Goodbye to the old year

It's always an odd feeling, this week between Christmas and New Year, when I am on holiday but at home; have a schedule of Things To Do but no particular interest in doing them; look forward to the new start of a New Year  but feel that the old year is in some way incomplete.
To make bad matters worse I seem to have a repetitive strain injury in my right elbow (tennis elbow when I don't play tennis?) and so my stitching time has had to be severely curtailed.   Baking the weekly batch of scones for the DBEM's lunches was rather painful as is any repetitive task. So I made a double batch of scones and of gingerbread loaves and am hoping the inflammation will have subsided before any more DBEM-baking is required.
Still I have managed quite a lot and have taken the DBEM out on fine days to various little beaches around the harbour where we have enjoyed sun and fresh air.   Jeffrey Archer's latest book followed me home from the library and that held my interest for some hours too!   I have been out walking each day covering quite a few kilometres around the neighbourhood.
Tonight I decided to try some stitching (after doing none at all since 20 December) and found that half an hour's work could be achieved with no increase in discomfort.   Here is where the Hardanger Doily is up to now.   Just the centre square and the outside lacy edging to complete.

I have been through my Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament editions and marked out those I want to stitch in 2019.   Also, I have cut the pelmet vilene (skirtex) for the Octagonal Box and have laced three of the small sides for the inner lining.  And I have sewn one dress and made a start on another.
Not too shabby an effort.
But I am not staying up until midnight so I will sign out for 2018 and wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all from New Zealand where the pohutukawa trees bloom red and where this year the North Island has steady heavy rain and the South Island has sun!

Goal Achieved!

Last Boxing Day, 26 December 2017, I embarked on what seemed an ambitious target to walk 1000km within one year.   As of Friday 14 December 2018 I have achieved that goal.   Perhaps on Boxing day this year I will up the distance and see if I can maintain the momentum?

I have no progress photos of the Octagonal Box.   All the component pieces have been backstitched and I am currently trying to decide whether I need more than two thicknesses of Pelmet Vilene (Skirtex) as stiffening.   

While I ponder on that I am scratching my hardanger itch and making good progress on The Doily.  A portion of the fourth side needs eyelets and then the fun begins as each of the "medallions" get their unique filling stitches.

This week Little Brother is coming to stay for a day or two so there will be more talking and less stitching but I have the next two weeks off work and have already drawn up my schedule of projects.

The remainder of the Spring Cleaning, the remainder of the Summer Dressmaking and plenty of stitching.

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?