Category Archives: Christmas

WIP Wednesday

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, friends, grateful, house - gardens, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett by

It’s been an…uhh…weird Wednesday.

I got audited for the second part of my job today. Given that I practically invented the process, with minimal input, and I’m getting the outcome my boss wanted, I think I’m sound okay. But it was odd to explain my reasoning and go over scenarios with someone who is removed from the process. In a way I hope he comes up with some suggestions as I am not sure that I can’t refine the process somewhat.

Sarah was feeling as “done like a dinner” add I was so we went walking to Kings on the other side of Fowlds Park. She got advice about her magnolia and I brought herbs. I need more potting mix but the Bay & the Rue are in new pots where hopefully they can stay for a while. I also noticed my Little Bo Peep rose is covered in flowers.

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My Twitter secret santa arrived! Jinny must have paid attention. I have plans for the white one in particular; white kreinik and beads to make it shine. I’m waiting to see if Jen got hers (stalking TBH).

And on the stitching front, as you can see from the IG feed, I’ve got started on Mermaids of the Deep Blue. I did re-chart her hand as it looked odd.

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I think I’ll be onto her face just as soon as I finish with the skin on her chest.

What are you up to?

November Goals Revised

Posted in 16 in 2016, Christmas, cross stitch, Project Life, scrapping challenges, Uncategorized by

Just to recap, the November goals were:

  • Complete my portion on Lenna’s RR (which hasn’t even arrived as yet) STARTED
  • Stitch the Austen bookmark for Jenna COMPLETED
  • Stitch the Mysteries bookmark for Kerry COMPLETED
  • Finish the arms of Persephone and back-stitch from the face down PARTIALLY COMPLETED – I side-tracked and completed all the wallpaper to the right-hand side
  • Stitch a couple of Christmas ornaments including a “do not open” for my office door NOPE Just the one finish, which was technically December
  • Make Mase a couple of pairs of boxers for summer jammie pants NOPE
  • Send off the overseas Christmas cards – already addressed most so just have to write notes! COMPLETED!

 

I don’t have many goals for December. This month just gets hectic, so I like to allow myself some breathing space.

  • Set up planner for 2016 with monthly layout for stitching goals & rotation notes, and Week-to-View for the normal stuff, including blog planning COMPLETED
  • Work out what WIPs I am taking into “16 in 2016” COMPLETED – I only have 8 including one I need to start, so this could be pathetic!
  • Stitch Lenna’s RR portion – Moonlight Laguna mermaid
  • Keep up with December Daily. I’m opting to use a Heidi Swapp album in a different format from normal, and a Project Life kit that isn’t Christmas-y at all, but I thought better suited for our Summer. I’m also printing the photos on our printer here at work daily & I’ll re-print on proper photo paper later on. Better to have everything recorded than to stop like I did last year as it got too much.
  • Start Mermaids of the Deep Blue so it’s a WIP to take into “16 in 2016” – technically a bit of a cheat, but there you go.

Here’s the kit image – you can see it’s not a normal December Daily at all! The designer is Cathy Z, who used to edit Simple Scrapbooks. I like her clean style.

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WIP Wednesday

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, Mirabilia, round robin, Uncategorized by

Hump day again! Well, technically, I reached the hump when I left yesterday, as I have Friday off to spend with Mase on his school trip to Bethells Lagoon. Can’t wait!

Last night I finished a small ornie for my twitter-based NZ Secret Santa. She doesn’t follow me here or on Twitter so it’s safe to share:

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Very simple finish, blanket stitched felt on the back, used some sparklie thread to create the loop and added the star button to hide the threads.

I’m also working on Lenna’s mermaid tail still: Laguna will have a change in the flowers, so they match the ones used by Lenna in the centre of the whole piece. I’m on the third colour thread, and it’s working up reasonably quickly.

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I do like her fabric choice! It works with a wide range of tail colours.

Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in 12 Days of Gifting, Christmas, cross stitch, DIY home, grateful, High Five For Friday by

I’m feeling so so grateful right now. Here are some things I love this week:

  1. The doctor & physio are on the same wavelength & ACC has approved the claim. I have a referral to a hand specialist already!
  2. Simon fixed my old tapestry stand. It took me about an hour to attach the fabric to the strips on the frame (I kept stopping to rest my hand and to oogle the sheds in George Clarke’s Shed of the Year) & I will have to learn to stitch either with two hands or left handed, but I will be able to stitch! Next step is to sort out a smaller frame so I can stitch smaller projects.
  3. The forecast for the weekend is awesome. School fundraiser fireworks show tonight, bonfire at the FIL’s hobby farm tomorrow. Neither will be rained out.
  4. Plenty of flowers on my dwarf apple, and lots of bumble bees!
  5. I started shopping for the 12 Days of Simon that I will do again in December. I have a set of Jelly Moulds (that will be day 8, as there are 8 moulds) & a T ornament (for his last name).
  6. While one of the fish I brought last week didn’t thrive, it was easy to get a replacement. Meet Refund (the grey gourami, he’s very curious about hoomans) and Reward (the yellow gourami, I used my reward voucher to pay for him). Yay for Animates.

