Today has been a sad day

I just feel I should say something about my friend Dianne. Unfortunately Dianne passed away last Tuesday night after suffering a massive stroke. She was buried today. Dianne was a good friend over the years but in the last years we have not seen so much of each other. Mainly meeting down at the local shops or funny enough at the doctors surgery when she was there with her little grand daughters who she looked after when school was out for the day as their mother worked afternoons. Her grand daughter had pushed a bead up her nose. Dianne's son, Joshua, was for many years my third son's best friend. Jacob and Josh were as thick as thieves and spent just about every waking hour together. They drifted apart quite a few years back but still are pleased to see each other when they do meet. Both are men now. Today we said goodbye to Dianne and even though one of Dianne's daughter came to the house to tell me she had passed away it hadn't really sunk in. At the small Chapel where the service was held they had pictures of her everywhere and I suddenly realised that Dianne had died. I feel very sad as she was such a lovely lady. One of those good people you are privileged to meet in life. I feel like I really need to have a good cry even though the eyes have been sprouting liquid off and on all day. So I just wanted to tell you all about Dianne. I needed to say how much her friendship had meant to me over the years and how much I will miss her even though I hadn't seen much of her lately.

If I wait for some pretty photo's

then it will be a long time in between blogs. Jacob is away and I can take all the photos I want to but I don't know how to get them from camera to computer. I must learn this trick so I am not beholden to him to do it.

I have been busy again. For the first time since 2002 I have done some cleaning and sorting. Oh don't worry people's who dont know me the house has been cleaned lots in the last 5 years. I hurt myself at work and with this that and the other I have been unable to do the mother and wifely side of cleaning and sorting etc. I am fortunate in having a terrific husband and wonderful children who can do cleaning, washing, cooking etc.

Anyways the spring cleaning sorting etc just have not happened. I have had a huge sort out in the main bedroom. Bags of stuff went to the Good Sami's. I have been unpacking stuff that had been packed for several years when we painted the main living area. I think I like my house again. It is looking quite nice again.

So now I am sorting out my stitching room. I should be shot really. I own more stash than the shop does. So at the moment I am sorting through hundreds of magazines. I have to be ruthless. Unless I desperately want to stitch something from the magazine then it is going. Out of about 7 or 8 magazine holders I have dwindled it down to 1 1/2 holders so far. I still have at least a dozen holders or more to go through. I am going to use all the nice boxes I keep collecting and sort out my silks and threads into them. I will label the box so I can see what is in which box. I think I will go through my charts and get rid of the ones I am half hearted about as well.

On the stitching front I have really made in roads into Papillon Creations St Sofia. I am hoping to keep the momentum going until I finish it. I am at least half way I reckon (a bit of Australianism with that word). The trouble is.......there are so many other things calling me and it would be a shame to ruin the reputation as being the most prolific starter.

Easter has been quiet. Literally as Alan and the kids went away on a fishing trip. This is why all the cleaning and sorting has happened. I had an excellent day on Sunday. Cathy & Marilyn came over and we stitched, talked and ate all day. Mmmmm chocolate.......

I didn't realise it had been so long

I thought it about time I started to blog again. The 11th Feb, yikes it has been forever.

Well I have been flat out since I last wrote a blog. Colours Down Under has been really busy and Laura (my Daughter-in-law) is a fierce task master. We are not allowed to make a mess of our shop room or leave stuff unfiled. She makes me work when I don't feel like it. LOL

I also went to Sydney for the GTG and a very short visit with Julie. Marilyn came with me and we had a fabulous time. Met the very lovely Anne A from the Xsers group. We got to see both Julie and Anne's stitching.
We had a fabulous time at the GTG. The five of us WA women shared an apartment. Marilyn, Jo, Diane & Cathy were the room mates. The York Apartments in Sydney are the best. We went out in the morning and came back in the afternoon and like magic the beds were made the dishes done the bathrooms cleaned and the apartment was like new again. I wish I could find that magic fairy to come home to my house and do the same.

