a stitch today - the rest tomorrow...

Finally...

2012-02-12T14:47:00.001+11:00

Block 1 -Circles - January - Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

...the end. Well, the end of the January block at least - only 11 more to go... Am I pleased with it... Reasonably - I am aware of the largish very bright lime green area. But in its own way because of its vibrant colour and being mostly unadorned - it almost balances out the busyness of the darkish mauve on the opposite side of the block. Perhaps the only thing I was considering was to embroider the month and year on the lime green. If this is going to be a sampler then a date would not be out of place. However, I was thinking I would wait until I have a couple more blocks completed before I make a final decision.

My daughter E, - observed that I have a circle theme happening.. The main motifs, the buttons and mirrors - are all round.. That wasn't the intention when I started it was something that just evolved as I stitched and added. So I shall call the block 'Circles'...

What I had planned to do with the mirrors was teach my self shisha stitch but like what sometimes happens it didn't quite go to plan... After I had initially stitched the mirrors to the block I had left them overnight - in the morning and looking at them with fresh eyes - I saw that the stitching on the mirrors in part echoed the stitching of the large purple motif - I rather liked that idea and thought that I would leave it and 'play' around the outside edge instead with fly stitch.

As with luck the fly stitch and the feather stitch on the seam line were a happy marriage... I then added the little silver beads and the coloured glass beads to give it a more continuity.

What I am coming to realize though as I stitch my way through this project - it is amazing what you can do with a needle and thread and a few simple stitches...

Now to pack up all my bits from January and start the selection for Feb. - I like to have a clean and clear work space when I start something new... It helps me choose another palette without the influence of the last...It also helps clean and clear the mind for the next thought process.

Because I am running so far behind with my Febuary block I have rethought about its composition and have decided to keep it simple - perhaps with a flower or garden theme. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Another seam closer to the end...

2012-02-05T17:45:00.002+11:00

Not much to show this weekend - I have been too busy 'being social' and having a lovely time 'catching up'... So here are my 'doings'...

As you can see I have used a repeated herringbone stitch taken from TAST and combined it with a lazy daisy stitch with a small bead... I deliberately swung the lazy daisy to the side as I wanted the eye to follow along with the rhythm created by the herringbone stitch... It took me a while to catch onto the herringbone stitch... I am not a natural embroiderer - there is a lot of holding my tongue the right way,tangled threads and dropped needles. Our house is constantly on 'needle alert'! And if I was being marked for these pieces I am quite sure I would get a 'P +' for persistence and perseverance...

As you can see also I made a departure from a largely tone on tone and introduced the red thread to the green... This has 'linked' it to the red next to it and offered some continuity. I am more or less happy with it with just a few more bits to add before I call it finished. I have intentionally left large areas unstitched as I wanted to give the block a feeling of freshness and space - but that may change after I have set it aside for awhile. Now my thoughts are turning towards the next one which will be a bit of a departure from a traditional crazy block if all goes to plan...

With each block I am pushing myself to try something new... I am also finding it refreshing that I haven't felt 'stampeded' into rushing but rather taking my time to create something that pleases me and I will look back on with a sense of achievement..

I have taken and will continue to do so - a photo copy of each 'naked block' - so that I can write down each stitch as I go... It will be good to be able to look back and see how each stitch group was constructed...Sometimes I think it is the thoughts and scribbling behind the pieces which intrigue me rather than the completed items...

Until later, take care...

Sharon x x - from rainy, grey (with thunder and lightening) Melbourne

CQ JOURNAL 2012

2012-01-29T17:25:00.001+11:00

yep, another update...

newly stitched sections

...this is what I have done today - apart from melt with the heat... I am now way behind with my January block but none the less I can see an ending...

newly stitched sections in relation to the whole block

The new sections are the pink one in the left hand corner and the red one in the right hand corner - plus I have removed the 'lazy daisy' flowers and have just used a running stitch around that little striped left hand triangle... I'm not sure on the blanket stitch on the red block - but I will leave it until next weekend before I decide... Amazingly the little red motif took about 45 minutes as opposed to an afternoon like the yellow one... I guess was that I knew what I was doing this time around...

The next couple of sections will be the killers as they are both largish... I will give it a press and think about it again... I may even leave them and come back to them at a later date. I find if I sit there and stress about them it only adds to the brain drain... I have already got some ideas for some of the other blocks so I am spoilt for choice really...

Better go and rescue the washing as it has clouded over considerably in the last half an hour or so and I would hate it if it all got wet again...Not that it would take long time to dry with the weather we are having...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Crazy Quilt Update...

2012-01-22T20:27:00.003+11:00

Doesn't look much for a weekend's stitching does it... I have only a few days until the deadline is upon me... Of course I won't get it finished in time... However while I may be failing at deadlines I am personally achieving... I am learning to go with my gut feel about my stitching and pushing my need to be perfect aside... Apart from the little 'lazy daisy' flowers up in the left hand corner - which will be going - I am happy with the way my block is progressing...

The bottom yellow panel has just about driven me to distraction - but finally - I was triumphant... The problem with trying to copy a motif that you made up as you went a long (and taking no notes) is trying to re-create it... After two failed attempts I finally succeed on the third try... The problem was not so much the motif - but its size... I had tried to do 'something arty' with it in the original size but it just seemed to lose the impact that the mauve one had... I tried different colours but it still looked wrong and then it hit me - it was too big... So I took a smaller button - my tracing shape - and two similar yellows and success!!!

The feather stitch in the variegated cotton just 'worked' and the green triangle overlaid with a lighter shade in cretan stitch was so simple the first time around that I sat back in disbelief that it had worked just like I had imagined it would...

I am not so sure about the fly stitch on the striped fabric but for the moment it can stay... The buttons on the one sided feather stitch I like and have plans to do some basic leaf shapes... What I do really like is the running stitch - it gives the block a handmade quality - a sense being created to last...Give it in it's not the straightest or most even but that too has a certain charm to it... Where did I get the idea to include it in my stitch repertoire.. I had actually hand pieced the block onto plain calico and when I looked at the back I liked the running stitches and how it defined the shapes... While I didn't intentionally think about using running stitch on the front of the block it just seemed to fit when I did...

So that's the update for this week... Have I thought about the Feb block yet??? Are you kidding me??? I like to live dangerously!!!! Stitch - by the seat of my pants - fly in the face of deadlines!!! :-}

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Creative Sleeplessness

2012-01-15T12:10:00.000+11:00

Messing around with this took me until 3am... Doesn't look much for all that lack of sleep does it... Yes, I can see that the motif isn't central to the triangular patch - that's what happens when you're trying to do three things at once. I did fret about it initially - then I thought about doing the running stitch down each side with the motif 'breaking through' as though it is 'living' and moving through the block. By doing this I thought it grounded the motif and gave it place. I may repeat a smaller version of the motif somewhere else on the block. The stitches I used were - chain stitch, french knots, feather stitch and of course, fly stitch... The top photo is where it is in relationship on the block... When I think what I was originally planning to do - which was a circle of flowers - it is so far removed from that that it bears no relationship to it at all... In fact the whole block is much different than I planned - it is so much more vibrant and alive...

Am I happy with it?

I was annoyed that I hadn't taken more notice that it was off centre - but I do like how it has evolved. I like the way I have used a combination of traditional stitches to create something a little different with their application - sort of like reinventing the wheel isn't it... I think that once I start 'dressing' the rest that it will balance out and I can always come back and 'tweak it' if necessary.

What it has done is given me a little more confidence to attempt to solve a problem rather than ripping all the stitching out and/or starting over. My self imposed striving for perfection doesn't allow for spontaneous creativity. After all isn't this what this challenge is about - pushing ourselves to experiment and think outside the square. This first block is certainly leading the way and I am following - it will be interesting to see where it takes me..

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

CQJP 2012 - January "naked" Crazy Block

2012-01-13T20:21:00.002+11:00

Finally!!! I have at last managed to get my January crazy block together... So without further ado here is the 'naked' block... As usual the idea I started off with is not what I ended up with... The colour value is not quite true... The top left hand corner is more of a flesh and the top right hand corner is a clear red... And the bottom yellow is a more clear butter yellow and the smaller triangle is a deep forest green... However you get the general idea... A couple of seam lines showing through - they will be covered so I am not too concerned. The dark block may need some tweaking too - at the moment it sort of 'hits' you in the eye.. Perhaps it needs to be toned down.. Hmmm - I guess I will sort it out as I go along... Now comes the fun part - 'dressing' the block with embroidery, buttons and bits...

For some 'eye candy' - have a look at the CQJP 2012 blog - amazing work from all over the world...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

off topic but a very special occasion...

2012-01-11T18:28:00.002+11:00

the last waltz...

(may take awhile to load)

...this is my 100 year old Dad dancing at his birthday bash yesterday - 10th January.. The residential aged care facility where he lives threw him a party to mark his BIG, BIG birthday... The organizers went to a lot of trouble to make it a memorable one for him... One of the surprises they had was to have a couple come in from a local dance school to do a demonstration. Dad had taught and competed in ballroom dancing in his very early days so this was really special for him... At the end of their demonstration the young woman approached Dad and asked if he would join in her in the last dance - a waltz... After an initial hesitation he managed a few steps... For a nanosecond it was as if his younger self 'stepped in' and his old body remembered its younger days... It was quite stirring to watch him as he moved with her across the floor... And as you can hear in the background there was lots of encouraging clapping and cheering.. A wonderful day was had by all but I think a very overwhelmed and tired 100 year man wouldn't have been too long out of bed last evening...

Here is a shot of my Dad and Mum dancing... Mum would have been about 18 or 19 and Dad would have been about 22 or 23... I don't think that they were married at this stage...

This was a glamour publicity shot... Little did these two young people know what was ahead of them as they stared off into the distance....

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

...just a few more stitches...

2012-01-08T17:56:00.002+11:00

... as the post title implies just a few more stitches... Where the word 'grow' is - that is the half way point of the design... I will do all this bottom section before I move on wards... I love the subtle colour changes... Although in the night light I have to be sure that I pick up the right thread as with a couple of them there is only a shade or so apart...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Welcome 2012...

2012-01-01T13:33:00.001+11:00

Life, I believe is like a river - it takes you on a journey... There are bends, twists and rapids that keep us alert and vigilant from sloth and complacency...It has calm and peaceful moments which offers us the stillness in which to rest, reflect and dream ... Life, like a river - has forever changing scenery - are we constantly straining forward to see what's ahead not stopping to appreciate what is before us... Life, like a river gives us opportunities to explore, discover and grow both in strength and mind...

Where ever your 'river' takes you in 2012 may it be a journey, that it be abundant and prosperous and joyful...

Happy New Year !!

Images from Christmas Day

2011-12-28T11:09:00.002+11:00

The day started off seemingly fine - warm with the promise of rain and some possible hail...

We started eating and general merry making... As with all Christmas dinners we were well into the afternoon by the time we got to the pudding...

By the time it took to serve the pudding and eat it - this weather was already on us... One of my daughter's friends who had had Christmas lunch with us and had left just after pudding was caught in the deluge as she approached the city - her car was battered with hailstones the size of golf balls - she said she was still shaking when she got home...

I stood outside taking these - the clouds were so low - it seemed you could almost reach up and touch them...

This photo doesn't show how fast these clouds were travelling and just how swirling and menacing they were...We could tell that somewhere not too far away was really feeling the brunt of this storm...

A little while after this was taken it bucketed down - soaking rain - with large hail - our gutters overflowed and the garden was saturated... I think it rained and thundered for the best part of five hours before it came to a complete stop...We were lucky and very thankful - I have since learnt that others were not so fortunate...

Another Christmas Day in Melbourne...

Until later, take care...

Sharon x x

t'was just before Christmas...

2011-12-22T06:51:00.002+11:00

From my family to yours... May you all have a peaceful, joyous and safe Christmas 2011...

Moments - but not a stitch in sight...

2011-12-17T19:49:00.000+11:00

This little this figure that E bought for me mirrors my own state of mind of late... She - like I -seem to be looking - either forward to the future or is it back to the past - I'm not sure which... Christmas time - over the last few years - seems to bring this reflective side of myself to the fore... One could ponder on why - but like for many of us 2011 has not been without its challenges... I am hoping - again like many of us that 2012 will be kinder... But something tells me - as always - it will be as it will be...

I have been looking at shapes lately and of course it is also an excuse to try and the camera part of my new phone...

Of course we all recognise the Hills Hoist (rotary clothes line for overseas readers) How many tons of clothes have been hung over its lines over the years... I really liked this shot of the centre of its strength silhouetted against the fading daylight...

This is part of the ceiling I walk under every morning on the way to the shop where I work... It too has a beauty all of its own... I like its strength but also its fragility... It reminds me a little of an insect's wing - strong enough to hold and carry - but also delicate and fragile...

Theses are simply flowers from my garden - beautiful in the own right...

These ones where almost too dazzling to photograph - their colours seem to 'vibrate' and 'dance' before me as I photographed them..

And lastly, the remnants of the evening sun 'catching' on the leaves as it sets..

Until later, take care...

Sharon x

blogger problems...

