Cross Stitch – Page 51 – Feather Stitching

The week’s recap

29 February, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Wow, what an amazing adventure last weekend was!! I haven’t had time to sit at the laptop since returning home, but I had an absolute blast at the stitching get-together in Robertson – everyone was so lovely and chatty, and I got to see some exquisite stitched pieces both in Margaret’s home and show-and-tell from all those prolific stitchers! It truly was a sheer joy, and I can’t wait until the next one rolls around! I’ve been in a major stitching slump over the last two months, but after spending time chatting about stitching, and seeing so much finished stitching and WIP’s, when I got home I actually got my needle out and started stitching for an hour or two on Sunday night 😀

On arrival at the SAL I was extremely spoilt by Alison – she came bearing gifts of cans of L&P for me (aka liquid gold!!) … thanks again so much Alison, that was soooo sweet of you to think about me! {{hugs}} It was also really great to put a name to the face of Alison, and she had a wonderful wicked sense of humour, which is shared equally by Amanda – Amanda and I did a wee stitching trade a while ago, so it was nice to meet up in real life as well … and I think it’s going to be the start of many more get-togethers I hope. In fact, I hope I get to meet up with the entire group on a more regular basis!!

Margaret was the perfect hostess with the mostest – her home is like a needlework store full of stitched models – what a treat to spend the day there. I’ve never seen so many exquisite stitched pieces on the walls in a home in all my life … and possibly won’t ever again! I must’ve looked soooo attractive wandering around like a goldfish with my mouth gaping open in awe! 😉

Robyn and I actually started the day off really well by making a slight detour to Victoria House at Mittagong. I have to admit to not buying much, apart from two Christmassy charts for Mum from the sale basket … but it was lovely to see all the stitched models on the walls 🙂

Here are a couple of photos of our stitching group from Sunday – unfortunately the photo is missing two members who had popped up the road, but we managed to get most people in 🙂

Next up is my small finish – this is what I started on Sunday night, and I put the final stitches in on Monday night – I can’t believe it took me so long to stitch it, I really HAVE lost my stitching mojo!! This is Lizzie*Kate’s Joy ornament from the 2007 JCS ornie magazine. This was for the February ornie challenge on the Yahoo xsers group.

“Joy” by Lizzie*Kate
Stitched on ‘mystery’ linen with the recommended
green threads, but the red and white were substituted threads

After finishing “Joy”, I started my ‘commitment’ stitching – one of the CA Wells projects for my April class. To be honest, in hindsight I wish I hadn’t signed up for this one, as the project really does nothing for me, so it’s been pretty low on the list for stitching … that also might be affecting my overall stitching motivation hmmm. Anyway, I’ve made a start now, so hopefully it will be easier to keep the motivation happening.

I do have some other goodies to post about, but I need to send emails of thanks to everyone involved before posting piccies … and my flatmate is calling me for dinner, so I’d better head off! I’ll try to post again on Sunday night, as I’m heading over to stay with Brenda and Nigel tomorrow night so may not have much free time. Unfortunately I haven’t had much time to sit down tonight either, as I’ve been chatting to Mum on the phone for a while, then sitting having dinner with Lisa and her friend who’s flown up to stay here for the weekend with ‘us’ …

What can I say? Sydney is great!!! Socially I’m fitting in and settling so much more quickly than I ever did when I first moved to Melbourne … Life is good! 😀

Cross Stitch, Gifts TO BE FIXED, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Happy Mail!

12 February, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Finally I can share with you a couple of amazing gifts I received last week from two very generous online friends. After such a stressful time, it was amazing to open up my PO Box and find two envelopes bursting with goodness sitting in there!

