The Pelican's Nest, Barrick Samplers

My first stitches for 2012…

Plymouth Sampler, The Sampler Company (Brenda Keyes)

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Things spun a little out of control in December. Work and tidying up the house/yard in preparation for Christmas guests took all my spare time, but it had to be done. The last of our holiday guests left on a jet plane yesterday and the good news is that I still have another 10 days of leave left to do exactly as I please.

Stitching completed in 2011 tallied to a grand total of 17, which was a pleasant surprise. I’ve pinned them individually on my Pinterest Board and here they are displayed as a mosaic.

Mosaic of 2011 Stitching Finishes

1. Dutch Strawberries, The Goode Huswife
2. Hornbook Sampler, Barrick Samplers
3. Miss Mary Mack, La-D-Da
4. Bitter Flower Sampler, Birds of a Feather
5. Sara Hathorne, Hester’s Needle
6. Bo-Peep (No Sheep), La-D-Da
7. Sally Spencer, Carriage House Samplings
8. True Virtue, Janie Appelbaum
9. The Bird Tree, Carriage House Samplings
10. Peace Scissors Tag, The Drawn Thread
11. Sunflowers ‘n Crows, Primitive Betty’s (freebie)
12. Thread Gathering, Little House Needleworks
13. Flax Fields, Carriage House Samplings
14. The Pelican’s Nest, Barrick Samplers
15. Santa’s Christmas, Shepherd’s Bush
16. Bataille des Anges, Chez Mounette (freebie)
17. Jenny Bean’s Christmas Ornament, Shakespeare’s Peddler

Setting realistic stitching goals really worked for me and helped me stay focussed. I chose 10 designs as the main focus and kept the option open to stitch other designs if I was so inclined. I completed eight of the ten designs on my list (see sidebar) and stitched another nine which I chose randomly as the spirit moved me. Methinks I’ll continue with this MO for 2012. I’ll reveal the designs once I’ve made up my mind.

Resolutions for 2012? Again, I think it helps if they are few and realistic…
1.  Focus on my stitching goals and blog my progress to help me stick to the plan.
2.  No pattern/stash purchases –  I have sufficient patterns and supplies to last at least a year without buying more.
3.  Travel – planning a trip or two for 2012
4.  Stay happy! Focus on the good things in my life for which I’m grateful
5. Exercise more and lose some weight. I think I’ll need more help with this one than any of the other resolutions  :lol:

Happy Stitching
Pokua

These past few months I haven’t been able to get many stitches in at night. Blame it on work (Oh to win the lottery and spend the rest of my life stitching!) Looking forward to the holidays, when I’ll be taking a three week break.

I did manage to complete an exchange with my friend LisaV as part of the Stitching Between Friends group.

From LisaV to me

Exchange from LisaV to Me

Close up - Snowman, by Tralala - stitched by LisaV

From me to LisaV

Exchange from me to LisaV

Close up - Bataille des Anges design by Chez Mounette

We met up at my place and spent a very pleasant afternoon together. Look forward to more of those, Lisa.

If there are any other stitchers living in Perth who would like to join us for a stitching get together sometime, please drop me a line. My email is pasomani at hotmail dot com.

In other Christmas stitching, I managed to finish this one…

Santa’s Christmas, Shepherd’s Bush
28 count linen 
DMC Threads as indicated on pattern

Santa's Christmas, Shepherd's Bush

Close up 1

Close up 2

The backing fabric I’m intending for the finishing is shown below.  Will put it together as soon as I’ve stitched all those JABC buttons on and show you next post.

I’ve spent most of this afternoon admiring all the Christmas stitching being displayed on your blogs

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Spring Roses from My Garden

Love the peachy ones...

Red roses for my desk at work

On the stitching front, things have stalled a bit. Maybe it’s the stress of work, maybe the change of season… Don’t know, but not much happening here at Crossed Yarns I made a start on The Pelican’s Nest, Barrick Samplers

The Pelican's Nest, Barrick Samplers

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Bo-Peep, La-D-Da

Bo-Peep, close up

Bitter Flower Sampler, BOAF

I was a little anxious about choosing a modern frame for these designs, but I’m absolutely rapt with the final result!

I’m busy stitching for a private Christmas-themed exchange, so progress on my other stitching is on hold for just a little while.

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Sally Spencer Sampler - BOAF

Sally Spencer Sampler, BOAF - detail

Sally Spencer Sampler, BOAF

I’ve been on a short break from work for the past week and have been enjoying a bit of leisure time working in the garden when it’s not been raining. Will show you what I’ve been up to next post.

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Both of my Giveaway winners have confirmed receipt of  their parcels, and that’s a big relief. Has anyone noticed how long things take in the mail these days? Only yesterday I heard on the news that an Australia Post worker had been jailed for theft of mail. This sent a shudder up my spine, ’cause we depend so much on the security of mail and the expectation that if we mail something it arrives at its destination in one piece.

On the stitching front, I did manage a few smaller projects while I gave the bigger ones a bit of a rest. Here’s what I’ve been up to…

Flax Fields, CHS

Design: Flax Fields
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 35count linen, Northern Cross Tea 

Thread Gathering, LHN

Thread Gathering - detail

Design: Thread Gathering
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 count Zweigart Linen, Natural 
Changes: replacing the charted needles either side of blue threads in
bottom row with sewing charms (to be added)

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Birthday Exchange from Gaby in Germany

The package consisted of various booklets of European cross stitch design, a humongous pincushion, a biscornu, some lovely braid, a cute red stitching pocket, wooden buttons, a scissors fob and the most gorgeous metal hanger. Thank you so much, Gaby. This is just awesome! I feel so completely spoilt. Thank you again, Gaby. This is such a surprise.

Gaby blogged about my exchange to her in this post.

On the stitching front, have made some progress with Sally Spencer (BOAF) but ran out of threads and had to put it aside while I wait for my order to arrive. I finished off two small designs in the meantime, which I’ll show you next post.

Spring is almost here! Happy Stitching
Pokua

List Randomizer

There were 11 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Barbara
2. Joanne
3. Dawn in AZ
4. Lisa V
5. Rowyn
6. Valerie
7. Myra
8. Karen T
9. Lorraine
10. Isabelle
11. Edgar

Congratulations! Barb and Joanne.

Barb gets Giveaway No1 – Sunflowers ‘N Crows

Joanne gets the Gift of Stitching Quaker Motif

Could you both please email me your snail mail addresses

A big thank you to all who entered!

Happy Stitching
Pokua

Thank you all for your generosity and friendship.

Here’s to many more years of stitching and crafting!

Now to the giveaways. No rules, no conditions. All you have to do if you’re interested is to leave a comment on this blog to let me know by 12.00 midnight Australian Western Standard Time on Friday 12 August.

So, Here they are…

Giveaway No 1

Sunflowers 'N Crows, by Primitive Betty's

Giveaway Package 1 - including Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet (Shakespeare's Peddler) pattern and three different ribons/braids

PS: A huge THANK YOU! to Betty for designing and sharing such a lovely freebie.

Giveaway No 2

Motif from The Gift of Stitching complimentary pattern

Including Jenny Bean's Christmas Ornament 2009 (Shakespeare's Peddler) pattern and three different ribbons/braids

I’ll draw two names using Random Generator and will announce the winners on Saturday 13 August.

Good Luck and Happy Stitching
Pokua