2011-12-08T21:00:00.001+11:00

It seems that I have discovered the problem with my blog... Apparently, and I am still to figure out why - my new phone 'stole' all my blogger photos when I connected it to my computer... When I (not realizing what had happened) deleted the photos from my phone storage - it also the deleted those photos from my blog... Go figure.. Some of the photos are gone for good - some I may be able to retrieve from my achieved albums - crazy stuff!! Will I bother? Not sure yet - lately I haven't had much time to do anything and I am finding it more difficult to thread a simple sentence together after the work days I have had lately... More crazy stuff!!!!

Perhaps it is a message from the greater blogging gods... That remains to be answered...Until later, take care...

Sharon x

** Arlene the bunny photo is for you... I made this earlier on in the year over on stitchin fingers for a postcard swap

What the!!

2011-12-06T07:39:00.001+11:00

Looks like something has gone astray here... Not sure what the problem is and how I can fix it... Nor have I the time to try and fathom it...Until later, take care...

Sharon x

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

2011-11-20T11:35:00.001+11:00

This looks like it could be interesting... I would like to participate but I'm not sure that I have the time or the vision required to dedicate to such a long term project...

http://www.cqjp.org/Index.html

I can see the benefits and the satisfaction it would be to say nothing of the skills I would develop along the way... But am I ready to devote the little spare time I have to it - that is the question which remains to be answered...

Until later, take care

Sharon xx

things that caught my eye...

2011-10-23T12:50:00.002+11:00

*Warning - photo heavy*
On the spur of the moment I decided to go to the Eastern Palliative Care Quilt show which was held at Nunawading for the last two days... I read about it on G's blog and I couldn't decide whether I wanted to go or not. I haven't been to any exhibitions all year as I have really begun to dislike the noise and the crowds these days - a sign of age - perhaps... I tend to put it down to I work in retail five days a week and I appreciate the peace and quiet. Anyway, I digress - as this exhibition was very local - literally up the road - I made a decision to go reasonably early... I spent a delightful couple of hours just looking and camera snapping... My prowess with a camera is not good but I guess you get the general idea.... These were just a few of the many that were on show... To see more visit G's blog which is dedicated to the quilt shows she visits...

They even had a few traders stalls and I was tempted - and succumbed...

Christmas Wreath Rosalie Quinlan Designs - a beautiful Christmas red work design that I have had my eye on since I saw it on her blog

Two patterns by Gail Pan - her work is gentle, whimsical and inviting. Again I have been watching these since I saw them on her blog.

Now I have tried to keep this blog fairly true to my stitching endeavors or more of late - lack of. But last week we had a chidren's book come into the store that has teased my imagination I was so taken with it I bought it... David Wiesner is the author and illustrator of this highly imaginative story. There are no words however the pictures tell the story beautifully....

What catches my interest with Flotsam?? I love the tease of 'what if ' - a boy finds an underwater camera floating in the waves and 'what if' when he develops the film he see something more than he expects to. I could see this work translating exceptionally well into a piece of cloth art...

Enjoy - until later take care

S xx

just another weekend...

2011-10-16T20:37:00.002+11:00

What can I say... Picture this if you will... Friday- late afternoon - just home from work - the relief that at last it is the weekend... I change into my oldest, daggest clothes - P makes a cup of tea... I decide to have my cuppa out the back and read a few pages of my book - P takes Matilda our cat on her usual supervised walk.. The bliss, the quiet, only the screech of the cockatoo next door to break the peace... Suddenly the cat hurtle passes past me as P shouts - Matilda yowling. P catches up - she has been stung by a bee he says, apparently she wanted to get up close and personal and the bee wasn't too keen. Matilda is still crying and can't put her paw to the ground. I ring the vet - bring her in immediately - I am told. We all get in the car - E with Matilda in the cat cage - talking reassuringly to her - by this time Matilda is panting... We get to the vet which is only a few minutes away - as we walk in Matilda vomits... We are taken straight in - Matilda is examined - her heart is racing and her temperature is high - in the space of less than 15 minutes - Matilda has had quite an allergic reaction to the sting. She given two very big injections and then we wait to see how she goes... Within about 10 minutes she has cooled down and her heart beat has returned to more or less normal... Within half an hour later we are on our way home again... We are all subdued - the vet had explained that animals, like humans can have varying reactions to bee stings from irritating to fatal - Matilda it seems - falls into the quite allergic category and perhaps if we hadn't see it happen and acted quickly it could have been a lot worse... So much for our quiet night...

Saturday P took me up to Patchwork with Gail B for me to choose some material for the embroidered blocks I have been doing. I just adore that shop - I don't get to go there all that often but every time I do I come out sated... P took his book and sat in the car - he knew he could be in for a long wait... I wandered for probably a good half hour before I sought some help... The young woman who assisted me was wonderful and she gave me some really good ideas... The red and green material I chose was one of the ones I had first looked at - the patterned material was in the same range and will break up each of the blocks... Again I was given the idea to fussy cut the patterned material so that it 'married together' the shape of the embroidery shapes and the two solid coloured borders. The overall look of the quilt will be light and fresh rather than traditional Christmasy which is what I wanted. Hopefully when I have my 'long' weekend in a couple of weeks I can achieve a little more... I am quite nervous about cutting into it...

While I was there I spotted this - I had promised myself I would buy this when Leanne Beasley said that it would be available for sale - I hadn't made it to Urban Stitches a few weeks ago and this was one of the kits featured... I am looking to start this when the Christmas quilt is finished... Perhaps it will be my new start for 2012...

I also picked up these two... I am magazine hopeless - really I am... They are my addiction. G, a pattern for the pantieflashers will be in Mollie Makes no 4...

I loved this design in Leanne's Vignette... I just love the colour ways... This design is crooking its little finger and begging for me to follow - but I shall resist....

Well, enough from me. To you all out there have a good week and take care...

S xx

a place of one's own..

2011-10-09T21:33:00.001+11:00

... as much as I said I wouldn't I just couldn't help myself with this one... I have followed this lady's blog - Allie's in Stitches - for a number of years - I have always marveled at the work she produced so when I heard that she had had a book published I just couldn't wait to see it...Especially as it arrived in the shop without me having to order it - temptation overload!!!! I have only had time to glance at it briefly but from the little I have seen it looks like a good book to have on the shelf...

What the???? You may well ask... This Ladies and Gentlemen... is my brand new table/desk...I saw this at Office Works and knew straight away that it would work... Well, actually it took two visits with a measure up at home to make sure that it was 'the one'... I decided against a conventional desk as I wanted it more 'table like' so I can use it in the middle of the room or if I choose have my sewing machine on one end and still have extra space to move around it without knocking my legs on drawers underneath. It is white and glossy and all mine... I have managed to get it into my little room and 'positioned' - if only you could see the chaos behind me as I took the photo... A chair will make it perfect but I finally have a space albeit a claustrophobic one - a room of one's own...Bliss!!!! What can I do first - probably sort out the mess you can't see!!!

Slowly the house is coming together and feeling more like home...

I even have my eye on P's CD tower - it would make fabulous fat 1/4 storage - just the right shape -all those lovely colors against a square white surround... Nothing is safe or sacred here... :)

....last but not least I have finished block nine... I just have to rejig block eight and I have finished all the embroidery - now to put it all together into a quilt top...

Until later take care..

S xx

2011-10-02T13:36:00.000+11:00

Well, I have at last put thread through needle and made some progress on the last stitchery of Gail Pan's 2009 free BOM Christmas block - even if it took a trip to the local hospital to accomplish it... Before you are concerned for me -it wasn't me - but rather P - my other half -who woke in the early part of the morning experiencing chest pains... As we raced out the door I grabbed my book and my stitching pack which had had pride of place in the middle of the coffee table for weeks now... Nine hours later we returned home - P with the relative all clear and me with some stitching accomplished... Now if only I can keep the momentum going - even if is just to finish it...

Through the week I borrowed this book - Stitched Postcards - from the library - not sure if I will ever make another stitched postcard but it was an interesting little book to browse... E bought me a pack of craft magazines - nice little heart wall hanging - perhaps another for the 'to do' list...

Another flower from my garden...

Until later, take care...

S xxx

Sunday shadows...

2011-09-18T22:18:00.001+10:00

Call me strange but I love seeing a washing line full of clean clothes. I always have some sense of accomplishment, of home and contentment.. This latest house has an old fashioned free standing Hills hoist - I think I fell in love the moment I saw it. I knew that it and I would have a long and lasting relationship...

Today - Sunday - being such a beautiful day here in Melbourne I couldn't help myself - I had to take a photo of our weekly washing drying in a gentle breeze surrounded by a garden full of flowering plants and buzzing bees....

I have had a busy weekend - it was my birthday on Friday so both P and I had a day off... We went down to Mordiallioc for a stroll along the beach and lunch at a restaurant called Windows on the Bay where we had lovely lunch watching the container ships make their way up the bay...

Yesterday we went to see the Tutankhamun
exhibition at the Museum which was amazing in itself...The skills and craftsman ship in some of those pieces just took my breath away...It was difficult to get my head around that these pieces were 3000 years old - that they had been painstakingly made by crafts people who in their wildest imaginings couldn't have imagined a time much beyond their own.. As I looked at each piece I thought about what it had been a witness to - the sights and sounds which had surrounded it... In a way these pieces have travelled to an 'afterlife' a place where another race of people gaze on them in awe and in wonder...Would we be considered to be gods???? May these pieces keep 'travelling through time' astounding many more generations of people to come with their secrets, 'magic' and craftsmanship...

Stitching... Oh, you mean have I done any stitching... Not likely although I have been reading quite a few stitching blogs... Does that count??? I have been following Helen Stubbings 'Stitched Sundays' - today was a tutorial on how to do Bullion stitches...She makes it look so easy :-)

Today I had a feeling of 'home' - the sun shone through the windows casting shadows on the floor... It was an easy kinda day - may there be more of them...

Until later - take care

S xxx

open wide...

2011-09-11T15:21:00.011+10:00

come inside... A sneak peek at what will eventually be 'my spot' in the house... It is only a small room - in fact P and I couldn't quite remember where it was after we visited the house for the first time. My daughter E and I are going to share this creating space...I know once I get this room sorted that I will start to feel more like I'm home... It has a polished floor so I may even pick up my paint brush again without me worrying about paint splatters on the carpet...

Today I unpacked my craft books -it took me the best part of a couple of hours to find them then unpack them... It was like rediscovering old friends...For the first time ever I will have a space solely for creating - somewhere I can just leave without having to pack everything away... A creating space of my (nearly) very own - I can't wait!!!! :-}
Until later

S xx

another pathway...

2011-09-03T18:54:00.009+10:00

It looks like I've taken you down the garden path... Well, I have in a way.... When P and I first inspected our house we entered by the front door went through the rooms ticking off on our fingers as we went the fors and against...We really didn't take in the outside other than to give it a quick glance. The Saturday before we moved in and we came to have another 'look see'. What a shock we got when we realised the extent of garden... I think the original owners had been keen gardeners as there are lots and lots of very established plants including the camellia trees of which there are about five and are very big.
Over the years, as the owners aged, I would imagine the garden got beyond them and it has fallen into a little disarray. Now let me tell you - P and I aren't gardeners we struggle to keep pot plants under control so imagine our shock to realise we have a very established garden to contend with... These photos are of the far side of the house... It is almost a 'secret garden' as you wouldn't know it was there until you stumbled across it which we did. So far all we have done is look at all the new growth and blossoms across our new garden and shake our heads - I'm not sure whether it is in wonder or disbelief...
Now to the stitching... The last photo says it all really - today I made myself pull out something and have a go...It took me a few attempts to get into the zone - but I sat at it for about an hour and quite enjoyed it. I sat across from the red camellia tree and appreciated that I could sit outside and stitch and that I needed to make some regular time to do it more often...
Hmm... I need to 'build a bridge' and 'get over it' - we have moved - albeit unwillingly -and now it is time to fall into the rhythm of life once again... Hopefully today - reflecting the new season of spring - it will be time for 'new growth' and new beginnings... Another pathway to explore...

Until later, take care

S xx

Looking through a window...

2011-08-28T17:15:00.020+10:00

This is the view from our bedroom window... We are lucky to have a bank of Camellia trees right in front of the window and it is lovely looking out through the greenery which dotted with bright pink flowers.. I almost feel like I am sleeping in a tree house...In the morning there is a honey eater who sits in the tree and calls to its mate - the first few morning I felt like he/she was in our bedroom as it was so loud... A nice way to wake up though...

Not a stitch in sight - I keep looking at the little room which will be my stitching room - the only trouble is it is chock full of boxes still to be unpacked... But it will evolve gradually...

I am slowly coming to grips that this is my new home for a little while... It is a pretty little house with a lovely garden quite different from where we lived before... But I guess after 10 years living somewhere it take a a little getting use to living somewhere else... And deep in my soul I know this isn't the last move... But one cannot keep dwelling on what was - one has to take the challenge of change as it comes and get on with it...

So little time to do anything - the weekends whizz by and just as you get into the swing of things it is Sunday night again...

One thing I did get to do was get my hands on a copy of Mollie Makes - a new English magazine which has recently hit Aussie shores... Not all news agencies stock it as yet - but I was lucky enough to stumbled across one who is fairly local and intends to have it.. I haven't had much of a chance to give it more than a quick look at but from what I have seem looks very good...

Cute clip as well...

Until later

S x

Goodbye - Hello

2011-08-21T15:42:00.010+10:00

...Goodbye 29...

