MARGARET'S BLOG

A long weekend

2012-01-28T19:11:00.000+13:00

Good evening everyone. I have been back at work again this past week and after three days off it was hard to settle to routine and catch up on the pile of paper. Now we have Monday as a Public Holiday and I am enjoying a long weekend and have a long list of chores.
The wedding went well although the weather was a disaster. Saturday and Monday were fine and hot but Sunday, the day of the wedding was Wet Wet Wet. And windy - we all realised afresh why our capital city is called Windy Wellington! Hence no photos except a few my Little Sister has sent me. I know I have introduced you to the HDHBEM before but has Little Sister shown her face? I can't remember - but here we are, the three women of the family.

Besides the bride and groom there were four bridesmaids, a best man and three groomsmen, two flower girls and a page boy so the bridal party travelled by bus!

My new niece-in-law is very creative and made the cake topper herself. This is the "best photo" I have of the bride and groom at present (ha ha. By way of explanation- my nephew loves Batman)

Now for a stitching catch up. I have finished the Sajou M and it has exceeded my expectations. I love the flow of the letter and the colour of the thread. Now I will need to choose a suitable frame and it can go on the wall.

While away, I did all the tacking on the Red Toblerone and made a start on the stitching.

Progress was rapid until the HDHBEM reminded me that this was to be my Guild project so I stopped that and started another project - Twisted Oaks Designs - 'a patchwork garden ball'. There are 18 segments done on six different colours of 28 count linen, using mainly Dinky Dyes Silks and Simply Shaker Overdyed threads. This is my start on the G of garden.

Today, before the HDHBEM and I went into the city on the bus to do some shopping for her, I made a chocolate slice and iced it. We came back for a quick lunch at home and then out to do the grocery, fruit and vege shopping. Also, we went to the garden shop and then I planted some lettuce, carrots, silverbeet and some new parsley plants. A quick 45 minute walk and then I made a new recipe for dinner -"Cod Fillets Pizza Style". Very nice; we shall try that again. Wow. Written like that it sounds a very busy day. Tonight I will relax with some stitching in front of Midsomer Murders.

Before I depart...

2012-01-19T19:59:00.000+13:00

Good evening all,
Tomorrow morning the HDHBEM and I leave to drive to Wellington where my Little Sister's younger son is getting married. It is an 8 hour drive from here and far too much for the HDHBEM to do that in one hop, so we stop off part way for one night.
Tonight I will finish my packing, but the necessary things like needlework (two pieces just in case, as it would be terrible to run out of stitching!), books (we will be away four nights so of course I need 6 books!) and my cameras are all in the suitcase. I must rush now to my wardrobe and dig out some shoes and a dress to wear to the wedding so I am not a disgrace to my family. Don't worry Little Sister, I am only joking. I promise to scrub up well enough on the day.

Over the past few nights I have managed to get this far on another M for my collection. This is a Sajou alphabet, stitched in one strand of silk floss over two threads of antique white 36 count Edinburgh linen. Hopefully this will be completed this weekend.
I'll be back next week with some more photos. Hope you all have a great weekend

Both of us have been busy!!

2012-01-10T20:18:00.000+13:00

Two items to show tonight - one the product of the HDHBEM's knitting prowess.

Isn't this little pink baby cardigan cute? Tomorrow it will begin its journey to Amy's house, hopefully to arrive before she leaves to visit her new grand-daughter.
And I have finally take photographs of the Bits and Bobs sewing pocket. One of the front with the cute beaded berry toggles.

And a side on shot to show the pocket between the folds.

This was a very interesting "pocket" to stitch and I enjoyed learning a new type of construction.
As an aside, isn't the tartan tin gorgeous? One of my Japanese friends sent it to me - full of their famed 'Mary's Chocolates'. Currently it is still two thirds full - I am enjoying the tin almost as much as the actual contents!
Have a good evening everyone.

Message for Barb

2012-01-10T12:05:00.001+13:00

Barb
I will put my postal address in my profile. If you mail me a postcard with your address I can send your gift - I really want you to have this!!

Blogaversary Draw - delayed result

2012-01-08T14:43:00.000+13:00

Good afternoon to you all. Yesterday the HDHBEM was supposed to draw the winning entry but she went to bed early.
Today we had a little discussion. Not everyone counted the correct number of Hospice Cardigans but the HDHBEM said that everyone should be included in the draw as they had shown such a kindly interest in her work! So I dusted off Grandma's bowl, folded all entries and away we went.

And guess what??? The HDBEM drew a winner who also had the correct count!
Yes there were 20 Hospice Cardigans in that photo. Congratulations Barb.   Please email me your postal address and your prize will be on its way to you this week.
Thankyou to everyone who participated in my blogaversary and gave such pleasure to the HDHBEM.  I love getting comments and getting to know new blog friends.
Barb, I see you were asking after Madame Muriel.   When she left me she went to the UK to spend Christmas.   You can follow her on this blog.
This afternoon have made 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies and a Ginger Crunch slice so now I am ready to finish off the Bits and Bobs sewing pocket. Have a great day everyone.

One down one to go

2012-01-07T22:58:00.000+13:00

Today has been wet wet wet. I managed to get the grocery shopping done and also went to a local shopping mall to spend vouchers I received for Christmas. Some new underwear and a new top to liven up a summer skirt=happy Margaret!
It is now bed time for me but I have managed to finish one of the small sewing bags.

I did finger knitting for the cord and linen toggles for the ends. I used Wessex stitchery for this small bag and used threads from my stash. The fabric is antique white 32 count belfast linen. Although the lining was supposed to be navy and is more grey, I am pleased with how this turned out. Between the folds of what looks like a needlebook lurks a small drawstring bag. The whole concept is intriguing and I am pleased to have successfully constructed this.
The back looks like this.

Now I need to see who Inspector Barnaby will arrest for the murders this week - yes I am addicted to Midsomer Murders!
The HDHBEM has already gone to bed so we will do the great blogaversary draw tomorrow morning and I will post the winner then.
Good night all.

And finally some stitching to report

2012-01-06T21:09:00.000+13:00

Before the stitching snapshots I have this to show you. I went into the city today and visited McDonalds for a Diet Coke. It came in a paper cup with this exhortation from Ronald McDonald himself. Who would have thought that clown to be so interested in such intellectual pastimes??

But for once I agree with Ronald: I too love reading books and thanks to these two weeks of holidays have managed to finish four. The stalagmite of books besides my bed is not growing at an alarming rate just at present. However there is a notice from the library that they are holding two of my requests for me.

Mother and I have just finished "reading" this audiobook and I would heartily recommend it - a murder story to rival any Agatha Christie with a suitable twist in the tail.

Now for the promised stitching update

Tomorrow I hope to construct the small "sewing bits and bobs" bags for which both these pieces of stitching are intended. There is a small pocket on the inside of each for needle packets or small scissors and then a drawstring bag sits in the centre to hold the "bits and bobs". The bird will have a green lining and berry toggles on the twisted thread draw cord. I wanted to try another in the same construction so this Wessex Stitchery piece will have a french navy lining and linen toggles on a finger knitted cord. At least that is the intention....so we shall see.
I have the grocery shopping and a visit to the local mall to fit in tomorrow as well but we are promised rain (again) so I won't need to feel I should be doing other chores. Weeding the garden and washing the car can wait until the next weekend.

Sunny weather and a roadtrip

2012-01-05T22:07:00.000+13:00

While the morning started off cloudy, we decided it was fine enough to travel and set off for Ngatea, a small village about 100km south east of Auckland.

First stop was The Copper Kettle for lunch. This quaint old house is now a cafe but with no Copper Kettle in sight anywhere. The HDHBEM had a standard New Zealand lunch. Mince pie and a milk shake.

After that we wandered the street- and found this shop.

Fancy one store having exactly what both of us like most. The HDHBEM immediately saw the wool yarn by the door and I saw the boxes of books at sale prices!! Of course she purchased some more knitting wool - it was a real bargain and I didn't have to twist her arm to persuade her.

Next stop was the Ngatea Water Gardens.

We parked where directed by this sign - of all those available this seemed the most appropriate!

And went through to the wonderful gardens.
Five acres of beautifully laid out gardens, a huge pond/lake, lots of wildlife and a plethora of quirky signs.

The white peacock was amazingly tame

This sign made me grin a little

In a corner of these gardens was a Canuseum - the owner' father-in-law had been an assiduous collector of aluminum cans and they had purpose built a shed to contain them all. There seemed to be many thousand of them.

I searched high and low among the America/Canada beer cans for what Amy had called Root Beer- only to find it hidden among the soft drink cans. So I am still none the wiser what Root Beer is.

In the small shop at the exit I came across some books - but these too displayed evidence of the owners sense of humour.

I especially liked the volume entitled "Nothing in Particular by Y Reed"!!

No stitching progress to report - perhaps tomorrow. Meanwhile, have a good night everyone.

Marguerites etc

2012-01-03T21:35:00.000+13:00

Today I have been busy stitching but have no photographs to show you of that.
This photo is of the cooperative effort for the most recent Hospice Cardigan. The HDHBEM baulked at doing the lacy edge so I offered to do that part and gladly left the sewing up and attaching of all 10 buttons to her. Looks good though, doesn't it?

On my walk up Mt Eden today I took this snapshot of the lovely Marguerites. Up until recent months there were cattle grazing on the mountain so the grass was kept under control. Since the removal of the cattle the sides of the path are lined with grasses of many varieties, purple and white clover flowers, borage, common yellow daisies and these lovely Marguerites. Nothing common about them!!

Tomorrow I have to go to work for one day in order to print off and send out the customer statements. Just one day though and then I have Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday off to enjoy. The HDHBEM and I plan a mini roadtrip on Thursday - we will probably take a picnic and make use of the fancy new picnic basket I received at Christmas.
Have a good evening everyone and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway which I will draw on Saturday evening (NZ time). Please leave a comment on this post only.

The sun is shining

2012-01-02T20:47:00.000+13:00

Today we took a trip north of Auckland City, to try out the new toll road and to visit the small settlement of Puhoi that everyone seems to rave about.
The toll road was just that - a toll road - but the charges are done electronically. I was suitably underwhelmed!
Puhoi was over in the blink of an eye. What a small small place for such a large large reputation! But there were a couple of items that brought the camera out of the bag!

This tiny shop sells gourmet mustards!!

And this library. How cute is that?

I especially liked the book stall out side and found four books to add to my pile of reading.

We drove on to another small town, somewhat larger than Puhoi, called Warkworth, where we had sushi for lunch and the HDHBEM had a lime milk shake for afters. This reminds me. I have been asked what HDHBEM stands for.

It all goes back to this photo of my Half Deaf Half Blind Elderly Mother!! Too much typing for that title so I invented the acronym which has been in use ever since.

It is true she is literally that but today she looks like this.

The HDHBEM told me I should show a photo of myself but being extremely shy (in truth I cannot work the self timer on my camera) I resorted to this photo of an old sketch done at the local fair.

After we got home I went for a walk up the local mountain, an extinct volcano. This is the large crater that is a delight to local children who slide down on large cardboard boxes. While they howl with delight, their mothers stand aghast at the top waiting for the disasters that never happen.

And finally my first finish for this year. A small hardanger needle book to use up two hanks of hand dyed thread. I suspect this will meet its fate in the sale basket at the Embroiderers' Guild exhibition.

Have a good evening everyone.

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T18:13:00.000+13:00

Well, 2011 is about to come to a close here in New Zealand - a little earlier than for most of you folks who read this. Our weather is appalling and most of the major holiday destinations have cancelled their fireworks celebrations. So instead of the usual Happy New Year picture I will leave you with this photo of a sad looking Pohutukawa tree on the mountain I can see from my window. These trees flower in brilliant scarlet at Christmas and have usually faded to a dull red by New Year. That fading coupled with the inclement weather make a dismal New Year's eve!

But.... on a happier note.   All cleaning is finished.   My computer photo files are sorted and a full back up done.   Now all I need to do is wait for midnight :-)

The HDHBEM is frantically knitting to finish yet another Hospice Cardigan before the start of 2012.   We took a photograph of all that she has completed and pressed.
Just look at them.   How many do you think there are?

I see that my Blogaversary is on 7 January and so in honour of the occasion I will be doing a surprise giveaway. If you would like to be included in the draw please leave a comment on this post and please mention in your comment how many Hospice Cardigans are in the photo above. Those with the correct number will go in the draw over which the HDHBEM will preside on 7 January (NZ time).

And the cleaning is almost finished....

2011-12-30T18:37:00.000+13:00

Today I had two things left on the list - a trip to the library to stock up on books for the New Year long weekend and to "spring clean" the kitchen. The library trip is done and these books followed me home!

The kitchen is half done and there are only the oven and saucepan cupboards to do tomorrow.
While cleaning out the linen cupboard I found these.

A small box which when opened contained this piece of embroidery.

The HDHBEM did this when she was around 8 years old. The back is as neat as the front. My Grandmother did the crochet edge.

In the same linen cupboard but tucked away in a far corner (out of shame I imagine) was my first piece of embroidery. Done at around 8 years old too - how much more crude the stitching.

I sure had a long way to go on the improvement road.   However I will say in my defence that this was my first piece.   Fifty years down the stitching road I feel I can confidently say I am better than I was. The piece above, that the HDHBEM did was not her first piece but she tells me it was the first she gave away. Looks like it came back to her. My Grandmother did the crochet edge on my piece too.
The linen cupboard had lots of treasures screwed up in a bag - several crochet cloths by Grandmother, one crochet cloth by me and a tatted mat, again by Grandma.   You'd almost think this was the first time I had cleaned the line cupboard out!   That is not so, but I had forgotten about these pieces.

This afternoon I have edged around all the pieces of linen for the projects for 2012.   Scissors, needles and threads are sorted and I'm ready to go.   But I promised the HDHBEM I would knit a lacy edging for one of her "Hospice Cardigans" and so I want to ensure I have that completed this year.   Tomorrow I hope to have a photo of that and of the collection of "Hospice Cardigans" - the HDHBEM is concentrating on finishing her current sweater before this year closes.

At the library today I got an audiobook with10 CDs; that should ensure we both have a productive New Years weekend.   The weather is lousy - we have had constant heavy rain for 24 hours now and they say that there are still two days of rain to come.   Where oh where has the summer gone to?

Well until tomorrow.

I am a lists girl!

2011-12-27T21:30:00.000+13:00

Currently I am on two weeks holiday - the annual Christmas New Year Closedown here in New Zealand and at the start of the break, I made lists. A shopping list for Christmas and New Year groceries; a menu for Christmas and New Year meals; a "spring cleaning" list for all the cleaning that didn't get done at the start of Spring and a list of what stitching projects I needed to finish before the end of this year.

Shopping list is done - a big tick here

Menu list is done - another big tick here

Spring Cleaning is three quarters done but there are still 4 days till the end of the year!

Stitching projects are complete - a very big tick here!

And what's more I have had time for some holiday too - yesterday the HDHBEM and I went south to Hobbiton. Very close to the small rural town of Matamata is where Sir Peter Jackson is filming most of Hobbiton and the town is justifiably proud of its fame!

On the way back we drove through an even smaller rural town (possibly only a village?) where they had the main street decorated with hanging baskets and these flower pot sculptures. Top marks to the businessmens association for this bright idea.

We saw this "wagon" outside the Wagon Wheels diner - those old Morris cars were sure made to last weren't they!

Today we went to see this

Meryl Streep was brilliant I thought - although I can't honestly say I'm truly a fan of Baroness Thatcher herself. She must have been extremely difficult to get along with. As we were getting back into the car after the movie a bee landed on my left hand and stung me! Nasty beastie. I flicked him off and extracted the sting. All my life I have been told how like my father I am but obviously that is not true. He was wildly allergic to bee stings and obviously I am not although my hand is rather red and a little painful but not enough to stop me making the effort to finish my stitiching tonight.

