TUSAL and a finish!

I've missed posting my TUSAL so many times, that I am embarrassed. Totally Useless SAL is such a fun stitch-a-long, and easy to participate, so don't let my laziness put you off joining!

Here's November's contribution- I've been frogging a lot lately!

And here's my finish. I have been frantically stitching this piece for Terry Lousie (Tazzy on 123), in between my Christmas stitching. It's by Jill Oxton, and is a Waratah, which is New South Wales's state floral emblem. This will go into a quilt that Terry Louise is making for the survivors of the Victorian Bushfires earlier this year (I think its going in a fundraising quilt- but my memory evades me). As pretty as it is, I hated stitching it because the chart is one of her earlier hand drawn ones, and lots of the symbols looked the same. Even though I highlighted the chart as I worked it, I still kept finding myself out of count at different parts. Similar symbols and similar colours- not my favourite!

Blogger, what's with the Picasa album now? Talk about 'confuse me'!  (Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I can't find spell check in draft mode- my spelling is okay, but my typing is not so good)

Happy Stitching everyone!

I am scared of finishing my stitching but I still buy stash!

I love stitching- don't get me wrong. But what is it about finishing off a piece that makes me drag my feet? I procrastinate every time. I leave it to the very last moment to turn my stitching into a finished piece.

It could be the thought of ruining a piece that I've enjoyed stitching, maybe cutting the excess fabric away to much (hence my bulky seams). Could be the thought that my vision of the finished piece and it's reality will be completely different.

Now that I think about it (seeing something written helps me sort things out) I'm thinking it's my fear of cutting away too much of the fabric.

Take my Victorian Bushfire ornament finishes for example. They were due last Tuesday. Last Tuesday I hadn't even started finishing them off, well, I had finished Daffcat's reindeers but not the others. I had to rush through making them into ornaments and increased the chance of making a mistake! I mailed them Wednesday, so hopefully Nise received them Friday, but more likely on Monday. Only a week late, the shame, the shame.

Here they are anyway!

Daffycat's cute freebie

I stitched also some non-Christmas ornaments for those who don't celebrate Christmas.

Circle of love by Lizzie*Kate

Home is wherever my family gathers by Moi

And here is my beautiful son standing in front of Tira and Michael's family and friends, reading the poem they had chosen. I was so proud of him, he spoke clearly and confidently!

Some stash arrived too-sorry about the pic, it's too hot outsdie so had to take it inside in the dark with the curtains drawn

It's A TimeTo Reap by Plum Pudding NeedleArt. I love this design because it's a creative way to make something out of needlework, the design goes all the way around in sections, and it comes with the stem, wool and leaves to finish it off (now how did THAT get through customs?)

I also bought PS Blackwork Angels, but I'm gonna stitch them in pink! I won't blind your eyes by posting the pic I took of that chart lol!

Does the making part of finishing scare you? If it does, what part makes you procrastinate? If it doesn't, what is your secret to not worrying about 'spoiling' a piece (apart from having it professionally finished!)?

Have you seen these freebies?

Head over to The Stitcherhood's blog to see a couple of sweet Halloween freebies!

Finally, some finishes and some stash buying!

Goodness, I have been stitching my little fingers to the bone!

I've finished Alison's 50th birthday present, just need to get a little chart, floss and fabric to go in her new needlework folder.

The back of it tied up.

The front, with some counting needles, complete with Swarovski crystals.

The inside, with a floss tag, new scsissors and scissor's keeper, counting needles and new needles.

I've also finished Tira's wedding gift. She helped me pick out the frame (without knowing which chart I ended up stitching), but I realised I didn't really need her, as the moulding she chose, I would have chosen too, for her. It's cherry wood, and will match her furniture.

Gosh I can't centre this pic for some reason. It's LHN Always and Forever.

Tira has asked Nicholas to read a poem at her ceremony and I am just tickled pink that she has. I know he will do a great job as he has a loud clear speaking voice, which he uses at school assembly, and he is always practising his 'loud' voice at home- no wait, that's his 'shouting' voice at home. Well, anyway, he's confident at speaking in public and is easy to understand. I am sooo excited, Tira gets married on 31st October, about 9 sleeps away!

