tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-248456602024-03-14T21:45:45.518+08:00CraftyPretender ProjectsCraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-3062353429701478982014-02-17T11:17:00.001+08:002014-02-17T11:17:48.970+08:00Wipocalyse Feb 2014: An Asian slant and the SBCC announcement!No, the title was not entirely tongue-in-cheek deliberate. Yes, I'm fully aware of the word play :)<br />
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I'm too lazy to split my posts into two separate topics, so I'm going to do this alphabetically.<br />
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First on the agenda:<br />
<b><a href="http://chatelainestitchers.blogspot.com/p/sbcc.html">The Stitching Bandits Chatelaine Challenge</a></b><br />
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This is a SAL cooked up by my dear sisters Joysze and the Sexy Fairy, who, after years of cajoling me into stitching my first Chatelaine piece (and me trying to make up my mind for the same period of time), in order to bolster both my ambition and will to stitch this, finish this and frame this!<br />
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So after many times and countless emails and telephone conversations, which featured Joysze at her persuasive best, me waffling over this piece or that, and figuring out the currency conversions and saving up for it, we finally decided that if I were to stitch only one Chatelaine piece in my life ("It won't be your only one," she said with conviction), this would be it. Since the decision to do this apparently took about the same amount of time and patience on their part to wait for Halley's Comet, they decided to get everyone along on the ride. I do have the best stitching sisters in the world, and I'm so thankful for it!!! So... if you're working on a Chatelaine or plan to start one soon, please join in, because we're throwing in a gift certificate, which will be given away to a lucky winner of a raffle, at the end of the challenge.<br />
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Next, the <b>Wipocalypse post</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wisdom,</i> by Joan Elliott</td></tr>
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Since Chinese New Year lasts for two weeks, and I wanted to do some stitching on something Asian, what more appropriate than Joan Elliott's Wisdom? <br />
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I typically dislike stitching brown, especially the dull dusty colours, but this has been very interesting. While Joan Elliott has a great knack for colours like blues, teals, greens and purples), and has produced more geishas in recent years, I keep finding myself going back to her earlier ones like this -- probably because the face seems more artistic than realistic, and her layering of the girl's fabric and understanding of Japanese cotton motifs is excellent. Btw, since I love working in sets, I'm thinking about stitching Beauty (gold and pink kimono) and Grace(purple kimono) after this, and hanging them together in a row. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!<br />
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Finally, this next part is not a stitching subject but an embroidery subject. One of my brothers is (finally!!!) getting married to his sweetheart, and I've been rather excited about it. From the planning to the finish, it's going to be busy, and along with it comes the ever-fretful question: what to wear? Well, the choices are between a cocktail dress (not yet purchased), a Chinese qipao (also not yet purchased) or should I give a nod to my Straits Chinese heritage, lose some serious weight around the middle and squeeze my big balloons into this <i>nyonya kebaya?</i><br />
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OK, before we proceed further, here are some references made simple:<br />
The garment in question can be made to end anywhere from the hip to the knee, but it is onlyalways a top! obviously, a corset or a camisole is worn underneath to prevent, erm... nipplage. The most luxurious ones are made of Swiss voile (this one that I took a pic of cost a whopping RM2,800, or USD900!!)<br />
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The flowers are largely traditional motifs (peonies, chrysanthemums, lilies and some butterflies are traditional, roses (which come up off and on) are not but are also popular - these are then carefully embroidered into the fabric, and then the lacy part is essentially elaborate cutwork. So... a genuine piece is practically a work of art that goes on your body. This one has traditional colours (we like blues and teals and oranges), with peonies and some butterflies in it.<br />
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The blouse has no buttons, but is fastened together with jewelled pins. The pins can be the same size, and be connected with a chain like this:<br />
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Or they can come in a set of 2-3 pins, typically called "mother and child" -- the "mother" is the biggest pin, obviously, and the child/children are represented by the small ones. Like this!<br />
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It is complemented at the bottom with a batik sarong, either made of cotton or silk (I prefer the latter for formal occasions). The sarong is either a) a very large rectangle of cloth that the wearer has to fold and pleat and tuck securely into her waist (my preferred method) without any pins or accoutrements, or b) the rectangle is sewn at the sides together to form a large tube (still loose), which is cinched by a belt - which is traditionally made of silver.<br />
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Put together, you get an ensemble like this: (I pinched the images off the Internet)... oo look, pretty aunties in beautiful nyonya kebayas.<br />
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Addendum: on Straits Chinese:<br />
these are descendants of Chinese people who came to Malaya as traders, before the large wave of immigrants left their Chinese motherland out of poverty, desperation and starvation to work here, largely as manual labourers or tin miners.<br />
As the ancestors of the Straits Chinese can be considered the "first wave" of immigrants, and they were mainly dudes, they married into the local population and assimilated local culture into Chinese tradition. The result of this is a unique combination of attire (see above), speech (it's the closest thing to pidgin Chinese), cuisine (complicated to cook, artfully balanced and entirely addictive) that is still practised today, even though the ethnic subset of Straits Chinese is on a decline. The closest comparison to Straits Chinese that I can give would be the Creoles of America -- never belonging 100% to either or any of their original "ethnic ingredients", and creating a culture entirely of their own.<br />
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Speaking of cuisine.... I'm hungry. But to get into that sort of garment, it's going to be a salad, and anything else. Grrrr!!!! Until next time, readers!<br />
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CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-15571251134684012232014-02-06T11:09:00.001+08:002014-02-06T11:09:33.206+08:00A Lunar New Year might require a new startIt has been slightly over ten days since my last post - and I haven't allowed my blogging to fall by the wayside again, hehehe. Picking up this blog has reminded me how shitty/rusty my writing has gotten, how many eyeballs I used to have but have left this blog, and has given new impetus to the act of stitching and showing progress, not only to friends old and new around the world, but also to myself.<br />
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Stitching has been rather slow since finishing Paradigm Lost, although I managed to finish another page of Mette (see <a href="http://craftypretender.blogspot.com/2014/01/big-mama-chatelaine-challenge-and-other.html">previous post</a>), but much of that was due to a difficult January (did I mention that my job stresses me out? - time to change that) and one that was filled with getting lots of errands done and getting ready for the Chinese New Year. You know, shopping for the family, getting the cat ready for his long weekend alone, making sure the house is all clean, etc.<br />
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Since the Chinese traditionally follow a lunar calendar, and the moon decided that Jan 31 is the first day of the year (and seeing as I phased Jan 1's new start), I grabbed an easy project to take out of town with me.<br />
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Here is my unofficial new year's new start: Midsummer Night's Designs Medieval Mermaid. On a piece of 32ct linen scrap, using one of the DMC colour variations for that wavy sort of feeling LOL<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive season stitching (but not theme-appropriate)</td></tr>
