In a stitching slump

Sadly I haven't done any stitching recently.  I think I'm starting to suffer withdrawal symptoms.  But, I can show you some pictures at last. 
Warning - long post.

Exchanges
First, I received this from Debbie Jo for the winter smalls exchange for ILCS.
A needlebook with pins and needles included, and Carrie's Creation threads in Polar Bear and Smoke. 

Needlebook details

I love it, thank you Debbie Jo.


This is what I sent Shelly

Snowman
28ct lugana Days Gone By (Silkweavers)
DMC threads 2 over 2

Snowman freebie pattern from gazette94 found here 
This is my first crazy 15 finish.

I also made Shelly a triangular ort container, tutorial here at Needling Things

I made the opening a little bigger as I found it difficult getting threads out. I'll be making more of these.

I Won a Gift!
I won a giveaway on Kaye's blog Kitten Stitching
She sent me a Prairie Schooler pattern, page flags, udder cream, a charm and some mini pegs with hearts.

Thank you Kaye.


Sweet Flowers
Part 1 of Sweet Flowers is finished.  I am doing this over 2 on 32ct fabric so it will be huge, but it is easier to stitch.



Sweet Flowers
DMC 3722, 223 on 32ct Belfast

The next 2 sections arrived yesterday so they are first on my to do list.
The pattern can now be purchased at Aquarelle

Family news
Nana's funeral was on the Wednesday afternoon after she passed away.  DH (world traveller) changed his departing flight to Thursday.  The first week he was gone I slept badly.  You'd think I would be used to it but I still miss him when he is not here.

DD had her high school interview on the Wednesday morning before the funeral.  The process for this school is apply in grade 5 (last year) interviews and offers in grade 6 (now) for a start in grade 8 (2014).  We got the letter offering her a place a week later.  She will be going to a private (Catholic) girls high school. 
DD also received the top Cub Scout award (Grey Wolf badge) recently.  She is not enjoying Cubs anymore because she is the only girl in her group now, so she will be starting to link with the Scouts this week.  Cubs (7-10yrs) and Scouts(11-15yrs) can have girl members as well as boys in Australia.  DS is in the process joining the older Scouts - Venturers(15-18yrs). So, I'm out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights dropping one or the other at the Scout den.

DH got back from the US a week ago Sunday. He had a few hours at home then flew to Sydney that night. We thought he would get more sleep than if he stayed at home and got the early morning flight to Sydney.  His plane ended up in Melbourne because of storms - they circled Newcastle for a while then had one aborted landing attempt at Sydney before being sent to circle Canberra (after Sydney curfew kicked in) then eventually landed in Melbourne.  He checked into his hotel room at 1.30am and checked out at 4.30am to catch his morning flight to Sydney!  He got back home from Sydney Tuesday night, Wednesday was prep for day surgery Thursday.  The first few nights I was up every 4 hours getting painkillers for him.  DH has been lying on the sofa where I sit to stitch, so no stitching for me - I can't see without my light.

Friday night I had to get DS at 10.30 pm after his chess tournament.  We had a severe weather warning for heavy rain at the time.  I hate driving in the rain at night!  The silver lining from the rain - both DS and DD's cricket games were cancelled for Saturday!  Woohoo, a Saturday off.  I read blogs until I came down with DD's head cold.  I'm still feeling crummy today so I'm taking it easy.
DH has a car racing long weekend starting Friday but he doesn't know if he will be well enough yet. He'll decide Thursday or Friday.  Yes, he organised his operation around car racing and work trips overseas.

DMIL's operation is next Monday.  DH is off to Europe a few days after that, so I'll be busy again.  I have some small projects I can take while I visit DMIL in hospital and at her home.

Okay, that's enough for now, it's time for lunch.

It's November!

It's November and I've done very little stitching since my last post.  I'm still working on my Autumn piece for ILCS yahoo group so I can't show it to you.  I ran out of thread and had to stop for a while so I'm not sure if I will get if finished in time.
October is not a good month for me and I think this year was particularly difficult - more on that below.

Here are some of the things that have been happening lately.

AIRPLANES
DH is in Vancouver again.  He left on Sunday morning and will be back next Monday.  Yes, he was caught in the Qantas drama. In case you don't know, Qantas announced on Saturday afternoon at 5pm that they were grounding their entire fleet in response to industrial action by unions.  Within 2 hours DH managed to get return flights to LA on another airline.  Of course Qantas is back flying again now.

CRAFT SHOW
A few weeks ago we had the Craft and Quilt show here in Brisbane.  I was lucky enought to get a free ticket offered by Stitches and Spice in their newsletter.  Here's a photo of part of their stall. The bins at the front are full of fabric.  Some of that fabric made it's way home with me.


Stitches and Spice stall

 I also found something else I had been looking for. I found this in one of the bead stalls.


Bead storage containers


 WEATHER
Look at this.

The closest we get to snow in Brisbane.  A hailstorm a few weeks ago.  It was only marble sized and no damage for us, but friends had cars out that got dented and it was a lot worse in other areas.  We have another wet summer forecast again - please not as bad as the floods early this year.

EXCHANGES
I was in the ILCS 10th Anniversary Birthday Exchange.
This is what I received from Renae

And this is what I sent Jo

A few months ago I decided I needed a new mobile phone as mine was not working properly. I waited and got the new iphone 4s on the first day it came out.  It's my first smartphone and I love it, and I can take photos with my phone (such technology!)  I already had an ipad so I wanted to stay with Apple.

SCHOOL

Kids finish school for the year in 4/5 weeks so it's getting busy for both of them now.  DS is getting another academic award at his schools yearly awards ceremony next week - he got one last year as well.  He has nearly finished year 9.  He is getting very tired again so I think he is about to have another growth spurt.  He will be 15 in January.

We are horribly busy and the next day when I have nothing on my calender is November 27, so we are looking forward to ...

HOLIDAYS

We've decided not to go overseas this summer, we'll go back to the snow and skiing in January 2013.  This year instead we're going up the coast to Mooloolaba for a week in early December.  It's only an hour drive away and should be a relaxing week in the sun on the beach. 

It would have been my mother's 70th birthday in late September.  She passed away in October 1982 when she was 41 and I was 13.  She took her own life after a 9 year battle with schizophrenia, caused by a severe brain injury from a horse riding accident as a child.  I spent very little time with her because I went to boarding school when I was 6, then my parents started living apart, so I have no good memories of our time together.  October is sometimes hard for me and I think this year was worse because now I'm older than my mother was when she died.  I guess as I get older I'm more aware of what she missed out on.   

If you are still with me, thanks for reading so much.  I'm almost sure I'm going to start 15 charts in January, just have to decide on which ones to do.