Renovations

We started major renovations to our house at the end of June.
Tiles were ripped up and replaced, kitchen, laundry and 3 bathrooms were gutted and rebuilt.  Internal brick walls were removed/rebuilt in various rooms. Most of the contents were boxed up and stored in the garage. 
Every room has had some work done so far.  My bedroom has had the least work, but is used as a storage room. Luckily it is quite big as it currently contains the TV cabinet, oil heater, ironing board, sofa, old bathroom cabinet drawers, stepladder and vacuum cleaner, some boxes, bookcase, etc as well as the bed.
I sent the kids to their grandparents for the first 4 weeks until the new tiles were down.  The cat had to go to the cattery for this long as well. 

First day - discovered 2 layers of tiles

The builders split the work in 2 stages so we could continue living here.  Part 1 was the kitchen, laundry and main bathroom.  Part 2 was the remaining bathrooms.  The painting will be done when the renovations are complete and last will be the new carpet.

I've had some problems - the granite for the kitchen benchtop was cut 10mm too big for the sink but we've made do.  The oven didn't work and needed to be fixed.  The glass splashback had the holes for the rangehood cut incorrectly and needed to be redone, but looks fantastic now.

There is dust everywhere so my stitching is packed away.  There is no point getting it out until the painters have finished. 

Old kitchen, no tiles

 The 30yo old kitchen didn't look too bad but the benchtop was narrow, the cooktop was squeezed into a corner, the oven and dishwasher were on their last legs.  The tiles were getting drummy so we decided to replace them and discovered another layer of tiles underneath.

No kitchen, new tiles

New pantry

New kitchen

New kitchen

The new rangehood will be installed on Monday and electrical work should also be finished.  Still some more work to be done in the last 2 bathrooms.

DH has been travelling a lot during the renovations.  He has been home 1week out of the last 4, and is now half way into a 2 week trip to North America.  Two weeks ago he was in Taiwan/Singapore.  Kids have another week of school before the end of term break. 

I'm still reading blogs, just not managing to comment very often. 
I'm waiting impatiently until I can stitch again.

Bloglovin

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5021825/?claim=2drcnvvdvat">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Chart Winners

I'm back at last.  Sorry for the 2 week delay.  Everyone has been sick, starting with the kids,  but I'm feeling much better today.  We've had some computer problems as well, first with the internet, then I thought I'd killed the pc, but DH brought it back to life. 


So, onto the winners.  Not many entrants, but each chart went to a different winner.

Peppermint Twist - Sarah Beth

The Merry Skater - Carissa

That Kind of Stitcher - Cleejoow


If you could all email me your addresses I'll pop the relevant charts in the post to you.

I haven't done any stitching here for weeks and I'm missing it.  DH is going to Singapore tomorrow until Saturday so I'll try to pick up the needle again while he is gone.

Kitchen Renovations
I'm going to try to get most of the renovations done during the kids school holidays in June/July, but that means I have to have the kitchen appliances and tiles choosen by the end of next week, and a new front door settled on this week.  Yes, the front door needs replacing so we're going to do it with everything else.  Wish me luck. 

Zoe's Sampler is Finished

Zoe's Sampler
Fabric - 32ct Pampas Lugana PTP
Threads - HDF silks
Designer - Le Grenier de Zoe

This was done through the Sticklounge group which sadly is closing soon.
Sorry about the photo, it is raining here today.



Another finish - just waiting for the button to arrive in the mail.

This chart will go in my 'to be given away at a later date' pile.



Now, I'm back working on Herz Yin Yang.
Here is my small start on part 7.

I'll see if I can finish parts 7 and 8 this weekend. 

The kids start back at school early next week so this will be my last free weekend for a while.

DH has gone car racing this morning (Friday) and will be back Sunday night briefly before flying overseas Monday morning.  He has to go to Sydney for a few days on his way home so he won't be back until the 24th.  He will be away for our wedding anniversary on the 16th - 18 years.  Now I feel old!  We met at uni when we were 17 and have been together since we were 18. 

Ok, looks like the rain showers aren't going to clear anytime soon so I'm going out to the shops to buy supplies for the weekend, then I can stitch the rest of the afternoon and tonight. 

Don't forget my giveaway in the post below this one.

Destashing

I have 3 charts that need a new home now I have finished stitching them. 
Chart only, no fabric or threads.

1. Peppermint Twist - LHN
2. The Merry Skater - LHN
3. That Kind of Stitcher - CherryWood Design Studios

Photos of my finishes can be found here

I will do a separate drawing for each chart so you can enter for just one or two or all three if you like them all.  I will post worldwide.

Just leave a comment on this post telling me which one (ones) you would like a chance to stitch.

Comments close April 20.

The Winner Is..

Congratulations

SoCal Debbie

You have won a $50 gift voucher to 123stitch.

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.