday! This is Mum’s 70th birthday treat from me – I’m paying for the airfare (using my staff discount) for us both (compliments of my debt consolidation), and we’re sharing the cost of the hotel. Probably heading off for 4 nights, which should be plenty of time to wander around and see the sights. Neither of us have money to burn, so we’ll just be walking around everywhere and soaking up the cultural differences – but I’ll definitely check out some optical places over there, as it says most can grind the glass for the lenses in approx 24 hours, so it could be do-able at the right price 🙂

Blogging Memes

Stitching Meme again

Anne S

Possibly the last day or two before I’m picking up my needle again and getting back into my rotation … yippee! I’m officially on my weekend starting tonight, and certainly ready for it … dunno why, but I feel really exhausted tonight 😦

I went to see an Optometrist yesterday as they had a sale on selected frames – I chose something I didn’t mind, then sat down to make the order … it turns out the frames I chose couldn’t have ‘plain’ lenses in them, they had to have some sort of strengthener etc, which brought the total cost up to $448 … let’s just say I almost had to lay down after the shock, and no, I didn’t complete the order!! I’m off to The Warehouse tomorrow to see if they have some ‘stock standard’ cheapo glasses instore to tide me over, and I’ll keep an eye open for different frames that I don’t mind that don’t need all the ‘bells and whistles’ on the lenses. I was expecting to be able to get something cheap for around $200 – yeah, right!! 😦

I have some stash to report from back-orders and Ebay from the last few days, but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I was very disappointed to see my Mystery Bits haven’t arrived yet from SB&B, after seeing what everyone else has been receiving, so now I have to wait until next Monday to find out what’s hiding in my PO Box, as I won’t be at work (at least while the PO is open) until Monday now … b*gger! Oh well, at least there’s more chance of it definitely being there 🙂

In the meantime, here’s another archival Stitching Meme:

“Have you ever …

1. stitched a sampler?

2. stitched the same pattern 2 times?

3. designed a project yourself and stitched it, or even had someone else stitch it?

4. managed to get anyone else hooked on cross stitch?”

1. I take this question to mean a ‘historical’ sampler, to which the answer is no, as I don’t like them – if we’re talking about ‘band’ samplers, then the answer would be yes, and I intend to stitch many many more 🙂

2. The only time I’ve stitched the same design twice is for my trial run for the Melanie’s Exchange on the SBEBB recently – I wanted to make sure my design would work out OK in real life rather than just on paper.

3. I can’t say I’ve ever designed a piece from scratch, but I have added elements of my own design to something else. The biggest one of my stitching career is probably this one – the farewell song in Fijian, that they always sing when you leave, and it always leaves a lump in my throat, it’s so beautiful. I even visited Fiji so often that I knew all the Fijian words off my heart, much to the amazement of the locals (the other Fijian I know shouldn’t be repeated in public … and let’s just say I’ve caught a local out on more than one occasion by ‘changing the lyrics’ of a song at a resort haha – and yes, Fijians do blush! haha). In this design, I played around with an existing chart for the top panel, then designed the side and bottom borders to be like the designs on local ‘tapa cloth’. I also designed the ‘kava bowl’ myself, which is stitched over one – I was very proud of that little effort at the time 🙂 I presented this all framed to our timeshare on one of our visits.

4. Dunno if I’d say I got anyone “hooked” on XS, but I did spend a few lunchtimes at College about 6-7 years ago teaching about 4 other students how to XS, and even got two of the Asian students along to some other embroidery classes as well. Not sure if they still stitch. The only downside was loaning some very good, and expensive, hardanger and whitework books to one of them, and never getting them back (including my Janice Love books mutter mutter mutter – let’s just say I’m loathe to lend books out anymore, as that’s not the first time).

Blogging Memes

Nearly caught up …

Anne S

… on blog reading, that is! I just have 5 more of my favourite blogs left to catch up on, which will take some time as I will be ploughing through the archives … I can’t believe how far behind I managed to get so quickly – and it just seemed so overwhelming every time I thought about catching up, so I ended up leaving it even longer … well, this week my mission was to catch up again before I’m allowed to pick a needle back up, and it’s been working so far – I’ve been on 3pm shifts, and still waking up relatively early, so I’ve had chance to read a few blogs each morning … one more day should see me caught up yippee!! 😀

So, no stitching yet again – which means it’s back to the Stitching Memes as a back-up to keep it in stitching mode … plus I’ve decided to answer some of the old archival SBQ questions from before I started subscribing. Here goes …

From the SBQ Arvhives:

“What are your thoughts on craft and/or needlework shows? Have you beento one or are you planning on going to one this year?”

