Category Archives: round robin

March WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by
20190319_131535.jpg

a visit to Homestead Framers…

Hello everyone! I hope you’re well. 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.

March Goals

  • Bead & FFO Genoa Santa’s NOPE
  • Complete stitching on Wales Santa’s NOPE
  • Stitch & FFO Hello There April NOPE
  • Complete & FFO Kiwi 10 Cents FINISHED
  • Complete first fairy in Shakespeare’s Fairies ALMOST!
  • Work on Arezzo FINISHED

With most of my stitching working around the School of Magical Stitches group challenges, I haven’t worked on Shakespeare’s Fairies as much as I would have hoped in Feb. But, I have several starts, two finishes (one of which I am so, so stoked to get done), dropped three off to the framers & there are a few closer to a finish. Bonus points given that one of my “homework” pieces will double as my SIL’s present, as she loves cats.

Arezzo doubled as both my WIPocalypse “stitch every day” piece and for 1000 stitches of an Ultimate Challenge. I worked on her for 24 of the 25 days (the 25th was the day I finished) & honestly, don’t know why I didn’t finish her sooner. She’s so pretty & delicate that I am considering which Mira I will stitch over one next! But as I started Coffee Quaker over one, that won’t be for a while.

April Goals:

  • Use Genoa & Wales for Extra Credit piece (500 stitches)
  • Complete first fairy in Shakespeare’s Fairies
  • Stitch Hello April AND Hello May
  • Work on Quaker Coffee every day in April

Question of the month: What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, etc) out there have you discovered and recommend? I do recommend (new to me, anyway) Sirious Stitches & KiwiXCrossing designers, purely for the ease of their patterns (both are Etsy); and for fabric I always recommend Catherine at Countrystitch Fabrics – her shop is not new, but the range is ever expanding, the website is fantastic, service is great AND if you want to get an idea of the fabric/design combo, she’s listed on the Fabric Viewer website.

When it comes to Stitch From Stash, I’m a little bit in the red. This would fix with no spend/no finishes in April, but I got a wee bonus so had a binge. Mani di Donna’s Blue Quaker Sewing Basket, Mirabilia’s Mermaid of Atlantis (plus Waterlillies threads) and two Mill Hill kits, the Celestial Sleigh and Princess Carriage. I’ll show pictures as I work on them.

Mar-19
Country Stitch Fabrics Cloudburst -18.11
Country Stitch Fabrics Bourbon -17.39
Floral Cat (Etsy) -5.25
Spotlight DMC*12 -22.80
Spotlight Lugana FQ -15.00
123Stitch Binge -97.76
SamSarah Need to Read 4.42
KiwiXCrossing 10 Cent 13.92
Arezzo Conversion (over one) 32.44
Rollover + Budget $107.01
Total Available Budget -$18.52

December WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, goals, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, Smalls SAL, stash cache app, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by
as of this morning

Well. When I said earlier that 2018 wasn’t going to be my busiest stitchy year, I wasn’t wrong.

Goals (bracket date indicates the start month & year):

  • Mirabilia Ashley’s Roses RR section (Dec 2018) COMPLETED
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) – Zac will be 15 soon, & this needs to be done before then! But first I have to hunt it down… DIDN’T TOUCH IT BUT I FOUND IT
  • Mirabilia Fairy Idyll (September 2017) – Gail has loaned me the chart, & I want to return it this year HALF-WAY THRU
  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!)  – because it deserves progress DIDN’T TOUCH IT
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) –because I want to get thru that skirt! COMPLETED
  • Jane Austen SAL (December 2017) –because I want to keep up with the readings FLAGGED

In addition to the above, I did get a few more things completed, & a few starts:

  • LHN Bethlehem (which I forgot to get framed for this Christmas)
  • Melinda’s RR choice,  Gigi
  • Lizzie*Kate’s Be Bold
  • LHN Summer Sampler (I’m FFO’ing that this weekend, finally, as it’s now Summer down here)
  • Mill Hill ornaments – two each of the Beehive, Trinidad Santa, Peridot and one re-worked Santa for Bec
  • Mirabillia’s Portrait of Antique Vines (converted)
  • Mirabilia Renaissance Mermaid for my own RR (& then I beaded it all)
  • Home*Stitch*Ness Remembrance Wreath (FFO)
  • Joy embroidery wreath (FFO)
  • Clouds Factory’s Princess Bride
  • Cathy’s Hello December, January & February (also FFO)

I am very close to my first 2019 finish – a conversion of Jardin Prive’s Eiffel Quaker.

