My Baden Powell moment!

Two years ago when the major earthquake destroyed Christchurch City I made a start on a disaster kit.
A gas cooker, a couple of gas canisters, a radio, a torch, matches, plastic bags etc etc etc.   All of the above carefully placed in two carry bags in the bottom of my wardrobe.   I figured that the HD3QEM could carry the lighter one and I would have her on one arm and the other heavier disaster bag on the other.   Well, two years is a long time.   There is no way now that the HD3QEM could carry one bag , no matter how light.   In a disaster her walking stick would be all she could manage.  So a drastic rethink began and continued and continued and ....
You get the idea?
Then Superstorm Sandy visited the USA and I decided that action was necessary now so thoughts got transformed to actions.  I found on line a supplier of disaster kits like this one

It has all the essentials like a folding shovel (for digging a latrine?!), a wind up torch and radio (no need for batteries), first aid kit, emergency blankets etc etc etc.   There is also a supply of dehydrated provisions supposedly sufficient for four people for three days (but that presumes the provision of clean water!)  The disaster bag has a good strong shoulder strap.
That accounts for one shoulder and one portion of necessary disaster kit.   Our Civil Defence agencies provide helpful lists of what is necessary and in a back pack I have the aforementioned gas cooker etc etc as well as food and water sufficient for two people for three days, and water purifying tablets so that aforementioned dehydrated food will be usable.
So with a back pack keeping me erect, a disaster bag hanging on my left shoulder and the HD3QEM hanging on my right (thereby ensuring I can talk into her "good ear"), I am prepared for the inevitable disaster.   Apparently in Auckland that is likely to be a volcanic explosion which seems reasonable considering that the city is built on the dormant remains of 53 volcanic craters.   According to Wikipedia, this volcanic field is likely to erupt again within the next "hundreds to thousands of years".   Now, wouldn't Baden Powell have been impressed with my preparedness?

Confined to quarters

Today I been indoors all day as the HD3QEM will not let me out in to what she describes as "biting cold".   The sun is shining so it can't really be that bad, can it?
So I have been indoors beavering away at my lavender hussif and listening to this

This was a fun audio book -  the baddies got what they deserved and the goodies excaped almost unscathed!

I have also been blog surfing and found this

(Taken from this site http://www.dailydropcap.com/tag/m)

Can you see that transformed into an embroidery piece?   I can and my conviction that I can only do counted work has suffered a slight denting as I consider how this M could be interpreted in floss and linen.   Perhaps I would change the orange to a royal blue but I can see myself adding yet another M to my collection.

I'm off for some afternoon tea and another dose of cough mixture.

 

Under the weather

For the past two days it has been very silent at our house.   My voice has vanished and left in its place a hoarse croak and a pitifully non-productive but extremely irritating cough.   I dragged through a busy day at work on Friday sustained only by the thought that in the weekend I would have time to recuperate and to indulge.   Well....

Today the HD3QEM and I travelled to the south of the city to visit the exhibition put on by a neighbouring embroiderers guild.   Inclement weather, and her loving daughter's  ill health couldn't dissuade the HD3QEM from this adventure as she had deduced, with rare enthusiasm, that on our return journey we would pass by Daruma Sushi once again.   We both enjoy sushi and chawan mushi so it was a shared pleasure.

The exhibition was wonderful.   This particular guild always have a strong bias to traditional stitching and I enjoy the inspiration and stimulus I receive in seeing all the beautiful work.   My camera battery was dead so I took these using my iPod. Can you guess which section of the exhibition was my favourite -  yes yes yes!  The counted traditional work.   These are some examples of Hardanger, Punto Antico, Schwalm, Reticella and Ruskin Lace. I did take my Moleskine and despite being artistically challenged sketched one or two ideas that some time in the future I may try to imitate.

 

 

I have completed the one medallion on Part 7 of A Confetti of Hardanger.   This is needle woven bars and I am desperately hoping that the next medallion will be slightly more complex and give a greater degree of satisfaction.

The front and back of Shelleys Jewellery Box are now completed and have been put into hibernation to allow me to complete some of my other projects.   I really like the centre panel of this one.   Here's
a close up of that part -  the colour is not correct.

Currently I am working on a "tone on tone" counted thread hussif.   This is chewing through the thread and I had to call in to my LNS and stock up on some more floss.   Originally I had planned to use linen and floss from my stash but didn't count on this using quite so much floss.   Hopefully the finished product will justify the outlay. The linen is a pretty lavender 28 count cashel linen and the thread is GAST Lavender Pot Pourri.

 Well, I'm off to make dinner now and settle down for a stitching evening.

58 years ago today...

