The Little Song Of The Needle

2012-01-03T14:57:00.004+08:00

Good Morning !

2012's first completed project....a pair of owls greeting us whenever we open the door to my guest room.

The pattern is from the Cross Stitcher Magazine. Stuck the owls on to felt and hanged them on the door knob.

Good Night !

Good Morning and Good Night Owls

Started - 28th December, 2011

Finished - 2nd January 2012

Cross Stitcher Issue 244

2011-11-24T21:37:00.012+08:00

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Look here, these were all sewed by my Mother. She handed them over to me yesterday after hre arrival here. I was like - " Wow ". There were so many of them but only these few had cross stitch design on it.

The small cross stitches were stitched by me, given to her as cards, book marks and so on. She kept all of them. She'll soon be selling her house back home, so she is slowly clearing away her things. She find that it is such a waste to throw all these away, knowing how long I 'slave' over them. In turn she sewed them onto a toilet paper holder she has been sewing.

The picture looks better with the holder being hanged up and with the rolls of paper in them. Sure makes a lot of difference to it being flat on the table.

Lastly this stitching here was stitched by me along long time ago. The stitches here is terrible....

Many, many thanks to my Mother...I really appreciate all your hard work. I know how hard it is for you to piece them all together.

Love you and we will definitely remember you.

2011-11-05T20:30:00.002+08:00

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One fat cat is ready to serve its tea. :)

But not yet..... I plan to add another smaller pussy cat next to it to help with the serving. :)

2011-10-31T12:00:00.002+08:00

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Work in progress...

One fat cat - my boys said it looks like me.

And finally finished another one of those sausage dogs. No idea what to do with it yet. Again I matched the threads to as close as possible from the magazine.

Sausage dog.

Started - 6th October, 2011

Finished - 8th October, 2011

Cross Stitcher, Issue 235

2011-10-22T02:48:00.004+08:00

Are you wondering what the hell is that ?

It's strings of shredded threads from a piece of cloth.

And

What are they for ?

It is to stuffed up my mini sausage dog ornament. I did not make the trip down town to purchase some stuffing. So, what to do ?

Out of the blue I remembered during my primary school days my art and craft teacher made us shred lots of cloths. Pulling out all the tightly woven tiny strands of threads, just to stuff up a rag doll, some kind of an animal if I'm not wrong. I recalled I was not amused by it. It seemed like an endless task. In the end I used cotton stuffing to stuffed up that rag doll. Reasons being I ran out of cloth to shred. My Mother was not amused that I used up her stock of remnant cloths and cotton stuffing was so much easier.

This time round I roped in my youngest boy to help me with it. Obviously he was not amuse by it too. Can't blame him... At least only a small amount of threads was needed. In no time we a mass a sufficient amount for that doggy.

Come to think of it I can't recall what happen to that rag doll from years ago. Anyway this mini sausage doll is now hanging outside my room door.

Next... other than me shredding cloths I turn this stitching of mine into a small pouch to hold my camera. All hand sewn since I don't have a sewing machine. Made a couple of mistakes. Should have cut the cloth bigger so I could had made it into a draw string bag instead it is now opened mouth after I slipped in the camera. :(

You can't really see it from here but the workmanship/ stitching around really sucks.

2011-10-07T14:28:00.008+08:00

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Finished the last heart a few days ago. Looks like my mojo for stitching have not wane. Worked on it daily. The colours are so invitng. Just love the colour combination here. Next, is to trun them in to cushions. I'm planing to do it exactly just like how it was done from the magazine. Wsh me luck here. :)

Now I am in the process of looking for other projects to stitch. Got a couple lined up. Went through my stash of threads and it looks like a trip down town to get more supplies is imminent.

Patchwork Autumn

Started - 14th September, 2011

Finished - 4th October, 2011

Cross Stitcher Issue 216

Meanwhile with the threads I have on hand and stitching on remnant cloth.... Told you my mojo for stitching is still going strong worked on this little doggy and completed it in a day. The colours are not exactly according to the chart. I tried to match the colours as close as possible from the picture showed from the magazine.

Not bad eh ?

But what to do with such a small cute little doggy ? I wanted to turn it into a pincushion but my son saw it said I was real cruel, poking needles on the doggy. So.... I unpicked the stitches around it and stucked in a braided cord ( made from remnant threads ). Voila.... here is another ornament. Just got to stuffed it up first. Looks like my shopping list is getting longer.

A little sausage dog

Started - 5th October, 2011

Finished - 6th October, 2011

Cross Stitcher, Issue 235

Yesterday started on another little doggy

Matched my own threads and like the one before, stitched on remnant cloth.

2011-10-02T15:44:00.007+08:00

Taa.. daaaa....

Here is the second of the patchwork series I am working on. Summer.

Patchwork Summer.

Started - 12th September, 2011

Finished - 24th September, 2011

Cross Stitcher Issue 213

Usually I find working on a repeat pattern real boring but not this time. Might be I'm working with different colours and there is a variation to the pattern. Such as the patchworks are different.

I have place the two pictures of them together for you to compare.

See the difference....

Currently working on the last piece of that series, Autumn. Lots of orange, such a warm and bright colour. I got a feeling I will like this more than the Spring. :)

2011-09-16T16:19:00.008+08:00

Just in case you thought I have gone AWOL again.

I have not. (obviously)

I have completed my stitching and started on the a new heart. Do not know why, but I am very eager to do these lovely french designs. Might be because this is my first time stitching something other than flowers or an animal. Worked on Aida instead of linen and it still look lovely. Can't wait to complete the other 2 pattern and turn them into cushions. I only have 3 out of the four. Some how I must had miss out one issue of my fav cross stitch magazine .

I could get it on line but too ' kiam siap ' (stingy) to buy the missing chart on line.

Anyway my goal - to complete them by end of this year.

Patchwork Spring

Started - 30th August 2011

Finished - 12th September 2011

Cross Stitcher Issue 209

2011-09-12T14:38:00.005+08:00

I'm trying to resurrect this blog of mine. Lately my stitching mojo has been revived after I got inspired by the various cross stitch blogs I happen to surf into. Plus all the nagging from H... You know the usual thing - too much time on the computer playing FB games.

Well, instead of gaming, I'm hammering my thoughts here. Since my typing skills are still much lacking as compared to my stitching it takes me a while just to complete a sentence. No wonder I have more fun gaming... :) Seriously I make so much spelling, typing errors that I have to keep gong back to check. Coz the perfectionist in me just won't allow anything out of line. My grammar might sucks and takes me a while to string along some words to form a reasonably OK sentence (to my eyes) I will publish it. And this takes time.

Other than that I marking crosses whenever I'm free ( when my cafe, city and farm not in need of attention)

This here is my present work. Just needs a couple more back stitching and then it's to another of this but in a different colour.

2011-09-04T20:27:00.004+08:00

As promised I dug out the small projects I stitched, snapped a picture of them and posted them here. Only 2 available. Stitched them before I completed the orchids (see last post).

Little Monkeys which I made into cover for my notebook.

