Stitchcats Thread Garden

WIPocalypse 2012 January 9th Update

2012-01-09T20:13:00.000+13:00

Here is the first update. I havent really done very much stitching at all since I signed up for this.

But I did manage to add some stitches to Ewe Smitten. I want to get this finished by Feb 14th.

I am sure that by the next checkin date, I would have made progress on a couple of other of the WIPs. Started work again today, and it was really good to get back into it. Hopefully I will be able to fit in plenty of stitching time too.

WIPocalypse 2012

2012-01-07T21:21:00.001+13:00

I have joined up for the WIPocalypse 2012...just waiting to get my name on the list. Basically it is a fun way to bring some WIPs out of the shadows and work on them. And post the progress on a monthly basis. Everyone who does this, goes into a draw for a reward at the end of it. Sounds good to me.
These are the 6 I have selected.....

Above the Clouds
Daisy Lane Cottage
Ewe Smitten
Heart on her Sleeve
Maxs Moon
Pukeko Sunset

I have listed the 6 WIPs on my sidebar and I have added photos of where I am up too on each of them (from how they are now). If I get to finish any of them, then I will cross them off the list. There is also a list underneath of the date each month to post the photos of any stitching done to these projects - the dates are based on the full moons. Apparently there is no pressure to actually finish any of the projects...it is all fairly relaxed and you can stitch as much or as little as you like.

If I can get a couple of these finished this year I will be happy.

The New Year

2012-01-04T11:39:00.000+13:00

Happy New Year to everyone...I hope that 2012 treats you all well.

I started my new job before Christmas and was there a week and then it was holiday time!

Since I have a couple of weeks off work over the Christmas New Year period, I have been busy tidying my craft cabinets....its amazing what is found when this is done...i.e. patterns, kits and fabric I had forgotten I brought.

I also managed a finish before the end of last year....

Cherry Hill by Country Cottage Needleworks

With this design I left out the boarder, for 2 reasons, I felt it looked too busy and also I hadn't left enough room when I cut the linen.

I have yet to decide how I will frame this...I am planning a fabric frame and hang it from a decorative metal hanger. Just have to work out how to sew it now.

I am planning on giving this to my daughter to take with her to boarding school to decorate her room. This was another major decision I made before Christmas as the school she has been at since we moved here, has been totally useless and her grades have fallen, and we didn't know till we got her report in the mail after the school had closed. No one at the school had ever contacted me during the school term to say there was a problem. I was livid.

The boarding school isnt too far away, and she will come home every weekend by train...everyone is happy with that. The school has a fantastic reputation and I know she will do well.

So I will post another photo when I have made the frame and it is already to accompany my daughter on her journey.

I have also been sewing.....ort catchers.

The round one matches the Susa Glenn Flying Chicken Pin Cushion & Tool Caddy I made last year, so will be for use with my sewing machine.

And the triangle shaped ones, well they sort of bred - as it was only supposed to be one ort catcher, but for some reason I misread the instructions and cut out 3 lots of fabric rather than the one lot called for. I chose the poppy buttons for the original catcher, and had to find matching buttons for the other 2.

Both ort catcher patterns were quick and easy to make.

Lastly here is a photo of Tui lying in the shade during a very hot summery day. As you can see she is squashed in beside some baby shrubs I am growing. Isnt it funny where cats like to lie.

I guess it would be rude not to include a photo of Keira in this post...so here she is...

And just as I went to publish this post....the postie arrived with this that I had ordered just before Christmas. This design is beautiful, I can't wait to stitch it and it will also be for my daughter for her room while she is away....maybe as a mid-term gift.

Right, I am off to take Keira for a walk in the lovely sunshine...have a great day everyone.

Blackwork in Currant

2011-12-15T22:37:00.003+13:00

Here is the ornament I showed in the last post all made up and ready to send to my friend in Hamilton...we have given each other angels ornaments every Christmas for the past 11 years or so.

Instead of using black I stitched the angel with GAST Currant. I want to do some more of the Prairie Schooler Blackwork angels in the future.

A New Job, The Final Ornament and The Christmas Tree

2011-12-14T17:31:00.002+13:00

Christmas is almost here....the year has just flown...2 more weeks till the big day. Its all very evident by the mad panic being displayed by shoppers in the malls and drivers on the road and in carparks.

I have had an excellent couple of weeks, always job hunting and applying for something new, I got a call out of the blue one day from Fuji Xerox offering me full time work doing what I had been doing in Greymouth. No interview or anything, just a couple of meetings to see the workplace (Army Defence Base) and after I said yes, in at headoffice (in Wellington) to sign on the dotted line. Before I said yes, they were going to get back to me with a salary figure. I love the work, but I had to weigh up my travel which would be about 25 minutes. Well I got an email early the next day (at work, via my phone - squinting at my phone screen)...I couldnt believe the amount....I was ready to say yes. I couldnt wait for work to finish so I could get home and write out a proper email. Turned on computer and here is another....bigger....offer. WOW!!!! Seems with my experience with the high tech machinery I used in Greymouth and the fact that I could get security clearance so easily seemed to weigh heavily in my favour.

I start on Monday...work for a week, then have almost 3 weeks off for Christmas before going back. I am excited. The equipment I will be using is older than what I had at Greymouth, but its great, I can't wait. Its funny how I mucked around with jobs, and kept being told that it was ok, it would take a while to find something I liked again.

Where I am working now are sad to see me go, because I did all their posters and displays, and I did enjoy being there, but this new position will see me at a better advantage in the future :)

Now onto Christmasy things. Here is the final ornament I am stitching for this year.

Blackwork Angel - The Prairie Schooler

The tree is up, the decorations are out and the lights are up around the house, much to the amusement of our neighbours. Obviously the house decorating was more popular in Greymouth than in our neighbourhood - but you never know we might just be getting in early and could prompt others to follow. I took a large box of older ornaments and tinsel to the Salvation Army which was greeted with joy.

Here is the tree in all its glory

Finally here is a photo of Tui and Keira....I think Keira is worried that Tui will remove the ball from her mouth....Nothing would surprise me, after the assault the ornaments on the Christmas tree receives every night.

Another cutie to share

2011-11-25T14:20:00.001+13:00

Heres another ornament that I finished in a couple of nights...the needles were flying.

Just a Quickie - Peace - Amy Bruecken Designs

Finally...heres last years Christmas Ornaments

2011-11-23T15:01:00.001+13:00

Hard to believe....finally I have finished the ornaments for Christmas 2010. Once I got the sewing machine out and got into the swing of things, the finishing took no time at all.

Feel the Magic - Midsummer Nights Dreams

Wisemen Came - Shepherd's Bush

Christmas Jewels - Elizabeth Designs

Santas Buddies - Angel Stitchin

I feel on a bit of a roll now...I set aside time every night to do some stitching. And its great because I look forward to it....I don't see it as a chore or something I must get around to doing, at some stage during the evening.

The weather here is shocking at the moment....very strong winds on Monday and today. And my friends in Greymouth had flooding again, but thank goodness the height extensions on the flood wall, stopped the town flooding. When you see pictures of the Grey river up higher than the road, you realise what an awesome engineering feat that flood wall is.

And then there was the 1 year memorial to the Pike River 29 Miners last weekend, may they rest in peace, but may they also be brought out of the mine where they still lie. A year has gone fast - its seems like only yesterday that news of the explosion circulated around the town....I think time stood still!

All ready for the tree!

2011-11-13T20:11:00.001+13:00

Here they are...my Christmas ornaments for 2011....I am only saying that because I still have to sew up the ornaments for last year.

I chose 4 designs from Tis the Season by Natalie Bird, reduced the design size, stitched them with DMC 75 and backed them with red felt. Kind of cute really.

Please ignore the wonky lines..the wee stitched border lines are not as wobbly as what the photo shows...don't know what happened there.

And there are 4 ornaments....I have just put the ribbons of the bottom 2 under the top 2. It sort of makes them look 2 tiered.

More updates soon :)

A lapse in time????

2011-10-30T11:29:00.004+13:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted....no I havent fallen off the ends of the earth, I just havent posted. I have lots of stitchy updates which I will post over the next couple of weeks...fingers crossed.

What have I been up to??? Well theres the stitching, looking for work, getting another job and absolutely hating it, getting despondant about it, leaving and looking again. I can get the work ok, I just cant gel into anything.

I wanted somewhere that would allow me hours to work, but also plenty of time off to go do my photography and conservation ventures. So I went to a local business and spoke to them and they employed me. The only full day I work is Monday and the rest of the time it is half days with 2 full days off :) Its varied work with design and printing of advertising, stock control and pricing. I am happy and I can pay the bills, and its very close to home.

I have been stitching on my HAED, and Christmas ornaments, and another small CCN. I wont show you the ornaments until they are all finished.

But till then, here are some of my NZ Native photos for you to look at, These are all taken at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary where I spend a lot of my time these days.....

One of many Tuatara that I photographed one day not that long ago...the day had warmed up and they all came out to bask in the warmth.

A cheeky kaka having a drink

A Scaup or Papango

A fledgling NZ Falcon or Karearea

A Tui

A North Island Robin or Toutouwai

The 2 resident Takahe....T2 and Puffin

One of our kiwis was released into the wild a month ago (which brings the number to 49 with transmitters on that we are monitoring), she has been named Anna, and I was asked to do the photos of the day, so here is a cute close up of her....

Sorry there are no stitching photos....I hope you enjoy these ones instead :)

Waiting....waiting

2011-08-14T12:24:00.001+12:00

That sums up life at the moment. A change or 2 is in place.

Firstly I am leaving my new job...better now than later. Yes the hours are good and the holidays off are good but I am so bored, and the job isnt even a challenge. So I leave in a couple of weeks and now I am looking for a new job, but I will go and work at DHs work (the original plan for when I first moved here) until I find something else.

I came to this decision during the last school holidays 2 weeks ago. I am quite relaxed about it all...what will be, will be lol.

During the school holidays, I did a lot of walking around in the Rimutaka State Forest with my dog, it was relaxing and enjoyable - and where I did a lot of my thinking.

Here is Keira waiting for me while I jumped out and took a few photos as I was leaving the park - she is so patient with me.

It is really beautiful in there, and it is where the kiwis are. (Not the area I walked around in with my dog). As I mentioned in an earlier post I am helping with the Kiwi Project, run in conjunction with DOC. I maintain the database, and had the opportunity to go and watch some health checks being performed on kiwis in the park - during the holidays - but I had another appointment on that day. I will get to go soon though, which is something I am looking forward too. I will also get to learn about the transmitters, that are attached to the kiwis, and help us to know what the kiwis are getting up to, where they are in the park and other useful information.

The Kereru or native wood pigeon is a large bird that always seems to be eating. There are lots of them in the area, especially by the carpark and barbeque areas.

I have no stitching progress to show - I know I have been slack, but I had new lens put in my glasses, so really couldnt see very well for a while.

Till next time, thanks for visiting........

A chicken was hatched

2011-07-24T11:53:00.001+12:00

My Friday night sew in was an eventful evening...see what can be achieved with no social life...my son thinks this is sad :)

Anyhow I made up my Susa Glenn Flying Chicken Pin Cushion & Tool Caddy. I have had this kit for quite a while and when I saw my friend Kaths finished chickens, it prompted me into action.

Kind of looks cute really. I think the beak should be flatter, but as I had no starch to flatten the beak, my chicken will sport a duck beak. She is going to be a companion for my sewing machine....when I am busy using the machine, I generally have no where to put the pins quickly and they end up scattered all over the table. So my chicken is the solution. As well as holding the overly used stitch unpicker and small scissors.

Here is my first progress photo of HohS....not much to show but a small start is better than no start. I decided to stitch all the black first, and then it will be fun to fill in the rest of the picture with the other beautiful colours.

I am looking outside my window and can see this.......

Keira is waiting for a walk, and even though it is wet and miserable, I will put on my gumboots and take her for a long walk along some of the greenways, where she can kick up her heels, jump in the stream and use up some of her energy.

I have had the last week off - and have another week to go. I have all the school holidays off - the bonus with working at a school, so its quite nice to recharge the batteries every 10 weeks or so.

Friday Night Sew Ins

2011-07-22T19:11:00.004+12:00

I have joined this group, with the aim of using the time for quilting, sewing up ornaments or any other sewing bits and bobs I have to do. I am about to head for the lounge, turn on TV and start sewing :)
There is still time to sign up...click on the button on my side bar, and that will take you to Heidi's blog.

I will have an update on what I will be sewing tonight as well as the stitching I have already done on HohS (which from now on will mean Heart on her Sleeve by HAED)

Relaxing

2011-07-10T10:50:00.001+12:00

Well thats what seems to be the theme of the weekend. Here is one chilled out cat - probably exhausted after racing around out in the wind. Its very windy here today - just what a little kitty likes - leaves blowing aound at a 100 miles an hour.

I have been taking Ewe Smitten to work to stitch on in my lunch hour. It is slowly coming along.

I have finished the gridding for Heart on Her Sleeve, so I am going to put in the first stitch tonight. It will be interesting to see how long this project takes me.

Tui is awake again....

And because I am the master of posting unrecognisable photos on my blog, here is a photo of a seal I took last weekend when it was stormy. This is at Red Rocks which is south of Wellington. Not a very clear photo - you may have to click on it to get a better viewing. But I think this seal looks like an oversized hedgehog.

To show the state of the weather on this day, here are a couple of shots of the Bluebridge Ferry coming in to the harbour from the South Island. Glad it wasnt like this when we came up to Wellington.

It probably wasnt that bad on the ship...and was probably quite calm where the ship was...yeah right! LOL.

And just before I go, here are a couple of seal photos I took 3 weeks ago at Turakerai Head where there is another seal colony...a much calmer and sunnier day. Both these places (Red Rocks and Turakerai) are seal hauls which is another name for a place where male seals go over the winter to lie around and fatten up. At Turakerai up to 600 seals can be found lying about. We had to climb over rocks to get close to a couple. (At Red Rocks they lie quite close to the gravel track).

I have joined the Rimutaka State Forest Trust, and working with my friend from DOC I will be learning the ropes of kiwi conservation. Where around 50 kiwis are regularly monitored in the surrounding forest park around Wainuiomata. I have missed working with birds after leaving Twizel so this will be a great experience for me.

Till next post, happy stitching everyone.

A finish and something new in the pipeline

2011-07-01T20:51:00.005+12:00

Isn't awful when you have completed stitching as a gift, finished it the way you want, and after you've put it in the post, you go to upload the photo onto your blog only to find you have left something out of the picture. What a numbskull....who would do that? Um, well me....LOL how embarrasing. Surely I am not the only person who has done that. I havent got any excuse. I have had the stitching finished for ages, and showed it to plenty of people, and still not picked up the missing stitches.

Here it is.....Friends by Vals Stitching Stuff.....minus the whiskers :) Doesn't really look too bad whiskerless...but how on earth could I have forgotten the whiskers?

Right moving on.......

