Candy Cane Santa Stocking #15

I had a good stitching weekend, but a lot of stress as well. I'm a bit worried about this stocking, given it dosn't look like there is enough fabric left to do the bottom part of the stocking. I've measured it against my other stockings, and it looks like it will be OK, but to the naked eye, there just doesn't look like enough fabric left... time will tell. Nothing I can do about it now, I'm not puling out the whole stocking, that's for sure!

Our footy team, the Western Bulldogs made it in to the AFL Grand Final next week - it was a very stressful match as the lead changed a number of times, but in the end, we were in front. On Sunday, we went to the VFL (seconds) Grand Final and that was an exciting match too. We won that so hopefully the seniors can do the same next weekend! First time in 55 years our team has been in a Grand Final, so it's about time!

Forgot to stick in a pic of the framed Robots ABC which I collected on Friday afternoon. Very happy with the result! Also got the 4 small sayings but I'll wait until I hang them before I post a photo.

 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Little Things #4 & Robot ABC - Finished!

We went to Aireys Inlet on the weekend, and despite it being quite cold and wet, we did manage to get the lawns mowed and I managed to finish the Robot ABC - finally!

 

I am super pleased with the bright colours. There's a few mistakes, but I'm not going to point them out and because it is so busy, you'll have a hard time finding them! Now it can go in my cupboard to await framing.

When we got home on Sunday, I continued with Little Things. I've just got the word 'things' to go now and then that series will be done too.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Robot ABC #17

I made a start on the L but didn't get very far as you can see. I'm happy to have finished the back-stitching and missing colours so I'm back on track now.
We've had wonderful weather down at Aireys Inlet the last few days which has been great. It is warming up for the New Year's celebrations.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Robot ABC #16

Being at Aireys means I'm stitching the Robot ABC. I finally got to the craft store before Christmas to get the colours I'd run out of so I can now complete the letters that I couldn't before. Last night I finished off the space ship and the letter W...

Today, I'll outline the N and K and maybe start on the next letter. I love the difference the back-stitching makes.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Santa's Journey #6 & Robot ABC #15

This weekend we were at Aireys Inlet so I got another letter on the Robot ABC done - K.

Still haven't got to the shops to get some of the threads I've run out of (hence no back stitching on several letters), but that is on the list of things to do next week when I start my Christmas holidays! I also hope to take at least one thing to the framers. There are a few finished designs hanging in the wardrobe waiting for frames.

Then on Sunday when we got home, I stitched some more on Santa's Journey stocking. I'm very pleased with how it is coming along. Despite only small sections in each colour, it is easy to stitch one colour and move on to another to fill in the blocks quite easily. I hadn't noticed the effect when stitching, but when I post these photos, it stands out much more and I'm very pleased with it.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

 

Wander #13, Robot ABC #14 & Giveaway #4 Winner

Over the weekend, we were at Aireys Inlet where I did a little stitching on the Robot ABC. I've run out of some threads though so I couldn't finish off how I usually like to. Must make a note to get to the craft store to get some more before we go back... I did get most of the N done.

 

Unfortunately, it's not just plain black that is used for the back-stitching, but a dark brown so I'll have to go and get the right colour.

Then when we got home, I settled in for an afternoon of stitching whilst watching the first ever day-night cricket test between Australia and New Zealand. It was a very exciting match, but eventually Australia won - yay. I'm surprised I managed to get the whole car filled in, but that's what happens when you sit and stitch for 7+ hours! Gosh, I can't believe I was stitching for that long, but I was... and it was good!

