Oh my goodness, how can it NOT be added? Love, love, LOVE it!!! 😀
Mallard Duck Collage by Laura J Perin
Tag: Cross Stitch
Darn those migraines!
Been chewing Nurofen Migraine tablets today, and have to say they do nothing … will stick to normal Nurofen in the future! My headache has gradually continued to get worse throughout the day, so I opted to call it a day at 2.45pm while I could still drive OK … not even the arrival of my SB&B stash-fest order could cheer me up ho-hum. I did, however, manage to hunt through the latest JCS Xmas ornie magazine and work out which ornies I’d like to stitch. My favourites, along with a couple of ‘maybe’ ornies are as follows:
Pages 10-11:
Definite – Cherished Stitches; The Sweetheart Tree
Maybe – Legacy Designs; Blackbird Designs
Pages 12-13:
Definite – Casey Buonaugurio XS Designs; CCN; Primrose Needleworks
Pages 14-15:
Definite – Prairie Schooler
Maybe – The Victoria Sampler; Julia Lucas Designs
Pages 16-17:
Definite – Full Circle Designs; Cindy Valentine Designs
Maybe – DebBee’s Designs; Glory Bee
Pages 18-19:
Definite – Sue Hillis Designs; The Workbasket
Maybe – Ink Circles
Pages 20-21:
Definite – Wildflower Stitchery & More
Pages 22-23:
Definite – My Mark
Pages 24-25:
Definite – Loopy Lou Designs
Maybe – Patricia Ann Designs; Rosewood Manor
Pages 26-27:
Definite – Charland Designs; Dragon Dreams
Pages 28-29:
Definite – The Cat’s Whiskers Design Studio; Kitty & Me Designs
Maybe – Erica Michaels
Wow, not all that many that have bowled me over and made me ‘itchin to stitch’ … maybe I’ll review the issue again when I’m feeling a bit perkier.
I’ll take a photo of the entire stash-fest later … most of it you’ve already seen, but I had a few MH Treasures and AVAS silks thrown in for good measure … very lovely 🙂
Now it’s time to get off the computer again and rest for the arvo before this migraine settles in for good for the night! Guess there’s no stitching for me again tonight! 😦
Past the halfway mark now
The construction workers have completed the building work, and the landscapers need to finish the rose plantings, then there’s just the rest of the road signage to be completed … and even with all that pink I’m still enjoying stitching this one 🙂
WIP’s and UFO’s
This is especially for Kathy of the Blig Blog … here are photos of the current state of all my UFO’s (I could pretend that they were WIP’s but seeing as the majority haven’t seen a stitch put into them in over 12 months, 95% would definitely be deemed as UFO status!):
Macaw -&- Beaded Fish
Egyptian Garden Mandala -&- English Garden Sampler
Le Jardin Silk Sampler -&- Flight of the Bumblebees
Noah’s Ark -&- Winter Queen
In the Dark Needleroll -&- Love & Affection
Wildflowers Needleroll -&- Apricot Elegance
Monica Hunt Hussif -&- Classical Garden Bookmark
Nature’s Resting Place -&- Wool Beehive Needlebook
Oriental Poppy -&- Summer Fruits Pincushion
Pomegranates & Beetle – Martha Schmidt Hussif
Stumpwork Needlework Accessories
Goldwork Pea -&- Wool hot water bottle cover
Honesty & Heartsease -&- Bullion Rose Facecloth
Long stitch frogs -&- Butterflies & Hearts Needleroll
Stumpwork Dragonfly
Berry Delightful Bag -&- Mediterranean Village XS
Vicki’s Cot Quilt
Stitching Leporello isn’t included in the photos, as I’ve been stitching a complete section each time, so no individual section is in progress at the moment. And I can’t put my hands to either a photo or the actual project of GCC Ornamental Delights, so I guess that one won’t be getting stitched in a hurry haha.
