29 December 2003

I Did Survive!

Well, another holiday season over for the year. I don't have much on today. I have to go down and post my cushion to Melbourne so it can go in the competition. Also need to post a few other things. Then I want to start some sewing of garb. I need to get some done for me and also for Adam and John. John will be down for the next couple of days to play network games with Adam. I will hopefully get some embroidery set up. I havn't done any of the Goldwork course I signed up for (and paid alot of money for!). So I think I will try and get the lessons done for those if I can. Then I will be caught up with that ready for the next one.

28 December 2003

Cleaning

Cleaning, lots of cleaning. Got a few of Adams friends coming for a couple of days of computer networking. I also want to get some sewing done so I need to clean and make room. Also to find stuff, couldn't find my good dressmaking scissors. Its a pain but the place always looks better once its done. Made some fritters using left over meat from Christmas. Put some spicy apricot sauce on them, tasty.

27 December 2003

Recovery

I decided to do some fancy stitching over the seams of the cushion, it does look better with that there. It now finished. Went over town to see if I could get the cushion to go with the hammock chair but the shop was shut. So that will have to wait until Monday.


26 December 2003

Boxing Day

Boxing Day was for recovery. Adam went back to his brothers to hang out for the day. That meant I got to leave the air con OFF all day. So I kicked up and watched Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version). Normally I hate the manners and pretense of the late 18th early 19th Century literature but for some reason, this version of P and P really works for me. I got it on DVD and have watched it a few times now. When the weather heats up and its a lazy day, it just calls out for something like this. While watching, I put the final touches into my Icelandic Cushion.

25 December 2003

Christmas Day

Presents!! I got my bow from Adam. All I need now are the arrows!! He also bought me a surprise present, a really cool hamock chair. I need to get some bolts and chain to hang it up on the front verandah. The beauty of this one is that it takes down very easily, so I can just put it up when I want to use it. I just need a good book to read now! We had Christmas lunch at Adam's Mum and Dad's, a baked dinner. Luckily they have air con or it would've been a scorcher.

We then went around to Adam's brothers house for Christmas tea. They have a swimming pool, so we went swimming for the first time in about 10 years!! Its amazing, I live 2 blocks from one of the best beaches in the world and I never go swimming any more. I used to live at the beach! Anyway, we hung out there and had a dinner of cold meat and salad, which was really nice. Then we headed home.

24 December 2003

Christmas Eve

This is the day when my family has its get together. Lots of kids, lots of screaming, lots of running around. It was nice and relaxed though. Cold meat and salad in the backyard. Christmas is always more fun when there are kids around. I thought a couple of them were going to burst if they had to wait any longer for the presents! One was really cute, she was the youngest there. All she wanted was the biggest present, which she got. She couldn't get her arms around the box!! While big, it wasn't expensive. My theory on kids under 10 and presents is they don't care how much it cost as long as its big!!

23 December 2003

Last Day of Work

We normally have our work Christmas party at lunch and then have the rest of the day off and break for Christmas. This year, we had to have dinner. Then the Boss bailed on us anyway!! So we had a nice Italian meal at one of my workmates sisters' restaurant. Because of the change of plans, I was able to do last minute shopping. It saved me a trip over town on Christmas Eve, always a good thing. I also found a new M & M dispenser. I love these guys, even though I don't like chocolate, I love collecting the M & M dispensers. I got red M & M playing soccer. We made a pretty early night of it, but it had the advantage of being the last day of work. I am now on holidays until the 5th of Jan, 2004

22 December 2003

Perfectionism

Well, I finished off the last of the background couching, or so I thought. I did all the background but there was some uneveness between the rows of couching, they were a bit too wide. So I decided to put another column down some parts, which of course, spread to putting a new column between every other one. I must admit though, it does look better and will probably make it more sturdy and last longer. So I should finish putting the extra columns in tonight. It should then be ready for construction over Christmas. Only problem is I don't know how to put it together! Anyone know how they made up cushions in 14th Century Iceland??

