Category Archives: cross stitch

WIP Wednesday #271 & whatever

Posted in cross stitch, family, goals, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, work by

Hey blog buddies! I hope you are all doing well, and have everything you need. Here in NZ, we’re about to go onto a State of Emergency and as of midnight tonight, everything non-essential will be shut. For our family, it’s kind of odd…

On Monday, my much loved mother in law Carol passed away in the early hours. She had fought her illness for so long & was physically ready to leave, but not mentally until this last week. Because of the situation we can’t have a funeral, so at this stage, we’re looking at church on June 19th, on what would have been her 74th birthday. I miss her already.

Stitching wise, plans are out the window. Work on what makes me happy is now my priority, so first up I finished Mermaid of Atlantis this morning. The fabric is Cook Strait lugana from Countrystitch.

There’s a number of changes:
  • The Kreinik 060 is completely omitted. In the border, I used DMC 3371 & Mill Hill 16609. In the tail, I used Mill Hill 00332. In the fish, I used 011HL.
  • In the garland, I used MH 00525 instead of 10036.
  • Skin bs is as always DMC 356.
  • The fish has a mix of DMC 2141, 2142 & 2144.
I’ve pulled out Antique Celtic as my next project, as this was the last that Mum had an influence on, choosing the fabric.
Anyway, time to go.  Please keep well, keep in touch, keep on praying.

WIP Wednesday #270

Posted in cross stitch, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

Hey everyone! I hope that you are well, have enough TP, & feel peace in your hearts. I’m going to assume that Market oh-I-want-that feels, we all have plenty of projects on hand. I may have ordered a few things anyway!

Stitching wise, I had no progress on the Chatelaine. Given my monthly goal was to get it started, I’m more than okay with this.

Mermaid of Atlantis has had attention every day, and I guess I’m about halfway on the beading now. I’ve also started 3 French Hens for my monthly piece. That was more frog than stitch as part way thru the first letter, I had a brain fart…Take care of yourselves, inside & out.

“Ain’t No Mountain(or wall)High Enough” — Saved By Words

Sadly for the last four years the leader of the United States has been obsessed with keeping people from crossing our southern border. He has asked for billions of dollars to construct a fence such as the section pictured above. Money has come from many sources, and that has left many designated projects unfunded. But […]

via “Ain’t No Mountain(or wall)High Enough” — Saved By Words

WIP Wednesday #269

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Hey everyone! I am recovering from a flu bug (the same one that knocked #masetheace out for a week) so it was really quiet at ours.
I did try to work on the Chatelaine but after learning some new stitches (nailed the Rhodes!) I decided to drop following the chart & just focused on my #wipocalypse one-a-day project, beading Mermaid of Atlantis. As you can see I’ve managed slightly more than one a day, and I’m about a third in. I might get this done this month & be able to bank the stitch from stash credit before my next order comes in…

Forgiveness

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I’m coming to the conclusion that out of mind, out of sight is one of my key tactics when it comes to forgiveness. Not allowing the other person opportunity to strike again, by removing myself from situations.

Brene Brown has a couple of quotes that I use as daily reminders to be more thoughtful about how I take in my day. I’m not so good at saying no, so her conversations around choosing a few moments of discomfort over hours of resentment are ones I am trying to focus on.

In the interests of looking after my own wellbeing, I’ll say it here. Zeb, I do not condone your lies or actions. You hurt me, deeply. I have previously blocked you from all my social etc, and somehow you’re back. I don’t want you back. I’m going thru the process of blocking you again, but I’d also like it if you could take those steps back also.
Thank you.

WIP Wednesday #268

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

Hello everyone! This weeks been a bit slow, apart from Saturday progress on my new start, Chatelaine Design mini castle I #071. That new start buzz got me thru most of the first two sections quite quickly, even tho I’ve not stitched on it today. Today I’ve mostly napped! Doctors visit tomorrow, when I expect to be told it’s the flu & to rest & get fluids. After all, that was Mase a week or so ago…

I’ve even learnt a new to me stitch, Sheaf. That’s only my first go, and it’s with Kreinik too, so I’m pretty happy with that.

February WIPocalypse

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, embroidery, goals, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stash cache app, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

Hello everyone! WIPocalypse is the monthly check-in SAL hosted by Measi on her blog, and via the Facebook group – we welcome all enablers! Click on the icon to the right to learn more. If you’re a crafter, please join up either on your blog or via the Facebook group – we welcome all enablers!

February Goals were:

  • Finish the second panel in 12 Days – just scraped in
  • Finish the second panel in Celtic Sampler – done & moved well past
  • 200 over one in Fairy Idyll – nope, maybe I should rename her Fairly Idyll 🙂
  • Walk every day I don’t bootcamp – mmm, most days I hit goal. Just the one rest day each week, and I am noticing a lot of changes.

I also completed another of the Cloudsfactory Disney minis that I am doing for Aurora’s Christmas present – Belle is done now too. So that’s Ursula, Rapunzel, Lady T, Eric, Oscar, Belle, and half a Dopey and a bit of Mulan.

Celtic was my work (yay, aircon) and travel project. It got a bit of time in hospital, doctor’s surgery, waiting for dawn etc as it’s much, much smaller than 12 Days (and a different fabric too).

20200301_115210.jpg

It was sooo hot (most days it was well over 27/28/29 degrees Celsius, and a muggy hot too, and I didn’t want a lap quilt worth of floba anywhere near me! Some days I barely managed one thread length on the 12 Days, other days were a little better.

