Still alive!

And even still stitching from time to time, but those times are a little rare at the moment.=( Here's the band sampler finally made up into a bell-pull, so I have been doing something I can show off.

The hardanger is still in progress and I hope I can get it done before we go! Only 2 more weeks and we move out of our home, then we fly out 2 days later. LOTS to do and I'll be amazed (and delighted) if I actually get all I need to do done in time, given that we're away the last weekend and have what seems like copious farewell dinners etc to go to. So much sewing etc to do as well as packing up.

Managed to sell rather a lot on E-bay and got shut of more or less everything I listed on there, except the stitching mags. I only listed a dozen or so to test the water, but it was stone cold, so I dropped that whole idea. The last 5 listings end tomorrow night (including the pattern for the band sampler, if you want to have a go at it!) and that will, hopefully, be it for my and E-bay sales for now. I've made about £300, which is great, considering that DH thought I might make £50 if I was lucky, and have cleared out all the threads I know I'll never use as well as several other stitching things and about half of my make-up. It's amazed me what people are willing to buy and how much, in some cases, they're willing to pay for it! I sold 2 Victoria Sampler designs with their relevant accessory packs and one went for about £15!

We've begun to pack some things up already and should be starting to move the boxes into the storage room at the weekend. Some local friends are borrowing certain things and I did a good bit of giving away this evening as well. Next up is sorting through the clothes into 3 piles: Take with me, save for later and give to charity. Ooof! Is it any wonder I've had no time to post or stitch? What does amaze me is that, during this last silent month, I've gained about half a dozen new followers!!

Other than the above, we've got our visas sorted now and have been offered one place to live with the option of another as well, so we won't be homeless when we get over there. Friends here are housing us for the last 2 days before we go, helping us with last minute linens and taking us to the airport as well. Banks are all sorted for international use and accounts being closed left, right and centre here. It's all happening, is very late at night and I should be in bed!

GOODNIGHT!=)

Too busy for much stitching

So, I haven't got too much further on the hardanger cushion cover as yet as I've just been too busy of late with being more or less away all weekend and also dealing with all the E-bay auction stuff. I've just listed a few more cosmetic items and the first of a whole load of stitching magazines, the rest of which will go up on Thursday, all being well. Link to the listings is here. There have also been quite a number of threads re-listed, including a few dozen Gentle Arts Sampler Threads, so if you're building up your collection, please do buy some from me! I sold 79 items recently and have been dealing with sending those out today, but still have a lot more to go, so I hope......

Anyway, still haven't got the band sampler finished up as, there I was, happily stitching away on the edging and then realised that I'd got the whole thing the wrong way around and will need to unpick it and start again. No, it can't be avoided.=( I also still can't get the colours to show well on the hardanger piece. Last time they showed a little on the full sized photo, as Wanda found out, but not true to the real thing at all! The photo showed them much more peach than they really are and a good deal paler. DH knows a lot about photography, so I'll ask his help in taking the final shot, but I got a bit more to show by taking it at this odd angle!!

Wanda mentioned about our prep for the move etc and that we must be doing more than I'm letting on here. Well, DH is working hard to get enough money in to last us at least a year (maybe a good bit longer, we'll see), the flights, storage room and trip to London to get the visas are booked and paid for. We're also in the process of getting any medical stuff that needs doing taken care of, ie dental work and I must get my eyes tested etc too. Other than that and trying to sell stuff, there's not much more we can do at this point. Most things are just enquiries and research ie what flats/apartments are like and how much they are, how we can send some of our stuff on by carrier etc.

Hope I'll have time for more soon, but I can't think when....

Hardanger WIP

Here's the latest WIP, another hardanger cushion cover. I'm really disappointed with the photo as I had to increase the contrast as far as I could without making the picture quality keel over and die, but the colour in the thread still hardly shows! I remember trying to take a photo of the threads themselves and having the same problem, but what you see a very poor representation of here is Caron's Watercolors in 'Iced Lavendar' which I chose to replace the suggested 'Dawn' shade in the pattern (which is Mary Hickmott's 'Soft as Snow' from 'New Stitches' issue 55.) I was also really very disappointed with the photos in the last posting as every one, although I used 'medium' and this normally only happens with the 'large' sized ones, did not click through to the full sized pic. Some of them really lent themselves well to larger images and so that was a shame! Anyway, larger sizes are available on my Webshots as always.

I've begun to list an enormous quantity of stuff on E-bay. So far there are 117 listings - 2 of which have bids thus far, so I will at least sell something!! What I've got up so far are most of the threads I'm selling - lots of WDW and GAST in 'sets' of two for a starting price of 99p for the set. Actually, pretty much everything is 99p, including the sets of 7 Six Strand Sweets and so on and some patterns that I'll either never stitch or already have, (the 'Oriental Dress', 'Chinese Junk', 'Bluetits', 'Goldfinches' and the last hardanger cushion are up for grabs - all for 99p!), so please take a look and, preferably buy something - or several somethings!! I'm not sure if the listings show up as available outside of the UK, but I am willing to ship anywhere in the world for the extra postage costs, so please take some of these things off my hands, no matter where you're based! There'll be books, ladies' clothes and more stitching things to come (XS mags mostly as well as some more threads etc), so do keep checking back. I'll include the link in every post until it's all gone so that those reading on reader software can click through and visit.=)

I've also cut all the posts (not many) from my other language blogs and inserted those sections on here. I wasn't using them much and I realised that it was just taking up room on Picassa, which would, in time, mean that I had much less lifespan for this blog etc than I might want, esp with so many travels coming up. So, from time to time, when I'm feeling diligent, I'll post a summary in German and/or Chinese and any other language that takes my fancy - I'm using the Japanese freebie at Rocket at the mo and DH is enjoying taking his first steps in Spanish with the on-line course I bought him as part of his anniverary gift!

