Just a quick note. I will be off to Canberra tomorrow to visit my Mummy for the whole week! This is to celebrate having a week off uni (half the class is at clinical, mine will be the week after) and not having to go to work at that horrible job. Yes, I have done my last shift there, and left with a great big smile on my face. I feel so wonderful and free, despite the fact that I've been working double shifts at the nursing home, due to an outbreak of "The Dreaded D&V" (gastroenteritis).

It seems to be a horrible strain, so many staff are off sick with it too. I'm just praying that my immune system holds up, as I've been ill for the past week or so with a horrible cold, and all I need now is this!

An interesting side-effect of this outbreak is that due to a recent outbreak in Victorian nursing home where a few people actually died, a few reporters have been hanging around trying to get a story, so there are memos everywhere making sure we don't talk to the press! Quite exciting for a little old us. (Don't worry, no one is going to die here!)

Anyway, just wanted to show a couple of pictures before I go, as I probably won't have a chance to update all week. First is my progress on Leigh's HAED RR. The skin colours look really dark, so I hope it turns out okay.

And since I'm going t be away on Tuesday I thought I'd better share Toccata II early. I did OPQ and Area 20. I loved this one, it had so many stitches in it :) queen stitch, satin stitch, alternating double back stitch, elongated smyrna cross, and tied trellis stitch! Phew!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to stitch on JOB this Monday, as I'm going to Canberra on the train and won't be able to carry it. I'll be taking Mystery X instead which is collapsible (hooray for Q-Snaps!) so hopefully by the time I return I'll have made some headway. Maybe I'll even have finished part 2! But don't get your hopes up ;)

See you on Friday!

Labels: Blogging, Eyecandy, Small talk, Stitchiness, Toccata II-sday, Worky-purkey

Wow, two posts in two days! yay!


M and Area 21 - Tied Herringbone

Only three more nights to go at work! Yay!

Labels: Eyecandy, Stitchiness, Toccata II-sday, Worky-purkey

A thousand apologies for not updating for so long. How long has it been? It feels like about a month. My life has been absolutely hectic lately, I spent a week doing clinical at pre-school (so much fun, the children were so adorable!), and I've had two major assignments due in the last week, so I've been working hard on those. And exams are just around the corner, plus working hard on top of all of that... I've been exhausted!

So it's for that reason that I've been so slack with my SALs, as well as all my other stitching in the last few weeks. I have to confess that I didn't get a single stitch in Japanese Octagon Box for the past two weeks, until today. I worked on it for 8 hours today, and got the outline for the seventh panel finished. Only one more to go!

Actually, that photo shows the fabbie colour very well, but the stitching looks a bit dark. *Sigh* one day I will learn to take photos properly! Anyway, next up is a very overdue photo of last weeks contribution to Toccata II. This is Area 17 - Cross and Upright Cross Filling, and Area 18 - Interlaced Diagonal Cross, which is small and simple but very pretty indeed! I'm really happy to be working on this one again, I love it so much!

Next up is Tranquility Mystery, and of course I'm waaay behind. I'm still on part 4, and part 7 came out last friday. I know I won't possible catch up, but I'm still having great fun with this one, especially with picking out the colours!
Hmmm, looking at that photo, I just noticed a mistake I made at the bottom of that purple one. Oh well, easily fixed!

So, even though I've been busy, I still managed a Happy Dance at work on Friday night (yay!). This little cutie is Popcorn. He was for the other Round Robin I'm in. Actually, I'd nearly forgotten about that robin, it's so disorganized, I haven't had a rotation from that one for about four months. But now I seem to be back in the loop! Teddy bears aren't really my kind of thing, but he is very sweet, and he only took 10 hours of stitching!