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I spent CNY at my late grandparents', and stayed a little longer to commemorate the 49th day after my beloved aunt's passing. According to Buddhists, after 49 days, the soul moves onto the next phase... what it is, whether rebirth or sitting around waiting for afterworld bureaucracy to get in order, is anyone's best - but however it is, I hope she is where she wants to be and she is happy. I've been wanting to stitch a commemorative piece in her honour, because scarcely a day goes by that I don't think of her - and sadly, that I didn't spend as much time as I would've liked with her.<br />
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I don't know what yet - but maybe <a href="http://www.europeanxs.com/cgi-bin/chat_detail.pl?CDZenGarden-">Zen Garden</a> would be a great choice. Come to think of it, as she was a devout Buddhist - I can't think of a better one, what with the tranquil gardens and four fish and the four Buddhas looking over north, south, east and west. (ok, so... stitching plans for 2015 has just begun...)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvY3kqf-Fy5X4JkNSffVuoUAHvZd6HpQ599mBHnadzqg0Vklrm4YEEr4r8LjXNbKKNdG54ouj4UPk4RFIKyC0Ph89_4t4AOeJH7HxdS8d6PJcpsMafFr64WIOR05rNW-hLPDe/s1600/20140111_172721_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvY3kqf-Fy5X4JkNSffVuoUAHvZd6HpQ599mBHnadzqg0Vklrm4YEEr4r8LjXNbKKNdG54ouj4UPk4RFIKyC0Ph89_4t4AOeJH7HxdS8d6PJcpsMafFr64WIOR05rNW-hLPDe/s1600/20140111_172721_resized.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><br />
In other news, one of my brothers-from-another-mother (I have a few) decided to take up Chinese ink painting. This means it's majorly black, on rather thin sheets of Chinese rice-paper, which has an odd texture. I decided to keep him company, but apparently... I'm pretty crap about sticking to a monochrome in painting... (warning: it's not very good)<br />
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I think a little Asian-themed stitching is up next, seeing that it's another eight days until Chinese New Year is over. So... that Wisdom geisha will get a little attention. Till the next time, my friends.<br />
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<br />CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-78497436303465633012014-01-26T20:33:00.004+08:002014-01-26T20:33:48.450+08:00Big Mama, a Chatelaine challenge and other miscellaneous thingsWell, I took two days off from stitching - which didn't help with my stress level but freed up my hands - after finishing Paradigm Lost. For some odd reason, while I have plenty of books and spent the two days thereafter reading, it felt like my hands were not occupied enough and sure got restless to a point that I had to pick up another WIP.<br />
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YUP, not a start this time, but a WIP!<br />
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OK ok... <span style="font-size: x-small;">maybe a tiny little start which I dare not post pictures yet.... sssshhh...</span><br />
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Getting back to the WIP, I pulled out a three-year-old piece, Mette Putfarcken 1811/1824. Here's a link to Sabine Taterra's site, if you want to purchase a copy or any other of her gorgeous reproductions: <a href="http://www.samplers-berlin.com/index_en.html">European Reproduction Samplers</a> Mette is a 19th century Vierlanden sampler, originally stitched in black and what looks like a bit of chocolatey red. It also spans over 40 pages. Some people accuse me of being a masochist, but really, I don't know what they're talking about :)<br />
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Anyway, could you imagine stitching on all that black? I couldnt... so, ahem, I swapped some colours: to purple (main colour), pink (offset colour) and a spot of blue. This piece is mainly cross stitch, and it is huge -- some time, I'll post a piece in its entirety and you can see how big the piece of fabric can get.<br />
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This is Mette, on Pages 16-16 - there's a ton of great detail stitching here, which is great if you like intricate designs like I do. Off and on you'll get to do some long stitches or sort of erm, satin stitches, but they would be very easy to do.<br />
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OK, I'm a colour whore. So sue me :) For a better reference: These are colours picked off Vikki Clayton (ie Hand-dyed Fibers)'s Ultra Violet and Rose Quartz range -- I also think that any combination out of those two would work. The blue is from one of her mystery floss skeins, so I can't tell you what it is exactly.<br />
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As Mette tends to be a piece I stitch in-between (ie it is a piece that helps me transit to the next 'Target WIP', she gets pulled out off and on and worked on a little bit. I never have an end-deadline goal for her, because .... well.... 40-something pages of purple, pink and blue again and again and again... need I say more? However, because of the frequency of stitching this, she is never boring and always a joy.<br />
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Aside from that, here's some food pictures. Steamed clams in ginger, wolfberries and Chinese wine at a Thai restaurant I went to recently: (This is mainly for my sisters' benefit, because they're not living in Asia but they... ok I'll stop before one of them clobbers me):<br />
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And the on my own last week, not such a great pic but what the hey: sourdough bread, with black forest ham, rocket leaves, tomato, Harvarti cheese, spicy mayonnaise:</div>
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Last, but certainly not least, my stitching sisters and I - ie <a href="http://joysze.blogspot.com/">Joysze</a> and well, the <a href="http://stashaholicsanonymous.wordpress.com/">Sexy Fairy</a> and I, who are not related by blood but feel like we've known each other forever - have managed to cook up a SAL for Chatelaine pieces. I think it's going to be a real blast and worth dipping your toes into -- so if you are an experienced stitcher or are just keen on dipping your toes into your first Martina Rosenberg masterpiece, come and join us here!</div>
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The original post is on Joyce's blog; <a href="http://joysze.blogspot.com/2014/01/chatelaine-challenge-teaser-and-video.html">http://joysze.blogspot.com/2014/01/chatelaine-challenge-teaser-and-video.html</a></div>
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After several discussions, there was a minor change to the rules (which makes things much easier): </div>
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Do join in -- and whisper in my ear what project you'll be putting up onto your scroll rods, Qsnaps, etc. Mine is Chinese Garden Mandala -- which will be winging its way courtesy of Joyce's wonderful mom and dad. </div>
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Until the next post (and possibly a new WIP pic)... have a great week ahead! </div>
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<br />CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-52054302242722247672014-01-19T21:45:00.002+08:002014-01-19T21:45:24.357+08:00IHSW Jan 2014 - Finding the borders of Paradigm LostFirst off, please share with me the joy of finishing my first stitching project -- and a major one -- for 2014. And also my maiden post for IHSW!!!! Oh, the IHSW boss - ie Joysze - was so proud :) (also, since she's pretty much non-blood family, she was almost obligated to be teeheehee)<br />
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Oh yes, and IHSW does not stand for I Hate Stupid Wankers (although I DO).... it stands for International Hermit and Stitch Weekend, which happens for the third weekend every month. You need to sign up for each month to participate, which is great because it doesnt necessitate your attendance for 12 months, but when you want to and can commit to it.<br />
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For more information, kindly hie thee attention to the right hand frame of this blog and look for Random Ramblings, and click forth and explore.<br />
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Here is Big Blue... no no, not the IBM computer, but one of Julia Line's most iconic samplers, Paradigm Lost. Shit, the pic is kind of too small. grrr.<br />
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I started this mother of a sampler on Jan 1, 2013, hoping to finish it last year. If I wasn't distracted with finishing a certain huge-ass peacock piece ( the piece was huge, not the ass of the peacock, I mean), I could've met my goal. But then, some of you readers know me, and know me well.<br />
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I get bored. Quite easily. Staying the course for this one, at times, was not easy because so many other projects call for my attention and it helps my motivation levels that I get constantly tempted by some of my cohorts to plan or start some new projects. Towards the end, as with a lot of other projects, stitching the last part is difficult and it stretches and stretches - you know, kind of like how some marathon runners hit the wall" (not that me or my plump backside would know anything about it first-hand).<br />
