Rochelle QS

Week 2 - Page 1

I am enjoying stitching this.  It has been a bit of a challenge as I chose a piece of Opalescent that I had - 28 count.  It is woven a little like hardanger and I had great difficulty stitching as I kept splitting the threads.  I have decided that I will have to stitch this one without glasses - this means that I have to be a lot closer to my work but I am getting used to it and I have my chart pretty close too.

It also uses Glow in the dark thread for the moon and stars and I love it when I switch off the light and see them twinkling.  I will try and see if I can get a picture of it in the dark.

I have also kitted up Terra Fairy for the 2011 HAED SAL.  I love the greens in this.  I suppose I should be sick of stitching with green after Leaf but green is such a soothing colour to work with.

I have also kitted up Please My Wings Take Me Away (PMWTMA)  Kim and I plan to stitching this in the New Year.  We have both chosen 2 different red fabrics.  We also had the background removed.  My red is a real hot red.  I can't wait to see how this turns out.  It calls for 032 bf but I am going to do the body parts that call for 032 in 3685 and keep the sparklies for the wings.

I would also take this opportunity to wish every one a very Merry Christmas and hope that your day is full of fun and laughter with family and friends.

Annette B

A couple of finishes

I have posted on my other Blog why I have been missing in action.

I have been stitching and despite not stitching for nearly 2/3 months I have had some finishes.  The first one finished was my model stitch - I fell and hurt my wrist badly but was able to finish it off. This is called Dragon Fly-ing artwork House Mouse.  I stitched it on a 32 ct - never again would I stitch over 1 on 32.  He is so cute and was lots of fun to stitch.  He got framed and went off to Paris for an exibition so he is a well travelled little mouse.

The next one was another model stitch called Dandelion Dreams - artwork CCKuik.  I love stitching up her artwork.  They turn out so beautifully.  While I was about 1/3 of the way through I injured my shoulder quite badly - the pain was excruitating and they had me on a cocktail of drugs that did nothing to relieve the pain.  I was just glad to get her finished by October.

 It was great to be able to get back into stitching without pain.  I do still get the odd ache in it though.  I finished off Crabby Crush.  She is so pretty and the colours are sooo vibrant. I found out too that they have Red Crabs at Christmas Island so this is NOT a dead Crab..........LOL

Then this is the piece I have been looking forward to finishing now.  I actually started her in 2005.  The hardest part was stitching all the light colours at the bottom of the chart.  But she is finally finished 827 hrs later.  DH didn't want to know just how long she took.  Now to save up and get her framed.  I have the perfect spot for her.

What is next of the scroll rods you ask.   Again I have decided to change the way I stitch.  I have 2 HAED's on the go QS Rochelle another one by Hannah Lynn and I am working on an OOP chart called A New Day Has Come - artwork Jody Bergsma.  Will show pictures next week.

I am using the Random Researcher and putting in the number of pages to stitch and then hit the choose button and whatever number it spits out - I stitch up to that page. For example with Rochelle I am only stitching 1 page and then A New Day I am stitching on two pages and so on and so on.  Can't you tell I hate making decisions.

Till next time.

Annette B

Week 8 - 21st February

I am soooo tired today.  We had a working bee earlier at the church ready for our big week-end coming up.

I only stitched on Crabby Crush this week - 10.50 hrs.  I did finish off Page 5 and make a start on page 6.  I will do another 20 rows before returning to Leaf.  Crabby Crush now has a beautiful puffed sleeve.

 

 The artwork of Hannah Lynn traslated so well to cross stitch.

Priceless Moment

Watching a young man yesterday who has given his life to the Lord  be baptised. Such a special moment.  His lovely wife is due to give birth any day to their second child. Is was a thrill to see someone so young dedicate their life to God.

Bittersweet Moment

I guess it could only be described as that.  Last night DD rang on Skype and we talked for nearly 2 hrs. Just watching that beautiful face - I wanted to reach out and touch her  and hold her.  The tears streamed down my face but I didn't let her know I was crying. She has been gone nearly 12 months now and I miss her soooooo much. I love you my child you are flesh of my flesh  and you are a part of me that can never ever be replaced or forgotten as long as I live.

