A Finish

Today I completed the Octagonal Box.   After much thought as to how I would hinge the lid, I ended up whip stitching the two pieces together loose enough to form a hinge.   For the front a small tassel makes sufficient weight to close and a pull to open.  Success in my book.

The pin cushion and the needlebook (which have Land on one side and Sea on the other) are complete and sufficient as I do not intend to use this box.   It will sit in my cabinet with all the other pieces and create work for someone upon my demise :-)

It has been a good week.   I have sorted through my bookshelves and taken a bootload of books to the secondhand store.   My car has a new Warrant of Fitness.   I bought another 50 freesia bulbs to plant for Spring flowering. The back of the knitting project is complete and the left front is started.  Tomorrow I need to cut carefully around the buttonhole edge of the Hardanger Doily and finish one of my library books.   And I plan to kit up the annual Christmas Ornaments for the nieces and nephews. 
It has been a good holiday.   And the best part is that I was forced to book another two weeks annual leave so have that to look forward to from 15 - 30 April.   Yes, it is stretched to encompass public holidays for Easter and Anzac Day.   Ahhhh clever me!

The Octagonal Box is finito - well almost

Today I had a half day off work to escort the DBEM to the cardiologist.   This also allowed time to do a quick grocery shop, a brisk 5km walk, to complete construction on The Octagonal Box and to sleep through the TV weather report!   Just as well the DBEM was awake and could listen to the report of today's temperature - I have stitched the little square to signify today=24 degrees celsius.

The Octagonal Box is complete bar hinges and fastening.   The lid is currently pinned with glass headed pins while I decide how I am going to do the hinges and while I search through my bead box for a front fastener.   I do have a sterling silver anchor charm which I thought might be suitable for the fastening but this box suits gold more than silver!  What is certain is that I don't have the inspiration at the moment so this will go in the cupboard as "half done" while I complete the hardanger doily.
We have next Monday a public holiday in Auckland and I have a long To Do List which will hopefully involve some sewing.   I'm trying to tweak a trouser pattern to get a good fit as I want to make some navy wool gaberdine lined trousers for this winter.  It is hard to generate the required enthusiasm for that in these high temperatures:-)

Back to Work

Back at work this week and all is still quiet in my department.  But you know what it's like when the days seem long and the evenings short!  By the time dinner is prepared and eaten; the dishes washed and the once round the walking circuit completed there isn't much time for anything else.   I continue to plod away at The Octagonal Box and with the lid and the base complete I'm working on the sides.   Fortunately my 'tennis elbow' seems to have settled a little and I can manage with minimal discomfort if I'm careful.

We are having hot days and muggy "tropical" nights here so energy levels are depleted for the DBEM  who can usually be revived with a stroll for a few minutes in the evening shade and cool.   Her exercise physiologist comes for a review next week and hopefully he will be pleased with how she has maintained her strength and balance.   So all good on that front at present.

I counted up the list of books read last year and found to my surprise that it was 105.   Surprise because I didn't include on the list any of the e-Books borrowed through the Library, so in reality it would have been many more.   Out of that number some of course are forgettable and some eminently memorable.   Yesterday I finished reading aloud to the DBEM - A Year in the Life of The Yorkshire Shepherdess (Amanda Owen) and we both enjoyed it very much.   The DBEM has just completed Anne Frank's Diary on her Blind Foundation Talking Book so a tale of life on the high dales of Yorkshire was a complete contrast.

And so the new year begins Chez Nous.

All the fishes in the deep blue sea

The inner base of the Octagonal Box is now complete.  It was fun stitching this one with its variety of fish and other sea creatures. 

Next step is to cut the pieces of Skirtex and lace each part and only then can assembly begin.   Such geometrical precision is beyond me at the moment so  I will continue on with my piece of hardanger for now.

My pacemaker replacement went according to plan and after an early start that morning I was home late afternoon in time to ensure the DBEM had a proper dinner!   During my convalescence I have done a lot of reading and sleeping but these last couple of days have felt much better and completed a couple of items off the sewing list.  The lengthy list of instructions included "Driving is not permitted for two weeks" so I have been walking everywhere and consequently am nearing my 1000km target.  945km as of today and I have until Christmas Day to complete the remaining 55km so all should be well.

One fish two fish red fish blue fish

The top, bottom and outer sides of the Octagonal Box are now completed and I've made a start on the inner.   As Land is the theme of the outside so Sea is dominant in the inner.
This will be very colourful!   Since this photo I have added three yellow fish and have my eye on the octopus next.

