Tomorrow morning, about 8.30am, we set off for Germany, so this will probably be my last post for a fortnight. I can't really see myself blogging from the Youth Hostels around Europe!!
Haven't got any more photos to share as I haven't been able to do any more on the Pool, but dh is convinced that his mum will love to see it develop whilst we're staying with her and I know she doesn't like to wait for surprises, so I think he could well be right!! I've also put the Goldfinches in my hobby/art bag so that I can stitch something for us whilst we're away as well. If I'm stitching at MIL's, then it also gives us something to talk about and I may learn a few more stitching words and expressions in German too.=)
Sandy in TX asked how I finish rayons. Well, this is one thread where you can't afford to do it the traditional way and you have to knot to start and finish. It's the only way really.
Veronica, thanks for your compliments on the 'even' stitching. I put that in inverted commas as I think it's really rough along the edges and just hope that it will improve as I do more. I daresay even Helen M Stevens didn't produce a very even edge when she was a relatively new embroideress.
I did almost all the ironing - plus 2 more washing loads of it. All done except the bedding. I didn't want to come back to a huge pile like I did after Taiwan, and that on top of the stuff I had to was and press after the trip! So, it's done and it felt good. Get someone else to do it? I'd like to see that! DH wouldn't dream of it and as for paying someone, there isn't the cash to spare, I'm afraid! DIY is the order of the day in this household.
OK, see y'all about 20 July! I'm off to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria.=)
'Ornamental Pool' - the Great Leap Forward
Well, it feels like a great leap to me and it's a fitting expression for a stitching sinologist to use, isn't it? (If you don't get this one, do a web search for 'great leap forward' and you should soon see what I mean!!) Anyway, the rayons and metallics are now done and the rest is mostly good old stranded cotton and relatively simple embroidery instead of all this couching and messing with tricky threads. It feels good to be getting on with it though and I must say that my music lesson on Tuesady afternoon did me the world of good. Just doing something purely for me for an hour just scratched the self-nuture itch and I felt much more like doing stuff straight afterwards. So, the appearance of a picture of my viola at the top of my 'bits and bobs' sidebar is in grateful recognition of her contribution to keeping me the right side of insanity boundary!!! 
Back to the 'Pool', I'm hoping I haven't made a goof in choosing to use rayons for the coloured sections of these elements as the contrast between their sheen and the ordinary cotton is quite stark. Still, they go well with the metallics, which may have looked out of place with cottons, had I used those instead. I wanted the fish etc to stand out, but I may have overdone it. We shall see when it's complete. Here are clos
e-ups of the two recently completed bits. I just need to get the embroidery done by Saturday, I've decided, as it doesn't take too long to finish it up (less complec than COS was!) and I can even do that en route to Germany. Wouldn't be the first time as I distinctly remember finishing up a wedding bell-pull in the car on the way to the ceremony!!!Well, it's mid-year and time for a stitching review. Actually, I really haven't accomplished much at all, but here's what there is:
*Finally got 'Child of Spring' finished up into a scatter cushion.
*Finished Derwentwater's 'Bluetits and Seedheads' cross stitch, which was started last July.
*Started and worked about 40-50% of Derwentwater's 'Goldfinches and Thistles' cross stitch, but that's now on hold whilst I get all the obligation stitching done, (so much for my 'learning year' without multiple events to stitch for!).
*Worked one small ribbon piece, 'Rose Arch' and mounted it in a card.
*Worked one small gold- and rayonwork dragonfly, but haven't used it for anything yet.
*Worked the 'Branches of Your Life' as a leaving card for my old boss.
So, not really that much in total. Come to think of it, there wasn't much movement in the six month period before that either, with 'bluetits' being started, some bedding made for one wedding and the waterlily and dragonfly pic being done for another, and that was it!
I finally delved into the murky depths of the laundry basket and dealt with all the 'special treatment' stuff in there - hand-washing and bleaching, so that's something, but all that ironing, yack! Getting nowhere fast....
