Feather Stitching

Paris, Photo Hunt, PhotoHunt, Queenstown, roads, Travel - France, Travel - New Zealand

Photo Hunt – Road

20 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

This week’s theme is “Road” and I couldn’t make a decision which photo to use, so I’ve got a whole bunch of them! The photography quality isn’t fantastic, especially the Paris ones, as they’re scans of some prints I took years ago with a point and shoot (which Mum very kindly bought with her from home when she last visited) … but I still love ’em 🙂

First up is from one of the views we had driving from Sydney to Coffs Harbour a couple of months ago – we took a detour and drove through the native forest for a while.

Next up are some photos I took years and years ago when I visited Paris for my 2nd time – Paris still remains my all-time favourite city in the world to date. These are views from the Arc de Triomphe.

Finally, this is a photo I’ve used before, and is the winding road up to the Remarkables skifield in Queenstown, New Zealand – it’s a bit hairy when you meet traffic coming the opposite way … the photo doesn’t quite do justice to displaying the steep drops off the side of the roads! It is a very picturesque part of the world, that’s for sure, especially in winter when the alpine peaks are covered in snow 🙂

C A Wells, Stash, The Drawn Thread, Uncategorized

Anyone seen my mojo???

19 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

‘Tis quite pitiful the amount of stitching I’ve been getting done of late … the following is the sum total of 4 nights of stitching – I’d normally get this done in one night!! Just pitiful, it is 😉

My current stitching (The Drawn Thread’s Garden Recipe) is something that was intended as a gift for someone some time ago, but I never got around to stitching it … it’s not ‘my thing’, so perhaps that is also holding me back from blatting through the stitching, or it could just be that I’m too darned tired at night these days and don’t feel like stitching a the weekends either (which is usually my stitching haven time). Oh well, one day it will be finished, and every little stitch counts, right? I’m going to have to swap out the pale apricot thread on this one, because you can’t see it on the fabric – it’s supposed to be stitched on a darker neutral colour, but I chose Flax Belfast … oh well, finding an apricot colour that will show up won’t be difficult 🙂

As for other news, I heard yesterday morning that I’ve got a “stay of execution” at work for 3 more months … that means I get to stay in Sydney until the middle of February. My colleagues at work think it’s disgraceful that they’ve only extended it for 3 months instead of 6 or 12 … but I’m remaining positive, ‘cos it’s better than “0” months! To be honest the job itself doesn’t jangle my bells heartily, but I DO love being here in Sydney – and having an extension means I can start looking at alternatives after Christmas within the company (if there are any). I’ve already had a chat to my “big boss” down in Melbourne and told me my preference is to stay in Sydney – I thought it was only a courtesy to let him know my plans, although he’s also aware it might not pan out that way … but hey, I have 5 months left to worry about it 😉

I received my class projects this last week for my CA Wells class in May next year – this will likely be the last one I’ll attend, as it really is an expensive weekend away, even with discount travel … and I could be spending the same money and visiting somewhere further afield, such as the US or somewhere tropical. So, this is likely to be my final CA class for the time-being (although I also said that last year too, until I saw the two projects that were going to be stitched!). This time, though, I’m thinking of doing a ‘good job of visiting’ and bringing Mum over with me for a week’s holiday – we can then hire a car and see a bit more of what Perth and surrounds has to offer. I’d also love the chance to catch up with other fellow stitchers one weekend too, if possible – it would be lovely to finally put the faces to names of some of my WA pals 🙂 Anyway, here are the supplies of the two projects:

First up is the Mermaid Bag – with Annie colours!!!! Yippee!!!!

And then there’s the Acorn Etui – wanna guess what I’ll be doing with all that pink silk???? Yep, I sure ain’t gonna be stitching with it LOL. Just have to decide what colour would work best to substitute … of course my preference would be blue, but I thought perhaps I should do all the other stitching first, then make a decision … and I may change my mind and just ‘go with the pink’ … but maybe not – a rich gold may also work nicely 😛

My name was drawn out of the hat for the August Xmas ornie challenge, which means I have been very lucky to receive some gifts donated by very generous ladies – the first prize arrived yesterday … 5 skeins of very scrummy silks from Jo at Dinky Dyes – I could sit and stroke them for hours! I haven’t spent my other prize yet as I’m still deciding – I also won a gift certificate to spend at Colours Down Under … another very generous offering by Janine. I have to say I’m really impressed by Janine’s selection of goods on offer, and I have a feeling I won’t be spending just the gift voucher when I finally decide to go shopping LOL.

