Snow Days..

It has been extremely cold here in Wellington, so much so that there is snow all over the surrounding roads, homes, hills & mountains. Snow is usually not seen in Wellington although, I'm told it has happened before, but not to this extent. It is a delight for me, I feel like a child in a lolly shop. I'm really enjoying it as I've always wanted to live where there is snow in winter. It probably won't last very long, certainly not for the remainder of winter. It does have some downfalls as it is extremely dangerous to enter & exit our property. The way it has settled on the landscape around our suburb & suburbs we can see further afield, makes the scenery look like a picture postcard.
.

On the stitching side of things, I've entered three ornament exchanges, one for Halloween, and two for Christmas. The fabric for each one is sorted & I've decided what to stitch for the Halloween ornament, with a couple of selections in mind for the other two, depending on the choices from my exchange partners. More about those at a later date.

Trip to Sydney.

We've just returned from an enjoyable trip home to Sydney. The weather was perfect for winter with warm sunny days, no wind, and pleasant evening temperatures.
It was filled with catching up with loved ones and dear friends.
A trip to a wine estate, south of Berrima, the first day with friends, where we met up with more friends who had travelled to meet us half way, from their home in Canberra. The weather in the Southern Highlands was typically chilly for this time of the year, so we made ourselves very comfortable in the restaurant. After a delicious lunch, beside an open fire and five hours of laughter and chatting it was time to head back to Mosman.
The next day I met up with a very dear Aunt, Uncle & Cousin for lunch and more laughter,
chatter and catching up on family news.
I managed some serious retail therapy, especially with such abundant choices, although thoughts of excess baggage, curbed my spending somewhat. :)
We met up with friends for dinner on Saturday evening & other friends for brunch on Sunday
morning.

When we returned to Wellington it was a shock to be greeted by the very chilly, wet weather. Perhaps, the warm Autumn this year, didn't prepare me well enough for the wintery weather we're now experiencing. Thankfully, always a great time to find a warm spot to sit and stitch.

Not so much stitching although two knitted scarves for this winter.

Pansy Fob.

I've been working on a beautiful scissors fob piece, over the last few months.
I don't seem to have made a great deal of progress. The pattern was kindly lent to me by a talented, fellow stitcher, from the States. I'm endeavouring to complete the task, as there's nothing like a completion to keep one inspired. Perhaps a progress photo would be in order now.

Time to brush off the cobwebs.

I was reading other blogs this morning & thought I would perhaps, attempt to keep my blog up to date. Guess I have the wonderful work I've viewed, to thank for my renewed inspiration. It is quite uplifting to look at the array of breath taking stitching, patchwork, artwork, scenery, floral & animal photos, to mention but a few, which have renewed my interest.

My hand stitching has consisted mostly of completing the top of my hexagon quilt. I did manage to do so in the allotted time I had set myself, after abandoning it for three months from November last.. When it was together & hanging for observation & contemplation, I did alter a few of the hexagon placements, but nothing major. It has been folded and waiting since April, to be photographed. The next step is to put it together with the wadding & backing layers, then to start the hand quilting. I don't plan to do that this year, as I've a few other projects I plan to move to the completed list, first.

I've spent time dress making, something I've not done for what seems like a hundred years. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the process. One does have something to show for one's effort, sooner, than with cross stitch or patchwork, :) I've made several tops, along with a merino cardigan & I'm currently working on completing an overcoat.

Here is my completed quilt top.

The QE2 is in tTown.

We had a delightful day down by the harbour, waiting to see the QE2. We queued for several hours in the warm summer sunshine, waiting to board the Pilot tugs, which ferried us out close to where the ship was berthed. The trip on the pilot boat was a first for us all, something we have not experienced.

Swill.

Why is it when you are keeping your head down, minding your own business, the 'swill of life' want to interfere and cause havoc? One can only gather they have very little in their lives, so play the psychological game of "uproar"!

Stitching so far this year.

I've been working on a few cross stitch pieces.
The first is a Lizzie Kate design called Boo Club. A whimsical Halloween banner stitched on linen, in appropriate colours for this festival.
The second is a Jim Shore design, The Twelve Days of Christmas. A joyful piece depicting scenes from the old Carol, of similar title.
Before Christmas I ordered a chart, "Song of Songs" 6:3, to stitch up for DH for Valentine's Day, guessing it would be completed and framed in time for February 14th. No such luck! As the saying goes...'Hell is paved with good intentions.' As of the latest mail, there is still no sign of the chart. I made an executive decision to re-order not only the chart, also the specified fabric & floss. The chart will not arrive in time for the occasion planned, however, maybe it can be a gift for our anniversary, later in the year.

ADDENDUM: The chart arrived three months later, and went via South America, Chile to be specific. I passed the chart onto a fellow stitcher who has shared her charts liberally, with me.