....well, it feels like it anyway! Not my fault really though as I've been unwell with women's troubles, then a bug, which I still have, but have been able to do a little bit on the Pool the last day or so. Apart from the usual, incessant health issues, I'm finding this one difficult and unwieldy. It's hard to do freestyle in such a large frame (14"), although I didn't have that problem with the dog when I was doing that in a 12" hoop. Add to that that it has to be done and finished up by close of play on Saturday and you can see why this one is turning out somewhat of a thorn in the rear quarters! I can't believe this is all I've got done over the last week and now I'm having trouble with the rayon thread I've started doing the dragonfly with. That stuff looks great in the skein and even in any project you have the patience and endurance to manage to stitch with, but it's a nightmare to work with! I used to think metallics were a bit challenging, but even silk is well behaved compared to rayon.... Grrrr!The threads and fabric for the next 2 projects have still not arrived either, which is really annoying. I e-mailed the on-line store (who usually despatch within a day or two) and she said she is waiting for the threads to finally come to colour match with the fabric, but as I then told her, some of the threads are not to go with that fabric, but still nothing has come. I really wanted to be able to take a certain project with me when we go away on Monday, but it looks like it's going to have to be the one I planned on doing after these two! Oh well, at least that will make September more relaxed, but the next one is needed for mid-August, then the third for mid-Spetember! Then there's a wedding in November to do something for. Honestly, my hobby is becoming a task, not a thing I do for fun.=( Ugh! I need our forthcoming holiday!
I've finally added my donation to the campaign I've got the widget for. I don't think that charity work is the real solution to the mental/emotional health problem (although it if manages to save one person from killing themselves, it's worth it), as they are deep symptoms of a sick society and it will take God himself to sort that out. However, I wanted to help those ladies reach their goal as I know how important it is to feel that you're doing something for the person who's died, especially as, with suicide, you always feel you've in some way failed them and need to compensate for it.
The new counter part way down my bits and bobs bar is progress on the using up of things I've had hanging around the place for years! I counted up the personal care products that needed using up, some of which I've had for more than a decade already, and they came to about 100! Some are just sample sachets, travel sizes and hotel shampoo thingies that DH has brought back from business trips, but they need using up out of the way. Saves money in the short term too as I won't need to buy soap, shower gel, bath 'additives' and so on for many months to come!! DH is helping by using up the shampoos and sharing the soaps and I hope to get the total to at least 20 by the time we go away for a fortnight on Monday and to deal with another 5 or more whilst we're away. We're probably going to be moving, likely internationally, in early 2010, so the fewer things we need to pack and move then, the better! The next thing will be to go through the cleaning cupboard and see what needs using up from there.
NOT exactly impressive!
Let me explain what isn't impressive before I go on to the better stuff, and that is my progress on the Ornamental Pool. I had only a few minutes' stitching time during the time we had house guests and have only just been able to pick it up again now. I have yet to make a stitch today though and will get on with that once I'm through with this post and the back-up CDs I'm creating at the same time.
What is rather nice, though, is this certificate I got yesterday morning when I did my viola Preparatory Test. It's not a qualifcation as such, but it was a type of exam that required preparation to a set syllabus and helped me to feel that I could indeed do OK at proper graded exams. I don't think I'll be taking my Grade 1 in November as I fear it would take over my complete lesson time again and I'd like to be able to work towards it alongside my regular course, but I think March next year might be possible. I also took my Grade 2 Theory of Music on Saturday 14th and that was so do-able that I'm aiming for Grade 4 in November and Grade 5 in March. It's nice to achieve something and I like to learn and be tested on things. OK, go on then, call me odd!!!
