Here it is! Day one progress on Drawn Thread's An Open Heart. I am using Legacy Linen in Cafe Au Lait and it is gorgeous to stitch on, a beautiful hand feel. I am also using the recommedned Needlepoint Inc silks so this is a real luxury project.

It took much consternation and many visits to the fabric calculator at Dragonflydreams before I cut my fabric for it. I counted, re counted and then counted again to ensure I started in the right place, and I managed motifs 1-7 last night. I've had this chart for a long time and I never really looked at it to see just how much WORK it is :) The colours also look much nicer in real life than in the chart photo.

This was really nice stitching time for me. I have a couple of days off work so will focus on this for these two days as then it will probably be only Sundays that I get to work on this one.

I have heard from Carol this morning and had a look at her progress and we look like we're making a similar rate :) Kaz is busy this week with guests...I'm sure we will hear from her soon ;)

I'm off to walk my pooch who is feeling a little neglected lately - the weather has been atrocious so she hasn't been getting her two walks a day....

A new start..yes...another one!

This Sunday/Monday I am starting a SAL (Stitch-A-Long) with a couple of friends.....one of whom I haven't met yet :)  The piece we're stitching is Drawn Threads' "An Open Heart".  It's a piece I have wanted to stitch for a long time.  I am stitching it on some evenweave in Light Mocha ( I think..... will have to check) and I am using the recommended silk threads...I will post progress photos :)

 

Getting out of debt...slowly but surely

I’m working on it – a little bit each fortnight but slowly I am forging ahead….every little bit helps!

I find by paying a little each fortnight on utilities, it is making the bills less daunting! This is a good thing….The credit card is coming down and by down I mean it’s not up to it’s limit each fortnight now…..it’s up there – just not WAY up there :)

Feeling much better about this!

See more progress on: get out of debt

Here is a finish for August :) It is a second M Designs Celtic Heart - a gift for a friend :) Off to the framers next week for this one :)
I really enjoy stitching this design and I have a couple of the letters I want to do for other friends as gifts too. Six finishes in 8 months....That's not too bad for me! Just wish I could get motivated to finish that fairy....!

So far so good...

This year I have made it a year for ‘finishing things’. Not just needlework, but I figured that needlework would be a good start.

To this end I have managed to finish one major project each month so far this year. Halfway through June it isn’t looking good, but I hope the *insert swear word of choice here* fairy will be June’s major finish. There will of course be a party to celebrate that one!!!

Thanks to jfox for suggesting I post some pictures to help spur me on! Will do that today!

See more progress on: Finish one major needlework project every month of 2005.

Long weekend

I can surely say that I have not worried this weekend.

It was actually a little longer than a weekend as I also had Friday off (sick child). But as we get closer to Tuesday, I feell the pangs of anxiety setting in.

Today, to try and overcome this I am taking Puku (pooch from “walking the dog every day” item) on an extra-long walk in the sunshine.

I am going to stitch on the fairy, and start the working week with an ordered household.

All these things should help.

See more progress on: Worry less.

She loves me......still.

Two days in a row and she loves me – I swear you can see the smile appear on her face when I reach for my runners.

Such a gorgeous winter’s day here in Melbourne as well…..a pleasure to be outdoors enjoying it!

See more progress on: Walk my dog at least 5 kilometres every day!!!

Art? Or Not

http://www.briangrossfineart.com/exhibitions/ssollins05.html

There has been quite some discussion on a few needlework groups I belong to about this particular exhibition.

"New York artist Stephen Sollins opens a show of new work, Domestic Scenes, at Brian Gross Fine Art.. ...In this exhibition, Sollins examines the disparity between "high" and "low " art by systematically abstracting sentimental cross-stitched, vintage embroideries. "

You will have to bear with me as I am not that eloquent when it comes to topics such as this - but I will do my best to explain what I mean and my reaction.

My opinion has always been, "Art is 'art' as long as the person who made it says it is", I don't always understand it or like it on a personal level, but I do appreciate the thought processes and the personal philosophy behind it. The artist is really the only person who 'knows what it's all about', they are the only one who can give it total meaning. The rest of us have to guess unless of course we have an intimate knowledge of the artist, or are privy to their private thoughts.

Some think that the additions to these historical pieces of embroidery amounts to desecration of women's history; and the comment "Sollins eulogizes the anonymous craftsperson while elevating commonplace linens to fine art." has riled some so much as to send email to the artist. I say this means that his exhibition is a success....he has garnered a reaction to his 'art' and isn't that what art is about - an artist making a statement and people's reactions to it? Our reactions become part of the artist's work and justifies the existence of the work.

