Desperate times calls . . .

. . . for desperate measures.

I was truly desperate, pulling out my hair; couldn't see anything; talking with the little holes to stop hiding from me; the lights weren't helping when hubby came with the brainwave. "why don't you use your headlight?"

So off I went in search of my camping head-light - hey, it couldn't hurt, could it?

Okay - stop laughing already!! I might have looked like a crazy person but it DID do the job. And will be doing it in the future until I can afford (and/or find) the right kind of lamp. I was totally amazed at the difference . . . I have been making it difficult for myself for no reason . . .

What a difference a little light made! As you can see the little flowers in the angel's hair is taking shape. I am very happy with my progress this weekend.

Quote: Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. ~Author Unknown

Rugby fever

South Africans are rugby crazy. Yes, that's right - we admit it. Even though I am not a big fan, I usually get caught up in all the hype and excitement. We are already planning for the Tri-Nations that will start in July. At the moment, there is a three game tournament on the way. It's between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions. (this tournament is only held every twelve years - don't ask me why . . .) The second game was today and South Africa won (barely). Hubby nearly had a heart attach towards the end - it was a very close game. Very colourful language was used in our home while he told everyone what they were doing wrong. :) Hie-Hie. Now that is entertainment. I sat stitching, making noise now and again and enjoying his comments. Even I got a little stressed at the end when we were drawn and only a kick was between us and victory.

This is what I got done today.

And this is where it fits in as part of the big picture. It is part of the flowers in the little angel's hair.

Quote: The sooner you fall behind the more time you'll have to catch up.

TUSAL

It is that time again - time for the Totally Useless SAL to be shown. Here is mine - a little fuller than last time. Lots of red at the top. That is the color I am using to grid my new start (hopefully) of the the Fairy Tale freebie from HAED ("the maiden" in my mind). I am still in two minds about the material . . . I am thinking about maybe changing to another kind of material. Something softer and nicer to handle.


Quote: "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

Talented people

Wow, the world is full of creative people! And with the internet, the world is literally their stage. This little clip has been going around, from friend to friend and I want to share it with you. :) It is just one of those that is too good to get lost. I hope this was the beginning of great things for this guy!

Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED)

Wow, I have been browsing the HAED website tonight and what amazing designs they have! This is definitely my kind of stitching. It is lots and lots of maidens, fairies, angels and other kinds of "make-believe" although some of the realistic ones are stunning too. Okay, I admit it, it is all beautiful but it is a little pricey for me, especially since it is just the charts. But still, maybe I should treat myself, someday . . .
I have applied to join the bulletin board as I am sure I will be able to "ooh and aaahhh" about some of the WIP or finishes that will be posted.

I downloaded one of their free charts (see in the border in my 2009 plans) - it's a beautiful maiden. But goodness, there is 90+ colours! I think this is the kind of project that will have to be done in stages . . . and with lots of patience.

EDIT: I have removed "the maiden" from my border. I am suddenly not so keen on working on her. I am going to put it at the back of my mind. Maybe I will get back to it somewhere in the future . . .

Flower completed

I finished this little flower this afternoon.

After I took the picture, I realised that I never did the backstitching. So out came the needle again and another photo.

Now I don't know if I prefer it without or without the little line. But it is done and I feel a sense of completion, so I am ready to get back to the Angel (well at least until my new kits arrive).

Quote: Learn from the mistakes of others, because you can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

My new eBay purchases

Nutmegg and Brandaalee wanted to see what I bought last night, so here's some photos.
I decided to buy kits as it is just soooo much trouble trying to get the floss separately here. It is either unavailable or too expensive at the places I know about so far - so kits just seem like a good idea. Hopefully I will sniff out some shops where I can actually find the floss . . . hey, I have only been stitching since May. Can't get everything immediately . . . have to be patient.

The "Cove Haven Inn" (above) is going to be stitched on eavenweave, which I think will be a challenge. I am looking forward to all those lines . . .

I seem to have developed a love of angels and fairies and maidens. :) "Woodland Enchantress" is going to be one of my favourites, I think. All those folds in the material is just calling out to me . . .

Paypal . . .

. . . decided that I was done in. Yeah, that's right, they decided in my favor. :) I am very happy - they even refunded the whole amount. Doing happy dances all around the room at the moment!!

But I was a very bad girl . . . I went and spent all the money and a little bit more again (without waiting for it to even show in my bank account). I am baaaaad, so baaaaad . . . hubby is going to be so mad. Hie-Hie :) This is all your fault, girls - your blogs are just too nice. It just make me want to join in! When hubby comes in the room, I am going to blame you!! :)

Did some stitching.

