Needlework Nut

February Needle Roll

2009-02-24T01:07:00.000-08:00

This month I chose to stitch Gardeners' Needle Roll by Lorri Birmingham. This is a photo of it after the stitching had been completed before the finishing was completed.

And this is the finished product ready to go into the needle roll display cabinet.

Thanks for looking.

More 2009 Completed Pieces

2009-02-23T02:42:00.000-08:00

The below photos are the rest of my completed pieces so far this year.

First is A is for Angel by The Sweetheart Tree. I have up to the letter 'M' in these designs and would eventually like to collect and stitch all of them and make them into a wall quilt.

The second piece is All Our Yesterdays Zodiac by Faye Whittaker. This was a round robin that took a long time to come home and arrived with four squares unstitched. I completed the stitching and intend to make this into a centre panel for a single bed quilt. I have some lovely Faye Whittaker designed fabric to complete the top and I think it should look really good (when I get around to actually sewing it together that is.......)

Next is 12 Blessings of Christmas - Love by Lizzie Kate. I have all 12 of these designs and I hope to stitch one per month to be able to have twelve new ornaments to hang onto our tree this year.

And last but not least is Watercolour Needleroll Seafoam by Leesa Steele Designs. I also have a plan to stitch one needle roll per month to try to stitch at least some of my needle roll kits and patterns that I have (I have to admit that i'm a needle roll junkie).

It's funny but when it comes to stitching and there are groups of designs I can't just stop at one but have to get the whole set. This is probably why I have enough stash that I easily don't have to buy anymore and still have enough to stitch til i'm 90 and then still have heaps left over.

2009 Completed Hardanger Pieces Thus Far

2009-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

I have been slowly compiling my photos of finished pieces for this year and here are two of them. The piece below is called Needlework Fantasy and is by Emie Bishop. I stitched one of these a few years ago and then had the genius thought of stitching another so that I would have a pair to put on bedside tables. Well, like all genius thoughts this went well for a while and then I got sick of the sight of it (I think because I stitched them so close together). Anyhow I only had the weaving left to do and finally completed this on 7th Feb 2009.

The next piece is a series of hardanger hearts that I am stitching for some variegated balls of perle 12 from my local needlework shop. I have 11 balls of this thread in various colours so am trying to stitch with all 11 colours and then give these to my fellow stitchers at my Monday night stitch along group. This one is stitched using Valdani perle 12 thread colour M58. Completed stitching on 12th Feb 09.

I have four more finishes for 2009 that I have to photograph and will post later. Thanks for looking.

Some piccies

2009-02-19T13:39:00.001-08:00

I thought that instead of bombarding one post with all updated photos that i'd break it up a little. Below are photos of pieces that I completed stitching at the end of last year.

Tina's Stocking

by Shepherds Bush Designs

Robert's Stocking

by Shepherds Bush Designs

The next two photos are of two of my current stitching pieces. The first is from the Nordic Needle 2007 Winning Hardanger Pieces book (at least I think that's what the book is called...) I stitch this piece on the train as I don't really need to think about the pattern.

This next progess piece is Cirque des Cerlces by Ink Circles. Whilst the photo of the stitching itself isn't very good it is the most accurate when it comes to showing the fabric and thread colours. I also have the patterns for the triangles and diamonds designs to stitch in the same colour choice. My ultimate plan is to stitch all three and then hang them in our master bedroom on the wall above our bed.

And last but finally not least I had my uni graduation ceremony last night. This was a year long course consisting of 5 modules that where each 6 weeks long that had an assignment and exam due at the end of each module and then a major assignment due at the end of the year. Going to lectures two nights a week as well as studying for exams, working on assignments, working on my major assignment, working full time and running a busy household all meant that last year was one of the busiest for a really long time. My main plan this year is to take it a alittle easier (hasn't worked well so far but it's only February).