I am NOT an art student, I am not an art critic other than to say what I do and don't like.

I like Boticelli, Manet, Picasso, but not particularly da Vinci; I like Mozart and Vivaldi but not particularly Beethoven. So I don't particularly like Stephen Sollins' latest work, but I looked at it and can appreciate it for what it is. HIS statement, HIS idea, HIS work.

Did any of that make sense?:

I can't help it - I'm a worry wort!

I’m worried…..and when I have nothing to worry about – I worry about the things that I SHOULD be worrying about!

At the moment it’s work…things are just not going my way, so my assistant and I made up some little laminated signs which I have hung in my office and over her desk that say IOW (which between you and I means “It’s Only Work”. I figure if I keep telling myself that it’s only work, I can get through each day without worrying about being asked to do things that aren’t my job, and if my boss wants to pay me exorbiatant amounts of money to do things that she should be doing herself – well that’s her problem.

It’s only work!

It’s only work!

See more progress on: Worry less.

Day 1 - completed!

And boy was she happy….

Yesterday I was at home with a sick child so Puku (said pooch) was very unhappy with me because she got neglected.

Today she loves me all over again as we did about 6 kilometres – she even got a nice drink of water at the cafe, (and I got a latte).

All in all a good walk!

See more progress on: Walk my dog at least 5 kilometres every day!!!

Debt Relief

Perhaps this goal should really be “to use my mobile phone less”!!!

I dont have that much debt really – just enough to make me feel uncomfortable…..One credit card and a rather large phone bill, and just the usual every day stuff.

I started paying a small amount off all the regular bills each fortnight and that helps me to be able to concentrate on the biggies. I want to achieve a more stable financial position by December. By more stable I mean that I have a little bit of cash stashed away for emergencies, and I have no outstandings of more than say 30 days!

See more progress on: get out of debt

A Concerted Effort

I must admit that I have been doing ‘ok’ with this weight loss things since last November (20kg), but lately it’s just been ‘ok’. I have decided that I have had enough rest and I am getting back into the swing of it with avengence! (See the walking the dog goal) which should help, and I also want to go to the gym three times a week – so perhaps I should add that to my list of things to do as well!

See more progress on: Lose 10 more kilos before December 6!

I knew it!

I didn’t even look at the fairy today. She is lying over the back of my couch just waiting for me to notice her but I averted my eyes each time I walked past!

She didn’t get any attention today!

See more progress on: Finish the fairy!!!

Long weekend

Another long weekend is upon us and if I have some definite ideas about stitching.....ok they're not definite with a capital "d" but part of me wants to spend the entire three days stitching on the famous fairy and actually FINISH it!  It's possible, but in honest reality I know that wont occur!  It could be my June finish and I suspect it will be but exactly when in June I can't say!  I can honestly say I HOPE it will be this weekend, but the honest part of me knows it wont!

 

"1663" is coming along well - I am really enjoying it.

 

"My Country" is moving too and after the weekend I will post some progress pictures.

 

I've not stitched in the past two weeks at all.  I know that it's because I have been so stressed with work issues, and I also know that at times like this that I probably need to stitch more - but I just haven't had the energy or inclination.....hopefully this three days will get me back into the swing of things.

Warm Christmas Wishes

Warm Christmas Wishes

6 Hem Sampler

I thought I would add a couple of pictures of things I have had framed recently. Warm Christmas Wishes is an Emie Bishop (Cross 'N Patch) design that I finished a long time ago but hadn't gotten framed. The 6 Hem Sampler is designed by Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose Designs and was finished quite recently.

Want to see My Son Framed....?

Here it is finally.....I picked this up from the framer a week or so ago but hadn't posted a picture, so enjoy. LHM is very happy to have 'his needlework' at home and hanging on the wall. As an aside, it is the LHM's last single-digit birthday tomorrow *sigh*. He is becoming so grown up. I really miss my 'baby' but I am enjoying seeing him grow into a great little man!

Stitching Goals for May

This is what I hoped to do in April....
:
1. Finish Indigo Rose's "My Son" (WOOHOOO DONE! Pick it up from the framer Saturday!!!)
2. Complete at least 20 hours on "My Country" (A bit more than 20 - it's really progressing well now!)
3. Finish MvS "night" (about 10 hours to go!) (Ummm errrr no didn't even touch this one but THIS MONTH!)
4. Reward myself with a start on the Permin Sampler! (Was strong - held back! but I did do the other two little projects :)

SO for May *drum roll please*

1. I WILL finish MvS "Night" no matter what.
2. I WILL complete at least the third line of text of the My Country Sampler.
3. I WILL have a new major start.....not sure which piece now!

