WIP Wednesday

As I type this the rain has started falling.  It's been stopping and starting all day, but I think the earnest stuff may finally be here.  Yesterday (Tuesday) Tropical Cyclone Debbie crossed the cost of Central/North Queensland (just north of Mackay) as a category 4 cyclone, bringing with it a lot of destructive winds and rain.  It has been a very slow moving cyclone, which means it's caused a lot of damage as it's sat over island and costal communities.  I've been listening to the news and spending a lot of time on Facebook making sure friends and family have been keeping safe.  Brisbane (where I live) was well out of the cyclone's path, so while we had blue skies we listened to the stories of broken windows, torn roofs and loss of power from the rest of the state.  Once it crossed land, Cyclone Debbie was downgraded to a Cat 3 then a Cat 2 (when they don't have the water from the sea to power them, cyclones begin to lose power) - don't get me wrong, Cat 2 cyclones are still very fierce and powerful, and I was very thankful to not be anywhere near it.  Now Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie tracked inland for a bit before heading south over Central Queensland where I used to live, and where my parents still live.  My mum (Ozzypip) reported plenty of rain today, and the strong winds are predicted to hit tomorrow - she talks about it in her blog post here.

Here, the rain has stopped again.  The ex-cyclone (now a low) is heading our way and they (the weather bureau) is predicting upwards of 100mls of rain for Brisbane over the next couple of days.  The weather forecast shows 100% chance of rain from about middnight tonight and right through tomorrow.  The winds follow the rain, so that may not reach us until Friday.  All in all it is going to be a wet few days - perfect stitching weather... although not the best weather for concentrating at work!

I think the weatherzone app is feeling a little stressed and in
need of a joke.  Today this was the forecast for Friday for
Brisbane.  Somehow, I don't think so

After finishing off my big piece for the A to Z Challenge last week, I've spent this week working on little bits and pieces for my stall at Supanova.  Earrings and keyrings, and putting together mini kits.  I need to sit down and write myself a job list for April.  The time is going to vanish and before I know it Supanova will be here, so I need to get organised!

Key rings and earrings for Supanova

Mini cross stitch kits

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

WIP Wednesday

It's WIP Wednesday, which means it's time to check in on my stitching progress.  Actually technically it's "Running Late Thursday".  I was this close to finishing yesterday that I stayed up far too late to finish off the back-stitching, and didn't get this post written.  As a consequence I'm very sleepy and having trouble concentrating at work this morning.  I've stopped for an early morning tea (ie. coffee) and am writing this while I try and wake up (i.e. drink more coffee).  There's no one else in the office this morning (the other therapists who normally work Thursdays are coming in tomorrow instead) and I'm wondering if anyone will notice if I put my head on the desk and have a ten minute nap. 

It's all totally self-inflicted and no sympathy is deserved, however it was worth it because...

My piece for the A to Z Challenge is complete!  Hurray! And just in time too - it's a little over a week until 1st April so I still have time to get the blog posts written and scheduled before the madness that is April starts.

Last week vs this week - it's finished!  Backside view of the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Alphabet

You're still only getting backside views.  Once the Challenge starts I'll begin sharing front-side photos.  I announced on Tuesday that my theme for the Challenge (and the title of this piece) is Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  Many people had already guessed the theme from my photos - as one lady on Instagram pointed out, it helps that the first two letters are the main characters!

I've also started work on getting things ready for my Convention stalls - putting together mini kits, and finishing off new patterns to add to my catalogues.  There's still a lot to do (including working on piece to have signed), but at least this cross stitch is out of the way and I can concentrate on one less thing!

How are you going with your WIPs?

Happy stitching!

A To Z Challenge Theme Reveal: Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The day has finally arrived for The Great And Powerful Theme Reveal, as the hosts of the A to Z Blogging Challenge have named it.  Technically, the theme reveal was yesterday my time - but better late than never!

For those who are not aware, the A to Z Challenge runs throughout April.  Bloggers are challenged to write one post a day (excluding Sundays), gradually working their way through the alphabet.  1st April is on A, 3rd April on B, 4th April is C etc etc.  Most participants focus on a theme to help guide and structure their blog posts.  The other part of the Challenge is to then go and visit the blogs of other participants - which is often then most difficult as with over 1000 bloggers involved, there's a lot of blogs to visit, and I find I quickly run out of time in the day!  That being said, I have met some amazing bloggers and fellow crafters though doing this challenge and I do enjoy it.

