TanglingThread

After all my griping about work, today was my last day. I start my new job on Wednesday and it is only 5 minutes from home (instead of the current 45 minutes). I can’t believe how quick it all happened…….from having a really bad day, to updating my resume, to cold canvasing and receiving a call back later that same day, one interview a couple of days later and handing my notice in 2 weeks ago. Working only 5 minutes from home will allow me to save on fuel, childcare fees and when it gets warmer I will walk to work as well.

I haven’t done much stitching lately. I think I would be lucky if I have done 2 dozen stitches on Return to Port. Work is extremely busy. I only work 4 days a week, which suits me and I get a day to spend with Master nearly 3. However as the factory is so busy I have an increase in invoicing and creditors. Payday is starting to take over half a day. Plus I am still trying to do end of year reconcilations before I send the data file to the accountants. My boss claims he can’t find anyone to work part-time or even school hours…….something I find hard to believe. On the upside I will be moving into a office finally and not be sitting at reception. However I still think I will be expected to answer the phones. I estimate I spend at least 2 hours a day answering the phone, transferring calls and taking messages.

I’ve been thinking that it might be a good idea to set some stitching goals for myself. So by the end of August I plan to have the following completed.

1. Complete page 1 of Return to Port

2. Start on Fair and Squares Halloween Round

3. Continue working through TAST on Stitchin Fingers Community

4. Start on the Christmas Ornament exchange on the Cross Stitchin Fingers group over on Stitchin Fingers Community

5. Stitch something small to learn a new finishing technique

6. Blog more regularly

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I think that these goals are achievable. Although some days after work all I feel like doing is playing with the kids, then after they have got to bed, veg out in front of the TV.

I have just join the Fair and Square Exchange group. I am looking forward to participating in my first round. I have signed up for the Halloween Exchange. I already have a couple of ideas in mind, even though Halloween is not really celebrated in Australia. I have found some wonderful inspiration on the web, including a couple of charts that I just had to have. Hopefully they will be arriving in my mailbox next week.

Jill has posted a picture on her blog of the exchange I sent her. As silly me forgot to take a picture before I posted it, you can see it here at Jill’s blog Purple Peacock.

I had a lot of fun putting this exchange together, and really enjoyed charting the design from a stamp I have for Scrapbooking.

I also sent some Mill Hill beads, 2 fat quarters, 2 lengths of ribbon, some skeins of DMC Variations and a note book.

I really enjoyed my first exchange, however on a sad note Joanne has decided to close the To You From Me With X’s blog. So at the moment I am not participating in any exchanges. I ready enjoyed my first exchange and had a lot of fun.

Yesterday when I arrived home from work I had the nicest suprise waiting for me in the mail box. I received my exchange from Joan. Joan stitched this cute scissor fob which I just love.

Plus Joan included a project bag (which she made), chicken pin cushion, Scissors, star thread holder, lifesavers, some Kreinik and some wonderful DMC Linen threads. I feel totally spoilt. Thank you Joan.

My exchange is well on its way to my partner. I had alot of fun making it and I hope that they like it. Silly me forgot to take a photo before mailing.

Once again I have been remiss in tending to this blog. However RL has been quite demanding lately, and some days I can hear my stitching calling. J

We have a wonderful time in Sydney with my SIL and her family. My nephew is so cute, sure to be a heartbreaker. Both my SIL and her husband loved “Tenderness” and it is now hanging on the wall in Kalean’s room.

Since returning from Sydney we have managed to go camping a couple of times. Master 4 became Master 5. I somehow managed to go to the Stitches and Craft Show in Brisbane and last week end I enjoyed the Queensland Embroiders Guild’s 40^th Anniversary Exhibition.

