More Plum Gothic QS

This is what I managed to get done during the HAED BB Background SAL last weekend. Not too bad considering it was a busy weekend.

She is still on my stand so I will probably continue to work on her when I can this weekend although I do need to squeeze my March ornament in there somewhere!

Thank you for dropping by and leaving such lovely comments, especially on my previous Plum Gothic post. I'm hoping to get back to stitching and blogging normality next week!!

What's in a name?

Blatantly stolen from Kim's blog :)

What Melissa Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

There's some truth but I'm not sure that I agree with everything, especially the last part!!!

Happy Easter!

It was also FIL's 70th birthday so we took him out to lunch. This is what greeted us when we walked into the hotel lobby, and a great photo opportunity for DS and DD - lol!



They had little bags of chocolate eggs at each place setting on the tables, and later the Easter Bunny himself going around handing out more :)

QS Plum Gothic

The Fourth Weekend Themed SAL on the HAED BB starts today and the theme for this month is Background. I've pulled Plum Gothic out of hibernation in an effort to meet my goal of getting her finished this year!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much recently - as well as DH being away and having visitors (which is sapping what little energy I have lately!) today has been the first time I've been able to get on to any Blogger sites in the past few days!

I've managed a little bit of stitching but have packed most of my WIPs away for safe-keeping while the in-laws are here so no photos as yet. The in-laws are going to spend a few days with my sis-in-law next week so I'll get them out and photograph them then :)

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter!

Backyard Camping!

Even though we are in a Muslim country, the kids still get a long weekend off for Easter. With the in-laws here, my sis-in-law has come to stay for the weekend (she lives a good 30-45 mins away from us in the city) and decided that it would be a great idea for her and the kids to camp out in the backyard :)

DD was keen but DS less so although he changed his mind when we said his friend could stay over and camp out with him too :)



DD and "friends" heading out to bed! This is what she sleeps with every night!!!

I'm here ...

but DH has been away and now we have visitors for a couple of weeks. I've been stitching but just not on the computer quite so much. Hopefully I'll get some time over the weekend to update the blog!!

All is well in my world ...

I have Vegemite :)



It has finally re-appeared on the supermarket shelves here again - yay!!

Win "Where There Is Life ..."

Go check out the contest Kim is holding over on her Stitch Pink blog. You could win this exclusive Little House Needleworks design fully kitted which was generously donated by Chris.

Ta da!

Stitched with silks and fabric supplied in kit.
Completed 18 February 2008.

It was the HAED BB HAEDless Stitching Sampler SAL this past weekend and I managed to finish this last night. The lighting wasn't conducive to a decent photo so I had to wait until this morning to grab one :)

I started this a long time ago and I put it away because I think I was struggling with the instructions and some of the stitches. I was fairly new to linen and specialty stitches back then :) I've had a bit more experience with specialty stitches and linen since those early days so this time around it was quite a quick stitch :)

Next up is my Wiehenburg Quaker Mystery SAL piece. The actual SAL started at Christmas last year but I didn't join up until mid January. It took me a couple of weeks to decide on fabric and thread so it wasn't until late January that I finally started it.



I am using a HDF (Vikki Clayton) silk Gandy Dancer 1113 which is a really nice rust red on CountryStitch Kiwi Illusions "Daffodil" 28 count Jubilee. I'm stitching it over one because the piece of 40 count linen I had wasn't quite big enough to stitch it over two.



The silk is a "solid" colour but you can just see a very subtle variation :)

My replacement parcel from Sew & So arrived on Sunday (yay!) - five days from when they posted it. No sign of the original ones and I don't expect to see them. One thing I know is if I'd received a parcel or two in my mail box with someone else's name on it (even if it had the correct PO Box number) then I'd (a) either send it back myself, or (b) take it in the post office for them to return to sender.

Anyway, one of the goodies contained in my parcel was this ...



Actually, it was just the chart and threads needed to stitch it. I went for a stroll through my fabric stash late last night and pulled out a piece of Kiwi Illusions "Hokey Pokey" 32 count lugana by CountryStitch (link in my sidebar) which I thought might work. What do you think?

Also, while I was rummaging through my stash I came across this ...



I think I stitched this up in 2005 or perhaps 2006!! All it needs is a smattering of beads and then to finish-finish it and it is done! I just need to decide on what colour beads and then find something to attach to the top of the tree. It is supposed to have a Mill Hill treasure but I have a box full of beads in which I'm sure I can find something suitable. I don't have any suitable backing fabric either but I think I will have enough of the fabric I stitched it on to use as backing. That way I can personalise it ... mmmm, thinking, thinking :)

I found a few other lost treasures whilst visiting my stash last night but as this post is already picture heavy as well as being long enough I will leave those to another time :)

As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog and leaving comments. I appreciate them all :)

Almost forgot :)

I heard back from Sew & So yesterday about my mislabeled and presumed lost items. They really are wonderful people to deal with and are re-sending them. It appears there was a little gremlin at work who manually changed the address label. Of course, the "lost" packages will probably turn up now!! In which case, I will send the duplicates back :)

I have also fallen in love with this - Hanky Pysanky by Ink Circles - in the rainbow colourway. Nicole's WIP is what drew me to it (scroll down to the bottom of her post) :)

I need to stop looking at stash, get off this computer and go stitch!!