So all the ladies who were at the GTG were Alison, June, Junette and of course the awesome Tracey (our organiser) her little man James, Amanda, Karen, the other ladies from my apartment, Linda, Tannia (it was fantastic meeting her at long last), Rowena, Victoria (although much too briefly and her little princess Rowan), Kirsten, Marilyn S, Karen's Mum (sorry Karen can't remember your Mum's name), I am sure I have forgotten someone and it is not because they are less important it is just that the mind does not always function well.

I spent a little bit on stash. I did get that gorgeous Ackworth book and some Ackworth samplers. Some other samplers and a Needlepoint kit. Yes I am going to try it. I have visions of my sofa's being full of gorgeous Needlepoint cushions.

Anyways that is enough boring stuff. I will check in again soon.

Oh and I have had three finishes since my last post. French Country Rooster, Cat and Just Nan's Barnabees Quest.

I have to eat my words

So I was raving on in a blog not long ago about not using a Mac. So I have to eat my words. I fried the processor on my pc yesterday. My fault because I didn't tell Jacob that the computer was telling me it was hot. Anyway, I bought him a second hand Mac on eBay for Christmas. It cost the princely sum of $100.00. Apparently even though it is old it can be upgraded. His best friend works with Macs and actually installs them for businesses and he has been collecting Macs since he was 12. So to get to the point Jacob installed his Mac for me to use. I have to confess they are a very good system and very easy. So when I can afford it I am getting a Mac Mini. It really isn't any different to use but I think more straight forward. So Cathy I can see why you and your DH use them. I eat my words they are a great system to use.

Rotations, Finishes & Stash Inventory

Well It is finished. Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread, my first finish for the year. I have 13 more to go to beat 2006. I think perhaps I am going to have to drawn a line sometime at trying to beat the amount of finishes the year before. So now I have moved another WIP into the rotation. It is Lorri Birmingham's Bless My Garden. It is a little one and probably not the usual sort of design that I stitch but it will be sweet when it is finished. I might finish it as a flatfold when the stitching is complete. Anyway, now that I have finish Cloister I am back to my rotation. I decided that I would stitch on each design until I reached a certain stage in it except when I don't feel like it then I will just do the one night. I have put my rotation pictures in my PictureTrail album. They are in the Rotation 2007 album. I am presently trying to put more than one length of thread into the dreaded Tigers. I really would like to finish it this year. So that is the Rotation bit and the Finishes bit, now onto the Stash Inventory.
My stitching room is a mess. I have no idea what I own and what I don't. Do I have the necessary materials to stitch what I want to and how much is stuff that I don't want. On top of all that Anthony spilt my cup of tea a while ago and whilst I thought it hadn't landed on anything important and we cleaned it all up I found out this week that it did land on something important and all the charts were stuck together and some had mildew on them. They were from the last GTG nearly 2 years ago. I hadn't put them away. I should be shot. Nothing has been ruined in terms of not being able to read the charts but it has spoilt them and I would never be able to sell them later. So I got out a really fat exercise book and decided to start writing down what I want to stitch and the materials needed to stitch it if I don't have it. I have two pages per alphabet at the front of the book and at the back the name of design with materials needed to kit it up. I am taking that to the GTG this year. So the ruined charts are done and filed away in my filing cabinet. When I have completed the bags of stash laying around I will go through the 3 drawer filing cabinet. I am going to be very honest with myself and get rid of what I probably wont stitch. Now I don't included fabric in this inventory because I own heaps and what I don't own I just walk to Colours Down Under and cut a piece. Aaaah the joys of owning a LNS. LOL
Today I also decided to print out all the Gift of Stitching issues and put them in a file. I only look at the ones I have printed and I really do like this magazine. I think it is excellent value for money and the quality of content has excelled in this past year. I ran out of toner. Cyan colour to be exact. Bugger, Bugger, Bugger.