Very sad that some of these projects are over halfway and never finished, however there are many there that are barely started … I’m sorely tempted to just unpick the bullion rose facecloth, for example, as I don’t know if I truly ever want to finish it, the same with a couple more projects in there … will see how I feel after one more stitching session on them, I guess, before I make the ultimate decision to turf out. It’s funny when you look back through the photos and remember why you stopped working on them … for example the Lorri Birmingham Butterflies & Hearts needleroll, I really hated the colours used, as I felt the wording etc just faded into the background, so no doubt that whole piece will be unpicked and started again from scratch with my choice of threads 🙂
I’ve already gone out and pulled numbers out of the hat for the first round, and highlighted the text in bold in the main list in the previous post … and I’m really looking forward to starting my rotation – I just want to finish my current piece first … although I guess I could just choose to start at the “free choice” slot and start counting my hours, that way I can continue with my current project and be starting my actual rotation at the same time – ooh, I like it when a plan comes together!!! 😀
That means my new current rotation is as follows:
- Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
- Medium/Large: Lavenderblue Celtic Knot Quilt – From Nancy’s Needle
- WIP’s/UFO’s: Berry Delightful Bag
- Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
- Small/Medium: Jumpin’ Jelly Beans – DKT Originals (freebie)
- Large/BAP’s: Egyptian Garden Mandala
- Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
- Christmas Ornaments
- Finishing
- Free Choice
Project Listings for Rotation
OK, here goes the first draft, with more to be added later after I unpack two more boxes … plus I have a number of newer projects that I want to add to the list, although they’re not actually kitted up yet (such as the soon-to-arrive Prairie Schooler charts, and various LHN kits and charts). Perhaps I should wait until I actually stitch a few things before I add more … hmmm …
SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED PROJECTS
- January Sampler Accent – Periwinkle Promises
- 20 Flowers – Just Nan
- Angel Collector – Dimensions kit
- * Jumpin’ Jelly Beans – DKT Originals *
- High Hopes – Just Nan
- Mermaid Heart – Just Nan
- Ghastly Ghostly Ghouls – Just Nan
- Petit Ange (freebie: aurelle.over-blog.com)
- Poissons Bleus (freebie: silepointcompte)
- Aegean Twilight Small Sampler (freebie)
- French Garden – Drawn Thread
- Alphabet Tree (freebie) – Blue Ribbon Designs
- Snowflakes in Abundance – Sweetheart Tree
- Quaker Heart (freebie) – Janice Wood
- Quaker Hedgehog (freebie) – The Workbasket
- Treasured Holidays Sampler – Mill Hill
- Teenie Hardanger III – Sweetheart Tree
- Friendship in all Seasons – The Trilogy
- Proud Peacock (freebie: Stitching Parlour)
- Raphael’s Raspberries – FMNIS
- Winter in the Square – Just Nan
- Autumn in the Square – Just Nan
- Quaker Swan Case – Fancy Work
- Minute Spot – Drawn Thread
- Sweet Valentines – Sweetheart Tree
- Schwalm Whitework Pinkeep – Moss Creek
- Lavender Sachet – The Victoria Sampler
- Exercice de Flora (freebie: Couleur d’Etoile)
- Tiny Little Quaker (freebie) – Papillon Creations
- Boo Scissors Keeper & Purse – Drawn Thread
- Summer Grace – Calico Crossroads
- Wildflowers Needleroll – Sweetheart Tree
- In the Dark Needleroll – Designs by Lena Rose
- Topiary tree garden Bookmark
- Star Spangled Scissor Finder – Calico Crossroads
- Seashore Fob – Sweetheart Tree
- Just Ducky Fob – Sweetheart Tree
- Bee Keeper – Cindy Valentine
- Sunflower Sampler – CCN
- What a Hoot! – The Cat’s Whiskers
- Cherry Hill – CCN
- Rainbow Lorikeet (baby) – DMC
- Dragonfly Scissor Purse – Just Nan
- Is it too late? – Lizzie*Kate
- A Good Night – Lizzie*Kate
- Here Comes Santa Claus – Lizzie*Kate
- My Favourite Time – Lizzie*Kate
- Ready or Not – Lizzie*Kate
- Wanted! – Lizzie*Kate
- International Hearts – NZ – Victoria Sampler
- International Hearts – Ireland – Victoria Sampler
- Ladybug, Ladybug – LHN
- Quaker Flowers emery – Anita Diamond
- Merry Little Christmas – Drawn Thread
- Joyeux Noel – Drawn Thread
MEDIUM TO LARGE SIZED PROJECTS
- Blessed with Happiness Box – Cat’s Whiskers
- Christmas Workshop – Just Nan
- Quaker Huswif – Sampler Cove
- Acorn Sampler learning band – Drawn Thread
- Here Comes Santa Claus (2005 Ltd Ed) – Prairie Schooler
- Sapphire Star – Laura J Perin
- Autumn Arbor – Drawn Thread
- My Treasures Workstation – Judy Odell
- Lisianthus Accessory Pocket – Periwinkle Promises
- Acorn Needle Book – Periwinkle Promises