But enough explaining - on with the Theme Reveal!

This is my third year participating in the Challenge.  Each year I stitch one of my alphabet patterns and share thoughts on the different characters.  Last year I was crazy and not only stitched two alphabets, but also wrote a second blog!  This year I'm keeping it simple and just stitching the one alphabet, and writing the one blog.  April is shaping up to be a crazy month (as I explained here) and I've opted for trying to keep as much of my sanity as possible!

I've already started work on my cross stitch piece (as I've been sharing on WIP Wednesdays) and I know a few of you have already twigged as to what it is )

So without any further ado, my theme for this year's A to Z challenge is....

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The cross stitch pattern is available here if you want to stitch your own

Girl power action hero Buffy and friends.  I loved this show in high school, and have watched it many times since.  I've been enjoying a Buffy marathon of late while I work on my cross stitch piece and am looking forward to writing about some of my favourite characters.

There were a few things that influenced my choice of pattern, chief amongst them being that David Boreanus (Angel) is coming to the Gold Coast for Supanova at the end of April!  (excited girly squeal). I'm still deciding whether I'll ask him to sign the completed alphabet, or whether I'll do a separate piece because...

It's been announced that Julie Benz (Darla, the first Vampire to appear in the TV show) is coming to Sydney Supanova!  Darla isn't in this cross stitch pattern so I'm thinking of doing a quote piece with Darla and Angel on it... so many choices.

Are you participating in the A to Z Challenge?  Leave a link to your blog in the comments and I'll drop by to check you out.  I'm particularly looking forward to finding some other crafty blogs.

Happy stitching (and blogging!)

WIP Wednesday

This week I've been continuing to work on my piece for the A to Z challenge.  I'm determined to have it finished, and the blog posts written, before April even starts.  I've finished off the middle row, and have made a good start on the last two rows.  

Last week's progress vs today's progress
Do you know what it is?

I've been forced to stop and do a lot of stitching this week.  Last Thursday I slipped when getting out of the shower and fell head over heals.  My shower is a shower-over-bath so I fell over the top of that - I smacked my ankle on the edge of the bath, banged and grazed my knee on the floorboards, and knocked my shoulder on the wall.  My ankle swelled and started to bruise almost immediately, and is still rather tender to walk on by the end of the day.  I've been finding bruises everywhere.  The physiotherapist taped up my shoulder on Saturday after telling me I had a shoulder strain.  However, I did manage to not hit my head and didn't knock myself out when I fell - which I was very glad about as I live alone and was scared about how long it would have taken anyone to find me.  The result of all this is that I spent even more time than usual this weekend (and most afternoons) sitting on the couch and stitching.  My brother came over Saturday afternoon to make sure I was okay and helped do the washing, which was much appreciated.

Progression of the bruise and swelling.  Photos from Thursday morning, Thursday evening, and Sunday evening

An anti-slip mat for the bath is on the shopping list, as soon as I can find one!

Happy Stitching!

WIP Wednesday

Checking in on my current Works In Progress.

I've continued to work on my A to Z piece for the April blogging challenge.  I'm making pretty good progress on it, and am about half-way through - first two rows are finished, and the middle row is about half finished.

A to Z Challenge piece

That's all I've been working on from a stitching point-of-view.

In other areas, I've had a couple of customised requests come in this week which I've finished and sent off - one was a sentence rework on the Star Trek Original Series pattern which was a quick thing to do.

Customised quote on the Star Trek piece

I love getting customised pattern requests - people have such amazing ideas, and sometimes what started out as a customised requests get added to my regular pattern line up.  Other times it's just nice to work on something different and unusual.  It can be a lot of hard work sometimes trying to understand what a client is asking for (particularly as everything is discussed via email, and there's usually a delay in communications due to time differences) but the end product makes up for it - when I print the PDF and can say "yes, that's something I'm proud of."

The first round of Conventions is almost here (April), and I need to get cracking on fixing/updating my stock, pattern catalogues, and mini kits.  I need to start pulling some of that out this weekend to have a look at where I'm at so I can put in orders for needed materials.  Only problem with getting ready for Conventions is that it eats into my stitching time.  Good thing I love doing them! :)

Happy stitching

WIP Wednesday on a Thursday

Second week of doing WIP Wednesday, and I'm already running late!  I've got no idea what happened to yesterday.  I went for a massive (for me) walk hunting Pokemon last night, which did eat into the early evening and by the time I got home... well, basically I forgot!

