Category Archives: cross stitch

Five for Friyay #12 (maybe?)

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This week’s been heavy at work with the boys away. Today’s day 6, and I have tomorrow off, then another 6 days straight. And ridiculously I have injured my wrist bringing one of the store flags in… That’ll get me a second look at the physio!

So on that note, here’s a link to 5+ great exercises for your hands, wrists, arms. Enjoy.

https://www.newwaveknitting.com/blog-posts/the-best-stretches-and-strengthening-exercises-for-knitters

Five for Friyay #10

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, family, Five for Friyay, grateful by

Hello! Six more working days, one more stitch group meetup (seriously love those moments tho) and it will be Christmas Day! I am starting to rediscover my joy, thanks in no small part to Si, who put up the most Charlie Brown tree we’ve ever had.

Clockwise from top left: Elise is tolerating Peanut more, even to sharing a food bowl; Si brought me a cordless trimmer, that uses “keys” instead of stupid wire; the tree is almost smothered in tinsel; bookends! Charlie Meowse and Elise are birdwatching; I found the stitching I’d done for a present LAST YEAR and have laced it up; I finished the pattern bit of the babies jumper I am making for work; I brought and kitted up the Union Jack (Si’s choice) for next year’s SAL. With any luck I will hold off until Christmas Day to start…details for this can be found on instagram at the hashtag #2024QuakerFlagSAL or by shopping with Vivsters on Etsy.

Also Tag finished for the season. Hooray.

On a sad note, Uncle Ivan was farewelled at church in Judea last Saturday. He was a fantastic man, a strict father who set guidelines but was also there when all you needed was a quiet hug and to be told he had faith in you. His faith in God was higher and he will be missed.

Five for Friyay #9

Posted in cross stitch, family, Five for Friyay, grateful, me, stitch from stash by

Here we go. December already? My not-so-little Miss is 29 tomorrow. Time flies, I still remember that little button nose and the sweet new baby smell. Awww.

My week.

So..The carrot experiment was an abject failure.

Ray’s made some amazing pen holders/ort containers. I’m keeping a grey one and the other four are for sale.

I survived the Black Friday fortnight sale and it was with a lot of glee that I grabbed balloons and popped them. In a box, so I didn’t have to clean up. I’m not a complete idiot! It was actually very therapeutic.

Geraldine’s now got a wreath crown, I’m thinking of adding battery powered candles. Isn’t that a tradition somewhere?

I finished a pair of earrings for my Secret Santa recipient. I now need to FFO the stitched item and get it all out in the post. Deadline is next week.

I found Coffee Quaker when cleaning up. Thanks to pattern keeper, I’m now just over 50% even tho it’s over one. What was I thinking?!

And the end pieces are Peanut. She had a vet check today, her second vaccine shot and to see if she’s gaining weight (half a kilo in 3 weeks) but her urine is abhorrent. We have a special litter to use and to get a sample out, but do you think she’s using it??? She is letting me touch her again tonight (I thought she would be awful after the vet) but she’s stubbornly holding it all in. What’s the bet she’ll pee as soon as I go to bed??? Oh, and they think she’s only 6 months old. That seems awfully young to have gone thru all she has.

Five for Friyay #7

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hello it suddenly became Saturday! Where is my week going? Apart from work, and tag admin?

#1 is the incomparable Nalini Singh on Fated Mates podcast. I have heard Nalini speak before, but this was a really interesting insight into the world of publishing and also her world building processes.

#2 is a little gift from my SIL, a dutch biscuit tin with a cute phrase. I mean, I knew this about myself already but it’s still nice to see it confirmed!

#3 is nostalgia – this is the same type of bus ticket I used from about 1985 to 1989!

#4 is FINALLY the physical magazine arrived in stock.

#5 is the ease at which that little Fire has fixed our streaming issues. I get to kick Sky off my little island as it’s not been functioning properly since February and has been a real headache.

Five for Friyay #4

Posted in cross stitch, Five for Friyay, grateful, me by

I have several things to celebrate this week!

I’ve nearly completed the second LanArte SAL installment. Hope we get to see Nemo in the next few weeks.

