Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Celtic Summer Fabric

I went through my stash this afternoon and picked out a few fabrics, sorted out what I need to order (just about all the beads and the gold metallic thread). Bad, bad thing to do ... of course I *really* want to start it straight away now!

Before I start though ... the fabric question :)

I'm pretty sure I know what my favourite is but thought I'd do a wee poll :)

Here are the images -

Summer Khaki - this is the recommend fabric


Kiwi Illusions - Riverstone


Kiwi Sparkles - Evening Shadows


Silkweaver Expressions - Serenity


and lets see if this wonderful new poll technology works!


Free Vote Caster from Bravenet.com
Free Vote Caster from Bravenet.com



... and on an interesting life note - the wonderful Liz (who was nasty to me) sent me a card and chocolates today, apologising again for her behaviour. I'd rather stay mad and angry with her, I know she meant what she said - no matter how many apologies she makes. But then again she's making an effort - and I can't do anything but be nice back. Such is life I suppose - I'll forgive, but I won't forget!

So close!

I can almost taste the finish of Rose Arbour and Setting Sail ... probably a good weeks work left in both of them ... but oh, so close!

Here is Setting Sail - (this will muck up my sidebar because it is too wide - so I'll probably move it in a few days).



and Rose Arbour - I had grand ideas of getting lots done on this last night ... but I could hardly keep my eyes open let alone stitch :(



I need to get at least one (ha ha ... funny, I'm sure I said both a few days ago LOL!) finished before I start Celtic Summer ... and talking of Celtic Summer I saw a picture of it done on a purple hand-dyed somewhere and it looked gorgeous ... so I need to have a good look through my stash, I don't (can't really) want to buy anymore fabric, so something has to work with what I've got!

Can't think of much else happening today, I need to go clean this dump!

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Not much happening

Which is always a GOOD thing :)

Stitching-wise - I've mostly finished my friendship gift for our retreat exchange, I need to buy some matching ribbon, and I'm done. This week I'm going to stitch and I hope FINISH Setting Sail, I really want to finish that and Rose Arbour before I start on Celtic Summer, I finished the 2nd sail of three yesterday, there is a lot of white in those sails! I sat in the car and watched Cameron's soccer yesterday and stitched at the same time which got rid of a few rows of white.

Once again, my rotation seems to have gone out the window - but I intend on getting back to it, and leaving it basically the same - a week for each designer, with a couple of days of specific projects ... it will be nice to rotate like that without the obligations hanging over me.

Back to the subject of the retreat - which is next weekend, I'm REALLY looking forward to it, but I can already see I'm going to be the popping in and out person :( ... Charlotte still hasn't shown any sign of chicken pox, and knowing they usually appear two weeks after being infected, I'm fully expecting them to appear Thursday/Friday, which means she will be miserable over the weekend. So with soccer on Saturday morning (which we should be finished with by 11am - nice early games), then Rhiannon has a gym competition in Wellington early Sunday morning, well it's going to take some juggling. DH knows I'm planning a weekend out of the house and is very good about it, but he can't do the impossible, thank goodness it is local!

I had an interview at the gymnastics club yesterday for their administration position, they said they would make a decision yesterday and let me know, but I haven't heard anything - not sure if that is good or bad. It sounds like a well organised position - they have an office at the gym and I'd be expected to be there a few mornings a week for continuity with phone bookings etc, and the money is pretty reasonable, better than soccer or cricket pay me. We shall see, I got the feeling they thought I was over-committed, which always annoys me, I know I take on more than a lot of people, but that is just me, I think I cope pretty well (most of the time LOL). Plus I fully expect soccer to be MUCH quieter from next year - we are looking at employing a Manager for the club which means I really will only be doing the basic admin and membership database things, which I'm very happy with - at the moment a lot of the "manager" stuff falls to me, and those are the things I struggle with.

