Feather Stitching

Will be quiet for a few days…

20 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

… One reason is work at the moment is absolutely frenetic! I haven’t had a ‘real’ lunch break for ages, and didn’t leave until 8pm on Monday night. The only reason I managed to leave ‘early’ at 6pm tonight was because I was getting my hair cut, and have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. I’m heading across the ocean to our southern state of Tasmania to visit one of our call centres for a site visit. I’ll be getting to sit in on a training session for 3 hours of the massive project I’ve been working on since January, plus a Supervisor meeting, followed by sitting with a Hotliner or two listening to calls (which will be interesting seeing as that’s the job I was doing in Melbourne! haha). I’m looking forward to putting some names to faces of people I deal with on a regular basis, as well as setting foot in a part of Australia I haven’t been to before, even if it is just to see the drive from the airport to the call centre! It will be an incredibly long day, though – in essence from the time I arrive at work to meet my travelling companion to the time I touch down on the tarmac again it will be a 15-hour working day (not to mention the local commuting time) ho-hum.

BUT, there’s another GREAT reason why I’ll be quiet for a few days …

“The Dragon” (aka Mum) is arriving first thing on Thursday morning – yippee!!! I really can’t wait, as I’m taking two weeks off on annual leave so we can spend some quality time together and see a few NSW sights. Not entirely sure what we’ll be doing yet, aside from ticket to see Phantom of the Opera, but it will hopefully include Darling Harbour, the Zoo, a visit to The Stitching Post at Katoomba (plus visit to Leura this time too) and perhaps a quick trip up the coast to Coffs Harbour and/or Port Macquarie (yet to be decided if and when). Regardless of what we do it will be “good times”, even if we’re sat at home stitching for the entire two weeks! 😀

Anyway, I’d better sign off and jump in the shower to wash my hair and pack my bag (we’ve decided to take an overnight bag with sleeping gear and toiletries just in case we don’t get on either of our flights coming home … fingers crossed that won’t happen though!) … then it’s time to set the alarm clock for “sparrow’s fart” and time to hit the hay for the night …

Unpacking instead of stitching

18 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

That’s what my day has entailed today … not a single stitch has been done, although I managed to stitch about 2 more inches of Winter Queen’s “derriere” and white fur before I hit the hay last night. I won’t bother taking another WIP photo though, as you’re probably sick to death of seeing her by now 😉

Instead I’ve been doing a spot of housework, tidying up the lounge and my bookcase – plus unpacking one more box in my bedroom. This contained a multitude of items … including a little note I’d jotted down at some stage – that note was to add a couple of designs to my wishlist. I couldn’t remember what they looked like, so I did a quick search online, and I have to say they’re still on my wishlist … I absolutely adore the Starry Night one!! This is from one of my favourite paintings (I have the full chart by Fine Arts Heritage, I think, to stitch – it’s quite large, and unlikely to be stitched in my lifetime but I still had to own it!).

“Starry Night” by White Hart Designs

“True Blue” by White Hart Designs

Now it’s back to the box again – I’d really like to clean out this one before I got to bed tonight … that leaves just 15 boxes left to go!! 😛

Cross Stitch, PhotoHunt, Works in Progress

Photo Hunt – Candy & some stitching

17 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I’ve been a lazy slob today curling up on my bed with my laptop headphones on listening to another audiobook while stitching some more on Mirabilia’s Winter Queen. The book I’m reading now is “Dark Horse” by Tami Hoag … aside from the occasional bursts of language that have even ME turning grey, it’s an OK book so far – not the best I’ve ever read, but it’s kept me awake and stitching. I’ve been running downstairs to the laundry doing my week’s washing inbetween stitching and reading. I’ve managed to get to a stage on Winter Queen when I’m about to roll up the fabric on the scroll bars so I thought I’d take a WIP photo before I do … sorry but the quality is dreadful as it’s at night and I can’t find the battery charger of my ‘stitching camera’. Oh well, at least some of that dreadful white-on-white stitching has been done … almost one skein down, four left to go 😉

Mind you, the white may not be the death of me … it’s more likely to be the revolting Wisper thread – geez I detest that stuff!!! But, hey, I only need 2 cards of the stuff for my Queen … 2 cards too many

At least her knees will be warm while she’s waiting to be finished! 😉

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This week’s theme is “Candy” and I have to admit I almost didn’t bother posting because I couldn’t be bothered finding a photo or taking a new one – then as I was loading the WIP photo of Winter Queen I remembered the photo of the Peeps that Monique kindly sent me … et voila, you have Candy!! 🙂