First up was a scrummy skein of Gloriana silk from Susan – it might be a bit fuzzier than it originally arrived, as I kept stroking it at work haha. For anyone who hasn’t fondled a skein of Gloriana before, it’s a sheer joy! Thanks so much for your lovely thoughtful gift Susan, it’s been a pleasure to call you “friend”, and your gift really touched me! {{hugs}} 🙂

Next up is an absolutely exquisite biscornu from Andrea – this is so perfectly “me” in every sense of the word!! Look at those scrummy colours and that beautiful finishing … isn’t it a real stunner?!! This was a gift to welcome me into my new home, and it’s now sitting on display in the lounge with my other smalls – it will always be treasured, Andrea, I really love it to death! I love the personalisation on the back too! 😀

See, I told you last week the piccies would be worth waiting for … and I was right, huh? 😀

Thanks again to my two dear friends for making last week a wonderful one!

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A quick update on the car is that it’s running nicely again – everything requested was fixed … although admittedly it was a bit more than I expected in the end, as the alternator ran into a few difficulties so it ended up costing an extra $100 – anyway, all up it was just over $750 so it didn’t quite hit the $1,000 horror mark … and I’m so happy that everything is now fixed, including the airconditioning and aerial … I’m one happy camper!!! And to top things off I’ll be using it to drive down ‘south’ next weekend to my first stitching weekend in Sydney – I’m really looking forward to meeting a few more stitchers up here 🙂

We have a friend from work coming up from Melbourne tomorrow morning to stay with us for 2 nights until Friday, which will be fun. That means we’re off out to dinner for the next two nights – tomorrow night we’re just popping across the road to the local RSL, then Thursday night we’re heading into the city for the first time. I still haven’t worked out what to do for my birthday yet, hmmm … no doubt I’ll make my decision on Friday night – 24 hours notice is OK right? haha.

I’ve also just been very bad and organised Mum’s birthday gift … we’re now off to see Phantom of the Opera here in Sydney. Mum’s never seen it before, and she’s always wanted to see the live show, but we’ve never managed to organise it before. It’s so awesome to finally get tickets for her to see it … and of course I get to share the gift as well (even though I saw it in New York years ago, I’m looking forward to seeing it again). I hope it lives up to your expectations Mum! 🙂

Rightio, time to quickly run around with a vacuum cleaner before hitting the hay for the night, as I think we’ll be having a late night for the next two nights, and I’ve spent most of tonight in the kitchen cooking … time to quickly cram the entire night’s housework into 15 minutes hmmm 🙂

Finishes, Needlerolls

“Fit”

4 February, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

The post title is apparently what I look like! The removalist who dropped Lisa’s bike off on Saturday said “you’re looking fit -must be all the walking up those stairs” … !!! Well, it’s good to see his eyesight was still working OK after not turning up until 7.3opm hmmm haha 😉

As for what else has been happening – the dining table legs are now firmly wedged onto the table top, but still propped up against the wall until Lisa’s back has strengthened a little bit – it’s still way too heavy for me to manage on my own. Once that’s up, though, it means I can put the sewing machine up and get a few things finished …

Especially as now I have another needleroll ready for finishing! Yes, I finally pulled the needle and scissors out and stitched a needleroll for Dragonfly Dreams – this one is Shepherd’s Bush’ Shepherd’s Roll. It was fun to stitch something ‘easy’ … although I ended up stitching the darning band 3 times due to having a serious blonde moment not once but twice!!

Anyway, here’s my latest finish … don’t expect to see anything else this week haha.

Cross Stitch, Needlerolls, Works in Progress

A WIP and Car goes to the Dr

2 February, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Sorry I haven’t been online much but quite frankly I just haven’t felt like posting at all – the move was quite exhausting, both physically and mentally … I can’t believe that even my knuckles felt bruised and aching after all the lifting!!! Yesterday was the first day I could lift a box up off the floor again without groaning – geez it felt good 😉

Anyway, today I had an early morning start – my car is finally off to the mechanics on the other side of town. I really need my car, and to finally have a decent and fair mechanic looking at it is a blessing in itself. Brenda and Nigel have recommended their mechanic to me, and he seems like a really nice bloke so far. I’ve documented the entire history of what’s been going wrong with my car over the last 2 years, which will hopefully help shed some light on what’s wrong … if nothing else hopefully he can get the car windows to open again, which will be a bonus in the Sydney heat! And most importantly I hope he can get the dashboard light working again!! I upgraded my RACV membership to the “total care” package, which gives unlimited towing and breakdown assistance … but unfortunately it doesn’t exactly copy over to the NRMA in Sydney (which I didn’t realise) – I only get 8km free towing, and have to pay $4.40 per km over that … considering the mechanic is possibly just over 50km away, that’s gonna be a hefty towing bill!! Supposedly I can claim that money back from the RACV though, so that’d better be true, or I’ll be spewing big time!!

