Category Archives: me

WIPocalypse begins!

Posted in cross stitch, goals, lavender & lace, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, Smalls SAL, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

lk-hnyHAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2016 was the sixth year of the SAL, and my second year participating; let’s go for a trilogy.

 

January first is all about setting goals for the year, so that in early December I can go “oh crap!” LOL This year I intend to be multi-platform again, with the daily focus being on Instagram but at least the WIP Wednesday, Smalls and WIPocalypse posts here on the blog, and a monthly Flosstube. I have weekly rotation plans written in my diary to take me thru to the end of March & I will review then.

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The rotation plans are loosely worked around the following:

  • StitchMaynia’s monthly SAL e.g. Feb is “fandom” (I am thinking Cloudsfactory Labyrinth), March is Teresa Wentzler (Tapestry Cat). December/January has the 12 Days of Christmas, starting on Christmas day and finishing on the 6th – I will be taking my Hands On Design Christmas Chalk away with me. Mostly because I paid for the fabric (32ct!!) and I need to use it, so if it’s all I have with me I should see some progress.
  • StitchMaynia’s colour SAL (this is only on the 15th of each month).
  • The Never Ending Band Sampler (as my learning piece of the month).
  • The Magazine SAL (as hosted by Heather; click the image to the right for more info). This piece will double as my Smalls (click on that image for more info) post as I intend to use the JCS Christmas magazines all year, especially now that I have the CD with the past issues!
  • The Round Robin piece, whatever it is and whenever it arrives.
  • 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.

I am not going to start a New Year New Mira – mostly because I am away from home and I really do have enough started. Going into 2017, I have the following starts (listed in age!!):

  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!)
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013)
  • Nora Corbett Arezzo (March 2014)
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015)
  • Nora Corbett Blitzen (as part of my reindeer parade, Rudolph started in July 2015)
  • Mirabilia Mermaids of the Deep Blue (December 2015)
  • Mirabilia Raven Queen (January 2016)
  • Tamara Blackwork (September 2016)
  • Never Ending Band Sampler
  • Lavender & Lace Celtic Winter (December 2016)

Ten’s not so bad, really!

December WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

Whoa. It’s December already! And I have just these two days left at work for all of 2016. I’ve taken a loooong break this year so won’t be back until Jan 9th. And – gasp! – I have some cover. Amazed.

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2016 was the fifth year of the SAL, and my second year participating.

Anyway, let’s get into the recap. In January, I had a few plans/goals.

  1. Keep a separate portion of my diary for stitching goals AND keeping my WIP blog page updated with pics as I rotate. MOSTLY ACHIEVED – I was much better about recording than I was in 2015.
  2. Mirabilia Mermaids of the Deep. NEARLY COMPLETED – well, the stitching anyway. I had hoped to complete that in 2016 but there’s about 30-35 hours left, and it’s not going on holiday with me.
  3. Mirabilia Raven Queen. WORKED ON.
  4. Nora Corbett Cherub with Tree. FINISHED.
  5. Mirabilia Roses of Provence. DITCHED & FROGGED. I have a different fabric, so planning this for after I finish Persephone. Two Mira skirts would be one too many.
  6. Nora Corbett Blitzen. WORKED ON
  7. Mirabilia Persephone. BLITZED GOALS – currently in the middle of stitching the skirt. So far all conversions are working out.
  8. Nora Corbett Arezzo. DID NOT STITCH
  9. Semco Toy Story sampler. DID NOT STITCH.
  10. Teresa Wentzler Tapestry Cat. MINIMAL STITCH TIME.

I also completed a lot of smalls!

  • Jan – Chinese year of the Monkey
  • Feb – Nora Lily of the Valley RR, Noel mini sampler, Lizzie*Kate Up in the Treetops
  • Mar – nil
  • April – Hands On Design Plenty
  • May – Spring biscornu portion
  • June – Mill Hill fireflies kit, Pickle Barrel Noel, Cross Stitcher bunny kit
  • July – Mill Hill Holly kit x2, Mill Hill Berry kit x2
  • August – nil
  • Sept – Mill Hill Saxony Santa kit
  • Oct – Mill Hill Lapis kit x2, Mill Hill Merry Christmas Santa
  • Nov – Nora Petal Fairy RR
  • Dec – Plastic canvas trees

I also got a few “medium” finishes in. Country Cottage’s Afternoon in London, Cloudsfactory’s A Team and Emma Congdon/Stitchrovia Wise Words Tolkien quote.

