Halloween Rules Update and Other Stuff

I am loving stitching this, mind you I love stitching Lizzie Kate designs full stop !!

The original called for using over-dyed threads but I subbed these out for good old DMC.

I haven't attached any of the buttons yet but I will do that at the end.

With rain expected again this weekend I hope to nearly finish the current panel I am working on.

This arrived in my mail box the other week and I have had a quick look through it but I don't want to be distracted while working on Halloween Rules LOL

On a bit of a sad note my brother just sold his bike, it belonged to our dad who is no longer with us, but you have to be practical in life and get rid of things that you no longer want or need.....

Well thats about if for now, hope to be back soon with another update.

Where Has 2018 Gone!

I have been meaning to blog for ages but time is just getting away from me this year.

Things have been so busy in my neck of the woods that weekends are one of those rare treats that come along and they tend to be filled up with doing the things I don't get done during the week.

We are in the mist of winter here in my neck of the woods and I have had a little more time for stitching than normal, this is what I am currently working on.

It is Lizzie Kate Halloween Rules, this my progress after two weekends of stitching. I am looking forward to the end of the month when I am having a week off work and taking a staycation, just me and the dog. *MOTH is heading off on a fishing trip with his mates so I am going to enjoy my week binge watching my favourite tv shows, reading and stitching, cooking will be an option and so will be getting out of my pj's LOL.

Well back to the grind, hope to post again soon.

Happy 2018 and a Finish Already!

A Stitching Group I am in are holding a UFO challenge, as it appears many of us have unfinished projects either to be stitched or completed into an ornament, pillow, be framed etc.

Well the first one I pulled out was my Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler from 2012.

I think I did do a little bit on it last year but it again may its way to the UFO Black Hole.

I picked it up again on 27 December and it looked like this.....

And after a little bit of frogging on the boarder and completion of the last band, I finally finished it the 7 January.

I must say it was a fun stitch, now I just need to either get it framed or turn it into a wall hanging of some kind.

The next UFO to be bought back to life was this one. (Restarted 8 January)

It is Glendon Place - Witches Wheel.

Admittedly I was on three weeks holiday over the Christmas period and now I am back at work stitching will fall back to maybe on the weekends, but I really want to get this one finished now.

I have also been doing a heap of re-reading and my current binge is the Sookie Stackhouse Series AKA True Blood Series.

I have nearly finished book 11 in the series...

Which leaves me two to go, but I think I bought these on Kindle and as all the others are softback books I am going to have to order the other two but then that will give me the whole series to find a place for on my bookshelves (now that is a whole other problem to deal with LOL).

I went op/charity shopping the other day and apart from picking up some work clothes I managed to get two sets of books, albeit both sets have one book missing grrrrr.

But I can't complain as the books ranged in price from $4 - $2 so all in all a good deal.

So I really think my daily commute reading is set for the next few months.

RIP David Cassidy

He was one of my first teen crushes, his poster shared a wall with David Essex and David Bowie.

Progress on Halloween Stitching

Well there was little progress this week as spring has sprung and outside duties are calling.

But I did get a little done Sunday afternoon watching the Australian Moto GP.

Week One

Week Two

This is a fun stitch and has little to no back stitching - whoo hoo !!

I found my stash of Ruffle Yarn this weekend, I have been looking for it for months. So I am now on the hunt for things to do with it beyond the basic scarf as I have done these to death.....so stay tuned.

Was In A Fabulous Swap

I am in the most amazing group on Facebook, it is a place I can go when I don't want to post something on my personal page and I know I will get the love, support and kindness of members of this group.

Well recently they held a craft swap and I received the most fabulous gift......

This is just so cute and I love it.

Now as you probably know from reading this blog my crafty talents are limited so this is what I sent my person......

Some fingerless gloves. Now I don't know about you but I love fingerless gloves. And I just hope that the person who receives them has hands about my size LOL.

Started This On The Weekend

This is my latest stitching project and I am loving it so far.

Life got away from me!

Wow since my last blog post, very early this year things have not gone to plan or gone slowly.

But here is a few things I have been up to.

Melbourne

I went to Melbourne in June to celebrate my mothers 75th birthday. She lives in New Zealand and as I live in Perth we thought we would meet half way. It was a fabulous long weekend spent with family in a city that I love.

Panda Exhibition in Federation Square

Looking over towards the MCG across the Yarra River, early evening.

Watched the Bulldogs get smashed by Melbourne at Etihad Stadium

Leaving Etihad after attending the game.

Food Scene

I don't take many photos of what I cook but here are two exceptions.

Asparagus wrapped in Procuitto

Spinach, Pumpkin, Feta Salad

The Salad recipe can be found here Recipe Tin Eats. I recommend that you sign up to this website as the food and recipes are fantastic and most of the time I have the ingredients already to hand.

Home

Bruce the Bat

 We had a visitor one night. I didn't even know that we had bats in Perth. Unfortunately Bruce didn't survive through the night.

Early Morning Sunrise - Late Winter

My new birdbath

Have joined my first SAL

I am a slow stitcher and already I am a couple of months behind by hey I don't care.

