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OK, Mum, here are the chart scans for you … hope these come through OK – sorry email wasn’t working!

…for so many kind words about my canvaswork piece – really really appreciated :-)))

As for any stitching updates … there really aren’t any, which is unusual for me – haven’t put a single stitch into anything for a few days (since Dena was completed, actually). Really need to get moving, but just haven’t had the motivation – have been going for a walk before work instead (which isn’t a bad thing, considering how much weight I need to lose LOL). This week’s shifts have mucked me around a little bit physically … after doing my 6pm-2am and 9pm-5am shifts last week, it took me all weekend to get over it – and this week I’m doing 7 days straight, with 3 different shift times (2 of 3pm-11pm, 2 of 12noon-8pm, then 3 of 9am-5pm) – hard to get into a routine … but then due to a last minute bout of relieving for me, I get another week on the hotline covering someone on leave, which means I get an entire 5 days off next week … yippee!!! Will be nice to have some time off for a change, and have a full day or 3 of stitching. Was going to go home to NZ for a quick visit, but the flights are looking pretty full, and it’s not worth taking the risk trying to get there – will hold off until the next days off, I think (sorry Mum!).

Well, today was my interview day – I felt it went pretty well, but there are certainly no guarantees, and the competition is the toughest there has ever been, in my eyes … it’d be nice to get the job, so I’m on a permanent roster and not having everything changed on me every month when I’m asked to do relieving – makes it so hard to plan anything in advance! But if I don’t get it, at least I can say the person who does get it is of a fine calibre and deserves it 🙂 Anyway, hopefully we’ll all be put out of our miseries by Friday this week – otherwise I’ll be glued to the phone on Monday, as it’s my first day off of five … I think it had been getting to me a bit, and I was feeling anxious about it all deep down, as I felt a huge weight had been lifted off me after the interview …

On a happy note I am overjoyed to announce that my 2004 JCS ornament issue FINALLY arrived at my PO Box today – can’t believe it … I had literally just given up hope of ever receiving it, and placed an order for one online, and the little slip arrived saying “you have mail” … yippee! And I LOVE loads of the designs, even more than the 2005 one, I think … yet more and more to drool over for a few days – and I still haven’t finished drooling over the last lot!

Rightio, off to bed early tonight – I might have to put a couple of stitches into something before I go to bed, though – I feel a bad not doing any stitching at all … maybe I’ll just finish the Wisper beard on my no humbugs allowed ornament … that should just about take me no longer than an hour to finish – right, get off the computer Anne, and get moving with that needle!!! ;-P

Pretty impressed with the amount of stitching I got done today – compliments of only getting about 5 hours sleep last night (thanks for the early morning start, bin-men!). I’ve been pretty hazy-eyed all day, so didn’t have the energy to do much … just sitting around and stitching. Unfortunately it doesn’t bode well for my 6pm-2am shift tonight – if nothing else, I’ll be well and truly ready for bed when I get home! Managed to listen to about 1/2 of a talking book today, which means I’m almost at the end of it (You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark – not a bad read, a crime book, which I enjoy, and pretty easy listening). I might even get this old UFO finished next week! This is the last band to stitch, and not much left to go at all. Would be tempted to take it to work to finish, but I think I’ll take that dratted Xmas ornie for the girl at work, as it’s easier to transport. I’ve decided when I get Dena finished, I’m going to put navy fabric edges on it, and make it into a cushion – it’ll go nicely on my sofa with the other plain navy cushions.

Anyway, better start getting ready for work – have to wear office clothes unless you’re on the 9pm-5am shift, which is crazy … so I think I’ll be a rebel tonight, and take my jeans to change into at 10pm (lunchtime haha). Anything for a bit of comfort at that time of the night!

I never would have believed how the simple art of blogging would have made such an impact on my life – at the right time. Since moving out to a flat on my own, I was worried I’d ‘stagnate’ a bit due to the fact I don’t really know that many people outside of work … but instead of that, blogging has opened the doors to different people I’d never previously known, but have quickly felt like friends 🙂 It’s also so nice to have a forum to more openly talk about my stitching … as much as I still adore my best mate and ex-flatmate, stitching certainly wasn’t in his sphere of interest, apart from taking the mickey out of it. It’s nice to share with people who have an appreciation of the art!

