Thursday 31 January 2008

News about Lucy


Lucy aged 8 months

My four legged daughter hasn't been too well for the last couple of months & has recently been diagnosed with panosteitis. Poor, poor Luce! Panosteitis is a bone disease of dogs that is characterized by bone proliferation and remodeling, tonsilitis & high fever. It is often painful and can last as long as 18 months, though more commonly it lasts from 2 to 5 months. It is characterized by lameness that often comes and goes and changes from leg to leg. It is a common problem in several large breeds and the cause is currently unknown. The treatment is symptomatic but the outcome is usually very good.

Anyway, Luce has just been started on DRUGS & is responding remarkably well. The lively little puppy is returning.

Tuesday 29 January 2008

A Red Letter Day

Today is the first time since 1987 that I do not have a child heading off to school (as a student) on the first day of the academic year!


July 1991 - Genevieve & Mark's wedding outfits


October 2006 - Gabriella's 18th with a 1920s theme

In January 1987, Miranda started primary school at The Marian School in Gulliver, Townsville, David had just turned 3 years old, Diana was only 7 months old & Gabriella wasn't a thought on the horizen.

In January 2008, Miranda & David both have a Bachelor of Music (Honours in Performance) from Griffith University. They both teach & perform music but Miranda is going back to university to study Midwifery. Miranda has a lovely partner called Duncan, who is a geologist. David's partner is Nadia, an interpreter & ESL teacher. Diana is 2/3 way through a Bachelor of Science from UQ, Brisbane & has just been appointed the Manager of the Pub-Restaurant where she works in the City. Gabriella has just been accepted to study medicine at James Cook University in Townsville in North Queensland.

The times they are a-changing!
My babies are not babies any more.


However, some things NEVER change - it's raining for the first day back at school!

The family in June 2007, sans Duncan who was away for work

Sunday 27 January 2008

Guilt Free Start No. 1


I've had the charts for these two in my stash pile for almost the same length of time as the 'Seaside Samplers'. My plan is to do both of them this year. I'm starting on 'The Rose Garden' first. I'm stitching it on natural light linen with DMC threads.

Also in the stash pile to start this year is a 'Cirque de Cercles Sampler' from Ink Circles, 'The 5 Rules of Happiness' by Glendon Place, a couple of mermaids, some grapes and maybe a Christmas Advent Calendar.

Ambition ++! We all start these things and then take years of happy stitching to complete. I'm pleased with that!

I'm also happy to report that someone who received beading for Christmas put in an order for something for her daughter's birthday next weekend.

Anyway, I'm outta here to do some gridding & some stringing.

Happy stitching everyone!

Bliss

Wednesday 23 January 2008

Thank You!


Thank you everyone for your kind words earlier in the week. Your friendship & support were much appreciated.

You are so right in your suggestion of retreating a while & declining further contact with the people involved in this contretemps, even though they are family. Toxic relationships are not to be endured under any circumstance.

I will keep crafting for the pleasure of it, but will check that it's going to be appreciated before I offer my work as a gift to someone else.

I might not be ready to join in stitching exchanges, but I will sign up for a couple of SALS in the coming months.

Hugs to all of you,

Bliss

The Next Thing to Finish


Potion Magic

I'm getting heartily sick of these 'finishes' but they have to be done. To be honest, I'm not sure any more why I'm stitching this one, but will continue on until the end of the month when I plan to have a guilt free spree of new projects to present.

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Hell


Here are the beautiful beading projects I made for my family & friends.

It has been an awful week in my world. There has been nothing blissful about it, let me tell you!

On Sunday, I got a 'razz' from Michael about what I made for Tiffany at Christmas time, and how dare I send his woman cheap crap for Christmas.

I'm kinda in shock about that!

When I explained that it wasn't cheap crap & was made of goldwash beads, Swarovski crystal & Czech glass & designed, with fun, just for his 'woman', his response was:

"Someone ripped you off. I could have bought it at a market stall with change from $20.00."

Gosh! The trouble is that one thing leads to another.

Tiffany then sent me a text message that told me point blank that on the night of their engagement party in Mackay (a thousand kilometres from home), I find myself something to do (sit in the park, if necessary) as I was no longer invited to attend but that my husband was expected to still do so.

No prizes for guessing who ain't gettin' the carefully designed cross stitch wedding sampler I'd planned for them. The materials were kitted up & said kit was top on my '2008 To Do' pile, but not any more. Nothing will ever be good enough for them.