Anyway...

I haven't made any progress on the two projects I shared last week, because the fabric arrived for my A-Z Challenge pattern and I started work on it instead. :)

Need to remember not to photograph this fabric at night
cause the lights have a weird effect on the colour

 After a lot of umming and ahhing and back and forth I finally settled on the piece I want to stitch.  I'm not giving anything away though until the reveal date, so all you're going to get is photos of the backside.  April is going to be a crazy-busy month so I'm starting this piece now in the hope to have the stitching finished, and blog posts written and scheduled before the 1st of April.

This is how the fabric really looks.
Backside view 22.02.17

What's happening in April you ask?  Well:

• 7th - my mum and her friend come to Brisbane and are staying with me for the weekend
• 8th - we're going to see "Grease" and "My Fair Lady"
• 10th-17th (ish) - my brother and his girlfriend are visiting from Melbourne, mum's still here and dad's coming down at some point
• 14th-17th - the whole family are heading to Mt Tamborine to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday
• 18th - I have a prac student start a 9 week placement with me at work (and my parents are still here)
• 21st-23rd - Gold Coast SupaNova
• 28th-1st May - Melbourne SupaNova

I'm already tired just thinking about it!  Plus there's all the usuals, including working full time. I've already told a few friends they probably won't see me for the month of April (apart from that first week)!  Anyway, you can see why I need to get the A-Z Challenge done before 1st April! 

Happy stitching!

WIP Wednesday

I'm going to try and post on a Wednesday about projects I'm currently working on.  We'll see how long it lasts!

Pillar Box by Yvette Jordan

I recently pulled out Pillar Box, one of the London Ladies collection by Yvette Jordan.  I started this piece, oh, nearly 3 years ago I think.  I worked on it for a few weeks (maybe) before putting it away and working on another piece, (probably one of my own).  After working on so many of my own designs in quick succession (see my last post), I decided I wanted a brain break.  I wanted to work on someone else's design, a different style with different techniques.  More importantly I wanted to just be able to pick up a pattern and stitch without questioning if the pattern was right or if stitches were missing or if the colours worked or if I needed to alter the backstitching or the layout etc. etc.  I wanted to stitch and not think AT ALL for a change.   I should have taken a photo when I pulled her out of the packet again (not even half the first page was done).  In the last couple of weeks I've finished the first page, started on the backstitch for that page, and am about 1/8 of the way through both pages 2 and 3.  I'm working on stitching 10x10 boxes at a time, but because it's not a technique I usually use (no point with my patterns) I'm not very disciplined about it yet.

My secret project

I've ruled up the aida for a new project, and started stitching it.  It's going to be a friend's (belated) birthday present, and may end up my project for the A to Z challenge - still deciding...  I'll probably share backside progress shots, particularly once it becomes more obvious what this is meant to be!

Happy stitching!

Stitching Updates - some finishes

Since getting my stitching mojo back just before Christmas, I've finished off quite a few pieces, the patterns for which are all available from my Etsy store - follow the links below the images.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves. :)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Idris and the TARDIS

Juno

Tabletop.  This pattern isn't available on Etsy.  If you'd like it, let me know.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Rugrats Families

Charmed Alphabet

Phew.

Happy stitching!

WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for WIP Wednesday.

Currently I'm working on a name plate using the Star Wars alphabet (available from my Etsy store). A friend has asked me to stitch it for a friend of hers. I've got about 1 1/4 letters to go, and I'm loving how it's turning out.

I've had a lovely evening of much-needed stitching therapy tonight. I've finally found a place to rent (yay!) that will let me have cats (double yay!) and I pick up the keys on Friday (yay again). However I've been having issues with the removalists. Work is meant to be paying to move me as part of my transfer, however there's been dramas getting it approved - originally I was told "no", then "oh we made a mistake, yes you are entitled to moving expenses", then they told the removalists "no she's not entitled", and then finally today (5 days later) they agreed that they'd made a mistake (again) and I was entitled to moving expenses. All this has meant that it's very unlikely my stuff will be picked up this week, and since they say it takes 7 days to be delivered (which I don't understand) it's going to be at least a week (if not 2) before I can actually move into my place, meaning I'll be paying rent for it to sit empty. Which I'm not happy about.