I love them – I attended a Stitch & Craft one here in Melbourne the first year I moved here, which I had a bit of spare cash, and loved it – since then funds have been tighter, or shifts haven’t worked out, but I intend to return again. I also attended a Heart of Cross Stitch festival in Sacramento, CA and adored it – had some exceptional teachers, and bought LOADS of stuff to bring home (different job = bigger salary = huge spending spree, ah the good old days LOL). I’m very keen to attend CATS in Hershey next year, if I can get the funds together – it would be an awesome chance to meet some fellow bloggers, as well as soaking up that stitching atmosphere. Carol has invited me to come to another Retreat in May, but I’m not sure if I could get the $ together for it … Hershey’s timeframe could be more realistic … but if not next year, there’s always the year after, right? 😀

And from the Stitching Meme Archives:

“Do you visit other stitching blogs? If so how often and do you ever leave comments? Name anything you have seen on other blogs that you like or think is well-done.”

Yes, I do visit other stitching blogs – I find them an absolute inspiration, and very very bad for enabling! 🙂 After having a hiatus from reading, I’m getting back on top of it again, and do try to leave comments often, as I know how nice it is to receive comments. There are too many things to list of things I’ve loved on other blogs, as there is something on every single one I read … otherwise they wouldn’t be on my favourites list 🙂

Thanks to all my fellow bloggers for sharing your world with the rest of us – you truly are an inspiration, and it makes the world a cosier and nicer place to be in! 😀

Now I’m off to pop sliced mushrooms in the crockpot for dinner, and thinking of heading to work early to go shopping for some glasses – I tried someone’s glasses on yesterday to see the TV at work, and it made a huge difference, so I think I need to do it … might help with my headaches, and stop me squinting at everything when I’m driving/watching TV hmmm (my script is only 0.5 so I thought of getting some el-cheapo ones from the chemist to tide me over immediately, then I’ll see how much it will cost to get some new lenses put into my frames that I’ve had for a few years but don’t use … I got them for stitching, but they actually don’t help at all). That will also be one thing ticked off my 101 checklist 😉

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Amendment to 101 Things

Anne S

OK, I think I was perhaps a little over-enthusiastic with my list, and to be honest a little bit unrealistic about my travel plans … so I’ve removed three items that are the least likely to be met – there’s still a lot of travel in there, though, but at least they’re more ‘possible’ within the timeframe … maybe if I win Lotto anyway (although my odds would be highly improved if I ever bought a ticket) 😉 I’ve removed the travel to Bangkok/Phuket, Greek Islands, and Paris – and replaced them with the following:

  • Attend a Stitch & Craft needlework show in Melbourne
  • Try a SuDoku puzzle
  • Put curtains up in the lounge and fix those in the main bedroom

I’ve also created an new 101 Things blog so I can keep a track of my progress in one place. So far I’ve met the last two days of my daily goals – drinking water, and taking my multivitamin tablets (which I’ve had for months, but keep forgetting to take them!) … drinking water makes me ‘gip’ (there’s a pommie/Yorkshire saying for ya!), and I’ve struggled with it, but I know it’s for my own good {shaking head with horror – I HATE plain water}.

The GREAT news this week is that my landlord is coming on Thursday morning to finally screw in the vent in my toilet (it fell down months ago, and still hasn’t been fixed – I’ve got a piece of cardboard shoved up there to try and stop 8-legged visitors, but it keeps moving with the breeze hmmm) … and best of all, I’m hoping he’ll be able to relight the ducted heating pilot light for me, so I can have HEAT once again in this icy flat woohoo!! I also asked if it’s possible to have extra hooks put up on the lounge and dining room walls, as I’d dearly love to have more of my embroidery and pictures on the walls (especially some Greek prints I have) … and lucky last, if it’s possible to have a cat here, if I make the decision to go down that track. I figure there’s no point in considering it more if it’s not allowed … (and Nicki, I forgot to mention, Sheree doesn’t like cats ‘cos they leave hair everywhere … another reason/”con” for flatting with her).