My shitty week didn't end there. No, it would be asking too much that I could get all unpleasant dealings over on the first day of the week to enjoy the rest of the week in peace.

Do you remember my blog in December about the drama caused by answering an email from a niece in London that I wish I hadn't answered because she read between the lines stuff I didn't say? Well, that issue is still going on, this time because the family is ticked off because I apologised for worrying the daughter when she was so far away & they don't think it is a sincere apology.

I can't win (not that 'win' is the word I'm looking for. This isn't about 'winning', but you know what I mean). I cannot find a way that satisfies these people's expectations of me & I've run out of ideas. Anyone who personally knows me, knows full well that Hell would have frozen over before I apologised if I didn't mean it.

I think the wisest thing to do is quietly retreat from this group & decline further contact with the people involved, even though they are family. Toxic relationships are not to be endured under any circumstance. It might have taken me nearly 50 years to learn this, but learn it I have. The recipients of gifts & apology can do what they want with them. They were given with love & care. Once given they are no longer mine to have to worry about.

I hope your week is going better than mine.

Bliss

Monday 21 January 2008

Happy Dance #3 - By the Sea 'Sandcastles'


Caught up in the excitement of creation, two little girls construct a fairy-tale castle of sand. Ignoring the creeping tide, they are lost in a world of kings, knights & fair ladies.

Sand Castles

Number 2 in the collector's series By the Sea
featured in Cross Stitch & Country Craft, June 1989.

Date Started: 25th May 2007
Date Completed: 21st January 2008
Stitched on white 14ct Aida using 3 strands of DMC cotton floss.

Sunday 20 January 2008

In tears

I've read with hand-over-mouth horror about fellow crafters' gifts lovingly made with hours of work & then left languishing unappreciated in the recipient's hallway cupboard or thrown back in their maker's faces, but have never had it happen to me - until now.

Yesterday, I got a 'razz' from the partner of one of the people I beaded for at Christmas time about how dare I send his woman cheap crap for Christmas. I'm kinda in shock!

When I explained that it wasn't cheap crap & was made of goldwash beads, Swarovski crystal & Czech glass & designed, with fun, just for his 'woman', his response was:

"Someone ripped you off. I could have bought it at a market stall with change from $20.00." (ie less than £10 or $15USD)

Gosh! The trouble is that one thing leads to another.

His partner then sent me a text message that suggested that on the night of their engagement party, I find myself something to do (sit in the park, if necessary) as I was no longer invited to attend but that my husband was expected to still do so.

Guess who ain't gettin' the carefully designed cross stitch wedding sampler I've planned for them. The materials were kitted up & said kit was top on my '2008 To Do' pile, but not any more.

According to this person, It seems there are quite a few other people in that line of the family unamused about my Christmas gift-making, hence the reason why I got Bonds Cottontail style white bloomers for Christmas from the family matriarch. Sad, huh? The good side of the story is that I liked the bloomers. I thought they were a great idea for 'the girl who has [according to certain family members] everything.' My girls & I are planning to make the same gift a feature of every Christmas (sort of like a lucky dip 'Who got the bloomers this year?' thing).

The other sad part is that this year I was thinking of joining a few stitching exchange groups (you know the online groups where you stitch for someone). Now, I'm not game. I'd hate to disappoint the recipient.

Has any of this ever happened to you? If so, what was your response? How did you react to that person?

What the hell do I do next?

In tears

I've read with hand-over-mouth horror about fellow crafters' gifts lovingly made with hours of work & then left languishing unappreciated in the recipient's hallway cupboard or thrown back in their maker's faces, but have never had it happen to me - until now.

Yesterday, I got a 'razz' from the partner of one of the people I beaded for at Christmas time about how dare I send his woman cheap crap for Christmas. I'm kinda in shock!

When I explained that it wasn't cheap crap & was made of goldwash beads, Swarovski crystal & Czech glass & designed, with fun, just for his 'woman', his response was:

"Someone ripped you off. I could have bought it at a market stall with change from $20.00." (ie less than £10 or $15USD)

Gosh! The trouble is that one thing leads to another.

His partner then sent me a text message that suggested that on the night of their engagement party, I find myself something to do (sit in the park, if necessary) as I was no longer invited to attend but that my husband was expected to still do so.

Guess who ain't gettin' the carefully designed cross stitch wedding sampler I've planned for them. The materials were kitted up & said kit was top on my '2008 To Do' pile, but not any more.