G and S … would love to catch up face to face some time. It can be hard with my shift times, but I’m sure we could come up with something that will work out. You know, G, if I come to your place I may never leave, as long as those ducks are in sight! LOL. Next time I pop home to NZ, I’m going to pick up a box of charts/magazine pages I was donating to the local Guild, and if you like you can rumage through them to see if there’s anything you want … can’t guarantee it will be this side of Xmas, though – but it would be nice to get home before then.

No stitching done today, as I went out straight from work to have dinner in the city with F (ex-flatmate) … was lovely to catch up, even though he bailed on going to the movies, which was the original plan – gave us more chance to chat, anyway. Even though I’m enjoying living on my own overall, I miss our late night chats about everything and nothing – he’s one of the few people I could always bare my soul to, and could be brutally honest with.

This week it feels like a joy to be in Melbourne – in my new flat I’m on the 3rd floor of a block of flats, overlooking the street, with large leafy trees in front of the lounge window, with bay windows looking off to the side by the dining area/balcony. The dining area is my favourite spot – the light streams in so cosily, and I love to sit and watch the birds flying past … it’s so lovely. Where I used to live, it struck me often that I very rarely used to see birds anywhere – apart from the very occasional magpie in the front garden … the first thing that struck me when I moved here is the abundance of wildlife (bird-wise). When I took Mum for our first walk round the beachfront, we were treated to seeing our first ever blue wrens – they were so beautiful. And over the last few days I’ve been overjoyed to see some of my favourite Aussie birds (aside from the ducks haha) flying overhead – rainbow lorikeets. What a sheer pleasure it gives to see them flying around in the wild, with the sunlight highlighting their bright plumage … just gorgeous. I laughed this afternoon … birds were making a raucous noise bright and early from, it seemed, the nextdoor neighbour’s garden this morning – I just shook my head and thought, noisy devils … then I was walking home from work to my car tonight and heard the same noise – I stopped dead in my tracks and looked upward to try and track down the source of the racket … to my shock, I realised it was a rainbow lorikeet making all that noise! Now, I’ll be smiling every morning and thinking “keep chatting, little birds” – it’s a pleasure just knowing the lorikeets are so close 🙂

I’ve got a rainbow lorikeet XS chart in my stash in my to-do list, so it will always remind me of my time in Australia … I really must pull my finger out and get it stitched, as it should be a pretty easy on to stitch (unless I decided to stitch it over-one, which is an option I’ve considered hmmmmm).

Mum will see my new name, and probably smile, knowing where the new title is coming from … not actually from the stitch itself (feather stitching is NOT one of my fortes) – but rather from the fact that I am duck crazy!! My ex flatmate was considering charging all my ducks rent, as they were ever increasing in number LOL. I don’t know what it is, but I just adore them … there are few things that bring such a sense of peace and joy to my soul than watching ducks on the water, or just waddling around – Mum will attest to the fact that I can’t resist them whenever they’re in sight. I also have the knack of being able to spot a duck at a 1000 paces – even while driving haha.

When I first started the idea of blogging, I hadn’t given any thought at all to my blog name, until I started filling the form out – it never really felt ‘right’, but I didn’t have time to think about it too much. Since then I’ve been trying to work out how to bring my two loves together in the name – ducks and stitching. One that came to my mind while driving to work was “Ducks of a feather stitch together”, or “Stitching on the Pond”, or “Stitching by the Canal” (more to do with my new living location more than anything else) … but all of a sudden tonight the simplicity of this title just jumped out, and seems to have stuck!

I’m also thinking of getting my blog designed properly … and have some ideas of what I want included – now I’ve found a new name I’m relatively happy with, I feel as though I can start making progress on my plans … doesn’t look like much stitching is going to get done tonight hmmm. So far, though, I think there has to be some paua shell in the background (my absolute fave colour is blue, and it gives a link to my NZ home), plus a compulsory duck in the title – with the wording perhaps done like it was carved from bone, again reminding me of my home … oooh, decisions decisions. Maybe I should just hand these ideas over to the experts and see what they can come up with … then I can get back to stitching haha.

