Stitching-free home

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!!!!!

Bit of Stash and Progress

Not much has been happening over the last 24 hours - Mum and I spent the entire day at home stitching our little hearts out (I didn’t even get out of my PJ’s until we went out to buy petrol at 7.30pm!!!).  I managed to quite a fair bit of stitching done on Mirabilia’s Winter Queen, which seems to be all I’ve been stitching on this month.  It would be lovely to actually get her finished, but I think once I’m back to work again that goal will still be quite some time away.  I’m probably just short of halfway through the stitching (you can see the full piccie in my sidebar).  In the meantime you’ll just have to get bored seeing her skirt in various stages of completion! Although I may soon unroll her and take a full photo … even I haven’t seen her in all her total glory as yet!

I’ve decided to take her off the floor stand for a few days, though, so I can work on a couple of smaller items for a short while - including finishing my biscornu, my monthly Christmas ornie, and something I want to stitch as a model for Karen.

Today we’re doing a bit of housework - the washing is in the machine, and the dishes are done, now we’re about to strip my bed and put freshly ironed sheets on … while it’s a pain in a patootie to iron those darned things, it’ll be sheer bliss to slip between them tonight!! They’re pure Egyptian cotton with a very heavy thread count, and unfortunately no polyester so they crease like hell in the washing machine.

Anyway, rather than bore you stupid with our mundane tasks for the day, I’ll leave you with a photo of our spoils from The Stitching Post on Monday … the only things not in the photo are the DMC skeins that Mum bought.  I don’t tend to buy too much these days - although in saying that there are some items on order from Karen that haven’t arrived yet … can’t wait for them to arrive!!

Market garden kitchen and etui update

Well, true to form, I’ve been lounging around in my PJ equivalent all day - trackpants and PJ top … and I’ve been stitching merrily away on my Cottage Etui.  Here’s a sneak preview of how far along I am so far … I’m pretty confident that I’ll get all the pieces finished by the end of tomorrow that I want to (I’m not bothering about getting the rooftop stitched yet - but if I get time before I fly out, I’ll try to start).

While stitching the Etui, it also reminded me that I haven’t shown you my latest stash purchases yet either - as soon as I took them out of the envelope, my Cottage Etui threads went straight onto one of them.  Monique makes the most gorgeous threadholders, and I truly adore them!  Small enough to be super portable, and no thread snags … plus they look so darned cute!!! :D  What’s betting a certain senior citizen who will be visiting in May will try to snaffle one of them for herself??? haha.

I also forgot to show your healthy spoils from a morning trip to Paddy’s Market in Flemington last weekend (before my friends arrived).  Lisa has bought a juicer and we’ve been having fresh fruit and vege juices every morning this last week … this is just a small sample of what is residing in our kitchen right now … boxes and boxes and lovely fruit and vege (some will be juiced and frozen).

Lovely peaches, with a tray of nectarines hiding underneath … plus boxes of pears, apples and oranges.

There is also a box full of Tahitian limes (just perfect for the bottles of Corona in the fridge), and melons galore, not to mention the pile of pumpkins and butternuts hiding underneath!

And this one is for Mum … a box of Australian feijoas (which I’m sorry to say are really tiny and picked well before they are ripe, so they’re a bit disappointing … I really miss our feijoa tree from home - poor Mum has so many she doesn’t know what to do with them, and she keeps making me jealous talking about them!).

Rightio, my dinner has finished nuking in the microwave, so it’s time to head back to my stitching position for the evening stitch-a-thon

Stashing instead of stitching

My needles were given a rest, aside from putting a handful of stitches into Lanarte’s Sea Life WIP from quite some time ago (which means I’m now approx halfway through finishing the first design) - it’s hardly worth taking a photo, so instead I’ll share the stash bounty I came home with from a visit to Karen at The Stitching Post … as always, it was a wonderful flying visit (but not so ‘flying’ that I couldn’t come home with a bag full of goodies haha).  Here are my spoils (I can’t be bothered laying them out to take a photo, so here are some from my wishlist album etc):

Chatelaine - Mini Mandalas II; Nantucket Violet Basket & Stitcher’s Toys
Country Cottage Needleworks - Cherry Hill
Little House Needleworks - Schoolgirl Lessons; Blossoms & Blackbirds; Home of a Needleworker (too!)
Just Nan - When Barnabee Met Bella (biscornu)

I also have the pleasure of having the wee Bella bee on loan while I do the stitching and finishing as a shop model for Karen - it is really cute in real life, and it will be lovely to see it all finished.

