One last stitch...

...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...

... 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...

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...

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...

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...

.... 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...

... 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