I have set myself a challenge. My daughter was watching over my shoulder one day when I was looking through the designs on the Heaven and Earth website. She was ooohing and aahhhing over various ones I was looking at. A few years ago I had stitched Cottage Garden Fairy by Mirabillia for her, and it hangs on her bedroom wall. Feeling generous I asked if she would like me to stitch a HAED for her. It had to be a quick stitch mind. I said she could choose a design and I would stitch it for her. Adding it could take a few years to complete.

I left her to it, and a while later came back and she had narrowed the choice to 16. This was going to take forever...I helped her to decide and 1/2 hour later we were down to 5. Finally she chose the design she wants, I paid online and had it downloaded within a few minutes.

She has chosen...Heart on her Sleeve.

I have brought some extra black thread in preparation to begin. It takes 5 skeins. I think I might do all the black outlines first. Because I like to take the easy way out, I have chosen 18 count aida to stitch it on. And I have start to grid the fabric to keep some semblance of order about the whole ordeal.

Excuse the ridiculous photo - It is intended to show the grid lines - you have to click on the photo to actually see them.

Wish me luck with this - I am going to need it. I have joined the HAED forum to assist me along the way.

Absolutely freezing!

2011-06-29T19:32:00.002+12:00

No one told me it would be so cold here - but I think this weather is the same all over the country. Nice stitching weather though, just a pity I have to venture outside to go to work and to walk the dog. When I did take keira for a walk earlier - I looked more like someone going to visit Antarctica.

I thought to mentally try to warm myself up, I would post some nice sunny type photos of my new surrounds.

To get to our community from the city of Lower Hutt, we have to go up and over the Wainuiomata Hill. Stunning views from the top though.

This is from the top looking down at Wainuiomata where I live.....

This is looking down towards the Lower Hutt side.....

Petone - the Lower Hutt area closest to the harbour....

Lower Hutt - Hutt Park....

Lower Hutt.....Hutt River....

The marina at Seaview - directly below the Wainuiomata hill.....

Looking out past Seaview and over the harbour towards Wellington City..... with Matiu/Somes Island in the middle.....

A close up of Matiu/Somes Island.....

A close up of the large ship in the harbour.....

A close up of Wellington.... If you click on the photo you get a view of the wind turbines above the city and our Parliament building - the Beehive which is shaped like a beehive and sitting in the middle of the photo.

The views are stunning on a sunny day.

I will have more stitchy photos soon...hope you liked the scenic shots.

Introducing Tui

2011-06-28T22:02:00.001+12:00

After losing my beautiful Chubby we went for a visit to the Wellington SPCA to see what cats they had there. We saw alsorts of cats, and as lovely as they all were, nothing really took my fancy. They allowed me into an area that was closed off to the public because of a threat of ringworm in a group of cats. Thats where I saw her. A small black 3 year old cat that had been a mother and was now looking for a home. She came up to me and wouldnt leave. I had brought my cat cage and when that was brought into the area, she jumped straight in.

I have named her Tui....because she is black with some white tufts under her chin, just like the New Zealand native bird - the Tui.

She has only just started venturing outside...and likes exploring in the garden. She snuggles up with me in bed at night - sleeping really close. She enjoys having kitten attacks with her toys and she has the cutest little squeak for a meow.

And there has been no sign of ringworm on her :)

Keira is going through a bit of a jealous stage, just like she did when Chubby arrived. She will settle down though. Tui is not so keen on her new doggy sister, and has already swatted Keira on the nose.

Here is an updated photo of Daisy Lane cottage. Haven't got too far on that...I have a few other things that I am working on and will show photos when I take a few in better light.

At the weekend I spent a fantastic day visiting with some wonderful stitching ladies. Some of whom I have known for several years online but have only just met. Kath, Katrina and Wendy have been in my yahoo stitching group for many years and their friends Clare and Rosie were there too. It was so neat to be able to spend a day with such genuine people who all inspired me with their beautiful stiching.

Chubby RIP

2011-06-07T22:27:00.000+12:00

Well the heading says it all. I haven't posted for over a month because of shifting house etc. We have been in Wellington since May 1. Settled into our house, and I have got myself a finance job at a school. I decided not to take the original job I was offered, and set out looking for a job myself. Applied for one and got it. Getting used to driving in a city again, and getting in a lot of sightseeing and shopping and then something bad happens.....

Getting ready to go to bed last Friday night and thought I had better call Chubby inside. He called back to me, but something wasnt right. I grabbed a torch and found him in the neighbours front yard. He couldnt move his back legs. He had been hit by a car. I took him into an emergency vet - it was about 12:30 at night, and I drove on instinct, because I am not familiar with a lot of the areas. I got to the vets and it was confirmed he had been hit by a car, his lower back was broken. So I said goodbye to my lovely Chubby.

I had only had him a year...but at least I gave him that year. He had sat unwanted in the SPCA after being abandoned by his owners. I am certain he had a great last year....monstering my dog, being continually hungry and taking up most of the bed at night. But also just being there.....

I will really miss him.

Fond farewell

2011-04-22T13:21:00.001+12:00

I never say goodbye...its too final. I always say 'see you later', and that is what I had to say when I left work for the final time yesterday. I had a good cry the night before - hoping to get all cried out before my farewell morning tea. I was fine during the morning tea - said a speech and everything, but later on before the end of the day, people came to see me before I left. That was hard, there were tears from both sides, so I didnt feel so bad. I loved working at Tai Poutini Polytecnic - its an awesome place to work. The people are awesome and I will miss them terribly.

I got some lovely gifts.....

A big bunch of flowers.....

A huge card signed by the staff, and 2 charms for my Evolve bracelet (New Zealand version of Pandora). Also one of my crafty friends there knitted me a wee bag in my favourite colours of green and purple and she made me an awesome green bead bracelet.

Here is a closeup of the charms.....I was given the New Zealand native butterfly and the other charm is safe travels.

Here is a close up on the bracelet

And here is the whole bracelet.

The murano glass charms signify different places in New Zealand. So I have on my bracelet, places that I love - Waikato, Dunedin, Central Otago and the greenstone one is for Greymouth and the West Coast. And then I have a ruru (morepork - our native owl), mountain daisys, a merino sheep, a heart that was the fundraiser for the Christchurch earthquake, amd a dairy cow.

Now onto a stitching update. I have almost finished the gift for my friend. I have been managing to get in a few stitches each night.

Now for a bit of amusement. Moving back to a city always means fighting traffic, and finding carparks - so this is what my DH has brought me to get around on up in Lower Hutt.....

Its a brand new Suzuki AN 125cc scooter. Very economical. I can't wait to try it out. I had a scooter about 20 years ago when I was in Hamilton and I loved it. DH has brought himself a big motorbike for commuting. Both bikes are in the shop still waiting for us to go and collect them.

Oh well thats it for today. Happy Easter everyone. I am now going to go out in the garden and get it tidied up one last time before we leave.

The rest of the stash and 2 lots of good news

2011-04-08T19:38:00.001+12:00

As promised here is another order of stash I got.

In this lot there are 2 Blue Ribbon Designs charts - Black Cats and Flying Bats, and Halloween with a Y, also there is I love my Garden by Mosey & Me and finally Love is by Shepherds Bush.

We have found a house for when we move up north. That certainly takes the stress level down a bit. It was starting to get really stressful, because DH comes back next week to help me with the final clean up here before the packers come in. Thats the first bit of good news.

I have 2 weeks of work left. Not looking forward to leaving. The time has gone so quick, and I love my job. But it is time to upskill so I am ready for the challenge.

The 2nd bit of good news is that I went and saw my oncologist for the last time before I move, and he gave me the words...you are officially cured of cancer. I have got up to the 5 year mark...Yippeee!!!! Very happy with that milestone. Those of you who have followed my blog over the years would have read when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. But its all good now...I am so happy :)

Some stash to show

2011-03-31T16:48:00.001+13:00

This arrived in the mail this morning - I just felt I needed some more stash to make me feel better about moving :) Once again I was impressed with the speedy service of The Silver Needle.

In my order is Together - BURrow from Bent Creek and Tiny Garden Scissor Fob from Shepherds Bush. Plus a Drawn Thread Freebie design and mini jellybeans.

And here is another lot that arrived a wee while ago, but I forgot to take a photo.....

There is Scatter Sunshine and Scatter Kindness + buttons for each from Shepherds Bush, Merry Little Bird from Lizzie kate and Tidal River Parts 1, 2 & 3 from By the Bay Needleart.

I also have some stash coming from 123 stitch which shouldn't be too far away...I will show that to you when it arrives.

I have made some headway on my latest new start. Not a lot to show but haven't had time for stitching - just trying to sort out all our household bits and pieces, so that we are not moving stuff we dont really need or want anymore.

Thats all for today :)

Close up to the wildlife

2011-03-28T21:19:00.001+13:00

I thought I would share some photos I took at the beginning of the year because I know there are a few animal lovers who follow my blog.

At the end of January we all went on holiday down to Dunedin. We did a bit of driving around and took a trip out to Aramoana. This beach is known for all the sealions that laze around soaking up the sun. Sometime the beach can get quite crowded with them, and there are signs up all over the place warning people not to go too close. Watch from a distance and just let the Sealions do their thing.

Well imagine our surprise when we decided to park up under a tree and we saw this not far away. I couldnt work out what it was at first...

and then it clicked....

Look at the wee fella sitting there with Mumma lolling around on the grass behind. I jumped out of the truck and started taking photos. They just kept looking cuter and cuter....

Mumma must have smelt me standing there and got up, and started slowly ambling towards me....well not that slowly, because DH was backing back by this time yelling at me to get into the truck. So away from our nice grassy resting spot we drove and got back out onto the road. Next minute we are being followed.....

Look at the little darling following Mumma. She is still coming at me ...oh yes I had got out of the truck again. But after a while of her getting closer, I knew it was time to go....when she let out a roar.....

She kept following until we finally drove away. It was so lovely to see them up close like that. And I guess just being parked where we were, we disturbed them enjoying time together in the grass.

I hoped you enjoyed these photos. I will have another stitching update for you soon. Thanks for visiting!

A snippet of something new

2011-03-26T13:50:00.003+13:00

Here is a sneak preview of something I started to stitch last night. Just a little something for a friend.

Heres a bit of a hint of what I have based this picture on. Heres a picture of Chubby relaxing in his hammock....which was in fact the sail shade cover over the barbeque area of the house I lived in for a short time just recently. He looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Until it comes to Keira.... Heres another chocolate box/butter wouldn't melt photo.......

As part of our walk along the beach track by my house, we go past the area where the local roading company pile up all their sand and gravel. Keira enjoys sitting on the top of the sand hills and I throw her ball to her and she either rolls it back down the hill to me or she buries it, only to dig it up again. This is the dog variety 'Canus Diggus'

My pets are relatively boring until the full moon. This brings out the worst in Chubby, who likes to monster Keira. He stalks the dog, runs off with her stuffed toys, chases her ball (no wonder she wants to bury it), and he makes wild demands like this to me.....

Does this cat have no shame, thinking like this!!!!!

A little bit of this and that

2011-03-19T18:33:00.000+13:00

I thought I would show my stitching progress for this year and for the end of last year. You will be shocked to see unmade Christmas ornaments for last year, but its all good, and when I am settled into a house again, I will make them up. This weekend I have moved back to my house with my DH. On Monday he travels up north to start work. He will also task himself with finding us a house. My job prospects are all sorted...thank goodness...and I will work in the same station as DH, getting trained up in various areas, so I can be a full time reliever. As I am already an employee, with the vetting work, the transition will be easier.

At the moment I am sorting through all my belongings in preparation to moving up north, and giving away a lot of excess household items to the Salvation Army, (we had almost 2 of everything while I was moved out) so that they can then pass them onto the homeless and possessionless people of Christchurch that have migrated over here after the earthquake.

So here are some photos to show of stitching.......

Just by seeing these, makes me want to get into my stitching...but there is always tomorrow :)

The move is imminent

2011-03-13T00:13:00.000+13:00

I kind of feel like this post will be in vain. I know I dont have stitching to show every 5 minutes of my life. And my life is stitching, but unfortunately real life steps in, and I cant get round to putting in a few stitches every night and posting photos. I have a list of blogs I regulary read...I dont always comment because the broadband here is crap and for some reason seems to overload itself and wont let me comment...even though I try.

Grumble grumble...what I wanted to say was, after the last post, I have decided I am going to move up north. I need to work on my family. Maybe being in a city again I will have the opportunity to join Embroidery guilds etc...maybe even start a stitching group. I look forward to seeing some of the people who I have known through stiching and live close to the area where I am moving to. In all honesty I havent had or made the time to post...but please wait for me, I will get back on track. I am writing from the heart here.

Those that know me will know what I mean.........

The Prodigal Daughter Returns....

2011-02-19T14:32:00.001+13:00

Not that I have been anywhere....I just havent posted in a long time. A lot has been happening in my life and I just couldnt face blogging.
What has happened you are thinking...well I seperated from my DH...it was a last ditch effort to save 'us' as things werent working out too well (long time ongoing things ever since we had been in Greymouth). But we have been getting on as normal - just living in seperate houses - we only live about 11 ks away from each other. We spent Christmas and New Years together, and went to Dunedin for a holiday at the end of January.

We had the mining disaster in Greymouth where 29 miners and contractors were killed when the Pike River Mine exploded. That was devastating, as everyone knew someone, and there was so much hope that the men would be found alive, even though no one could get into the mine and there was no contact with anyone, then the mine exploded again.....

My DH went up to Police College and did the Senior Sergents course. Came back to Greymouth and applied for a couple of Snr Sgts jobs in the North Island and got one. He said that we would all go up there and make a new start. The job he got is in Lower Hutt which is in Wellington. He is due to go up next month, I will move back to our house (we are still apart), and then when he has found somewhere nice to live up there, my daughter and I will go up too.

Its a hard decision for me, because I love the South Island so much. But there will be more opportunities up there for everyone. I love my job here, but after being here a year, I am starting to see some of the down sides with the good - where people want everything yesterday, and there is no pleasing some people. Generally though it is an excellent place to work (I do love it) - but I have no where to go for promotion...I am the only one in my department :)

My daughter has started High School this year, which she is enjoying. We had planned to send her to boarding school, but I wouldn't be able to afford that. It would be hard to move her again, we have moved around quite a bit over the past 10 years. I know she doesnt want to move now, but may change her mind later.

I also would miss the places we have visited down here. But there are always holidays, and as we will be keeping our house here and renting it out, I am sure there will be opportunities to come back to the South Island to visit. We have been on the West Coast for 6 years - doesnt seem that long.

Because of all this my stitching has been almost non existant. With moving, and coping alone on not much money, and everything else that happened, my heart hasnt been in it. Gosh I am still working on Xmas ornaments for last year. I do have a few small projects on the go, so when I make some headway with those I will post some pictures.

All I can say is that I do truly believe this year will be much better than last :)

Stitching to share

2010-09-26T19:30:00.006+13:00

I have been setting aside some time most nights to do a bit of stitching, and it really is making a difference. I am not a constant stitcher as you might all have come to realise.