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This section (pic below) dragged for-fucking-ever!!! Finally, when all the cross stitches were nicely laid in, I took THREE yukky hours putting in the single-stranded backstitch (while watching Law and Order on DVR) when it should ideally take just one. Well, having a big pint of Hoegaarden in my gullet could've also slowed down the speed, but ahemmm, who's telling? :)<br />
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So, scrolling back up to the first picture (yup yup, scroll up, cos it's there) you might have noticed my overly-ambitious "2013", right? I was cocky enough to think I could wrap this sucker up by 31 Dec, and I'll tell you, I had to eat a bit of crow when i realised that the due date had past, so, what's a girl to do but to tell people that it was the START date, and not the finish one.<br />
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That said, it's a jolly good thing I haven't tagged Mette Putfarcken 1811 (or was it 1824?) as 2010.... hehehehe.<br />
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Here's the nitty-gritty -<br />
Fabric; 28ct annabelle (Zweigart no longer makes this... Zweigart, sometimes, you guys are idiots! this is a lovely evenweave)<br />
Threads: DMC 820 and DMC 3842 (I am effing sick to death of DMC820 now).<br />
Stitching companion: My ginger and white moggy, Horatio, who occasionally thought the WIP, when spread out for pictures, was a freaking RUG. (Horatio was not present at the time of the photo-taking, as he was conveniently inconvenienced at the WC when I whipped out the camera).<br />
Mishaps - minor frogging, but other than that, all ok. Frogs don't often visit Chinese stitchers, cos... you know, we eat every damn thing anyway, and kung pao frog legs taste awesome.<br />
Stitched in: my apartment in PJ, my friend Marcella's condominium in Bangsar over some weekends, some parts of it while visiting my grandparents' house in Penang and my brother's pad in Singapore.<br />
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Dang, this WIP's been in some places.<br />
But it is a WIP no more.<br />
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Next one to conquer: Either Joan Elliott's Wisdom geisha or My Big Toe's The Name of God. Any votes?<br />
I welcome all feedback in my comments, unless you're trying to sell something. (in the event of the "selling something, I cordially welcome commenters to eff off) The last comment I got (which was, of course, never published), some buttbrain called Anon (yea yea) tried to sell me some pills that promised to enlarge my nonexistent manhood.<br />
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Oh well, live and let live.<br />
<br />CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-2520529140422187952014-01-14T13:13:00.002+08:002014-01-14T13:13:15.917+08:00WIPocalypse Jan 2015 - Big Blue is almost thereI do apologise for my tendency to rename projects that I'm working on - but sometimes, when you've been diligently slaving away on something, doesn't it almost feel like you're preparing to give birth? (not that I would know anything about that first hand).<br />
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It does feel rather nice to be writing a little more actively again -- I've got a job that does more fixing than creating and no matter what they say about doing what pays the bills, there is something about the latter that feeds the soul in the matter that feeding the tummy doesn't quite satisfy.</div>
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But enough rambling! For WIPocalypse in January, I am posting progress pictures of Long Dog Samplers' Paradigm Lost. Stitch for stitch, I think Julia Line is possibly one of the most talented cross stitch designers around, for her marvellous eye and sense of colour and balance. Better yet, in all of her pieces where she stitched the model, she eschewed linen (thereby snarking in the face of some fabric snobs - which I love. the snarking, not the snobbery, I mean) and went full force on aida!</div>
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I've had photos of its progress in my phone but for some reason, only managed to upload a few of them.</div>
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Paradigm Lost under a flash.</div>
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Please excuse the furry fabric weight.... he can't keep away from the WIP at all. Luckily, he doesn't use it for a rug! </div>
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This was last month (under no flash) </div>
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These pictures below were taken about a week ago. As I move closer to a finish, the leg of the stitching marathon feels lengthier and the run toward the finish line seems to be harder. It always gets this way towards the end, and I cannot help but think, perhaps this is the point where I need to say goodbye to it, and while I look forward to it, I'm also bidding farewell to a marvellous time and a great series of hours put into creating it -- so it is a little happy, but a little sad as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU99G2fLI6OaRoIMY1RTSU87mUU00co0haOIfUjzqIQnIC7fyNAkwUUQrvsA9ykajHBMXvCU3ubYR8Bx7BFPjRAHse3V3aLxcr4DmfIoN0q_w0GmJoUag60HRBYSVhK5OvR9QN/s1600/20140105_153342_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU99G2fLI6OaRoIMY1RTSU87mUU00co0haOIfUjzqIQnIC7fyNAkwUUQrvsA9ykajHBMXvCU3ubYR8Bx7BFPjRAHse3V3aLxcr4DmfIoN0q_w0GmJoUag60HRBYSVhK5OvR9QN/s320/20140105_153342_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a>A close-up of the dragonfly (now finished).<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A finally, as of 3 nights ago - you can see how close it is, how big it is and errr, my toes. The toes will end up becoming a fixture in pictures, for which I don't really apologise. Even if you're a foot fetishist. Erk.</span></div>
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My friend Joyce who owns the <a href="http://joysze.blogspot.com/">Random Ramblings blog</a> has asked me to join the IHSW. International Hot Stitchers Week? I Hate Sour Whiskey? I don't really know what is, but what Joyce says, I follow :) (It's a complicated relationship, that one).<br />
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I'll post more once I figure out what I'm suppose to do about it. </div>
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CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-63429219990967847502014-01-08T02:09:00.002+08:002014-01-08T02:14:22.539+08:00Another year, another WIPocalypse, another series of plansOne of the most interesting things that I've learnt about my bad habit of really being able to start a lot of new projects and being extremely poor about finishing them is that - no matter how good intentions are and what it takes, plans have a great way of going awry. Sometimes, though, in the best sort of way.<br />
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Looking back, my attempt (in the midst of a very busy and stressful 2013), my last blog post was in 2013! And after battling even more stress, life changes and possible depression a few years before, is it any wonder that this blog, which is about eight years old, was in need of a thorough overhaul.<br />
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So, an overhaul it is.
I tossed out the old layout and customised a new one - although suspect that more changes will come according to whims.<br />
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Apparently, changing to the new layout also managed to lose all of my old links, so for all my blogging friends or other (similar) blogs who would like to be linked, please drop me a comment!<br />
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I made a pledge to myself to be more creative and crafty from now on, even if this means losing sleep. For creativity is like a beast, it really misbehaves when you don't feed it. Feeding the craft addiction is also something like that.<br />
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I made a pledge to write more often (which means this blog provides a reason NOT to dodge this activity).
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Since other blogs that were started have fallen on the wayside, I also decided to amalgamate all my activities that I would blog about - stitching, tatting (not really), art (sometimes), sometimes writing, cooking, eating and general ranting are all going to be placed... you guessed it... here.<br />
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Aside from that, Kevin Tober, that marvellous enabler/comrade/stitching partner in crime has nudged me towards WIPocalypse 2014. Since 2013 was not the greatest of stitching years (although I finished that DMC peacock .... pictures in a later post), 2014 should be a new year and a great one for a new leaf. Right? RIGHT?<br />
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So.... WIPocalypse. On Kevin's direction, I went to Meari's blog: (you can also join in...the more, the merrier, right?) t<a href="http://measi.net/measiblog/wipocalypse_main/2014_wipocalypse-basic-info-sign-up-page/">he WIPocalyse blog</a> and Joined.<br />
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Yeah! Am committed now!
