14 July, 2006
Just a quick public announcement in case you’re interested (for my fellow Aussies) … I happened by chance to pop into my local “Riot” art & craft store near work while I killed time in my lunch break, and found they had DMC on sale until the end of July for 59c each - time to drag out the floss bags and see what I’m running short of 
The other news is that as of 10 minutes ago, my latest charity quilt block was finished … I really didn’t enjoy the deadline for this one (my own fault, though) so I’ve decided once the next block is finished (which is due 15 August) I’m not signing up for any more deadlines months in advance. I’ve got a charity block rotation slot, and the week that I come to it, I’ll check the website to see what blocks are required, then I’ll sit and stitch it straightaway … that way I’m not governed by timeframes too much, but I still continue to contribute to the quilts. I’ve decided deadlines just don’t suit me. I may also pull out of the SBEBB for the same reason - I love the whole idea of exchanges etc, but I’ve found the deadlines too stressful … perhaps because I had so many things on the go at the same time. I’ll see how I feel after the redwork exchange is completed …
So, with no further do, here is my racing car block ready to jump in the mail.
9 Comments | 
Charity Stitching, Finishes | 
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Posted by Anne S
8 May, 2006
Managed to get a reasonable amount of my Batman square stitched last night, and more tonight, so I think my deadline will easily be reached to have it in the mail on Wednesday … I’m starting to get a bit goggle-eyed tonight, after my early shift (it’s amazing how quickly you get out of the habit!!), so I don’t know how much more I’ll get done tonight - I was originally hoping to finish it off, but I don’t think my energy levels are going to stand up to the pressure LOL.
Tomorrow after work I intend to find a button or something to finish off my biscornu, then it can get posted on Wednesday too - it feels sooooo0 good to have those commitments off my shoulders. I still feel really bad about not reading blogs, but I’m glad I made that decision, or I’d still be struggling with the first deadline! Hopefully by the end of the week, I’ll be back to normal again, and my deadline stitching will be easily fitted around my normal routine I look forward to seeing what you’ve all been up to while I’ve been “M.I.A.” 
UPDATED!!! OK, I don’t know what happened, but I got a second wind and managed to find the energy to finish my Batman logo - woohoo!! What a relief to finally get that out of the way … I think I’ll be sleeping soundly tonight! LOL. Now I just have my scissor fob exchange and mail art exchange pieces to get done …
13 Comments | Charity Stitching, Finishes | Permalink
Posted by Anne S
11 February, 2006
Today started off quite sadly - by saying goodbye to Mum at the airport. I felt fine until she said goodbye at the departure gate, and I was teary-eyed all the way home. As much as it’s nice to get back to my routines, the flat feels very very quiet after having her company here for 2 months. Love you loads, Ma - and miss you already! 
I was originally going to attend the Guild’s general meeting today after going to the airport, but I didn’t feel in the mood. Instead I came home and finished my second quilt block for Quilts4Kids - this is my second block for wee Emily T, stitched in its recommended colours, except I replaced the gold metallic thread with a plain yellow DMC … the next one will be the Batman theme for Jordan B.
I also finally managed to put together (well, it’s almost finished anyway) my 
first ever scrapbook page for Doreen (my best friend’s Mum). I don’t think it turned out too badly, but I still have one more page to complete. I cut up 3 different colours of paper to make up an alpine setting reminiscent of the Desert Road and Mt Ruapehu in the North Island of NZ - I have so many happy memories of our skiing days there, so I thought that would be an appropriate theme for me. I just need to add some words to the page, which I’m going to add along the snowline at the top of the ‘mountain’.
Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on blogs this weekend - last time I looked I had over 200 unread posts again … you guys have been busy!! LOL. Look forward to seeing what you’ve all been up to while I’ve been ‘away’ :))
14 Comments | Charity Stitching, Finishes, Home & Family | Permalink
Posted by Anne S
2 February, 2006
I was quite surprised how quickly this one stitched up last night, but I settled in front of Sleepless in Seattle and S.W.A.T. (nothing like a bit of variety LOL) last night on DVD and stitched my little heart out … the end result was to finish my first quilt square for little Emily T. I’ll send a separate email to the organisers and hopefully generate some response that way (thanks Barbara for the heads-up on that one!). Excuse the basting thread - but I wasn’t sure how big the piece would be, and left them in just in case I needed to add a border of some sort …
This morning I’ve been looking at spending more money again (yikes) - but once again it’s for a good cause. I signed up a couple of days ago to stitch a block for the World Trade Center quilt - I have my list of names all charted up in my software program, and just have to wait for my black aida to arrive (hence the online spending) … and in the meantime I’ve just signed up for another quilt block for Jordan B on Quilts4Kids who has a superhero theme. As charts are few and far between for these, I found a Batman logo (one of Jordan’s favourites) online and thought I’d try charting it up myself.
So much for my rotation continuing this year … it’s been out the window since Christmas, but it feels good to be doing something for others at the moment. I’m sure I’ll get back into a more regular routine again soon
Thanks for all your comments - greatly appreciated. And funnily enough, Nicki, I was just commenting to Mum on the drive home yesterday that I was wondering if I should try and catch up with some Auckland stitchers in May … you read my mind! I’ll let you know closer to the time what days I’ll be over there, but Mum’s birthday is the 25th so it will either be the week before or the week after
27 Comments | Charity Stitching, Finishes | Permalink
Posted by Anne S
29 January, 2006
OK, I finally bit the bullet today, after seeing a post a wee while ago by Barbara about charity stitching. I followed her link to Quilts4Kids, and realised they’re based here in Australia, and thought I’d try hard to get some charity squares stitched this year. I have to admit to having no real maternal instinct, and not being greatly ‘kid-
orientated’ (although in saying that I enjoy time spent with the kids of my close friends), but the stories of what these poor wee mites have gone through in such a short life-span is heart wrenching. So, it’s time to finally put my needles to good use - my first charity squares (if they’re accepted) will be for wee Emily T, who loves butterflies. I’ve chosen to stitch two different flowers and butterflies from the World of XSing magazine, and will change one of the flower colours to purples as Emily loves pinks and purples. The squares are due by 15 April, so I should have plenty of time to get them stitched up and posted out. Then I hope to continue stitching one square a month, or at the least every 2 months. Unfortunately a lot of my stash that would be useful for this sort of stitching is still sitting at my parents home in Auckland, so Mum’s task when she gets home is to plough through all the folders to pick out some that would be useful, and see how much it would be to post some over (otherwise my suitcase will be getting jammed full of stitching charts when I go over for her 70th birthday in May!).
Aside from that, yet another non-stitching day … still hideously hot, and I have no real desire to pick up a needle - hence all the stitching planning instead 
It’s ‘Friday’ for me today, and I have the next two days off, and very very grateful - people on the phone were extremely cranky and outrageous with their demands today … I think the heat’s getting to everyone! With any luck, though, the temperatures are due to drop a bit next week, and I’ll get back into my stitching routine
Hope everyone’s been enjoying their weekends. Thanks for all your supportive comments as always - they’re wonderful to come home to
13 Comments | Charity Stitching | Permalink
Posted by Anne S
Thanks everyone for your supportive comments, as always 
