It's funny

for someone who really isn't that normal, I actually got to act normal tonight. I dressed up, jeans, sandals and a light breezy top Nikki found for me over a camisole, and grabbed housemate-Hannah and we went down near the beach for pasta, then walked down jetty rd to the foreshore at Glenelg with icecream. As I walked, I realised that Glenelg is really one of those places where you're constantly being looked at and checked out, and for once I wasn't self conscious about it. I was reasonably well dressed and definitely modest, but I didn't stick out like a sore thumb either. I don't want to be like everyone else, but it is nice to just blend in sometimes.

But, my body is still in a foul mood. It isn't quite as bad tonight as it was last night - I can walk without feeling like there are knives in my feet and my ankles, but my arms ache instead and that's made me not really stitch all day. This is killing me, but I've figured out that what it is really protesting against is me reaching up on my big frame to work on Mystery X. So I thought I'd take a photo, show you all where I've got to in the last few days, and pick up another piece - it will probably be Noon Basking (remember I was stitching that???) because I can put him in a nice small q-snap and curl up to work happily in DMC for the night. I guess to a degree I'm hitting burnout on Mystery X too, which is usually a good time to stop, before I actually do get sick of it and refuse to work on it for a few months (been there, done that, too many times).

So here's the photo of Mystery X - the west house is coming along nicely, and the others are growing with whatever threads I have left over in my needle when I finish working on the west house, which house they go into depending on which way up my frame is at the time (I can't work on the 'top' half of the roof of the side houses or my arms scream)


So now to unearth the chart for Noon Basking, and tackle some fractionals! I love this golden, sunny dragon :) I've missed him!

Mystery X Photos

Yay photos! I got the camera back, so now I have pretty to show.

Here is the whole thing:


Here is the North house, the right way up:


And here is the West house, but its rotated 90 degrees (thanks, webshots):

Rest Day

I'm tired. I've been working very hard the last few days, and last night it hit me - I need a day off. So, I'm taking one :) I'm typing this from my bed, and I'll probably get up, sort out some of the chaos that is my room's current state (I should take a photo, it's atrocious) and do some stitching, but I'll take it easy. I might swap pieces too as I'm starting to feel a little burned out on Mystery X - give myself a day on something else and then come back to it.

I did make progress yesterday - the side garden of the house is completely done, and I've done most of the dormer window too, and finished that half of the roof. I started part 9 (with the trees, yay) as well, so that gives me even more space to 'grow' out into. Mostly I'm not going to make it a goal to finish this side's part of part 9 before I move on, but it does mean that I can use the colours in it which is a nice break from the houses. The trees are a very different kind of stitching, it's nice. Just the roof to finish off though, and one side garden. I'm getting close to getting to move on to the next house - YAY. Here's a photo:


I got to play secretary too. My parents are buying a new car since our other one keeps breaking (it's about 11 years old so i guess this is fair) and Dad was doing the ring around yesterday to get prices, and gave them his mobile number to call back on. So I was answering the phone in the classic secretary manner while he was on the other phone, and they're all convinced that he's a businessman with a personal assistant now! I've played PA in a couple different ways
for him - typing, taking dictation, phone calls etc for him now, and I enjoy it. I like the way I'm living at the moment - I'm busy, with all my different projects, and helping Dad, and I still have time to do my own thing. I set my goals, and my limits. I'm not getting paid much, but it's a start and I'm enjoying it.

I should go back to school next year, but for some reason I'm unsettled about it. I'll talk to Father about it when I see him next, and see what he thinks.

It's funny though. We have these ideas of success - as I was saying to Dad last week, I feel satisfied and happy with where I am in life - successful, and I've got no career, no power, no money. But I have a trade, of a sort, that I enjoy, and am good at. I am reading, I am being useful, I am being a servant of others....and I'm going to get married and have a family, and I can continue this trade then. Even if I never finish high school, I will be a success, I think. My sister is freaking out about her yr 12 scores and while I understand that...yr 12 marks don't a successful person make. It's not going to ruin your career and life if you don't do perfectly on your high school leaving! Oh well. It's taken a lot of bitter pills for me to come to realise this, and I don't always accept it even then. Kyrie eleison.