For all the missed WIPs in the first section, I feel like I achieved a lot.

 

WIP Wednesday 

Posted in cross stitch, me by

Whoa. Not a huge amount of stitching but some hauling is going on. My local junk store has a DMC stand from another that went out of business so I’m trying to get a full master set of DMC going.  At a buck a skein it’s good value so worth the detour. 


My current piece is Emma Congdon’s wise words. The quote is from LOTR / Hobbit (you’ll find it in both, worded slightly differently). I may carry this thru into December as the Stitch MAYnia monthly SAL is the nearest-to-finish WIPS. I have this and Mermaids of the Deep Blue planned. 

I may yet frog the white clouds for a light gray. Not totally sold on those. 

What are you up to in your crafty life?

EEP Monday-itis

Posted in cross stitch, family, growing, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, work by

I’m feeling more than a little off today. It’s the first Monday of the new fiscal month here at work, so it’s busy-busy-busy yet I want to play (as I write this I’m heading into the last couple of hours and I’ve cleared today’s reporting requirements and am up to the 23 store emails from Friday, so at least that’s something). As a family we have a new routine this week with Si away (we’ll see him briefly on Thursday but that’s it until Sunday). I am absolutely stoked to have finished Cloudsfactory A-Team (only 6 stitching nights!), a huge chunk of Persephone’s skirt for Stitch Maynia’s colour challenge (over 2K stitches or nearly half a skein!) and a new start on Emma Congdon’s Wise Words trilogy (altho for now I only want to do the Tolkien). Both my Secret Santas this year are really hard!!!

And on a personal note, I am struggling with forgiveness.

On Saturday my eldest brother let me know that his dad, my stepfather, is very ill and has been admitted to hospital. JM is 87, so this may be his time, but I am struggling to give a crap. I’m on empty when it comes to him & my (biological) mother – and that’s where I have an issue. Great that I’m not angry or disappointed or frustrated anymore – but where is my Christian spirit? My heart is so hard. I imagined visiting and telling him that I forgive their selfishness and the hurt they caused; but as neither honestly believes they have wronged anyone of us children this would be a waste of time, and would hurt me more. I’m having trouble lifting this burden. Please remember me in your prayers this week. x

WIP Wednesday 

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, me, stitching patterns by

Seeing as I had a finish, there must then follow a start, right? Right.

This is two nights on Cloudsfactory’s A-Team. It’s working up quickly on 28ct Cloudburst lugana from Countrystitch . 

So far my only change was to bling out BA’s necklaces with Kreinik . It’s easy to tell in daylight but I used 002 instead of DMC 3821 and 102 instead of DMC 3852. Si likes it, but I think Bran is stealing it for his room!

It’s not all bad news out there…

Posted in friends, growing, me by

I sincerely don’t understand the American voter right now. I’m supposedly the equivalent of the Trump voter – white, Christian, middle-class, married (ish!), with children, working outside the home – and yet I wouldn’t vote this way at all. Not saying that HRC is a better citizen, but his divisive, ridiculing, temper-inducing, lying, misogynistic rants are disgusting to hear. So his speech last night was a surprise. Who had his leash and why hasn’t they been in control the whole way thru? I can only think that as world citizens we’d be a lot more confident in the next four years if the campaign had been run like this.

To the good news – Corrections boss Ray Smith has recommended to the Parole Board that they reconsider releasing Vicki Letele under compassionate grounds. Common sense! I hope this sets a precedent for how we as a nation care for terminally ill prisoners in the future.

Here’s hoping for the decision today.

 

An Open Letter to the Rt Hon John Key, Hon Judith Collins & Ray Smith…#freevicki

Posted in me by

In the interests of full disclosure, I don’t know Vicki Letele. I’ve never met her. I have however met Dave, her brother, and I belong to his fitness motivation group. But these facts don’t come into consideration when thinking about the situation that surrounds Vicki.

