Janine's Blog

New Blog

2011-03-25T13:51:00.004+08:00

Hi Everyone,

I have no heart to write on this blog anymore. Everytime I go to it I see our family and whilst I love the picture and it represents our last very happy day all together I just can't make myself add a new post.

So here is the new blog.

Thanks for following me on this.

I forgot to mention that some months after the last post Mum passed away.

Janine

60th Wedding Anniversary

2010-02-23T01:43:00.004+11:00

Yesterday we gathered at my sisters house to celebrate my Mum and Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary. It was a lovely day. All the grandchildren and great grandchildren were there. The weather was perfect and not too hot. So here is a picture of the happy couple.

And here is a picture of Mum and Dad and we three kids. My sister is the littlest one in the photo and then my brother and then me at the back.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T23:54:00.004+11:00

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all. My husabnd and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day but that doesn't mean we don't love each other.

Anyway, I thought I would do an update again. Not promising that this will happen all the time but I have some stitching to show you. I have been stitching quite a bit this week. I saw an updated picture of a WIP of Rachel's on facebook and it gave me the urge to get mine of the same out. I haven't done very much on mine. Here's Rachel's WIP. It is stunning isn't it. And here's mine

As you can see mine has a bit to go before it gets to the stage that Rachel's is. I think I forgot to mention that it is a HAED chart of Turnadot by Kinuko Y. Craft. I think she is one of my favourite artists that HAED chart. I have a few of hers to stitch so I should be able to stay alive for a least 4 or 5 hundred years.

Here is my SK Enchanted which is also a chart done by HAED. I do believe they are very talented in converting artwork etc for stitching. If I have enough money in my bank account I am off to buy 1 more chart.

I also stitched on an exchange. It is a Christmas Exchange and unfortunately it went missing in post. So I am now doing another one. Actually I really like what I am stitching so I hope my exchange partner likes it too.

Well that is all from me this week.

My Christmas Chook is finished and my January stitching on Enchanted Story Keep

2010-02-07T23:02:00.004+11:00

This is my first finish for 2010. I am really pleased to announce that it is also something I started a few years ago so I have lessened the old pile of UFO/WIPS. Of course I have added to them already this year. I always plan on around 50 starts for the year. Have to so I can at least some of my stash started. I am not that fast a stitcher so I would never go anywhere near starting any of my stash if I waited to finish a few more. Besides I love starting projects. There is nothing like the kit up and the anticipation of a start. Anyway back to the chook project. I had hoped to get it finished last Sunday but I had to keep unpicking one of the snowflakes on the snippet tray. I will take a photo when I get the 3 items back from the finisher.

I have also taken a photo of my HAED SAL Storykeep. It is called Enchanted. The photo I am showing is my January stitching on it. I have found a fantastic way to stitch HAED projects thanks to my friend Liz. She colours all the stitches she wants to do with a the fluro yellow high lighter and then when they are done she colours over the top of them with another colour. I started doing this with this particular piece and wow what a difference it makes to the concentration and speed at which I can stitch. The only reason I haven't done more is that I just haven't had time. So here is said picture.

Here Tis

2009-12-12T00:32:00.005+11:00

Photos of my shop. I am off to bed. We were at the shop almost 12 hours today but it is ready for the opening tomorrow morning. Stupid opening at Christmas time I know but I would have being paying rent for nothing (well that is not true as I negotiated rent free time). Anyway, once decided then action is warranted and anyway I needed the stock out of the house before I went mad.

I love my shop. It is so old worldy and has a nice atmosphere and with tomorrow being a forecast of 38 degrees celcius (that is pretty darned hot to the Fahrenheit people) then the atmosphere had better be not to bad. Thank god for air-conditioners is all I say. I am still talking hubby into letting me take a second one down as I hate hate hate hot.
The shop came with a first one.

Anyway here are some photos that my dear friend Ann took today before we were finished. The back stitching room is reasonably tidy now. Ann and her DH came back this evening and you couldn't see the table for stuff on it. Ann is a marvel and when she left it was tidied all up. She runs rings around me I can tell you.

Big News

2009-11-24T23:59:00.002+11:00

For Colours Down Under. We are going into a bricks and mortar shop. I decided 2 weeks ago that I wanted to expand and needed my home back again. Started to look around and viewed many shops that I was not exactly what I wanted and then took a little look at a little place down in the heart of Armadale in a place called Pioneer Village. It has lots of parking (for all my customers) LOL. Easily accessible and has the dinkiest little shop that looks like a pioneers cottage. It has 5 areas so lots of room for expansion. Anyway, after an anxious wait for the owner to get back from his holiday overseas I managed to get him to meet with me at the shop Monday evening before the sun went down. I am so happy with everything and will hopefully have the papers signed by the first week of December and then move in will commence.

So Perth girls you will be able to visit whenever you want. We will be opening Monday to Saturday at the stage.

Jarrad & Megan's Wedding

2009-10-21T20:30:00.002+11:00

My eldest son got married at our house on the 12th September. It was a lunch time wedding and after a terrible wet and windy week the sun peaked out of the clouds and continued to warm the day as it went on. There was only 1 short burst of rain just as the celebrant pronounced them man and wife and we all felt that it was a good omen as the Italians believe that rain on a wedding day is good. Megan's friend Megan came over from Ohio America for the occassion and she gave her good friend away. It was such a fabulous day with all their family and friends around to share the day. Here are some photos. Megan looked gorgeous and of course my son looked handsome.

Life Time Member of UFO/WIP clubs

2009-10-21T20:10:00.004+11:00

One of the groups I am on asked the question about UFO/WIP's. The photo below is why I will always be a life time member of any UFO/WIP club. It is my cupboard where I store them all. I do have a 10 plastic drawer cabinet that my rotation is in. 1 in each drawer. Anyway, I digress, as usual. This cabinet is about 186cms wide (or 73 inches). Each project has it's own plastic project case or zipper envelope. Just thought I would share. This isn't my stash btw just the projects I have started. I like to start around 50 a year. I don't have to finish that many and believe me I would never be able to as I like BAPS.

The Singing Mermaid

2009-10-19T01:17:00.003+11:00

has until the last week or so still continued to be my focus piece of stitching. I took a break to stitch the Halloween exchange I was in (and forgot yet again to take a photo of it before sending).
Unfortunately due to the stupid frog spending far too much time at the house my progress has not been as much as I had hoped and has indeed caused a bit of a lull in my enthusiasm to continue to only stitch on this piece. Sooooo I decided that it was time to start doing my rotation again.

The Singing Mermaid is in the number one place in the rotation. My rotation has 10 projects. I have a very short attention span so I usually just put a length of thread in each one at a time. Sometimes I might put several lengths into a project before going onto the next one. It works for me and it keeps me stitching for hours.

So today I am going to show you the updated photo of the Mermaid and as usual Millie decided she needed to get into the photo. So not only does she need to walk all over the stitching, lay on it but add some of her fibres to the piece as well.

Another Update on the Singing Mermaid

2009-08-27T19:45:00.004+08:00

Well a long overdue update on the Band Sampler that is a mystery by the gorgeous Martina Dey of Wiehenburg fame. Just as a reminder this mystery is a very cheap 11 Euros and for that you get 3 different versions of nautical type samplers. One is a bellpull type sampler with a gorgeous saying by Sheakespeare in A Midsummers Night Dream. The second is another bellpull type sampler without the words and the arrangement of motives is a little different. The third is a square sampler 350 x 350 with lots of nautical type motives including sea monsters. All are stunning and you can apply to join at this http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mermaid_mystery-sampler/.

I have stitched on this since the photo was taken but with sick family members and wedding dress shopping and all the other things that go with everything I have just now had time to do this update.

More Mermaiding

2009-08-09T21:24:00.003+08:00

Not sure if Mermaiding is a real word but if not it is a Janine word. Well despite being a stall holder at a 3 day fair last weekend and then having to go back to Wyalkatchem today I have managed to stitch on my Mermaid's Song. I just love this sampler. I really feel that I may finish this one. It is an unbelievable fun stitch and when I pick it up I find it hard to put down. I am not really doing it in page succession as Martina has sent me the whole lot of charts to try and get them stitched before the girls on the mystery group do. So now I have completed pages 1 & 2 and part of 3 and part of 5. I really want to do the square sampler as well to compliment this band sampler.

So here are the pictures and as usual Millie has to get in on the act. I promise it is me stitching this and not her. She likes to inspect my stitching to make sure I don't make any mistakes. Now I must go and add more to this spectacular sampler and if you are intrigued enough please go to the group and find out how you can also stitch this gorgeous sampler.

A Small Contest

2009-08-04T13:01:00.002+08:00

I have just received my first Mystic Stitch design. If you can guess which one it is I will send you a prize. I have extensive stash so it will be a good prize. First one to guess right gets the prize. Make sure I can get in touch with you.

So The First Page Is Done

2009-07-26T22:35:00.003+08:00

On Friday I got a phone call from my dear friend Martina telling me she had sent me an email with a picture of a new sampler that she had designed. Would I look at it and tell her what I think. Oh my, she has out done herself yet again. I am always amazed at the designs that Martina does and I cannot believe the amount of them that she does. Anyway, I was totally in love with her square sampler and was, as usual, very impatient to know when it was coming out. She said she needed to make it better. I then got a phone call an hour later with her saying she had designed a band sampler using a lot of the same motifs using a saying by Shakespeare from A Midsummers Night Dream. One of her friends had told her the quote and wanted a band sampler.

So I nagged and I nagged and then I promised that if she allowed me to have the chart immediately then I would get a move on and continue stitching her diamond chart called Vierlanden Sampler - Hilke. I put in remarks like "I have nothing to stitch" & "I am waiting here with my needle threaded waiting". Luckily for me she gave in. So I am now uploading a picture of both samplers

You can get the Mermaid Song in a group that will be created in the next few days. The cost is 11 Euros and there will be 3 options. All are just stunning and if you don't want to stitch all 3 of them then you will have difficulty choosing which one. There is Mermaid Song with the words. Another band sampler featuring the symbols in a slightly different composition and a most gorgeous square sampler.

So the first page of Mermaid Song is completed by me. I am using Weddingen 30 count in an Antique White, 2 over 2 stitching with Dinky Dye's Down Under Blue. Jo's silks are just gorgeous to stitch with and Down Under Blue is an almost navy blue colour with a slight variegation of a royal blue colour. Perfect in my opinion. LOL

The 2nd picture is Hilke. I am again using the same fabric and again 2 over 2 stitching with Dinky Dye silks. The black is Black Coral and the red is Desert Pea.