Give Away #4
Now, the time passed and no-one had entered the draw, so I've allowed the 2 entries that did make it in the next day to participate. And I asked one of my work colleagues to pick left or right, and in the hand they picked was Emma/Itzy - congratulations!
Please send your postal address to xstitchlibrarian[at]gmail.com and I'll get your prize out to you asap. I'll pick something for Giveaway #5 tomorrow.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stitching ABC #25 & Robots ABC #13

We had a great time at Aireys Inlet over the weekend, and I got 2 letters on the Robot ABC finished. Yes, one was almost already done, but I'm claiming that for this weekend! Y and S

 

Then when we got home, I started on the W block of the Stitching ABC...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stitching ABC #14 & Robot ABC #12

I got away to Aireys Inlet on Friday night, just Clarence and I so there was no excuse - I got plenty of stitching done. It was great to be away from the stresses of this past week of work. I finished off the V and Z and made a good start on the Y robots.

 

I quite like the Z robot - reminds me of a Toucan.

When we got home, I finished off the U is for Under-stitch on the Stitching ABC design. 
Clarence found a nice spot for a snooze in the sunshine up the backyard...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #11 & Finish

We had a very nice time at Aireys Inlet (seaside Victorian town on the Great Ocean Road) over the weekend. Didn't do a great deal at all which was just what I needed. I made a start on the V of the Robot ABC but didn't get to finishing the back-stitching...

 

Then, when we got home, I stitched the name and birth date of my friend's baby onto the Walk This Way Pooh Bear design I did for her. I hope to get some time to take it to the framers this Friday.

So, it was a pretty slow stitching weekend, but you need one of those every now and then. I've decided I'm not going to do all the Christmas ornaments and I'm going to start something else tonight and just do the ornaments in-between other projects. There was nothing in the latest Fox Collection catalogue that screamed BUY ME NOW, so I'll just have to pick something else out of the stash in the back room. I think you'll like the one I'm pretty sure to select...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Enchanted Ornament - Final & Robot ABC & New Project...

I had a productive weekend at Aireys - finished the letter U on the Robot ABC. I'm surprised at the fanciness of this design - there are not many large areas of one colour, there is a lot of shading and the effect is fantastic. It just doesn't show up in the photos. 

Then once we got home, I sat down and did the remaining snowflakes on the Enchanted Ornament - it is now finished and ready for making up. I hope to get that done in the next month or so. They're a bit hard to see...

 

And then I went through my stash to find the next project. I thought I had a lot more kits waiting to be done than I did - I'll have to do some more shopping! I ended up selecting another set of Christmas ornaments for my tree. There are 24 small designs that are made into hanging ornaments. Last night I marked out my fabric and sorted the colours ready for stitching to begin tonight.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robots ABC #10

I made OK progress over the weekend, almost finishing the X. Just got the back-stitching to do for that one.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot #9

I had Friday off so Clarence (our Golden Retriever) and I went to the beach house at Aireys Inlet. My husband stayed home to attend the F1 Grand Prix. Clarence and I had a lovely weekend. I finished off all the half-done letters on the Robot ABC finally!

I included a close up of the space ship - the detail in this design is incredible. Very intricate but worth it - the effect once it is done will be amazing!
 

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Enchanted Ornament #35 & Robot ABC #8

The movie on Thursday night was a real feel-good movie - very enjoyable. Then Friday night I met with my friend Judith for some crafting. Did a bit more on the Robot ABC.

 The letters O P Q R & T are now finally finished off with the missing colours filled in.

I also got a bit more done on the Enchanted Ornament Stocking. It is a Dimensions Gold Collection design so it is fairly detailed but the result is stunning.

 

Yesterday was a public holiday in Melbourne, so we had the day off. We finished off watching the end of Season 3 of Game of Thrones so we can start on Season 4 tonight. I also made some little chick cupcakes to bring to work. Very simple but I'm pleased with how they turned out.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #7 & Enchanted Ornament #23

Thanks to my friend Judith, I got most of the colours I needed to be able to complete the unfinished letters - and then of course, I ran out of others... arrgghhh - back to the craft shop!

When we got home, I did some more Enchanted Ornament Stocking.  On Friday, my workmate Andrew's wife had their baby, so now I have a name to stitch across the top of it - Scarlett.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #6

I was so tired last night that I didn't get a lot of stitching done. The heat is taking its toll on me. All the squares started merging into one so I knew it was time to put it down and go to bed! I made a start on the E...