The other stash hasn’t arrived yet, and that is a computer download chart direct from Martina at Chatelaine - Mermaid Box and treasures … I couldn’t wait for this one to come out as a printed chart, and I’ve been in love with this ever since I first lay eyes on it, so soon it will be mine, all mine

Lucky last, Mum asked me to order some Flossaway bags etc for her from the US, so I placed a small ‘extra’ order at the same time from Needlecraft Corner for the following (the Christmas ones are for both Mum and I to enjoy) with my birthday discount:

The Cat’s Whiskers - Happy Holidays
The Sweetheart Tree - Queens Strawberry fob; Rhodes Butterfly fob; Blackberry fob
The Trilogy - Ornamentology
CCN - Sunflower Sampler
JBW Designs - Christmas Keepsakes II

Rightio, time to race, as I need to do a quick spot of tidying up before heading to the other side of Sydney to see my best friend - I didn’t make it out there yesterday as the drive to the Stitching Post tired me out (the final stages of my bugs, I think, is that I tire really quickly still, and I could hardly keep my eyes open when I got home).  Then I need to kit up something relatively easy to stitch to take with me … I’m tossing up between the following (oh decisions, decisions!):

• Just Nan - Beach Roses
• LHN - Blossoms & Blackbirds
• LHN - Melon threadpack
• Drawn Thread - Sunflower Sampler

A teensy bit of stash

Today I spent a wonderful few hours browsing and chatting with Karen at Dragonfly Dreams (soon to be renamed as The Stitching Post) in the Blue Mountains.  As always, I feel as though we’ve known each other for years, and feel really comfortable in their company.  I managed to come home with a few guilt-free goodies … guilt-free ‘cos I’ve finished the 50 project challenge!  I haven’t taken photos, as I can’t be bothered trying to find the camera right now and uploading the photos … I might update this post tomorrow with piccies if I get time … maybe

Anyway, following are the goodies that followed me home today:

• *  The Cat’s Whiskers - Grandma’s Cushions Boxtop and Thread-minder Wallet
• *  By the Bay Needleart - 13th Colony Bay Part #1
• *  The Prairie Schooler - In The Woods
• *  Elizabeth’s Designs - The Garden of My Heart
• *  Little House Needleworks - Gourmet Garden
• *  Country Cottage Needleworks - Little Ballerinas

I’m really excited at the prospect of stitching again - since my last finishes I haven’t lifted a needle at all … while I’m here in Glenwood I usually only have the time and energy to put a few stitches in on Sunday nights.  By the time I do my 5 x 12-13 hour days, I’m ready to collapse in a heap on Friday night, and I’m sure if I did stitch, I’d just have to rip out all the errors again on Saturday, so I avoid it big-time!

In less than a week, though, I’ll be sat merrily stitching away until my hands are ready to drop off, and I really can’t wait - I’m so incredibly excited at the prospect of all the projects that I really really want to start (and also those that I want to finish).  I’ve even taken an extra day off work just so I can sit around all day and stitch for one day … I’ll have no furniture in the flat at that point, but I intend propping myself up against the wall, while sitting on my duvet inner and blow-up mattress, listening to DVD’s and/or talking books on the laptop, and celebrating the fact that I am no longer having to commute a million miles every week … I’m feeling all dreamy now just thinking about it!  As for the furniture truck, it can take its merry time to arrive, as then I’ll be flat out unpacking instead of stitching haha.

I’m looking forward to meeting a few more stitchers in Sydney in 2008 as well - and over the last couple of weeks I have been considering opening my flat up for a stitching day … I just have to work out how many people we can fit it as it’s such a small flat - it might not end up being an option, but it’s worth considering anyway.  It would be lovely to meet a few more stitchers up here - spending time in Karen’s company, surrounded by those wonderful goodies in the shop, makes me realise how much I adore being in contact with other stitchers.  I have been missing my good friends Tannia and Sharon very much over the last few weeks for that reason (although I’d love them if they weren’t actually stitchers!).

