Thanks for you advice Jo … I’ve put all my piccies across to Photobucket, and changed my template lines with the new addresses … so fingers crossed the piccies will be showing now – if not, I’d appreciate a heads up again, as they’re showing fine on my screen again … Thanks guys!
Can anyone see the sidebar pics?
Just wondering if anyone can see them … thanks for the heads up, Mel – I thought I was being so clever! If no-one can see them, is there anyone that can shed some light how to get them to show OK on other people’s browsers – they’re showing up fine on mine, but then again I’m holding the original files in ‘my pictures’ on my own PC … maybe that’s the problem … ? Help!!
Those darned sidebars are conquered…
Well, sorta, anyway … I just spent the last couple of hours working out how to make thumbnails of my ‘finished’ piccies – and then getting them into my template. Not sure how to get rid of the little ‘arrow’ thingies next to each line, but I don’t care about that … I have PHOTOS!!! Woohoo!!! So I went a bit mad and added quite a LOT of photos of my finished pieces this year … not the entire 20 I’ve done, but my fave pieces anyway. Crikey, you forget how much stitching you’ve managed to complete until you go back and look at the album … rightio, now I’ve gotta get away from this computer chair and get some housework done, which has been seriously neglected of late due to my headaches etc – then a bit of stitching, seeing I got nothing done yesterday. In closing, all I’ll say is “Take THAT, you pesky sidebars!!!!!”
Stitching Bloggers Question
Thought I might actually answer this week’s question immediately, instead of waiting for 3 weeks to do it … quite a novel idea, really!
Today’s “Stitching Blogger’s Question” was suggested by Outi and is:
Have you ever stitched something as a gift and later realized that receiver doesn’t respect your stitched gift a bit (for example it’s never on show, or you have other reason to suspect that it may even be nonexistent or at least placed in some dark storage room corner)? If so, what have you done? If you’ve beenlucky enough to avoid such people what would you do if it’d happen to you?
Only thing I can think of is giving my eldest Aunt a bookmark, and she outright told me she wouldn’t use it … I felt a bit hurt, then she explained it was because it was so delicate and she didn’t want to damage it – I’m sure to this day it’s still sitting unused, but I guess she appreciated the gift. Can’t say anyone has ever really not liked a stitched gift, or maybe I’m being naive. If it did ever happen to me I guess I’d be a bit hurt, and wouldn’t make anything else for them again – and try like heck for the experience not to taint the act of giving to other people.
Rotation and “You Have Mail”
A bit of a happy dance of a different sort today – the first two parcels of my latest S.E.X. episode has arrived (it’s OK Mum, it’s not some orgy or anything – it stands for Stash Enhancement eXperience!) … I haven’t bought myself anything for stitching for a very long time, and I have to admit to going a bit mad over the last few weeks – I am about to go officially ‘on the wagon’, as I think I’m close to being the S.A.B.L.E. queen! (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy). Anyway, I finally took myself off to the doctor today (half hour drive away, so hadn’t managed it before today) and came home with some Nurofen Migraine tablets … fingers crossed this will help, as I’ve now had my headache for almost 6 whole days! My blood pressure is also nicely normal – looks like my moving out of the last living situation has certainly helped on the health front, anyway … and I have to keep a track of what I’m eating that may be triggering the ‘gall pains’ I’ve been experiencing of late. I originally thought it must be the mince (even though it’s premium/lean mince) – but it may be the chilli giving me the pains, as I had a reaction to a chilli/parmesan/cashew nut spread Mum and I love … please say it’s not so – I love chilli in food … Anyway, time will tell – I have to do some experimenting with my foods so we can try and narrow it down.