The kids are good - let me run though them, you can always skip over if you want ... some of this is like a diary for me to remember things! LOL

David (14) - is doing really well - I've had a couple of funny stories with him this week. Firstly, the 3rd Form Dean at his high school just happens to also be a friend of mine, right back from Mother Support days when her oldest and my 3rd were babies together - we still see each other at a bookclub we both go to. I mentioned to David that F had mentioned that this particular year of 3rd formers are a really good group of kids, his face was priceless ...
"oh, did you see Mrs J then?",
"no, I say, not for a few weeks - why?",
"Oh, ummmmm, will you see her soon?",
"yesssss, why?",

... and then the true confession on how he was on rubbish duty for throwing rubbish, and the only one for that week - as was pointed out at assembly. His face was priceless, with the oh no, I'm going to have to confess ... LOLOL

Josh (11) is good too - he is busy practicing and practicing his flute. He is our non-sporty child and it is so nice that it doesn't bother him - he is very conscientious and happy to work away at his own things. His "home" goal this term (they make a home and school one at school) was to be helpful around the house - every morning he goes around and opens the curtains for me and picks up the odd bits lying around the house - how many other 11yos would stick to that all term? I just hope he makes it a continuing goal for the next five years or so!

Cameron (9.5) is, well, still sport fanatic Cameron LOL - they just played their last game of soccer for the season yesterday - but are going to a tournament in Taupo in October, so not quite finished - I don't think they're ever finished really - they'll go into summer training straight after that. Along with that he is doing rep training for cricket, and cricket will start up end of October.

Rhiannon (6.5) is getting over her spots - we've had a lovely week together with her at home, we were able to bake while Charlotte was at daycare, I bought a new little tapestry kit for her which she is doing awesome with ... it's a bit sad that she had to be sick to have such a nice quality time week with her. Although, really except for being covered in spots she has been well all week - she'll be back at school tomorrow. She's got a gym competition next weekend, which she's missed a whole week plus a bit of training for, but she'll still do fine.

Charlotte (3.5) is racing around on her bike with no problems whatsoever. She tells me that the reason she hasn't got chicken pox is because the chicken pox knows she doesn't want them, and you know it wouldn't surprise me if the power of her mind was strong enough for that to be the case! LOL She is really settled at daycare now, it's taken all of about two years but she finally seems to actually enjoy it, and although tells me each time she doesn't want to go, I pretty much know that is just habit - once she is there she skips off and she doesn't come racing to the gate when I pick her up anymore - she waits in the playground so she can show me what she's been doing. A couple of teachers have mentioned how much she's come out of her shell in the last couple of weeks too.

... and that I'm sure is enough rambling for one day! Have a great weekend/week everyone :)

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

All about stitching

I've finally taken pictures!

Here is Perennial Border (The Drawn Thread) - stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen - Putty, with recommended threads.



and a close up of one of the corners - the worst corner to stitch! There were way too many tiny lazy daisy stitches on the Achillea ... how can they be called lazy I wonder?



and some RR's etc

Here is my ornament for the JCS Retro RR (part of the Ornament RR's) - You'll Find My Heart by X-Appeal, from JCS 2000 Ornament Magazine.



and two RR squares for RR57 - only one more square to go, and I'm a month ahead :)

Shells (this was a lovely quick one!)


and A Virtuous Woman - a Proverb - can't remember what number. Someone - or a couple of people - have really stuffed this one up (IMO ... but I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my stitching) - one (or two) people have used two threads for the borders, and one or two used one thread ... of course I was the lucky person who joined the top and bottom, and had to decide what to use - I used one, because I'm sure that is what the pattern calls for. Then the squares I was bordering didn't match up with those below - I finally found the mistake a couple of squares out, I was going to fix them - but decided I'd fudge my squares a bit, and the two people after me should be able to fit their's no problem. I do find it annoying though that there are some that just don't put in the little bit of extra thought to make sure everything is right. Heck, I know we make mistakes - if you're really clever you'll be able to pick out that I'm one stitch out on one of The Perennial Border sides, but I'm always a lot more aware of it being just right if it is somebody else's work.

Anyway - the picture!