I have finished the needlebook

and it needs a good press but on the whole I am pleased with it.

And the red ABCD hussif is constructed too but as I stitched over one thread of fabric this has come out half size and so will hold only the scissor pocket. I need to find a suitable bead/button to form the closure but for the purposes of the lists will consider this a finish!

The left hand side is folded over to form a pocket which will easily fit a packet of needles so this could be quite a useful "mini-hussif". Several years ago Little Sister gave me stork scissors which just fit the scissor pocket and their gold handles tone well. I am well pleased with this item.

For Christmas I gave the HDHBEM a book and so she is absorbed in her own little world and it has been a silent evening in our house! Knitting has been laid to one side and she will very soon need to be called back to reality and sent to bed. Wish me luck as I go and call her back to the here and now.

Have a happy evening evrryone.

And a merry Christmas to all

2011-12-24T20:44:00.000+13:00

Good evening from New Zealand. It's Christmas Eve here and I have been super busy yesterday and today with a total clean of the house from ceiling to floor in every room. My car needed a wash but time ran out as did energy levels. Groceries are bought, the menu is decided, preparations are made and tonight I can stitch in front of Midsomer Murders Christmas Special.

I have two items left on my stitching list for this year - the red needlebook which needs one day to construct it; and this.....

which needs more than one day to complete the stitching and to construct. Just as well I have two weeks holiday from work isn't it?
Santa has been to visit my house already and left a stack of gifts under the tree. I know this for sure as his elves delivered some of them to the Post Office and I had to go and collect them.

Some years ago before her sight deteriorated badly, the HDHBEM stitched this for my tree

And that is what I wish you all. Have a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

All the way from Asahikawa

2011-12-17T17:04:00.000+13:00

My postman and I are getting really well acquainted lately. Boxes and packages are coming from all parts of the world and on Friday he brought me a real beauty from my friend Yuko in Asahikawa.
We go back a long long way, Yuko and I (1988 we first met I think?) so she knows my tastes really well.
So let me show you what the package contained - by the way, nothing was wrapped in Christmas paper so I feel justified in opening them all!

A box of my favourite Kibana cookies (an Asahikawa specialty), some tiny decorated memo cards (which the HDHBEM has already purloined), a fancy tape dispenser, some cotton fabric, a sweet Santa stocking ornament, and ......

these spools. Won't they be a great addition to my Sampler Casket when it gets finished.

And this cup of coffee - well it's a pin cushion actually

And these gingham reindeer clips which are already on my Christmas Tree.
This was a real delight to open and I am sure going to enjoy all these goodies.

On the stitching front, I have finally finished the cover panels of my hussif. Tonight I want to tack out the shapes for the needlebook, the scissor pocket, awl holder and scissor fob. The decoration on each of those is up to me and my design skills are not good so this could result in some trial and error. This final panel of the hussif was stitched around three times as I reverse stitched almost all of it at least once!
Time to go and cook dinner now so I will sign off. Have a good weekend everyone.

At the request of Little Sister

2011-12-16T21:34:00.000+13:00

My little sister always has a "decorate the Christmas Tree" party at the beginning of December. She lives about 7 hours drive away from me so I never get to the party or see her tree. But every year she asks if I have put my tree up and am I going to put photos on my blog???? I wasn't going to this year but....at your request Little Sister here are some photos.

These mittens are one of my favourite ornaments on the tree.

Last year I made three hanging ornaments - here's two of them

And the third was this Nativity Scene. "Christmas Joy" was done several years ago now.

Little Sis gave me the kit for this one a couple of years ago. Do you remember it Sis?

Not all the ornaments are stitched - this Russian painted bell was a gift from the HDHBEM, purchased here in Auckland at a wonderful little gift store in the arcade.

Of course it is necessary to have a Santa ( a Prairie Schooler card from decades ago).

And angels I have aplenty. This one came all the way from Japan and is of stiffened crochet lace.

Clip on ornaments have come from Japan too - a Santa Bear, joined this year by a gingham reindeer.

And finally a shot of the tree itself.

It looks a little sparsely decorated from this angle but believe me, there is an ornament on every branch! I know I placed each one myself.
So, Little Sister, hereby endeth the report of the 2011 Christmas Tree. Hope yours looks as beautiful as mine :-)

A new recipe, a new arrival and ABCs

2011-12-14T21:43:00.000+13:00

Good evening all. Today has been another day of wind and rain, although as the wind is coming from the north it is warm. Our weather forecast is for another four days of rain! Where oh where has our summer gone?? Please send it back to us if you find it.

I have been trying out a new recipe - broccoli, parmesan, lemon and breadcrumb stuffed chicken breasts. Delicious! The HDHBEM said "we must have these again" which in our house is high praise.

This morning before work the postman brought two parcels. One I have to leave until Christmas but the other long box was from Nordic Needle and has my supply of Congress Cloth. I was really distressed to find that unobtainable in New Zealand - apparently Zweigart supply only to the USA but Nordic Needle were able to mop up my tears and supply exactly what was needed. And they enclosed their latest catalogues so I have been absorbed in studying those tonight. Great bedtime reading!
The poor postman has been really busy visiting our place recently - and not all Christmas presents either. I have been internet shopping for fabrics and threads for next years projects. Only one more package to arrive - unless Santa's elves have some surprises in store for me.

And my new hussif is almost finished. Just the scissor pocket and the needle book cover for the inside. This is stitched in one thread of floss over one thread of 28 count Cashel linen. Somehow there has been a lot of reverse stitching done on this and the final panel (on the right of the photo) almost brought me to tears of frustration. The bottom section was stitched three times! Anyway it all meets up perfectly and now I need to find my box of alphabets and select an M to put in the middle and if I hurry I can put 2011 in the bottom space. The HDHBEM and I will go and select the lining fabric this Saturday - at least I will select the fabric and she will select buttons to go with the cardigans she has knitted. Perhaps next time I will show you her ever-growing stock of winter woollens.
I have completed all my Christmas shopping and will wrap the gifts and put them under the tree this weekend. Christmas baking will be on the agenda too and I need to write my grocery list to be sure not to miss anything. Hope you are all well advanced with preparations too. Have a good evening everyone.

A trip down memory lane

2011-12-08T19:48:00.000+13:00

This week the HDHBEM has been trawling through old copies of the New Stitches magazine. What a trip down memory lane it has been. We no longer subscribe to this magazine but as you can see we have quite a collection!

Among the ones that the HDHBEM extracted and handed me with a "do you remember this...." was the following.

My one claim to fame in the world of embroidery. All but one of the panels were taken directly out of the Heritage Sampler series in the magazines but the bag wasn't capacious enough with just six panels so I concocted the seventh from a sampler chart I had at the time. This bag was stitched over several months and completed in 2001 but since then has never been used. It sits on a shelf in my cupboard holding a variety of needlebooks and hussifs no longer in use but I brought it out tonight for an up date photo of other panels.

What else has the HDHBEM been doing? Well she has been reading and eating. We both chortled over this book

but at the time she read it the HDHBEM hadn't seen (or didn't remember seeing) Baumkuchen. Sadie, the wife of Mr Rosenblum cooked this cake numerous times - a kind of therapy - but try as I might I couldn't explain to the HDHBEM exactly what these cakes would look like. Then my kind friend Sonoko sent a box of these and I pounced. "Mother! These are the ones mentioned in that book!" and instantly they became even more desirable.

They are delicious but so far in the preparations for Christmas I am managing to avoid unnecessary calories.
Thankyou Sonoko for giving my mother so much pleasure.
Have a good evening everyone.

A catch up

2011-12-03T18:03:00.000+13:00

Where oh where does the time go to when it flies by so fast??? What have I been doing???
There has been some finishing done here - the Christmas prism is done and filled with delicious Lindor chocolates. This week it will be on the way to its final destination.

A small ornament was made and sent to Little Brother (and I forgot to take a photo) because Little Brother has bee hives on his mini-farm. For that sentence to make sense, I need to tell you that the ornament said Must Bee Christmas and the 'bee' was actually a stitched bee. It was a freebie off the net but I can't remember where. He also has walnut trees, apple trees, plum trees and a huge bed of lavendar. I love Little Brother's mini farm - and of course I love Little Brother, all six foot four inches of him!
I have been and visited six day old Kelly - isn't she soooo cute.

I have been given this "fragrance sachet" in the shape of a cow. All the way from Japan, this ornament is filled with a fragrance that is sure to last the year long.

I have attended a farewell for my god-daughter who is going away to Hong Kong to live for a year before coming back to study at university in Auckland. It is exciting to see her growing up and becoming independent but I will miss her badly. Two boxes of her "must keep" memorabilia are stored in my garage so she will be back. Besides which, she promised!

A friend, who together with her husband is in missionary work in the remotest part of Zambia, was home briefly and brought me this fantastic handbag. An entrepreneurial ex-pat woman Gillie Lightfoot has started a business in Zambia, employing local Zambian woman to manufacture these bags. They are genuine cowhide leather and exceptionally well made. I am delighted - when Rachel said red, I had visions of cherry or tomato but this is actually a fantastic cranberry colour. Happy happy happy!

I have made Cattern Cakes - inspired by those I ate at the Lacemakers Guild on St Cattern's Day. They are delicious. Cinnamon, currants, all spice and a hint of carraway rolled up in a similar fashion to a Catherine Wheel. The internet was the source of my recipe and these were a major success. I shall make them again and well before the next St Cattern's Day.

And finally a marathon of stitching produced these- well this is only a teaser photo as they have yet to arrive at their destination.

And that's all from me. I am off to get dinner for the HDHBEM who has been unwell and laid up all day. Such a beautiful day too! But she sent me off this afternoon to buy my own Christmas gift - some new clothes. I told the ladies in the shop that I wanted my Little Sister to go wow when she saw them and they jumped into action. So Little Sister you are warned - you need to practice your Wow now. I will see you on January 21st next year!
Have a great evening.

Lucets, Lace and a Little Progress

2011-11-20T17:41:00.000+13:00

Today I spent the morning as a visitor at the Embroiderers and Lacemakers Guild. It is St Cattern's Day (otherwise known as St Catherine) and she is the patron saint of Spinners, Weavers and Lacemakers. This was the reason for their Open Day but the reason I went was for a refresher course in Lucet Cording. Several years ago I learnt this but never felt confident so off I went today.
However in the "meet and greet, have a cup of tea" time I spied an elderly lady setting up a beginners bobbin lace table and I was then sidetracked from Lucets to Lace.

She kindly introduced me to Twists and Crosses and I started to see how bobbins and threads and pins can create lace. Much practice is still needed but I think I am hooked and now I will try and get the book she recommended through Amazon.

I did manage to get the necessary refresher in Lucet cording though and will try and practice this week to cement the technique and the tips in my memory.

There's a few too many nobbly bits on this practice piece for any degree of satisfaction but as with the piano - practice makes perfect!
On the stitching front I have finished the pulled thread cushion (this is not its permanent home -hence the colour clash)

and made some progress on the Red Needlebook. But the other stitching is for gifts so no photos, sorry.
Work promises to be a lot busier this week which will be great - better busy than bored - but I have Thursday off and plan on a visit to the bookshop (Christmas presents), the clothes shop (a new jacket) and of course the Needlework Shop! Have a great week everybody.

On the home straight!

2011-11-13T20:10:00.000+13:00

This Christmas Prism has been a long time in the making. Too long really. So this weekend I made a determined effort and cut the four equilateral triangles for the outer in a strong cardboard; then the four slightly smaller ones for the inner from a very stiff vilene. Next step to lace all the pieces on to both outer and inner.

Right that's enough - a break is called for. So I finished off page one of the needlebook. This is my "guild day" piece but I was dissatisfied with progress and wanted some visible evidence of time spent. So one late night (in company with Hercule Poirot) and one early morning (quietly so as not to wake the HDHBEM) and page one is complete.

Page two has the frame done and I can now stitch happily on the alphabet for this page at Embroiderers Guild this coming Saturday. But my conscience keeps nagging 'prism prism' so back I go again.

All the inners are now stitched to the outers.   This leaves only the base to join together.   Then comes the making of yards of twisted cord to edge each prism face.   Oh dear.   Maybe next weekend for that one?? I am particularly pleased with the red silk lining. I bought this in Japan years ago and have always enjoyed the subtle "print" of chrysanthemum, storks and other very Japanese symbols.
The Christmas Prism is from Un Natale da Ricamore 2008 but I used DMC threads and Lugana fabric from my stash.   Note to self - Lugana fabric is too thick and cumbersome to manipulate for 3D projects.   Do what the designer says!!
The Needlebook is an SAL I stumbled across on the internet.   You can go here for a look.   I am stitching in one thread of DMC 115 over one thread of 28 count cream Cashel Linen.
Yesterday the HDHBEM and I went to a local shopping mall and I finally got my birthday gift -  a beautiful blue tourmaline ring.   Worth waiting for wasn't it!   I'm afraid that a morning at the mall exhausted her strength so the afternoon was spent quietly by her and in the garden by me. All in all a relaxing weekend and I should be revived and refreshed for work tomorrow morning!!
Have a good evening everyone and remember only six weeks until Christmas!

Belated Birthday Lunch

2011-11-06T17:27:00.000+13:00

Yesterday we finally got to go for the Birthday Lunch - after the catastrophe on the actual day!
The HDHBEM and I went across to the north side of the harbour to a "new-for-us" Japanese restaurant.
Very nice too!
Here are snaps to prove it so.

And inside

The small chap was so cute but he went home not long after so the floor show disappeared!

Miso soup and green tea. Somehow a paper cup wasn't quite what I expected - and a tea bag??!! But the meal tasted wonderful and was really filling.

The HDHBEM had Prawn Tempura Lunch Box and pronounced herself totally satisfied! I had Teriyaki Chicken Lunch Box which was delicious.
After lunch we went shopping and the HDHBEM bought herself a new jacket which she wore to church this morning.

Nice colour - the label says Cranberry - and I am happy it is not "old lady pink". "When she starts choosing that pale faded old lady pink then I start looking at Residential Aged Care facilities", I tell her hoping she will understand that to be a joke but with hidden intent. I hate pale faded old lady pink!!!!
It is now wet and raining and time to start cooking dinner. Talk to you again soon. Have a good evening.

Mass Production

2011-11-05T15:50:00.000+13:00

Same chart, same stitcher but how different. These tassells haven't been shown off yet and since I don't have any other stitching to show you or news to tell this is it folks!

The pink rose one which is Alternative B and is rarely done as that one on one stitching in numerous shades is reserved only for special occasions!!

And the satin stitch tone on tone one which is Alternative A and features on the top of my "most stitched chart" list.

These all have skinny tassells but depending on how late at night I am finishing these they can have fat tassells too! This one got the royal treatment with a detached buttonhole net covering!

These tassells were designed by an elderly embroiderer in the Waikato Embroiderers Guild - just south of where I live. This is a teaching piece for which she has never published the chart. As I have stitched at least 30 of these for gifts (and one for myself) she probably should have charged royalties! These are a delight to stitch and I love it that they can only ever be gifts as Majorie no longer tutors for classes.

Spring weather is as fickle as..... and today is windy and cold and our South Island has had big snow! Only two days ago it was sunny and a warm 21 degrees celsius. I'm off outside to wash the car and then it is dinner and an evening with Poirot. Good night all.

And the birthday evening was spent at .......