Linn, great to see the Celtic Alphabet finished.

Dani glad to hear you are feeling better. I only started stitching with silks this year and I have to say I don't think I will ever go back to cotton. Give the Au Ver A Soie D'Alger a go, very nice. They are what got me hooked on silks.

Hazel, I've tried to keep a written journal several times but it never lasts long. This blog has been the longest I have kept going with anything resembling a journal.

21 December 2003

Time Warp?

What is it with needlework sometime? Last weekend, I sat down for a good five hours, and while I did make progress, it didn't seem much and it was hard work. Yesterday, I started late, only did a few hours and got four times as much done?? So I have now finished putting all the background thread in and only have maybe half an hour of couching to finish it off!! I am now ahead of schedule again. It was definately some sort of time warp. But a good one. So with a bit of luck (and a new overlocker!) I will definately have it finished by Christmas. That way I can post it straight after Christmas and it should get to Stormhold in time for 12th Night. Yeah.

I went and swapped the overlocker yesterday. I found out that the salesman had put the box in his car to take home. The freaky thing is, when he was packing it up on Thursday, we started talking about cardboard box hoarding and he said he was terrible for it. Never liked to throw any out in case they come in handy!! Well, this time they did. It meant that they would be able to re-pack it, which made me feel better, cause it meant they wouldn't loose any money for giving good customer service.

19 December 2003

Changing My Mind

I try not to be indecisive, as its a trait I really distlike. However, I am being it right now. I went to buy the overlocker last night. I had decided that I really only needed the bottom of the range model. So I went in, listened to the salesman (who is also the owner and quite helpful) and he told me about each of the machines. In the end, I stuck with the cheapest one. Now I have changed my mind. The more expensive one was $200 with a few more features (easier threading - which on an overlocker is a big deal, rolled hem feature and detatchable arm). I bought a roller bag to store it in, cause there isn't much room in my sewing/craft/everything else room for it and I want to keep the dust etc off it. So I took it out of the box in the store and put it in the trolley bag (another reason I did this is cause it was easier to carry it on the bus this way). So when I rang this morning about swapping it, they were fine with it till I mentioned the box. They still said OK, but didn't sound as keen. The shop lady also mentioned that the trolley bag comes with the more expensive model, so in reality, its only costing me about $100 more. I'm really pleased they are still swapping it. I know this is a hassle for them but its nice to know customer service is still alive and well. If anyone talks to me about getting a new machine, I will definately be recommending them.

On the dress front, I tried it on when I got home, it fits pretty good. There were a couple of places it gapped a little bit but considering it was made on the other side of the world from measurements sent via email, I'm really pleased with it. It was really hot last night, so I didn't keep it on long enough to get a photo. I am off to leave positive feedback. I will get a photo up asap.

No stitching last night, too hot, too tired. I plan to get a bit done this weekend though.

18 December 2003

I love the Post

Well, checked my PO BOX last night. I had a slip indicating a parcel!! Yeah, I had a pretty good idea what it was and very happy. Not so happy when I checked the slip a bit closer, I had a bit of a shock. It said I owed $100 for customs duty! Bugger. It was after 5pm so I couldn't pick it up anyway. I worked it out, they were actually overcharging me for the GST by $5 but I decided to pay it anyway cause I really wanted the package. So I gave Adam the money this morning and he picked it up for me. The package was a dress I had got via Ebay from Peacock Designs. Adam sent me a picture of it in the box at home!! I will post of pic of me wearing it tomorrow.

On the stitching front, I did a couple more hours on the cushion last night. Here it is at about 20 hours work:

17 December 2003

Slogging Away

Got another few hours done on my Icelandic cushion. If I keep putting in a few hours a night, I should have it done by this weekend. If I could get it in the post by Monday that would be great. I will put up a progress picture tommorrow.