I gave up Stitch From Stash in November. I went stupid from all the stress and on a spending spree. Overall the year finished $126 in “debt” but I plan to be better in 2019. I’ve begun a course of antidepressants and things are so much better – I’m not anxious (or as anxious) as I was so yay for that.

Anyways, Happy New Year & I’ll be back for the Intro & 2019 Goals post next week.

WIP Wednesday #225 & August WIPocalypse

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

Hello lovely people! I am in a much better head space this week – had awkward convo with family member & hard convo with the boss out of the way, and on Sunday we (Si & I) completed the Loaded Tough Guy mud run. Exceptionally slow time, but we’d made a decision to stick together so that meant we were governed by my fitness – then on the first downward slide, T injured his back. This was maybe a quarter of the way in? So after that, it was Si, myself, T, Alvin, Mel & Ondrake working together. We picked up Kim (Mel & Kim earworm for you other 80’s survivors hehehe) who had been left behind by her team and while we were the last group to finish, we finished. My shoes are a write-off and my body isn’t that far behind. However – massive achievement, given the course conditions and the mental fortitude needed. My Samsung watch says I climbed 49 flights & did 9.6 km that day. And that won’t count the sliding downhill – I did a lot of that both on my arse and my feet! I recommend Magnesium supplement – it’s made a huge difference.

Stitching has been excellent. I have beaded Deepest Love & Renaissance Mermaids, and have started Waiting for Ships. My work project is two copies of Mill Hill’s Peridot ornament (long time readers will remember I did a lot of these a couple of years ago for family members who don’t appreciate, so now it’s one set for me & one for a gift to a stitchy friend).

As I missed the July WIPocalypse, here’s my answers to both questions (click on the icon on the side to take you to Measi’s site, where the main event is hosted. If you’re a stitcher, please join our motley crew).

JULY – Half Year recap – how are my goals for the year?

Huh. Looking at my points from January this year, not great at all …

So my focus pieces for 2018 (given that I want to end in the black for Stitch From Stash also) are in order of attention (bracket date indicates the start month & year):

  • Mirabilia Ashley’s Roses RR section (Dec 2018) FINISHED
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) – Zac will be 15 soon, & this needs to be done before then! But first I have to hunt it down… I KNOW WHERE IT IS, I JUST DON’T WANT TO DO IT
  • Mirabilia Fairy Idyll (September 2017) – Gail has loaned me the chart, & I want to return it this year MADE STEADY PROGRESS, ABOUT A THIRD THRU AND AM LOOKING FOR MY OWN COPY SO I CAN RETURN GAIL’S
  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!) – because it deserves progress NOT EVEN TOUCHED
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) –because I want to get thru that skirt! MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, DOWN TO THE LAST QUARTER!!!
  • Jane Austen SAL (December 2017) –because I want to keep up with the readings GAVE UP, I’LL STITCH MY AMENDED BOOKSHELF NEXT YEAR

Too many other things caught my eye! I’m still very pleased with what I have done this year. Not much chance of finishing in the black for this half (altho I did for the first half & should for the whole year) – those Mira 25th Anniversary purchases threw that plan out!

AUGUST – Which is more satisfying to you and why – the process of stitching a piece, or the finish? It’s both by turn – I enjoy the quiet of stitching, the achievement of the finish.

STITCH FROM STASH – thanks in part to some sales, I’m not in as bad a position as I thought. If the person who wants Biancabella does pay, and if I finish Persephone I will end in the black for both the half and (importantly to me) the year. At the least, I resisted spending more this month than just the DMC skeins I ran out of!

Aug-18
  $25.00
Spotlight 7 DMC -11.83
 
Portrait of Antique Vines 11.04
SOLD NC Snapdragon (Maureen) 15.00
   
Rollover -$223.95
Total Available Budget -$184.74

WIP Wednesday #224

Posted in cross stitch, family, friends, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

Hey everyone! Its hump day… it’s also “difficult-talk-with-the-boss” day; if you pray, I’d appreciate it.