Which reminds me, there were a couple of comments I need to reply to …

Tannia – would love to go to the footy one day … I have to admit I’ve been to two Hawks games before I moved to Melbourne, but it’d be nice to see another game, and I think you definitely have to go with someone for it! Another friend is a HUGE Hawthorn fan and suggested I go with Dawn when they play in Launceston, so I can see a bit more of the country (actually, that would cross another state off my list too, just thought about that haha). If you let me know what team you barrack for, I can check the footy listings and see when my shifts would work against the game times 🙂

Ally – an “ice bar” is literally that … everything is made of ice – literally! The bar itself, the glasses (!!) … everything! You have to wear big fleecy coats and boots etc to go in, and you’re limited to the amount of time you can stay in there because it’s so cold, and it affects the way alcohol hits you – I’d love to do it just for the novelty of trying it. There’s an ice bar in Auckland (and I have a funny feeling one was opening here somewhere, but I’m not entirely sure on that) – Fraze and I tried to get in last time he came with me for Dad’s 70th, but we didn’t realise you had to make a booking, so missed out. All I have to do now is find someone who’s daft enough to come do it with me! LOL.

And because there are no piccies to share, here’s a photo sent by my best friend in NZ … welcome to the world Jayden Ross! He was born 17 June at 8lb 5oz … I’m not a baby person, but he is cute … and will be even better in two years time LOL (those who really know me, know me well enough to know how I feel on that score LOL).

Blogging Memes

Stitching Meme

Anne S

Seeing as I still don’t have progress to post (and probably won’t for quite a few days yet, as I’m going to concentrate on catching up on my blogs this week), here’s another archival stitching meme:

1. Do you enjoy backstitching?

2. Do you do it as you go or at the very end?

3. Does the amount of backstitching in a project influence your decision to stitch a pattern?

1. I don’t mind backstitching – I like the fact that it brings a piece to life in many cases … I wouldn’t say it’s my ‘favourite’ thing to do, but it doesn’t really worry me too much.

2. Depending on the design, and the way I feel at the time – sometimes I’ll backstitch as I go, and sometimes I’ll leave it until the end … it really does depend on my mood on the day.

3. Backstitching would never influence my choice of design – if I love the design, but it has 20 million backstitches in it, I’d still stitch it … likewise, if it has no backstitching at all, I’d stitch it – backstitching is just ‘part of the package’ and no influence whatsoever.

Uncategorized

101 Things

Anne S

OK, I finally pulled my finger out and completed this tonight … and realised I’m just in time to actually start this tomorrow, 1 July – awesome!! So, here goes … the list of the century (for me, anyway) – it will be interesting seeing if I can get things crossed off in time 😀

101 THINGS
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie represent some amount of work on your part).

Start Date: 1 July 2006
End Date: 28 March 2009 (thanks Jenna for working those out and saving me the time LOL)

STITCHING/CRAFTS
1. Finish a Teresa Wentzler design
2. Try a new embroidery technique at least once a year
3. Spend at least 3 days a week doing some form of stitching, even if only 10 minutes a day
4. Complete a stumpwork piece by Jane Nicholas
5. Complete 3-4 charity quilt squares every year
6. Complete a Chatelaine design
7. Join in with a needleroll SAL once every month
8. Learn how to make a flat-fold finish
9. Learn how to make a tuck pillow
10. Learn how to make a quilted wallhanging
11. Learn how to dye my own floss and fabrics
12. Make an inventory of my embroidery fabrics
13. Organise my embroidery stash better (eg get some Ikea drawers/bookshelves etc)
14. Get a display unit for my embroidery smalls
15. Make a quilt for my bed
16. Make a mosaic top outdoor table
17. Stitch at least one Christmas ornament every 1-2 months
18. Stitch a design by Just Nan
19. Stitch a design by Drawn Thread
20. Stitch a piece of Hardanger
21. Try stitching a piece of Schwalmwork
22. Go the Victoria Embroiderers Guild at least once every two months
23. Keep my stitching journal and photo album updated every month
24. Attend a Stitching & Craft needlework show in Melbourne