Now, onto stash.

Rare Treasures by Tree of Life Samplings. See Jan's blog Here. She has another blog, but I can't remember the name of that one. Anyway, I love her designs! She's got a couple of freebies on the Tree of Life blog too, so just click on the link above!

Here's my 2nd purchase-

It Takes A Village by Homespun Elegance (cos I really believe it does) and Sampler 1764 by Permin (cos I wanted to stitch something that was created 200 years before I was born).

And my annual Homespun Elegance purchase of 2009 Snowman Ornament, Snow Much Joy. I've started collecting them, but haven't actually got around to stitching any (does this surprise you? If you saw my stash pile, it wouldn't!) I got these from Nancy at Liberty Primitives and Needlework. They were carefully packaged- tied with ribbon- and she sent freebies as well with my purchase, as well as the pretty bookmark in the pic above. Nancy has some freebies on her website as well.

I've also been busy sewing dance costumes and have finished the dog blanket. Jack loves his new blanket and has stopped jumping on the lounge to lay on ours, although if ours has made it's way onto the floor, he doesn't care which one he lays on. I guess they're both big, warm, soft and cuddly and he can't tell the difference in colour!

I still have to finish making the Victorian Bushfire Ornaments, but now that I have Alison's and Tira's gifts out they way, they're next and I have already bought the fabric to finish them. I've started ny Christmas ornaments- my lovely friend Jeannette sent me this year's JCS Christmas Issue (she sends it every year- isn't she a darling?!) and I've kitted up this year's lot that I want to stitch. Of course, I haven't finished all the ones from last year that I bought all the bits for, but there's still time to get them stitched for this Christmas!

Happy Stitching, about time I visited your blogs! I've got a couple more charts coming, will post pics when they arrive!

9/11

Remembering all those who lost their lives September 11, 2001, and all those who lost their lives before and since, in acts of terrorism.

I believe the world lost it's innocence that fateful day.

We should never forget.

Stash, glorious stash, I can't wait to show you! And my WIPs too!

A while ago I posted that I received gift vouchers from my dear american friend for my birthday, and posted the Vikki Clayton silks that I bought using the HDF gift voucher. The other gift voucher was for Needle in a Haystack, so here's the stash I bought-

 13th Colony Bay Part 1, 2 & 3

By The Bay Neddleart

Home of a Needle Worker (Too!) by Little House Needlworks,

Reward of Merit by Blackbird Designs

Yesterday-Today by The Sunflower Seed

 Sampler & Antique Needlework magazine

Kelmscott Designs Thread Rings

Remember Me Stitching Pocket by MIdsummer Night Designs

My Favorite Kitten Pinkeep by primitivebettys

JCS Ornament Preview Issues from 2007 & 2008

Thank you Jeannette, I had such fun shopping for these goodies!  Quite a bit there to keep me going for a loooong time. Ireally don't know which one to do  first, but the Kitten pinkeep is kinda calling to me.

I've also been supporting the economy by pitching in and doing a little shopping too. Here's some things I've bought recently-

Angel in my pocket by Midsummer Night Designs

For my friend by Sheepish Designs

Blooms for Annabelle by Bloom Creek

Objects of Desire by Moda fabric

Nigella by Amy Butler

Amy Butler Sophia Carry- all

Strips 'n Bits by Bloom Creek

Beach House by Blackbird Designs from Moda fabrics

And now for my WIPs. I have managed to knit  quite a bit of the dog's rug, so soon he'll have no reason to be jumping onto the lounge to sit on mine.  I have had to put my Mary Wigham aside as I have two project due soon, plus I haven't even started my Christmas stitching - yikes!

SALexandre for Alison's birthday in November

And my friend who is getting married at the end of October chose LHN Always and Forever as one of her favourites. I purchased the silks that the model was stitched with but they are way darker than I expected so I chose some Vikki Clayton  HDF from my stash instead. I also purchaesd some 30ct Weeks Dye Works, but the weave is too open for my liking for this project so I substituted with some 28ct cream evenweave. I'm modifying the design to include their names at the top.

