Author: Anne S

Happy New Year everyone!! Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful 2006 – hope your dreams are fulfilled, your stitching stash runs to overflowing, and your floss never tangles! Hope you enjoy/enjoyed your celebrations for New Year, in whatever way you chose to celebrate 🙂

We had a quiet New Year with just Mum and I – I’m not really into celebrating at New Year, so it was nice to kick back and just do some stitching while watching DVD’s … although with our temperatures hitting 42 deg C it was a bit sticky to be stitching – but then again that’s what a wet facecloth and electric fan are for … essential summer stitching accessories LOL.

Managed to put the final stitches into my Spring needleroll by Lorri Birmingham – not too happy with the chart, as there are a couple of errors in it … as I was only stitching this at work inbetween calls, my concentration wasn’t there enough to pick it up while I was stitching. But if anyone else is thinking of stitching this, make sure you check the chart first – the two errors I had on my chart were that the border of leaves around the word “Spring” had a slight error on the left hand side (didn’t pick this up until I had almost finished the back stitching … and I don’t love this piece enough to go back and unpick it all hmmm) – the second one is that the arrow that shows the centre is in the wrong place … I stitched assuming the placement was correct, but when I stitched the borders, I noticed the top border is a lot lower than the bottom one, so I ended up adding an extra row of pink XS’s to even it out … which also means the row for my ribbon will now be quite close to the edging, so it won’t look as nice finished – oh well, c’est la vie. It still needs the little bee charms adding, but that was my final ‘finish’ for the year 2005, and I’ll be finishing it into a needleroll next weekend as part of the ‘finishing weekend’ on the Welcome Friends Bulletin Board.

Then last night I was still itching to stitch something else – I’d started the smaller canvaswork piece by Jen’s Jems a couple of nights ago, but realised that I’m missing a couple of the DMC metallic threads I needed almost immediately, so it got put to one side again … so last night I started stitching “And Many More” needlecase by Just Nan – and I’m going to continue with that today while I’m washing my linen ready to start stitching “Le Jardin Silk Sampler” from the JCS 1998 magazines. I bought all the silks I needed for this years ago, but pilfered one of the greens for another project, so that’s the only thing I’m missing to make a start … trust me to choose yet another BAP to start stitching, as if I don’t have enough on the go already! 😉

So, I guess it is time to ‘officially’ look back at what I’ve achieved in 2005 – it was the best year in ages for my stitching, and I was pleasantly surprised when I looked back at all the finishes and happy dances … there were also a few ‘firsts’ for me too, which is wonderful – learning new techniques and stitches keeps stitching new and vibrant for me 🙂 I also started my blog in 2005, which has opened up new doors in many different ways – especially in making new valued friendships online and sharing in others trials, tribulations and celebrations, and sharing our passion in stitching 🙂 My official stitching list is: (I’ve put links to the photos in my Webshots album if you want to see the actual finished piece itself)

Stitching finishes:

1. Gifts of the Magi #1 – Gold (one of my fave stitched pieces of all-time)
2. Blackwork in Red & Green correspondence course through EGA (UFO) (mostly stitched in 2003 – then realised this year the pins weren’t stitched!)
3. Garden Mischief XS (cat with geraniums kit)
4. 2003 freebie angel by L&L
5. Magic Square (project 1 of 3 for a correspondence course in canvaswork ornaments through EGA) (stitching only)
6. Lemons XS
7. Harmony canvaswork pincushion from Inspirations magazine
8. Jungle Tiger XS (old UFO)
9. Small Iris tapestry cushion (stitching only)
10. Pansy Cameo by Just Nan (for Mum)
11. Chess Anyone? correspondence course through EGA (another favourite)
12. Ever So Little #8 Zebra
13. Bone Carving on Woven Flax tapestry
14. Hardanger pincushion from beginners class (old UFO)
15. Rose Arbour needlebook by Textile Heritage Collection (for Mum)
16. Mill Hill beginners basic bead sampler
17. Dena canvaswork by Orna Willis (love this one) (UFO)
18. Folded ribbon roses class project (UFO)
19. Lace Ribbons correspondence class through EGA (UFO) (dated 2004 ‘cos I thought it was going to be finished … oops!)
20. Summer into Autumn by The Drawn Thread (photo is missing the MH maple leaf treasure, which is now stitched on) (stitching only – needs to be finished into a bellpull)
21. Merry Christmas by Bent Creek
22. Pansy pinkeep by Mill Hill (stitching only)
23. Mill Hill beaded ornament (stitching only)
24. Woodland Noel ornament (stitching only – photo is missing the charm, which is now stitched on)
25. The Stars are Brightly Shining ornament (stitching only – photo is missing his nose, which is now stitched on)
26. No Humbugs Allowed ornament (stitched & finished)
27. Christmas Memories ornament (stitched & finished)
28. Queen of Bumblebees by Dimples Designs (for BeckySC)
29. Spring needleroll by Lorri Birmingham (stitching only)

