February Smalls & WIPocaylpse

Posted in cross stitch, goals, round robin, Smalls SAL by paulainauckland

So sorry everyone – I wouldn’t normally post these together but my energy level is really, really low. For links to both SAL’s, please click on the icons to the right.

For Smalls – I completed Emma Congdon’s Home Sweet Home, the GWP (gift with purchase) for a Cross Stitch Crazy 2016 edition. This one isn’t up on her website yet (they often are after a 6 month lag) but you can find similar charts https://www.etsy.com/shop/Stitchrovia?section_id=14750602 SO that one checks off the #monthlymagazineSAL that Heather II runs too…

I also finished stitching and beading Mill Hill Fireflies. This one will be FFO’d this week and be on it’s way to Farrah in TX; just a little something to let her know I’m thinking of her.

My biggest piece this month was the Round Robin. Sorry Jacqui – I just didn’t enjoy stitching her! This is Passione Ricamo’s Into the Darkness, threads as charted (believe it or not). I did play a bit with her lashes; she doesn’t look as witchy as the sample; this is also helped along by not stitching the background. I do think this piece will look amazing when it’s fully done, especially as I can guess as to what Jacqui is planning on the header.

Question of the Month: What is your favourite stitch other than the standard cross stitch? I have a few I like; back stitch doesn’t usually worry me (except that Tattered Teddy I did for a round robin a couple of years back!). I like Algerian eyelets, and chains, and Smyrna crosses…that Stitchsmith course was well worth it and I think I’ll go back for the advanced course next year.

Thanks for reading – I’m off now to complete some real work…

25Jan2017

WIP Wednesday

Posted in cross stitch, friends, grateful, round robin, Smalls SAL by paulainauckland

Look! Aren’t you proud of me? I am posting on the proper day! 😎

I have a couple of things on the go right now. This is Emma Congdon’s Home Sweet Home from an issue of Cross Stitch Crazy. I’m not in love with the colours yet but it’s a good project for work (I finished that Mill Hill fireflies & it’s ready to bead):

At home I am working on Jacqui’s round robin. She’s chosen Passione Ricamo for her designer, and I’ve chosen the least fussy chart from the selection. It’s Into the Darkness but maybe it won’t look so witchy as the original when I’m done.

Andrea’s stitched the one on the right. I wish I could show you the sparkle; those roses are back stitched in Kreinik or a Rainbow Gallery.

I can’t wait tho to get back to something Mira.

Lastly, here’s some Stitch Porn. This is amazing. I want!

19Jan2017

WIP should-do-this-on-Wednesdays

Posted in cross stitch, goals, round robin by paulainauckland

HI everyone! I’m so glad it’s Thursday. This has been a looooong week.

20170115_145556 Friday – shite day at work then a hot walk to the Domain as that tag season has started. Moved Lou from one flat to the next while S+B ref’d there.

Sat & Sun – S+B had refereeing commitments, so it was just Z, Mase the Ace and myself at home. None of us felt very energetic so we lazed around. Slept. Hurting a wee bit after getting back into bootcamps. The Stitch Maynia and Stitch from Stash SAL both featured red, so I did a small part of home♥stitch♥ness Flowering Poinsettia pattern. This is on a 26ct navy Elixar, as it was in my stash. Planning a small hoop finish for my tree. Check out her etsy shop (link on the name) for some more cuteness.

I also put the next round robin piece to work and started Passione Ricamo – it’s the head and shoulders of Into the Darkness. Not my cup of tea but Andie had already done Artemisia, so this one will face that. Not enough progress to show, as I only spent 30 min or so on her.

Discovered the rabbit warren that is Audible. This has been the high-light of my work week, altho I see it as potentially quite expensive! If you know of deal sites, please do let me know. I have worked out that it is often cheaper to buy the Kindle book and add on the Audible file…

Monday – work early (before 6!) to get the internal and vendor reporting done, before I went with Lou for her surgery appt. Letter said surgery at 11, under general, so we arrived at 9. Huh. Surgery at 2:30 – we left at 4. And they did it under a local block.

Tuesday – work then bootcamp. I did an extra set of the finisher and managed to bear crawl (fast!) up the hill. I cannot do it backwards. That is something to practice.

Wednesday – Watchman tag started again last night, so while S+B ref’d, Z & I went to an Ankor class at Waitakere. It’s a bit intimidating, TBH, to be doing that among the fit young rugby and netball peeps that are also training but once I had my glasses off, I pretended they couldn’t see me. Plus, I’m pairing up with Annike who I find motivates me. I hope I entertain and motivate her as much!

And now we’re back to Thursday. No stitching since Monday, when I did a little more on Fireflies. I am now into the navy, which is the last colour before the beads. Fingers crossed I get this done to bead this weekend, I’m tired of it already!