I am thinking of buying an overlocker. I am going to have to make a bit of clothing for the SCA in the next few months (I only have one dress at the moment!!) and an overlocker would speed up the process quite a bit in finishing off seems. I was going to take part in Chatelaine Mystery VI and I'd started buying the kit but $350 dollars is alot just for silk thread and beads. So I've cancelled the order for the kit and decided to spend the money on the overlocker. My practical side won out. I will still follow the pattern (which I've already paid for and joined the email list) and I will see if I can adapt the pattern to threads I already have (which is a bit unlikely, cause its all browns and Autumn tones, which I like but never seem to buy! It was the colours that really drew me, not the patterns).

16 December 2003

Outlast

Well, Survivor is over for another year. I have to say I enjoyed this one quite a bit, they managed to get a good balance of personalities in this one. I picked this title because this was definately Sandra methodology. She left the outwitting and outplaying to others and stuck to outlasting - which she did. I also think she gave some of the best answers I've ever seen at a Final Tribal Council. I am so glad that Jon didn't make it into the final two. I think he would have actually stood a chance against Lil, she just flipped on too many people. Well done Sandra, I'm really glad she won.

No stitching, was too hot and too much survivor to watch. I really do need to get a move on, call me dense but I only realised this morning that Christmas is next week!! I need to get someone organised to take my entry to the competition.

15 December 2003

Working Weekend

I got up nice and early Saturday morning and started the washing. You wouldn't think two people would need to do so many loads!! I got most of it out of the way by lunchtime. I wanted to spend some serious time on the cushion. Only problem was it was really hot. Which, don't get me wrong, I love. But its not really stitching weather. Anyway, I put in a few good hours. They were real fiddly bits so I didn't seem to make much progress. We pretty sick of it by about 6pm. Also my finger were really sore, from pulling the wool through.

Didn't get anything done on Sunday until about 7pm. Managed to get another few hours in. Seemed to make more progress as there was more void in the middle section where I was working.

Last night for Survivor tonight. I will have to avoid the usual spoiler places. Can't wait to see the reunion ep, I bet the first question Geoff asks is about the big lie.

13 December 2003

Dinner

We were are the gym after work yesterday and Adam suggested that we go out to an Indian (sub-continent) restaurant for tea. Now I have never been known in my life to knock back a curry. So we went to a nice place in the restaurant strip of town (we actually have more restaurants per capita than just about any other place in Australia). I decided to have a hot one cause when I cook at home I can't make things hot as Adam won't each them. The food was great. Nice atmosphere. There were singers doing Christmas carols, then a Pipe and Drum band (is there anything more strange than men in kilts playing the bag pipes while wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers?) walking up and down the street. Very festive.

On the stitching front, I didn't get anything done last night. Was tired after going out and the fact it was Friday night. But here is a picture of the Icelandic cushion at about 10 hours. I have started to do the laid and couched work in the background.

12 December 2003

New Website

I've pretty much got my new website up and running. I have improved the Broidery Gallery, more pictures and details of each piece. The Research area may also be of interest. It has articles, research galleries and handouts in it.



On the stitching front. I got another 2 hours done on the Icelandic cushion. I have now started the background laid and couched work. I would've enjoyed it more if it was so damn hot last night!! A hot muggy night is so NOT the time to be doing wool embroidery.

11 December 2003

Back On Track

Well, I did 2 and a bit hours on my Icelandic Cushion. Things are now back on track. I got the centre motif outlined. All that remains now is the laid and couched background. Then I just have to put it together. I hope to start on that tonight.

On the scrapbooking front, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who congratulated me on my getting published. I can't put up an image of the layout to be published, but if you would like to see other examples of my work, visit my scrapbooking site: OzScrappin. If you go to the layouts page and look at "Edith Falls" and "Gunlom" you will get an idea of the one being published. Those are all from my Northern Territory trip. Be warned, see these photos and become obsessed with coming to Australia!!