Started - May 2011

Finished 3rd July 2011

Cross Stitcher Issue 201

This is a super easy one. A free kit that came along with the Cross Stitcher magazine. A pin cushion which I still have not got around to stuffed it up yet.

Started - 11th August 2011

Finished - 16th August 2011

Cross Stitcher Issue 238

This is my present project. A patchwork cushion. It is actually a series from Bleu de Chine frenchneedlework. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter but I only got 3. Winter is missing. The original pattern works on linen and I'm not up to that challenge. So I worked on Aida instead. I planned to do the 3 of them.

2011-09-04T20:20:00.002+08:00

A project that I started last year while I was back in Ipoh. Left untouched for a couple of months and picked it up again recently. When I'm in the mood for stitching I go all the way. Finished it in no time at all. There was not much to do actually. What was left were only the leaves, back stitchings and the border.

Started - 8th December 2010

Finished - 11th August 2011

Cross Stitch Collection, Issue 190

2011-09-03T04:24:00.006+08:00

OMG !! It has been ages since I updated this blog. Frankly I have not been much productive in the stitching department. But lately I have pick it up again. Started with small projects (I must remember to take pictures of them) and post them here. Not that there is a lot...

The picture below is a shot of my latest finished project. Cats. Four cats in four mugs. What so cute about them ? I don't know why but they just called out to me. Like as if they are saying - 'Stitch me, stitch me....'

I did and I can't help feeling that I have been super influenced by the cat craze men in my house.

Well, as long as they are not real life ones, guess I don't mind them around me.

Btw please note that I don't hate cats or dogs. I just don't want to have the added responsibilities of taking care of them. Three boys and one man around the house is enough !

Meeeow !!

Started - 18th August 2011

Finished - 29th August 2011

Design - Cross Stitcher Issue 198

2011-02-12T02:06:00.009+08:00

Happy Chinese New year !!!

Greeting you with some flowers. Started those flowers in Ipoh during my year end visit. Did some on the train back south and now I have added the back stitches to them. What a big difference between those with the back stitches and those without them.

Presently, I'm working on the leaves... a very slow on going progress. And here I'm planing to make another one of this for a pair of cushion covers. Wonder when I'll ever finish them........

2010-12-28T20:16:00.004+08:00

As promised these are the stitching I completed while I was in Ipoh this year.

Xmas Socks - they were suppose to be for this year X-mas cards but due to my laziness I only completed them while I was back in Ipoh.

Started -

Finished - 26th November,2010

Cross Stitcher, Issue 206, Nov'08

Next - this is my favourite. Took one look at the pattern and was attracted to it. Why, coz it looks just like me. My boys agree with no prompting from me. Took me a day just to complete it. Super easy stitching.

Came home and made it my simply888here blog's header.

Started - 26th November,2010

Finished - 27th November,2010

Cross Stitcher, Issue 213, June'09

Once I finished that lady in red I started on a free stitch kit from the same magazine.

Here I tried my hands on those french knots. Surprisingly they turn out not bad. Must be all those tries I did previously.

Started - 27 November,2010

Finished - 2nd December,2010

Cross Stticher, Issue 213, June'09

Finally, another free stitch kit . This super cute hedgehog is soooooooo adorable. Can't resist not stitching it. ;)

Started - 2nd December,2010

Finished - 7th December,2010

Cross Stitcher, Issue 226, June'2010

2010-12-26T21:01:00.002+08:00

Hi there ! I'm back after a long absence......again. Sorry about that. Same old excuses I'm afraid.

But I'm proud that I have been very hardworking while I was back in Ipoh this year end. Completed a couple of small and easy projects, which I will post later on. I'm now busy down loading them to my computer and FB and blog on top of the extra load of laundry I need to do. Not looking forward to that part.

The above stitching I started while I was back in Ipoh and did some while I was on the train down south. Still lots to go and so far I have not touch it after I unpacked my bags. :(

2010-08-15T19:22:00.004+08:00

Another stitch for Christmas. With all the FB-ing, catching the latest K Dramas on-line, housework and cooking I managed to finish this in 2 days. Still a lot more to go with metallic threads too. I'm not looking forward to that part. :(

Since then it has not progress much. With the long weekend last week ( see here ) , spent most of my time watching movies which we rented. Went for walks with my family and more K dramas. Promised myself to do more this week. Stay tuned and see what happens

2010-08-05T19:43:00.005+08:00

Yeah ! I finished this set of stitching for Xmas which is what.....4 months away.

On second thoughts Xmas seems nearer and I have a couple more to complete.

Help !!!

For this project this is my first stitching those Algerian Eyes. It is real easy and it gives a whole new look to my stitching.
The only thing I don't look forward to are those Light Effects threads. They fray and end up in knots easily. And don't forget they are real hard to thread too, especailly when the pattern asked for 2 strands. Even though I used only a short strand each time. Arrrrggghhhh....

After all the grumbling and ##@#@*% the end results are just beautiful. Worth the effort. :)

Started :- 15th January, 2010

Finished :- the August, 2010

Cross Stitcher, Issue 205

2010-08-01T00:07:00.005+08:00

X-mas projects - cards. Started them way, way back in god knows when......
Hopefully I will finish them within next week.
Keeping my finger's crossed.

At the moment I am stitching and watching this K drama - Dong Yi. And updating this blog while waiting for each episode to load.
Yup, multi tasking again. :)

Ahhh..... the main characters are so cute.... *_*

( H rolling his eyes when he saw what I was typing over here. )

2010-07-26T14:52:00.003+08:00

Lately not much stitching going on. I have my X-mas cards to complete and they are progressing very slowly. Taking up smaller projects to finish them faster. Try as I might I can't seem to pull myself from the computer.

Anyway here is one small project I did some time back.

A pair of pink shoes. Took me an evening just to finish it. No idea what I am going to use it for. Most probably just keep it.

Shoe
Started :- 13th May, 2010
Cross Stitcher, Issue 203.

2010-06-26T23:28:00.002+08:00

Frankly I don't l know why I still bother to update this blog. As far as I know no one drops by. Pathetic.... I still continue posting not as frequent as before. In fact only once in a blue moon. Guess they are for my eyes only.

Lately most of my stitching are from one magazine. If you have been following my infrequent posing one would notice that they are mostly from the same issue - Issue 203.

So, here is another one - an easy project, from that issue. KIV turning them into CNY cards.

Natural Look, Flower cards.

Started :- 6th January,2010
Finished :- 13th May, 2010

Cross Stiticher Issue 203

2010-06-21T01:43:00.004+08:00

Another piece from 2009. I was drawn to it as soon as I saw it.
The title for it is :- Life's a beach.

Oh.... how I wish my life is just like that. Every day floating in a pool and sipping a drink with no worries, no whining kids, no housework......

Life is then really a beach !!!

Started :- 3rd January,2010

Completed :- 6th January,2010

Cross Stitcher, Issue 203

2010-06-21T01:23:00.004+08:00

I did it again......

Took pictures of my latest work but they did not get posted here. :(

This particular piece first started in August,2009. It was left alone and restarted in November the same year. And three months later.....

It is completed.

