Cross Stitch, Gifts TO BE FIXED, scissor fobs, Stash

Stitching-free home

Anne S

Unfortunately work has been frantic for a change … I was on my own again for the latter half of last week, and as per normal when that happens dramas abound ho-hum.  Anyway, I was so shattered over the weekend, which is my normal stitching haven time, I didn’t even pick up a needle, and haven’t done so for almost a week.  Instead I moved the furniture around in my bedroom, in readiness for more unpacking and getting more ‘settled’, and probably helped get a bit of tired frustration out of my system.

My secondment at work is coming to an end in November, which is a worrying close 4 months away now – I’m so settled in Sydney I really don’t want to go back to Melbourne (although I miss some friends in Melbourne dearly – hi Sharon and Tannia especially!!) … but I guess I have to go where they tell me to go.  I just have my fingers crossed that my secondment gets extended.  Mind you with redundancies occurring around the place I should probably be happy to continue to have a job wherever I end up in November!

Even though I don’t have any physical stitching to share (I haven’t even managed to get my scissor keeper finished, and that is SUCH a quick stitch!) … I do have some wonderful mail to share instead.

Firstly thanks so much to Coral for a really awesome trade – I definitely got the best part of the deal, and truly love this design!  I hadn’t looked at it too seriously until I saw it stitched up last year, and then loved it.  Thanks again Coral for offering the trade, it’s just wonderful! 🙂

Trade with Coral

Then I had a recent mad stash splurge from Nordic Needle – I only wanted to buy a Dololly for Mum, but they were the only online store that I could find that sold it … here’s a piccie of it – Mum chose the turtle design, which wouldn’t have been my first choice, but when it arrived I have to admit I think they’re quite gorgeous! 🙂

Turtles 2

Seeing as NN charge USD15 just for handling charges PLUS the postage costs, I figured I might as well make the most of it and ordered a few more items that are really difficult/expensive in Aussie … here’s the entire haul – unfortunately I stuffed up the order for Mill Hill Treasures as I miscounted the packets needed (these are pretty much all for the Enchanted Mermaid by Mirabilia).  I was very restrained and only bought one chart (Reflecting Pools by Laura J Perin – a canvaswork design) – I still have a number of items on backorder from Dragonfly Dreams (charts and threads), so I tried to stick to just needlework tools and things I can’t buy here.  It’s hard to see from the photo what everything is, so I’ll list it:  The Laura J Perin design; JCS ornament preview issue; Mill Hill colour chart; fabric for TW’s Tropical Dream (off-white, unfortunately, as they didn’t have the bone colour); 32ct vintage mocha Belfast linen; Flossaway bags (can never have enough of those!); a beading box to trial it for MH beads; needlework awl; laying tool; pair of Seaford scissors (for What a Hoot! scissor keeper); Star de-tailor; 18ct eggshell mono canvas.

Stash 21Jul08 1

Stash 21Jul08

Last, but certainly not least, is the absolutely gorgeous gift that Susan sent me recently – I just realised this morning that I hadn’t posted a piccie of it online yet, so I decided to rectify that oversight.  I’m sure you can tell why I adore it so much … such a CUTE little duckie!!!!!  I just love, love, love it to death 😀

Gift from Susan

Little Duckie fob

The last photo I have to share is purely for Mum’s benefit … but you might find the hanging display in the background of interest – I bought this hanger from Berrima when Mum was visiting, thinking it would be great to hang my scissor and fob collection until I can afford to get a proper glass display cabinet … I think it’s quite fun having them all hung up (although a couple of pairs are still missing ‘cos they’re currently in use).  The only fobs I’ve stitched myself are on the far left hook – all the others are treasured gifts or exchanges … I love every single one of them!  As you can see, I was still catching up on season 2 of Supernatural last night! 😉

TV and scissor hanger

And on that note I’ll sign off for the night.  It’s likely to be another busy week, so don’t expect too much from me online for the rest of the week … I’ll try to set some time aside this coming weekend to get the needle moving a small amount so I don’t forget how it works 😉

PS:  Just got the latest newsletter from Karen at Dragonfly Dreams – check out the Scissoroo scissors on the home page … they ROCK!!!!! 😀

Food, Photo Hunt, PhotoHunt

Photo Hunt – What IS that?