Some Finishes!

I may not have posted over the last fortnight, but I have been busy with the needles, so have some things to show you now!

First up is the completed goldleaf dragonfly design. I did get this finished a couple of weeks ago, but what with one technical problem or another (camera was taking really dark photos, Photoshop Elements stopped saving on the PC and so I couldn't edit anything to any good purpose etc), I haven't been able to get it to you until now. Here's both the full thing and a close-up of the flower centre etc, which was worked with bright check purl (aka chips) in both gold and silver as well as French knots in one strand each of pink Reflecta and gold Ophir.

And here's the initial response to it!!

This is DH's 10th anniversary card which I adapted from a strawberry circlet design in an iron-on transfer booklet and worked in Pipers silks on a piece of blue-grey Mulberry Silks silk fabric.

Last February I stitched a simple goldwork dragonfly on the most amazing piece of royal blue silk. One of my friends, Abi, admired it on my Webshots and since then I'd been looking for a suitable 'format' to give it to her in, but it was too big for a card etc etc. Well, she recently got engaged and so I used the pattern in the latest issue of 'Stitch' to turn it into a casket:

And filled it with chocolates:

Not very practical, but well receieved nonetheless!!=)

DH bought me a super-duper new digital camera for part of my anniversary present (the other part was some good quality watercolours, which I haven't tried out yet), and we also got me a new laptop (not an anniversary gift), so I'm back in business technology-wise and, yes, Photoshop is working just fine on here. Phew!

Over the next week I'm hoping to get the band sampler finished up as a bellpull and the Chinese dress design made up into a small cushion/pillow. I've also started another hardanger cushion/pillow cover on white Oslo fabric with Caron Iced Lavendar threads - pale pink and lilacs.

Goldwork progress

Here's the current status on the 'Goldleaf Dragonfly' piece. As you can see from when I posted the kit photo 2 posts ago, I've carried on making changes to threads and stitches. I didn't really like the way the leaves were done, so instead of using Kreinik 002 1/16 ribbon and stranded cotton, I've couched #16 braid in 002J with Japan thread #1 002J then outlined it with Cord 008C in backstitch instead of couching down fine braid 015 with stranded cotton. I've also not done the straight stitches within the leaf section as I think it's busy enough as it is.

The flower is planned for today, so I hope to show that off over the weekend some time.=)

Band sampler stitching finished

Got some unexpected stitching time today - 4 hours of it - and managed to get, not only the stitching finished on the everlasting band sampler, but also all the beading and the trimmings! The snowflake at the top needs re-doing as I just noticed there's some thread caught around it. It was hard to attach that as the hole is rather too small for any needle to go through and I had to just poke one strand of floss through and hope for the best. If anyone has any ideas.... Anyway, it just needs finishing up into a bellpull now, for which I'll have to get an 'old' VS design out (old as in I've stitched it before) and look up how to do it as I've forgotten now. Oh, and it's not really blue, it's just bad lighting and camera problems.

Has anyone else noticed a distinct decline in blog hits and comments, or is it just me? I think it's the popularity of services like Google Reader that's leading to this. They're very convenient (although this blog looks dreadful on Bloglines) and I tend to use GR myself these days quite a bit, but it's a shame that so few comment nowadays and it can even be disheartening to see your visitor stats on Analytics plummet!! (No, it's nothing to do with the nice weather either!) And, hey! What's happened to the Stitchologist!!?? Where are you, Kate?

An almost finish and a new start

Almost done with the 'Oriental Dress' cross stitch, just the ribbon to attach. I would have done it yesterday with the dimanté thingies, but it needs ironing first. I also got some fat quarters of polycotton fabrics in matching lilacs and green to make up a little cushion/pillow, but I'm none too confident about that. Sewing is not something I've done a lot of, and I remember all that fuss with 'Child of Spring'....

Fished out a few kits to get on with from my kit box, one cross stitch - Lizzie*Kate's 'Cherish All Living Things', one ribbon work piece - a floral gate design, and one freestyle kit by Anchor done all in metallics, 'Goldleaf Dragonlfy'. I've made a start on this last one and here's both the cover photo of what it will be like when done, and the work I've done so far. As you can see, I've done the dragonfly. I've had to change some of it as it just wasn't practical to follow the instructions all the way. For instance, the silverwork you can see on the wings I changed from fly stitch in 1 strnad of blending filament to stem stitch in Coats Ophir. The reason for this is that they printed those thick lines you can see on the waterlily on the wings and there's no way one flimsy strand of blending filament was going to cover that in!


