WIP Wednesday #229 & September WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, goals, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stash cache app, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by paulainauckland

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.

September Focus:

Finish Persephone – YAY!
Bead the top third of Fairy Idyll – done, despite somehow losing two packs of beads.

October Focus:

Complete the wings, Rabbit’s Kreinik ball & face/neck/back over one stitching of FI’s skin – partially done as I completed the wings last night
FO the two Mill Hill Peridot ornies – up to beading
FO the Celebration Santa gift – found out I ripped the plastic canvas, so it may be a re-start.

SEPTEMBER QUESTION: How do you keep your stitching stash organised?

I have the Stash Cache app on my phone, so as long as I keep that updated, I’m sweet there. Most of my patterns are in clearbooks, except for my Mira & Nora stash – that’s in a basket I can pull out and play with (unless the chart is second hand & without the folder – those are in a clearbook to protect the chart). I have four thread boxes of purely DMC, with speciality threads in another; beads are in a Sistema plastic box. But my SIL found a replica stitching box that will soon become the home for everything! It needs to be pulled apart & re-painted, as that dark stain just won’t work for me, but it’s sturdy enough.

STITCH FROM STASH: This isn’t in as great shape as I had hoped, as twice someone’s pulled out from a purchase, and I still have a second Lady Mira + bead pack for sale. I also hit up every Op Shop between Palmerston North & New Plymouth last month & spent a bit (found an OOP Prairie Schooler that I am really pleased to have tho).

	$25.00
Fox Rapunzel, Aphrodite & Bellas	-29.43
Spotlight 13 DMC	-21.97
Op Shop Finds	-31.90

SOLD Biancabella (Shayla)	70.00
Mira Mermaid (round robin)	34.50
Stitchers Notebook	2.55
Persephone (conversion)	54.50

Rollover + Budget	-$159.74
Total Available Budget	-$81.49

29Aug2018

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 paulainauckland

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 25^th 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

15Aug2018

WIP Wednesday #223

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

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 25^th 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…

Hope you all have a lovely week!

12Jul2018

WIP (it’s Wednesday somewhere) #222

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, family, friends, grateful, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

Yay! I had yesterday off work, and I spent the day in a totally self-indulgent way, reading, stitching or spending time with Mase & Renee while we watch a local musical production, The Wizard of Otahuhu! It was super clever & I’m grateful for the opportunity from Auckland Libraries to go. Mase wants to go again (sorry kid, Mama has to work today).

WIP-wise, I got stitches into the surprise Santa (& now I know the recipient is reading my blog, I can’t show photos until after she’s received it). I am tracking my anniversary Mirabilia purchases (have already on-sold the duplicates I ended up with) and working away on Persephone. I am doing the heavily confetti parts with the flowers as I STILL haven’t been to the LNS to pick up some silks for the hem.

Hope your week goes well!

20Jun2018

WIP Wednesday #220

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

I’ve been sick since I last wrote – I spent 3 days working from home (hooray for flannelled pyjamas & sunny spots & kids being in school & work laptops & internet connections & flu medications) – and didn’t get to my stitchy goals. A head cold and over-one stitching do not mix, and I didn’t want to tempt the frog.

One more session on Fairy Idyll brings me to not a lot, not really worth showing…

And three more sessions on Trinidad Santa and voila! Both are ready for me to back, so I am considering them done.

20180619_222525

Two sessions on a repeat stitch, the Celebration Santa, & I have a decent start.

Hope your week goes well & you get lots of crafty time.

13Dec2017

WIP Wednesday #208

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, DIY home, family, me, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

It’s been a busy week. My mind is alternating between frantic & lazy, so I know I’m about to reach the end of all my tolerance.

Since last Wednesday, my Twitter #nzsecretsanta parcel has been checked into Santa’s warehouse, & bonus! The one that is coming to me is also checked in. Mase won Player of the Day at Tag; and celebrated finishing Goldfish #3 at swim school with “play” day, or what the teachers would call survival skills. Ben, his teacher, is off to Massey Uni next year as he has been accepted into Veterinary school. Mase’s sentiments? Hmm. I finished the last colour of Believe – and would you believe it, going back thru my planner I saw that I started this in January. That is how much I have hated stitching on a big piece of perforated paper! We had the school concert last night, finished painting the bathroom (I can hear Elizabeth’s “about time!” comment lol) and I am nearly done beading the second of the Jamaica Santas.

There will be a #FFO dance this weekend, folks.

6Dec2017

WIP Wednesday #207

Posted in cross stitch, embroidery, family, friends, grateful, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, round robin, stitch from stash, WIPocalypse by paulainauckland

So. Here we are again, heading into the silly season. We’ve had a busy week. There’s been a lot of Tag going on (tag is the summer version of league, no tackling but it’s very, very fast flowing). Lou turned 23, & we had a family lunch at hers. Being in retail, work is ramping up so I’m trying to find moments of peace. Like looking at the Pohutukawa (or New Zealand Christmas Tree) at the supoermarket carpark. I even took some stitching into the Shine assembly at school last night – Z was rewarded for having already banked a merit NCEA credit going into year 11 (which is when most NZ children start NCEA/GCSE type standards). He’s got 7, being assessed for another 5 & needs 80 in total by the end of next year.

