Hello friends! I’ve made a start on decorating our home for Christmas!

Mistletoe Testing Here (from Tiny Tidings XVI) / Lizzie Kate

Here’s a recent finish – Mistletoe testing here by Lizzie Kate. Stitching on this piece triggered my search for the perfect fake mistletoe (I was pretty sure the real thing was not available in this country as our customs regulations have been strict on the sort of plant matter brought into this country for a long time). For some reason, we just didn’t seem to have any fake mistletoe in Western Australia – I looked and looked! Finally I gave up and gave Etsy.com a try and found the rather wonderful example you can see in the picture (I love it!) Wouldn’t you know, the same day it was delivered I found a kissing ball in one of our department stores (which is now by our front door – I just couldn’t leave it behind!)

Christmas Blessings / Milady's Needle

And here’s a better photograph of the lovely ornament that Andrea sent to me last month which as you can see is now on our tree (and looking fabulous!!)

I have another finish to share but I have misplaced it for the moment! It’s Shepherd’s Bush’s Cotswold Sampler -  I’ll show you soon when I figure out what I have done with it!

In other stitching news I’ll be joining Vonna and the rest of her mad crew stitching on the Prairie Schooler Alphabet (probably a new year start)- I’m really looking forward to some PS stitching!  I am still plugging away at the purple spot sampler and now have more than half of it done!  I’ll have to share a photo of my progress soon!  Till next time my dears, happy stitching.

… from Andrea of the blog The Craft Room.

Andrea stitched Christmas Blessings by Milady’s Needle from the JCS ornament issue 2007 (coincidentally I also selected an ornament from that issue for my partner). As we all know, Andrea does beautiful stitching and finishing and this ornament is just stunning. I love it, it is beautiful. You can also see the lovely extra’s Andrea included with the parcel. It was a wonderful surprise. Thank you so much Andrea.

I suggest you look at Andrea’s photos as they are much better than mine at the moment – there are a couple of factors influencing this – I took mine at 6am before getting ready for work and I don’t have my Christmas folderol out, to stage the photo nicely (it’s in our shed). My excuse: I was in a bit of a rush to get these posted to let Andrea know that the package arrived safely. Now I’m all inspired to get it all out and start decorating for Christmas. I’ll replace the photos above when we’ve decorated (it will make me feel better – goodness I can see coffee rings on my desk that I didn’t know were there – what a slovenly housekeeper I am!!)

Hello Friends,

I’ve just returned from a weekend away in the wheatbelt town of Dowerin with some of my stitching girlfriends. We had a wonderful time – stitching, eating, stitching, drinking wine, stitching, laughing and stitching some more.

Beware of Cat / Lizzie Kate

Here’s the only finish I had over the weekend: Beware of Cat by Lizzie Kate. This is a retired Pocketbook Kit (included the fabric and button). I’ve had this as a work in progress for a long time – so I’m glad to have finally finished it!

Spot Sampler Mystery / Stickideen von der Wiehenburg

Whilst we were away I also got to work on some of my long standing WIPs. Here’s my progress on the Spot Sampler Mystery by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg (now published as Spot Sampler Patricia). I have been stitching on it quite a bit since I finished Mary Thompson. Here’s a link to the last post featuring a photo of my progress on this piece.

Countdown to Christmas / Blue Ribbon Designs

I also pulled out Countdown to Christmas by Blue Ribbon Designs and finished the right hand side of the top panel. To complete this section, I just need to complete the row of flowers beneath the text and finish stitching the bottom row of the outside edge. Then there’s the rest of the frame to do (oh, joy!)

Felix (Emperor Meow) draped in the Purple Spot Sampler

Whilst I was taking the photo of the Countdown to Christmas, I had draped the purple mystery spot over my stitching chair instead of putting it away in my WIP basket, imagine my combined horror and amusement when I turned around to behold the sight in the photo above. Mr F cat had found away to drape the spot sampler over his shoulders in a very regal fashion!  I couldn’t chose between this photo and the one that follows so I have included them both. I think that the Beware of Cat finish was timed exactly right!!

Felix again, such a cute (and very naughty) boy

Well friends, when I looked through my old blog posts to find out when I started this beauty I found it has been been languishing more than 2 years in the WIP pile! Shock horror! Started on the 7th of May 2007 and finally completed it last night 2nd Oct 2009. It’s stitched on Stitches and Spice “Moonbeam” 32 ct Jobelan with AVAS silks (as charted). Loooooove it!

Peacock Cypher / Just Nan

I’m so glad it is the weekend at last – even though we had a short week this week (WA had a public holiday on Monday) – it’s seemed a really long one – lots of long days at the office.  I’m working today but I have dinner with my SIL and her husband to look forward to tonight and Stitching time with the Stitchy Girlfriends on Sunday (followed by a BBQ).  Looking forward to seeing Alison who is visiting from New South Wales with the Stitchy girls – she’s such a fun lady – it will be great to catch up. Anyway, best get this published and get my tail to work.  Thanks for visiting!