We have also had some not so good news. About 3 weeks ago my FIL suffered from a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack). He was taken to hospital by ambulance, and was later discharged later that night. From my reading this is warning that you are very likely to have a stroke. He was very lucky. However a few days later my FIL was once again whisked away to hospital by ambulance. This time he was kept in over night and the doctors have classified the second attack as a stroke. He still has some numbness on his RHS, and has lost some of his finer motor skills. He has trouble writing, he also tends to speak Dutch more readily, rather than English. He is currently on medication to keep his blood thin and the doctors are hopeful he should make a full recovery. Today he had a scan of the arteries in his neck to check to see if they had a blockage (which would have caused the stoke) but he was given the all clear.

Stitching

I am currently participating in my first exchange on the To You From Me With X’s blog. I have my scissor fob nearly complete.

I have also joined the Stitchin Fingers Community. I have not been very active in this community, however I hope to rectify this is the near future. The community has many special interest groups and I have joined the TAST Group. TAST is short for Take A Stitch Tuesday and was run last year by Sharonb on her blog In A Minute Ago. The idea was to learn and experiment with a new stitch each week. When I discovered Sharonb’s blog it was late last year. The TAST group will be undertaking the challenge this year, and I am looking forward to participating in it. Keep watching this space.

This week’s SBQ was suggested by Christine(http://coffeecupthoughts.wordpress.com) and is:

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How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you
start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the
need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store
them? Do you have another option for blends to share?
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At this point in my stitching life, I haven’t done a project that required blended threads. However I just know that is going to change. I think that I would most likely blend on the fly.
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The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-blends/

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This week’s SBQ was suggested by Terri(http://stitchwraith.blogspot.com/) and is:
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What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep
in your stitching bag?
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Scissors

Thread Heaven

Un-picker – for those dreaded frogs

Spare Needles

Pins

Thread/Stitch Counter

Laying Tool (not necessarily essential, but it’s in there)
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The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-the-essentials/

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This week’s SBQ was suggested by Jennifer (http://sweetpeastitches.blogspot.com) and is:
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What is the most complicated piece you’ve ever completed?
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The most complicated piece I have completed so far would be the customise word tree (M Designs) I did for my son Luke. This was project has a number of firsts. .

It was the first time I used an evenweave fabric and of course just to make it more difficult, I decided to stitch over one thread, plus it was also the first time I used silk thread.
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The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-complications/

I managed to finish ‘Tenderness’ this week, and it is currently at the framers. My SIL had a baby boy on the 28th March. His name is Kaelan. We are going to visit on the May long week end. I can’t wait. I’ve had big talks with Master 4 and Master 2 about being quite when Kaelan is asleep. Well as quite as a 2 and 4 year old can be

 ’Tenderness’ Vervaco Kit

18 Count Cream Aida

DMC Threads

If I was to stitch this chart agian, I would be using either linen or an evenweave fabric. I am finding that I don’t like stitching on Aida.

I have also joined my first exchange group. To You From Me With X’s. I am looking forward to doing my first exchange and to getting to know the other members of the group.

This week’s SBQ is:
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When you stitch a pattern that you have downloaded do you print out
the pattern or do you stitch directly from your computer screen?

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Print it out. I always make a working copy regardless if it is a downloaded chart or a hard copy I have purchased. This way I can enlarge the chart for easy reference, grab my trusty highlighters and draw on the chart as I go along so I know where I am at. 
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The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/03/sbq-downloads/

A little while ago, I decided that I would not purchase any more stash until the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show, but alas it was not to be. I can’t even offer up any excuses.
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I purchased 2 kits from The Sweetheart Tree, “Rhodes Butterfly” and “Cherry Blossoms” Biscornu. Now these are absolutely gorgeous and I knew as soon as I saw them, I just had to have them .

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My other purchases were from Stitches & Spice. They have discontinued some of their colours, so I grabbed a fat quarter of 32 count Luguna and 28 count Jubilee Spice Blend “Heritage” I must admit my I did have some inspiation for this purchase, after seeing Chiasmata’s Blog. I also bought “Dragonwings” by Enchanting Lair. I have always loved this chart. Plus who couldn’t resist a couple of skiens of Dinky-Dyes Silk.
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