Yesterday was a public holiday and I was able to do a little bit of stitching. Here is how far I got. . . I am quite pleased. I am feeling like I am actually accomplishing something. When this is completed, I will get back to the angel. :)

Quote: "I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart." - e e cummings (1894-1962)

Happy Birthday Spuddie!!

Today is his birthday. He is two years old but in dog years, he is already a teenager - 14 years old. I cannot believe how the time has just flown by. Hubby surprised me two years back with just a little bundle of fur. I came home and hubby told me "look there around the table". And this is what I saw . . .From the start, he has never even considered that he is a dog . . . he is human and you better believe that he is the king of our castle. :) He believes that he is bigger than a tank! I have had to save him from himself a few times . . . or maybe I saved the other dog? Maybe . . .

For his birthday, I bought him a raw hide bone that is bigger than he is (he just absolutely loves these bones).

For a few hours he just tried to carry it around everywhere (dropping it now and again).

At the moment, he is munching away . . . not another thought about anything . . .

What a terrible Monday . . .

. . . and I had such hopes. Didn't see a lunch break or tea time - in fact, at four I was ready to leave and forget about everything and about everyone for a while.
I am planning a little internet shopping tonight - that can just be fun. And maybe a change is as good as a holiday (?) How about a new background for my blog? Mmmmmm, choices, choices . . . I am feeling better already!

My little boy . . .

He is exhausted of doing nothing . . . :) Isn't he just the cutest - who can ever be mad at him? He has totally wrapped me around his cute little toe . . .

Abi (from Friendly Stitchers) has also been such a sweetie. She saw that I was having trouble with all the different kinds of linen and eavenweave and stuff (can you tell I am new to this?). Everything just looked the same to me when I was browsing the internet trying to find something I could use the other day. So she decided to sent me some "off cuts" from the different kinds of materials and even marked them for me (isn't she just too nice!). This afternoon I decided to give it a try - first time ever that I tried something besides AIDA. Wow, what a difference! I can now see what the big deal is. I have only done this so far . . .

. . . but I am totally converted. It is so much fun to work on (okay, I will admit it . . . it became fun when I figured out how to handle the "over two threats" idea). When I get more experienced, I will definitely start working on this. At the moment I am finding the AIDA much, much easier but I LOVE the "neatness" of this material.
Tomorrow is a "in-between" day at work. Tuesday will be a public holiday, so tomorrow we will only be "skeleton staff" (only a few) at work - we will still be working but I will actually be able to take a lunch break I think. (that usually doesn't happen - when I get a chance to look at my watch, it is usually two or three o'clock already). I am taking this little piece with me tomorrow and will try to put a few more stitches in.

Funny quote: Why is it called 'after dark' when it really is 'after light'?

Stitching is making me lazy

Yes, you read right - stitching is definitely making me lazy. I have been stitching now for just over a month and I have to admit that I am trying to find reasons not to leave the house on weekends.

Today is a wonderful example. I have been stitching in bed all day with the rain beating on the window. The TV has been on my favourite stations (Crime and Investigation Channel and sometimes National Geographic in between) and hubby has been getting in bed with me on and off all day. (Spud has tried to find reasons to get under the duvet all day too :) I just see a nose now and again.)

Here is where the Passion Angel is at the moment.

Funny quote: "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

I have been escalated . . .

No, not me. My claim. I have escalated my "dispute" to a "claim" at Paypal. Today it is a month since I paid for the kits that have still not arrived. (see a few posts back) I just hope I will get the money back. It is so sad that this had to happen . . . why, why, why. But the wheel turns . . . what goes around, comes around . . . errmmmm . . . can't think of any more . . . but you know what I mean :) Now please just keep your fingers crossed (here in South Africa we say "holding thumbs" which means the same thing :)).

Do you hate back stitching?

I did my first back stitches ever today. And at last the blob of colour looks a bit like a little flower. I have to admit that I did not hate doing it. I have read on many blogs, that everyone seems to hate the back stitches but it wasn't that bad for me. In fact I rather enjoyed it. :) It was nice to see the little out-of-focus flower take shape. And here is a little look . . .

When hubby is sick

. . . it feels like I am sick myself. It is really very stressful to me. I hate to see him suffer like this. He is never sick so this makes it all that much worse for us all.
It started a few years ago but with medication, it was pushed right to the back of our minds. Then for the last two (maybe three) months hubby has been suffering with a pain on this chest (no not his heart – we have had all tests known to man, done. . . and again . . . and again).
Yesterday it got so bad, that he ended up in the emergency room. The doctor on duty (what a nice man!) did a bunch of tests again but couldn’t find anything. He gave hubby an injection that just about knocked him out and took away all pain till this morning. :) Then today we had to go back so that another doctor could see if he could find anything.
Hubby is so despondent already as it has been months now and this was the fifth doctor he has seen. Doctor number 5 claims that hubby has Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I am searching the Internet as this means a whole new lifestyle when it comes to diet. There is so much he cannot eat anymore. But I am willing to give anything a try if it only helps.

