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Monday, January 26, 2015

Grow Your Blog

Welcome to my blog.

Please visit Vicki for the full list of Grow Your Blog participants.

My name is Kate and I have been blogging on and off since 2009.  I live in Brisbane, Australia. Later this year DH and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.  We have 2 children, DS just turned 18 and DD is 13.  DS is starting an engineering degree at uni next month and DD is starting grade 9 next week.

Last year was a bit of an injury prone year for our family and right now I am still recovering from a badly bruised tailbone suffered when I was thrown from a horse during an accident on our New Zealand holiday last month.  (The girth strap broke when my horse shied during an argument with another horse)  I had to ride back as there were a few river crossings on the way, but I swapped horses with the guide.  I took DD on a trail ride as a surprise for her.  My first time on a horse in 20 years!  Here I am just after the accident during the photo stop with DD.




I blog mostly about cross stitch.
Last year was very stressful and my stitching was limited.
DS got quite sick in term 2, and broke his right collarbone and missed most of his assessment in term 3 during his final year at school.   He still got great results and was offered his first preference for uni this year.
I hope to do better with blogging and stitching this year.

I am currently working on Fall Mandala by Ink Circles.


I have some frogging to do on this.  Can you see the difference between the golden brown leaves on the sides and bottom from the top pair?  I ran out of a colour and the new shade is different so I have to pull out the old thread and replace it.  It is bothering me so I need to fix it.  I am using HDF silks.


I usually don't get much stitching done during summer.  We have no air conditioning and I keep saying that because it only gets really bad for a few weeks, it's not worth putting in air conditioning.  This year however seems to be worse than usual.  The humidity has been horrible and I'm not sleeping well.  Last night at 11pm the humidity was 95% and the apparent temperature was 33C.  This morning at 5am the humidity was 95%, apparent temp 31C.  I feel like I'm constantly sweating.  We've had a bit of rain on and off so the mossies are quite vicious outside.  I work from home doing a bit of share trading online so I can't go to air conditioned work to escape like DH.  Still, in another month or so all my friends will be getting $700+ electricity bills and I will be getting $400-$500 credit from our solar panels.  Multiply that by 4 and you can see why I am resisting getting air conditioning.  But, I think it is much easier to deal with the hot weather than the freezing winters that my friends in the northern hemisphere have to cope with.


As a reward for reading all of the above, I am offering a giveaway to be drawn on February 15th.  Just leave a comment stating you wish to be included in the giveaway.  The prize will be a $50 gift voucher to 123Stitch.


28 comments:

Emily C said...

Hello from Pennsylvania. Very nice cross stitching, you can barely tell the difference. I would love to win the gift voucher. Found you through Vicki's GYB party.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate, I'm visiting from the GYB event. hope your tailbone is healing well!. looks like you were in the Otago area?.
your stitching is lovely, and I couldn't spot the area you weren't happy with!.
not liking the sound of those temperatures!. I'll be on the GC for 2 months from March, so am hoping they drop a little, esp at night!.

sew.darn.quilt said...

Hello Kate, I'm popping in from the GYB party and must say that your stitchery is outstanding! This piece is so beautiful. That nice credit would be a great incentive to for go the air conditioning.
I invite you to come over for a visit
http://bytheprickingofmythumb.blogspot.com

jhm said...

A very nice post for the GYB. I'll be bookmarking your blog and look forward to the upcoming posts. We also had a bad health year in our house last year but that is now behind us. Come visit my blog when you have a chance.

Jackie
http://needleworkerssamplings.blogspot.com/

cucki said...

I love your blog so much
Sending you big Beary hugs x

Vickie said...

What a nice picture of you and your daughter. I had wondered what else could be happening to keep you away so long.
You have a lovely project going right now.
Yes! Please include me in your generous giveaway. Thank you.

Debbie said...

Hi Kate,
Your fall mandala is beautiful!

Hope 2015 finds less injury prone stuff coming your way.

Take care.

Stay cool...try frozen ice blocks.

Yes, please include me in your giveaway.

Michele T said...

