An Auntie Again

Yesterday I gained a beautiful little nephew called Thomas William. His parents are totally overjoyed and his big sister Mae is very pleased with her new brother. He was a very healthy 7.5lbs and is already feeding well. My sister is as well as can be expected after her second c-section and is hoping to be out of hospital on Thursday.

A picture of the me and Thomas can be viewd at: Thomas and His Auntie

First Souvenir HD

Over the weekend I made great progress towards achieving my April goals by finishing the first of the cross stitching kits that I purchased while on my recent holiday in New Zealand. Once I find my camera I will post a photograph of the finished Kakora Bookmark, it only took a few hours and I also found time to start a second of the New Zealand kits and turn the skeins of wool from a scarf kit that I also purchased in New Zealand into balls. I have decided that this scarf will be my April knitting new start and I hope to make a start on it tonight. I probably won't be able to sleep tonight as I am very excited about becoming an auntie for the second time tomorrow so should get loads of knitting done.

April Goals

Because of my holiday I did not set myself any goals in March. But in order to stay on track I need to start setting goals again this month.

So for April my goals are:

• Beading: Finish at least one project
• Knitting: Start something and progress the new project to 50% complete
• Cross-stitching: Finish at least 2 projects.
• Cross-stitching: Start A&D's wedding gift and progress it to at least 25% complete

So I guess I shall be a little busy this month, but I need to be after last month purchases otherwise I run the risk of ending the year with more stash that I started the year with.

First Quarter 2006 Report

Since we are nearly one quarter of the way through 2006 (how on earth did that happen?) I thought it would be a good time to revisit my stash lists and review my progress towards this years stash reduction goals.

Summary for first quarter of 2006:
Cross-Stitching:
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 59 projects
Completed in 2006: 1 project
Added in 2006: 5 projects
Stash Pile at 28 March 06: 63 projects
Knitting and Crochet:
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 14 projects
Completed in 2006: 2 project
Added in 2006: 2 projects
Stash Pile at 28 March 06: 14 projects
Beading:
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 12 projects
Completed in 2006: 1 project
Added in 2006: 1 projects
Stash Pile at 28 March 06: 12 projects

It should be noted that I have only added projects to the stash list that I actually have at home. There are a number of cross stitching & knitting projects that I have already purchased but are being shipped to me that I have not added to the lists. So all in all I am proving to be very very bad at stripping. I must try and remind myself that my goal for the year to finish with 5 less projects in each category, at best I have maintained the number of projects on each list and the less said about the progress made on reducing the cross-stitch list the better.

