Works in Progress – Page 14 – Feather Stitching

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 😀

Cross Stitch, Stash, The Drawn Thread, Works in Progress

Can’t wait till tomorrow for stash report

4 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

So, I’m doing an extra post today … do you think I’m trying to do anything to put off what I ‘should’ be doing today??? LOL.

Here’s what came in the mail on Thursday … one beloved item from my wishlist, all the way from France, and two new designs that I fell in love with 🙂

Add to that a few embellishment packs I picked up from Karen’s recent 20% off sale … ‘cos at the moment I have a SERIOUS urge to stitch up some of my Halloween designs, which are predominantly Just Nan’s … I just LOVE ’em 😀

And I also forgot to add one more chart to my wishlist pile that I am still drooling over months after seeing it for the first time on Monique’s blog … “Stitching is a Hoot” – I just adore this little fella, and love the colours … yep, it’s a ‘gotta have’!! 😀

In fact, I’ve just remembered that I still haven’t cashed in my $30 gift voucher from Colours Down Under, so I’d better make that another exception to my 25 Project Challenge … although technically that’s not using my own money … hmmm, maybe my Challenge will start on Monday to give me time to get my order in! LOLOL 😉

And finally, here’s proof that I really am NOT getting far with my stitching … the herb flowers band was finished last time, so that pitiful bit of stitching below is what I’ve managed to achieve in the entire week … I should be publicly flogged with wet floss!!! 😉

The good news, however, is that the pink flowers at the bottom is the final part of the sampler – I just have to finish that band, and add one more narrow band of double four-sided stitch, and add the little heart beads and charm … and it’s all finished …

So, what am I still doing here, I hear you ask?? Actually that’s what my head has been saying all morning … but yet I still sit here glued to the computer and trying to ignore that voice in my head … hmmm … 😉

In fact, I’m off to spend that gift voucher … when I should be stitching … c’est la vie … LOL.

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

Almost at the finishing line

28 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Thanks for all the support while I’m stitching this ‘dratted design’ – especially to sweet Tannia who has offered to finish stitching this for me. As it’s meant to be a gift for someone, I thought I’d best just knuckle down and get it done … then I can move on to something more fun 🙂

Unfortunately there was a lot of frogging tonight – I changed the honeysuckle flower colour to show up more on the fabric, but then decided I didn’t like it, so I’ve unpicked and restitched it in the original colour.

I’ve since finished one more green narrow band since taking this photo, which means there is just one more band of wording, one more green narrow band, and one more floral band, so hopefully by next weekend a finish will be in sight 🙂

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

Garden Recipe update

21 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I sat superglued to my stitching all day yesterday (plus Friday night), inbetween doing a couple of loads of washing – I was sorely tempted to pick up a more ‘fun’ piece of stitching after a few hours yesterday, but have a feeling if I put this one down I just won’t ever get around to finishing it. So, perseverance is the name of the game right now – once this one is finally finished, I can choose something more “me”.

In the meantime, though, here’s the current progress … which is substantially different to the last progress piccie! 😀

Thankfully that means I’m now halfway through this piece … fingers crossed one more week of stitching plus a session next weekend, I will see this one finished 🙂