Well, it's good to be back online, after a gazillion updates when we got back online - yes, Acer did a factory restore- so there went all the programmes loaded, updates downloaded and settings changed. Still, Steve saved my pics, docs and pdfs, so he was able to transfer them from an external hard drive, and somehow he managed to save all my website favourites, but lost his...quietly snickering as its usually my stuff that disappears

And Blogger, you are driving me crazy! I can only load pics using draft.blogger.com   First my followers disappear and then reappear. Now this.  I wonder what wordpress is like...


Happy Stitching!

Finally, we are back online!

I didn't realise how much I use my computer to connect to other stitchers.

Not having one for so many weeks made me realise how much I rely on the Internet to stay in touch with other people. Most of whom I haven't ever met in person, but amazingly, feel connected to, via the Internet.

The Internet, I now see, keeps me from becoming lonely.

Thank you Internet and all my lovely Internet friends!

Progress pics

Here's Mary Wigham so far! I'm really enjoying stitching her, as I can move onto another part if I need a break from the part I'm stitching.




Now, here's my work on Alison's present- I think I lost something in the translation, cos, as you can see from this pic, it's not really large enough to hold a pair of scissors. I thought it was stitched over 1, but maybe not.




So, I've started again, stitching over 2. This looks much better, as I'll be able to store all the goodies inside, like needles, scissors, floss tag, and maybe some counting needles and other stitchy stuff.




I know its TUSAL time, but I haven't taken my pic yet.

Sadly, our computer is going off to the manufacturer for warranty work- the DVD thing is dodgy. I don't use it, but apparently it is useful and so Steve wants it replaced. I'm really scared that all my stuff is going to go 'poof' as the manufacturer has been insisting we do a restore back to factory settings before they'll do anything. Steve has resisted, knowing that all the stuff like favourites will disappear and they take ages to find again. In the meantime, I'm transferring all my freebies, family pics etc to our external hard drive. Acer have told Steve that they might lose all our stuff when they replace the optical reader- I interpret this as being -they'll do a factory restore to start with and go from there.

I wanted to buy some fabric online, guess I'll have to go to the library to do so. And I need to email anyone who might be expecting to contact me by email in the next 2 weeks or so... Oh, how I hate computers when they don't work.

July's Goals

I have been inspired by Silver Lotus to set some goals for this month. Here's what I'd like to achieve

1/ Continue on Mary Wigham
2/ Keep working on Alison's present
3/ Order chart & froufrou for T's wedding sampler
4/ Keep knitting Jack's,(the Jack Russell)rug, knit up at least half the wool I have
5/ Sew the messenger bag I just bought the fabric for
6/ Finish the chair pad
7/ Walk every 2nd day
8/ Start (and finish) Nicholas's quilt
9/ Start my pansy quilt (finally found the right pattern!)

Not much, hey! However, the school holidays start Friday, for 2 weeks. I suppose that will cut down my freebie searching time on the computer as Nicholas does like to play the hidden object games style games we have, so I might just get some of these done!

Happy Stitching!

TUSAL Update Time!

Well, I've been stitching more this month, but it doesn't seem to be showing in my bowl. Maybe it's because the bowl is so large that once a small amount goes in, it needs to have a really large amount to make any obvious difference.

It could also be that I'm stitching with Vikki Clayton silks, so I'm being very frugal with my orts. Anyway, if you want to join in the TUSAL click here. Yoyo is giving a small gift to the 100th sign-up, it's at 96 now.



Sorry about the quality of the pic, it's grey and gloomy today.

Well, I'm off to look at everyone else's update, and see who our new members are.

My Mary Wigham progress

My Mary Wigham is coming along slowly. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at how much there is to stitch each week, when here we are in week 3, about to get week 4, and I haven't finished week two, or even week one.

Memo to self: Must devote more time to stitching and less time reading blogs and finding freebies. Been downloading quilting freebies lately. I have so many freebies to stitch and quilt, that in future years, some one will look at this computer and say 'what was she thinking? One hundred people could never have got through all those freebies, let alone all the stuff she bought'. Oh well, just call me Super Boob, the wishful freebie collecter.

So here's Mary Wigham



I got tired on stitching the big motif in the top left hand corner, so I moved onto another part.




I've also started on Alison's 50th birthday present.