I worked on Mali's dress yesterday, and it's looking good. I've found a couple mistakes but they were easy ones and have been fixed now. I might do some work on it today, if I feel like it. Otherwise it can wait until tomorrow.

So today...today, I hope to get something done on my room and to do some stitching. And to relax.

Recap

Well, best intentions, huh? I'm a screamer, I admit it. Hence, not long after I posted that entry on Monday night I put DOTG down and picked up Mystery X. But, it is finally starting to come together, and look good. I am pleased :)

Here's the whole thing:


And here's just the North house:


Just the flowers to finish off on that side garden, and I'm thinking I'll do the roof (and maybe the tree?) of part 9 while I'm at it too. So more sable thread - yum, I like it.

I have a photo of my stash for Nuts About Autumn too, see? All those pretty harvest colours, yum.


I worked on the dresses a bit yesterday too. Mali's dress is half done - the skirt is made, the underskirt and ruffle are made but not sewn together, the bodice is done and the sleeves are hemmed, but need the casing and elastic put on them. It'll happen :) Moesha's top is half done too, it looks huge...fingers crossed it fits, if all else fails I'll take it apart and cut it down. Not hard to do, it's probably the easiest thing I've sewn in a while.

So that goals list:

• Fill in the gaps on Dance of the Graces with the thread I was missing up until today Got distracted by Mystery X
• Reach the 1300 stitch mark on it too See above
• Sew together dalek Nope, still need a needle
  
• Sort out Peaceful Paradise fabric Yes. And the fibres too, hopefully :) It's in Jean's capable hands now
  
• Figure out how big my fabric for the Angels needs to be Not yet.
  
• Not start anything new!! Easy one
• Spend at least half an hour on my room. It is really really scaring me I did something towards it...
  
• Check that I don't have fabric for Nuts About Autumn in my stash I really need to do this
  
• Coerce parents into taking me fabric shopping See above
  
• set up sewing machine and start Mali's dress Yes :) And Moesha's outfit too!
  
• Read and note at least a few pages of TOW Bad Kyrie
  
• Eat lunch - this is serious, I've been really bad on this one recently I actually did. Rice crackeres.
  
• Find out total allowance from parents to spend on dolls (parents pay for sister's horse so they give me equal amount to spend on whatever, fair's fair - it usually goes on stitching or dolls) This will probably happen to day if I can drag my Dad away from his paper
  
• Decide on doll order See above, though I did figure out what to ask for for Christmas (and my Dad will be relieved as it's not a computer)
  
• Order dolls See above.
  

So all in all not too bad.
Today I'll be less ambitious:

• Make serious progress on Mystery X
• Get Mali's dress almost, if not completely, finished
• Finish Moesha's top
• Sort out dolls
• Read and note some TOW
• Sort out fabric for NAA
  

Going up

My house is growing a roof. Slowly but surely :) I think that's the motto of this piece! I showed my friend Tessa my progress tonight and she's sure I'm mad, but as I told her I'm happily mad!

Here is my progress:


The side garden is mostly done now, which I'm pleased about, and the other side garden is starting to grow. The roof is going very quickly which is satisfying, to say the least, and the frieze is done now. The windows are almost done too - just a tiny bit left to do on that last window.

I've run out of space on the q-snaps right under the edge of the photo, so I've parked my thread for the chimney and I'll finish it when I have to move the q-snaps. These are so big that it's such a pain to move them and I won't do it until I have to. I'll just get the rest of the house done, move on to the next (will be the west house) and eventually I'll have to move them and the chimney will get done then.

Anyone know where I can get an even bigger set of Q-snaps? No, don't answer that...lol...