Finishing finishes:

1. Hardanger pincushion from beginners class (UFO)
2. Another 5 pincushions (stitching completed in 2004)
3. Violet needleroll by The Sweetheart Tree (stitched years and years ago, but finally finished as my first ever needleroll)
4. Scissors fob by Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches (stitched in 1999 but finally finished!)
5. Rose Arbour needlebook for Mum (first ever needlebook finished)
6. Ancient Thistle needlebook by Textile Heritage Collection (also stitched in 1999 but finally finished)
7. No Humbugs Allowed Christmas ornament
8. Christmas Memories Christmas ornament (first ever ornament)
9. Queen of Bumblebees into a little pillow

Other stitching/non-stitching events:

1. Managed to get a huge amount of stitching done on Dolphins Domain, very very old UFO … piccies before and after
2. Got a few stitches into Nature’s Rest by Stoney Creek, my oldest UFO from when I first started XSing
3. Started stitching Winter Queen by Mirabilia
4. Started stitching Egyptian Garden Mandala by Martina Weber (to be continued as a SAL later in 2006 with Carol)
5. Started stitching Love needleroll from JCS 2005 ornie issue (just waiting for beads to arrive in the mail so it can be finished)
6. Started stitching a plastic canvas kit ornament for a work colleague
7. Having the confidence to move out of an emotionally destructive living situation to live on my own
8. Opening my heart to allow new friendships to start and grow
9. Joining online communities to share my love of stitching and learn new things
10. Starting a stitching rotation – which I’m absolutely loving!

All-in-all a good year overall – now I’m looking forward to whatever 2006 will bring.

Well, life is resuming its normality after the Christmas festivities – thanks for all your comments over the last few days 🙂 Poor Len cops it from me every year with the “bah, humbug” stuff … last year I wore my Christmas tree outfit round there for Christmas Day which was a hoot – and this year he actually liked his little ornament (which was more for Carole’s sake though). Before I gave it to them I told him he’s not allowed to throw it out, stamp on it, set fire to it, or curse it … he guessed it had something to do with humbugs, and got a laugh out of it haha. Now I have to make one for me too, as I ordered enough of the little lightbulb buttons to make two ornaments.

Christmas Day was relatively quiet for us, especially due to the fact I had just finished 7 days straight of 5am starts, and it had taken it out of me – Mum and I had our own little Christmas dinner with turkey breast and ham on the bone with a nice salad, followed by champers and panettone – it was lovely. We popped round to Fraze’s parents for about an hour in the early evening just to say hi and drop presents off, then gave Fraze a lift home. They’ve been really good to me when I moved here on my own, and have semi-adopted me into their family … Len says I’m the daughter that Carole never had 🙂