I received a nice parcel from my favourite ONS the other day, which included the latest JCS Ornament issue, the last 2 JCS Halloween Ornament issues (2010 & 2009) and the 2010 Christmas preview issue and some lovely patterns I can not wait to stitch. I am actually looking forward to being able to sit down and put in a couple of stitches on a regular basis. I am taking this one step at a time, but I think I may become the avid stitcher I once was.

So far this is where I am at with my stitching....

My first ornament - stitching complete - still has to be made up

Feel the Magic - Midsummer Night Designs

JCS Ornaments 2008

I love the greens and purples of this design, so I am glad my daughter chose this ornament for me to stitch. Makes a change from the usual reds and greens.

Here is the next one I am working on.......

Wisemen Came - Shepherds Bush

JCS Ornaments 2003

I have been doing the set for myself every year....I still have 4 to go, I might take a break next year and stitch something different for myself.

And here is an update on my general stitching WIP....

Daisy Lane Cottage - Little House Needleworks

Right now, I am off to check out some of the blogs I enjoy reading and go and put in tonights few stitches :)

Knitting finished and now onto stitching

2010-09-06T16:43:00.002+12:00

I thought I would show you the mohair cardigan I have just finished knitting. It was a lovely easy pattern to knit. I just love the purple - green colours. Sadly though, I am going to sell it because after trying it on, I would of been better off knitting it in a bigger size.

With the knitting all complete, I can concentrate on getting back into my stitching. I have been having a few big spendy splurges overseas to rekindle my interest. I think it has worked :)

Happy birthday Keira

2010-08-15T15:00:00.006+12:00

Yes my dog is 2 years old today. For her birthday she got a new dog bed for her kennel and a massive walk. She is a very energetic dog, and loves big walks. So we set out, I stopped off at the dog park where the Sunday morning dog walkers all congregate (its a community dog walk to raise funds for the new SPCA being built), Keira ran madly around with all her friends. Then we carried on over the flood wall (the great wall of Greymouth that protects the town from flooding), and Keira wanted to swim in the lagoon.

If you look carefully at this inspiring picture of the lagoon, you will see a face looking up...

Heres a closer photo....that really is a dog on a mission....

Getting an even better closeup ..... look at the happiness on her face :)

Keira finally had enough swimming and we walked across town and went up a steep hill road up to the power station and pylon road. Great views of the town from here, so I thought I would share some with you.

Here is a photo of the Greymouth bar...where the Grey River meets the Tasman Sea. This can be a trecherous area of water, that has claimed the lives of many seamen over the years. The town is in the foreground.

I enjoy photography and enter many competitions. One thing I really enjoy taking photos of are the fishing boats coming over the bar...especially in stormy weather. While Keira and I were up on the hill, I noticed the boats out by the bar. Its the end of the hoki season and moving into the blue cod season, so there are fishing boats regularly coming in and out. Today was more like an airport runway. The sea is calm today and with the fine sunny weather, it obviously makes for fantastic fishing opportunities. I wished I could be down at the tiphead to get the close up photos of todays boats, but had to be happy with zoomed in photos from where Keira and I were....

The tiphead is the area to the left of the photo....this is not far from my house. You can walk out there or drive. I love going out there on a really stormy day. A photographers paradise.

A very busy day today...but those fish must be brought in. Especially as the fleet are down one boat...one got into difficulty the other night in stormy weather, and tipped over and is now anchored in a bay until it can be salvaged :( The crew were all ok.

Well that was our walk...Keira enjoyed it so much...and when we got home, she was happy to retire to her kennel and snuggle into her new bed.

New member of the family

2010-08-14T20:49:00.008+12:00

As you know I help out at the SPCA doing data entry of all the cat dog and other animal surrenders and adoptions. I know what comes in and what goes out. Having spent the whole of the summer tempted by all the gorgeous kittens, I decided that I wanted to add another cat/kitten to the family. Kittens are cute and here in Greymouth always find homes. Down in the boarding cages I noticed one male cat was always there and he had the sweetest nature. I kept thinking I dont want a older cat. But he had been there a month and to be honest time was running out. He had been abandoned at a house when his owners moved away. I decided I would have him. And what a loving friendly guy he is. He is a little overweight...so he is on a diet.

Here he is....I have named him Chubby :) He is a lovely cameo tabby. His hobbies are eating and sleeping and he is 5 years old.

At first my dog Keira was jealous....shes a baby...who, if I don't get round to taking her for a walk - which is rarely, wont eat her dinner.

So now I am the proud owner of a funny rotund looking cat and a funny looking dog with wonky ears.

On the stitching front I have done a tiny amount of an ornament and my current project...I will post some pictures soon. I am just trying to get my cardigan finished. Will give an update when I have a decent photo to show.

Proud to show off my daughters talent

2010-07-18T12:02:00.004+12:00

Yes after a couple of years of semi interest and no interest at all, my daughter has really got into cross stitch. She has finished 2 designs just recently and started and completed one in a matter of days. She is putting me to shame, and as I watch her stitch with such dedication, it reminds me of how I once was.
Here is what she has produced.....

Here is a little kit I brought for my daughter during the summer holidays when we went camping. I made the fabric frame for her, and now it hangs proudly in her bedroom.

This is the first kit I brought my daughter, so it has been a WIP for a few years now. But it is finally finished. She hasnt decided how she wants this one made up yet. I know that she would like it in a wooden frame, but is is so hard to find nice little square frames.

I was so impressed by the interest to stitch the last couple of projects over the past month, that I let my daughter into the realms of my stash and showed her a few easy to stitch designs. She chose "I love my dog" by Brittercup Designs. She even chose the colours she wanted from my threads and I love the way it turned out. I asked if she wanted to stitch the other designs on the chart, but she screwed her face up and said they looked hard. By the way this one only took 4 days :) And again she isnt sure how she wants this one finished.

I am very proud of my daughter. She is doing a fantastic job.

As for my I am busy knitting a short sleeved swing cardi that I can wear over long sleeve t.shirts. I am knitting this out of a lovely mohair wool. Its warm and cosy to knit :)

A wee bit of stitching to show

2010-03-01T19:48:00.004+13:00

This is the start of the third week I have been at my new job and its great. Its not overly stressful, I seem to know what I am doing and everyone at work are really friendly. And it is interesting to be a staff member rather than a student. And the wages are certainly a bonus.
I have been eyeing up some patterns but I think I will be good and just stitch what I already have.

Here is my progress on Daisy lane Cottage by Little House Needleworks.

Shortly I am going to get off this computer and settle myself in front of the telly and stitch a bit more. I should have another progress photo in a couple of days.

Im a winner again

2010-02-13T11:09:00.002+13:00

At the end of last year I won 3 patterns from NZ needlework and quilting designer Janet Davies, just by visiting her blog and leaving a comment. Well I have won another 3 patterns - one pattern for getting my name picked out from all the comments left in the weeks draw, one because the weeks before winner didnt contact Janet and a third because I have a link to Janets competitions in the side bar of this blog.

The 3 I picked this time are all quilting patterns :
Kowhai Sunset, Unbridled Seahorse, and Kiwi Summer.

Its well worth a visit and enter the weeks draw. I have won 6 patterns in 2 draws so that is pretty good odds.

Finally something to show

2010-02-08T15:57:00.007+13:00

Yes, I have totally finished my 2009 Christmas ornaments. I had done all the stitching by mid January and it was just the making up of the ornaments that I was putting off. But yesterday I sat down and finished them. I feel happy I have done them all....just 4 of them too - I feel that my effort of last years stitching was pitiful.

Never mind its a new year and I am going to do better. So here are my ornaments.....

Variegated Christmas tree

Shepherds Watched - Shepherds Bush
JCS Ornaments 2002

Be Merry -Vals Stuff
JCS Ornaments 2009

Renne de Noel

Our camping holiday went well, very relaxing. From the time of that holiday everything has changed for the better. In a previous post I said I was feeling really unsettled, but I am happy to announce I have not one job but 2 at the Polytech where I did my study last year.

Before I went camping I applied for a job as a Printery Coordinator at the new print room starting up in the Polytech. The day before I went camping the Head of Department of the business and computing studies rang and asked if I would like to assist her on a casual basis. I said yes. Yay I thought, I have missed out on jobs applied for and now I was being rewarded for all my good work by being employed by the place I did my studies in - and also by the person that runs that department.

While I was camping I got a message to say I had an interview for the Printery Coordinator...things were looking even better. Got back from camping and started on my casual admin work and went for the interview. I worked most of last week helping the HOD of business and computing and the HOD of Service Industries (culinary arts, Health, Hospitality, Nanny courses, and Hairdressing course) get prepared for the start of the teaching year (all courses started today). During that time I found out I have the Printery job. Its great. That job will be 30 hours and the casual work will be another 5 - 10 hours over.

It makes me really happy because I enjoyed last year studying there and now I am working there. Its a great place and you couldn't find a better bunch of people to work with. I made lots of friends last year - students and tutors.

The majority of the work (the 30 hours) is during school hours, and because my daughter goes to the school right next door, she can come over and sit in the library or the large atrium and amuse herself while I finish off my work.

The Polytech sits on the grounds of the old Marist Brothers church and schools - the primary school St Patricks and the High School John Paul II, are still in their original spots. It was while I was studying last year that I made the move to get my daughter into this school and out of the one not far from my house (where she wasn't learning anything) - I used to watch the kids out of my classroom window. I now know I made the right decision, and made all the better by the fact that now my work and my daughters school (primary and next year High School) are next door to each other.

A giveaway worth checking out

2010-01-19T14:43:00.002+13:00

Just a quick post to let you know of a giveaway. This one is a goody with Little House Needlework patterns, needles, a book and a threadholder. You can find the giveaway at Calico Prairie.

Also I have almost finished my last Christmas ornament for last year :) Going camping on Thursday, so not sure when I will get the ornaments all sewn up. But it shouldn't be too long before I have photos to show.

Home from holiday

2010-01-16T10:55:00.003+13:00

And what a great one it was. The high altitude and country air did wonders for me. I caught up with friends, took lots of photos and just relaxed. It was kind of strange coming back to the coast. One of the big things I notcied was I couldn't sleep last night, even though I was in my own bed. I had perfect nights sleep down south...it must be that altitude thing again.

I think my problem is I feel really unsettled living here...I love it down south...I could go on about it always. My DH has no intention of moving, so it looks like we are here for the long haul. Maybe I will feel better once I have a job. Even my daughter, who remembered a few of the places and people down there, said she loved it too. The biggest problem with the place when we lived down there was the remoteness, and having to travel 1.5 - 2 hours to get to a large town was draining.

I have to admit it was nice to take my dog for a walk along the beach last night :)

While I was away I did a bit of stitching, and I brought myself another quilting pattern. This one is called Briar Rose Cottage designed by Desiree Simpson (the same designer as the Natural Beauties Quilt pattern I brought. I love it and it reminds me of a house I love in Central Otago.

I am quite excited about starting these quilts as well as all the stitching I am going to do this year.

Winner of a giveaway

2010-01-06T16:29:00.004+13:00

Thought I would show you a fantastic set of ornaments I won in a giveaway on a blog I visit regularly. Little Miss Flossy is the owner of the blog, and she gives me lots of inspiration with her sewing ideas....she is a schol sewing teacher. (I will put a link to her blog when she has it up and running again)

These ornaments were made from a cross stitched tablecloth that was salvaged from a 2nd hand store. What a great way to reuse someones treasure from the past. I told Floss that the ornaments brought back great memories, because I remember my mother cross stitching tablecloths. And just as on the one made into ornaments, ma's stitches never went in the same direction. (When I startd cross stitch I couldn't work out why Ma's top leg of the stitches weren't consistant in different blocks of colours. She always said it was to give the design depth LOL.

So thanks again Floss, I love them.

Well tomorrow I head off down south with my daughter and we are going to Twizel to stay on one of the sheep stations I used to work on. It will be great to get away from the wet coast for a while. We will be gone for a week - and I am taking my stitching with me. So I may have something to show when I get back.

Fabric to show with a plan

2010-01-05T00:41:00.005+13:00

Well after my earlier post of saying I had no photos, well it is correct in the fact I have no stitching photos at the moment. However I thought I would show you some quilting fabrics I have brought. Two lots are for actual projects and the other is for use in the future.First up is a quilt pattern I want to do this year....full of New Zealand flowers and insects. And it is great because I can add my own embroidery for the finer details.

Here is some of the fabrics I have chosen for this project so far.....

Next lot of fabric shown is for a cat wall hanging I want to do for my daughter. Its the Janet Davies design called Pinky Cat. I may change the pink, my daughter isn't too keen on pink, so I am thinking paurple at this stage or even blue. But these are the fabrics I have thought about so far.

And lastly here are some other fat quarters I brought, for use with stitching projects, quilting or other crafts

So there you have it...maybe not cross stitch related...but its crafty and its a plan for this year.

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T11:19:00.002+13:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year celebration.

I have no pictures to show of finished stitching today, I am just finishing up my Christmas ornaments which is shameful I know. No excuses for the lack of stitching in 2009 other than being busy with my studies, my job and general homelife.

The beginning of each year is the same for me....I say I am going to do more stitching, and it never happens. Well this year I made a personal resolution to my friend Anne. I have said that if she doesnt notice me doing a reasonable amount of stitching she is to verbally kick me in the butt. Now I know that it is a lot to put on Anne, and I know she wouldn't kick me in the butt, but I have have made a personal pledge to her, and she is so generous to me, so I will uphold the pledge :)

So that will mean regular blogging....which means going on the computer of course....and this is just after saying to Anne that the internet was the death of my stitching. Except for building up my stash and meeting online stitching friends of course.

I haven't really any other goals for the year other than sorting out what study I will do this year - a diploma in the environment and sustainability is looking good at the moment, and finding another part time job to fit in with the job I already have.

At the end of this week, I am going away with my daughter down to Twizel (where we lived for a while), for a weeks break (DH is working), and then when we come back we are going camping...I hope the rain has stopped by then.

So keep your eyes peeled for entries on my blog throughout the coming year.

Latest Happenings

2009-12-07T20:59:00.003+13:00

Well I graduated last Friday, and that marked the end of a year of fun and hard work. I even got up and said a speech on behalf of my class - that was pretty nerve racking.

Then the next day was the Christmas Parade. I have started going to the local SPCA with my daughter to help with the animals on a Saturday morning. So after I had cleaned out all the kitten areas, I helped decorate the SPCA ambulance. It looked like a bit of a hoon van all in black coming along the road, but up close the people coud see the silver stars and "SPCA" we stuck on the sides, and the large infltable santa we tied on the back.

I was also in the parade with my dog - she had reindeer antlers attached to her collar. She was surprisingly well behaved. All in all a great day.

So now with all the free time - no luck with any jobs, I am helping with administration work at the SPCA, getting rid of the weeds in my garden and stitching - yippee!!!!