I am so Lucky

To have so many wonderful stitching friends. Susan, Diane, Cathy & Marilyn came over on Sunday afternoon. We had a wonderful time. Stitching people are so lovely. Diane bought her Chatelaine's Medieval Mandala over. It is just mouth watering. The colours are gorgeous and Diane's stitching is so perfect. We also other pieces that she bought over. Susan bought over her Cross Eyed Cricket piece called Walk in the Woods. It is also lovely. Cathy wowed us with some of the exchanges she received and her SB bag that she had finished. Then I had another Kathy and Marilyn again come over on Monday and then on Tuesday I went out with Kathy, Marilyn and my daughter-in-law Laura for lunch and looks in bead shops. Today I was a little flat and low and behold Diane came after to work. What a lovely week it has been.

Anthony enjoyed his first day at school. I am tripping the light fantastic around here with joy because Anthony and school has always been such a worry and concern. He even came home and cooked dinner tonight. Having a happy lad makes such a difference.

Well just wanted to share

Cya

I am knackered

I went out today to a wholesale bead place and then we went down to Fremantle and onto "Little Creatures" for lunch. I was a bit disappointed with the bead place but did pick up quite a few of those watchmaker tins for very cheap. They are not really good enough to sell as they are scratched and marked but I am guessing I can get rid of them or use them anyway. LOL No luck with beads for the shop. I am think I am going to have to fax Maria George again and try to get an account.
I am really close to finishing Cloister Garden. I nearly had the last little in-between band done but discovered on the last ray stitch that I had started it one thread in. So the frog started to croak and I am about half pulled out. I would love to chuck it into the corner but strangely enough I feel like finishing it. Or my little brain is talking sensibly for a change. Then it is just one band to go. There is a small Lori Birmingham kit I started last year that is also not that far off finishing that I may pop into the rotation after that and finish that. I have to finish more than 13 this year. Most of my starts are BAPS so anything small is a bit welcome.
I took Anthony shoe shopping when I got back from bead shopping. I hate taking Anthony shoe shopping as he hates wearing shoes and doesn't like 99% of shoes so it is like pulling teeth. Wonders will never cease. First shop and third pair of shoes. Yippee for Spendless Shoes. No brand names for this kid. He is not the least interested in brand name shoes. A whole $29.95 later. So I let him have a you beaut file for school as well. This year has been a cheap start to school. No new uniform needed as the one from last year still fits him. I just have to pay the fees. I will do that in a month or so. And wonders will never cease he is going to walk to Emily's house and walk to school with her. What has come over the boy???? At least he is not sleeping in my room this year with his panic attacks. Instead he is pulling out the sofa bed in the games room and sleeping there. I don't care. If that is how he wants to handle his anxiety then that is fine by me. Walking to school Woohooo!!!!! Did I mention his school is 5 minutes walk away. I usually have to drive him. He does walk home though.
Well looked through my hand dyed fabric. I am such a dickhead. Don't really know what I thought was wrong with them. I do prefer the new dyes though so will keep on with them. Will keep a few of the old colours going. That's all I think.

God I hate the summer

It is hot here. I hate it. Hot again tomorrow. Why can't we have more winter and less sun? LOL Did I tell you I hate Armadale in the summer. It reminds me of Mingenew in the summer. That was a hell hole I can tell you. At least we have air-conditioning. Just thought I would share that little bit of how I feel about summer. LOL
Well Colours Down Under is getting organised. Laura, Jacob and I have been sorting and sorting. We are nearly done now. Laura is going to rearrange the room. We dyed today. I am in love with my new hand dyes. They are not on site because we haven't named them yet. I think I need to get a life because all I think about is dyeing. Laura tells me it is good to passionate about what I like doing.
Anyway not a lot happened today. I did go to my piano lesson. I love learning to play the piano. It has been about 18 months since I started. It is such a joy and I love to spend the time with Gwen who is not only my teacher but my cousin.
I am going to sign up for quilting classes. I have always been in love with heavily quilted quilts. I bought a kit quite a few years ago. It is white and has the outlines of the quilting to be done on the fabric. I also have the backing piece so I just needed the wadding or whatever it is called. I dropped into a local patchwork & quilting shop this week and have found out when they have classes. Apparently they will help me set it all up. So that is my new thingy for this year.
Did I mention that Tracey from the GTG group phoned yesterday. It was lovely to hear from her and I could hear James in the background. He says no really good. Trace is such a sweetie. I can imagine her gorgeous smile. She has the happiest face I have ever seen. I am so looking forward to catching up with everyone again. How disappointing it is that Susan cannot come. Oh well we will have to make sure we recount every detail to her.