FULL STASH LISTS
Red text indicates stash added Since 4th January 2006

Cross-stitching and other counted stitching projects

1. Beth Russell - Orange Border (80% complete)
2. DMC - Sweet Pea Fairy (5% complete)
3. L&L - Angel of Spring (80% complete)
4. TW - Above the Clouds (30% complete)
5. TW - Noah's Ark (15% complete)
6. TW - Peacock Tapestry (5% complete)
7. Barbara Thompson Designs - Skyscape
8. Barbara Thompson Desings - Around the World in Cross Stitch (25% complete)
9. Bent Creek - Swirly Sampler
10. Butternut Road - Earthdancer
11. Coleshill Collection - Sunflower
12. Derwentwater Designs - Rose Window (75% complete)
13. Derwentwater Designs - Rose Bouquet
14. Derwentwater Designs - Macintosh coaster 1b
15. Dimensions - Power of the Serengeti
16. Dimensions - Toy Shelf Birth Record
17. Dimples Designs - Wee Beasties Part 5
18. Dimples Designs - Wee Beasties Part 6
19. Dinky-Dyes Designs - Celtic Heart
20. Dinky-Dyes Designs - Celtic Knot Diamond
21. DMC - Laburnum Fairy
22. Just Nan - Amethyst Snowflake
23. Just Nan - Celeste
24. Just Nan - Christmas Jewel
25. Just Nan - Ice Blossom
26. Just Nan - Grace
27. Just Nan - Serena
28. L&L - Angel of Autumn
29. L&L - Angel of Christmas
30. L&L - Angelica
31. L&L - Heavenly Gifts
32. L*K - Bless the Baby
33. Lanarte - Orchid
34. Maria Von Scharrenburg - Night
35. M-Designs - A
36. M-Designs - A + D + Heart
37. M-Designs - E + J + Heart
38. Mirabilia - Royal Holiday
39. Mirabila - The Fairy Moon
40. Moira Blackburn -Growing Like A Tree
41. Sheperds Bush - Cherry Heart
42. The Silver Lining - Royal Affair
43. The Silver Lining - Joy
44. The Silver Lining - Hope
45. The Silver Lining - Honor
46. The Silver Lining - Grace
47. Thea Groverneur - Jays
48. Thea Groverneur - Pheony Rose
49. Thea Groverneur - Rhapsody in Blue
50. Thea Groverneur - Rose
51. TW - Celtic Cross
52. TW - Futurecast
53. TW - Knotwork Bookmark
54. TW - Paisley Corner
55. TW - Stretch
56. TW - Tempest
57. The Victoria Sampler - Beyond Cross Stitch Level Six No ?
58. The Drawn Thread - Toccata Number One
59. Sheperd's Bush - Mother's Heart
60. The Little Kit Company - Dunedin
61. The Little Kit Company - Kakora Bookmark
62. The Little Kit Company - Sheep Bookmark
63. The Little Kit Company - Aoteoroa Sheep

Completed Since 1st January 2006:

1. Derwentwater Designs - Macintosh coaster 1a

Knitting and Crochet Projects

1. Black Dune Scarf
2. Haze shawl
3. Collinette Jumper
4. Black & White Jumper
5. Black sleeveless jumper
6. Socks 1
7. Socks 2
8. Ripple Scarf
9. Lacy Lattice Stole
10. 63 square afghan
11. Rega Scarf
12. Rega Shawl
13. New Zealand Scarf 1
14. New Zealand Scarf 2

Completed Since 1st January 2006:

1. Toddler Ponch
2. Scarf of Hope 2

Beading Projects

1. Beaded Box (10% complete)
2. Romanov Bauble
3. Fandango Braclet
4. Aurora Stars (x3)
5. Toulouse Chocker Necklace
6. Georgian Bauble
7. Turkish Rope Tassel
8. Persian Tassel
9. Art Deco Bauble
10. Starry Night Bauble
11. Mayur Necklace
12. Zig-Zag Braclet

Completed Since 1st January 2006:

1. Fuchsia Scissor Tassel

New Zealand Report

A picture is worth a thousand words so I have decided to let my holiday photographs do the majority of the talking for me otherwise this post would take days to read and put anyone brave enough to try and read it to sleep. New Zealand is an amazing country full of spectacular scenery and wonderful people (if you discount Christchurch taxi drivers).

I arrived a little dazed by the 30 odd hours of travelling and the 13 hours time difference and was made most welcome by Nicola and her family, staying with them for a few days allowed me to recover from the journey in comfort and to get some stitching done. From Christcurch I headed off on a swift two week tour of the South Island before heading up to Wellington for a few days.

First stop was Kaikoaura where I went whale watching and was delighted to see three sperm whales and a pod of dusky dolphins. Since the whales only come up to the surface to rest and breath for a few minutes before diving they are not very active but at least that means you can take photos of them. The dolphins on the other hand did not stay still for even a second so were impossible to photo (well at least with my limited skills). So I gave up trying and just enjoyed their antics

Next stop was in Nelson and from there I went into the Abel Tasman National Park, yet more spectacular scenery and wonderful wildlife.

The above photo is of Split Apple Rock Bay and the one below is of a New Zealand fur seals.

From there I travelled down the west coast, with plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery and sample the local food & drink. The weather was a little wild at times but that just added to the drama.

Luckily by the time I arrived at Franz Josef the weather had cleared up and I was able to take a helicopter ride over the glacier before spending a day hiking on the glacier.

