Progress...There is some....

I have been stitching with renewed fervour on An Open Heart....in fact I have progressed past my June 2006 goal (ha! ha! ha!) and completed down to the end of the drawn thread work in area 7! It wan't too difficult and is beginning to look pretty good if you ask me!

My new goal for this piece is to complete the stitching while I am on holidays (not including hte whitework and blackwork borders). That takes me up to Valentines day! If I accomplish that - I might treat myself to a new start!

Would post a photo but my dial-up connect is tooooooo slow! You will have to wait!

Change of address...

And we're in....but not without a few small dramas.

Firstly, settlement didn't happen as planned on Friday.

The vendors couldn't come up with enough cash to discharge their mortgage so their bank wouldn't settle! bummer - I feel really bad for them as really their conveyancer should have let them know long before settlement day how much they needed to pay. I just hope it was only a small amount and not tens of thousands of dollars - who knows? We had to apply for a 'licence to occupy' so we could move in on Saturday still.

The removalists arrived with a huge truck and I thought that it was a bit of overkill however it was full to the absolute brim – the driver had to push the doors shut! I am not sure where it all came from in my tiny little Yarraville townhouse. It is so much nicer to have a bit of space and while the new house is ‘full’ there is lots of space around everything and looks lovely. We are all very pleased.

So now we're in and unpacked and enjoying our new home. All the rain on the weekend highlighted a small leak in the pergola roof but nothing that can't be fixed!

We finally settled on Tuesday and my conveyancer forgot to phone me and let me know! (Conveyancers are good eh?)

Tuesday we went to clean Yarraville. I got there at 7 a.m and made everything ready for Bill to do his tip run....the blind man (but not the type with a cane or seeing eye dog) came to remove the blinds and clean them at 7.30! The carpet cleaners didn't show up so I had to go back there today. I tell you I am not displeased to know that I don’t have to drive all that way again tomorrow.

Cleaning was a chore, and the blooming light fittings even more so - we broke two shades from one light fitting and looked everywhere to try and find replacements - not to be found anywhere - in fact I think the landlord had light shades cut down to fit as the rims were very uneven and jagged. After several trips to the light shop to try differnt ones, we decided just to replace the whole darn lot! $$$$ later.....

I am so tired and I hurt all over. Tomorrow I am having a day off (except for enrolling Liam in school and getting his books!) I might even get my stitching out.

My Ackworth book arrived on Monday and it really is a beautiful work. I can recommend it as a beautiful reference of the Quaker Samplers and in particular the Ackworth schoolgirls. The proceeds from the sale of the book are being used to fund the upkeep of the Fitzwilliam Museum's textile collection too - so it's a winner all round!

On a stitching front, a few of the stitching ladies of Melbourne will pop by on Saturday for a visit and a few friends on the music side in the evening so Saturday will be a nice relaxing day with friends!

Thanks to everyone for all the emails wishing us well and we look forward to hosting you for a cuppa very soon.

x

Somebody stop me!!!

I did it.....went ahead and ordered the book...

In case you're wondering....this book!

I can't wait till it arrives :)

How did this happen?

ow on earth did I happen to collect so much Tupperware? I just managed to squeeze it all into one huge box, and I ditched anything I couldn't find the lid for! Honestly if anyone invites me to a Tupperware party anytime during the next ten years - I really must refrain from going because it looks like I can't stopmyself from BUYING!!

I also seem to have collected a LOT of kitchen appliances - scarier thing is I use them all; rice cooker, electric pans, electric steamer, coffee machine, blender, food processor, indoor grill, you name it - I seem to have it....how do you pack those up too?

On another note I am just starting on the ironing - 3 massive baskets full. During this process, I am also going to toss out any odd socks - I am NOT going to my new house carrying odd socks with me!

To relate this back to stitching, I am not sure HOW I am going to pack my WIPs, or other goodies. I think I will leave most things in my cabinet (dad's handiwork) and my little case-thing on wheels... but i am terrified of not knowing where it all is. I am leaning towards taking it all in my car... except for the cabinet which can be wrapped and carried on the truck.

Blocked at every pass!

My wonderful friend Janine and I have very similar tastes....so much so, that every time I find something on e-Bay that I think I might bid upon, Janine has already bid on it! Bugger! I guess she just needs the stash more than I do...hee hee hee...I don't believe that for a single minute!

But happier news...today was my last day at work for a whole month! Saturdayweek, SOH, LHM and I move into our very own house :) I am so excited - a place for everything and (sooner or later) everything in its place! I am looking forward to some of my stitching friends visiting on the 27th! I haven't seen some for a very long time and I am looking forward to catching up :)

A very funny thing happened today while I was cleaning up my desk...I found a parcel, closed and addressed ready to send....I "think" that it may have been a present for Kaz at some time but I can't recall what is in it. I am so slack. I will open it up, placer her Christmas Pressie in it (that I've also not sent yet) and post it tomorrow!

Might stitch tonight.....An Open Heart MAY get a few more lengths of thread :) It's much cooler tonight and more stitching-friendly temperature wise :)

Yesterday I stitched...

...for two whole hours on "An Open Heart".

No pictures yet but once I move house I will update all my piccies of works in progress.

Promise.

Now about moving house....I've stipulated that all my framed needlework (especially Desiderata) is coming in the car with me.....am I being a bit precious? I mean if I pack it nicely will it survive in the truck?

News

I've not accomplished much at all lately stitching wise - but I did get just a little sidelined by beading....

I have in the past 6 months inherited an adorable DsD and at 7 years of age I figured she was ripe for the crafting world so I started her off on a bit of a beading eand then happily joined her!

Here are some of the things I've made lately!

A necklace, bracelet and Swarovski chrystal bookmark

Scissor fobs and keyrings (for those of my friends that don't use scissors)

A bracelet made from amethyst beads and a synthetic moonstone (for me)

A necklace with floating amber acrylic and glass beads.

So I have been busy but with Christmas, New Year, buying a house, packing, cleaning, oh and cooking the Christmas Ham.....I've not had a lot of time for my craft pursuits. Things should settle down after we move...I hope.

Just to make your mouth water - here is a picture of the Christmas Ham. When I get around to it I will post the Christmas Ham Story.

In all it's glory and it tasted every bit as good as it looks :)