Thanks for your memories and protection over the years...

...Hello 59...

I'm looking forward to the adventures you will bring...

Well, after five weeks of looking,packing, packing, more packing and some cleaning we have arrived... This weekend is the first one we have had that we haven't had to do something... Mind you there is plenty to do but we said that this would be our 'rest' weekend and it has been... I am feeling a little lost but I am sure I will find my way....

Until then

S X

Another bolt from the blue...

2011-07-17T10:34:00.005+10:00

... The ink hadn't even dried on my new work contract WHEN I am dealt another blow from the Karma gods.. The owner of the house - which we have rented for ten years - wants us out so she can sell... I must have been an extremely bad person in my last life... We are house hunting...

Until we move I will be having a blogging break... Thanks for your patience...

Until then take care

Sharon xx

And the verdict is in...

2011-06-27T19:20:00.002+10:00

Finally after months and months and months of waiting and wondering with associated anxiety I finally can get on with my life... I have a job!!!!! It is much better than I could even have hoped for... To have security and peace of mind again is just unbelievable...

Now on with the creating... Over the last few months I abandoned my 2011 plan and in fact lost interest in it all... Now with a clear mind I hope to make some headway....

Until later

S xx

it's nearly over...

2011-06-21T20:36:00.004+10:00

... as of today the shop has a new owner... We have all met him and he seems a reasonable guy... However, and there is a however he may not want us all in our present capacity... What does that mean for me??? Not sure at this time - however - yep, another however I am quietly confident that I may be offered something - but I don't think it will be what I have presently.. But again it is a waiting game... He says that he will let us know by the end of next week what he has in mind for us... And so we wait again...

Until later

S x

Return to 'normal viewing'..

2011-04-26T11:13:00.014+10:00

...Well, not much has changed since last I posted. We at the shop, are still in a state of flux - we continue to work on knowing that in a while - short of long - we will close the doors. What happens after that is any one's guess...

However...
It is time to return this channel to its 'regular viewing' - that is about stitching... Which I might add has been a little thin on the ground...

I finally finished my January - Year of the Rabbit - postcard for the stitchin fingers fabric postcard group. I have already received both of mine - yes, I was foolish enough to put my hand up for February Bug postcard too... Both of them are below - the bright bunny with the cheeky grin and delicate stitching is from Mary Lou and the beautiful bug is from Hopscotch... Each quite different from the other - each carrying the wonderful workmanship of their owner... It was just lovely to come home from the stress to find each of them waiting for me... I can't help but smile every time I look at that bunny's face...

and the bug just fills me full of wonderment... My thanks to both of these ladies and their works of art - I appreciate them so much...

Now my postcard was less about stitching and more about drawing - as I told you originally I had seen the design for the rabbit on the cover of a horoscope book earlier this year - it fitted perfectly with the theme of Year of the Rabbit. I 'light boxed' the design on to the pale pink fabric and did numerous layers of coloured pencil and then 'dry' watercolour paint... I was undecided whether to add words or more images when I saw another idea for flowers - these were in the shape of cardboard templates which I traced around then again used coloured pencils to colour - I deliberately allowed the colour fixative to 'bleed' giving the overall (hopefully) effect of watercolour painting.

The stitching part was minimal - the rabbits whiskers, facial highlights, the partial stitching around the middle flower, blades of grass and some beading in the centre of each flower. Because of the design I had to rethink of the way I was going to finish the postcard. I made a 'pocket' by joining the back fabric of the postcard to the front leaving one edge open - I slipped a piece of cardboard into the 'pocket' then turned opening edges in and glued them together... This way my original idea of the bunny 'poking its head' into the picture was achieved - almost like when you are taking a photo - only at the last minute- someone puts their head into the shot...

Mary Lou if you happened to read this - I deliberately posted your card here as I wanted to reassure you that it is finished and 'hopping' on its way to you as of tomorrow Wednesday 28th April... Heartfelt thanks for your patience...

If you click on each of the photos you can get a better idea of the details...

Now on with the bug... :-}

Until later, take care

S x

I see a light in the darkness....

2011-04-09T09:58:00.009+10:00

...but is it just a b****y train!!! That is where my thoughts are at the moment... What we do know for sure that the shop will close - however whether it is for good or whether it will be short term we aren't sure - infact the way it goes - we will probably be the last to know.... I'm starting to look forward to my little 'forced march' holiday - however long or short it might be... Until later S x

no good news...

2011-04-03T12:52:00.007+10:00

... as of Friday the shop was 'under administration'... By the end of April I shall be unemployed if not before... Although we - the staff- knew that Friday decision was the likely outcome it sent us into shock - especially as we the counter staff have to go on with 'business as usual' fielding all the customers questions - plus act in a manner that still puts the business in a professional light - 'just in case' a potential buyer pops up like a rabbit out of a hat... Now you can imagine the pressure that puts us all under especially as we are grappling with what to do next as far as employment goes... I have fluctuated between being positive that a door will open somewhere for me, to being quite depressed.... Given that I am more of an elder rather than fresh faced I wonder if my face will ever again fit somewhere... But we soldier on... The up side - if there is one that I will have some spare time to catch up on a few things that need some attention. A couple of friends have already booked me for lunch... Hopefully I will have some work by the end of May so I am allowing myself a month before things get really grim... Speaking of spare time - I am thinking about all the dedicated stitching which I will have... Well, I have to think cheerfully about something don't I? But if I don't post here regularly you will understand why - not because I don't want to but more that I may be engaged in some more pressing business - like job seeking, resume updating and hopefully interviews which will kick start my 'new' life... Until later S xx

unfortunately nothing new...

2011-03-27T20:54:00.005+11:00

... a bit off topic... I am sorry I haven't posted for awhile... Life this side of the screen is a waiting game... I am still not sure whether I will have a job by the end of the month... We have had a few false hopes which have all died a death... Now we are in limbo - where ever that place may be... I just can't concentrate on anything and I spend my time playing mindless computer games - my way of dealing with stress... Unfortunately the stress not only is about work but continues over into the workplace as we try to and present a 'work as usual' front... My stitching has been a major casualty and I just can't get into 'the zone' - I pick it up look at it and put it away again... So please be patient with me and I will be back soon with I hope more positive news - on all fronts :-} Until then S xx

... oh dear, oh dear...

2011-03-06T20:25:00.005+11:00

Not the best photo in the world I grant you - but the best I could offer in a hurry... As you can see Rabbit is coming along - I loved doing his eye I started out fairly sedately and worked up to the colour it is now... Slow process but getting there - the imagination just isn't 'firing' - I think the news about work we received on Friday has put a dampener on everything... But at least I did something - I also did some more to the 'Love Sampler' but not enough to warrent a photo....

Until later...

S xx

a new magazine...

2011-03-04T20:59:00.005+11:00

Today I received this in the mail - I was feeling a little 'under a cloud' health wise and so it was nice to have something unexpectedly brighten up my day... I had seen this magazine in one of my 'blog hopping' expeditions and thought it may inspire me.

This magazine was the brain child of Pat Winters from Pat Winter Gathering. Pat Winter is well known in crazy quilting circles...

Crazy Quilt Gatherings is a little like a crazy patch - the more I look through it the more I see.. Its pages reveal little bit of everything, lots of eyecandy, hints to help and profiles of other crazy quilters complete with blog addresses to tempt you to stray even further... No wonder I get nothing done...

I thought I might treat myself to an early night and have a good read...

Until later...

S xx

'Oh dear! Oh dear!

2011-02-27T17:20:00.008+11:00

... I shall be too late!' said the White Rabbit - Alice In Wonderland

Unheard of - two posts in the same day! It was actually E who suggested that I blog my progess on this FPC (fabric post card)... Not my design unfortunately but it just lent itself to my FPC swap over on stitchin' fingers. As usual I am running behind with this swap - but the people who are involved already know that like the white rabbit I'm running late. And as far as I know they don't come over here so I am safe with showing you progress reports...

I have used a combination of water colour paints and Derwent Inktense coloured pencils for the base coat of the rabbit - once they are dried I may do a second coat and then I shall embroider in the whiskers etc. Applying watercolour to fabric is like 'dancing with the devil' as you can pay the price if the paint is too wet - it will 'bleed' over onto other areas. I used a fairly dry brush and 'neat' colour rather than watering it down into a wash. The card size will be pared back to the pencil lines. Doing this sort of thing really makes me come alive - I can feel the inspiration bubbling to the surface washing away the everyday humdrum for a couple of hours as whatever I'm doing 'comes to life'.

Stay tuned for further updates...

S xx

Stitching and Surprise

2011-02-27T12:35:00.007+11:00

I thought it might be time for an update on my stitching... Whilst it doesn't look much I have been putting in the time when and where I can... I am determined that this one shall be finished in time for the Tapestry Guild's 'Inspirations' exhibition in Oct. I have been going to their Sit and Stitch sessions on a Saturday - well, I have been twice this month which is a great improvement on 2010 when I went three times for the whole year. I do enjoy the couple of hours I spend with like minded people having a stitch, a coffee and a giggle - not exclusively in that order. They are a bunch of lovely ladies and Bob - our one male member - who stitches beautifully, I might add. I feel so fortunate to have this group just about on my door step so to speak.

This little surprise turned up in my letter box last week... I had been pointed in the direction of this online site last year - http://www.peppertreehousedesigns.com/ - and I had duly visited and registered. Apparently they had a been drawing winners for something which they were a part called the Great Aussie Shop Hop... I was one of the lucky weekly winners and won for myself a needle case pattern. Since I have been talking about making myself a needle case for ages obviously the Universe heard and made it so... Now I just have to make it sew - play on words here :-}...

Alright enough from me...

Until later

S xx

Stash win...

2011-02-13T10:44:00.014+11:00

G reminded me yesterday that I haven't shown you a photo of my stash win. Some weeks a go now L from Chloe's Place was having a 'stash reduction' clean up... I was the lucky recipient of it.

The stash arrived in a large plastic bag and since then I have had many happy moments rummaging through - each time I have tipped it out on the desk I have found a new piece - it is like a treasure trove for stash hungry pirates...
Yesterday a pale flesh colour glove (right hand side of photo) tumbled out. It was curled up like a caterpillar and as it unfurled the 'butterfly' was revealed. I slipped the glove on my hand and I mused about the dreams that may have gone with it. Was it for a special occasion, perhaps a celebration, a ball or a wedding... Who was the wearer? Was it L's mum or did it come from further afield??? This photo doesn't do it justice but you can get the general idea.

I do know that L's mum was a dressmaker and crafts person too and the stash is reflective of her talents. The stash shows L's tastes as well - her favorite colours coming through time and time again. There is an assortment of laces, threads, little packets of beads and bit, material off cuts - some fussy cut with pictures obviously destined for other things...

There are some hand dyed bits - I just love this - again photo doesn't do it justice as the colours shimmer when the light catches him. I have always wanted to do an underwater/fantasy 'crazy' - this little fish could be the start of that - a brain storming motif..

What are you going to do with it you may ask??? I can't give you an absolute answer on that however I am toying with an idea. What if by this time next year (or some time in the future - less than the year) I haven't done anything with it or I taken my fill of what it offers I could add some of my own stash and again send it on its way to a new owner who may do as L and I have done.

Perhaps we could name it (borrowing unashamedly here) Sisterhood of the Travelling Stash... It would be interesting to see the stash's progression and what each recipient does with it's content...What do you think?

Until later...

S xxx

not my work...

2011-02-10T20:59:00.004+11:00

... but I just had to share this with you.... This amazing work belongs to Jude of Spirit Cloth . I have been reading her blog for quite awhile now and I am constantly delighted at her work.. Jude is part magician, part story teller, she a producer of pieces of work which seem to "grow" and speak a subtle, even hidden language which can touch the viewer in many ways. After viewing her work I come away feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and revitalized... Jude offers is no pretentious explanations - just images which convey a depth of feeling and grace...

This image of the heart speaks volumes to me on some inner level... Perhaps it is because I have just finished The Lightkeeper's Wife by Karen Viggers which is all about love and sacrifice... Of old love which has worn and endured and of new and unexpected passion which offers promise to perhaps something finer...

Have a read of Jude's blog - it is an adventure all of its own...

Until later

S xx

animals! Animals! animals!

2011-01-29T19:56:00.006+11:00

...yep, that's right!!!! E and two others are having an exhibition...

still here...

2011-01-26T21:39:00.007+11:00

...I haven't forgotten you - but as I predicted work has swallowed me up... However I have started on another UFO - Love Sampler - but not enough to be worthy of a photo... I have chosen this one for a particular reason - the end of year Tapestry Guild Exhibition theme is 'Inspirations' and I thought that the sampler would suit it... Plus it now gives me a date to work to - this one would be just under half finished and I figure that a little time spent on it each week will see it finished well before the due date. I looked at it yesterday and thought it isn't as bad as I thought it was. I do tend to be my harshest critic...

Until next time

S xx

...the day's doings...