I am actually really disgusted that our society needs to have this conversation. I am disappointed. We are a Christian nation – our anthem rings out proudly “God of Nations” – and yet we are behaving in a manner that is most un-Christian like. It is unhealthy for society that anyone is treated in this manner. The Judaic judicial code of “an eye for an eye” is outdated and isn’t what our judicial code is based on.

So what did Vicki do? It’s a matter of public record…

She used fake documents to get finance for low income families, then sold those families properties belonging to people that she was related to – and there was a financial kick back for her. She made a profit. And a considerable profit.

The serious fraud office investigated – and she was found guilty of 10 charges of dishonestly using a document. The fraud amounted to $3.6 million. (Rachel Smalley, NZ HERALD).

In direct contrast, the former South Canterbury Finance Limited (South Canterbury) Director and Lawyer Edward Oral Sullivan was sentenced in the High Court to 12 months’ home detention and 400 hours of community work. The charges arose out of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into SCF’s collapse in 2010 which resulted in $1.58 billion being paid out under the Government guarantee.

I haven’t read anywhere that as a tax payer, I paid out for Vicki’s fraud like I have with Sullivan and Hubbard. I do know that as a tax payer, I’m paying a lot more for her to be housed in Wiri’s correctional facility than I would if she had home detention, even before her care needs escalated. And don’t even get me started on how two judges came to such different sentences, given that both pleaded guilty and the start point was very similar. Arguably if Vicki had the same sentence this cancer would have been discovered earlier and her life expectancy would be beyond the 3-5 months that it currently is. She would certainly have been able to see out the full sentence.

The (parole) board said that Letele’s condition would inevitably deteriorate to the extent she would require hospice care and at that time compassionate release would be appropriate.

In contrast to the submissions of several doctors and a nurse, Corrections opposes early compassionate release and has told the board that she is being adequately cared for in prison. (NZ HERALD).

Uh-huh. No. This is not believable, given the delays in obtaining the correct medical treatment for Vicki. It’s not believable, given the lack of medical knowledge that the prison staff have. It’s not believable, given that Vicki’s cellmates are having to share the care of Vicki, who is too weak to care for herself. Leaving her largely isolated from family & respite care until what Corrections judge at 3-5 days from death isn’t humane for anyone, let alone her children, who will need this time with her. All it will do is continue to hasten her inevitable death.

I would like to see Vicki’s sentence transferred to Home Detention. I would also like to see that the same good sense is spread out to other inmates who are in similar situations. We all know that Vicki’s isn’t an isolated case, so let’s look for those people. Let’s take care of the weak and vulnerable. Let’s be both compassionate and sensible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Kind regards,

Paula

 

 

Good news – Corrections are re-considering their decision. I really hope common sense & compassion prevail.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11740849

Starting Over Feels Like…

Posted in cross stitch, DIY home, house - gardens, me, sport, weight loss by

Stephanie has set up a mini SFS group to “dummy run” from November thru to January. Yay for the re-start. Now to be disciplined; October was a month of oh-I-can’t-buy-next-year-must-get-it-all-now and that isn’t sustainable in anyone’s life (craft, chocolate or whatever – do drinkers freak out before Dry July? Curious minds want to know).

Cattle at OTH
Padlock at Cornwall Park enterance
Entry on Seaview Terrace, Grafton
Si looking pretty in pink

After a nasty fall last week I’m starting over with exercise. I did walk to the Domain on Friday (just over 4km, so easy; Si & Biebs are now reffing a weekly tournament there in addition to Watchman Tag on Wednesday); we did the stairs on Saturday & the little ones and I walked OTH on Sunday. Last night I walked from work to Patiki; about 6.3km & then tonight is #BBM bootcamp. My summer routine will be about feeling strong.

I am not starting over with Jenny Craig however. I simply can’t continue to work those sums into the budget but I achieved what I wanted to. My portion size is mostly under control; I try to eat 5-6 times a day & I eat a lot healthier than I did. I’m certainly not eating chocolate every day (sorry for the sales crash, Whittakers) I’ve lost nearly 10 kilos and I don’t get headaches daily, even tho I stopped taking that medicine about 2 months ago. I’m counting all this as a win.

What can you start over to give you that “woo hoo” feeling?