2011-10-29T14:03:00.000+13:00

Yesterday was a really exciting day.   I got to ride in a thoroughly modern ambulance and spend my evening sitting in the emergency department of the hospital.   Yes!!   The HDHBEM got sicker and sicker so we pushed the Lifeline alarm and - I wish I could say tout-de-suite but in reality it was lots longer than that - Nick and Matt the ambulance men came and carted us both off to ED.   Of course I went!   Sans stitching, sans book, sans camera, sans everything except the taxi fare home, my mobile phone and the front door key.
So when I got home at 1:30am I had to wash the dinner dishes (I had eaten my solitary meal many hours before), wash my tired white face and only then could I go to bed but not to sleep well.
This morning at 7:30 the hospital phoned to say come and collect your HDHBEM (well it wasn't exactly a request, more like an order to get there quickly) so I obediently went off and did so. She is now resting in her comfy chair, dozing on and off and at this precise moment in time attempting a Sudoku! The very firm doctor who discharged her told her to drink 12 glasses of water a day!   Seemed to me to be rather a lot of work for her solitary kidney but I will make sure she keeps the fluids up - I don't want another scare like that again!
However, at the very firm instructions of the HDHBEM I made a quick sortie to the LNS and spent the vouchers.   The birthday gift shopping date has been postponed - not cancelled!   More on that later but here's a quick snapshot of todays loot.   I wanted to replenish my basics of Cashel and Belfast linen, the four brown flosses are for a project currently underway but alas, not yet photographed for the blog, and the other two are, well ~~impulse buys~~ added extras.

Now it looks like there is a quiet afternoon ahead so perhaps the roses will get finished, the pulled thread completed and, oh yes, the ironing may get done too!
Have a happy weekend everyone.

57 years ago today....

2011-10-28T19:06:00.003+13:00

57 years ago today, the HDHBEM brought me into the world and has loved me to bits ever since. This morning she presented me with a beautiful card and vouchers to the LNS and tomorrow she is taking me to buy me a birthday present. She insists that I choose it myself so a-shopping we will go.

HDHBEM isn't well tonight so we will leave the birthday meal until tomorrow when we plan to go to a Japanese restaurant across the harbour. That is after we have been to the LNS and birthday-gift shopping.

I started this last weekend and was really up to speed last night until I found that in all my mountain of stash there was no DMC 225. Near my work there is a small sewing machine repair shop which has a few DMC threads and fortunately the one I needed, so tonight I will complete this. Only another two roses to go. Why oh why, do roses have to have so many shades of colour??

My mental list of "want to stitch" grows ever longer but I have three must-be-finished pieces. Two of those are for Christmas gifts so I have an immovable deadline which is probably a good thing. Although I may be distracted by these....

My requests at the Library came in this week. I'm looking forward to seeing whether Jeffery Deaver's James Bond is as fulfilling as Ian Fleming's were. Sebastian Faulk's 2008 Bond novel failed to meet my expectations and became, for me, merely one crossed off the list.

Hopefully back with some more progress and photos tomorrow. Have a great night everyone.

Labour Weekend

2011-10-24T17:53:00.001+13:00

Today, the fourth Monday in October is Labour Day in New Zealand and therefore a public holiday. So it has been a long holiday weekend.
On Saturday I drew up a list of everything I needed to get done and the order in which I would do it so as to be home before the roads closed at the Eden Park Rugby Stadium. Then I started this .....

Once the tacking was completed I searched my Perle Threads for a suitable match and no luck. Oh dear oh dear. Quickly, before Hercule Poirot came on the television I started this....

No tacking needed and necessary Perle Thread in stash. Dear old Hercule accompanied me to this point and at 11pm I went off for some beauty sleep.

Sunday I did some more of this...... Not far to go now and I intend to make this into a cushion for which I have purchased the backing fabric. That was a marathon shopping effort - I looked at pink. No this is definitely not pink. Try apricot. No definitely not apricot. Try a print - too large; then too small. Run out of patience and declare "I must go home" and lo and behold the exact toned print material appears before my eyes. Whoopee.

Then in order to ensure I can legitimately call myself a New Zealander I prepared for a rugby watching session on the television.   Having got through this Rugby World Cup without watching one match I felt compelled to see this final one through.   My brothers are to blame for my singular lack of knowledge of our national sport.   They didn't play rugby so I have no idea of the rules or the tactics but I do know how to score and to ~~yell~~ speak loudly at the television offering advice to "my" side and telling the French where to go and when to stop and what to do!
"Just hold on to the ball", she shouted.   "There's only a minute and a half to go"!!
Now, I know I live very close to the stadium but this was really a little over the top!   Anyway with my expert coaching and sideline encouragement the All Blacks WON!!   My whole city, indeed my whole country is happy and very tired.
And since you ask, yes the HDHBEM did sit up and watch.   She's far more enthusiastic than I, but today she is not only half deaf half blind, she is also half awake and her heart has gone into atrial fibrillation.   So she's medicated and in bed!   How silly of us both to suffer so for a sport we don't even enjoy.   But then, we do enjoy basking in the glory and gloating over our win.
This morning in honour of our win I stitched myself a black pencil skirt for work. Nothing major but a good fit and tonight I will put up the hem.   How suitable, I thought to myself, a black skirt to commemorate an All Black win.   I don't even need to go into The City to join the victory parade.   I can have my little celebration right here at home!

This afternoon I drove out to Muriwai Beach; without my camera so these shots were taken on my cheap mobile telphone. It was a glorious day and there were several intrepid men gliding off the cliffs in these fragile looking paragliders. Good on them. For me this is definitely a specatator sport.
Well I have had a lovely weekend and I'm off now to grill chicken for dinner and then it will be an early night as I have work tomorrow. What a shame!

Drum roll please - the winner is.....

2011-10-20T19:52:00.000+13:00

Good evening all, Madame Muriel Flat Flossie here for a very important announcement.
My stay in New Zealand with my hostess and her HDHBEM has come to a close. My hostess has prepared my travel capsule and tonight the HDHBEM took out her special bowl for the grand drawing.

Apparently there were 7 people who wanted me to come for a visit. How great is that! I feel very very popular and honoured that my fame has travelled so far around the Globe. Why, there were offers from Canada, America, Germany and the United Kingdom. I checked to make sure that all entries were in the bowl.

Anyway, let me just tell you how honoured I was that this bowl was used. The HDHBEM received this bowl as part of a tea set 60 years ago when she got married. How amazing! It's still in one piece because my hostess doesn't use it except on very special occasions.

So I watched closely while the HDHBEM drew a paper. I will really miss the HDHBEM - she might be really ancient but she is so kind and her hands are sooo soft. Must be all that knitting she does.
Anyway the result of the drawing is that I am going to visit Jo

Jo says she lives in East Anglia and my hostess got out her Road Map of Great Britain to show me.
Can you email your postal address to my hostess please Jo, and she will ensure that I get on the correct aeroplane.    I look forward to meeting you and the boys very soon.

Many thanks to all of you who extended an invitation.   Please don't give up - I will come to you soon

Farewell New Zealand.    Rule Britannia!!

Needles with no eyes!

2011-10-15T19:08:00.000+13:00

Good afternoon all. This week has been crazy. I think I have told you before that the HDHBEM knits childrens cardigans and sweaters for the local hospice shop. She loves it and has great fun planning what to knit next. We have now crossed dark wine coloured yarn off our list, haven't we Mother? So much reversing and so much frustration that eventually 'obedient daughter' issued an ultimatum - "you will not knit any more of that. I will complete it." Believe me folks, this was a very generous offer from one who does not like needles without eyes! Anyway the garment is now finished and the HDHBEM is knitting a lovely grey marl which even her poor eyesight can manage perfectly. Just as well:-)
I am back on my pulled thread piece.

This chart has nine small squares of nine different pulled thread stitches. This photo is of square three. Look to the left a little - can you see the "sad area"? Squares one and two have been stitched - and reversed! I have decided that although numbered one and two they shall be last and second-to-last. This chart is all in French so I am getting very good at guessing: have to be really as the last time I used French was over 40 years ago.

Here's a bad close up photo of the successful effort. A little pale but this was taken in the last of the daylight. Still you can see the effect.

Today was Embroiderers' Guild meeting and I did some more work on my Pochette ABC'Dair.   All that tacking was a major test of patience but it is paying off and I know that all the pieces will line up when I come to construction.
Tonight is the first of the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.   Wales versus France.   I will not be watching but as the venue is only 5 minutes walk from my house I will hear the crowd I'm sure.   After stitching while watching Midsomer Murders I will check the internet to see who won before going to bed.   Good plan??
Just between you and me, I don't really care who wins tonight.   It's the game tomorrow night between New Zealand and Australia where I need to have New Zealand win.   Can you all cross your fingers for that please.
Well, I will talk to you later.   Good night all.

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go....

2011-10-10T20:39:00.002+13:00

Well, it's me again and that title really says it all. My hostess has been asking where I want to visit next. Apparently she will book my flight anywhere I want to go but I must have an invitation. She said there might be visa problems if I don't have a suitable ~~sponsor~~ hostess.

So tonight we had the atlas out. All those pages - some of them very dog-eared too I might add. I wanted to suggest just sticking a pin at random into one of those multi-coloured pages but my hostess was aghast at that idea.   She flatly refused to assist me with that and suggested a blog posting instead.
Here we go with a little post I had prepared previously....

Unaccustomed as I am to posting about myself or my travels on this blog (or indeed any other blog), I have drawn on every ounce of my courage to make this plea.   I need a place to visit.
My requirements are few so I list them below:
1.   I need an invitation from a willing hostess.
2.   The willing hostess needs to show me the sights of her town/city of residence and agree to take photographs and post them on her blog.
3.   The willing hostess will need to fill in my passport - I find it very difficult to hold a pen in my hands and require the services of a scribe who can read, write and speak English.
4.    The willing hostess will need to provide a postcard of her town/city of residence to help fill the pocket in my passport.
5.    The willing hostess will need to provide a small gift for me to take with me when I journey on from her place to the next. (BRIBE here - I will be bringing with me a gift from my current hostess)

Yes!   I have just checked with my hostess and her HDHBEM and apparently that is the total requirement.  So if any of you out there who are reading this blog, are longing to meet me in person please leave a comment on this post.   The HDHBEM said she will assist in drawing a name from "Grandma's Bowl" on 20 October and my hostess said she has my luggage ready so I can travel immediately my destination is decided.

PS   Perhaps I should let you know my destinations of choice are (in no particular order)

Scotland (anywhere they have tartan kilts)
Wales (A photo of me with Wills and Kate would become a family heirloom)
Dublin (I hear this is in the Emerald Isle and I just love emeralds)
London (a visit to the Queen would be high on my list but I would settle for Phillip, Charles, Andrew, Edward, Sophie, Camilla, Beatrice, Eugenie, .... OK OK you get the picture )

and to a different continent
Zanzibar (I am told the beaches there are beautiful and I didn't get much of a tan while here in Auckland)
South Africa (If those emeralds I mentioned above aren't possible well there are diamond mines here)

or perhaps
Canada (I'd love to meet one of those handsome Mounties)

or
well anywhere really.   I'm not fussy!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

A day out at the Embroiderers Regional Day

2011-10-08T18:25:00.000+13:00

We were both up early this morning to travel to Orewa. Yes! I didn't know where this was either - but it's a small beachside town about half an hours drive north of The City. My hostess hates being late so we were early!!! But this gave us time to go to the lookout and she kindly took a photo so I can show you the beach. What a pity the tide's out otherwise I might have been tempted to swim.

My hostess drives a little blue Mazda car but you might be wondering how I get around to all these places she takes me. So last night while she was preparing I suggested a photo of my 'travelling style' might allay all this curiosity.
My previous hostess found me this wonderful travelling pod. It really protects me from too many knocks and bruises although it does rather crush my velvet skirt :-)

My hostess says that this pod is fine for international travel but she feels it is too confining for domestic trips so she sat me in her special embroidery basket. I was well cushioned by her "tool box" and her needle book.

Oh? You want to see what's on that band? So did I, so this morning before we left I asked for another photo. The other side is different but she said one photo was enough! What? So we compromised on a close up of the detail on the other side.

This regional day is for all members of the embroiderers guilds from the very Far North down to The City. There were about 200 women there and I think I lowered the average age immediately I entered the hall. Ha ha!

But here's proof - all the grey hair here! I was so pleased I kept my bonnet on and covered my own tresses. These old greyheads ( to borrow a word from my hostess) were all looking at samples of work from each of the Guilds. Apparently there's a lot of cross pollination in this field and many of the tutors travel from one guild to another teaching the same technique on different projects.

This lady is from the Far North and my hostess owes her a BIG obligation. This lady was the tutor who taught my hostess how to do Kogin - look at that fantastic sample on her knee. I think this was right side up - her work is soooo beautiful that the back is as good as the front. Not like the work my hostess does (ha ha hee hee)

They had a speaker too. Priscilla is an expert in Silk and she has travelled The Silk Road several times.   Today she spoke about her recent six weeks from Shanghai to Samarkand - not only was her lecture interesting but her textile art and clothing were amazing.   Just look at this.   She made that quilt and her own jacket - all out of silk.   I was speechless when she told us she had torn up ten and a half yards of handpainted silk into strips about quarter of an inch wide.   She then knitted all those strips into a cardigan.   For goodness sake, I thought to myself.   Hasn't the lady ever seen a yarn store?   But I loved the sweater and tried to persuade my hostess to buy it for me.   My hostess snorted!   She really did.   And after the snort she told me she didn't have that much money in her bank and if I wanted to buy it then I could pay for it.
Anyway my hostess made good progress on her "project to carry to guild meetings" - the first alphabet is finished. She told me to tell you the details, so here we go -   Pochette ABCD'air; one strand of DMC 115 over one thread of Antique White 28 count Cashel Linen and the chart is from here.   (Hope I got that right)
My hostess sat next to her friend Beth today and Beth kindly took this photograph of me.

And just so you don't worry, my hostess put the last cross in Z just as the lady in charge said "thank you all for coming. Please take care as you drive home." We did take care and we are home safely now.
I need to talk to you all tomorrow about my travel plans but meanwhile I'm off for some beauty sleep. Goodnight all.

A visit to the Exhibition

2011-10-02T16:21:00.000+13:00

Good afternoon to you all,
My Hostess belongs to the Auckland Embroiderers Guild and their annual exhibition finished today. Just before closing we managed to find time to visit. The cute little old building is called Bishop Selwyns Residence but it's only his ghost that lives there now.

We had a good look around all the beautiful pieces - somebody called Stella had stitched that famous piece called Beatrix Potter Companion Quaker. I liked that one but my hostess and her HDHBEM were really attracted to all the artistic pieces. The HDHBEM liked a thread picture of the New Zealand bush - she told me it was in Silk Shading and my hostess said she hates doing that so I don't hold out any hope of a souvenir in that style.
In school holidays the Guild run a class for children called Little Sew and Sews and they had a colourful table of all their work. Really interesting. Those children are clever - see that big piece just behind HDHBEM in this picture. Those children stitched that for a national exhibition and they won a prize. I almost took my hat off to them - but I thought it might mess up my hair!

I wasn't allowed to take many photos of the pieces but the kind ladies Con and Rebecca said they would smile for me.

They have to sit by the door and make sure people sign the visitors book and buy raffle tickets for those baskets. The HDHBEM and my hostess both bought tickets - I hope they win something as those baskets were filled with all sorts of luxuries.
On the way home my hostess drove us past the house where the New Zealand Prime Minister lives - even though she said "my friend John" I think she must have been joking as we didn't call in for a cup of tea.

Then she took me to see her "favourite building in Auckland" - this huge building is on top of a hill and looks out over the city. It is the Auckland War Memorial Museum and my hostess really loves it. She told me all about it but I've forgotten a lot - the names of the battles where New Zealand soldiers fought in World War One are engraved all around the building above those windows. At least I think that's what she said. I said I thought that on a fine day, the building would look even more stupendous - she had to agree with that! Today is once again, wet and gloomy.