Only 2 more nights in Perth... the heat is expected to continue. This morning there is a super thunderstorm and the first rain in Perth in 60 days!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #5

It looks like I've made heaps of progress, and I have (M and J done last night), but I didn't stitch any longer than normal last night. It just all came together quite quickly. I suppose when you can only do half a letter (due to missing colours), they get done much quicker. I've now run out of other colours as well so there'll be a lot of half done letters before I get home and get to the shops.

Another very hot day is expected in Perth today. All I can say is ''Thanks goodness for air conditioning!"

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #4

I've made good progress over the Australia Day long weekend, completing the Q and R (as much as I can without the missing colours). I'm loving the bright colours in this one!

Another big day of scanning library barcodes today - all in 38C degree heat! Lets hope the air-conditioning doesn't break down. I'm in Perth this week to integrate a new library campus collection into our college library system. I need to scan everything on the shelves so I can do a stock-take when the collections have been merged. How lucky am I, 2 stock-takes in 3 months! Woo hoo! (for those new to my blog, I have a little problem in that I love doing library stock-takes - it's my favourite work thing to do!).

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Robot ABC #3 & Angel Gowns

After a sleepless night due to other motel guests having no consideration for anyone but themselves - talking very loudly outside my window all night way past 4am, I made the effort to get up and go to church this morning. I am glad I did as the message was great, but the thing that made me glad I went was that I met a lady who invited me for a coffee afterwards. While we were chatting, she said she has just started to volunteer at something called Angel Gown - a group that takes donated wedding dresses and makes tiny little dresses for still born babies, and those that die just way too young. Rather than the hospital wrapping them in an ugly blanket, they can be presented to the family in a beautiful gown made of silk with beads and lace made from someone's wedding dress. I just love this idea. I can't imagine what a terrible experience that sort of tragedy would be, but I think the idea of having a beautiful gown to put your little baby in is a lovely one. My wedding dress is still sitting in the cupboard at home. I don't plan on using it again, and I certainly won't fit into it again so I am going to donate it to the Angel Gown charity to have it made into little angel outfits. Perhaps it is an idea that strikes a chord with you too... Angel Gowns Australia. I believe they are also in the USA and other countries too.

Now onto my stitching from last night. I got most of the O done. Again, minus the missing colours. Oh, why didn't I check what I needed more closely before I left? I will have to go back and finish them when I get the missing colours, but it is always nicer to finish off a letter completely when working your way through... oh well. It seems every letter uses a significant amount of the missing colours. Just my luck!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Robot ABC #2

Almost got the T finished except for a couple of stitches in, you guessed it, the missing colours!
Due to the time difference in Perth (they are 3 hrs behind Melbourne), I was up at 4.30am this morning! Also means I've been getting to bed at about 7.30pm each night.

Today is Saturday and I don't have many plans. I'll probably go for a bit of a walk when the sun comes up, but mostly I've got work to do so I'll be sitting in the motel room with the air-conditioning on.
Hope you all have a great day!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Robot ABC #1

Hi Everyone,
I'm over the other side of the country for 9 days in Perth, WA for work. My holiday stitching I've brought with me is another ABC (I know, I'm a sucker for a good ABC design!). This one is from a book called "ABC's for Kids" by Linda Gillum, Sandy Orton & Donna Yuen,  produced by the Kooler Design Studio. I've chosen the Robot ABC for this trip.

Before I left home, I packed all the colours I'd need. Of course, there were 2 that I didn't have but I thought that won't matter too much to start with. And again, of course, the first letter I start with is mostly made up of the 2 colours I'm missing! Anyway, I've done what I can on the P and started the T below it. It's a bit hard to make out the letters now, but I should get the T finished tonight hopefully...

Have a great day!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie