A page finish ....

I have finally completed a page of this years HAED BB SaL. It's only taken me 6 months, but I have achieved. Woohoo!! So here she is:

Until next time, happy stitching

New Addition ....

I have been caught up in life and because of that I have been missing. Hopefully things will settle a bit and I can get back into both blogging and stitching.

Our daughter had her second child on Tuesday 24th April, 2012. Our second grandson, hopefully no more for a little while as it is possible that this little guy may have Cystic Fibrosis. We are waiting on the doctors. So, fingers crossed that all is ok.

 My two pattern choices for this month were Couch Dragon by Randal Spangler and QS Pick A Pumpkin by CC Kuik.

I decided that I would go back to University at the beginning of 2012 to get my degree. The way the economy is, its proving difficult to find work, and besides I would like to do something different. Since I decided to make this decision, it has affected my stitching. I'm half way through the 1st semester and I haven't had any chance to get to my stitching. I am trying to get time to work on at least one of my projects. I guess I thought that I would still have some free time, but that hasn't eventuated yet. 

Until next time, happy stitching

Thank you....

Thank you so much to Adrienne over at TryllaCraft for giving me this award.

Here are all the details about the Liebster Blog award:

Liebster is a German word, meaning favourite, dearest or beloved, and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition.

The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose 5 up-and-coming (with fewer than 200 followers) blogs to award the Liebster to.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.
4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

I am going the give the Liebster award to these wonderful bloggers:

1. Lauren at Ambitious Stitches
2. Tamara at Intricate Stitches
3. Beanie at Cross Stitch Crazy
4. Jolyn at Jolyn's Stitching Obsession
5. Xeihua (Sara) at My Cross Stitch Corner

Five random things about myself:

1. Chocolate Whiskey Cake is my biggest downfall.
2. I don't like men with long hair (below the shoulders).
3. I love family dinners at my in-laws.
4. We lived next door to my in-laws for the first 16 years of our marriage (and still married) and we have moved - now married for 21 years. 
5. My husband proposed after knowing one another for 4 weeks.

Until next time, happy stitching

2012 March WiPocalypse update ....

Time for my next update. Didn't get as much stitching done as I wanted to this month. But this is what I did get through ....

 

 SK Masquerade

 

 QS Curl Up

 

QS Teddy Bear Tree

Until next time, happy stitching

Please help me ....

I officially have more HAED charts than I would be able to stitch in my lifetime. So I really need to not buy anymore, (well for the next month at least), taking baby steps is a good way to start, that way it won't seem so hard.

My present from my family to buy two charts per month for the year has been completed, thanks mainly to the 50% off sale that HAED had for Leap Day 2012. So the two charts that I have earmarked for March are Seven Hearts by Jim Warren and QS Duckling Discovery by Hannah Lynn.

I will continue to look at the new charts, and probably add more to my Wishlist, but that doesn't mean I have to buy them. Does it?

I was going to show you all the most recent update of MSK, but with the 2012 WiPocalypse coming up in a few days I've decided to put it off until then. There is only the bottom half of page 3 left and I have enjoyed working on this again, maybe because I know that it is coming to an end, and when it is completed I can bring another project into the mix. Hmmmm??? What to do? What to do?

Until next time, happy stitching

Celebrations ....

 I have finished my QS Curl Up rotation and I have completed the bottom half of page 2. So next up in my rotation is Masquerade SK. The excitement is building with this one because I will have two more rotations of this project and it will be completed. My very first HAED finish. You've gotta love that.

 We have had 5 birthdays in 8 days, lots and lots of food and cake. Big birthday hugs to my Mum, DD, DD's partner, my nephew and my niece, and to top that all off our grandson has just started to walk, another wonderful milestone, and he is only 11 months old, so that will be another birthday next month. Woohoo!

 Until next time, happy stitching

February's prezzies ....

 For February via "The Best Anniversary Present Ever" (thanks to my wonderful family) I decided to choose one of Spanglers Houses that Michelle charted as Storykeeps recently, because I know that I won't really want to work on or have the full size chart and another design from Karen Middleton. I could not believe how many of her charts I have. I obviously love her style of watercolours. So I picked "SK Home is Where the Heart is", by Randal Spangler and "Rapunzal" by Karen Middleton.

QS Curl Up came up again in my rotation and it was great to finally start working on the candle. I was so excited about that (doesn't take much does it), because I am that much closer to finishing page 2 and another one page finish to add to my WiPocalypse tally.

I also found out what all the "hub-bub" about "SuperBowl" and stitching is. As we are not big American Football fans in New Zealand, I didn't understand it. Until, my sons decided to watch this years SuperBowl and YES! YES! I was able to sit and stitch for 4 hours. That was a highlight this month for sure.

