PhotoHuntThis week’s theme is “Support” and hopefully these choices suit the theme well enough … The first photo is from the Botanical Gardens at Cranbourne, VIC Australia – and the 2nd photo is from the University of Western Australia, Perth.
Author: Anne S
Brightening my life one stitch or one card at a time, and sharing my joy of needlework and card-making.
Sunflowers are AWOL
So much for spending my day off today stitching my little heart out … I managed to stitch for just over an hour when I first woke up and almost finished the ‘wording’ band of the Sunflower Sampler – but I haven’t bothered taking a photo of it. I did, however, have a relatively productive day in other ways.
My day was made special by having an electrician finally turn up after a month of having no kitchen light – we’ve been surviving by using a bedside lamp on the kitchen bench, and swinging my Ott-Lite into the kitchen doorway for an extra special bit of a light. Now, however, we have a beautiful white glowing bulb that seems bright enough to light up the entire neighbourhood. That also means that I’ve been able to use the sewing machine after 5pm, as it’s getting dark by then (the dining table is in the kitchen, and that’s the only place available to set up the machine).
Anyway, today (after a trip to Spotlight to pick up some felt) I finally managed to put together a Block Roll – I’ve been wanting to make one of these for what seems like forever, and after receiving one from Katrina as a gift I’ve been in dire need of a larger one … poor Katrina’s one is almost bursting at the seams from all the stitching I have crowded inside it – so now I can split out my ornies etc from the larger pieces. It’s literally taken me all day to make this – partly ‘cos I kept having to find all the supplies, and partly because I’ve hardly touched my sewing machine since buying it last year, and I’m still not comfortable with using it. I’m pretty pleased with the overall result, though – I didn’t take a photo of the whole roll unravelled, but it’s really quite long (about 35″ in length).
The pattern is called “Block Roll” from That Raggedy One (by Kate Hampson, Australia). Unfortunately taking the photo at night means the colours/photos aren’t fantastic …
I remembered after finishing the stitching that I’d actually bought that butterfly fabric to make some summer pyjama pants … oops, I guess that won’t be happening now! 😉
I was originally going to finish my ‘infamous’ piece of stitching from a couple of weeks back into a pillow today, and got my fabric all ironed and ready, but ran out of time … instead, I took a photo of the fabric along with the other items of stash I bought from Berrima when Mum was over visiting last month. I was thrilled to find the quilt hangers, and even though I didn’t need it, I just couldn’t resist that little duckie tape measure!
And ‘just for the sake of it’ I took a photo of my fabric stash … quite pitiful compared to many people’s, I’m sure, and it never seems to hold that ‘exact’ shade of fabric that I need, and invariably a trip to Spotlight is needed … (which of course always has a truly pitiful selection of fabrics anyway)
Anyway, it’s time to go clean up the kitchen table from all the fabric scraps before Lisa comes home in the morning (not that she’ll really care!) and then hit the hay for the night – seeing as I only have two whole words left to stitch on the Sunflower Sampler, I may make that my mission before I curl up in bed, and given my electric blanket time to take the chill off of the sheets 🙂
Party time in Sydney
Yep, I actually did it! Ended up going to a meeting in the city just before drinkies time – we were invited by the group that were hosting the drinkies as an extra incentive to get us in there, I think … and I’m really glad we went. We had a cordoned off area set outside at the Cargo Bar at Darling Harbour for drinkies and nibbles … even though it was raining and freezing, we had outdoor gas heaters blowing and it was very social and very cozy. I had a WONDERFUL time. I only stayed for 2 hours, and opted to leave at that point while I was still OK to drive! I was sorely tempted to stay longer, but that would likely entail a $40 cab ride home then having to get a bus then a train into work tomorrow morning … so much better to leave with a clear head 😉
I must say something a bit soppy here … tonight at the celebrations I finally felt as though we had launched the project – it truly came at the right time for celebrations, and a lot of the members of the project team that we’d been meeting with from the myriad of different departments over the last six months were present. The only people invited from our department was myself and my boss, as we have been the only ones working on the project until the day of launch when it was “all hands on deck” to load the procedures etc in the database. It was great to meet the top tier executives from that department, and be invited to join the group. I have to say (here’s the soppy bit) I felt really proud to have been part of the whole project tonight and to see it launched very successfully … geez it felt good tonight to actually feel the positive emotions about the whole thing!
Anyway, that will see me hitting the hay with a smile on my face … now I’m off to drag out the winter-weight duvet inner to throw on the bed to keep that smile on my face during the night, ‘cos the temperature has plummeted today.
Tomorrow is now Friday for me, as I’ve been granted a day in lieu for all the additional hours I’ve been putting in lately … I figured Friday is as good a day as any to take off, as my flatmate is away that day too which means I can blob around and be lazy all day … so now I’m guaranteed to get the Sunflower Sampler finished this weekend 😀
And on that note, I’m off to bed 😀
For Mum
Nothing to show stitching-wise … I was still on my own in the office yesterday, so it was yet another full-on day. With any luck the ‘sick’ person will be back in today ‘cos it’s starting to get a bit draining. Have been invited to the official launch of ‘my’ project tonight in the city – not entirely sure I’ll go as it’s a major hassle to get into the city just for a quick drink to come home again … although it’s quite a big deal, I think, so perhaps it will be expected that I be there hmmm. I’m taking the makeup in in case I change my mind (I don’t normally wear makeup, unless it’s for site visits or special occasions etc).
Anyway, my real reason for posting is to announce to my Mum that my nail has finally grown out enough for me to soften it and cut it off. You have no idea how wonderful it is not to wander around with a bandaid on it every day and to have to be careful every time I touch something so it doesn’t catch on the nail. It’s sheer sheer bliss!!! It’s a bit of a weird shape at the moment until it grows a bit more, but “I feel good, na na na na na na na….”
And on that note there’s one quick way to stop feeling good … and that’s to get on my bike into work ‘cos I’m now running late! 😉
One day down, four to go …
… before it’s the weekend again – I’m looking forward to another lazy one 😉
Yesterday, however, was far from lazy – I ended up being the only team member left in the office due to annual leave and sickness, so I only managed to leave my desk for two toilet breaks. Add to that the internet going down, and the credit card link through the normal system going down, it was a busy day! Because of that I decided to walk out the door at 5pm sharp … which is pretty unheard of for me! But by 5pm I felt burnt out. On the way home I picked up some grocery shopping for the week, then sat down and did a bit more stitching on the Sunflower Sampler. I’d love to get the equivalent of one row or band stitched each night, and managed OK last night for an hour or two.
I managed to get the house and bird bands finished on Sunday night (minus the ladybird beads again), then last night started on the wording. If possible I’d like to get the wording finished plus one more band during the week, then I can get the entire piece finished off over the weekend.
I have to admit I wish I’d used two strands of thread for this piece, but by the time I’d worked that out it was too late to unpick it. I’m starting to get used to the different look of one thread … just. When I started stitching I just figured “the designer knows best” … I guess I won’t be looking as closely when it’s hanging on the wall …
A few sunflowers
Here is the result of having a lazy weekend sat in PJ’s in front of the goggle box … unfortunately I obviously did another misjudgement with the fabric size when I cut it months ago, but hopefully I’ll just have enough at the top to finish it as a bellpull … hopefully! I’m officially at the halfway mark with the sampler (although I still have to do the beads in the ladybirds), but it may be another week or so before I get to do the official happy dance when it’s entirely finished.
Photo Hunt – Pointed
Exhausted … but still here!
I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away for long … although the last two weeks have really taken it out of me energy-wise. Aside from working both days last weekend for various times, I’ve managed to have my working days this week range from 12 hours to 17 hours … today was my final 13 hour day for the week, and my intention for the entire weekend is to sit around in my PJ’s, watch DVD’s and stitch to my heart’s content. I don’t give a monkeys about housework chores (aside from a bit of laundry that I’ll need for next week) or cooking gourmet meals … it’s all about being bone idle and not having to think about anything for a second longer than absolutely necessary.