Started :- 7th August,2009. Restart again on 6th November,2009

Completed :- 3rd January 2010

Cross Sttcher, Issue 203

2009-11-07T05:24:00.002+08:00

These are another set of Christmas project for this year. Started stitching them real early in the year. They are not the usual kind of trees we see. It is kind of different. That was what attracted me to them.

Started :- 7th March,2009

Finished :- 14th March,2009

Design :- Cross Stitch Collection, Issue 163

2009-11-07T04:55:00.012+08:00

A set of Christmas cross stitch cards for this year. Brought this project to Ipoh. Was back there for a week and managed to complete only one out of the 4 (the pudding).

I recall I started the 2nd one - Noel -on the bus back here. Surprisingly I managed to do it with all the motion/ swaying from the bus. Although it did put me to sleep real fast too. :)

Luxury Greeting Cards

Started :- 15th March, 2009

Finished :- 24th March, 2009

Design :- Cross Sttcher, Issue 192

2009-11-07T04:05:00.003+08:00

This is a stitching for Mother's Day which has long past. I never got around to post the finish work here.
Well, here it is. A long over due card for Mother's Day. Took me a day to finish it but ages to post it out here. :(

To Mum With Love

Started :- 3rd April, 2009

Finished :- 4th April,2009

Design :- Cross Stitch Card Shop, Issue 64

2009-11-05T20:42:00.005+08:00

At last this piece of beaded project is completed, 'kau teeem'.
Since I last posted about it I had been quite hard working. Put in more hours than before.
In other words made myself do it.
Why ???
Because I have to hand it over to my-aunt.

I did this beaded-shoes_before. Which explains why I find it a bit of a bore.
OK, it is more than a bit. It is real boring !

Checked the date I started it and .....I found out it did not take me a year.
You, see I received it last year. Did not do any thing with it till a couple of months later. This project had been left aside and semi-forgotten until I can't remember when I started it. Or where I stopped stitching.

Started - 5th April, 2009
Finished - 5th Nov, 2009

You now this is the first time I ever complain or has so many negative remarks about any of my stitching.

In short - I am just so darn happy it is over with.

2009-10-31T19:17:00.002+08:00

Remember this ?

If I am not wrong I started this early this year and it is now... What ?

Nearly the end of the year and it is still not finished !

Looks like I have to put in more effort - pulling myself, tearing my attention away from my virtual world and concentrate stitching each bead in place.

Yawn...... Man...this is really boring.

Repetitive +++++

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn....

2009-10-31T18:02:00.005+08:00

Yikes !!! It has been real ages.

Blame it on my addiction to the many applications in Facebook. At the moment it is Cafe World. My virtual kitchen.

No stitching, beading shoes or anything for quite awhile.

Two weekends ago I brought the boys for their swimming at the public pool. This is usually H's area. Needless to say he was not in that day. Hence my trip to the pool.

To keep myself occupied I brought my cross stitch with me. A stitch kit from Cross Stitcher. A simple and easy one to stitch. Plus it is so darn cute.

Make a Wish

Started - 18th October,2009
Finished - 24th October,2009
Design - Cross Stitcher, Issue 215

By the way does blowing at a daffodil makes one's wish come true ???

2009-07-31T17:41:00.003+08:00

Finally I managed to finished the set of circles which I started last year and completed it 2 weeks ago. I intend for them to be turned into cushion covers. Bought the backing for them. But alas..... I don't have a sewing machine.

*_* That is why it flew to my dear Sis in the US... *_*

She is super handy with a sewing machine now a days. I am sure she won't make a muck out of it.

Started - 19th June, 2009

Finished : - 17th June, 2009

Design :- Cross Stitcher, Issue 203

2009-06-29T19:10:00.002+08:00

Update of my latest stitching.......

So far I think it looks much better than the orange coloured version I completed last year.

2009-06-23T18:20:00.002+08:00

This here is another pair to the 2008-'s stitching. Instead of orange it is green in colour. Started on it and it is going very slowly.

2009-06-22T23:03:00.003+08:00

Yikes !!!!
I just realise that it took me nearly a year to complete this piece of stitching .
This is terrible.
Plus I notice something weird. Every time I mentioned I won't be doing much stitching I tend to do them. Weird isn't it ?

Farmyard

Started - 20th August 2008

Finished - 20th June 2009

Design - The World Of Cross Stitch, Issue 74

2009-06-19T20:28:00.002+08:00

This is one of those old stitching of mine that I had made into a card. Can't really remember when I started and completed it. I have kept it for many years before it was made into what it was now.

I gave this card to our new neighbours when we were invited to their house warming party together with a fruit cake.

2009-06-17T18:48:00.005+08:00

Wo.... another picture which was in my camera that had been collecting dust in there. If there is such a thing. : ) Just a figure of speech.

This was how far I have stitched for this particular project of mine. Picture was taken on the 4th June. The very next day I had to rush back to Ipoh because my father pass away on that very day.

If you see my previous, previous and many more previous post I had found this particular cloth tucked right at the bottom of my box. Chose this pattern because it looks easy and simple enough. What I had not foresee was the amount of threads I had to use.
The bigger the squares the more threads were used.

Arrived home from Ipoh yesterday and I have not touch any of my stitching. Busy unpacking and then we went shopping for grocery.
I will not be doing much stitching as I have other things to settle first.

2009-04-21T20:13:00.003+08:00

OK the beaded shoe is in progress. Coming along nicely. Taking it slow as I am, still occupied with other activities. At least it is moving. Or should I say filling up.
I had started before Easter and stopped due to heavy-petting-going-on in my FB.

It is really boring working on this but I guess the worst is yet to come. Once I reach the second shoe boredom's will really set in !

Oh Yeah another thing. The pattern that my aunt gave me to follow is riddle with mistakes. At first I had wanted to just leave it alone. Follow the pattern. In the end I can't stand it because it is not consistent. It is very hard to keep repeating the design with out referring to the pattern sheet.

In the end I took out a copy of the shoe I had made before and followed that instead. Which means there were a whole lot of unpicking to do first !!!!!

2009-04-09T22:47:00.003+08:00

These are the beads and pattern my aunt got ready for me. All I have to do is place them on one by one to form the top of a pair of shoes. Lots of effort, eyes straining and by the look of the pattern it is going to get boring after a while as it is repetitive. Plus I have made a pair of these shoes before for Mother.
YAWN !!!

Won't it be nice that I can just wave a wand mumble some charm and the work is done.

How nice.......

"In your dreams "said my son

2009-04-05T16:57:00.000+08:00

Started a quick project - a card for Mother's Day.

I am really into cards this year.

2009-04-04T22:25:00.005+08:00

Ha ! I know it is long past Christmas. But these pictures are long due. I stitched these and made them into Christmas cards for last year. I only remember to post them now as I had just completed some Christmas stitching for this year end's festivities.

Too early ? I don't think so as I have to start my aunt's beaded shoes now. So that it would be finished by the time I make my year end trip back home. Yup, it takes me half a year to finish them. Actually if I want I can complete a pair of shoes in about 2 months or so. But I am giving myself ample time to finish it so that I can do other things in between - such as more Christmas cards and others....

I sent this to my Sis as I think that it looks like me. Doesn't it ?

