Lots of stitch progress on lots of projects...

I have been rather a busy bee stitching around my rotation.  Do you want to see what I have been up to?

Before and After photos of The Faerie Queene (Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year SAL project)

 A New Year Start (I began this on our Mulwala trip) - Autumn in New York by Primrose Needleworks.

For my Christmas Ornie SAL, I decided not to go with my first choice when I saw this quartet of nutcrackers.  I am stitching the Soldier for this month's Christmas Ornie.

I am doing a Heart swap for Valentine's day (organised by the lovely Cheryll) - here is a sneak peek.  Lovely colours but I don't think that these photos give too much away!

Lastly, still stitching the Travelling Pattern - Summer Garden - whilst on the train to work - here are my Before and After photos - as you can see, a lot of progress is happening here.

What are you all up to?

hugs, 

First TUSAL for 2013, catching up with a friend and a Great Giveaway...

Well, here we go for 2013 - my first TUSAL report.  This year I thought that I would use this crystal vase which was once my mother's.
How did you all go this month?

Last night I caught up with my dear friend, Melissa, who used to work with me.  We have not seen each other for about a year!  We had a yummy dinner at The Breslin Bar and Grill in Southbank by the Yarra River.  It was a perfect night for dining on the terrace and the food was really good but the conversation and catching up even better!

Chocolate souffle

Melissa (sorry, the sun was behind her)

Bread and Butter pudding

 On the way to the taxi rank we saw these quirky giant gold bees "climbing" up the side of the building!

Now, just before I dash off to work, I must tell you about Nicola from Stitching by the Cornish Seashore's great giveaway of "Blue Ribbon Design by Olwyn Horwood - you can enter here.  This design is now out of print so this is a rare opportunity to acquire it.  Her giveaway closes on Feb 1st, so head over there to check it out.  Nicola's blog is well worth visiting as she stitches the most exquisite samplers.

Well, off to work for me - looking forward to the weekend.

hugs,

A trip to Mulwala...

Oh, TraderVic and I had such a wonderful time away on our minibreak to Mulwala on the New South Wales side of the Murray River with DFs Marie and Tony:

Here are some pics of the Lake.  It is a man-made lake which was made by damming the Murray River.  Apparently this happened in 1939 but I had never really heard of Lake Mulwala until we went there a few days ago!  You can read more about the area here, if you like.

 Our cabin, DF Marie on the left, Tony and TraderVic.

One day whilst the guys played golf, Marie and I went for a long lunch at Byraming Homestead, which is an historic homestead halfway between Yarrawonga and Cobram.  The homestead was built in 1842 for Elizabeth Hume who at 30 years of age, just after having her 9th child found herself widowed and as she had convict parents or grandparents was seen as an embarrassment to the Hume family.  So, she was sent to farm the Yarrawonga run (a large lease of land along the Murray) where she had a "lovely" time fighting off Bushrangers (outlaws) and hostile Aboriginals whilst raising her 9 children.  Now, you need to bear in mind that the area along the Murray is very hot, she would have been wearing long dresses and at that time there were no roads and Melbourne (the nearest large city) would have actually been more of a village!  You have to admire our pioneer women, don't you?

We had a very long lunch under the 150 year old trees.

We met some other lovely ladies on holidays, Colleen, Pat and Joanne.

The next day we visited the historic town of Rutherglen which is the centre of a wine region in northern Victoria renowned for its fine ports.  (We had another long lunch this day, too!)

All Saints winery:

The cheese shop at All Saints:

New Year's Eve we spent at the Mulwala Golf Club - we had lots of fun with the dancing and other entertainment.

On the way home we stopped at a convenience stop and this beautiful picture was on the back wall of... wait for it.... the toilet cubicle!

I hope you enjoyed your virtual trip to Mulwala with me,

hugs,

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas SAL - Day 3 progress

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post this morning as it is back to work I go today after two lovely weeks holiday.

Last night I worked on my Prairie Schooler 12 Days of Santa SAL which I am doing with Linda and Debbie.  I am coming along quite nicely and should have this finished by the end of Jan, I think.

Before last night:

My progress last night:

Have a great day everyone,

hugs,

A Happy Dance with Boo

So exciting!  My first Happy Dance for the year!

I present to you, Boo by Glory Bee from JCS Halloween mag 2012.  Stitched on 32 ct overdyed cocoa linen using my own choice of Weeks threads (because I didn't have the requisite Gentle Arts Sampler threads and my LNS is shut for Xmas/New Year).

What do you think?

Have a great day everyone,

hugs,

FNwF

Hi lovely bloggers, 

I so enjoyed stitching with you all last night for FNwF.  I worked on my Halloween ornie for the Halloween SAL which I am participating in, run by the lovely Elaine.

I chose this cute design from Glory Bee featuring a pumpkin from the 2012 JCS Halloween mag.  

... and here is my progress so far:

I am using my own fabric - 32 ct overdyed Cocoa linen and I am substituting the Gentle Arts Sampler Threads with mainly Weeks Dye Works as they are the colours which I have!  I am pleased with my progress so far - this is what I managed to stitch in just one day and that was with an awful lot going on in the home yesterday (tradesmen on my doorstep at 7 am to install a new air conditioner - thank goodness as it was 41 (106 F) degrees yesterday! then the new dishwasher had to be installed and on it went!)

Can't wait to see everyone else's progress!

hugs,