Just down the hill from her favourite building is the Winter Garden. Strange name for it really, as inside it was full of colour - Spring flowers and so so fragrant. I loved it there. So did the HDHBEM.
We all loved these spiky orange tulips and the dark, almost black ones,

Across the courtyard was another building that my hostess said was the tropical house. But she was concerned the heat and humidity might make ~~her~~ my hair frizzy so we just admired from a distance and then came home.

So endeth another day. Despite the grey wet conditions of this weekend I think my hostess has done me proud. I'm enjoying seeing all her favourite places and I love the way that the HDHBEM absolutely insists on having her share of the photographs.
My hostess has a busy week at work this week so I will be home keeping HDHBEM company and possibly helping her concentrate on the knitting pattern which seems to be causing some frustration!
Bye for now.

A stitching update and the results of a draw

2011-10-01T18:33:00.000+13:00

Hello to you all. It has been chilly with threatening rain here all day and although I have been out and about the HDHBEM has been indoors knitting. She has two garments on the needles at present - one is a test of concentration and is consistently put aside while the "neural paths" revive. The other is plain knitting and is definitely the favourite as little concentration is required!!

I have been stitching and the first of the Brides Tree Ornaments is completed. These will not be finished as ornaments. I intend to quilt them - with a suitably coordinating fabric- and create a table runner for one of my nieces. Being quite sure that she would not want twelve hand made ornaments for her Christmas tree, but having confidence that she would appreciate the symbolism I decided on a "non-ornamental" finish. No way these will be finished for Christmas this year - this is a long term project with completion scheduled for November 2012.

My pale pink pulled-thread piece is also started. I'm really enjoying the change from little XXX's but as the instructions are all in French this is proving somewhat of a challenge. There are nine little squares each with a different 'stitch' and I plan on making the completed piece into a cushion.

Now as promised, today was the day for the draw. I persuaded the HDHBEM to perform once more and here she is...

Despite cataract surgery the left eye still has poor vision - and in my book both ears are half deaf !! -

But nothing wrong with the hands - or the curiosity to see who is the lucky winner.

And so Ann if you will email me your postal address the 12 Days of Christmas chart will be on its way to you. Perhaps you will get these stitched in time for December 25th?? Eighty four stitching days left.
Thankyou to all who participated in this draw. It is encouraging to know so many actually read my ramblings.
Have a good evening. I am off to do my dinner dishes before settling down to watch Midsomer Murders.

A visit to Devonport

2011-10-01T16:20:00.000+13:00

Kia Ora
Today is cold and grey but my hostess kept her promise and took me in on the bus so we could catch the ferry to Devonport.

This is the ferry - well not the one we travelled on of course but her sister! The Hilton Hotel behind was built over the water to look like a cruise ship. My hostess told me she had stayed in the Bow Suite. I'm quite sure I smiled politely but she must have thought I didn't believe her and she found a photo to prove it.

Looking back from the ferry I got a lovely view of Auckland City. That large whiteroof in the centre front is called The Wave by the architects and Party Central by everyone else. The left hand white roof is the BIG screen where the Rugby World Cup games are shown. Tonight is England versus Scotland and there were ever so many lovely Scotsmen in their kilts walking around the city. When the wind got up it was really exciting! I blushed a deep deep red and worried that my hostess might be embarrassed.

We saw their Harbour Bridge. Apparently there are some rude people who call this 'the coathanger' but I really can't think why. It had four lanes when they first built it but the silly planners didn't calculate the number of cars correctly and they had to ask a Japanese engineering firm to make some extra car lanes and clip them on the sides. Now the folks here in Auckland call those 'the Nippon Clip-ons'.
Devonport is only a five minute ferry ride from Auckland city. The first thing I saw when we got out of the terminal building was this....

"Do you think I'm going to ride in that", I asked. But, she said the thought had never crossed her mind and she had no intention of paying $8 to ride in some old fashioned thing like that! Perhaps I should have asked more politely and she might have said yes! Opportunity missed.

This place was great. Can you smell the chocolate? I had a great time here. This place makes so many flavours of chocolate - even a special Hokey Pokey one. It took three people to explain to me that Hokey Pokey is a butterscotch toffee type sweet that crackles when you eat it. New Zealanders put it into chocolate and into icecream and they love it. Not wanting to soil my pristine white apron I was reluctant to try it out so cannot vouch for the accuracy of their descriptions.

We went to the yarn shop and to the quilting shop but alas, my hostess forgot to take a photograph of me there. When I timidly voiced my disappointment she dismissively said "well you have better where you come from. I'm trying to give you unique experiences you know".

Maybe that is why she took me past this place.

I remembered she said that Kiwis cannot fly so wondered aloud why they needed a Flight Centre.   Then, oh dear, she said with tears in her eyes that she thought I might like to consider where I wanted to visit next.
Uh? Truth to tell I am enjoying myself so much I hadn't thought about that. Anyway we had a discussion and apparently the itinerary is -
Tomorrow we go to the Auckland Embroiderers Guild Annual Display of Work at Bishop Selwyns Residence.   Doesn't that sound posh.
Next Saturday we go to a place called Orewa, where all the embroidery ladies from this region get together for a stitch and chat day.
Methinks I might like to visit those but then perhaps I need to think about where to next.   My hostess said she will write about it all on her blog in a week or two but she was rather hoping I could stay until her birthday before I went on with my journey.   Anyway I pleaded with her to put out the word and see if there was anyone else who had a spare bed for me and would show me other interesting places.   Please think about it.
And now I'm really tired so its back to my sleeping pod and bye bye for now.

A Giveaway

2011-09-25T20:52:00.000+13:00

The Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments are now all finished - well still to be constructed - but I am pleased to have the stitching all done. What I want to do is offer the chart to a good home so if anyone would like these charts to stitch then please leave a comment on this post. On 1 October I will get out Grandma's bowl and have the HDHBEM choose one person.

And in a case of 'finish one start two', I have begun the Brooke's Books Bride Tree Ornaments and a piece of pulled thread work. Photos to follow when there is more progress to show!
It has been a wet day here and we are short one hour as Daylight Saving Time has started. Well have a good week everyone.

A visit to the Golden Arches

2011-09-24T17:46:00.000+12:00

Hi there everyone.   Today my hostess brushed my dress, made sure I was tidy and told me we were going out.   Now what's a girl to think?   I wondered if I was off to meet the boy friend - well in a way I was! Her friend Ronald.

We drove up to those famous Golden Arches and I squealed, "you have those here too".   Stupid really.   We all know they are everywhere.   Turns out her friend Ronald McDonald has lots of his places all round this country.   We went to one at Royal Oak.   No Queen, no King and definitely no Oak!!
On our way into the place she mentioned we were having Kiwi Burger. Another squeal from me!   "You mean you eat those cute little feathery no-fly birds?"    I consulted Kiwi who was with us.

Again stupid really....turns out that these New Zealanders call anything they make a Kiwi product, hence Kiwi Burger.
Another strange thing ... these Kiwi Burgers aren't available all the time. I seem to be considered lucky I am visiting while these things are on special promotion!

Now can you see the box says "freshly made just for you" - she ate the whole lot! I didn't get to taste one bit. But she pronounced it OK and then said "I know why I don't eat McDonalds much". Maybe Ronald McDonald isn't a really close friend?!
Anyway, I asked what made these burgers Kiwi and she told me its because of what's in them - a beef pattie, an egg, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, tomato sauce, mustard and beetroot. I'm totally underwhelmed - such a fuss over a burger!

Not wanting to seem impertinent but in order to prepare myself I enquired where we might be going next. Seems there's a place called Devonport just across the harbour and we will go by ferry boat next Saturday.   I'm looking forward to that so must be off to sort out my nautical outfit to wear.
Tonight the New Zealand Rugby Team - those All Blacks - are playing France at Eden Park just down the road from here.   It will be loud so I have requested ear plugs and plan on having an early night.   A girl needs her beauty sleep you know.
Talk to you all again soon.   Ka Kite Anou

An answer for Adele

2011-09-21T18:54:00.000+12:00

Good evening all. Adele was asking for a close up shot of the whitework panel in "my masterpiece". I see that I had only one shot..... this one

Not very good is it??? So I very carefully took this one through the glass of the completed sampler.

This one isn't very good either. Oh dear.
And so Adele, I hope that helps. I seemed to take so many photographs of the progress of this sampler but obviously didn't get every element!
I'd highly recommend this sampler to anyone - see The Gift of Stitching site for details
Well I'm off now to do my dinner dishes and then to complete the final ornament in my "12 days of Christmas" series.
Talk to you all again at the weekend.

My masterpiece is now on display!!

2011-09-18T19:09:00.000+12:00

While away with Madame Muriel recently, I called at the lovely Sarah's and collected my masterpiece.

It is now hanging on the wall of my lounge directly opposite my stitching chair where I can enjoy viewing it. Even though it was months in progress I have never tired of this piece and still delight in it and in the knowledge I gained from the fantastic notes accompanying the chart. Many thanks to Gift of Stitching!

The 12 Days of Christmas are almost complete - only the 12th day to go now. I intend to finish these as individual tree ornaments for niece number three. I'm very pleased that for these I used up left over linen and floss from my stash.

Here's a close up of the 11th day - but only two drummers!! This series are numerically challenged. And size wise they are not totally satisfying as all are different sizes and many are different shapes - but in the charts there are historical notes about this "rhyme" which makes interesting reading as well as stitching. Once I have finished these I intend to pass on the charts so have a think about whether or not you would like this set. I'll let you know later when the draw is to be held.

I had a diversion this week with a couple of gifts to stitch. These are now done and will go on their journey this week so it is back to my normal stitching routine. Brooks Books "Brides Tree Ornaments are next on the list and I have tacked up the linen for those. I intend to finish them as a table runner for niece number two - probably for Christmas 2012!!

There have been other diversions too. The blog that first introduced me to this wonderful world of needlework blogging is Dani of The Peacock's Feather and through Dani I found "Stuck in A Book" and Simon has revived my addiction to libraries and second hand book shops and extended the scope of my reading too! But in all fairness I should say that I was not at all reluctant! Through him I have revived my love affair with Lord Peter Wimsey; been seduced into total silence as I read Mr Briggs Hat; etc etc. Anyway this afternoon the HDHBEM and I went out to a nearby suburb where lurks the Hard To Find Book Shop. Now I cannot make up my mind whether it is the books that are hard to find or is it the bookshop?
Inside this tiny store is a labyrinth of bookshelves, precarious looking ladders, stacks of books - all old but some ancient- a sleeping cat and two armchairs in which reside lifesize stockinette dolls dressed as old men and reading books!

Only a shortage of time and a knowledge that I had been to the library twice last week prevented my haul from being larger than this!!

Currently beside my bed I have the following.....

and these ....

The BBC World Book Club has to hold some responsibilty for the top two of this pile but "The Earth Hums in b Flat" is totally the result of my daily dose of "Stuck in a Book".

No prizes for guessing how my evenings are spent! My only problems are that the evenings are never long enough.

So its good night to all now as I was my dinner dishes, prepare my lunch box for tomorrow and complete the final Christmas ornament. Have a great evening everyone.

At last - sheep and lambs

2011-09-13T14:40:00.000+12:00

Hello again
If you remember she told me that Spring in New Zealand always means daffodils and lambs. Well it is Spring and on our road trip we saw lots and lots of both. Its a great colour combination and my artistic eye thought that verdant green, egg yolk yellow and pristine white go well together. Ha ha ha!
I was really persistent in making sure she took photographs and here's a collage of the cute little fluffy lambs. Most of the mother sheep had triplets or twins which the HDHBEM tells me makes the farmer man happy. I felt rather sorry for the mother sheep though - those little lambs are Very Energetic!

Lots of sheep means lots of wool and New Zealanders like knitting, almost as much as they like quilting, needlework and rugby!
The HDHBEM knits and knits and knits - and on our trip she saw this sign. I thought she was supposed to have poor sight but when I murmured something to that effect, she sternly told me that those letters were bigger than the top line of the Opthalmologists chart and she can read that!

I also said it looked like another cafe but there was no dissuading the HDHBEM. Here's a photo of the outside - it does look like a cafe doesn't it?

But inside is a knitters paradise. The HDHBEM was in knitter heaven and when we came out we had two huge bags of wool. Increased stash for HDHBEM. Happy smiles for the shop assistant - hope she was on commission!!

Here's a view of some of the stash. Apparently my hostess is to help skein these hanks - I'm really thankful my hands are too small as there's a lot of work ahead.

In the good old days when she only knew about big needles, my hostess used to knit too. One of her friends was rude enough to draw this cartoon of her

and when I laughed too much she set up a photo shoot for me with my friend Mr Merino. Tee hee! I am a real New Zealander now!! Look at me knitting - straight off the sheeps back!

And just to let you know - this road trip has really tired me out so I am going to settle in my little sleeping pod and rest for a few days. She said to tell you that there are still some other places she wants to visit and that I am not to book my tickets just yet. Besides which the accompanying luggage is still not completely sorted out, and my next hostess hasn't been decided so I am happily staying here in New Zealand a little longer.
Anyway Ka Kite Anou to you all.

A Road Trip to visit Little Brother

2011-09-12T19:48:00.000+12:00

Gidday Mate! She and the HDHBEM took me on a road trip to visit the Little Brother on his Mini Farm. What a trip - I travelled well in the travel pod that Stewey provided for me and every so often she took me out for a photo opportunity. Celebrity status I assure you.
Here we are on our way leaving home.

HDHBEM had to stop at the opthalmologist on the way and there were no photos there, of me anyway. My hostess looked at the photos of the HDHBEM's eyes and discussed everything with the kind doctor but I didn't understand a word. All seems to be well though.
A quick stop for petrol and we were away.

This country has lots of green fields and animals but also a giant apple !!

We travelled past these alpacas

Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano in the middle of the North Island and this deer farm was near there.

Oh dear or dear she had promised to show me lambs but so far nothing. My diminutive size meant I couldn't see out the windows too well but I trusted her to fulfill her promise!

Finally we arrived at our first night stay. A small town called Taihape. Famous for .... gumboots! Once a year they have a great Gumboot Throwing Competition - how strange is that. Anyway, here we stayed. Look at my huge bed.

When I commented on the extreme size and said I felt lost in all this space, she asked me if I'd rather stay here?!?!

The HDHBEM took me and her to Gumboot Manor for dinner. Cute table number! Big meal but enjoyed by all.

We went to the LNS, aptly named The Quilted Gumboot. And....they had quilted gumboots. Look, look, look!

She bought some goodies here for me to take to my next hostess. It's exciting going shopping with her and I think I have caught a New Zealand Disease - "spending other peoples money syndrome". I discussed this with the HDHBEM and she told me there is no known cure for that disease but in some cases it is confused with generosity. The HDHBEM told me that my previous hostesses had the generosity variant but she wasn't too happy to commit about this one!

Finally we got to Little Brother's mini-farm. I'm absolutely sure she said Little Brother but I made her take this photograph as it seems I must have misunderstood and she said Little Mother. Look at the two of them together!!

He was really kind to me and even though he chortled at my many names he held me up for a view over the fields

and took me on a walk to meet his calves.

Strange though, all of them are boy calves and they aren't so popular with dairy farmers. They get called Bobby and end up at one year old being meat on a plate. Little Brother has five Bobbys - one is for him, one for the neighbour and three are for the works. I don't know what he means by that - maybe only those three get roast vegetables and mint sauce added?

On the way home we had some beautiful Tip Top icecream - I looooove New Zealand ice cream. The HDHBEM has Apricot Ripple and she had Spicy Apple Crumble and I ..... well I just looked on with envy.