Anyway. 

All in all, some very much needed stitching therapy happened tonight and I'm feeling much calmer and "it'll happen when it happens" about the whole situation. 😊

Happy stitching!

 

WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday which means it's time to update you all on my latest work in progress (WIP).

This is where I got to last week:

And tonight's progress puts me here:

"Rose Garden" 14 count aida from Sew It All

Hopefully it's becoming more obvious what it's of :)

I still need to work out the letter colouring as my original choice (green) I think will blend too much with some of the characters.  I'm going to wait until the rest of the characters are finished before I stitch the letters so I'll make the colour decision then.

Back to the stitching... if I can dislodge the cat who has decided to sit on my arms while I type!

Managed to free my arms so I could get a face shot - isn't he cute?

Happy stitching!

WIP Wednesday

This week I've started work test stitching a new pattern!  This one has been in the design stages for almost a year but I finally managed to finish the pattern last week with a bit of input from a couple of friends.

I started the piece on Friday, and this is where I've gotten to today:

I'm stitching this on "Rose Garden" 14 count aida from Sew It All

Not the fastest of stitching, but I've been working on a few other new patterns as well - which is why they take so long to design - I keep distracting myself!  On that note, stay tuned - I've added several new patterns to my Etsy store and will be detailing them in full over the next few blog posts.

Any guesses as to what this one might be? ;)

Happy Stitching!

A Thursday Update

I had great plans for this week - I was going to finalise a new pattern and release it into the shop, I was going to make gains on my latest craft swap piece, I was going to post a blog or two.

Then I got sick.

It's just a head cold, but it has knocked me for 6, and I wound up having half of Friday, Monday and most of Tuesday off sick.  If the weekend hadn't been in the middle there, I may have had a couple more days off as well.  The cold meant I couldn't think straight enough to form a sentence let alone a blog post.  My brain went fuzzy at the sight of a computer screen, and I spent most of the last few days lying on the couch vaguely watching TV.  I couldn't even really tell you what I watched - the latest Phryne Fisher episode, a 3rd Rock From The Sun episode or two, and a dodgy movie or two were in there but not sure what else.

I'm pretty pathetic when I get sick - 'man flu' has nothing on me - but I really was out of it this time.  The girls in the office sent me home on Friday, and then again on Tuesday when I rocked up for an hour in the morning.  Lord help me if I ever get anything really serious!

At any rate, I'm coming out the other side now.  I was at work all day Wednesday (although I'm not sure what I accomplished) and I'm back at work today, suposedly working on a presentation I'm giving this afternoon (although it's not getting very far at the moment!).

However, having a couple of days of sick did have its benefits - I managed to finish my current WIP.  It's now with OzzyPip waiting to be put into a wall hanging with her embroideries for our show entry.  The full piece needs to be finished by next weekend to be entered into the Show.

The blue stripes are the striped tea towel behind the piece!

Off to take more cold-and-flu drugs, blow my nose, and get back to work on this presentation.

Happy Stitching!

WIP Update

It makes quite a change to be stitching a pattern I didn't design- first non-Fangirl-Stitches piece I've worked on since January I think! I'm loving this piece- there's lots of block colours so it's quick to stitch, but still enough shading to keep it interesting. Hopefully I'll finish it next week so OzzyPip (Mum) can get started on piecing together the wall hanging.

The piece is called Advance Australia and comes from the Cross Stitch and Bead Weaving magazine.

I'm not sure if Skimbles was engrossed in my stitching and wanted to help, or if he was jealous of it and wanted the attention. Either way, he claimed my stitching arm and it took quite a bit of effort to reposition him. 

I'm off to Mackay tomorrow (4 hour drive). Unfortunately I'm travelling alone which means 8 hours of quality stitching time will be wasted. Oh well, at least I'll get to go to Spotlight and pick up some much needed supplies. 

Happy Stitching!

WIP Wednesday

Back at the beginning of March, I identified my Once Upon A Time cross stitch as the project I was going to get finished this month - for both the One Project A Month and A Lovely Year of Finishes (see links over on the right)

I've stitched a couple more since I took this photo

It is slowly coming together, and I think I am on track to getting it finished.  However, it has meant that I haven't worked on any other projects this month, and I desperately need to get started on my swap stitches!

On the plus side I've only got 5 letters/sets of characters to go :)

 

 Happy Stitching!