It's a freebie from Tempus Fugit's SALexandre and will eventually be a needlework thingie that I'll fill with needles, floss holders, a floss tag, and scissors, with some slight variations to the original design. The finished photos look stunning, so hopefully mine will be a fitting present for a fellow cross stitcher!

Last weekend, my stitchy friend announced her engagement, with a small wedding to be held later this year. As her only cross stitching friend it will be my self-appointed duty to stitch a wedding sampler for her! I'm going to get her to choose two or three designs she likes and I'll pick one of them to stitch for her wedding (gotta be some surprise in it, but I don't want to stitch something she doesn't like).

Well the boys are out for the day, so for the first time in ages, i have a Saturday all to myself! Yippee, Mary Wighman here I come!

Stash delivery!

My dear friend in the USA gave me gift cards for my birthday.

One was for Vikki Clayton Silks so I ordered the silks I didn't have for Mary Wigham, plus lots of others (added some of my own money towards it!)




I bought up big with the other gift card and will post once all those goodies arrive.

In the meantime, another gift arrived from her. I first saw this chart on Bronny's blog and later she had a competition to give it away. Of course I didn't win it, but lo and behold, it has arrived with all the Cresecent Colours and DMC, plus the fabric! (Bronny, I can't get into your blog anymore:( along with a few other blogs. I'm wandering if it's a widget that's upsetting Internet Explorer...) Anyway, here's what my dear american friend sent too.




Isn't she just the best! Off to fondle those silks now!

Hair-larious Day

It's Hair-larious Day today in South Australia, which raises money for the Childhood Cancer Association. Wear a funny wig or colour your hair!


Here's Nicholas, hair styled by Pauline



Hair by Pauline, look of Edward Cullen (Twilight) by Nicholas

Where's Mary Wigham?

Well, she's going to be here in Adelaide, South Australia. Thanks to the generosity of Jacqueline of Needleprint Mary Wigham will be seen all over the world. It's a nine part SAL, free, but a donation to the Ackworth School would be appreciated, and the first part is now available.

I've chosen my fabric, converted DMC to Vikki Clayton silks (just need to order a few I'm missing), downloaded the chart and made my donation!

I'm set to go! Who else is stitching Mary Wigham?

Tusal update, a finish and some competition links

Here's my Totally Useless SAL update for this month. Hmmm, not much of an increase, just some floss, some knitting wool (black and orangey) and some linen from fringing my ornaments. BTW, if you are reading the Twilight series, don't read past the competition details, there's a spoiler depending on how far you are into the series.



Since I finished my cross stitch gifts last month, I haven't been stitching much. I tend to stitch more closer to a deadline, and the next major deadline is not until November. I have been knitting though, as soon as the temperature drops I want to get my knitting needles out. I made a blanket for Jack cos he keeps jumping on the lounge or dragging it off to snuggle up on mine which is made of eyelash wool and is really warm and cuddly. I only had 4 balls of eyelash leftover, so it's about 24" square, but Jack doesn't like it. He wont willingly lay on it, and shakes it off if I put it on his bed. So, I've bought 29 balls of eyelash to make him a big one like ours- that dog is spoilt!




I've made 3 little ornaments for the survivors of the Victorian bushfires earlier this year. I haven't quite finished the tops off, I'm going to just somehow put a little gold Kreinik cord on the top. I must finish off the other two I posted a while ago.



It's a freebie by DaffyCat and a quick stitch. Rather cute, I think!


Now, there's a couple of competitions around at the moment, so I thought I'd post the links in case you've missed them. Of course, I want to win them, so I don't really know why I'm letting you know about them lol.

Bronny is giving away I chart I want,

Cindy is giving away 10 charts and

Carolyn is giving away a lovely assortment of stitchy things.


Just editing to add another giveaway- here's Kim's details for a pretty TW chart!


Editing again to add anoth competition- here's BrokenFairy's giveaway!


Next on my list of things to do is to stitch a Twilight bookmark for Nicholas. We're on the 2nd book now, I'm enjoying the reminders of first love and Nicholas likes the scary parts when they happen, and I hope he's getting an understanding about teenage relationships. We both had tears (me trying not to sob) when Edward leaves Bella.

