October Ornament

Snowflake 2007 by Heritage Series
Just Cross Stitch 2007 Ornament Issue Magazine

Stitched on a grab-bag piece of CountryStitch hand-dyed evenweave with Petite Treasure Braid PB10 and white Mill Hill beads. Finished as a frayed edge pillow (a finishing technique I borrowed from Ruth - thanks, Ruth!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my Jingle Sparkle Joy finish - ever so much appreciated :)

Finishing Frenzy Pictures

Here are the pics as promised. Hover your cursor over the pic for the design details.










Remember when I blogged about this? Well, I finally finished sewing on the beads and found something to put on the top of the tree. I wanted a pale pink heart but just couldn't find one so I settled on the silver star instead. I thought about another pillow finish but decided to make up a needleroll instead. This is my "pink" contribution for Breast Cancer Awareness month.



I went looking for a bigger display container and found this wooden tray tucked away in a cupboard. It works well although I need to stitch and finish a few more items to fill in the empty spaces!



Now I need to get cracking on some Halloween ornaments!

September Ornament

A Star, A Star by The Sunflower Seed
from the JCS 2007 Ornament Magazine

I used DMC floss and substituted Kreinik 002V #4 braid for the PB01. I also used Mill Hill 42011 beads instead of 40557. Stitched on 32 count Kiwi Illusions "Oyster" lugana.

Started and finished 30 September - put the last beads on at 11.54pm!

I haven't been doing much of anything since we returned from holidays, except to read (boy, have I read a load of books in the last few weeks!). I came back feeling restless and disenchanted. I do enjoy (for the most part) life here but there are times when the constant heat, humidity, dust, construction, roadworks and the ensuing traffic chaos get the better of me. The fact is I'm not a big city type of girl yet I find myself living in one - go figure! It was also Ramadan (officially ended today) - not being able to eat and drink in public during the daylight hours doesn't bother me - it is the morons on the road who become even more moronic on the roads, the shortened business hours and the insane amount of time it takes to do something relatively straight forward and simple. Then I get angry with myself because I have much to be thankful for. Unfortunately, this feeling of blah has affected my motivation to stitch - it just hasn't been there - in fact this ornament is the most I've stitched in weeks! I did pick up the knitting bug while away but even that has been put away.

Still, there are signs of hope of a return to normality :) I've stitched some on a HAED WIP tonight and have pulled another out of hibernation to work on tomorrow. I got my September ornament done and I have an urge to get out the sewing machine and have a finishing day - perhaps over the weekend. I've also signed up for an Ornament exchange which is the first exchange I've participated in for a long time! Last but certainly not least, I've blogged :)

Ornament for August

Rudy by Glory Bee - JCS 2007

Stitched on natural 28 count linen
Graziano, I think - it was a scrap leftover from another project)
with DMC threads.

Oh, and a bead from Mill Hill :)

My apologies for the creases! I haven't had a chance to give him a press as DH has gone to bed and the iron and board are kept in our walk-in closet - it will have to wait until I have a finishing day.

I will be a little quiet for a couple of weeks - our dog/house-sitters arrived today and DH, myself and the munchkins head for the airport tomorrow for a little summer travelling. We will be taking a laptop so I may have a chance to do a post or two while away. Depends on internet availability, cost and whether DS will let me use HIS laptop - lol!!

Something I've been remiss at lately (!!) and that is thanking those of you who stop by and leave me a comment! They put a smile on my face and I really appreciate them. So, a big thank to you all :)

I must go and check my list and make sure I have everything packed and organised, and then to bed I think. The last few days have been a whirlwind of grocery shopping, laundry and re-organising my kitchen cupboards, and I've been awake since 5.30am this morning - it is after midnight as I write this! I can go away safe in the knowledge that my house guests have a well-stocked fridge/freezer and well-organised cupboards :)

Oops, almost forgot! Here's an update on Morag (aka Moonlight Guardian by Dragon Dreams). She is coming on holidays with me - which reminds me I'd better replace my scissors with my Clover thread cutter for stitching on the plane :)

July Ornament

I started this little guy on Wednesday and finished him up last night :)



The Decorator by Full Circle Designs
Just Cross Stitch 2007 Ornament Issue

Stitched on a mystery hand-dyed 28 count opalescent
evenweave with DMC threads