Oh, and I've been tagged by Nicole (different to the one above :)). I will respond to that in the next day or two.

Okay, stitching awaits!

Ornament for February

"Joy" by Lizzie*Kate, Inc
JCS 2007 Ornament Issue
Stitched on 32 count Light Mocha Belfast with DMC
(and Petite Treasure Braid PB10 added for the "snowflakes")
Finished as a pinkeep (my first)

Busy Weekend!

Boy, what a crazy busy weekend!

Friday night DH and I attended a corporate function at one of the nearby golf clubs. It was put on by our hometown State Government (they have an office here) in honour of a visiting bigwig. Lots of produce specific to our hometown region was flown in including Balfours Frog Cakes and Vili's Meat Pies!!! Plus local seafood (prawns, yellow fin tuna, barramundi and King George Whiting), Wagyu beef, Berenberg strawberry jam, Medlow fruit gels and Bickford's beverages.

On Saturday Australian Rules Football came to Dubai - Collingwood vs Adelaide - and with DS being a huge Adelaide fan we had to go :) The game was held on a polo field which was converted into a football ground for the event! It was a fantastic day and much fun was had by all. Adelaide won so DS was very happy!






Unfortunately, DS was off school sick today so my plan to spend most of the day with Dream of Purple for the HAED BB February Challenge SAL didn't happen. Instead, the day was spent catching up on the laundry I didn't do because we were out all weekend and taking DS to the doctor. He's fine and should be back at school tomorrow.

I did manage to put in the last few stitches left on my February Christmas ornament though! I'll post pics tomorrow :)

Parcel Woes

Back in early January I had a little online stash shopping spree - I ordered a couple of Sampler Cove charts from European XS, some silks from HDF, both in the US, some Gloriana silks from West End Embroidery and Sew & So, both in the UK and a LHN chart and the Crescent Colours threads required to stitch it also from Sew & So. Plus I requested one of my Rainbow Club FOTM from CountryStitch (in New Zealand) to be a certain colour on a higher count with one of the SC samplers in mind.

The silks from West End Embroidery and HDF were here within a week. The charts from European XS turned up a few days later and then my fabric from CountryStitch arrived. I've since ordered another lot of silks from HDF and have received them. Various mail from my mum in Australia has come in. Can you see where I'm going with this? Yep, not one item from Sew & So has arrived - I find this incredibly bizarre because their service is top-notch and I have always received mail from them no later than 7 days after ordering. In fact, all our mail is received fairly quickly. Thankfully, Sew & So had sent the first parcel by recorded airmail so it had a tracking number. Using that tracking number on the Royal Mail website, I discover that the parcel has been handed over to the UAE postal system for delivery.

I emailed customer service at Emirates Post (easier than trying to ring them in my book) and asked them if they could locate the parcel for me. A very prompt and helpful reply came back saying that the parcel had been received by them on 11 Jan but it had been addressed to the incorrect PO Box number! I was advised to bring the tracking number and photo ID and come in to collect it from the Dubai Central Post Office in Karama.

Oh. boy.

I'm sure I've blogged in the past about my incredible directional/navigational skills or rather the lack thereof, so you can understand why I was less than thrilled at the prospect of driving into Bur Dubai. You would think after almost three years of living here I would have it down pat but the truth is I very rarely if ever go into the city and of course, the roads are continually changing! Anyway, after conferring with DH the best route to go, I set off yesterday morning and made it into the Post Office. I missed one turn but got back on track fairly easily. I even managed to find a park in the chaos of the PO carpark!

Remembering that the main entrance is actually at the back of the building, I walk in to find that they've "automated" things with a ticket "machine" - a man sitting behind a desk at the front entrance with a ticket dispenser :) After telling him my purpose for being there (with the help of a kindly security guard - the "machine" had some difficulty in understanding that I wanted to collect a parcel not send one!), waiting for my number to be called and then being referred to three different counters, I eventually walk out with parcel in hand. Hooray! I now have my threads to start Sampler Cove's Spanish Rouge Sampler!!

I did ask about the other two parcels I'm waiting on while at the PO but unfortunately, they couldn't be located. I can only assume that they were addressed incorrectly as well and therefore lost. They were sent normal international airmail not recorded so therefore no tracking number. I have emailed Sew & So to let them know and I'm sure all will be sorted. I'll keep you updated :)

10 Blogs

Good grief narrowing this list down to just 10 was hard! I decided to mix some of the regular blogs with some new ones :) Anyway, here goes ...