Updates are long overdue

2009-06-30T22:26:00.012+08:00

and what is my excuse. Well my camera and I had an argument and I boycotted it for a few months. I decided to give it another chance tonight and it decided to behave itself. In the meantime I have lost the chance to get whatever the chance of getting was on 2 SAL's. Oh well, such is life, and truthfully I probably needed getting that chance thing is not needed by me and more needed by others, which is why I never enter competitions on blogs because I have far too much stash and others are surely in need of it any prizes far more than I am. Anyway I will add some catch up pictures for you all to see.

Oh I forgot to add that the Hot Air Balloon wedding is this Saturday. So far I have managed not to think about said ride in the balloon and hopefully I can keep it at bay until I have to get in the damned thing. I took Megan Marie to get some wedding finery today. She bought a lovely outfit. I will pop some photos on the blog after the event.

So here is some stitching.

I am doing a SAL each week with Paula. We are stitching on a HAED design. Luckily Paula is like me and we don't have to stick to the one design. It all happened one evening when we were chatting about how gorgeous we think HAED designs are. She then tried very hard to enable me by sending me a hundred links of gorgeous designs. I, however, did not cave this time. This week I chose to stitch on Black Cherry. This is one SAL that I have stuffed up so wont get the other quickie designs in the SAL. Oh well..... Anyway, I am still on page one even though Fudgie has sent out the 3rd page. I am really enjoying this design and I will gift it to my great niece Caitlin when I have finished it.

The next photo is of the Welcome Band I am stitching. It is a Wiehenburg sampler and just stunning. I was going to gift it but I am afraid I don't think I will be able to part with it. I am now on page 5 with 3 more pages to go after this one.

Millie and Harry decided to come and check out what I was doing when I was taking the photos.

I have had a few finishes this year and my finisher finished them to perfection like she always does. I am forever grateful that she does my finishing as I just hate finishing with a passion.

These are a couple of Blue Ribbon freebie designs that I stitched up on some of my reject hand dyed fabric.

These are some Whitman Chocolate tin designs that I stitched. Aren't they cute?

And on the Stitching Front

2009-03-04T21:48:00.008+08:00

It has been such an up and down time for stitching with me. I have had some good weeks of stitching and not so good weeks. Last week was not good and so far this one has not been spectacular. Here are a few updates of stitching progress.

Mary Thompson so far. She should have been finished by now.

A Haed Design it is an Oriental lady with an iris.

Haed QS Black Cherry

Bent Creek Snapperbet

Jarrad's & Megan's Wedding Sampler Black Swan Dragons Heart

The Beatrix Potter SAL so far

Millie

2009-03-04T21:46:00.002+08:00

On the scratching post

What a Week

2009-03-04T21:34:00.004+08:00

Last week was a shocker. Firstly I had my handbag stolen. I always think it wont happen to me and it did. I lost my new handbag that Marilyn bought me in Melbourne the beginning of February so it is back to the tatty old one for now. I lost my GPS, Prescription Sunglasses, Mobile Phone and my purse with all my cards in it and a cheque for $800 that I had written out a couple of days before and $30.00 in cash along with numerous other things that I guess I will lament over in time. Nothing seem to go right with CDU and I have a mother of a toothache and I have to wait for my new HBF cards to come because yes they were in my purse and my right hip is going into spasms like nobody's business. It my sciata nerve (I think) and travelling down my right leg. Kenric was very busy and when he came over I got him to treat his father's back (as he has to go and do such physically hard work everyday). Tomorrow he is coming over for his 26th birthday (Kenric that is) so I will let him treat me then.

I have heaps to blog about but I couldn't be bothered taking photo's to begin with and then when I could I couldn't find my card reader so I could upload photos onto the computer. Today I finally gave up and went out and bought another one. I bet the other one will turn up now.

My first photos are of 2 of the cats. First one is Harry. We call him Helpful Harry. He loves it when new stock arrives and large boxes and parcels arrive. A couple of weeks or so ago Martina Dey's (of Wiehenburg fame) order arrived and he was straight on the box.

Stitching for our Australia Day Weekend

2009-01-26T23:20:00.006+08:00

I have had a fairly good weekend of stitching.

On Saturday I didn't end up stitching. I spent the day looking at others stitching.

Sunday my DIL, Marilyn came for the day as Kenric had to work at the local hospital. They both stayed for a BBQ and Jarrad and Jacob and my MIL came over as well. Anyway, Marilyn, wanted to watch the CI channel on Fox so I sat in with her and stitched on "The Hunt". This is a SAL I am doing with one of my groups. I am using a white fabric with a HDF silk. I have no idea of the colour name.

Sunday evening I mucked around and then I stitched on The Unicorn Sampler by Sampler House. I forgot to take a picture of it for this session so I will take one next time I stitch on it. I started it last year.

Today I had my friends over for a GTG. It was a lovely day and I managed to stitch a bit more on The Unicorn Sampler. I had a nap and then I woke and stitched on Wiehenburg's Welcome Band. This is just a gorgeous sampler. I am stitching it on Weddingen linen with my most favourite colour thread "Mingenew" dyed by Dinky Dyes. I just love this colour. Here is my progress so far.

I just love this sampler.

Lastly I stitched on "Sew Cozy". I absolutely hate stitching on this. Anyway I am determined to finish it and it is one of my UFO picks for the year. Today I managed to completely finish a small piece that was on the top of the blue cupboard in the left hand bottom cupboard. I also added some stitches to other bits of the cupboard and also backstitched some parts of the cupboard as well. Here is the result.

Last picture is of Chatelaine's Convent Herbal Garden. I started this when it was Mystery II. I really want to finish it. So I have also nominated it to be one of my UFO pieces for 2009. I stitched on this during last week.

It's Been A Long Time

2009-01-24T18:43:00.004+08:00

And I get so disappointed when I go to my blog and I discover that I have not magically added another blog to the last one. I have come to terms with the fact that it is just not going to be done by some others hand like a blog fairy. Wouldn't it be just fantastic if you could think your blog and decide what photo needed to be taken to go with the thinking and then you logged onto your blog and there it was all done for you?

Anyway I had a great year for 2008 on the stitching front I managed to complete 20 projects. I believe 2 of them were from previous years and the rest were starts and finishes.

I have started the year with quite a few starts. I believe, that this year I will out do myself with starting. How come we never celebrate our starts like we do our finishes? Some weeks, I could be Happy Dancing quite a few times a week. I think we should do this or create a happy little signal that signifies a start. Well we know when we read a subject line that says Happy Dance that a stitcher probably has finished something. So I think suggestions would be a great idea for a happy signal that will signal a start.

Okay I need to show you my 2 photos I have taken today. The first one is of Dark Cherry which is a HAED QS (although how anyone can call any HAED chart a QS I don't know)SAL pattern. Have you been to the HAED BB and seen some of those progress pictures of this particular SAL? Crumbs they leave me for dead. One of the stitchers looks like she has finished the first page. I thought 400 or 500 stitches over 2 stitching sessions was doing well. LOL

The second picture is of that dratted Paula Vaughan's Good Neighbour. I think I will be really proud of this when I eventually finish it and I can tell you I am holding a ball (as in dancing) when I finish it. So you will know I have finished the thing when you get an invitation to come and have a dance with me. I started it in 1999. I can remember one year I stitched on it heaps. How come I didn't finish it then? Anyway I have made a commitment on my UFO group that I will try and put some stitches into each week. So ya never know I might even finish the project. But don't hold me that one please.

Okay well that is enough of the prattle now.

Saturday's GTG

2008-10-13T21:32:00.004+08:00

How blessed am I that I can have 3 days of the week getting together with my cross stitch friends. Different lots of friends as well. Today's blabber is about Saturday's GTG. I know that JM would just love to be here to GTG as well but it is a bit far from Tasmania so she couldn't come. Susan or Cathy (can't remember which one) forgot to bring their camera and with that a light bulb idea came upon me. I have a digital camera. I do forget that the purpose of this camera can be for other things besides taking photos of cross stitch. Imagine that!

Anyway JM here we all are. I am not really going to blabber about the GTG on Saturday as I know that Cathy has and so will Susan when she gets to do some blogging. Well they wont blabber they will, in fact, write some intelligent stuff that actually flows. I tend to have a mind that skips and jumps all over the place and I find it hard to write in any sort of logic. The reader has to know that I have changed subjects without actually having announced that I have and all sorts of other junk that I just can't write.

So here are the photos

This is Cathy, Diane and Susan

This is Diane. She is showing someones's HAED RR that she has finished stitching on. A stunning piece.

Susan & Cathy are looking at another of the HAED RR

Janine & Susan discussing a pieced of fabric

Janine, Susan & Diane's response to a bit of wisdom I am giving them

Diane telling the girls which Dragon bit stitched from which Dragon HAED design is stitched on this RR.

Kenric Charles Smith

2008-10-13T20:49:00.003+08:00

This is a photo of my second son Kenric and his fiance Marilyn. Kenric and Marilyn met when they were 16 and even though their relationship has had it moments of rockiness they have grown together are very happy. They have been engaged for over 4 years now and tell me that they plan to marry in 2010. Well you can't hurry these things can you? Actually they have been busy studying. Kenric qualified as a Physiotherapist 3 years ago and then Marilyn started Uni the following year. She has 2 exams to go and then stints at 2 different hospitals (4 weeks each) and she will be a nurse. Exceptional for a girl who never did her TEE (needed for University entrance here in Western Australia) and certainly didn't study any sort of Maths or Science in her last 2 years of High School. She has achieved all distinctions and high distinctions at University. We are so proud of these 2 kids.

Today we got news that makes us even prouder. Kenric has been offered a place at Notre Dame University in Fremantle to study Medicine. His father & I are so over the moon. Kenric has worked so hard to get into Medicine. The Navy phoned him this morning to ask him if he had got his letter yet? He is doing Medicine through the Navy (if he gets into the Navy). RAN have intimated that he will get into the Navy. They will pay all the University fees, all his personal costs like books, medical equipment he needs and lots of other things like a percentage of a mortgage when he gets one, all medical, dentistry, glasses etc. Also rent until he gets that mortgage and then match the first home buyers scheme. And then to add to this a very good starting wage that will go up each year. He then has to give them 5 years after he qualifies. He gets to study at the University of his choice. This is the only way he can afford to do this and continue to go forward in this life.