According to this person, It seems there are quite a few other people in that line of the family unamused about my Christmas gift-making, hence the reason why I got Bonds Cottontail style white bloomers for Christmas from the family matriarch. Sad, huh? The good side of the story is that I liked the bloomers. I thought they were a great idea for 'the girl who has [according to certain family members] everything.' My girls & I are planning to make the same gift a feature of every Christmas (sort of like a lucky dip 'Who got the bloomers this year?' thing).

The other sad part is that this year I was thinking of joining a few stitching exchange groups (you know the online groups where you stitch for someone). Now, I'm not game. I'd hate to disappoint the recipient.

Has any of this ever happened to you? If so, what was your response? How did you react to that person?

What the hell do I do next?

Friday 18 January 2008

The 4 thing!

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD...
Pizza cook. In my father's retirement, he opened a pizza bar (during my teens)
Piano tutor (in my 20s & living in Cloncurry)
Registered nurse in a hospital (actually, many hospitals over 17 years)
High school teacher of literature & language

4 MOVIES I WATCH OVER AND OVER...
The Harry Potter series (any one of them)
While you were sleeping (with Sandra Bullock - or any other of her films)
Big Business (any Bette Midler film)
Highlander (in either English or French, I have enjoyed all the series & the tv series a lot)

4 PLACES I'VE BEEN...
China
New Zealand
Europe (which includes England)
New Caledonia

4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED...(what? only four? I've lived in nearly every city in Qld!)
Sydney, NSW (I was born there)
Canberra, ACT (in late primary school & early high school years)
Limoges, France (in my late 30s)
Townsville, North Queensland (on & off in 1986/7 & then again from 1992 - 2002 with big chunks in other places)

TV SHOWS I WATCH...
I don't watch television at all, except for films, not even the news at night.

4 FAVOURITE FOODS...
Tiramisu
Beans & meat (stir-fried veges with pieces of beef)
Caesar salad
fresh salmon

4 PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE...
I'm content with where I am right now. I'm somewhat reclusive at the moment & happy to be that way.

4 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO...
Going to bed at night
Seeing 'Phantom of the Opera' in February
Getting my Master of Applied Science finished so I can go see Bette Midler in Las Vegas & go to cooking school in France & Italy.
Seeing my husband & children (whenever that is, it's always a joy)

Jump right in & do the 4 thing for yourself. Direct me to your link when you have done it!


Wednesday 16 January 2008

WIP Update


I have borrowed the Cadet Princess's camera for this shot just to get a photographic record of'where I'm up to because my camera has gone to Montréal with the MOTH.

Oh, & by the way, it's still raining!
Even Lucy has started to lose her enthusiam to regular mud baths. LOL

SBQ - January 16, 2007‏

This week's SBQ was suggested by Outi and is:

What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you "watch" TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?

Mostly, I 'watch' films. Sometimes, I listen to audio books.

Whichever I do, they are usually old favourites such as any Harry Potter film or audio (in both English & French), or another from my DVD collection (which is somewhat ecclectic).

Thursday 10 January 2008

Every day in your life is a special occasion

'Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

Some time ago, these words changed my life.

Now ...

I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.
I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.
I don't save my special perfume for special occasions; I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday...' and 'One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary.
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.

Life is not a dress rehearsal!

WIP (not UFO) to finish - 'At the Beach'

This is a three part project collected from 'Cross Stitch & Country Crafts' Magazines & started in 1989.

Part 1 (pictured below) was featured in this post.



In late May 2007, I started Part 2. This was the progress after 10 days of stitching. Not bad, huh? The gridding makes makes it much, much easier to stitch than the 'working from the centre' rule.



Since it's Summer holidays, I have the house to myself & it's still raining, it's time to do some more work on it. When it's finished, or I get sick of it, I swear I'm starting a new project!

Happy stitching everyone!

Bliss

Happy Dance #2 - Dreamcatchers



'Dreamcatchers'
By Joan Elliott for Design Works Crafts, Inc.
(Design Works Kit #9294 & Leisure Arts Leaflet #2871)

Date originally started: September 2002
Found as a UFO: 26th October 2006 (& two days' stitching added)
Colour chart purchased on EBAY in 2007
Hauled out yet again: 2nd January 2008
Completed: 9th January 2008

Saturday 5 January 2008

Remembering Stanley


Stanley Noel Graves (28th April 1928 - 5th January 2002)
Janet Mary Graves née Duffy (23rd June 1930 - 6th June 1993)

Time Flies!

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be interesting to do.

15 years ago, I was...

