Cross Stitch – Page 29 – Feather Stitching

Spring is here!!!

3 September, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

What an incredible feeling it was on 1 September to realise that winter is over (not that it’s been really bad, it’s actually been relatively mild compared to what I’m used to in Melbourne!) … what I’m excited about is that the days are getting longer again and daylight is returning to my mornings (and my evenings too now that I’m leaving work at ‘normal’ hours). The above photo was taken in Melbourne about this time last year.

With that comes the idea of spring cleaning … well, those that know me well will know that any form of cleaning is a “dirty word” (no pun intended), but I have made a realisation today that I need to ‘let go of baggage’ and start afresh with a few things. With that in mind, I’ve also come to realise that every time I open up my newsfeed reader to catch up on blogs I feel incredibly depressed and overwhelmed. This feeling builds up more every time I see this pop up on my screen:

This is after I’d managed to clean out 700+ unread feeds over the last two weeks, but I’m so so far behind and there are still over 1000 left to read … I don’t want to do it, but I think for my sanity’s sake I’m going to have to mark all as read and start again afresh. At least that way part of the blogging pressure is removed and I can hopefully keep on top of new posts on a more regular basis again.

Still no stitching to share yet … I almost completed Just Nan’s Evening Star on Saturday, and decided not to bother with a WIP piccie seeing as it’s so close to completion … um, 5 days on and it’s still no further on … perhaps this weekend I’ll see it finished, then I’m going to pull my finger out and probably try to get my In the Dark Needleroll finished off … and get some gifts made up that I’ve been wanting to do for a while now. Although I’m heading down to Woollongong for a SAL with friends on Sunday, so perhaps it won’t be as productive as I hope haha.

In fact, I’m home early tonight, so maybe I should pull my finger out earlier and drag out the needle and thread tonight instead of sitting staring at the screen playing computer games for the evening (such as I have done for the last 3 nights running). Maybe a happy dance will follow before the weekend … maybe 😉

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Darling Harbour, Finishes, Finishing, Friends & Family, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Lizzie Kate, Stash, Sydney, Val's Stuff, Works in Progress

Ah, Bliss …

27 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Today I walked out from work at 5.10pm … and felt like a little kid skipping out of school early! It feels really fantastic! Helped that today was the first day that I haven’t been pulled in a million different directions due to urgent things being thrown at me, I managed to actually get some of my own work done for a change … serious bliss!

My rant did me good last night – on top of the productive day, and normal working hours, I feel much brighter today. Apologies to Mum, as this is not how it sounds ‘cos I love having Mum visit, but it’s been really nice to come home to an empty place and not having to have a conversation – I have been anti-social for two days and have found it a great chance to unwind properly at the end of a stressful day without having to chat. I’m hoping by the end of the week to be a bit more back to normal again 🙂

Mum returned home on Monday morning, but we had a wonderful weekend before she left. On Friday we spent the afternoon visiting craft stores – although neither of the stores we visited were really ‘fantastic’ we did manage to find something at each one to spend a couple of dollars on. At Lyn’s needlecraft I managed to buy some pink and cream fabric (yeah, me, pink!! LOL) … and a duck!! (I don’t have space for the ones I currently have, but that makes no difference LOL). At Hobby Sew I bought a smaller version of the wire hanger I use for my embroidery scissors – this one is to hang my junk jewellery on, and was proudly hung on the side of my computer desk tonight.

Friday night saw us having dinner with Brenda and Nigel, and it was really wonderful to catch up with them again. I’ve had to promise to visit again soon and stay the night – that’s no hardship, as I’m looking forward to it.

Saturday morning saw us up bright (OK maybe not) and early (most definitely) and driving into the city. That’s my first attempt in driving into Sydney city itself, and I have to tip my hat to my TomTom GPS ‘cos he managed to instruct me perfectly and painlessly to the parking building I wanted. We picked my friend Jason up at the airport then went to Darling Harbour in the freezing cold where we stuffed ourselves on a cooked breakfast, followed by the compulsory stop at the Lindt cafe for takeaway delices and a Mochaccino … yum!! It was really nice to see Jason again, and I’m really glad we changed our plans to visit with him (he was transferring through Sydney on the way to Asia on holiday).

As soon as we showed Jason the way to the train station for his return to the airport we hot-footed it down the motorway to Rosehill Racecourse to the Stitches & Craft Show, where we met up with my good pals Alison and Amanda, and met some new ladies Karen and Rowena. It was really awesome to catch up with these ladies again – they’re always such fun to spend time with. I was pleasantly surprised with the contents of the show … we parted with a fair amount of cash, although when we got home we didn’t seem to have as much as we remembered 😉

My biggest splurges were two pieces of hand-dyed fabric – one from Peppermint Stitches (for Mirabilia’s Enchanted Mermaid hopefully), and one from Stitches & Spice (36ct mottled/vintage neutral colour), plus a big Santa for my main Christmas display this year (thanks to Dodgey Brothers R Us removalists, I no longer have my beautiful ceramic Christmas tree centrepiece, as it arrived in a squillion pieces). Here’s a photo of the full stash haul (combining both mine and Mum’s purchases). I nearly squealed with delight when I saw a butterfly charm (Susan Clarke design) that will match my Just Nan Dragonfly scissor purse … I didn’t care about the $27 price tag, I HAD to have it!!! (The Christmas items aren’t in the photo as I can’t be bothered unpacking them from the box.)

