On the last Friday of each month we post about the Small designs that we have stitched in that month. Unfortunately, I never got around to posting last month, so this post covers both March and April.
So, Let's See, what Smalls have I finished since the end of February?
Well, to continue my obsession with our two cats - I stitched them as Christmas ornies: Furio:
Milo:
Here are two pieces together:
The design is from one of the JCS Christmas Ornie mags but for the life of me I can't remember which one. Once, I do, I will update for you.
Last evening my dear friend, Marita came for dinner - we hadn't caught up since well before Christmas! Where does the time go?????? Rather appropriately, I made Pie for Pi Day (it was actually a coincidence but hey, I am going with it). But first of all, let me show you my Wine o'clock pic - the drinks and nibbles all ready for Marita.
... and here is my Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Pie, all set with even a red blackbird singing in the middle! (It is actually a nifty device which lets the steam out). Also coincidentally,I actually decorated the pie with circles!!!!! Most appropriate for Pi Day!
Can you spy poor Milo hiding up the top of the spiral staircase? He is hiding from the builders in the back yard - if you want to know what I am talking about, please click here and here.
Here is a close up of Milo.
Lastly, just before I go, I wanted to remind you about myGirl's Nest Giveaway #5, click on the pic below to sign up for the item of your choice. It closes on March 31st.
My first Friday Night with Friends and Friday Frolics ... was a bit like Schrodinger's Cat - neither successful nor unsuccessful! For those of you who are wondering who Schrodinger and his cat were and why I am referencing them - Sheldon from The Big Bang explains it best (or click on the link above).
(TraderVic and I are huge fans of The Big Bang Theory and are quite addicted to the show - it is on repeats here in Oz every night, so we are able to feed our addiction regularly - lol!)
Anyway, I digress - onto the stitching.....
Now, the successful part was me completing a FFO from last year - Wee Santa 2016....
Design: Wee Santa 2016
Fabric: 28 ct Mocha linen
Floss: My own choice of specialty threads
Framing: By me in a Mill Hill frame
My dear friend, Wendy, from my LNS, taught me a neat trick for getting the design to sit nicely when you sew it over the cardboard - you have two lengths of thread and weave them like shoelaces. It worked like a dream, the stitching is sitting really flat and looks perfect - thank you so much, Wendy. xxxx
Now for the unsuccessful part... in true Friday Frolicking fashion, I chose a WIP at random from my ever growing pile of WIPs, UFOs and BAPs ....
Morning Song by Just Nan, I last posted about it on this post.
So, here is where I was up to before yesterday....
... and after, looking rather more crumpled and not much progress at all!
Design:Morning Song
Fabric: 28 ct Cream or Antique White linen
Floss: Suggested DMC threads
Okay, do you want to hear my excuses?
1. Plait stitch is really tricky to do, especially in a light green - I found it really hard to get a rhythm - there was a lot of frogging happening.
2. It was really, really hot yesterday, so the house was shut up tight with the air conditioner on, the outdoor sun blinds down and the plantation shutters shut - so the lighting was poorer than usual which affected 1. above.
3. Frantic morning video chats with DS2 in Sydney. DS2 video chats me on my mobile:
DS2: Dad, where's Dad? I need Dad! (Note: no greeting)
Me: Why do you need Dad, is everything all right?
DS2: No, our ceiling has fallen down and I don't know what to do! (Note: DS2 is 24 and lives in a sharehouse in Sydney and there were terrible storms in Sydney overnight)
Me (and TraderVic): Oh, my goodness, was anyone hurt? - Ring the SES (State Emergency Service) and ring the agent.
DS2: No, no one was hurt, we were all in bed (it was 9am), I tried the agent, the office is still shut for the Christmas/New Year break. What is the number for the SES?
Me: Does the agent have a head office or a mobile number?
DS2: No.
Me: (On the computer in Melbourne, remember DS2 lives in Sydney) The SES number is xxxx and the real estate agent's mobile number is xxxx. Ring both of them now. You may be told by the SES that you can't stay.
DS2: We have a back up plan if we have to move out, I'll ring the SES now but I can't bother the agent on his mobile.
Me: Yes, you can, he needs to know, so he can let the landlord know!!!!!
DS2: Okay. Talk again soon.
Me: (later that morning). How is it going?
DS2: Ses came
And said it will be fine
So land lord is getting people to come fix it
Me:You got onto the agent, then? Do you have to move out?
No we can stay
Yep glen is sorting it out
Me: Great, aren't you glad that I found his mobile number for you - just saying! lol!
DS2: Thx mummy (Remember he has just turned 24!)
(Later that morning I get another call)
DS2: it is still raining and now the living room is flooding.
Me: Have you shifted the furniture? (couch, dining table and chairs, TV, etc.)
DS2:Nah! It is only a millimetre or two.
Me: What if it keeps raining and you don't have contents insurance?
DS2: Nah, she'll be right (very typical Aussie attitude), it's only a little bit of water and rain.
Me: I give up!