It was Mother's Day yesterday, and I had great fun buying Mum' presents. I usually buy her fabric for quilting. But she used to cross stitch all the time, and I really miss that, so I decided that if I bought her something that I know she'd like she might be forced to have to stitch again. I got her two kits, Fruitful 1 and Splendor from The Heart's Content, because I know she's been eyeing them for a long time. And of course, since I was buying online, I thought I'd better make the most of the postage, so I bought myself a silk gauze kit: Gaze Awhile. When I got it in the mail, I was going to start it right away, but my WIPs are really getting out of control as it is, so I'm saving it for a bit later ;)

Well, Mum was very pleased with her Mothers day present, so she bought me a present to say thankyou (I told her that's not how it works, but I didn't argue with her too hard.) A gorgeous overdyed silk (Grape by Caron Waterlilies) and a beautiful pair of scissors I can wear around my neck whilst stitching, and a pincushion kit, with my very favourite (NOT) stitch all over it. Mum said she forgot that I hate Queen stitch, but I know that she was giggling the whole time, sneaky Mummy. So, I haven't been around, but life is still moving on. I do have some good news which I've been bursting to tell, and that is that I quit my sleep over job, and I couldn't be happier about it. I was really unhappy there, and I was doing 4 nights a week, which was just too much for me to handle with full time uni and the other two jobs. I've just had a horrible few months there. Plus I wasn't getting paid enough... $100 for 12 hours work is criminal! However, now that I have quit I will be absolutely broke! I think after I pay the mortgage and bills I will have $100 a fortnight for everything else. So there will be another job in the near future, but I'm definitely going to enjoy a few weeks of having more stitching time.

Labels: Blogging, Eyecandy, HAPPYDANCE, S.E.X., Small talk, Stitchiness, Toccata II-sday, Tranquility, Uni, Worky-purkey

I've had the week from hell.

I can't be bothered going over it in detail, it'll probably just make me grumpy, but let's just say that it included uni every afternoon, orientation for the new job every morning, four night shifts, missing classes because I had to stay late at work because the person who was relieving me was an hour and a half(!) late, one blown up car, and walking out the front door without my keys or phone!

Needless to say that by the time I got home on Friday evening I was stressed, exhausted and generally miserable. So I decided I deserved Friday night off work, and enjoyed some well-earned stitching time.

I treated myself to a new start: Boreas. And she's lovely. I'm doing her 2x1 on 18 count ivory aida. I've only done 500 stitches, but it took me all of Friday evening and most of Saturday to do. It's very slow moving, because there are SO MANY colours and most of them are blended. Ack! I will never whinge about a HAED again! But it does look stunning. The picture doesn't really show the subtlety of the colours, but it's lovely in real life trust me.



I've had to really stop myself from starting Silken Spells the last couple of weeks. She's been calling to me. She's on my desktop at the moment, because I usually get sick of things when they're on my desktop, but that's not working at the moment, I just love her. Almost as much as Boreas! But how silly would it be to start her now, I've already got Boreas on the go, not to mention the HAED RR. I would never have any time to spend on her, and any time I did would be much better spent on one of my other many WIPs! I must resist!!!!!

I managed to do a little more on Mystery X yesterday and today. I'm still on Part 2 even though Part 3 came out the other day. But remember, I was over a month late starting, so I don't mind. Part 3 is smaller (but still lovely) so I'm sure I'll catch up. (I'm an optimist...)



I'm going to do some March goals because I haven't done goals for a while now.
1. Finish Part 2 of Mystery X
2. Get at least halfway through Michelle's RR
3. Decide on and collect materials for one PIF gift
4. DO NOT START Silken Spells.

Hmm, it doesn't look like much, but I know that I'm going to struggle to meet those goals. Stupid uni :( Full time is horrible. Plus having the third job is taking up all my spare time. Not to mention all the assignments I have due at the end of the month. Oh how I miss the holidays!

Labels: Blogging, Boreas, Goals, Mystery X, New Start, Small talk, Uni, Worky-purkey

This week is Area 24 which is a Florentine Pattern, and WXYZ. You wouldn't believe how many times I had to frog those stupid huge letters... but I love doing satin stitch, because it's so fast and easy, and it always looks so shiny and lovely.