I'm very happy with the catch up this week on my obligations pieces, I'm really motoring through them, I started the friendship piece last night, and should finish that by tomorrow - but it's a secret and too many from our little NZ group read my blog! LOL There are some advantages of being housebound with Miss Chicken Pox girl - more time to stitch :)

I'm going to join in with the Celtic Ladies SAL that Carol is organising ... I can't wait! I think I will make it my Tuesday stitching piece - it's always one of my best days/evenings to stitch, I've been stitching Rose Arbour that night, so I'll be working hard to get that and the Setting Sail kit finished in the next few weeks, so I can have a lovely guilt-free start. Oh, and more importantly, I'm stitching Celtic Summer - I've had this chart and the Needlepaint threads for quite a while, I need to look through my beads to see what ones I need, and check to see the status of the gold thread (I know I did have it, but I think I've used it for other things) - and more importantly choose a perfect fabric for it ... fun, fun, fun - I love getting new stitching projects together ... could be why I have so many WIP's LOL.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Shots, Spots and more!

Spots

Yep, Rhiannon sure has chicken pox and a bad dose of it too - her back and tummy are covered, her face isn't too bad which is a relief (don't want nasty scars on my sweet little girl's face!). She's been pretty miserable the last couple of days, but it looks like there are no new ones today and she'll move on to the itchy, scabby, healing stage now.

Shots

We had our big Nth/Sth Match this weekend. Nth Island Ladies lost :( ... but I shot AWESOME - 6th overall which put me in the New Zealand team (top 12 of 34 shooters), and I was 3rd in the North Island - I was very happy. I shot 97, 198 and 99 :)

In the New Zealand match yesterday I shot 99 and 195 - on the English targets which are slightly harder, so that was a good score too (3rd top for the day).

and More!

I had a run in with Liz :( ... those who know me in real life know how I feel about Liz, and how happy I am to shoot better than her (just a personal satisfaction thing) - well, she bummed out big time, and yes, I was sad for her - but happy with myself too.

Anyway - at the dinner last night she said some really nasty things to me (nothing to do with our shooting) - she apologised, in tears, later. But I was really upset, still am. Anyone who knows me will know that I don't deal with confrontation well at all. She basically said to my face that I was no help at all - our Association ran the competition, her and her DH organised most of it - the three clubs all helped out. On Saturday afternoon I made a point of asking around if anybody needed any help - they all said no, so I went home to relieve DH of poor spotty, miserable Rhiannon. Sunday I made a point of letting them know I couldn't help because DH needed to take Cameron to cricket training, and I needed to be home with Rhiannon.

Her words were -

"oh it's alright for you ALL you had to do was get up and come and shoot"

I said - "Liz, I offered to help, nobody wanted it and everything was obviously under control, so I went home"

She said - "Oh, they (meaning the guys from our club) all idolise you anyway and wouldn't expect you to do anything".

That was all - but it was very NASTY, and she meant it - no matter that she apologised afterwards.

I think what really hurt is that I am VERY aware that I don't do a whole lot to help at shooting, partly because they never seem to need it, and also, I just DON'T. HAVE. TIME. I believe volunteering goes around in cycles - and I expect in 10yrs I will have time, for now I'm involved in the kids' sport, the school etc ... it's not like I'm a nasty, lazy person who never does anything for anyone. Well, I hope not, I certainly don't want to be.

... and I'm tired, little girl not sleeping the best, 3 trips to Levin and back, emotionally draining competitive shooting ... you get the picture.

Stitching (got to end on a happy note!)

I'll take some pictures later - but I finished Perennial Border on Friday night, finished the Proverbs RR on Saturday, and started my shell on Sunday ... so all is going good :) and this week I will be housebound with spotty Rhiannon, so I should get lots of stitching done too!

Friday, August 19, 2005

A productive evening!

Wow! I just downloaded the Blogger for Word thingee … should be interesting, being a word processing operator, I’m pretty good on Word – hopefully it allows you to change fonts and things – I’ll try soon :)

On to my productive night … I love a productive night at work! Not only did I edit two big documents and keep one of the Senior Associates happy, I finished the Daisy part of Perennial Border – I’ve only got the Pansies and Hollyhocks to go now! I typed up soccer minutes, sorted out the folder of cricket stuff I was given, and printed out prize-giving tickets for Soccer – I love the feeling of being organized, well as organized as I ever get ;)

Talking of Perennial Border (by The Drawn Thread) – I started it last Saturday night, and I should finish it by the end of today, all going well. It is such a fun stitch – I love the way Cynthia Zittel makes the flowers look so delicate and so real. Sadly I’m planning on selling this on ebay, but I have all the specialty threads, it doesn’t have any special charms, and knowing it is only a weeks stitching – I am sure I will stitch it again for myself one day.