COOKING
25. Learn to make cappuccinos on home coffee machine
26. Have people round for dinner at least once every 6 months
27. Try a new cocktail once a month
28. Cook at least one recipe out of every cookbook I own
29. Do some sort of baking once every two months
30. Use breadmaker at least once every two months
31. Cook from a new recipe at least once a month

TRAVEL
32. Travel to Perth
33. Travel to Ayers Rock
34. Travel to Hong Kong
35. Visit Coffs Harbour and buy pottery mugs by my favourite potter
36. Fly business class on an international flight
37. Go to CATS in Hershey
38. Travel to Canada and visit Dad’s side of the family
39. Have a photo taken with the tigers at Dreamworld
40. Visit every Australian state at least once
41. Drive from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour up the East Coast
42. Visit Sydney
43. Visit New Zealand

CULTURAL/GOING OUT
44. Go to an AFL game
45. Go hot air ballooning
46. Go to the theatre
47. Go to the ballet
48. Go out for breakfast to a café once a month
49. Go to the movies at once every 6 months
50. Go to the Melbourne Museum
51. Visit the Immigration Museum
52. Go to an “Ice Bar”
53. Meet some more of my online blogging pals face-to-face
54. Take a ferry ride from Southbank to Williamstown
55. Go 4-wheel adventure driving
56. Go up to the Observation deck of the Rialto building
57. Watch at least one new, previously unseen, movie every fortnight

READING
58. Read at least one fictional book every 6 months
59. Read a book of poetry
60. Read at least one non-fiction book every year

EDUCATION
61. Learn how to build a website/blog myself
62. Learn to use Microsoft Access database
63. Learn basic French
64. Learn how to use my Nikon digital camera properly
65. Take, and complete, a new class at least once a year (eg correspondence course or physical class in any subject)
66. Learn basic woodworking skills
67. Take a basic HTML course

HEALTH & WELLBEING
68. Lose at least 20kg
60. Start doing yoga at least once a week
70. Complete a body combat session at least once a week
71. Drink water daily
72. Listen to music at least an hour every week
73. Go for a bike ride around the bays
74. Manage to wear a size 16 top
75. Go out walking at least 3 times a week
76. Do a walking track (eg Milford Track)
77. Take multivitamins every day

OTHER
78. Sell something on Ebay
79. Put curtains up in lounge and fix curtains in main bedroom
80. Sell Nikon SLR camera bodies
81. Try a SuDoku puzzle
82. Start up photography again
83. Get an iPod
84. Plant a herb garden in pots … and keep it alive!
85. Have a proper bra fitting, and buy some pretty matching lingerie
86. Buy a new 3-piece lounge suite that I will want to sit on and use, and make my home environment more inviting
87. Blog at least 3 times a week (both writing and reading)
88. Get a new UK passport
89. Get my duck watercolour painting framed and hanging on a wall
90. Be better at remembering birthdays and special events – send a birthday card/email at least once a month
91. Get a facial with eyelash tinting and brow shaping at least once every six months
92. Get new glasses for driving
93. Clean out my wardrobe leaving only those items that make me feel good and give me pleasure to wear
94. Organise a RAK at least once every 6 months
95. Keep the dining table free of clutter every week
96. Finish unpacking and get rid of clutter in spare bedroom
97. Get a piece of stitching or artwork framed once every year

FINANCIAL
98. Pay off my credit cards
99. Start a separate savings account and put away $50 every month

LIST ADMINISTRATION
100. Update this list every month
101. When 1001 days are up, update this list and start the process all over again 😀