The last few days have been uneventful. Dad and I went into the uni yesterday and I worked in his office, we went down Rundle St for lunch which was greek and I got a kind of sausage I forget the name of, but it was pork with orange and garlic and really really good. I worked on Tranquility, making progress, and knit a lot of dalek until I realised that I really need a set of circular needles with smaller cord linking them because of all the decreases I've done. I'll get them tomorrow at spotlight. All of his body is done, and now I'm doing the bit with the instrument panel and where the plunger and gun attach. He is very cute. Lots of colourwork but I'm settling into it and enjoying it. I like having another kind of work to swap to, and I'm thinking I might knit a pair of socks next (I never have and I want to try) and keep them on the couch next to me for when I need a break. I"m less likely to waste time that way - I currently take breaks by surfing the net which is hardly productive.

Anyway, I'm tired. I better knock off for the night.

Houses

I've been hard at work today, working on MX with the SAL in the MX (surprise surprise) forum.
It's sticky and muggy and I'm wearing my purple dress because I couldn't be bothered wearing anything that fit closer. I knew I made these dresses for a reason!


Here is my 'north' house, upside down since it's the only way I can reach to work on it. Working on massive Q-snaps is definitely an experience, I'll say that much.

The photo's a bit washed out but it'll do. I'm really pleased - most of the main house is done, I'm finishing up the last window, and the frieze should get done early into my stitching time tomorrow.

For anyone interested, I have sections 1-4 complete, and the part I'm working on now is sections 5-8 together since they're all part of the houses, and I'm working a house at a time except for the occasional few stitches into the 'west' house when I have leftover thread - I'd always rather put the leftovers into the piece even if I can only put a few stitches in and then 'park' the thread, I lose less thread this way. The 'south' house also has quite a bit done on it, but I'm leaving it alone for the time being to focus on this house. Each of the houses is slightly different, too, and the side gardens for each are different.

I am trying to think about the logistics of working on the last few parts. I'm starting to get to the edges of my q-snaps and that's worrying - it means I'll probably have to move them a bit to get the last few parts done. Means no more beading or rhodes stitches so that I can put cloth over the already worked sections and move the frame around...sigh. I dont like doing that. The houses are chock full of rhodes stitches so I'm thinking I'll do any beading that lies within their general area, but I'll leave all the rest until I know it's safe to add. I'll leave the rhodes stitches off the roof too while I'm working on the houses, for the same reason.

There's just something about the way the light plays on the silks and the metallics and the crystals and the beads...this piece is incredible.

Speaking of Chatelaine-y things, I'm thinking I'll try a hoop on JOB again and see how that goes. I love the piece, it's just frustrating me no end at the moment!

Dalek progress continues - I've been doing a row or two every time I needed a break from stitching. I am now at the beginning of row 21, and there are two rows of bobbles in now. He looks good.

Mmm...zzzzz...*dozes off in a chair* I am so tired.


Kyrie eleison emas...and I am off to bed.

oh - joke that probably only Orthodox people will get but I liked it anyway: My name is Kyrie-Eleison, which means Lord have mercy in Greek and we say it a zillion times each church service. Someone the other day joked that with Kyrie-eleison as a name I needed to name my first child Doxa te Theo (glory to God)

...maybe you had to be there?

Hmm

Well...rotation. Not sure about that the next few days...there are some ladies having a SAL to get caught up on MX on the Chatelaine board and I might be joining in with them. Bleh, maybe I'm just a screamer after all...the minute I pick up a different project I get addicted to it!

I've been working on MX recently anyway, and got a bit done. I'm pleased, anyway. Slowly, slowly - there are more of the #*$(#& bricks done anyway - I HATE them but they look wonderful. Sodding things. Most of the frame of the house is done now for my North house, and I'm steadily adding garden and filling in rhodes stitch 'bricks'. People admire it anyway so I get to smile and say 'yes, it's mine' every time someone notices it. I think I need to keep it out on display even when I'm not working on it!

I'm still wanting to join the Christmas mystery, so I might wait and see what happens there - I want the materials list before I join I think.

I need to get the fabric for my skirt and Bindi's dress washed tomorrow night, and I plan (God-willing) to work on MX tomorrow, and put an order in for some doll stuff if I can. Other than that...Bindi and Mum are back to school tomorrow so things should be much quieter for a while.

