By the Sea #3

Very happy with my progress over the weekend on this design. I've just got one more skinny house, some sky, some wording under the waves and a couples of rows under that and I'm done. A very quick, but effective design. Only issue is the pattern has a number of blue blocks representing the colours and it is quite difficult to tell a few of them apart. My only adjustment to the design is to include the white (actually it's ivory) in the stitching. The original is stitched on white cloth so you probably wouldn't need to stitch it in, but since I've stitched it on sand canvas, I think it needs to be defined.

I also picked up some frames for the latest Mill Hill designs that I purchased when I was away on our trip earlier in the year. I have framed and set up the Snowy Owl next to the Covered Bridge one. I have a polar bear one to do at some stage but I've got the frame for it, so when I do get around to doing it, I can finish it completely.

 Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Busy Crafting Weekend & Candy Cane Santa Stocking #27

I had an AWESOME weekend away at the Busy Crafting craft weekend in Marysville. There were just under 40 women there with a wide array of crafting projects to work on - quilting, scrap-booking, drawing, hand-stitching, cross-stitch, and probably more I've forgotten about. Boy, are there some very clever people around! Some of the projects were absolutely amazing and it was great to be able to get up and wander around to watch people put their things together. There were prize draws (I selected a colouring book with pencils set so I'm set for my summer holidays!) and great food - there was no risk of anyone going hungry over the weekend. The accommodation and setting was also a very high standard. Just about everyone there has said they will be there again next year. I can't wait for it either.

I was very happy with the amount of stuff I was able to get done over the weekend:

I attached felt to the back of these ornaments and stitched around adding beads. Very happy with how they've turned out.

I finished the beading on the Snowy Owl (one of the keepsakes I bought in Canada on our trip earlier this year). At first, I didn't like the beads but now that I've done the back-stitching as well, it has grown a little on me. I've ordered a frame for it, just waiting on the shop to get their supplies so that will make a big difference, I'm sure. I thought the beads on the owl were a bit big, but here in the photo, they don't look so bad.

I stitched another of the Mini Christmas Ornaments which has turned out very nicely.

And I also folded quite a few origami Christmas Trees from the browned pages of an old book from my library that was falling apart. It was going straight to the bin, but I thought, I could use that... I'm going to attach the trees to some string and hang them up around the library and office as Christmas decorations in December. I think they'll look great, and they're very quick and easy to make so I'll be doing quite a bit more folding over the coming weeks. I might even stick some glitter on the odd one to provide some colour interest...

I also presented the Snow Bears stocking to Arkyn's mother and she seemed quite excited - I hope she loves it.

When I finally got home on Sunday night, I almost finished off the Candy Cane Santa Stocking. I just have a bit more greenery to do in the bottom left corner, but I couldn't force myself to stay up and finish it off after such a busy weekend. I'll finish the stitching tonight and then I only have the glittery sequin things to attach all over and I'm done until the baby arrives and is named... That won't be until about February so this goes into the 'to be completed' pile to be picked up again next year.

I hope your weekends were as productive as mine!


Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Snowy Owl #7

I think I've just about done all the stitching on this now. I've just got the beading to go which will have to be done sitting at the table (I usually stitch on the couch with the TV on in the background) so I don't lose all the beads!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

 

Snowy Owl #6

I need to sit at the table to be able to do the beading without them falling everywhere so I think I will try to do some of that over the weekend, in between sorting through my photos from the trip.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Snowy Owl #5

There seems to be a lot of gaps, but they are for the beads. There are more beads required than I originally realised. I hope to get all the stitching done before I put the beads on, but having all these gaps is driving me crazy!

I'm hoping to spend the weekend sorting through my 1,300+ photos from the trip so I can upload some for you to see but I'm having problems transferring them from my ipad to the computer. Nothing is ever as simple as it should be when technology is involved, in my experience anyway!
Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Snowy Owl #4

Slowly filling in the area surrounding the owl... I think I have 'delayed-onset jet lag' (if there is such a thing) as I was really stuffed yesterday. I think all the excitement of travels and conferences is finally over and it has all caught up with me.

Below is a picture of the beautiful bunch of flowers I got from one of my sisters on Saturday night. I thought I better take a photo before they all die.Lovely red roses and big pale pink and white lillies - just beautiful.

 Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Snowy Owl #3

Progress on this design has been fairly quick which is pleasing.

 

Although I took some stitching away with me to Canberra to do whilst at the conference, I didn't get any spare time so they didn't see daylight! I did have a wonderful conference and have lots of things to look into further for my library.

On Saturday, I had a wonderful surprise of my sister and niece coming down from Queensland for my birthday dinner. It was just a low-key event at the local bistro but it was so nice to have the family together. I got a beautiful Pandora bracelet with a few charms which all have special meanings. It was a lovely night. And to top it off, my husband organised the most fantastic birthday cake. I was so pleased when he showed it to me:

It is books with party-popper streamers everywhere. It is starting to look a little saggy in the picture as it was warm at home and the icing was starting to soften. It was very heavy, but contained beautiful light chocolate mud cake inside - delicious!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Snowy Owl #2

A small bit of progress last night as I was busy packing for chilly Canberra (about a 1.5hr flight from Melbourne). It is inland and is always pretty cold during Winter. It sure will make a big change to the 42 degrees I experienced last Monday in LA!

I'll be in Canberra until Saturday, hoefully learning about many new things I can introduce into my theological library. I have packed some cross-stitch so hopefully I will get some free time to stitch and update my progress.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

 

Snowy Owl #1

So one of the kits I purchased while I was away was this Mill Hill Buttons & Beads kit called 'Snowy Owl'.

I have stitched on it for 2 nights...

I am back at work for only 1.5 days until I head to Canberra for another conference and I won't get back until Saturday (which is my 40th birthday!!). I know I still have to get my holiday pics up onto the blog, but with over 1,300 to sort through, it will take me a little time. Thanks for your patience! I'm sure you'll agree it will be worth the wait.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie