What's next?

Since finishing Little Ballerinas, I thought I might start another project in between stitching Quaker Garden. The one that's been calling for me to do is CCN The Tea Room. This I have seen finished on a couple of other blogs, and I just love it. I've decided to do it on 32ct Natural Belfast Linen. It's light in colour and I think it will go well with this design.

CCN The Tea Room kitted with 32ct Natural Belfast Linen and DMC threads

When trying to choose the next project to do, I like to wait and see what calls out for me. This way I feel enthusiastic when stitching it up and get the most enjoyment from it.

Little Ballerinas is finished!

This little cutie I was able to complete last night. What fun it was to do and a very simple design. The only real problem was with the ballerinas eyes. They're done with French Knots which I'm not always good at doing. I worked out that only one twist was needed for each eye.

I'm trying to be a bit more creative with my pictures and photo taking. Can I just say a big thank you to Loreta who has inspired me with some of my shots. I just love the way she sets her photos up. With this in mind, I have added a few props to some of my pictures. Hope you like them :) You can also have a look at more photos in my album.

CCN Little Ballerinas

Started 25 June 2008

Finished 25 July 2008

Stitched on 28ct Natural Pearl Linen

Using Crescent Colours and DMC threads

Framed using Photoshop software

A special gift

Yesterday I got home to find a small package in the mail box from my dear stitching friend, Nicole. It had inside some goodies (not all I knew I was getting) which put a huge smile on my face. I was so overjoyed to receive them.

I adore the fobs she has shown in her needlework photos on her blog. Now I have received one of them in the post. Thank you so much Nicole! It is so gorgeous and I love the pink coloured jewels. She also included a couple of charts, two DMC thread skeins, and a sweet card. How special I feel :)

A gift from Nicole received on 23 July 2008.

CCN The Needlework Shop chart, LHN Quilting chart, DMC threads 335 & 3716, and a pink jewelled scissor fob made by Nicole.

Pink scissor fob displayed with my own scissors

Now I want to make her something in return. I think I have an idea, but it's going to be a surprise. I'm hoping my limited finishing techniques will be sufficient for this special project. I'm looking forward to making it.

Kreativ Blogger Award

What a surprise to be nominated by Loreta and Anne for the Kreativ Blogger Award. It's so very kind of you both. I'm truly honored. It has been done according to the following rules:

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.

2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to the blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

There's so many talented people out there, and so deserving of this award. Some of them have already been nominated by others, so I have spared them from being nominated again. The five I have nominated are people whose blogs I regularly visit and inspire me so much.

1. Nicole

2. Chrissie

3. Dovile

4. Debs

5. Alison

Congratulations!

Nearly finished with Ballerinas

It was a horrible day outside and I didn't feel like going out, so I stayed home, cranked up the heating, and stitched. After doing a bit more on Quaker Garden Friday night, I had the urge to get back to Little Ballerinas. There's really not much more to go on this so I hope to finish it soon. It's been quite enjoyable, and if you have solid stitching time to dedicate to it, I think it would be a quick one to do. Anyway, I just love it. So pretty and girlie. Here's where I got to today.

Little Ballerinas - 20 July 2008

I would love to finish it up during the week/weekend and then get back into Quaker Garden. I don't normally stitch more than one item at a time, so this is not my usual routine. Not that I like to stick to a routine anyway. I'm the type of person that goes with what takes my fancy at the time. No set rules. Enjoyment is the main priority with my stitching.

Back to Quaker

I thought I'd pick up Quaker Garden last night and do a little more of it. I'm getting to half way done on this project.

Quaker Garden - 18 July 2008

My level of motivation has dropped off these past two weeks. A number of things I could say has caused this. The weather (too cold), been feeling tired when I get home from work, and been a bit busier.

Since I have plenty of time to finish Little Ballerinas I decided to continue with QG. Still loving this one:)))

Blooms For Sarah ~ kitted

Well, I got back from the roadshow and what a hectic day it was. Glad they don't come around too often. Back home to familiar surroundings and my cats. They both did well, but I think they're happy to have me home.

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Since I don't have any progress stitching to write about, thought I would post some pics on another piece I have kitted. It's called Blooms For Sarah and the pattern's from the Blackbird Designs book called Thank You Sarah Tobias. There's so many great patterns in this book. Can't wait to stitch them!

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BLACKBIRD DESIGNS ~ Thank You Sarah Tobias book

PATTERN - Blooms For Sarah

FABRIC - 40ct Antique Cotton R & R Reproductions

THREAD - Thread Gatherer Chocolate Caramel #67

Another one I'll surely stitch in the future. Just add it to my list, shall I?:)

Fabrics & Trims

I'm sorry to say that I don't have any progress pics of my Wips to show you. I haven't done any work on them since last weekend. The weather here has turned really cold (since we're in the middle of the Winter season), and my motivation hasn't been very high. I've had other things to attend to also which has left my stitching neglected I'm afraid.

Even this afternoon I have to go into Melbourne to stay overnight (pussy cats are going to miss me, or is that I'll miss them?), then tomorrow I have to go to a roadshow (product presentation) for work on the other side of town. I'm not really looking forward to it, but I was requested to go.

Anyway, onto something a little more interesting. Yesterday I was at the doctor's to get some immunisations for my trip to the Cook Islands, and while I was out I dropped into one of our craft shops, Lincraft. I really wanted to just get a scarf as I can't find where my black one has gone, and this is what I ended up buying. Oh, I did get the scarf too!