10 December 2003

Getting Published!!

Good news. I just got an email from the Editor of Scrapbook Creations (same publishers as the new embroidery magazine below). They want to use one of the layouts from from Kakadu trip!! Cool. This will be the third publication I've had layouts printed in. Not alot of money ($30) but good bragging rights.

Uh Oh

Deadlines. I just realised that I have seriously miscalculated how much time I have to work on my Icelandic wallhanging. If I want to get it done and to its destination by the early Jan, 2004 deadline, I am going to have to do some serious sewing over the next couple of weeks. It shouldn't take me much longer than that but I need to send it via post to Melbourne and this is SO not a good time of year to be putting stuff in the post. This is all a bummer because I started working on a set of silk covered buttons for someones birthday this weekend and I won't have time to do them now. Maybe they can be a Christmas present?

9 December 2003

Finishing and Chilli

Linn asked about finishing projects. I don't think I have a fear of finishing projects. I think my problem is more an attitude of its nearly finished, it only needs a couple of hours work, so I can start a new project now and not fall behind. This results in the nearly finished project sitting there for months. I have a couple like this at the moment. I have a pouch that just needs to be sewn up and the cord put on. It's been at that stage litterally now for months. I plan on finishing it over the Christmas break as I tend to like to do things like that in one go. Where I can pick up and put down embroidery fairly easily, for straight sewing I like to get it all done in one go. I actually like finishing projects. That's why I took up embroidery again. My other hobbies quilting and scrapbooking involve either ongoing projects with no end or projects that take 3 or 4 years to do. I like the feeling of seeing something finished.

Christine I didn't use your exact recipe for the chilli but I did use a couple of the ingredients. You might want to try using a black beer in your basic meat chilli. The black beer (I use Guiness) adds a really rich flavour but all the alchohol burns out.

8 December 2003

Never Live In A Cul de Sac

After spending my Saturday night playing Steve from the Jerry Springer Show, I have learned an important life lesson - never live in a cul de sac.

On the stitching front, didn't pick up a needle all weekend, just too tired and stressed out. Thank God for the chilli I made Saturday afternoon before my weekend went pear shaped.

4 December 2003

Thunderstorm

Well, we've just had a heck of a storm go through. We've been having alot of these lately. Typical weather for this time of the year, muggy, hot mornings followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. They had a really bad one in Melbourne earlier in the week and its been working its way up the east coast since then. I hope my kitties are OK.

More Work on the Website

More work on the website last night. Actually making some progress now. Got most of the structure in place. Had a problem with the external stylesheets. Still can't work out what the problem was caused by but I some how fixed it. Now a matter of adding the content. I won't get anything done tonight as we are going to Adam's Mum's place for tea. We will probably do a bit of Christmas shopping on the way. I have most of it out of the way so that is good. I will see if Collins have any books on PHP and MySQL that I can buy.

3 December 2003

Too Hot to Sew

I haven't done any stitching in the last couple of days because its been a bit hot. Summer is definately on the way. Which is good cause I like the hot weather but it definately slows down the stitching. I have spent the time working on a new website. My broidery gallery at the moment was something I through together pretty quickly (and it looks like it too), so I want to make it look nicers as well as adding some more sections. The one I am keenest on is the research section, I will be putting class notes and research papers/documentation up there. Should be ready by next week at the latest.

Got some new dies for my Sizzix machine. Got all the new tags. They are so cool. I am going to have to do some scrapbooking so I can use them.

2 December 2003

Kit: Summer Garden

This is one of the few kits I have ever bought (the other also from Inspirations - Elizabethan Sweetbag - and also the Tudor Hearts set from Textile Heritage). I got it in the post today. Not sure when I will get to it.


Survivor

No spoiler, but boy, is Jon a scumbag or what!! I can't wait for the reunion show and see what Jeff has to say.