Start - 26th August,2008
Finished - 28th August,2008
Design - Cross Stitch Card Shop, Issue 57

Now this 2 lots of cards I can't remember when I completed them as they took me a long time to finished all 8 cards.

Lastly this tropical-cat I turn it into a card and sent it to my brother in US. With this greeting " Merry Christmas from the tropics !"

2009-03-25T18:50:00.003+08:00

I have completed the last batch of Xmas cards stitching - my last post . It shows a skeletal of a ...... Sorry can't let the cat out of the bag yet. ^____^

I had finish the stitching while I was back in Ipoh and started on another set of stitching for more Xmas cards. The above picture was taken during our journey back to Singapore while I was in the bus. I did not attempt to make any crosses. The bus even though it was comfortable enough. There was still some swaying here and there. Maybe because I was trying to do some stitching. In the end I only did the back stitching.

Since I returned I have completed 2 out of the 4 patterns. I am beginning to feel bored, restless. Itching to do something else. May be I will......

2009-03-12T14:34:00.003+08:00

Started stitching for this year's Xmas cards. Nine more months before the actual date but it is better to start early. So that I have the whole year to complete them - on time. :))
As I will be leaving for Ipoh tonight I have packed some of the threads I need to bring along. Not that I have lots of spare time there but it is comforting to have it at hand. Even if I only manage to do a couple of stitches I am satisfied. Weird eh ?

2009-03-09T11:53:00.011+08:00

Finally! I have completed the Field of Sunflowers and posted it here.

I really have been neglecting my blogs big time nowadays.

Lately got hooked on one of those applications in Facebook - Fluff -petting and feeding my fluff pet. Not only that, I kaypoh at other's pets too. How time wasting is that. A mindless pursuit....
Still I find myself returning to it daily. I think I am addicted to it.

Boring , Boring, boring housework - I try not to put it off because I have a real hard time when I do get to do it. And it never ends too.

Cooking and feeding my family. Mind you it is not that they have a ravenous appetite. The opposite in fact. It still take up lots of my time with all those chopping, cutting, stirring and what ever....... just to hear them say

" This is not my favourite !"

Urgh............

Surprisingly with my days fully occupied I still manage to finish off this large stitching of mine. I had promised myself to hand it up by end of last month but because of all those poor excuses above I only manage to completed it early this month.

Please note. No K dramas for me lately. Surprised ? Wonder why ?
The boys use the computer most of the time which leaves only the evening or night for me to go kaypohing with my Fluff pet. Told you I am addicted to it.

Then it took me a few days later to down load, post the picture and leave a mark here. And that is because I made myself do it before anything else. Partly because of my Sis too. With so many of her friends leaving their mark on this day, how can I not ?

Wah... What a big pressure / stress for me. A big sacrifice as I have to neglect my poor fluff pet. :))000

Ouch... I feel someone knocking my head !!!

Anyway here is the picture of my labour, the many hours of eye straining stitching.

Field of Sunflowers
Started :- 19th August, 2008
Completed :- 7th March, 2009
Design :- Cross Stitch Collection Issue 160

P.S - Sis, this is coming to you. The only thing is you have to bring your own bag to collect this present.

n_n

Yeh I am that a miser !

2009-02-18T09:23:00.004+08:00

Still going at this piece. I did not start on any other new ones because I want to complete this by end of this month. I have other projects lined up and actually looking froward to them.

Working on the sky and half stitches. Will the sky be completed today ? Hope so.

My stitching will have to wait though because I have to entertain 2 officials from the Housing Board and Town Council. They are here to find out why my bedroom wall and outside my boys room are leaking water.

2009-02-11T15:27:00.003+08:00

This is how far I have stitched. The sunflowers are beginning to form nicely.

Don't know why but every time I look at it I feel more cheerful.

Filling up the dark greens which make up of full cross stitches and half stitches in double and single thread. Next will be the other half stitches above the sunflowers. Can't wait for it to be completed.

KIV for my Sis. It will go with the poppies I made for her a few years back.

2009-02-08T21:46:00.000+08:00

Here is another of my 2008 projects. I have started filling up the blank spaces on the right hand corner. Still have a lot more to go. I am hoping to be able to finish stitching it by end of this month. Keeping my fingers crossed.

2009-02-05T09:39:00.002+08:00

This sampler is my first one. I always find samplers daunting as it usually has lots of motifs to stitch. I had though it would be boring too but it turn out the opposite. I find it a joy to stitch as it slowly forms the letters one by one. Even I was eager to stitch it which means I had not put it down unless I had to it still took me 10 days to complete it.
The first few days of the CNY festivities played a part. Before the festival there was the spring cleaning, shopping and what nots to prepare for the big day. In the end I completed this sampler 3 days after the CNY.

Antique Alphabet Sampler

Started :- 20th January, 2009
Finished :- 30th January, 2009
Design :- Cross Stitcher, April 2008 (US copy)

2009-02-04T09:13:00.004+08:00

This is one of the 2008's stitching I had completed last month. I thought I had posted it here after it's completion but after looking through my posts I knew I had not.
I had actually finished all the cross stitches except for the back stitches. Of all things the back stitches had to be in those metallic threads. When I was buying the threads for this pattern I had overlook that metallic part. So, it took me awhile to make my way into town to purchase them. After I had got them I was not in the mood to restart it. Hence it had only been completed some time this early January.

Good for a cushion cover ? It will have to wait as there is another green one to stitch to make it a pair.

Orange Circles

Started :- 7th September,2008
Finished :- 10th January, 2009
Design :- Cross Stitcher, Issue 203

2009-01-30T20:58:00.003+08:00

The year of the Ox I am learning my ABC's. This is the first time I am stitching the whole alphabets. Previously I have stitched the letters for other small projects only. From a single letter to my name.
I quite enjoy stitching it, surprisingly. Thought I would get bored but I did not. Can't seem to stopped stitching. Only rested during the New Year and then I am back to it. Most probably will finish it by tomorrow.

Once this is completed I really need to re-start on my 2008's sunflowers. So that I can use the stand for by beading. Remember, I mentioned that my aunt handed me a beading project.

2009-01-26T00:33:00.005+08:00

Here are the Cool Cats representing the 4 seasons. When I first started out stitching them I had intended to turn them into cards. Now that the stitchings are over I can't make up my mind.

Spring

Winter

Autumn

Summer

Started - 10th January, 2009

Finished - 20th January, 2009

Design - Cross Stitcher Issue 194

So, should I still turn them in to cards or get them framed up ?

2009-01-15T18:43:00.001+08:00

My latest stitching - Cats representing the 4 seasons. I am going to split them up and make them in to cards. So far my mood to keep on stitching is still going strong. Hopefully they will be completed before the Chinese New Year.

Once these are finish I intend to go back to my 2008 projects. There are still a couple unfinished projects.

2009-01-13T18:18:00.001+08:00

Remember this project of mine. Well, I brought it along to Ipoh just in case Mother changed her mind. She likes it and it covers the imperfection of the wall just right.
See my estimation was right even though she only gave me the measurements via the phone. And they were kind of vague.
H put it up once it was framed. He brought his drill and whatnot's to Ipoh.
By the way he is their once a year handy man. From fixing the lights, fans and drilling holes on to the walls.