But I had to scratch the Hardanger itch and have started a doily.   The foundations were laid with no reverse stitching so I am feeling mighty pleased with myself.

I made one of these doilies some years ago in a very well run SAL, Confetti of Hardanger from Bee's Needlework.   This time I am stitching for a 70th birthday early next year so hope all goes as well for the second attempt.

Two projects on the go?   Well thereby hangs a tale.   I was told that I'd been placed on the wait list for a pacemaker replacement and fully expected that to take some months given the state of the public health system.   Instead, I received a phone call last Monday to say they had booked me in for the next Monday so a frantic week at work ensuring everything was up to date, a few lists to ensure that all home chores were accounted for, a couple of garments cut out and prepped ready to sew and after the Last Supper tonight nil by mouth until bright and early tomorrow morning.     

The worst thing about all this?   Driving is forbidden for two weeks!!

The best thing?   Plenty of time for stitching, reading, sewing and probably some walking as I have only 80km to go to reach the 1000km target.

The Octagonal Box - progress

Despite best efforts I’ve not gotten back to the my blog but do have progress to record on The Octagonal Box.  A slight senior moment in forgetting which was land and sea ended up with the blue where the green should have been but I reversed out of that corner and now the top and the four square sides are done. 

Just four rectangle sides and the base to go.   But....the base has the date on it so I may leave that till last.  The reason??   I am getting the hardanger itches again and have promised myself that when the outer "Land" layer of this box is done and before I start the inner "Sea" layer I will start some hardanger.   Indeed the DBEM and I are going out tomorrow to buy the Perle thread.   Well, we are actually going to buy Christmas cards but needlework store is close by so we will call there too.

Progress is being made

Visible progress is being made on the Octagonal Box.   Despite the fact that there are no specialty stitches to tempt me I am enjoying this one; even the over one lettering is fun.   And while stitching I have decided to make the needlework accessories that go into the box.   The reason being - I couldn't work out how to change the design of the words and remove "needlework" while retaining the overall balance of the design.
Anyway, here's progress -  I couldn't see why there was so much blue at the bottom until I took this photo.   But the missing words give the clue..."both sea and land to collect needlework treasures".   So squirrels or not the bottom had to be sea blue?!

Today my boss arrived back after ten days in Tokyo.  She and her husband went up specifically to go to the two All Blacks matches being played there and they had a wonderful time.   She brought back some sweeties for me.... White peach and melon flavoured Kitkats.

Apparently this was test run for them and if they liked it they would book to go back during the Rugby world Cup.   They loved it and are off to the travel agent very soon to book a longer trip and take in more of the country than they saw this visit.   I wonder if they need someone to carry their bags?

Halfway there

The sampler for the top of the octagonal box is progressing well.   I've changed the colour of the fruit on the trees - the pale peach charted just didn't do anything for me.   And the colour of the owl is several shades darker than the chart dictates.   Overall I think it works.

What didn't work is the discovery that the lettering is in one strand of floss over over thread of linen!   I'm very grateful the DBEM bought me an Ottlight for my birthday.   The strain on my eyes is much reduced but the lettering is still going to take quite a while to complete.

Hopefully you can read what it will say when fully stitched as it is going to take the veritable month of Sundays to reach the final D.   I'm going to remove the word Needlework and centre the word Treasures as I don't intend to stitch the pincushion, needlebook etc to go inside the box.
And on the stitchy update, good night to all

At last - a project that captures my interest

For a time my stitching mojo had completely disappeared but in a trawl through my stash cupboard I found this chart and the fabrics.   Most of the floss were in my DMC boxes too so I was able to quickly kit up and begin.  I am making the box on the right in the picture.   There are needlework smalls also charted but I don't have need for those so may stop at the box only - in which case I will have to change the words a little. 

It has been a long weekend here and splendid weather so not only have I done some sewing (a T shirt for me, a blouse for the DBEM  and two pair of "active wear" trousers) there has been a few excursions out to the various beaches around the city.   

My sweet peas are flowering and promise a profusion of blooms.   Currently they are only a deep cerise pink so I am hoping for some variation as that's what the packet promised.

Each evening as soon as the weather forecast is complete I don walking shoes and at a brisk pace, tramp the pavements around the neighbourhood while the DBEM stays home and plays her favourite computer game.   My reason is that the walk is good for health and well being; her excuse is the game is good for maintaining brain health and well being.   We can't both be correct-  surely?