Stitch-wise I had a wee break over the weekend. I was out and about so really only stitched for a little bit on Saturday and had Sunday/Monday off from any crafting (I discovered a new-to-me author and yeah. It’s hard to stitch and read at the same time!). I took the boys to Stardome on Wednesday as there was NO parking to be found around the Museum and we played in the park. Both Lou & I fell asleep for a bit during the movie about Super Volcanoes (Benedict’s voice). Don’t think we snored, or the staff were too polite to mention it!

TULIPS!
last rugby game
Mase & Noah

So here’s Renaissance. I’m into the home stretch! Less than 250 stitches to go, then the back stitch around her hand, a bit of Kreinik then I’m beading!

last week
as of this morning

WIP Wednesday #223

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, family, goals, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by

As you read this, I am enjoying the day off work, as our Primary school teachers are striking for better pay & conditions today. Mase the Ace has his bestie, Noah, staying overnight from Tuesday after school (his mum is a teacher) until rugby training today. I’m likely running on coffee fumes but also having a blast.

WIP-wise, I have been throwing a few hours into Persephone but also a couple of smaller pieces. I am feeling the need to accomplish and finish, so first up was the quick Portrait of Antique Vines. This is the 25th Anniversary cameo from Nora Corbett of Mirabilia designs:

My changes included changing out the white linen for a Crafty Kitten hand-dyed opalescent scrap that was in my stash (thanks to Lynne for including it when I brought some fat Q’s). I’ve omitted two of the three Caron Waterlillies, and changed out the other for 229. I was pretty careful to stitch down from the mirror top down one side then the other so that the blends matched vertically. Then some of the black beads are also omitted (most noticeably in her “crown” as I liked the younger appearance of just a tiara. I changed the beads to the petite black (42014 I think) to add delicacy.

Next up is my Mirabilia Mermaid Round Robin (on Countrystitch Cook Strait lugana). The missing piece was originally planned to be Enchanted Mermaid, but as her face is much larger than Waiting for Ships I’ve happily changed her out to Renaissance (which came out post my original plan). I’ll have to ask Stephanie (HI STEPHANIE!!) to help me work out the SFS credit, as I’ll have stitched two portions plus all the frames plus all the beads…

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Hope you all have a lovely week!

WIP Wednesday # 217

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, embroidery, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin by

Whoa. I haven’t been around for far too long. Life has been super busy and I didn’t realise I’d let this slip. Sorry!

IMG_20180415_215221_667.jpgSo in the last month (since returning from Sydney) I’ve completed Gigi, on Melinda’s round robin. I will probably never buy Under the Seas 32xt opalescent for my own work – this was too tight for me, & I don’t like the unevenness of linen. However I like the mottled effect! This colourway is Yorrick.

IMG_20180417_183208_988Because I’m more than a little stressed I decided to start one of the smaller purchases from this year instead of heading back into Fairy Idyll. Lizzie*Kate’s are easy enough (there is a mistake here that I left in!) & this one whipped up in about 6 hours total. The colours are as charted except for the pink. I used a stash find for that one & didn’t even record it. What a rebel (insert roll eyes icon). It’s on 28ct Haystack Lugana from Countrystitch & I will probably op-shop frame it myself.

IMG_20180418_092158_004My next new start is enabled by seeing a Spring version completed on Instagram. This is Little House Needlework’s chart #112, the Summer Band Sampler (also a stash purchase this year). It’s on another portion of the same Haystack Lugana (I have enough left for Autumn). I’m using the fancy floss that I have to hand, rather than the suggested DMC & I’m kind-off changing it up as I go. I’m thinking of doing actual specialty bands as the divides, rather than the single row of cross stitch – but I’ll have to choose something narrow, as I’ve already cut the fabric. Oops.

March WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, family, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, photos, round robin, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, travel, WIPocalypse by

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ ; it’s my favourite SAL, mostly due to the host organisation (which is spot on), the range of topics & the wide variety of stitchers participating. There’s always something to oooh over! Click on the link to the right.