I have to admit I feel quite nauseous and ill thinking of all the money that’s being incurred lately – it’s all going on a credit card, but it’s still extra money I have to fork out every month in repayments. Our dramas with the removalists haven’t finished either – it turns out they delivered the wrong bike to us (I had no idea, as it was Lisa’s and she didn’t see it until she arrived) … and I’m missing one entire box, so I’m trying to make a list of all the things I can think of that were in it hmmm. Lisa’s away this weekend, but next week we’re probably going to write down a time line of everything that’s happened and send it to all and sundry, including possibly the TV show Today Tonight!

All this hassle and drama has seriously impacted on my stitching – I looked back at what I’d achieved in January stitching-wise and the only thing was that paltry little Xmas ornie stocking that I finished in one day! That’s very very unlike me!! The only other thing I started was Sweetheart Tree’s Wildflower Needleroll … the photo is basically the sum total of 3 days stitching (2 days from when I was sitting in an empty apartment, and 1 from a couple of nights ago) … it’s all quite pathetic really!

I get really enthusiastic and excited about all the designs I could be stitching, then feel exhausted about 5 seconds later and don’t end up doing anything – perhaps once the boxes etc are all entirely unpacked and I can move in my bedroom easily, then I’ll feel more settled and can get into a normal routine again. The lounge is a bomb site at the moment as well, as Lisa’s things are all piled up there, as well as some of my stuff that needs to be sorted out, so the clutter everywhere is probably affecting me. Lisa put her back out last weekend, and she’s been in agony all week, so we haven’t been able to do much around the place … but hopefully she’ll be back to normal again by the end of next week and we can make a concerted effort to get the place tidied up and organised.

The main challenge for me this weekend is trying to set up the video to Lisa’s TV … and get the legs onto the dining table, so the dining area can get uncluttered. I’m going to try and make an effort to take a couple of hours out to do some stitching – and need something quite ‘easy’ to stitch to help get me back into the swing of things (which won’t be the ST needleroll … that backstitching of all the leaves is doing my head in at the moment!! – mind you, once that’s finished there’s not much left before it’s totally stitched). It’s likely that I’ll either choose a small freebie or Xmas ornie, or start a new LHN or CCN design … but I must stitch “something”, or I’m going to kick myself hard!!!

Once the place is fully de-cluttered we need to invite our elderly neighbours up for morning or afternoon tea … I’d guess they’re both in their 70’s to 80’s, and seem really lovely old dears (Norma on the ground floor, and Barbara in the middle of us on the 2nd). We’re also setting up a calendar in the kitchen where we can keep track of all our house guests that will be coming over the coming year, so we don’t double-book … it’s going to be quite a social year if everyone comes that says they will be! 😀

Anyway, time to sign off for the day as I need to head to the Post Office before it closes … I’ve found out there is a tiny local branch just up the road at the shops, which is open on Saturday mornings – I haven’t been able to get to the PO since my car has been broken down, since moving here, to post some changes of address etc, so it’s great to find I can do all that on Saturdays now! I can still clear my mail in the mornings at Mascot before work, but the actual shop for postage etc isn’t open then.

Rightio, time to ‘shake a tail feather’ and do the morning duties … with luck Lisa’s bike will be returning this afternoon from Dodgey Brothers R Us, and I need to make sure I’m home all afternoon for their arrival … geez, they’re the last people I want to see today!!