Until next time, happy stitching

I was so happy ....

Woohoo!! I could not believe my luck when I went to the HAED website to pick charts for "My January present", that was when I noticed they were having a 25% off Valentines Day Sale through until 16 February 2012, I have already found 2 charts and they are

 "Kathleen" by Hannah Lynn

"Mini Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate" by Randal Spangler

(I love his draglings, they are so cute). Now I only need to make my choices for my February present before the sale ends.

This is where I am at with QS Crabby Crush after this months stitch-in. It was my first time using DMC Light Effects floss, and I found it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Just took a bit more patience to deal with it. But it was worthwhile in this instance.

Until next time, happy stitching
  

Time to join everyone else ....

I decided to participate in this years SaL on the HAED BB and my choice of chart is QS Teddy Bear Tree. The chart choices for this SaL were really wonderful, so my decision was not an easy one, I figure that is a good thing, because I want to be eligible to receive the other charts at the end of the year.

I have been a bit slow at getting started on my piece, but here is my quarter page update. I was surprised by the amount of detail and hesitant about some of the colours, but the mantra is "trust in Michelle's charting", and sure enough that is so true. My teddy is currently "winking" at me, next time I get to show him to you I hope to have his other eye completed.

Until next time, happy stitching

He's a keeper ....

Oh yes, he is!! Its was our wedding anniversary yesterday. 21 years and 19 of those were everything that a girl could want, but the last two have been trying. Within 6 months of one another we both lost our jobs and we have been muddling along since living off our savings mostly, but no ray of sunshine on the job front. That's okay we still have our family and each other. We got married beside a lake so every year because it is summer now on our side of the world, we have a family picnic at the same lake.

Anyway DH decided that it was high time I got a special treat and he has arranged with our three children (two of whom are grown and have incomes), a special present for me, for our anniversary and just because I am always doing for them, (it's what mothers do!). Anyway I digress.

My present (Oh Wow!!!) I am allowed to get "One full and one small chart from HAED each month for the WHOLE year", and the four of them will pay. YAY! YAY! YAY!!!

How am I supposed to enjoy a picnic when I have charts spinning around in my head saying pick me please. It's time to get the picnic ready so we can all head off. I will make my choice's about the charts for this month sometime over the weekend and keep you all informed with my decision.

Until next time, happy stitching

It's a new year, time to re-evaluate ....

I think I need to start the year off small. So, I really want to finish SK Masquerade, so that will stay in my rotation. Now, I have come to the hard part, what other projects are a real priority for me. Eldar? QS Curl Up? QS Crabby Crush? Ok!! lets work with these and the new 2012 SaL project from HAED "QS Teddy Bear Tree".

I know that this will keep on morphing over the next 12 months because something is going to take my interest away, but I have to get on to stitching and stop pondering over what hasn't even come to light yet.

 As promised here is another update, this is for the 2011 SaL QS Curl Up with a Good Book. I really love the colors and want to finish this project. Maybe this will be "it's" lucky year. I have finally moved on to page 2. Next up in rotation is QS Crabby Crush.

Until next time, happy stitching

Happy New Year!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to say Happy New Year and I hope that your Christmas was full of wonderful blessings for you all.

I have a couple of updates to share and I will add those over the next few posts. In the meantime I have managed to complete 3/4 of page 7 on Eldar and here is a before and after shot.

I get so caught up in working on my projects that I forget to update you all on my progress. Since I got my new smartphone though I have been so much more proactive about taking the update photos, but I haven't been present to do my show and tell for you all.

But there is no time like the present to make a start.

 Until next time, happy stitching

Rotations could be a good thing…

My stitching has suffered a lot recently, because I haven’t had the time or the willpower to get on with it. This has mostly come about because of personal stuff, but because of that I have not had the strength to step away from it and do something for myself. But it is now time to get on with it.

We are in a new month and it’s time to get back into the swing of it. I dug out “Roses Friend” by Molly Harrison for Heaven and Earth designs. This is a good place to start because I am working on the background, so lots of blocks of color. I didn’t manage to finish the 1600 stitches that I would have liked, but I was pretty close.

I like to divide the full pattern page into 4. That way I only concentrate on a small area at a time. So far I have completed half of page 1 and almost 1/4 of page 7. I am planning on working left to right in half page sections. It seems that with this particular piece I have decided that I would prefer to cross country stitch, but things might change once I get to the central design.

This Saturday I plan on changing to my next project which is the 2011 QS Stitch-A-Long “QS Curl up with a good book”. I really love this piece, my children got me that full size pattern for Christmas last year and I know that I will probably not get around to stitching it, but this way I can make a smaller version.

Until next time, happy stitching

Out the window it goes ....

