3 Little Finishes

Happy Easter

DH is away but family came over here for dinner last night.  Pizza and chocolate cake from the cheesecake shop.  Leftovers for lunch today!


These three were started last year, then not touched until recently.

1.  That Kind of Stitcher

That Kind of Stitcher

That Kind of Stitcher - CherryWood Design Studios
32ct Calypso Linen
WDW - Chestnut, Watermelon Punch
GAST - Kiwi, Orange Marmalade


2.  Peppermint Twist

Peppermint Twist

 

Peppermint Twist - LHN

30ct Natural Linen

Recommended threads

 

 

3. The Merry Skater

 

The Merry Skater

The Merry Skater - LHN

32ct Tumbleweed Linen

Recommended threads



It doesn't feel like I've done much stitching since my last post.  I missed the March IHSW - Saturday was kids sport, DS's last cricket game in the morning and DD's first netball game of the 'winter' season in the afternoon.  It was a rare hot sunny day (no rain) and I got too much sun and didn't drink enough water so ended up dehydrated and not good for much on the sunday.  Yes, I do know better and I was careless so I belonged in the naughty corner.  Especially as during DD's netball game they had a drinks break half way through every 15min quarter and we were using water spray bottles to help keep them cool. 

Renovations

I've been talking about getting my kitchen redone for years and kept putting it off.  It's about 30 years old and DH has fixed the oven, the dishwasher leaks, the built in microwave is dying, benches are narrow and the gas cooktop is crowded in a corner, etc, etc.  But, last year DH pointed out that the tiles are cracked and lifed in places and loose in others and we needed to retile.  Well, that's a huge job, the kitchen is open plan and the tiles go from the entrance hallway, kitchen, meals, laundry, main bathroom, another hallway.  Did I mention all these tiles are marble? So, recently I got a friend (award winning kitchen designer) to come and do up some plans.  If I'm going to renovate I'm going to go the whole hog!  So, we are doing kitchen, laundry, all three bathrooms (the bathrooms are in original condition so the renovation is overdue).  Also, knocking out some internal brick walls and changing doorways.  The only rooms untouched in the plans are the kids bedrooms.  We might have to move out for a few weeks!
My friend is coming back soon with the plans and samples (and costs -gulp).


It's school holiday for the next 2 weeks, so more stitching time.  I've finished 5 of last years starts so I've added a new chart to my WIP list - Purrrrr Like You Mean It.  First, I'm trying to finish Zoe's Sampler.

I'll draw a winner from my Easter draw tomorrow but now it's back to the chocolate and some stitching later. 

Easter Giveaway

I'm looking forward to Easter - the start of 2 weeks of school holidays, cooler weather, chocolate!

I'm offering a $50 gift voucher to 123stitch for one lucky person.
Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.
Closing date is March 31 (Easter Sunday)

Goodluck.

A Winner, and Update, Froggy Visit

First, the winner of the He's A Flake chart is

Stress Less

Congrats.  Can you send me your snail mail address.


Froggy Visit
Arrived home late Friday night after picking up DS and saw this beside the front door.

Dainty Tree Frog

I googled the species name as it is different to the tree frogs I am used to. It is a Dainty Tree Frog, but this one should be called Fearless as it was very curious and jumped onto my hand and climbed up my phone while I was trying to take photos! Didn't pee on me or my phone thank goodness!
Does that mean good fortune with stitching for the next year for me?

Started stitching again a few days ago.  Here's progress photos.

Herz Yin Yang part 6

Zoe's Sampler part 4 - blurry photo, sorry

 



That Kind of Stitcher - nearly finshed

Well, DD comes home from Canberra tonight.  She left early Monday morning and we had a quick trip to the Dr on Saturday to get some antibiotics for her (bronchitis).  I hope she has been taking them!   The house is quieter without her and is staying strangely tidy.
Camp seems to be a bit different now days.  The teachers set up a twitter account and sent dozens of tweets each day with lots of photos.  I know what she did before she gets home and I've seen photos of her with the Governor-Gerneral of Australia, and the Australian Treasurer, and at parliament house, museums, rock climbing, breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc, etc.  She was going to go on a scout camp this weekend, but there are no female leaders going and she was the only girl, so she can't go.  I couldn't go as a helper as DH is away in Singapore and gets back on Saturday.  He has managed to get out of going to the US next week. Yes!

DH and I were both sick last week.  Not badly, just a weird virus that seemed exactly like a cold without the sneezing and running nose.  We both had a sore throat, mild fevers, and a  'fuzzy head' was how DH best described it.  I had a week of not doing much at all except resting, so caught up on my blog reading while I couldn't stitch.  I was better on Monday.

Just heard that Google Reader is closing in a few months.  This is how I read the blogs I follow so I'll have to find something else.  Any suggestions?

Some finishes, chart giveaway

I've just finished part 3 of Zoe's Sampler (sticklounge SAL).  New parts come out weekly so it's going quickly.  I did part 2 on Saturday and part 3 on Sunday.  Looks like part 4 is slightly narrower, then the top half is done.

I've been slowly working my way through my crazy 15 starts from last year.  I've told myself that when I finish 5 old wips I can add a new start to my current list of projects.  Of course, I'm doing small ones first.