And I'm going to start my gift for Alison in the UK, who doesn't know about my blog yet, otherwise she'll see what I am stitching for her 50th birthday, and just need to order all the floss so it's the same colour. BTW, I went into Spotlight to buy some DMC 500 at $1.29 (yikes) and that 500 is a different colour to my 500 I have at home (2 skeins bought at different times). My 500 is more Christmas green, this was more jade green, and the colours either side are more jade green. Interesting.

Well, of to look at TUSAL updates now!

Update- I'm trying to post to some blogs, but some blogs keep crashing when I open them, so if I haven't commented on your blog lately and I usually do, then your blog could be one that I'm having trouble with. I'm running Vista, and the message keeps saying the IE can't open the site. I send the details off to Microsoft. Anyone else having this problem?

Are you a freebie-oholic?

What are ten warning signs of freebie addiction?

Here are freebie-oholism signs that are listed in no special order:

1. Looking at freebies alone online
2. Making excuses or finding excuses to find freebies online
3. Daily or frequent freebie finding needed to function
4. Inability to reduce or stop freebie accumulation
5. Angry episodes associated with not finding freebies online such as discovering the freebie is not there anymore and getting angry that you didn't save it beforehand
6. Finding freebies secretly and not sharing
7. Becoming angry when confronted about the number of freebies stored on computer
8. Poor eating habits- too busy to eat while finding freebies
9. Failure to care for physical appearance- noone sees your hair while you're online
10. Trembling in the morning thinking about finding that first freebie for the day


Additional freebie-oholism signs can include inability to remember some of the events of the previous evening whilst online freebie surfing or feeling anxious in a social situation where there is no freebie sharing.


If the above ten warning signs of feeebie-oholism create an interest in exploring possible freebie addiction, consider contacting your physician, counselor or other qualified professional such as the local cross stitch store owner.

Another time-tested source of help would be contacting Freebie-oholics Anonymous. FA has local groups that meet regularly throughout the USA and many other countries around the world.

No matter how many freebie-oholism signs may exist, it is never too late to begin recovery from freebie addiction. Whether it is one, two or more of the ten warning signs of freebie-oholism - help is available. Obviously, the sooner one begins the recovery process, the better. The first step is acknowledging you have a problem. Then, you need to give up all your freebies.


I CAN give up whenever I want, I just don't want to right now. But I did scare myself the other day when I saw that I had over 1,000 freebies stored... I know I'll never stitch them all, but I never save a freebie that I don't like- I am selective in my freebie addiction- not just any freeebie will do.

How about you? Are you addicted to collecting freebies?

A boy and his dog

I was going to post about my craft corner, but when I saw the pics I took, the reality of how untidy it was hit home, so I won't be posting until I've had a bit of a tidy up!

So, here's my sweet 11 yo Nicholas with Jack, aka Jackie Chan cos he prances around on his back legs so much. Notice so I don't say anything nice about Jack. I caught him with my TUSAL floss in his mouth, must have dropped some onto the floor. Why is it such a big deal? Cos I haven't got much to contribute so far this month....



I guess I'll be watching patiently to ensure that the floss to make it's way out- thankfully it wasn't much!

15 Years is not enough...

Last week I turned 45 (yikes- where did that time go?) and I started thinking. I realised that if I live to the same age that my dad did, I only have 15 years left.

The thought of only being here for another 15 years with Nicholas, breaks my heart, as he would only be 26 if I die then. Steve would survive, even though I imagine he would be upset, but he would remarry and move on. But a boy needs his mother, just like girls do. Then I realised that if I lived as long as my mum did, it would mean only 19 years.

So, my commitment to myself, is to stop carrying this extra weight and start exercising.

Because I don't want to die early from heart disease, or breast cancer.

Because 15 years is not long enough.

Just call me Super-Boob!

Late last year, I bought two new bras. Same style, different colours. Smooth, lightly padded plain front so that a clean line is obtained under t-shirts. You know what I mean- no nips showing (I hate mine showing).