I am not sure what else has happened as DS2's mobile phone has now broken down - so I have to Message him via his best friend's phone who is staying with him for a few days before heading back to Melbourne and DS2 starts a new job on Monday. It never ends with your children, does it? lol!
4. Daytime naps needed to be had due to 2. and 3. above and the fact that it has been really hot overnight so little sleep has been had.
5. TraderVic, DS1 and DDIL and I all played a lively game of Monopoly_Melbourne Edition in the evening, which severely cut into my stitching time.
So, there you go, all sound like reasonable excuses to me! lol!
Just to finish off, the cats are feeling the effects of the hot weather, too. Milo and Nobu are engaged in a Mexican Standoff ....
... and Furio has just given up!
Poor furbabies, mind you, they could sleep in the cool, air conditioned rooms but no!
So, that was my first Friday Frolic for the year. Rather an eventful one, now that I think about it!
If you want to see what everyone else got up to for these Stitching events, click on either or both of the links below:
Well, here we are and it is Christmas Eve, here in Eaglemont, Victoria, Australia.
Are you ready for the big day tomorrow? I think that I just about am, although I do need to make one final trip to the supermarket - oh no!
Last night, we had a lovely Christmas celebration at my best friend, Kim's home. I made a Christmas trifle for dessert.
Both families came together to celebrate our long friendship and the kids young adults relived childhood holidays by playing some very noisy games of 500. It was lovely to see them reconnecting at this special time of year.
While this was happening, a few of us wandered down to a neighbour's house to see their Christmas display - it was amazing, to say the least.
... and then this morning I rose early to finish my heart quilt for my dear younger sister as her Christmas present. It obviously has the Milo tick of approval now (Furio approved it in this post).
I used this gorgeous repeating sheep fabric on the back.
I have been doing a series of these "Christmas is coming" posts, if you would like to check them out, please click the links below:
..."Too cold to go outside" is moving along beautifully. I have now finished Milo on the design. I am really proud of this as there was a lot of confetti and I had to be very accurate in my reading of the chart.
Helped my niece choose a dress for her first formal
2. Excercised hard at Water Aerobics (I hadn't been for a week and boy, did I miss it!)
3. Had a nice catch up with DS2 (she made a quick and easy chicken and corn soup for our lunch - yum!)
4. Caught up on lots of TV shows recorded on my Foxtel IQ and on lots of stitching whilst TraderVic, DS1, DD and DS2 were at the footy on Saturday night.
5. Started packing for my business trip to Qld
6. Went to a great 60th birthday party for Sunday lunch (the catering was organic and sustainable = delicious) and caught up with lots of people
7. Had lots of great cuddling time with Furio - natch!
8. Made home-made hommus - yum! yum! yum!
9. .... and, of course, squeezed in as much stitching as I could!!!!!!!
How was all of your weekends?
Now, of course, here are some pics....
Cuddles with Furio:
Milo guarding some more washing!!!!!
A new start for the Halloween Ornament SAL 2013. This is actually next month's stitch - the choice being Mummies or tombstones. (No, I haven't finished May's stitch yet - don't ask!!!)
The design is called Halloween Alley from "Angelic Stitches by Velda". It is another freebie from here. The fabbie is actually quite a deep denim blue but the flash on the camera has washed it out. ...and yes, I am using WDW Fiesta for the moon again - just loving that floss! Altogether I am just using colours that go with the fabbie rather than the suggested floss colours.
... and lastly, still working on Day 3 of Santa's 12 Days of Christmas which is my Sunday SAL with Debbie and Linda.
Well, have a good week everyone and don't forget that during the week I will be MIA, see this post here if you want to know more.
.... that is what we call it at my work when we are out of the office for any length of time on business.
Well, I am going to be MIA from work, home and blogging to some degree for the next three weeks.
As you may remember, I am an educational publisher and here in Australia we are having a new Australian Curriculum implemented. So, I am conducting Workshops around Australia to help teachers understand the new History Curriculum and to show them the fabulous resources we have published (both as hard copy books and as digital product) to help them implement the new curriculum.
Luckily for me I am not travelling on this Roadshow alone - I am going with a couple of my fabulous colleagues.
This week I am in Queensland for three days, next week it is Perth in WA for three days and the following week is Sydney, also for three days.
I will be home on the weekends in between but, that will be catch up time with all that I have missed at home during the week.
Of course, I am taking some stitching with me - haven't decided what exactly yet - and I have some pre-organised posts to upload whilst I am on the Road, but I may not have time to read and comment on all your lovely blogs and I will only be on my home email intermittently.
But please, do know, I will be thinking of you all whilst I am MIA.
Now, I cannot post without a pic or two - these are of Milo this time, I think that he thinks he is a Guard Cat!
Guarding the washing in the downstairs family/utility room:
Guarding my DMC threads (I am in the middle of putting them all on String Bows and into two big folders - my aim is to eventually have the entire DMC collection in my stash).
Have a good week everyone,
hugs,
P.S. Those ginger cakes I made last Sunday, see this post here, are still delicious a week later - so they keep well.
