Category Archives: Nora Corbett

WIP Wednesday

Posted in Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

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I’m changing out to Stargazer for the next week – ROAD TRIP – partially as I need to chart some ribbon from Rudolph to the next reindeer. I’m combining a scene from one of M’s fav Christmas books, where the reindeer are practicing before Christmas Eve, so no glowing nose (frankly, that’s one part of this Rudolph I don’t like) and lots of little combined details. The border will be a modified version of Blitzen’s with some Prancer. I think it’s going to look gorgeous. But as Stargazer is completely as charted (I haven’t even changed any thread colours as I want this to look as close to late twilight as possible) it should be easier. Just lots of thread swapping and the old “count twice, stitch once” theory going on.

Anyway, not sure how much will get done while we travel (must buy some wipes to keep my hands clean) as we explore with the kids. I am looking forward to the two exhibitions at Te Papa (our national museum in Wellington). One is 75 years of Air New Zealand (both S & I worked for the company) and there is, as you would expect, more about the Hobbit. There is also a treasure hunt, of sorts, with a Middle of Middle Earth Costume Trail. I love the fabric details in the LOTR movie franchise and I am fan-girling a little. Or a lot. Probably a lot.

http://www.wellingtonnz.com/discover/things-to-do/sights-activities/the-middle-of-middle-earth/middle-of-middle-earth-costume-trail/

So the next few posts will be a mix of scheduled and spontaneous. Hope you enjoy a look around our country!

 

January WIPocalypse

Posted in Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, OLW, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

January 5- Topic: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

Introduce Myself. Hmm. Right. I’m Paula, and I live in Auckland, New Zealand. My avatar name is pure panic/laziness, as I needed a personal email the one time I had to go job hunting and that was all I could think of. Paula, in Auckland. I am a mum to four, who range from 20 to 5. I am a partner/fiancé of nearly 19 years now. I work as a vendor performance manager for a major retail group, and I have my fingers in quite a few pies. I also do volunteer work during the league season – in 8 years I’ve only taken the one season off. I’m seriously considering being a sideline mum this year. I don’t use my degree at all, unlike Si, my partner, who uses at least two of his in the day-to-day role he has. I am overweight & not really looking to fix this in a hurry because I have no desire to run even Round the Bays. I’d rather walk it. Or swim.

Personality wise I am friendly, altho don’t lie to me. I will drop you like a hot potato. I like to make people smile or laugh, and it was only after a massive issue at my then employer in 2012 that I learnt to say “no” when asked to do something. A very valuable skill to have. I like to support people and find solutions to help make them happy. Happy friends = happy me.

I read A LOT. Like, two to three books a week. Anything from suspense to biography to contemps to historical. I don’t read horror, or misery memoir. I did read M&B (bath books!) but it’s more than a little stupid to use your Sony in the bath. I’ve been reading since I was 4 & I love to escape into a world that someone else has created. Pretty much everything I read is now digital. Forget diamonds – eReaders are this girl’s best friend. I do occasionally buy physical books – for the pretty pictures or the travel guides.

I dabble in scrapbooking – mostly Project Life, December Daily and this year I’m taking Ali Edwards’ One Little Word. The idea is to take one word that really speaks to you, and make it your focus. You can read about my choice here: https://sewscrapmuse.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/one-little-word-2015/ and more about Ali’s course here: https://aliedwards.com/projects/one-little-word

I took a surface embroidery class in 2014 and enjoyed it. Not enough that it has taken over my main hobby, which is cross stitch, but enough that I can see where I want to incorporate it into pieces (Mirabilia Sleeping Beauty’s blankets seem to be a cool spot) & I have some confidence to do so.

I made Teddy Bears – proper old fashioned ones – in the past. One sits on my console here at work & is regularly picked up and examined. Others have been gifts for newborns and friends going thru hard times. Others have sold, which was amazing to me at the time. I still have the tools and a banana box of stash/patterns but I haven’t made a bear in years.