Hello Friends, a quick drive by post just to showcase this absolutely fabulous fob I received this week from Suzanne. It’s one of the bookmarks by Prairie Schooler stitched over one and it is adorable! Thank you so much Suzanne, such a beautiful keepsake (I’ve already attached it to one of my pairs of scissors).

Floral bookmark / The Prairie Schooler (Stitched by Suzanne)

We went out last night to Deville’s nightclub in Perth (it’s decked out to look like a cavern in hell and all the cocktails have a “devilish” theme). It was such fun, especially as last night they had an Elvis impersonator performing who was just fantastic, he did a wonderful Suspicious Minds. He also had the moves, which just made the performance for me – a great night out.

Today? Well, I’m off to catch up with the stitchy girls – yay!

Hi Everyone,

What a wonderful weekend! I accomplished so much! Here’s a taste:

• We had Joel’s parents and my niece Catriona over for dinner on Friday night (Daffodils in previous post bought in their honour)
• Joel and I went to IKEA on Saturday morning and bought me a new desk, a lamp for the sitting room and some storage boxes
• Then we went to the large shopping centre near us and bought our groceries (and a new waistcoat for Joel with the gift voucher his parents gave him for his birthday)
• I ironed, posed and took pictures of Mary Thompson and then blogged them (miracle of miracles!)
• I pulled the books off the four bookcases in my study / sewing room and rearranged the room to make space for the desk (yes, it fits!!)
• I built the desk (with a little assistance at the end from Joel).
• We did all the washing (5 loads)
• I baked a cake (yum)
• I stitched a little on the Purple mystery spot sampler
• Started watching Battlestar Galactica all over again from Season one (while I stitched)

Whew! Good thing I have this morning off to recover before I start work today (I’m on a late shift at the Library).

Here’s a snap of my new desk (creative clutter already in place!!)

Cathy's new desk!

Till next time, friends.

Hello all, as you can see I am rejoicing today – I finally managed to finish Mary Thompson’s Quaker Sampler this week.

Mary Thompson with Daffodils

I started her as part of a stitch-along with some of my stitching girlfriends here in Perth. We started in January last year and my original aim was to complete a motif a week… she was put aside quite a bit poor lass, but I refused to call her a UFO and she was finally completed this week on Thursday night. She is stitched on Edinburgh linen with AVAS silks. She is absolutely gorgeous.

Mary Thompson completed

I love her. I think I know just where to place her in my stitching room once she is in a frame.

Oh happy day! I heard yesterday from Carol that the Summer Exchange Package I made up for her had made it safely to the United States!

Fob Front: A very merry summer / JBW Designs

I stitched JBW Designs’ A very merry summer in a patriotic Red White and Blue Colourway (white for the background).  It’s stitched with Belle Soie threads (can’t remember which now, I just pulled them from my stash) on some anonymous antique white evenweave.

Fob Back: Intertwined Initials (from my french book)

For the back I got out my one and only french book, Lettres Anciennes Entrelacees by Veronique Maillard which I bought on my trip to Sydney a few years ago. This book features 24 alphabets that have been intertwined – Simply beautiful. I used the same colours from the front of the fob to stitch Carol’s initials.
Here’s a link to a picture of the whole exchange.  Many thanks to Carol for allowing me use of her pictures (I was in such a rush to get it in the mail, I neglected to take pictures).

In thrilling garden news, we think we have some snowdrops about to flower.

I just got this photo out of my camera and discovered from the EXIF data that I finished this sampler back in June! I forgot to share it with you back then. It’s my 2nd finish for the year (not counting exchanges) – this year is off to a slow start!! It’s stitched on “vintage” Belfast fabric with the Belle Soie in the pattern pack.

Spring Sampler / Little House Needleworks

The reason I connected my camera to my lappy was to get this photo of my Tulip pots on the deck in our backyard. The red-ish one is “world’s finest” and the white one is “white” – no cute name for that one. I just love them.

Tulips on our Deck

I’ve been a bit bulb-happy since we moved, I also had three hyacinth bulbs in my bulb vases (see previous post to see the last white one – I also had two pink hyacinths that have now died).  As well as the bulbs we planted we have discovered narcissus bulbs in the front garden and iris bulbs in the back garden.  It’s been a delight discovering our new garden’s secrets.

Well, long time no posts. I just don’t have the same blogging mojo these days. I have a good reason to post today though!

Snowman Sampler Scissor Pocket / SanMan Originals

Here’s the simply adorable scissor slide that Carol sent me as part of our seasonal exchange. It’s winter down here in Perth so Carol selected a San Man originals freebie design – Snowman Sampler (July ‘09 freebie).

Winter Exchange package from Carol

And here’s the rest of the package (along with my last remaining Hyacinth bulb which is starting to flower – smells heavenly). I must tell you all, I had to work on Saturday and I picked up the parcel on the way into work. Opening up the package during my lunch break certainly lifted my day and made the remaining 5 hours a much more bearable. Carol sent along lots of lovely goodies. Thank you Carol, for such a sweet and thoughtful exchange.