  1. About to turn 33 years of age, living in Townsville in North Queensland & working at TGH as an RN.
  2. Not long separated from my husband of nearly 13 years, William. He’d decided that I wasn’t doing enough for his career.
  3. Just home from a few weeks at Airlie Beach with the kids. My friends, Derrick & Colleen West had lent me their beach flat for the Christmas season.


10 years ago, I was...

  1. Still living in Townsville.
  2. Just finished my Bachelor of Arts & about to launch into my French Honours year and a Grad B.Ed.
  3. Getting ready for another academic year for both kids & me which would include (for me) an extended stay in Limoges, France.


5 years ago, I was...

  1. 1. Living in Mackay in Central Qld & teaching French & English at one of the local high schools.
  2. Getting to know my new boyfriend, Paul.
  3. Mourning the 1st anniversary of the death of my father, Stanley (28th April 1928 - 5th January 2002).


3 years ago today, I was...

  1. Living with Paul, Gabriella & David in Chapel Hill, Brisbane, for just on a year.
  2. Working at a private school in Forest Lake teaching English & ESL.
  3. Just back from New Year’s Eve in Melbourne with Paul


1 year ago, I was...

  1. Living in the current house for 4 months.
  2. Married to Paul for nearly 5 months.
  3. Visiting my long time friend, Terry, in Rockhampton.


In this past year, I have...

  1. Bought a puppy (Lucy)
  2. Extensively renovated our house.
  3. Decided to go full time and then part time again at work & study part time.


Yesterday, I...

  1. Cross stitched whilst watching the tennis on TV & the rain fall outside.
  2. Played with Lucy
  3. Baked a roll of pork with all the trimmings for dinner.


Today, I will...

  1. Take Gabriella to work at Mt Ommaney & do the grocery shopping whilst I am there.
  2. Spend the rest of the day with Paul because he’s off to Montreal next week
  3. Cook dinner with him & then take Lucy for a walk


Tomorrow, I will ...

  1. Iron
  2. Stitch
  3. Walk Lucy

Rain, rain, rain!


http://www.jcu.edu.au/JCUMetSat/web/metsat.html


We've had a week of glorious rain!

Friday 4 January 2008

It's a Piece of Cake ...



when you know how!

I should have knocked this one off in a few weeks - & would have if I had had a readable chart. Fortunately, rainy Summer weather (the first real 'wet season' we've had in 11 years) & watching the tennis are conducive to stitching. School's out for another two weeks, so it will be finished.

Wednesday 2 January 2008

Not Letting the Grass Grow - Dreamcatcher





Thank you everyone for your encouragement & congratulations for 'Frederick the Literate'. I had wanted to do that project from the moment it was published. You helped greatly even though it was me doing the stitching!
I now desperately need that same encouragement with finishing this project.

I'd like to give it to the Cadet Princess before she starts university in late February.

This is a 'Design Works' kit bought through The Fox Collection. I started it in about July 2002 when I was living alone in Mackay in Central Qld (before I met my husband & moved to Brisbane), put it away after the first flush of enthusiasm, took it out again in October 2006 for a week, & is now my main stitching task for January 2008.

I have to admit that it's my least favourite project by a long shot. I like the look of the finished product but I loathed the chart. Normally, I like black & white charts best, but the limitations of a black & white graph for this project are sad, sad, sad. When I started it, I couldn't tell what colour was what when it came to the feathers. They were only slightly varying thicknesses of lines. Fortunately, I recently managed to buy a colour chart on EBay, so cross your fingers that it all goes swimmingly.

Finishing 'Dreamcatcher' will knock out two major long term UFOs. I can then work with a clear conscience on recent starts.

Tuesday 1 January 2008

Happy Dancing



'Frederick the Literate'
adapted from a painting by Charles Wysocki

Date originally started: 16th December 2004 (about 150 stitches)
Date restarted: 2nd January 2006
Date finished: 1st January 2008 (13.50hr Australian Eastern Time)

Goodness knows what I've been doing with my time that it took so long!


Two things have helped me finish the project which I must acknowledge:

The SAL with Margaret & 'Berta. Thank you to you both for taking time to do it with me. Without your encouragement, Fred might still be lerking at the bottom of the UFO pile.

This blog. I set it up in March 2006 after reading other stitchers' blogs with the specific idea of encouraging myself to get going on UFOs I really did want to finish. Stitching can be a lonesome task. The blog with its updates and all the wonderful readers' encouragements made all the difference. Thank you, too.

Happy New Year



"May your fingers be nimble, your threads seldom tangle, and your love be apparent in all that you create." (Dragon Dreams)"