I started the dalek, too...too many times, ugh. It took me three attempts to realise that doing a provisional cast on onto circular needles was a bad idea, and then after using straight needles and knitting the first three rows I realised that I'd cast on 144 not 114 stitches. AAARGH!! And I fail at getting provisional cast on stitches back on to the needles after ripping out knitting...so I started again.

Finally, I'm now partway through row 9, and I've completed the first row of (adorable) bobbles. It took me a while to figure out how to do them, but they look great and they're kind of fun. The dalek itself is a lot of fun to knit as well! I'll have to do more stuff like this sometime...and I really should learn how to knit socks at some point. I didn't realise how much I missed knitting - I did it obsessively before it was 'cool', and I've been somewhat resisting picking it up again because of the coolness factor. Oh well, it's fun!

EXTERMIKNIT THE DOCTOR!

What I did today - that can wait until tomorrow. I can't be bothered writing it all now, I'm tired.

On the To Do List front:
This is what I have achieved since last posting it:

• Order Orthodoxy books (got #2 and #3 from The List that Father gave me by Nicholas Cabasilas)
  
• Find a crochet hook and learn the provisional cast-on to start dalek

Aaaaaand here's the list:

• Continue going through magazines to find the recipes I've made and liked and copy them into my recipe notebooks, and copy out every lenten-friendly one that looks nice that I can find into that notebook for Mum's sake every Wednesday and Friday so that she doesn't have to keep feeding us vegetarian fried rice for lack of things to cook.
• Get parents to fix/buy a new printer
• Put the zip in and hem Bindi's green dress
• Regather and reattach skirt for my green dress, and hem it
• Clean my room
• Sort out school stuff with Hamilton
• Put each of my stitching projects into a large baggie so that I have everything at hand when I need it
• Make up a folder for Dance of the Graces
• Buy more stitchbow sleeves and binders to put them in
• Stitchbowify remaining DMC for master set
• Sort out fibres for Peaceful Paradise
• Pull the DMC needed for Stretch that aren't currently in with him from spares
• Go through TGOSMs that I haven't listed in my 'to stitch' list
• Decide on a to stitch list from the JCS Ornie issue
• Stitch an hour a day on whatever my rotation piece is at least
• Wash red dress and skirt fabric
• Clean off my dresser to make it a proper icon corner
• Get copies of the morning and evening prayers printed out
• Cut Bindi's dress
• Cut my skirt
• Knit dalek #1
• Get a small art notebook and start sketching Amanda clothes
• Finish row #9 of A Restful Night
• Read and note The Orthodox Way a second time for Father
• Get a notebook to write all my Greek that Nikki's teaching me in
  

urgently:

• Figure out what cut of linen to get from Jean for Peaceful Paradise
• Sort out the fibres for ^ (means emailing her)

Part 3 is DONE!

Look! Look!

All that beading!

I really should post more often

Sorry, I know its been more than a week!

I'll list the projects I've worked on, and comment on each of them, since I can't think of any other way to do it!

Mystery X:
I got thoroughly fed up with the beading, and haven't really stitched much on it this week - bad Kyrie! I'm so close to finishing part 3, but I have other pretties to distract myself with and I haven't worked on it since that picture until today. now another of those beaded borders is almost done, and I've half frogged the one that I wasn't happy with. Frustrating, but worth it. If I work at it this afternoon and tonight, I might even get it done today! Part 4 is gorgeous and not big - mostly backstitching, with some corners in the same beading pattern as these borders, and a little bit of cross stitch. Shouldn't be hard, and will look great. I'm very curious as to what part 5 will be - Troy's mum and I reckon it will be a hedge between the corners and above the borders, but we'll have to see!

From the Ashes:

I worked on her for the SAL, which was most enjoyable until I finished the top 30 rows and discovered I didn't have a lot of the threads I needed for her wing - *sigh*. I did do a lot of the background confetti though, and filled in some of the solid colour background as well, and stitched most of the wing that I could leaving the gaps to be filled when I get the floss. This new method I've discovered for stitching her seems to be working really well, which I'm very glad of! It's sad to put her away for the time being, but hopefully I'll get a chance to work on her again before the next SAL, if when I get my threads.

