Category Archives: cross stitch

January WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2017 was the seventh year of the SAL, and my third year participating; it’s my favourite SAL, mostly due to the host organisation (which is spot on), the range of topics & the wide variety of stitchers participating. There’s always something to oooh over!

Well I can skite and say that I’ve knocked off ONE of my stitchy goals for WIPocalypse 2018! Ashley is finished. Phew.

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MONTHLY TOPIC: What SAL’s are you participating in this year? and If you are participating in the Olympic Stitching Challenge, what challenge are you accepting?  What are your goals?

SALS – well, I really shouldn’t participate in many if I expect this year to be both one of finishing WIPs and staying in the black in SFS. For the Jane Austen SAL, I am listening to Juliet Stevenson read “Sense & Sensibility” (the Jan/Feb choice) as I grout the bathroom tiles but as I am waiting on my LHN Bookshself chart to arrive, stitchy progress is nil. But I’m not at all worried, as there are two months to stitch in each portion of this SAL, and the only requirement is some progress.

When it comes to other group SALs like Stitch Maynia or Mel’s own Teresa Wenztler group, I’m only going to participate if the piece yelling at me matches. Yes, a bit of a cop-out, but I have my current WIPs and no desire really to create more. Thus, LHN Bethlehem matches the SM “Christmas All Year Round” requirements, I can probably fudge any colour days in SM and I’ll pull Tapestry Cat out for a couple of the TW goals. Sorted.

My “Olympic” goal is to get the rabbit, topiary and wings done on this RHS of Fairy Idyll. Now that I have finished any RR (still waiting on the next & no idea when it’s coming) I will be focussed on Bethlehem at work & Idyll at home. My start point for this WIP is from November 27th, 2017:

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And as it’s the end of the month, here’s my SFS report – I’m IN THE BLACK!! Even if that sale hadn’t come thru I’d still have five bucks.

Jan-18
Budget $25.00
Spotlight 12 DMC -20.28
GiftOfStitching *4 Etsy -9.96
Irish Blessings Chart -2.73
   
SELL L&L * 4 50.27
Ashley RR 13.80
   
Rollover 0
  $56.10

 

WIP Wednesday #213

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, family, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

Look at me, blogging on the day I should! Almost a grown-up.

Stitching wise, I haven’t got much done at all. I took a half-day Friday feeling unwell, and have been this way since. I’ve been to the GP and have tablets, spray & ear drops – she thinks a combo of inner ear infection & sinusitis, yum – and blood tests for thyroid & iron & other stuff. I’m slowly getting better but it’s 11am & I’m desperate for a nana nap. So slow is the word for today.

20180124_110030.jpgOn Ashley I finished the blend in the bow, the apricot roses and the greenery in her bouquet. Maybe 250-300 stitches? And I didn’t do anything more on Bethlehem.

I did go to the Corsini exhibit on Saturday with Lou & #masetheace. He was pretty awesome for his first classical art exhibit, lots of questions but he was quiet, respectful & didn’t try to touch anything. More than I can say for some other kids. What is up with letting your child TOUCH a 500 year old fabric wall hanging (close up of the stitching below)? Or letting your child scream in an echoing room & ignoring the 50-odd other people who paid to see this exhibit? Rant over. Take in some of the gorgeousness – and if it ever leaves Florence again, take the chance & view. Well worth it.

WIP (cough) post-Wednesday #212

Posted in cross stitch, DIY home, family, grateful, House, me, stitching patterns, work by

Apologies for the lateness but – yeah. Life.

This past week has been really odd, frantic busy & I haven’t had much stitching time at all. I finally started Little House Needlework’s Bethlehem & this is all I have managed, in between swearing & work, while in my little office.

We finished the work at the MIL’s on Tuesday, just in time to run home, clean up & shoot into town to see Jimmy Carr at the Aotea Centre. Another night without eating (trying to get parking & pre-pay so we didn’t get towed ate up the time) but it was so worth it. I know he’s crass & non PC, but his humour is on multiple intellectual levels. And his reaction to hecklers is spot on. I laughed until my cheeks hurt & very nearly at crying point. And we had a late night visitor – those stripes look odd!

Last night MIL and the boys arrived home – hooray! She kept on saying she’d loved what we had done, but then spoiled it a little by commenting about our wanting to sell it. For the fifty-fifth thousandth time – it’s not us thinking about selling. Grr. She has a lot of trouble just being grateful & that is getting to me. After all, that space was original 1979…it was well past due!

I don’t see much stitching in the next week either – I want to go to the last days of the Corsini Collection at Auckland Art Gallery. It closes Sunday but I plan on going Saturday with Mase in tow.

Blurb: From the private collection of the eminent Corsini family in Florence, Italy, comes this fascinating exhibition featuring Renaissance and Baroque painting by artists such as Botticelli, Andrea del Sarto, Caravaggio and Pontormo.

The exhibition provides a window on the family’s continuing passion for collecting art, their support of artists, and their ongoing loyalty to the city of Florence, which has prevailed through the devastation of WWll and the inescapable forces of nature during the flood of Florence in 1966.

