Works in Progress – Page 14 – Feather Stitching

Country Cottage Needleworks, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Works in Progress

Quick Drive-By

29 January, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Life is downright hectic at the moment – the weekend was taken up with moving and cleaning, and yesterday I did a 14 hour day at work … and no sign of that letting up for a while. We’re down to two staff members in our team (with one new start, but she’s not trained up yet), with our Supervisor now on annual leave for two weeks – we’re so flat out with our day-to-day work and operational actions that our project work is struggling to get completed (hence the late hours) … even my poor stitching has been suffering, although I have managed to get a couple of stitches in over the weekend … (so much for my New Year’s goals though hmmm)

On Saturday night Katie and I sat in front of the TV in the lounge and watched a few episodes of Supernatural (we’re both massive fans), while I sat and stitched in my recliner. I’ve been stitching while sitting up in bed over the last few months, so it was really nice to get my stitching station set up again in the lounge. The night I managed to get the last stitches put into Cottage Garden, so I have one more finish under my belt. (Sorry about the dark photo.)

“Cottage Garden” by Country Cottage Needleworks
stitched on 32ct cream linen
with recommended threads

Then on Monday night I picked up Winter Queen again and put her back on the floor stand – if you can work out the differences between the last time I left her in May 2008 and now, with the minimal amount of stitches I managed on Monday night, you’re doing fantastic … ‘cos there’s very little to show for my efforts haha. But every stitch is better than none, right? (And if you give up, they’re on the left hand side LOL) 🙂

Before:

After:

Anyway, time to jump in the shower and head off to work – I’m having a slightly later start today ‘cos of my late finish (we’ve been leaving home just after 7am this week) … Roll on 5pm is all I can say, ‘cos I’m off to the Chiropractor and I can’t stay late (yippee!!).

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

Cottage Garden WIP

20 January, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Just thought I’d add a quick updated piccie of my latest WIP, as it’s unlikely I’ll get any stitching done tonight. I have another chiro appointment after work, followed by their ‘new members’ meeting which gives you more information about what the chiropractor does and how to help manage you health outside the chiropractors rooms. Anyway, with any luck I’ll get this finished by this weekend … worst case scenario it’ll be finished some time during the weekend anyway, as the border will likely take me a while to complete. The colours aren’t particularly true to this piece, as the fabric is a rich creamy coloured linen. Maybe I’ll try to get a piccie in daylight when it’s all finished 🙂

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

New WIP

19 January, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

There are some good things about feeling unwell – a few more hours in the day for stitching for one! … I went into the GP today to pick up some antibiotics and tomorrow I go in for blood tests … and I’m soon off to the chiro for my next first appointment of three this week. In the meantime, though, inbetween doing work from home I’ve managed to put a few stitches into my next WIP – Cottage Garden by Country Cottage Needleworks (Just Cross Stitch magazine). I thought a nice quick project was just the trick to keep the spirits up 🙂

Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Works in Progress

Still around …

15 January, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Just not getting much stitching done. I was at work until 8.30pm last night, and that’s likely to continue off and on throughout the next 6 weeks at work thanks to this lovely project of mine, and it’ll be made worse next Friday when 2 of my colleagues leave and my boss goes on 2 weeks leave. How on earth they allowed annual leave during a time when we have such a massive project happening and so short-staffed I just don’t know!!!

Next Friday I also say goodbye to my flatmate Lisa as she heads off on her big drive to return to Melbourne on Saturday morning. It’s all very sad really as we’ve become really good friends over the last few months especially. Can’t blame her, though …

As for me, I’ve been battling health issues – I put my neck out last Friday and went to a Chiropractor … my X-ray results yesterday showed that my spine is quite a bit out of alignment in areas, and is responsible for many of my health issues. It also showed arthritis starting to form in my neck and lower back, which would explain a lot as well. So, $1000 later (thank goodness for Visa!!) and I’m signed up for 23 chiro sessions to hopefully reverse the arthritic degeneration and get me back on track. I can’t say I enjoyed the bone-crunching session yesterday, albeit brief, the sound absolutely does my head in {shuddering}. I think for my own health it is really important that I do this, especially after seeing how badly my spine was misaligned in the X-rays. On top of that I picked up Katie’s viral infection over the weekend and have had a throat like I’m swallowing razorblades – between that and my neck on Sunday night my sleep was non-existent, so I ended up taking Monday off to catch up. I’m still blocked up and have a sore throat, but not quite so bad … although it does make it harder to concentrate at work etc 😦

Unfortunately with all of Lisa’s farewells we’ve been organising, along with her birthday a week ago, and Christmas, and now a huge chiro bill, things will most definitely be a bit tight financially for a while now … I guess my own birthday will be a very low key one this year now, and my original plans are thrown out the window – time to put the thinking cap on again! Hmmm …

Geez I’m just one big bundle of joy right now. Time to cheer up and show some stitching … Since I woke up at 5.30am yesterday I caught up on a bit of TV viewing and managed to make a start on the Quaker Swan Case that I’ve had sitting around kitted up forever – not much to show yet, but it’s definitely a start 🙂

Cross Stitch, Halloween, Just Nan, Works in Progress

Update on Frightful

24 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Slowly but surely my Just Nan Halloween piece is getting stitched … the frog hasn’t reared its little head since I threw him back into the witches’ cauldron where he belongs …

… and I managed to get a few more stitches into block #2 last night. Fingers crossed I’ll get more chance of getting this closer to finished over the weekend, as I intend being a lazy slob just watching DVD’s and stitching (thanks to Katie who has just loaned me Season 3 of Supernatural to watch – woohoo!! Although it’s hard to stitch and drool over Jensen Ackles at the same time! LOL). Anyway, here’s the current update of Frightful as we lead into the weekend (yet again a crappy photo, as it doesn’t show the vibrant colours off very well – will have to take a photo outside on Sunday):

And the BEST news is that I’ve heard from Karen at The Stitching Post, and apparently Mirabilia’s new mermaid is probably due to arrive next Tuesday … which means I should have her in my hot little hands in a week’s time – woohoo! 😀

Which reminds me, I haven’t been to the post box for a week – perhaps I’d better do that on the way to work this morning to see what bills are awaiting my attention … oops …

Cross Stitch, Halloween, Just Nan, Works in Progress

Halloween Frogs

21 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Personally I don’t think Frogs should be permitted during Halloween (or any time of the year for that matter) … I noticed last night when I sat and did an hour’s stitching before bed that I’ve miscounted in the border of my Halloween piece by one stitch, so I have to rip all the right-hand side borders out (from the green stitches out) … thankfully I hadn’t managed to stitch too much, so it won’t take long to re-stitch again. I only noticed last night when stitching the spider and ran out of room for the legs … and when I did notice my face was a really good mimic of the expression on that ghosts face!! LOL. The photo is dreadful sorry – the colours really ‘pop’ in real life, and are really bright – love it, and just what the doctored ordered, I’m really loving stitching this one! 😀

This is what it will look like ‘when it’s all grown up’ 😀

Thanks everyone for helping me out with the mermaid fabric – I have to admit my gut was also leaning towards Waterfall as well … I’ve asked Catherine at Countrystitch to send me a small ‘sample/ornie’ cut of each of the two colours (Waterfall and Ocean Blue) so I can do a true floss toss and see the colours in real life before making the ultimate decision. I’ll show piccies of the various fabrics when I do so you can see the differences.