I shouldn't leave it so long in between blogs

Because I end up having too much to say. LOL Well firstly I want to show you my progress on Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread. It is in my rotation. I have not moved onto the next piece because I was enjoying the stitching so much I just wanted to keep on stitching it. It is finishable so I may keep on going until it is completed. Stitching this has made me realise why I love Drawn Thread designs so much. They are such fun and so quick to stitch.
Well life has been busy. Mum turned 79 on Saturday. I can tell you that because they are not on the net and she can't use a computer anyway. In fact, she wont use one and was very nervy for the little time they were on the net. I don't know what she thought was going to happen. They went on the net because my brother Craig went overseas for a few years and it was a way to keep in touch. Mum would read the emails but would not reply to them. We (meaning Jacob and I) were relieved when Craig came home and Mum talked Dad out of having the net on. He is a bit of a bugger my Dad. Not only did he forget how to use different aspects of the computer in between sessions on the computer but he just could not help himself when it came to opening/not opening suspect emails. Jacob constantly had to go over and get rid of virus. (Did I mention they live 5 houses away?) Anyway he does have a computer and we have loaded on a lot of those $9.95 games so he can play Solitaire/Mahjong or whatever to his hearts content.
Anyway I digress. Mum's birthday. My sister Annette and brother Craig and his wife Gail came over for afternoon tea yesterday afternoon. I think Mum really enjoyed herself. I chose to have it here because we have recently found out that Mum's very bad back is not a progression of arthritis as she thought (we didn't) but she had a fall in November (which she didn't tell us about) and fractured a vertebrae. The poor old dear has been in agony. She is stubborn about getting help I can tell you.
Well Marilyn and I are going to our adventure in March. I booked our tickets today. A week in Sydney wont hurt us too much I don't think.
Another thing is that I have decided to discontinue all my hand dye fabric. I have sent a few people in a bit of a flurry but I have been a bit unhappy with them for awhile. After a big meeting with the other two partners we decided to keep my stress levels down we would stop producing this line of hand dyes but never fear for the few who seem to like what I produce there is another range being developed. I will be selling off my hand dyes soon and then when I have the next range ready I will be twisting that boys arm up behind his back to get the new range on the computer.
The picture is a model stitched for me by my dear friend Kathy. It is called Life is Change and is a Cross Stitch Art design. It is stitched on Outback Blue 28 count Jubilee. I am so lucky to have such good and generous friends who help me out with my business by model stitching for me in exchange for a bit of stash and help me make decisions with the business and of course buy my stuff and give me loads of encouragement and confidence to continue.

I have been learning

How to use this blog even more. Today I have learnt how to put photos in amongst the ramblings. I have added a Stitcher's Link and I would love to add more names to it. Please email me with your link. And I have learnt how to put links within my ramblings so this post is going to have links. LOL

I have been stitching on my rotation that I mentioned in an earlier post. I think once a month I shall post updates on the stitching. The Tiger is being stitched on the days that I stitch. I just put in one or two threads depending. Mai is coming along nicely. I really enjoyed my stitching session on Three Things Sampler. It is such a lovely sampler. I haven't done quite as much as I thought. There is still a bit to go before I can claim a third done. Lastly I have stitched on Peacock Cypher this week.
I should also put in the links to our Kitties pictures. Lindsay was one yesterday. Jacob took some lovely pictures of her. She is such a sweetie. She is the watcher. She likes to keep an eye on what is happening in the house. Just loves to be pet but is not really keen on being picked up. I love her gentle personality. Georgia on the other hand is an extrovert. What a clown. She keeps us in fits of laughter and just loves to be in everything. She also enjoys a cuddle. The two girls have bought such joy into our lives and sure have eased the grief we felt when Mickey was killed. All I can say is thank god for cats.