Portraits, landscape, mythological and religious paintings, as well as sculpture, works on paper, furniture, costumes, embroidery, games, kitchen equipment and a lavish dining room set for six, will portray the life of this family at the Palazzo Corsini and their patronage of the arts.

WIP Wednesday #211

Posted in cross stitch, friends, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash by

As per my goals, I’m working away on Ashley’s Roses. I filled in the missing portions around the top garland, her hair & skin then I treated myself to the back stitch (yes, with Mira/Nora this is a treat. It’s how it all comes together). I did change the colour however as the charted is 844 & that’s odd to me! Now I’m working on her skirt bow (just the blend left), then the gaps in her skirt and the last item will be the garland. Then it’s off to Melinda, who will be the last before it returns to Becca.

I can’t wait to see mine back.

WIPocalypse 2018 Intro

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2017 was the seventh year of the SAL, and my third year participating; it’s my favourite SAL, mostly due to the host organisation (which is spot on), the range of topics & the wide variety of stitchers participating. There’s always something to oooh over!

January 7 – Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

So for those of you new to my blog, my name is Paula & I live in Auckland, NZ. My partner & I have four children, ranging from 23 to 8 & we both work full time, plus have plenty to do outside of work & home, so I can already predict that 2018 isn’t going to be my biggest stitchy year. BUT at least this year my plans are realistic!!

IMG_20180106_073029_085So my focus pieces for 2018 (given that I want to end in the black for Stitch From Stash also) are in order of attention (bracket date indicates the start month & year):

  • Mirabilia Ashley’s Roses Round Robin section (Dec 2018)
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) – Zac will be 15 soon, & this needs to be done before then! But first I have to hunt it down…
  • Mirabilia Fairy Idyll (September 2017) – Gail has loaned me the chart, & I want to return it this year
  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!) – because it deserves progress
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) –because I want to get thru that skirt!
  • Jane Austen SAL (December 2017) –because I want to keep up with the readings

 

42068-1I brought Si the Lego Technic Fire Rescue set on Friday & we sat down last night, telly on in the background (8 out of Ten Cats & Taskmaster Season 5, if you’re that interested) and stitched/bricked and talked into the late hours. He starts back at work today so that may not have been the brightest idea ever, but I found that as his hands were busy, they weren’t constantly changing channel & I could focus more on the stitching. I’m up to a bit where the symbols beside each other are shades of the same colour – a filled in heart & a filled in upside down triangle. I see a frog in my future!

WIP Wednesday #210

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, embroidery, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash by

This week has seen virtually no stitching. I am mentally tired; we have been flat out renovating in the small refereeing window, both at home (the main bathroom) then from Monday, the MIL’s lounge/dining space. I am missing my two youngest, who are living it up in Invercargill with Grandma & Aunty Sharon (and Han Solo, the cat that thinks it’s a dog). I am reading garbage quick romances; anticipating the return to work as being refreshed. Sadly, I’m still ho-hum about it all.

Stitch from Stash – I finished 2017 in the red, thanks to a payment bouncing & a quick trip to the sale table at Ribbon Rose. However the money was confirmed in my account on the first, so I am starting 2018 on a high.

Dec-17
 Allowance $25.00
StitchNZ disct DMC -21.00
RR Fairy Idyll beads -52.00
Rose Of Sharon RR 12.14
Jamaica Santa #1 & #2 20.00
MH Believe 20.00
L*K Today’s Good Mood 9.94
Rollover -$113.09
Total Available Budget -$99.01

20171214_220410Smalls SAL – for December I finished the Jamaica Santa’s – they are so cute! One for me, one for Louise. I plan on completing the set at some point in 2018. I’m not going to participate in every month’s check in for 2018, altho I have enough Cozzolino Santas to keep me going!

Pass the Stash –  Heather B was the only one to enter, stating that she’d give coal to anyone who didn’t believe in Santa! Congrats Heather – please get in touch so I can post the chart & remaining beads/threads to you.

 

Hope everyone has a relaxing week – if you’re still on holiday, enjoy it for me!

2017 WIPocalypse In Review

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, lavender & lace, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stash cache app, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler by

When I look back at my January post, I think “you plonker”. I was far too ambitious!

The rotation plans were loosely worked around the following:

  • StitchMaynia’s monthly SAL e.g. Feb is “fandom” SOMETIMES
  • StitchMaynia’s colour SAL (this is only on the 15th of each month). SOMETIMES
  • The Never Ending Band Sampler. NOPE
  • The Magazine SAL. NOPE
  • The Round Robin piece, whatever it is and whenever it arrives. YEP
  • Focus on a Finish – whatever needs completing from the above or a current WIP that is nearly there. Mermaids of the Deep will be high on that list. UH HUH, REALLY? FOCUS?

