This week has finished with a wee party for a wee man who turned one today. Happy birthday Keakea!
So there’s a couple of things to be grateful for here – inclusion in a family that’s chosen us as much as we have chosen them, and also not having to cook/do this dishes.
Third on my list this week is a job to go back to. And Aircon! This was installed and turned on this week, and it’s made a huge difference to the environment.
Forth is FINALLY having a new microphone in my car. It’s only been waiting since June! Called Si straight away after it had been installed and he’s amazed at the difference. No more crackle or missed words.
My stitchy spot this morning while waiting for Kia to install the new microphone.
Fifth would be Elise. Her latest quirk is to enter the shower when we are done and wash herself. She’s so entertaining and clever with it. It’s lovely coming home to her conversation and snuggles.
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.
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.
This week’s ending on a high! We are currently in the capital, having a lovely reconnect weekend.
I finished Barry the Puffin from Knit for Victory (Etsy and Ravelry). He’s cute! Lessons learnt include going down a few needle sizes to tighten the knit up. I’m using 3mm on Sirdar Saltaire worsted in the current piece.
Barry
Last night in Taupo…bagged a really good motel that was right on the waterfront!
The steps down to the unit
Waking up this morning….
A gorgeous Taupō day
Ending up in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara
Have a lovely week and if you’re in Aotearoa, VOTE! Just not for National/Act/Winnie, thanks very much…
Woo hoo! we made it to the end of another working week.
1 has to be the sun – it’s nice to feel that on my face and see it come thru the windows at work.
2 would be cat snuggles – Charlie Meowse voluntarily jumped up into my lap for snuggles. She’s usually a show-and-go sort of cat, unless it’s bedtime. Then she sleeps in the gap between our pillows, with her paw on my hand. Cute as.
3 is in advance – I am going to a Jo Dixey class on long and short stitch today. I’m really looking forward to that, and the bonus of an RSN qualified tutor.
4 is again my shawl – I am over 100 sets now and loving it.
5 is the Dilworth report – finally these “men”, supposed principals and senior staff members and board members, are being held to account socially for their knowledge and lack of action when it came to fellow staff abusing the boys. It’s heavy reading and I advise that you ensure you have the spoons to read, and support around you, especially if you are one of the boys, or of their families, or have experienced sexual abuse. If this is you, please know that you have my utmost respect and admiration. It has only been in the last few years that I have understood how the actions of a few have affected so many, and personally I resent the lost years I have with my brother and am grateful that he is still here (albeit across The Ditch) and was able to have his voice heard. Kudos to the Operation Beverley team. They are amazing.
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).
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.
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.
Hi everyone! I’m back for the seventh year. It’s the most committed I’ve been to any SAL & I put that down to the pressure free, encouraging environment that Melissa hosts. If you’re a crafter, please join up either on your blog or via the Facebook group – we welcome all enablers!
If you’ve not read from my blog before, I’m in my late-40’s, a working mum to four (ranging from 28-13). I am book-mad, often found stitching & listening to podcasts or audiobooks, or training our three kittens. We own our home near the base of Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges & can often be found working on it, walking on the beach or in one of the many beautiful parks Auckland boasts. I’ve been hand stitching since before I was 10, can’t knit an even scarf or crochet to save myself and don’t often pull my machine out, although I did master zippered project bags & bagging out a waistcoat last year.
Stitching-wise, this year I am doing a combination of WIP Warriors 23:23 and Magical Stitches. It’s going to be a bit of a struggle to connect some tasks with a limited list, but I would like to get some things done in 2023 that have been hanging around for a while.
Year Long Goals:
Complete panels 3 to 6 of Jim Shore’s 12 Days
FO and FFO A Stitch in Time (Hands On Design via Quilts & More magazine)
Complete 3 houses in my Mill Hill collage
FO Hissed Off (Silver Creek)
FO and frame the Klimt Tree (Nora Corbett’s Patreon)
FO and frame the Letter P Fairy (Nora Corbett)
Get to 50% of Cliffhanger (Aimee Stewart/HAED) – currently 24%
Start Nightingale (new Mirabilia, ordered)
FO and frame Rogue Dragon (Nora Corbett’s Patreon)
FO Seas the Day (Hands on Design)
FO and FFO the Perennial Pinwheels (Hands on Design) – separated to three designs.
Get to 50% of Strawberry Fields Forever (Blackbird Designs) – currently 8%
Get to 20% of Tournee du Chat Noir (Lesley Anne Ivory/HAED) – currently 13.96%
Just a wee bit of black to add…
I’m starting with just the 15 projects to allow myself some new starts, which I think will keep me more on target. Last year I flittered and fluttered, managing only seven small stand-alone finishes and five full coverage pages. Let’s see how I get on!
Hi everyone! It was an odd week, with highs and lows. RIP Queen Elizabeth; you served your people faithfully and well. I intend to watch her service and give thanks. I expect Mum would have hung the bunting out in heaven; she always wanted to meet the Queen.
In fun stuff, I am planning a Taskmaster party for Mase’s birthday. He was sick the original weekend, and now of course nearly every weekend is another friend’s party, so we’ll do it in the warmer weather. Not a bad thing, really. It should be hilarious. And messy. These things often are!
Stitching wise, Stitch West had a meet-up and it’s so good to be with other needleworkers. We are so different in our goals, experiences and beliefs but everyone treats each other with respect and humour. I love that. And it’s less than a few weeks to the annual retreat – this time at Thames, a coastal town in the Coromandel.
I have some good progress on Rogue Dragon, and his top half is nearly complete. He’s really satisfying to work on as there are so few people stitching him, so the little quirks are a surprise. A few people have asked for the conversion details too which is very complimentary. It’s not complete yet so no sharing.
sewscrapmuse 