My New Rotation

For this year. I have had so much trouble sticking to a rotation but I seem to have found a way I can sort of get the stitching I want to get done, done.

Every time or day I stitch I have to put a length of thread into the dreaded Tigers. This is my official UFO for the year and I hate stitching it. It is for a friend so I have to do it. I am not the sort of person who will just sit down and stitch it to get it done. If I had to do that I wouldn't stitch anything. Anyway this seems to be working for me.

Next during the day I will stitch on a Dimensions Petite kit called Mai (I think it is that one). I started that on 31st December. Well it was a restart really. I put about 20 stitches into the aida in kit and then put it away because I really hate stitching on aida. I am well on the way with this one and it wont be long before I reach the halfway mark. This will be a model for my shop.

Then I have 7 other projects that I have chosen for my night time stitching. I very rarely go out at night so it would be possible (unless I have a flare) to stitch each project each week. But it is not sheep stations, as I would say, if I don't. If I get sick of one of them then I can substitute one of the other 71 projects that are waiting in the wings to be stitched on. actually it would be slightly more than that.

When I have finished Mai I will move up St Sofia to the daytime stitch as I need to get that finished for a shop model as well.

Here are the projects I have chosen in my rotation.

Three Things Sampler by Moira Blacburn. I have nearly a third of that done. I am stitching it over 1.
Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread. I am nearly at the half way mark with this one. Up close it is sickly in colour so I keep stalling with it but when held back it looks terrific. I have chosen quite a sickly pink colour by my most favourite hand dyed fabrics, Silkweavers, called Strawberry Milkshake. It is not a colour I would generally choose but it does look gorgeous. I have also stitched it with two threads instead of one which makes the colours very strong.

Peacock Cypher by Just Nan. I nearly threw this one in the corner. I made a huge mistake on the last band in section 2. It is a big band and I had completed nearly all of it. One of those mistakes that have to be frogged. Well frogged it is and I have done about half of the band again. I had hoped to finish this last year but that mistake was just too much.

The Potting Shed by Shepherd's Bush. I just love this project. I have done about 2 or 3 bands. I wanted this kit for years and then lucky me obtained it at our last TWGTG at the Crewel Gobelin in Sydney for a very little $40.00.

St Sofia. I am not certain how much I have done of this one. Nearly a quarter I think. I am stitching it on my Nasturtium fabric in the Byzantine Colourway. It is gorgeous. It is a shop model and when the days of the shop is over then it will probably go to one of the girls because I don't think it is really my colour scheme.

Miss Hathaway Garden by Marty Bell. This is a restart. I am now doing it on my Outback Blue. I had started it on grey. Why I don't know because I am not fond of the colour grey. It has not very many stitches in it so far.

And last but not least A Medieval Garden by Counted Illuminations. I am starting it tonight. Gorgeous design. I own two designs of this lady and I want one more called Galleon & Sea Monsters and then I will be happy. And if you believe that then you'll believe anything.

My picture tonight is a model stitched for me by the lovely Diane. Her stitching is one of the most perfect stitching I have ever seen. It is such a privilege to have her stitch this model for me. It is a Crossed Stitch Art design called Art Nouveau Lily.

I had a lovely mail day today.