2014 saw a revival of sorts for me, stitching wise. It went from a chore & an ignore to a woo-hoo! & I got lots more completed than I thought I would do so. I filled my TUSAL jar. An attempt at rotation (let’s blame my wanting to grow up to be Anne for this) failed as I got the “must finish it now” bug. I got a Nora Corbett bug & brought heaps of patterns, altho I cleaned out boxes and boxes of stash.

This year’s WIPs are:

  • Nora Corbett Reindeer (I started with Rudolph). I only have five charts more to go…six to buy!
  • Nora Corbett Mediterranean Mermaid
  • Mirabilia Stargazer
  • Teresa Wentzler’s Tapestry Cat

Planned new starts:

  • Nora Corbett Letter C
  • Nora Corbett Letter P
  • Mirabilia Rose of Sharon

 

I am still collating my list of Smalls for the SAL this year, as I like to be a little flexible (I was regimented about the 12 TW smalls for last year and finished with 3. Dismal fail). I sort-of think the NC letters are small, as I tended to finish them in only a fortnight, but the rules state they are not.

  •  Travelling Bunny (he came from Wisher in November, & he needs to move on)
  • A biscornu
  • A Just Nan special finish
  • a “not my circus, not my monkeys” piece I saw on Pintrest. It fits nicely with my OLW for this year too.

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And that’s it. A shorter list than I anticipated! #mustworkharder

 

WIP Wednesday – the TUSAL

Posted in embroidery, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

TUSAL? ORT? I didn’t formally join the Totally Useless Stitch A Long this year but I loved the idea of it. I found a Moccona jar, scoffed down the coffee and this is the result…chock full of ORTS.

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Looking at the layers I can see where I was this year, and it’s a tangible reminder of what I have accomplished in 2014 (especially given that I haven’t found the $$ to frame most of what I finished). Starting off with Teresa Wentzler’s Stretch, moving on to the Nora Corbett Sleigh (my fav of this year), a few minis, the start of Mirabilia’s Stargazer, a start to Mediterranean Mermaid, some more mini’s, three NC birds that are completed, Lou’s Letter Fairy and the start of the Reindeer. I love the glints of the metallic Kreinik that shine thru.

This has been really satisfying. I plan to use these threads to fill a Christmas ornie and I’ve already picked next year’s jar – a big, faceted whiskey decanter. Very Downton Abbey 🙂

Next year (it’s nearly here!) I’m planning on taking a photo with each WIPocalypse. Could be embarrassing…

Wednesday WIP

Posted in family, food, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

Oh my. I’m all wrapped up! L has given me a hand with the Santa presents and we’ve had a good laugh while doing so. The ham is cooling, half the potatoes are done (I cheated and threw them in the honey glaze) and other stuff is all ready to go.

WIP wise has been slow; I had to frog about three hours work. Don’t stitch and snooze! But I’m happy with how he looks. Still planning how the others will fit on the fabric but that may well wait until the new year.

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Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends. Hope you create some wonderful memories and have an amazing joyous holiday season.

Achoo!

Feeling grateful

Posted in 12 Days of Gifting, grateful, Nora Corbett by

No matter how blah I feel, I’m not like one of my poor gouramis. He’s bloated! Concensus is its because he’s greedy and swallows air when he feeds, so everyone is on a 48hr fast. Tomorrow they get de-shelled peas. Hopefully that deflates Captain Ego quickly.

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I also managed to get some stitching done. Maybe around 100 stitches and I had to frog a bit, but I’m happy to be stitching with minimal pain. Photo on Wednesday!

Also Si kept playing with his Batman ornie, and loved his gift today. Sucess!

WIP Wednesday

Posted in Christmas, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

No stitching progress today. Yes, I’m sad about that too. The reality is that my wrist hurts so much that I am seriously considering the physio. Mouse opperation is ouch!!!