Also looked at the list of participants and was encouraged to find his name there, along with Gothtigger (FB buddy and fellow cat lover) as well as my sister-from-another-mother, Joyce, who owns the amazing Random Ramblings blog. (Speaking of sisters, my other one Novia - if you're reading this, Nov - I seem to have lost your blog in the great reformatting process).<br />
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So getting back to WIPocalypse:
Here are my projects to work on this year:<br />
1) Paradigm Lost (will finish this even if it kills me)<br />
2) the Name of God (My Big Toe)<br />
3) one of the Vermillion Stitchery International Bears (Even if it kills me too!)<br />
4) Flamenco (Papillon Creations)<br />
5) Stained Glass Peacock (Kappie Originals)<br />
6) Mette Putfarcken 1824 or 1811... forget which (Sabine Taterra at European Reproduction Samplers)<br />
7) Wisdom Geisha (Joan Elliott)<br />
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The list will change as the year progresses ;)
Also, some new starts have been planned: Mirabilia's Sleeping Beauty, a Chatelaine, a Sara Guermani and ... hmmm, maybe a Joan Elliott again.<br />
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So here's to a new start again. Some stitching, some drawings and ... yeah, CraftyPretender will be featuring <b><i>food porn </i></b>in time too. Because, you know, even the creative types get hungry. Especially when they're stitching.CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-74185848217707562552013-03-01T22:23:00.001+08:002013-03-01T22:23:12.881+08:00OK, so I'm roped into the...WiPocalypse!!!!!
Kevin, over at Cabbages and Kings <a href="http://cabbagenkings.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-2013-wipocalypse.html"></a> sent me an email and it's hard not to say no to that darling fellow -- especially since he's a prince among enablers and a stitchy PIC (partner in crime).
I know the WiPocalypse has been around for a while, and I think for a while, my galpal Joyce joined it, too. I've no idea what the rest of 2013 is going to garner but it's high time some major X'es are put in!!!
Here is my WIP list...
here's my list
1) Mette Putfarcken
2)That peacock (DMC)
3) Kappie Originals peacock
4) Flamenco (Papillon Creations)
5) PAradigm Lost
6) Bagatelle
7) Metal (the erstwhile Stab and Stash)
8)Plight of Fancy (Longdog)
9) Four seasons of Cirques (all Cirques in the four seasons colours) on a single piece of fabric
10) Houses of Hawk Run hollow (insert guilty giggle)
11) Grand Marquoir 2009 (JL Grandsire)
12) The Name of God
13) my grandparets' dual sampler -- again, my bad habit of putting a series of matching samplers on one piece of fabric -- it's Four Oaks' Rhapsody in Blue and Love Song
technically, I have 17 WIPS but I incorporated some into two pieces of fabric for 2 projects... I know, I know, dig that hole deeper, right?
The active WIP at the moment is Paradigm Lost (A pic to follow soonish)...CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-83412123165816773162013-02-11T18:35:00.001+08:002013-02-11T18:35:08.712+08:00Paradigm takes shape, but slowlyNot posting a lot, due to work and schedules and feeling generally tired, but I have been clinging on to sanity through stitching.
The Chinese New Year is upon us, and along with that, is a new work schedule and a resolution to get a little healthier and saner, and hopefully accomplish more at the same time.
On the stitching front:
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I made Paradigm Lost one of my starts for the end of the year (breaking resolve in the face of errr, itchy fingers). For years and years, I've coveted and wanted to stitch Paradigm Lost. When I got the chart about six years ago, I don't know what phased me - maybe because I was stitching a lot of Ink Circles at the time and Tracy Horner tends to print brighter, bigger and easier to read charts. I had started PL a few years back and frogged it -- which was a surprise because I've tackled larger pieces before.
Anyway, it seemed like the right time -- and so it has. Though it is growing slowly as it doesn't seem to be the WIP I am focusing too much on, it is a rather enjoyable stitch and I love the pristine contrast of the blue against the white fabric.
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This peacock, on the other hand, is growing quite well. Still a bunch of nice colours to work with but the tans and light greens tend to get blurry after a bit. The next section, or page 5, will be the middle one in the far right column. More feathers... erk...
And last but not least, I've just finished Page 12 or 13 (lost count) of Mette Putfarcken.... lots of tiny little stitches in purple and pink, and I do love it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Until the next post... take care, readers! And thanks for dropping by! I don't blog as much as I used to anymore but I appreciate it when you read when I try to: )
CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-9072048506222768622013-01-23T22:53:00.000+08:002013-01-23T22:53:12.632+08:00Feathers and foliageThe past three weeks have inched forward at a snail's pace, stitching-wise. Lots to do in the "real world", especially for work. However, I can't complain -- it can be a lot worse!
My mojo has been meandering since that last Mette update, one day at this and the next day at somewhere else. On Jan 1, I bit the bullet and started two Longdog samplers -- because it was high time i actually put some X'es to the work of the fabulously talented Julia Line -- so i am doing Paradigm Lost (blue floss, on white annabelle evenwewave) and Bagatelle (snow white floss on navy blue lugana). Hmm. See a micro "trend" emerging? :) Not a lot done, of course, as per my bad habit of stitching a few X'es in a start and tossing it aside.
I would say, however, that stitching Longdogs require a mindset - you really need to be in a mood for it and once you are, it's really enjoyable.
In a SAL, I also began Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - and thanks to the browns (my latest favourite colour after yellow), it is on Square 1. No pix of that yet. My friends Sooz and Kevin are also working on it (Sooz is powering along like a freight train and leaving us in the dust) - and I'm quite ashamed to admit that I've not worked on it for a couple of weeks.
Some progress to report though: the peacock as of last week:
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and here's a picture of my handsome stitching companion (who only grabs floss if you dangle it, bless his heart)
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Till the next update... ta-ra!
CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-46876185784878917712013-01-02T21:35:00.000+08:002013-01-02T21:35:24.742+08:00And into the third columnNothing much to report.
Christmas came and went. Other people ate like crazy. I dieted.
New Year came and went. Other people ate like crazy. I dieted.
Oh, and I started two new Longdog samplers - Bagatelle and Paradigm Lost, both on 28ct. So they are gonna be HUGE!
This is what happens when you get too fat! LOL Anyway, as work schedules are set to change soon (and I am so looking forward to that) I expect to read more, draw more, stitch more and create a whole lot more.
On the stitching front, the mojo meandered. I started HRH (Houses of) but couldn't find the mojo to stick anywhere but Mette Putfarcken. As a result, I knocked out almost 3 pages worth. Not much, but considering it is 48 pages, that's... 1/16th of the whole chart :)
Here's a pic! More pictures in a few weeks, of other projects I hope!
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CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-36318295956895460962012-12-10T02:14:00.000+08:002012-12-10T02:14:12.336+08:00Fine-feathered FriendOK, it looks like my sort-of pledge to blog somewhat regularly given an ultra-busy schedule might be panning out.
So, remember that peacock? And how I bitch constantly about stitching with yellow? I still bitch about yellow. And now, it seems, lime green too! But I'm almost done with the top part of the bird, and I am dead sick of DMCs 166,167, 3819.... but on the bright side, after plodding along on the stupid feather fronts, I got bored and stuck in the eyes of the feathers - orange, @#$@#% yellow, dark blue, brilliant peacock blue (easily one of my favourite DMC colours) and some orange and peachy orange and suddenly, it popped.
