Crazy January Day 3, 4, 5

Day 3
Frosty Flakes by LHN
I had trouble starting this and had to use my magnifier to see the linen threads.  I got it right after 3 tries.

Day 4
He's A Flake by LHN

Day 5
Red House in Winter by LHN

Crazy January Day 1 and 2

Day 1 progress - Pine Tree Inn by LHN

Day 2 -  Pear Tree by LHN
Not sure if I am happy with this fabric.

Goodbye 2011

Well, it's the last day of 2011. 2012 CJC starts tomorrow and I'm all ready. I've changed my list because I've signed up for the Sweet Flowers SAL so I've removed the larger charts and replaced them with small ornaments. Hopefully this will give me enough time to finish Sweet Flowers and the HAED next year and do some more on my WIPS.

December was busy. Our holiday was lovely and relaxing.
The weather was not good, but it didn't matter. We parked our car in the hotel carpark the day we arrived and didn't drive it again until we left for home a week later. We had a few wet and windy days, but managed to make it to the beach several times. The worst day was a record cold day for December and of course we didn't have any warm clothes with us. Here are some pictures.



view from our balcony



A friend on the beach

The Traveller (DH) had to make a quick 4 day trip to Singapore and Malaysia 2 days after we got home from our holiday. I've decided not to plan too far ahead in the future in relation to his being at home!  He is home until the end of next week, then away again.

Before I went on holiday I saw my Dr about a suspicious spot on my neck.  It looked like skin cancer so after I got back he removed it. The week before Christmas I went back to get the stitch out and the lab results came back negative so that was a relief.

DH had had some health issues since he was in hospital in August but we thought they were side effects from the medication he was on but the GP thinks not and has referred him to a specialist for tests to rule out the big C. He is still waiting for an appointment but I hope it is soon.

I sold my old car in mid December. We started advertising it online in November and dropped the price every week because there was no-one interested in it.  Then, I went to morning tea at a friends house and mentioned in passing to another friend that we were finally trying to sell the old car and she said she was interested, her and her DH came around that night and brought it! Not sure I wanted to sell to a good friend but we dropped a bit more off the price so they got a good car for a good price.

Christmas was good.  My dad came for a week and left 2 days ago.  I did lots of cooking before the big day. Christmas Eve I made a roast leg of lamb then we had Christmas lunch at DH's parents house - I made a pavlova and we had cold ham and prawns with salad followed by cheesecake, pavlova and fruit.

I have done a bit of stitching but mostly have been busy getting fabric and threads kitted up for CJC. I'm still preparing fabric for Sweet Flowers.

I started Fall Mandala ages ago then had problems with needing thread and having to frog, then busy with family, etc so here is my progress. 



Fall Mandala designed by Tracy Horner (Ink Circles)
fabric - 28ct Wintered Marble linen from Stitches and Spice
thread - HDF silk

Welcome to my new followers, thank you for all your comments. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Giveaway Winner

I've drawn a winner - Joyce at http://joycesloveoflife.blogspot.com
Congratulations Joyce, as a follower you get the fabric as well.
Hello and thank you to all my new followers, I will do a blog update shortly.

Giveaway

Ok, it's time for a giveaway.
I have a copy of Joan Elliott's Ultimate Cross Stitch Collection magazine.

Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.
Make sure I am able to contact you through a blog or email link.


Follower bonus
You don't have to be a follower, but I have a bonus if the winner is a follower of my blog.

If I draw your name as the winner of the magazine and you are also a follower, I will include 2 x fat eights of linen fabric from Stitches and Spice.
The first is Antique Rose 32ct, the second is Butter Creme 28ct.


Closing date is Sunday, December 11.  I'll do the drawing a few days later when everything is back on track after our holiday.  Depending on where you live and your postal service you may get it by Christmas.

Good luck.

Photos

No stitching photos, but I thought I'd share these.

This is my cat, Lexi, pretending to be asleep on a hot afternoon and ignoring the camera.

'I wish you'd stop bothering me'

Here is where DH and I went for our weekend away - Novotel Twin Waters Resort. I walked around the lagoon and found a nice spot for a photo.  The weather was beautiful.


Looking across the lagoon to the main resort area.

We walked to the beach from the resort and strolled in the water.  When I'm walking on the beach I have to get my feet wet.  This is looking south. 

Sunshine Coast beach

We are heading off to the beach again on Saturday for our holiday. We are staying about 10 minutes south of where the photo above was taken, but in the centre of Mooloolaba.  DH left for North America yesterday and will be back the morning we leave.

I have found 15 starts for my Crazy January Challenge. They are listed on the page and I'll add photos soon.

I'll post about my giveaway tomorrow.








Weekend Away, planning

No stitching done, it has been too hot and I've had some late nights recently with DS finishing assignments - 2am on Thursday morning!  He finishes for the year on Friday next week but he is going to the Gold Coast on Thursday at 7am for a 2 day maths extension program so he finishes his exams on Wednesday.  I pick him up from school at 6pm Friday.  He went to this program last year and this year there are only 5 of the top students going in each of grades 8, 9 and 10.

DH and I are going away for the weekend - after DD's cricket game and dancing practice, then taking kids to grandparents.  We are members of a car club and this is our Christmas party weekend.  We're going up to the Sunshine Coast about an hour north of here.  There are about 50-60 members going so we should have a great time. I'll take some stitching but will be lucky to do any, think I'll be napping or socializing tomorrow afternoon. 

 I've been thinking about my stitching next year.  I've decided to join Daffycat's TUSAL - it's where you save your orts and take a picture on the new moon.
I've also joined Measi's WIPocalypse to hopefully get some progress done on my wips and blog more often.
Obviously I've had too much time thinking, not enought time stitching because I've joined the Crazy January Challenge 2012 so now I have to select 15 items to start in January.
I'm hoping all the above will motivate me to do more stitching next year.

Lastly, this has made my day.  My photo of Fa-La-La has made it to the welcome page of I Love Cross Stitch yahoo group  Woohoo!

Right, I'm off to bed to get some beauty sleep before tomorrow.  The end of school stress and concerts, etc are nearly over so I'll be able to get back to stitching.  I'll have a giveaway coming up soon.
Thank you for your comments.