All my eBay mail arrived today bar one. I am a happy girl. I got in envelope 1 my other Counted Illuminations chart. It is gorgeous. The Medieval Garden one. I would love to start it right away. I also got my 2 Drawn Thread winnings. I got Spring and Winter. I just need Summer now and I have the set. I also got my big parcel. This is my official Christmas present. It was such a yummy parcel. I got Frankincense by The Victoria Sampler with the accessory pack, Chatelaine's The Bluebells, The Magnolia's, The Roses, Rose Lights all with the beads needed and they came in the most gorgeous containers labelled. Oh and I got The Freesia's as well same deal with the beads. I also got two TW kits. The Noah's Ark Sampler and Footprints. I also received a new magazine called at home with Needlework. It was free from the publisher just in case I wanted to advertise in it. Yeah right like we have the money. The gift of stitching was also released. This is one quality magazine,in my opinion, and Kirsten Edwards should be so proud of herself. I have been getting the magazine since edition 1 and I believe the quality of it has doubled and if I was told I could only have one magazine it would be hard to decide between that and SANQ. I think my picture today will be of my Dutch Sampler RR. I just love this RR result. It was not a design just the result of everyone's stitching and them deciding what to put on it.

Happy New Year

Well it is the last day of 2006. Where did this year go? Happy New Year readers. I hope that 2007 brings you much happiness, prosperity and every thing your heart desires.
I completed my 13th item of stitching not 5 minutes ago. Yes it is the tuffet picture here. I stitched both sides the same. It is from the 2006 JCS Christmas Edition. It is a Cherished /stitches design. I used DMC 75 to stitch it with.
So my finished projects for this year were
1. Primrose Promises Peri Blue
2. Shepherd's Bush Beekeepers Cottage
3. Teresa Wentzler's Lion from the Fantasy Sampler for Tracey's Afghan
4. Teresa Wentzler's Lower Right Hand Medallion from Castle Sampler for Scissor Fob Exchange
5. Textile Heritage's Orange Blossom Scissor Fob for wiehenburg-samplers group exchange
6. Cross Stitch Art's Happiness
7. Textile Heritages's Celtic Cross Needlebook for TWGTG Exchange
8. Neighbourhood RR - Sally piece. Holbien Gateway
9. Shepherd's Bush Christmas "Joy" Treat Bag for SB BB Ornament Exchange
10. Shepherd's Bush Christmas "Joy" Treat Bag for Xsers Ornament Exchange
11. Shepherd's Bush Ornament from JCS 2003 Magazine for SB BB Ornament Exchange
12. Shepherd's Bush Ornamnet from JCS 2003 Magazine for Xsers Ornament Exchange
13. Cherished Stitches Ornament from JCS 2006 Magazine

So hopefully I can top that for 2007.

Quick Blog

Ssssh I got some stash in the post today. I forgot I had won a Counted Illuminations "The Knight Errant" on eBay. I think I might have another one coming. Counted Illuminations I mean. I also have a big parcel coming. I am slightly worried about this one because I got shafted with another lot awhile ago. I have to say that really annoys me. I would never ever shaft anyone and I resent someone doing it to me. I can't believe a cross stitcher would be so mean. 99.9% of stitchers are gorgeous and I trust everyone so when I get shafted I get quite depressed. I hope this person doesn't shaft me of the big parcel. Their feedback was very good but then again so was the other persons.

Christmas is over

And what a lovely time we had. The food was wonderful but I am sick of rich goodies. I am having spaghetti bolognaise for dinner tonight with salad. We all got lots of nice pressies. Laura gave me two photos she had enlarged from her holiday snaps. One is a sunset on a ferry going to the Greek Islands and the other is of a fishing village in the Greek Islands. They are lovely. They also gave me a lovely pendant. Kenric and Marilyn gave me some Thai silk with elephants on them (2 pieces) and a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace they bought in Thailand as well as some DVD's. I got Nottinghill. I only have the video of that and it is my favourite movie and also Ice Age 2 as I haven't seen it yet and Nanny McPhee as I have not seen that either.
Boxing Day we all went to the beach. Their were a good dozen or so of us and Alan took the boat and Kenric took the kayak and their were lots of other beach toys etc. Even though the day was hot the breeze came off the ocean so it was very pleasant under the shade of the (no not the coolabah tree) the Norfolk Island Pines.
Yesterday was a rest day. I slept for a good part of it. Did intend to stitch but was just too tired. Every time I go into my stitching room I end up laying down and vegging out.
Today my brother came for a visit. They have all had Gastro. Lovely Christmas present for them. Beth and Warren have escaped it. Mum and Dad are down with it now. So is Gail, Alison and I think Tyler and Ella were the ones who introduced it into the family. Oh Keith and Kristy also have it. Craig is better now so he came to visit. I always really enjoy seeing my brother. We are never short of conversation and he is such a sweetie.
So that is my update for now. Not very interesting but I have promised to bore everyone with my prattle.
hahaha