On leaving the glacier I headed towards Queenstown and then on to Dunedin, with plenty more stops along the way to admire the scenery and look at the wildlife.

On arrival in Dunedin it started raining again making the place look even more Scottish.

From Dunedin I travelled into the Catlins, yet more stunning scenery and close encounters with wildlife. Including getting almost too close to a sea lion who was hiding out in the sand dunes.


It was then back to Christchurch via Milford Sound and Queenstown. The day spent at Milford Sound it rained and rained and rained but that meant that the waterfalls were spectacular.

I was sad to say good-bye to the South Island and head up to Wellington. But it was lovely to spend several nights in the same bed and to spend time with my friends Alan & Christie. Christie was an excellent tour guide taking me to all the tourist spots in and around Wellington.

I also managed to meet up with Cathy for lunch and she introduced me to a wonderful cross stitching store where my credit card was a little stretched but more about that when the purchases arrive (I had to have them shipped home due to lack of space in the suitcase).

My last full day was spent in Martinborough sampling New Zealand wine (some of which found its way into my suitcase).

All in all it was an amazing holiday, even with the jet lag. It has taken me nearly a week to recover from the journey home and to get over the shock of going back to work.

Holiday Stitching Report

While away travelling in New Zealand I managed to complete a small Macintosh Design by Derwentwater Designs.




And to start Around the World by Barabara Thompson which I thought was a rather appropriate project to take on holiday. It has been stitched on in New Zealand, Sydney, Dubia and Birmingham plus on the plane between these points so has been half way around the world.

I also made a few purchases - to be precise 7 stitching projects and 2 knitting projects both scarves and both yummy hand dyed yarns.



The stitching projects include four kits (Aotearoa Sheep, Kokako Bookmark, Sheep Bookmark and Dunedin) by a New Zealand company called The Little Kit Company (oh and I have made arrangements for a fifth kit - Christchurch to be sent to me) which are pictured below and three other kits which are currently being posted to me because I ran out of space in my luggage. Well I was on holiday.

Febuary Report

Since I am off tomorrow for a holiday to New Zealand I thought I have better write this months report now. Not that there is a lot to report. I have continued to stitch on the Macintosh Rose Window but have not finished it and I have brought a new kit - Mother's Heart by Sheperds Bush. Knitting and beading wise I have not done anything. I will update the stats when I get back from my trip which will be in a months time.

I just love my postman

This morning a fantastic gift arrived from my SS.

A beginers blackwork chart called Garnet by Paw Printings Designs which I have never seen before but love and can not wait to stitch. I have never tried blackwork before but have been looking at paterns for awhile now wondering where to start. There was also some peacemaker needles, the chart for Mirabilia's Spring Queen, a heart shaped tin of mints, a heart shaped key ring and a gorgeous sparkly pen with hearts on it. Thank you to who ever you are.

Sleep

I need some, for some reason this week I have not been able to get to sleep and then when I do I wake up having nightmares an hour or so later. Normally I am asleep by the time my head hits the pillow and it would take a bomb to wake me up but for over a week now I have been having virtually no sleep each night. This has meant that I have been very moody and irratable and haven't had any energy to do anything. There is so much that I need to do at the moment that I need a major injection of energy. Next Wednesday I am off to New Zealand for three weeks and I need to pack my bag if nothing else happens.

Weekend Report

This weekend has been great. It started well on Friday when I took delievery of my brandnew shinny black VW Golf, I just love that new car smell. Saturday I went to Bakewell to meet up with stitching friends. I sort of managed to stitck my self imposed budget only overspending by less than £10. Most of it was gifts but I did come away with a couple of new things for me. I am really bad at not buying myself stuff. But on the plus side I only purchased one project for me (Mothers Heart by Sheperds Bush) when normally I would have brought several. And the best news, is that I have finally had a offer on my flat after near 12 months of trying to sell it. Today has been spent relaxing and stitching. A little progress has been made on the Rose Window so there is a small chance that it will get done this month.