I had to share the news. On top of this these 2 kids are the most caring young couple you could ever wish to meet. And we are going to live with them when we are too old to look after ourselves. hahahahahaha

An Update on the Welcome Sampler

2008-09-29T00:04:00.003+08:00

Well it is a band sampler in the quaker style. I am stitching it on 34 Count Fawn Weddingen linen using Dinky dyes Mingenew. Mingenew is my all time favourite colour from the Dinky Dye range. I do however love a lot of them but if I had to choose one colour only this would be it. So page one is finished and I am into page two. I wont to try and do a fair bit of this one before I put it down.

So as I Procrastinate

2008-09-23T21:37:00.005+08:00

I make excuses from stitching. Now why I don't know because I am actually enjoying stitching these days. I have played Pogo and then looked on eBay and I shouldn't be as I am trying to break the habit. Haven't managed to yet but have reduced the buying.

Anyway I thought another cat picture would be good. This one is of the new cat enclosure that we have built. I say we when it really should be Alan as I have done nothing towards the actual physical building of it. I did do the planning. The cats love the new enclosure so now they can run up and down the side of the house and through the house and now they can sit out in the sun and roll in the dirt. In fact, I had words with Ruphert tonight about how dirty his feet were. As soon as the weather warms a bit and roll on lawn is available with green on it then the kids get some lawn to sit on. They need lawn to eat and roll on and then when that is down the hammock goes in. Well they need a place to laze in the sun.

Anyway the picture is of Millie, Harry and Ruphert in the new enclosure.

This next picture is of Harry & Millie

Well I Am Going to Bore the Pants off You

2008-09-08T20:45:00.003+08:00

By introducing my family. Well I thought I would. Firstly I thought I should introduce my cats. I will do this gradually over the weeks. I love my cats. I call them "The Kids". I am very happy with the 5 that I have (well the 15 year old says I only own 4 as he owns 1 of them).

This is my beautiful Harry. Harry is a Somali. My dear MIL Beryl bought him for me for my 50th birthday last year. He is a very naughty boy that likes to be in the thick of any activity that is going on in the house. He likes to help with housework, sorting out things, greeting visitors and anything else you don't want him doing. Actually he is gorgeous and has a lovely personality. He has not really chosen me as his human. He prefers Jacob. Jacob doesn't even live with us but comes over 4-5 days a week. Jacob loves Harry and says when he gets his own house he is getting 2 Somali's (now there is a person who likes trouble) and he is going to call them Tom & Dick so then we will have every Tom, Dick & Harry. Got to love that boy's humour. Harry was 1 on the 30th January this year. This picture is taken of him on his cat bed. It is heated for him so he wont be cold.

I Know, I know

2008-09-08T20:28:00.002+08:00

It has been awhile since I last blogged. As with everyone if I don't have a picture I feel I can blog. I can never be bothered taking pictures and then when I do I don't upload them onto the computer. Anyway I wanted to tell you that I have already set up up some stitching commitments for next year. Well one can never be too organised can they? Here I am chuckling to myself because those who know me know that not only am I not organised, I hate organisation. Which, of course, means that I constantly live in mayhem or in another word a mess. Anyway I digress....My organisational skills for next year's stitching. I have joined in essence 2 SALs.
The first one is the Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL. I picked this up on ebay from Jacqueline as a PDF chart as I was stupid and didn't buy it when it first became available. A PDF chart is not the same as an original Needleprint and this is the only Needleprint chart I didn't own. (At least I think it is.) Anyway as luck would have the lovely Becky from the Needleprint Yahoo group offered hers for sale and as the luck continued I was on the computer when the email came through and even more luck we agreed on a price so I am going to be the proud owner of a chart I never thought I would get.
Digressing again....The 2nd SAL is the most perfect RR I have ever heard of. It is called Me, Myself & I and I am in the second group. It is a neighbourhood RR and boy have I ever salivated over some of these most gorgeous RR and the finished product. But really would they ever come back that way and now that I have my stitching mojo back do I really want to lose it again by committing to a RR that I may or may not be able to keep up with. This RR is perfect because I get to design my RR and then I don't have to hope that someone will stitch something I like cause I get to stitch it and I don't have to post it off and hope it comes back, cause I keep it in my possession all the time. a

Last Post for today

2008-07-08T18:03:00.003+08:00

I know it has been a long process but if I don't do it now I will forget. The Bee by Just Nan. I know it is not the official name but I can't remember what it is and I can't be bothered going for a look. I stitched this and made it up Good Friday. I keep forgetting to take a photo of it. I thought it was cute.

A New Finish

2008-07-08T17:52:00.002+08:00

Sunday night while I waited for the youngest lad to go to bed. (He sometimes needs to sit with me if he has a few anxieties and apparently he did that night. Probably to do with going back to school (it is school holidays here at the moment) because he is in a specialist performing arts program and they are getting ready for a big production.) Anyway, I digress. So I put down the wiehenburg stitching I was doing and picked up a Bent Creek Zipper kit I had laying around the room and decided to stitch it. I love doing these kits as they whip up quickly and I love the sensation of the textures of the fabric and #5 Perle in my hands. I think that is why I love fabric. Any fabric really (well embroidery fabric as I am not into sewing, sewing.). I finished the kit last night. I think it was about 3 1/2 hours of stitching all together. Might have been a bit more. Cute I think. It is called Summer House and yes I have the other 3 houses to stitch to make the seasonal set.

Prairie Schooler Pinkeep Exchange

2008-07-08T17:46:00.005+08:00

Today's mail bought me a gorgeous Pinkeep made by Linda from Oregon. It just lovely and the stitching is perfect. I am so pleased with this exchange. It is my first pinkeep I have and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I also got a gorgeous postcard and one of those tiny PS designs. I love those and some gorgeous bath soap. Thanks Linda.

SB Love Scissor Fob

2008-07-08T17:37:00.004+08:00

I stitched this fob ages ago. Earlier this year. I think I finished stitching it in April. It has been completely finished for a little while as well. Anyway thought I would share the finished product. I am rather addicted to these little guys as I have a bit of a fetish for scissors as well and the kit comes with scissors. Woo Hoo. What more could a person ask for. I have quite a few other kits and 2 more started. No make that 3 more started. hehehehe

So While I Wait

2008-07-03T15:26:00.004+08:00

For Jacob to finish what he is doing so I can add Petite Braid to Colours Down Under I am cheating and doing non work stuff.

I thought I would show you an update on the Wiehenburg Quaker Welcome sampler that I am stitching. It has not been released yet but Martina has generously let me do the first stitch.

My Christmas Chook WIP

2008-06-12T01:06:00.003+08:00

I have since finished the actual chook since this photo was taken and the first stitches have been put into the snippet tray. The real name is Merry Noel and it is one of the clever designs done by Judith of Twisted Oaks. I have a few of TO designs to stitch. The other chook is one of them. I am stitching this on the asked for fabric and the Dinky Dyes chosen for the design. Just gorgeous. I am very happy with my chook.

Yet another Wip

2008-06-12T00:58:00.004+08:00

I just love this design. It is ABC Tapestry by Rosewood Manor. In fact, there are a few of Karen's designs that I like. Well more than a few. Don't you just love Her forests and stocking and I see there is a garden one as well and that Inspiration to just gorgeous. All starts I have planned. Anyway again I am using Weddingen 34 count Fawn and my most favourite Mingenew by Dinky dyes. I have a hank of it and intend to buy another one down the track.

The Dreaded Sew Cozy

2008-06-11T21:14:00.002+08:00

Proof that I am still stitching the damned thing. What can I say except it is lovely when stitched.

Another Wip

2008-06-11T18:55:00.004+08:00

This is the start of another gorgeous design not yet published by Wiehenburg. Martina has been so kind to allow me to start model stitching it for my shop. It is her Welcome Quaker Band as can be seen on her blog. I am stitching it on 24 count Weddingen with Jo's Dinky Dye silk Mingenew. This is my favourite thread and most favourite colour.

Another

2008-06-11T18:55:00.001+08:00

A WIP Photo

2008-06-11T18:48:00.005+08:00

Well I thought I would show you my progress so far on Wiehenburg Vierlanden Sampler. I started it when it was a mystery. It is now sold has Ancke. I am finished up to page 12 and have started on page 13. This is my most favourite of all the Wiehenburg Samplers. I love them all but this is the best.

A Close up of the start of page 13

So I took some photos today.

2008-06-11T18:42:00.004+08:00

The first show and tell is a photo of my eldest son Jarrad with his girlfriend. She travelled from Ohio to Perth in Western Australia in March/April to meet Jarrad for the first time. They have known each other for years but haven't be romantically interested for all of that time. Anyway the long and the short of it is that he has is going to bring her over to live. They seem very happy with each. You can tell that Megan has come from snow and we have just been through summer.

I can show you this now

2008-06-03T21:28:00.004+08:00

I can show you the model I stitched now as the Gift OF Stitching has released the issue for June. I stitched the model for Monasterium Designs using Weddingen 34 count linen in Fawn using Dinky Dyes Mingenew. My favourite thread colour. I am also using this thread to stitch ABC Tapestry by Rosewood Manor on the same fabric I might add. I love this design and I was very happy when it was agreed that I would stitch the model for Kirsten to photograph for TGOS.

Biscornu for Exchange

2008-04-22T18:03:00.004+08:00

It has been ages since I posted on my blog. I have been meaning to. I needed some photos taken but just haven't got around to doing that either. I have had 6 or 7 finishes so far this year. I think I have two on my posts that I have made this year. One I can't show for another month and a bit. This one is the latest finish. It is a biscornu I made for an exchange in a yahoo group called SNS2. I have been with this group for years and years but I don't seem to participate very often. I thought I would this time. I hope my recipient likes what I have stitched. It is from that wonderful supply of patterns that are being charted of My Aunt's Attic. This is the third design I have stitched from these designs. I am so fascinated by the designs and would like to stitch more. I usually try to do them for exchanges. So anyway here is the picture. I will try and get some more pictures on the blog of my stitching. I have been doing a lot of stitching. I have so been enjoying it.