Nice ?

2009-01-09T19:20:00.002+08:00

The following are the small projects I had completed. All of them are from Cross Stitcher, Issue 203. Two of them were started and finished on the same day.

Chinese ABC

Started and finished :- 8th January, 2009 .

I embellished the lanterns with grey beads instead of using the DMC Light Effects threads.

From the Mischievous Mice. I only stitched one mouse and turned it into a bookmark.
Started :- 4th January, 2009
Finished :- 7th January, 2009

A butterfly for a scissors fob from the Butterfly and Blossoms kit. I have yet to filled it with stuffing. I added one of those jade pieces that Father brought back from one of his trip to China. I intend to give this as a gift to Mother. Knowing Mother she won't use it on her scissors. Most probably hang it some where in the house.

Started and finished :- 7th January, 2009

2009-01-08T19:05:00.006+08:00

First project of mine for this year which I completed yesterday. It is a free kit from Cross Stitcher, issue 203. The tree has been embellished with buttons provided in the kit.

I have been stitching lots of projects from this issue 203. Some started last year and still incomplete. And some small ones which I made in to a scissors fob and book marks. I am planning to use this as a New Year card - for next year. :)

Lately I have the urge to sew small and easy projects. Maybe the rewards are quicker than the big ones.
I will post the small projects of mine once they are completed.

Butterfly and Blossoms

Started :- 5th January, 2009
Finished :- 7th January, 2009
Design :- Cross Stitcher, Issue 203

2009-01-07T18:11:00.002+08:00

A simple project from a free pack that came along with the Cross Stitcher magazine, issue 203. Butterfly and Blossoms. So signs of the blossoms or the butterfly yet. Working on it. :)

Hopefully it will be completed today.

2009-01-07T12:44:00.005+08:00

Completed one of my 2008 projects. The Mischievous Mice which I started in Ipoh while I was on holiday. The one I did not have time to do.

The berries has some beads stitched on them to give it a 3D effect.

Started :- 1 December 08

Finished :- 5 January 09

Design :- Cross Stitcher, Issue 203

2009-01-03T22:17:00.004+08:00

So, here is the latest stitching of mine which I started in Ipoh. I managed to stitched the 2 mices. The leaves and berries are next.

Really hope to completed it by next week. Next I still have the other 2008 projects to complete. On top of that I already have another new project lined up.

You must be wondering why am I loading myself with too many projects. This new project does not actually belong to me but one that my aunt asked me to stitched for her. A beaded shoe. One of the beaded-shoes I stitched before. She got the beads and pattern ready and I received them while I was back in Ipoh. I just need to spend my time on it.

I am actually looking forward to it. I have not done any beaded shoes for a while. Mainly how many shoes can Mother wear ? Since most of them are for her. Plus I ran out of ideas and patterns. Even though this will be a repeat but there will be some slight changes. The colours of the beads she chose are slightly different from mine.

But first no matter what I need to finish all the old stitching before any new ones can be started.

2009-01-01T03:19:00.005+08:00

Hello ! Boy, have I neglected this blog of mine for a long time. Not only that I have not touch my stitching for quite a while too.

It is now 2009 and I still have projects from the last year uncompleted.

I started a new project in Ipoh while I was back home for the year end holidays. I thought I would be able to finish or at least reach a near completion.

Sad to say I was enjoying myself too much to complete it. I did start, stitched a few lines it was time to go out with my family or my eyes just can't open. Or can't give as much attention as it deserve. In the end it is time to return to Singapore, packed my bags and in went the barely started project of mine.

Back here took me a while to get myself back to my usual routine. In other words I am just plain LAZY. :)

With the festive season around, went to town with my family, enjoying the Christmas lights along the shopping belt of Singapore. And stuffing myself silly with all the festive goodies on top of the food I had stuffed myself with in Ipoh.

So, stuffed with loads of carbo I am sure you know what is the outcome. I got real sleepy most of the time. Which explain why I can't keep my eyes open enough for my holiday project.

On top of that I caught a real nasty bug which got me hacking away until my throats hurt like mad and my head feels like splitting in to half. Followed by a week of hoarse voice. So, here I was croaking away. Definitely in no mood to do any stitching. My 2 other boys got the bug too. Ended up 3 of us hacking our heads off. Luckily theirs was not as bad as mine. Seems like I got the worst of the nasty bug.

By the time I was ready to re start on my projects, can you believe this ?

I can't find the patterns for them. Yup, patterns for the circles, sunflowers, farmyard, and the latest holiday project too. Unbelievable ?

How big is this bloody flat any way ? I just can't recall where I place them. The threads are around just that the patterns are missing. Searched high and low. Found them in my wardrobe. Needless to say that is not the usual place I place my patterns or X-stitch projects. Plus it was in a dark corner of my wardrobe too.

How did those bloody patterns get there ? I blame my unsound mind during all those uncontrollable hacking. Must have done some thing to my brain. Cough out some of my memory.

2009 I have restarted my projects, starting with the latest.

Wish me all the best so that I can do more stitching.

Happy 2009 !

2008-12-02T16:32:00.003+08:00

To make it straight, she pulls it.

To make it stand, she rubs it.

To make it stiff, she licks it.

To put it in, she pushes it.

It is a hell of a job threading a needle!!!

I can't agree more. My eyes are failing me. They are not like what they were before. But I still are able to do my stitching. Just much slower now.

I am updating this at the Internet cafe in Ipoh. Can't post a picture of the project I started here. Forgot to bring the USB cable along. Will promise to post it once I return home.

2008-11-18T19:33:00.004+08:00

Uh, Oh.......it has been ages since I updated this blog of mine - sorry about that.

My fields of sunflowers stitching - is still on going. The progress is very slow.

Looking at this picture here and the last one I had posted in October. There seem to be not much difference does it ?

Pathetic.

No one to put the blame on except myself or being distracted by other things. The end of year holidays are here. I don't foresee much stitching being done although I have a few new projects lined up.

2008-10-26T21:37:00.002+08:00

I am going round in circles again. Pick up where I left off the last time. Hoping to finish this piece by next week.

2008-10-16T23:55:00.000+08:00

My boys tell me that this looks like an army of spiders from afar.

Does it ? :)

2008-10-05T19:43:00.002+08:00

Latest update of my present stitching.

I know I am not suppose to do it this way, stitching all the same colours at the same time.

At first I wanted to finish one flower at a time but I soon realised that the colours are so close together. I might as well do what I am doing now.

There are still lots of space to fill up. Going very slowly as I have been very distracted lately.

Surprisingly this big project of mine does not have much colours. Nevertheless the out come of it will be very stunning.

And I am working towards it, slowly but surely.

2008-09-30T22:46:00.006+08:00

I have changed the skin of this blog of mine. Let's just say I have nothing to do. Too much spare time on my hand. :) And I was bored with the last template.

Popped over to this website - finalsense.com for some templates.

There were other websites but so far this site is the only one I am able to change the template with out much of a headache. Some other sites need their files to be downloaded and then upload to blogger. This part I can't figure out coz I can't unzip the file. In any case I have already decided on this new template.