Tranquility Mystery:
I've got almost all of page 2 done, except for some of that massive red thing - I like the design, I hate stitching it. I am going to have to grit my teeth and get it done too! I really need to catch up on this... the yellow motif is my favourite of all of them so far, and I love the yellow colour too!


Japanese Octagon Box:
I got my finishing kit from Judy the other day, which was very very fun, and I got the old key from Martina as well which meant that I could stitch on the grass this monday. I frogged all the incorrect stitching, and added some more, and it looks wonderful. Photos really do not do justice, but I will try.


apart from all this, I also did lots of fabric dyeing for prac 1 for craft this year too - with Peta (future MIL) and was MUCH FUN! We got dye everywhere and the acid ate the foil off her reflector thing that she puts in her car....but it was worth it, even the clean up! See?


Also, I've discovered somewhere that sells 100% cotton sheeting...white, 2.5m wide, for about $7/m which is GREAT, and I bought 4m. 2m of that got used for the dyeing, and 2m I have kept because I will use it to make the mockup of my dress, the patterns for which should be sent today by the people I ordered them from - I sent them an email inquiring and they're sending them *now*, about 3 weeks later!!! grr. Oh well. I will get them and then have fun making the dress. What Peta and I have decided is that I'll make a proper mockup, with long sleeves, then cut the sleeves short, make an underdress, and dye both. I want the underdress a solid colour, but the overdress dark at the bottom shading up to light at the top, thinking a turquois-y blue with a dark blue underdress or a deep pink with a purple underdress, and then stitch cutwork dragonflies all over it. Sounds like fun! I can't see the point of making a dress, even a mockup, that I wouldn't be able to wear, so I'll get a nice summer dress out of it too. And dyes mean that if I buy some nice ribbon we can dye the ribbon too to match the dress...*grins*

I also want to use the sheeting to make underthings for the doll I've been meaning to dress for years. It's cotton, so it should be good! It's also good for petticoats, which I may have to do something about. I love the rustle and feel of petticoats, and they look good under full skirts.

Oh, and if you're wondering what I look like while stitching, here I am:


I was putting a hoop on the aida for the samurai that Troy has just started stitching. He's almost finished something else too (just needs to finish the backstitching) and when he does I'll post it :) it looks really good!


EDITED: to add photos

Beading! Gak! And other things.

I've been working on my mystery X wip...and the beading keeps going and going and going...
See? This has the beading a little more than half done...


I stitched the beads in the outside borders all in the same direction, but even when I sacrificed four beads on each side it still buckles, so I'm thinking about unstitching them and restitching them.

I also did some more work on Japanese Octagon Box for my SAL with Tash and got some more border and some more grass done - but the colours looked strange, and I went on the board only to discover that there are two colour keys and I was using the wrong one - didnt have the first one - and the group has been deleted! Ack. I think I will be begging Martina soon... Anyway I went from there to working on the border a little bit, but I didn't get as much done this week as I would have liked.


Tranquility Mystery has the first part done now too:



I've started the next page, but no photos of that yet - I want to try and get it finished on time this time!

From the Ashes is on the frame this weekend coming too, for the Challenge SAL - it will be good to get into it again.

Oh and I got the fabric for my restart of Froggy Frog World too - 32ct Carol's Meadow Jobelan by Silkweavers. Should be fun, it's gorgeous fabric.

And I got a birthday present too...from Peta (Troy's mum) who is an excellent future MIL :) she has a beautiful needlecase that she made and I've been envious of it since I first saw it, all beaded crazy patchwork with pockets.

Imagine my surprise to open an early birthday present that was this:

Having fun with part 3

No photos, though they might be fun - maybe tomorrow.

Because part 2 ended up being so monotonous near the end, I've been having fun with the largely detail-stitched part 3. Its basically an overlay over what I've already stitched, with some detail on the corners and little rectangles of beads as borders around this central swirly design. Finally it's starting to look properly victorian, and it's gorgeous! Martina is so clever.