I forgot to show these, the needlework tools I got as part of my anniversary gift this year. Here we have a stuffing tool for small things (so good for trapunto etc), a stilletto for making holes, a hedebo stick for making various ring shaped things and a set of 3 half cone sticks, most of which will be great for stumpwork things, esp. needlelace stuff. Looking forward to one day having time to do some of that. I'm aching to start a C&G course, but there's no money just now and I have too much other stuff to do anyway. I'm so sick of things being like this! Even the stitching I have planned is all for gifts and feels like work, not hobby fun. My visitors last week were having a great time using some of the fab pencils I showcased earlier in the year and I've been borrowing one library book on drawing buildings for several loans already in the hope of ever getting chance to have a go at working through it. Well, it's still on the shelf virtually untouched. Ever wanted to dump all adult responsibilities and just be a child again who only had to do her school stuff and then play all day long?? I may not have a full-time job or kids, but I still wind up feeling that I'm working all the time.....=( Waaah!The Happy Dance of the Child of Spring!!
HURRAH! I've finally got COS sewn up into that cushion/pillow after hanging around for about 11 months! I did the stitching on it last June/July and then it was delay after re-take after re-start.... Anyway, I got it done last night and here it is:
I can honestly say that, from start to finish, this project has been a complete pain in the rear! The embroidery part was a great deal more tricky and fiddly than it looked like being and the instructions and chart were not as good as VS normally is. In fact, had this been the first VS design I'd ever done, it would also have been the last, but thankfully I'd already worked two others!! Then we got to the finishing up part. First I used too dark a red border and sewed it on skew-whiff, so that had to come off. Then I used the right red and made the borders too wide, (some of you will remember that!!). Then I got it right, but there was a long delay until I found some decent backing fabric (I finally settled on a matching red with white spots on). I pinned that on and started tacking only to find that I'd got it all square with the spots, but the front was cock-eyed again!! Start again.... Then I had to have two starts in inserting the zip as I started to sew through too many layers. What I have really loved (HEAVY sarcasm here) about this project is the sheer amount of times things have had to be re-done and/or have driven me potty! If it hadn't been for Baby Sis (not baby-sitter, Chiasmata, I have no kids and am too old to need childcare myself!!!! Tee-hee!) I probably would have given in to the frequent temptation to burn it! However, I'm pleased with it now.=)
Carole-Anne said she couldn't imagine how I found time to do embroidery in my busy life. Well, I thought I'd tell you all!! Apart from applying time management principles, the following help:
I have no kids.
We have no pets.
We live in a small, inexpensive home, which requires much less time and money to keep up to than a larger one would.
I don't work much secularly, probably about 150 hours a year as opposed to the about 1700 a full-time worker puts in.
We don't have TV. Well, we have a set, but it's only for playing videos and DVDs and isn't used much. A month can go by without it being set up and watched.
I don't play video, TV, on-line or hand-held electronic games.
I don't make long 'phone calls.
Most of our meals are ready within 30 minutes. Our social life is fairly modest. We're not out 4 or 5 nights a week.
My internet time is kept to a minimum. I read/scan some blogs 2 or 3 days a week, but I don't spend many hours reading dozens and dozens.
DH said that made it sound like we have a very boring life, but it works for me!! I'm never bored.=) BTW, I don't think there's anything intrinsically wrong with any of the above, I just feel that I could lose too much precious time on many of them, so choose not to.=) Anyway, you can see the time savings from the list, can't you? Not that mothers can just put their kids up for adoption, sell their family-sized homes, dump their kids' dogs and so on just to get more stitching time, but I don't have these responsibilities, so I can do other things, although I still feel I would like more me-time!!! I've only actually completed 3½ pieces this year, 2 of which were very small. COS is just finishing up something from last summer. I have 2 WIPs right now, but something else I find makes me quite productive in terms of stitching is that most things are done for other people's special events etc. Deadlines are hugely motivating, don't you think??=)
I can honestly say that, from start to finish, this project has been a complete pain in the rear! The embroidery part was a great deal more tricky and fiddly than it looked like being and the instructions and chart were not as good as VS normally is. In fact, had this been the first VS design I'd ever done, it would also have been the last, but thankfully I'd already worked two others!! Then we got to the finishing up part. First I used too dark a red border and sewed it on skew-whiff, so that had to come off. Then I used the right red and made the borders too wide, (some of you will remember that!!). Then I got it right, but there was a long delay until I found some decent backing fabric (I finally settled on a matching red with white spots on). I pinned that on and started tacking only to find that I'd got it all square with the spots, but the front was cock-eyed again!! Start again.... Then I had to have two starts in inserting the zip as I started to sew through too many layers. What I have really loved (HEAVY sarcasm here) about this project is the sheer amount of times things have had to be re-done and/or have driven me potty! If it hadn't been for Baby Sis (not baby-sitter, Chiasmata, I have no kids and am too old to need childcare myself!!!! Tee-hee!) I probably would have given in to the frequent temptation to burn it! However, I'm pleased with it now.=)Carole-Anne said she couldn't imagine how I found time to do embroidery in my busy life. Well, I thought I'd tell you all!! Apart from applying time management principles, the following help:
I have no kids.