All finished

2009-11-21T18:35:00.002+13:00

I have completely finished all my study and have left tech, a week early. Everyone else is still there till the class officially ends on the 27th November. That night we are all going out for a class dinner. And then the week after is Graduation night.
A year has gone so quick. Now I'm in the market for a job :) Got a couple of interviews coming up. If nothing eventuates, I'm not too concerned, I will just go back to tech for another couple of years to get diplomas in management and business.

So now I can knuckle down and stitch (finish my Christmas ornies, start something different too) and get in the garden - my plants are fighting the weeds. And lose some weight, which I have put on sitting on my backside all year in the classroom.

A quick note

2009-11-15T10:47:00.004+13:00

Only 2 more weeks of tech left for the year. Over the past month I have been full on with study and now I am in the midst of assessments. The stress levels are high. It will be a good feeling to finish up and be able to do some of the things I enjoy - the garden is looking like a forest and there hasnt been any stitching for quite some time.

To celebrate my impending end of study I have ordered Bent Creek Snappers Branch. I have admired this from when it first came out. I loved it more and more when each new part came out. I see there is a Christmas one available now too.

My DH brought me a new camera the other week. A much bigger one that what I ahve been using, so thats another thing I am looking forward to doing when I have more time. I am just in the process of sorting out my photos that have got places in competitions throughout the year, for the big end of year championship next month. I enjoy entering the competitions and I learn so much from the comments made by judges.

Something else I forgot to add......

2009-10-14T08:52:00.002+13:00

You know how I have the 'Weekend Winner' icon in my sidebar - well that relates to Janet Davies blog, where you can enter into weekly draws to win your choice of one of the gorgeous embroidery or quilting designs that she creates.

Well, guess what, I was a winner, and I didn't win one design, or two designs, but three of them. This is because the winner from the previous week didn't contact Janet to claim her prize, and because I had Janets icon in the side bar, I won an extra design. I was excited and couldn't decide on what to choose. But I did make a choice in the end.

You can go here to see what designs I chose....they were:
1. Liam's Owl in Schwalm Needlework.
2. Neptune's Steed in Counted Thread Blackwork.
3. 3D Sculpted and Quilted Pussy Cat.

Thank you Janet for the opportunity to enter the draw.

A lovely surprise

2009-10-13T16:21:00.004+13:00

Got home from Polytech and here is a parcel from Anne . All excited about opening it, and once I did I found the most gorgeous coloured bead scissor fob and 4 hand dyed threads. I love the colours of the threads. As I just said in an email to Anne, no one can go wrong when they send me hand dyed threads because I love them all...any colour :) There are 2 Vicky Clayton threads, one Carries Creation and one Crescent Colours. Beautiful.

I love the colours of the beads on the scissor fob...blues and greens. Thank you once again Anne, its a lovely gift.

Just a quick hello

2009-10-12T21:21:00.002+13:00

Nothing to show on the stitching front, but just wanted to put something on my blog to show I am still around. I have finished a couple of ornaments for Christmas, but will wait till I have made them up before I show them on my blog.

Still very busy with my tech course, only 7 weeks left than it is all over. I have been doing so well with this course...I surprised myself. I have a bit of study to do before I am finished, and then I will have all the stitching time I can manage again. I have been buying lots of lovely charts to stitch up. and I can't wait.

Hope everyone else is good out in blogging land. Still visit everyones blogs when I see there are update on the feed updater.

A couple more giveaways

2009-07-25T19:04:00.002+12:00

I thought I would mention a couple of quilting type giveaways which are just fantastic.....

1. Head on over to 'Bitty Bits & Pieces' for a lovely Charmed Bag Giveaway.

2. Visit Jaybird Quilts and go into the draw for a giant pincushion giveaway...these are great.

Both these wonderful blogs are very popular - its not hard to see why.

Nothing like appearing out of the blue one day

2009-07-17T13:31:00.006+12:00

Well thats what it feels like. I am a shocker at keeping up with my blogging. But once something else happens in my life, I tend not to blog so much.

My studies are going well, and I am half way through them...well more than that because tech finishes in November. I am doing well and have passed all my assessments.

I have managed to update my blog template...I felt it needed a spruce up.

I have done a bit of stitching...not as much as I would like. I have finished one thing LOL. I gave it to my DH as part of our 9th anniversary present. Here it is being modelled by my cat Misty :)

Love Ewe - Lizzie*Kate

As always I am trying to get my stitching mojo back...I think I must be a claytons stitcher (kiwis will know what I mean). Maybe my alterego that enjoys stitching has left me for a while...I am going to try and kick start myself into my hobby. I have so many beautiful patterns to stitch...that I can't wait to stitch...but also that I don't have the motivation to start. I wish there were stitching counsellors out there to help me.

I have started a couple of new things so that should help...Daisy Lane Cottage - LHN and a Christmas ornament...I will see how I get on.

Another thing I want to get back into is reading....I have tonnes of books I would like to read...just came back from a bookarama and picked up heaps of bargains. I now need another book shelf.

I know I need to organise my time more efficiently, once I do that, I will have time to stitch and read...wish me luck :)

***If you are interested in a really neat giveaway, head on over to Mickis Irish blog. She has alsorts of Irishy things you could win just by leaving a comment on her blog. Just click on the Irish Muses button in my sidebar to go to her blog.***

An old finish

2009-04-19T15:24:00.004+12:00

I have just got it back from the framers....it was away for ages. The framer had to wait for the frame and then there was another hold up, then I told my framer to hold on to the picture till I had enough money to pay for the framing. Also I held onto it for ages before getting around to having it framed.

But here it is....the picture I designed to commemorate my DH 14 years in the New Zealand Police. You will see that the year stops at 2006 and also at Reefton, but since then weve moved and hes got a promotion.

There is always a length of service award at 14 years, so I decided to stitch this. Wasnt too daunting a challenge...quite nice to do all backstitch for a change. And I added a real hat badge to make it look a bit more official.

I have blotted out DHs name and ID number :)

And I was thrilled to find I was the winner in a lucky draw from Rowyn on a beautiful chart she has just completed. My Sunshine by La-D-Da. This would make a lovely picture for my daughter.

Op shops and fabric art dolls

2009-04-15T15:39:00.005+12:00

You can get some really good bargains in the op shops....sometimes you just happen to get there and nab a real good buy....casts off's from people who like to keep up with each seasons new fashions and just discard the old.

Anyhow I went in this morning to one of the 4 chirch op shops in town and it was $3 bag wednesday. Stuff as much in a bag for $3. Even if I don't get wearable clothes, sometimes I find the most magnificent fabrics to make stuff with.

While going up to the counter I spied this gorgeous thing....and got her for $3. I love the colours and I have often thought about creating a doll like this. But I am going to keep her in hiding till November and give her to my daughter for her birthday...she will love her :)

If anyone knows where she could have originated from - i.e. have you seen a pattern or somewhere that sells these could you let me know. She is very professionally done.

I also adjusted the photos I put up last night of Keira...she looks more normal now...she was looking a little elongated - sometimes it is hard to adjust the photos correctly.

Back Again!

2009-04-14T21:41:00.007+12:00

Not that I ever went LOL...but it seems so long since I posted - well it is.

It is the school holidays and I have time now to breathe - I bet not many mothers can say that during the holidays, but I honestly can. My first term of business Admin studies at Polytech went wonderfully, but man was it full on. It seemed like we had assessments every week, and I think we did. But it is great to get the old grey matter working again.

I am loving the computer side of things and am contemplating becoming a professional student and doing ICT next year.

I have just changed my daughters school to a private one that is just next door to where I am at Polytech so that makes things easier as far as times for starting and finishing...now I dont have to rush home when I finish at 3pm, because we can go home together. The main reason I pulled her out of the school just down the road from our house is that I felt she went down hill since leaving Reefton. That school was not far from our house but closer is not always better.

I have acquired a new member of the family. Yes I have got a puppy...well she was 7 months when I got her a month ago. I have named her Keira and her father is a German Shepherd and her mother is a malamute. She wont grow to be very big and she is quite fine in features...almost as though she has a terrier like a jack russell in there as well.

I went to the local dog show and saw the kennel owners that used to look after Zoe. I told them about her, and they said they were looking after a puppy that needed a new home. Well this puppy was at the dog show and she ended up winning best puppy and best overall dog. When I saw her, I thought she was nice but not a labrador like Zoe.

A week later I had her at home and she has been with us ever since. Its hard because I didnt want to get another dog so soon. I still miss Zoe terribly, and I am slowly taking a shine to Keira...she has a great little personality and is quite easy to train, despite the backyard looking like a battleground with all her toys strewn around, digging holes in the garden and chasing the cats - this is where I think the terrier comes in. Overall she is getting better and has stopped chasing the cats. She does however go berserk when a seagull flies over the property or if she sees one on the beach. And the seagulls know this I am sure, because they sit up on the street lights and cackle (or whatever seagulls do) at her.

So here are some pictures of Keira........

First finish for the year

2009-02-08T18:24:00.008+13:00

I loved stitching this...it was so simple. The colours were great. The linen was stiff...almost like hessian.

Blue Bird Zipper - Bent Creek

Once finished I wondered what I could do with it. Then I had a brainwave. You know how I said I was going to tech this year....well I decided I needed a bag/satchel to carry my books in. So I took myself off down to the library and looked through some books, found a pattern, then I went to the op shop and found some heavyish blue curtain fabric... 2 metres - more than what I needed...for $2.50. Noticed that the blue of the fabric was the same as the blue on my blue bird. So my blue bird stitching had found a home. On the front flap of the satchel.

Here it is all finished for school tomorrow :)

It didn't take me long to make the bag and it was therapy in that it took my mind off Zoe for a little while.

Thankyou so much for all the lovely comments about Zoes passing.

I'm all set for my lunchtimes at tech. We get an hour, I can go home for lunch...10 minutes away...or else if it is raining or I don't feel like going anywhere, I have some stitching and I also have all my unread issues of the Gift of Stitching on a flashdrive so I can read them on the tech computers Hows that for planning to use my time efficiently.

Heartbroken :(

2009-02-01T19:34:00.005+13:00

Last Thursday I had to say goodbye to Zoe...my old black labrador. It is one of the hardest things to do because I will miss her so much. She was only a little over a month away from turning 15. I have had her since was 5 weeks old. She slipped a disk in her back...must of happened in the night...the vet felt that even if her back was fixed, she wouldn't have a very high quality of life. Even the vet shed a few tears...she had got to know Zoe last year when she spent a few nights in the vets due to getting geriatric vesticular syndrome.

Zoe has gone away to be cremated and when we next go down to Otago, I am going to scatter her ashes where she used to enjoy chasing the rabbits when we were down there. There were many places we used to go walking or camping and Zoe would take off only to be seen miles away in the distance in dried up river beds or running up the sides of mountains.

I loved that dog...I can't stop crying...this morning I got up and went to feed her, only to realise shes not here anymore :(

Here are some pictures I took of her and the cats on Christmas Day.

RIP Zoe 13.03.1994 - 29.01.2009

Plans for 2009

2009-01-15T17:58:00.005+13:00

After some major consideration I am going back to school this year. I had planned to do an enviromental degree by distance learning...but have decided to start on a smaller scale and do a business admin course for a year at the local polytech. Its serves several purposes to go in this direction...its cheaper, the polytech is handy and doing this course gets me used to studying again.

So this means a couple of things...I am giving up the meter reading....yes I know after just getting back into it....but the 7 or 8 days every 2 months really dont work. Also money will be tight. My DH is going to do a degree as well for promotion purposes and his papers arent cheap. So we are going to live like students :)

So at present I am going through my stash and selling things that are nice to have but not really necessary anymore. My stitching on the whole wont suffer because I have all the fabrics and threads necessary for all the charts I have been collecting over the past couple of years.

There will be no more unnecessary spending on anything for the year...stash, clothes, things we dont really need. But a year of sacrifice has to pay off in the long run.

Christmas ornaments

2008-12-23T11:38:00.005+13:00

I have finished this years Christmas ornaments in plenty of time, so here are the photos finally....

Variegated Christmas Tree

Penguin Hugs - Paw Printings
JCS Ornaments 2004

The Angels Sang - Shepherds Bush
JCS Ornaments 2001

Snow Joe - Heart in Hand Needleart

JCS Ornaments 2000

One Starry Night - The Stitchers Habit

JCS Ornaments 1999

I finished my stone path some time ago and never took any photos to show you....but I will wait for a while because now we are getting a new fence around the property and the backyard is a bit of a mess. Where the tornado blew down the fence between us and the neighbours we have had a wood and coloursteel fence put up which gives us more privacy....and then a new paling fence around the rest of the property. After the fence is put up we will have to stain it...but that shouldnt take long...just needs to stay fine.

I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. And to all my stitching friends...heres looking forward to another great year of stitching and blogging :)

Blogger is infuriating

2008-12-08T14:34:00.002+13:00

I have all my favourite blogs on my feeds, but the annoying thing is, I can't seem to comment on anyones blogs. Its always comes up with - 'internet explorer cannot display the webpage'. Does anyone else have this problem...some blogs I can comment on, and some I can't. I just don't want people to think I am not visiting their blogs. Believe me I am.....its just this problem I have. Really annoying.

Trying to stitch up a storm in between work...will have some progress pics soon...hopefully :)

More Stash

2008-11-16T10:59:00.003+13:00

I have been flat out the last 2 weeks with work, and have been so tired when I get home, that not a stitch has been stitched :) or should that be :(

However I did get some goodies in the mail from The Silver Needle in USA. I had to wait for a while for the Shepherds Bush kit...that didnt bother me and my credit card thanked me for the delay.

Bent Creek Blue Bird Zipper, Shepherd's Bush Happy Wishes Fob,Just Nan When Barnabee Met Bella Biscornu + the 2 pieces of fabric to stitch it.

I have one more order left and then thats it for a while...the New Zealand dollar has dropped really badly against the US, so prices aren't too flash. But still it was cheaper to get these things from the US rather than Australia where I also saw them for sale.

So the next 2 months until the next lot of full on meter reads, (I still have daily reads but its more relaxed), I will be devoting my time to stitching and gardening, and preparing for Christmas. I have all my presents sorted so thats a weight off my mind.

I sat down last night and considered selling off some of my Thomas Kinkade kits and Paula Vaughan books. The rationale for that was that I will never stitch them. I used to have a lot of Paula Vaughan charts but sold them and replaced them with the books. I was ready to enter all the kits and books onto the NZ auction site and couldnt do it...I just couldnt bring myself to getting rid of them. Even though with both designers their own work is so similar with each picture...I still love them. I tried to look through the TK kits and choose one to keep, but couldnt do that either. Another thing is I know I wont get a good price for them, because I think half the time with the NZ auction site, people expect things to be almost given away.