Anyway, enough of that rubbish – back to S.E.X. … While I was at the doctor’s, I popped in to check my PO Box – and lo and behold there were two parcels in there … firstly from my Ebay win of some fabrics – 28ct Jubilee in Lavender, 28ct Cashel linen in Lilac and Taupe, 32ct Belfast linen in Natural, 28ct linen in Coffee Bean, 32ct Jobelan in Parchment, and a pretty 25ct Lugana in Delicate Teal – only one I’m not keen on is the Coffee Bean, but I’m sure I’ll find a use for it somehow …
The second parcel was my order from Criss Cross Row (very friendly and efficient service, too, I might add! – very impressed!!). The contents were an Acorn Needle Book kit by Periwinkle Promises (just follow the link – it’s at the bottom of the page), a December Box chart by Cherished Stitches, and A Secret Garden Needlework Necessary by Forget-Me-Not-In-Stitches … the Secret Garden piece is going to be a Stitch-Along with a group of gals in the Stitching Smalls Yahoo group I belong to – really, really looking forward to this one, but I have to cool my heels until early in the New Year until this SAL starts up … at least I have time to get my threads/fabric together and get it kitted up all ready to start. Still got a couple of orders coming in yet – again ready for a couple more SAL’s … but mainly just ‘cos I felt like treating myself! Mum you can lecture me later haha. I figure I don’t go out much, so stitching is my only vice …
And, yesterday I managed to actually get a fair amount done – I finished The Poet talking book, and managed to get another one almost finished – Shallow Graves by Jeffery Deaver … have to say, I’m pretty disappointed with this one. I love Jeffery Deaver’s books that are based on the character of Lincoln Rymes – but this one is based on a different character in the movie industry … it’s just not the same! Oh well, at least I know not to bother getting the other book in the library, as it’s the same series. I have to say, KarenV, I was wondering about The Poet – at the end it didn’t seem to ‘end’ on a 100% definite note … I wondered if there would be a sequel to it – and you’ve confirmed my suspicions – yippee, will have to get that one out now too! I love talking books – lets me fill both my passions at once, that of reading and stitching.
Anyway, here’s my latest rotation piece – those dratted Dolphins … I’m surprised how much stitching I managed to cram into 10 hours, and it’s starting to fill out nicely – I may even get it finished by 2007 haha.
Ornie semi-finishes
Well, I managed to eat something today, which is a bonus after 3 days of not eating much at all – had a lazy day of stitching and listening to most of a talking book (The Poet by Michael Connelly – a serial killer novel … nope, no girlie books for me today!). Managed to almost finish another two ornaments – just have to buy a charm/treasure for each, then I’ll have to work out how to actually finish them off. I’ll post a piccie of the finished ones later – just don’t hold your breath haha. They’re both from the 1998 JCS Ornament issue – the first one is called “Christmas Memory Tree” by Ursula Michaels Designs, and the second one is “Woodland Noel” by Heart in Hand Needleart. 
Thanks for your kind words…
It’s been lovely receiving such supportive comments from everyone about not getting the job … I feel fine about it overall. To be honest, the normal phone roster is better than the Hotline one, as you get days off more often – and I’ll still be getting relief work doing the same job I applied for … as long as I’m still relieving it gives me the mental challenge I need, so I don’t get braindead.
Well, I finally managed to pick up a needle today, and put the final stitches into my No Humbugs Allowed ornament … all I need now are the buttons from Just Another Button Company, and it’s all set to be made up. The buttons are coming from the US, and probably a couple of weeks away from being posted, but at least I should get this finished before Christmas. It will be nice to have my very first ornament made in time for my very first Christmas in my ‘own’ place – and the first time I’ve had Christmas with a family member since I moved to Aussie, with Mum coming for a visit yippee. Anyway, here’s the piccie. OK, now what else can I stitch today? Maybe I should bite the bullet and start my rotation … back to the dratted Dolphins ;-P
Stitching Bloggers Question(s)
I’ve been very slack since joining this group, and now is the time to clear the backlog of questions:
19 Oct 05 – Today’s “Stitching Blogger’s Question” was suggested by Cathy and is:
Do you mark or hi-lite your patterns or can you follow them without any markings? Do you make copies to mark up, or do you mark originals?
I go cross-eyed trying to follow charts, so I definitely need to mark up a chart. Usually I make a working copy that I blow up on the photocopier to make it easier to read – and use a highlighter to track my progress, so I know exactly where I am on the chart. I used to mark my originals with a pencil when I first started stitching, but I got out of that habit very very quickly. Using a marking copy also makes it easier to go back and see the original for backstitching – although I’ve also been known to use a sharpie marking pen to trace over the backstitching too, if it’s a particularly difficult chart to follow.