Been reading a fair bit again and covered some of Sheridan's plays (St Patrick's Day, The Duenna, A Trip to Scarborough and The School for Scandal) and two of Oscar Wilde's. I'd read 'Lady Windermere's Fan' before, but not 'Salome', though I can't claim that my life is richer for the latter - I didn't like it at all! Novel-wise I'm about a quarter of the way through Margaret Oliphant's 'Hester'.

End of Year Exhibition

I've just got back from College where I had the pleasure of looking at all the work that's been produced this year by the City & Guilds class. The 2nd and 4th years had their own displays, whilst the work of the 1st and 3rd years was part in dedicated areas and part mixed in with the larger displays. It was very impressive! I only had one display board that, perhaps owing to my having been unable to go to help set up on Monday, got put in a corner rather than on the wall, but it was good to have something there at least!!

Here's Alison, one of the two 4th years, with her display of assessment pieces and design work:

This is the table holding many of the 3rd years' portfolios containing their History of English Embroidery, 3 other country studies and design research work based on a personal theme, which included fruit & veg, bark, ferns and dragonflies.

Here are two of the 2nd years' displays showing their assessment pieces and the design and sampling work that went with them.

This is Felicity with her 2nd year work display. She did the loveliest little stumpwork cube, which you can see bottom right with the sides let down.

The next three pictures are mostly 1st year work showing both purpose done wall displays and also many of the boxes, portfolios and handmade folders that design and sampling work was presented in. You can see mine in the corner of the second photo.

Sorry about the quality - the camera I'm using is very poor indeed and I'm looking forward to getting my new one soon!

I saw one or two of the visitors' comments that they'd put in the guestbook at the entrance and it was nice to be part of a group described as 'local talent'.=) Most of that rightly goes to the other ladies though. My part was the smallest in the whole class and didn't even get my name put on it (=(), but I rectified that by adding one of my own cards to it!!

I also picked up a leaflet describing the new course and it sounds quite good - well put together and in a sensible order. The whole structure has changed almost beyond recognition, but I think I could manage to do the 7113 certificate in the future. At least now I have a much clearer idea of what's expected and that will be a big help!

Last C&G Sample and Colour Display

This is the last of the Samples Project I'm able to share with you. Today was the last working day at College and I really only went to prepare my display, which took most of the day to mount!! This sample was meant to be of manipulated fabric techniques, but I confess, I didn't finish it and get to that part. I've posted this one before to some degree, but here it is in the full line up. The sources were a sapling opposite our flats and a bird table I found on-line. Here we have a pastel picture of the two together, then a collage using painted papers etc, and then the sample which is worked in over-dyed threads (yes, GAST and WDW) on a fabric painted background. A bit lurid and makes it look springlike when it's meant to be autumnal, but it could be worse!!

Below is the Colour Module display that I've done for the College end of year exhibition next week. The photo was awful as my new camera just won't take indoor pix without blurring them horribly. I couldn't manage with the old one - having to hold the battery door shut - in the middle of the studio etc. DH is getting me a lovely new one that will take pictures in dim light and all sorts - great for museum collections where photography is sometimes allowed, but lights are low and flashes a no-go. I just got this pic to show it all together. I think I'll try and take a better one when I bring it home and can use the old camera on it, but you can see how I put in white mounts for most pieces and also used some other colours of card and paper to tone in with the artwork and samples etc. Do you think it works?

So, that's it for City & Guilds for me for the foreseeable future. I'm not sure if I'll go back after our year away and re-start as the whole programme is changing and, whilst it seems somewhat less work and not too bad, I just don't know. We'll see.

Now that's out of the way, I can get back to some of my 'regular' stitching. =)

Some more artwork

Nothing stitchy to show just yet, (although I really must get on with some!), but here are some more of the art and design pieces I've done for my C&G work. Hope you like them at least a little bit. :) Paper-based art isn't my forté, (mostly as I don't do enough of it to develop any real level of skill), but I quite enjoy it anyway, which is the main thing.

This first one is a pastel painting of the centre of a flower which I did to be part of my colour resolved design work investigating tones and tints. This was the tints one - pale colours with 'white added'.

This one, obviously, is a collage of the Taj Mahal using fancy and metallic papers and card. The idea from here was to reproduce it with manipuated fabric techniques (part of the 'Texture' module) in trapunto. This was the one I tried to do using silk paints, but where the silver and clear guttas let me down to a mortifying degree and, after wasting a couple of hours on painstaking tracing of the outline - twice! - I had to throw the whole disaster into the bin in despair as the silk paint leaked through every single line of gutta! It didn't do that with the gold of the same brand, but the silver and clear, with their huge applicator openings that forced me to apply it with a paintbrush, were hopeless. I was, if you'll excuse the pun, gutted!

This last one is a piece of art nouveau jewelry which was to be reproduced in beads covering a large-ish button (just about an inch in diameter). It's drawn in pastel pencil, which I seem to do a lot better with than regular pencils of any type or colour and, I must say, I'd rather like a pendant like this!!