I need to make a list of obligation stitching … I’m feeling overwhelmed right now. I had really good intentions of joining in with one of the Bloggers Exchanges, and still will, even if it just the ornament exchange – but I’ve been too busy to have a good look at what I want to sign up for!

Anyway – this is what I need to stitch over the next couple of weeks –

1. RR57 – Proverbs – all kitted and ready to go as soon as I’ve finished Perennial Border.

2. RR57 – Shells – need to find a pattern – should be very quick and easy, I’ll send both off at the same time, which will give me a good month off from this RR.

3. Retro JCS Ornament RR – Need to get threads organized and stitch it up – it is a small one, so shouldn’t take long.

4. Friendship Exchange – for our little NZ Group retreat, still need to pick out a chart, although I have a few ideas – needs to be finished before 4 Sept.

5. Ornament RR Group 10 – received the latest one, need to stitch it up.

6. Two ornaments for a personal exchange with a stitching friend.

I think that is all, unless I’ve forgotten something important! Next week is definitely going to be an obligation week.

I’ve got North Island vs South Island shoot this weekend, I’ll be shooting Saturday and Sunday, but it is local so will be home Saturday night. Sunday night is photos and dinner – I’m thinking about opting out of the dinner, we can’t afford it and really I’m not bothered whether I go or not, I’d actually prefer a night at home (boring old me!).

I think Rhiannon might have the beginnings of Chicken Pox – her friend’s family has had/got it over the last couple of weeks and I’ve made sure she has been well and truly exposed, she has missed out on them a few times, various friends, school, kindy have had them and she seems to avoid them every time. Although I don’t want her to be sick, or spotty, or miserable, it will be good to have them over and done with. This morning she had a few tiny tiny red spots on her back, if I wasn’t looking for them I wouldn’t have even noticed them – so I’ve sent her to school, but wouldn’t be surprised if they change by tomorrow. BTW – here in New Zealand the Chicken Pox vaccine isn’t in the “normal” range of immunizations, you can pay for it, but it’s not considered a necessary one, so it is a common childhood illness.

What is with the spam in the Blogger comments - anyone have good ideas so it doesn't happen? I got a couple after my last post, definitely a nuisance.

I’m off to work this afternoon, if it’s quiet I’ll hopefully finish my stitching, yay!

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Setting Sail and Rose Arbour Updates

I carried on working on the Setting Sail kit after Wednesday - through until yesterday when I got tired of it again - but I think I can actually see progress, and maybe the end now! It is Jim's birthday in November, so I really need it finished by beginning of October to allow time for Deb to get it framed (it is a kit that Jim bought in America when they went over there a couple of years ago, Deb asked if I'd stitch it up for him, knowing her nor Jim would ever get around to it - they are very good friends, and Godsends when it comes to helping out and babysitting etc ... they make up for cruddy grandparents - but that's a whole different long story! LOL).

Anyway - here is Setting Sail as of yesterday - there isn't a blue blob at the bottom, I think that is my shadow.



and another update of Rose Arbour - not long to go on this one either!



I'm leaving my rotation again and stitching some more to sell on ebay - our bank balance is terrible and needs a bit of boosting.

Miss Bike with No Training Wheels - is starting herself off, biking around and around the house ... like someone who has been biking for years. She also has her first gym competition this morning - I will try and get some photos, but I'm walking around and helping with her group so not sure how much luck I will have.

Off to shower and dress!

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Ready, Steady, Go!

Charlotte (3.75yo) pestered and pestered me yesterday to take the training wheels off her bike, I have no idea why she suddenly decided she needed them off, but when Charlotte decides something, well, it usually has to be done! ;)

She is so funny - I went out to the garage ready to find a spanner in DH's toolbox and work out how to take them off, and she comes out with the spanner in her hand - she'd climbed onto the workbench, picked that one out because she was sure "Daddy uses this one" - and she was right!