Other purchases were some metal charms for scissor fobs, some Dress It Up buttons (snowflakes and stars), cheapo scissors for travelling, and the most adorable metal hanger for my Christmas quilted wallhanging. Doesn’t it look perfect?

Crikey, I barely blog for two weeks and now I can’t shut up!!!

I’ll finish for the night by showing my very minimal stitching from the last week or so – here is my latest finish:

“Life’s a Stitch” by Lizzie*Kate
stitched on 32ct natural Belfast linen
with recommended GAST threads

And here is my current work in progress – I’m trying to stitch predominantly those charts that I’ve bought special threads and embellishments for and are essentially kitted up. Once I get through a few of them, I’ll add the designs to my trade list (I’d better hurry up and get stitching or you’ll be waiting for a while!). This project is Just Nan’s “Evening Star” which is a retired class piece. At my current stitching rate it should be finished some time in the middle of September haha.

Last night I was in such a cranky mood I vented my frustration by doing the finishing on my August Christmas ornie – if that’s the result of being angry with work, I should keep it going every night!! LOL. I added a little white pom-pom-thing with glue once the pillow as finished 🙂

And now it’s time to settle in and get some stitching in (after once again lugging up my next round of laundry washing – I figure the more I get done tonight, I won’t have much to do at the weekend).

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Val's Stuff, Works in Progress

Is it snowing outside?

13 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Well, the weather will surely be changing because a miracle occurred in Chez Shackles over the last 24 hours! I managed to get my August ornie completed before the middle of the month … now I KNOW I’m not feeling well!!

“A Merry Kitty Klaus” by Val’s Stuff
from 2007 JCS Christmas Ornament issue
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
using Crescent Colours Sassy Brass and Cupid,
Olde Willow Shale, Wisper thread and DMC for the remainder

Went to the GP yesterday who confirmed my bugs are just a viral infection (which I’d already guessed) – I’m now loaded up with Buscopan for the griping stomach cramps and on orders for Panadol, fluids and rest … if that doesn’t work I have to go back to have blood tests, but I’m sure that’s all it is (which is the main reason I hadn’t bothered going to the GP before now). I was still pretty crook throughout the weekend, and definitely not my perky self (commented on a lot by colleagues at work, which didn’t do anything to help my mood, especially when someone drew a smiley face on a piece of paper and wrote “SMILE” on top for me … made me want to throttle them instead of smile! I’m terrible when I’m feeling ill, I just want to sit in a corner away from people until I get over it hmmm).

Still haven’t finished my needleroll, as I need to concentrate a bit on the buttonhole stitch banding etc, and don’t feel up to it yet … hopefully it won’t be long now before it is completed though. Now it’s time for me to jump in the car for another thrilling day at work (can you tell I’m really not in the mood right now?)!

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Heart in Hand Needleart, Works in Progress

A WIP and a finish

9 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

First up is my “In the Dark needleroll” – if I were to do this again (which I wouldn’t do) I would definitely make some changes! Firstly I think I would squish the wording up closer together and have it more centred, then I’d bring in the stars closer to the moon. The way this is designed when it is turned into a needleroll you won’t see the full wording and definitely won’t get to see the sparkly stars, which seems such a waste as they’re so lovely! Unfortunately by the time I worked that out I was too far into the stitching to be bothered unpicking everything. I think it would be much prettier that way, though (mind you, I haven’t done the finishing yet, so I could be wrong).

One change I did make, however, was to leave off the ‘smiley faces’ on the stars so it didn’t look quite so ‘juvenile’, and because of that I left off the bead ‘nose’ on the stars and just used the metallic braid. All-in-all not my most favourite piece to stitch, but I do like the finished product – the colours and the sparklies do look very very pretty in real life … my Mum kept ooh-ing and aah-ing over it throughout the stitching process 😉

It still isn’t finished, though – I need to find some beads to substitute for those listed in the chart, and I’ve decided to do the bargello and buttonstitch bands for the top and bottom hems … yesterday I’d decided to leave it and finish it with a normal hemstitched band, but today I’ve had a change of heart, so back on the Q-snaps it goes …

When I opted to leave the bead selection for the needleroll until today, I couldn’t just sit and do nothing, so here is a very quick ornie stitch that I managed to stitch up in a couple of hours last night.

“Christmas Peace” by Heart in Hand Needleart
stitched with recommended threads (GAST)
on 32ct opalescent Lugana by Silkweaver (the colour escapes me right now!)