I cleaned out several stored boxes of books, and took the decent ones straight away to the Op Shop. No backsies.

My embroidery and cross stitch books are tidily away in a cupboard in the garage.

55 days in a row on Duolingo! I’m focused on being able to converse and understand when we go to Paris next year.

And lastly, homemade garlic bread in the oven. Nom nom.

August WIPoclaypse Update

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, family, friends, goals, grateful, me, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by

Kia ora! Sorry for the delay again – because again I’m sick. Sick enough for 14 days antibiotics and a week away from work.

I’m so very pleased to report that the First Annual West Auckland World Cross Stitch Day for Hospice West Auckland was a success! We raised $425 for the hospice team which is just a small drop in their $4M funding bucket, and we had a good day out. Special thanks to Zeb, who helped me secure the space and talked me off the ledge the night before; to the staff at Te Atatu Community Centre & Library for the free use of the room; the 34 women who came with open hearts and wallets; Grant, obvs, for being the only bloke and the team at Hospice outreach for the convo. Very special thanks for my boss Jon and partner Si for the goodies for the raffle and munchies. Mum’s piggy bank was stuffed full!

From the bathroom doors at the library

I completed Karla’s pukeko (purchased last month, see @orderlystitching on IG) and am eagerly waiting on the next issue, a Ruru (owl). I have an idea that I will join them together as a lap quilt somehow, which would be a nice way to make something useful that’s also handmade.

I worked on Aimee Stewart/HAED Treasure Hunt Fox to Dragon shelf, completing nearly 2000 stitches. My monthly total is the highest since April and well over expectations, even with work and now being sick. Post-covid, everything knocks me for six, dammit.

I’ve also completed 1648 stitches on Rogue Dragon and am just about into the last 20%. He’s an easy stitch, being over two on 25ct confederate grey lugana, as opposed to the latest start, which is on a fabric zip pouch that came with a stitching box from the UK a couple of years ago. It’s a bit of a squint fest but will look oh so good when done. The design is Pumpkin Blossom, a cute wee inquisitive bird from Blackbird Designs. It’s in the Autumn trilogy book.

Counting people among us may have worked out that technically I’ve started WIP 24 for the year. According to the rules, which I never really read thru, if you finish a WIP on your 23 in 23 list, you can replace it. This is a massive loophole as I haven’t even touched some of the WIPs on my original list, but yeah. I’m rolling with it. I purchased the Lan Arte secret SAL kit, so that will be my September start. I’ll also have an overlocking start and finish, as I have two Saturdays next month in a class; and lastly a long/short stitching class with Auckland Embroidery Guild and Jo Dixey. Jo completed an RSN apprenticeship, went onto more things and is by all accounts a wonderful tutor. She’s @dixeysoul on IG. I’m really looking forward to that class (which is now full).

Other side of the bathroom door at the library

WIPoclaypse Update

Posted in cross stitch, family, grateful, me, Mirabilia, stitch from stash, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

Kia ora! I’ve had a MONTH and coffee has been in demand. The weeks seem to run by quickly, and my weekend (Friday and Saturday) even faster. WHY???

Creatively, I’ve been all over the place. I did add on an eight finish for the year, Nora Corbett/Mirabilia’s Christmas Elf Fairy although mine is definitely not a fairy, as I’ve omitted the wings. I have also fussy cut the thread to give her pink-ish cheeks, changed the beads on the tree, changed the trunk on the tree and cursed a lot at the Whisper thread. Situation normal, then.

I have finally started a Jeanette Douglas Design, her Seasons by the Sea, after having the Autumn chart in my stash for years. A fellow NZXS member on facebook finished hers and I jumped at the opportunity to buy her leftovers. There are multiple changes here, so that this reflects the culture I live in, and woop! Jeanette herself said that she loves that I am making it mine.

I am knitting – SHOCK – and the girls (Leith and Nicole) have sorted out my tension issues and I guess I’m about a third of the way into a soft cowl. The wool is from Leith’s stash, an 8ply hand-dyed that is very close to a Malabrigo that we stock at Ribbon Rose, and it’s on 5mm needles. The plan is to finish it like the Rowan freebie Twisted Ridge with big buttons https://knitrowan.com/en/products/twisted-ridge-cowl?taxon_id=1476 and have it with my hoodies etc on the football field. Being raspberry tones, the likelihood of my children stealing it is slim to nil.