I have never been a big sampler girl but I am really enjoying this one.

It is by http://linenandthreads.com/ and there is also a group on facebook with all the wonderful pictures of peoples process. https://www.facebook.com/groups/linenandthreadsSAL/

I am not doing the full width of the sampler as I didn't have a piece of fabric large enough as the last few years I have cut back on buying stash and am trying to just stitch with what I have on hand.

So without further ado..... here is my progress so far (about half way through the January section or my take on January LOL)

Whats Been Happening In My Part Of The World

Amazing Sunsets have been occurring, thanks to the summer heat.

This was a few weeks ago and last night we were treated to this..........

This ended in a summer storm complete with thunder, lightening and about 4mm of rain.

Now onto the food front.

I managed to get some figs off my tree before the wildlife got to them. They are tiny but tasty.

Last weekend was spent making pickled onions, would you believe that it is actually a two day process!

Well that is about it for now, hope to have some crafty posts very shortly.

2nd Finish for January !

Yep I know, I am amazed too. I am normally lucky to get one finish a year LOL.

Well here it is.....

It is an Amy Bruecken Design called Snowman Love. It was from the JCS Ornament Issue 2016. I started it on 7 January and finished it 28 January.

Now for something completely different.

Last night had the most amazing sunset and I managed to get a half decent picture on my mobile phone.  Now I am not sure what the red line is but it may be a reflection of the sunset off one of the tiny mirrors hanging on a near by tree.

What I Watched

I was flicking around channels yesterday and came across a movie from 1990 that I hadn't seen for years.

I loved it! I forgot how much I like Cher as an actor. I then flicked through my DVD collection and came across Silkwood and Moonstruck, so I might have a "Cherathon" next weekend.

Ist Finish for 2017

This is a Carolyn Manning Design from the 2016 JCS Ornament Issue. I did have to improvise a little bit as the snowman was supposed to be holding a string of pom poms, but I didn't have any on hand.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7 and a New Year Resolution

New scissors

These will be replacing my current needlework scissors in the new year.

Speaking of the New Year, my resolution for 2017 will be to take better bloody photos!!

More Festive Goodies

First off is this years christmas tree. Very minimalist!

Made from a magazine, very therapeutic all that folding LOL

Now for my 12 Days of Christmas.

Day 3 - two cute little kits.

Day 4 - Cute Kitchen Timer, crumbs included LOL

Day 5 - Bobbins

Day 6 - included a needle minder, I have always wanted one of these.

So how is everyone's Christmas prep coming along. I hope to finish off my shopping today or tomorrow. I have one last grocery shop to do, which will be Friday as I am not going near the shops on Christmas eve.

Thankfully I don't need to wrap to much...Yay for gift cards LOL!!!

But I do need to go out and buy myself a trifle/salad bowl as I am am down to make trifle for Christmas day.

The forecast for Christmas Day is looking to be about 35 degrees Celsius which isn't to bad. 

Well that is about it for now. I hope to post later in the week with the rest of my 12 days of Christmas.

Finally Have Time To Post

Wow where has the year gone!

I may as well jump straight into a Christmas post.

At work we decorate our areas and I decided to go with a Star Wars theme. I picked up the paper at Typo (three rolls for $10, the excess is coming home with me and being put to good use wrapping presents). The tree was about $5 dollars from Big W years ago and the decorations were the toys out of Kinder Surprises.

So with out further ado here is my decorating for Christmas 2016......

Now I have pulled back on the number of exchanges I do due to the high cost of postage but the one I do do each year is through a Yahoo Cross Stitching Group. The exchange is called 12 days of Christmas. You send your partner 12 wrapped presents and one is opened each day from the 13th December. This year Lynne from Scotland sent me a parcel and so far this is what I have received.

Day one/ A cute little cross stitched hand towel.

Day two/ Christmas Tree Candle

I love this exchange and can't wait to open the rest of my pressies.

UPDATE BLOGGER BEING A PITA

Arghhhh the list of blogs I follow is missing!!!!

Update.....
I am having to recreate my blog stalking list, I have no idea where it went or if it will ever come back.

If you follow me and you please send me a link to your blog so that I can add it back to my stalking list :)

Two Posts In A Week

I know, I know. Blog posting with me is either feast or famine and apparantley August is heading towards the feast side of things but I just had to share.....

I picked up my August Fandom of the Month Box this morning on my way to work and just had to share what it contained.

Now this should give you a clue - it was on top and is a postcard and a fridge magnet.

Do you know what this months theme is yet? Another clue to follow:

Yes it is a HOGWARTS themed box and it contained:

A bracelet made up of all the Houses badges (now not sure if I will wear this but it can be repurposed)

Earrings - which if you look closely have Hogwarts on them (these I am currently wearing)

A Fat Lady necklace and she moves when you twist it from side to side (now I will probably wear this but take it off the chain and perhaps put it on a ribbon or something)
And last but not least.......

A Whomping Willow ring, this is awesome and have already had comments about.

For about $33 Aus a month this is a great little treat to myself. Now wonder what the August box will bring. Oh and I promise I will take pics from the beginning of the opening process :)