So, what do you think ? Not bad eh ?

Next is a shot of my latest stitching. This time round I am back to stitching the fields of flowers instead of the circles. I got bored stitching the circles. Going round and round like there is no ending to it. See my last post and you will know what I mean.

2008-09-20T22:13:00.004+08:00

I had promise myself to do more updating but it does not look I can keep that promise. Lately I find myself without much motivation. Might be the beginning effects of the coming exams. Not mine but the boys. I really wish I can ...you know don't have these attacks of anxiety whenever the exams are near.

Anyway this is how far I have stitched for this circles. Looks real easy, doesn't it ? I had been at this for about 2 weeks now. And they are still not completed.

Guess my fingers are occupied with other things. Baking is one of them. Playing around with the remote control of my DVD player, TV for my fav K dramas. Which includes those I watched on line. All those watching must had tired out my eyes. No wonder I can't concentrate on my stitching !

2008-09-13T02:01:00.002+08:00

These two are the latest stitching of mine.

Circles
And a house in a field of flowers.

2008-09-06T18:31:00.008+08:00

The followings are baby cards I made when I heard that a friend was expecting a new baby. That was months ago, long before I knew the sex of the baby. I started with the pink one. Everyone knows pink is for a baby girl. Well, that was what I was hoping she will have - a baby girl.

See, how baby girl mad I am. Not that I want to try for another baby. You never know I might have another boy again. No sirree. No more babies for me.

I am always happy to hear that someone is pregnant. And I always hope they will have a girl. So that I can shop at the baby girl section at the departmental store. Every time I do happen to wander to it Mother will always say " Don't waste your time there ! ".

Come on you must admit that the girls section in the departmental store is always much interesting than the boys section. They have nice pinks, a wide variety of colours of every colours imaginable. Their accessories and clothes are so cute too.

Where as for the boys.....boring. After 13 years of shopping for my own three boys, I can tell you the colours are so basic. Yawn.......
It gets worst when they reach teenage. They tend to lean towards black.
Double yawn.......

So here I am hoping for someone to have another baby, hopefully a girl. I can sent her this pink baby card and some real girly stuff for her baby.

Petit Bebe Pink

Started :- 5th May'08

Finished :- 8th May '08

When I knew that she was expecting a boy instead, I kind of deflated. Know what I mean...

It means I can't shop for those girly baby stuff !!!!! :(

I started on the blue. Petit Baby Blue

Started :- 28th May '08

Finished :- 31st May'08

Design :- Cross Stitcher Issue 198

2008-08-29T17:08:00.005+08:00

Do you know what I found at the bottom of my box. This old piece of Aida cloth. The squares are super big.
8 count ????. I have not used Aida cloth with such a small count for years.
Can't remember why I kept it all this years. Must be that habit of mine, hoarding stuffs.

But I remember where I got it - a small departmental store - Kwong Fatt. Must be when I first started cross stitching.

Anyway I decided to use it, might as well because if I don't it will remain at the bottom of the box for the next few years again. Chose a real easy, kiddy looking pattern. This is going to be a very slow project as I am going to treat it as ' a do it when I want to '

Because of the big squares to cover it uses quite a fair bit of thread. Using six strands of threads through out.

Meanwhile I bought these two packs of patterns. They are patterns for bookmarks. Just can't resist it when I saw them. I have not started on them yet. Most probably be a while as I have other projects lined up.

2008-08-24T17:14:00.003+08:00

Another completed project. A small one but as I had mentioned before it uses loads of colours/threads - 45 in all !

Apples -

Started - 18th August 2008
Finished - 20th August 2008
Design - Thea Gouverneur's Flowers in Cross Stitch

2008-08-24T16:58:00.002+08:00

Finally this is completed. Actually I completed it some time back, I just was not in the mood to down load the pictures and post them here.

Birds of Summer -

Started - 8th May 2008
Finished - 18 August 2008
Design -Lesley Teare, The World Of Cross Stitch, Issue 74

I managed to find and other pattern that goes with this plate of birds. There are suppose to be four of them, representing the four seasons. This here is the summer plate. The other pattern I have is the spring plate. The other two seasons....hopefully they will be published in some cross stitch magazines one day and I manage to get my hands on them.

As you know by now most of my patterns are from the cross stitch magazines. Every month I will visit a certain major book stores to look at the magazines.
And if I like the patterns published I will purchased them. Needless to say I have a mountain of magazines on this hobby of mine. And sooooo......... little time to stitch all of them.

2008-08-17T19:23:00.000+08:00

Here is another Thea Gouverneur's design. It's a small project but boy, there are 45 colours !!!!!
That is one thing about this lady's patterns. Lots of threads used but the outcome of it is a very realistic design.

Halfway stitching my hoop broke. The inner hoop sort of like broke into half. It is one of my older hoops which had seen me through many stitching.
So, now I am stitching this without a hoop. Hopefully I can stitch it with an even tension.

2008-08-14T18:09:00.003+08:00

I have completed the stitching project which was suppose to be for Mother.
Why is it 'suppose to be' since I had mentioned before it was for her ?

It is because she called me up and said that 2 single ones would be better than a long one.
Well, it is completed now and I will bring it along with me and let her decide.

Crocus Panel

Started :- 19th July, 2008

Finished :- 12th August, 2008

Design :- Thea Gouverneur's Flowers in Cross Stitch

2008-08-08T18:09:00.004+08:00

When I told H about the pattern I sent over he .........(you know what ) I should have told him about it. Nag, nag, nag.........

I was thinking it is not like I am doing any business via the net. Never intend to obtain any kind of profit from posting my pictures in my webshots.

Ahhh..... enough said.

This is the latest progress for the Summer plate. I would have finished it by this week if I had not ran out of threads. The threads for the blue background. I thought I had bought extra for it. Searched through the whole box. Came across many shades of blue but not that particular shade. Looks like this weekend I will have to make another trip to town.

Until I have purchased the necessary shade I need, I have been working on the other stitching project of mine. Remember this is the Crocus panel I am suppose to complete by end of this year for Mother. Well, I have added 2 more stalks and working on the 6th.

2008-07-31T20:33:00.001+08:00

Other than the Mr Shark, I managed to stitch another flower for the Crocus panel. 5 more stalks to go. I am actually slowly taking my time with it since I only need to present it end of this year.

The other day there was a nice lady asking for the pattern of the tropical cat I completed previously. She left a comment in my Webshots. It is not always I have anyone leaving comments there. Of course I was thrill. :) The reason for putting up those pictures there was just for my own record and I do not expect anyone to comment on them because the work there are just mediocre.

Once I had some one asking for a beaded shoe pattern - left a comment at Webshots too. But I did not share that with her because the one she wants was something I modified from another pattern. Yeah, I know I am selfish when it comes to certain things.

Anyway I sent a copy of the tropical cat pattern to this lady. I actually tried to scan and tried emailing it first. But of course I had to make sure it will go through by sending it to myself first.
No can do.
Don't know why but I can only guess that I need to shrink the file first. That I still have not figure out how to do. I am still not that tech savvy when it comes to the computer. So the pattern is now on the way to her via the snail mail. Most probably reach her in a week or so.