The hot chocolates come with extras - I tell myself that a lick on the lips is a lifetime on the hips but everytime I yield to temptation. Those little red balls are called Jaffas - chocolate on the inside and orange on the outside.
Well I think that has to be all for tonight. I'm feeling tired and need to regain my strength. She tells me there is a photo shoot tomorrow and I am required as model. Whatever can that be?
Anyway, good night to all.

A Bus Trip to the City

2011-09-07T13:53:00.000+12:00

Good afternoon all.

Today my hostess and I took a bus ride to The City. She had to go and choose new spectacles and I was taken to see some of the city sights.

We walked down the streets past the Old Art Gallery which is joined to the New Art Gallery. She wouldn't take me inside even though I asked to see the huge flowers hanging from the ceiling in the foyer. No time today, she said and promised we would see some street art instead.
Interesting variety of street art in Auckland.
One street had seats with words on them so that from the end nearest the Public Library with WORD

one letter per seat changed until you reached the other end near some cafes where the seat was DEED.

I liked that one - it made sense. Word, Wore, Lore, Lord, Load, Lead, Head, Heed, Deed - very intelligent!! Turn Word into Deed ha ha!
Not like this silver bead thingy,

or this warrior,

or this yellow knot,

or this statue of the first Governor General,

or this "front of a canoe"

This blue braille installation was in the foyer of a high rise building - she found a plaque which told me what it said as she can't read braille but it was a Maori legend and didn't make much sense to me.

Queen Street is their main street and it runs from the sea up the hill.

Down by the sea is all activity at the moment as they are preparing for a big party and fireworks on Friday night when that Rugby World Cup finally starts. I was worried they might be using this rugby ball to play with but she told me not to be silly!!

She's very worried I don't have suitable footwear but there's nothing to my taste nor my size in any of the shops. Colorful shoes in this one though.

And flags everywhere , all over the city. On the way home I saw this from the bus window

and felt just a tiny bit homesick. But tomorrow she and I and the HDHBEM are on our way south for a visit to Little Brother on his farm. She's charging her camera batteries as I write this so I will do another blog post on my return.
Ka Kite Anou

Catching Up and a Birthday Lunch

2011-09-04T18:43:00.000+12:00

Hello all, Madame Muriel here again. It has been a busy busy week down here in Auckland. The HDHBEM had a birthday - unfortunately on a working day for my hostess, so the celebratory lunch was postponed until Sunday. Today we all went to BANZAI. As you know, I am of diminutive size and was totally overwhelmed by the size of the dish but we all enjoyed our lunch. Raw for her and cooked for the HDHBEM.

Here's the 81 year old HDHBEM!!

The bottles on display were all empty (pretty labels though!)

so we drank Japanese Green tea.

I think my hostess was a little embarrassed taking these photos but I insisted that you would all want to know I am being well looked after.

The she took me to the top of another of those volcanoes. She seemed real proud of them but this was the first time I had been driven to the top of a volcano!! Fully expecting to see smoke and a large hole, I was amazed that it was all paved car parking - a fence around the top kept the cattle and sheep off the car park. Amazing to see a farm on a hill in a city ;-) Anyway I sat on the fence while she pranced around taking photos of the city.

First up was Mt Eden (yep! a volcano) and then there was One Tree Hill (yep, another volcano!).

Can't see the tree on that one can you? She told me that a Maori man chopped it down some years ago and now the politicians can't agree on what sort of tree to plant as a replacement.
On the way back home we saw this

She seemed to think I would know the Colonel and his fried chicken but I never eat fast food you know! By the way he's usually red and white but because of this Rugby World Cup thingy that starts next Friday, patriotic New Zealanders are showing their support for their team which they call the All Blacks. So this sign makes sense, right?!

Now as you know I take my stitching with me everywhere I go. She doesn't. There were some days this week when she didn't even pick up her needle. I thought it would go rusty in the linen you know. To be quite honest, I was really worried about her (and the linen) but yesterday was more to my liking. She finished off some more Christmas ornaments. Well, not finish-finished but to quite an advanced stage and as they are for Christmas 2012 she's quite smug about being ready early. Here's number 11 and although the words say differently there are only two pipers on this and piper number two will appear this evening.

She's quite proud of the fact that all of the 'ingredients' for these ornaments came from the stash cupboard and she feels really righteous that she didn't buy anything new. I want to see this stash cupbaord but she won't show it to me - yet. Says that it needs a Spring Clean!!!

The Kogin darning needlebook got laced on card and is ready to be constructed and she promised faithfully that would happen this week.

We leave on our road trip on Thursday and it has been suggested that I should take things quietly until then. I can take a hint so you won't hear anything from me - until there is something more interesting to report. But, I hear that she is going into The City on Wednesday to get new spectacles and I told her I would like to see some of the City Spectacles too so will see whether or not I can twist her arm!
Meanwhile, Ka Kite Anou.

Out and About

2011-08-27T15:36:00.000+12:00

Good Morning All, I am well rested and can't wait to show you some of my adventures today. First up. I have a room with a view!!! She kindly took some pictures so I can show you what I saw when I first opened the curtains and looked out.

Yes! A great volcano looming over me. She said it is extinct but I know and you know, that scientists cannot always be trusted. I don't mind telling you I'm worried. Besides this volcano there are seven or eight others dotted around this city! I asked for a clearer shot so you could see what I saw, but somehow her focus shifted off me and I told "never do that to me again."

Her garden has some pretty flowers - it is Spring in New Zealand folks and apparently baby lambs are a sign of Spring in this country. I have asked her to show me some lambs and she promised to try and fit that in when we go on our road trip.

New Zealanders have a national sport called rugby and in two weeks the World Cup of Rugby is starting - right here! She and the HDHBEM live about 10 minutes walk from Eden Park which is the holy grail of NZ rugby. She took me there today but when I saw the size of the stadium and surroundings I excused myself from the photos and sat in the car with HDHBEM while 'she' went mad and took photos to show you.

Seems a bit hypocritical of her really as she told me herself that she has no interest in rugby and only likes it when the NZ team wins. She called them the All Blacks but as I haven't seen one in real life I cannot vouch for their colour at all.
She's got chores to do she tells me and as I always have my stitching to hand, I will find a place in the sun and keep quiet. I don't think there will be daily updates but rest assured I am enjoying myself and will have plenty to tell you all when I come to visit your house.
Ka Kite Anou (that's Maori language for See You Soon - but more about the Maori's later)

Madame Muriel Flat Flossie has arrived in New Zealand

2011-08-26T18:42:00.000+12:00

Kia Ora Koutou
My travelling pod was mighty comfortable but it is a long way to Aotearoa! You guys in The States probably don't know that word but I have been here half a day and am already absorbing the Maori culture - at least my new hostess tells me what to say and I dutifully repeat it. Tena Koutou . Ko Madame Muriel Flat Flossie tenei.
She's no expert in the geography of the USA and I had to ask her to get out the big atlas and show her where Mishawaka is.

Really small printing in that atlas - I had to look for ages to find it. Then she asked me why it was so small when famous people like Stewey, Bosco, Aunty Chrissy and Stewey's Mum lived there. No answer to that one folks!
Next she showed me where I had come to.

There's an awful lot of that blue colour in between us so I made certain to tell her that I don't swim. She said not to worry as Air New Zealand has a really good reputation and she will make sure I travel on the Kiwi airline.   Kiwi?   Tonight she introduced me to Kiwi - a native bird of this tiny country, the kiwi doesn't have wings, can't fly and only comes out at night.   Travel is supposed to broaden horizons and increase experience but jet lag ensures I don't really understand how a bird can't fly!
My passport has generated a lot of interest - nobody here has seen such a unique one and they asked me why there was no identity chip in it.   Apparently the 'Kiwis' (not the birds silly that's what these New Zealanders call themselves) need an identity chip in their passports if they enter the United States.   Anyway, as usual my timing is impeccable.   She and her elderly mother who is called HDHBEM (??) are going on holiday very soon and will take me with them to the Gumboot Capital of the World.   I just want to see some sheep and some of this "Clean Green New Zealand" that the travel brochures promised me.
Well folks, I'm real tired and I need to find out where my guest room is and have me some shut eye.   She and the HDHBEM live in a small two bedroom apartment and I expressed concern that my snoring might keep them awake but HDHBEM said not to worry, she snores the loudest of all!
Good night all. Ka Kite Anou

Where does time fly to?

2011-08-21T15:55:00.000+12:00

What a week! Time has flown by and yesterday I had to spend all day at work. Well, it was the annual Expomania (Trade Show come Sales Conference) and I spent the whole day dressed up in a T Shirt two sizes too big, in a colour that doesn't suit me, standing talking to people anxious to demonstrate stationery and office products - when all I do is pay their bills!

The theme this year was SuperHeroes and almost every stand had a photo opportunity. In the course of half a day I was variously, Sellotape Man, Oki Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, and several others.

So last night I spent on the sofa stitching - and trying to keep awake until the end of Lewis. Despite the tiredness I did actually guess "who dunnit" and completed the sixth ornament. Not a great shot but I am stitching in one thread of DMC floss over one thread of 28 count Cashel linen. The chart called for the lighter colour geese to be a mixture of two different colour flosses. Impossible when stitching with one thread of floss - so the great decision was made and my geese are beige and brown!

My elderly eyes are asking for a visit to the optometrist but unfortunately the practice I have loyally supported for over twenty years has sold out to one of the big chains. So my loyalties have shifted too and I have found another "boutique optometrist" This is a snapshot of his current window display. Seems he and I are likely to get along just fine - obviously he loves books as I do!

We have a great public library system here in Auckland with a very speedy request and reserve feature. I also have a full wall of bookshelves in my room so I suffer from no lack of reading material. However last week Simon on "Stuck In A Book" introduced me to these

Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman

and I have enjoyed reading slowly through them devouring each word.   No Speed Reading here!   At the same time I am accumulating a list of "Books that Must be Read" and another of "Books that Must be Purchased".    Thank you Simon!
In just over two weeks I have five days annual leave and I am already crafting my 'priority list'.   Needlework shops and Secondhand Bookshops feature high.
Hope you are all enjoying good weather.   Have a great evening

A winter afternoon at the beach and a Christmas finish

2011-08-14T20:19:00.002+12:00

Hello all.   I have had a good week - busy but somehow quite satisfying.
The HDHBEM had her second surgery on Monday and is now recuperating.   She feels there is some inprovement in the vision in the left eye already and we are hopeful that when she has her followup visit to the opthalmologist in a month that the all clear will be given.   Then she will no longer be half blind and my "little brother" says that the HDHBEM will need to be Fully Sighted Half Deaf Elderly Mother!   Well, we wait and see! Thank you all for your good wishes.
Yesterday afternoon she and I went for a drive to Eastern Beach - here's a crazy shot.   FSHDEM didn't want her photo taken and I hoped to get her reflection in the mirror.   No such luck - only the roadworks and the rubbish bin.   Oh dear - well I do not have great photography skills :-(

I stitched the next in the Prairie Schooler Starry Night series - my nephew and his wife get one each year to add to their Christmas tree. This year I hit a road block! Instead of the 32 count linen I have used to date I somehow pulled a piece of 28 count linen out of the stash and stitched happily away. But, too big! So instead of a rectangular finish I made this small "lantern" which has turned out quite cute.

Progress has been made on the Kogin Needlecase. I hope to finish the actual stitching tonight and complete the construction during the week. While I like the blue of this I'm not 'in love' with the actual item but am determined that it will not be left unfinished.

I am still waiting for my thread pack for Heirloom Nativity Sampler to arrive so will probably have to start my Shepherds Bush "Angels Song" as I have all the supplies necessary for that. But here I am running ahead of myself, there are still six more Christmas Ornaments to finish!!

Tomorrow morning I go for a check up on my pacemaker - it will be interesting to see if this little friend is feeling as exhausted from gym workouts as I am. Five years ago when I receivd this one (my third), the surgeon said 'he' would have eight years of life but I 'he' and I keep fairly active so every six months I get a battery check.

Apparently the inbuilt computer records all the data and I plan on asking the technologist to give me a copy - not that it will make much difference to either my limitations at the gym or to my trainer's energetic encouragements! With my nephew's wedding coming up in January I am motivated to keep fit and hopefully slim then more easily find something suitable to wear. Despite it being still winter and the temperatures closer to 5 degrees celsius than to 15 degrees, the shops are full of Spring and Summer fashion - but, I am not motivated to go looking ....yet!

Anyway, have a great evening everyone.

A rainy day just suitable for stitching

2011-08-07T16:50:00.000+12:00

Hello everyone - today has been like this

so I have been inside working on this

and re-reading this

Well! I am very tired after spending almost all day yesterday baking ( and shopping for a Slow Cooker) and cooking.
Tomorrow the HDHBEM has her second cataract operation and while she is in theatre I am making an excursion to the conveniently close Ribbon Rose Needlework Shop to stock up on threads for my Shepherds Bush piece and for the Japanese Needlework Accessories piece. Watch this space!
Hope you all have a great weekend

A day out in the countryside

2011-07-30T19:01:00.000+12:00

Today the HDHBEM and I drove 85km south to the city of Hamilton to visit Sarah. She is my very favourite picture framer and today I entrusted her with The Historic Countries Sampler. Her initial "wow" of reaction was gratifying and she helped me choose a suitable frame. Despite taking my camera I completely forgot to take photos of the process so I'm sorry but you will need to wait for the finished product.

However on the way home I took a few shots of the Waikato region agricultural countryside. This area, of which Hamilton is the main centre, is renowned for its dairy production and there are cows everywhere you look.

Even on top of the local veterinary surgery!

Further along the road a disused dairy factory previously producing butter has changed direction and now produces sweets. The outside is painted attractively with a gaping mouth of pristine white teeth for the entrance.

Inside, these giant lollipops and chocolate confections ensure the dentists of the district will have plenty of work for years to come!

And further along the road is the small town of Huntly - famous because it is where I grew up! Well, that is technically not correct - it is famous as the home of this coal and natural gas fired power station.

The Waikato River is NZ's longest river and although wide and deep, moves only slowly as despite its 425 kilometre journey from mountains to sea it drops only 2700 metres in height. The power station has strict controls on the temperature of the water it discharges back into the river in order to ensure the river does not grow too hot for the fish and eels that live in it.
Here's a better view when the sun broke through.

Tonight I have a Cinnamon Fruit Loaf to bake before I add the words "Five Golden Rings" to the fifth of these Christmas Ornaments.

These are done over one thread of 28 count Cashel Linen in the charted DMC threads. Charts are from The Marking Sampler - I am amazed at the number of charted errors in these. Considering the price for the charts it seems rather poor to have so many mistakes - were they not checked properly before printing? However nothing that cannot be corrected with some reverse stitching and a great deal of muttering under the breath! I intend to make these ornaments into a matching set as a gift for one of my nieces.
Well that's all for me. Have a great evening everyone.

A finish to start the week

2011-07-24T15:24:00.000+12:00

While watching my favourite TV show, Lewis , last night I finished this Advent Calendar. It was a pre-printed fabric so I only needed to sew it all together but it has turned out well and with chocolates and small gifts in the pockets will be a lovely countdown to the great day. Christmas is not too far away either is it?!

Also a shot of my hardanger bookmark. This turned out not bad for a first attempt - the filling stitch didn't quite look like the pattern so I will try again and tighten my tension a little more.

And tomorrow is thse start of another working week. Have a great week everyone.

A visit to Ribbon Rose

2011-07-23T17:45:00.000+12:00

Since Thursday I have had a horrible head cold and had the weather been as the forecast promised I may have remained curled up under the blankets. But it was a beautiful sunny warm day so I wrapped up and went to see Stephen at The Ribbon Rose. Last month I won the door raffle at Embroiderer's Guild so had a $25 voucher from that and also a 10% discount voucher so list in hand off I went. And the result??