I’m also mapping out the main design for the Christchurch Retreat in New Brighton in April next year (I’ve been asked to create a matching biscornu as well as lead a class on construction), and I’m prepping for the World XS Day that I am hosting in a fortnight. Eep! I have so many things to do there, not least wrap some spot prizes and do a Costco bakery shop the night before. Luckily for me Si is very good about helping out with things that float my creative boat.

Stash enhancement included Karla (Orderly Stitching) Pukeko kit. According to my family these are my spirit animals, and I have a few gifts over the last years that show off my family’s sense of humour. Those gifts sadly slowed down since I jumped on board with it tho ☹ I guess it was more fun to be taking the mick? I also brought a needleminder from her – she makes these in acrylic and wood – and this one is the Pattern Hoarder. Karla’s site is www.orderlystitching.co.nz and she specializes in Aotearoa’s animals and birds. Her kits are well prepared and labelled, definitely a chore that some bigger companies could learn. I’ve also re-ordered her Thread Drop Winder as it looks gorgeous and is very practical.

Speaking of family, Lou has chosen her wedding dress. She’s going to look WOW. Also her dad and I will be blubbering messes.

And speaking of having a small cry, I was upset to see the time has come for Teresa to close her sites. Her complex signature designs – no-one else can match her – were such a part of my teen and early stitching years. I have several smalls that were gifts from others in the various exchanges and I’m grateful that I have so many others of hers in my stash pile. Including three copies of The Castle, before I learnt the value of using the Stash Cache app! I guess we all are getting older and there’s a time to slow down and be selfish. I just didn’t want it to be now. Thank you Teresa, and God bless.

June WIPocalypse Update

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Kia ora! It’s been quite some time since I last wrote. I went thru some stuff at one employer and have moved to a new role which I am loving – it’s with a craft store and you’d think I’d be stitching a lot but you’d be very wrong. It took a while to adapt to being on my feet all day and the longer days, and some days instead of being at home by 1530 it’s 1830, just enough time for dinner, some family time, shower and bed. I am now taking a WIP to work and driving in early, and a small group of us are breakfasting and crafting together for up to an hour prior to our scheduled start. It’s actually a nice way to start the day. The photo is from the IG feed – I’m in the middle.

March finishes

  • Hands On Design Autumn Perennial Pinwheels (November 2022 start)
  • Happy Bunny by the Trilogy (February start)

April finish

  • She Sights a Bird by Blackbird Designs (March start)

May finishes

  • Blackbird, by Blackbird Designs (my Dunedin stitch retreat start in May)
  • The Reindeer, by Cottage Garden Samplings (April start)

June finish

  • Return of the Whales, by Chessie & Me (a Silver Needle exclusive & loan from Zeb, May start)

Progress was also made on Tournee du Chat Noir, which is now at 16%!

I can’t count Blackbird or Whales in my 23:23 progress in the facebook group as I didn’t use them for any challenge nor list in my album but I am grateful to Lisa for not shutting me out of the group while I got myself together. However 7 finishes seems good, and in line with my 2021 count and only two behind last year (which did include some Mill Hill’s so very quick pieces). Speaking of Mill Hill, did you see that this year’s Sandra Cozzolino treble includes a Kiwi!!! Must. Buy. It.

I’m also starting this month on my Christmas in July WIP, the Christmas Elf Fairy from the limited Mirabilia series. That is on my 23:23 list!

I’ve also completed the Beyond Beginner’s domestic sewing course and have a REAL top, as opposed to a gardening top! I used the Simplicity pattern S9548 and learnt how to use an overlocker. I got mine serviced since, have brought jersey fabric to start the next pattern (S9140) and am having fun serging all the stray pieces of embroidery fabric too. Tutor Jo might have created a monster…

February WIPoclaypse Update

Posted in cross stitch, family, goals, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by

Kia ora.

Since the last update, Auckland has been hit again by more bad weather in the form of Cyclone Gabrielle, although not as bad as the floods, but it’s certainly added to the issues; and other areas of Aotearoa are hard hit. It’s been several weeks and the search & rescue has turned to recovery and clean up. We don’t yet know the full extent of the damage and loss of life, as some areas are still without power and communication abilities, and we’ve been warned to expect more weather events. This is more than a little scary, TBH, as our environment is changing around us.

On the positive side, Si had a birthday and we realised that it was also Gotcha Day for the babes. Hard to think of them now as needing so much assistance, they rule the roost and provide us with purrs, hugs, licks and the occasional hiss.

I kind-of ignored some of the challenges this month. They were a bit much for me in this state, so I worked on what was calling to me and if I could fit that into the WIP Warriors or Magical Stitches, cool. WIP Warriors Scattegories was J (eep) this month and that has been a challenge.

I do have two more goals achieved:

  • FO Hissed Off (Silver Creek)
  • Get to 50% of Strawberry Fields Forever (Blackbird Designs) – SMASHED THIS and finished.

I’ve also stitched on the following this month:

  • Mini Cliffhanger (838, now 28%)
  • Letter P Fairy (212, now 14%)
  • Happy Bunny by the Trilogy (new start, 677 stitches)
  • QS Treasure Hunt Fox to Dragon Shelf by HAED/Aimee Stewart (new start, 3042, 3%)

Overall in February I stitched 9385 stiches, which is less than January, but I did have several non-stitching days due to a fatigue bout.

On the stash enhancing side, I ordered two more Blackbirds to go with Strawberry Fields, being The Long and Winding Road and Yellow Submarine. Who doesn’t have an earworm when reading “yellow submarine”?! Another piece of haul is Mary Hickmont’s Feline Fancy as I saw a finish in the NZXS group, and the cat was very similar to our Charlie Meowse.

I forgot to answer the January question which was If you have been to retreats, what are your must-bring items and supplies? I’d say needles (guess what I forgot the other day), my Ott light, and a couple of different projects. And items for the #passthestash table.

February’s question is What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year? I’m about to start the NZ Embroidery Guild SAL, which is mostly embroidery and is based on Dunedin imagery.

Hopefully March is an easier month on us all, weather and stitching-wise. Stay safe, stay well.

January 2023 WIPocalypse Update

Posted in cross stitch, goals, me, stitch from stash, WIPocalypse by

Hey everyone! I hope you have had some sun wherever you are – it was late arriving for the “summer” holidays here in Aotearoa, so late that I was joking we missed it in the lead up to Christmas. Unfortunately January has also brought in some pain, as B farewelled a school friend (very hard to do at 22) and a family friend drowned and another has passed due to cancer. Please, please – take care of yourselves and your loved ones. The city has also lost four people in the horrific flooding that’s taken us over.

Right. Stitchy stuff.

I have completed one goal in my annual list!

  • FO Seas the Day (Hands on Design)
Seas the Day, Hands On Design, GAST – Weeks conversion.

Seas the Day was completed on January third, while we were travelling State Highway 35 around the East Coast of the North Island.  I have found a frame too and just need to re-colour it.

Other pieces that have been worked on this month include

  • A Stitch in Time (825 or 41.86%)
  • The Letter P Fairy (429 or 9.09%)
  • Rogue Dragon (757, now 70.06%)
  • Seasonal Trilogy Autumn (400, now 10.49%)
  • Strawberry Fields Forever (2623, now 49.67%)
  • Tournee du Chat Noir (4559, now 15.79%)
  • Jim Shore’s 12 Days (474, now 29.43%)

Strawberry Fields has become my go-to stitch, as it’s mostly GAST and Weeks, which I love, and there’s a bit of repetition. Perfect for binge watching – we’ve done Wrexham and all the Broadchurch this month, and there’s been a lot of cricket. I’ve also put most things into Pattern Keeper to make it easier on myself, but that 12 Day’s number refers to only days 3 & 4. That’s all I’ve re-charted right now. Days 1 & 2 were completed prior to March 2021. In total I hit 11038 stitches, well over target.