Maybe its just one of those things. I guess I am not the only one that feels this way about things collected in stash. We know we will never stitch them...but to get rid of them is definately out of the question :)

No progress

2008-10-28T09:24:00.002+13:00

Thought I would check in. I had intended to make the most of the long weekend and do some stitching...however that wasnt to be, we went away 4 W Driving and that was lots of fun....very muddy fun on Saturday and up over steep rocky areas on Sunday.

Updated my wish list...crossing off things I have already got, removing things that will be out of reach and adding a few cuties like the Shepherds Bush sheep with the little hats. The latest one out is Queen Sheep and I think she looks a little odd...still cute though.

Hope everyones weekend was a little more fruitful than mine :)

How to get rid of an UFO quickly

2008-10-17T11:21:00.003+13:00

The other day I decided to have a big tidy up of my craft cabinets....targeting all my stitching stuff so I would have things more organised, so I could find them quickly if necessary. I went to the Warehouse and brought a large 5 drawer plastic container...this is where the most important things will be kept. A drawer for each of the following....kits, patterns, fabric, UFOS (thats scarey) and threads and accessories. All my backup threads and accesories will be kept in my old craft cabinet. I also have a thought with the new container...if there is a fire or a natural disaster (like the roof blowing off the house - which could happen with the tornados and gusts we have round here - I witnessed it happening in our neighbourhood a few months ago), I can grab it and save my important stitching stuff. Ok sorry thats sick...my family and pets would come first...then the stash!!!!!!!!

Now while I was sorting things out I found my Meoow.com by Kats by Kelly that was partially finished. I dont have the pattern now...but I looked at what I had done and thought there was enough of a picture to make a gift for my DH who is away on a promotional course up north. So I made it into a flatfold...did it last night while watching tv. And I am pretty happy with the results :)

Making a flatfold was surprisingly easy...and it looks a lovely tidy finish. And what a great way to knock a UFO off the list and add something completely different to my 50 projects list :)

I am off to the Salvation Army shortly to drop off clothes and unwanted bits and pieces to their op shop. We gave them half our house load when we moved into our little house, because we wanted to declutter and also we didnt have much room. Well now I have found more stuff.

Also I will drop off my Operation Christmas Child box. Some of you may be familiar with this. Its run by Samaritans Purse, and you fill a shoebox for a needy child in a poor country. You just pick the sex and age of the child and go for it...filling the box with toys, hygene products, small items of clothing and educational products.
My daughter and I really enjoyed doing this, especially knowing the joy some little girl will get from it :)

My Wordle

2008-10-14T10:57:00.002+13:00

Ive seen these around peoples blogs so I thought I would do one too...nothing like being a sheep :)

Nothing stitch related...photo intensive...birds, rocks and things

2008-10-12T20:39:00.006+13:00

Ok I warn you now....none of the following photos are stitch related...but I just had to share. Most were taken today on my trip over to Christchurch to drop my son and DH off at the airport. I took the photos on the way home to break up the 3 hour trip and to make things not so boring for my daughter. The last two were taken a couple of days ago......

Firstly I spotted a huge US airforce plane around the back of the airport so I watched it take off...

Just before Arthurs Pass which is the half way mark is Castle Hill Station, and Kura Tawhiti Conservation area. This is where some of the Chronicle of Narnia was filmed, and it is very popular with rock climbers. I decided to take a walk to see the rocks a bit closer....

Looking back to the road

Looking towards the West Coast

People who know me, know I love birds. At Arthurs Pass which is an alpine village, we have keas...they are one of our native parrots. They are mischievious birds that do heaps of damage to things because they like to pick and peck with their beaks...they especially like the rubber around car windows. There are signs everywhere to discourage people from feeding them...so they wont hang around the village. They do hang around and the tourists love them.

Eating a tissue

Eating my car!!!

After Arthurs Pass comes the Otira Gorge. The road through here used to be horrendous...a zigzag road that was very steep and narrow...

the road was replaced with the viaduct....

All this concrete is to stabilize the road and stop water washing it away

It was a slow trip home , but we finally made it.

The last 2 photos are from when I was doing the stone path, and I had a couple of visitors...a pair of ducks...they were friendly and the female was very inquisitive....(Hey Anne...these are for you )

Well thats everything....I hope those that stuck around enjoyed my photos...and I will have more stitching photos to show in a few days :)

100th Post - yummies from the postie

2008-10-11T15:25:00.008+13:00

Wow 100 posts...LOL finally got there...and took a while to do it.

This morning I got a package from Country Stitch....decided to have a spend up because I felt it was time to have one. Actually its about the 4th big spend up I have had recently...oh well, it makes me happy.

A hand-dyed fabric grab bag, 14 WDW threads, JCS Christmas Ornaments 2008

Although I said last time that I would wait till my ornaments were completely finished before I showed you them, I decided to show what i have done so far

One Starry Night - The Stitchers Habit
JCS Ornaments 1999

Snow Joe - Heart in Hand Needleart
JCS Ornaments 2000

I want to get cracking next week and do a lot of stitching...no more mucking around, so I can have more to show you next time.

Gosh wait but there is more....another parcel had arrived the week before last and I forgot to let you know, so I have taken the photo and...here tis.....

The Simply Seasons set by waxing Moon, GAST threads & Mirabilia Christmas Tree 2007 kit

Yes so much for my not getting anymore charts...as said for the 50 projects pledge I made....but I can't help myself and I know I have an obsession and can't stop buying more and more.

Busy landscaping

2008-10-07T14:12:00.002+13:00

I have been doing quite a bit of stitching lately...just this years Christmas ornaments...but it would be nice to get them done early this year. I would put up some progress pics, but I would much rather wait and show the finished ornaments.

The weather here hasn't been too flash, so that is why I have been able to do quite a bit of stitching, yesterday it was a sunny day so I decided to start on my stone path. I have been wanting to create a stone path that goes out to the garage from the back door of the house.

I am just extending a stone path that was there...where the stones were hidden by grass and some of the stones were missing. We have collected some more stones from a river where we went 4 wheel driving a couple of days ago.

Yesterday was spent digging the area where the path will go. Not too hard to dig, because being by the beach we have sandy soil. Here is the first stage of the mess.

The Dragonfly

2008-09-29T17:28:00.006+13:00

I finished another mosaic project. This is the other 'Funky Glass Art' kit that I got from the Dunkleys Craft show. I really enjoyed doing this dragonfly, I love the colours and mosaics is one of those crafts where you don't really have to think much...just let the creativity flow. I have this hanging in the sun porch by the front door and on a sunny day it absolutely sparkles.

I also have another stitching finish to show you...I actually finished the stitching last year and added the fabric frame early this year, hung it up by my front door, in the sun porch and completely forgot to take a photo.

Still, 'Above the Clouds' rules my life...sometimes I don't know why I started it, but I know it will look stunning once finished. I think as I have said before TW designs drive me batty with the excessive amounts of colour changes...it sure is a challenge.

The Beach

2008-09-14T20:41:00.004+12:00

Well no stitching to show but I couldnt resist posting some photos I took on my phone while I was at the beach with my daughter and my dog this afternoon. It wasn't a overly sunny day, quite overcast in fact. The beach is just over the road from our house and its nice to wander down there in all types of weather. Nadia was engrossed with throwing sticks into the water for poor old Zoe to retrieve. We even met with a surprise as we wandered along the beach.

Nadia & Zoe on Blaketown Beach, Greymouth on the West Coast of the South Island

"Bring that stick back Zoe, I want to throw it again!"

"Ok, this is the last time I will throw it, I promise - yeah right"

Look what was watching us a little further down the beach...a young seal.

One last look over its shoulder at us, before the young seal heads back to the water - I don't think it was too keen on Zoe.

I need to wake up & smell the roses

2008-09-07T12:02:00.005+12:00

I think I have been feeling sorry for myself when I worry that no one reads my blog. I realised that unless I participate more...whether posting regularly or commenting on peoples blogs, I am not going to generate any interest in my own blog.

I have had yet another change in my life....this is for the better I think. I actually thought I had posted about it, but I must have deleted the post before publishing it.

A couple of posts ago I said we were settled into our new house and I had a job as a butchery assistant. I have left that job. The upshot of it was I couldn't handle the cold temperatures I had to work in. The work was fine...I didn't really have to extend my brain to do it. I went to the Dr who gave me a medical certificate recommending I get shifted out of the cold climate. The pills I am on play havoc with my joints as it is, and the cold was getting into those joints and at times I could hardly move. Anyhow the supermarket weren't having that...because of my hours...they didnt want to move me. I put up with it for a while longer...I was sick of the pain and the tears every Sunday night when I knew I had work again the next day (I suffered from really bad mondayitis) so I resigned.

It was stressful because of our new mortgage and with my wages I was paying the rates and buying the groceries...plus my vehicle costs, clothes and stitching stuff. We were comfortable. Now I was not going to be able to contribute anything much. I went for job interviews and failed miserably with them. Then a light went on in my head and I decided to ring the company I used to do meter reading for.

Now guess what I am doing........they needed someone to do reads on the coast, because one man comes over from Christchurch (3 hours away) and the other comes up from Central Otago. And you know what is even better...I get a vehicle...I am getting a silver 5 door Toyota Rav4. I will be working for the Central Otago man who contracts to the people I used to contract to. And he is relieved to have someone over here on the coast. Yippee. Basically I will be doing the 2 monthly reads...plus all the special reads (that I used to do when we lived down south). They are going to change some of the reads so I can do some each month and it is being worked that I will get paid as much as I got at the supermarket but for less time. And I get a vehicle. And I get exercise too and see various parts of the area.

I worked on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday....and it was wet and stormy...and wouldnt you know it, the weekend is beautiful....and next week it is forcast for wet again...and I will be out in it...again. But I am happy. I dont have to stress about finding babysitters for school holidays, my daughter can come with me, I am back working outside which I love and I am happy that I will have more 'me time' too.

When I handed in my resignation, my DH said God will have a plan for me, and he was right!

So thats why, despite being happy about my employment situation, I was a little disheartened with no blog comments, no stitching and basically no one to share my hobby with.

On the health front generally everything is good. I passed another year of tests with flying colours. I spoke with my oncologist who said I could stop taking the pills if I wanted because there is no way the cancer will come back...but I am happy to carry on with those for a while yet...I dont want to take any chances.

My DH is happy with his promotion to Sergeant, lots more responsibilities for him...he just come back from yet another course. My daughter loves her new school, and going to Girls Brigade and just the extra opportunities that are here in a bigger place to what we normally live in.

I will have more stitching time again yippee. I need to get started on some Christmas ornaments and finish 'Above the Clouds'. But because it is a Teresa Wentzler design it is not the easiest. Thank goodness it is only a small picture. I really really want to get on with all the beautiful designs I have on my 50 projects list.

Oh another thing...that exercise scale thing I had at the top of my blog has been removed...there was no way I was going to complete 3000 ks. The thought was good when I wasnt working. I still regularly walk and cycle but not to the extent of when I was in Reefton.

Gosh, sorry, I just realised that this blog is like a novel...does it make up for the lack of posts this year? LOL

A bit of stitching and some craft finishes

2008-07-24T20:42:00.005+12:00

Hello - well this post is definately long overdue. Life certainly changes once regular working hours become a weekly standard. Not a lot of computer time and even less 'time out' time. Some of my 'time out' time was always spent stitching.

However in the 2 months since I last posted I have had 3 finishes.

The first was a birthday present for a friend, from one of my favourite designers.

Welcome Door Knocker - Bent Creek

The next finish is a totally different craft that I have never attempted before. At the Dunkleys Craft Show that came to Greymouth I decided to buy a mosaics kit...well 2 actually...from Funky Glass Art

This is the first kit...4 coasters...I thought they looked relatively easy and could ease me into this new activity...before I tackled the dragonfly I have yet to start.

So here are the coasters...all the tiles are green shades. This pictures doesnt really show all that well how the colours sparkle. They are really nice in real life LOL.

The last thing I have to show is a small shoulder bag I made. This is a Susa Glenn Designs kit. Everything is included except fabric for the lining and interfacing. It was really easy and I have a really professional looking bag...complete with an exterior zippered pocket and interior pocket. The handle is nifty in that I had to cover the cording with fabric...easier than I first imagined. I think its cool and I really love the colours and the beaded tassel is really neat.

Well thats about it for this post. I really want to get back into more regular stitching but I am finding it hard to commit to much time these days. I am keeping in mind that before Christmas gets too close I must start and finish my annual ornaments. As well as 'Above The Clouds' by Teresa Wentzler that I am stitching for my better half.

One Very Old UFO Finished

2008-05-12T16:34:00.007+12:00

Despite the lack of participation on my blog I have done a bit of stitching and have managed to finish a UFO I started in 2001. It wasnt an overly huge project, and one I started with gusto then something else just took its place. And because I finished something, and because I am earning a bit of money...and too much work make everyone dull, I had a bit of a spend up with ABC Stitch Therapy.

SO first up here is my finish. It will go to my friend for her birthday at the end of May...............Its called Garden Accents and was a Dimensions Weekender kit. It was hard to get a photo with all the glass.

Now I know I am doing the 50 projects challenge and said I wouldnt buy anything more, I thought it was time to spoil myself....so heres what I brought.........

Welcome Door knocker - Bent Creek, I love Sheep - Elizabeth Designs, Bless Our House - Country Cottage Needleworks, Cherry Hill - Country Cottage Needleworks, Lavender Hill - Little house Needleworks, Charity & Ewe - Lizzie Kate & 2005 Snapperville - Bent Creek.

I also got some more Weeks Dye Works threads which arent in the photo.

As for my 50 Projects Challenge...yes I am weak, but who cares...Life is too short and I think its fun ordering from USA and waiting for the package to arrive and I always get such fantastic service....

Still here

2008-03-21T00:36:00.002+13:00

Yes I am still around. Just letting everyone know I am still present on the internet. We have finally settled in our new house, and have just removed the last of the boxes...we still havent found everything though. I have a new job, a butchery assistant (can you believe that!!!) so with that and my firearms vetting work, I dont get much free time. I am stitching "Above the clouds" for my DH, and really havent done much since we moved. I want to finish it so I can carry on with more stitching on my list.

I wish everyone a HAPPY EASTER...............

On Sunday morning my daughter & I are driving back to Reefton (an hours drive) (where we have moved from) to celebrate sunrise on Easter Sunday. Then we will spend the day there celebrating Easter Sunday with the various churches. I really miss where we moved from, but get to see plenty of the locals who travel from Reefton to Greymouth for their shopping.

Happy New Year

2008-01-06T21:57:00.001+13:00

Its been 2 months since I posted. Very slack. I have kept up with readling my favourite blogs though. Oh that website 'feeds' option is a great help in seeing who has updated their blog.

I finished all my Christmas ornaments in time for the big day. Didnt stitch as many this year.

We have just brought our first house...over in Greymouth...the next big town which is 45 minutes south of us. My DH has got a promotion to Sergeant so it means moving over there, and because there is no permanent hosing with the job, we have to buy a house. So we did. Its a 1930 bungalow 1 block away from the beach, and we live near the airport, so there are little cessnas and microlights buzzing around all day. No big planes go in there.