2011-01-11T18:52:00.011+11:00

... a lucky find at the local op-shop today. Someone had had a stash clean out and there were at least twenty cross stitch charts. I believe that they were from the same stash as some had a definite theme. There were some really nice ones among them however common sense prevailed and I only bought these. The Kingsland are seasonal charts - each season is depicted by a different quilt pegged to a line which is tied to a tree. Yes G, I know I already have an ~~incomplete~~ WIP (work in progress) of a similar theme. But these are very lovely... The Gentle People is of Amish children going about their daily life. The Sweet Hearts chart is quite cute but my favorite one is Helen Kathryn and Mama's Goose - there is a gentleness to to this design and a sense of peace which struck me when I first unearthed it from the pile. This one and 'Sweet Hearts' are by the same designer- Barbara Bourgeau-Richards. The numbering on the front suggests that they may be part of a set but whether it is the same set I'm not sure. Perhaps whoever owned originally them was wanting two which complemented each other... All of them have definite possibilities... However I think any of the seasonal ones or the Helen Kathryn are close to the top of the list... How much were they you ask ? One dollar. Each? No, for all of them... I felt very fortunate... More stash to fondle... :-)

Not such a great photo.. These FQ's are part of a plan for a crazy block using plain fabrics. I wanted to use a variety of the same colour range as a background and experiment with different stitches and thread weights... I am debating whether to have a 'feature' piece and have two as contenders... I am going to try and track my progress with this one by way of a visual journal... I am almost frightening myself with this organization!!!!

The packets of beads came from Go Lo of all places - they were purely and simply a stash buy... I couldn't decide which ones so I bought one of each design. They were only $2.50 so not bank breakers but the sort of thing if you don't buy when you see them are gone the next time you go looking for them...

...now where is Mouse you may ask??? He is still here and nearly finished. I have to stitch the remaining dandelion 'floaters' and back stitch the flower stem. A little frame and he will be off to his new home... As promised I will post a farewell photo...

Not a photo - however I am well on the way on the second last block of Gail Pan's 2009 BOM... After stitching the last block it will be onto the construction of the quilt. I plan to keep it simple as I want the blocks to be the 'centre piece' so to speak. I have 'auditioned' some fabric but keeping my mind open for other possibilities too..

In a way I can see myself making progress with my stitching as the sub heading to my blog suggests - one stitch at a time... But I am determined to have a finished pile at the end of the year. I believe by next year I will have more of a direction and then I shall start to cull what I don't want. I know I'm not a quilt maker but I do like embroidery and associated stitching and I am also keen to increase my drawing skills and perhaps look to painting as well. I'm not sure where all this will take me but I hope that it is fun...

Of course once next Monday dawns I may disappear into the work void forever...

Well I'm off to do some stitching - taking every opportunity to do it while I can...

Until later please take care - especially those of you in Queensland flood affected areas - you are in my thoughts and prayers...

S xx

a day with G and Val..

2011-01-07T11:47:00.015+11:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend a delightful afternoon with G and Val at Val’s home... We sat outside in an enclosed veranda which was shaded by a large tree. After some general chat and a delicious lunch we got down to the “business end” of the day – show and tell... Each of us had something to talk about... Val showed us the paper projects she was working on as well as some cross stitching she had been doing – Val is a late convert to cross stitching and has done some lovely pieces to make up for lost time... I wish I had thought to take photos of Val’s little books that she makes - she has more patience than I have with her cutting and constructing. Val earlier on had shown me her work room I was slightly envious of her space and again lamented the lack of one of my own... In my next life perhaps...
G showed us the backstitch sampler that she was given as a kit for Christmas from a friend - the sentiment of the sampler is about friendship - a worthy thing to nuture and preserve...
Me, well I had a couple of books plus a copy of Vignette the Leanne Beasley publication... We all agreed that it was a lovely introduction to this new venture of Leanne’s. G was enthusiastic about Leanne’s design for a fabric noticeboard headed “Remember”. G – could see that its construction could lend itself to a project she has in mind using her Op–shop finds...
G and Val decided to have a go at making some Suffolks Puffs as they had seen a miniature doll’s house quilt at the Johnson Collection exhibition earlier on in the week... So as they set about doing that I started on with stitching block seven in the Gail Pan’s Christmas BOM... It was so relaxing sitting there in the quiet stitching – it was salve for the soul...

...let's read the instructions...

...now is this where the needle comes up????

...look I have made one...

...me too!!!

...an afternoons work...

The photo of what I did was a bit dodgy - so I will save myself the embarrassment...

Until later S xx

a little mouse stitching...

2011-01-04T18:20:00.009+11:00

Now I don’t want to overwhelm everyone with my constant blogging – I’m on holidays don’t you know – however I thought perhaps more now will make up for less later on if you can follow my thinking... If you can’t - don’t worry - not many sane people can.

2011 - Wow... we are already into January with gusto and this is my first post here for the year... I have started the year in the way I mean to continue - stitching!! The little photo is proof of that... Yes I know it’s not on my “All Stitched Up” list but I did want it for something special - a friend’s birthday – which of course has past like a bat in the night – however I intend to finish it this week so I can at least give it to her in the month of her birthday. I am positive that cross stitch and I aren’t easy bed mates as I tend to see the pattern quite differently to other people – which of course results in lots of re-stitching. My friend A could have this little one whipped up in a day - me, it has taken nearly a week - true I haven't sat at him all day but I am so s-l-o-w... But I have persevered and ~~hopefully~~ he is on his way out the door next week... Before you ask me - he was a little kit on one of the english cross stitching magazines a couple of years ago... I will take a "farewell" photo of him before he goes...

The next waiting in the line is the Gail Pan BOM of 2009 – threads and needle are at the ready and once I have finished ‘Mouse’ they will be the centre of my attention. I feel like I am repeating myself here. Must be too much of a good thing like sleeping late etc, etc...

Well I hope whatever you are doing at the moment you are enjoying...

Until later...

S xx

* a bit later - May you all have had a positive start to 2011... May it be full of unexplored (only the best of course!!!) adventures for you And lots of "diamond" experiences to enjoy..May it be healthy, wealthy and wise in all ways that are meaningful to you... Happy New Year!!!

I'm back...

2010-12-28T20:51:00.005+11:00

Well, as I predicted, nothing in the way of putting needle and thread together has happened since well before Christmas... Now that the BIG day has passed and will be out of sight for another year my mind has turned back to what I planned before the madness set in... Today I thought more about projects for my ‘All Stitched Up’ stitching (taking control of UFO’s) list. I have added another one – the cross stitch ‘Love’ sampler which has been on the go for more years than I care to remember. I also hunted out the Gail Pan BOM Christmas stitchery and I traced the final two blocks ‘Magic’ and ‘Noel’ – this one has been over a year since I started it – Feb 2009 to be exact - you never know I could have it finished for Christmas 2011.

I feel good that I have made a start and that they are all at the ready for me to pick up from where I left off... So far that is three out of the allowable five – enough without me going into overwhelm... Mind you while I was trying to locate those I found others... G, I don’t think I will be going to another show for quite awhile – only kidding!!

I would like to think that this time next year I will have a completed a strike through on each of these. LOL- unfortunately there are many more to take their places when the first three are complete. I have thought about making an entire list but I believe that would just overwhelm me at the moment. However, I am seriously thinking about selling some of the ones I know will never see the light of day...

My Christmas gifts among other things included two books. One was ‘The Art Quilt Collection – Designs and Inspirations from Around the World’ – looking forward to spending some quality time with this one soon... The other book I received was ‘The Big Book of Cross-Stitch Designs’ put out by Readers Digest – I couldn’t count the number of times I have borrowed if from the library and I have debated buying it. There are lots of lovely designs including a couple of samplers...

P bought me the first two seasons of The House of Eliott for Christmas and I can imagine some nights with me, the telly and my stitching... Ahhhhh... Bliss!!!!

But for now I bid thee fond farewell...

S xx

a mixed bag...

2010-11-07T09:24:00.013+11:00

Yesterday, Saturday I went into the city on a mission... I had two gift vouchers which were both rapidly approaching their 'shelf life' date so I needed to spend them quickly... The first one was for an art supply shop and as I am about to do a two day workshop on introduction to botanical art it couldn't have been better spent... For the most part the voucher covered the major items on the list of requirements for the course...

The other voucher was for Clegs - a material shop - that was a little more difficult to spend without just buying more stash - however just as I was thinking I was going to have to just spend it on 'something' I spied these knitting bags - the lady at the counter was ever so helpful and opened a couple so I could see inside... Loads of roomy interior with a great long side pocket Now I am no great knitter however I saw this as a potential for using it for my needlework - I was also pleased that apart from $0.70 my voucher covered it... Not a great photo but it is rather a natty bag...

I also took the opportunity to visit l'uccello. G had visited there and in her words said it was 'neat'. To quote i'ccello's blog description - "l'uccello carries - Vintage haberdashery and ephemera, hand made vintage style homewares, craft kits and greeting cards" - see, I couldn't have said it better... l'uccello is situated at The Nicholas Building 205/37 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000 l'uccello is in room 5 on the second floor, enter via Cathedral Arcade ph: 9639 0088 info@luccello.com.au

l'uccello is well worth a visit especially if you are after something just that little bit special...

Of course my visit wouldn't have been complete had I not purchased a little something...

And of course last but not least an update on my stitching - as you can see precious little has been done... With Christmas bearing down on us like an out of control Santa and me working in retail I see my stiching hopes for 2010 fading, but I shall stitch on - when I get the chance...

Until next time - take care and stitch well..

Sharon xx

' All Stitched Up'

2010-10-23T15:45:00.015+11:00

The last 12 months or so I have been feeling overwhelmed with 'stuff'... I look around me and all that I see is stuff - overflowing!!! I have made some real attempts to downsize and earlier in the year our local op shop was the very lucky recipient of lots of overflow from my side of the wardrobe...

I am a product of parents who lived through the Depression years here in Australia and I think that their influence of - nothing is ever wasted - has long since become deeply ingrained. I just hate throwing things away without a very good reason. We won't even approach the subject of my books!!!! I think constantly about those who have so little and I do appreciate that I have more than enough...

There is however one major area in particular which I feel like I am drowning - my stitching and craft. I have stuff in cupboards, in boxes, the drawers crammed past capacity, a pile beside the computer, a treasure trove beside the coffee table etc, etc... And I think in the long run I have become more and more despondent because I am feel so overwhelmed and to a degree trapped by the chains of obligation to finish what I have started...

I believe that choosing not to go to the last craft event was a subconcious start - whilst my budget would have been severely restricted this time - it isn't the only reason I didn't go. Once my head would have been on a pivot trying to take in everything all at once - but just the thought of that bombardment - however visually delicious - made me want to cringe... Dramatic aren't I...

I have all these lovely things - most still in the packaging they came in and while I am not ready to give them away I don't want to add to them either. But I think the worst thing is my UFO's as they are so affectionately called - there are just too many to count... Why are they unfinished? Probably because I got tired of them or the next best thing attracted my eye...

Realistically I needed a course of action so I have created myself a stitching list called appropriately 'All Stitched Up' to see if I can at least swing the balance of the scales in the other direction a tad. G has talked about her list for a while now and how good she feels about what she has achieved and I can see by what she shows me - a real sense of accomplishment. While I think hers is a great idea - I want some room to move with what I do and not feel too guilty should I stray a wee way...

My plan is to list a maximum of five things at a time... This will at least give me some room to play in - I have realised as I have got older that while I like routine - I do like to play 'outside the square'... Hopefully this list will both promote the discipline to finish things and provide the freedom to move between a selected few... I will of course have progress pictures along the way...

Over the next week or so I shall start choosing the first five... Once I have completed one I will 'show case' it here and add it under the 'Completions' - this will show what I have achieved. Mostly it will be UFO's however I will include a project from time to time that I have had on the back burner for a time.

I would like to think that 12 months from now I will have some worthwhile things to show for my endeavours...

Well if I haven't bored you so far stayed tuned for future updates...

Until then

Sharon xx

I am so in love...

2010-10-17T12:29:00.007+11:00

... with this. I have seen it a couple of times advertised in the English cross stitch magazines... The image just captures my imagination... Yes, G I know - there are at least 50 or so in front of this, all which captured my imagination at one time or another... But this one is just so beautiful!!!

It is called 'Swan' and its by the artist Joadoor and it is produced through Lanarte needlework company...

And the Australian dollar is so good at the moment for buying overseas... :-)

My love of swan images stems from a little book I had as a child - and still have, I might add... It was called the Lord of Rushie River by Cicely Mary Baker and it was about a little girl befriended by swans when her father goes away to sea and her stepmother treats her cruelly...

The illustrations below are just beautiful and are among my favorites...

Until later

Sharon x

well...

2010-10-09T18:22:00.011+11:00

... I just couldn't resist this little face which emerged from amongst the jumble of craft bits and bobs at the local op-shop... As soon as I pulled it out from the drawer I knew that it was coming home with me... I have scanned it so it is not the greatest of pictures...

What do I intend doing with it? Not sure as always, but at the quick glance I decided to unpick all the foliage, redraw it if necessary and re stitch it in again... It is stitched in what looks like some ply of, I assume, tapestry wool... I am wondering if it was all stitched by the same person as the koala is so well done where the flowers look hurried, almost child like in the stitching - obviously the piece wasn't ever finished and I do wonder what it was destined to be... I would like to make sure it is completed and made into something as for some silly reason I want this little piece to 'live on'...

Any suggestions out there??? I am usually not into this kind of flora and fauna stuff - but this little piece just grabbed at my heart strings... As it is I keep stroking its little head and telling it is home now... Mad aren't I... Now that you don't have to answer :-)

What did it cost me - that and some buttons - the mighty sum of three dollars...