Rightio, time to start getting ready for work – it’s been raining cats and dogs so I need to find my umbrella too hmmm. My intention was to go walking before work this week, but I took one look outside and went “nah” 😉

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

Past the halfway mark now

14 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

The construction workers have completed the building work, and the landscapers need to finish the rose plantings, then there’s just the rest of the road signage to be completed … and even with all that pink I’m still enjoying stitching this one 🙂

Apricot Elegance, Beading, Bullion roses, Canvaswork, Chatelaine, Cindy Valentine, Cross Stitch, Egyptian Garden Mandala, English Garden Sampler, Goldwork, Graeme Ross, Hussif, Jane Nicholas, JBW Designs, Le Jardin Silk Sampler, Lorri Birmingham, Martha Schmidt, Noah's Ark, Quilting, Rotation, Ruth Schmuff, Stoney Creek, Stumpwork, Sweetheart Tree, Teresa Wentzler, Textile Heritage, Wool embroidery, Works in Progress

WIP’s and UFO’s

14 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

This is especially for Kathy of the Blig Blog … here are photos of the current state of all my UFO’s (I could pretend that they were WIP’s but seeing as the majority haven’t seen a stitch put into them in over 12 months, 95% would definitely be deemed as UFO status!):

Macaw -&- Beaded Fish

Egyptian Garden Mandala -&- English Garden Sampler

Le Jardin Silk Sampler -&- Flight of the Bumblebees

Noah’s Ark -&- Winter Queen

In the Dark Needleroll -&- Love & Affection

Wildflowers Needleroll -&- Apricot Elegance

Monica Hunt Hussif -&- Classical Garden Bookmark

Nature’s Resting Place -&- Wool Beehive Needlebook

Oriental Poppy -&- Summer Fruits Pincushion

Pomegranates & Beetle – Martha Schmidt Hussif

Stumpwork Needlework Accessories

Goldwork Pea -&- Wool hot water bottle cover

Honesty & Heartsease -&- Bullion Rose Facecloth

Long stitch frogs -&- Butterflies & Hearts Needleroll

Stumpwork Dragonfly

Berry Delightful Bag -&- Mediterranean Village XS

Vicki’s Cot Quilt

Stitching Leporello isn’t included in the photos, as I’ve been stitching a complete section each time, so no individual section is in progress at the moment. And I can’t put my hands to either a photo or the actual project of GCC Ornamental Delights, so I guess that one won’t be getting stitched in a hurry haha.

Very sad that some of these projects are over halfway and never finished, however there are many there that are barely started … I’m sorely tempted to just unpick the bullion rose facecloth, for example, as I don’t know if I truly ever want to finish it, the same with a couple more projects in there … will see how I feel after one more stitching session on them, I guess, before I make the ultimate decision to turf out. It’s funny when you look back through the photos and remember why you stopped working on them … for example the Lorri Birmingham Butterflies & Hearts needleroll, I really hated the colours used, as I felt the wording etc just faded into the background, so no doubt that whole piece will be unpicked and started again from scratch with my choice of threads 🙂

I’ve already gone out and pulled numbers out of the hat for the first round, and highlighted the text in bold in the main list in the previous post … and I’m really looking forward to starting my rotation – I just want to finish my current piece first … although I guess I could just choose to start at the “free choice” slot and start counting my hours, that way I can continue with my current project and be starting my actual rotation at the same time – ooh, I like it when a plan comes together!!! 😀

That means my new current rotation is as follows:

Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Medium/Large: Lavenderblue Celtic Knot Quilt – From Nancy’s Needle
WIP’s/UFO’s: Berry Delightful Bag
Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Small/Medium: Jumpin’ Jelly Beans – DKT Originals (freebie)
Large/BAP’s: Egyptian Garden Mandala
Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Christmas Ornaments
Finishing
Free Choice

Country Cottage Needleworks, Cross Stitch, Stash, Works in Progress

Quick stash post

10 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Just a really quick post before I head off to work – and holiday tonight – to show the stash that arrived this week. First up is my stash haul from Colours Down Under … I won a $15 gift voucher from Janine for my August Xmas ornie, and figured I might as well add some extras to the prize to make the most of the postage, and this is what I got (compliments of their 15% off sale which is still on until the end of October, I think). I still have one more blue Periwinkle Promises Accent kit that is on back-order, but I’m really REALLY impressed with the speed and service from Janine!!