I have been Stitching

2008-01-25T14:17:00.000+08:00

I am on a roll. I have been stitching every night. I don't feel like it and then about 10pm I get in the mood and stitch until 1am. Not good for the tiredness but since I usually sleep in until about 9 or 10am I guess it is okay. So I thought I would share with you some of my stitching. This time I am going to add links. Well I will try. I am using webshots. hahaha So here is my Wiehenburg Mystery progress so far. Page 1. And then I am doing Mary Thompson which is an Ackworth Quaker Sampler as part of a SAL and finally I have been doing a bit of work on Carriage House Samplings Quaker Stocking. I love these stockings and hope to do them all. That is all for now but I will have some more updates soon as I have other things to show.

It's Finished

2008-01-22T10:40:00.000+08:00

If I could happy dance like our Cathy I would certainly be doing that. I have never seen a girl display happiness quite so perfectly as Cathy does. Bless her!! Anyway that is not what I am typing about.
Yes it is true. I have finished and you guessed it. St Sofia is done, it is complete. The finish time was 1.26am this morning.
I also had another wee finish last Thursday night. It is a small Lorri Birmingham kit I was given for Christmas. I have put it together as an ornament but......I got over finishing it and I have not yet made the cord to put around it. Slack I know.
So that is my unusually short post but I am supposed to be working.

A bit of a Yak

2008-01-14T19:21:00.000+08:00

Thought I would have a bit of a chat otherwise it will be forever before I get around to it. I have no photos. I can't be bothered taking them. I might get Jacob to take some when he comes over tomorrow.

So Lindsay was 2 on Saturday. Where does the time go? I don't think she is a big Maine Coon girl. She just loves to be outside in the back garden during the day and runs around with her tail held up high. It reminds me of a horses main as they gallop through the fields. She hates being brushed much to the dismay of Anthony who now wears some of her protest scratches on his nose. Yep I should say that Lindsay pretty well does what she like. Well not always as she has to come inside late afternoon.

On the stitching front life is good. I am so motivated still. It has been at least a year if not slightly more since the mojo has re-entered my life. I have signed up for everything that presents itself on all the groups and boards I belong to. Not exchanges because really I still can't really cope with them. So tonight I have decided that I am never going to get my piece of fabric dyed to do the Wiehenburg Mystery sampler on. I have found a nice piece of 40 count in my stash that will do. I hope I still have found Down Under Blue by Dinky Dyes. I started Rosewood Manor's ABC Tapestry on 34 count Weddigen linen. I am stitching it with yet another Dinky Dye silk called Mingenew. No good looking for them yet as they are new releases at Nashville. There is a story as to why I have them already. The fabric colour for the ABC is what I would call Antique Ivory. My new favourite colour fabric. I started before the new year came in as a SAL on Mary Thompson which is an Ackworth Sampler (the chart is in the dust cover of the big Ackworth Book realeased last year. Tonight I am also starting a little Lorri Birmingham kit I got for Christmas. I am so near to finishing St Sofia by Papillon Creation. I am on the last page which is the bottom right hand corner of the outside border. I have stitched quite a bit of it. I tell you I will be happy when it is finished. I have decided to go in a SAL with some girls of the Drawn Thread's Marriage of the Minds. Oh and I have started Little House Needleworks "Tree of Life".

I went through everything last night and have chosen another about 12 designs to start. I also got out some of my wips/ufo's to stitch on. Did I mention that I boxed everything up and tidied it away because I couldn't stand the mess in my stitching room. The downside is that I need to go through the boxes to find things. I am joining the monthly challenge at the Haed BB and do you think I can find my QS I have? No I can't, so it looks like I will be stitching on the Winter Dreaming piece I started last year. So back into the boxes tomorrow to get some stitching on it.

I leave this on a sad note. My friend Sue has just phone to tell me her little brother Tim died of a massive heart attack on Saturday morning. He was only 45. How sad is that? Tim lived a busy life and did everything he ever wanted to. He even won a lot of money on Lotto. He survived a broken back. As I said to Sue.....Well we know the reason that that all the good luck happened to Tim because there was a greater plan that we didn't know about. He leaves behind a wife and three children. They were a tight knit family and I know that they will need the love of everyone around them to help them through the tough time ahead.

Christmas Holidays update and 2008 stuff

2008-01-02T22:05:00.001+08:00

Well I thought I had nothing to say. Haha that will be the day you say. Well my family would anyway. Then I remembered we have had Christmas and there are goals to talk about etc.

We had a lovely Christmas despite the heat. My family were good and kind to me. Mary Lyn made the salads and everyone pitched in so it was not too much work for me. That was good because I sort of could not have done it this christmas. I only had the most minimal decorations up this year. I got a Laptop bag from my family. It is a crumpler and apparently a good one. I like it anyway. I also got a cordless mouse. The little thingy that goes on the side so it works is super tiny and I shouldn't be able to break it off if I forget to take it out. Shouldn't be able to is the operative word. I got lots of other stuff too that I was more than happy with.

Last year's stitching was a good one for me. I didn't quite manage to finish as many as I wanted to due to being very fatigued with good old fibro. I did however start somewhere between 40 and 50 projects. I plan to do the same again this year. I finished 12 projects altogether. They are

Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread
Barnabee's Quest by Just Nan

These two were UFO's so I was well pleased with that

I also started and finished this year

Nita's Heart by Better, Homes and Gardens freebie
Never Too Much Stash freebie by 4 My Boys
French Country Rooster by JBW
French Counrty Cat by JBW
Squirrel by Carriage House Sampling
Needle In A Garden By Just Nan
Thanks a Bunch by Just Nan
Butterfly design freebie by My Aunts Attic
Another design freebie by My Aunts Attic
Freebie exclusive for CDU by Monasterium Designs
Stitcher's Needleroll and Scissor Fob by The Cats Whiskers

Woohoo there is 1 more than I remembered so I finished 13 projects all together. How good is that?

2008 stitching will bring definitely

A finish of St Sofia by Papillon Creations. I had hoped to finish it this year but just ran out of steam

I would also like to start another 40 to 50 projects again this year with another at least 12 projects to finish. More would be good. We will see.

I end this long and tortuous rambling by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.

Okay well another post

2007-11-06T18:39:00.000+08:00

Well I finished my Biscornu for the exchange on the Wiehenburg-Sampler group. I am very happy with it. I love stitching these little pretties. They are lovely to stitch and so easy to finished. So here are some pictures. Well here is one picture. LOL

Guess Who Got A New

2007-11-06T18:25:00.000+08:00

laptop. It is a Mac as I just love Mac computers. It is really cute. I am so happy with it and now I can order stock during the day. Jacob uses my big computer all day for Colours Down Under and then at night time I can't be bothered. Also I want to put descriptions on the charts etc etc.
So on Monday the nice postman delivered my spiffy little Mac Laptop that I won on eBay. It is everything and more and I am happy. So would you like a photo? Sorry you are gunna get one.

Never Enough Stash

2007-10-26T21:59:00.000+08:00

At our 2nd TW GTG we decided to have a secret gift exchange. I was the lucky recipient of this 4 My Boys freebie that the gorgeous Amanda Lake kitted up for me. My first stitching with Crescent Colours. They are gorgeous to stitch with and I fully intend to stock them in my shop. Anyway I asked Helen to finish this one as a flat fold. Oh I was thrilled to bits with the finished product.

Barnabee's Quest

2007-10-26T21:56:00.001+08:00

I realised I never posted a picture of this finished Barnabee's Quest. Helen is a helvoafinisher (her moniker). I am thrilled to have stitched this and then had Helen finished it so lovely. I stitched this on Quakers Cloth hand dyed by me. The colour is a very pale yellow called Aussie Sunshine. Just Nan's bellpull ware and Tassel thingy are just gorgeous.

Nita's Heart

2007-10-26T21:53:00.001+08:00

This is my version of the design that has been dubbed Nita's Heart. It is a freebie on the better homes and garden site. I stitched it on 28 count navy with dmc 111. My finisher Helen finished as a cushion for me. I am very pleased with it.

My Gorgeous Children

2007-10-26T21:38:00.000+08:00

We went to my sister-in-laws wedding last Saturday (20th October) and I wanted to show off my 4 gorgeous boys and one daughter in law (the other one was taking the photo).
So right to left
Jarrad, Anthony, Marilyn, Kenric at the back and then Jacob. I must say I was very proud of them.

Photo of our new kitten

2007-10-17T13:05:00.000+08:00

We went and chose our new kitten this weekend just gone. She is an "Australian Tiffanie" or a Long Haired Burmilla. She has brown colouring. Her name is Millicent. We get her in a month.

Monasterium Designs

2007-10-16T19:59:00.000+08:00

I am very excited to say that I have been granted the distribution rites to these designs. I am hurriedly trying to get the models stitched for these designs. Here is progress so far of Willies Quaker Band. I am stitching it on 28 count Antique Quakers Cloth with another gorgeous silk of Jo's called "Pacific Ocean".

I have been Stitching

2007-10-16T19:53:00.000+08:00

This year has been a good year for me in the stitching department. I have, for a change, been enjoying it. I am excited to be attending the "Stitching on the Verandah" class with Janie Hubble of the Cat's Whiskers. I have so far completed the Stitching Roll part. I did, however, decide to change the colour of the words. I am not an orange person. This is the third colour I tried.
I have also recently finished a freebie created by Monasterium Designs for Colours Down Under. I stitched this with Jo's thread called "Dandenong ". It will be available on my website to download as soon as I get organised

Long Time No Blog

2007-10-16T19:42:00.000+08:00

It has been so long I am not sure I remember how to do the link things etc but I'll have a go.

The winter has been rough in terms of the pain department so I haven't felt like blogging.

I have heaps of stuff for show and tell so I will just do little bits and pieces.

Firstly I'd like to show you some updated pics of Harry. He is so gorgeous. It has taken me a while to fall in love with him but I now adore him. He is such a little fox and loves to help us do all sorts of stuff. Unfortunately for him he is a naughty boy and wants to visit the neighbours so he is not allowed to go outside. Lindsay on the other hand is a miss goody two shoes and just stays in the back yard so she is allowed out. You can see by the picture Lindsay is outside and Harry is inside.
In the winter I bought the two kids a heated cat bed each. Here is a picture of Harry on his.

Marilyn Chair by Cat's Whiskers

2007-06-23T15:07:00.000+08:00

The photos underneath show the Cat's Whiskers Chair that Marilyn
Campbell has stitched. We are lucky that we know a girl by the name of Helen that does all of our finishing and she has put the chair together. (And yes she does work for everyone and her costs are very reasonable). Marilyn's decor didn't lend to stitching the chair in the colours recommended so she chose her own. The variagated colour is DMC Variant and then the plain colour is just a DMC to match it. She even got some scrap booking paper and lined her draw in a reddy colour. The feet are some gorgeous big red beads. I hope you enjoy looking at this stunning chair.