PS – don’t forget to enter my giveaway over in Flosstube! Link in a previous post.

Feeling Good

Posted in cross stitch, family, friends, goals, grateful, house - gardens, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, weight loss, work by

It was the first long weekend of the “summer” for us down here in NZ. The forecast wasn’t too crash hot but who cares? Three days away from the desk beckoned…

And it stayed that way. I thought about work late last night & decided that hey, I’m capable of getting heaps done today, so why break into family time when I really don’t need to? So we snuggled down (as much as one can with a sulky teen) & relaxed. I’m so relaxed right now that I have “losted” my work key and sat in my car until (work) Z appeared this morning! It worked out well as I remembered my alarm code & he couldn’t remember his.

Screenshot_20161022-160919.pngSaturday started with boot camp, like it has for the last few weeks. I am enjoying this start to my weekend. We did the other steps at Trusts this weekend for a change; terraces to bear climb (or reverse bear) or run down, steps to run up, ab work on the dock in the sun, listening to the water rush by. I still don’t like being in photos but there is a huge difference between 8 weeks ago and now. I have cheekbones! That’s Loren, Si & myself, with #masetheace above us. Si keeps telling himself (and us!) that he was the rose. Huh.

In the afternoon I surprised the kids with the Lego exhibit that was on at Trusts. I won over cynic Teen 1 AND 2, not bad for seven bucks a head! We probably spent a couple of hours there; didn’t buy anything but I am lusting after both the Disney castle and Hogwarts – I have earmarked part of my bonus on a family holiday, part towards a canopy for the new ute and now part for a Lego castle. I am earning it, I may as well be frivolous with part of it! Mase dug into his pile of Lego on Monday and created a robot – he asks that you note the “glasses” it is holding.

We also went to Waiwera to soak out the stresses. Biebs stayed home so Lou came; Mase and (regular) Z went down the lazy river, had cannon fights and so on; I got very annoyed at a bunch of 15yo boys who had a go-pro, took over the relax pool and talked (loudly) about boners, shaming fat girls & so on. If any one of them had a gf I’d be very surprised – what little sh*ts. Grateful I don’t see my teens in this mode (altho I am very sure they have a sh*t mode too).

img_20161023_133618Sunday was devoted to Grandma’s house. Two sets of steps are replaced; the gardens are pruned/chopped/weeded, lawns sorted. Hard to believe these were puny $2 buxus that I put in 12-13 years ago. That hedge is as high as my waist now.

Monday started at Bethells dunes with Chris & Loren (Paige & her fam were late). For all the time I’ve spend at the beach, I’d never gone into the dune side. Chris had planned a three-step exercise for us and OUCH my calves were cramping very quickly! However apart from the reverse bear crawls up the slope (no-one managed that) & the two-feet-together-jump-up (only Si managed that) & the body drops (I struggle with those as my wrist goes too far, so I sub out) – I managed to complete a set. Si, Loren & Bran were well into their second set at the end of 20. Then we did a final set as nine – Paige had appeared by then – & I think the kids beat us adults hands down. Next time I’ll bring the board to go down the dunes! 20161024_085847.jpg

The rest of the day was devoted to relaxing (we watched Peter Kay’s Tour that wasn’t a Tour vid, totally recommend & I was in stitches for good portions of it and its fairly clean), getting ready for the week ahead (I prep Si’s & my breakfast cereals, snacks & so on for the whole week on Sundays now as a kick-start & did a lot for the kids also), and speaking of stitches, I got in some time on Andie’s round robin. It was a bit awkward as her stitching is the opposite to mine (/// then \\\) and had forgotten that I could turn it 90 degrees to get the same result and use my method. You can tell I clicked yesterday as the progress was so much more! Doh.

Tag starts this week; Si and Biebs are refereeing at two tournaments a week this summer, on Wednesday and Fridays. Then boot camp is Thursday (I want to start adding Tuesday to my schedule); next Monday sees the start of Tag…our weeks are filing up as Monday swim classes started last week. The next few months are going to be an exercise in balance; but only 15 sleeps until the US Elections (I do not envy your selection), 29 until Thanksgiving (the tradition I think I would adopt) and 60 sleeps until Christmas! So that’s 55 until I’m on holiday…

 

Long time, No talk…

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, family, goals, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, photos, round robin, Smalls SAL, weight loss by
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Mase at the summit of One Tree Hill, looking towards Rangitoto (the island in the harbour).

