A finish and a near finish

Hello there. How are you all? I have yet another bad cold so despite the fine weather am confined indoors so what better thing to do than read books - oops stitch crosses.

For the first time ever I participated in a round robin which was kindly moderated by Edgar. Mine came back to me from Carol R quite recently and as Deb wasn't able to finish her section I finished that off so it's already pressed and is now waiting in its roll to go to the framers.

Have also been making good progress on the ABCeDaire which as you can see is almost done too. All being well there should be three or four pieces to take to Sarah the framer and my "sampler wall" can really take shape.

There have been too many crosses in my life I have decided so the next piece is a five band sampler with hardanger, drawn thread, needle lace, ringed back stitch and pulled thread. The 32 count raw linen and the perle threads are waiting for me, indeed crying out for their turn, but I need to get some of the current projects done. I have three other unfinished pieces of which two are "almost done" so I am going to discipline myself and get Quaker Row and my Anne of Green Gables Book done before starting the new sampler.

A couple of weeks ago I got some new spectacles - you can click here to see them. Volcanic ash caused delays to the plane bringing my lenses from Mr Zeiss in Germany and impatience reigned but it was worth the wait and I see clearly once again.

Hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend and warmer temperatures than here.

All the way to Italy and Seattle but not together!

From Auckland to Florence and NZ Post managed not to lose the package. Vania let me know that it has arrived safely so I can show you the complete package. I forgot to take a picture of the Kiwi Coasters so this snap is 'borrowed' from Vania. The postcard I marked 'I live here'. The exchange return to Marne also arrived safely so here's a snap of her Lilac tassel and extras. I can't remember how many of these hardanger tassells I have made but they never fail to give pleasure and are really easy to stitch - as well as being slightly unique as they were a teaching piece by a New Zealand embroiderer many years ago and the chart has never been published. The two pieces of fabric are a stylised version of Maori traditional designs and the striped packet is delicious New Zealand chocolate!.

I'm currently stitching a few last crosses in An Emblem of Love which was a Round Robin moderated by Edgar. This will make another in the "to be framed pile" and I hope to get them all framed before the Goods and Services Tax rises from 12.5% to 15% on 1 October. Yes! Today was Budget Day here and the GST rise was a poorly kept secret. Income tax cuts go some way to alleviating the pain!

Have a good night everyone.

Package from Cheryl

Some time ago I won a "3 years blogging" prize from Cheryl and it arrived safely in the mail last week. However I went off to Wellington to a family wedding and only tonight have I a chance to show you a photo of the package.

Thank you so much Cheryl. Your stitching and finishing are amazing - and I love the pins and the roll of ribbon. These will be put to good use. That rose card is really sweet. Many many thanks.

I took some lilac linen and DMC perle threads with me to Wellington and between chatting to family and throughly enjoying Niece Number Two's wedding I made good progress on a small return exchange gift. Tonight when I put the last full stop on this post I am back to my chair to finish off.

Have a good evening everyone.

Brown Rabbit Red Sky

Last night I sat up late stitching this little Rabbit for the Brides Tree SAL. He is a mixture from several Quaker charts I have in my collection but I am rather pleased. I intend to finish all 12 of these Brides Tree ornaments in Christmas fabric when they are all done and meanwhile they are merely a growing pile in my workbasket.

And tonight was this beautiful sunset. So tomorrow will be another golden autumn day?!

Have a good evening everyone.

Today's surprise in the mail

Today my mother collected this package from the local Postshop. When she phoned me she sounded really excited - the mail brought this package all the way from Siberia. Olya told me she had mailed this in February and I secretly thought it might have got lost - but no this wonderful package took the long route to New Zealand.

Olya, my mother says you have beautiful handwriting! I have whited out some parts to maintain privacy.

And when the string was cut and the oiled paper unfolded inside was this - in all the rich jewel colours I always associate with Russia.

After peeling off another a shiny rainbow of threads, braids, beads, colourful fabric, a small keyring kit were revealed.

And some chocolate too. Inside the glittery gold drawstring bag was hiding this wonderful hanging. This hanging is a design of Olya's and I suspect the beads might be handmade too. What a wonderful surprise. Thank you so very much Olya. You are so very kind and I wish I could write thankyou in Russian.

DMC Pearl Cotton + 30 ct R&R Reproductions Linen = "this"

Good evening one and all. I have had a busy weekend. Saturday was spent shopping to find an outfit to wear to my niece's wedding. Success on that front - with many thanks to Rose at Cachet. Your help was much appreciated. The afternoon was spent baking - chocolate chip cookies, ginger cookies and walnut surprise slice (which will certainly be a surprise as I didn't have enough walnuts so added almonds as well!).

And finally some stitching ....While this still needs a good press and a tassel trim added the needlebook is now finished.

This needlebook was done as a class at Embroiderers Guild many years ago (2001 to be precise) and although this is the fourth one I have made I do not have one myself! How sad is that? If you look here you can see one I made in lilac some time ago. Anyway, here's the result of my first stitch on R&R Reproductions linen - I love the colour and am really pleased with finished product. Thanks again for this linen Diana - it was a real treat.

This is the front cover, and a close up shot to show you the flower which was reversed stitched three times until I found my rhythm!! The whole needlebook is done on one piece of linen and then folded and the edge picot done in a variation of nun stitch. All in all there are quite a few different stitches in this one and I enjoyed the change from cross stitching.

There are two doctors flannel "pads" inside to hold the needles (and the inside back and front covers are decorated too)

And the back has the year in Palestrina Knots as well as another "flower".

Now please don't remind me that I mentioned something about rotations to complete my UFO's!! Last night while watching the final in this years series of Midsomer Murders I started another project - this. As it is destined for a gift I cannot say much but this wrinkly shot doesn't give too many clues. This is 32 count Belfast Linen in a dark blue (much prettier than this shot) and I am stitching with DMC Perle 12 thread. So far there is nothing but foursided stitch which is MOST repetitive. I have one month to finish this and get it mailed to ...... so you watch this space for future updates.

At last - and not least

At last I have got my hand on the book that Anna introduced here. I started reading as I walked back up the street from the bookshop - in the fading light at 5pm!

And not least is an update on the beautiful "Morning Fog" R&R linen which is slowly but surely turning into ........this. The colour is not very clear but what else can you expect when the light has faded - Autumn is here now and daylight hours are limited.

Hope you all have a good evening