Marilyn's Egyptian Garden

2007-06-23T14:59:00.000+08:00

This is the first of two posts today. This first one is of Marilyn's Egyptian Garden. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show up the colour of the fabric. It is my nasturtium. I will get Jacob to scan in when she brings it over next so you can see the colour. The blues etc look stunning against the soft orange colour. Both of us have said we wouldn't have dreamed of stitching on such a colour but the two projects we have chosen to do on it are stunning. So here are the pictures.

Some Stitching Updates

2007-06-20T17:56:00.000+08:00

Okay I am on a roll I think. I have had the said camera out and I have so far been able to upload the pics onto the computer. Lets see how it works out to get them on here. LOL
This is the progress that I have made on St Sofia. The colour of the fabric hasn't come out as well as I would have liked. It is called Nasturtium. It is one of my hand dyes. The mistake is around where the needle is. I am going to see Marilyn Campbell on Friday so I will pull it out then and continue on. I have only the border around the middle to do and then I am complete. So over a quarter of that stitched. It is a big stitch but not hard.

The next Photo is of the progress of The Vierlanden Mystery that I

am part taking in. I am a tad behind as I only joined at page 27. I have almost completed page 3. I am bringing in a red colour to compliment the black. I am really enjoying the stitching on this piece. I am stitching it on a Permin (I think) maybe 28 count. I really can't be bothered counting it to see and it will easily fit on the piece of fabric.

Thirdly this next photo is of the Long Dog's St Sylvestre. I have only just started this one. It is on black 28 count. I think it is a Jubilee as it is a more open weave than Jobelan. I like it anyway and it is not all that difficult to stitch on. The thread is a silk of Jo's. Dinky Dyes I mean. Not sure of the colour. I must look. Will up date this later.

The Card Reader Arrived

2007-06-19T19:16:00.000+08:00

And Jacob has showed me how to use it so I thought I would take a photo of the gorgeous bunch of pink roses that my oldest son gave me Monday night. He quite often arrives with flowers for his Mum. He is such a gorgeous lad.
Well life here has been hectic. Colours Down Under continues to take most of our time.
I have been stitching off and on. I have almost finished a little 4 My Boys freebie chart that Amanda Lake kitted up for me as a gift but I have run out of one of the threads. So I will need to try and find one that matches it. I don't really want to say which design it is as I want to stitch some more as gifts. I have started Long Dog's St Sylvestre on Black with a DD silk thread. I can't remember which colour it is. I will post a photo in my next post. I have made progress on St Sofia (well I had made progress and then discovered a big mistake so I need to pull it out).
Harry the Somali has been given some new nicknames. Helpful Harry being one of them. He loves to help. He dive bombs off the top of the monitor onto the key board when we are typing. he likes to balance on the back of the computer chairs and climb from one to the other chair. Jake and I have both out as we put CDU's stock onto the website. He does the computer stuff and I package, price weigh etc etc. The other name for Harry is Ricochet Rabbit. He ricochets off the walls when he is feeling energetic. That is only about 3 or 4 times a day. He has discovered how to open my thread drawers where I store all my spare DMC's and pulls out skeins of threads and runs around the house with them. He is not in the least frightened of the vacuum cleaner and helps Alan vacuum the house. He especially like to be in amongst the cushions on the sofa's when they are being vacuumed.
Well that is enough for this post. I will be adding lots more photos from now on.

I Wish I Wouldn't leave

2007-06-06T15:46:00.000+08:00

It so long in between blogs. I have had a 100 things that I could tell you about but it would just end up being really boring to everyone. I haven't been stitching so much these last weeks. My fibromyalgia doesn't like the cold weather and I have been fighting chronic tiredness again. Oh well that is life! Did I mention that I finished Needle in A Garden? Well I did. I went away on a stitchy weekend and finished it on the Sunday when I got back. I am going ahead with St Sofia but not as fast as I thought. I have all the centre finished and a quarter of the wide border. Well probably a tad over that. I also have completed part 1 and some of part 2 of the Chatelaine Anniversary design. It is going to be gorgeous. When I got the second part of the chart I thought Oh boring but it is going to be gorgeous when this bit is done. It is all gold and rich and lovely. I should have started on part one of the SAL of the Wiehenburg Quaker but after a big chat with Martina herself the other night I am going to wait until she sends me some fabric she wants me to try and flower threads. Woohooo. That is what I am going to stitch it in. Also I am ready to start the Vierlanden Mystery Sampler. I am going to stitch it on a mystery fabric that I can't even be bothered to find out the count of. It looks like a Permin to me. I have it big enough if it is 28 count and anything smaller wont matter. I am using black and 347 red DMC. I so want to start that beautiful sampler in the TGOS by Sampler Cove. What an excellent issue this month. Very mouth watering. When I get Alan's pay this week I am going to buy a card reader (I think that is what Jacob told me it was) for my digital camera. I have lost the cord that hooks up to the computer and I never knew how to use it anyway and always had to wait for Jakey to upload the photos. I am a big girl now so I will learn how to upload my photos myself and then I can show you all photos of my stash stuff and my stitching updates and my kitty kat Harry and my big girl Lindsay. Did I tell you that my latest thing to collect is sewing boxes? Alan stayed home from work today as our work ute (truck) needed some serious (or so we thought) mechanicing on it. EGADS!!!!! luckily he went over and put a new toilet in at Jarrad's (our son) place while the parcel postman arrived. Three huge packages and not for Colours Down Under. All sewing boxes. They are lovely. Well I think so anyways. Anyway enough of the jibber for now and hopefully another post very soon with photos. Yippee!!!!!

I just got Tagged

2007-05-12T12:19:00.000+08:00

This is my first ever ‘tagging’. Tannia tagged me and I have to tell you eight things about myself you might not know!

Here’s how to play:
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog

So here goes

1. My husband calls me "Blue". Not because I am a red head but because I love the colour blue.

2. My birth name is Janine May Nock!!!!!

3. On the 26th July 2006 I had lapband surgery.

4. My family call me Neenie May or just Neenie.

5. Nearly 2 years ago I started to learn to play the piano.

6. I grew up in a tiny little country town in Western Australia called "Mingenew". It is an aboriginal name standing for ants and water.

7. I went to high school with Ernie dingo.

8. I wish I could sing.

I now have to tag 8 people. Can I do it later?

Just a quick drop in

2007-05-11T22:42:00.000+08:00

to show off my progress so far with JN's Needle In a Garden. I nearly said Haystack then and I can't get the blessed song out of my head. I have finished my Biscornu stitching for my Wiehenburg - Sampler Group exchange. It is so gorgeous. I hope my exchange partner thinks so too. Anyway just wanted to show you my update.

Introducing Harry

2007-05-06T18:06:00.000+08:00

Thought you might like to see some pictures of Harry. He was born on January 30th and is a Somali. He had just finished a big feed of fresh cooked fish. Harry came to live with us on Wednesday 2nd May 2007. He is a little darling.

A New Finish & Stuff

2007-05-05T15:12:00.000+08:00

Well I had my fifth finish for the year last night. It is an alphabet heart. I think the designs is a freebie from Better, Homes and Garden and the colour chart is for the new DMC sampler threads. I stitched mine on Navy 28 count Lugana with DMC 111. I am very happy with the outcome and it goes with my colour scheme in the living room perfectly. I am guessing I will send it off to Helen, my number one gun finisher. If you are looking for a fantastic finisher contact me. Helen finishes all my stuff and they are perfect.
It has been a sad week for us here. Our dear sweet Georgie girl passed away on Thursday late afternoon. Oh she was a sweetheart. She was an Australian Tiffanie. Can't believe she died so quickly. It doesn't seem fair and we do so look after our kitties and make sure that they are kept safe. They are not allowed outside unless we have them on a leash. They have a cat run with plants and the house is large enough for them to run amok. On the other hand the day before young Harry joined the menagerie. He is a Somali. He is a dear sweet boy who joys us from Joylincar Somali cats. Carole is a sweetheart and her Somali cats are gorgeous. Harry is mine. He is happy to share himself around though but he gets to sleep with me. He cuddles up and purrs and purrs. The other thing is that I started some crocheting which is something that I have not done for god knows how many years. I still have all my crocheting stuff in a wooden box in the back shed but I am too frightened to ask Alan to find the box. Well the poor lad is worked off his feet. So I did what any self respecting ebayer does. I won everything on ebay. Yesterday the cotton arrived so I could start. It took awhile to work out what to do in regards to trebles and double trebles etc but I soon remembered. Well it did help that the book had all the descriptions in the front. LOL
Well that is it from me. I will post more frequently now the craft fair is over. Boy was that some work.

Today has been a sad day

2007-04-13T18:59:00.000+08:00

I just feel I should say something about my friend Dianne. Unfortunately Dianne passed away last Tuesday night after suffering a massive stroke. She was buried today. Dianne was a good friend over the years but in the last years we have not seen so much of each other. Mainly meeting down at the local shops or funny enough at the doctors surgery when she was there with her little grand daughters who she looked after when school was out for the day as their mother worked afternoons. Her grand daughter had pushed a bead up her nose. Dianne's son, Joshua, was for many years my third son's best friend. Jacob and Josh were as thick as thieves and spent just about every waking hour together. They drifted apart quite a few years back but still are pleased to see each other when they do meet. Both are men now. Today we said goodbye to Dianne and even though one of Dianne's daughter came to the house to tell me she had passed away it hadn't really sunk in. At the small Chapel where the service was held they had pictures of her everywhere and I suddenly realised that Dianne had died. I feel very sad as she was such a lovely lady. One of those good people you are privileged to meet in life. I feel like I really need to have a good cry even though the eyes have been sprouting liquid off and on all day. So I just wanted to tell you all about Dianne. I needed to say how much her friendship had meant to me over the years and how much I will miss her even though I hadn't seen much of her lately.

If I wait for some pretty photo's

2007-04-09T19:55:00.000+08:00

then it will be a long time in between blogs. Jacob is away and I can take all the photos I want to but I don't know how to get them from camera to computer. I must learn this trick so I am not beholden to him to do it.