So here it is now, pending the background, which is mainly just half stitches, so it should go quickly.
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So after all that bellyaching, I thought, ***k it! Let's work with a different colour scheme! I'm a purple ho, so I moved on to a long-neglected WIP, the great Mette Putfarcken 1811-1824 ( by which I mean that the chart is great, not my work on it), done by Sabine Taterra from European Reproduction Samplers. Sabine is quite amazing (Google "Samplers Berlin" to access her site) - and no slacker in the stitchign and charting area too. Without her, I don't think we'll have the chance to do repros, even if someone here breaks the colour rules. :)
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(Pardon the toes. Unless, of course, you're some kind of foot fetishist. Yick).
And a close-up:
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Mette is stitched on 22ct Hardanger, bought at the now defunct Counted Stitches, in South Carolina (*sob* I really loved that LNS), with HDF silks, in Rose Quartz some-number and Ultraviolet some-number. Dont' you love how specific I am? :)
Till then, gentle readers, :) I need to do some drawing in the week, and stop stitching for a few days or get my butt kicked for procrastination!
CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-31747054908451350512012-11-24T13:32:00.001+08:002012-11-24T13:32:28.195+08:00The Return of the Serial StarterIt has been many many moons (almost two years, from the looks of it) since I have done any blogging for stitching. In that meantime, I dropped the hobby, picked it up, dropped it again and picked it up again. An aunt (who I regret to say does not have a very commendable attention span) originally told me years ago that I would only be stitching for a year or two before getting bored.
Eight years down, I'm still proving her wrong.
Blogging is kind of fun and in a way, one of the decreasing ways for me to indulge in self-expression. Plus, one of my FB user groups was talking about blogging and she linked my big sister Joyce's blog: <a href="http://joysze.blogspot.com"></a>
And I just missed the quantum of chatter and crafty perving over other people's things :)
Add to the fact that I have once again, started to develop a slightly out of control amount of WIPs.... (and Joyce will surely kill me if I don't work on them)... so I am hoping the pictures will be of some motivation.
So far this year, aside from a smallish Mirabilia finish (more on that in another post), I tried to do a trio of quakers from Wiehenburg - the Rose, the Dragonfly and the Butterfly. I finished the former two before finding my quaker mojo fizzing out -- so Butterfly is put on the backburner, after consulting some of my stitching circle. For the time being.
Here is Rose and Dragonfly:
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And the next WIP in the wings to be worked on.. (just so I can sneak in some new starts)... the DMC peacock (sorry, I took the pic at night). This sucker is kind of big but he is on aida and spread over nine parts. I'm going to work on this for the Blame Kevin Tober SAL (on FB)
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So.... a return back to this blog, and hopefully, more regular updates. At least once a month, I promise... gulp ...
CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-32955809660866180002011-01-12T14:47:00.006+08:002011-01-12T14:58:59.546+08:00Stuff up to now!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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />And the bonus: DH loves it!!! Thank you again, Bren!<br /><br />Here's the sampler in its entirety:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedDRtGvC63GJU18XivlqOmE3IV8_WIYsoUNOciyoykrJEU4LR7Z7gA0rTLIpITWa9Cf-7OLyYB7ZNfa_ZhIkzjl82RW4qEmml-iAuunEZxh4P9M6RUdqRB0AgSbbxDuwyoVY1/s1600/CelticBannerEntire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 68px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedDRtGvC63GJU18XivlqOmE3IV8_WIYsoUNOciyoykrJEU4LR7Z7gA0rTLIpITWa9Cf-7OLyYB7ZNfa_ZhIkzjl82RW4qEmml-iAuunEZxh4P9M6RUdqRB0AgSbbxDuwyoVY1/s200/CelticBannerEntire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561188719778973426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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:<br /><br />Mette Puttfarcken, on Pg 3, now looks like this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03yt5ERdsa67GxOhEeAE2Tc04mpf2mpmcSF0bGGv_TD1sl0gRHN1WrCTo0ZcRT8sBwc1bdtkYnTTPFW6g9QrmVlQQ4n9SSH5SEkicXDCPC-HXUWajtkGyCDBf5AswdWA_w2zU/s1600/BigMamaWIP1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03yt5ERdsa67GxOhEeAE2Tc04mpf2mpmcSF0bGGv_TD1sl0gRHN1WrCTo0ZcRT8sBwc1bdtkYnTTPFW6g9QrmVlQQ4n9SSH5SEkicXDCPC-HXUWajtkGyCDBf5AswdWA_w2zU/s200/BigMamaWIP1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561189001710706802" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKXi986G_G13effNLAE3TMYkBzNEOqaVq4G7g4x7Odk0EP2xw7GKPeUs10xEOiDFK_SAAvsjtAfO2YKDtR7q_5Ji7lqzTHp1u4w5LvbABuI2V3sk-1cwi0HJosr1l36ZtM5v4/s1600/PeacockWIP1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKXi986G_G13effNLAE3TMYkBzNEOqaVq4G7g4x7Odk0EP2xw7GKPeUs10xEOiDFK_SAAvsjtAfO2YKDtR7q_5Ji7lqzTHp1u4w5LvbABuI2V3sk-1cwi0HJosr1l36ZtM5v4/s200/PeacockWIP1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561189505862016386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />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! <br /><br />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)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_0wIz5NiCQBZWJyCyPs7vBHsoSMdYt0tARZDzBRuS-ns6Kan2nVaMFGcEwI3U5zRhfs9htHghVio1t69cMYaa6pfQ9Q6X2KcaLo-8R1hgcxa5UDziZFBZp3rdsDp28pzsNeJ/s1600/Metal+Pic+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_0wIz5NiCQBZWJyCyPs7vBHsoSMdYt0tARZDzBRuS-ns6Kan2nVaMFGcEwI3U5zRhfs9htHghVio1t69cMYaa6pfQ9Q6X2KcaLo-8R1hgcxa5UDziZFBZp3rdsDp28pzsNeJ/s200/Metal+Pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561190090871307122" /></a><br /><br /><br />Can you tell the girls push me around! <br /><br />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!CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-67748400598382982812011-01-04T15:01:00.002+08:002011-01-04T15:09:45.059+08:00New year and resolutionsIt's been a while since I've been back, haven't I? <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />Relearning the meaning of friendships and blood ties...some good, some bad. And now, moving on along.