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes

A small happy dance

27 January, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Yesterday’s plan of taking the day/afternoon off was a perfect one! I did a lot of tidying up in my bedroom late at night, then today I’ve pulled out all stops and almost finished off the kitchen by packing away all the Tupperware and baking trays etc (believe me, the Tupperware in itself is a massive feat haha). I also rearranged the lounge furniture today, and ironed the duvet and pillowcases to make Lisa’s bed up for her arriving tonight. She won’t be arriving until about 8pm, after spending the entire day driving from Melbourne on her own, so at least she doesn’t have to worry about where she’s going to sleep when she arrives. I’m also going to cook a roast chicken and baked potatoes with a salad ready for her arriving – and the wine has been chilling ever since the first day the fridge was switched on 😉

Anyway, following is the sum of my stitching efforts yesterday – it was a bit hampered by the fact my threads were all over the place, so I had to ‘un-kit’ a project to find the DMC 814. The only GAST threads I had were Flax and Raspberry Parfait, everything else was substituted with a DMC equivalent. It’s stitched on 28ct mystery Cashel linen (in a light taupe colour) from my stash – which means I’m now up-t0-date with the Christmas Ornie SAL on the XSers Yahoo group – yay 😀

“Fill With Love”
Designs by Cathy Jean
2007 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue

I’m unsure what the next project will be … I should probably finish the Sweetheart Tree needleroll I started last week, then I think a wee LHN or CCN project might be in order before I start committing myself to my CA Wells class pieces – now I (will soon) have my own stitching space again, I guess it’s time to start tackling those class pieces when I can concentrate on them properly 🙂

Hopefully next week I’ll also have time to start sitting down and catching up on everyone’s blogs again! 🙂

Cross Stitch, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Another wishlist enhancement & Australia Day

26 January, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Oh boy, I knew it was a bad idea to pop online and read a couple of blogs while taking a break from unpacking – have you seen the latest chart from Little House Needleworks? This absolutely MUST go on the wishlist … I absolutely adore it! (Mind you, I seem to love almost ALL of their designs at the moment – they’re like chocolate, one piece isn’t enough LOL.)

Home of a Needleworker by Little House Needleworks

OK, back to unpacking again …

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Actually, I just realised what day it is today – it’s Australia Day here in the land Down Under … so the very best wishes go out to all my friends in this beautiful country, however you choose to celebrate it! I’ve actually just decided that I’m calling the packing quits today, and instead I’m going to curl up with a Christmas ornie to stitch – my energy levels have been really flagging over the last couple of days, and it’s taking me twice as long to do everything, so perhaps this is what the doctor ordered? It’ll help to recharge my batteries anyway, and I still have tomorrow left for unpacking before Lisa arrives … the boxes that are still left to be done are tidied up in one or two areas in the ‘common’ areas of the flat (don’t ask about my bedroom, as I can barely move in there!), so now I’m off to make a special treat for myself for lunch … toasted bagels with cream cheese, capers and smoked salmon … I’m salivating already! – Then it’s time to kit up my ornie and start stitching with a DVD on the laptop! 😀

SBQ

Squillions of SBQ’s!!

18 January, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

With housesitting, limited internet access, and lately limited time available, I’m woefully behind with the SBQ’s … so here goes a massive catch-up (I’m killing time before the traffic dies down, so I can make a trek across town with another boot load of stuff – Nigel & Brenda have convinced me to stay here another night tonight so I’m not pottering around in an empty home, but I’ll definitely be heading out there tomorrow for good). Rightio, here goes with the SBQ’s, starting with the most recent first:

17 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Outi and is:

“What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you “watch” TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?”

This is a nice easy one – without a doubt my favourite pastime is watching DVD’s or TV … coming in second is listening to audiobooks. I can watch movies over and over again and not get bored, and I love my DVD collection almost as much as my stitching stash!

9 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ is:

“What was your favorite finish of 2007?”

This one is harder to answer … I’d have to probably say my CA Wells class project – Peacock Needle/Scissorcase – it’s the most challenging piece of ‘finishing’ I’ve one to date, and I’m particularly proud of it. Coming up a close second is Just Nan’s “A Little Joy” Christmas Ornament – I absolutely adore the little over-one centrepiece and was pleased as punch how well it turned out with the nun’s stitch edging etc.