Rightio, time to head off and kit up a couple of ornies for our ornment SAL challenge on one of the Yahoo groups - I’m hoping to get one of the ornies stitched tomorrow night (or close to being stitched anyway), but it takes me forever to kit it up then start stitching, so much better to get organised in advance!  Plus I also want to kit up Ladybug, Ladybug (Little House Needleworks) - I’m itching to start the Sampler Lady by LHN, but I’m still waiting for the threads to arrive from back order … then once my Ladybug, Ladybug piece is finished I need to start some serious stitching on my CA Wells piece - so far I’ve managed a whole 2 flower heads, because I’m having to stitch in hand (need my sewing machine to sew on some side strips so it will go in the Qsnaps), and I detest stitching in hand.  That’ll be a much better project to start concentrating on when I settle into the new place.

Rightio, time to get cracking ‘cos I’m starting to get heavy-eyed … time to move the body … and maybe time to get a chilled glass of Chardonnay to help with resuscitation haha.

Note to self … and oops … Stash!!

Note to self …

“Do NOT watch Big Brother again this week until their weekly task is completed, finished, done and dusted, all over red rover!! If you DO watch Big Brother your heart will begin pounding as though it will burst out of your chest, and you will have cold sweats, crawling skin, and general heeby-jeebies for hours afterwards … just like you did last night!!!”

What am I waffling on about??  Well, I switched the TV on for the first time this week last night to watch Big Brother … only to be confronted by bl**dy great visions of arachnids (ie Huntsman and wolf spiders etc … and if you feel keen please go Google their names yourself, ‘cos I don’t feel like having their piccies sitting on my computer screen right now) as full as life filling the TV screen - I nearly died there and then on the spot!  It’s been a long time since I had to put my hands up to cover my face from what is on TV, but I just couldn’t bear to watch it anymore.  I ended up turning away and just listening to it … their task this week is to enter the ’spider enclosure’ of which they reckon there are at least 50 bl**dy great spiders in there, and they have to catch some as part of their task.  I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it again!!  Aaaaarghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, that brings me to something else I’ve been meaning to blog about, and keep forgetting - the good news is that I’ve finally booked in to see a therapist towards the end of August (a hypnotherapy doctor) about my severe arachnaphobia.  It sounds like I may need more than one session, and at $230 a pop that’s not great, but if it works it’ll be worth every red cent!!  The great thing about not paying rent right now is that it’s giving me chance to do something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, and just couldn’t afford it … this is going to be soooooo worth it if it works!!!

That’s all I wanted to say really … still not really in blogging mood yet - and still have more packing up to do, so time to go do it before I settle in for the night.  At least it was my final 5am shift today so I get an extra 2 hours sleep in tomorrow woohoo!!  I only have 4 sleeps left here, so I also need to start thinking of getting the bedding etc washed and ironed and all the rest of the housework done.  I only have my 8am shift tomorrow, then an overnight shift on Sunday (9pm-5am), then I’m on days off for 4 days yippee

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Updated to add … I also forgot to mention that I got stash in the mail today!!  Yes, that’s right I’m on the 50 project challenge, and I’m not allowed to buy any charts … if you don’t tell anyone, I won’t! Well, I was rebellious two weeks ago and ordered a couple of things before I go back on my stash diet again.  The only thing that made me do it is that I was really keen to get Just Nan’s Queen’s Bluebird Box, and I saw it was out of stock already at one of the ONS’s … I figure if I was ever going to get it, now was the time.  As it is I’ve missed out on my all-time favourite Au Fil de Reves designs because they’re no longer in print after dickering for a couple of years whether to fork out and buy the kits … so I wasn’t gonna do the same thing this time!  (In actual fact I splurged and ordered two of the AFDR kits from Criss Cross Row in a panic as soon as I heard the news they were going out of print, but they’ve never sent the goods, and are not replying to my emails - and my order went through in February hmmm.) I’ve only bought the chart and finishing kit for the Bluebird box (doncha just LUV that little blue bird?? LOL), ‘cos I couldn’t justify the extra money to buy the silk kit … I may just have to see which colours are needed and buy a few at a time, as well as raiding my existing stash … I have to say I think US$75 for the silk kit that is just “cut to the correct length” is pretty exorbitant … it’d be interesting to see how much it would work out to buy a full skein of each hmmm…

Of course I had to justify the cost of postage for the Just Nan box, and also bought the Trick or Treat Box by Just Nan as well … won’t they look cute in a cabinet together??  Yeah, yeah, OK, I’m just justifying to myself it was a good buy! haha.  Oops I just remembered the Just Nan Octagonal Peacock needlecase is also on back order, so I’d better go add another 4 (not 3) charts to my 50 project challenge.  Hmmm, maybe I should just give up now!!