Yeh for Friday. This weekend I am planning to catch up on photos of all of my finished completed work from this year. Have a great weekend everyone....

Naughty Blogger (me that is.....)

2009-02-17T20:15:00.001-08:00

I have to admit that I have been most guilty that I have ignored my own blog for a long time now. Just too much going on in life I guess.

Oh well, an update on what has been happening from last post up to now in a nutshell. I finished my uni course in December 08 and had a huge major assignment to complete and hand in which took most of my time. Between working full time and completing a uni course in one year I had an extremely busy year last year and since then I have been relishing all of the time on my hands.

I have been stitching heaps and have been making a concerted effort to complete some projects off my WIP list. I have quite a stitching finishes under my belt so far this year but as usual I haven't organised myself yet as to uploading the photos onto the computer and haven't even updated my stitching album with them (gee I am being slack aren't I.........)

Anyhow, I have been blog lurking whilst just not posting to my own and have actually started to comment on some of the more interesting blogs that I find out there which is not the normal thing that I do but I often think that whilst I have a list of blogs that I like to read daily unless I make comments on these blogs the owners will never know if I have been there or not. Some have lots of commentators so would not really know the difference but some others are only new bloggers and I just want to let them know that I am reading their blogs and finding their photos and what they have to say quite interesting.

So, thats all for now. I will get organised over the weekend and will post photos of all projects completed since the last post in November 08 (I still can't really believe that it's been that long).

If anyone out there reads my blog and dosen't comment I just want to say thanks for taking the time to stop by - it is really appreciated.

Arnotts Update and Some Stash

2008-11-09T01:33:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest update photo of the Arnott's Parrot as of Sunday 09/11/2008:

I didn't realise how bright the photo was until I loaded it. I'll try to get a better photo next time. I had a comment from Gina asking about this one. This is a Country Threads kit by Fiona Jude. You can order this directly from her web site. I just love her patterns and have quite a few in my stash collection.

And speaking of stash collection I received two canvas work patterns in the mail during the week. I have just started to fall in love with canvas work after completing two kits from From Nancy's Needle (photos of these completed into pillows are in my stitching album in 2008 Stitching). Both of these by Laura J Perin patterns interested me and I got them both rather cheaply so I'm really happy.

Needlecases Galore

2008-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

I finally made up some needlecases from a few small stitching pieces that I have completed during the year. These are for a few of my very close stitching friends. They are:

The Decorator

Full Circle Designs

JCS Christmas Ornament Issue 2007

A Rose For Each Season

Patricia Ann Designs

A Rose For Each Season x 2
Patricia Ann Designs

A Christmas Song

Full Circle Designs

JCS Christmas Ornament Issue 2008

I really enjoyed finishing these into needlecases, and can see that these won't be the last needlecases that I make.

Train Stitching

2008-10-31T00:13:00.000-07:00

I work in Sydney's CBD and have to catch a train to and from work. This trip normally takes 1 hour each way. I don't mind catching the train as it gives me a chance to get some extra stitching in. This is the piece that I have been stitching since August during my train commute:

As this is a hardanger piece I don't need to constantly refer to the pattern and it is coming along quite nicely (sorry for the dark photo, but it has been stinking hot here today and it the sky is now getting really dark which means that we are in for a thunder storm, not very good photo taking conditions i'm afraid). This pattern is in the 2003 Award Winning Hardanger Projects book from Nordic Needle. I have to confess that I have a few of these books and can see that I will have no problem finding hardanger pieces to stitch on the train for at least the next 50 or so years.

Arnott's Sampler

2008-10-30T00:56:00.001-07:00

This is my most recent stitching start. I started stitching this last week and this is my progress as of Sunday 26/10/2008:

It is a design by Fiona Jude of Country Threads and is the Arnott's Biscuits Parrott.This is what the completed piece should look like:

I just recently found out that my father used to work at the Arnott's factory in Homebush so this design now has added sentimental value for me also.