We are still in Reefton. The packers come in on the 21st and we should be over in our house on the 24th. We have been back and forth to the house adding our own little touches. I am thrilled there isnt much in the way of a garden there, because I can landscape where and how i want too.

This is our first house, so we will increase the value on this one and then sell and move into something bigger. Maybe...maybe not. We can see how we feel in a years time. It is just exciting that we finally own something together.

Here is the house....

So now with this big purchase my stash will not be increased....just as well I have my 50 projects goal for the next 30 years :)

The only things I have brought lately is 50 + Weeks Dye Works & GAST threads that I needed for all the patterns I have collected over last year - Elizabeth designs, Blackbird Designs, The Prairie Schooler, The Drawn Thread, Chessie & Me and Bent Creek. I have enough to keep me busy. The only cost will be the framing.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone the very best for 2008.

Quick Service

2007-11-03T17:49:00.001+13:00

On the 25th October I ordered some stash from ABC Stitch Therapy in USA, and it arrived this morning (Saturday). Since I have been working...the past 6 weeks, I have been treating myself with little stash buys. I have a few more lots coming...I have had a good spend up on WDW & GAST threads. Anyhow here is the stash I received today.

One Sheep Open Sleigh by Waxing Moon designs,

A needle minder (cat) by Kelmscott Designs and

4 WDW threads...Gunmetal, Aztec Red, Carrot & Palomino

This is the first time I have seen WDW threads and I love them...I cant wait to see all the others I have ordered.

We are going to be buying a house soon in another town, because my DH has just got a promotion, and there are no houses there that come with the job. We are moving to Greymouth which is 45 minutes away (where I used to go to have the chemo done) I already have a couple of jobs lined up, so all our money is going to go into a house...so my stash buying will come to an end. This is why I am making the most of it now.

Not sure exactly when we are moving, but it will be in 4 - 6 weeks time...right on Christmas - yippee!!!! We went and had a look at some houses today....its all very exciting.

**Ok, ok, so I have broken my 50 projects rule....but I had been looking at this new chart a couple of weeks before I typed out my list...I was waiting for a sale to happen before purchasing LOL. And I need the threads and all the other threads that I have ordered...well I need them too :) I have added the chart to the list on the side bar.

My 50 Projects Challenge

2007-10-20T14:23:00.000+13:00

Well Im just a big copycat. My friend Andie has just announced that she has started a 25 project challenge, and when I saw this, I almost fell off my chair becuase I had been thinking about starting a challenge of my own. I have brought so many new patterns lately and its time to stop or else I am going to lose track of what I have and what I want to do. I am not putting a timelimit on this, because there is no way I could commit to even guessing a deadline. Here are the rules...Ive changed them a bit. I havent filled in all 50 spaces, because there are some projects in my stash I don't know if I even want to complete. But rest assured, anything I add, will not be a new purchase but something I have already.

The Rules:

1.Have fun reducing my pattern stash - if it isnt fun...why on earth am I stitching.
2.There is no time limit.
3.I will not purchase any new patterns until 50 projects have been stitched.
4.Pattern size does not matter.
5.This challenge will also apply to any sewing, knitting, quilting patterns, that I decide to throw in for good measure.
6.I am allowed some exemptions. My exceptions are that I am allowed to buy supplies needed to complete projects on my list as long as I absolutely can't substitute something using my existing stash. This would mainly be threads and hand dyed fabrics...I have everything else I need.
7.Gifts, gift cards, trades, RAKs (stash sent by others randomly) and patterns bought with gift money are not a violation of this challenge.
8.Freebies will count as part of my total and I can aquire them at any point.
9.I will not declare all the projects I intend to work on, straight away, because there may be some in my stash I want to get rid of. Also unexpected gifts, and I will be adding the annual family Christmas ornaments. I have alloted some positions to UFOS that I have, but those spaces may be replaced by something else. Infact anything is liable to be replaced - just so I fill up my list of 50.*
10.I have decided to make the offical start date of this challenge, the beginning of October 2007. (one ornament is included that I just have to sew up).
*No doubt when I eventually finish this challenge, I will have another one I can start.

My List:

1. The Gingerbread Man Christmas Ornament
2. The Little Visitor Christmas Ornament
3. Peace On Earth Christmas Ornament
4. My Christmas Ornament
5. Inlaws Christmas Ornament
6. Inlaws Christmas Ornament
7. Pukeko Sunset (UFO)
8. Maxs Moon (UFO)
9. (UFO)
10. (UFO)
11. (UFO)
12. (UFO)
13. Old Stone Church - Elizabeths Designs
14. Woodland Cottage - Elizabeths Designs
15. Black Crow Cottage - Elizabeth Designs
16. Shepherds Cottage - Elizabeth Designs
17. In The Garden Of My Heart - Elizabeth Designs
18. Awake The dawning Day - Blackbird Designs
19. House On Acorn Hill - Blackbird Designs
20. 1890 House Sampler - Chessie & Me
21. Spot Of Coffee - Little House Needleworks
22. Cabin In The Woods - Bent Creek
23. Redbird Sampler - Bent Creek
24. Blackbird Sampler - Bent Creek
25. Blue Bird Sampler - Bent Creek
26. Brownbird Sampler - Bent Creek
27. The Border House - Bent Creek
28. For The Birds - The Drawn Thread
29. The Brown Ranch Sampler - The Drawn Thread
30. Autumn Leaves - The Prairie Schooler
31. Winter Wind - The Prairie Schooler
32. Spring Has Come - The Prairie Schooler
33. Summer Breeze - The Prairie Schooler
34. Moo Moo Moo - Margaret Sherry
35. Baa Baa Baa - Margaret Sherry
36. Serendipity - Papillon Creations
37. Signs Of Winter - Bent Creek
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

So there you have it...wish me luck LOL. I seem to be making a few challenges for my self these days.

Long time since Ive blogged

2007-10-10T20:32:00.000+13:00

Yes it has been ages since I added anything to my blog. Over a month to be exact. I havent been overly busy either.

The last couple of weeks I have been engrossed with a new job which consists of interviewing people and their referees to see if they are suitable to hold a firearms licence. Quite a bit of travel is involved - but it gets me out all over the place and I am meeting lots of people. And I am finally earning some money again...yippeeee.

I have been out taking my bike for rides too...and I am starting to get fitter. As you can see I have added a fitness ticker to my blog. It combines walking and cycling.... I aim to do on average 4 kilometres walking a day....so I rounded the amount to 1500 ks a year, and around 30ks a week cycling - I really don't know what Im thinking here but all going well I have again rounded that to 1500 ks - so a grand total of 3000 ks in a year... I will see how I go. Nothing is set in concrete of course, because if I work more I will get less time for cycling - but I always make time to walk my dog.

Stitching....I am busy with Christmas ornaments....I will show some photos when I get them made up. I have been making time to stitch a little bit each night, and I am happy with my progress so far :)

Another year older

2007-08-25T10:30:00.003+12:00

Where has the time gone. I had a lovely birthday on Wednesday. Went out to dinner that night and had yummy Indian.

I didnt get get any stitchy presents, but thats ok, my DH really spoilt me with a new Marin mountain bike, roof rack for my car to carry my bike (it takes a bit of effort to get the bike up there though...have to build up my arm muscles), bike riding gear - socks, high vis jacket, and bike shirt, a carrier for when I do longer trails and have to carry a bit more stuff and a wireless bike computer to tell me how far I have biked and how fast etc.

And then last night DH gave me a brand new computer. Now my computer at the moment is only 2 years old, but lacking in memory and other bits and pieces, so now I have a super duper big capacity computer, with lots of RAM etc and with a 22" wide screen monitor ( for the visually impaired me thinks). DH also brought himself a bigger faster gaming computer, because hes found his computer at the moment is struggling with some of the new games out that he likes playing.

So over the next few days I can see myself busy with putting all my stuff onto the new PC. Then my daughter can have my old one.

My order from Wyndham Needleworks arrived and I absolutely adore everything I got. Just love those Elizabeth Designs patterns.

2003 Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament Issue,

Awake The Dawning Day by Blackbird designs,

Black Crow Cottage & Old Stone Church by Elizabeth Designs.

My daughter, Nadia has taken to stitching again after I tried to get her interested about a year ago when I was in hospital. Shes doing a fantastic job and really enjoying it. This flower picture I will make into a hanging ornament for her...she has already picked out the backing fabric.

I have finally finished it

2007-07-24T10:51:00.000+12:00

Yes thats right...Its all done...what am I talking about??? My aran cardigan that I started a year ago. I finished at the weekend and it is so lovely and warm. It is knitted with 10 ply natural New Zealand wool - it took me ages to hand pick the blue sheep for the project LOL.

So now I am free to stitch. So many choices but for now I am going to finish the WIPs I mentioned in the last post, and think about what ornaments I will stitch for Christmas. I have managed to track down the 2003 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue from Wyndham Needleworks in America. (The only issue I don't have). That order shouldnt take long to arrive. I also ordered 2 Elizabeth Designs charts (Old Stone Church & Black Crow Cottage) and 1 Blackbird Designs Chart (Awake the Dawning Day). Thats a few more charts to add to the "want to do list" They give me the incentive to finish my WIPs first...but will I ????

A gift for a dear friend

2007-07-12T15:30:00.000+12:00

Gosh its been a while since I posted. No excuses really...just havent got round to it.

I finished this scissor fob and pincushion for dear stitchy friend Andie, who Ive known for a long time. A story goes with the reason for stitching these, but basically I did it because shes always just been there in times of trouble and because I wanted too. Also I ran a scissor fob exchange on my New Zealand Yahoo stitching group about 18 months ago, and Andies partner decided not to stitch anything after committing to the group - dont you just hate that! We all had mixed partners and Andie actually stitched a beautiful fob for me, so I thought I would make one in return for her, seeing she missed out.

I am still busy knitting that same aran cardi....almost finished - not much more to go.

Then when that it is finished, I will get back into serious stitching mode - famous last words huh? I have some WIPs to finish...Maxs Moon, Pukeko, a picture I designed for my DH listing his places of employment ( celebrating 14 years), and I also want to stitch TW Dragon petite (Above the clouds) picture for him as well, maybe for Christmas or his birthday in February. I also have this years Christmas ornaments to do, so I had better get cracking...what am I doing on here, when I could be knitting or stitching.

My 2 recent finishes

2007-05-31T16:34:00.000+12:00

Well I finally finished the stumpwork picture the other day...just had to sew it up, when I realised that as well as that birthday, I had another friend with a birthday on the same day....this is 2 days before. The brain went into overdrive, and I managed to stitch another little gift. So here they are....

The fabric colour of the stumpwork is gold, but it looks faded out in the photo. (If you scroll down my blog, you will see the "in progress photo shows the actual colour of the fabric) And the butterfly is more a purple, than blue.

I had fun doing the ruched ribbon on the Lizzie kate freebie, but I am happy with the result.

Both my friends love their gifts so alls well :)

Its all over

2007-05-16T19:28:00.000+12:00

Im back...no more treatment....yippee!!!!!

The month away in Christchurch having radiation went quite fast. I had a 'zap' every day - the whole appointment time would take 10 minutes then I had the rest of the day to myself. I did lots of shopping...a bit of stash and some clothes. Oh and wool to do some more knitting. I finished the stumpwork picture I was working on, so just have to make that up into a little cushion. And I knitted a beanie for my daughter. The rest of the time I spent walking and biking round.

One day I biked out to the zoo - Orana Park (16ks one way) - and I got a few cute pics of animals on my phone....forgot the camera. Heres a couple of pictures.....

Baby giraffe up close

NZ's very own dinosaur - the tuatara.

And the day before I came home from Christchurch, I had a mammogram and got a clean bill of health. So now I take a drug Tamoxifen for an unspecified amount of time - maybe 5 years - and that stops breast cancer recurring in the same breast or starting up in the other one.

Now for something different!

Ok now I've been tagged by Rowyn. I have to tell you eight things about myself that you might not already know.

Here’s how to play:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves

2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules

3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names

4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

**********************************************************

1. My family came from Ireland.

2. I can spend hours watching insects...Im fascinated by them. Same goes for birds.

3. I had my motorbike licence before I got my car licence.

4. I am deeply concerned about conservation - and working with one of NZs rarest birds was such a blessing.

5. As well as collecting stitching stash, I seem to collect books that I never read.

6. I have kept a diary/journal since I was 12.

7. I lived with my parents till I was 24 - cheap board!

8. The number plate on my car is XSTCHA.

***********************************************************

Well there you go...I am supposed to tag 8 people, but I see that this one is doing the rounds quite extensively, so if anyone wants to consider themselves tagged...feel free :)

One More Gift

2007-04-21T22:19:00.000+12:00

I have come home for the weekend after having 7 treatments of radiation. All is going well, and I head back to Christchurch on Monday morning. Its quite a novelty to spend time in a city...but its so noisy. Really nice to be back in our sleepy little town...quite a different comment to what I would have said a year ago :) I have been walking and biking around Christchurch in order to keep my fitness up, so that is how I am mostly spending my time, now I have been in so many shops. I think I am almost shopped out now :)

This is the first opportunity I have had to update my blog. I can now post photos of a birthday gift (needlebook and scissor fob) I made for a dear friend of mine, Sy, in America, as she let me know she had received it. I didnt want to spoil the surprise and post it on my blog just incase she happened to spot it on there.

The design is a freebie - Angelas Scottish Thistles by Twisted Oaks Designs....

The stumpwork picture I am doing is almost finished, not too much more left on that.

Another gift

2007-04-05T17:05:00.000+12:00

Some friends of mine will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary on the 10th, so I thought I would make a little gift to give them. Just a simple heart to hang up in their house :) The colours seem washed out in the photo, but I used DMC light effects for this...they are much easier to use than the old metallic threads. I am going to make a card which matches the heart.

I head off to Christchurch on the 11th to start radiation on the 12th. Its nice to have a confirmed date now.

I have changed my avatar to a more Autumny look. And my hair is about that length too. I never really lost it all, so it is coming back quite quickly. Not as brown as that though. As my daughter told me...beautiful grey and white streaks :) At this point I am not in any hurry to dye it.

Finally something to show

2007-03-28T10:00:00.000+12:00

I have been busy stitching various things...both lots are gifts for friends...and I have given myself plenty of time to finish them. Its been hard trying to concentrate with my stitching as with the hot flushes I have been experiencing, I lose concentration really easily.

Menopause is a gruesome thing if anyone gets the same side effects that I do. I still havent had a decent night sleep since all my operations last year. But I am sure in time the side effects will subside. Even though one of my oncologists said the pills I will start to take for the next 5 years will make things worse - I really dont think things could get worse...however I am battling on as best I can. I am exercising more...this is also to get rid of any excess weight that I have got because of chemo. (It is also supposed to help with side effects).