I have been busy again. For the first time since 2002 I have done some cleaning and sorting. Oh don't worry people's who dont know me the house has been cleaned lots in the last 5 years. I hurt myself at work and with this that and the other I have been unable to do the mother and wifely side of cleaning and sorting etc. I am fortunate in having a terrific husband and wonderful children who can do cleaning, washing, cooking etc.

Anyways the spring cleaning sorting etc just have not happened. I have had a huge sort out in the main bedroom. Bags of stuff went to the Good Sami's. I have been unpacking stuff that had been packed for several years when we painted the main living area. I think I like my house again. It is looking quite nice again.

So now I am sorting out my stitching room. I should be shot really. I own more stash than the shop does. So at the moment I am sorting through hundreds of magazines. I have to be ruthless. Unless I desperately want to stitch something from the magazine then it is going. Out of about 7 or 8 magazine holders I have dwindled it down to 1 1/2 holders so far. I still have at least a dozen holders or more to go through. I am going to use all the nice boxes I keep collecting and sort out my silks and threads into them. I will label the box so I can see what is in which box. I think I will go through my charts and get rid of the ones I am half hearted about as well.

On the stitching front I have really made in roads into Papillon Creations St Sofia. I am hoping to keep the momentum going until I finish it. I am at least half way I reckon (a bit of Australianism with that word). The trouble is.......there are so many other things calling me and it would be a shame to ruin the reputation as being the most prolific starter.

Easter has been quiet. Literally as Alan and the kids went away on a fishing trip. This is why all the cleaning and sorting has happened. I had an excellent day on Sunday. Cathy & Marilyn came over and we stitched, talked and ate all day. Mmmmm chocolate.......

I didn't realise it had been so long

2007-03-25T10:32:00.000+08:00

I thought it about time I started to blog again. The 11th Feb, yikes it has been forever.

Well I have been flat out since I last wrote a blog. Colours Down Under has been really busy and Laura (my Daughter-in-law) is a fierce task master. We are not allowed to make a mess of our shop room or leave stuff unfiled. She makes me work when I don't feel like it. LOL

I also went to Sydney for the GTG and a very short visit with Julie. Marilyn came with me and we had a fabulous time. Met the very lovely Anne A from the Xsers group. We got to see both Julie and Anne's stitching.
We had a fabulous time at the GTG. The five of us WA women shared an apartment. Marilyn, Jo, Diane & Cathy were the room mates. The York Apartments in Sydney are the best. We went out in the morning and came back in the afternoon and like magic the beds were made the dishes done the bathrooms cleaned and the apartment was like new again. I wish I could find that magic fairy to come home to my house and do the same.

So all the ladies who were at the GTG were Alison, June, Junette and of course the awesome Tracey (our organiser) her little man James, Amanda, Karen, the other ladies from my apartment, Linda, Tannia (it was fantastic meeting her at long last), Rowena, Victoria (although much too briefly and her little princess Rowan), Kirsten, Marilyn S, Karen's Mum (sorry Karen can't remember your Mum's name), I am sure I have forgotten someone and it is not because they are less important it is just that the mind does not always function well.

I spent a little bit on stash. I did get that gorgeous Ackworth book and some Ackworth samplers. Some other samplers and a Needlepoint kit. Yes I am going to try it. I have visions of my sofa's being full of gorgeous Needlepoint cushions.

Anyways that is enough boring stuff. I will check in again soon.

Oh and I have had three finishes since my last post. French Country Rooster, Cat and Just Nan's Barnabees Quest.

I have to eat my words

2007-02-11T14:56:00.000+08:00

So I was raving on in a blog not long ago about not using a Mac. So I have to eat my words. I fried the processor on my pc yesterday. My fault because I didn't tell Jacob that the computer was telling me it was hot. Anyway, I bought him a second hand Mac on eBay for Christmas. It cost the princely sum of $100.00. Apparently even though it is old it can be upgraded. His best friend works with Macs and actually installs them for businesses and he has been collecting Macs since he was 12. So to get to the point Jacob installed his Mac for me to use. I have to confess they are a very good system and very easy. So when I can afford it I am getting a Mac Mini. It really isn't any different to use but I think more straight forward. So Cathy I can see why you and your DH use them. I eat my words they are a great system to use.

Rotations, Finishes & Stash Inventory

2007-02-04T18:23:00.000+08:00

Well It is finished. Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread, my first finish for the year. I have 13 more to go to beat 2006. I think perhaps I am going to have to drawn a line sometime at trying to beat the amount of finishes the year before. So now I have moved another WIP into the rotation. It is Lorri Birmingham's Bless My Garden. It is a little one and probably not the usual sort of design that I stitch but it will be sweet when it is finished. I might finish it as a flatfold when the stitching is complete. Anyway, now that I have finish Cloister I am back to my rotation. I decided that I would stitch on each design until I reached a certain stage in it except when I don't feel like it then I will just do the one night. I have put my rotation pictures in my PictureTrail album. They are in the Rotation 2007 album. I am presently trying to put more than one length of thread into the dreaded Tigers. I really would like to finish it this year. So that is the Rotation bit and the Finishes bit, now onto the Stash Inventory.
My stitching room is a mess. I have no idea what I own and what I don't. Do I have the necessary materials to stitch what I want to and how much is stuff that I don't want. On top of all that Anthony spilt my cup of tea a while ago and whilst I thought it hadn't landed on anything important and we cleaned it all up I found out this week that it did land on something important and all the charts were stuck together and some had mildew on them. They were from the last GTG nearly 2 years ago. I hadn't put them away. I should be shot. Nothing has been ruined in terms of not being able to read the charts but it has spoilt them and I would never be able to sell them later. So I got out a really fat exercise book and decided to start writing down what I want to stitch and the materials needed to stitch it if I don't have it. I have two pages per alphabet at the front of the book and at the back the name of design with materials needed to kit it up. I am taking that to the GTG this year. So the ruined charts are done and filed away in my filing cabinet. When I have completed the bags of stash laying around I will go through the 3 drawer filing cabinet. I am going to be very honest with myself and get rid of what I probably wont stitch. Now I don't included fabric in this inventory because I own heaps and what I don't own I just walk to Colours Down Under and cut a piece. Aaaah the joys of owning a LNS. LOL
Today I also decided to print out all the Gift of Stitching issues and put them in a file. I only look at the ones I have printed and I really do like this magazine. I think it is excellent value for money and the quality of content has excelled in this past year. I ran out of toner. Cyan colour to be exact. Bugger, Bugger, Bugger.

I am so Lucky

2007-01-31T19:09:00.000+08:00

To have so many wonderful stitching friends. Susan, Diane, Cathy & Marilyn came over on Sunday afternoon. We had a wonderful time. Stitching people are so lovely. Diane bought her Chatelaine's Medieval Mandala over. It is just mouth watering. The colours are gorgeous and Diane's stitching is so perfect. We also other pieces that she bought over. Susan bought over her Cross Eyed Cricket piece called Walk in the Woods. It is also lovely. Cathy wowed us with some of the exchanges she received and her SB bag that she had finished. Then I had another Kathy and Marilyn again come over on Monday and then on Tuesday I went out with Kathy, Marilyn and my daughter-in-law Laura for lunch and looks in bead shops. Today I was a little flat and low and behold Diane came after to work. What a lovely week it has been.

Anthony enjoyed his first day at school. I am tripping the light fantastic around here with joy because Anthony and school has always been such a worry and concern. He even came home and cooked dinner tonight. Having a happy lad makes such a difference.

Well just wanted to share

Cya

I am knackered

2007-01-30T16:58:00.000+08:00

I went out today to a wholesale bead place and then we went down to Fremantle and onto "Little Creatures" for lunch. I was a bit disappointed with the bead place but did pick up quite a few of those watchmaker tins for very cheap. They are not really good enough to sell as they are scratched and marked but I am guessing I can get rid of them or use them anyway. LOL No luck with beads for the shop. I am think I am going to have to fax Maria George again and try to get an account.
I am really close to finishing Cloister Garden. I nearly had the last little in-between band done but discovered on the last ray stitch that I had started it one thread in. So the frog started to croak and I am about half pulled out. I would love to chuck it into the corner but strangely enough I feel like finishing it. Or my little brain is talking sensibly for a change. Then it is just one band to go. There is a small Lori Birmingham kit I started last year that is also not that far off finishing that I may pop into the rotation after that and finish that. I have to finish more than 13 this year. Most of my starts are BAPS so anything small is a bit welcome.
I took Anthony shoe shopping when I got back from bead shopping. I hate taking Anthony shoe shopping as he hates wearing shoes and doesn't like 99% of shoes so it is like pulling teeth. Wonders will never cease. First shop and third pair of shoes. Yippee for Spendless Shoes. No brand names for this kid. He is not the least interested in brand name shoes. A whole $29.95 later. So I let him have a you beaut file for school as well. This year has been a cheap start to school. No new uniform needed as the one from last year still fits him. I just have to pay the fees. I will do that in a month or so. And wonders will never cease he is going to walk to Emily's house and walk to school with her. What has come over the boy???? At least he is not sleeping in my room this year with his panic attacks. Instead he is pulling out the sofa bed in the games room and sleeping there. I don't care. If that is how he wants to handle his anxiety then that is fine by me. Walking to school Woohooo!!!!! Did I mention his school is 5 minutes walk away. I usually have to drive him. He does walk home though.
Well looked through my hand dyed fabric. I am such a dickhead. Don't really know what I thought was wrong with them. I do prefer the new dyes though so will keep on with them. Will keep a few of the old colours going. That's all I think.

God I hate the summer

2007-01-25T20:31:00.000+08:00

It is hot here. I hate it. Hot again tomorrow. Why can't we have more winter and less sun? LOL Did I tell you I hate Armadale in the summer. It reminds me of Mingenew in the summer. That was a hell hole I can tell you. At least we have air-conditioning. Just thought I would share that little bit of how I feel about summer. LOL
Well Colours Down Under is getting organised. Laura, Jacob and I have been sorting and sorting. We are nearly done now. Laura is going to rearrange the room. We dyed today. I am in love with my new hand dyes. They are not on site because we haven't named them yet. I think I need to get a life because all I think about is dyeing. Laura tells me it is good to passionate about what I like doing.
Anyway not a lot happened today. I did go to my piano lesson. I love learning to play the piano. It has been about 18 months since I started. It is such a joy and I love to spend the time with Gwen who is not only my teacher but my cousin.
I am going to sign up for quilting classes. I have always been in love with heavily quilted quilts. I bought a kit quite a few years ago. It is white and has the outlines of the quilting to be done on the fabric. I also have the backing piece so I just needed the wadding or whatever it is called. I dropped into a local patchwork & quilting shop this week and have found out when they have classes. Apparently they will help me set it all up. So that is my new thingy for this year.
Did I mention that Tracey from the GTG group phoned yesterday. It was lovely to hear from her and I could hear James in the background. He says no really good. Trace is such a sweetie. I can imagine her gorgeous smile. She has the happiest face I have ever seen. I am so looking forward to catching up with everyone again. How disappointing it is that Susan cannot come. Oh well we will have to make sure we recount every detail to her.