We corresponded via email. She was actually willing to pay for it. But I sent it to her FOC.
To tell you the truth I don't know how to charge her even if I want to. Postage cost about $1.10 and I made the copy from my printer. How to charge ????

Shows that not only am I non-computer savvy but I am not business savvy too.

2008-07-31T12:25:00.003+08:00

Grrrrrrrrreetings..............

I am bored with the present stitching I have, so I dug around for a simple one to stitch.

Cute ? I finished it in 2 days. If you want to count the hours it will be less than 48 hours.

Started :- 26 July '08
Finished :- 28th July '08
Design :- Cross Stitcher Issue 198

2008-07-27T02:59:00.002+08:00

Remember I mentioned in my last post I need to stitched one for Mother. Well, here it is :-

A crocus panel. But only 2 is complete at this moment. It is a row of crocus. I think I know what Mother is going to say - "chek tan tan".
Mean while I have been busy stitching and trying to complete the plate of birds. There is still a lots more to stitch. From the background to the back stitching.
And yes, Sis this is for you, once it is finished that is. :)

2008-07-18T10:06:00.005+08:00

My Tropical Cat is completed. A cool cat sipping a cocktail in the sun at a beach somewhere.....
How I wish that is me instead.
The picture I took is not that good it turned out dark.

Started - somewhere in June (forgot to note down the date)
Finished - 16th June 2008
Design - Cross Stitcher, Issue 201 - Margaret Sherry's free kit.

I was talking to Mother the other day, they have fixed up the missing air condition compressor that had been removed by those metal thieves. They have to get the whole set even though the air condition is still in good condition. That cost them RM$ 900 +++ Cursed those metal thieves.
This time they fixed the compressor up on roof. No more back at the same location which was on the ground. Hopefully those thieves won't take it away again. Mother found out from the contractor that there was one home with 3 air condition compressor missing in one night.

Why am I rambling about this in this blog, reason coming up....it is because they have to reposition the air condition in the house. The old one removed and left lots of cleaning up for her plus two big holes on the wall.

This is where I come into the picture. Mother had asked me to do a cross stitch to cover up those holes. So I will be looking through my books to find one that is big and not too small, just enough to cover those holes. Yup, measurement given by her. Guess I will have to finish them by end of this year. That is when I make my annual trip back home.

Come to think of it I do need some motivation and 'pressure' to get into some serious stitching. I have been slacking for a while choosing easy and cute ones to stitch. That won't do for Mother. Not to her taste. I have something in mind. Hopefully she will like it.

Now I need to dig in to my stacks of cross stitch books, get the necessary threads , cloth and start sewing........

2008-07-03T22:08:00.004+08:00

Other than the usual housework and updating my other blog. And boring the pants off my readers with pictures and more pictures of stones from my trip to Angkor I have managed to squeezed in some stitching . The tropical Cat is coming along nicely. The green for the trees need to be completed and that will only leave the back stitching to do. Once that is done it is complete.

Sounds real easy, doesn't it ?

I just need to find more time to stitch it.

Next, the summer bird plate is still half done. This is how far I have manage to stitch. Lots more to stitch before it can be completed. :(

2008-06-23T21:37:00.003+08:00

I have not updated this site for some time.
Well, I have returned from Cambodia more than a week now. I just can't find the momentum to start sewing my lst project (see last post).Instead I have started sewing on this cute little cat here. It comes as a free pack from the Cross Stitcher magazine. Small and easy to sew. But I am still not in the real mood for any sewing. Must be the holiday mood I am in which I can't seem to shake off.

2008-05-29T20:09:00.003+08:00

I am going to give this a rest. Going to do something else - like finish the cards I started sometime ago.

One thing about this present sewing. I don't get bored with it. There is always something different to sew. When I am sick of the birds I have the flowers in the border to work on.

I am stopping here because I need to finish the card which is for someone else.

2008-05-25T16:51:00.005+08:00

Last night after I got bored with the birds I stopped sewing. Decided to browse through my cross stitch books. Came across this book. A very old book. In fact it is my first cross stitch book. I remember I bought it at Kong Fatt - a departmental store in the Ipoh.
Flipped through the pages and they brought back memories of my past projects.

Like this one; I made a piano cover with this few designs.

Note, I was very green in cross stitching then. I remember I brought this sewing to school once and my art teacher told me I had been sewing the crosses wrongly. Showed me the right way to do them. I am forever thankful to her since then.

These 4 ladies I did twice. Once for myself and the other one for my aunt, as a cushion cover. In turn she place the cushions at the back of their car window.

After flipping through I decided to start an easy one. One that I do not need to search through my box of threads for the right colours. One that I can finish in one night.
In the end I decided to do the letter "M".

As a scissors fob with my initial on them. I still need to find some stuffing for it. Until then it is kind of flat looking.

I was sewing the whole thing on my bed. H came in to sleep and we ended up chatting away until 3 am with me sewing away.

2008-05-24T15:00:00.003+08:00

Even though I find it a pleasure to sew this. I did not manage to progress much. Only got the head of the other bird up.

Blame it on my diverted attention towards the TV. Ya, more K-dramas. :)

The school holidays had begun. So, maybe I will be able to sew more.

2008-05-21T16:21:00.003+08:00

Added another bird to the group. Still have a lots more to go. It's been a joy to stitch so far. I can't wait for all the birds to be stitched.

Now my #3 is calling those 'headless' birds - freaky.

Hm...... maybe I should work on some of those back stitches.

2008-05-15T12:02:00.003+08:00

Remembered I mentioned I started another new one. Here it is. Started on the 8th May, a week ago.

Upside down !
And this is how far I have stitched.
I only realise I made a mistake yesterday. A wrong colour on the three birds. Going to unpick them but H said it looks fine.

Will see.....

Btw my boys mentioned that those two brown birds look headless.
They just need some back stitching to form the heads !

2008-05-09T20:06:00.003+08:00

I completed the beaded shoes yesterday. I thought of putting them on Slide to show the progress of the shoe from start until completion.

I started this project last year. I can't remember the actual date until I checked with the pictures in my album - 16th August 2007. I was all eager to start in the beginning, you can see the dates were quite close. Later on when it came to the second half of the shoe I started slacking. It dragged on until this year when I wanted to use my embroidery stand for my cross stitch.

2008-05-09T17:20:00.002+08:00

Finished the birds and I have started on another new project. Birds again but this one will be slightly bigger.

Birds and Berries

Started :- 18th April 2008
Finished :- 5th May 2008

Design from :- Cross Stitch Collection, Issue 150

2008-05-03T00:17:00.003+08:00

Last few days I had not been sewing as much as I would had like to.

Reason being :-

Filling up all those brown for the 3rd bird is bor.....ing !
Reading up the temples in angkor.
And on Worker's Day went seeking free-air-conditioning due to the blistering heat we had - 33 Celsius.

Anyway I made up for it today and manage to complete the last bird, remaining leaves and berries. Now to tackle the back stitches.

