As you can see, I really have been stitching but I have greatly pared down the scope of projects. Thanks to someone who has successfully cured me of serial starter madness (I type this as I hear imaginary groans from all around the world), and I now rotate 3 projects, instead of 23.

For a while, I Was one-at-a-timing by stitching Celtic Banner, by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum... for the second time. My first Celtic Banner was gifted to a friend (who, alas perhaps, left it at his former flame's house). I've always loved the length, and the beautiful blending threads, as well as the subtle complexity of colour shades in this very very unique band sampler, but let me tell you, finding the linen (Glenshee....which is skinny and long) is a bitch. I phoned Drema at Needlecraft corner, and was told, no, it couldn't be found, and ditto some other shops.

At some point, I was considering switching some threads and stitching it over 1, on a long piece of evenweave but my pal Brenda contacted me one day and said "I have it as a WIP and I don't think I'll finish it, so do you want it?" And you can guess I jumped on it quicker than you can say "Happy Dance"... I have to say, the colour was lighter than the first one's fabric, and it actually made the colours pop a little more. Every moment spent on this sampler was an absolute joy. I wouldn't do it for the third time, but really, realising the second version really made it feel like it came full circle for me.

And the bonus: DH loves it!!! Thank you again, Bren!

Here's the sampler in its entirety:





As for the WIPS, I'm currently on a rotation for 3 pieces, like I said. Keeps the starting madness well at bay, and there's some actual visual progress at the end of each stitchy session:

Mette Puttfarcken, on Pg 3, now looks like this:




And DMC's Peacock, it is a nine pager, and I got lazy about fabric, so I decided to put it on 16ct aida. Besides, I tend to keep linen aside for samplers, or for Mirabilias, etc. So this is Pg 1 in the beginning.





And a new start, to commemorate the new year (like I said, 2010 in the second half was rife with issues and problems from unexpected parties, and stitching and blogging depleted to nothing), this is Metal, an art reproduction piece by Maria J William. I'm stitching this in tandem with my sisters... by which I don't mean biological (I dont have any...thank god), but my sisters in spirit, Joyce and Novia. (Incidentally, they, too, have no biological sisters, so it is perhaps fateful that we met and we just connected). Joyce is doing Fire... isnt she so sexy! And Novia is doing the beautifully demure Earth!

Metal has been assigned to me, because she looks like she could kick ass, go to a KISS concert. Oh, and because, according to Nov, because she has got the biggest boobs... (not much to see at this point... it's just a white blob)




Can you tell the girls push me around!

As an ending note, I just wanted to say, that I am so thankful for my stitching friends. They're as always, a source of support, comfort, joy and sharing... and I'm happy to call these people not just friends, but real family!

It's been a while since I've been back, haven't I?

Almost a year, and so many changes have been done in life in under a year. The past six months were quite frankly, an eye-opener and not one that I care to repeat.

One long long geographical move, not including the cultural acclimatisation. Seeing all good intentions crumble to dust, big sacrifices completely trivialised, by the people you made the sacrifice for.

Relearning the meaning of friendships and blood ties...some good, some bad. And now, moving on along.

I've been stitching, but not a lot. In the midst of all the chaos and emotional crud, I also lost all desire to blog here (mainly because of the meagre stitching progress), but since its a new year and my stitching sisters, Joyce and Novia and of course, Soozie (aka Flossitute on some BBs) have been so supportive of EVERYTHING, hey, doing those tiny little X'es are just a reminder to keep sanity intact, and when all else goes to pot, make a new start.

Pictures will come in the next post!!! Happy 2011, everyone!

I've realise that I've been letting the pictures tell the story (and why not, right?) Lots going on in real life, of course.... shop's busy, work is non stop, family is up and down, pets are busy (and have recently multiplied... oops)...

And then we came to the whole point about project managing (cross stitch project, la). My WIPS were whittled down last year thanks to a spectular year spent on finishing. Not the most exciting (ok, I DID do a few new starts but I also finished a bunch of stuff)... but when I decided to throw caution to the winds for 2010 stitching, it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks... I have too many WIPs which pull me seven different ways from Sunday... and when I prioritise them, there's always something that says "Work on me" or "Start me". (starting obviously is more fun).

So in 2009, the grand plan was 1 main WIP, 1 sorta kinda WIP in focus, and it worked out great.
In Jan 2010, it was "Stitch what ever I damn well please"
By early Feb I had begun to see teh signs of projects about to burgeon out of control. So obviously, a rethink is needed. Boooo, hiss.... I know, I know

In the immediate future, I want to
continue working on Turandot.... I LOVE the art, and I Want my dad to love it too.
finish Name of God
finish Madonna.
finish White Lightning (joyce will be so proud to see so many F-bombs)
restart Celtic Banner, Bagatelle
start Hanky Pysanky
finish (maybe? haha) Auspicious Argosy. Should be quick and painless... PINN charts are huge and I am stitching this on grey aida
start DT Sanctuary (hahahahhaha!)
start Grand Marquoir 2009 (JL Grandsire)
start St Reatham, St Georges, Rosemarkie, all in HDF
finish Celle 1824
Find something to do for Novia's new one, and something for my Dutch nephew, P
continue stitching on Metta Puttfarcken 1811, Paradigm Lost (and obviously, stated starts)
Also considering stitching Bois le Duc. Have to work on my Longdogs...
maybe take up Spanish Rouge (or Spanish Poiple) that I inherited from Joyce
hrm, what else. Oh yes. Pelin Tezer's Sailors need to be done
Start a Mirabilia queen

As you can see... already out of control for Feb. Better whittle down the WIPS soon or DH is going to make noise and he has been indulgent so far (Even rush drove me to the LNS to buy my 28 x 35 inch 22 ct Oslo for Metta Puttfarcken). doesn't complain when I order HDF (Even if I use a small amount) Except when he sits on my Piecemakers. Then he gets very hissy fitty. I can't help it if Piecemakers are sharper...