Cross Stitch, Uncategorized, Works in Progress

A bit of royal stitching

15 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I’ve been managing to get a few stitches into Winter Queen this week … I suppose any little bit is better than nothing! This is how she looked before I put her away in January 2007:

And this is how she looks now (minus her head, ‘cos that’s now hiding under my scroll bar!):

I’m glad to see the beading all done, but now I’m facing the eternal swirls of the skirt part of her dress … endless miles of white stitching on white linen – I’d better start stocking up on wine in readiness!!! 😉

Cross Stitch, Uncategorized, Works in Progress

Rhapsody in Red … enabling post

13 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Just a very very quick public service announcement that Sampler Cove have released the photos of the next design in the Rhapsody in Red series … yep, yet another design for the wishlist!!! 😀

Rhapsody in Red by Sampler Cove

Aside from that, not much happening in this neck of the woods that’s worth showing you – I’ve done about 3 hours worth of stitching on Mirabilia’s Winter Queen, including frogging an entire section of beads three whole times last night … hmmm. Hopefully by the end of the week there’ll be enough progress to warrant a photo. I can’t believe I haven’t touched this WIP/UFO since January 2007!!! That’s a crying shame, and one wrong that’s being put right – I am to get this one finished before the end of the year 🙂

No stitching at all tonight, as we went to the movies straight after work to see “Made of Honour” – personally not a movie I would have chosen to see (Lisa is a HUGE Patrick Dempsey fan, so that was her choice!), but I have to admit I really enjoyed it, and had a blast. It’s a bit stressful at work right now, so it was really good to chill out afterwards and have a good belly laugh 😀

I’m also a bit of a hermit at home right now while listening to an audiobook and stitching … poor Lisa will wonder if she has a flatmate this week – I’m listening to The Red Dahlia by Lynda la Plante, and really enjoying it 🙂

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Gifts TO BE FIXED, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Fun and productive stitchy weekend

11 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I dropped Barnabee’s Bride over to Karen at The Stitching Post yesterday, and she’s now sitting on display in the smalls cabinet. Alison joined me for the trip, and I had a wonderful time catching up with her before we made the drive – we had time to have a cup of coffee while I wandered around her stitching gallery and admired her beautiful stitched pieces on the walls … that was a real treat before we hit the road! I was dying to see Alison’s latest stitched piece from her blog, and the photo doesn’t do it justice … that wallhanging is just divine in real life (as is everything else)!!! 😀

Alison is always great company and we had an enjoyable drive chatting away the whole time. We arrived at The Stitching Post early, where I had a panic attack that the shop was closed, not realising it doesn’t open until 12 noon!! Phew!!!

Catching up with Karen and Brendon is always a treat – although poor Karen got absolutely no work done while we were there ‘cos we spent the entire hours of opening chatting away. I apologise in advance if extra hours are needed this week to catch up!

I was given a thank you gift from them for the model stitching that was totally unnecessary, but it will be treasured always. I am now the proud owner of one of Brendon’s jewellery pieces … isn’t this amber just amazing?? It will always be a reminder of their friendship when I wear it – thanks so much once again, Karen and Bren, I love it! 😀

I had an extra treat of seeing the first three of my framed pieces up on the wall – I didn’t realise they were there, or I would have taken my camera with me and taken a photo … but I intend heading back again in a fortnight with Mum when she comes to visit, so I’ll remember to take a camera with me then 🙂

What I can show you a photo of, though, is my latest finish – I truly ADORE this piece! As usual, because the photo is taken late in the afternoon without a flash or tripod the photography isn’t the best, but here it is in all its glory … in real life the colours really pop 😀

“Beach Roses” by Just Nan
Stitched on 28ct natural Cashel linen
using recommended threads (DMC)
and embellishment pack of charm and pearls

And don’t you just love the little scallop shells and starfish charm?? I sure do!! 😀

This project will likely head on over to my Trade page at some stage in the future – Nan was really generous with the beads, so there are still just enough pearls to complete the design again … but a charm will have to be bought separately. I’ll make an announcement post here when I eventually get around to updating my list after I clean out a few folders in the future.