Last month, I felt this sharp pain under my left boob, and discovered that somehow, the underwire had broken in two and a sharp end was poking out about two thirds of the way around the cup. Now, I don't know about you, but usually the underwire starts peeking out the end of the middle or the underarm side of the bra and usually is in one piece. So, this was a new experience to have it in two pieces, but I figured that even though I use a lingerie bag, somehow it must have got snagged in the washing machine. So, out went the bra sadly, with just the black version remaining.

So, last night, I'm watching Nicholas swim and I drop floss on the floor. I bend over to pick it up and 'snap' - there goes the underwire under my left boob. Broken again, in two. Same side.

I'm confused. The underwire is made of, well, wire. It's not plastic. So, the only conclusion I can come to, is that my left boob must be really strong. It's broken wire in two!

Now, we no longer need to use a saw or cutters to cut wire in half, I can just pop it under my left boob, and presto- cut in two. If I worked in a hardware store, I could get extra er, tips, for my wire cutting skills. And just imagine if I can get my right boob to perform something too...

A light-hearted look at swine flu

Firstly, I apologise for any distress this might cause those who have lost loved ones from influenza, swine or otherwise.

These little guys are life size sculptures in Rundle Mall, in the main city business district here in Adelaide. They usually command attention as they look so life-like at first glance.



Rundle Mall is close to Adelaide University, and rumour has it that this is the work of uni students with too much time on their hands.




What I found quite amusing about this picture, is the little boy in the background having a peek under the pig's mask! Not sure what he was expecting to find...

My TUSAL update by the lazy blogger

Well, the procrastinator in me had to work really quickly this month, in order to complete the finishing for my dear friend's birthday. I finally got her parcel away yesterday, her birthday is next week so I hope it arrives in time via airmail.

So, here's what I sent her,



I ended up making a pinkeep, using Swarovski crystals as finding pretty pins is quite difficult here. It's by Agnes Delage-Calvet and can be found here- crossing fingers- Creative Poppy

and the back of it is here. I stitched it on some evenweave from a grab bag from Joanne at 123Stitch using the suggested DMC floss.



Next is the floss tag, and I have to say that it was easier than I thought to make, and I now have the 'floss tag' bug!



And finally The Cat's Whiskers 'Heart Strings'. It ended up smaller than I originally had pictured in my mind (rattling around there with not much else!) but I remembered a quilt hanger that I had purchased some 5 years ago (see, I KNEW I would use it one day) and I thought it would look good with the stitching.


Can you see the sun making shadows in the photos? Well, we last saw the sun on Wednesday and since then, WE'VE HAD RAIN! It's been more than 12 months since we've had so much rain in 2 days, over 1 inch! That may not sound much to those who have too much rain, but we've been in an official drought situation for the last 3 years, with restricted water use. So the rain is such a beautiful sight. If it wasn't so cold outside, I would go out and stand in it. Instead, I just drove the car through any big puddles!

And, guess what?! It's TUSAL time, yes, time to show my 'Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long' progress, and time for another link! If you're interested in joining this highly satisfying SAL, then you can find the details on Yoyo's site Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long



It doesn't seem like I've contributed much this month, but I have been stitching. There's a bit of blue froggin' stuff, and another empty needle packet. Still, it's coming along okay. I showed great restraint a few weeks ago. A friend came over to stitch and I was just itching to snaffle her orts, but she binned them before I could even broach the subject of saving them for my SAL (with acknowledgement to her, of course!). Have to invite her over again soon...

What do you think? In my 'floss tag bug' induced frenzy, I started stitching a floss tag for myself. Now that I've finished the front, I'm kinda thinkin' it might be a tiny bit too BIG for a floss tag. So, what else can I make it into? In my hurry to make one, I failed to consider the placement on the fabby, so there's a lack of fabric on one side (or maybe two sides). It measures about 4" wide by 5.5" high (too big for a floss tag?)




Any ideas on what I can turn it into? BTW, it's a freebie by Berthi Smith-Sanders , I thought I downloaded from theworkbasket.net, but the site is down at the moment so I can't check.

Thank you for the help in making links, I think I've mastered the basics!

Finally, It's ANZAC Day here in Australia. Here's a good site with info about itANZAC Day

They shall grow not 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.

Thank you to all those who lost their lives fighting at war. Lest we forget.