I of little faith pushed her a couple of times but was really too scared to let go (it's the mother in me LOL) - and left her and Rhiannon outside while I went in to do a few things - I look out the window and realise she is doing very well - so I went and got the camera to record the moment :)

Ready -


Steady -


Go!


She can only go in a straight line, but her balance is pretty good. I'm going to take her to the big sports field down the road from us today so she can have a good practice.

... and my wee lesson ... never never forget that if Charlotte says she wants to do something, she'll do it! I should know that by now ;)

and talking of Charlotte - she is doing her first gym competition this weekend, it is a general "fun" gym one for the after-school classes, mostly the school age kids. She has been practicing her floor routine and looks SO cute!

Stitching wise - I stitched on Rose Arbour last night - it is so close to being finished now! I need to sit down and work out my next week rotation - might do that later.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Stitching Pictures

I've got lots to mutter about this morning ... so I'll start with the interesting stuff - stitchie piccies!

Firstly - here is my exchange piece for the Prairie Schooler Board, it is a needlebook, I'm not particularly happy with my finishing, I ended up rushing it because it was nearly dinner time, it went wrong, I finished it differently than I first intended ... and well, it once again has taught me that I really need to wait until I have LOTS of time, without interruptions, to do any sort of finishing - and I need lots more practice!

Here is the front -



and here is the crooked inside -

(Taken out to fix my side bar)

This week has been my Silver Lining week, last week of my five week rotation (that turned into six weeks LOL) - it is stitched with one thread, over one, on 25ct Lugana - I'm not finding it too hard to see at all and really like the way it is looking. I would have finished the whole of page one, except I didn't have one of the green colours and haven't had a chance to stop at the LNS to pick it up, so I've carried on downwards missing that particular green all the way (DMC 937). It's going to be hard to put this away for five weeks until that week in the rotation comes up again!



and last, but not least, another updated picture of the Setting Sail kit - I finished the first sail this week! yay me! ... two more to do ... plus lots of purple/blue sky and lots of blue sea *sigh* ... I think within a few weeks I'll be ready to spend a week or so on it and finish it though ... in fact I might add a week to my rotation this time around, just to do that :)



... that's all the stitching updates ... stay tuned ...

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

A quick hello

I thought I had more pictures to take ... hmmmmm ...

Anyway - here is a link to my first Ornament RR this is chosen by Annette - and I love it! I think the fun thing about this particular RR is leaving my comfort zone and stitching things I maybe wouldn't usually try. This isn't one that I'd pick out of an ornament mag to stitch, but I loved stitching it, and love the finished result - now to just make it into an ornament!

No other piccies - I'm in the process of finishing a needlebook, but am too embarrassed to put up a picture yet - it has too many crooked corners that I'm going to fix with a bit of hand-sewing. I must remember to ONLY make things like that when I know I've got the time, I always end up rushing and then not doing as nicer job as I should ... I'd love to be able to finish things like other pictures I see, but the only way is practice, practice, practice I suppose (and tying up children for a few days or refusing to cook or clean for them! LOL).

I started "Hope" - one of The Silver Lining's single roses, I'm stitching it on 25ct Antique White Lugana, over one, and love it :) ... it's not hard to see at all and it really does give a delicate look. I was very very tempted to skip Rose Arbour yesterday and carry on with it, but I was good and stitched Rose Arbour last night, and will carry on with the Setting Sail kit tonight. I'm not going to bother with an update of Rose Arbour - I stitched some of the urn, but that is it - nothing too exciting.

I'm on a de-cluttering, cleaning, getting organised kick right now ... trying to do a room a week, a little bit each day. I've started with the boys' room and it's taken two weeks - but it is looking heaps better! the drawers and wardrobe are all cleaned out, today I'm going to tidy and clear up the tops of their drawers, side tables etc. Tomorrow (or maybe the next day, tomorrow is a hellish busy day) I will clean from top to bottom, walls, windows, the lot. Next week I'll start on the girls' room.

Hope you're all having a good stitchy week!