Later ~ in the afternoon...

Well, I did look at some of my stash and then I had a try at the new - Granitos stitch over at Red Brolly ... It is a simple stitch but like all things that look simple it will need me to practice a little bit more before it looks like it is meant to... But I could see once you had a handle on it it would make a nice alternative to lazy daisy... If you want any more information on 'how to' I found this 'live' granitos stitch tutorial by Mary Corbet helpful or go across to Browyn Hayes at Red Brolly
http://www.red-brolly.com/red-brolly/2012/10/tutorial-ready-set-sew-how-to-embroider-granitos-stitch.html     for a step by step picture guide.

Image courtesy  of  Mary Corbet's  Needle 'n Thread

Then...

Over the last few months some blogs which I have visited have had a design - part stitchery, part quilt going called Betsy's Closet. The designer - Brenda Riddle based it on her childhood memories of paper dolls and their clothes I fell in loved with it but couldn't really justify buying another pattern - I don't know why - I haven't ever needed a 'good' reason before... But I digress..

This afternoon I discovered that you could pay for it as a download - somehow that seemed a better deal than sending overseas... Within minutes it was mine - I printed it off and quicker than a magician's trick it is ready and waiting for me to start... The download is professional and well set out with clear easy to follow instructions. Oh the wonders of modern technology!!!

I believe I have enough fabric for the sashing but will need the fabric for the stitched panels. It does use Cosmos threads and I do have some but of course NOT the right some... Not sure what I will do whether I will lash out and buy some Cosmos threads or just make do...  But I am very much looking forward to starting this one...

A friend of M's is having a baby soon and I am toying with the idea of using one of the panels as a miniature wall hanging... But I will need to decide quickly as bubs is due in a couple of weeks and I am not known to be the quickest stitcher...

So you can see I have been 'very busy' in a non productive way... :)

Sharon x

Snoozing...

... on a warm Spring day...

Her bed is behind my computer on the desk - this way she can keep watch on us or out the window on any passing birds which may land momentarily on the tree just outside...

The paw reaches out over her bed - notice the claw catching the light and any other poor unsuspecting thing which may be passing... But we love her all the same...

Take care this week... Off to look at my stash and wonder how it ever got so big...

Sharon x

Wondoflex

Just one small section of temptation....

Yesterday M and I went to Wondoflex Yarn and Craft in Malvern.As you know I am not a yarn person but I can appreciate what knitters and crocheters  must feel as they walk through the door - this place would be the equivalent of their heaven.  Your spirits lift immediately surrounded by that delicious and vibrant rainbow of colours, hues and textures - and of course all those potential possibilities :)

M's proposed throw is the one on the far right of picture - crocheted in the aquas, browns and green. It will be wonderful and I can already see it thrown casually over their couch... That fire is warm and the chair inviting - it would be so tempting just to curl up and doze... Photo courtesy of Wondoflex

M and I are largely attracted to different colour palettes so it makes for some interesting discussions when we get together. She wanted to buy some wool for a throw she had seen there previously. I do admire her patience and skills with the crochet hook - I'm a 'one square wonder' with mine...

Did I buy something? Course I did... One lone ball of wool and one button...

Until later...

Take care on this cool, grey Sunday afternoon...

Sharon x

An adventure to Monet on an inclement day

Today 'I' and I went to the Monet exhibition currently showing in Melbourne. It all began some months ago with 'I' telling me about one of her projects a Monet's Garden cross stitch featuring the famous bridge and water lilies scene. Coincidentally I had heard that there was to be was a Monet exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria running from May until early September.  
When we planned this adventure we had decided that mid week in August would be an ideal time and probably less crowded than at the very beginning or end of the exhibition... Well, we were wrong - the exhibition was packed with tour buses lined up outside. It seemed like most of Melbourne were viewing the exhibition today