And lucky last, something completely different … this one is for Mum – on Wednesday night I was thrilled to see the final episode of the US “So You Think You Can Dance” … but also very sad it’s now finished. The dancing this year was absolutely incredible, and this show remains one of my all-time very favourites and not to be missed (right up there with NCIS and ER!). The winner was Joshua – and I’ve borrowed the shot from Fox News’ website so you can remember which one Joshua was, Mum (although I think you’d remember anyway). I loved watching Joshua dance, especially when he was partnered with Katee … and it was fantastic to see him win! 😀

And on that note, I’d better get into work!!!

Cross Stitch

DMC on sale!

14 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Just in case any of my fellow Aussies are interested, Riot Art & Craft have DMC on sale this month – normally 99c a skein, it’s down to 69c a skein … stock up while you can!!! Here’s a link to the online ad.

Mum – let me know your list if you want me to pick some up for you 😀

And after that public service announcement, and staring at the computer screen for the entire day, I’m off to bed! 🙂

Focus on Finishing, Uncategorized

Focus on Finishing blog is moving to a new home

14 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I’ve just posted on the Focus on Finishing blog, but thought I’d do a ‘cross post’ here as well … That’s one of the things I do LOVE about Blogger, the fact you can tweak your own template – this one is based on a free template from Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates. I absolutely ADORE this template, and had originally earmarked it for my own template, but it would take me forever to work out how to apply the various components to the WP template (and of course WP charge you an annual fee for customising any of their existing templates). Oh well, at least I can visit and smile at the new Focus on Finishing blog instead 🙂

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Hi everyone – it’s been a while since I announced the idea of moving the Focus on Finishing blog to the more popular Blogger platform. That idea has finally come to fruition, and the new site is ready to have all the posts copied over. Here is a preview of the new look:

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy the new home … I, for one, am quite thrilled with the clean, fresh new look of the blog (it’s been fun spending a few hours tweaking the HTML codes!). The new link is:

FOCUS ON FINISHING
(http://focusonfinishing.blogspot.com)

It would be wonderful if you would be willing to post photos of any items you have finished using our tutor’s classes, or any other finishing methods you would like to share. If there is enough interest, I would also be happy to reopen the idea of having a weekend set aside each month to focus on finishing our projects languishing in the finishing pile.

Please update your bookmarks so you don’t miss any new posts – these existing pages, however, will still be kept open as I will continue to maintain the classes schedule etc via WordPress as I find that easier.

Unfortunately each WP post has to be copied over individually into Blogger, so it is going to be a long and arduous task to copy over the old posts and classes, but they will gradually be added over time.

Thanks for your continued support of this blog 🙂

Kind regards,

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Another good reason to stay in Sydney (updated)

13 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

New South Wales, unlike Victoria, actually knows what Rugby Union is … and apologies to my Aussie pals, but I just can’t bring myself to barrack for the Aussies tonight – GO THE ALL BLACKS!!! 😉

Tonight is the final game for the Bledisloe Cup – the annual challenge between the Kiwis and Aussies … time will tell whether I will be cheering or crying … but regardless, the best team will win, whichever one it is. As for me, I’m about to sit and get chills from watching the Haka 😀

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Updated to say: YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if you want to see the new Haka that the All Blacks now perform, you can check it out here (for those of you who are uninitiated, the Haka is a Maori war dance that the All Blacks perform before every match – it’s supposed to intimidate your enemy – there’s a great clip on You Tube here that tells you all about the Haka itself, and an example done in traditional Maori costume – it’s quite interesting) … hmmm, it appears WordPress doesn’t like embedded clips from YouTube – boohoo to you WordPress!! Sorry, but you’ll have to follow the LINK if you want to see it!

To be honest, though, I still love the ‘old’ Haka … although the new one is pretty passionate, and the coverage tonight was great! Here’s some great footage on You Tube of the ‘old’ Haka compliments of Adidas – I love this one that has intermingling shots of ‘real’ Maori warriors (not great quality though):

And if you thought that wasn’t enough, here’s another ad that’s got some great shots in it – very powerful graphics, and very well photographed in the studio!

I’m very happy about the win tonight, but I do have to say, though, I was very disappointed in the reporting coverage by Stu Wilson. The only thing I have against living in Aussie is that I find sports coverage here very one-sided and at many times unsportsmanly (one comment I heard on the radio during the Olympics is in Aussie a sport isn’t a sport until we’ve won it) … but I have to say that Stu tonight disgusted me. His comments at the end of the match were arrogant and uncalled-for … another reporter commented “the one thing I can’t stand is a smug Kiwi”, and I have to say I agreed with that comment … pull your head in Stu! We were lucky with the win … it was an awesome finish – I don’t think I have any fingernails left, and the neighbours are in no doubt of my allegiances (I sounded like you tonight, Mum!). Yes, I’m glad we won, but you don’t have to be cocky about it, Mr Wilson! mutter mutter mutter.

