Finishes – Page 19 – Feather Stitching

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Imaginating Inc, Works in Progress

Missing in Action … Again

5 July, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Finally over the last two weeks I’ve been feeling ‘normal’ again – after two months of being as sick as a dog, it feels great to finally get some of the old energy levels back and feel like doing things again.

Two weeks ago Katie’s Mum came up to visit for the weekend, so I drove us down to Bowral and Berrima for the day. I managed to pick up some darkish fabric to complete the set of fabrics of a potential quilt top … now I just need to find the original pattern for it, or work out how to use my quilting software that I bought years ago to replicate the design – one day…

This week saw me getting up before the crack of dawn with Katie to head out to the gym before work – which then had the effect of seeing me in bed exhausted at 9pm every night … which hasn’t been particularly conducive to stitching of late! It will, however, (assuming I can keep this up) be conducive to shifting some of this weight and getting me healthier overall … which will also help to give me added years to do my stitching with any luck 😉

Unfortunately my camera battery died over a week ago, and I keep forgetting to charge it up again, so the following stitching finishes are compliments of my scanner, which means they’re truly, truly dreadful photos! These were finished over a week ago, with the Christmas ornie just finished in time for June’s monthly challenge. Once my camera battery is charged up, I’ll take proper photos of them and replace the ones below.

Chatelaine’s Stitching Leporello

“Heartfelt Harvey” by Imaginating, Inc
from 2008 JCS Christmas Ornament issue
stitched on 36ct vintage blue evenweave
with Gloriana silk in Deep Blue Sea

Last night I put the final stitches into KarenV’s Quaker RR piece, but I’ll wait and charge my camera battery up today before I show a photo.

Friday night saw farewell drinks and dinner for the member of our team who was made redundant in the recent job cuts. He’s been one of the few people in the office that has helped me to keep my sanity – he’s a bit of a geek, and very introverted, and reminds me a lot of myself … we’d both often work late and that’s when I’d get to know him more, when others weren’t around. I will miss him incredibly … and wish him all the very best for whatever direction life takes him into next. The room spun in his honour on Friday night when I got home … so I guess we gave him a good send off!! 😛

Rightio, that’s about all the news here – not very exciting at Chez Feather Stitching at the moment … I am, however, really itching to start a new stitching project, I just can’t decide which one for now. Perhaps I should put a poll up, or just draw numbers out of a hat … either way, the month will be spent on more of Chatelaine’s Stitching Leporello (I only have a couple more pieces to stitch now), the next instalment of our Quaker RR, and two Christmas ornies for this month’s challenges, and starting whatever new project screams the loudest (or is the luckiest to get drawn out of the hat!).

Beading, Finishes, Finishing, scissor fobs, Stash

Beaded Scissor Fobs and some Stash

14 June, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

I’ve just managed to pop into the lounge to take photos of the scissor fobs I made last night – as you can see from the main photo, they ended up a real mixed bag in terms of length … there definitely will be more coming ‘cos they’re so much fun to make! Now I know why some of my other stitching pals (Hi Cindy!) find these so addictive!! 😀

And here’s an individual photo of each fob so you can see the bead choices more clearly.

I really do need to go shopping to get more clear beads etc, though, as I have an over-abundance of blue beads (funny that!) but not so many ‘fillers’ … I’m soooooo tempted to go back to the craft show today!! 😛

And finally, here’s all I have to show from the Craft & Quilt Fair yesterday – including a piece of the world’s largest ric-a-rac, and some more Swiss lace for Shepherd’s Bush needlerolls (can never have too much!!), and my squillions of ‘pandora’ beads … many of these beads are destined for other uses, eg fobs, but I did buy a bracelet while I was there yesterday too … and yes, there is rather an overload of turquoise and blue!! 😉

Finally, here’s the sum total of my week’s stitching – one more tiny addition to Chatelaine’s Stitching Leporello. I just had the border left to stitch and the beads/metallics on it’s companion piece, which will hopefully be finished by the end of tonight … after that I will be trying to make some more progress during the week of my Sweetheart Tree UFO, Wildflowers Needleroll (which I started here in the flat while waiting for my furniture to arrive!).