Went out to dinner last night

I felt like a real grown up. It has been ages since I went out and the food was to die for. Went with Marilyn Campbell and a group of girls who do various sorts of needlework. I think most of them cross stitch. My framer was there as well so at the bottom of this I will put some pictures of my latest framed projects.
Yesterday Laura came over and put the tinsel up in the hall way, above the doors and in the loungeroom. So the house is now decorated. It has been so late this year. I feel it is almost not worth it. It is of course but I usually decorate on the 1st of December.
Jacob says it doesn't feel like like Christmas this year. I have offered to put on Christmas music but the offer has been declined. LOL He will be getting it Christmas day whether he likes it or not.
So today is finishing my Christmas shopping day. I am so tired. I didn't wake until 12 noon. Thankfully the shops are staying open until 9pm. I have to go in and assemble the shopping I have done so far and work out what else there is to buy. I think I will con one of the boys into coming with me. They just look at me with their big brown eyes and say okay but I can tell they don't want to. I feel so guilty all the time.
I have not done any stitching and I probably wont tonight. It is so frustrating. I get so fatigued and I end up just laying on my sofa and staring at the TV.
Alan got his new outboard motor yesterday. He has upgraded from a 15hp to a 25hp for his dingy. He also got three seats. They are really flash. I might (now remember I said might) get in the boat this summer and go for a ride. The seats have backs and little cushiony things. They fold down when not in use. He is grinning like anything and if I was conniving I could get what ever I wanted for the next week or so. I don't need to because I have everything I want.
Anyway enough of the ramble today. Will try and touch base again real soon.

The picture is my Drawn Thread Dandelion Sampler. I can't work out how to put pictures at the bottom yet and Jacob is in the shower so this is the only picture that I am uploading.

I am Determined

To learn how to use this blog. I went and looked at some other blog sites and I am afraid I don't understand computer talk. So I have decided that I am going to master this one. I thought I might not be a blogger because I felt I had nothing of interest for anyone to read but I was informed that I did.

So this is the start of regular blogs.

Today my daughter-in-law Marilyn came over to hang out with me. I am so lucky as my two girls are lovely and they seem to like being with their MIL from time to time. So Marilyn woke me up and we spent the morning talking, watching the CI channel and stitching. I stitched for awhile on the freebie ABC Marquoir and then got sick of that so I continued pulling out that blessed band that I have placed wrong on Peacock Cypher. I had hoped to finish that this year but I wont get it done. I am almost done in the pulling out.

This afternoon Marilyn decided I needed more Christmas Decorations up. She also did a big declutter in my blue room. It looks so gorgeous. She put a lot of my blue and white china away and put a lot of my Christmas Treasures out. It looks lovely. We then went into the loungeroom and changed a few table clothes to Christmas ones and decorated the tree in there. Set the big dinning room table with Christmas stuff. I have instructions to get some of the boys to put up the tinsel down the hall way and in the loungeroom. I had enough be then so promised I would.

We then went to the shops. They had huge shelled prawns on special for $9.90 a kilo. We bought a 5 kilo box. They are all loose so we can just get out what we want to at a time. We will save at least half for Boxing Day. That is our beach day with the boat and kites etc.

Jake is going to meet Lindsay that day. Poor kids we will all be looking on hoping that they like each other.