Right now I’m not entirely sure what to stitch next – I’m quite keen to get some of my older WIP’s (they’re probably better categorised as UFO’s now, but we’ll stick with WIP’s for now LOL) finished, as well as getting a few more models stitched for Karen – so I think I’ll bring out one of my BAP’s to concentrate on (that’s already started, eg Mirabilia’s Winter Queen), and do a 10-hour rotation with 1 or 2 of those, with an LHN/CCN design or Christmas design/ornament inbetween – with any luck that’ll see me get at least one BAP finished before too long! 🙂

Hmmm, perhaps that’s what I should work on tonight … Winter Queen … but an LHN is calling … oh decisions, decisions … 😛

PhotoHunt, Travel

Photo Hunt – Share ANY Photo You’d Like

10 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This week’s theme is “Share ANY photo you’d like” so I’ve chosen a couple of photos from Santorini that I really love (they’re scans from the actual hard-copy photo so the clarify isn’t great, but I still love them). I’ve asked Mum to bring some of my other photos of Greece and Paris so I can scan them in and use them in the future (almost all of my old photos are still with my parents in New Zealand).

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Needlerolls, Stitching Smalls

Barnabee’s Bride is complete

9 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I managed to get all the finishing done on Barnabee’s Bride in time to drive her over to The Stitching Post tomorrow morning. She looks very cute (although I have a bit of wrinkling of the green wool when she’s rolled up, if I had more fabric I might have unpicked it and cut it a bit smaller, but it’s OK I guess), and I couldn’t resist taking a quick photo in the sunlight to show off her wee sparklies 🙂

Barnabee’s Bride (kit) by Just Nan

I forgot to take a photo of the needleroll opened out – I’ll take one later … if I remember … but I’ve run out of time to take one this morning, as I’ve now got to race off to work (I’m on the late shift today ‘cos I’m “on call” for the next 7 days in case of emergencies, which gave me time to quickly take these photos this morning).

Blogging Memes

A meme or three

8 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Just ‘cos I have nothing to write about …

Your Personality Cluster is Introverted Feeling

You are:Tolerant, flexible, and open to new ideas.A stickler for integrity and authenticity.

Passionate about causes, beliefs, or politics.

Likely to have many “best friends” from many walks of life

What’s Your Personality Cluster?

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.

People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you.

You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words.

Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

Your Power Bird is a Vulture

You are always changing your life and the lives of those around you.

You aren’t afraid to move on from what holds you back.

Energetic and powerful, you have a nearly unlimited capacity for success.

You know how to “go with the flow” and take advantage of what is given to you.

What’s Your Power Bird?

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Stitching Smalls, Twisted Oaks Designs

French Monogram tuffet

5 May, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Yippee, the stitching is now all finished, both front and back, so the tuffet is ready to be put together (which won’t be happening this week … but next weekend is looking good).

“French Monogram III Tuffet” by Twisted Oaks Designs
stitched on 32ct cream Belfast linen
with DMC 115 floss

I’m soooo happy to finally get the stitching on this one finished – it’s been a WIP (or perhaps more like a UFO of late) for far too long. It used to be my evening stitching when I was on the overnight shifts at work – that is until I found out I was one stitch out somewhere in the outside border, and only found out when I’d completed the whole thing. Mum very kindly took it upon herself while I was at work to find out where I’d gone wrong and unpicked it all for me … bless her heart! It’s amazing how quickly it’s stitched up once I had the time to concentrate on it without having to take phone calls inbetween stitches! Now I just have to stitch up the needlebook and fob to match … not sure whether I’ll do that straightaway now or pick up an older WIP … ah decisions, decisions … 🙂

I have to admit after my stressful night last night I’ve been taking it pretty easy today, and didn’t attempt to put together Barnabee’s Bride – I hope to get this finished during the week, however, so I can still take it over to Katoomba next weekend.

I did manage to get the food processor out this morning and after donning a surgical rubber glove onto my injured hand I finished off the soup, as well as cooking a whole new batch of soup with pumpkin, carrot and sweet potato. Lisa had that for dinner tonight, and apparently enjoyed it, so that’s good 🙂

As for the finger/fingernail, I changed the dressing tonight and I’m quite pleased with how it looks after I cleaned the dried ‘gunk’ off it – as long as I don’t bend the nail at all you can only just see where I sliced it through … thank goodness (and no, I didn’t attempt to actually bend the nail, last night was enough trying that little trick out!!).

Rightio, time to get into bed … so much for my planned early night tonight, as I coudn’t pack up the stitching until I put those final stitches in … now I can sleep a restful and happy sleep … helped along by a glass of Omrah Shiraz that I chose as my nightcap – that’s a wine that was recommended to me while I was in Perth, and I have to say it was a good recommendation! 🙂