So far I have:

• two of the corners done (a little tiny bit more green - 3 stitches per corner, six silver algerian eyelets and some purple on the outside)
• one of the four purple boxes done - the top one, and the second one started
  
• six beads in the purple box just to see how they looks - the two coloured beads arent the same size and it creates an interesting effect
• the pink tulips in the top right hand corner complete with stems and leaves
  
• the stems and leaves for most of the inner section in the TR corner done (3 big and 3 small to do)
• 3 tiny tiny Jessica stitch flowers in the same section

Generally, I'm just playing. But its fun. Its a quick part to stitch up, I give it a week at most to get done.

...next time I take this in to school, I am going to blow my craft teacher's socks off. FUN!

Part 2 Finally Finished!

It's DONE! That neverending green is DONE!

See?



The photo doesnt in any way do it justice though, it's so sparkly and beautiful, but it gives you some idea. The holes in the green create a lacy effect, and they'll all get filled in with beads to make flowers this part. Four kinds of flowers this time: jessica stitches, beads, satin stitch-type things and ones done in backstitch. Sounds like fun!

I'm so glad to get this done, it's beautiful but it's been hanging over my head and getting in the way of my doing any other stitching, pretty much. Now it's done and I can get part 3 done (much smaller part) and I'll be up to date and stitching on something else!

Mystery X WIP again

Here we are, almost 3 weeks since the last update. I love, love, love update photos - this green is driving me NUTS! Its so good to see that I've actually made progress.

When I get this bit of green on the left done, I'll be 3/4 done as far as the green is concerned, yay yay yay! All the colours are done except the green, and the beading for part 1 is done (all the pearl coloured beading in the centre) and I'm using the gold beads as incentive - I get to bead 10 beads for every length of thread that I use. My beading needle is bent though - what does everyone reccomend for beading needles? I'm just using a 28 petite at the moment, but its a bit short.

Anyway, I love it but it's frustrating. Can't wait to do part 3, with all the specialty stitches and beads - and what's more, NO MORE GREEN!

Mystery X Part 2 update

Here's an update - still not done, but quite a radical improvement from the last one!

All the purple and metallic blue is done, and only two more of the silver things more to do. Otherwise, lots of the dark and light blue&green combinations, and so much honeydew (pale green fill) that I think Im going to go mad, lol. But I'll keep plugging along.

Anna - the cloudy mottled blue 32ct jobelan from silkweavers that you gave me looks like it is going to be perfect from my un-backgrounded periwinkle fae, and I've got her marked out on it so now I'm just waiting on the chart from Bob.

Otherwise, just the same old same old. I got the charts for JOB and CHG yesterday from Martina, and they are wonderful - I've printed out all of CHG, but JOB is giving me major headaches as far as trying to print is is concerned. I gave up last night, might have another go tonight or tomorrow sometime.

I want to get the chart and everything ready for next wednesday - Ive been wanting to get back into periwinkle, and she's the perfect thing to have for the QS SAL - see if I can get her done nice and quick this time. She's so pretty, can't wait to see her start to grow again.

SBQ and trying to finish part 2!

well, first things first:

What is the smallest count fabric you have ever used? Did you stitch
over one? Conversely, what is the largest count fabric you have ever used?

32ct linen and jobelan - 32ct linen over 2, and the jobelan over 1.
I like small counts best, and my chatelaine over 2 is coming along beautifully.

As to large count...I have no idea, probably something in a kit. The largest I go for anything is 25ct over 1, so I guess that's the best answer I can give.

I've been slogging away at part 2 of Mystery X. I have finished the first corner completely, and everything but the pale green on the second. I've sorted out the colours into a rotation, and I work through it so I get some of every colour done - less easy to get bored this way.

This month seems to have gone as follows:
I have a rotation. I am going to follow it. I AM... ooh new Mystery part. Good, I can start that, its that part of the rotation. GAK IT'S HUGE! *stitch stitch stitch* oh...stuff it, rotation can start again next month. *stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch....* Am I going to get this done in time? Argh... *whimper* *stitch stitch stitch...*

so, I'll get back to that. Wish me luck! I might post a picture later, when my hands get sore.