Here’s a close-up of the blue threads – I’ve been trying to decide what thread to use for an upcoming RR of With My Needle’s “Ackworth Friendship Book“. The thread in the middle is CC’s Milady’s Teal, which is what the original is stitched in, but it looks really wishy-washy and pale, so don’t think I’m going to use that – I think my ultimate favourite is Gloriana’s Slate Blue … in fact I think that has to be one of the scrummiest blues I’ve ever seen in threads, and it may just be my favourite silk of all-time at the moment … and that’s likely to be my choice for this project, I think (if not many more!). I think I’m going to have to order a few more skeins ready for our RR to start after Christmas.

Next up is some scissors and tassels I picked up from an Ebay seller in France (thanks to Staci for mentioning her details) – again I only wanted to buy the antique reproduction scissors in the very bottom photo, but chucked these in to balance out the postage. I chose the tassels ‘just because’ (and they’re scrumptious colours!), and the scissors I thought were very ‘spring-like’, just right for our current season. Have to admit I don’t like these scissors as much as I expected to, but I’ll make a little spring fob to dress them up a bit. (Talking of scissors, have you seen the latest ones from Ginghers? Oh my, they’re to die for!!! – beautiful in turquoise and browns.)

And lucky last, this is the sum stitching I’ve managed this week … woohoo, two plant stalks!! I’ve taken a photo anyway just to show the fabric that I bought especially for this piece for the pillow and covered buttons – hopefully it will look OK when finished … and of course here are the infamous scissors that I fell in love with from the French Ebay seller (sorry, don’t have time to find the details and links – if I remember next week I’ll add them if anyone wants them …).

And on that note it’s time to finish packing and get off to work … See you some time next week 🙂

Cross Stitch, Friends & Family, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Works in Progress

Housewarming Party

7 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I forgot all about adding a couple of photos from a Housewarming Party I went to on Saturday night (what a social butterfly I was this last weekend – very very unusual for me!) … here are a couple of photos taken of me with friends during the evening (I’m the one in the blue top – how unusual LOL).

Alex, Anne and Lisa

Nat, Katie and Anne

Anne, Katie and Lisa

And just to prove this is still a stitching blog, here’s my bit of stitching from Sunday night and late yesterday afternoon – LHN’s “Home Sweet Home” on 28ct cream Jazlyn (I think it’s Jazlyn) (stitched in pink, so obviously this one isn’t for me teehee). Even though I don’t enjoy stitching in pink normally, I DO love the Pink Peony darker pink colour in this one … and have to admit I’d almost be tempted to keep this one, except I already have visions of re-stitching it in scrummy blues 😉 This one, however, is destined to live with Karen at The Stitching Post in Katoomba – finished as a cushion like the cover model. I’ve bought what I hope is the most perfect finishing fabric, but time will tell when it’s stitched up 🙂

I’ve had a couple of pieces where I’ve ironed the fabric all ready for stitching, and the kits all sitting in a shopping bag – I’ve got the fabric hanging up on a “skirt hanger” to keep the pieces crisp and flat, so I’ve been working my way through those pieces before starting on anything else. I still have a serious urge to start some other pieces, especially a Halloween piece, but want to get some of these hung-up projects finished off. This LHN piece was one of those projects – as was Just Nan’s Evening Star and Drawn Thread’s Garden Recipe … at least this project I’m actually enjoying stitching! The remaining two projects with fabric hung up are Victoria Sampler’s Crimson Fire sampler and Calico Crossroads’ Spring cushion – then the fun starts again deciding “what next” … although I’m thinking of using a “pick a number” system like I used to do with my UFO’s, then I don’t have to actually decide! We’ll see what I feel like when I finish this one … ‘cos tomorrow’s another day! LOL 😀