Until next time

Sharon xxx

creating a space....

2010-10-04T14:53:00.011+11:00

I have complained for as long as I can remember about not having 'a space' - a space where I can create but as important - leave it undisturbed!!!!! Previously I have had the dining room table - great aspects t0 look at - the park over the road - but a nuisance as we either ate on trays off our knees or I would have to clean up and put away my stitching if we were having visitors or wanted to eat at the table...

For those of you who do that or have done it - nothing cuts into the creative flow more that being under the pump to put away every time you finish 'playing' for the day. Or worse still have a small gap of time to get on with something and have to unpack it before you can 'play'... As we are not likely to shift any time soon or in the position to make changes I had to think more laterally about what we had and how I could make my creative space...

I thought about all the areas in the house that I could utilize - then I had what must have been an inspired thought.... Why didn't I simply pack up my desktop computer that no longer worked, tidy my desk from all the stuff that seems to be attracted to its flat surface. Well I did, and voila - a space appeared!!!!! Now the photos I am showing you are not ' the before' photos but rather ' the after photos' but you get the general idea - a flat surface which is all mine... The shelving off to the side of the desk is full of 'stuff' - some I use most of the time - some I still need to cull... But I do have a flat space in which to spread out, play some and best of all - leave until I can return to it!!! Yay!!!! Happy dance here!!!! Admittedly, I do have to share the room (not the space) and sometimes that can be a little frustrating for both of us however it is something we can work on - but best of all - because it is in another room so I can just walk away from it and close the door if I need to!!!!!!

Why haven't I ever thought about doing it before???? Well, we were/are considering fixing the desktop but until/when that happens I have a space... In the mean time I can push my laptop to one side or remove it to somewhere else if I need all of 'the space'...

I think in some ways it was making me depressed at having no where of my own - even a space such as it is now - to create...

At the moment I am too enthralled at looking at 'the space' to do anything more than type this on my laptop....

In some obscure way I think this is all part of my 'down sizing' - making do with what I have and thinking of new ways to use things - even space!!!!

Until another time

Sharon xx

Not stitching - but page turning...

2010-09-27T14:27:00.006+10:00

I'm known amongst my family and friends as liking a bit of a read.. That would be probably be an understatement really... The amount of books contained in the house is frightening - and I am a bit of an obessive compulsive craft magazine buyer - although in fairness to me -I have cut back a fair bit....

This little pile is what I have had beside the bed of late. The three books are library books - I am loving the Jane Brocket's Quilt Making it is packed with great quilts, great photos - just delicious from cover to cover - this title could be one of my own very shortly...

The Embroidered Flora and Fauna book is also brimming with wonderful life like projects in three dimensional embroidery... Mary Corbet does a more indepth review plus pictures over on her Needle 'n Thread website... Worth having a look... Amazing work - the sort of work I will only ever dream about..

The Framer's Wife Sampler Quilt is another great book with insights into American farm wives in the early 1920 and the blocks they inspired... I found the author Lauie Aarron Hird's blog so I will direct you over there for more of a read... I would love to have a go at the blocks - maybe in my next life...

And of course there are the magazines - I am trying to cut down my stash of these but unfortunatley each of these had something worth keeping... The Quilting Arts magazine was bought by daughter's friend for me - see I even have people outside the family buying for me - not that I mind... :-)

The Australian Homespun magazine probaly keeps me upto date with what is going on in the 'local' stitching world... A lot of the blogs I read now was because I found their authors and work inside that magazine... Homespun I buy montly and I have all it editions except two that I know of...

The English Stitch magazine is one of my favorites and I have kept up my order with the local newsagents for it... Have I ever done any of its projects??? No and probaly never will but each copy offers something lovely to dream about...

I couldn't resist this latest edition ofThe World of Cross Stitching magazine as it had the nicest little kit on the front - usually I pass them by as I have enough to stitch for 100 years or more but this little kit was just lovely....

Until next time

Sharon xxx

just to say...

2010-09-05T18:38:00.001+10:00

... I haven't faded away - just busy...

trying to keep up...

2010-08-29T10:39:00.007+10:00

I think I am getting worse at this blogging stuff - there is just not enough hours in the day and something always falls by the wayside... Most of the time it is the blogging so this morning I thought I would try and catch up a little...

What's in the picture - I was given a voucher by P for Christmas for Zart a local art supplier... And as the time was starting to slip through the hour glass I thought it was about time I spent it... I have long admired these Conte pastel pencils so I put my voucher to very good use and bought them - They are beautiful, bright, clean colours and I feel my pulse quicken everytime I open the tin... I have had a little play with them but I long to have the time and space for more of go...

The book was a find in Tasmania at Fuller's Bookshop - it combines two of my loves - reading and embroidery into a story form... I bought it as I can rarely resist a book which calls to me and I had never seen this title at our shop Dymocks Doncaster. As it turns out the author Prue Batten - is a Tasmanian author and this book is the first in her series Eirie Chronicles" The fact that Prue is 'a local' has promoted it nearer the top of my 'must read in this lifetime' which is a dangerously high pile...

The little packet of bits at the top right of is infact a small Shepherd's Bush needle roll kit I bought from The Needlewoman in Hobart - I love needlerolls and thought that this one would be a reminder of my trip to Tasmania...

The last piece to the picture is of course my cross stitch which I took away with me... As you can see I have made a little progress with it - I have quite enjoyed stitching this as it is easy on the mind as well as on the hand...

Well its time to push the chair back from the desk, close the lid of the laptop and go and find some more earthly chores to do...

Take care until next time...

Sharon xx

Not stitching but...

2010-08-04T21:42:00.009+10:00

...we're home and exhausted !!! We did 1200 kms - travelling from one side of Tasmania to the other and then some... P and I are going to set up another blog of our travels as we have two cameras and a phone full of photos which we need to sort through... We had a great time and it was a bit of a shock coming back into the noise and bustle of Melbourne after quiet and serenity of Diamond Island - pictured below - our last stop before home... But not yet - cases to unpack, cats to cuddle and above all a sleep...

* Did I stitch? Yes I did - not a lot but enough to make me happy... I also found a lovely shop called The Needlewoman... Yes G, I did spend money there - but it was difficult not too :)

Margaret A Rowe

2010-07-24T11:11:00.015+10:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Margaret A Rowe - both author and quilter... Margaret has written two novels in what is to be a series called The Australian Challenge Quilt Series -based around our Australian quilting history...

The Maria Challenge Quilt is the first in the series, followed by The Elizabeth Challenge Quilt with a third novel due to be released shortly... From what Margaret spoke about yesterday I believe the books are set contemporary times with flash backs into our past...

Are they similar to Jennifer Chiaverini's 'Elm Creek' novels? Without me reading Margaret's I can't say for sure, however both series have connections to the past...

It seems that somehow I have missed Margaret's books on my reading quests and I look forward to at some time settling down with one... I had hoped to buy one to take away on holiday with me - but have just found out that the closet store to us doesn't have any on their shelf...

After reading books such as Jennifer Isaac's - The Gentle Arts, Pioneer Women of the Bush and Outback, Margaret Rolfe's Patchwork Quilts in Australia and Australian Quilt Heritage and more recently The Fabric of Society by Annette Gero it has made me think in terms of our own history. I believe too often we overlook our own - perhaps not intentionally, to seek further afield - but it seems such a shame to miss what's 'growing in our own backyard' so to speak...

I have add Margaret's blog to my sidebar under Non Stitching - so give it a visit and say hello...

2010-07-18T12:51:00.007+10:00

Things are so busy here at the moment I am hoping these photos will suffice instead of content...

As promised - the first stitches crossed onto the Welcome Sampler...

Three of the base seams stitched on my crazy block for the DOYB over at southern cross crazies...

And of course another book - this one I have debated about ever since I saw it some months ago - I cringed at its price of $55, however by the time I got staff discount, used the rest of my voucher I got for Christmas it ended up costing me $9.99 - not too bad at all...

I really like Kaffe Fassetts designs - he is a genuis in the way he uses both colour and design - a truely gifted artist... However why I liked this book was his design of tumbling blocks... Wow!! You have all seen my first attempts at traditional tumbling blocks - when I saw this pattern I was blown away... Just loved it!!!! Will I ever do it -probably not - but it is nice to dream and look...

That's all from me...

Sharon xx

Just what I needed really...

2010-07-10T18:56:00.007+10:00

but it was only $3.00 at the op-shop... It is the whole kit except for the piece of jute to hang it by and the needle... The piece of aida had been hemmed and all the threads were threaded on the card and numbered - all I had to do was write the little symbols beside them...

This is going to be the 'take away' stitching for the holidays but I hope to start it tonight - even if I just do one stitch...

I have always wanted some sort of stitched 'Welcome' so this fitted the bill perfectly, that, and of course the price :) This little find has quite cheered me up - I think the 'all work and no play' situation of late has worn me down a fraction...

Sharon x

While I was away...

2010-07-05T22:05:00.003+10:00

... this is what was happening... three pair of earrings, a new 'naked' crazy block plus two new books...

I'm back...

2010-07-01T10:51:00.003+10:00

...but the camera needs new batteries - keep watching - I promise I will have photos next week!!!!

Sharon xx

Away for a wee while...

2010-06-06T21:58:00.003+10:00

Due to the death of a dear friend my stitching and blogging has waned - I will be back in a while...

Sharon xx

Um...

2010-05-31T21:12:00.005+10:00

...sorry about the photos I have been busy 'spring cleaning' all day on this last day of Autumn.... But G over on Patra Place has dedicated a blog to her photos so if you can't wait a visit over there should satisfy you :)

Waverley Patchworkers

2010-05-30T19:47:00.009+10:00

G and I went out today to the Waverley Patchworkers quilt exhibition today... So many beautiful quilts to see... G and I clicked away, snapping happily with our cameras... But you are going to have to wait until tomorrow to see mine...

You might see I have added another catergory to my side bar - Retail Destinations... These are places I like to go so I thought I would share them with you... I shall gradually add to these as I go (or remember them!!!)

Not a stitch in sight...

2010-05-23T21:21:00.005+10:00

...but I do have a new pair of earrings... These are my 'maiden voyage' into the world of earring making... Not the best photo but you get the general idea...

Southern Cross Crazies

2010-05-22T11:10:00.005+10:00

I have been a non -active member of the yahoo Southern Cross Crazies for many years... My main activity with them has been as a 'lurker' admiring the 'crazy' work which they do. Recently I received an email enquiring to whether I was still interested in the group as they were going through their members list and saw that I hadn't been 'active' for quite some time

There is an saying about 'when the student is ready the teacher appears'. As I re established contact I saw that some members were about to start a DYOB - translated that is - DOING YOUR OWN BLOCK. using the Carole Samples book... Now as luck has it I have had Carol's book for yep - you guessed it - for more years than I can remember and while it looks simple enough I have often wished that I had a 'buddy' to work a 'crazy' block with using the stitches from the book... So as you can see my wish was heard...

I am looking forward to participating for two reasons: 1. It will motivate me to actually start doing something again - I really like 'crazy' but lacked motivation to do something on my own so in this way I will have to stay true as there seems to be a week to week progression...
2. I will have some friends to compare with and show and tell albeit via the computor but lol I have made some amazing relationships via this small screen :) Also this DYOB stays at home - it doesn't go travelling... 3. I won't have to go anywhere to do it!!!! I am excited at the thought of getting involved in something again... Stay tuned to see what I come up with... :)
LOL at the moment I am ovewhelmed thinking about fabric choices :)

Sharon xxx

Three tumbling blocks....

2010-05-16T23:24:00.004+10:00

... don't make a quilt. However today I decided to bite the bullet so to speak and have a go at making a 'tumbling block' - much playing around later and dah! dah!... Now I know all you seasoned quilters will be able to see all the mistakes but for my first solo effort I am quite happy with the results... They actually look like they are meant to - and that astounds me!!!!

I learnt a few things today which I will keep in mind for future block making... I rather liked the time and effort it took and I can now appreciate even more how those people who take it seriously how much time and concertration must go into each step of the way...

I will agree with Gina though - I cannot see myself ever making a proper bed size quilt - I don't think that I have it in me to do more than a couple of blocks at a time... I think - somewhat like Gina - I really am happy to 'see how things work ' but not really interested in making huge pieces...

And what am I going to do with my three lone blocks??? I have another three lots of fabric cut out which will give me six in total so once I get them to that stage I will have a rethink...

Sharon xxx

Opps...

2010-05-14T11:21:00.008+10:00

... I forgot to ~~tell~~ show you my latest acquisition -because I was feeling miserable with my cold - (any excuse!) - I did a little retail therapy at Bustle and Bows in Surrey Hills. I spied with my little eye these lovelies - Cottage Garden Threads. I am a sucker for anything over dyed or variegated I might add, and because I was in a weakened state I succumbed to these... I love them all but I am especially taken with the one right at the bottom called Iris - when you see it close up you can see all the colours of a blue iris - from internal yellows to the external blues and all those shades in between... Just love it!!!! What am I going to use them for - lol - you know me - who knows... Of course I had to have a Brenda Ryan pattern to go along with them...

Delight...

