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!)

Feature Pattern Friday - Wicked

Today's Feature Pattern is from the hit West End show, Wicked.

Image from www.express.co.uk

I'm a huge theatre fan.  I love nothing better than going and watching a live show.  I don't care if it's a musical, a drama, a one-woman-show, a professional company or the local am-dram group around the corner.  Providing it involves people acting on stage, I'm there.  If I can afford it that is!  The two years I lived in London, all my spare cash went on theatre tickets.  I loved the easy access to a huge range of shows, with the added advantage of discount tickets.  During my last 8 days in the UK, I saw 14 different shows.  And I've seen Wicked 4 different times - twice in Melbourne, once in Sydney and once in Brisbane (which I wrote about here).  Did I mention I loved theatre?

Enough about me, here's the pattern!

Elphaba and Glinda.  Cross stitch pattern available from my
Etsy Store

Elphaba's hat was more difficult to design than I was expecting, as was her dress.  The hat is so point it's hard to achieve in pixles, but I finally managed it in the end.  The dress on the other hand... when you actually study it closely, the dress is made up of lots of different patches of colour - blues and reds and purples.  There are some blended threads in the pattern to try and achieve the look.  It was certainly a challenge.  Glinda's on the other hand was just blue and poofy.  It looks much more impressive in the images, but sure was easier to design in cross stitch!

Happy stitching.

WIP Wednesday

Time to check in on my stitching project.

Last week vs this week's progress on my A to Z Challenge piece

I'm still working on my piece for the A to Z challenge.  I haven't made a lot of progress with it this week.  My mother came to visit this weekend and, although she's crafty and enjoys spending time sitting around sewing, we spent most of the weekend shopping, catching up, visiting my brothers, and going to the theatre.  It was a lovely weekend full of culture and socialising and general fun, but it did mean little to no stitching progress.  Oh well, still 2 weeks till the start of the challenge, and a month till it's over so I should have plenty of time to get it done! :)

What are you currently working on?  Anyone else joining in with a crafty A-Z challenge?