The 4th thing I bought was something I’ve been yearning for dearly for a few years as well - I ordered it two years ago from SB&B, but they refunded my money for that chart, and I assumed it was because it was no longer available or in print (they never contact me and let me know why … I just got a PayPal receipt saying you’ve been given money back!) - I’ve been searching Ebay for a while to no avail … and one day recently I stumbled across their website, and saw they take orders directly … and I’m now the very proud owner of this chart, Gazelle, by Simply Old-Fashioned.  I also received a 15% off voucher for the next 10 purchases from them, and a very personalised packaging and note … I have to say I was very very impressed with their service!  I can now stitch this one to be a matching pair with my ‘giraffe’ that I’ve already stitched (it’s actually the Zebra chart, but for some reason I always thought it was a giraffe … can you say blonde and mentally challenged?? LOL).  Here’s the new chart, and my stitched ‘giraffe’:

More goodies in the mail

But before I show you my other spoils from yesterday, I have to apologise for the many many spelling and grammatical errors in last night’s post.  I’d only had 4 hours sleep the previous two nights, and after spending a few frantic hours packing, I was feeling really exhausted, and could hardly string two sentences together … I think that showed!! ;)  It actually took me a whole hour to write that, when it would normally have taken half that time haha.

We’ve woken up this morning to a freezing morning out here - I was almost expecting icicles forming from the curtain rails in the lounge … Mum has put on her thermal undies to survive, as it’s sooooooo cold in here!  Just being able to close that darned window would be soooo nice.  Oh well, only 2 more nights and the furniture and boxes will all be gone … leaving us with a few boxes of ‘rubbish’ to get sorted through, as well as my stitching (I want to kit up a few more projects and I’ve run out of time to get it done before the big moving day).  Mum and I will be sleeping on air mattresses and sitting on fold-up camping chairs for a couple of nights - but one of the Supervisors at work was concerned for us yesterday and is bringing in a portable TV for us to watch, bless her heart

On Friday after the big moving day Mum’s decided it’s “I’m not doing anything else” day, so we’re having an afternoon/night of R&R and heading out to the movies to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 … can’t wait!  Then I’m back at work again on Saturday, so Mum’s going to start the scrubbing and cleaning while I’m away - then we have Sunday/Monday to finish off (I have those days off work), before Mum will have to fly home Monday night.

Anyway, I’d better get off this PC and start getting my clothes sorted into piles before I have to jump in the shower … but before I do, I have to share the rest of my wonderful mail day yesterday …

I want to thank Leslie for sending me her Barnabee’s Quest charts - after me drooling over this project while she was completing the recent SAL, she offered to send them to me once she’d finished with them … and they’ve arrived in perfect timing, so I can kit it up and add it to my ‘future projects box’.  Thanks again Leslie, you’re wonderful!

Last, but certainly not least, was a lovely generous parcel from Andrea.  This was totally unexpected, and I was blown away by the contents.  Andrea stitched me a divine scissor fob - how could I not start drooling with that scrummy turquoise colour?  Even Mum was eyeing it up … I’m going to have to frisk her before she leaves to make sure she hasn’t pocketed it! ;)  This was in thanks for sending a DT chart to her, but personally I think I got the better part of the deal Not only the fob was there, but I was also spoilt rotten by a few items off my wishlist - the SB Schoolhouse needleroll, and threads, as well as some really scrummy blue fabric … I’m seriously blown away by everything.  That NR is another project that is getting kitted up this weekend so it can be stitched sooner rather than later.  Thanks again Andrea for a really wonderful and unexpected gift!