2010-05-13T19:46:00.004+10:00

... is finally finished... My french knots are terrible - I seemed to have lost my magic touch there... Overall I think the block looks reasonable and I keep reassuring myself that once it is a whole quilt those sorts of little details won't seem so BIG... I sense that I may need to do something completely different next - just to give me a break from this stitcheries...

We're back....

2010-05-01T18:04:00.009+10:00

Well, G and I went - we saw - we spent and then looked and looked again... So many gorgeous, stunning, mind shattering, unbelievable quilts... After a while looking at them all became sensory overload... G and I wandered around and for a change I was quite conservative with my money... I did buy some material, a button and and six preprinted stitcheries... G abd I both commented on the abundance of Japanese material considering a few years ago you were lucky to see one stall selling it let alone the the amount of stalls we saw yesterday... G went off to do a workshop on tumbling blocks and I just wandered for the hour... One thing that did capture my interest was the 'Roses from the Heart' display - the link will give you the general idea of what is all about... You could look through lists of convict women and chose a name - I chose Mary Corbett who was 36 and sent to Australia for stealing a quilt... She was a widow with 2 children when she was sent out here... I am looking forward to creating the bonnet a connection between the present to the past... Stay tuned...
Here a just a few quilts which caught my camera lens...

Bye, bye....

2010-05-01T07:46:00.002+10:00

G and I are off to the Quilt Convention for the day...

Here I go, here I go again...

2010-04-25T14:48:00.013+10:00

...I seem to have lost my stitching mojo again lately... I started back on the Gail Pan's free BOM from last year... I managed to do two more of the blocks fairly quickly then I stalled again on 'delight'... I have done quite a bit of back stitching lately and I think I need some other type stitching to break the cycle... Yesterday P took me down to The Needlepoint in East Malvern as I heard that they are having a sale... I was restrained as I was there on a mission looking fro some fabric - unfortunately they didn't have what I wanted, so they sent me up to Patchwork on Central Park -which is only a block further away - to see that they might have more what I was looking for... What a hardship that was!!! LOL - P came well prepared for these visits with his book so he sat in the car while I 'ferreted away' in both shops...

Did you buy anything you ask??? LOL - Does the Sun come up each morning??? Yes of course I did.. See following photos... I love the Pairie Schooler range of cross stitch patterns so I bought two of those... The alphabet one I have always loved since I did 'M is for Mermaid' which I changed into 'M is for Melanie' for my eldest daughter whose name is coincidentally Melanie... I couldn't quite decide which alphabet pattern to start with and I thought why not just start with A.B.C - I have a feeling I shall bump it up the 'to do' list... The other one as you can see has a Christmas theme to it - lol I don't know when I think I am going to do all these but one can dream... The two other items I bought was the pale pink Perle cotton and the fabric I needed at the patchwork shop - but I could have been so bad if I had really wanted to...

I have decided to work on this little chap again - he sits looking mournfully at me every time I go into my stitching tub... He was such a small project which got tossed into my stitching tub when something else took my eye...

Well that is enough from me... Happy stitching

Sharon xx

Chloe's Place

2010-04-03T19:54:00.009+11:00

Today I was delighted to see an 'old face' has returned to blogging after quite an absence... L was one of my first contacts in the blogging world and in fact she came for a visit and patiently helped me construct my first 'crazy' block... LOL - As you can see L - it has advanced somewhat but I wouldn't say that it was completed...

So if you want to see some wonderful embroidery take yourself over to Chloe's Place and give yourself a visual feast...

Look...

2010-03-14T12:56:00.004+11:00

... a small finish... I am starting to build a collection of these little blue stitcheries... This one was nice and quick to do...

A finish...

2010-03-08T18:56:00.006+11:00

...a start...

...last but not least - an oldie but goodie...

G I finally found her - tucked away she was - three hours of searching and lots of mutterings, some swearing - I finally unearthed her... She is my 'project in waiting' while I consider what I want to do next... And believe me I found lots to consider...

In my unearthing I found the little pre-printed 'home' so I thought until I settle on my next big project I will stitch this... It will match up with my blue cat and the welcome stitchery I did last year... I have this idea of creating a feature of all of these little stitcheries...

My red work lady had me a little intimidated as I am certainly not a lover of satin stitch nor am I very good at it and the last bits of this particular piece had quite a bit of it to do... After procrastinating for quite a few months I finally took the bull by the horns and settled down to finish it... I am reasonably happy with the way it turned out so it has joined my other red lady in the box until I decide what I am going to do with it...

I am in a strange place re my stitching - I am not sure what to think why I feel like I do but these last few months I haven't had the enthusiasm I have had previously... One reason I think is that I feel a little overwhelmed as I realise that over the last couple of years especially I have collected quite a bit - realistically I know that probably 60% of it won't be stitched or even make it out of its packets... I am a little aghast at the dollar value I have just sitting in the cupboard - but in saying that I am more than a little reluctant to sell or give any of it away... Not sure what the answer is I am sure it will come to me if I don't stress about it too much...

Until then

Sharon xx

I fell off The Wagon too *A !!!!

2010-03-01T13:10:00.012+11:00

... well, I just couldn't resist this one... Yeah, I know what I said - no more stash buying - blah, blah, blah - now how boring is that... If I start this immediately then it becomes a WIP doesn't it... This is a Lanarta design called appropriately enough "Baboushka" There are two more in the series a larger one and a small one - this is the medium size. I will be definitely buying the other two to match so I am not even going to start making justifications to why... I am really looking forward to bringing this little lady 'to life' so to speak... If I get myself together, tonight could be the night for crossing the first cross...

* A from Feather Stitching was commenting how she had fallen off the wagon re her stitching stash - I just wanted her to know she had company :)

FPC - Fabric Post Card

2010-02-27T08:42:00.013+11:00

At last I know that both my stitchin fingers Fabric Post Card Valentine swap have arrived safely at their destinations one in Scotland and the other in America...

It is quite strange seeing pieces of my stitching sitting in unfamiliar surroundings after seeing them here on the end of the dining room table for such a long time...

This first one was a design from Helen Stubbings - you may remember these. I loved the daisy type flower but I wasn't so in love with the round flower - however I wanted to play on a small scale with the design... I wanted the flowers to overpower a small space and in the case of the round flower not even fit... I love tone on tone so I made the pale flower be the central object on the pale tone fabric and using a combination of Studio and Watercolour Derwent pencils I coloured it in... I partly stitched around each petal leaving a space at the whitest part trying to suggest an almost impressionist look of 'absence' when light catches something... The centre of the daisy was the hardest bit and I tried a number of things until I found some sequins which were a translucent shimmering pale pinkish/mauve... These I stitched layer upon layer, overlapping as I went with a a few pink seed beads scattered amongst them to create the illusion of height...

The red flower was half the original motif - this one I gained inspiration as I went along with a combination of pencil coloring, sequins, beads and embroidery... I wanted to create 'a space' between the sequins and central beads - but something which also spoke for itself... I think I achieved this with my doodle lazy daisy stitch - I call it a doodle as that is one of my telephone doodles - something I draw when on the phone... The message pad beside the phone is covered in them...

To tie in the Valentine theme I stitched a small tile word block with the word 'forever' (hidden in the photo) on the edge of the daisy flower and threaded sheer pale pink ribbon through it with the word love embossed on it... I wanted to convey that forever seemed to be a tangible permanent thing while love was less tangible but knotted around the word - a constant 'ribbon' moving between the present and the future... Well, we all like to think so in those first flushes of love :)

And of course a flower isn't a flower without bees and so my two little gold bees were stitched humming across the top edges of the daisy motif - they were also the 'love interest' as they were a pair...

The leaf was a simple shape and used as relief from all the pinks and clarets it was coloured in using blended layers of greens and then highlighted with green back stitch...

This FPC nearly sent me to the asylum for the stitching incompetent... Here my aspirations heavily outweighed my skill base....

This piece of furnishing fabric had been in my stash for ages... It spoke to me of faraway romantic places which had doorways that led into dark unknown hidden places...This was perfect for a 'secret Valentine' card which was heading off to someone who wouldn't know where it was coming from...

In my mind I kept hearing the word 'Marrakesh' and of course there is the famous Crosby Stills and Nash song Marrakesh Express which I had a listen to... I won't bore you with details only to say that I reworked elements on this card quite a few times until I had them 'just right'... G hinted at my need to have everything perfect -she is probably right. :) I do tend to get at little 'focused' when I am creating and I 'fuss' until I get it right...

As these were my first attempts at Fabric Post Cards I was pleased with what I achieved and what I learnt from constructing them... I did say 'no more' however the March swap was announce with the theme being Green... LOL the only thing I can think of is Kermit.. But I don't have to participate do I... :)

Catching Up...

2010-02-14T15:46:00.017+11:00

** WARNING PHOTO HEAVY**
...um where to start... First a photo of my latest bird from D - I wanted a white bird and I asked D if I could commission one from her... No sooner said than done and this turned up in my letter box a short while later... I love D's work and her use of colour and embellishments.. I discover something new every time I look at my Mirabella Peace Dove... I just love her - later on in the year I hope to commission another one to make three... You may remember I got this one last year...

Next... Last week I found this in my letter box... A sent me this beautifully stitched angel as she knows that I have a 'thing' for them... It is certainly no secret that I am very envious of A's stitching... Her work is something I aspire too...

LOL when I think of how A and I met through blog land after I discovered her blog - Feather Stitching - on an American stitcher's blog... As I read A's blog her description of where she had just shifted from and shifted to started some bells ringing - plus her profile photo looked strangely familiar... Finally I emailed her and asked - yep, she was then living in Melbourne in a suburb which I had lived quite close to before I shifted here - the suburb she HAD just shifted FROM...In fact she had lived about a 10 minute walk away from me and had shopped in the store I worked in at the time... We both thought that I had probably served her at some time or another. Talk about a small world... She and her mum J came over here for dinner and 'show and tell' quite a few times and I was happy/sad for her when she announced her move to Sydney because of work... I have promised myself a trip to Sydney to see her ever since she moved and I hope that perhaps that I might make it sooner rather than later... Thanks A heaps - this week has been an interesting one in this household so your beautiful angel kept my spirits buoyed throughout... Yes - that is Matilda's nose checking it out just as I snapped - thought you might get a giggle out of it so I left it as it was...

Thirdly I have been involved in a Valentine fabric postcard swap over on the stitchin fingers site. We had two cards to make one was a straight swap with a known recipient and the other was a secret swap...

These are what I received through the week... This one was from my direct swap from S in Scotland... It came complete with a poem from poet Robert Burns - how perfect is that...

And this one was from my secret swapper... The way this one was done was quite clever - I suspect that I know who this is from -but only time will tell...

I love both of my Valentine swaps and I shall put them into my keepsake box with a brief explanation to why they were created...

Unfortunately due to some 'life bumps' my cards went out late so I can't show you them completely but here is a little peek of each of them... I don't think the ladies come over here so I am pretty safe. Famous last words I know :) But I won't say which card is going where...

I rarely go in RR or swaps - the couple I have been in have been disasters with lost blocks (one of which was my work to someone else) and well, let me just say some unfortunate events... But the Valentine swap seemed a good one... But LOL it happened again but this time it is me who is at fault... I only hope the ladies concerned will like their cards when they finally get them... I had never made a fabric postcard before so it was a very, very steep learning curve where of course my expectation outweighed my skill base.

I have decided for the duration of this year I am going to follow G's example and concentrate on some of my own stitching - I have enough UFOs to keep me busy for quite some time... I have decided to get on with this one as it has been hanging around for ages...Or perhaps I might have another go at these... Unfortunately I have plenty to choose from...

Yes, G -I promise - *cross my heart*- I will finish 'hanging out the washing' before the end of the year... That one pre-dates me having a computer - so no picture... In fact I think it even pre-dates my other half's arrival in my life eight years ago... Speedy is not my middle name...
In saying that I am not natural stitcher - I find cross stitch extremely 'cross sharon making' I love the look of it I am just not good at it... And again I love fine embroidery and crazy quilting but again I am not a natural and it frustrates the heck out of me... I have some lovely cross stitch pieces in my stash to do but sometimes I think I would be better to sell them than start them and never complete them... But I am going to try and finish at least some which I have started :)

Well I am off to choose a UFO or two or perhaps three...

Sharon xxx

Ssshhh...

2010-02-02T11:54:00.005+11:00

...it's a secret... I can't tell you or even show you.... I am participating in a swap over on the stitchin fingers site so while I am hard at work I haven't got anything to show for it... When my swap partners have received them I can show you... But until then ssshhhh...

Home again..

2010-01-03T18:20:00.023+11:00

*WARNING PHOTO HEAVY* - Well, I am home after spending a delightful afternoon with sharonb and four other ladies - W from Nth.Fitzroy with her grandson A, R from Flemington, D from Cranbourne, G from Eltham, and of course myself... Sharon is a warm and engaging person with a ready smile who immediately put us all at ease. We all chatted away as though we were old friends - not a group of comparative strangers - although I have found from experience - stitching people rarely ever have nothing to say :). Jerry, Sharon's husband was on hand initially and assisted us by holding up her quilt while we took photos... Thanks Jerry!!!

The photos are literal happy snaps as I was so busy trying to absorb all the colour and stitching - major eye candy- my snapping was mostly haphazard but very happy... But you get the general idea from the following photos...