12 Oct 05 – Today’s “Stitching Blogger’s Question” was suggested by Outi and is:
How do you `non-hoopists’ who use a rotation system handle it (as it seems to be lot easier if you are in good terms with hoop)? Do you have several scroll frames? Do you use Q-snaps or maybe something completely different? Or do you just have one or two big projects and others are small enough to be kept in hand while stitching?
Unfortunately I get cramp in my left hand when using a hoop – an old hangover from RSI as a secretary. I use scroll rods for almost everything I stitch – if a piece of fabric is too small to attach to the rods on their own, I stitch some calico onto the edges and make it big enough to fit! I just dragged out my sole set of Q-snaps recently and enjoyed using it, and I’m trying it on one of my rotational pieces, to see how I like it on a larger project. I have a decent number of scroll rods, and leave my projects on them inbetween stitching – it just means if I want the set of scroll rods they’re on for another project, I just have to finish that one off first! (Well, that’s the theory!!)
6 Oct 05 – Today’s “Stitching Blogger’s Question” was suggested by Bea and is:
When you have almost finished a pattern and start thinking about the next one to stitch, how do you select it? (a list, most recent purchase, etc.)
Depends on my mood, really – I’m trying really hard to finish off some very old UFO’s, so I’m tending to think of the next UFO I feel comfortable picking up again. Then again, I’m also in the stash enhancement mode at the moment as well, and keen to start some fresh, new projects. Depends what calls to me the most when the time is ready … I don’t have any stitching deadlines at the moment, so I just stitch what I feel like stitching – whether it’s new or old. Whatever gives me the greatest joy of the moment – ‘cos that’s what it’s all about, enjoying what you stitch.
Trying another rotation…
Well, I’ve decided with my weird hours at work and the ensuing flagging energy levels sometimes, that my planned rotation of having a day set aside for different projects isn’t working too well. After doing some research (web-surfing), I thought I’d try a set time rotation. I think it was Tannia early on in my first blogs that suggested a certain time frame for each project, and initially I thought it was too constrained for me – but the more I think about it, the more I think it would suit me better for my current lifestyle … so I figure I’ll stitch my projects for 10 hours each, before moving onto the next one – at least that way every project gets some stitching done on it regularly, rather than skipping days and weeks at a time. So, my first rotation plan is as follows:
- Dolphins XS
- Chatelaine’s Egyptian Garden
- UFO’s (free choice or random – not sure yet)
- Dolphins XS (wanna get this finished!)
- Smalls/Ornaments
- Mirabilia’s Winter Queen
- Dolphins XS
- Finishing items (putting needlebooks etc together)
- Free choice
I’ve been sick all yesterday and today – so it’s been a good chance to blob out and just ‘surf’. I’ve been suffering from a migraine headache since I found out about not getting the job … I think the tension from that, plus the fact I’ve had a sore throat the last couple of days, got my immune system down – my headache was so bad I wanted to throw up, then I got the sweats followed by chills, and to top it all off I’d had chilli con carne the night before, and had excruciating pains compliments of my gallstone troubles (even though this was ‘prime’ mince, obviously I can’t eat that either!) … so, all in all I was feeling very sorry for myself – and ended up in bed almost all day … but got up at midnight after not being able to sleep, and surfed for almost 6 hours – almost like being at work on the night shift LOL. Anyway, just a bit bunged up today, and the headache is more manageable – so I might try and get a bit of stitching done today. Only one more work to go tomorrow, then I have my 5 days off – I think I need them to recuperate!
Didn’t get the job…
The heading says it all, really … Feel pretty flat and pretty disappointed – even though I knew it was going to tough to get it, it still kicks you when you get the news. It was especially hard ‘cos I had so many people come to me and say they were shocked as they thought I was a ‘shoe-in’ … never mind – definitely a night for stitching to take my mind off it. Better make it something simple, as I intend stitching with a glass of bourbon and lemonade in my hands in commiseration to myself …
So, it’s back to having my rosters chucked at me every few weeks, and not being able to plan much in advance, as it could all change at a fortnight’s notice (or in this week’s case, a week!) … good job I learnt to stitch for stress relief ;-P
Feather Stitching 