And now I’m about to, sadly, mark all my feeds as read in my feedreader, as it’s depressing the heck out of me – I’ve been trying hard to catch up on the backlog, but still have over 1700 unread feeds … I’m finally going to bite the bullet and wipe the slate clean, so I can continue to keep up with everyone’s news without feeling overwhelmed every day. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but couldn’t bring myself to do it … but today is the day! I want to get back to commenting regularly again! So, in advance, I apologise if I’ve missed any major personal news, but I look forward to reading about you all regularly again 😀

Christmas Ornaments, Finishes, Heart in Hand Needleart, Mill Hill, Needlerolls, scissor fobs, Shepherd's Bush

Couple of small finishes

8 June, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

After having one whole half week of feeling fantastic and over my viral bugs, on Saturday morning I woke up with a sore throat, and have been a snot factory for the last 48 hours yet again … too much information, I know … fingers crossed this round won’t hang around for quite so long! Having a ‘cold’ for the last 6 whole weeks was just a teensy tiny bit too much, especially when two of those ended up being without pay 😦

Anyway, over the last week or two I’ve been sitting and stitching a few tiny projects, and here are the results:

First up a freebie from IHLE-Design, stitched in a DMC variegated floss:

Then a wee freebie from My Aunt’s Attic, stitched in a Carrie’s Threads floss:

Afterwards, in need to something else to stitch, I decided to finish off a Christmas ornament that I started when visiting Mum in Auckland back in April:

“Christmas Cheer” by Heart in Hand Needleart

Next up this weekend was Folk Heart Needleroll by Shepherd’s Bush:

“Folk Heart Needleroll” by Shepherd’s Bush

And lucky last, Ice Blue Snowflake ornament by Mill Hill:

“Ice Blue Snowflake” by Mill Hill

Long weekends are great, especially when you sit up in bed all day with the sniffles!! 😀

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Indigo Rose, Just Nan

Latest finishes

19 May, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Following are my latest finishes, thanks to me damaging my ribs further after another coughing fit yesterday morning, and having to be escorted over the road to the doctors by my flatmate … the only way I could get comfortable is sitting propped up in bed … perfect for stitching … (sorry for the dreadful photos – all taken at night under indoor lighting)

“Spring Garden” freebie by Indigo Rose
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
with recommended threads (DMC)

This one is a typical Just Nan special … lots of colour changes and details – certainly not a quick stitch! This has taken me a couple of full days stitching. The colours are definitely not true to life in this one – might have to try taking a new photo in daylight …

“Autumn in the Square” by Just Nan
stitched on 28ct Light Mocha Cashel linen
with recommended threads (DMC)

Now it’s time to put some clothes on and walk over the road to pick up the repeat script of my antibiotics – and time to take some more Voltaren and Panamax … bless those darned drugs, is all I can say (it’s a killer being allergic to codeine and digesics, no decent heavy-duty painkillers that I can take … when I had my eyes lasered I could only be given Paracetamol, and that’s two days I never ever want to repeat in this lifetime!).

Chatelaine, Christmas Ornaments, Finishes, Full Circle Designs, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Stitching Leporello, Sweetheart Tree

Missing in Action

16 May, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

I’ve been giving my computer a wide berth over the last couple of weeks … I’ve had a set-back with my health, after going back to square one with a viral relapse two weeks ago and feeling like death warmed up. I’ve been struggling to get through work every day, and after a full 4 weeks of feeling like cr*p, I ended up back at the GP’s office this week after dislodging a rib from trying to cough up my lungs on Thursday morning. After finding I had a temperature (which is totally unheard of for me), and kept bursting into tears all morning I’ve ended up off work again to try to recuperate. My “immunity is knackered” (direct quote from the GP), so I’m taking it easy, and continuing to take some time away from the PC.