- Silk Pulled Thread Stitchery – Moss Creek
- Tiger Reflection – Dimensions
- A Secret Garden Needlebook – FMNIS
- * Lavenderblue Celtic Knot Quilt – From Nancy’s Needle *
- Treasured Christmas Trees – Mill Hill
- Strawberries & Cream – FMNIS
- Lavender Rose Sewing Case – Fancy Work
- Three Friends – Drawn Thread
- Summer Arbor – Drawn Thread
- Folding Cross Needlebook – Indigo Rose
- Trick or Treat Box – Just Nan
- Strawberries So Faire – With My Needle
- Onyx (Blackwork Blessings) – Paw Printings
- Red Lace Sewing Case – Drawn Thread
- Crimson Fire Sampler – The Victoria Sampler
- Apricot Elegance – Cindy Valentine
- Nature’s Resting Place – Stoney Creek
- Summer Snapperland – Bent Creek
- Winter Snapperland – Bent Creek
- Ete en Grece – Cousines et Compagnie
- Max’s Moon – Cross My Heart
- Walk the Gentle Path – Cross ‘n Patch
- A Little Blackwork – Drawn Thread
- Spot of Autumn, Winter, Summer & Spring – Drawn Thread
- Revival – Inspirations magazine
- Nine Lives – Inspirations magazine
- GCC Beginners Hardanger class
- GCC Gracie Stumpwork class
- Lily Pond – Just Nan
- When Barnabee Met Bella – Just Nan
- Needle Nick – Lizzie*Kate
- Terri’s Needlecase – Lorri Birmingham
- Renaissance Lace – Victoria Sampler
- Frightful – Just Nan
- Witchy Way – Just Nan
- Be Scary – Just Nan
- Dear Diary Hannah Purington – LHN
- Halloween Fairy – Mirabilia
- A is for Annabelle – Mirabilia
- Dragonfly Jewels – The Cat’s Whiskers
LARGE AND BAP SIZED PROJECTS
- Angel of Love – L&L
- Barnabee’s Quest – Just Nan
- Golden Garden Sweet Bag – FMNIS
- Macaw – Ross Originals
- 4 Wishes – Just Nan
- Rainbow Lorikeets – Ross Originals
- Moonlight Guardian – Dragon Dreams
- Koi Pond – Laura J Perin
- Stitching Leporello – Chatelaine
- * Egyptian Garden Mandala – Chatelaine *
- Le Jardin Silk Sampler – JCS
- Flight of the Bumblebees – Ruth Schmuff
- English Garden Sampler – Teresa Wentzler
- Noah’s Ark – Teresa Wentzler
- Winter Queen – Mirabilia
- Mermaid Bag – CA Wells
- Acorn Etui – CA Wells
- Pyramid Etui – CA Wells
- Cottage Etui – CA Wells
- Sailor’s Valentine – CA Wells
- Enchanted Mermaid – Mirabilia
- Crystal Christmas – Mirabilia
- Green Tree Frogs – Country Threads
- Rainbow Lorikeets – Country Threads
- Great Cats – Dimensions Gold
- Rex – Dimples Designs
- Snickerdoodle – Dimples Designs
- Wee Beasties – Dimples Designs
- Polynesian Paradise – Jen’s Jems
- Frangipani – Just Jude
- Hibiscus – Just Jude
- Siberian Tiger – Kustom Krafts
- Water Tiger – Kustom Krafts
- Celtic Spring – L&L
- Angel Proclamation – Mirabilia
- Magical Night – Teresa Wentzler
- Egyptian Sampler – Teresa Wentzler
- Lady of Shalott – Teresa Wentzler
- Frankincense – Victoria Sampler
- Myrrh – Victoria Sampler
- Quaker Samplings – With My Needle
WIP’s & UFO’s:
- Macaw – Ross Originals
- Beaded fish (class project)
- Stitching Leporello – Chatelaine
- Egyptian Garden Mandala – Chatelaine
- Le Jardin Silk Sampler – JCS
- Flight of the Bumblebees – Ruth Schmuff
- English Garden Sampler – Teresa Wentzler
- Noah’s Ark – Teresa Wentzler
- Winter Queen – Mirabilia
- Pyramid Etui – CA Wells
- Cottage Etui – CA Wells
- Sailor’s Valentine – CA Wells
- In the Dark Needleroll – Designs by Lena Rose
- Wildflowers Needleroll – Sweetheart Tree
- Apricot Elegance – Cindy Valentine
- Cream hearts square – JBW Designs
- Monica Hunt hussif
- Topiary tree garden Bookmark
- Nature’s Resting Place – Stoney Creek
- Oriental Poppy – Jane Nicholas
- Summer fruits pincushion – Inspirations magazine
- Wool beehive needlebook – E&XS magazine
- Stumpwork needlework accessory – pincushion wheel
- Pomegranates & Beetle – Jane Nicholas
- Martha Schmidt hussif
- Stumpwork needlework accessory – scissor keeper
- GCC Ornamental Delights
- Mediterranean village scene XS
- Dragonfly – Jane Nicholas
- Stumpwork needlework accessory – needlebook
- Goldwork Pea (class project)
- Stumpwork needlework accessory – bag
- Stumpwork needlework accessory – thimble pip
- Wool hot water bottle cover
- Honesty and Heartsease – Jane Nicholas
- Long stitch frogs
- Butterflies & Hearts needleroll – Lorri Birmingham
- Bullion rose facecloth
- * Berry Delightful Bag *
- Vicki’s Cot Quilt
Let the fun begin … 😀
Thoughts of a Rotation
I used to follow a stitching rotation and loved it immensely, but it fell by the wayside when I started housesitting last year and I became somewhat of a one-at-a-time stitcher. I don’t feel I’ve achieved as much stitching as I have in the past, and wonder if getting back into a formal rotation will help. I’ve been considering this for some time now (since my mojo kept disappearing), and Nicki published a recent post that has helped to spur me into action.