The famous waterlilies at Giverny

Monet's paintings really need to be viewed from a distance for maximum impact  Like most impressionist paintings one has to stand quietly to allow the painting to reveal itself to you... What at first glance looks like a muddle of colour and ridges of paint slowly unfold until you see the complete image... Unfortunately due to the crowds, creating that viewing distance was near impossible to do... And with me being a little short person unless I was in the front I saw nothing at all except other people's backs... Still there was a lot to see and 'I' and I managed quite well to see most things... There were three main viewing rooms and then the final space that took you to the exit was darkened and on three of its walls was a continuously running short film called The Last Day at Giverny - it began with the sound of a rooster crowing, heralding the start of day and then it takes the viewer on a virtual tour of the iconic garden including the famous waterlily pond, the house Monet's studio and then finishes  with the day closing with a star lit sky over the house rooftop... This was accompanied by some soft music and was a gentle way of closing your visit to the exhibition and steadying you to once again join the outside. A quick look around the NGV bookshop finished our Monet experience.

You could also feel the salt spray blowing on you from this image. It too best reflected Melbourne's weather today

Monet's palette of colours subtly influences the merchandising display

Today was not the best down to be out and about in Melbourne - it was cold, windy with the promise of rain so we had decided it would be a 'one destination only' day so after leaving the warmth of the NGV we made a quick trip over the bridge back to Flinders Street station but not before a well earned pitstop for a hot coffee and a bite to eat...

The Yarra on a cold and dismal day.

Nothing tastes better than a sweet hot coffee on a cold day

All up we just made it to our respective doors when the heaven opened open and it poured... I will say though I hear a lot of grumbles about our public transport system but today I managed to score connecting buses and trains both ways making my actual travelling  time minimal.

The heavens ready to open - not far from home now...

And just to add, the NGV houses more than one exhibition and it is one of those places you could wander for hours and still not adequately see everything... These were two exhibitions also took my eye...

I thought Christmas had come early to the NGV - but no it was an art instillation...

Enlarge image below and read  for explanation.

And last - but not least... This was fascinating - they were flat bottom dishes of all sizes floating on this gently swirling blue pond... Every so often they would knock together creating a bell like sound...

Well, enough from me... Until later - take care...

Sharon x

My Holy Grail...

I am addicted to craft magazines but in saying that I like only certain ones which I have gathered to me at an alarming rate. I think when we shifted two years ago I had ten or more good size boxes full to capacity and I had culled quite a few too! Since then I had slowed down to no more than a trickle - one or two every so often... Why do I like them you ask? For many reason I guess and I like particular magazines for different aspects too numerous to list...But overall I just like looking through them and relaxing, dreaming of a time when my life isn't 'done on the run' so to speak and I can take advantage of all those things I'd like to do...

Last Saturday I spent the quite a bit of the day with my friend 'I' who in the course of the day mentioned she had been given some magazines to browse through. She pointed to three boxes which were behind where I was sitting and  invited me to have a look and take some... Well, I didn't need to be told twice!!!! There was a good mix of quilting/patchwork and cross stitch from which I gathered a pile of potentials to take home with me for a closer look at... I have spent nearly every night through the week browsing - and have seen have some potential UFO's between their pages...

Don't be fooled by the deceptively small pile of cross stitch magazines - they are the top handful of about 20..

If that wasn't enough our local news agency from which I live a stone's throw from has just received new stock including the magazine 'Inspirations' which I used to buy occasionally... Heaven!!! I bought three - Inspirations having a bonus magazine included. P is off to the football soon so I intend to sit back and enjoy... There looks to be something of interest in each one...Like this for example...

Isn't it just delicious...

E last night surprised me with one of her finds which she had bought for me... She knows that this is my favorite fairy illustrator... I love Cicely Mary Barker's work - I have had her books since I was a little girl but not all contained in one volume. I really think this is where my strong belief in fairies grew from as these images were so much part of my 'growing' and imagination... I always wanted to be able to draw like Cicely but alas it wasn't to be...

I can never decide which ones are my favorites but these two  always make me smile...

I love the 'conversation' which is going on between the boy fairy and snail and the tentativeness and delight of the the Willow fairy as she dips her foot in the water...

Well, I am writing this between dashing in and out with baskets of washing and I can hear the final load on the last spin so I must away...