 

Rightio, time to head off and pack … now I’m awake

Squishy mail & lovely visits

Well, tonight I ended up having a reprieve from work … we had a wonderful visit out today, but driving home it took us over 1 1/2 hrs to get home from Eltham, and by the time I got home I was feeling decidedly squiffy again, so I called in work and said I’d be staying home for the night :(  We even had to stop off at a local Dairy (stop giggling my fellow Aussies, that’s our Kiwi equivalent of your Milk Bar … I still can’t get used to calling it a Milk Bar - for you Brits out there, it’s the equivalent of the ‘corner shop’) so I could buy some ginger drink to try to quell the queasiness.  Anyway, that’s enough of me moaning … on to the brighter moments of the day

Before I do that, though, I just realised I haven’t written anything about our weekend social night out with Sharon and Pete … We went round there for dinner on Saturday night, and had the most wonderful time - dinner was divine and the company excellent.  I took my stitching with me but we were enjoying ourselves so much it came out briefly for a show-and-tell, but not a single stitch was done.  I also received a wonderful birthday gift voucher for Bustle & Bows from Sharon, and very touched with that generous gift … unfortunately the gift I gave Sharon wasn’t quite as good … unfortunately I’d chosen a chart I knew she loved, but she’d just bought it for herself as a kit … oops :(  I already know what I’m doing next time, and think I’ll be safe with that choice ;)  Before we knew it it was almost midnight, and I felt like we’d just arrived - as always a definite pleasure and both Mum and I enjoyed ourselves immensely 

Back to today - we caught up with another fellow blogger and Melbournian for a beautiful lunch and stash drooling.  We drove over to visit Gina today, albeit half an hour later than we planned due to a visit from the real estate agent (which I’ll talk about soon), and then because I took a wrong turn and had to consult the Melways … because of supposedly going to work for 6pm we had to cut short the visit, as we knew the drive would take a while to get home - we would have loved to have stayed longer … next time we definitely have to choose a non-working day so we can have more time Thank you again Gina for a lovely day out - it was great to finally visit and see that infamous collection of linens … and see your Indian first-hand :D  Mind you, if I’d known I’d start feeling sick again on the way home, we wouldn’t have had to hurry off

The other highlight of the day was the wonderful mail I received - firstly Becky’s piece for the Quaker Friendship RR … it looks gorgeous in real life, and I’m looking forward to adding my little bits to it in round 2 of this RR

Next up was my order from One Star’s Light - my Cat’s Whiskers charts and 17″ Q-snaps … and I have to agree with everyone else that Jenna’s extra attention to detail is lovely with everything individually wrapped in beautiful tissue paper and wax seals … even Mum’s drooling over the Alyssum scissor keeper, and I can see her extra birthday gift being something stitched this year (she already has the main part of her gift in some Gingher scissors etc).

Last, but certainly not least, is a wonderful RAK from Linda … she very generously sent me her copy of Just Nan’s Dragonfly Scissor Purse, and I’m just over the moon about that - I was seriously drooling over Linda’s blog every time she put a progress piccie up, and I’m thrilled that I now get chance to stitch one of these beauties!  That was enough on it’s own to have me grinning from ear to ear, but she also sent another chart from my wishlist, M Designs’ Snow Wonderful - I fell in love with this after seeing this on another blog, and yet again Mum’s eyeing it up too because of the snowmen and snowflake!  Linda also sent another chart which I hadn’t seen before - Winter Getaway, and I just love the little cabin scene, so it will definitely be stitched up as well.  Thanks again, Linda, I truly adore everything

On a different note, we had a visit from the new real estate Property Manager, and she was dumb-founded by the cracks … I’m really impressed by her attitude - she took loads of photos and said she was calling the landlord immediately as the cracks were very serious.  As I said to her, I’m happy someone from the agency is finally taking me seriously, as my previous chasing phone calls were doing nothing at all.  Within an hour we had a phone call from her saying the landlord wants to visit tomorrow morning, and she’s trying to get someone from the Body Corporate out here immediately as well, because it’s that serious!  Hallelujah!!!  It will be interesting to hear what they have to say tomorrow!