Following are my thoughts on my new rotation …
Half of my trouble is that I can’t decide what to stitch next as so many wonderful, awesome projects are all screaming at me at the same time, so following Nicki’s ideas, I decided to split my kitted-up projects into groups … then I’m using my old “UFO” method to decide what to stitch next – I used to have a numerical list of all my UnFinished Objects, then on Tuesday nights I’d draw a numbered tiddlywink counter/disc out of a pot, and whatever project matched the number on the plastic disc would get my attention for the evening. This worked perfectly for those projects that I truly disliked, but one night was enough to get some progress happening … some projects would only get one length of thread stitched, but eventually those UFO’s on the list started getting whittled down in numbers.
Anyway, I thought I’d keep a numbered list within each of my groups of projects, and randomly draw a number out of my tiddlywink counters/discs whenever I need a new project to start … and I’ve kept a “Free Choice” slot for those occasions when I just HAVE to stitch something in particular and can’t wait for its number to be drawn.
Here’s the new rotation, all designed to be for 10-hour slots:
-
Focus Piece
-
Medium to Large
-
WIP’s & UFO’s
-
Focus Piece
-
Small to Medium
-
Large & BAP’s
-
Focus Piece
-
Christmas Ornaments
-
Finishing
-
Free Choice
As for what projects are on the list, I’ll post a separate post of all those little goodies in the groups, as at the moment it’s a “work in progress” while I find them all! I may end up publishing it, then adding as I find more …
Quick stash post
Just a really quick post before I head off to work – and holiday tonight – to show the stash that arrived this week. First up is my stash haul from Colours Down Under … I won a $15 gift voucher from Janine for my August Xmas ornie, and figured I might as well add some extras to the prize to make the most of the postage, and this is what I got (compliments of their 15% off sale which is still on until the end of October, I think). I still have one more blue Periwinkle Promises Accent kit that is on back-order, but I’m really REALLY impressed with the speed and service from Janine!!
Here’s a close-up of the blue threads – I’ve been trying to decide what thread to use for an upcoming RR of With My Needle’s “Ackworth Friendship Book“. The thread in the middle is CC’s Milady’s Teal, which is what the original is stitched in, but it looks really wishy-washy and pale, so don’t think I’m going to use that – I think my ultimate favourite is Gloriana’s Slate Blue … in fact I think that has to be one of the scrummiest blues I’ve ever seen in threads, and it may just be my favourite silk of all-time at the moment … and that’s likely to be my choice for this project, I think (if not many more!). I think I’m going to have to order a few more skeins ready for our RR to start after Christmas.
Next up is some scissors and tassels I picked up from an Ebay seller in France (thanks to Staci for mentioning her details) – again I only wanted to buy the antique reproduction scissors in the very bottom photo, but chucked these in to balance out the postage. I chose the tassels ‘just because’ (and they’re scrumptious colours!), and the scissors I thought were very ‘spring-like’, just right for our current season. Have to admit I don’t like these scissors as much as I expected to, but I’ll make a little spring fob to dress them up a bit. (Talking of scissors, have you seen the latest ones from Ginghers? Oh my, they’re to die for!!! – beautiful in turquoise and browns.)