I was in awe - probably because I was seeing first hand things I had only seen previously via the Internet.... I would have been content to just look and look and look - then look some more... Sharon's diamond crazy block quilt was a visual feast -it was full of delicious eye distractions to ohhh and ahhh over. It also attracted the interest of a couple of women who were drawn to the edge of the group to admire it... A bit later on Sharon then unrolled her 'work in progress' a progressive stitch sampler - the explosion of colours, the content and the stitching were just overwhelming... I would have been content to sit and examine each panel as they were revealed these were pieces of sharon's history - her celebrations, her personal losses, and her world at large. This stitching really moved me and I thought how in years to come this piece would continue to give insights. Perhaps some 'as yet to be born' will carefully examine it and wonder at the panel pieces and wonder about its 'author'... Even the young chap who was working in the cafe where we were having coffee made an appreciative comment about her work as it rolled out across the table...

Of course the time flew by and it was soon time to leave but not before R showed us a 100 year old red work quilt that was worked in blue and told us the story behind it... As we held it in our hands and looked at the panels of stitching it again reinforced my ideas about the passage of time... Here was an example of some unknown person who created a quilt without a thought to its future only to its potential usefulness at the time of its making and here we were roughly 100 years later looking at it...

As we said our goodbyes and made ready to come home there was an suggestion that Sharon might be persuaded to come down to teach a weekend workshop if we can raise enough interest. So perhaps today suggests the potential for a new adventure and what a great way to start the new year... :)

Sharon xxx

sharonb Melbourne meeting

2010-01-03T10:32:00.008+11:00

Today I am meeting up with sharonb - pintangle - in the city... She and J are down in Melbourne having a bit of a break... I was delighted when I received an email from her suggesting we meet up... I believe there are a few other ladies attending as well - it is great when you can put faces to a names...

G from Patra's Place being one of them - if ever there was an example of how the internet brings people together who have a shared interest G and my friendship is one... G and I met over on another internet stitching site and we realized that we were only separated by a few kilometers as opposed to a few thousand and that would have been about eight years ago now...

LOL we have had some adventures with our op-shopping, our stitching and our shared love of reading... I introduced her in a roundabout way to blogging, at first G said that blogging was not for her - now she is more active blogger than I am - maintaining quite a few blogs ... G is a good soul who will try and help you out if she can and is always at the ready with the kettle whistling, something from her cake tin and a non judgemental ear to listen... Good on you G may we see many more years of friendship and shared interests... May 2010 be your year...

I am taking my camera so hopefully will have some photos of today's meetup... LOL when I take photos hope does have a lot to do with it...

Have a good one today and some stitching too :)

Sharon xxx

A bit of 'bling'....

2009-12-28T19:49:00.004+11:00

Not really anything to do stitching unless you count the thread that they are threaded on... Not the best photo but you can get the general idea... I made them yesterday on a whim with some beads I had picked up at Spotlight - mind you I had to make another trip to finish them :)...

Since having all my jewellery stolen when we were broken into last June I have been reluctant to replace it - but I have missed my 'bling' so these little bracelets have filled the gap... I enjoyed putting them together but I don't intend to make a habit of it - I have more than enough stitching to do!!!!

Some progress...

2009-11-23T07:39:00.017+11:00

Not a lot has happened here in the way of stitching and related activities - however I have at last finished all the colouring of Helen Stubbings Colourque table runner... I have made a subtle mistake - which in another life I would have fretted about - not this time... I am calling it an artistic licence type of thing... What is it you ask?? Look hard enough and you will see it...

Next step is to apply textile medium - let it dry - iron on some pellon and then start stitching - that is the bit I am really looking forward to...

Until next time - may your needle and thread be your constant companions...

Sharon xxx

Presencia Finca Perle Threads

2009-11-15T09:37:00.007+11:00

As you can see no more colouring, stitching or much of anything else has been done to the table runner... You may notice I did however 'mute' the colours in the round flowers as I thought that they were too bright before - scroll down to last entry to see the difference...

A couple of weeks ago I ordered the Presenica Finca Perle No 16 threads from Bustle and Bows. These are used for the back stitching around coloured-in areas. I have fallen in love with the richness of the colours of these threads especially the Dark Topaz - I am itching to have a stitch with them but I still a long way away from that step I still have to colour the other side, apply textile medium and fusible interfacing before I even thread a needle... But I should practice using them on something shouldn't I??? I can hear you all nodding vigorously in agreement :)...

Just a word about Bustle and Bows - situated in Surrey Hills in Melbourne. For anyone who lives over this way B&B's are just great to deal with - they do and teach mainly traditional embroidery- the shop is like walking through an Inspirations magazine... Whenever I have a question or in this case I needed specialized threads they are helpfulness unto themselves - great customer service who know what you are talking about or in my case attempting to explain... I love going there and just taking in all the lovely bits and pieces mind you I don't think I have ever left the store without something... I am thinking of doing a class there next year to push my boundaries a little... In saying that though...

...I have started planning on next year's stitching as again this year I have muddled along without achieving heaps... Still I have enjoyed what I have done...

So the list so far in no particular order is...

NEW - as in NOT started...
1. Leanne's House BOM quilt - which I have still in its individual packets... (see 'Waiting in the Wings' sidebar)
2. Portrait of Wisdom -my Indian - he calls to me constantly...(see 'Waiting in the Wings' sidebar)
3. Crazy quilt wall hanging with a Garden Theme -an idea that keeps floating around in my head.

... and I have seen this lovely Browyn Hayes quilt I would just love to do!!!!!

FINISHES - as in have been hanging around far too long!!!!!!
1. Love xstitch sampler
2. Angel xstitch sampler
3 GailPan's free BOM Christmas stitchery
4 Helen Stubbings Colourque table runner

... and that's all I am admitting too...

Until next time - back to the stitching or colouring or just gazing lovingly at my lovelies

Sharon xxx

Another update...

2009-11-03T14:32:00.007+11:00

The background material will be part of the table runner... I am not sure about the round flowers but I think in context of the rest of the project - they will be be ok... Now onto the other side...

Now back to the colouring :)

Sharon xxx

D's bird...

2009-11-01T19:29:00.005+11:00

I have been a lurker on D's blog for quite a while now and I have watched her growth as a textile artist... I have long admired her art and the things that she has created - I have been tempted many times - however this time I was totally besotted with this little bird when it first appeared on her blog - D had put it on her etsy shop for sale and I fretted all day in case it had been sold before I got home from work and had a chance to buy it... However luck was on my side and a few days later this little bird fluttered into my life... While the photo is great it doesn't do justice to the real thing... The detail and stitching is just lovely and the feeling of serenity it brings is uplifting... I just love it D and I hope add to it soon...

Until next time..

Sharon xxx

Update...

2009-11-01T18:36:00.003+11:00

Some of you may remember - not too many posts ago - that I was contemplating having a go at a Helen Stubbings - Colourque design... Not much to show you but this is what I have done so far... Once I got started and into a rhythm I started to really enjoy it...

At first I was so obsessed with trying to do an exact match to Helen's model I forgot to listen to my own 'gut feel' - once I put the 'perfectionist' on the 'naughty chair' I relaxed and I could feel the 'flow' starting to happen... I am really impressed with the effect that can be achieved by the continual blending of the colours - it almost creates a watercolour effect... This process takes colouring in to a whole new level... Once I have completed the colouring in the real fun starts with the outline stitching in no 8 perle cotton... More photos soon...

Until next time...

Sharon xxx

Needlework and Tapestry Guild Exhibition...

2009-10-25T20:41:00.009+11:00

I went to the Tapestry and Needlework Guild Annual Exhibition on Wednesday night - unfortunately my camera was playing up and with all the glass reflection - the photos I took aren't great - but they do give some indication of the standard of work... This year's theme was Black and White and all the Colours in between - you can see better photos over on G's blog... They picked up quite a few prizes for their needle prowess at the Royal Melbourne Show in September... Again the photos don't do them justice and of course there were lots to choose from and I did just snap at random - however I do have a soft spot for the Winnie the Pooh and Piglet - I have always loved that particular image of those two childhood friends... I can't really pick one against the other as a favorite - the one that took my breath away is the black and white Celtic image of the man with the sword hilt...Did I have an entry - of course not - like blogging I am a better looker than contributor...

As far as my own stitching is concerned I haven't done much more to my 'red lady' however I went on another 'hunting and gathering' expedition as I had a gift voucher from Sandlyn House - Moooroolbark - which was fast approaching its used by date... I tried to think of what I might be going to make in the future rather than just buy at random... I was a little naughty last week and bought this - from D - I admired her 'craft' for so long and when I saw this little bird I knew that it had to be mine - I fretted all day at work in case it had been sold before I got home - but God smiled and I purchased it... Looking forward to receiving it through the week... It must have been my week as I also won buttons from Giggle Buttons

Until next time...Take care...

Sharon xxx

It's amazing...

2009-10-20T16:56:00.005+11:00

... how much more stitching you can get done while you have the plumber here and no water... Another few hours on this one will see it done...

Sharon xxx

Not quite what was planned...

2009-10-18T11:03:00.018+11:00

If you have read the previous entry I had thought that I would be doing lots of stitching on my Browyn Hayes lady last Monday because I had the plumber coming to replace the hot water service and I would be 'waterless' for a few hours. However we all know about best laid plans...

Do you know how much stitching you can get done while you waiting in the emergency department of a hospital?? My eldest daughter took ill in the early hours of Monday morning and was in so much pain that she ended up at the local hospital - her partner was away overseas -so I went to keep her company. I threw my stitching in my bag as I know that the wait can be incredibly long and as it turned out I stitched almost solidly from 6am until 1.30pm when she was declared fit enough to go home...>

Thankfully M was ok - all her tests were clear - we think that is is an old problem which has resurfaced and is dietry related.

See you next time...

Sharon xxx

Surprise!!!

2009-10-11T12:39:00.003+11:00

I had a lovely surprise from A - Feather Stitching - who has lived interstate for the last couple of years - has it really been that long!!!! It was so great coming home and finding a surprise waiting for me... When I opened it I found these inside - the angel is a needle keep - perhaps it will stop having to post 'needle' alerts especially in our dining room... The scissors have their own little pouch and are the most beautiful blue - they are complete with of A's own beaded scissor fobs which too has a little angel. I feel very special -thanks heaps A - it lifted my moral like a rocket booster!!!!!

I thought I would give you a update on my red work lady which is a Browyn Hayes design... One picture tells a 1000 words and as you can see not much more is done... Hopefully tomorrow, Monday I will get some more stitched as I have the plumber coming to install a new hot water system - which means I can't do anything much which involves using the water - which of course is just about everything in then house...

Until next time - always believe in magic - for it is those things which seem unbelievable which are often the truest...
Sharon xxx

Craft Expo 2009

2009-10-11T08:41:00.011+11:00

On Saturday G and I went to craftexpo at the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens - it had been many years since I had been to this venue and I had forgotten what a truly beautiful building it was.. It was such a fitting place for this sort of event... I had stumbled across some publicity for the craftexpo and had immediately joined up online for some more info... Of course I had to have an accomplice and I 'persuaded' G to come along to try out this newest exhibition with a solemn promise that it was just to look... I wasn't sure what it would be like and I had thought that we may be there for just a short time... We weren't!!!! P kindly dropped us off there at 8.30am - we left to come on just shy of 4pm - half an hour before it closed... I could of have stayed longer but the budget had long been forgotten and I was afraid what more damage I inflict...

Of course I didn't have my camera with me so I took the following shots on my phone...

Inside the main hall looking up...

I thought this window looked like a peacock's tail....

An external shot of the side of the building...

I received the programme a couple of weeks earlier...

As we arrived we received a complimentary bag - I said to G that they now provide you with something to haul your stash away with... We also got a free magazine - probably to keep us inspired- not that we needed it!!!!

I wanted to do a class with Brenda Ryan - she is always good value with both what she teaches and the class kit... She always gives you a practise piece to have at workshop which usually goes way to fast... The photo below is the take home kit...

Next we went to a demonstration by Giggle Buttons which as it turned out to be was Sonya who was the designer of the little blue house which I stitched just recently (scroll back a couple of entries). She seems a bit of a character and is very passionate about what she does... I bought a couple of her earlier designs to 'marry' with my house'...
Ummm... well, these were two things I 'had' to have... The Prairie Schooler chart was just one of many I could have bought... The BUTTERNUT ROAD chart is the companion to the other one I already have....

Here I have a bit of a theme working - more fat quarters for my cat stash and a small cross stitch I fell in love with as soon as I saw the stitched model...

And I admit this one was sheer indulgence - I have admired this design forever and when saw it I just had to have it.... Naughty I know..

These charms were just what I was looking for - especially the garden ones....

These were just 'stock up supplies' really a bit like tea and coffee - necessary...

All in all it was a really enjoyable day and I was pleasantly surprised - I went thinking that it may be 'a bit ordinary' and came away thinking it was the best one I had been to in a long while... It may have been smaller - but there was quality rather than quantity and I think that is the answer really... There was enough diversity to satisfy everyone...

Now what should I look at first...

Until next time - seek inspiration and catch it...
Sharon xxx

A finish...

2009-09-28T18:07:00.004+10:00

...and a start...

As I said in my last post I had hoped to finish this by the weekend and I had... I really like this little cat design by Browyn Hayes and I was pleased the way it turned out... I wanted something to match the house and had found this design in a magazine - I enclosed the design in the arch shape as I wanted to tie it into the house design and I used the same two DMC thread colours as I had used stitching the house...

