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
Piccies for Mum
OK, Mum, here are the chart scans for you … hope these come through OK – sorry email wasn’t working!
Thanks everyone…
…for so many kind words about my canvaswork piece – really really appreciated :-)))
As for any stitching updates … there really aren’t any, which is unusual for me – haven’t put a single stitch into anything for a few days (since Dena was completed, actually). Really need to get moving, but just haven’t had the motivation – have been going for a walk before work instead (which isn’t a bad thing, considering how much weight I need to lose LOL). This week’s shifts have mucked me around a little bit physically … after doing my 6pm-2am and 9pm-5am shifts last week, it took me all weekend to get over it – and this week I’m doing 7 days straight, with 3 different shift times (2 of 3pm-11pm, 2 of 12noon-8pm, then 3 of 9am-5pm) – hard to get into a routine … but then due to a last minute bout of relieving for me, I get another week on the hotline covering someone on leave, which means I get an entire 5 days off next week … yippee!!! Will be nice to have some time off for a change, and have a full day or 3 of stitching. Was going to go home to NZ for a quick visit, but the flights are looking pretty full, and it’s not worth taking the risk trying to get there – will hold off until the next days off, I think (sorry Mum!).
Well, today was my interview day – I felt it went pretty well, but there are certainly no guarantees, and the competition is the toughest there has ever been, in my eyes … it’d be nice to get the job, so I’m on a permanent roster and not having everything changed on me every month when I’m asked to do relieving – makes it so hard to plan anything in advance! But if I don’t get it, at least I can say the person who does get it is of a fine calibre and deserves it 🙂 Anyway, hopefully we’ll all be put out of our miseries by Friday this week – otherwise I’ll be glued to the phone on Monday, as it’s my first day off of five … I think it had been getting to me a bit, and I was feeling anxious about it all deep down, as I felt a huge weight had been lifted off me after the interview …
On a happy note I am overjoyed to announce that my 2004 JCS ornament issue FINALLY arrived at my PO Box today – can’t believe it … I had literally just given up hope of ever receiving it, and placed an order for one online, and the little slip arrived saying “you have mail” … yippee! And I LOVE loads of the designs, even more than the 2005 one, I think … yet more and more to drool over for a few days – and I still haven’t finished drooling over the last lot!
Rightio, off to bed early tonight – I might have to put a couple of stitches into something before I go to bed, though – I feel a bad not doing any stitching at all … maybe I’ll just finish the Wisper beard on my no humbugs allowed ornament … that should just about take me no longer than an hour to finish – right, get off the computer Anne, and get moving with that needle!!! ;-P
Happy Dancing time
Yup, Dena has finally been promoted to the finished pile … it might be a long time before it turns into an actual cushion, but I’m happy to announce all the stitching is finished. One more off the UFO list for the year – yippee!!
Not sure what is going to take its place yet – I’ve given up on my previous rotation of having a week to stitch each piece … I think instead I’d prefer to do what a lot of other stitchers do, and have a daily rotation over the week. I already have two days set aside, so it’ll be easy to plan the other days as well … might have to look at it tomorrow, when I work out what I’m going to spend my time stitching.
I was Tagged … a while ago …
I was tagged by Dawn, and forgot all about answering my questions – but I was just clearing out my emails, and noticed it … oops – oh well, better late than never! Here goes …7 Things I want to do before I die:
Go hot air ballooning
See more of the Greek Islands
Visit Canada
Finish my pile of UFO’s ;-P
Enjoy the life I’ve lived and make a difference to someone else’s
Learn how to put photos in my blog sidebars
Visit more of Australia (ie Perth, Ayers Rock in particular)7 Things I can do:
Cross stitch and embroider
Ignore housework ;-P
Be a supportive and loyal friend
Listen to people
Spend money on things I don’t need
Stand up for myself and other people when the need arises
Answer phones 8 hours a day!
7 Things I can’t do:
Crochet
Ride a motorbike
Bake cakes well
Stand by and watch someone being ill treated
Lie or hide my feelings
Stop buying stitching supplies/stash
Speak Latin
7 Things that attract me to another person:
Eyes
Smile
Sense of humour
Considerate and caring nature
Intellect
Quick wit
Sense of adventure
7 Celebrity crushes (can’t say I have any real ‘crushes’, so I’ve listed actors I enjoy watching):
Tony Curtis when he was younger
Mel Gibson
Brad Pitt
Bruce Willis
Brendan Fraser
Dennis Quaid
Rowan Atkinson
7 Things I say the most:
Welcome to the Melbourne Hotline, Anne speaking 🙂
Not being funny, but …
What the…? (from Rove’s “what the…” segment)
Do I HAVE to get up?
I’ll do the vacuuming tomorrow …
Gotta love it/them
What day is it today? (the joys of 7 day shift work)
What is a Huswif/Hussif?
As I commented on Nicole’s blog, I have a huswif (my first attempt) which has been sitting as a UFO ever since I finished the class … it is oh-so-close to being finished, and it really is a lovely piece that I’m relatively proud of. I mentioned earlier when discussing my change of blog name, that feather stitching isn’t my ‘forte’ … well, that’s why this UFO became a UFO. I’m sure when I get back into the swing of it, and force myself to pick it back up again, it’ll be fine – I did a reasonably good job of the initial feather stitching, but for some reason I’m a bit nervous of doing it round the outside edges, to hold everything together. Bit daft, really … I think 2006 is the year where this thing finally gets finished and used!! (but don’t hold me to that hahaha). So, here’s the piccie of my UFO huswife to date:
This one is designed by Monica Hunt, and the instructions were printed in the publication called Anne’s Glory Box, Book Nine. A photo of the completed piece in the book is here. As you can see from the example, I’m more into the bright colours, so I chose pretty different fabrics and Monica said it’s the first time she’d seen one stitched on black and that it might be a bit difficult … oh well, always one to accept a challenge haha.
Nicole, there are loads of styles of huswifs – the only thing I can think of that is common is that there are basically different pockets on the inside of them to hold a stitcher’s tools of trade, and they all seem to roll up for storage etc. I’ve just ordered the Flame Stitch huswif by Sampler Cove (haven’t tried that sort of stitching before, so I thought it would be fun to try something different), and another one called Strawberries So Faire by With My Needle that I’m really keen to try too – another Yahoo group I belong to is thinking of maybe having a SAL for Strawberries So Faire, so it would be a good time to stitch it, I think 🙂
No current stitching updates to post – I’ve finished the last big border on my canvaswork Dena, and just in the middle of finishing the final satin stitch border in the Rainbow Gallery Patina thread (aaaaarghhhhh, is all I have to say about that thread!!!) – then it’s just a case of adding the beads in the corners, and I’ll be happy dancing yippee. I figure there’s no point posting a piccie until it’s finished, seeing as it’s now so close. Didn’t get much done yesterday, other than having a kip in the afternoon – swapped with someone at work and did the “doggo” shift (9pm-5am), so didn’t get to bed until almost 7am this morning. It was amazing driving home – now we’re heading into summer, the days are getting longer, and it was like driving home at about 8am … it shocked me a bit when I was leaving work, as it was so light outside. I almost went for a walk on the beach when I got home, but thought better of it, as it was only 5.40am – even though it was light, I figured it was probably not the safest thing for a single female to be doing! Today I’m just popping out to do some errands – then going into work early, as there is a ‘parcel’ waiting for me my PO Box … fingers crossed it’s the JCS 2004 ornie issue I’ve been expecting from my Ebay trader – that would be just wonderful! Tonight I’m back to my final 6pm-2am shift, then I have the weekend off … yippee :-)))
Feather Stitching 