Well first up a picture of all the items - oops I see that the new packet of needles and the two hanks of DMC 310 got left out!

Some of the Ultra suede will become the backing of the Christmas ornaments I am currently stitching. This is hard to get here so I took what the shop had while they had it.

And next - this is what the Navy Coton A Broder and Lugana fabric are for

Yes- another needle book. But I love Kogin (Japanese Darning) and as I live in the Antipodes - well. how could I resist?

And the pink Cashel linen and matching DMC perle are for this Pulled Thread piece which will become a cushion for a gift to a friend.

This week I completed the little Winter Bell - I had thought it would look very like this Pink Tassell I made many many years ago.

The Pink Tassell has been stitched many times in many colour combinations (Blue, Green, Cream, Peach etc etc) and been given away as gifts. I was rather disappointed with the finishing technique for the Winter Bell -I think having four "leaves" and them not being separate makes for a messier look inside. But it was interesting to stitch. I had a brass bell which seemed to finish it off nicely so here we are - A Winter Bell!

I also finished a small hardanger bookmark but no photos of that I'm sorry. Tonight I plan on sitting in front of the TV and making a start on quilting yet another Advent Calendar. Christmas is only 5 months away and I hope to be prepared well in advance.
Hope you all have a great weekend.

A finish and a new start

2011-07-17T18:23:00.002+12:00

Today has been bright and sunny and relatively warm at a mere 15 degrees celsius! The HDHBEM and I went out for a drive past the Royal New Zealand Naval Base and enjoyed both the sunny weather and the beautiful views of Rangitoto Island. The view in this snapshot is actually taken from Mt Eden, near my home and the naval base is on the small peninsula in the mid-left of the shot.

This extinct volcano in the Auckland Harbour is quite an icon for us and on one memorable day a few years ago I climbed to the top! While I'm not prepared to put that photo onto the internet, here's one taken at the volcanic caves just below the summit.

But now the sun has gone down, the curtains are drawn, the chores are all done and it is time for dinner in front of the TV news and a night of stitching.

I managed a small ornament finish - only to find that I had no extremely narrow red ribbon so had to improvise. White ribbon, silver pins and shiny red beads. I can't make the computer rotate this photo tonight so here's the sideways shot!

It was Embroiderers Guild last Saturday and I made a start on a hardanger "hanging bell" which is proving fun to stitch. The main grid is now laid down and I need to do the back stitch and the beading before attempting the construction.

I decided to use only what I had in my stash so this is 28 count Cashel linen in a pale apricot shade with DMC perle number 8 and number 12 in shade 950. My stash cupboard has some glittery icicle coloured beads so that will create the glitter.
Have a look at this website and see if you'd like to make a "Winters Tale" too.

So that's it from me today. Have a good evening everyone

A couple of finishes

2011-07-10T20:05:00.000+12:00

Hello everyone, how was your week. It has been wet and cold here - last night was thunderstorms, lightning and hail storms. Yes, it is mid-winter here and only the skifields are rejoicing!

I have been indoors enjoying some small stitching projects.
First up the start of christmas ornaments for gifts.
These are from the series 12 Days of Christmas by The Marking Sampler and I am stitching in one strand of floss over one thread of 28 count Cashel Linen using the DMC as charted. I intend to finish these all as small flat hanging ornaments with the same backing fabric and ribbon trim.

Second are these small baby bootees for a friend who after some years of trying and a disappointing miscarriage the year before last is finally pregnant with her first baby.

Third is this Dutch Sampler Needlebook taken from an old copy of the Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly magazine. This was an easy stitch over two threads of 28 count Cashel linen but the construction was, well shall we just say that the instructions left a little to be desired and so I eventually followed my instinct rather than the printed word.
So here's some photos of front, back and inside as presented by my old friend, Floral Bear.

So after some months of a major project it is great to be back on smalls again. However, I have ordered the fabric and threads for my next major project - The Heirloom Nativity Sampler from Victoria Sampler. This has plenty of colour and lots of specialty stitches so I am hoping it will catch my interest and keep me occupied and amused for the duration.

I wanted this to be one I didn't have to pay for framing so plan on stitching this as a wall hanging - which should be quite satisfactory given that it will be on display only once a year. The intention is to have this finished for Christmas 2012 - but perhaps I will surprise myself!

Hope you all have a good week everyone. It promises to be a busy one for me.

Happy Dance

2011-07-01T20:57:00.002+12:00

O happy day, but also slightly sad - opus magnum perfectus! My masterpiece is complete. This has been a true pleasure to stitch and so although I have done the

and not once either - twice!!

I am truly sorry in many ways that this journey is over.

Dare I say it, the section that commemorates my closest neighbours, Australia, is the portion I dislike most - that trite verse and that cat and the black swan! Somehow they don't seem to fit with the 'Historic' part of the name but as I have said before each single portion of this amazing sampler blends to form a whole, both in colour and design. The lines of specialty stitches on this portion took me back to my childhood days of learning stitching with wool on a freshly washed hessian sugar sack! Oops does that show my age a little?

Anyway from start to finish this has been one of my most lovely and memorable stitching journeys and I worry that I will not find again, another such masterpiece to tempt me and my needle. 22.06.11 would have been more satisfying but was impossible to manage and in a fit of pique I decided to omit the zero in front of the six and so emphasize to myself for evermore that try as I might I couldn't get this finished early enough to have a truly symmetrical start and finish date. With slight deviations for a few other necessary projects such as The Memory Book, the road to completion took just over six months. Not once did I lose interest; only once did I complain about one of the stitches (that dreaded faggot stitch!!).

And finally here is the HDHBEM holding up my lovely and beloved Historic Countries Sampler.

Have a great weekend everyone. I will be back next week to tell you what my needle has chosen for the next project.

The 18th Birthday party and the Memory Book

2011-06-26T22:18:00.000+12:00

Some of you might remember the Memory Book I made for my God-daughter.   Of Malaysian Chinese ethnicity, my Kiwi-born God-daughter has been a wonderful gift from God for the past 18 years (and hopefully for many many more years to come).
Well tonight we had a Dessert Party at my house for the great handover of the book.   The birthday is actually still a week away but a school trip takes Toni out of the city on the actual day so we decided an early party was better than later!
First there was there ceremonial opening of the birthday gift - and the reading of each page.  The smile of delight that crept across Toni's face was a real reward for the labour on the Memory Book - she loved it. Her Kaimah (her name for me) couldn't have chosen better!!

Black Doris Plum Clafoutis, Passionfruit Yogurt Pannacotta, Fruit salad and cream were the first course. Two helpings for my visitors!! What a calorie laden Dessert Party this turned out to be. Toni called it the "Five course dessert party" which is probably a most accurate description.

Toni loved the Apricot Sour Cream birthday cake - especially the White Chocolate icing. After all the candles were blown out and Happy Birthday was sung we reminisced over so many events of the past 18 years. "How can you ever remember so many things about me Kaimah?" she asks!!! How could I ever forget, I want to reply! And to prove that I remember what she tells me I produced the 'piece de resistance'-

Last time she came to my house she couldn't stop talking about Elephant cupcakes and the local cake shop produced these beauties to surprise and delight the birthday girl.

In 'wow factor' and flavour they were a real success but they were a little difficult to eat! Those elephants surplus to requirements went home with Toni and her mother as did the birthday cake - my waistline is already saying "thankyou"!
After such a food filled posting I'd love to show you progress photos on my stitching but that will have to waiti until another day. Historic Countries Sampler will be finished this week so my next post is sure to be labelled Happy Dance. Until then, have a good evening everyone.

And the end is in sight....

2011-06-19T17:20:00.000+12:00

This past week has been a mixture of a week - not too busy at work but quite busy at home. My "little brother" came to see us and we all enjoyed a good time of talking and catching up on each others news.
I bought a copy of The Troubled Man ( Henning Mankell) and got so engrossed in reading that some nights my bedside lamp was on quite late!

However this past week I have made good progress on The Historic Countries Sampler and tonight will hopefully finish the Italian section. This is certainly a large piece - and now that I am working in the last corner there does seem to be a lot of fabric to keep out of the way while I stitch!

Apart from reaching the conclusion that I do not particularly care for Assissi work, this section has been quite fun to stitch - apart from the alphabet! That I did NOT enjoy.

For the final country I am closer to home - Australia - and look forward to reading the notes that accompany that chart.
Vera, you asked where this chart came from. The Historic Countries Mystery Sampler was a 12 part mystery sampler which was published from September 2007 to August 2008 in The Gift of Stitching. Their website is here and you can contact them directly - the have back copies of the magazines and a kit of the whole sampler.

Hope you have all had a good weekend - unspoilt by the heavy rain and gales that came our way! Talk to you again soon - hopefully to report a happy dance!

Another earthquake and a progress report

2011-06-14T20:00:00.001+12:00

- Edited to correct Mathematical Errors :-(

Once again Christchurch has a major earthquake - the heritage buildings of the central city are now mostly in ruins. Its a really sad and difficult time for all.

On the embroidery front, I have progressed from Scotland to Italy now and have the end well in sight. I didn't get the iron out tonight so here's a shot wrinkles and all. This is a great design - fascinating to stitch and amazing how each individual component fits to make a wonderful whole.

After some grave deliberation I decided on the initials on the right of the Scotland section - my parents Roger Philip and Ivy Madge; then I changed the spacing to put in the initial of the names of all four children Peter, Margaret, Silas and Heather. Problem solved with some degree of intelligent compromise!

Don't you just love the little dog? He was so cute and quick to stitch - the same could not be said of the gate or the three colour alphabet! So tonight I finish the Z and start on the Assissi Medallion - some interesting specialty stitches coming up, much to my delight.
Tomorrow my "little brother" comes to see us for a couple of days. All six foot two inches (1.9metres) of him chortle each time I say those words but believe me they are definitely a term of endearment. I truly love my little brother!! Here's a reasonably good shot of all of us taken last year at my nieces wedding. "Little brother" is on my right hand so you will see why I have to stand on tippy toe to give him a hug.

Well, good night everyone. I'm off to watch Downton Abbey and enjoy the marvellous costumes and scenery. Have a great evening everyone.

Happy Birthday Your Majesty - and HCS Progress Report 11

2011-06-04T15:26:00.000+12:00

Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth

Monday 6 June is observed as the Queen's Birthday public holiday here, even though the actual day is in April. So for that reason we have a lovely three day weekend.
Well lovely is perhaps not the right word. This is the view from my window today!

Lots of rain and grey clouds. Just the right weather for stitching though and I want to show you my progress on the Historic Countries Sampler.

England Pre 1700 is now finished. The whole piece is getting big and a little unruly so, being afraid that the whitework panel would get grubby I covered it with a liece of white linen as a protector. That's the white patch in the top right. All will be revealed later.

Here's a closer shot. Those two half clad men are far from handsome but their clothes are done in tent stitch - one strand of floss over one thread of fabric. It might not be much of a covering but there were a lot of stitches in those clothes!
Now I am starting Scotland and there is a big house in this one - the outline of the left hand side of the house is just visible. There are several specialty stitches in this one and a dilemma about initials. Two sets are shown - for spouse and children the instructions say. I have neither so what do I do??? Hopefully inspiration will come as I stitch the rest. The two more countries to go before the grand finale. I have just loved stitching this but now the end is nigh am dreaming of what I shall do next. One thing is for sure - it will not be a framed piece as this sampler will be costly to frame so I will be staying with smaller finishes for a while to recover.

Hope you all have a good weekend

Strawberries in the Winter?

2011-05-29T17:22:00.000+12:00

Last night while watching the Antiques Roadshow I completed this Strawberry Biscornu. You might remember that I sent a "kit" of this to my Aunty recently. She was delighted and her wonderful letter of thanks inspired me to complete the construction on the one I had stitched. This free design from Gift of Stitching is just beautiful but were I to do this again I would use pure linen as this fabric (Lugana?) was not so forgiving during the construction. Anyway here's a snapshot of the top and sides of Strawberry Biscornu number one.

And so my holiday is over and I'm back to work tomorrow. This "stitching break" has been just wonderful and I am revitalised to finish the final quarter of my Historic Countries Sampler. Look out for the next update!
Have a good evening everyone

Holiday food and an embroidery update

2011-05-28T18:18:00.002+12:00

Today is really the last day of my week's holiday - tomorrow is the start of a new week and its back to work on Monday!
While on holiday I completed this Advent Calendar - early preparations for Christmas presents! There only remains the buttons to sew on and the cord tags for each piece but they need a good hard press with the iron first.

As I hadn't taken any other work to do I made a quick call to the local needlework store and purchased a Victoria Sampler kit and finished this small square too. Hopefully next weekend I will stitch this into a small lavendar bag- somehow the colours seem to suggest that type of finish.

Today I spent all day at a gathering of all the Embroiderer's Guilds in the Auckland region and as well as listening to interesting speakers, looking at wonderful stitching and avoiding temptation at the "merchants mall". There were several tables of work exhibited from each of the Guild's present and this snapshot is of the East Auckland Guild who were hosts for the day. Isn't that a lovely example of a Reticella mat in the foreground.

I managed to complete the stitching on this small Christmas Ornament. This is stitched over one thread of fabric in one strand of DMC threads on a scrap of unknown linen from my stash (I think 28 count) and is a Gift of Stitching chart and will be finished as a hanging ornament for my niece's Christmas tree.

And now a couple of food shots from my holiday.

Louise cake was a real blast from the past - and sooo delicious.

This was called Cafe Cake - and I was really tempted to ask for the recipe!

Finally, the HDHBEM found a friend in this bronze man sitting on his bench in the small village of Katikati. We went back to see if the apartment behind the BNZ where I spent the first year of my life, was still there. It was. Even though the logo and the facade have both changed out of all recognition, the apartment behind has had little more than a coat of paint in the intervening 55 years!

And so its Good Night from me as I'm off to do the ironing. Have a good evening everyone.

I'm back!

2011-05-26T15:39:00.000+12:00

We had a lovely break away at Papamoa Beach - four days of beautiful golden weather and then the Weatherman heard I was on holiday and ordered up a storm. Packing the car and driving home in the gales and torrential rain was no fun but we arrived safely and for that I am thankful.
Our motel was right on the beach front and I enjoyed walks on the sand, while from behind the picture windows I sat in my armchair and stitched away on a piece of handquilting for a gift. No photos of that at present but here are some of "our place"

The HDHBEM took her knitting but as you will see from these photos she also took her wallet - and increased her stash!!!

This little yarn store had a huge stock and Wallet and Mother had a great time. Look at the snap of the stash - how many little garments do you think this will make for the Hospice Shop next winter?

Maybe more than 16 - that was just the reflection of our motel number. Here's the stash in all its glory!

But not contented Wallet and Mother paid a second visit to the store and added another 20 balls of yarn to this total!!
Well I'm off to do some stitching now and will be back tomorrow with some more photos and hopefully and update of the stitching.
Have a good evening everyone!

A surprise package from Kazumi and an embroidery update

2011-05-21T15:33:00.000+12:00

The mailman brought this surprise package from my friend Kazumi. A small soft Rabbit, a pretty butterfly mat, a pictorial guide of the Rembrant exhibition she had been to and this wonderful tulip "mascot" were among the contents - along with a wonderful long letter!

Sorry the photos aren't too wonderful but at least you can see some of my goodies.

And here's acloseup of the golden tulip which is now hanging from the strap of my handbag so although it is Autumn here the tulips are blooming at my house! Thankyou so very much Kazumi.

This afternoon was Embroiderers Guild and I finally stitched the last of the Christmas Pyramid - the top of the H will go on tonight!