I think my Mum is missing my blog posts, however, so I’m making an effort to catch up quickly with my latest stitching before switching off again. I owe some people emails, and will get on top of that shortly …

While I’ve been offline I’ve managed the following stitching finishes:

“A Christmas Song” by Full Circle Designs (2008 JCS ornie magazine)
Stitched on 32ct Days Gone By Silkweaver linen
with a mix of threads substituting those of the
recommended threads I didn’t have

“Stitching Leporello” by Chatelaine

“Snowflakes in Abundance” by The Sweetheart Tree
stitched on 32ct white Lugana
with recommended threads,
but substituting the snowflake charm

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Mirabilia, Winter Queen

Viruses can be good :D

28 April, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

I still feel a little bit stunned and shell-shocked, but having 3 entire days of uninterrupted stitching thanks to a poxy virus means putting the final stitches into my Winter Queen … I still can’t believe it!!! The photo doesn’t do her justice! And this is one piece that will definitely be getting framed for my walls 😀

“Winter Queen” by Mirabilia
Stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
with DMC, Mill Hill beads and Kreinik metallic braids
Started November 2005 – Finished 28 April 2009

Acorn Needlebook, Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Friends & Family, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Periwinkle Promises, Prairie Schooler, Smith Family NZ, Travel - New Zealand, Works in Progress

Back to sweltering Sydney

14 April, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

After a whirlwind trip back home to Auckland where I froze my buns off, it’s back to Sydney and the hottest day in the history of April since time began apparently … oh yay, LOL (sorry Zeb, I only got your email when I got home Sunday afternoon, so didn’t get chance to catch up – will definitely give you a holler the next time I come over, though, so we can arrange a meeting!).

It was really lovely to go home again and Dad was happy that I managed to clear out about 2 suitcases full of clothes to go to the Salvation Army plus about half a big wheelie bin full of soon-to-be-shredded papers. Ah, I so love going home for a holiday haha. The weather was shocking, so we didn’t get to go sightseeing at all around Auckland – and unfortunately the flights were really full out of Wellington, so at the 11th hour Mum and I cancelled our flights, as it had the potential to be an extremely costly trip … of course we forgot about Easter and school holiday traffic … doh!

I didn’t get too much stitching done, although I did stitch up my April Christmas ornie for the ornie Challenge … and I’ve since started the Acorn Needle Book by Periwinkle Promises, which is a kit I’ve had in my stash for way too many years now. It’s been really fun doing every stitch except XS so far in this piece, although I’m a bit wary of the upcoming acorn cap completely made up of french knots {{shudder}}.

“Snowy Night” by The Prairie Schooler
from 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue
stitched on 32ct Merino hand-dyed linen by Countrystitch
with recommended DMC threads

“Acorn Needle Book” kit by Periwinkle Promises – first WIP photo

A bit of rice stitch, satin stitch, double holbein stitch, double back-stitch (or long-armed XS), and finished with a smidge of normal back stitch

Mum and I managed to catch up with my Auntie Trudy (who’s not actually an Aunt, but a family friend that I’ve grown up with in NZ), and it was lovely to see her again. I came away being spoilt with a lovely blue scarf she knit for me, so I feel very special 🙂

The highlight of the trip (and our final night) was a visit to my fave family, the Smiths … Auntie Heather (again an extremely close family friend that I adore) has known me since I was six weeks old in the UK, and our two families have grown up together when we both emigrated to New Zealand. There are only a few years difference between the age groups of myself and their two children, Tracey and Carl, and now they both have their own children and we have our own “Granny Smith” (she hates being called that!). It turned out to be Danial’s birthday during our visit, so we were able to visit on Saturday afternoon/evening on his birthday – it was great fun! Tracey and Glen live out in the country south of Auckland, and it was great to finally visit their property and play with all the animals. The only ones I didn’t get to pet were the cows! 😉

Here are a number of photos from our visit – including some very special Easter bunnies, that were part of Danial’s birthday present.