Wish me luck!

Embroidery......a great decorative art

I am reading "Samplers" (Cambridge University Press, 1997) by Carol Humphrey which is a handbook describing the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection of samplers. I read through the 'Preface', which describes how the collection was bequeathed, etc (an interesting story of two very different collectors. But it wasn't till I started reading the 'Introduction' chapter that I got this funny little furrow in my brow?.

Let me quote from the very first paragraph.

"At the end of the twentieth century the story of the sampler is far from over. Surprisingly, at a time when virtually all textiles are mass-produced and women are increasingly employed outside the home, there has been a revival in embroidery. Of course embroidery can never again be one of the great decorative arts that flourished prior to the Industrial Revolution."

I would be very interested in others' opinions here....why would embroidery have ceased to be one of the great decorative arts, and just when did that occur. Embroidery is by default decorative in all its forms......now, it's not one of the "great" decorative arts? I find this statement disturbing to say the least. I still consider it the greatest of the decorative arts, perhaps someone forgot to tell me of its decline.....Yes, I know its popularity has declined, but I just can't agree with that statement. Perhaps the practice of 'hand' embroidery has dwindled, but even modern machine embroidery is still decorative is it not?

The book however, is a great reference and is full of gorgeous pictures and very detailed histories and descriptions...a must for any sampler lover.

What 'gender' is MY brain.....?

I saw this on someone else's blog and though it was a bit of fun. I think it describes me pretty well!

Your Brain is 53.33% Female, 46.67% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

Take the quiz yourself....

Celtic Heart - M Designs

My Latest finish is a design by M Designs called Celtic Heart (Just Crossstitch Magazine - August 2004). This was stitched on an unidentified piece of blue-ish grey 32 count linen I found in my fabric drawer and Caron Waterlillies Antique Rose. I might do a few of these as gifts for friends - four days from start to finish. I call these projects 'holiday stitching' - they are the things I stitch when I want to take a holiday from a difficult or larger piece!

Forgive me it's not pressed yet :) I was keen to have a picture posted so I just threw it in the scanner :)

Framed Egyptian Treasures...

Egyptian Treasures - Finished and Framed.

I just noticed that I hadn't actually posted a picture of the finished needlepoint from last year! Silly me! So with that in mind - here it is in all its splendour! Amazing what you can find when you clean out your hard drive :) Piccies of lots of things....some you wish you hadn't found (like the 15+ year old WIP) ....but we wont go into that here!

Today I finished the border on M Designs Celtic Heart (the one from Just Cross Stitch Magazine) which I started on Friday night - should knock that over by the end of the weekend I suspect!

Dad's sampler is looking wonderful - perhaps I will post a picture of my progress on that one tomorrow - after football!

It looks like rain tomorrow.....just my luck - off all week with the flu then have to stand about in the rain watching my little AFL Star playing football! Wouldn't miss it for the world!

An unexpected day on my own.

Every now and then a knight in shining armour comes to my rescue.....Hmmm a bit dramatic perhaps, but Liam has a friend from school named Josh whose parents quite often call me out of the blue and say "we going on a picnic/fishing/camping/football trip - would Liam like to come too?" Of course Liam always wants to go - so I get some very much appreciated time to myself.

This is what happened this morning! Liam has quite happily gone off to some lake in Ballarat for a picnic/bbq and I have the whole day to myself.

Housework is now done (even the dusting), pooch has had a nice long walk and I am settling in to stitch till Liam comes home.

Yes sometimes I am the luckiest person in the world!

Good news and bad news....

Bad news...I still have the flu.

Good news...I have made the most of my sickbed and have only one more band to do on Dad's Sampler (i.e the bands in between rows of lettering).

Bad news...I still have 6 rows of over one lettering to go!

Good news...It's still looking good for a June finish,,,,

Stay tuned!

Hello Mother nature - it's APRIL!!!!

Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature it's APRIL - almost MAY!!!

It's football season and I went out and bought a new hat and gloves to wear while I am standing around in the cold watching my AFL Star play at 08:30 every Sunday morning. It's football season - it's meant to be FREEZING at 08:30 on Sunday, cold, and foggy and wet!!! Last Sunday I wore a T-shirt and sunglasses!!!!

It's meant to be cold and damp and dark - then at least I could understand why I have the flu. It is meant to be 30 degrees (Celsius) today and I am cold and shivering and I just want to stay in bed. I didn't go to work yesterday - just couldn't drag myself out of the house and today I am not much better. Nothing you can do for flu though - drink lots, rest and hope you come right quickly. I had my flu shot this year as well, perhaps next year I wont bother! Although I can just about guarantee that if I DON'T have the shot - I will get the biggest dose of flu ever and wonder why I didn't have it! You just can't win!