Anne S

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
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This week’s theme is “What IS that?” and quite frankly I’m stumped with what to use … rather than not post anything at all, however, I’ll show you this photo …

Dragonfruit

As for what it is?  It’s called a Dragonfruit … to be honest I personally think it tastes bland and very very uninteresting – I’ll try most things once if they intrigue me, but this will definitely stay on the “once” list!  Unless of course anyone can give me tips on how to eat it – we ate it raw as it is … ho-hum …

Works in Progress

New Project

Anne S

Just a tiny bit of stitching from last night – I’ve also completed the flower pot above the “2008”, but I can’t be bothered unrolling the scroll bars …  Here’s my first WIP piccie of The Cat’s Whiskers Alyssum scissor keeper (yet again a crappy photo due to the evening photography session):

Scissor Keeper WIP

Just one more flower to go before I can hop on over to the left-hand side of the fabric to start stitching the lining section – then I can roll up the scroll bars and finish off both the tops.  Hopefully I’ll get chance to finish this one off either before/during the coming week/weekend 🙂

Bellpulls, Cross Stitch, Finishes, The Drawn Thread

Sunflowers galore!!!

Anne S

I’ve had a lazy day sat in front of the goggle box today – no Christmas ornies completed, but I do have one other very happy dance!  I’ve managed to finish off my Sunflower Sampler – I was surprised how long it’s taken me to get the final bands finished, but finally it’s off the scroll bars … that block roll will have a new resident for a while 🙂

Unfortunately the photos are grotty again, as it’s early evening and I can never get a good shot at night 😦

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler finished
“Sunflower Sampler” by The Drawn Thread
stitched on 32ct Lambswool linen by Wichelt
using recommended threads (DMC and WDW)

Here are a few closer photos of the individual bands:

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 1

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 2

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 3

I think this very last ‘triangular’ band is my absolute favourite of the whole piece … followed by the house and birds.

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 4

I just love the beading accents on this piece, it really brings it to life a bit more 🙂

Sunflower Sampler detail

Now is the big decision what to stitch next … I have no major urges to start anything in particular, so goodness knows what I’ll come up with …  I’d offer a poll to help make a decision, but WordPress won’t allow polls (one of the very few things that is annoying about WP – everything else I much prefer over Blogger).  Never mind, I’m sure I’ll come up with something to stitch over the next week! 😉

Block roll, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Pauline's Needlework, pillows

It’s no wonder the weather has changed!

Anne S

I’ve been little Miss Homemaker on my time off … up early this morning (although still in my PJ’s now at lunchtime haha) I yanked the shower curtain off the rail and chopped about 3″ off the bottom, then turned up and stitched a new hem on the machine.  Our shower curtain has needed a trim since we moved in in January, but 6 months later it is finally done.  That means once Lisa and I have had our showers today it can go in the washing machine, and for once we won’t be tripping up on it in the bottom of the bath!

After finishing the shower curtain, I was all set to put a beef and red wine casserole mix into the slow cooker, but alas the meat still hasn’t defrosted yet, so a change in dinner plans tonight, I guess.  What I did manage to get done, though, is my first ever flanged pillow – I think it’s WAY too over-stuffed, but I guess I’ll know better next time.  All the same, I still think it turned out cute.  If you’re interested in knowing what the design is, you’ll have to look back through previous posts – for obvious reasons I’m not re-posting that information now.  I think I’ll have to re-do the girls’ hair ribbons, though, as they got a bit mutilated while I was turning the pillow inside-out.

Can Can Pillow 1

Can Can Pillow 2

I also managed to take some clearer shots of the Block Roll, including one of it opened up – half a dozen projects are now comfortably residing in the rolls, ready to have some more playmates once my needles get back into action again.  (I’ll go back and replace the photos in the previous post as well.)

