After a lengthy absence

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.