So nice to meet you Kate! I did not have a very good first experience riding a horse on our vacation to Jasper, Alberta... let's put it this way: I will not get on a horse again... ever! I would much prefer to photograph them ;-) Thanks for sharing in the GYB!!

DJH said...

So sorry you got hurt, but I am glad you are on the road to recovery!
I'm not sure I could live without air conditioning, but I am in California and we have hot weather quite a bit during the spring and summer months.
I love your stitching, and the color change would have me re-doing that as well. I actually had to on the one I am working on right now.
I would love to be included in the giveaway.
Thank you and have a great day!

Terri said...

I would love to be entered into your drawing! I do love reading your blog and I believe I've been a follower for a while.

Glad you're feeling better! Tailbone injuries really HURT!

Christine said...

Hi Kate so good to meet you thru GYB this year! I love your stitchery projects and will follow along with you! Hope your family have a better 2015 and that your tailbone mends asap! I know what that feels like having had surgery on mine some time ago.
Best wishes
Christine

lynda said...

Just saying hi from the blog party! I hope that your injury is starting to feel better...a major owie as my grandson would say! I am a new follower and would love a chance in your giveaway. Thanks!

tktl said...

Please include me.
Your horse holiday looks lovely and hope you're soon recovered!

Sue Kosec said...

You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

Happy crafting!
SuZeQ

Linda H said...

Hi Kate, Popping by on the GYB Party from snowy cold eastern Canada. We are currently in the midst of a blizzard - wish I could exchange some cool air for your heat!! Could I send you some snow??
Your stitching is beautiful. I am a stitcher too, although I haven't done much lately. I seem to go in fits and starts... Hope you'll get a chance to visit me at Stitch Lines.

Teresa S. said...

I have the same thoughts about air conditioning every summer, too.

We live in the USA and in the Pacific Northwest which has mild summers and mild winters. No humidity. It is unusual to hit 90F or above. So when we do, I so regret not having the air cond. But we survive.:)

Kathy H said...

I am getting back into cross stitching again and am happy to find your blog. I looked at some of your stitching and loved the frosty flakes.

Heather said...

Hi Kate! Visiting your blog via GYB and enjoying your stitchery photos. I would LOVE to be included on your giveaway...thanks for the opportunity!

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

I'm a textile artist visiting via GYB from St. John's, NL Canada. Lovely work. Thanks for sharing. I'm also having a giveaway on my blog.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I've only been on a horse once and it's not an experience I am wanting to repeat - I'm too afraid of heights. So sorry that you were unlucky enough to fall off. Enjoyed seeing your mandala - I have a pattern for one that I would love to make but haven't gotten around to it - yet. Thank you for having us over!

Marsha said...

Ouchy accident. Takes a very long time for tailbones to heal, ask me how I know. Can't wait to see more stitching. We have that kind of summer weather but I wouldn't want to be without air conditioning.

Unknown said...

Cross stitching is my first love! I do other needlework (crochet, sewing and just recently found quilting), but x-stitch is my go to craft when I want somthing comfy and relaxing. :) Am new follower and glad I found you.
craftyccain@gmail.com

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Hi Kate, love your cross stitching. I used to do a lot more of it, but the charts got really small, LOL!! I used to ride horses a lot when I was young, haven't been on one in many years now. Thanks for being part of the GYB hop.

Anna van Schurman said...

I like your Fall Mandala, not sure if I do see a difference in the colors--but that's probably to do with the computer screen. Came to your blog through the Grow Your Blog party.

Tami Von Zalez said...

Ah rewards, we all love those!

Sorry about the horse mishap - at least it wasn't worse.

Popped by from GYB.
http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-and-repairing-vintage.html

The Crafty Princess said...

Always great to hear from a fellow Aussie Stitcher! I love the colours in the Fall Mandala, it looks fantastic!
xo Alicia

afistfuloflemons said...

Hello from NYC! Sorry to hear about your heat troubles but you do make me miss Australia. I've visited a few times and would love to go back! My favorite place was riding all around Tasmania. It is glorious there as well as Byron Bay. :)

afistfuloflemons @ gmail.

Alyssa F said...

Love the Fall mandala, although I can't see the mistake myself. :) Now a follower and I look forward to seeing progress updates!