Fudgey wanted to see a pic of the whole thing so far... so you can click on the WIP picture on the right of the page and the whole thing nice and big :)

I'm sorry about the lack of updates lately. Working 62 hours a week is really cutting into my spare time. And I'm still having trouble meeting my mortgage payments! I'm getting very stressed. I've got another job interview tomorrow morning, but I'm not really sure if I want it. I also spent the whole weekend at a venepuncture course, and am now qualified to take blood and perform ECGs, so I'll probably be looking for a pathology job in the next couple of weeks. I wish someone would just pay me to sit and stitch all day!

Okay, I promise that tomorrow or Thursday I will post some WIP pictures, to prove that I actually have been stitching. I promise, I have!

Labels: Eyecandy, Small talk, Stitchiness, Toccata II-sday, Worky-purkey

One of my favourite little ladies at work died yesterday. She was such a sweet little thing, everyone loved her... but, she was 104 years old, she was probably ready to go. It was so heartbreaking looking after her for the last few nights and hours. She was really suffering, because her doctor wouldn't give her any pain relief... it's terrible to see someone so distressed and to be so powerless to do anything to help them. I always feel sad when someone dies, but you do get attatched to some of them more than others.

So when I came home from work yesterday, I didn't feel like writing about Liechhardt. So instead, I put in a very large order at Stitched From The Heart. I read on Mel's blog that they are having a closing down sale, and 70% off everything(!) is just too good to miss. So I've been spending money that I don't have. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.

The good news is that I think I've finally found a suitable piece of fabric for Toccata 2! It's only taken me 3 months or so. *sigh* The first two pieces I tried were just awful... that's the problem with ordering online... you never get to see exactly what you're buying until it arrives! I finally settled on 36 ct Stitches and Spice Celtic Blend. I did order it online again, but I'm not worried, because I've actually stitched on it before, for my Celtic Banner, and I know it will be lovely. Not so pinky in real life though.

So... I'll be starting that SAL soon, and I'll be posting off my HAED RR in a couple of days (still plugging away at that horrible border...), and receiving (I think) Nicki's to stitch on. Plus, I've signed up for a biscornu exchange at LJ XstitchXchange (link fixed), so I have to find an appropriate pattern and learn how to make one for my recepient. AND I had a new start today! I made myself get started on Jaxon's birth sampler. (No pic yet, so far it's only a blue blobby.) So my fingers are very busy!!

And don't get me started on a week of clinicals, my major assignment (which, of course, I haven't started) due next week, OSCAs coming up, the mortgage being approved (or more likely, rejected) this week, and changing jobs (which further complicates the mortgage stuff)... I'm a very busy little vegemite! (And a bit of a stressed one too!)

Actually, speaking of vegemite, did you hear that they've banned vegemite in the USA?!

Labels: Eyecandy, New Start, S.E.X., Stitchiness, Uni, Worky-purkey

I was really sick this week. I had a horrible cold. I caught it last weekend from the lady in dementia unit who pinched me on the arm and made me bleed. Horrid old thing. But luckily I'm better now.

The weather this month has been... sporadic. We have a couple 33 degree days in a row, and I pack away my winter blankets and jumpers. And then, like today, all of a sudden it's freezing again. I froze my skin off at work last night because I didn't take my jumper, as it ha been such a hot day. You never know what to expect. My room gets so hot in the afternoon that I can't even sleep in there, and then at night I freeze! I hate the weather like this. It's very strange weather, it's kind of putting me on edge.

Hmm... in other news I'm starting my new job with Tara on November 9th!
HOORAY!!!!
I haven't told my manager that yet. I'm dreading that. She's not going to be a very happy vegemite.

Okay, I'm off to work now, but when I get home in the morning I'm going to write something lovely about Leichhardt :)

Labels: Small talk, Worky-purkey

Hmmm.... blogrolling wasn't working all day yesterday for me. Thank goodness it's back up now. It's such a pain to try and remember everyone's blog addresses.

The Needlework Show is on. My wishlist is going to double in size by tomorrow!

Anyway, gtg to work for a fire lecture and a medication assessment. As though I don't have enough assessments to bother with at uni too! *sigh* fingers crossed I can get some stitching done this evening.