I am finding jobs everywhere...gardening, cleaning and editing the local paper. I went for another job interview to work up at the new gold mine in the hills. Its another cleaning job, but at the moment it doesnt stress the brain out too much, and I will be able to start when I get back from radiation. I thought I had driven to some interesting places when I was a meter reader...but yesterdays drive up to the mine takes the cake. Generally all vehicles going up have flashing lights and radios so they can talk to each other. I only had my headlights and U2 blaring away on my stereo, and I hoped I wouldnt meet one of the big trucks on the way up. I was lucky enough to see the massive rock tumbling and crushing machine working for the first time!!!!!! Yes very impressive I thought. Obviously a major point in the gold mining process LOL. So I will find out if I get that job today or tomorrow. There were other applicants too, so I have a 1 in 3 chance of getting it. I loved it when the guy interviewing me said I wouldnt be up there alone (I would do it at night - well Im not sleeping so its perfect), and when the weather gets bad and it snows it would be quite comfortable up there for me. (Yeh stranded at a gold mine!). One place I have to clean is the control room...to get to that is through the processing plant (tumbling and crushing area), so I have to wear hard hat, glow vest and steel cap boots. That will be fun to wander round at night, but the whole place is lit up like a Christmas tree, so I doubt I will get lost or that the boogie man will jump out at me :)

Last night I woke up at 2:30 (no surprise) and I thought someone was prowling around our house. No point in waking up the sleeping policeman next to me (great protection really), so I wandered round in a daze looking for the offender. This morning I was told that the creaking and rattling was an earthquake quite close to the town. So no prowler...thank goodness.

Anyhow enough trivial stuff, here is one of the things I am working on at the moment. A stumpwork picture that I have made up from one of Jane Nicholas's books. I manage to do a bit each night.

It shouldnt take much longer to finish this piece, then I will probably make it up into a little pillow.

I am slowly getting around everyones blogs and the stitching I see is so inspiring...isnt it great we can all share our love of needlework and crafts :)

The chemo is finished

2007-03-12T19:12:00.000+13:00

Despite feeling fairly seedy tonight...I am actually starting to feel like a normal person again. All the plumbing (PICC line) has been removed from my arm, and my hair is about 1 inch long. Though it is a little more on the grey side than I would like...well ok a lot on the grey side. When it gets longer I will decide what to do with it. Now its just the countdown till when radiation starts. I will know when that is on the 20th when I go see the radiation oncologist.

I have been stitching up a storm and have finished a few things...just the stitching...I just have to work out how I am going to present/finish them now.

Stay tuned. I may get some inspiration on the stitching front soon :)

Thanks to those wonderful people who have sent me best wishes on my blog and privately. You're all fantastically great!!!!!

I am still here

2007-02-09T22:38:00.000+13:00

Well, I can't believe how quick January flew past. 2 weeks of it we spent camping further down south in Oamaru and Alexandra. It was a wonderful time away, spent most of it 4 wheel driving. The kids were up in the North Island on holiday so it was just me and Brett. The weather wasnt too bad. The weather here in New Zealand this summer hasnt been the flashest really. The last week here at home the temperatures have been scorching...so hot.

I had my 5th lot of chemo yesterday...still on the 4 week cycle. I can now look forward to the last dose on the 8th March, and I cant wait. If I had kept to the 3 week cycles, I would have been finished on the 1 February. But I wont dwell on that...I am counting down the days.

I havent done much stitching over the last month. Since getting back from holiday I have been busy getting my garden weeded. The vege garden turned into something from a gardening horror show. Gherkin plants that mysteriously turned into pumpkins are now rampaging through the middle. All my tomatos plants had grown 4 times the size they were before the holiday and had flopped over in all directions....so some serious staking was needed. I think I have it under control now.

I have been doing some gardening work for friends that own a cafe and bed & breakfast, so that has also kept me busy.

We had the Reefton A&P show last weekend. I entered 3 of my finished pieces into the competitions and won 3 firsts.

I entered....

Framed cross stitch - Cottage Garden Fairy
Unframed cross stitch - Meow Spoken Here
Applique - Nadias felt christmas stocking

You can see all these in my webshots photo album - use the link in the side bar, and they are all under 'completed stitching 2005 - 2009'

I am slowly getting round to visiting all the blogs I enjoy reading, so I havent forgotten any of you.

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T23:44:00.000+13:00

Gosh its 2007 already. Despite all of my health issues last year, I cant believe how quick the year went. I always have New Year resolutions planned and they never come to fruition. I have a few ideas planned for this coming year. Of course there are all my UFO's to complete, and new works to start, and more stash to buy. But before buying anything new, I want to get some of the old stuff out of the way. Also I think I might do some study and add some extra knowledge to my brain and some more qualifications to my CV.

This year will be better!!!

I want to wish everyone a very happy new year...all the very best for 2007 :)

The Kiwi Night Before Christmas

2006-12-22T22:42:00.000+13:00

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch.
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.

We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports

When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck,and let out a shout!

The fairy lights Dad had strung up around the door
Let me see everything down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep.

With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted his dog, and in a voice not unkind,
Cried "Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!

"Now,Flossy! now,Fluffy! now Shaun and Shane!
On, Bossy! on, Buffy! on, Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."

So up on the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.

He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.

His eyes-bright as paua shell-oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.

He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis,one for Dad,one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb.

He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "Thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Gidday to all, and good on ya, mate"

I would just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. Also thank you for all the kindness and support that has been shown to me this past year, during my journey with breast cancer :)

Final ornaments all finished

2006-12-15T09:22:00.000+13:00

Yeh, now I can rest. It is a relief to finish my ornaments well before Christmas.
Last year I was rushing to finish and it became quite stressful and not fun at all.
So here are the 2 alternative colourways of Sugar Plum by Cindy Valentine.

Had another dose of chemo yesterday...after once again being delayed because of low neutrophils. Now they have lowered my chemo dose so I should be able to continue 3 weekly as first planned. As it is, my chemo has been extended by 2 weeks which is a bummer, but thats how it is, and I cant do much about it.

Got all my Christmas shopping done, put up the tree and decorations, sent out all my Christmas cards. Now I just have to wrap my presents. Here are some pics of my tree.

Heres some close ups of the various ornaments on the tree.

This ornament looks amazing at night as I stitched it with quite a few glow in the dark threads.

Will attempt to take a photo of the tree at night with all the lights on...quite lovely really.

One more down

2006-12-04T15:22:00.000+13:00

Finished another Christmas ornament, so thats 1 down and 2 more that I know of left. No doubt I will think of more to make if I get the current ones in the list done quick enough. This design is a favourite from Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornaments issue 2005 (Probably my favourite of all of them). I stitched this one for myself last year. I use beads for the little ornaments hanging off the tree. And I am really enjoying making tassles and cords. Simple once you get the hang of it.

Also I have added a closeup of the ornament I finished a couple of days ago. Andie asked who the designer was. It is called Sugarplum by Cindy Valentine and it was in the 2005 Christmas Ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch (told you it was a favourite). Me being me, I never do ornaments in the colours on the pattern...the original sugarplum is all pink. I am doing 2 more of these, one is in purples and greens and the other red and greens.

I have all the Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament issues except for 2003. Does anyone know where I could pick this up please...maybe someone has seen one for sale somewhere, or has one sitting collecting dust, that is no longer needed. (I really couldnt believe that).

Another ornament

2006-12-01T14:47:00.000+13:00

Just a quick post....Got another of the Christmas ornaments I am stitching this year finished. And I have started yet another. I have a few more to do, so I am busy stitching to get them done in time, in between work, getting the vege garden ready and generally blobbing around the house.

I am keeping good health, last week was all go though. It was during 'my low blood' time (happens 7 - 10 days after chemo when blood counts are at their lowest), and my DH decided to get a viral throat thing, which constricted his throat and he couldnt breathe. I took him to see the doctor who told him to get to Greymouth hospital. Decided against getting an ambulance, because I wanted to take the children, and know what was happening. well it was on the way down there ( an hours drive) that he started having problems breathing. He kept telling me to drive faster...I wont tell you what speed I got up to. Once there, the medical staff decided he had to go to Christchurch, so he was flown over by plane. He stayed for a couple of days, got lots of antibiotics and I drove over to Christchurch to pick him up. Through all this I was fine, but doctors everywhere were concerned about me. I never caught a thing :) Hopefully my blood counts never got too low, and I get the all clear for my next lot of chemo next week.

Latest purchase

2006-11-17T21:54:00.000+13:00

I love needlework books...I have a great collection of cross stitch, needlepoint, stumpwork and embroidery books. But I always look to add to my collection. These 2 gems are my latest buys off TradeMe (a NZ online auction site like Ebay).

Bullion Stitch Embroidery From Roses to Wildflowers

and

A - Z of embroidery Stitches

All the books I have give me great inspiration, and I get a lot of ideas of what I might like to achieve as far as embroidered works go. If I could half of what I'd like to do, I would be happy.

Which brings me onto another aspect...UFOs or WISPs or Unfinished Objects or Works in slow progress. My dear friend Sandie has devised UFO/WISP Challenge 2007. So I am going to join in. Its a low stress fun way of finishing off all the projects that were once lovingly started with such enthusiasm, only to be lost in the bottom of a work basket, the back of a cupboard - anywhere these UFOs are often discarded.

There are many reasons why I have UFOs - generally I have become impatient or bored with what I have been working on, because I have seen and started another 'must do'. I guess the thing I have going for me with this challenge is that I still love all my UFOs. There are none I woulndt want to complete. But that is the problem....I have never completed them.

So with this challenge it is seeking out all the abandoned works and at our own pace, working on them. We can choose when and how we work on them. And as Sandie said, there will be plenty of inspiration to be had, just by seeing the other people in the challenge working on their UFOs/WISPs.

Finally they are finished

2006-11-16T09:15:00.000+13:00

Over the past few days I have been taking every spare bit of time to finish the 4 ornaments I make each year for my DH, my 2 children and myself. If you can recall way back in April (oh how time flies), I started making rainbow gem ornaments using metallic and rayon threads. Now they are finished, I can move on to other things.

I have my 2nd lot of chemo this morning....the neutrophils have gone back up. So this afternoon I intend to relax and stitch up a storm...if Im not too tired :)

Update

2006-11-11T21:46:00.000+13:00

The nurse came round this morning and the Picc line was still blocked. We were so depressed about it, because we really needed another trip to Christchurch like a hole in the head. Anyway today we decided to go 4 wheel driving, and when we came hole, I thought I would see if I could give the Picc line a flush. And guess what it is all cleared. Gave my nurse a ring and told her. we are all happy again :)

Spent tonight packing up my sons stuff to go to camp. Watch out Wellingtonians....year 7 & 8 from Reefton Area School will be hitting your streets tomorrow. I bet for a lot of the children it is the first time they have left the South Island. There is heaps of things planned for them, including spending a night in the Zoo, going to Te Papa, going to the TV studios...wich I was going, had my name down for it, but with my circumstances at the moment, decided it was best not to go. They are crossing over to Wellington on the ferry, so I hope the weather is good. 52 sick children crossing Cook Straight wouldnt be fun.

A set back!

2006-11-10T19:34:00.000+13:00

Well I didnt have chemo yesterday...it has been put off for a week due to my low neutrophil count.

A basic explanation of neutrophil:
Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells and form an integral part of the immune system. White blood cells or leukocytes are cells which form a component of the blood. They are produced in the bone marrow and help to defend the body against infectious disease and foreign materials as part of the immune system.

Generally after each dose of chemo, about 7 - 10 days the neutrophils will be at their lowest and you are more susceptable to infection. Chemo kills bad cells but also knocks over fast acting good ones like hair and blood cells. If the neutrophils dont go up....normal range is 2 - 6 (mine are at .7) chemo has to be delayed so the body is not weakened further.

The levels should go back up by next week. Hopefully I dont have to go on a 4 week cycle, that would certainly string things out for longer. There are drugs that can be given to get the levels up if it becomes too much of a problem. Sometimes hospitalisation is necessary to protect against infection. The scary thing with this is, I have felt so healthy when in fact my body is very vulnerable to infection. The only thing that can get the levels back up is rest....if I was any more rested I would be horizontal.

Another setback is that I have a wonderful thing called a Picc line in my arm to use for chemo administration and blood tests....I have shocking veins that like to hide, so this line saves digging around looking for veins all the time. Well now the thing is blocked. I have been to Greymouth today to have some drug put in that will dissolve any blockages. The first lot didnt work, so my nurse came round and put some more in...and we will see if the line is clear tomorrow morning. If it isnt I will have to go back to Christchurch again, to get another line put in. In the meantime I have to sleep tonight with all these pressure syringes hanging off the line in my arm...don't ask!!!!

On a brighter note, I have a wonderful friend who lives nearby but is from Canada. Her Mum sent us both some breast cancer awareness goodies. There is a pink cap with a pink rhinestone ribbon on the front, a pink ribbon brooch with pink sparkly stones and lastly a 25 cent coin that was issued for breast cancer awarenes month.

Also here are photos of my childrens entries into their schools pet day. There were alsorts of competitions to enter.

My daughter entered the Pet Rock section and won with her family of owls.

And my son entered the Art section and won with his pastel portrait.

I was proud of both of them :)

The latest use for a cat!!!

2006-11-08T10:25:00.000+13:00

Couldn't resist sharing this picture of the ultimate in plate holders :)

Note: No plates or Mistys were harmed in the making of this photograph.

One finish in goodness knows how long!!

2006-11-07T20:28:00.000+13:00

This is a quick picture I stitched for my daughters birthday as an extra gift. She loved it, and I am pleased with how it turned out.

On the health front, I am doing really well. Have my 2nd lot of chemo on Thursday. Saw the oncologist on Friday, and he said seeing I had hardly any side effects from the first chemo, its unlikely I will get any from now on. The tiredness may get worse, but I havent been overly tired the past 3 weeks, so I will see how I handle that.

Since the last post I have had a No.2 haircut and now I am sporting a No. 0. Feels funny. But I couldnt bear the thought of my hair falling out, so I got rid of it before it could. Its still not falling out - it wont be too far away, I don't imagine.

I have been busy stitching the 'gem' Christmas ornaments I started a while ago, so will put up a photo of them when finished.

A lovely friend sent me this years Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue, so I have been choosing over and over which ornaments I am going to stitch....along with all the others from past issues I want to stitch.

I have sewn 6 doo-rags (fitted scarves) for my head...in brightly garish colours, so will add that photo tomorrow.

I havent done anymore knitting, its getting too hot...so much for trying to get my cardi finished this year...but I will persist, because I really want to get it out of the way.

In between all this I have been planting out my vege seedlings and sowing more seeds, and working part time. It has worked out well, because being busy, has allowed me not to dwell on all I have been through and the treatment still ahead :)

The chop!!!!!!!

2006-10-23T19:18:00.000+13:00

Well this morning I took the plunge and gave myself a haircut. Well first DH cut it all one length and I layered it. We did a pretty tidy job. My hair feels so light now. This is in preparation to my hair falling out. Not sure if I will take a photo of me bald. Its hard enough to get photos of me in the first place.