And lucky last, this is the sum stitching I’ve managed this week … woohoo, two plant stalks!! I’ve taken a photo anyway just to show the fabric that I bought especially for this piece for the pillow and covered buttons – hopefully it will look OK when finished … and of course here are the infamous scissors that I fell in love with from the French Ebay seller (sorry, don’t have time to find the details and links – if I remember next week I’ll add them if anyone wants them …).
And on that note it’s time to finish packing and get off to work … See you some time next week 🙂
Housewarming Party
I forgot all about adding a couple of photos from a Housewarming Party I went to on Saturday night (what a social butterfly I was this last weekend – very very unusual for me!) … here are a couple of photos taken of me with friends during the evening (I’m the one in the blue top – how unusual LOL).
Alex, Anne and Lisa
Nat, Katie and Anne
Anne, Katie and Lisa
And just to prove this is still a stitching blog, here’s my bit of stitching from Sunday night and late yesterday afternoon – LHN’s “Home Sweet Home” on 28ct cream Jazlyn (I think it’s Jazlyn) (stitched in pink, so obviously this one isn’t for me teehee). Even though I don’t enjoy stitching in pink normally, I DO love the Pink Peony darker pink colour in this one … and have to admit I’d almost be tempted to keep this one, except I already have visions of re-stitching it in scrummy blues 😉 This one, however, is destined to live with Karen at The Stitching Post in Katoomba – finished as a cushion like the cover model. I’ve bought what I hope is the most perfect finishing fabric, but time will tell when it’s stitched up 🙂
I’ve had a couple of pieces where I’ve ironed the fabric all ready for stitching, and the kits all sitting in a shopping bag – I’ve got the fabric hanging up on a “skirt hanger” to keep the pieces crisp and flat, so I’ve been working my way through those pieces before starting on anything else. I still have a serious urge to start some other pieces, especially a Halloween piece, but want to get some of these hung-up projects finished off. This LHN piece was one of those projects – as was Just Nan’s Evening Star and Drawn Thread’s Garden Recipe … at least this project I’m actually enjoying stitching! The remaining two projects with fabric hung up are Victoria Sampler’s Crimson Fire sampler and Calico Crossroads’ Spring cushion – then the fun starts again deciding “what next” … although I’m thinking of using a “pick a number” system like I used to do with my UFO’s, then I don’t have to actually decide! We’ll see what I feel like when I finish this one … ‘cos tomorrow’s another day! LOL 😀
Hallelujah!!!!
A few hours glued to the TV set with a needle in hand, and I’ve finally put the last stitches in that dratted sampler. I have to admit it doesn’t look too bad now it’s all finished, but I’m really glad it’s all over now!
“Garden Recipe” by The Drawn Thread
stitched on 32ct Flax Belfast linen
with recommended threads (DMC) and kit embellishments
Sorry for the crappy photos but it’s a rainy overcast day today and not much natural light to be had – even using Photoshop Elements I can’t get a decent representation of the colours ho-hum …
Can’t wait till tomorrow for stash report
So, I’m doing an extra post today … do you think I’m trying to do anything to put off what I ‘should’ be doing today??? LOL.
Here’s what came in the mail on Thursday … one beloved item from my wishlist, all the way from France, and two new designs that I fell in love with 🙂
Add to that a few embellishment packs I picked up from Karen’s recent 20% off sale … ‘cos at the moment I have a SERIOUS urge to stitch up some of my Halloween designs, which are predominantly Just Nan’s … I just LOVE ’em 😀
And I also forgot to add one more chart to my wishlist pile that I am still drooling over months after seeing it for the first time on Monique’s blog … “Stitching is a Hoot” – I just adore this little fella, and love the colours … yep, it’s a ‘gotta have’!! 😀
In fact, I’ve just remembered that I still haven’t cashed in my $30 gift voucher from Colours Down Under, so I’d better make that another exception to my 25 Project Challenge … although technically that’s not using my own money … hmmm, maybe my Challenge will start on Monday to give me time to get my order in! LOLOL 😉
And finally, here’s proof that I really am NOT getting far with my stitching … the herb flowers band was finished last time, so that pitiful bit of stitching below is what I’ve managed to achieve in the entire week … I should be publicly flogged with wet floss!!! 😉
The good news, however, is that the pink flowers at the bottom is the final part of the sampler – I just have to finish that band, and add one more narrow band of double four-sided stitch, and add the little heart beads and charm … and it’s all finished …
So, what am I still doing here, I hear you ask?? Actually that’s what my head has been saying all morning … but yet I still sit here glued to the computer and trying to ignore that voice in my head … hmmm … 😉
In fact, I’m off to spend that gift voucher … when I should be stitching … c’est la vie … LOL.
Feather Stitching 