Going into 2017, I had the following starts (listed in age!!):

  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!) WORKED ON IN 2017
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) STILL RESTING
  • Nora Corbett Arezzo (March 2014) WORKED ON, FROGGED, WORKED SOME MORE, IN TIME OUT
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) BARELY WORKED ON – JUST A COLOUR DAY
  • Nora Corbett Blitzen (as part of my reindeer parade, Rudolph started in July 2015) FINISHED Blitzen, started Prancer
  • Mirabilia Mermaids of the Deep Blue (December 2015) FINISHED
  • Mirabilia Raven Queen (January 2016) NOPE, RESTED ALL YEAR
  • Tamara Blackwork (September 2016) I THINK I WANT TO FROG THIS ENTIRELY
  • Never Ending Band Sampler NOPE
  • Lavender & Lace Celtic Winter (December 2016) A FEW STITCHES ONLY

While I got some new starts & finishes in 2017, most excitedly the Mirabilia Andromeda, I think that I will work on focus pieces for 2018, and dribble in the odd new start that I have kitted. I’ll ignore the SM & SFS themed SALs except where my focus piece matches the theme e.g. in the FB Teresa Wentzler group (also run by Mel!) January is animals, April is nature & both of those would match Tapestry Cat. I’m taking the two-monthly Jane Austen SAL and I’m going to mix & match different pieces to make a unique sampler of quotes & icons. More on this in the next update!

So my focus pieces for 2018 (given that I want to end in the black for SFS also) are in order of attention:

  • Mirabilia Ashley’s Roses RR section (Dec 2018)
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) – Zac will be 15 soon, & this needs to be done before then! But first I have to hunt it down…
  • Mirabilia Fairy Idyll (September 2017) – Gail has loaned me the chart, & I want to return it in 2018
  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!) – because it deserves progress
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) –because I want to get thru that skirt!
  • Jane Austen SAL (December 2017) –because I want to keep up with the readings

I’m going to throw in a few Small & Medium pieces, along with the Mill Hill Santa kits that I already have (Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Barbados, Trinidad, Venice & Genoa, remembering that I do two of each of these)

  • Lizzie*Kate Don’t Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle
  • Lizzie*Kate Wise Men Still Seek Him
  • Lizzie*Kate Coffee Time – Today’s Good Mood (already started)
  • Fancy letter P (I forget the designer)
  • Little House Needlework’s Bethlehem
  • Plum St Sampler’s Patriotic Freebie

I’m going to try to limit my purchases also. Any planned stuff must come from a local supplier, no more overseas blitzes! I’m also pulling out of an international sales group (most participants wouldn’t post to NZ in any case) & removing myself from mailing lists. Wish me luck!

Book Review: Just Jane by Nancy Moser

Posted in books, cross stitch by

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, one of my plans next year is to re-read/listen to the Austen novels and stitch something suitable. By co-incidence, Bookbub popped up a suggestion in one of the daily emails:

20_JUST_JANE-255x375.jpgSynopsis: Growing up in a clergyman’s home gives Jane opportunities to observe human nature at its best—and worst. Vivid and delightful characters pour from her pen—Elizabeth Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Emma Woodhouse, Fanny Price, John Willoughby. . .

Jane dreams of publishing her stories and sharing them with the world, but how can she? She’s just Jane from Steventon. Will anyone ever read her novels?

Excerpt: http://www.nancymoser.com/excerptjustjane.html

As Moser says, “No matter if the book is about Mozart’s sister, a plane crash, a Victorian boarding house, or time travel, one message prevails: we each have a unique God-given purpose. The trick is to find out what it is.”

It was interesting to read & pick the gaps between actual Jane history and what was fiction (& unless you’ve done extensive reading, good luck in picking those bits out). The family is well fleshed out, as is the environment and time they live in. Four and a half stars from me – & I’m off to read more by this author.

Elizabeth – have you read any Moser?

Stash Cache additions – more Little House Needleworks

Posted in cross stitch, stash cache app, stitching patterns by

Hiya! These three arrived, second-hand, from a private seller in the States yesterday. Woot! I want to find the Winter & Spring samplers, so if anyone has those to hand & wants to sell, please hit me up.

Files are now up on my Stash Cache page as DMC or converted to DMC.

WIP Wednesday #209 & #passthestash

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, embroidery, freebies, grateful, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

Woot! I have had a bloody good Finish week. Both Jamaica Santa’s are FFO, one on my tree and one ready for Aliese; and even better, Believe is an FFO as well! I found a funky frame at Living & Giving (it’s by Umbra) that was cheap, as one piece of glass was broken. You’re supposed to put the photo between the two pieces of glass, but instead my sandwich is the perforated paper, glass then a piece of thin, sturdy card. Doesn’t it look cool?

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I’m also very, very pleased to have nine (now ten!) stitched pieces on display.

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My work piece therefore is new – it’s one of this year’s Lizzie*Kate Coffee Time designs. I’ve even coffee-dyed 28ct white Lugana to suit, & I’m using the Gentle Art threads I used for the Mia Mermaid. They aren’t very variegated but they are nice to work with. Progress shot next week!

What this means is that Believe is ready to #passthestash. I use a working copy, so the chart is pristine. The leftover DMC floss & beads are included; some will definitely be enough while others will need to be sourced/exchanged for what is in your stash. Entries are open from now until New Year’s Day 2018 & I’ll get Mase to randomly choose someone next week.

Comment below – do not mention the word G I V E A W A Y or I will delete. Let us know what you would give to someone who doesn’t believe in Santa!