Oh ya! I have finaly decided what to do with Madonna. I was RAKed that chart and the DMC and I lOVE stitching Mirabilias now (what took me so freaking long to discover that, as Sooz says). Well, I'm not Christian and neither is DH, so I'm likely going to gift it to a good friend. Think I'll gift it to Karen, who is a wonderful girl and a supportive, constant friend and has always been there. I owe her more than she thinks... the support and the listening ear when I had issues, and even what she taught me in my rookie year as a reporter... more grit and courage and integrity I learnt in 2 weeks with her than a lot of young journalists these days compile in five years. well, I have all the beads and filament, so here is hoping when it finally gets put in her hands, she will like it.

And here's some pics of WIPs, hehe:





Madonna of the Garden now: (thank god the fruit are all done)


Can you see the skirt better now?

And my new start... the gigantic reproduction sampler, straight from Sabine Tarterra-Gundacker, called Metta Puttfarcken. Done on HDF duochrome. Bought two hanks for it, hehe. This is a tiny dot in place of wehat is to come. and the floss toss:







I have a floss toss for Paradigm lost too (of course I can't do it in only one color... duhhhh) but I will save that for another time.

Lots to do, and not enough done! So let's just get on with it, shall we?



This is a new start. One of many planned for this year.... (it's going to be another wild ride)



TURANDOT , HAED... going far too slow!!!! But I am trying hard. My father doesn't een know of this project.



and the Name of God is now like this:



This is MAdonna of the Garden now:


I was also bad... I bought a German Vierlande sampler (Mette Puttfarcken 1811), and soon I will also do Frau Puttfarcken's daughter (one day, one day....)

Ladies and gentleman, may I present this blob which is officially the start to Kinuko Y. Craft's Turandot. Dad is going to love it when it is done ... hopefully it won't take too long.... the chart is only 42 pages... yicks!




I am also stitching their 38th anniversary sampler, which will go into active rotation once the Name of God is finished. THe Name of God has officially past its 50% mark.

And the Madonna of the Garden is now like this:

Boy.... pick up a hobby 5 years ago and it is a downward spiral (when it comes to managing projects, sleep time and stash) but what fun. I'd never have made friends with some of the best people in the world if it wasn't for cross stitch. I think you all know who you are, from all parts of the world!

Anyway, I have been remiss in posting updates but I have two new ones to show. Apologies for the long-ish absence in Blogspot but there's just been a lot of personal stuff I had to deal with. For one, my dear dad had to undergo major surgery, which was stressful for everybody involved. He is now recovering and is back to his old jovial self, for which I am so thankful.

Anyway, on to WIPs. For some reason, while I am not the religious type, I have been working on religious cross stitch! Here is a stitch I am doing for Joyce. It was meant to be a secret but we are like sisters and we can't keep anything from one another (must be a Malaysian-living-in-the-US thing... or maybe we're just so close)... So she outed herself on a secret project for me, and what do I do... I do exactly the same.

Now that it is no secret, this is for her. I do this 1 strand a day minimum, so it is a slow and steady progress. My Big Toe's The Name of God:



And my first Mirabilia. OMG why did I wait so long to stitch Mirabilia... they are super easy and fun. Madonna of the Garden. Dunno who is gonna get this one... I might just keep it for myself. This is the bottom left corner.




Now, I have a few projects lined up for 2010 (about 12 to 15, honestly... this is so screwed...) but to help to herald in the new year, I have been given encouragement to start Turandot, for my dad. He's had a rough enough year that I want to stitch this for him. It's going to be a HUGE undertaking, and I don't have all my floss yet but Hobby Lobby is opening in January and I will make a trip out there. (or since they also go online, I might just order online when tax season hits).

This is what it will look like (below, lah!) the artwork is by Kinuko Y Craft. Why Turandot? Well... my father loves music... and what better way to remind him of me than to put a difficult, crazy, unpredictable (but hopefully unforgettable) Chinese princess on his wall?




I hope I can finish it quick (or at least, reasonably promptly). God knows I can't afford the real thing. The original painting, done oil on canvas, sold for US$60,000.

Here she is, a happy dance! Designer is Indigo Rose. Special thanks to my pal Magi who introduced me to this amazing sampler designer!




And here are some more progress pix...

St Sylvestre. I am stitching this, Rosemarkie and St Georges and I'll be presenting them to my brothers (2 of them). Then we'll each pick the one we want the most... so it symbolises us being part of the same family but all so very different. I have a sneaking suspicion that Bro no 1 is eyeing St Syl





I have also started my parents' wedding anniversary sampler, which I want to give to them in time for their 38th next year. I think it is in April. I think. Err.





Oh, and have I shown the latest pic of Peregrination yet? I am not sure but here it is anyway. Nine Lives (picture over it) is my half of the sampler, Peregrination is R's.