WIP Wednesday

Posted in Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

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!

6Jan2015

2014 in review

Posted in Uncategorized by paulainauckland

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,300 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 22 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report. One thing that amazed me – I did a stretch of 62 days posting!

6Jan2015

So much for preparation

Posted in me, work by paulainauckland

Yesterday was the first day back at work after the stat holiday break (I haven’t taken leave yet). Only four days away from my desk, but man-flu turned me into a mess. I packed my lunchbox & stashed it in the garage fridge on Sunday night, and left a note on the front door…

I didn’t forget my lunch box. I forgot my breakfast instead….muppet.

5Jan2015

January WIPocalypse

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

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.

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

4Jan2015

OLW updated

Posted in OLW by paulainauckland

I decided to go with Serenity. It’s close to Peace, but it’s the attitude that I want to express.

I’ve been sitting on the class notes for a couple of days, thinking on things while I work away around the house, in the garden and so on. Here’s my result – and yes, I know there is a blank. I’m not sure what to write under “invitation”. Not yet, anyway.

I also need to take a photo of me and slot it into the gap on the cover page.

I did lose my attitude today tho – grocery shopping at Countdown and what do I spy?

Really? Jesus was only just born!

2Jan2015

Travelling Bunny – a finish & a giveaway

Posted in Smalls SAL, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

If you’ve been following for a while you might remember that I was SOOOOOO excited to win the opportunity to host The Travelling Bunny in his world circumnavigation. Bunny waited patiently until January first – and he’s my first stitching piece of 2015.

Me being me, I did convert a few things. Fabric was the natural/taupe 25ct Lugana. His coat is 3790, his tummy & tail in 613, the background is 3865. His eyes are Mill Hill 02014 and the stamens are 02002 added with 677. The flower and the greens are as per the chart. I need to rummage for some fabric to stitch him into an ornie – but I have until the last Wed of the month before check-in so I’m good.

Bunny now needs to move on – he didn’t get residency and he’s packing his bags. He’s been travelling since May 2011 – yes, that long! check out Chiara’s blog category – http://thegreytail.wordpress.com/category/travelling-pattern/ – along with a rotating bag of goodies.

So – if you have a blog, and you want to participate, COMMENT on this post by January 27th, New Zealand time. I’ll announce the next host when I post my Smalls SAL post on the 28th. It’ll be cool to see where in the world he ends up next!

1Jan2015

You Can Quote Me – Creativity

Posted in work, You Can Quote ME by paulainauckland

I’m a firm believer that if you’re busy but organised, it’s easy to add things to your pile and get them done. I also believe that creative people get more done. Think of a writer, an artist, a musician, your local butcher – creativity springs out everywhere and if you’re creative, it’s up to you to help populate the ideas in the people around you.

A really easy way is to add something to a workmate’s wall, stick something on the office fridge, leave some new pencils/felts and a colouring book or two on the lunchroom table. Creativity is therapy, and creativity is contagious!

Let me know what you did & what the reaction was! More fun if you can do this secretly 🙂

31Dec2014

WIP Wednesday – the TUSAL

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

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.

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…

30Dec2014

One Little Word 2015

Posted in OLW by paulainauckland

I’ve been tossing up what word will fit. This is a (very) last minute decision to rejoin OLW; previously I haven’t stuck with it. Maybe past words haven’t been right; maybe I need to allow myself to evolve throughout the year.

Potential candidates were:

grow – thinking faith, work skills, craft skills
craft – this is kind of redundant. my only resolution for 2015 is to craft. I am not giving up chocolate.
move – because I won’t give up chocolate.
compass – chose a direction.
serenity – I am lacking it.

Serenity, I think, will be the right word. I desperately need to focus on this at home and at work.

Examples? At work there is that one person who tries (even tho technically we are equals, time-wise we are not) to control what I do and where I am at. She came into my office, burst open the door and was so disgruntled to find me at my desk it was all I could do not to burst out laughing. But her other subterfuge is not funny and I don’t cope well with being belittled. Thankfully our boss is onto it but I expect further ructions.

At home there is the Screaming Teen and his behavior. The Not Teen and his complete lack of practicality. The 5YO and his habit of whining & crying when things don’t go his way. I need to let this wash over me. Think Zen. Think like that duck, peaceful on the surface but paddling like anything under the water.

Actually, I don’t want to be the duck. I want to be organised and coping, stable and peaceful and FUN. I think that if I am serene, this will lead to growth, craft and a direction. Moving will add to serenity, as walking/swimming are activities that calm my mind.

If you had a word for 2014, what was it? What should it have been? If you didn’t have one, what would it be now you’re at the end of the year?

Thanks for reading. x

EDIT: 8.30pm and I’ve had a brainfart. Maybe my word is similar – like Peace. I’m really excited for it to be Peace.