Current state of MY stitching nation!

I thought I should update the current state of my WIP pile!

A couple of things are missing from my post (a whole year ago almost) so that is good - but there are a couple of really tough hangers on that I really want to get rid of!

Firstly - My Country - the sampler I am doing for my dad, Fair dinkum this has got to be the WORST chart I have ever worked from - hand drawn, terrible instructions for the specialty stitches, the model isn't what's shown in the chart, etc.....very poorly drawn, I really want to get this done and off my plate by the end of August......wish me luck! I have managed 20 hours in April and at least 20 hours each month till August should see it done! The over one lettering is KILLING ME!

Secondly, the MvS "Night" that I have been so slack and not worked on in months! It's for my local LNS and I really have to get it done - so close to finished it's not funny. I am hoping to get that done for my May finish and in a perfect world I would get dad's finished in June - not bloody likely! but this is MY dream!

Other things in my WIP pile are:

2 x Cominos House (STILL)
1 x Lavender and Lace - Angel of the Sea (no progress for months)
1 x Mirabilia - Shimmering Mermaid (can't even really call this a serious start)
1 x TW - Celestial Dragon (no progress for months either)
1 x Butternut Road - Celtic Banner (about 50% done)
1 x Emie Bishop - Peace Sampler (just the alphabet to go)
1 x TW - Castle Sampler (about 60%, but no stitches in the last 6 months)
1 x piece of Assisi from a magazine

So that's 11.

I also had a sampler that I just KNEW I wouldn't finish so I passed that on to someone I knew would stitch it! (thanks Julie) And there was an over one on 28 count piece from a Jill Oxton Magazine which I just can't bring myself to stitch any more - it's after a painting of a girl with a water dish - Circe I think it's called and for some reason the girl's legs just look too long and it bugs me - I was going to take a piece out of the chart to make her legs more proportionate but I haven't so I decided to retire that one too. Sometimes you just have to do that!

Okies, I think that's it......but I might be wrong. I have fought the urge to start anything new (hee hee the one I started AND finished at the weekend doesn't count as there is no lingering evidence) although I have several really gorgeous reproduction samplers I really want to start! The Permin 1663 Sampler, the FR Spanish Sampler and the 1808 Spanish Sampler. Also high on the list are the Indigo Rose charts I listed yesterday and a few other samplers as well.

I also have a HUGE list of Sew To Be Seen designs I want to stitch as well :) One for my parents' 40th Wedding anniversary (which I wont list here as mum might accidentally read it!), and one for my grandma's 90th birthday next February.......with all that said....I better get cracking!

I am on a bit of a sampler bender at the moment :)

An AFL star in the making!

Games - 1
Goals - 1
Behinds - 1

This is Liam (LHM). On Sunday he played his first game of Aussie Rules Football for the Yarraville Eagles Under 10s.

Now Australian Rules football is a weird game for the most part - but Under 9s and 10s even more so....If the two teams don't have the same amount of players, i.e one of the teams is very short, then some of the players have to play for the opposition to 'even it up'. So in his first ever game for the Yarraville U/10s (up an age group from his normal team) Liam had to spend half the game playing for the opposition - the Laverton Magpies no less!

Anyway - the superstar that he is, scored a goal for his own team in the first half and a point for the opposition in the second :) All in all - a successful game :)

His mother (that's me!) is very proud!

See......yes, I do finish things!

I started this (and finished it) this weekend. I used some 32 count linen in cream, Caron Waterlillies Java for the border and Burnt Toast for the letters - I changed the DMC as well - but don't ask me to what! (I just noticed - java and burnt toast - sounds like my usual breakfast!!!) I also used Treasure Horde beads for this one and I must say I am very impressed. I used one strand of DMC and a petite needle and not one bead got stuck on my needle! Very impressed I must say! I've had Mill Hill beads get jammed on a beading needle!!!

As you may have guessed from previous posts - I am a big Indigo Rose fan! So far I have completed Desiderata, My Son, Betsy and now the 6 Hem Sampler. I have a big list of want to dos as well! Among them...

- A Fair Little Girl
- The Four Seasons
- Folding Cross Needlebook
- Millenium
- Skyler Wayne
- Nathaniel

and the list goes on.........

Lest We Forget

On this day, April 25th......