G called in yesterday on her way home from the Guild and she showed me her red work which she had started - so last night I started this Browyn Hayes design which I had bought when I was with G on one of our 'hunting and gathering' ventures...

Until next time - keep those needles threaded...

Sharon xxx

Welcome

2009-09-21T15:52:00.009+10:00

I thought it was about time to get back on board... So I have hung out the Welcome sign... I did this on my blogging break - a simple little stitchery - which I bought at one of the first Quilt Convention which are held in Melbourne each year for the last five years... It was designed by Sonya Cormaux-Jones from Patch 'n' Daisies. I didn't realise until I checked the thread list that it was in fact two blues -DMC 3750 & 931. I have also started a little cat from Browyn Hayes which was in one of the magazines - I have also done him in the same two thread colours - after all what house is complete unless it has a cat in a basket... He will be finished by the weekend all things being equal...

A little while ago if you remember I tried out some Derwent Inktense coloured pencils - I had seen the idea on Helen Stubbings site 'Hugs 'n' Kisses.. I enjoyed what I did but like a lot of other things it got shelved - or in my case - bottom drawered... I had full intentions of getting back to what I had done but in P's words - 'you make plans - you hear God laugh' - more than true here unfortunately... However on the weekend when I was browsing through the magazines at the newsagents I came across a copy of Australian Quilter's Companion magazine with a project featuring Helen with a DVD on her technique called Colourque - pronounced like applique... Later, much later on Saturday night I sat mesmerized as I watched as she walked through the technique with I believe the Editor of the above mentioned magazine... The bottom line is that Helen partly colours parts of her work with various Derwent coloured pencils then sets the colour with textile fixative... They look like beautiful pieces of applique and they add just that different dimension to your work... On the DVD she used the Derwent Studio and Artist - but she also mentioned ColourSoft and of course Inktense... If you are interested in having a go I would recommend investing in the magazine first. Me??? I am hooked and yesterday bought the fabric for the tablerunner which was the project highlighting the Colourque technique... Derwent pencils??? I have a few so I'm going to make do with what I have got although I wouldn't knock back some of the Studio or Coloursoft Derwents if I got them for Christmas...

Well enjoy the rest of your week and I will 'see' you soon...

Sharon xx

Just to say...

2009-06-27T15:51:00.004+10:00

... I am going to take a break - between my back condition and the house been burgled late last week - blogging and stitching are the last things on my mind...

Hope you are all out there stitching like mad... Until my peace of mind returns...

Sharon xxx

One last stitch...

2009-06-22T16:55:00.009+10:00

...and P's scarf is finished - with just a hint of colour to what might well be the next project...

And I have just had a call from Morris and Sons to say that the cross stitch chart I ordered has arrived... Oh the endless possibilities I am faced with... :)...

Sharon xxx

Not much to say...

2009-06-14T19:38:00.004+10:00

... I guess the title says it all really. On the stitching front - I am knitting - I am trying to finish P's scarf which I started last year and ran out of cold weather before I finished it... Winter has really embraced Melbourne and the days are decidedly chilly... Poor P has been waiting for me to finish his scarf for him but it has got to the stage where it doesn't seem to matter how much I knit the ball of wool doesn't seem to get any smaller - but I knit onwards ever hopeful that the end is near...

So until I see you again - take care and happy whatever you are doing

Sharon xxx

My Saturday Solace...

2009-06-01T15:06:00.015+10:00

I found the - Needlework Tapestry Guild - at one of the craft shows in Melbourne many years ago... At that time I was living another life and didn't really have much time to do more than look and admire. When I moved suburbs I was delighted to discover that this group met locally and so I joined. I was a rather nervous joiner as my needlework skills were/are at the best of times not consistant but I was quickly put at my ease and made to feel part of the group...

They are a great group who share a common interest of needlework, stash building, laughter and fun. As they stitch there is general chat, giggles, 'show and tell' plus cups of teas to keep the needles working. For anyone starting a new project or uncertain of a particular stitch there is a wealth of wisdom, advice and encouragement. From time to time there are low cost work shops which everyone can participate in. The group are regulars out at the various shows that come to Melbourne demonstrating their prowess with needle and thread. They also meet regularly and hold 'sit and stitch' sessions on a Saturday - the above link I have included will give you all the finer details...

Unfortunately I still don't get time to participate as much as I would like to but when I have the opportunity it is top of the list... I often say when I come home that they are my sanity saver as I am once cocooned within the group inspired by beautiful work that I see - real life is suspended for a short while and my world is balanced... I took some hasty photos - my apologies in advance to all those I may offended with my less than great photography...

Bob is as far as I know the only bloke currently attending - he sits in his corner and stitches away - his work is wonderful... and covering many topics including pieces for his twin grandsons... This is the start of his latest project...

Heads bent in quiet prayer..

...the concertration level is high - in between the laughter...

There is glorious eye candy galore...

From the more traditional canvas work....

to very fine stitching...

These colours are my weakness and this photo doesn't do the shades or stitching justice...

L who was stitching this hen was recouping from an injury to her right hand - so she stitched with her left hand - that is dedication for you...

E was stitching using plastic canvas - something else I have on my 'to do 'list

These flowers 'grew' as you watched them - the work was so even...

A's other passion is books - she even stitches them...

Some members take time out to browse through the many magazines and books which are part of a self contained library and offer even more ideas to think about...

This beautiful cross stitch made me want to find the one I had at home which was similiar...

and this house sampler was building quite nicely into a neighbourhood...

Once a year in October the Guild holds their exhibition where there just so much to look at and wonder about - I believe the theme for this year will be 'Black and White and colours in between' - definetely worth a look if you are Melbourne based...

Well that was my Saturday... LOL - did I do anything you ask???? Not likely I was too busy 'catching up' on all the gossip and looking at the stitching...

Take care until next time...

*Matching thread colours to patterns you want to stitch is like playing tattslotto - the colours (numbers) you already have are never the ones you need to complete (win) it :-)

Sharon xxx

Buterflies and Hope...

2009-05-25T17:29:00.016+10:00

I am almost too embarrassed to show you this one - but not that too embarrassed that I won't... I found this stitchery while rummaging though my 'half finished' hoard as opposed to my 'half started' hoard... The first photo was taken on Friday Sept 30th 2005 - yes, you are reading that correctly - 2005... I was reminded of this stitchery last week when a visitor to 'beyond the blank page' googled it... It was something I started way back then - I had some vague idea of turning it into something - not sure what now that I think about it... I can remember that I felt disgruntled with it - the proportions of the butterfly, the stitching, the colours or something - I think the gate had been problematic too. Knowing me I probably just lost interest in it and cast it to one side as I am in the habit of doing... As I there looked at it I thought 'what if...' and since I thought that it had nothing to lose apart from it being flung back into the void of the half finished hoard I took a chance...

I must admit I spent a very enjoyable hour doing the 'painting' with my Derwent ink tense pencils - and learnt a little more about using them... Yes, there are a few areas that aren't great but on the whole I was pleased what I had achieved. My original idea was to back stitch the gate and add 'some sort of flowing thing'...

...as you can see from the first photo I have made some changes... I unpicked the stitching under the butterfly and also the gate which I then 'painted' and (started to...) embroider 'some sort of flowing thing'...

Another idea I had at the time was to have some a word diagonally under the butterfly in a cursive script - I am full of these bright ideas - but getting them down into the physical world out of their lofty origins is another thing... The trouble with me I tend to gain inspiration as I go along - even if it is four years between start and finish with a different outcome. I have found another heart shape - so there must have been two ideas on the boil at the same time...

I am not sure which version I like the best - the delicacy of the first photo or the vibrancy of the second. What will I do with this once (if ever) it is completed??? Who knows - perhaps tossed into the other box of 'finished to a point - destination unknown'...LOL - I might even offer it to a new home out there in blogger land...

At least I have 'hope' - finished at last - but I am way behind with 'peace' and we are only seven days away from block number six... I could say - 'Give peace a chance' - but I won't :-)...

Until next time - keep threading those needles....

Sharon xxx

Melbourne readers...

2009-05-17T18:53:00.006+10:00

No more 'hope'... but a little news... Today I received this email from Morris & Sons

"Melbourne Store Opening. Well the wait is finally over and the hard work is done...the stunning new Morris and Sons Melbourne has opened its doors. We can't wait to show you the store and introduce you to our newest staff members. Located on Level 1, 234 Collins Street (above Dymocks) in the heart of the city. We are positive you will make Morris and Sons your favourite knitting and needlecraft in Melbourne once you have seen our glorious array of stock, met our fabulous staff and taken in the elegant surroundings. We look forward to seeing you soon"

Now how good is that a needlecraft store AND a bookshop within cooee of each other... Absolute Heaven!!!!

Until next week - take care and happy stitching :) :)

Sharon xxx

A few goodies...

2009-05-10T16:48:00.011+10:00

.... and a little more hope...

I went on a stroll to Spotlight today and these goodies found their way into my arms... The wool is for another scarf for me - I had seen this a month or so back and had really liked it - so today I was doubly impressed to see that it was also cheaper - $7.99 a ball instead of $12.95. The Bronwyn Hayes Stitchery was also reduced in price by nearly $4.00 as were the two plain pieces of 25ct Lugana cloth - in fact they got cheaper at the register and the end price was $2.00 each - cheaper than the $5.00 price tag on one...

The only thing which was full price was the variegated embroidery thread and the knitting needles which were $4.00 respectively... I know G - here am I talking to you about selling my stash overflow and I have gone and bought more- but it felt so right at the time :-))...

Now here is my progress on 'Hope' - not too far I am afraid but I am hope to have it finished by the tend of the week so I can start on the 5th block which is 'Peace'...

Well, another week awaits - so until next time...

Sharon xxx

ps ooooppppsssss - I nearly forgot - finally paid off my layby on Friday so ,yes, I now have another book to add to my collection... The Fabric of Society* is definitely a keeper and while I have only given it a very quick look I can tell it will be the book I shall dip into time and time again - it was a little expensive - but in my opinion well worth the money... For those of you who are passionate about the history of Australian quilts or those of you who just like knowing the 'back story' of quilts this will be something that you will want to include in your library... I would go as far as saying that I would hold it up there with 'The Gentle Arts 200 Years of Australian Women's Domestic and Decorative Arts' by Jennifer Isaacs as a wealth of information about early Australian colonial history and the women who helped shape it..

*I am in no way connected to Annette Gero or her book - her site gave the best explanation to what the book is about...

an ending...

2009-05-02T11:11:00.006+10:00

... and a little hope...

As you can see I have finished the redwork piece - it doesn't look too bad now that I have ironed it - so into my finished box it will go... I am not sure what it will end up as ...

The hope block I have just started in the last couple of days... I would like to think I have this one finished by the time block 5 is released - I have five days...

As some of you know I work in a mainstream bookshop and of course I have lots and lots of books to catch my eye... These four - the temptation was too great to resist...

The first two I originally borrowed from the local library and I thought that they were were worth adding to my collection - the next couple were really just sheer indulgence... In all honesty I will probably never do anything out of either but they are nice to curl up with and browse through...

Meet me at Mike's has sold well - while we don't order heaps - the original 8 sold quickly - and we have restocked... I think the photos get me in as much as the projects. The book itself is well designed - with a front pocket containing the pattern sheets and the book part has a spiral spine for easy page turning and allows the book to be laid out flat while in use... The blog - by the same name- is also worth a look.

I have another couple in my sights but I do have to pull back abit as I may be dropping back a day from work ... Perhaps then I might actually get time to do something - I can live in hope...

Until next time...

Sharon xxx

*all book photos have been 'borrowed' from the web

Not one stitch stitched...

2009-04-19T20:23:00.009+10:00

but... I have tried something new - not sure really if this stitching blog is the place to put it - but here goes anyway... P bought me a voucher to Zart - an art supply shop - as part of my Christmas present and I have been interested in the Derwent Inktense pencils for quite awhile... So I finally bit the bullet and went and spent my voucher on a tin of 24 - today I had a quick go... This is one of E's characters which I have traced onto some calico and then applied with intense pencil...

Basically you can use them a couple of different ways - I started by using the pencils dry straight onto the fabric - a bit like colouring in - then I used a dampened paint brush to brush over the colour which then seemed to come alive with colour intensity - I let that layer dry then repeated the process - sometimes using the pencil dipped into water to create a more definite line... It does say that once dry you can use other mediums to layer the colour or define texture...

As you can see I have added more colour and shaded some areas with the second application...I'm really looking forward to spending more time playing with this medium - the goal is to combine both pencils/paint and stitching somehow... Helen from hugs n' kisses - I believe uses also uses a similar process with her quilts. Helen does amazing work and it would take hours of both patience and love to produce what she does... Me... I am not that patient - but it is fun to step outside my comfort zone and try something new occassionally...

Until next time...

Sharon xxx

Nearly there...

2009-04-13T16:54:00.004+10:00

On the home stretch with this - I didn't do as much stitching over Easter as I planned to do... I am not a big fan of satin stitch so I've decided not to colour all the little boxes on the border edge...

Hopefully by this time next week I can say that this is finished and I'm onto my BOM 'Hope' block...

Sharon xxx