I have really neglected this blog! No excuses, just busy elsewhere. I am going to Butterbean Motivation boot camps and have ramped this up from once a week to three – and Si is now joining me. He is also enjoying the eclecticness of the group and how welcoming they are. I know I’m getting stronger – last week I was so ill I didn’t do much from Sunday night to Saturday morning (worked from home tho) & I only managed half Saturday’s set. I had lost 8.3kg since starting on June 27th but after last week I’m sure it will be a gain. I’m still sick so I’ve elected not to attend JC for a couple of weeks & will meal-plan with more knowledge, commitment & a scan of some weight watchers books. It will be nice to be eating the same as the kids for a few weeks anyway. Here’s me at my first bootcamp & then earlier this month. I have cheekbones!! And I’m two sizes smaller. Yay for finally fitting that Fleetwood Mac shirt I brought last November. And Loren – she’s amazingly dedicated. I’m so grateful that she thought to include me in this group.

img_20161015_162710Jen & I gave up some time on Saturday to collect for the Breast Cancer Foundation. Jen looked after the kids; I go the weirdo with the “theory” on how women get breast cancer. Eep. Still, we were clever enough to have an inside spot as the rain continued to cover Auckland & helped bring in cash for a good cause. The text link is still applicable if you’re in New Zealand!!

img_20161014_093422I got lots of haul, some of it yet to arrive. My Stitch from Stash is well in the red – so I need to get some finishes done! Ms Oh Sew Crafty (Stephanie) is running this on facebook – search for the group Stitch From Stash 2017A. It was intended to start in January and run until June, but like some others, I am trying to be conscious of what I am kitting up now in anticipation. Right now I’m in debt until January!! And I’m in a bit of a bid war for L&L Firefly Fairies so that’s still to be added. The Herschners list is from their sale (3 Nora Corbetts and one other) & thankfully I had brought from Jenny (www.homestitchness.com or on Etsy) earlier!

Stitch From Stash Oct-16
Budget   $25.00
Expenses Nantucket Rose -8.00
  CountryStitch FQ x 3 -100.00
  Herschners Sale x 4 -5.65
     
     
     
Finishes Mill Hill Lapis x 2 10.00
  Mill Hill various FFO 16.00
  RR – Queen Mermaid 10.00
     
     
     
Rollover   0
Total Available Budget   -$52.65

Stephanie has created a worksheet for tracking spend/finish. I’ve added the column so I know what items I spent/finished & set my budget (fortunately postage costs don’t come into it!) and set a value for each finish. It’s quite a clever way of being mindful.

01526f42940ce85df07067b60366a180I’ve started using one of the fabrics from Catherine at www.countrystitch.com already (Geyser 28ct Lugana). I’ve looked at Save the Stitches and another couple of Liz Almond designs, but this one was in the Spring 2015 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework, which I already owned (stash!!). I’m converting the reds to green threads & started last night: IMG_20161016_204145.jpg

And today is the post date for my Mira RR. I finished the Queen on Saturday – there are no thread conversions in this one. I’m planning on beading the whole lot once it returns, as I suspect I will need to re-stitch the borders. If I do I won’t use DMC satin but find a comparable silk or Waterlillies thread instead. On the left will be Waiting for Ships facing Queen; Gypsy facing Bluebeard’s Princess & Enchanted facing Waiting for Ships. This is on 28ct Lugana in Cook Strait from Countrystitch.

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I’ve also had a blitz on finishing some of the Mill Hill ornaments that I plan to give for Christmas. One set is for the SIL and another for the FIL & his girlfriend. I’ve kept the patterns in case I decide to re-stitch any for our tree next year. There’s one more to do for each set. If you’re curious, I don’t follow the thread instructions. I only use 2 strands, not 3, and the repeated set are on 14ct plastic canvas not perforated paper.

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Production Line! Lapis at the top, the second Holly at the bottom.

Anyway, this is turning out to be a huge post. I’ll try to get back into the regular WIP Wednesday/review/share posts from this week. Thanks for reading, and take care!