I shouldn't leave it so long in between blogs

2007-01-22T19:03:00.000+08:00

Because I end up having too much to say. LOL Well firstly I want to show you my progress on Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread. It is in my rotation. I have not moved onto the next piece because I was enjoying the stitching so much I just wanted to keep on stitching it. It is finishable so I may keep on going until it is completed. Stitching this has made me realise why I love Drawn Thread designs so much. They are such fun and so quick to stitch.
Well life has been busy. Mum turned 79 on Saturday. I can tell you that because they are not on the net and she can't use a computer anyway. In fact, she wont use one and was very nervy for the little time they were on the net. I don't know what she thought was going to happen. They went on the net because my brother Craig went overseas for a few years and it was a way to keep in touch. Mum would read the emails but would not reply to them. We (meaning Jacob and I) were relieved when Craig came home and Mum talked Dad out of having the net on. He is a bit of a bugger my Dad. Not only did he forget how to use different aspects of the computer in between sessions on the computer but he just could not help himself when it came to opening/not opening suspect emails. Jacob constantly had to go over and get rid of virus. (Did I mention they live 5 houses away?) Anyway he does have a computer and we have loaded on a lot of those $9.95 games so he can play Solitaire/Mahjong or whatever to his hearts content.
Anyway I digress. Mum's birthday. My sister Annette and brother Craig and his wife Gail came over for afternoon tea yesterday afternoon. I think Mum really enjoyed herself. I chose to have it here because we have recently found out that Mum's very bad back is not a progression of arthritis as she thought (we didn't) but she had a fall in November (which she didn't tell us about) and fractured a vertebrae. The poor old dear has been in agony. She is stubborn about getting help I can tell you.
Well Marilyn and I are going to our adventure in March. I booked our tickets today. A week in Sydney wont hurt us too much I don't think.
Another thing is that I have decided to discontinue all my hand dye fabric. I have sent a few people in a bit of a flurry but I have been a bit unhappy with them for awhile. After a big meeting with the other two partners we decided to keep my stress levels down we would stop producing this line of hand dyes but never fear for the few who seem to like what I produce there is another range being developed. I will be selling off my hand dyes soon and then when I have the next range ready I will be twisting that boys arm up behind his back to get the new range on the computer.
The picture is a model stitched for me by my dear friend Kathy. It is called Life is Change and is a Cross Stitch Art design. It is stitched on Outback Blue 28 count Jubilee. I am so lucky to have such good and generous friends who help me out with my business by model stitching for me in exchange for a bit of stash and help me make decisions with the business and of course buy my stuff and give me loads of encouragement and confidence to continue.

I have been learning

2007-01-13T15:36:00.000+08:00

How to use this blog even more. Today I have learnt how to put photos in amongst the ramblings. I have added a Stitcher's Link and I would love to add more names to it. Please email me with your link. And I have learnt how to put links within my ramblings so this post is going to have links. LOL

I have been stitching on my rotation that I mentioned in an earlier post. I think once a month I shall post updates on the stitching. The Tiger is being stitched on the days that I stitch. I just put in one or two threads depending. Mai is coming along nicely. I really enjoyed my stitching session on Three Things Sampler. It is such a lovely sampler. I haven't done quite as much as I thought. There is still a bit to go before I can claim a third done. Lastly I have stitched on Peacock Cypher this week.
I should also put in the links to our Kitties pictures. Lindsay was one yesterday. Jacob took some lovely pictures of her. She is such a sweetie. She is the watcher. She likes to keep an eye on what is happening in the house. Just loves to be pet but is not really keen on being picked up. I love her gentle personality. Georgia on the other hand is an extrovert. What a clown. She keeps us in fits of laughter and just loves to be in everything. She also enjoys a cuddle. The two girls have bought such joy into our lives and sure have eased the grief we felt when Mickey was killed. All I can say is thank god for cats.

My New Rotation

2007-01-09T20:44:00.000+08:00

For this year. I have had so much trouble sticking to a rotation but I seem to have found a way I can sort of get the stitching I want to get done, done.

Every time or day I stitch I have to put a length of thread into the dreaded Tigers. This is my official UFO for the year and I hate stitching it. It is for a friend so I have to do it. I am not the sort of person who will just sit down and stitch it to get it done. If I had to do that I wouldn't stitch anything. Anyway this seems to be working for me.

Next during the day I will stitch on a Dimensions Petite kit called Mai (I think it is that one). I started that on 31st December. Well it was a restart really. I put about 20 stitches into the aida in kit and then put it away because I really hate stitching on aida. I am well on the way with this one and it wont be long before I reach the halfway mark. This will be a model for my shop.

Then I have 7 other projects that I have chosen for my night time stitching. I very rarely go out at night so it would be possible (unless I have a flare) to stitch each project each week. But it is not sheep stations, as I would say, if I don't. If I get sick of one of them then I can substitute one of the other 71 projects that are waiting in the wings to be stitched on. actually it would be slightly more than that.

When I have finished Mai I will move up St Sofia to the daytime stitch as I need to get that finished for a shop model as well.

Here are the projects I have chosen in my rotation.

Three Things Sampler by Moira Blacburn. I have nearly a third of that done. I am stitching it over 1.
Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread. I am nearly at the half way mark with this one. Up close it is sickly in colour so I keep stalling with it but when held back it looks terrific. I have chosen quite a sickly pink colour by my most favourite hand dyed fabrics, Silkweavers, called Strawberry Milkshake. It is not a colour I would generally choose but it does look gorgeous. I have also stitched it with two threads instead of one which makes the colours very strong.

Peacock Cypher by Just Nan. I nearly threw this one in the corner. I made a huge mistake on the last band in section 2. It is a big band and I had completed nearly all of it. One of those mistakes that have to be frogged. Well frogged it is and I have done about half of the band again. I had hoped to finish this last year but that mistake was just too much.

The Potting Shed by Shepherd's Bush. I just love this project. I have done about 2 or 3 bands. I wanted this kit for years and then lucky me obtained it at our last TWGTG at the Crewel Gobelin in Sydney for a very little $40.00.

St Sofia. I am not certain how much I have done of this one. Nearly a quarter I think. I am stitching it on my Nasturtium fabric in the Byzantine Colourway. It is gorgeous. It is a shop model and when the days of the shop is over then it will probably go to one of the girls because I don't think it is really my colour scheme.

Miss Hathaway Garden by Marty Bell. This is a restart. I am now doing it on my Outback Blue. I had started it on grey. Why I don't know because I am not fond of the colour grey. It has not very many stitches in it so far.

And last but not least A Medieval Garden by Counted Illuminations. I am starting it tonight. Gorgeous design. I own two designs of this lady and I want one more called Galleon & Sea Monsters and then I will be happy. And if you believe that then you'll believe anything.

My picture tonight is a model stitched for me by the lovely Diane. Her stitching is one of the most perfect stitching I have ever seen. It is such a privilege to have her stitch this model for me. It is a Crossed Stitch Art design called Art Nouveau Lily.

I had a lovely mail day today.

2007-01-02T20:27:00.000+08:00

All my eBay mail arrived today bar one. I am a happy girl. I got in envelope 1 my other Counted Illuminations chart. It is gorgeous. The Medieval Garden one. I would love to start it right away. I also got my 2 Drawn Thread winnings. I got Spring and Winter. I just need Summer now and I have the set. I also got my big parcel. This is my official Christmas present. It was such a yummy parcel. I got Frankincense by The Victoria Sampler with the accessory pack, Chatelaine's The Bluebells, The Magnolia's, The Roses, Rose Lights all with the beads needed and they came in the most gorgeous containers labelled. Oh and I got The Freesia's as well same deal with the beads. I also got two TW kits. The Noah's Ark Sampler and Footprints. I also received a new magazine called at home with Needlework. It was free from the publisher just in case I wanted to advertise in it. Yeah right like we have the money. The gift of stitching was also released. This is one quality magazine,in my opinion, and Kirsten Edwards should be so proud of herself. I have been getting the magazine since edition 1 and I believe the quality of it has doubled and if I was told I could only have one magazine it would be hard to decide between that and SANQ. I think my picture today will be of my Dutch Sampler RR. I just love this RR result. It was not a design just the result of everyone's stitching and them deciding what to put on it.

Happy New Year

2006-12-31T16:02:00.000+08:00

Well it is the last day of 2006. Where did this year go? Happy New Year readers. I hope that 2007 brings you much happiness, prosperity and every thing your heart desires.
I completed my 13th item of stitching not 5 minutes ago. Yes it is the tuffet picture here. I stitched both sides the same. It is from the 2006 JCS Christmas Edition. It is a Cherished /stitches design. I used DMC 75 to stitch it with.
So my finished projects for this year were
1. Primrose Promises Peri Blue
2. Shepherd's Bush Beekeepers Cottage
3. Teresa Wentzler's Lion from the Fantasy Sampler for Tracey's Afghan
4. Teresa Wentzler's Lower Right Hand Medallion from Castle Sampler for Scissor Fob Exchange
5. Textile Heritage's Orange Blossom Scissor Fob for wiehenburg-samplers group exchange
6. Cross Stitch Art's Happiness
7. Textile Heritages's Celtic Cross Needlebook for TWGTG Exchange
8. Neighbourhood RR - Sally piece. Holbien Gateway
9. Shepherd's Bush Christmas "Joy" Treat Bag for SB BB Ornament Exchange
10. Shepherd's Bush Christmas "Joy" Treat Bag for Xsers Ornament Exchange
11. Shepherd's Bush Ornament from JCS 2003 Magazine for SB BB Ornament Exchange
12. Shepherd's Bush Ornamnet from JCS 2003 Magazine for Xsers Ornament Exchange
13. Cherished Stitches Ornament from JCS 2006 Magazine

So hopefully I can top that for 2007.