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Pictures will come in the next post!!! Happy 2011, everyone!CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-21581063449665038852010-02-22T11:02:00.008+08:002010-02-22T11:21:25.449+08:00Managing the dreck and drossI'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)... <br /><br />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). <br /><br />So in 2009, the grand plan was 1 main WIP, 1 sorta kinda WIP in focus, and it worked out great. <br />In Jan 2010, it was "Stitch what ever I damn well please"<br />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<br /><br />In the immediate future, I want to <br />continue working on Turandot.... I LOVE the art, and I Want my dad to love it too.<br />finish Name of God<br />finish Madonna. <br />finish White Lightning (joyce will be so proud to see so many F-bombs)<br />restart Celtic Banner, Bagatelle<br />start Hanky Pysanky<br />finish (maybe? haha) Auspicious Argosy. Should be quick and painless... PINN charts are huge and I am stitching this on grey aida<br />start DT Sanctuary (hahahahhaha!) <br />start Grand Marquoir 2009 (JL Grandsire)<br />start St Reatham, St Georges, Rosemarkie, all in HDF<br />finish Celle 1824<br />Find something to do for Novia's new one, and something for my Dutch nephew, P<br />continue stitching on Metta Puttfarcken 1811, Paradigm Lost (and obviously, stated starts)<br />Also considering stitching Bois le Duc. Have to work on my Longdogs...<br />maybe take up Spanish Rouge (or Spanish Poiple) that I inherited from Joyce<br />hrm, what else. Oh yes. Pelin Tezer's Sailors need to be done<br />Start a Mirabilia queen<br /><br />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...<br /><br />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. <br /><br />And here's some pics of WIPs, hehe:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNcb1GKPFi7lIZHbA6efvuk36Yfp3s2DoTU6T7T1Et06_AxQlcS_DYBfkbGf4chORpNHAD0IgDvvNG92tQGC218YjTH-EONcjM0FZwiJyEwT-R-mZI-1NcrVsJE7FiWDQ9tgX/s1600-h/DSC_0317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNcb1GKPFi7lIZHbA6efvuk36Yfp3s2DoTU6T7T1Et06_AxQlcS_DYBfkbGf4chORpNHAD0IgDvvNG92tQGC218YjTH-EONcjM0FZwiJyEwT-R-mZI-1NcrVsJE7FiWDQ9tgX/s400/DSC_0317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440901934097004018" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Madonna of the Garden now: (thank god the fruit are all done)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWTnZj1Hf-ndMN8jV0njnrddsfu_ooXAnMld9_zldQH3RYdZALbsTWZ626DNMDQv5Ded_cT9YA6rAiqA0GmB4YeAaX6lQJWAmWL-rTx6_Vlopw9KNAL3NsqaiCAB3D704Rr2H/s1600-h/DSC_0316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWTnZj1Hf-ndMN8jV0njnrddsfu_ooXAnMld9_zldQH3RYdZALbsTWZ626DNMDQv5Ded_cT9YA6rAiqA0GmB4YeAaX6lQJWAmWL-rTx6_Vlopw9KNAL3NsqaiCAB3D704Rr2H/s400/DSC_0316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440901454277469074" /></a><br /><br />Can you see the skirt better now?<br /><br />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:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnLdOXdtTPd6j0FpyQSbSKJXHTYAJbdc6S-0g6nflAaleaWVZ8wAiCdyODYPXiCPKmquGu4Aq-q0ZrcocPc67zHPyukQ2ykTVSfzdCWbPyCKNv8WJaeZ1XNGYs6DKUmcGGImK/s1600-h/DSC_0312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnLdOXdtTPd6j0FpyQSbSKJXHTYAJbdc6S-0g6nflAaleaWVZ8wAiCdyODYPXiCPKmquGu4Aq-q0ZrcocPc67zHPyukQ2ykTVSfzdCWbPyCKNv8WJaeZ1XNGYs6DKUmcGGImK/s400/DSC_0312.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440902161786308386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu449G4XfVrfTbbs_-avRWtCW7-0X4uygbgECyiGdp-CFydSoiuJtY702QWHmjDcQYsicbApoFRp_mqcDuAXq6PqAUTAbE_GGTtMY3rRUG7ErLECXm3OCUXBpyHcJKJniGL7mA/s1600-h/DSC_0317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu449G4XfVrfTbbs_-avRWtCW7-0X4uygbgECyiGdp-CFydSoiuJtY702QWHmjDcQYsicbApoFRp_mqcDuAXq6PqAUTAbE_GGTtMY3rRUG7ErLECXm3OCUXBpyHcJKJniGL7mA/s400/DSC_0317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440902519152051874" /></a><br /><br /><br />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.CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-20140499697965590522010-02-11T04:13:00.007+08:002010-02-11T04:22:49.478+08:00Updates, updates!Lots to do, and not enough done! So let's just get on with it, shall we? <br /><br /><br /><br />This is a new start. One of many planned for this year.... (it's going to be another wild ride)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hZuiiCbNPmedCGMXoi_wtfnPJVUCGh0QfYCscosUNde62L50uclBAH1vOkHc-xQ7-icOb5GU8EqZ88bsvn-HmOEIA8_iDBcUP6NzVbUH7WR7N0CNHxXqeXOix-8IoXR6PRsD/s1600-h/DSC_0308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hZuiiCbNPmedCGMXoi_wtfnPJVUCGh0QfYCscosUNde62L50uclBAH1vOkHc-xQ7-icOb5GU8EqZ88bsvn-HmOEIA8_iDBcUP6NzVbUH7WR7N0CNHxXqeXOix-8IoXR6PRsD/s400/DSC_0308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436711176021292370" /></a><br /><br /><br />TURANDOT , HAED... going far too slow!!!! But I am trying hard. My father doesn't een know of this project.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj293_yJvqYpJiosQiQqFzNjVQBeEkyruX-4dq_ullZXg3UWuZw-IMKsRLxIyw01ZFntWzYXt1jNwElVSvBSZAG4cZJxCRdSsE1a3smzRJPujFdU4z4z3xRd3gRXBNin3HlQhmu/s1600-h/DSC_0307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj293_yJvqYpJiosQiQqFzNjVQBeEkyruX-4dq_ullZXg3UWuZw-IMKsRLxIyw01ZFntWzYXt1jNwElVSvBSZAG4cZJxCRdSsE1a3smzRJPujFdU4z4z3xRd3gRXBNin3HlQhmu/s400/DSC_0307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436711165572290290" /></a><br /><br /><br />and the Name of God is now like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDMDSHXn9ZTktU8E_WnhKTiKlNls2hbOG0Xb6xB_FAqFcEnvKpr_8Q7BPGcElXIK9S7fjP5Vc2zJOZQ_bR0BXwwmChrmpQwVgRQiLdyVkP4uwTEMdMp-ZZUaEVZVwU9RhUTQv/s1600-h/DSC_0310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDMDSHXn9ZTktU8E_WnhKTiKlNls2hbOG0Xb6xB_FAqFcEnvKpr_8Q7BPGcElXIK9S7fjP5Vc2zJOZQ_bR0BXwwmChrmpQwVgRQiLdyVkP4uwTEMdMp-ZZUaEVZVwU9RhUTQv/s400/DSC_0310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436711804746003042" /></a><br /><br />This is MAdonna of the Garden now:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhpxlqVyLamdd1h9tmyZlBHOd2I-x2pEP5TGQNCnRB8rsP0csKG0oBkwaA7H7UoEwOCoxvyOW7e2YQL-MbwWP9AALNZNvNiOLH2b2jjLq28g0qNDjXxO40_JcHSP0Gt0aNC6r/s1600-h/DSC_0309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhpxlqVyLamdd1h9tmyZlBHOd2I-x2pEP5TGQNCnRB8rsP0csKG0oBkwaA7H7UoEwOCoxvyOW7e2YQL-MbwWP9AALNZNvNiOLH2b2jjLq28g0qNDjXxO40_JcHSP0Gt0aNC6r/s400/DSC_0309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436711798636098210" /></a><br /><br />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....)CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-35961016192226003252010-01-06T05:53:00.004+08:002010-01-06T05:58:59.392+08:00A new start for my dad!