Block Roll 2

Block Roll 4

Block Roll 5

Updated to add:  Thanks for the question, Joanne – the centre of the roll is a pool noodle cut into an 18″ length.  I think I might make another longer one so that it’ll cater for my Mirabilia finishes (once I have done!).  The white fabric is actually felt, which grips like glue onto whatever you place on it … not entirely sure how much I like that, but at least they won’t slip and slide while rolling it up!  Each pool noodle will give you enough length for 3 block rolls, so it’s likely you’ll see another one or two popping up on the blog at some stage … especially as the noodles came in a pack of 3 as well! 😀

As for ‘what now?’ … I’m not entirely sure what I feel like doing – I know I have a whole bunch of ornies to be finish-finished, but I think I may have a break from finishing today and do a tiny bit of stitching on my Sunflower Sampler – hmmmm, perhaps I should have my shower and get dressed then decide … I really do need to get those ornies finished … hmmm …

Block roll, Finishes, Stash

Sunflowers are AWOL

Anne S

So much for spending my day off today stitching my little heart out … I managed to stitch for just over an hour when I first woke up and almost finished the ‘wording’ band of the Sunflower Sampler – but I haven’t bothered taking a photo of it.  I did, however, have a relatively productive day in other ways.

My day was made special by having an electrician finally turn up after a month of having no kitchen light – we’ve been surviving by using a bedside lamp on the kitchen bench, and swinging my Ott-Lite into the kitchen doorway for an extra special bit of a light.  Now, however, we have a beautiful white glowing bulb that seems bright enough to light up the entire neighbourhood.  That also means that I’ve been able to use the sewing machine after 5pm, as it’s getting dark by then (the dining table is in the kitchen, and that’s the only place available to set up the machine).

Anyway, today (after a trip to Spotlight to pick up some felt) I finally managed to put together a Block Roll – I’ve been wanting to make one of these for what seems like forever, and after receiving one from Katrina as a gift I’ve been in dire need of a larger one … poor Katrina’s one is almost bursting at the seams from all the stitching I have crowded inside it – so now I can split out my ornies etc from the larger pieces. It’s literally taken me all day to make this – partly ‘cos I kept having to find all the supplies, and partly because I’ve hardly touched my sewing machine since buying it last year, and I’m still not comfortable with using it. I’m pretty pleased with the overall result, though – I didn’t take a photo of the whole roll unravelled, but it’s really quite long (about 35″ in length).

The pattern is called “Block Roll” from That Raggedy One (by Kate Hampson, Australia).  Unfortunately taking the photo at night means the colours/photos aren’t fantastic …

Block Roll 2

Block Roll 1

Block Roll 3

Stitchers Roll 4

I remembered after finishing the stitching that I’d actually bought that butterfly fabric to make some summer pyjama pants … oops, I guess that won’t be happening now! 😉

I was originally going to finish my ‘infamous’ piece of stitching from a couple of weeks back into a pillow today, and got my fabric all ironed and ready, but ran out of time … instead, I took a photo of the fabric along with the other items of stash I bought from Berrima when Mum was over visiting last month.  I was thrilled to find the quilt hangers, and even though I didn’t need it, I just couldn’t resist that little duckie tape measure!

Berrima Stash Jun08

And ‘just for the sake of it’ I took a photo of my fabric stash … quite pitiful compared to many people’s, I’m sure, and it never seems to hold that ‘exact’ shade of fabric that I need, and invariably a trip to Spotlight is needed … (which of course always has a truly pitiful selection of fabrics anyway)

Fabric stash

Anyway, it’s time to go clean up the kitchen table from all the fabric scraps before Lisa comes home in the morning (not that she’ll really care!) and then hit the hay for the night – seeing as I only have two whole words left to stitch on the Sunflower Sampler, I may make that my mission before I curl up in bed, and given my electric blanket time to take the chill off of the sheets 🙂