The HD3QEM tells me she was so proud of herself and of me when I (the first Stedman girl child for two generations) arrived 58 years ago.   Hopefully she is still proud now!
This afternoon she took me out for a birthday cake - an Almond Bundt Cake - which was utterly delicious but will equal many kilometres on the treadmill! 

And among the gifts there was a pair of Swarovski Crystal Earrings.   Very nice.   I think I will repeat this next year.

Tonight is dedicated to finishes.   First the back of Shelley's Jewellery Box (which will then be put away temporarily while I work on other things) and second, Kelly's Growth Chart.   Kelly is walking and talking (sort of) and will soon be one so I need to put in the necessary spurt to get this finished.

Wouldn't you know it......

Wouldn't you know it!   Not only does the clock go faster on weekends but the weather is always contrary too.   Today has been a beautiful sunny, warm day and I have been indoors at an Embroiderers Guild class!
No complaints really as I thoroughly enjoyed the class.
My first introduction to Tenerife Lace was meeting a photograph around 40 years ago.   Subsequently I purchased a how-to book in 1980 but until today have never really got going.
A piece of discarded polystyrene from work, covered with a scrap of white lawn fabric, a tin of pins and a ball of crochet cotton and away I go.

Pushing all the pins in requires Grandma's thimble!
Then several frustrating minutes later I have completed class sample number one.

Pulling out all the pins required tweezers.   Tenerfie lace sure is hard on the finger tips.   Can you see the bent needle?   Apparently all the "text books" say a curved needle but our tutor had the idea that a slight bend rather than a full curve would be easier to manage.   She's right!   Her husband heats the needles and gently bends them- hence the blackened tip.

The lady next to me had a beautiful green thread and a much thicker block of polystyrene.  

Our tutor showed how we could add beads (might try that) and how needleweaving gives a different look altogether.

So that's all the news for today.   I'm off now to cook dinner and then it's my weekly TV Fest of Antiques Roadshow and Lewis.
See you later.

Pink and white in October

Usually I don't succumb to advertising pressure but every day for the past month I have driven past a huge billboard displaying this icecream, so today I treated the HD3QEM and myself to a most delicious strawberries and cream confection.  White chocolate, praline and strawberry.  Yum! I was under the impression that a certain amount was donated to Breast Cancer research from the sale of this "limited edition" but I can't see that anywhere in the fine print.   Nevertheless it was delicious!!

This afternoon was Embroiderers Guild meeting and a past president brought along a collection of her stitching to show us.   There were several items that made me think "I'd like to do that" so I added them to the "To Do" list in my little notebook.   I will probably need another lifetime to complete all the items on the list, but dreams are free.  
Tonight, to the accompaniment of Antiques Roadshow and Lewis I plan on completing the cross stitches on Shelley's Jewellery box.  
Meanwhile I have the dinner dishes to do and some sorting out of the side table at my needlework spot.
Enjoy your evening.

Oh dear, I don't look as young as I feel!

This week I had a shock.   The 'very young' man at the drycleaners counter asked me how many grandchildren I had.   What!!  Me??  I managed to stutter "none" all the while thinking that I was far too young to be thought to have grandchildren.   I swear his polite comment doubled the number of grey hairs instantly.
But young or old this has been a tiring week and I am grateful we have a long weekend.   Monday is Labour Day when we remember with gratitude our forefathers who fought for a forty hour working week.   Ironic really as I'm contracted for forty two and a half hours in my current job!

So with a nod and a wink to Gretchen Rubin I am happy for the following:
A: Monday is a holiday and as rain is forecast I will not need to wash my car!
B: Downton Abbey Season 3 has begun on the TV and Matthew and Mary are married!
C: I completed part 6 of A Confetti of Hardanger and although this wasn't a new filling stitch for me I confess to a high level of satisfaction with my wrapped bars.

D: The outer case for a small Wessex Stitchery Needlebook is almost completed.  I need to do a few scattered needlewoven flowers on top of the green 'Margaret' stitch.

E: Several hundred more crosses were put into "Shelley's Jewellery Box" without me having a total meltdown.   The front panel is done and maybe by Christmas I will have the back finished???

F: The postman was very kind to me and brought not one but two packages.

Amy sent me some root beer (new taste to me) candy which I am enjoying; this cute little Moon Box; some 40 count linen; silk thread and a chart for a Pansy Box.   Thankyou Amy.

Kazumi knows what I like and she sent me this.    No, it's not a book but a box and I like boxes almost as much as I like books.   Inside were two scarves/shawls and some Japanese food treats.   Thankyou Kazumi.

G: The HD3QEM and I enjoyed and highly recommend this audiobook.

So I finish this week happy but enlightened - I may feel young but I don't look it??