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!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehWJQnpp4etMrAe6zz90Ex2jTMgCe7HUhMdvyqZBiMkMwpSMBvd5YKnwGHmW-Tb3aO5NUztWoHzFRk-7arFfXbQ4695H8Vwgzj59HFSOZOvRwmY7RfCXtf8ChNGhqN58E3aAJ/s1600-h/DSC_0305.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehWJQnpp4etMrAe6zz90Ex2jTMgCe7HUhMdvyqZBiMkMwpSMBvd5YKnwGHmW-Tb3aO5NUztWoHzFRk-7arFfXbQ4695H8Vwgzj59HFSOZOvRwmY7RfCXtf8ChNGhqN58E3aAJ/s400/DSC_0305.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423377929990500258" /></a><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />And the Madonna of the Garden is now like this:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-2YQygU3TleMXAXkqlF578eON8EMaC3nMIinvqI5RPojTmYxDH8aMy5jC7sCjTnAj_l9NCzMN9qviWVO2_VdM3-MV9r5IbTP4hnNl7vcw1JqVynFKK7vF91q0nZp8HXv7nxJ/s1600-h/DSC_0304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-2YQygU3TleMXAXkqlF578eON8EMaC3nMIinvqI5RPojTmYxDH8aMy5jC7sCjTnAj_l9NCzMN9qviWVO2_VdM3-MV9r5IbTP4hnNl7vcw1JqVynFKK7vF91q0nZp8HXv7nxJ/s400/DSC_0304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423378404787187650" /></a>CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-891485022783460632009-12-24T08:35:00.002+08:002009-12-24T08:48:22.092+08:00Looking into the next decadeBoy.... 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! <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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:<br /><a href="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h91/happytigress/NameofGod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 777px;" src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h91/happytigress/NameofGod.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a href="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h91/happytigress/Madonna.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 784px;" src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h91/happytigress/Madonna.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />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). <br /><br />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? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.theiogallery.com/images/artists/kinuko_craft/Gold_Medal_Illustrators_35.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 564px;" src="http://www.theiogallery.com/images/artists/kinuko_craft/Gold_Medal_Illustrators_35.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />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.CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-70001940629193050762009-12-02T05:15:00.005+08:002009-12-02T05:40:40.018+08:00My Brenda is done!Here she is, a happy dance! Designer is Indigo Rose. Special thanks to my pal Magi who introduced me to this amazing sampler designer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwa2TmifuysaKWm04avmRXv6ImguKdpZF_k0pONCvCel2dIz-7SRJtV88gqXnh7k7yxbd2XKPuRPhkBT_q7QvI9jFFMIJhgbqaZHLpx-WZufueJIvefRWCk3bLNpW3O0NQDjCy/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwa2TmifuysaKWm04avmRXv6ImguKdpZF_k0pONCvCel2dIz-7SRJtV88gqXnh7k7yxbd2XKPuRPhkBT_q7QvI9jFFMIJhgbqaZHLpx-WZufueJIvefRWCk3bLNpW3O0NQDjCy/s400/DSC_0312.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410384791948575266" /></a><br /><br /><br />And here are some more progress pix...<br /><br />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<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH9XHOnpEp5FX2Dhz5_fk4DSaf8gZbuyJenFmfSFPJocoBByfkZmp2zMaSdJCSk3aYm4wEqlKHX9uIzGUS4QkkOabQUTrnsk3rPn6DNXo9YZUtkZK3xSx3CXAQ7r7tDYTL7SF/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH9XHOnpEp5FX2Dhz5_fk4DSaf8gZbuyJenFmfSFPJocoBByfkZmp2zMaSdJCSk3aYm4wEqlKHX9uIzGUS4QkkOabQUTrnsk3rPn6DNXo9YZUtkZK3xSx3CXAQ7r7tDYTL7SF/s400/DSC_0314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410385119725548050" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />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. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJyZvQ5x9W39QnjebhLoGK0E3NZq71gxLz4S_ECZPAnOMKu3IMKlV7SZyTnc_RB9GeVR8aQ7v8vkPu_SinafMcrjGdcSnvsCnKcGD2uWI2hmXaNBDHPqJ0VfhEsaLGUONdS16/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJyZvQ5x9W39QnjebhLoGK0E3NZq71gxLz4S_ECZPAnOMKu3IMKlV7SZyTnc_RB9GeVR8aQ7v8vkPu_SinafMcrjGdcSnvsCnKcGD2uWI2hmXaNBDHPqJ0VfhEsaLGUONdS16/s400/DSC_0315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410385328268584002" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />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. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdHFpoXeqE2ZG_LYsiN8-MD9WN8FYSkkj8tX0JCSA_CJK6AsV_U8oczm9FmFfTpUtJoPdgoVyFCvgs1ua46DlkVAvWGCWKWV5woIwILMuYVzD-F2pxV9usfnfC0tRYuwOUhUy/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdHFpoXeqE2ZG_LYsiN8-MD9WN8FYSkkj8tX0JCSA_CJK6AsV_U8oczm9FmFfTpUtJoPdgoVyFCvgs1ua46DlkVAvWGCWKWV5woIwILMuYVzD-F2pxV9usfnfC0tRYuwOUhUy/s400/DSC_0313.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410385764406624498" /></a>CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-66345152182756941692009-11-15T02:05:00.003+08:002009-11-15T02:10:20.853+08:00The 10 day road to ruinIt starts with two people talking. I can't say that any good sense or brains may have been involved. And it always starts with one of my closest stitching cohorts. Joyce is the culprit, of course.<br /><br />After unsuccessfully trying to get her to start her Chatelaine Japanese Garden... my god, the woman already owns chart and kit and fabric is no issue, ... and she is waiting on Jan 1 before dipping her hands into those silks and beads??? <br /><br />She is now concentrating on stitching Mirabilia's Circle of Friends in 10 days. That is, start, finish, bead, Kreinik, everything. Then I made the mistake of suggesting that I stitch alongside her for something.... couldn't decide so that woman named Peregrination. <br /><br />At first (in our excitement induced stupor) we thought we could do it... well, after 4 days, we are seriously rethinking it...there is less time than we thought and I think our efforts may be valiant, but... I'll just let the pictures do the talking.