I have also been stitching on a strawberry biscornu (a free chart from Gift Of Stitching). There are seven more daisies to go on this and then the back to stitch.

Saturday night is my TV watching marathon and I am sure that Antiques Road Show and then Midsomer Murders will give me enough time to finish the stitching on both these pieces.   However the construction will have to wait until later on.

Last Thursday I had an assessment at the gym and was surprised to find I had lost 6kg!   My reaction was one of total surprise but Patrice (my trainer) was overjoyed.   He's French and was hugely expressive of his approval - apparently all the scientific measurements etc were vastly improved too.   At times I wished he didn't push me so hard but Thursday night was not one of those nights.    I was soooo happy (if not quite as expressive as Patrice!)

We leave tomorrow for a short break at Papamoa Beach and I will be away from all computer contact but intend to do a lot of stitching, a lot of reading and also a lot of shopping.   My favourite clothes shop is near where we stay so I have already phoned Jan and asked her to look out some things for me.

Keep stitching hard everyone - I look forward to seeing all your updates on my return

A gift for an Aunty and Progress Report 10 on HCS

2011-05-14T17:20:00.000+12:00

Hello all. It has been a beautifully fine Autumn day here and my car is clean, my garden tidied up, two batches of biscuits are in the tins, the shopping is all done and I now have a few minutes to myself!!

The whitework panel in my HCS is now complete and any hankerings I had to stitch a whitework sampler (yes I have at least two charts in my stash) have been well and truly put away. Despite conquering the horrid faggot stitch and having at least six enjoyable spider web roses in the panel I did not enjoy this particular area and am mighty glad it is finito. Here's a snap before I cover it up with a slip of white fabric to keep it clean. Tonight while I watch Antiques Road Show and Midsomer Murders I will happily stitch on the remaing panel for this section which has two half clad men, a couple of acorns and a tudor rose!!

Today I kitted up a small gift for my Aunty. She and my Uncle live in Christchurch and their house was badly damaged during the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes. So far the only progress towards their repairs seems to be visits from 'engineers' who all give conflicting opinions as to what should be done. Meantime Aunty Rachel and Uncle Geoff (in their 70's) have a house that has no heating, has several gaps in the roof, is leaning askew on its foundations and is decidedly airy. At least they can remain in their house - it is deemed liveable. Perhaps this GOS strawberry biscornu will make Spring seem not so far away??

I think I may have told you my forebears came from Christchurch - indeed my Great-Great Grandfather, not only one of the founding doctors at Christchurch Hospital, was apparently an advocate for equal education opportunities for women and was prominent in the establishment of Christchurch Girls High School. Pre-earthquake there was a Black Oak tree planted in a suitably eyecatching position to mark the esteemed Dr Silas Stedman. Apparently the Girls High was badly damaged and there has been significant demolition - I wonder if said Oak tree is still standing?

This wooden baptismal cover was in the Cathedral - right beside the entrance to the Belltower staircase. Belltower and staircase became a pile of masonary rubble during the earthquake so methinks this Stedman relic may have become shards of native Kauri timber and be consigned to the annals of history.

On that note I will say goodbye and talk to you again soon.

Progress Report HCS 9

2011-05-09T20:26:00.000+12:00

Hello there everyone - we have had a weekend of wonderful weather. Clear blue skies and the golden hue of autumn - my favourite season of the year.
And it was Mother's Day on Sunday.The HDHBEM and I went to our favourite restaurant Banzai where we were greeted like long lost friends. Although I try to spoil my Mother everyday, I did go to a little more effort on "her day". You have all seen recent photos of her - how about one from last century??

Isn't that pram just so cute - probably not so hygenic nor user friendly as the modern version but much more romantic!

Progress has been made on the Historic Countries Sampler too. This is the top left hand corner and is "England Pre 1700" How on earth they stitched such complicated work by the light of poor quality candles I don't know! The 'spot area' at the top had several specialty stitches but I particularly liked the Roman Stitch in the top right. It was a new one to me and very rhythmical to stitch.

The first third has gone well enough and now I am on the Whitework Band down the middle. There were a multitude of Queen Stitches in this first band and I find them rather a trial but oh how I dislike Faggot Stitch - with an intense dislike. The fear of making an error and having to reverse stitch, combined with the slower speed resulting from my dislike of the process of stitching Faggot Stitch is making this section my very very very least favourite~!! However all good things come to pass and I hope to work steadily at this band during the week so as to be able to move further left and enjoy the Tudor Rose that comes in the next band.

Hope your week goes well.

Progress Report HCS 8

2011-05-04T20:17:00.000+12:00

Good evening all. I have been diligently stitching on the Historic Countries Sampler and finally the France section is complete. It was fun to stitch this but I am left mystified at what the brown "thing" is to the right of the tree shape. The notes didn't give any information about that.

I did the initials in the same colourways as the Memory Book - a subtle significance that may well be missed by any future generations who view this piece! I am well over half way now and so have begun dreaming of what I will do next. This is a big piece but only four countries to go now.

This morning the postman rang the bell and brought me another box from my friend Sonoko. Of course I opened it immediately and had a brief look at all the wonderful goodies inside! Here's a small sample.

First there were several beautifully wrapped packages of Kagoshima Cookies, Ramen Noodles and Kagoshima Pork - how did that one get past the Customs Officer??

Next were beautiful handmade bead key ring dollies - with instructions from Sonoko to share with the HDHBEM and Little Sister! Three of these cute little people. I think they will look great on my Christmas Tree ;-)

And aren't these strawberries beautiful - sparkly and colourful.
Now wasn't that a great present - no wonder I was a little late for work. I wore a broad smile all day - even the boss commented on that!
Have a great evening everyone. I'm back to my chair to start stitching the England Before 1700 section.

Progress Report HCS 7 and the HDHBEM

2011-04-26T21:08:00.000+12:00

Hello everyone, at last I have some progress to report.

First up - the HBHDEM has completed 25 childrens sweaters and cardigans all of which are now buttoned and decorated as necessary. Next Saturday we will deliver them to the local Hospice Shop but before that in the bright sunlight of Easter we had a marathon photo session.

Some of the 2011 stock!

And yet there's more!

Buttons on some .....

And decorations on others.

And now guess what the HDHBEM is doing????? Yes, another sweater!

She aims to beat her record of 25 and has begun the "sweater and cardigan quest 2012" already!! (And in case you want to know, she is watching Top Gear in total concentration and seemed immune to the photo so I'm safe)

Secondly, I have returned to my first love- the Historic Countries Sampler. I am still passionately in love with this and the big central "heart" shaped section came together really well. This is the progress so far - over half way now and I can feel myself speeding up in an effort to get to the end.

The America section was actually number 12 of the GOS chart but I am working top to bottom left to right to avoid working over my stitching. With America complete I made an immediate start on France and the red medallions were the first portion of that.

After France I go back to the extreme top left and that is England prior to 1700; then Italy, Australia, Scotland and all will be done. By that stage the New Zealand Inland Revenue should have processed my tax refund and I will be able to visit Sarah the framer ;-) I already have the space on my wall booked for this.

The Happy Dance

2011-04-17T19:31:00.000+12:00

Hello once again - I haven't been away nor have I been sick, only busy trying to complete 'the memory book' and tonight it is finally finished. This has been both enjoyable and frustrating. Every stitch was filled with love and prayers for my god-daughter but I also had immense frustration at my own limited design skills. However, for better for worse this gift is now finished well in time for her eighteenth birthday in a month or two.
Some snaps of the finished piece

Imagination deserted me when I reached the stage of the front cover so it is simple stem stitch and simple words

My god daughter's initials form the large letters on three of the pages and for each letter I have chosen a Bible verse commencing with that letter. T was done in Assisi work, C was in Cross Stitch and W was in blackwork. Two of the other pages have medallions of my favourite Wessex stitchery . I stuck to a grey and red colour scheme and stitched on antique mocha cashel linen to give the pages an aged look.

And on the last two pages I made "frames" and inserted a couple of significant photos. Look at this one. We have both changed over the past 18 years!!!

The Memory Book

2011-04-03T17:32:00.002+12:00

Good afternoon - this has been a loooong week for me but I have managed to do some stitching. Well to be more precise - several metres of red lines!

These are the edges of the pages for the great memory book. Once I have cut the stiffening they will all be whipped together to form the book.
Also managed to complete the C and the W and the appropriate Bible verses against each initial. Am not 100% satisfied with the W but it shall remain as is. I wanted a different type of stitching for each initial and the idea was better in the planning than in the execution.

Now I have a small border around the actual 'birth announcement' and then a couple of frames for the photographs that come on final two pages. Also the 'winchester stitch' motif on page 3. The fabric for the cover has been purchased but I am still awaiting the inspiration to arrive! I have really enjoyed stitching this but am itching to get back to my large sampler. I have a week's annual leave scheduled in May so plan on a marathon stitching session then.

Meanwhile, take care everyone.

After a lengthy absence

2011-03-27T15:27:00.003+13:00

Good afternoon one and all,
It has been some time since I have posted but I'm back for an update.
We are still enjoying warm and humid weather but the skies are grey and there is a lot of 'liquid sunshine' around.   Autumn is not far away though.
Mid-March I started a self-designed Memory Book for my God-Daughter's 18th birthday in July.   As a result the Historic Countries Sampler is asleep in its box having completed its journey through Scandanavia.
The Memory Book started with the story, then the tacking out of the pages, finally deciding what colour to stitch the words and this past week I have ventured into adding colour.   I'm stitching on 28 count Cashel linen in Antique Mocha, using DMC 3799 for the words and so far Threadworx 1089 for the colour. The photo is not true to colour as grey days are not helpful for my photography skills!   However you can see the subtle shading of the fabric.

In the manner of all good children's stories I have started with "Once upon a time" and the story travels from the day when Elaine told me she was pregnant right up to date. On this first page the decoration is a Wessex stitch which is aptly named Margaret - a subtlety which will be known only to me as my God-Daughter is not a stitcher. The alphabet was taken from my Wessex Stitchery book and stitched freehand in one thread of DMC. My God-Daughter has three names and so each initial will be a different stitch - the first being in Assisi

And finally a closeup of Margaret stitch. Needleweaving with one thread is not as easy as it sounds and I admit to dissatisfaction with the closeup result but the effect is good so no reverse stitching on this one.

On a scale of one to ten my confidence in self-design is probably a minus three!! And this adventure reminds me of the time an art teacher at primary school tried to get me to draw a picture using only one colour crayon - all 10 years old of me told him that was impossible. Everybody knows that pictures are colourful!!
However the pleasure I am getting from stitching this Memory Book is off the scale and I hope and pray that Toni will treasure it and know that her God-Mother has added love and prayers into stitch.

Have a good day everyone

Flowers from my garden

2011-03-12T19:10:00.000+13:00

Today was bright and sunny so I took some photos of flowers
First up are the Lenten Lilies which obligingly bloom in pristine white during the 40 days of Lent - from whence cometh the name! In my garden they are in a very shady spot - and here is the shadowy photograph.

Second are the Shoofly flowers in my vegetable garden. These beautiful blue blooms have successfully kept away not only the flys and aphids but unfortunately also the bees so the the small flowers on my climbing beans are still waiting patiently to be fertilised. No bees = no beans and therefore maybe no Shoofly flowers next year!

Today I have been watching with horror the continued news of the huge earthquake in Japan. Coming so soon after our own disaster here in New Zealand, we all feel very much for the Japanese people. I was very relieved to hear from my close friends and to know they are safe. But it is sad to see the awful devastation at Sendai - I spent a wonderful holiday there one summer many years ago.

Progress Report HCS 6

2011-03-10T20:15:00.002+13:00

Hello there everyone. Life has been a little too busy for blogging this week but I have been stitching. Spain was finished as planned and I have now ventured into Scandanavia.

This section is interesting as there are more specialty stitches. These cute little eyelets were particularly pleasing.

Here's a close up shot of the eyelets.

That white satin stitch block to the upper left was accompanied by three lots of reverse stitching and a great deal of frustration but the finished result is worth all the angst.
(All photos should be clickable)

While I have not quite finished this section I fully expect to do so over the weekend. Then with the sampler half finished I am putting it away for a brief time as I want to make a stitched memory book for my god-daughters 18th birthday in July. The designing and the wording have all been completed - I have the fabric and threads selected and prepared so now I need to get my skates on and begin the stitching. July will come soon enough!

Have a great evening everyone.

Progress Reports

2011-03-03T19:57:00.000+13:00

Good evening everyone. It has been a while since I posted but life has been a little busy here - I haven't touched my stitching for three whole days!!

Anyway, good news. The QBHDEM is back home and recovering well. I told her she needed to provide proof so here's a photo/message. She is doing well but our hot days and humid nights are sapping her strength so everything here is in slow motion! And the surgery on her right eye has significantly improved her sight so although the operation on the left eye now has to be delayed for six months she can see better.

And a progress report on the Historic Countries Sampler. Did you know there are frogs in Spain as well?!?
Yes, last week not only was there the stress of hospital visits but also those interminable episodes of what my fellow embroiderers here in Auckland Guild call "reverse stitching" I have reversed enough now and am in forward motion again. Tonight I shall stitch!! Here's the most recent snapshot I have of the HCS.

In the two months I have been stitching this I have covered many countries, a lot of specialty stitches and a significant area of the linen fabric. And what's more my enjoyment of this project is still at high levels.

And here's a snapshot of the two headed eagle! Spain is about two thirds complete so perhaps this weekend I might get to start the next country, which is.....? Watch this space.

Good night everyone.

The Earthquake

2011-02-23T21:19:00.000+13:00

Some of you will have heard of the huge and devastating earthquake in Christchurch. Although this is far away from where I live, in a small country like NZ we are never far from connections. My relatives are all safe but for some of them their homes are damaged. Thank you for all the good wishes and prayers you have been sending my way. We sure need them at this time.
The beautiful stone cathedral at the centre of the city, to which my forebears donated the exquisite carved wood baptismal font, has lost its spire and the search and rescue teams have lost hope of finding survivors in the rubble that was the viewing tower. It is all such a sad sad story.

Photo taken from NZ Herald

And just to let you know that the QBHDEM is tonight staying in the Coronary Care Unit of Auckland Hospital. They are investigating a suspected heart attack and I am thankful she is in the good hands of the cardiology team there. Your prayers and good wishes would be much appreciated.
I doubt there will be much stitching here tonight - the accumulation of crises has drained my energy. And so Good Night to all.

Progress Reports

2011-02-21T20:08:00.000+13:00

Good evening everyone.
Progress Report Number One: Mother's first eye surgery went well and here is a snapshot (taken very much against her will!) to prove the point. One ear is yellow with iodine and of course one eye is covered with a white patch but otherwise all is well. Many thanks to you all for your good wishes and prayers - from both QBHDEM and me!

Progress Report Number Two: The Historic Countries Sampler has officially left The Netherlands. Several times while in that country the "frogs" came to visit but persistence paid off and that section is now complete - well apart from the gap left to put the date I finish this piece. Instead of some random date selected from family history I opted to rechart that section to put the start date and (one day) finish date. The blue triangle portion at the lower left is the first of the Spanish section which appears to be smaller and less complicated than the Dutch section. Here's hoping! (Hopefully this picture should be clickable)

Progress Report Number Three: Stash Enchancement! While Mother was in the gentle hands of the Opthalmologist I paid a visit to The Ribbon Rose and found a beautiful piece of white linen for my planned Pulled Thread piece, also some needles and a DMC I need to finishe my Christmas Prism. What was most gratifying was my loyalty card was full and meant I received $25 off the price. Oh Happy Day!