But anyway this first photo was taken a few nights before chemo.....I was horrified that someone was sneaking up behind me with a camera...and the fact they actually took the photo...its a good memory :)

This next photo depicts the shock horror factor of my haircut LOL......

The last one just shows the new look...a bit fuzzy...I do not think the photographer focused too well.......

Still feeling fantastic...no sickness or nausea still. Just a little tired maybe.

Tagged again

2006-10-22T11:22:00.000+13:00

Andie tagged me this time.....

The rules; List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

1: Perfect strangers - INXS
2: Afterglow - INXS
3: Running - Evermore
4: Long Night - The Corrs
5: For A While - Stellar
6: Savin' Me - Nickelback
7: Far Away - Nickelback

Im not sure who to tag...so if anyone reads this and wants to join in...feel free:)

Still feeling really good...no sickness...yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Chemo treatment down

2006-10-20T11:08:00.000+13:00

Yippee...so far I have no side effects...not feeling sick or anything. 5 more doses left, but I dont have to worry about that for another 3 weeks. Going back to Christchurch to have what is call ed a PICC line put in my arm. This is to make the treatments and blood taking easier, as I have shocking veins that are hard to find.

Getting my hair cut short this weekend in preperation for the big fall. Went to Look Good Feel Better workshop during the week...it was great. Got a heap of freebies...more than I imagined. Felt wonderful afterwards....the people who run it do an amazing job.

Off now to plant a few of my vege seedlings into the garden, then I am going to sew some headwear bandanna thingys...they are called doo-rags...and its what bikeys wear under their helmets...sort of fitting scarves with ties at the back. I will make mine a bit bigger to cover the head fully.

Have been knitting too...but sadly no stitching at this point.

Here is a hat I knitted a few weeks ago...knitted with feathers wool. Its a bit loose on my head, but a scarf underneath should fix that. Its not really supposed to fit like a beanie.

I was tagged!!!!!!!!

2006-10-16T10:30:00.000+13:00

Sandie tagged me a week or two ago, and I thought I better belatedly respond. I have to say 5 things that are weird about myself or my pets...shouldnt be too hard.

1: I have this strange affinity with animals, in that any will come up to me...even stroppy ones or animals that don't know me or even wild ones in zoos and become quite docile. Maybe it is because I am quite obsessed with animals and they sence that I love them heaps :) This is even true of birds out in the wild, some are quite friendly and come close to people, but I have them landing on me. Out on Community Patrol one night I had a morepork land on a fence that I was leaning on. Of course I never heard it...they are native NZ owls that fly silently. That amazed not only myself but the person I was with., that one would come so close.

2: I am fascinated by insects and other creepy crawlies...much to my mothers horror, when I was a child. My children are equally horrified. Don't like big spiders though...they are pretty yukky. But things like praying mantis' are wonderful (I used to collect the eggs and have them in my room as a child. Then they would hatch and I would have hundreds of them to let out into the garden. I also like wetas (NZ native large mean scary brown grasshopper looking things).

3: In my lounge I have a 3 seater sofa and a 2 seater. When I am doing stitching or knitting, no one else can sit next to me, I have to be spread out...and everyone else have to squash onto smaller sofa....Now thats just plain mean......

4: I keep a diary, and I have done so since I was 12. I read back over some of the old diarys and wonder what on earth was going on...I cant remember so me of the details. I just love writing down what I have done each day. It comes in very useful at times.

5: I prefer to do gardening in bare feet. I love the feel of the soil and mud between my toes (Ok Ive always been grotty). When I did other peoples gardens, they were bemused when I kicked my footwear off. If the garden has lots of nasty prickly weeds, then I keep shoes on.

So now I have to tag 5 of my friends who have blogs...hopefully they havent been tagged already...I have read their blogs and havent seen any tagging :) So I will choose Andie, Anne, Rowyn, Katrina and Lisa. I will probably annoy them more than anything with this. But hopefully they will reveal their weirdness too :)

A quick post

2006-10-12T14:51:00.000+13:00

Just realised I hadnt posted in a while...hopefully people didnt think I had fallen of the face of the earth.

I have almost recovered from my surgery, but out hitting the streets again with my dog (I was getting so bored sitting around inactive). I get a bit tired at the end of my walk, but I enjoy being outside so much.

Had 2 more trips to Christchurch in the time I have posted. The first was to see a radiation oncologist, who told me what treatment has been planned for me. I am going to have chemotherapy, which I am not thrilled about for obvious reasons, but if it mops up any hidden cancer cells, I am all for it. Then I will was radiation, and then a 5 years course of drugs. All these things together have a benefit that add up to 93% chance of never getting cancer again, so its worth while.

The 2nd trip was yesterday to see the medical oncologist who organises the chemotherapy. I think it is starting next week....yuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkk!!!!!!!
I have been given info on the drugs I will be given, and I have been given extra pills to counteract the nausea. I can hardly wait for all this to start. I feel like a drug dealer.

I didnt have morning sickness through any of my pregnancies, so I am unsure of what will happen. I tend to feel sick when I am nervous about things and I know I wont be as bad as the nausea I had in hospital. At least I wont be stuck in a hospital bed. And if the anti-nausea pills don't work, they will try other ones. I will have chemo every 3 weeks...for 6 treatments, so there will be a big poster put somewhere and I will mark of the days (like preparing for a holiday when I was younger)...hey I might go and find a ticker thingymajig.

My hair will fall out shortly after the first treatment, so I am trying to organise myself for head coverings...scarves, a wig and hats. Maybe a paper bag will suffice :)

After chemo finishes I have a month off, and then start on radiation for 4 weeks, but that wont be till next year, so I wont worry about that at present.

Stitching....what is that????? Knitting....same question. I have been hopeless in these departments, can't concentrate and havent really had time. But I have planted all this years vege seeds into pots in my greenhouse, so at least we can eat.

I am going to get into gear and do some stitching/knitting so at least I remember the basics. I will let you into a secret, no concentration is brought about by broken nights sleeps. I have been thrown into early menopause and suffer from shocking night sweats. I dont really get many hot flushes during the day. I wake almost every 2 hours. I am trying to get on top of it by not having caffiene in the afternoons or nights, no alcohol, no spicy food and lots of water and walking. I think its working. I am not waking as often or as hot.

Well after that tantilising piece of information I will leave you with a photo of 2 rhododendron trees in the section next door. They tower over a tiny miners cottage - you can just see the brown roof by the fence. The trees are gorgeous...there are a lot of them around Reefton. And I will try to post more often :)

Some lovely gifts

2006-09-28T11:04:00.000+12:00

While I have been out of action I have received some beautiful gifts...I thought I would share....

A lovely friend of mine...Sandie from Australia, made this most exquisite Victorian pin cushion for me. It is absolutely beautiful, and the work gone into it is just astounding. The base of it is wooden made by Sandies husband. It is too good to use. Sandie also made some hat pins to stick into it, which finishes the pincushion off so well. A truly lovely gift, and I cant stop touching it and looking at it.

The 2nd gift is a Crazy Quilted needlecase made by anothr Australian lady, Florence, that I have never met. She heard about me through Sandie, and decided to make me the needlecase. Again the amount of work gone into it is amazing. The colours are so lovely. Florence also added some dyed trims that I will be able to add to my own crazy quilting projects. I had been wanting to make myself another needlecase for my sewing needles, so this gift came along at the perfect time...but it is another gift that is too good to use....so delicate.

Sorry about the quality about the photos....I never seem to get the perfect photo.

Another gift I received a couple of months back were a heap of fabrics and a pattern.

The fabrics were...Zweigart Cashel 28ct Tobacco fat quarter, 4 x Kiwi Illusions Belfast 32ct (favourite fabric) - Wild Rose, Shortbread, Waterfall and Merino, and a Kiwi Illusions Jubilee 28ct - Seaside. Also the pattern Merry Christmas. This gift was from my good friend Andie and Linda from Countrystitch. I was thrilled to get som much beautiful fabric...I cant wait to use it.

I am slowly coming along with my cardigan. It is almost getting to hot to knit. But I want to get it out of the way, so it is ready for next winter, and so I can get back to my own stitching and crazy quilting.

Just on the health side...an oncologist rang yesterday, and it is still likely I will have chemo...just as an insurance for any missed cancer cells. It depressed me a bit....but also I thought I would hate to sit around always wondering if all the baddies were gone, or if another one was going to pop up. You never know I might look quite sexy bald...maybe one day I will be brave enough to show the 'hair' before and after photos :)

Im back...again :)

2006-09-23T11:19:00.000+12:00

Well there is going to be no marathon running yet, but I am at home. I look like something from Frankenstiens party, battered and bruised, with stitches all over the place. The 2 operations went well...the combined top and tail. I did have a shocking reaction to the after effects of anesthetic, morphine and drinking too much water...before the bowels started working after being thrown around during the operation. So I suffered with a shocking nausea, a hot flush feeling, and then the vomiting started...I wonder if going cold turkey off drugs is like that. But that is past. I kept the nurses on their toes that night, trying to get the right concoction of anti-sick drugs to fix me.

I have had results for both ends now. The ovary situaton...well that was just a big benign tumour (not even related to the breast cancer...so good not to have the preg feel anymore, and to lose all the kilos I had gained. Now just sore with my zip pattern up my tummy. The breast side of things...there they cut out a bigger area to get a clearer margin and I had lymph nodes removed. So now I have to look after my arm and get no infections there, so I don't overload the lymph glands. And I get a numb feeling up and down my arm which will evntually pass.

Everything there has come back clear...so it looks as though I wont be needing chemo, because the cancer never spread...but still the radiation...which is such good news. I just have to wait...again...until my meeting with the oncologist who will come over to the West Coast to see me and see what the best plan of attack is. I may be back in Christchurch in around 3 - 4 weeks for radiation...just depends how quick I see the oncologist.

When I was lying in hospital recovering, every time I saw one of my multitude of doctors, I knew things would be OK because they were always so happy with how I was. And I could feel it too. Especially the lymph nodes...I felt my body was healthy there.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and best wishes. I still have a while to go on my trek...but Im getting there :)

We quite enjoyed it in Christchurch, but so glad to get back to the peace and quiet of our little town. My animals sure are glad to see me.

Hope everyone is well :)

Hospitals....getting used to the visits now.

2006-09-04T19:01:00.000+12:00

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who has visited my blog recently. Wow. I have new visitors...its lovely to meet you all.

Well here I am back from hospital. And guess what, I didnt have surgery. Not too much drama really but a very interesting turn of events when I mentioned the abdominal problems I have been having. Regular readers will remember around the middle of June when I said I had stomach cramp and bloating...I really thought it was due to the stress of finding out about cancer etc.

Went into the hospital on Wednesday, and the house surgeon came to visit me to see if I was in good health for surgery(LOL). Mentioned the bloating etc. She felt my stomach...next minute xrays, ultrasounds and blood tests were being ordered. Well blow me down...no I am not pregnant....I have a tumour on one of my ovarys. After a hysterectomy 6 years ago, both ovaries left...I think yippeee thats it for any surgery down there again...how wrong can one be!

So the house surgeon & my surgeon and her registrar are all in 'we need to check everything mode' so breast surgery was put off, I had a CT scan...which showed bone lesions. So I had to have a bone scan (being injected with radioactive material is a real blast).

At this point I will explain all this. The ultrasound showed some solid bits on the tumour...which gave suspicions of cancer. What they had to determine was, had it spread from the breast, had the breast got it from the ovary, or was it another primary cancer (new). Xrays and blood tests from when I first had surgery (3 weeks ago) were all clear, so it showed any cancer in my body hadnt gone to the liver or lungs - the first places breast of ovarian cancer will go too (they are very similar in the way they act). So the CT scan would show if there was any general spreading, but this showed the lesions, so the next step, the bone scan would show if cancer had gone to the bones - that would be diastrous.

The CT scan was good, except for lesions. The bone scans thankfully, were clear. The lesions were not eating away of bone (which would be indicative of cancer), but extra bits had appeared...probably caused when I was younger from situations such as falling off horses or any other misadventure I managed to put my body through.

The breast cancer op was put on hold...the ovarys suddenly went to No. 1 position. So I met a gyno surgeon...lovely man of few words. I am booked in next week to have the ovarys removed, and then my breast surgeon will come in and do her bit. (so almost a top and tail) Nothing more can be told about the ovary until it is removed, but the general news is, after all the tests, whatever it is, it hasnt spread.

So I am looking at up to 2 weeks in hospital, surgery is next week...they really want to look after me. The whole thing put everyone in a spin...because there were discussions of various outcomes and treatments...I may of had to have chemo or radiation first. If it went to bones, they wouldnt of worried about the breast straight away....gosh I almost had the coffin nailed shut. I knew things were getting worse, when the surgeons kept going off to ring DH all the time to come up to hospital because 'He needs to hear this'.

I was allowed out on leave on Friday, and went back into the ward this morning, thinking I was going to visit the oncologist for the next step. One of the surgeons had rung me on Saturday morning (we stayed in CHCH), to say some of the tests had come back clear. That was encouraging. Then I found out this morning I didnt need to see the oncologist at this stage, because the rest of the tests were good.

So as I wrote earlier, once the ovary is out, that will say what sort of further treatment I need, and same with the extra breast surgery (just removing a clearer margin) and removal of lymph nodes. But the good thing through all this is, everything is treatable. There was even talk of maybe not having chemo...I wont hold my breath there...thats only if lymph nodes are clear.

But it is all terribly exhausting...being in hospital was great because all the people I have been dealing with, all came and sat with me for hours on end just answering questions. And they didnt care that I asked the same questions over and over. I found it hard to sleep, and the nurses on 'graveyard' duty were happy to sit and chat as well. All I can say is the staff at Christchurch Hospital are fantastic.

Which takes me back to the doctor I visited here in town here when I first got the stomach cramps...I finally got in to see a locum - after being put on hold all the time - to be poked and prodded, and sent home being told not to eat anything. The problem went away so I forgot about it. It had come back a few weeks later ( I thought due to the stress of this other business - but obviously activated by my cycle). But I never worried about it. Maybe I should have gone back to the doctor, to say the problem wasnt going away, but I didnt want to spend money to be told nothing was wrong again. In hindsight I think I am my own worst enemy when it comes to visiting doctors.

During the weekend I visited a hairdresser, and I was so tempted to cut all my hair off, I just got a good trim and tidy up...hair tends to dry out after anesthestic. Just as well I didnt have a major assault on my hair....it would have been drastic and maybe even unecessary. Thats another thing that can wait until I hear more results.

Staying with the rest of my family over the weekend was really humbling. Davidson House is where people with cancer and their families can stay during treatment - when they come from outside Christchurch. I met some fantastic people, that are dealing with their own demons.

I am still going to knit my hats though...well a couple at least...it will keep me busy, even though I still have the dreaded cardi to knit and all my stitching and crazy quilting.

Wow, I have really prattled on, I hope it is understandable...thanks you again for all the well wishes :)

I am far from out of the woods yet and still taking one day at a time!!!!