Enjoy your weekend and take care

Sharon x

Friends In Stitches 2013

As promised, I didn't blog about my 'Friends in Stitches' Saturday until the weekend was over so as not to spoil it for the Sunday 'FiS' girls...

Unlike last year I didn't take lots of photos -  rather I got down to the job of having a good time...  This year I had a very special 'buddy' with me - my eldest daughter M who had up until Saturday had never embroidered a day in her life...  She had suggested to me last year when I was telling her about Urban Stitches 2012 that she would like to go with me if ever I went again... I didn't need to ask her twice when it was announced that bookings were open for Friends in Stitches 2013 and so I booked us in...

I understand that there were about ninety in attendance on Saturday and I would imagine much the same for the Sunday. And from what I can gather people came from all sides of Australia to share in the day... People reconnected with those they met at previous retreats and workshops and made new friends with  people they shared a table with... I saw a couple of the ladies I met last year but alas didn't catch up with them again through the day...

Goodies bag contents

Each person had a 'goodies' bag at their place on the table. Each bag contained three fully kitted projects - one from each designer. I now can reveal that each day got different designs and they were all equally wonderful... There were also  a selection of project cards from each designer, a card of needles and a square of stabilizer to start your desired project....

M and I chose Gail Pan's design to stitch for the day as I thought that M being a first time stitcher might find it the most straightforward. Lol - she took to like a duck to water and powered ahead... What's more she loved it!!! And has told me she wants to do more. She bought a Natalie Lymer project book and we oohed and ahhed over the various designs... The fairy patterns were a firm favourite and I can see many more relaxing afternoons ahead stitching together...

I added a few more stitches when I got home...

Towards the end of the day  Natalie, Leanne and Gail presented each person with a little brown box tied up with string - in each was a pendant, that had words... As M said and I agreed - that gesture gave us a  feeling of being pampered and that made the day extra special...  M and I both got the words 'I create' on ours which seemed very fitting especially for M as she is 'creating' a 'little project' of her own who is due in late November... A nice keepsake and touch to remember the day...

I Create

There was also a 'show and tell'  time which gave people the opportunity to show us all projects that they had been working on throughout the year... There was some very beautiful quilts shown - they rivalled any that you may see out at the various shows and their makers would have to be extremely proud of their work... Seeing all those dedicated hours that people have put in to their work gives you an adrenalin rush of your own - to bring those UFO'S languishing in dark places into the light and finish them. My inital enthusiasm wore off by the time we reached home but it didn't stop me dreaming of a time when I would have more time to do more... Perhaps one day I might even get to go on one of the overseas retreats - now that would be living!!!!

Of course the day wouldn't be complete without having somewhere to satisfy those itchy retail fingers...Craft Haven from Berwick was 'the shop' for the weekend. They had a good range of lots of goodies to quench one's stitching thirst - and of course I just couldn't resist with a little purchase of my own...

Each of the girls gave freely of their time and wandered between the tables looking at past and present projects offering tips and genuinely admiring the work shown to them...Nothing seemed to be too much of a trouble...

What else can I say about the day??? Not much other than I loved it and I can only begin to imagine how big a job it is to pull off a weekend such as this so that appears to be seamless and effortless...

Perhaps like swans - Gail Pan, Leanne Beasley, Natalie Lymer and their band of helpers were paddling furiously 'under the surface' so that they appeared to calmly 'glide' across the weekend... I was once told 'if you want to appear calm and relaxed - you have to work bloody hard beforehand!!!!'

In finishing I would say if you want a good day out which is offers value for money, good company, prepared food at your fingertips, is fun, relaxing and a break from the everyday grind plus much, much more then keep a watch for next year's 'Friends in Stitches' announcement... You never know who you may meet there!!!

Until later, take care and keep supporting our Australian designers - they deserve it!!!!

Sharon x

*M is still stitching like a mad woman :)

Daisy, daisy...

...over the half way mark to the finish of Block 3 in the Le Jardin series. I am still not sure about daisies as I think the straight stitches which make up their petals may snag easily. I don't want to do back stitch as I think that may make them look too heavy and I think Browyn's idea was to create an illusion of fluffy and light... Thinking cap on here...

Until later, keep smiling..

Sharon x