March Focus:

  • Mira RR piece – started, I hates it
  • CAYR SAL – started Satsuma Stocking #3, the reindeer one
  • Flosstube update – Feb’s uploaded in the first week of March

RR as at 27/03
Reindeer Satsuma St Stocking
Fairy Idyll as of 01/03
FI & Reindeer as of 27/03

Yep. March came in and stole my stitchy bug. The weave on the RR piece is very tight (32ct opalescent that was then dyed) and I am not enjoying my progress. I have to wear the reading glasses and work short stints, or my head aches. And bc my reading glasses are so focussed, I can’t do my usual and stitch along to Flosstube, as I can’t even focus on the (very large) TV across the room. It’s going to be a daylight only, headphones on, gripping audiobook to get me to the finish line here. I managed maybe 5-6 thread lengths yesterday. Or the skirt train bit, if you’re more visual.

With our Sydney trip happening mid-month, most of my external, non-work, focus was on this. Extra grocery shopping, paying bills early, getting out of my laundry cycle – none of this helped with stitching! This trip was just Si & myself, and we crammed heaps into the two days in Sydney then tried to do a lot of the things on the cruise ship, so even tho I took Fairy Idyll, even she didn’t see much progress. Still, as Katy says, every stitch completed is a stitch closer to the finish. As always, hover or click for captions.

MacQuarie’s Lighthouse – the oldest in Australia
Memorial at North Head
Memorial for Gallipoli at North Head
ANZAC memorial at Hyde Park
Coogee Beach memorial for the Bali dead
Looking back to the city from Nobby’s Point
Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage at Nobby’s Point
Lighthouse at Nobby’s Point
St Mary’s front facade
St Mary’s side on – very English Cathedral in style!
Sydney Opera House from the ferry
Sydney Harbour Bridge from Pacific Jewel
Sydney Nobby’s Point from Pacific Jewel – spot the two lighthouses

Coming back has been full on too, with a couple of work projects and the netball – Si & I attended night two of the Taini Jamieson Trophy games. Next for these teams is the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia – we’ll be there for Tag later in the year. FWIW Jamaica won the trophy this year.

April Focus:

  • Finish the Mira RR piece
  • Continue with the Satsuma Stocking
  • FFO a 2017 ornament into a flat fold
  • March Flosstube update – even tho it’s going to be very short!

 

SFS – still in the black! The Stash Unloading things I brought on 01/03 still haven’t arrived, so a refund has been supplied, but the Lizzie Kate charts I brought (Red White & Beach and Be Bold & Brave) did. I didn’t manage to carve out the time to get to Crewel Gobelin but as the bug is missing, I wasn’t too upset. Today I brought two “oddball” cuts from Catherine at Countrystitch – because they are unusual cut lengths left when processing orders, she sells the pieces at a discount. I’ll have about 4” to each side of the Renaissance Mermaid but that’s perfectly fine with me!

Mar-18
Budget $25.00
Jodi – HOD Latte Love -6.76
Jodi – Stitching Feeds my Heart -15.21
Countrystitch Orphan A6 Bourbon -37.67
Countrystitch Orphan A9 Cook Strait -19.93
LK Red White & Beach -12.43
LK Be Bold & Brave -12.43
Refund Supplied Jodi 21.97
Countrystitch Credit 6.09
Rollover $76.57
Total Available Budget $25.20

March 25 – What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, etc) out there have you discovered and recommend? I’m not sure I’ve discovered anyone completely “new”! For fabric dyeing, I obviously love Catherine’s products as the DMC comp is spot on to the actual fabric that arrives, and she allows for shrinkage when she calculates your actual fabric size. Try Countrystitch if you’re looking for something different.

On Etsy, I like Satsuma St, Jenny @ Home*stitch*ness & Stitchrovia. None are completely “new” either but one thing I know about stitching – my tastes change, & every designer has merit.

January WIPocalypse

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

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2017 was the seventh year of the SAL, and my third year participating; it’s my favourite SAL, mostly due to the host organisation (which is spot on), the range of topics & the wide variety of stitchers participating. There’s always something to oooh over!

Well I can skite and say that I’ve knocked off ONE of my stitchy goals for WIPocalypse 2018! Ashley is finished. Phew.