Labels: Blogging, S.E.X., Uni, Worky-purkey

I know, it's been a long time since I last updated. I haven't been doing much stitching lately. Too busy with Uni and job interviews and stuff. Oh, btw, the job interview went excellently! It's in an aged care respite centre, but it's really small, only five clients at a time, and my best friend (Tara) is the manager! Tara said that the other interviews were a disaster, so they're pretty desperate. Her boss phoned me this morning and told me that I have the job and can basically pick whatever shifts I like. I'm so relieved! I can't wait to get out of where I work now. I hate that job. And I hate the people I work with. Well, some of the people. But I've been reluctant to leave because they pay above award wages. That's how they trap you, see? They give us an extra dollar an hour so we can NEVER leave (insert evil laugh here). It's cruel!
I have an appointment with our mortgage broker on Friday. My brother, Carl, and I are buying a house. This house actually. I'm going to own my own little apartment! Well, half of it at least. I'm very worried, especially with changing jobs and stuff. Plus...I'm too young to have a mortgage!
So because of all that stuff, I haven't been doing any stitching lately. I've been too tired at work to do anything. Staying awake is hard enough sometimes, and if I try and stitch I usually make too many mistakes. But I have managed to get a bit more done on 'S' (M Designs)

Also, my big little brother has been visiting us on weekends, because he's back in Sydney. But trying to get a decent photo of him is... *cough* well, you get it.

Labels: Eyecandy, Familials, Furbaby, Stitchiness, Worky-purkey

Oh, I've had a terrible couple of days on the stitching front... only a handful of stitches. I didn't even touch a needle today, and yesterday I only did 21(!) stitches on Scent of Enchantment. It feels like such a waste of valuable days. I'm always worried that I'm going to die before I have time to stitch everything I want to. Well, actually I think that's a certainty, because I have enough stash to last me several lifetimes, and a fairly exhaustive wishlist. So when I go for four days without doing more than a couple of threads I'm horrified! I did start a new WIP on Monday (like I needed another one...) but this one is only small. It's 'S' by M Designs, and I'm doing it on 40 count white linen and using Gloriana Desert Rose. It've only done a few threads, so it kind of looks like a weird scary eye to me. Heh.

I'm making it for my Grandmother, whose name is Sylvia. My biggest problem is going to be figuring out a way to finish it. I don't have a sewing machine, but I have no problems with hand sewing. But I've never finished anything before, not even cushion or needleroll, so I'm a bit scared. Anyone have any ideas or links?

Catherine returned safely from England, and came bearing gifts for me! 3 Flower Fairies kits: Willow Fairy, Snowdrop Fairy, and Almond Blossom Fairy. There was more, but those are the stashy gifts. I've been thoroughly spoiled. And, since she wasn't able to find most of the other kits I requested, she gave me back the money I gave her to spend, and I used it to place a $100 order from SB&B. Yay! I'm going to have a very stashy few weeks :D

Frankly, I'm going to need the stashy excitement, because work starts again on Saturday, and Uni on Tuesday, and I'm gonna be miserable again. I miss my holidays already :)

Labels: Eyecandy, Familials, New Start, S.E.X., Small talk, Stitchiness, Uni, Worky-purkey

I had a lovely stitchy day today.

I did nearly 500 more stitches on Scent of Enchantment. Then I got bored. I'm really starting to wish I had done this on 28 count. It's so holey, all I can see when I look at it now is white fabric.




















I made good progress on Japanese Octagon Box, I'm doing panel 2. It looks so grey and washed out in the photo. But IRL the colours are very green and vivid. Hopefully I'll finish panel 2 tomorrow, then I'll only have another three to do before I'm all caught up!

I don't know if I'm going to keep going with this or do a little more on Scent of Enchantment... so much stitching, so little time!

Aren't holidays wonderful? I'm thinking of calling work and asking for another week off. Would that be very terrible of me?

Labels: Eyecandy, Stitchiness, Worky-purkey