Photos and things like that

Here's a photo post, given I haven't posted photos in a while.

First, first day of school:

this is one version of school uniform - basically, that tshirt (or a white otherwise identical one) and pants, or the school skirt, or my school dress (which I don't have photos of yet) or a combination of the aforementioned. Yes, people wear tshirts over dresses - and dresses over pants ocassionally, but you don't often see that. We do have jumpers (sweatshirts) too, but it's mostly been too hot to wear them. They're green. The white long sleeved shirt technically isn't school uniform, but they don't really care - I was warm that way! Mornings are cold, but they warm up quickly, and long shirts under tshirts works well - I can always just take the undershirt off later in the day.

Next, Tumbles (fat cat) finding a comfortable bed...me:

He was heavy though, so I had to shove him off after a while. I was not popular, but my back didn't hurt.

And the stitchy photos.

From The Ashes after the challenge SAL:

I've beens struggling with this one - I don't feel that I'm achieving much, mostly because the stitches are so small. I think I need to set stitch count goals, and achieve them, and then I'll feel better. It's mostly confetti background at the moment, and slow going, but the effect is worth it.

And Mystery X -Part 2 WIP. This is a big part, and is taking me FOREVER, but Martina's promised us a smaller part next month *phew*

I'll catch up on the rotation next month!

Challenge #2

Well, weekend's over. I did get quite a bit done on her, though not nearly as much as I would have liked *sigh* everyone always seems to get more than me done!

I've also got about 1/4 done on my mystery. It's so big this month that it's taken me ages to do, and I might have to fudge my rotation this time. My goals were about the mystery and about the rotation and it seems that i'll have to sacrifice one to do the other! I think it will be the rotation that gets sacrificed, just until I catch up. Hopefully next month is a small part, so I can catch up the space that it would have taken up next month.

I'll post pics when bindi gets home and I can steal her camera :)

Photos and stuff

Lets see if blogger doesn't eat my photos this time?

I'm working on Mystery X at the moment, which I'm thoroughly enjoying - this part is all swirly! No photos of it as yet, I don't want to take one until I've finished the part. I've decided that I'm going to stitch the beads a part behind (so they don't get in the way) but add the crystals last, I don't want to lose any. There are these sort of flower shaped holes in this part, as well as some square ones and some odd shaped ones, and we haven't got any instructions for them - I guess we'll get them in the next part. I think they'll be flowers in beads and crystals, but I'm not sure yet - it'll be nice to find out! They look a bit weird at the moment though, big holes in my work.

Anyway, here's some pictures for you all - old ones, but blogger kept eating them.

Mystery X part 1 (without beads or crystals)


2x2 on 32ct Antique White linen, with recommended silks and metallics

Hope Angel Virtue:

2x1 on 25 ct Days Gone By linen, DMC and Kreinik #4 braid

Isn't she pretty? I've got a bit more done now, but she's been put down until I finish this part of my chatelaine, or until she comes up in my rotation, whichever comes first.

And finally my phoenix - From the Ashes


1x1 on 32ct white jobelan
I'm loving the shading, but it seems like it takes forever to get anywhere. It's beautiful, anyway. I'm still waiting on the threads for Georgie - she posted them but the post seems to have eaten them. I'll get them eventually, I know, just a bit irritating at the moment. I've got enough to do this month's SAL at least, and maybe a bit more if I keep going after the SAL. I thought about just stitching on it during the SAL, but I'd like to see more done on her, so I'll work on her other times too I think.

The pictures of the part 2 WIPs are beautiful, I can't wait to see this one finished! I'm liking how mine's stitching up too - of course! Especially the 'honeydew' silk - it's a new colour this part, and such a pretty green.

Money? I have money?

Martina just published the materials list for Mystery X...and ECC now has the kit...

I bought it.

$220 American. I don't know what that is in $AU, I don't think I want to.

But I can't wait to see the kit...I'm going to be watching my postbox now!

Materials picture for Mystery X

Lookit THIS!!!! *drool*

all those lovely colours...and variegated threads and beads and metallics and...

can't wait!