I've decided that my goal challenge now needs to be revised considerably. I know that I will not be able to meet my goals in any shape or form. So, I am now just working on what takes my fancy and as I enlarge my pages into quarters, my goal is to just complete a quarter page at a time on any given project. So far it is working for me. But, I keep forgetting to take photos. Must remember to get around to this when I finish here.

Until next time, happy stitching

Every stitch is worth it ....

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with my stitching goals for 2011. So, I think I need to prioritize, but before I do that, here are a couple more updates.

I have always loved Dragon Luck since I saw it as a Storykeep, but I wasn't head over heels in love with Heaven and Earth designs when that freebie was available, so, when I found the Quick Stitch that the Storykeep had been cropped from I couldn't get it started soon enough for my new grandson, (he is growing so fast where did the last 5 months go???). I have just managed to get half of page 2 done and this little guy is looking so cute, now I only have to finish page 2 & 3 on this to complete one of my 2011 goals.

I also have an update of another dragon Eldar and I am close to finishing half of page 7 which will mean that the first five columns of this are finished, yipee I can't wait. I really like working on this, but because I love all my other projects the same nothing is getting the TLC it "truly" deserves.

So this week, I want to get 600 stitches completed on QS Curl Up, so I need to go to get a more on.

Until next time, happy stitching

Time for a catch up ....

This is what I managed to accomplish all the way back in May!!! I couldn't believe how much I had done until I sat down to write this post.

1. Eldar - 400 stitches done
2. Storykeep Masquerade - 400 stitches done
3. QS Curl Up with a Good Book - 400 stitches done
4. Polar Bear Fun - 400 stitches done
5. Roses Friend - 400 stitches done
6. QS Dragon Luck - 400 stitches 250 stitches

June was a complete washout, and now we have reached July. This month I plan to work 600 stitches on all my current projects and I also have a new start because I couldn't help myself. I joined the 2011 SK SaL on the HAED BB, (what was I thinking!!!).

Here she is in all her glory. This is Ice Wind by Linda Tso. So, I have gridded up my fabric and I just need to get a couple of extra threads. I have decided to work this one on 22ct Hardanger, mainly because that is what I had in my stash, and I haven't actually cross stitched a piece on Hardanger before. I am looking forward to how this will work up.

I won't be able to make an actual start on this though until later in the month, but first up in my rotation this month is QS Curl up with a good book, so I should have some progress to show you next update.

Until next time, happy stitching

Missing in action ....

The last 6 weeks have been absolutely hectic (4 deaths in the family and happily a birth and a 21st birthday), sounds like a really bad movie title. As a result of this I haven't been able to update my blog or get much of any stitching done. But, fingers crossed life can only get better. I have managed to put a few stitches in and will take photos and update you all in my next post.

Until next time, happy stitching

May Goals ....

Here we go! It's the beginning of the month again!

1. Eldar - 400 stitches
2. Storykeep Masquerade - 400 stitches
3. QS Curl Up with a Good Book - 400 stitches
4. Polar Bear Fun - 400 stitches
5. Roses Friend - 400 stitches
6. QS Dragon Luck - 400 stitches

Until next time, happy stitching

I survived, and made a new start ....

I've reached the end of the month. Woohoo!! I survived the NO BUY challenge that I set myself. It was really difficult, so many beautiful new releases came out and my fingers were itching to make them a part of my stash.

This is my latest new start. It's called Roses Friend by Molly Harrison and charted by Heaven and Earth designs. I saw this and immediately thought of my Aunt. She was also my Godmother and I was her "Namesake". She passed away 17 years ago and this is the first time I have come across a design that reminded me of her so much.  So I am making this in her honor, much missed and loved by me and my family. This is my progress on her so far. I am stitching the background, and finding it really therapeutic, because not as much concentration is required.

I'm ending this month by working on QS Curl Up with a Good Book. It had been a nightmare for me until I restarted on 18ct and it seems to be working out for me.

Okay, so, from what I achieved last month, I am really glad that I did do a rethink on my rotation. I feel so much happier about the progress that I have made with all my projects and I've been able to decide which projects are a priority and give them the time that is needed to get them finished quicker. Last but definitely not the least I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my musings. I appreciate all your comments.

Until next time, happy stitching

Rotation rethink ....

I really needed to do this because I had other projects that I wasn't getting anywhere with. So I have decided to work on each project in rotation for four days and then work one day on either of my two focus pieces. That way I may be able to get some progress on everything. I might even be able to post updates more often

.

So here is an update to Polar Bear Fun. This was the first chart that I brought from HAED. I got it because my husband loves Polar Bears and this is one that really appealed to me. Very slow progress, because I haven't worked on this since August of last year.

Until next time, happy stitching