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Party time in Sydney

Anne S

Yep, I actually did it!  Ended up going to a meeting in the city just before drinkies time – we were invited by the group that were hosting the drinkies as an extra incentive to get us in there, I think … and I’m really glad we went.  We had a cordoned off area set outside at the Cargo Bar at Darling Harbour for drinkies and nibbles … even though it was raining and freezing, we had outdoor gas heaters blowing and it was very social and very cozy.  I had a WONDERFUL time.  I only stayed for 2 hours, and opted to leave at that point while I was still OK to drive!  I was sorely tempted to stay longer, but that would likely entail a $40 cab ride home then having to get a bus then a train into work tomorrow morning … so much better to leave with a clear head 😉

I must say something a bit soppy here … tonight at the celebrations I finally felt as though we had launched the project – it truly came at the right time for celebrations, and a lot of the members of the project team  that we’d been meeting with from the myriad of different departments over the last six months were present.  The only people invited from our department was myself and my boss, as we have been the only ones working on the project until the day of launch when it was “all hands on deck” to load the procedures etc in the database.  It was great to meet the top tier executives from that department, and be invited to join the group.  I have to say (here’s the soppy bit) I felt really proud to have been part of the whole project tonight and to see it launched very successfully … geez it felt good tonight to actually feel the positive emotions about the whole thing!

Anyway, that will see me hitting the hay with a smile on my face … now I’m off to drag out the winter-weight duvet inner to throw on the bed to keep that smile on my face during the night, ‘cos the temperature has plummeted today.

Tomorrow is now Friday for me, as I’ve been granted a day in lieu for all the additional hours I’ve been putting in lately … I figured Friday is as good a day as any to take off, as my flatmate is away that day too which means I can blob around and be lazy all day … so now I’m guaranteed to get the Sunflower Sampler finished this weekend 😀

And on that note, I’m off to bed 😀

Home & Family TO BE FIXED

For Mum

Anne S

Nothing to show stitching-wise … I was still on my own in the office yesterday, so it was yet another full-on day.  With any luck the ‘sick’ person will be back in today ‘cos it’s starting to get a bit draining.  Have been invited to the official launch of ‘my’ project tonight in the city – not entirely sure I’ll go as it’s a major hassle to get into the city just for a quick drink to come home again … although it’s quite a big deal, I think, so perhaps it will be expected that I be there hmmm.  I’m taking the makeup in in case I change my mind (I don’t normally wear makeup, unless it’s for site visits or special occasions etc).

Anyway, my real reason for posting is to announce to my Mum that my nail has finally grown out enough for me to soften it and cut it off.  You have no idea how wonderful it is not to wander around with a bandaid on it every day and to have to be careful every time I touch something so it doesn’t catch on the nail.  It’s sheer sheer bliss!!!  It’s a bit of a weird shape at the moment until it grows a bit more, but “I feel good, na na na na na na na….”

And on that note there’s one quick way to stop feeling good … and that’s to get on my bike into work ‘cos I’m now running late! 😉

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

One day down, four to go …

Anne S

… before it’s the weekend again – I’m looking forward to another lazy one 😉

Yesterday, however, was far from lazy – I ended up being the only team member left in the office due to annual leave and sickness, so I only managed to leave my desk for two toilet breaks.  Add to that the internet going down, and the credit card link through the normal system going down, it was a busy day!  Because of that I decided to walk out the door at 5pm sharp … which is pretty unheard of for me!  But by 5pm I felt burnt out.  On the way home I picked up some grocery shopping for the week, then sat down and did a bit more stitching on the Sunflower Sampler.  I’d love to get the equivalent of one row or band stitched each night, and managed OK last night for an hour or two.

I managed to get the house and bird bands finished on Sunday night (minus the ladybird beads again), then last night started on the wording.  If possible I’d like to get the wording finished plus one more band during the week, then I can get the entire piece finished off over the weekend.

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 2

Drawn Thread-Sunflower Sampler 3

I have to admit I wish I’d used two strands of thread for this piece, but by the time I’d worked that out it was too late to unpick it. I’m starting to get used to the different look of one thread … just.  When I started stitching I just figured “the designer knows best” … I guess I won’t be looking as closely when it’s hanging on the wall …