Danial, Bradley and Heather (with stickers on her forehead compliments of youngest grandchild Danial!)

Tracey hard at work in the kitchen preparing dinner

How many men does it take to put together a racing car set? Four, apparently! ;P

Maybe we should read the instructions, Grandad!

Easter bunnies country-style

Awwwww……. Somebunny loves ya Heather!

The Dragon having a bunny cuddle

And this bundle of fun I just couldn’t wait to have a cuddle with, I love him to death … poor Dodge got so excited that he kindly peed on my leg … I think that means he likes me! haha – he’s such a soppy soft dog you’ve gotta love him! This is him begging me to come outside to play with him – I kept leaning out the window to give him a pat! 😀

And to finish off, here’s the birthday boy with his icecream cake – with Dad (Glen), and the Dragon (Mum)

Now it’s back to the heat of Sydney, and I’m over it already after 48 hours!! Will summer never end?? Bring on those cooler autumn days with blue skies … keep your pelting rain and humidity! Oh well, at least I can laze around at home over the next few days indoors … inbetween going to gym sessions each day this week … I’ve finally joined a gym to get my fat A into shape and feel a bit healthier. Going to the chiropractor all these months has been wonderful, and I’m ready to make a healthy change – going to the gym will hopefully help me reach that goal … I just need to get back into the routine of going regularly before work!

Anyway, I’d better skedaddle and put some laundry washing in while it’s still daylight and the laundry nazis don’t chase me out (we have to be out by 8pm sharp!) … can’t guarantee there’ll be a stitching finish any time soon, as I want to put a few hours into Mirabilia’s Winter Queen (thanks to me joining a UFO challenge group) and also get some decent stitching time into Nicki’s Quaker RR 😀

Look forward to catching up on your blogs over the next few days as well … ah, the joy of still being on holiday!! 😀

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Victoria Sampler

Mini Happy Dance

4 April, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

One more small finish for me for the year – I really enjoyed stitching this one … I was craving some ‘specialty stitches’ and this fit the bill in a small way. Unfortunately they were stitches I’ve already done before, so I didn’t really learn anything new, but it made a nice change to doing all cross stitch! And I just LOVE the colours on this one. It took longer than expected to stitch the top part, but I did manage to put the final stitches into it before midnight last night, so the entire thing was stitched in one day 🙂

“Lavender Bag” by The Victoria Sampler
Stitched using kit fabric, threads and beads

I’m thinking of trying to finally get acquainted with my new sewing machine later this afternoon if I get time, or on my return from my visit home, so I’m looking forward to finally getting some actual ‘finishing’ done (including the quilted wallhanging of Just Nan’s Evening Star, so it can go to its new loving home).

Now I’m off into the office for an hour or two to check my emails, and make a quick phone call to Tucson and Los Angeles if I need to … fingers crossed, though, they’ve got things sorted in my absence now the Manager is back in the office!

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Threads Through Time, Works in Progress

Joy to the World

3 April, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

I managed to put the final stitches into my Christmas ornie last night:

“Joy to the World” by Threads Through Time
from 2001 Just Cross Stitch ornie magazine
Stitched on 32ct white Lugana
using recommended DMC

And today started a new quick project – Lavender Bag by The Victoria Sampler (sorry, it’s a bad photo!):

Hopefully I’ll get chance to finish off the stitching tonight, as there isn’t a great deal more left to stitch, and no more bands with loads of colour changes 🙂

Christmas Ornaments, Country Cottage Needleworks, Cross Stitch, Finishes

March ornie finish

23 March, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Here’s my latest small finish … which has taken me the last two weeks to stitch …

“Let It Snow” by Country Cottage Needleworks
Stitched on 32ct Natural Belfast Linen
with DMC and Kreinik #4 metallic braid
(from 2008 JCS Christmas Ornie magazine)