This fabric is one of the worst fabrics I’ve ever stitched on in my life – I truly detest this fabric, both the colour and the feel of it. I bought this originally to stitch Chatelaine’s Egyptian Garden Mandala on it, and hated it, so unpicked what I’d done and started again on a hand-dyed linen instead. Unfortunately I was left with all this revolting fabric and I didn’t know what to do with it … my idea to use for ornies instead – truth is I still hate it, and think perhaps I should try dyeing it myself. The photo gives no idea of what the colour is actually like – it is almost peachy/apricot in colour, yuk!!

I have no idea what will be stitched next … nothing is screaming at me right now … I had the day off yesterday due to feeling crappy, so Mum and I sat in my bedroom and stitched all day – today I woke up with my mind turning about work issues, so perhaps I’ll go in tomorrow and try to get some work done, as obviously it’s preying on my mind under the surface hmmm. I’ll see how I feel when I wake up in the morning … in the meantime it’s time to go stash diving for a new project I guess … or perhaps I should have a day at the sewing machine … or perhaps I should just have a day off … oh, so many choices 😉

Cross Stitch, Works in Progress

New WIP

7 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Thanks for all the lovely comments about my Lanarte finishes – they will eventually be framed with a mid-blue frame of some sort, but I’m not sure whether to frame them individually, or together in one frame …

My latest WIP is something I’ve had sitting kitted up in my stash for a long time – and seeing as I’d bought all the Kreiniks especially for this piece I thought I’d better justify the cost and hurry up and stitch it up. I didn’t get too much done last night, but this is the result of 2 hours stitching and TV viewing with Mum:

The design is “In the Dark needleroll” by Designs by Lena Rose, and is being stitched on Abracadabra 28ct opalescent lugana by Silkweaver. I really like the Silk n Colors used in the border – 977 Sherbert, it’s so delicate, pretty and girly (unlike me LOL). Hopefully I’ll manage to get it finished by the end of this weekend, as there isn’t really a ‘huge’ amount of stitching to be done on it … but then again, that could be famous last words!!

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Lanarte, Sea Life

Lanarte – Sea Life finished

5 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I put the finishing touches to the final part of the Lanarte Small Sea Life series while Mum and I sat watching an hour of TV tonight. I really love the colours of this series – and adore the little fishing net at the bottom of this piece.

“Small Sea Life #1” by Lanarte
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
with DMC cotton floss

Here’s a quick shot of all four together:

Not entirely sure what I’ll start stitching next – it’s likely to be a needleroll that’s been kitted up for forever and a day … I’ll be working late hours yet again this week, so will only get an hour in each night if I’m lucky (if I’m awake enough to concentrate on it when I get home!).

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Lanarte, Sea Life

Lanarte finish – part 3

4 August, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

We had a stressful day on Saturday thanks to spending a couple of hours with a technician from Harvey Norman … during that time the internet also decided to spit the dummy and our wireless connection stopped working, which was necessary for the technician’s visit. After a few frazzled hours we managed to send the technician on his way, and we settled down for a few hours stitching – then yesterday I spent the day in my PJ’s and we stitched all day.

I managed to finish off the third part of my Lanarte Sea Life series, and decided I was so close to getting this set finished, I thought I might as well just keep on stitching the final part as well. I just have 4 little backstitched seagulls left to stitch before the whole series is finished … Here is the first one finished from the weekend:

“Small Sea Life #2” by Lanarte
stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen
using DMC cotton floss

Hopefully I can get the seagulls finished tonight, which means there will be another finish photo very very soon.

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Full Circle Designs

July Christmas ornie

30 July, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Just a really quick post as I’m really dead on my feet – I didn’t get home from work until 8.50pm … isn’t it nice to see my work has slowed down a bit? Hmmmph …

Anyway I’ve made what feels like a superhuman effort to stitch my Christmas ornie for this month, and the final bit of backstitching went in tonight during my hour’s ‘home time’.

“The Decorator” by Full Circle Designs
from 2007 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue
stitched on 28ct mystery linen (rue green maybe?)
using DMC plus Carrie’s Thread (Gold Glow) for the hat trim

Cross Stitch, Finishes, scissor pockets, Stitching Smalls, The Cat's Whiskers

Alyssum Scissor Pocket

28 July, 20089 August, 2024 Anne S

My stitching mojo seems to have deserted me over the last week or so (in fact every kind of mojo has, I think, including my blogging mojo) – I’ve been too tired to do much at all, but I forced myself to put the needle to fabric yesterday and put the finishing touches into my scissor pocket.

“Alyssum Scissor Pocket” by The Cat’s Whiskers
Stitched on 32ct Blue Ice hand-dyed linen by Country Stitch
using Dinky Dyes silk from the kit

I have to say I think the silk colour is a strange choice for these scissors, as there is more turquoise blue than the greeney-blue of this silk – I was actually tempted to replace the silk, but then I thought it would be a waste of money, so I just bit the bullet and started stitching … It may not be the perfect match for the scissors, but I still really love it 🙂

I also made a start on this month’s Christmas ornie late last night, but I may not get it finished by the deadline of Thursday – will give it a go, though.

Just a short post, as I need to finish getting ready for work.

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

Stitching-free home

21 July, 200825 February, 2012 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! 🙂

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! 🙂

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.

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 😀

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! 😉

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!!!!! 😀