• 1915: Australian, New Zealand and British troops landed at Gallipoli and the ANZAC Legend was born
• 1916: First widely observed commemoration of ANZAC Day in Australia, Egypt and London

The Ode.. from the Laurence Binyon poem "For the Fallen"

"They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
we will remember them."



And finally.....a beautiful poem written by one of Australia's most revered poets which tells of how Australians from all over the country came together to fight side by side under one banner.....

"We're All Australians Now" A.B. (Banjo) Paterson

Australia takes her pen in hand,
To write a line to you,
To let you fellows understand,
How proud we are of you.

From shearing shed and cattle run,
From Broome to Hobsons Bay,
Each native-born Australian son,
stands straighter up today.

The man who used to "hump his drum",
On far-out Queensland runs,
Is fighting side by side with some
Tasmanian farmer's sons.

The fisher-boys dropped sail and oar
To grimly stand the test,
Along that storm-swept Turkish shore,
With miners from the west.
The old state jealousies of yore
Are dead as Pharaoh's sow,
We're not State children any more
We're all Australians now!

Our six-starred flag that used to fly,
Half-shyly to the breeze,
Unknown where older nations ply
Their trade on foreign seas,

Flies out to meet the morning blue
With Vict'ry at the prow;
For that's the flag the Sydney flew,
The wide seas know it now!

The mettle that a race can show
Is proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations know
And feel what nations feel.

The honoured graves beneath the crest
Of Gaba Tepe hill,
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.

With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.

Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!

So now we'll toast the Third Brigade,
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.

Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,
Till right and justice reign.
Fight on, fight on, till Victory
Shall send you home again.

And with Australia's flag shall fly
A spray of wattle bough,
To symbolise our unity,
We're all Australians now.

Stash Empire Building!

Boy have I acquiring on a large scale lately......a summary of the latest additions to my stash are...

Indigo Rose
- Fair Little Girl
- Skyler Wayne
- Nathaniel
- Six Hem Sampler (already completed)

Scarlet Letter
- Pattern Record

Hesters Needle
- My Path

Samplers and Such
- FR Spanish Sampler

Homespun Sampler
- Bless This Child and Keep Him

Needle Adventures
- Bargello Fantasy - a gorgeous needlepoint /bargello chart!

I also received a heap of books I ordered from e-Bay, mostly sampler books and some OOP stuff :) and the magazine fairy sent me a Dutch magazine with the 1808 Spanish Sampler that I have been looking for.

I am treating myself to a large start...Permin's 1663 Dutch Sampler reproduction.....it's gorgeous and I am doing it over 2 on 30 count fabbie so it will be quite large. I can't wait to start!

So many samplers.......so little time...........

Indigo Rose - My Son

I did this for my son Liam (the LHM) - he is quite stoked to see it completed and can't wait for it to come back from the framers. It's another Indigo Rose design - My Son. Catherine Strickler is a very talented designer and while some of her designs are quite small - they are interesting to stitch with all the specialty stitches and a little bit of hardanger!

This one is stitched on 28 count Lt Mocha linen and with the Caron silks and Anchor stranded cottons.

Maiden's Walk - Sew to Be Seen Designs TA DA! Finally done!

I finished this in January - FINALLY - Kaz must be so pleased to finally have it - although I did warn her that I was a slow stitcher!

This is a model for Dragonflydreams and the fantastic news is they are about to open a REAL shop (as opposed to the online store)! I am so excited - makes me want to hop in my car and drive the ten hours to Sydney to go there :). I can't wait to see it! Kaz and Bren are fabulous - singularly the best ONS (and soon to be LNS) ever!

More framing

and this one :)

A nice little framing HD

I bought these tiny little pieces of Abbey Lace on e-Bay and had them framed - they were brooches - but I would never wear them as such. They look lovely hanging by my front door!

Mum's Birthday Sampler

A Gail Bussi design from Just Cross Stitch Magazine.....I completed this for my mother's birthday in 2003, but she lives in Tasmania so I didn't frame it for her before I sent it. Mum has just been visiting with me (taking care of my son for the school holidays) so I asked her to bring it so I could have it framed for her....Am happy now - she can hang it up when she goes home!

Indigo Rose - Betsy

Indigo Rose - Betsy. I finished this one in 2002 but only recently had it framed...it is tiny - just 40 or so stitches wide and I did change the colours to five colours in one colour family! It really is very effective.

A Baby Sampler Finish!

I've had quite a few finishes lately :) This is a little Drawn Thread Sampler - Birth Bands (or Baby bands- I can't recall) that I completed in January for my god-daughter Georgia! I am impressed with myself for finishing it before her first birthday! I told her parents that anytime prior to her 21st was an acceptable time frame for a stitcher!