Random Act of Kindness (RAK)

I was the lucky recipient of a Random Act of Kindness today. And what a HUGE kindness it has been! Thank you, Meg!!
Wow - I have stash now!! And I can't stop smiling. When Meg told me about a month ago (yeah the post office is terrible) that she had some spare fabric that she wanted "to pass on" as she was not going to use it again, I was very excited. And today when the package arrived, she had me nearly speechless! Not only was there lots and lots of fabric, she also included floss and some magazines. Then there is even some hand-dyed fabric and floss which I am going to protect with my life! (can't believe that I have hand-dyed stuff!). And then a little of this and that. :) What a wonderful Monday it turned out to be . . .

Quote: "Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to."

PS: Gaynor is having a give-away on her blog. Go have a look! Don't deny it, we just love this stuff, don't we?

About this and that . . .

Another wonderful weekend past. Much, much too fast. I didn't have to leave the house at all this weekend. Stocked up on everything I thought we would need on Friday, so that I could just laze around and do what I wanted.

I stitched. . . a lot. Told myself that I couldn't just jump around all over the place all the time (the confetti stitches are driving me batty :)), so I decided to start with the left bottom corner of Passion Flower Angel. Slowly but surely, I am seeing some progress although no definite forms yet, all just the blurry background still. The bright pink is the beginning of a flower though. If you use your imagination . . . come on, try . . .

Treated hubby and myself with some Caramel Tart. This is the easiest (and quickest) tart you will ever find - just three ingredients.
Coconut biscuits, caramel and cream (cream is a little too rich for us in this recipe, so I use "Orley Whip", a non-dairy cream). Take each biscuit and spread some caramel on it. Place it in a dish of your choice till the bottom is totally covered. Next is a layer of the cream that you have whipped. You can then repeat the layers ending with the cream layer. Grate some chocolate on top, and in the fridge it goes till the cream sets a bit.

Yum, yum, yum. :) I guarantee it will only last a day or two.

Quote: "Cheese… milk's leap toward immortality." quote by, Clifton Fadiman.

When I get home at night . . .

. . . I have about an hour before hubby arrives home, usually half starving :) So when I get in, I put something in the oven and jump into a hot bubbly bath and just soak. Usually I have a book (that doesn't move out of the bathroom) and the one I have just finished this past week was JD Robb's "Holiday in Death". It's number 7 in the "Death" series of Lt Eve Dallas, her rich husband Roarke and trusty assistant Peabody. I think the series is up to number 29 already but I just recently discovered it when my painting buddy, Mandy, suggested I try it out. JD Robb is one of the "pen names" of Nora Roberts and my local secondhand bookshop have the whole series. We just borrow each book and when we return it, get half of the price back. I really enjoy this easy reading series and can recommend it wholeheartedly. Now on to number 8 . . .

Funny quote: Those who think they know everything, annoy those of us that do.

I absolutely hate

. . . this little cardboard thingie that I got with my stitching kit. Whoever thought that this would work, is definitely out of his/her mind! The cardboard bends and all the long strips of floss are just dying to get tangled into each other. Grrrrrr . . . I definitely need to make a plan, it is just not working for me and will most definitely drive me crazy in the long run. How do you handle this, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


Quote: "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Kathy is having a giveaway on her site!

Quickly run to her site, Kathy is having a huge giveaway on her blog and we all love getting more stash, right? I know I do.

EDIT: Congratulations to Patti, the lucky winner!

Is it winter yet?

The second storm of the season has arrived. It is cold and it's raining outside. Spud and I are cuddled in bed with my stitching and my laptop (I love technology!) and life is great. Just wish we didn't have to get up in the morning!

I am at the point where I just couldn't wait any longer - I have been stitching half cross stitches all weekend and yesterday (all just part of the background). I just had to get to some cross stitches!! So I did a few (just a little bit, maybe 20 stitches) just to feel like I am actually doing something. The colours are so light, you can't really make it out yet, so I am including the pattern again (don't worry it's a photocopy I am marking on), to just give you an idea. The cross stitches are the little wiggly part at the bottom (hie-hie). I have now been jumping all over the page, just keeping to the colour I am using but I think I will start tomorrow with a part where I go square by square - what do you think?


Funny quote: The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'." - unknown