Well if I can work out how to get%

Just Back From The Craft Fair

I did so enjoy the craft fair this year. Probably a bit weird for a stitcher enjoying the craft fair when there weren't really any stitch related things there. Just the two stores that carry a lot of kits with Aida in them. But there were scissor people. Now how exciting was that? Firstly the scissor man. I didn't buy anything from him but I did drool. Also there was my $10 scissor person and I didn't buy anything from them either but I also drooled. Unfortunately or fortunately I have most of his anyway. Then there was VicStitch. I got those darling little scissors with the covers for the scissor end. They come in different colours. $3.00 a pair. Oh my, I nearly fainted with joy. The best is I have just contacted them and they are sending me a catalogue of their gear because they do wholesale. I had a hard time containing myself. So I bought 4 pairs of scissors because you just have to. I also bought 20 really fine beading needles for $3.00. I bought some magnifying things as I have broken by clip ons. And QSnaps because you can never have too many pairs of those. That was it. Now anyone who knows me knows that this is a miracle. Well the truth is I just kept saying oh I can buy that wholesale.

So Sadie drove us home only to find my oldest son's car in the drive way. Now why do I have to do the mother thing with a 26 year old? Jacob and Jarrad have had two really late nights playing on their computers. I had to tell them off and then say one of them has to come home to live if they can't be good boys and go to bed earlier than 2.30am. So my dear, gorgeous Jarrad (26 year old) said to me very seriously that he would behave. God I love him. Kenric the next one down would tell me where to go. LOL

It is about time

It has been ages since I added to my blog. I keep forgetting and then I think I have nothing to write about which is rubbish really.
I have been really busy. Jacob moved out to go and live with Jarrad while Laura is away on her long awaited trip. There is only three of us here now. It is really quiet and I have to do so much more. I don't think it hurts me really. Well it does hurt me but I need to be more active.
Colours Down Under is increasing in stock. Gosh I spend so much time on the computer getting in touch with people and finding wholesalers etc. Our fabric stocks are increasing. We have about 5 bolts on indent (meaning coming in from overseas). We have many bolts in stock.
Anthony is going to school these last two weeks without a hassle.
A few weeks ago we lost our beautiful boy Mickey. He was hit by a car and killed instantly. It was devastating and the house was so quiet without him howling to be let in and out. Without having him on our laps because he was cold. Anyway we couldn't stand it so now we have a Maine coon. She is a little girl named Lindsay. What a honey. Very different than Mickey of course. Not quite so demanding but she definitely likes to be with us all the time.
My Stitching
I have been stitching a lot more these days. I need to work out how to put photo's on this blog thing. I have stitched more on Common Ground since the last picture. I have also completed more of my Three Things Sampler. Renaissance by Long Dog is coming along as well. I started Wayward Garden by Drawn Thread. It is such a pretty design. I am using the required silks and it is just gorgeous to stitch. I started Long Dog's St george. I am using a new hand dyed thread out by Stitches and Spice called Butterfly Garden. All pictures I need to show.
Anyway I will try to update the blog more often this time.

I am Learning

Well had a bit of trouble finding where to go to post another post. I am so hopeless. Thankfully I have a Jacob and he knows about these things. Well today although I am feeling a bit knackered I am also feeling on a bit of a high. Yesterday we had a fabric rep come so we could order fabric for our shop. He was so encouraging and he loved my hand dyes. I felt very empowered and certain I could do this online shop thing. And thank god we do have Jacob because he asked how much our website cost to build. Well how would I know? I am not in charge of that department. Jacob said $200. He was telling us that there is another company in this area who are selling all craft stuff and it cost them $30,000 to have theirs built. What??????????? Today I went for my last test for my new pains and picked up my Xrays from Monday tests. It is looking as though it is just the fibromyalgia. I am so relieved. I find out for sure on Monday but I am not above looking at doctor reports when I have them in my hot little hands. I have done some more stitching since the last photo was posted. I can't be bothered taking a picture today. Also I don't want to disturb the boy when he is working on our website. (well I never said I was taking and uploading the pictures physically did I?) LOL I have finished bands two and three of Common Ground. I have picked up Drawn Thread's Cloister Garden and started stitching on that again. I need to start my TW exchange as well.
Well that's it from me for a while.