SBQ

Shock at the Post Office

Anne S

Well, my little ducks are now flapping their wings across the Pacific Ocean on their way to Canada. I got a shock at the Post Office today – I understood I could insure my parcels so that they’re ‘trackable’, and it costs an extra $7.50 to do that … today, though, I find that Canada is one of the very few countries (along with Germany) that you can’t insurance parcels to … the only option for tracking purposes is to send it as a courier parcel … for $43.00 aaaarghhhh!!!!!!! I wish I’d been told that earlier, as we could have jiggled the mailing list somehow so I was posting either to the USA or UK, as they’re both insurance option countries … bl**dy hell, is all I can say – definitely takes the shine off the RR in a way, as I’ll potentially be up for almost $150 in postage throughout the RR postings {{picture forlorn face here LOL}}. I’m looking at other options, to see if it’s worthwhile for a friend in the USA to receive them, then forward on over the border … but time will tell whether that’s an option or not. Today, however, my little ducks are winging their way over the pond uninsured and definitely not in a courier bag … I figure if they go missing, it’s just my work that’s been lost – I wouldn’t dare do that with someone else’s masterpiece, though …

Mum also has a parcel of DMC on its way to her, seeing as she’s now officially addicted to stitching Christmas ornaments … I told her to make a list of colours she needed for her entire wishlist, and I’ve managed to fill her request with about 60-70 skeins of DMC from my stash – that should keep her out of trouble for a while!! 😀

Now because I have no stitching to present, here are the last three SBQ’s (oops, didn’t realise I was so far behind – story of my life where blogging’s concerned just lately!!) …

14 June – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Angela and is:

“How many cross stitch books do you own and how often do you use them?”

If we’re just specifying “cross stitch” books, I have a few that have been bought in various bookstore sales, but I don’t honestly use them at all, as they’re too simplistic. I do have quite a large number of embroidery books, some of which I drool over regularly, and some I’ll eventually make a project out of … one day 😉 I regularly use some of the books that have stitch instructions, eg A-Z of Embroidery Stitches etc … there are waaaay too many to list here, though …

21 June – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Vash and is:

“Have you ever used a magnifying glass while stitching? If so, did you find it helpful?”

Nope, not yet – I haven’t had a great deal of difficulty to see while stitching yet, although my best stitching tool is my daylight lamp. The small desktop version one I have has a magnifying glass on top of it, but I don’t use it.

29 June – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Cheryl and is:

“What do you do with your charts once you’ve stitched them? Do you keep them or dispose of them? If you keep them, do you organize them in a way that is different from the way you keep your unstitched charts?”

I used to have a separate folder for “stitched” charts, so they were quick to lay my hands on if anyone asked for details from them, or I decided to put them up for trade/give away … now everything is just lumped in together.

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Round Robins

Happy Dance

Anne S

Yippee, I managed to get my ducks square complete for my round robin – they’re just gorgeous, if I say so myself … of course I have to say that, though, as they’re ducks!! (These ones are called Redheads) 😀 It’s stitched on 32ct ivory Lugana, and the way I envisage it all is framed, with the four squares with a darkish green matt so each individual square will be surrounded in the matt – does that make sense? The whole thing is square in size, with two ducks on the top, and two on the bottom. Unfortunately I didn’t have a piece of fabric the ideal size, so I’ve had to scrimp on the side edges of this – but I’m going to attach a strip of fabric to each side to allow the framing when it arrives home again. I hope everyone enjoys stitching on it as much as I have (but of course I’m biased, ‘cos I’m duck-mad!).

Aside from that, nothing to post about really … I’m a bit braindead today, after not getting much sleep last night. Fraze came over and I took him out for a belated birthday dinner, then we had a few drinks at home before hitting the hay at about 1am – I was awake at 5am, and took forever to get back to sleep again, then the alarm went off at 7am for Fraze to go to work. If nothing else, it’ll get me back into early bed mode tonight ready for my early start at work myself tomorrow 🙂

The next slot on my rotation is smalls/ornaments, so I think I’ll try to get an ornament stitched up, seeing as I haven’t met my monthly commitments yet with that. I was hoping to stitch the Quaker Christmas Bulb from a JCS ornie issue, but my three WDW threads still haven’t arrived in the mail (I still have a backorder from SB&B waiting for a French chart to arrive, along with some threads I’m desperate for), so that’s a no-go yet … I still have one ornament to stitch from my Ornament Round Robin group, so that’ll probably be what I’ll end up stitching next …

Thanks again for all your supportive comments about my privacy intrusion – I’ve managed to get over it, and don’t intend changing at all. I’m hoping it was just a once-off, and life will be back to its scheduled programming with no changes … after all, this is who I am and this is my private space 😀