Thanks everyone for your comments about my dratted Christmas ornament thingo for my workmate. Nicola, your comment about having a subliminal message stitched into it absolutely cracked me up! I have to admit, I’ll finish these pieces – I can’t bring myself to give them back, seeing as I’d agreed to do it (Mum, why did you bring me up so politely?) … but I will make a comment when I finally get them completed that I wouldn’t have made them if I’d know she could stitch. Never mind, you live and learn, I guess. Luckily they’re not too big – and at least the Winnie the Pooh bookmark can be stitched onto fabric and put into my scroll frame/lapstand to make it easier to stitch. I’m certainly not busting a gut to get them finished, though – if I don’t feel like stitching on them, my other stitching will take priority …

Here are a few of my fine feathered friends that share my abode … the ‘bigger’ ones aren’t in the photo – but there’s basically a big one that sits on my bed, one that sits on the sofa arm, and one that is a draught stopper – along with a leadlight one that hangs in the kitchen … I just can’t stop myself – anytime I’m away and see a new duck, it’s just gotta ‘come home with mama’ LOL.

… Isn’t that what John Steinbeck wrote? Well, it’s certainly true – the last time I posted (hanging head in shame) was a couple of days ago … I was supposed to be heading off for a walk then stitching for an hour etc – hmmm, didn’t quite happen that way, and haven’t picked up a needle for days! I ended up chatting to my Mum in NZ for almost an hour on the phone, then walked bare-footed through doorway from the lounge only to stop mid-step with a sharp pain in my heel. Lo and behold, a carpet tack had gone into my foot … luckily it didn’t disappear entirely, as the top of the tack wasn’t on it, otherwise it would have totally disappeared … thank goodness there was about 2mm of tack left showing so I could pull it out – definitely not for the faint-hearted, let me tell you!!! That definitely put any walking plans out the window, but thankfully I cleaned it up pretty well and it seems to be healing without any problems.

It’s now my Friday night, and I fully intend being a bone idle so-and-so and doing no housework tomorrow on my only full day off, so I can catch up on some overdue stitching. I was supposed to start my Christmas ornament SAL this week, but haven’t done a single stitch in one. This is the first time I’ve ever attempted an ornament of any type, so it will be an interesting endeavour!

The great news, though, is that the postman is in my good books – he managed to deliver not just one, but TWO JCS ornie books this week … my old 1998 one that Mum sent over for me, and the 2005 issue that Linda sent to me as an exchange (thanks to you both) – so I’ve spent the last two days drooling over both, and wondering which one to start first! I’ll try and choose a relatively easy one so I can try and finish it in one day (yeah, OK, ambitious I know!). I’ve already found one that I just HAVE to stitch for my Aussie best mates’ parents … his Dad hates Christmas, but his Mum adores it – I just call his Dad “Bah Humbug” throughout the month of December, and this ornament from the 1998 issue is an ornament stating clearly “No Humbugs Allowed” hahahaha – he’ll kill me, but it just HAS to be done!!!

Now, before I forget, thanks again to everyone for your comments on my pincushions. Danielle, I can tell you straightaway what the peacock design is, as I’ve got all the details in my printed album – it’s called “Peacock Pincushion” (K1804) – V&A Museum Oriental Collection Kit by DMC. I originally started stitching it back in October 2000, but hopefully it’s still in print.

The exam I had for the promotion was pretty tough, and I didn’t manage to finish all the questions, which is standard – it didn’t help that our group had to sit it at 9pm, but them’s the breaks. I’ll probably find out next week some time whether I got through to the interview stage.

Rightio, off to get my clothes washing done so I can have my free day tomorrow 🙂 Might even get a head start tonight …

Well, today is the day I officially start my Christmas ornament SAL – first time I’ve ever attempted to do an ornie, and looking forward to the challenge. I was originally going to stitch the MH stand-up Xmas tree, but realised I don’t have enough thread to finish it, so I may wait to start that one next month, and try a little ornament this week instead. I had to run out and buy a little MH ornament kit, ‘cos my ornie mags haven’t arrived yet … well, I couldn’t not start ‘something’ could I? That’s my excuse for another enabling trip – also checking out threads for my overseas exchange for the 2005 ornie issue.