As for Christmas prezzies, due to finances this year my gifts were a lot more meagre than they’ve been in the past, but I’ve always said the thought behind the gift means more than the gift itself … I just had to keep reminding myself of that as I felt a bit awful not being able to be as open with my gift-giving as normal. I gave Mum a Christmas stocking full of choccies and sweets that I know she loves – as well as a can of Guinness LOL (the other 3 were hiding in the fridge). Growing up my absolute favourite thing at Christmas was my stocking – it never had expensive things in it, just a few nuts in their shells, an orange, a little bottle of Babycham, and some little gifts like a pair of earrings/junk jewellery etc … I moaned my head off the first year I didn’t get one ‘cos I was getting too old for it … and to this day I still miss it … mutter mutter mutter LOL. It’s still my favourite Christmas memory/tradition – and the last two years it’s been me giving the stockings instead to try and keep a bit of tradition in my Christmas Day. I also got Mum the latest Diana Gabaldon book (as we both adore that series), and gave her the needlebook I’d stitched for her. We both received a knitted scarf from my cousin’s new girlfriend posted from my aunt in England (she lives in Thailand), which was very thoughtful. I got a DVD from Fraze, and something else is still to come but it’d sold out in the shops, a latch-hook Santa kit, and some hand-towels with ducks printed on the band (love them!!) with a small coffee plunger – all very useful gifts 🙂 As for the Christmas money, I’ve made a dent in it already with a mix of items – a pair of Klasse scissors, Thread Heaven, plus 2 packets of MH beads and 2 skeins of thread from Dragonfly Dreams; a packet of undies; a 1/2 Christmas tree (for my hand-made ornies next year) and a stand-up Santa in the post-Christmas sales ; and the rest is being used to pay for my Embroiderers Guild membership, and a new iron – there you go, a happy mix of ‘needed’, ‘stash’ and ‘frivolity’ 🙂

I was back at work on Boxing Day, the joy of a 24-hour call centre, but took a small stitching project in with me so I could at least get a few stitches done inbetween calls – I’m on 3-11pm this week, and the evenings have been a bit quieter. I haven’t made great inroads into any stitching at all, but I’ve started two needlerolls – Spring needleroll by Lorri Birmingham and Love needleroll ornament by Jeannette Douglas Designs in the 2005 JCS ornie mag. Just waiting for the Holo Fyre Werks thread and MH beads to arrive before I can finish the Love one, and the Spring one is being stitched on in the evening hours at work this week. Only managed to get another 5 hours into the Dratted Dolphins, but at least I got to roll up the scrollbars and I can get cracking on the final half – yippee!

My next rotation segment was for Egyptian Garden, but I’m replacing that for the time being with something else until Carol and I do a SAL for EG later in the year – only problem is I can’t decide which to start first … Le Jardin Silk Sampler from a 1998 issue of JCS magazine (which I’m definitely starting in January), or one of the bright canvaswork pieces by Jen’s Jems now I have my black canvas here … hmmm, I think the canvaswork piece might win out – it’s a quicker finish … and there’s still plenty of January left to start the other one LOL.

Hope you all have a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year, even if you don’t celebrate it as a religion 🙂 May 2006 find you all having lots of happy dances, with no frogs a-visiting, and UFO’s disappearing … many best wishes to yourselves and your families – have a safe and joyous time!!

Lots of love,
AnnePhoto taken at work today – at least this year I wasn’t the only idiot dressing up 😉

Nope, it’s not another episode of Poltergeist … but yup, those Dratted Dolphins are back again – managed to get 5 hours stitched into them so far, with beautiful turquoise yay 🙂 The only improvement you’ll see is the big turquoise blob on the bottom right of the picture 😉 At the end of this rotation (5 hours left to go) I should be able to roll up the scroll bars and work on the bottom half … I can’t wait!! Lana, there is my answer for you … nope, they’re still not finished – but one heck of a lot closer than they were a few months ago when I first started blogging! Boy, oh boy, a rotation really works!!!

Thanks everyone for your kind comments about my Christmas tree outfit – it was originally made for a Christmas party at work in Auckland for my old job … a group of us ladies dressed up in Christmas outfits, and that was mine. Then I wore it for a Christmas walk for charity – and managed to win a watch for my troubles! Ever since then I’ve worn it for a laugh every now and then at work … as you say, it really does do wonders for morale. Last year, though, because I had a carpark loaned to me for the day in our office building, I forgot to take a change of clothes (don’t ask how I got into the car!!) … and also forgot to take any lunch, plus needed to buy some flowers for someone – I had to stroll out in the middle of the day down the middle of Camberwell to the markets, much to the delight of kids in the street as well as a few adults … I didn’t know where to look! haha. This year I’ll wear it on my final working day before Christmas, this Friday (23rd).