Annette B

Week 7 - 14th February

I did it - this week I finished off page 14 of Leaf and I am sick of the light colours so it was nice to put her aside and concentrate on the beautiful colours of Crabby Crush.

 

Leaf 

She is now at the 70% mark - next page is going to be more of light coloured stitching. I managed 11.25hrs on her this week.

There is a lot of confetti stitching in the last 20 rows of page 5.  The goal this week is to finish the page and make a good start on page 6.  1.55hrs on Miss Crabby.

Priceless moment

Walking along the beach in the evening and then just standing and looking out to sea thinking how small are we in Universe - Earth is not even a dot in the scheme of the universe yet Jesus chose to come to Earth and die on the Cross so we can have eternal life - awesome.

Grrr moment

Getting bitten by mosquitoes and the bites turning into itchy welts.  Itchy Itchy Itchy.

Till next week keep on crossing those stitches.

Annette B

Week 6 - 7th February 2010

I can't believe another week has passed.
Where does time go?
Why do the days seem shorter the older you get?

 

I only  managed to do do 4 1/2 hrs on Leaf so you can't see a lot of progress.  My goal this week is to finish off Page 14 - it is all boring stitching and light colours. 

Priceless Moments this week

All week has been a good week.  I have been taking baby steps in Trusting God with our finances.  This is not easy at the moment but God is helping me moment by moment and I am feeling totally filled with trust and joy. I am claiming  Luke 12:13-24 for my promise all this week.  I have to keep reminding myself that God holds this universe in place, the planets spinning, sun shining that he looks after the birds that sing and how much more important am I to him than these.  

We had 2 wonderful God filled speaker this week-end and I so want to serve the Lord and tell people that he is coming soon to take us to heaven to end all the pain and suffering.  The earth is groaning under the weight of evil but Jesus has already won the victory at the cross. All Praise to our Father in Heaven.

Have a fantastic week.

Hugs

Annette B

Week 5 - 31st January

I cannot believe that January is all but over.  

Where did the month go? Does time go faster as you get older or is that just a myth?  

This week has been such a week of up and downs with hardly any stitching to be seen.  I only worked on Crabby Crush QS this week and that was for only 5 3/4 hrs.  You can just see her little ruffle on her off the shoulder top. I know that I have said this before but stitching on her is such fun.

 

Priceless Memories

I have a few priceless memories this week

The first was a frolick in the ocean - why is it that jumping over the waves make you feel like a kid again. It always make me want to jump and shout for joy. The water was crystal clear and the waves were only small ones but it still made me feel young again.

Talking to DD in the UK and DS in Sydney on skype on my birthday and spending the day with family.

Spending today stitching with my girlfriend, catching up on gossip, looking at patterns on the internet and have lunch at an outdoor cafe - I had a Mango and Chicken Salad with Watermelon and Pineapple freshly squeezed juice.  Kim had Duck and Cashew Salad with Passionfruit, Orange and Mango juice.  Yummmm.

Memorable Moment

This is one memory I did not want - getting a phone call to say that DS#1 has been involved in a accident with his bicycle and a motor vehicle - he is alright but is in hospital. Bikes can be replaced sons cannot.

Next week it is Leaf's turn till then God Bless

Annette B

Week 4 - 24th January

Leaf's goal for January has now been met.  So I can relax a little and stitch on which ever one takes my fancy.  Leaf now has her shoulder joined up and the spiderweb looks fabulous.

I worked 13.21 hrs on her this week.

One thing when working HAED's - I hate seeing missed colours when I am stitching. I am always pleased to have those gaps filled in.  I also love to run my hand over the stitching - it feels wonderful.......LOL.