March Goals:

  • Finish the third panel in 12 Days
  • Start a Chatelaine – see below.
  • Late Edit: add March is the first one-a-day SAL, I’ll be working on the beading of Atlantis. Copying Measi & getting the wheel to decide how many beads.

In honour of “Leap Year,” tell the story of a time you had to make some sort of a “leap” in stitching – taking the chance on a new style of stitching, attending a meet up or class, etc. I’m not very good at leaping – hence the growing collection of Chatelaines in my basket! I’ve made it a goal for this month to at least start one of the banners (I have three of the Mini Mystery Castle range) and master some of those embroidery stitches. After all, I’ve attended a class or two AND I’m not that stupid. I will be using mostly DMC rather than the original silks tho. My budget simply won’t stretch that far! And due to the expected intensity of this project, I’m not committing to much this month. I have looked into joining the local chapter of the Embroidery Guild, thanks to Anne’s advice & experience, and I’m attending my first meet up next week.

Stitch From Stash: I ended up finishing January in the red, mostly due to a fabric purchase. I’ve pulled that back in Feb, as I sold the spare Lady Mirabilia chart/bead pack that I had (broke even too) and had a couple of small finishes. However I’ve ordered the Duchess of Rouen (companion piece to The Baker’s Wife, both by Nora Corbett/Mirabilia) and the Hands on Design Nashville release, Well Rounded (expecting both in late March, early April). I also brought a kit by Tis The Season, a new-to-me business that I found in Whitianga, a coastal resort town here in New Zealand.

WIP Wednesday #267

Posted in cross stitch, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

20200205_090808.jpgHey look! A photo this week – because it’s now a new month, and I’ve rolled over into the next of the Jim Shore 12 Days charts, Two Turtle Doves. I am enjoying this design, as it’s so different to what is in my WIP pile, and I’m looking forward to having it made into a lap quilt or wall hanging for this coming holiday season. Unfortunately it’s stinking HOT here (29 deg C when I got home from work yesterday) so there’s minimal progress. I did get more done on Celtic Sampler while sitting in the shade/breeze up at the SIL’s, and have (date excepted) completed my February goal of finishing that first band. I’m now all the way across to the LHS and am fairly confident that this will be a 2020 finish.

As the January month ended, I did find myself $6.84 in the red for Stitch from Stash, despite the two finishes. I brought fabric from Catherine for another mermaid (actually, thinking it will fit both the Moonlight and Sunlight Laguna maids, with a little adjustment & border realignment). Never mind that I actually need to finish SOMETHING else in my Nora/Mirabilia pile!

Tomorrow is Waitangi Day (our National day here in New Zealand) and then I have Friday off – have told the fam that they are at work/school so I have the day to myself! Catching up with a friend, stitching & possibly a long walk on the beach. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?

Australia – romance fundraiser

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(From an author newsletter)

Australia Romance Anthology, $6.99 (U.S.) – All proceeds go to help Australia during the catastrophic wildfires. Preorder thru 2/4/20. Links at bottom.

ALL royalties from this project will be donated to relief funds in Australia, with 50% going to a firefighter charity and 50% going to a wildlife charity. We aren’t affiliated or endorsed by these charities. We are simply authors who want to support an important cause.

So happy to be part of this! Australia has some of my favorite people in all the world! Since news has spread of a fire-ravaged Australia, I’ve been sick with the loss. There is so much devastation to that country, it’s almost hard to fathom. I’ve felt helpless from my safe cocoon over in the US, which is why when the opportunity to join forces with some truly amazing authors and help came up, I jumped at the chance.

AUSTRALIA is a romance anthology with over THIRTY original, never-before-seen stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. Each piece was written for this anthology to benefit firefighters and wildlife in Australia. AUSTRALIA is only available for a limited time, so one-click your copy before it’s gone.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Penny Reid, Meredith Wild, Carly Phillips, Sierra Simone, Emma Scott, Susan Stoker, Kennedy Ryan, Willow Aster, Skye Warren, Kylie Scott, Aleatha Romig, Willow Winters, AL Jackson, Julia Kent, Rebecca Yarros, Tijan, Giana Darling, Emma Hart, Chelle Bliss, Noelle Adams, A. Zavarelli, Jenika Snow, Dylan Allen, Audrey Carlan, Robin Covington, Mary Catherine Gebhard, Melanie Moreland, Parker S. Huntington, Nana Malone, Jewel E. Ann, Annabel Joseph, Celia Aaron, Michelle Heard, Brighton Walsh, Tamsen Parker, and Pam Godwin.

Preorder here:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/38CbQIv
International: http://bit.ly/2RmjOzr
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RHIcut
Nook: http://bit.ly/2NR2hxc
Kobo: http://bit.ly/36kNW2z
And here’s Australia on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/

WIP Wednesday #266

Posted in cross stitch, goals, me, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

No photo this week – I haven’t done much stitching since my WIPocalypse update earlier this week; I’ve nearly finished the second block of this side row and have worked out how to fit “2020” into the “2013” space. Go, me! I am taking part in a 6 week challenge RESET (which is as you know, my One Little Word for 2020) and am focusing on a few key things:

  • Being conscious of what I eat
  • Becoming more physically flexible
  • Losing some weight (obviously – stress is terrible to your health)
  • Getting back on track looking after ME

Because I now throw myself into adding at least a walk into every day I haven’t stitched this week at lunchtime, and home is cut down a bit too. Part of this is the need for the spa – my thighs are sore!