But planning for next year. Signed up now to the 2015 Smalls SAL (click the button on the sidebar) and Measi’s organising a WIPocalypse again (http://measi.net/measiblog/wipocalypse_main/2015_wipocalypse-basic-info-sign-up-page/) This is a huge effort so much appreciated. I brought stash while in Sydney – more Nora Corbett, quelle surprise – two pieces for Carol (my MIL) and the Party Cakes for Louise.

I also plan to complete at least two of the NC reindeer (they almost qualify as a small, given the size of my WIPs), Stargazer, and complete another chunk of Tapestry Cat. My smalls will most probably be Christmas ornaments; I’ll use the monthly check in to get some presents underway and finished! Bonus.

WIP Wednesday

Posted in me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler by

So after putting down my fairy (and forgetting to initial it, FAIL, so pulling it out again), I had to have a severe talking to myself. My WIP pile was growing and while not as large as some in any of the FB groups I belong to, it takes up nearly a whole drawer in my craft organiser. Right now (in age order)

  • Si’s country scene (a Stoney Creek design that bores me now & he’s forgotten about)
  • Teresa Wentzler Tapestry Cat
  • Z’s birth sampler which needs a whole section re-charted or frogged out
  • Teresa Wentzler Noah’s Ark – the frame broke so it’s just sitting on the bars
  • Nora Corbett Arezzo – who had the great idea of doing this all over one?! What a muppet. I’m waiting till true Summer so I can do this in daylight
  • Mirabilia Stargazer – which I started this year
  • Nora Corbett Mediterranean Mermaid – again, started this year & is my hospital visit piece

I didn’t consider either of the TWs (I would have to re-kit out the Ark and I’m up to the over one anyway) so I dangled a metaphorical carrot over my head. Do a decent week on a WIP and you can start something new. So I got out my Maria, which is on (un)evenweaved linen. 32 count too. Ugh. She looks good but it’s very, very slow compared to anything on Lugana. But having to slow down might help my wrist heal.

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The orange is what I’ve done since Saturday night…getting along. The gaps are where I need to bead – lots and lots of beads. She’s coming to Sydney too – eight or nine hours at airports or on a plane means a decent chunk will get done. The biscornu disaster is postponed again!

I Survived NaBloPoMo!

Posted in me, NaBloPoMo, Nora Corbett by

NaBloPoMo_November

When I started planning this in late October, I actually didn’t think that I would carry thru. I don’t have the greatest track record & I find it easy, too easy, to drop things if it’s just for me. Home and work pressures mean I usually crawl up & drop off whatever only affects me (craft, writing, baking, walking) but stubbornly hold onto reading (cue the “you’ve left the light on” “but you’re watching the bloody tv!” bedtime arguments).

But this has been mostly fun and not a chore. Mostly. I put this down to planning ahead, allowing some repetition themes (WIP Wednesday & You Can Quote Me on Thursdays) and not pressuring myself to be flashy & original & trend-setting. What you get is what you get; this wasn’t designed to gain more followers (but hello & thank you – especially to those who comment!) but to try & establish a habit. To be satisfied that I could stick to a plan. Another bonus is that I have been more disciplined about other crafting – I finished three projects during November with the two birds and the fairy letter (which goes to the framers on Wednesday! No photos of the finished item until after the recipient recieves it, sorry) & told myself that I need to finish an older WIP before I start something else

Woohoo – job & knock, as the engineer in the household would say. So what’s next? December Daily, a trip to Sydney & surrounds, Christmas shopping, Christmas food prep, work (only five weeks till Rachel returns & I can hand off a full third of my load!!! I am excited about this, despite it being quite lame to others), stitching  & spending time with my family. Upcoming posts – I plan to use Myfanwy’s October prompts for upcoming posts & the 30 Day Book Challenge (which will not happen on 30 consecutive days). More craft, more travel, more gardens. See you soon!