Pricless Moment this week

 Friday evening a group of us decided to have a BBQ dinner at a place called Point Danger.  It overlooks the ocean and is on the border of NSW/Qld.  We set up a screen and when it got dark we show the film called "Indescribable" by Louie Giglio - I have never seen this before and it was one of the most amazing DVD's I have seen.It shows pictures of outer space and just how small Earth is in comparison to the universe.  It was such an awesome experience watching this - hearing the ocean, feeling a gentle breeze and seeing the stars in the sky and then to think that God who created this vast universe came down to this speck of dust Earth to die on the cross so that we might have eternal life.  I cried when they showed the picture of Jesus on the cross. Awesome moment.

I picked up Crabby Crush QS this week and managed 2 1/2 hrs on her.  There is lots of confetti stitching in her glove and this is a little slow going.  You can see her delicate little arm appearing.  I luv stitching on her.

GRRR Moment

I guess for every pricless moment there has to be a grrr moment.  There is a block of unit's being constructed a house block away and one day they had the radio blaring so loud it was unbearable.  We politely called out and asked them to please turn it down a little.  Their response "It's after 8am so deal with it."  Well we did deal with it and rang the local Council Building Department who then rang the Builders and made them turn it down or they would be fined.  We haven't heard it since then.  I always worry though about the workers trying to get back at us somehow.   I can never understand why they need the radio up so loud while they are making so much noise that they can probably only hear every second or third word.

Annette B

Week 3 - 17th Jaunary 2010

I stitched on Leaf this week and finished off page 13 and made a start on page 14.  I simply love joining the pages up and seeing the edges come together. Don't know why I get such a kick out of them joining up but I just do. I managed 5.18 hrs on her and hope to complete the monthly goal this week.  This page is so full of pale colours too so will have to stay focused

 

Leaf © HAED

artwork Selina Fenech

Priceless moments this week.

Watching a bird outside my stitching room have the most wonderful time in the bird bath - it has been so hot and he was getting right under the water and then he would sit on the edge shaking himself.

While hanging out clothes a baby magpie landed on the clothes line and then his mother came along and fed him.  They were so close and didn't seem to mind me at all.

Grrr moments

Computer crashing when I needed to email important documents off.  Internet slowing down because DS went over the limit.

Making a White chocolate & Macadamia Slice and DH constantly trying to lick the bowl.  After having visitors Friday night it was all gone and I said I would make another batch today.  I have the butter out softening and DH decided he wants it in a hurry so he put the butter in the microwave to soften. Now he is bugging me to hurry up and make it.........double grrrrrrr.

Have a great stitchey week and God Bless.

Annette B

Week 2 - 10th January

I got really carried away this week with Crabby Crush and in fact I stitched on her so much that I completed my monthly goal on her.  She now has the sweetest little face and you can see her glove just coming to life under her chin.

Crabby Crush QS © HAED

artwork Hannah Lynn

 Ramblings:  Why would a person steal the bottom sheet from my clothes line?

Why not just take both?

Why are there 17-20 yr old out at 2 am making a noise in the vacant land behind our unit?

Why when you tell them to move on they come around to the front of the units and try to work out the security codes to harress you?

 

Time wasted on stitching Crabby Crush QS - 16.17

I didn't get to work on Leaf at all last week and she is feeling a little neglected so this week it is her turn.

This weeks pricless moment:

DH helping DS#2 who has cerebal palsy enjoy himself in the surf. Brought tears to my eyes watching the enjoyment on their faces.

Have a great stitchey week and God Bless

Annette B

Week One 3rd January 2010

Week one is a short one with only 2 days so not much stitching done.  I only managed an 1hr on Crabby Crush.  I am also posting a picture of Leaf which shows where I am up to.
I am also going to give a few household hints, stitching tips, highs and lows of the week and just a few personal thoughts too.

Leaf  page 13 - 0 hours

Memory of the last 2 days:- Making potato wedges at home and taking them down to the river to eat and enjoy the evening breeze. Priceless

Crabby Crush page 5 - 1 hour

Total stitching hours = 1 hour

There is nothing better than rising before the household and sitting on the balcony with a cup of tea hearing the ocean waves, feeling the early summer breeze, watching the sunrise, listening to the birds awakening and communing with God. Priceless.

Till next week keep on stitching.

Annette B