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MONTHLY TOPIC: What SAL’s are you participating in this year? and If you are participating in the Olympic Stitching Challenge, what challenge are you accepting?  What are your goals?

SALS – well, I really shouldn’t participate in many if I expect this year to be both one of finishing WIPs and staying in the black in SFS. For the Jane Austen SAL, I am listening to Juliet Stevenson read “Sense & Sensibility” (the Jan/Feb choice) as I grout the bathroom tiles but as I am waiting on my LHN Bookshself chart to arrive, stitchy progress is nil. But I’m not at all worried, as there are two months to stitch in each portion of this SAL, and the only requirement is some progress.

When it comes to other group SALs like Stitch Maynia or Mel’s own Teresa Wenztler group, I’m only going to participate if the piece yelling at me matches. Yes, a bit of a cop-out, but I have my current WIPs and no desire really to create more. Thus, LHN Bethlehem matches the SM “Christmas All Year Round” requirements, I can probably fudge any colour days in SM and I’ll pull Tapestry Cat out for a couple of the TW goals. Sorted.

My “Olympic” goal is to get the rabbit, topiary and wings done on this RHS of Fairy Idyll. Now that I have finished any RR (still waiting on the next & no idea when it’s coming) I will be focussed on Bethlehem at work & Idyll at home. My start point for this WIP is from November 27th, 2017:

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And as it’s the end of the month, here’s my SFS report – I’m IN THE BLACK!! Even if that sale hadn’t come thru I’d still have five bucks.

Jan-18
Budget $25.00
Spotlight 12 DMC -20.28
GiftOfStitching *4 Etsy -9.96
Irish Blessings Chart -2.73
   
SELL L&L * 4 50.27
Ashley RR 13.80
   
Rollover 0
  $56.10

 

WIP Wednesday #211

Posted in cross stitch, friends, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash by

As per my goals, I’m working away on Ashley’s Roses. I filled in the missing portions around the top garland, her hair & skin then I treated myself to the back stitch (yes, with Mira/Nora this is a treat. It’s how it all comes together). I did change the colour however as the charted is 844 & that’s odd to me! Now I’m working on her skirt bow (just the blend left), then the gaps in her skirt and the last item will be the garland. Then it’s off to Melinda, who will be the last before it returns to Becca.

I can’t wait to see mine back.

WIPocalypse 2018 Intro

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, Teresa Wentzler, WIPocalypse by

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at her blog http://measi.net/measiblog/ 2017 was the seventh year of the SAL, and my third year participating; it’s my favourite SAL, mostly due to the host organisation (which is spot on), the range of topics & the wide variety of stitchers participating. There’s always something to oooh over!

January 7 – Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

So for those of you new to my blog, my name is Paula & I live in Auckland, NZ. My partner & I have four children, ranging from 23 to 8 & we both work full time, plus have plenty to do outside of work & home, so I can already predict that 2018 isn’t going to be my biggest stitchy year. BUT at least this year my plans are realistic!!

IMG_20180106_073029_085So my focus pieces for 2018 (given that I want to end in the black for Stitch From Stash also) are in order of attention (bracket date indicates the start month & year):

  • Mirabilia Ashley’s Roses Round Robin section (Dec 2018)
  • Semco Toy Story Sampler (October 2013) – Zac will be 15 soon, & this needs to be done before then! But first I have to hunt it down…
  • Mirabilia Fairy Idyll (September 2017) – Gail has loaned me the chart, & I want to return it this year
  • TW Tapestry Cat (Dec 2006!) – because it deserves progress
  • Mirabilia Persephone (May 2015) –because I want to get thru that skirt!
  • Jane Austen SAL (December 2017) –because I want to keep up with the readings

 

42068-1I brought Si the Lego Technic Fire Rescue set on Friday & we sat down last night, telly on in the background (8 out of Ten Cats & Taskmaster Season 5, if you’re that interested) and stitched/bricked and talked into the late hours. He starts back at work today so that may not have been the brightest idea ever, but I found that as his hands were busy, they weren’t constantly changing channel & I could focus more on the stitching. I’m up to a bit where the symbols beside each other are shades of the same colour – a filled in heart & a filled in upside down triangle. I see a frog in my future!