And to finish this very lengthy post, here’s the progress to date of my CA Wells’ Peacock Needlecase … not too much to show, but I’m not touching any other stitching until this one is finished in its entirety.  I’m feeling a bit brighter than when I first got home, so I just might be able to get a thread or two into this tonight … fingers crossed :)  Which is exactly where I’m heading now … off to watch House and Medium with Mum … aside from the squiffy tummy, it doesn’t get much better than this

“A Store is Born”

Just a really really quick post to congratulate our great online pal Jenna on the opening of her online needlework store - when I announced to Mum this morning that today was the day that the store opened, Mum’s immediate reaction was “well, we’d better order something then!” I now have my Christmas gifts from Mum all sorted out 9 months in advance haha … and have ordered The Cat’s Whiskers charts that I’ve been drooling over the most since they were released at Nashville. I also ordered some 17″ Q-snaps at the same time to save on postage later, as I’m going to be needing the Q-snaps for Egyptian Garden soon as that whopping great project grows.

In the meantime if you get chance please do pop over to visit Jenna’s website and store - it looks wonderful, and I wish you every success in this exciting new phase of your life Jenna!  You can visit it here:

One Star’s Light Needlework Supplies

The two charts I’ve got on order are the Alyssum Scissor Pocket, and the Peacock Stitching Chair - yippee!!  They have to be wrapped up in Christmas wrapping paper as soon as they arrive and packed away with the Christmas tree decorations so I don’t forget where they are in December LOL.

 

As for my own stitching, I’ve spent so much time commuting between LNS’s over the last 7 days that we worked out it was the equivalent of an entire working day … and don’t ask how many times I’ve frogged parts of the Pyramid Etui haha.  But finally I’ve found a combination of blues that kinda work - the variegated thread looked totally different when stitched, and the colours I had just didn’t blend well.  I’ve just managed to finally finish one of the large square bases tonight, and I’ll take full piccies tomorrow in daylight so you can see what the final choice of colours looks like.  It hasn’t worked out exactly how I pictured it in my head, but I do like it! :D  I’m extremely behind with my stitching of it, though, and it’s stressing me out, but more on that tomorrow …

Birthday joy & Finishing blog

My face must have told a 1000 words yesterday if you’d seen me open my birthday parcel from Carol  … certainly the girl next to me at work got to share a fair bit of the excitement! 

Thank you so much my dear friend for my gifts - as I said to you via email, I absolutely adore everything!  I’ve never seen a tin-topper in real life, and this one is absolutely perfect in every way!  Carol says the design is reminiscent of New England, her home, which makes it extra special to me.  She was also thoughtful to send the stitching details along with it (what a great idea!) - it is Down East Tin Topper by Samplers & Such, stitched on Dirty Belfast linen with DMC … and I just adore it! 

Not only the tin topper, though, Carol also send a darling pair of scissors and some needles inside the tin (I forgot to take a piccie, sorry) - and I’m going to add the wee scissor fob Carol sent me for Christmas to the scissors, as it’ll fit nicely in the tin … which is going to take pride of place next to me on my stitching table.  The tin topper would have been plenty enough, but I also received a large selection of Crescent Colour threads, which are one of my favourite overdyed threads, and the most scrummy turquoise fabric (that I’m planning a use for already, so you’ll have to watch this space later in the year!) … I still can’t believe it’s all for me!! :D 

hanks again, Carol, you are a total sweetheart, and I love everything!!

 

My free time over the last couple of days has been spent playing with my photo editing program to get a header together or our new Finishing blog … and Karen and I have been tweaking it a bit so we’re not far away from being able to publish details about it.  I’m really looking forward to this new venture, and already thinking of finishing techniques I’d like to learn.  Anyway, watch this space for the details soon!

The rest of my time this week has been spent on finishing two birthday gifts (which unfortunately will be arriving belatedly at their new homes), and planning my stitching time for the next two months in readiness for the CA Wells class in April.  There is an exceptional amount of work involved, and I’ve worked out what I’ll need to get stitched by the end of each week between now and then to have everything finished in time … all I can say is I’m grateful I’ve got two weeks off work as at 11pm tonight, as I think I’m going to need it!!  I also have to get cracking on another birthday gift … I’ve got my heart set on a project, but it might be a bit ambitious going by the timeframe hmmm.

And on that note I’ll sign off again - partly as it’s now time to go to work (last day for two weeks, yippee!!), and partly ‘cos I have nothing else to say LOL.