Cross Stitch, Finishes, Halloween, Ink Circles

Halloween finish

Anne S

It’s been a challenging week this week, so I’ve tried to make an effort to put a few stitches into fabric when I can in the evenings – I came across this ornie kitted up in my suitcase (which I still haven’t finished unpacking – oops), so it’s had a lovely trip around the world and back … I decided to just stitch it up rather than trying to find space for it in my WIP/kitted up ready to go pile.


“By the Full Moon” by Ink Circles
stitched on 32ct Pearl Grey Belfast linen
with GAST as charted, with the exception of Onyx being substituted with Anchor black

The rest of my day today was spent doing the laundry (my normal Saturday chore), and cooking up a big pan full of beef stew, along with a little batch of Chocolate Banana Brownies (of which there isn’t much evidence left – my elderly neighbour had some and I made a huge dent in the rest … more-ish doesn’t remotely cover it!!).

And on that note I’m starting to go cross-eyed with tiredness, so it’s time to fall into bed for the night – I have loads of things in mind to get completed tomorrow so I’d better rest up to have some energy to tick that list off!

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Lizzie Kate

A teeny tiny finish

Anne S

I seem to have got my old energy levels back once again today … I started the day off with spending an hour chatting to Mum on the phone for Mother’s Day, which was a wonderful start to the day.  Sadly, though, the phone call revealed that Dad has had another turn, and possibly has had a mild stroke, but we’re waiting for test results from his recent overnight trip to the hospital before we know 😦

The main part of the rest of the day has been spent doing housework – starting with the dishes, then cleaning the bathroom sink, bath and shower grouting … then I popped across the road to pick up some milk and basic essentials after dropping the bags of rubbish off to the bins.  While I was as the shops I noticed a huge cauliflower for $1.99 at the local fruit and vege shop – that sent me on a mission to make a very cheap meal … I ended up spending the rest of the night making a nice pot of Cream of Cauliflower Soup, which I just sampled for dinner … mmmmm, yummo 🙂

During the day I also managed to put a few stitches into a new start in-between cooking phases, and managed to get another little freebie chart finished up, with the final stitches going into it this evening after dinner.  I’m enjoying doing a couple of really quick stitches before going back to my larger WIPs … actually it’s been really wonderful getting my stitching mojo back in general!

LizzieKate-Peace Joy Love
“Peace Joy Love” freebie by Lizzie*Kate
stitched on 32ct Flax linen
with Crescent Colours Spinach and Apple Fritter and DMC blanc

This freebie is still available on the Lizzie*Kate website here.

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Prairie Schooler, Stitching Smalls

Mini finish

Anne S

Over the last two days I’ve managed to start and finish a small freebie called Coffee Break – such a cute little design, that’s for sure!  It’ll eventually be turned into a scissor fob when I have a finishing frenzy weekend … some day …

Cross Stitch Happy-Coffee Break
“Coffee Break” freebie
stitched on 32ct Lambswool linen by Wichelt
with recommended DMC threads

The freebie is still available from Cross Stitch Happy blog here 🙂

I also managed to find my ornie photo on my laptop, so I can update with that too 🙂

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Exchanges, Finishes, Prairie Schooler

Prairie Schooler ornie received

Anne S

For the life of me I can’t find the photo I took of the “finished” ornie, but at least I have one of the stitching to hand – Margaret has let me know that it has arrived (albeit very very late) safely across the oceans, so I can now reveal my other stitching finish for April.

Prairie Schooler-Merry Christmas from Santas and Snowmen

“Santas and Snowmen” leaflet by The Prairie Schooler
stitched on 32ct Pipi linen by Countrystitch
with recommended DMC threads 

Entertainment & Activities, Food

Ah Manu …

Anne S

For my birthday in February I decided to go to L’etoile Restaurant & Bar (in Paddington) as my ultimate treat … mainly because I’m a bit of a Manu fan and that sexy French accent! Anyway I bought Manu’s cookbook and left it for him to sign for me as he was away on holiday – this weekend I was finally well enough to drive over and pick it up 🙂

The traffic was hideous all the way there so I decided to splurge and stay for dinner as an additional celebration for starting to feel better … including my favourite dessert of creme brûlée … ah bliss!!

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I have to say I’m also really really impressed with my signed book as well – I expected just a quick signature squiggle but Manu kindly took the time to really personalize it for me … makes me like him all the more! 😀

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2012 WIPocalypse

WIPocalypse update for May

Anne S

Some reasonable stitching effort put in over the last month due to being off work with ongoing illness, what between a dreadful head cold/flu, followed by pneumonia, and finishing with a cortisone injection in my heel … I may have felt like crap for weeks, but it’s the most stitching I’ve managed to do in an awfully long time, and I loved every single second of it!!!  The last month saw the following updates take place (the only exception is that I had a Prairie Schooler exchange ornie included at the beginning of last month, but can’t show it yet as it’s only just left here on the journey to its new home):

  • Tiger Reflection by Dimensions – this was 100% finished
  • Walking in a Winter Snapperland by Bent Creek – got halfway through another block, taking it to approx 60% completion

I also started some new projects, which have to be added to the WIP list until I receive some missing silk threads:

  • 20 Flowers by Just Nan – 70% completed
  • Into the Night by Shepherd’s Bush – 90% completed

As a visual reminder, here are the projects I worked on during the last month, and their state as we go into the month of May:

During the next month I hope to get more stitching done on “Walking in a Winter Snapperland”, and also work on at least one more older WIP/UFO – I’m leaning towards Mirabilia’s “Enchanted Mermaid”, Ruth Schmuff’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” or Just Cross Stitch’s “Le Jardin Silk Sampler” … although I can’t guarantee what the final pieces will be ‘cos I change my mind 20 times a day!  Seeing as I’ve mislaid my stitching mojo for a while, I just want to stitch whatever takes my fancy at the time, and whatever builds my stitching enthusiasm up once again 🙂