The materials I will use sometimes as a backing for my Wip pictures, but I'll also be able to use it on my projects in the future. The trims will be handy as I thought the colours would go with any Americana things I do.

After I'd purchased them I thought, 'didn't I tell myself I wasn't buying anymore stash until after my holiday?'. Then I told myself that this wasn't true needlework stash as in charts, kits, threads, etc.... you know what I mean:)))) There's always another way you can justify things in my opinion.

Button, Button and another finish for Mum

Mum and Dad dropped by for a visit yesterday and Mum brought with her a couple of her latest needlework finishes. Love seeing what she's been doing.

One was a design she's been working on for a while. Fairly large and includes some intricate work with tree shading. It's by Juniper Designs and it's called Strahan. This is a town in Tasmania - Australia, which she has visited on holidays there with Dad. The same designer which created The Rocks in Sydney that she's stitched.

The other item she completed which I was excited to see was the pattern I'd given to her for Mother's Day. It's an Erica Michaels design called Button, Button. She has made it into a button bag with a pretty floral fabric for backing. She hasn't quite finished it as she wants to line the inside with some soft pink silk fabric (which is underneath the bag in the photo). I think it looks so pretty and since I bought myself the kit as well, I will look forward to stitching it one day also. Here's some pics I took yesterday of it...

ERICA MICHAELS - Button, Button bag (stitched by Mum)

Backing fabric of the bag

That's all for now. Hope you're all enjoying your stitching projects. Have fun!!!

I'm on a roll!

I achieved some more progress on Little Ballerinas last night. Ended staying up until about midnight working on it. It's been a joy so far to stitch, and now I'm adding the ballerinas to it. Their eyes are a bit tricky, hence I haven't put any on the first ballerina yet. They're done with French Knots and I'm thinking only one twist of the thread will be needed for each knot instead of the usual two. Will let you know how I go.

CCN Little Ballerinas - 5 July 2008

Photos taken in the afternoon light

Having fun with this one!

Little Ballerinas is coming along nicely. Worked some more on it last night and managed to get the other curtain done. The stage is set now for the ballerinas. This is so cute and really pretty for a precious girl that you may have in your life. I'm sure my niece will love it!

Little Ballerinas - 4 July 2008

I'm so into CCN and LHN designs. It's nice to find designers where most of their patterns you like. You get excited about their new ones and look forward to seeing their future creations. I'm probably more interested in these two designers that Shepherd's Bush at the moment, and that's saying something!

CCN have a new one out that I've seen on their site. It's called The Needlework Shop. Another definite must have. Love pinks and greens together, and anything that has the word 'Needlework' in it usually grabs my attention.

CCN - The Needlework Shop

I'm also going to love the new threadpack series of Little Women by LHN. Quilting looks darling and the others (Reading, Gardening, and Baking) look cute too. Nicole's started on Quilting and it's looking great. Debs has finished hers which sold me on this design. So much prettier than the basic pattern you see on LHN site, once you see it stitched up. Great job Debs! And Nicole, I hope you finish yours soon - can't wait to see it!

So my wish list is getting longer which is a bad thing. I'm still trying not to buy anything until after my holiday in September. It's so hard :(!!! I'm being good though and sticking with my plan. Not that I'm liking it :)...

More Ballerinas

Another stitching session was achieved last night. Sticking with Little Ballerinas at the moment as I'm quite enjoying it. I was able to finish one side of the curtains and will start on the other side tomorrow night. The fabric I'm using is very soft and flexible to hold. It's the fabric which the pattern calls for, 28ct Natural Pearl Linen, and if you stitch in hand (which I don't) then it would be lovely to work with. Doesn't crease very much either. Anyway, here's a current pic to show...

Little Ballerinas - 2 July 2008

Loreta has now finished her Little Ballerinas. It's turned out really well I think. Great photos too. Please take a look if you get the chance. I find it so inspiring seeing other people finish these projects. Really makes you want to get into your own stitching.

Holiday and Ballerinas

I'm feeling a lot better now after coming down with a cold last week. Just on the tail end of it now. Back at work yesterday with no chance to take it easy, as we were busy the whole day. I survived though!

My holiday plans are coming along nicely. I got my passport today which is a great feeling knowing I can leave Australia and experience another part of the world. Our passports here last ten years, so I hope to do more overseas travelling in that time.


As well as a new passport I also decided to lash out and buy some new bathers. I went to a huge store the other weekend where they have a wide variety of bathers in our popular brand names. The pair I got are a Seafolly brand. I already have another pair to wear, so since I'll probably live in them while I'm away, having two to alternate will work out well. One will be drying while wearing the other.


I went to the travel agent on the weekend also to make my final payment for the trip. So everything's finally coming together. The Cook Islands is south of Hawaii and west of Tahiti and I've been reading on the net that September, when we're going, is supposed to be one of the better months to be there. Here's hoping! As long as there's some sun which we're not getting much of here at the moment. A very cold, windy day it was today. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Now to my stitching progress. I picked up Little Ballerinas again tonight and started working on the curtains. I didn't get as much done as I only stitch for a couple of hours on weeknights, but I'm moving in the right direction. Still no mistakes!!!

CCN Little Ballerinas - 1 July 2008

Thanks for all your comments lately. I really do love reading them and get great encouragement from them. Til next time...