The linen is for a piece of Pulled Thread work by designer Marie Helene Jeanneau. I learned about this design from Giovanna's Stitches and Point Passion managed to send me the order within three days - a super fast journey from France to New Zealand. Such amazing service! You can see the work in progress on Giovanna's blog here.

So all in all a very successful day at Chez Nous! Have a great evening everyone.

WARNING - this post contains CHOCOLATE!

2011-02-17T20:01:00.000+13:00

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I posted and I continue to stitch on the Historic Countries Sampler. At present I am in the Holland section and have just completed a "giant" boat - this is relative of course. The whole sampler is quite a giant! Hopefully this weekend Holland will be finished and I plan on having a short break to stitch a small gift for a friend.

In between the crosses, I made this apron which the HDHBEM kindly modelled for me. She was really shy this time:-)

And now for a complaint. At Christmas Mother gave me this tin of chocolates - "I know you will love the tin dear, even if you don't eat the contents."

At that stage I had strong resolve and put the tin away waiting for a time when others would eat the contents for me. Such a large tin = so many chocolates = would be great for a plate when I am rostered on tea time at church.

So last Sunday I was on the roster and I opened the tin of chocolates - well! What a disappointment! Wouldn't you feel cheated if you only got less than half a tin full!

We won't be buying these again, tin or no tin!
Next week the HDHBEM has the cataract removed from her right eye and will then become the QuarterBlindHalfDeafElderlyMother (QBHDEM) and will be very happy! At present we put in drops morning and night and live with the anticipation of success (even though the opthalmologist said the macular degeneration will mean limited improvement). I will have the day off to take her to the hospital and collect her again three hours later - and what a blessing, the hospital is only a few minutes walk from the needlework shop. How fortuitous- I will love having my mind preoccupied with stitching treasures during the wait:-)
Have a great evening everyone.

Oh dear oh dear - a diet breaker of a package

2011-02-10T19:10:00.000+13:00

It was only on Monday that Sonoko told me she had sent a package and this morning the courier driver rang the bell and delivered the goodies. How quickly that travelled - NZ Post should take some lessons from Japan Post. And what a lot of goodies there were! Two cute teddy bears nursing small packages of ----yes! Chocolates. Two tiny tote bags containing ---- yes! Chocolates. The red package contained two smaller white packages which contained two beautiful pairs of gloves and two handkerchiefs. And the pink tote bag in the front? ---- yes! More chocolates.

Japanese retailers must be the Kings of Wrapping. Let me give you a pictorial explanation.

Inside this beautiful coordinated tote bag, was a wonderful round box (can you see this with some embroidery on top - once the contents are eaten of course)

the tissue paper was folded into soft symmetrical folds,

Under that was a small card detailing the flavours of the contents. Under the card a padded wax paper disc to protect the delicate contents and so eventually after five layers all was revealed....... these!

Too good to eat do I hear you say? Well all the other chocolates will be eaten first. These special ones will be kept for a day or two so I can enjoy their beauty and Mother can decide which she will eat as the instructions sent by Sonoko are that I must share !! Thankyou so much for the surprise Sonoko.

Progress Report HCS 5

2011-02-07T20:16:00.000+13:00

Hello everyone - life has been a little busy and consequently 'blog-less' this week. But I do have some progress to show you. This is the first band of the Holland portion of the Historic Countries Sampler. It is rather more colourful than I had expected but the colours all work well together. I am really enjoying this project.

I've also done side one of the Faith Hope and Charity Christmas Prism. The fabric is a scrap of Lugana I had in my stash and DMC threads from my stock. Somehow I doubt that I have a suitable fabric for the lining but as construction is a long way off I will leave that decision till later.

The blue cotton top is complete and has been "road tested". I am more than pleased with both the colour and the fit. Here it is with the skirt which provided the necessity for a top. The garment took three balls less than expected and the wonderful lady at Wild and Woolly agreed to swap the excess for other yarn and Mother now has a new pattern and the yarn for her next Charity Creation. Satisfaction all round!

Well good night all. I'm off to do my evening chores.

Lunch Out

2011-01-30T16:45:00.000+13:00

Today a rather rare occurence in this household - we went out for lunch to one of the local Japanese restaurants called Banzai.

Delicious Tuna and Salmon Sashimi for me

and Yum Yum Prawns for the HDHBEM.

Yum Yum may not sound totally Japanese but accurately describes the taste. Mother was totally satisfied and - high praise this - she commented "we must come here again!"

Highly recommend this place!

Progress Report HCS 4

2011-01-29T18:01:00.000+13:00

Hello everyone. It has been a busy week and I could only make time for needles and thread of a far coarser type than I usually have to hand. This is the last piece of a summer top and although I am impatient for it to be complete, I am more than satisfied with the way it is turning out. Knitting in cotton does not come naturally to a New Zealander born and bred on the wool industry but who wants to wear merino in the summer? This Rowan cotton is not what the pattern specified but a tension square gave identical results and onward I go. The skirt to complete the bottom half of the outfit is already complete and in use. My fingers don't move as fast as my sewing machine!

And on the needle and thread of the finer type I have completed Ireland and made a start on Holland on the major project that is my HCS. This project was started on 22 December last year so I am feeling quite happy with progress so far even though I'm only about a quarter done. Strangely enough I am looking for a change from this and may have to revise my resolutions and make a side excursion into some smalls - I have my eye and thoughts on a series of Christmas ornaments.

This morning I was up early and made some Grantham Gingerbread from my latest cook book. These are crisp buttery cookies and why they would be called Gingerbread I have no idea. A double pencil tick is in the margin of this recipe now and I will definitely be repeating this one.

We have a public holiday on Monday and I am rejoicing in a long weekend. The Half Deaf Half Blind Elderly Mother and I are going to our favourite Japanese restaurant for lunch tomorrow and our scheduled treat for Monday is the movies - "The King's Speech" is calling us!

Rosemary flavoured 2 4 6 biscuits

2011-01-22T17:13:00.000+13:00

Immediately after my last post Yuko Sawada asked if the biscuits were cooked yet! Well they are now and here's the proof - cookies and a cup of 'Crystal Tea'. Don't you wish you could taste them Yuko? Not only are they aromatic but they taste real good :-)

This cup saucer and plate are part of the tea service the Half Blind Half Deaf Elderly Mother received as a wedding gift in 1952. It is still complete and still in use for special occasions such as these cookies!!!

Progress Report HCS 3

2011-01-22T14:56:00.000+13:00

Today is a dreary grey day trying desperately to fulfil the weather forecast for rain. Just the right kind of day for stitching but before that I have some baking to do - from my new cookbook.

The Half Blind Half Deaf Elderly Mother plantively told me that she preferred my home baked cookies so what can a girl do??? This afternoon I will try 2-4-6 Biscuits. Apparently these are so called because the basic formula is 2oz sugar, 4oz butter and 6 oz flour! One of the variations offered uses fresh rosemary of which there is an abundance in my garden and so the decision is made. I will let you know the result - if I am satisfied enough to publish.

Now HCS is progressing well. England was conquered and I have moved on to Ireland - three more darning "patches" and an alphabet before I can move onto Holland. The Ireland section has a series of crowns but no explanation for the K M Q D B L underneath. Does that mean King Marquise Queen Duke Baron Lord???

Tonight I plan on watching my pre-recorded James Bond movie (despite the fact that it is that Daniel whatshisname chap and not my friend Pierce!) and stitch happily. The knitting has reached the - both fronts and one sleeve completed - stage so will go on holiday for a week while I finish the Ireland portion of HCS.

Have a good evening everyone.

View From My Window

2011-01-20T21:25:00.000+13:00

Good evening all. No stitchy news to tell you tonight. I am progressing on the Ireland portion of the HCS but the speed has slowed as I am also knitting a cotton cardigan. Perhaps there will be photos in the weekend.

But today I decided to take some pictures from my windows -
First the view from my lounge window - this is the right hand half of my vegetable garden. Those white lilies are the bane of my life and next year they will be transferred to a pot and moved some place else. When my friend Gwen gave them to me I didn't understand that they would multiply nor that they would grow so big! Hopefully they will bloom fully next week and I can show photos of the actual flowers.

I have enjoyed beans, rhubarb and silver beet. I'm waiting for the Bok Choy, the aubergine, and the beetroot to mature for harvest. Many meals of beans have been frozen in preparation for the winter and I have dried much of the parsley and basil for use when the fresh is not so readily available. Stupid coriander went to seed before I could blink!

Next the view from my car window as I drive to work.

The sky looked black and I expected rain but in fact today turned out a beautiful blue sky and HOT HOT!

Finally the view from my office window. Not the best view in the world is it? I look out on the warehouse from my perch in the mezzanine where once again it is HOT HOT! Yes, we have an umbrella inside to cut down the glare for the poor guys on the packing bench.

And with that I am off to put a few more stitches into HCS and I promise progress photos and an update in the weekend.
Have a great evening all.

ABC of Me

2011-01-10T18:58:00.001+13:00

Valerie posted this on her blog and I decided to play along ...

ABC's of me...

A - Age: 56
B - Bed size: King Single
C - Chore you hate: All!   Why do you think I have a cleaner?   But I love ironing!
D - Dog's name: No dogs in my house but I adore Golden Labradors
E - Essential start of the day item: My three alarm clocks!
F - Favorite color: Blue
G - Gold or Silver: Gold is worth more I think?
H - Height: 5'8"
I - Instruments you play: The piano a little
J - Job: Administrator
K - Kids: Nope!
L - Living arrangements: Solo
M - Music you love: Classics and most Country and Western.
N - Nicknames: Never had one and I refuse to answer to any.
O - Overnight hospital stay at hospital: Too many times to list - my claim to fame is three hospitalisations in Japan.
P - Pet Peeve: not sure that I have any of these really
Q - Quote from a movie: "I hardly ever watch movies so ……asked my little sister who happened to call and she said “I don’t know – will have to get back to you”!!!!   Must be a genetic defect here.
R - Right handed or left: Right
S - Siblings: Three, 2 brothers and 1 sister
T - Time you wake up: 5:45 is when the alarm goes off ~ and so far this year I have got out when the first alarm rings and turned off the other two back ups!
U - Underwear: Of course
V - Vegetable you dislike: None that I can think of - I love my vegetables
W - Workout Style: Half hour fast walk up the local mountain (oops read hill for that although it is called Mt Eden) first thing in the morning and a further half hour at my local Curves every night after work.
Y - Yummy food you make: I love both baking and cooking but won’t be winning Masterchef any time soon.My Ginger Crunch has been known to collect compliments
X - XRAYS you've had: it feels like a gazillion and the stack of them is several inches high but the ones I love the most are the regular chest xrays which show up my pacemaker and the helpful radiologist says "you've got a pacemaker in your right upper chest"   - isn't it lovely of them to tell me this!
Z - The best place to visit: For you? New Zealand, of course! For me? I have a notebook full of my “must see +must do +must eat” in the UK and hope to do the grand tour when I retire in 9 years time. Yes – I’m counting down already.

And now you know my ABC won't you join this game with me.   Leave me a message so I can visit your blog and get to know you too.
Well, that's it for tonight - I'm off to wash my dinner dishes and settle down for some serious stitching.   Tonight I conquer the England section of HCS.

Good night all.

Progress Report HCS 2

2011-01-09T19:48:00.003+13:00

Today is the last day of my summer holiday and I am basking in the last of the evening's 25 degree heat as well as the smug sense of satisfaction that comes from having crossed off all the items on my 'holiday to do list'. And the final item on the list?? To make a 'January to do list' !!

I had hoped to conquer England Since 1700 by the end of this weekend but, oh woe is me, I am a bird and a border short of my target. Apparently after 1700, band samplers were no longer in fashion and English samplers tended to be moralistic verses surrounded by floral vine borders. This section includes a couple of floral vases and that pesky bird that has eluded me. However here is a progress shot - this is around two thirds of the final completed width of the sampler and already I have chosen the spot on the wall where this will hang. Of course this has to be a prominent position where I can sit and gloat - but I get ahead of myself. Gloating is on the list for next year.

And a close up to show the butterfly, floral vases and the satin stitch hearts.

One bird on a tree and a speciality stitch border and then I move to Ireland with a shamrock border I am so looking forward to.
Many thanks for all your wonderfully encouraging comments. Have a good evening everyone.

It's still Christmas at my place!

2011-01-06T15:34:00.001+13:00

Today a Christmas parcel arrived - all the way from Japan. Now, I know that the mailman is extra busy this time of the year but this was posted on 14th December from Asahikawa! Nevermind, it has arrived and was a box of Japanese calorie free "treats" which made me very happy. My friend Yuko was an English student in my former life in Tomakomai and is extremely talented and artistic herself, so she sent crafty items -

The daisy cloth is one of those amazing Japanese dish cloths and besides that there are cards, buttons, reels of fancy paper tape, a mini CD of Japanese songs and a cute little box of all sorts of Japanese paper. What do you think the pink item in the middle is?? I can almost guarantee you will never guess so here's a close up shot -

Yes! It's a bottle top. But no ordinary bottle top - a heart shaped one and the reason why was prinited in Japanese and English on the packet so I took a photo of the explanation as I am sure you are wondering why.

Thankyou so much for a wonderful surprise Yuko, I wish I could send you some of our heat and humidity to melt your Asahikawa snow!

(Please note all pictures should be clickable)

Progress Report HCS

2011-01-04T16:02:00.001+13:00

Good afternoon one and all. Warm greetings from an extremely hot (26 degrees) and humid (70%) Auckland. Today efforts at gardening and car washing sure wore off a lot of energy - I'm in front of the fan now recovering in order to be able to stitch tonight:-)

First up a progress report on the Historic Countries Sampler. Last night saw Joshua and Caleb and their huge bunches of grapes completed - don't the two men look really Germanic - certainly not realistic Israelite spies!

I enjoyed this section with its five little areas of specialty stitches under the stags and the interesting colour combinations.The Germany section is now completed. This chart has a page with each section giving historical information about the samplers of each country which is proving very interesting. Now I have moved left to start the vine on the England since 1700 section. Hopefully more of the vine and its hanging roses and strawberries will be completed tonight.

This morning the Half Blind Half Deaf Elderly Mother and I sorted through all the knitting wool stash and decided on four "lots" that she will turn into small knitted garments. Although the eye sight is dim the fingertips still seem to see well enough for her to knit childrens sweaters and cardigans which she donates to the local Hospice shop. Easter is the self imposed deadline and she wants to have 20 to take - so far progress is 16 knitted and 14 fully completed hence the decisions of this morning. Well done Mother! I will show off on your behalf.

I go back to work for the day tomorrow - staff need to be paid and statements need to be mailed - but have Thursday and Friday off before starting back full time on 10th January. Hip hip hooray - I may get more stitching and certainly will finish my dress making - more about that next time I see you. Have a good night all.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T16:08:00.000+13:00

Happy New Year to one and all. My friend Sonoko sent me this New Year greetings card so I will share it and wish everyone the very very best in 2011 - the year of the Rabbit.

And as is the accepted custom in needlework blogs there need to be some stitchy resolutions. Having been vocal about doing a major project in the New Year I decided on the Historic Countries Sampler from GOS.

My last project for 2010 was completed on 22 December so I immediately made a start and here is a progress snap.

The top centre section - Germany is almost completed. Just Caleb and Joshua and the outsize bunch of grapes to go! Because of the size of the finished piece - hence the size of the linen fabric and the fact that I am using only a small hand held round frame I will not be working these sections in the order published by GOS, rather working from left to right across the piece of linen. I look forward to starting 'England after 1800' next. The linen is 34 count "Devonshire Cream" and I am working in the DMC conversion supplied. Can you tell by this speedy progress how much I am loving this??

Best wishes to all of you for a wonderfully happy stitching year.