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October Goals Revised aka I really might be an adult!

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, goals by

Just to recap, the October goals were:

  • Print out the last 10 days before Christmas & journal to complete my December Daily for 2014 NOPE
  • Complete my portion on Keely’s RR (Christmas Angels) – this is the one that Z didn’t even open FINISHED & POSTED
  • Complete my portion on Lisa’s RR (Tattie Teddy) FINISHED & POSTED
  • Complete my portion on April’s RR (Mira – my pick of one that speaks to me, & I’m thinking a reverse Provence Roses will fit well) FINISHED & POSTED
  • Complete my portion on Kathryn’s RR (flower LOVE letters) FINISHED & POSTED
  • And if all that’s done, make a start to Raven Queen NOPE

I did make a new start with Roses of Provence, but I hated the uneven weave of the linen. So I’m frogging that and will sell/swap the fabric & get something else. November’s goals are:

  • Complete my portion on Lenna’s RR (which hasn’t even arrived as yet)
  • Stitch the Austen bookmark for Jenna
  • Stitch the Mysteries bookmark for KerryCan (I hope you like Sherlock, as I thought the Cloudsfactory type was cute)
  • Finish the arms of Persephone and back-stitch from the face down
  • Stitch a couple of Christmas ornaments including a “do not open” for my office door
  • Make Mase a couple of pairs of boxers for summer jammie pants
  • Send off the overseas Christmas cards – already addressed most so just have to write notes!
Christmas card circa 1886. Hmm, snow?

Christmas card circa 1886. Hmm, snow?

If you want to be on my Christmas card list, send me an email with your physical addy to paulainauckland(AT)gmail(DOT)com before mid-November & I’ll do my best.

WIP Wednesday – is it really a day off?

Posted in Christmas, conversion details, family, grateful, House, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns, work by

I got asked by a couple of people what I plan to do on my day off. Apparently one in particular is under the impression that I will sit around all day. Hmm.

This is one text:
Day off today so menu planning/grocery shop. Vacuum/wash floors. Laundry. Some stitching on my latest project. Mase has a party (I find it odd that the Muslim boy’s party is at Macca’s). Potting up some herb cuttings, planting more seed. And painting mirror frames black so they match my picture frames. It would be more restful at work, except Si took Bran to the Navy league tournament today!

Apart from the party it’s a very normal Mum’s Day Off, isn’t it? Chores are a never ending circle, most of us like to do something to improve our homes, but some of us don’t attack the day with a plan. 90% of what I intend to do will take a half hour chunk and I get satisfaction from crossing stuff of the list.

I’m in between pieces so I picked up my Reindeer parade. Rudolph was stitched a while ago, and I’m now adding Blitzen. The ribbons will eventually connect them.

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This is at the three hour mark. I’m planning on beading and doing the snow swirls/trees later on. And I’m not doing the “glow” part of Rudolph’s nose. I like him as is. Plenty of thread conversion too which I will post later on as I’m still working on some.

Two Days to Go!

Posted in Christmas by

annnnd in breaking (surprising) news, I am not ready. Nor are most of the population, if lunchroom convos are anything to go by. However I have empathy for one woman (must follow on Twitter)

The truth of the matter
‘Twas a few days before Christmas & one child was sick/ The other, stir crazy, was being a dick. The carpet was peppered with patches of spew/ There was a feckload of Christmas shopping to do (@CherylBernstein on Twitter)

Simple, yet brilliant.

Christmas Spirits

Posted in 12 Days of Gifting, Christmas by

Two things for today. One cynical, one warm fuzzy. Both reflect my personality, but I hope the warm fuzzy makes you smile.

The cartoon in the Herald:

NZH0556129846

and a story from the Herald:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christmas/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500988&objectid=11377720

…contained a card inscribed with the exhortation “Work hard, have fun, help people” and two $50 bills… Maybe something for a mystery 12 Days next year?