The Rules:
Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.



1. Nicole stitches, quilts, knits and also beads, I believe :). I also love reading about her and her family's adventures in her other blog.

2. Felicity - She has inspired me to pull out my many non-HAED WIPs/UFOs and get to work on them. Lovely looking blog too :)

3. Tannia does the most beautiful work and sings too!

4. Deb - I came across Deb's blog only recently - it is so bright and colourful :) She quilts as well as stitches and I'm also looking forward to seeing the results of her Queens & Harpies Paper Dresses start-up.

5. Andrea - Another new to me blog. Andrea's stitching is so neat and immaculate and I love the way she displays and photographs her projects!

6. Carol's blog is also fairly new to me but I am in awe of her beautiful stitching and finishing.

7. Anne has had her share of knocks lately but refuses to let them get her down for long. Better times are ahead - she deserves them! I also admire her fabulous stitching and finishing skills.

8. Jennifer does the most wonderful ornaments and I love her Friday Feasts: A Buffet for the Brain too.

9. Leonie knits and stitches and is my stitching and stash-hunting pal back home. She doesn't blog all that often but she always manages to make me laugh out loud at something she's written when she does.

10. Alison is such a laugh (I met her in person a few years ago). Amazes me with her speed and her wonderful stitching of all things Shepherd's Bush :)

There are so many others - in my Blogroll and in my Google Reader - you all make my day :)

WIP Updates

Current progress on The Drawn Thread's An Open Heart - I've finished all the bands and am now working on the inner whitework border. Thanks go to DH for holding it for me so I could take a pic :)



My to date progress on Shepherd's Bush Beekeeper's Cottage. I went searching through my boxes looking for this kit to pass on to another stitcher and when I found it, was very surprised to see that I had actually started it! I'm planning to get this finished up hopefully over the next HAED BB Sampler SAL weekend so I can forward it on.

I also succumbed and joined the Wiehenburg 2008 Quaker Mystery. I'll add a pic when I've done a bit more.

Made My Day :)

I was surprised and flattered to find that the lovely Kim over at KiP thought my blog made her day! Wow, thank you, Kim :)

Now I'm supposed to award another 10 bloggers who inspire and make me happy about blogland, and given the amount of blogs I have in my Google Reader, it is going to be a difficult task! So many of you out there in blogland inspire and motivate me! I'm running short of time right now so I'm going to have to come back to this after some thought :)

Lots of comments on my Plum Gothic progress too - thank you!! Welcome to new readers and, Sally, of course it's okay to add my blog to your Google Reader :)

Plum Gothic QS - Page 2 Finish :)

It was a UFO/SWIP themed SAL on the HAED BB this weekend and although I have older HAED WIPs I could have chosen, I really want to finish Plum Gothic this year! Preferably in the first half! I have neglected her woefully and I have made a pact with myself that I am not going to start another Quick Stitch until she is done! Mmm, we'll see how long that lasts - lol!

Anyway, I spent most of Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon stitching away on her and put the last stitch in page 2 late in the afternoon. There is still today to go in the SAL but I probably won't work on her now until Wednesday for the Quick Stitch SAL :)

Shopping Trip

This is the result of my little shopping trip last Tuesday. I didn't quite get all that I wanted (particularly buttons) but I'm happy with what I managed. I have another trip planned in about a week's time to a different part of the city where I'm hoping to find a few more bits and pieces :)

Thank you for your lovely comments on my first biscornu too :)

I have been stitching quite a bit this week - I just need to upload the pics from my camera to the computer so I can show you :)

My First Biscornu

In the lead up to Christmas and our holiday last year, I found I needed to stitch on something small and simple - something I could pick up and work on for a few minutes when the opportunity presented itself :) I had seen lots of biscornus on various blogs and admired them but had never attempted one myself, so I decided to rectify that.




The fabric and Dinky Dyes silk thread used were from a Dyer's Collaboration pack, and I used this chart - Popular Red Biscornu - from a link on the Own Two Hands blog.

Unfortunately, it is not completely finished as I'm not having much luck finding the right buttons. I thought I might go through my beads this weekend and see if I have something that will work. If not, I will have to go on another exploratory shopping trip further into the city in a couple of weeks time :)

Thank you ...

everyone for your lovely comments on St Georges. They mean a lot and have spurred me on to get a couple of other WIPs out of the way :)

Right now, I'm beavering away on An Open Heart (The Drawn Thread) - I had hoped to finish the last band tonight but it is past my bedtime so it will have to wait until tomorrow. Then I get to start on the whitework borders.

I did take a progress pic but it was taken at night and unfortunately it's not the best shot. Today was overcast (looks like there's more rain coming) so not the best conditions for picture taking! Hopefully, the next pic will be it finished anyway!!

Must go to bed now - I'm off fabric hunting and thread buying tomorrow ... or should I say later this morning :)