A Christmas Stocking.

This is a Shepherd's Bush Christmas Stocking, made as a gift for last Christmas. It's the eighth one I've stitched & this time I used a silk for the linings & backing. The silk was appropriate for the recipient & also adding to the feminine look of the chart. It was well received.

Day after the birthday & Giveaways

Josh seemed to enjoy his birthday even though he thought there would be no celebrating. His two brothers were not well, so stayed home with their Dad.


We went for afternoon tea at the harbour cafe & to use the very special birthday gift.




Compared to the photos I posted yesterday from two years ago, he has certainly grown, and still remains, ever so cute. I am a tad biased. LOL.

Birthday Wishes for Joshua.

Happy Birthday Josh, darling. The big seven today, celebrating, sending much love, Mamma & Pappa.

January 5th,

I saw a blog, where someone was doing a Challenge of 15 starts in 15 days, from January 1st. Initially I thought it was a good idea to clear some of my stash. I've been contemplating it for a few days, so I am too late to join. Nevertheless, as time goes by, I have decided 15 starts in 15 days, would just overwhelm me. Not that I don't have that many charts/patterns in my stash hoard.

I unashamedly do!

However, I don't drink, I don't smoke & I certainly don't go out with bad women!!!

So stash is my vice.

That being said, the problem for me would be that I may not have the floss & fabric for such a challenge, mind I said, "may not". With all that I do have, I feel I need some restraint, & don't need to go fetch more. Well, that's my excuse for not participating in this challenge. LOL :)
On the other hand, it has given food for thought . I could make a list of the items I hope to make as completions or starts.

More contemplation needed, perhaps I can just switch off like these two, then come up with the "list"

January 4th, New Moon Date.

As today is the 4th in this part of the world, here is the first month, New Moon photograph of my "ORT" jar for the TUSAL. As you can see it is partially filled. I think I started it late 2009, and then did not save many threads till the middle of last year. It lived in my sewing room where I rarely sit to stitch. Now that it is nearby, I can easily add my orts.

It's warm and sort of occasionally sunny/overcast. I 've been watching the tennis from Auckland & stitching in between great points, & it's now 5:00pm, local time..

January 3rd, 2011.

As mentioned in earlier posts, I joined two SALs, one for Boo Club, by Lizzie Kate, which started on the first of December last, the other, for 12 days of Christmas, by Jim Shore which started on the first of January 2011.

I made the starting line for both pieces and I'm working on both at a steady pace. The Twelve Days requiring a tad more concentration, in parts, than Boo Club.

A TUSAL. Tad Late to Let you Know..

Today I joined Daffycat's TUSAL.

You can find out about it here , but don't delay. All you need to do is post a photo, of your efforts, on the day of the New moon each month. That is all that is required for you to enter the contest, for the end of the year.
Do join, it'll be non stressful and fun!

*** January 4th is the first New Moon so you'll need to be quick.***

Another Earthquake, Holiday Snaps, & New Year's Eve.

It is New Year's Eve today, & we arrived home from our short trip, to Christchurch in the South Island, late yesterday.

This is a small selection of photos of the havoc caused by the September 4th, 7.1 earthquake, which devastated Christchurch & surrounds.

Some photos are from the city centre and some from surrounding areas.

On Christmas Eve we had been shopping in the city centre in the Mall, pictured in the next photo.

This photo was taken on December 28th, after an earthquake of 4.9, which hit the city on Boxing Day, December 26th. The store on the left had shattered window panes, taped with huge pieces of sticky tape, all safely behind barriers to keep out the passing public.

This home was totally destroyed, along with the vehicle under the rubble in the driveway.
I didn't sleep very well until we arrived back in Wellington.
Although there are no guarantees the earth here will remain stable. So far so good, thankfully.

We had a lovely Christmas although we were not thinking we 'd experience an actual earthquake. One has to feel for the folk who have endured such upheaval, loss of their homes, income and, sense of normality.

Nicholas and Josh, full of expectation as Christmas festivities were being prepared. It was a very warm day with a cool breeze and they enjoyed being in the garden with the teenagers.

One day we spent at the Ron Mueck 'Super Real' Sculptural exhibition at the Christchurch Art Gallery. A touring exhibit from the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia. It was very interesting and amazing to see the way the sculptures were produced, being so life like. A great outing on a rainy cold day.

The next day was warm and sunny, more like summer weather. This is a photo on the way to the Gondola, for a trip to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views. It is eleven years since we first visited this scenic spot.


We drove through the tunnel to meet DD#1 who had ridden from Rangiora, up & over Dyers' Pass, to Lyttleton. We collected her & the bicycle and headed up the mountain on the north side of the harbour, to the Gondola.


Looking back down to Lyttleton Harbour & part of Bank's Peninsular, where most of the aftershocks seem to be happening.




