Category Archives: cross stitch

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?

IMG_20171216_201857_557IMG_20171216_201857_55820171214_220410

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!

WIP Wednesday #208

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, DIY home, family, me, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

It’s been a busy week. My mind is alternating between frantic & lazy, so I know I’m about to reach the end of all my tolerance.

Since last Wednesday, my Twitter #nzsecretsanta parcel has been checked into Santa’s warehouse, & bonus! The one that is coming to me is also checked in. Mase won Player of the Day at Tag; and celebrated finishing Goldfish #3 at swim school with “play” day, or what the teachers would call survival skills. Ben, his teacher, is off to Massey Uni next year as he has been accepted into Veterinary school. Mase’s sentiments? Hmm. I finished the last colour of Believe – and would you believe it, going back thru my planner I saw that I started this in January. That is how much I have hated stitching on a big piece of perforated paper! We had the school concert last night, finished painting the bathroom (I can hear Elizabeth’s “about time!” comment lol) and I am nearly done beading the second of the Jamaica Santas.

There will be a #FFO dance this weekend, folks.

WIP Wednesday #207

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, family, friends, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, WIPocalypse by

So. Here we are again, heading into the silly season. We’ve had a busy week. There’s been a lot of Tag going on (tag is the summer version of league, no tackling but it’s very, very fast flowing). Lou turned 23, & we had a family lunch at hers. Being in retail, work is ramping up so I’m trying to find moments of peace. Like looking at the Pohutukawa (or New Zealand Christmas Tree) at the supoermarket carpark. I even took some stitching into the Shine assembly at school last night – Z was rewarded for having already banked a merit NCEA credit going into year 11 (which is when most NZ children start NCEA/GCSE type standards). He’s got 7, being assessed for another 5 & needs 80 in total by the end of next year.

Stitching wise, it’s been good when I look back. Still too many things for my liking are in the WIP phase, but I got a mini finish – Rose of Sharon for Becca’s RR. I have this one in my stash & Simon has asked to add it to my list – does 2019 look good for you hon?

I have started (at Becca’s noted disappointment that it wasn’t finished) to complete Ashley’s Roses. It took a few hours to mark what had been done on a copy of my chart (yeah, another in my basket of Mira), then floss check to make sure any batch changes wouldn’t affect the overall look. I’d rather frog at this point than later! So this is my start point, I only have a few additional stitches in so not worth showing any progress. I do want to get this way to Melinda in January, so she remains my at-home focus piece.

Also not worth showing any progress on is Jamaica Santa – pathetically I’ve managed only another thread length of beading. But Believe only has one more colour to do before I bead that, and the Honey Pots (work) are taking shape also.

My 2018 plans are starting to come together also – but you’ll have to wait until Jan 7th, the opening WIPocalypse post for that. Are you joining us for year seven? ANNNND Stitch From Stash is opening for sign-ups for the first six months of 2018. Look for the group entitled “Stitch From Stash 2017/2018” to be included in the ongoing saga. There are other groups as well, but Stephanie is such a good admin & this isn’t a pressure point, so I’m continuing where I am.

November WIPocalypse

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

WIPocalypse is a monthly check-in SAL hosted by Mel over at measi(dot)blog – click the icon on the right to be taken to her blog. You can now also find us on FB!

Stitch From Stash is also a monthly check-in, hosted on FB by Stephanie, Ms Oh Sew Crafty on IG, blogland & YouTube.

 

Nov-17
Allowance $25.00
Fabric from Lynne -38.00
LHN Bethlehem -10.57
Classic Colourworks * 7 -24.50
DMC * 5 -6.09
SELL L&L * 4 40.00
   
Rollover -$58.93
Total Available Budget -$73.09

I have virtually NOTHING to show you all for the last month’s work. There’s a little progress on Fairy Idyll, a little more beading on Jamaica, I picked up Mill Hill Believe for a road trip & am nearly done with the last third of the stitching, Honey  Pot *may* have seen a little more action but November has kicked my butt. Last night, I finally finished the greenery of Rose of Sharon for Becca’s piece so at least I got to something!

20171127_053952November goals:

  • Leave Fairy Idyll as the focus piece – YES or at least until the round robin piece arrived
  • Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces – NO
  • Bead & FFO Mill Hill Autumn Harvest Honey Pot pieces (started yesterday at work) – NO

December goals:

  • Complete Rose of Sharon for the round robin
  • Finish the uncompleted portions of Ashley’s Roses & Lady of the Mist
  • Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces
  • Stitch some Rhianna Fendi slippers for my work secret santa (plastic canvas ornie)

Question of the Month: What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do? I’d like to do a wall hanging for something a little different. Or a stocking. I’ve planned to do a couple but I haven’t even begun any.