Stitching wise, it’s been good when I look back. Still too many things for my liking are in the WIP phase, but I got a mini finish – Rose of Sharon for Becca’s RR. I have this one in my stash & Simon has asked to add it to my list – does 2019 look good for you hon?

I have started (at Becca’s noted disappointment that it wasn’t finished) to complete Ashley’s Roses. It took a few hours to mark what had been done on a copy of my chart (yeah, another in my basket of Mira), then floss check to make sure any batch changes wouldn’t affect the overall look. I’d rather frog at this point than later! So this is my start point, I only have a few additional stitches in so not worth showing any progress. I do want to get this way to Melinda in January, so she remains my at-home focus piece.

Also not worth showing any progress on is Jamaica Santa – pathetically I’ve managed only another thread length of beading. But Believe only has one more colour to do before I bead that, and the Honey Pots (work) are taking shape also.

My 2018 plans are starting to come together also – but you’ll have to wait until Jan 7^th, the opening WIPocalypse post for that. Are you joining us for year seven? ANNNND Stitch From Stash is opening for sign-ups for the first six months of 2018. Look for the group entitled “Stitch From Stash 2017/2018” to be included in the ongoing saga. There are other groups as well, but Stephanie is such a good admin & this isn’t a pressure point, so I’m continuing where I am.

27Nov2017

November WIPocalypse

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

WIPocalypse is a monthly check-in SAL hosted by Mel over at measi(dot)blog – click the icon on the right to be taken to her blog. You can now also find us on FB!

Stitch From Stash is also a monthly check-in, hosted on FB by Stephanie, Ms Oh Sew Crafty on IG, blogland & YouTube.

	Nov-17
Allowance	$25.00
Fabric from Lynne	-38.00
LHN Bethlehem	-10.57
Classic Colourworks * 7	-24.50
DMC * 5	-6.09
SELL L&L * 4	40.00

Rollover	-$58.93
Total Available Budget	-$73.09

I have virtually NOTHING to show you all for the last month’s work. There’s a little progress on Fairy Idyll, a little more beading on Jamaica, I picked up Mill Hill Believe for a road trip & am nearly done with the last third of the stitching, Honey Pot *may* have seen a little more action but November has kicked my butt. Last night, I finally finished the greenery of Rose of Sharon for Becca’s piece so at least I got to something!

20171127_053952 November goals:

Leave Fairy Idyll as the focus piece – YES or at least until the round robin piece arrived
Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces – NO
Bead & FFO Mill Hill Autumn Harvest Honey Pot pieces (started yesterday at work) – NO

December goals:

Complete Rose of Sharon for the round robin
Finish the uncompleted portions of Ashley’s Roses & Lady of the Mist
Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces
Stitch some Rhianna Fendi slippers for my work secret santa (plastic canvas ornie)

Question of the Month: What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do? I’d like to do a wall hanging for something a little different. Or a stocking. I’ve planned to do a couple but I haven’t even begun any.

1Nov2017

WIP Wednesday #206, WIPocalypse & SFS

Posted in conversion details, cross stitch, embroidery, family, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stitch from stash, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

WIPocalypse is a monthly check-in SAL hosted by Mel over at measi(dot)blog – click the icon on the right to be taken to her blog. You can now also find us on FB!

Stitch From Stash is also a monthly check-in, hosted on FB by Stephanie, Ms Oh Sew Crafty on IG, blogland & YouTube.

So let’s get the shite part over with – I am officially well in the hole and very unlikely to get out this year. I *may* be fine in 2018, as I have fabric or kits now for a number of starts I want to do, plus I am in total love with Fairy Idyll. I am definitely more aware of what I am spending and doing a lot to avoid impulse buys, which I guess could be counted as a success.

	Oct-17
Allowance	$25.00
FB Dreamer/Watergarden	-24.96
Hospice – JCS pile	-2.00
NO FINISHES

Rollover	-$56.97
Total Available Budget	-$58.93

This month’s stitchy focus was Fairy Idyll, altho I also wanted to finish the two Jamaica Santas as my travel pieces. I started beading last night on those, & I’m happy with my progress on FI so far also. Those pinks, while they look like the charted pinks, aren’t. But the lightest colour, a blend of 819/blanc, looked too pale on the Applemint fabric, so I’ve increased the intensity. And I used my stash for that (bonus point, Stephanie? LOL)

I am still waiting to stitch on two of the round robin pieces – which would increase my SFS balance but take away from FI. I should chase those up – I believe they are both in Scotland.

November goals:

Leave Fairy Idyll as the focus piece
Bead & FFO both Jamaica Santa pieces
Bead & FFO Mill Hill Autumn Harvest Honey Pot pieces (started yesterday at work)

Question of the Month – How did you begin stitching? Both my grandmothers were crafty, especially Nana, as she was a farmer’s wife, but a big influence was Auntie Mick. She’s not my “real” aunty, but a great aunt a couple of times removed, but she was huge in the needlework world at the time. Te Papa, our national museum, has some of her work archived. See this post: https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5m51/mills-marjory-hinemoa

Next posting date: November 26, 2017

Topic for next time: What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?

As an additional blogging question this month, I pose to you: Do you have any plans or instructions for your stitching projects and stash for after you’re gone? Not really! I don’t have a local stitchy buddy and none of my children are as focused on stitching as I would like. Hopefully the stash will go to the local rest home & the finished pieces will be kept by the kids in memoriam.