2008-04-27T00:54:00.005+08:00

I did not manage to start on the last bird because I was out about in town yesterday - running some errands. So I decided to do the back stitches on the leaves in the evening.

I know, I am not suppose to do them until I have completed the rest of the stitches.
But I just can't resist seeing how they will turn out with the back stitches.
Look nice doesn't it ? Especially when you compare them to those leaves without the back stitches.

2008-04-24T19:53:00.004+08:00

This piece of work is coming along quite quick, eh ?

I worked a lot on it yesterday night and this morning when the boys were at school. I just can't wait for the second bird to be completed.

Now I am going to work on the other remaining leaves. That is when I move myself away from the PC.

2008-04-22T22:32:00.002+08:00

This is my progress. Completed some of the berries and going to start on the next bird soon. But I keep getting distracted by other things around me. :)

2008-04-20T21:38:00.003+08:00

Here is the little birdy I have been working on . There are still more to come. Would have progress further if I was not occupied with other things such as blogging and don't forget the ever unfinished housework.

2008-04-19T22:35:00.004+08:00

While up dating the pictures in my webshots album I notice I forgot to post this finished work.

Three monkeys hanging over the letter M. Describe my life to the T.

Want to know why ?

M being the first letter in my name. I am born in the year Monkey according to the Chinese zodiac.

I too have three monkeys hanging all over me.

Let me introduce them to you. #1 always up to something. #2 with his favourite fruit and rounded tummy. Lastly #3 who is still clinging to my legs and trying to be cute.

Started :- 5th April, 2008

Finished :- 12th April, 2008

Design :- Margaret Sherry's Alphabet from the Cross Stitcher, Issue 194

2008-04-19T21:29:00.003+08:00

This is the first time I made a scissors fob. It did not not start out as one. The design was actually for something else but I realise I made a mistake somewhere along the way. Being too lazy to unpick I came up with the idea of a scissors fob.

My embroidery scissors is just a normal pair of scissors which one can pick up from the street market. Cheap but most of all it works. Much cheaper than those from the craft stores. It originally has a jade fob (still attached) which my Father brought back from one of his China trips.

I must admit that since I attached the new fob on it it makes locating the scissors much easier.

My new project. Part of a bird shown. Got this design from one of the recent magazines I bought. Last year's cross stitch magazine. Something new, therefore I am in the mood to do as much as possible. Hopefully will have the whole bird for show soon.

Other than that my other older sewing's are still around the Xmas cards. My excuse here is I still have until end of this year to complete them. One of the reason why I started them early.
The unfinished beaded shoes are still around. Since I started the new birdy sewing, looks like the shoes will be abandon.

2008-04-10T14:35:00.009+08:00

Did some progress on the beaded shoes. As always filling up the background is boring. But I need to finish it because I need the frame for a larger cross stitch project.

Meanwhile until I finish the beaded shoes I can only do smaller sewing. Usually with or with out an embroidery hoop.

At the moment I am sewing this letter M a design by Margaret Sherry.

So, it is not a frog, but three monkeys. Cute eh ?
It is sewed on a 14 count Aida. The design uses Anchor threads but I was too lazy to go out to town to purchased them. So, I used the remnant DMC threads and matched the colours as close as possible to the original ones.

2008-04-06T20:00:00.005+08:00

The following are my work in progress.

The Xmas cards

Bored with that I started another new one.
A simple project.
A frog ???

Lastly the beaded shoes - where I am really dragging my fingers over.

2008-04-04T21:13:00.004+08:00

The following are such beautiful designs.

Cliff Top Poppies
Evening Sun

Host Of Poppies

Nope I did not do these beautiful work. I was surfing the net and came across them.
These three designs are from the Anchor Premier Collection. And they are way beyond my budget. :(
But I hope one day I will be able to purchase at least one of them.

Meanwhile I am dragging my feet/ hand with the beaded shoes. The beads can't seem to fill up the spaces. I am ashamed to say this, this piece of work is now more than a year old .

2008-03-15T17:24:00.003+08:00

Wow.... I have not updated this site for some time now. Actually there is no new projects. Still the same old ones.

For the beaded shoes; I have started on the second half of the shoe. That is as far as I have gone.

I am still with my X-mas cards.

Did not start any other new sewings. Mainly because I spend most of my free time on K drama and the boys studies.

2008-02-05T15:35:00.000+08:00

Due to my recent fascination with Korean dramas I have not updated this site for some time.

This was completed last month but I just never got around to post it. The original pattern is a sampler with two kids at the beach right in the center with that border you see here surounding it.

I only completed the border and intend to stick a picture of my boys right smack in the center. What do you think ?

Meanwhile I have not started any new sewing yet. Most probably will once I return form Ipoh, after the Lunar New Year.

Started :- 7th January'08

Finished :- 29th January'08

Design from the World of Cross Stitching; issue 74

Happy Lunar New Year. Have a wonderful Rat year.

2008-01-18T12:13:00.000+08:00

Here I was telling myself I need to spend less time on the computer and next thing I know I am back at it. Can't seem to pull myself away from it. Made worst since my Sis introduced me to Facebook. Lots of Super poking, games.......

But I have steeled myself from going near the computer. Now a days the computer is on most of the day, everyday since the boys need to do their assignments via the net. The urge to check or surf the other blogs is so great a temptation.

Have to remind myself there are other things for me to do. Such as the housework (never ending) and my sewing. Plus CNY is just a few weeks away. Only made a simple fruit cake and the rest of the baking I will leave it to later on. Most probably to nearer the day.

And don't forget the dusting and so on.........

But I still find the time to do my sewing.

This is how far I have gone for this Seaside sampler. I intend to leave the center empty. Use the borders as a frame for a picture. Maybe stick a pictures of my boys taken at the seaside.

Apart form all that I have mentioned above, life is pretty slow.

2008-01-09T15:49:00.000+08:00

The weather for the last few days were down right miserable. Grey skies for two straight days. My clothes are all drying indoors. It is beginning to look like a laundry shop.

Needless to say there is not much light for any sewing. But I manage to start a new project going. Had put the cards aside - well their dateline is 11 months to go. :)

A very cute and girlish, childish thingy.

2008-01-06T19:48:00.000+08:00

Last Christmas the cards I made were not as good as I would like them to be. I decided to make them on the spur of the moment. Went out looking for the cards to the cross stitch but all were nearly gone from the shelves. Those left behind were not what I want/need.

So this time I decided to start them early.

This is kiasu. I know but it beats hurrying and doing lousy designs in a rush. Now I have the whole year to complete them.

Most probably will only post the finished sewing when it is nearing Christmas. Now I don't want my recipients to know what they are going to receive. :))

2008-01-03T20:28:00.000+08:00

My first post for the year 2008. For the Chinese Lunar Year this year will be Year of the Mouse.
So I made one to commemorate the Year of the Mouse.
Started it last year and completed it right on New Year's day.
Another cute design. I am beginning to like this artist works. The animals are so live like and cute looking too (some of them).
Used beads instead of French knots.

Door mouse

Started - 21 Dec 2007

Finished - 1st Jan 2008

Design - Pollyanna Pickering; The World of Cross Stitch; issue 74