Thanks for your comments on my basket of pincushions – I have to admit, I’ve wanted a display basket for ages … just didn’t have the impetus to finally finish the contents. It’s true, I am really glad I finally made the effort to get them completed – and I’m not going to let myself put off finishing that long again … in fact on Friday I have the remaining couple to finish off – and it’s my day off again, so there’s no excuse haha.

Gina e, if I still have the peacock chart, you’re more than welcome to it. I have to admit, that pincushion is my favourite one too – and the very first one I ever made. It was a small kit, but from the memory the chart showed the DMC thread numbers. Anyway, if I did still keep it, it’ll be in NZ still – but I’ll ask Mum to track it down among my folders (yeah, Mum, yet another thing for you to bring back with you when you visit haha). Sometimes lately, if it’s a freebie chart or something, I’ve been throwing it out after stitching it (shock, horror, I know!) – but I’m pretty sure I kept this one.

Sharlee, the hummingbird one was a Just Nan freebie chart – I’m trying to remember how I got that one … it might have been among a pile of freebie charts when I went to a XS festival in the States, in which case I got 3 sets with the classes I attended – otherwise it was just one I got given free with buying something else. I know in this case I definitely threw my chart out that I was stitching from – again, I’ll get Mum to try and hunt through my things at ‘home’, as I seem to remember those freebie charts were in a folder of finishing techniques from a class with Martha Beth Lewis, and I wouldn’t mind having those notes over here to learn from.

Anneke, you’re more than welcome to use my pincushion basket piccie on your blog. Thanks for asking .

My shifts this week allow me to have Fri/Sat off, which will be a nice change, as I’ve been working the last four weekends – although I’ve put my name down for overtime … have to be mad! Mind you, if it comes through, it’ll only be for 4 hours work, and I still have the rest of the day free. Overtime is pretty much non-existent at the moment, so any opportunity is fantastic – and now I’m living on my own my expenses have essentially tripled, so the extra few dollars is nice in the bank … and allows me a bit of personal spending (ie, stitching stash haha).

Hopefully today will see a lot of the people returned from Bali – Qantas put on extra planes just to get people back, which is really positive. I also realised when I got to work yesterday, ‘cos I hadn’t seen her before she flew out, that one of my best mates at work flew out on Thursday for Bali, so she’s one of the ones flying home early. Luckily she wasn’t in the area when the bombs hit, but still prefers to come back home – and who can blame them?

Well, today is a relatively overcast day in Melbourne – although the sun keeps trying to get through. I’m going to spend an hour stitching on my little ornament, which probably won’t make much of a dent, then have a bit of a walk before heading out to work. I have an exam at 9pm tonight (!!!) for a job application I’ve made. Usually I’m a ‘normal’ consultant for the airline call centre, but I act as a ‘reliever’ on the Supervisors Hotline – this is basically a help desk for the consultants to call when they get stuck, need technical help with the computer, help quoting fares/reissuing tickets, and just basically finding everything/answering all and sundry questions, we’re also the hotline for the airports etc worldwide when they need help, and also act as a ‘supervisor’ when complaint calls escalate to “I want to speak to a supervisor’ … it’s pretty full-on, and can be draining, but I generally love it. I love the coaching aspects of dealing with the staff, but dislike the complaints side (as I’m sure most people would) … but there has finally been a vacancy come free for a permanent Hotliner, and along with the 20-odd others, I’m applying. Even if I don’t get it, it’s all good experience … but I have to pass the exam first to even get through the interview stage. I think 9pm is a bit harsh for a difficult exam, but at least it’ll all be over today …

Rightio, off to stitch my ornie …

My free time today has been cut short – thanks to idiotic terrorist activity in Bali. What is wrong with the world today? I won’t start on a tirade … but it just amazes me how small factions of people can turn the world so much on its head, and destroy so many lives of ordinary, good people. Just got a call from work as the phones are inundated, asking us all if we can come into work early to help out – I’m already on a 3-11pm shift today, which is pretty tiring, so I’ve offered an extra 2 hours before I start – which means my free time today is gone … and only have time for a quick update to my blog.