The landslide from the top of the peak, in the photo below, we were told, is a result from the first earthquake.




The view from the cable car as we travelling up......

& looking back down, to where we started.




After we left the Gondola we went to Sumner where the children played on the beach, we indulged them with an ice cream, while we had a coffee & explored Cave Rock, in Sumner, on the coast, also suffered earthquake damage, below a few buildings, a cave, and the view of the inlet as we left.

Holiday Travel.

We had a very pleasant crossing of Cook Strait, to my delight on December 23rd. The weather was sunny and bright and the sea was calm.

The children were not bored and had lots of games to play to keep them occupied for the 3 hour trip to Picton.

We arrived a tad early in Picton and set off immediately for Christchurch.

It was interesting to see snow still on the mountains in the distance, the day proir to Christmas Eve.

We stopped at a spot on the coast before Kaikoura for lunch, although, the lunch I chose, was the worst Ceasar Salad I 've ever encountered. The three boys had a run along the beach and the adults enjoyed the scenery and the setting, before heading further south. A stop was made before, Kaikoura, for a couple of fresh crayfish. We had a quick look at the seal colony as some of them basked in the warm sunshine.

We took a break in Kaikoura, looking at the shops and checking the scenery. Kaikoura is a very popular spot for whale watching tours, not that we had time to experience one of those, this time.

This photo is from the south of Kaikoura, looking back to the north west. After a latte, we headed off to complete the 315 klm drive down the South Island to our destination. IMHO driving those klms, even only as a passenger along with the crossing, was about my limit for a day's travel.

Christmas Carol Evening..

Last Night was Carols Evening, yet another highlight to my favourite time of the year.
It was held in the beautiful Wellington Town Hall.
The ceiling is magnificent. Typical of the architecture of the period and the balcony extends around each side, including the centre back.







The music was supplied by the Salvation Army Brass band. They make a spectacular scene dressed in their Christmas Red Jackets, providing a wonderful foil for the highly polished brass instruments. Each year there is a guest choir in attendance.
This year, as you can see from the photograph, the tambourines were featured, giving a special rendition of a selection of Carols.

Dinner at a Friend's Home.

We have just returned from dinner at a friend's home.

The weekend started with the most beautiful day yesterday, with a lovely summer evening. No such luck for tonight! It was blowing a gale, nothing new for this part of the world, it did n't dampen the spirits of the seven of us, or the mood of the evening. Always the perfect hosts, our friends wined and dined us well, with sumptuous strawberies, meringue, and cream to complete the meal. The dinner table repartee, was uplifting & sprinkled with much laughter.

The house was decked in appropriate trimmings to add to the expectation of the Christmas Season, about to enfold.

December 2010..

Today is starting day for the afore mentioned Boo Club SAL I've joined with fellow stitchers, from home and overseas.

I've also had word that my orders, for beads for the next SAL, have been mailed, as of yesterday. Still waiting on the pattern for that one to arrive.

As it is the first of December, a Christmas photo or 2 might be appropriate.

This is a quilt I made in 1985, seems like a lifetime ago. It is rolled and carefully stored by Epiphany, each year, ready to be hung the following Advent.

A Q and A.

Just checked out Terri's blog and she directed me to Andi's blog quiz. I've decided to particiapte in her questionaire, although I must say I am never bored! Thanks Andie, if you would like to participate you can find it here.

Stitchitandie's


1. What are you stitching at the moment?


A Shepherd's Bush, Christmas stocking..or two.


2. How many finishes have you had this year?



Small? About 12.

Medium? Still working on the two above.

Large? None spring to mind.

Extra Large? Well past half way on my hexagon, king size, quilt.

Does that Count? :):)

Do you plan to have any completed between now and the end of the year.?

I hope to have the stockings done and the quilt top completed.



4. If you could buy 1 thing for yourself what would it be? (Doesn't have to be stitching) More time.


5. What is the best thing you have ever stitched?


So many spring to mind, they include quilts, cross stitch, embroidery and someone else's wedding gown.


6. Do you like making lists? When needed.


7. Do you stitch in rotation (how does it work?) or OAAT?
Usually one cross stitch at a time and other things, as they take my fancy.


8. What is the next thing you plan to stitch?


Starting LK Boo Club SAL on December 1st.






9. What is your fave ONS?


None in particular, just whoever has the what I want, yesterday & ebay. I tend to use those who send it out quickly.


10. Do you have a stitching chair?

Yes a couple. I tend to sit watching our view, in our sitting room, or in our family room where the light is great.


11. Do your children/pets get into your stitching things?


No.

12. Do you participate in any stitching forums? On occasions. I try to leave a comment on the blogs I stop to view. I enjoying seeing and reading about other's accomplishments & hope to encourage them, as I would hate for there to be none to read.