The product launch went pretty well (my 17 hour day was from flying to Hobart for the day – leaving home at 4.45am and getting home at 10.30pm … not fun!), although it’s been a rush of ongoing work since then due to some problems with the software that has caused some extra workload for my area … but I’m hoping that today will see the last of the long shifts, and next week things will return to normality once again. I have to admit that tonight arriving home I sang a little ditty to myself and did a bit of a dance coming into my bedroom … so I guess I’m excited that I survived the week and that it’s now the weekend! 😀
Inbetween work last weekend I did manage to fit in a tiny bit of stitching and got one project completed – eagle eyes may have spotted it sitting in my “finished” Flickr display in the sidebar here after last weekend, but I can now unveil it officially.
“Fish Collage” from Sea Life booklet by Lanarte
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen with DMC
I also have something else to ‘show and tell’, as I received a wonderful, wonderful gift yesterday from Susan. Unfortunately, though, I haven’t taken a photo yet, so that will have to wait until I do that this weekend. In the meantime if you want to see it more quickly you can have a peep over at Susan’s blog. I absolutely ADORE it, and you’ll understand exactly why when you see it!! 😀
One thing I did do, though, while cleaning up my photo files for half an hour the other night, is find another few designs that had to be put officially onto my wishlist, and I thought I’d share ‘just for the sake of it’ while they’re on the Webshots screen:
Golden Lotus by Art-Stitch
Home by the Sea by Designs by Pamela
I love, love LOVE these fellas!!!!!
Victorian Santas by Charlette’s Collectibles
With thread in hand by Lavender Wings
Rightio, it’s now 10.30pm, and I’m still sitting in my raincoat after just walking in the door, so time to undress and get into those PJ’s I’m gonna be wearing all weekend … I think tonight I’ll fall into bed and be asleep before my head hits the pillow. It’s such a good feeling to know “it’s all over” (well, the biggest part anyway).
Thanks, too, by the way for all the positive support from the incident last weekend, it was really appreciated – I’ve now moved on and decided not to address the issue further. It has still left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth, for want of a better description, but it will not stop me from blogging or stitching … after all, that’s part of who I am! Thanks again for the support everyone {{hugs}}.
Rightio, it’s really time to hit the hay now, as my eyes are starting to close of their own volition haha.
Short post before I head to work
I just want to post a public thank you to the stitcher who left the original “Pickaninny” link – we have had a few email exchanges and my mind has been put to rest that there was no malicious intent, and the emails have been very very much appreciated.
Since my ranting post it appears to have blown up bigger than Ben Hur … and I was in a bit of an emotional state yesterday when I read it on arriving home. I’ve been working exceptionally long hours (15 hours some of the days), and I am mentally and physically dog-tired and exhausted – because of that I’ve been very over-sensitive to these issues that have arisen and they have affected me a lot. Normally I’d have the strength to think “whatever” and ignore the original link, instead of letting it get to me emotionally. Last night I was at such a low ebb, aftering reading the latest round of comments (one particularly) I was very tempted to shut off the comment option or walk away from blogging altogether … once again, just an over-reaction due to my emotional state right now. I do want to thank those of you who have offered support in your comments, though, it is appreciated.
I have, however, decided to take a break from writing or reading blogs for a week or so – until I’m not so manic and stressed at work, and life and my emotions have returned to an even keel. I’m dealing with so much at work right now, I don’t need to add to the emotional stress when I get home as well. There will still be a Photo Hunt post regardless, as I’ve post-dated about 2 months worth of photos … as for the rest, I’ll be back when I’m ready I guess, then I can put all this stuff behind me and move on.
Right now, it’s time to get dressed and get back into the office for the rest of the day – at least I should be able to achieve a few things today without distractions or interruptions … I’ll return again soon.
Photo Hunt – Bright
This week’s theme is “Bright” and I’ve chosen a photo of bright orange carp at the Chinese Friendship Garden, Darling Harbour, Sydney. It was difficult to get a good photo because the sun was glaring in the wrong direction, plus they were swimming along moving all the time! But they are definitely “bright” orange!
And a bright coloured birdhouse at the Enchanted Maze Gardens, VIC Australia.
Feather Stitching 