But I AM happy 😀

It’s funny, but I was actually singing a Maori song in the shower a few mornings ago … it’s one of the most well-known Maori songs, it should almost be the NZ anthem LOL. Anyway, if you’re interested you can check out this clip by Hayley Westenra – it actually has a very good Maori welcome and Haka at the front of the clip, and about 3 minutes in she sings Pokarekare Ana, which is a really beautiful Maori love song. Hope you enjoy it 🙂

And if you just want to go straight to the song itself, check out this version by Kiri Te Kanawa as part of an old Air New Zealand ad campaign … LOVE IT!!! And if you want to sing it yourself, here’s the Maori lyrics:

Pökarekare ana
ngä wai o Waiapu,
Whiti atu koe hine
marino ana e.

E hine e
hoki mai ra.
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.

Tuhituhi taku reta
tuku atu taku rïngi,
Kia kite tö iwi
raru raru ana e.

OK, that’s enough from me about NZ for now! 😉

Aboriginal culture, Melbourne, Photo Hunt, PhotoHunt, Sydney, Travel - Egypt

Photo Hunt – Wild

13 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This week’s theme is “Wild” and there are so many interpretations for this theme I thought I’d choose a couple of different ones.

First up is an aboriginal man who reminds me of an indigenous version of the “Wild Man” of Borneo 😉

Then we have a “wild-eyed” crazy man in the band at The Cuckoo in Melbourne.

And lucky last, we have a “wild ride” Egypt-style … trekking into the Valley of the Kings.

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Just Nan

Just Nan’s “Evening Star”

12 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Yippee, I can finally post a “finished” piccie of this piece. This time the photos are crappy because they’re taken at night instead of early morning haha. I still remain very disappointed in the finished result purely because of the colours involved – I love some of the bands, but it just doesn’t “do it” for me.

“Evening Star” by Just Nan (class project)
Stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
with recommended threads and beads (embellishment kit)

Going by some of the comments I’ve received during the stitching progress it appears there are a few people out there that do seem to like it, so I am pleased to finally be able make the “big announcement”…

This finished project is “free to a good home” – if anyone would like to go into a prize draw for this piece, please leave a comment stating this clearly, and at the end of September I will draw one name out of the hat to send this piece to.

I will finish it as a quilted wallhanging so it’s ready to hang in it’s new home (you will just need to provide the hanger itself). While it is quite lovely, I guess, I just don’t feel compelled to display it on my walls, and probably never will, so I’d rather it went to someone who would appreciate it 🙂

Now I guess it’s time to work out what to stitch next … I’m seriously considering going back to a mini-rotation, as I have some BAP’s that need to be worked on, so I’ll have to put some serious thought into that soon … for right now, I have no idea what I feel like stitching on next. Might have to sleep on it and see what the new day brings … 🙂

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Update on my job

12 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

It seems I may be put out of my misery very soon – my boss replied to yesterday’s email asking me to give her a few days before she responds, but she should have an answer for me next week. At least then I will know what to plan for … and if necessary I can start putting job applications out if I need to 🙂

It will just be nice to know what I need to start planning for … and whether I need to give my old boss in Melbourne a courtesy call to let him know my intentions of not returning … but hey, a week more of not knowing I can handle … as long as it doesn’t keep getting extended …

I think a lot of the positive vibes in Sydney come from where I’m living, more so than the job itself, and my life outside work … I have a much more balanced life here than I did in Melbourne. A lot of that is probably due to working ‘normal hours’ instead of 24/7 shift work … but the proximity to work and being so close to the beach (and away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney itself) is just wonderful. Lisa is a pretty good flatmate and very laid back, and life is just very relaxed here. Perhaps that is a lot of it too – in Melbourne I had such a hard time for a while, that has perhaps coloured my view a little bit … here everything is, well, “positive” 😀

Anyway, enough of the reminiscing, off to bed I go … 7.30pm, but I’m off to bed already … not to sleep, but to stitch – I HAVE to stitch so I can make my announcement tomorrow, ‘cos I’m just about bursting at the seams wanting to blurt it out already! 😉

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

Slap me on the forehead now!!!

12 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I was wandering through the lounge last night undoing my ‘chart holder’ of my floorstand to see if the screw would fit my lapstand, when I looked over to the clamp part … well, duh!!! The clamp part is identical to that of my lapframe, right down to the knob … do you think I could’ve perhaps worked that out on Monday night and not 4 nights later?? What a blonde!!!!

However, that means I did finally put needle to fabric last night after two weeks of doing nothing … and in the hour and a bit I stitched last night I managed to finish the beading of two more bands of Just Nan’s Evening Star. That means only one more band left and it’s all finished woohoo! Then it’s going to be finished into a quilted wallhanging. Here’s the bit I finished last night (sorry for the lousy photo but it’s taken in the wee small hours of the morning):