3 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ is:

“Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?”

My entire year of 2008 is going to be Guilt Free and Enjoy your Stitching Year – no January new starts for me … but watch out when I’m settled into my new home 😉

27 December 2007 – This week’s SBQ is:

“Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?”

I was going to say no, but then I remembered Mum bought me a new floor model Ott-lite daylight lamp, so that would make my answer a “yes” 😀

19 December 2007 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:

“Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique?”

Yes – I taught a small group of girls how to XS when I was an adult student at College – I kitted up a bookmark design for each of them. I also taught Mum how to XS at the grand age of 70 … and now she’s hooked and wondering why she didn’t start it up when she was younger 🙂

12 December 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:

“Do you do anything special to your threads before putting them through your fabric to make them more manageable?”

Every now and then I’ll use Thread Heaven, but that’s about it.

5 December 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:

“What tips would you give to a new stitcher to help her stitch faster and neater while still keeping it enjoyable?”

Just to make sure all your crosses go in the same direction – and don’t stress … personally I think the enjoyment part should be the most important – I don’t stress about having perfect stitches, and I certainly don’t railroading etc, I just stitch for the enjoyment of seeing that fabric fill up and come to life. On the other hand I’ve found using a frame with scrollbars wonderful to increase the speed of stitching, as I can use both hands at once. The only other thing to suggest is having a few pieces kitted up, so there’s always a project on hand that you can pick up without having to think – that always slows me down, as it takes me forever to get my A into G and kit something new up, and I end up not stitching at all because of it. Sorry, not many tips coming from this gal!

9 November 2007 – Today’s SBQ is:

“When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you start over with a new strand?”

Depends on the state of the thread – if I only have to frog a few stitches, I’ll frog and continue again with the same thread … likewise if I’m on my very last strand of a kitted thread and I don’t have any more in my stash, I’ll end up having to re-use it again – otherwise I scrap it and cut off a new piece of thread.

2 November 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:

“If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?”

Very eclectic, I guess – I don’t have one particular style of design that I like to stitch, so it would be a mix of whimsical, traditional, and contemporary … either way it would likely be a type of stitching small (I’ve been tempted to try designing a needleroll a few times now – one day I might finally achieve that!).

24 October 2007 – This week’s SBQ is:

“Do you railroad?”

Only for satin stitches – everything else is fair game and falls as it lies …

17 October 2007 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

“What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus gifts?”

All of my stitching was given away as gifts until recently – now I’m more of a selfish stitcher and I’m stitching with myself in mind … although I’ve often started a project for myself then learnt someone adores that subject or project and it ends up being given away. I’d like to get back into some more small pieces of gift stitching, though.

6 September 2007 – Today’s SBQ is:

“Would you ever stitch one of your BAPs a second time? (This does not include starting over because of mistakes, bad fabric, etc, rather stitching something from the first stitch for a second time.)”

That’s an easy one – no way!!! A BAP takes me long enough to stitch it the first time, and with a stitching stash to keep me stitching until I’m 300 years old, there are too many other projects to excite me.

15 August 2008 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

“How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you?”

I’ve always been keen to try new crafting projects, so XS was just something else new to try – I picked up a simple tiny kit and taught myself from the kit instructions, and haven’t looked back! It’s also the only crafting thing I’ve tried and kept up (don’t ask about all the supplies still sitting back in Auckland for basketweaving, silk painting, fabric dyeing, glass painting, and goodness knows what else!!).