So, I have another finish - He's a Flake by LHN. 

I used the recommended fabric - 30ct Dove Linen from WDW - and threads.

I'm looking for a new home to send this chart to, leave a comment if you are interested and I'll draw a name next Monday(11th)


We had another very wet weekend here, good for stitching! 
DH was in Germany last week and got back on Friday morning.  He was meant to have a car racing weekend so packed up and was on his way again Friday midday.  Had lots of rain overnight where he was, so he decided to come home Saturday morning as the creeks were rising and he didn't want to risk getting caught out there for a few days.  He may be going to Singapore in another week, then back to the US soon after, and he is racing at Bathurst over Easter!
DD is obviously her father's daughter - she had a scout camp this weekend (yes, in the rain), she has a school trip to Canberra leaving on the 11th, back on the night of the 14th, another scout camp on the weekend starting on the 15th.
She and DH are both home today with colds!


This week I am hoping to finish the next part of Herz Yin Yang, and do some more on my next wip - That Kind of Stitcher, photo here. 

Better go and check on the patients and start thinking about dinner. 
Hope everyone stays warm and dry.

Feb IHSW

At last I've managed to join the IHSW this month.  See here for the details.
Here's what I managed to do.

1. Finished Pinapple Sampler.  I only had the last quarter to go.

Pineapple Sampler

2. Started and finished part 5 of Herz Yin Yang.  Most of my stitching was on this over the weekend.
Ready for part 6 later in the week.


Herz Yin Yang part 5

3. Finished knitting a dishcloth - Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth. I used Sugar'n Cream cotton yarn in Country Sage Ombre.   Didn't take long to finish, I had done more than half before the weekend.  An easy pattern but next time I'll use a solid colour yarn.
Yes, I've started knitting again and next I want to make a scarf.



4. A new start. Zoe's Sampler through the sticklounge group.
Designer - Le Grenier de Zoe.
I got the first part on Friday and started it Sunday afternoon, after deciding on fabric and threads.
I'm using HDF silk on 32ct Pampas Lugana by Picture This Plus.
I love working with this silk, it goes through the fabric so nicely.
I'm playing with different colours this time.



Floss toss

This shows the green fabric better.  I have to admit I added the blue this morning (Monday) - wanted to see how it looks.  I'm hoping to finish this first part in the next few days.
I think this is my new favorite project.

Zoe's Sampler

Wow, I can't believe how much I've gotten done.  Lots of happy dancing going on here!
I hope you all had a great weekend.

Giveaway Winner is...

The winner of the Good Things chart is ...

CUCKI

Congrats cucki, drop me an email with your address and I'll get it in the mail tomorrow.


Well, we survived the storm with little damage here.  Official it was an ex tropical cyclone, but I'm calling it a category 1 cyclone.  I've been through a few up north while I was growing up and it was exactly the same.  The wind was at its worst in the early hours of Monday morning and I got up at one stage and watched the kitchen windows flexing, then decided I couldn'd do anything if they broke so went back to bed and listened to the roof creaking and groaning.  The wind was still gusty until Monday lunchtime.  Power went out in lots of places, some friends lost power for 2-3 days, but only a few flickers here.  Terrible floods up north in Bundaberg and other smaller towns.

Kids are back at school so we are slowly getting back into routine.  DH is away for another week.  I'll be glad when he is back.  I had to relight our gas hot water system yesterday morning after a cold shower.  It is outside and goes off every week or so - don't ask.  It took me 4 -5 goes to get it going again - lying on the ground holding down one button with one hand then pressing the ignition button repeatedly with the other hand while pressing my face into the grass and peering inside the system looking for a tiny flame, stopping when I smelt gas, turning everything off then waiting 5 minutes and doing it all again.  I was just glad it didn't go out while we were getting all the wind and rain, or it would have been cold showers for all of us for a few days.

Well, DS has nearly finished mowing the lawn, so I'd better get started on dinner.

Good Things Finished

This was one of my crazy starts last year. 



Good Things
Designer: Lizzie Kate

Finished 27 January 2013

I'm going to give away the chart so leave a comment if you would like it.  If more than one wants it, comment by Friday and I'll draw a name next weekend.  Chart only, no fabric or threads included.  I will post overseas.

I needed to do something to distract me from the weather.  It's Sunday night and we are expecting several more hours of strong winds, heavy rain.  Still under a (mini) tornado watch - never expected that in Brisbane!  Not sure that a watch is very helpful as they are over in less than a minute and can't be seen coming!  Nevertheless, we are advised to stay indoors and this morning I moved all outdoor loose items into the garage.  We have had nearly 250mm  (10 inches) of rain in the last 2 days - most in the last 24 hours. The wind started getting unpleasant from this afternoon, but luckily the only issue I've had is a leak in the kitchen window so I've got a couple of towels on the kitchen bench which I wring out every hour or so.  The pool is overflowing but it can wait until tomorrow.  I did duck outside to empty the raingauge because I was worried the wind would blow it over. 
Up late again tonight to keep an eye on things.  Maybe I'll be able to do more stitching!