Anyway, I’d better sign off, as it’s time for my hot chocolate (Milo) before bedtime … yup, it’s 7.10pm LOL. Fraze was wanting to come and stay tomorrow night, but we decided it wasn’t a great idea as he finishes work at 6.30pm, and I need to be getting into bed at 7.30pm – doesn’t give us much time to catch up … it’s been nice seeing him again more regularly after not seeing him for months – his company has been missed 🙂

I’m almost caught on everyones blogs now too – just a few more to go. It’s been nice catching up on what you’ve all been doing while my back was turned :)) And thanks to the ‘new’ guys commenting on my blog … I’ll be popping over shortly to check out your blogs too :))

Haven’t been posting due to spending time with the Dragon (aka Mum) – she arrived bright and early on Thursday morning, and I ended up with both Fraze and Mum as visitors that night … Mum crashed out early on the sofa, while Fraze and I howled out loud watching Chris Rock’s HBO special on DVD, and having a few bevvies. Friday morning I woke up with a painful headache, mainly because Fraze and I woke up with the teeming rain at about 4.30am – and got up to chat for a while with Mum. At about 5.30am I hit the hay for another hour, then Fraze had to go to work while Mum and I spent the day out shopping at Queen Victoria markets until about 3pm … after a sushi ‘lunch’ I crashed out badly until 7pm, managed to stay awake for another 2 hours, then hit the hay yet again until 4am before work! So, all-in-all, no great stitching progress made …

The good news, though, is that I finally finished my gift piece … not quite how I intended it to look – I was whip-stitching the edges with beads, but the shade of the beads didn’t really suit it, so a-frogging I went … I ended up just leaving the whip-stitching plain, and got it finished and stuffed tonight. That means I can finally get it in the post tomorrow – yippee!!!

That now means that I can resume scheduled programming, aka my rotation … so the Dratteds are back on the floorstand, and ready for their 10 hours worth. I’m on 5am’s all week, so that’s a good one to get stitching done. It also means I should be able to get back to blogging again – can’t wait to see what everyone’s been up to 🙂

No stitching done tonight (or last night) – zip, zilch, nada … not one single stitch! So much for getting my gift piece finished … I have to admit, I was so over-tired last night, that I just vegetated for the night, went to bed early, and slept through the entire hour of my alarm this morning! Yikes!! So I was late for work, which very very rarely happens – in fact I think that’s happened twice in the 2 1/2 years since I moved here … must have been my body’s way of saying it needed more rest! Have to admit the early morning shifts, as much as I love them for whatever insane reason, I struggle after a few days of them – but tomorrow is the last one, then I have two days off yippee … but then I have 7 days of 5am shifts {heavy sigh} LOL.

I opted not to stitch on my gift piece last night/tonight mainly ‘cos of its history – it would be just my luck that I’d stitch something wrong and have to frog-stitch for yet another night … I wasn’t taking any chances! haha. I also spent a while chatting on the phone last night to a friend in NZ who gave me the news that she’s expecting another baby – it was lovely to catch up after such a long time.

Next week I dust off the Christmas tree ‘dress’ to wear into work … next year I think I’ll have to put some money aside and buy some portable lights for it – I think that’d be a hoot! I wore this to work here last year, after one of the Supervisors found out I had this wee outfit back home in NZ, and I had to order Mum to bring it over with her on one of her trips … I have to admit, it’s a real morale booster – I usually go out and buy big bags of lollies and hand them out round the office. So, that’s the piccie I’ll leave you with – a Merry Christmas photo from me to you (taken in the office last Christmas). I won’t have any stitching progress to post over the next couple of days – my mate Fraze just surprised me with a phone call tonight to say he’s decided he’s going to come round and stay with me tomorrow night (I suppose I should be glad for 24 hours notice LOL) – then Mum arrives early Thursday morning … I still hope to get my gift in the mail by Monday though 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week, if I don’t get chance to catch up before then … Thanks for the visits and lovely comments – you guys all rock!!