I think I’ve missed a few dates out, but they’ll have to wait until another time … it’s time for me to get dressed and hike to the other side of town and kill a few cockroaches and/or spiders 😉

Cross Stitch, Stash

A teensy bit of stash

12 January, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Today I spent a wonderful few hours browsing and chatting with Karen at Dragonfly Dreams (soon to be renamed as The Stitching Post) in the Blue Mountains. As always, I feel as though we’ve known each other for years, and feel really comfortable in their company. I managed to come home with a few guilt-free goodies … guilt-free ‘cos I’ve finished the 50 project challenge! I haven’t taken photos, as I can’t be bothered trying to find the camera right now and uploading the photos … I might update this post tomorrow with piccies if I get time … maybe 😛

Anyway, following are the goodies that followed me home today:

* The Cat’s Whiskers – Grandma’s Cushions Boxtop and Thread-minder Wallet
* By the Bay Needleart – 13th Colony Bay Part #1
* The Prairie Schooler – In The Woods
* Elizabeth’s Designs – The Garden of My Heart
* Little House Needleworks – Gourmet Garden
* Country Cottage Needleworks – Little Ballerinas

I’m really excited at the prospect of stitching again – since my last finishes I haven’t lifted a needle at all … while I’m here in Glenwood I usually only have the time and energy to put a few stitches in on Sunday nights. By the time I do my 5 x 12-13 hour days, I’m ready to collapse in a heap on Friday night, and I’m sure if I did stitch, I’d just have to rip out all the errors again on Saturday, so I avoid it big-time!

In less than a week, though, I’ll be sat merrily stitching away until my hands are ready to drop off, and I really can’t wait – I’m so incredibly excited at the prospect of all the projects that I really really want to start (and also those that I want to finish). I’ve even taken an extra day off work just so I can sit around all day and stitch for one day … I’ll have no furniture in the flat at that point, but I intend propping myself up against the wall, while sitting on my duvet inner and blow-up mattress, listening to DVD’s and/or talking books on the laptop, and celebrating the fact that I am no longer having to commute a million miles every week … I’m feeling all dreamy now just thinking about it! As for the furniture truck, it can take its merry time to arrive, as then I’ll be flat out unpacking instead of stitching haha.

I’m looking forward to meeting a few more stitchers in Sydney in 2008 as well – and over the last couple of weeks I have been considering opening my flat up for a stitching day … I just have to work out how many people we can fit it as it’s such a small flat – it might not end up being an option, but it’s worth considering anyway. It would be lovely to meet a few more stitchers up here – spending time in Karen’s company, surrounded by those wonderful goodies in the shop, makes me realise how much I adore being in contact with other stitchers. I have been missing my good friends Tannia and Sharon very much over the last few weeks for that reason (although I’d love them if they weren’t actually stitchers!).

Rightio, time to head off and kit up a couple of ornies for our ornment SAL challenge on one of the Yahoo groups – I’m hoping to get one of the ornies stitched tomorrow night (or close to being stitched anyway), but it takes me forever to kit it up then start stitching, so much better to get organised in advance! Plus I also want to kit up Ladybug, Ladybug (Little House Needleworks) – I’m itching to start the Sampler Lady by LHN, but I’m still waiting for the threads to arrive from back order … then once my Ladybug, Ladybug piece is finished I need to start some serious stitching on my CA Wells piece – so far I’ve managed a whole 2 flower heads, because I’m having to stitch in hand (need my sewing machine to sew on some side strips so it will go in the Qsnaps), and I detest stitching in hand. That’ll be a much better project to start concentrating on when I settle into the new place.

Rightio, time to get cracking ‘cos I’m starting to get heavy-eyed … time to move the body … and maybe time to get a chilled glass of Chardonnay to help with resuscitation haha.

Cross Stitch

Happy New Year!!!

1 January, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Here’s hoping 2008 is a wonderful year for all of us – filled with everything our hearts desire 😀

As it’s now 2008 ‘down under’ in Australia, I’ll finish the year with a photo of the Sydney fireworks over the harbour last New Year – compliments of the online Sydney Morning Herald. Unfortunately I’m not out at the harbour seeing the fireworks first hand (that’s the plan for next year though!) – I’m seeing the New Year in with Mark and Leisa and some of their friends at home … where I’ve been happily supping Jim Beam and L&P all night after finding a small asian supermarket near work that sells L&P … I’m a happy girl 😉

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Not only that, though – I’d also like to offer something, in way of thanks to everyone who has been supportive and a regular reader of my blog throughout the last two years, especially when I haven’t had chance to reciprocate with regular reading and support of my own. I am going to hold a prize draw for something stitched by me … I can’t guarantee it will be received by the winner this side of February, but I would like to give something back in thanks for the friendship I’ve received, especially during my most stressful times in 2007!