Quick Blog

2006-12-28T14:10:00.000+08:00

Ssssh I got some stash in the post today. I forgot I had won a Counted Illuminations "The Knight Errant" on eBay. I think I might have another one coming. Counted Illuminations I mean. I also have a big parcel coming. I am slightly worried about this one because I got shafted with another lot awhile ago. I have to say that really annoys me. I would never ever shaft anyone and I resent someone doing it to me. I can't believe a cross stitcher would be so mean. 99.9% of stitchers are gorgeous and I trust everyone so when I get shafted I get quite depressed. I hope this person doesn't shaft me of the big parcel. Their feedback was very good but then again so was the other persons.

Christmas is over

2006-12-28T13:44:00.000+08:00

And what a lovely time we had. The food was wonderful but I am sick of rich goodies. I am having spaghetti bolognaise for dinner tonight with salad. We all got lots of nice pressies. Laura gave me two photos she had enlarged from her holiday snaps. One is a sunset on a ferry going to the Greek Islands and the other is of a fishing village in the Greek Islands. They are lovely. They also gave me a lovely pendant. Kenric and Marilyn gave me some Thai silk with elephants on them (2 pieces) and a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace they bought in Thailand as well as some DVD's. I got Nottinghill. I only have the video of that and it is my favourite movie and also Ice Age 2 as I haven't seen it yet and Nanny McPhee as I have not seen that either.
Boxing Day we all went to the beach. Their were a good dozen or so of us and Alan took the boat and Kenric took the kayak and their were lots of other beach toys etc. Even though the day was hot the breeze came off the ocean so it was very pleasant under the shade of the (no not the coolabah tree) the Norfolk Island Pines.
Yesterday was a rest day. I slept for a good part of it. Did intend to stitch but was just too tired. Every time I go into my stitching room I end up laying down and vegging out.
Today my brother came for a visit. They have all had Gastro. Lovely Christmas present for them. Beth and Warren have escaped it. Mum and Dad are down with it now. So is Gail, Alison and I think Tyler and Ella were the ones who introduced it into the family. Oh Keith and Kristy also have it. Craig is better now so he came to visit. I always really enjoy seeing my brother. We are never short of conversation and he is such a sweetie.
So that is my update for now. Not very interesting but I have promised to bore everyone with my prattle.
hahaha

Went out to dinner last night

2006-12-22T11:35:00.000+08:00

I felt like a real grown up. It has been ages since I went out and the food was to die for. Went with Marilyn Campbell and a group of girls who do various sorts of needlework. I think most of them cross stitch. My framer was there as well so at the bottom of this I will put some pictures of my latest framed projects.
Yesterday Laura came over and put the tinsel up in the hall way, above the doors and in the loungeroom. So the house is now decorated. It has been so late this year. I feel it is almost not worth it. It is of course but I usually decorate on the 1st of December.
Jacob says it doesn't feel like like Christmas this year. I have offered to put on Christmas music but the offer has been declined. LOL He will be getting it Christmas day whether he likes it or not.
So today is finishing my Christmas shopping day. I am so tired. I didn't wake until 12 noon. Thankfully the shops are staying open until 9pm. I have to go in and assemble the shopping I have done so far and work out what else there is to buy. I think I will con one of the boys into coming with me. They just look at me with their big brown eyes and say okay but I can tell they don't want to. I feel so guilty all the time.
I have not done any stitching and I probably wont tonight. It is so frustrating. I get so fatigued and I end up just laying on my sofa and staring at the TV.
Alan got his new outboard motor yesterday. He has upgraded from a 15hp to a 25hp for his dingy. He also got three seats. They are really flash. I might (now remember I said might) get in the boat this summer and go for a ride. The seats have backs and little cushiony things. They fold down when not in use. He is grinning like anything and if I was conniving I could get what ever I wanted for the next week or so. I don't need to because I have everything I want.
Anyway enough of the ramble today. Will try and touch base again real soon.

The picture is my Drawn Thread Dandelion Sampler. I can't work out how to put pictures at the bottom yet and Jacob is in the shower so this is the only picture that I am uploading.

I am Determined

2006-12-20T18:19:00.000+08:00

To learn how to use this blog. I went and looked at some other blog sites and I am afraid I don't understand computer talk. So I have decided that I am going to master this one. I thought I might not be a blogger because I felt I had nothing of interest for anyone to read but I was informed that I did.

So this is the start of regular blogs.

Today my daughter-in-law Marilyn came over to hang out with me. I am so lucky as my two girls are lovely and they seem to like being with their MIL from time to time. So Marilyn woke me up and we spent the morning talking, watching the CI channel and stitching. I stitched for awhile on the freebie ABC Marquoir and then got sick of that so I continued pulling out that blessed band that I have placed wrong on Peacock Cypher. I had hoped to finish that this year but I wont get it done. I am almost done in the pulling out.

This afternoon Marilyn decided I needed more Christmas Decorations up. She also did a big declutter in my blue room. It looks so gorgeous. She put a lot of my blue and white china away and put a lot of my Christmas Treasures out. It looks lovely. We then went into the loungeroom and changed a few table clothes to Christmas ones and decorated the tree in there. Set the big dinning room table with Christmas stuff. I have instructions to get some of the boys to put up the tinsel down the hall way and in the loungeroom. I had enough be then so promised I would.

We then went to the shops. They had huge shelled prawns on special for $9.90 a kilo. We bought a 5 kilo box. They are all loose so we can just get out what we want to at a time. We will save at least half for Boxing Day. That is our beach day with the boat and kites etc.

Jake is going to meet Lindsay that day. Poor kids we will all be looking on hoping that they like each other.

Well if I can work out how to get%

Just Back From The Craft Fair

2006-05-26T14:21:00.000+08:00

I did so enjoy the craft fair this year. Probably a bit weird for a stitcher enjoying the craft fair when there weren't really any stitch related things there. Just the two stores that carry a lot of kits with Aida in them. But there were scissor people. Now how exciting was that? Firstly the scissor man. I didn't buy anything from him but I did drool. Also there was my $10 scissor person and I didn't buy anything from them either but I also drooled. Unfortunately or fortunately I have most of his anyway. Then there was VicStitch. I got those darling little scissors with the covers for the scissor end. They come in different colours. $3.00 a pair. Oh my, I nearly fainted with joy. The best is I have just contacted them and they are sending me a catalogue of their gear because they do wholesale. I had a hard time containing myself. So I bought 4 pairs of scissors because you just have to. I also bought 20 really fine beading needles for $3.00. I bought some magnifying things as I have broken by clip ons. And QSnaps because you can never have too many pairs of those. That was it. Now anyone who knows me knows that this is a miracle. Well the truth is I just kept saying oh I can buy that wholesale.

So Sadie drove us home only to find my oldest son's car in the drive way. Now why do I have to do the mother thing with a 26 year old? Jacob and Jarrad have had two really late nights playing on their computers. I had to tell them off and then say one of them has to come home to live if they can't be good boys and go to bed earlier than 2.30am. So my dear, gorgeous Jarrad (26 year old) said to me very seriously that he would behave. God I love him. Kenric the next one down would tell me where to go. LOL

It is about time

2006-05-25T09:17:00.000+08:00

It has been ages since I added to my blog. I keep forgetting and then I think I have nothing to write about which is rubbish really.
I have been really busy. Jacob moved out to go and live with Jarrad while Laura is away on her long awaited trip. There is only three of us here now. It is really quiet and I have to do so much more. I don't think it hurts me really. Well it does hurt me but I need to be more active.
Colours Down Under is increasing in stock. Gosh I spend so much time on the computer getting in touch with people and finding wholesalers etc. Our fabric stocks are increasing. We have about 5 bolts on indent (meaning coming in from overseas). We have many bolts in stock.
Anthony is going to school these last two weeks without a hassle.
A few weeks ago we lost our beautiful boy Mickey. He was hit by a car and killed instantly. It was devastating and the house was so quiet without him howling to be let in and out. Without having him on our laps because he was cold. Anyway we couldn't stand it so now we have a Maine coon. She is a little girl named Lindsay. What a honey. Very different than Mickey of course. Not quite so demanding but she definitely likes to be with us all the time.
My Stitching
I have been stitching a lot more these days. I need to work out how to put photo's on this blog thing. I have stitched more on Common Ground since the last picture. I have also completed more of my Three Things Sampler. Renaissance by Long Dog is coming along as well. I started Wayward Garden by Drawn Thread. It is such a pretty design. I am using the required silks and it is just gorgeous to stitch. I started Long Dog's St george. I am using a new hand dyed thread out by Stitches and Spice called Butterfly Garden. All pictures I need to show.
Anyway I will try to update the blog more often this time.

I am Learning

2006-03-29T15:17:00.000+08:00

Well had a bit of trouble finding where to go to post another post. I am so hopeless. Thankfully I have a Jacob and he knows about these things. Well today although I am feeling a bit knackered I am also feeling on a bit of a high. Yesterday we had a fabric rep come so we could order fabric for our shop. He was so encouraging and he loved my hand dyes. I felt very empowered and certain I could do this online shop thing. And thank god we do have Jacob because he asked how much our website cost to build. Well how would I know? I am not in charge of that department. Jacob said $200. He was telling us that there is another company in this area who are selling all craft stuff and it cost them $30,000 to have theirs built. What??????????? Today I went for my last test for my new pains and picked up my Xrays from Monday tests. It is looking as though it is just the fibromyalgia. I am so relieved. I find out for sure on Monday but I am not above looking at doctor reports when I have them in my hot little hands. I have done some more stitching since the last photo was posted. I can't be bothered taking a picture today. Also I don't want to disturb the boy when he is working on our website. (well I never said I was taking and uploading the pictures physically did I?) LOL I have finished bands two and three of Common Ground. I have picked up Drawn Thread's Cloister Garden and started stitching on that again. I need to start my TW exchange as well.
Well that's it from me for a while.

At Long Last

2006-03-23T16:04:00.000+08:00

I think I have worked out how to post messages on my blogger. It has taken nearly a month. LOL Anyways in the last month I have been stitching on Common Ground by Just Nan. I am doing a SAL with a couple of friends. We are starting band three this week. I am a bit behind as I have not been feeling so good these last weeks. Our website and online business is slowly but surely coming along. Hopefully we wont be too long before we are up and running. Nearly........
www.coloursdownunder.com.au is the web address is you want to check it out.