ARC Review: Say I Do In Good Hope – Cindy Kirk

Posted in cross stitch by

say i doBLURB: Sometimes love is right on your doorstep…

Eliza Shaw has never met a crisis she couldn’t manage. If her father thinks she’s going to take his attempt at selling the family home out from underneath her, then he clearly doesn’t know her at all. She‘ll chain herself to the banister if she has to…

Kyle Kendrick doesn’t have time for the hassle of an eviction. He definitely doesn’t have time for Eliza Shaw’s drama – even if she does look distractingly gorgeous when she’s furious. His sister is arriving in Good Hope and he needs a home. Now.

Neither Kyle nor Eliza is thrilled at the idea of sharing the house, but it’s the only sensible solution. Now if they could each just stop fantasizing about their new roommate this crazy plan might just work. And if they’re lucky, what started out as playing house could end up giving them the home and family they’ve both desperately yearned for.

Eliza Shaw’s been the bad character in the previous four titles so it’s a bit of a mind shift to have her as the romantic lead. However right from the start, she is fleshed out further and her characteristics and flaws are thoroughly explained – but not in one of those “the reader’s an idiot” ways. Kyle is equally a flawed character but it’s Lolo, his needy sister, who was my favourite in this story. Again, it’s clear to see where things were headed right from chapter one, but it’s a nice story all the same. As a series it’s still progressing nicely and I am still wanting to continue with it.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it. As per, I don’t seek to fund this blog, but pre-order links & more about the series are available on the Author site http://www.cindykirk.com/ Say I Do In Good Hope releases on November 14th (so 15th if you’re in New Zealand, like me).

The previous title, Forever in Good Hope, was an earlier blog review HERE

WIP Wednesday #206, WIPocalypse & SFS

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, embroidery, family, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

WIPocalypse is a monthly check-in SAL hosted by Mel over at measi(dot)blog – click the icon on the right to be taken to her blog. You can now also find us on FB!

Stitch From Stash is also a monthly check-in, hosted on FB by Stephanie, Ms Oh Sew Crafty on IG, blogland & YouTube.

So let’s get the shite part over with – I am officially well in the hole and very unlikely to get out this year. I *may* be fine in 2018, as I have fabric or kits now for a number of starts I want to do, plus I am in total love with Fairy Idyll. I am definitely more aware of what I am spending and doing a lot to avoid impulse buys, which I guess could be counted as a success.

Oct-17
Allowance $25.00
FB Dreamer/Watergarden -24.96
Hospice – JCS pile -2.00
NO FINISHES  
   
Rollover -$56.97
Total Available Budget -$58.93

 

IMG_20171101_054205_092.jpgThis month’s stitchy focus was Fairy Idyll, altho I also wanted to finish the two Jamaica Santas as my travel pieces. I started beading last night on those, & I’m happy with my progress on FI so far also. Those pinks, while they look like the charted pinks, aren’t. But the lightest colour, a blend of 819/blanc, looked too pale on the Applemint fabric, so I’ve increased the intensity. And I used my stash for that (bonus point, Stephanie? LOL)

I am still waiting to stitch on two of the round robin pieces – which would increase my SFS balance but take away from FI. I should chase those up – I believe they are both in Scotland.

November goals:

  • Leave Fairy Idyll as the focus piece
  • Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces
  • Bead & FFO Mill Hill Autumn Harvest Honey Pot pieces (started yesterday at work)

Question of the Month – How did you begin stitching? Both my grandmothers were crafty, especially Nana, as she was a farmer’s wife, but a big influence was Auntie Mick. She’s not my “real” aunty, but a great aunt a couple of times removed, but she was huge in the needlework world at the time. Te Papa, our national museum, has some of her work archived. See this post: https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5m51/mills-marjory-hinemoa

Next posting date: November 26, 2017

Topic for next time: What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?

As an additional blogging question this month, I pose to you:  Do you have any plans or instructions for your stitching projects and stash for after you’re gone? Not really! I don’t have a local stitchy buddy and none of my children are as focused on stitching as I would like. Hopefully the stash will go to the local rest home & the finished pieces will be kept by the kids in memoriam.