We have no pets.
We live in a small, inexpensive home, which requires much less time and money to keep up to than a larger one would.
I don't work much secularly, probably about 150 hours a year as opposed to the about 1700 a full-time worker puts in.
We don't have TV. Well, we have a set, but it's only for playing videos and DVDs and isn't used much. A month can go by without it being set up and watched.
I don't play video, TV, on-line or hand-held electronic games.
I don't make long 'phone calls.
Most of our meals are ready within 30 minutes. Our social life is fairly modest. We're not out 4 or 5 nights a week.
My internet time is kept to a minimum. I read/scan some blogs 2 or 3 days a week, but I don't spend many hours reading dozens and dozens.
DH said that made it sound like we have a very boring life, but it works for me!! I'm never bored.=) BTW, I don't think there's anything intrinsically wrong with any of the above, I just feel that I could lose too much precious time on many of them, so choose not to.=) Anyway, you can see the time savings from the list, can't you? Not that mothers can just put their kids up for adoption, sell their family-sized homes, dump their kids' dogs and so on just to get more stitching time, but I don't have these responsibilities, so I can do other things, although I still feel I would like more me-time!!! I've only actually completed 3½ pieces this year, 2 of which were very small. COS is just finishing up something from last summer. I have 2 WIPs right now, but something else I find makes me quite productive in terms of stitching is that most things are done for other people's special events etc. Deadlines are hugely motivating, don't you think??=)
Snail slow progress
Here's what the 'Ornamental Pool' design is looking like just now. Haven't been able to do much as I've either been mad busy, or dead tired!!! Boom and bust is my life!!! Had a couple of low key days though and hope that will help a bit. I have to do some interpreting tonight for which I don't feel at all well prepared, (the fact that I hate prep doesn't help!), but I expect I'll feel better when that's out of the way.
Home is still in chaos after the redecoration and re-carpetting of the study, so there are still piles of stuff all over the place, just look at the hall here seen from the study doorway! I can't really get the vac out very well! Carpets are dreadful! This is something DH got for himself in Taiwan and has put it on the study door.=) Well, he is the president of his own business, so it's accurate!!! He's also the office junior and the tea-boy..... Cute, though, isn't 
it? I bet that shop sell as many for fun as they do for serious business!
Hobbycraft clearance spree!
I finally got chance to go down to the Leeds Hobbycraft branch and take advantage of their decision to discontinue stocking Kreinik metallics and YLI silk ribbons and bought these, pretty much all the colours they had:
Hobbycraft's prices are pretty high for most things, but they sometimes do good deals and, although I could still get these, metallics at least, cheaper from the States (and with the pound at US$1.95, it's a great time to buy from across the Pond!), I added them to my collection anyway. It was just a shame that I missed some of the other colours, but you never know, I may be able to get to another branch in the next couple of weeks and see if they have anything.
Hobbycraft's prices are pretty high for most things, but they sometimes do good deals and, although I could still get these, metallics at least, cheaper from the States (and with the pound at US$1.95, it's a great time to buy from across the Pond!), I added them to my collection anyway. It was just a shame that I missed some of the other colours, but you never know, I may be able to get to another branch in the next couple of weeks and see if they have anything.