I just wanted to say thanks again for all the comments you’ve been leaving – it’s really supportive, and lovely to come home to. Also thanks and “welcome” to the new readers – thanks for making yourselves known … it’s nice to grow the circle of blogging friendship.

Katrina – nice to see a ‘familiar face’ here. I’m pretty new to blogging, but really enjoying it so far – but have loads to learn re setups etc. Thanks also for your kind comments – and you’ve been added to my blog favourites … I was just in the middle of starting to read when I got my call from work – will read more when I get home and unwind 🙂

Karenv – I agree, the colours of Dena work pretty well. I was enjoying stitching it earlier before it became a UFO – I think I got fed up with the weaving of those darned metallic ribbons … but now I’ve finished the latest outer band I really love it again. Hopefully it won’t be too far off being finished – I might stitch this on Tuesday nights for a couple of weeks just to try and get it completed. Stitching Bits & Bobs have a 25% sale off at the moment, and I’m soooooo tempted to get the Summer into Autumn kit that’s sitting there … yours has just tempted me way too much LOL.

Nicole – I love your Bingo analogy about my UFO system … sometimes, though, you dread having THAT number come up ‘cos you hate stitching on it. I have to admit, though, I’m seriously thinking of ditching any UFO’s that make me feel that bad, eg my bullion rose facecloth. What’s the point of stitching something that doesn’t give pleasure – and in fact gives you a feeling of dread every time you think about it.

I have to say, I agree with a previous comment, that you could give the finished items to a charity – and that’s probably what I’m going to do with the Stoney Creek Resting Place piece … it’ll never grace my walls, but it would be a shame to throw it out. I gave it’s face a good wash in Orvus, and a lot of the marks have come out – hopefully by the time that area is stitched, it will take the focus away from the marks – time will tell, anyway.

I also love the Lizzie Kate “Boo” – and very tempted to buy it one day. I’m not a huge LK fan, but this one really catches my eye and says “stitch me!”. I laughed when you mentioned the basket full of needlerolls … I’m just finishing the stitching on my very first one to add to the basket – might have to take you up on the suggestion and many oodles more haha.

Erin – as I commented on your own blog, your Spring Peepers is gorgeous … I really love the green thread for the backstitched frogs – much better than the original gold that I used.

Jenna/Beckysc – thanks so much for your kind comments as always.

Cathy – nice to see another new face. I have to admit, I’m new to canvaswork too, and only attempted a couple of pieces – mainly just small pieces in tent stitch. Dena is my most ambitious one, though, and I’m enjoying trying out different stitches and threads – a couple are now in my ‘dislike intently’ category, though! LOL. I’m on the Mystery Sampler board too (EGA) … but haven’t started yet hmmm.

Lelia – I went on a hunt for Patricks Woods charts and found some lovely ones … I think I’m going to end up adding some more to my wishlist even if I never stitch them haha. I have to say I LOVE the idea of adding a button or something to cover the cord joins – very cunning idea!! Now I know why people add tassels etc when they’re not going to hang up … just to cover up teehee.

Sorry this is just a quick ‘catch up’ mainly to answer peoples comments – and apologies if I’ve forgotten to answer any comments or missed anyone out – but gotta dash and get ready for work now – looks like it’s going to be a busy night, unfortunately … more unfortunate for those families that are being affected. For people out there who have been affected by such dire events as this new Bali bombing, and the recent hurricanes, my thoughts are with you all … Sometimes it’s good to keep these events in mind, to see what so many have lost and are coping with – it helps to keep your own private trials and tribulations in perspective …

Dena 

For some reason I can’t upload a photo either by blogger upload, or by using Hello/Picasa … mutter mutter mutter. I’ve never tried adding a ‘link’ on here before, but I’ll try and see if it works, just in case anyone’s interested in seeing it – and I’ll try and upload it again tomorrow. Here is today’s version of Dena.

I really need to learn more about this technology on blogging … for the life of me I still can’t work out how to insert photos into the side bar etc either hmmmm.