So, if you’d like to go into the draw for something stitched by me, please leave a comment in this post – I’ll leave the draw open until the end of January, when I’ll draw a name out of the proverbial hat, complements of random.org 😀

Finishes, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Another happy dance

29 December, 200725 February, 2012 Anne S

Yippee, I’m so happy to announce yet another happy dance – housesitting has been so good for getting some stitching done, it’s wonderful to get back into the swing of things again, even if it’s shortlived. I’ll be moving back into Brenda and Nigel’s again on 6 Jan for another three weeks, so it’ll be back into the “work-sleep-work” mode again … but after 24 Jan I’ll have a personal life back again during the week, and I can’t wait to make better use of my evening hours rather than spending it all travelling from work. Even if it takes me 1/2 an hour to drive to and from work, it will still give me back another 2 to 2 1/2 hours private home time, ah heaven!!

Next week I’ll finalise the removal truck details (which is costing between $1500-$2000 yikes!!!) , and I have to fly down to Melbourne for a few hours to tidy up the last bit of the storage unit into boxes (we just threw some things into it the last time we were there), then let the removalists into the unit. Then hopefully I can organise for them to arrive Fri 25 Jan, which will give me the whole weekend to unpack things and try to make everything fit. After that, the sofa bed is available for anyone who wants to pop over to visit 😀

Anyway, back to the important stuff … here is my happy dance for the weekend … although in fact it’s three separate happy dances – firstly, there are two happy dances for the two projects I’ve just finished – as well as getting the Necessities Sampler finished, I also sneaked in a new start/finish which is the Geranium House sampler.

Necessities Sampler by Little House Needleworks
Stitched on 32ct hand-dyed Merino linen by Country Stitch
with recommended threads

Geranium House by Country Cottage Needleworks
Stitched on 32ct Light Mocha linen
with recommended threads

The biggest happy dance, though, is that I have now – FINALLY – finished the 50 Project Challenge!! Yippee!!! I have to admit, I didn’t complete the challenge properly in that I did buy a few charts during the year, and I was originally going to stitch a new project for every new chart bought, but to be honest I’m a bit ‘over it’ and want to take the pressure off myself, so I’m not going to bother stitching to make up for the slight splurges. I really want to start off the New Year with no stitching commitments or pressures, aside from my CA Wells class pieces – after such a crappy year in 2007, I’m looking forward to smooth sailing in 2008. And after having precious stitching time over the last few months, I really want to enjoy my stitching again by stitching what I want when I want, and buying new charts on a whim whenever I feel like it as well 😀

One of the first things I’ll be doing in the New Year is fixing up my heap of crap car! I’m still having problems with it, and now it’s starting unlocking itself during the day – it’s like the damned thing is possessed!!! (Maybe I should start calling it “Christine”!) So my first job will be to take it to an auto electrician and have the entire car re-wired, I guess – which means my dashboard light will work again so I can see how fast I’m driving at night … my windows will all actually open again, not just the drivers side window, which is really helpful in this summer heat … my locks will actually stay locked when my back is turned … and the car will stop cutting out on me – then at the end of 2009 I’m hoping I’ll be in a better position to replace that heap of crap with something I actually enjoy driving … Mazda here I come !!!!!!!!

Rightio, enough prattling on … time to do get the housework done before Mark and Leisa return home tonight … then my job this week will be to catch up on a few blogs and outstanding emails, and finally finish the book I started a couple of weeks ago when I was catching the train!! Peace and quiet is shattered out here, as the neighbours are having a party it seems (this is such a noisy neighbourhood, I’m so glad I don’t live here permanently!).