<br /><br />The before pic is below. THis is the pic as of yesterday afternoon:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUm2eLMbEGFpg13PiuRLMZGH6SSXtO5anjitdovpqWySBKdIaIgLQ8xdyEyXfKChrAMq3Gw2PW9X0YbNpmybvnKD7CfBlGRw1ZKQZRNTGiRoVingAbW_rE0fJ8TwkcmXVemGSB/s1600-h/DSC_0308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUm2eLMbEGFpg13PiuRLMZGH6SSXtO5anjitdovpqWySBKdIaIgLQ8xdyEyXfKChrAMq3Gw2PW9X0YbNpmybvnKD7CfBlGRw1ZKQZRNTGiRoVingAbW_rE0fJ8TwkcmXVemGSB/s400/DSC_0308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404023245799070834" /></a>CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-2743127383418841172009-11-03T01:35:00.004+08:002009-11-03T01:44:19.446+08:00Finished fans, a new start on green and moreWell, I was meaning to update and blog sometime last week -- but work and an active schedule and a workout routine somehow takes the wind out of my sails and then the next thing you know, you defer blogging until a full seven days has passed... but I guess better late than never, right?<br /><br />Here she is, finally finished. I might send it off to my mother before the year's end... maybe she can frame and hang it for Chinese new year? (but I am willing to bet the unframed stuff I have already given her is still.... unframed....)<br /><br />It is a bit sad that my mom doesn't really understand the immense therapeutic value of stitching because I think she could get into it. But she prefers to sew curtains, etc, so I guess it is ok. My mother isn't very crafty... she prefers TV or books. My grandma is amazing... she could sew, embroider, crochet and she's handed me many a useful tip even after her needlework days are over. (And my god, can she cook)<br /><br />Anyway, here is Joan Elliott's Fans of the Far East. 4 years a WIP, teehee. but a WIP no more.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaP4xChg8RwogDyZdeZScRWpwxAqdb8bHboFHQY9rZ1TD8gdbpEDVI9qIOrtHpSQwS7W-O7B9eywrRM2JgSVdwL4g19pdkljRzaq1BCcpcsvcM9y-YwVDxPpQLICsvTpmf5rQn/s1600-h/DSC_0287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaP4xChg8RwogDyZdeZScRWpwxAqdb8bHboFHQY9rZ1TD8gdbpEDVI9qIOrtHpSQwS7W-O7B9eywrRM2JgSVdwL4g19pdkljRzaq1BCcpcsvcM9y-YwVDxPpQLICsvTpmf5rQn/s400/DSC_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399562375506526882" /></a><br /><br /><br />And then after all these finishing, I was just itching for a new start. So, I begun a project ... St Sylvestre, Rosemarkie and St Georges are going to be stitched. Then I'll present them to my brothers, and we'll each have one of them. This is kind of to show we are so different, yet so much alike, hehe. (btw, they are all designed by Longdog Samplers)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdILfMSHpKm-L6lTAFRRW7kbsnWjoZejBESvRYDjs0af0x9Jmm8_F3-QCuuVKTdYBA-XfjIgNwP2aoR_Ide-KlsLJfoM0yuc6G1gAgu65ZBFpkLOfbVImM_UTDpqaAM0QY7QBW/s1600-h/DSC_0298.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdILfMSHpKm-L6lTAFRRW7kbsnWjoZejBESvRYDjs0af0x9Jmm8_F3-QCuuVKTdYBA-XfjIgNwP2aoR_Ide-KlsLJfoM0yuc6G1gAgu65ZBFpkLOfbVImM_UTDpqaAM0QY7QBW/s400/DSC_0298.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399563456440315554" /></a><br /><br />This is St Sylvestre, just a small start:<br /><br /><br /><br />And Indigo Rose's My Michelle. I renamed it My Brenda. Brenda is one of my best friends.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa1Da5vB6Lhoy04rJvBVx9felYDr6DftHYGWWryx5G2yyLLtBHLeZltJjA4Fsm2afmRrGFL-iRBVUrMvnu8jcfThPUNhNuWzjXTfhrnR-JHlFfw3YqHZmJE6Bqbzr7YMQMFG_/s1600-h/DSC_0297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa1Da5vB6Lhoy04rJvBVx9felYDr6DftHYGWWryx5G2yyLLtBHLeZltJjA4Fsm2afmRrGFL-iRBVUrMvnu8jcfThPUNhNuWzjXTfhrnR-JHlFfw3YqHZmJE6Bqbzr7YMQMFG_/s400/DSC_0297.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399563144460398546" /></a>CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-13386154233980670492009-10-15T00:35:00.006+08:002009-10-15T00:41:38.960+08:00The East part is doneI guess I have not posted here for a few weeks, though the stitching mojo waned ever just so slightly... the blogging mojo has been down even worse, and while I used to access blogs constantly about 2-3 years ago, these days there seems to be little enough time.<br /><br />Anyway, Ink Circles stitching is going strong.... Nine Lives is now done. It is the East part of my East and West sampler (both of them in different styles but by the same designer, going on the same piece of fabbie).<br /><br />Here is the West part, as a start: PEregrination<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG37Xdm7BijkjbrHQUkKQKAYTeFrJFIrFObM4xbQaIaUTvPRCkVzN_3SyKsouaC_7OMZcEC3kUsj1C9tFIMgqlA6ST8_DoHHnX9mTZRvXijBYKHu7dzr28I9qNKEJb_3xK7Ma/s1600-h/DSC_0216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG37Xdm7BijkjbrHQUkKQKAYTeFrJFIrFObM4xbQaIaUTvPRCkVzN_3SyKsouaC_7OMZcEC3kUsj1C9tFIMgqlA6ST8_DoHHnX9mTZRvXijBYKHu7dzr28I9qNKEJb_3xK7Ma/s400/DSC_0216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392495914191083986" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the finished East Part. Ink Circles' Nine Lives. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Iv9GbLjnPK-bX63i4pTDJRYN_jpw8_Sn99Cgv8x-FoF7sC4_RwJ3-9IOH59ZqCMnObW56Tvfg7HOKNXibdccko9NtyNjElbHbcdtJxGkVtIo3FDEk2hAhDWbbPOoSI9ELlqr/s1600-h/DSC_0217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Iv9GbLjnPK-bX63i4pTDJRYN_jpw8_Sn99Cgv8x-FoF7sC4_RwJ3-9IOH59ZqCMnObW56Tvfg7HOKNXibdccko9NtyNjElbHbcdtJxGkVtIo3FDEk2hAhDWbbPOoSI9ELlqr/s400/DSC_0217.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392495907515558466" /></a><br /><br /><br />And a badly lit pair of WIPs, from Joan Elliott.... Fans of the Far East.<br /><br />Here is the middle fan, all backstitched:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58eNno7BkqQp3XVEdV7Wk5GHbzJ9jNopV1kUERMTc_UkP97ez0DOR6xJCFxNmty4m6Devy5xzhga-Xu8C6OtaDb-UdpI5eJcs7ndLnz1E4XlA6A1SqYrc7REwdRByYtQGOhNv/s1600-h/DSC_0218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58eNno7BkqQp3XVEdV7Wk5GHbzJ9jNopV1kUERMTc_UkP97ez0DOR6xJCFxNmty4m6Devy5xzhga-Xu8C6OtaDb-UdpI5eJcs7ndLnz1E4XlA6A1SqYrc7REwdRByYtQGOhNv/s400/DSC_0218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392496132049635282" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the last fan, not backstitched. You can definitely see the difference!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM7ocaw3CCDG01geqJiMCy_xW-ZvsUGO_i7ju197b2hdq-P3Bov2ocKSE9lX1NWbCDkP3uht5JIswM4CtahKJB0hC7P1wRI4p91Tmivz5JD0ILf3sXe2-eGtXCBwJmGPnyhbm/s1600-h/DSC_0219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM7ocaw3CCDG01geqJiMCy_xW-ZvsUGO_i7ju197b2hdq-P3Bov2ocKSE9lX1NWbCDkP3uht5JIswM4CtahKJB0hC7P1wRI4p91Tmivz5JD0ILf3sXe2-eGtXCBwJmGPnyhbm/s400/DSC_0219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392496127356937202" /></a><br /><br /><br />I need to go strong to finish as many WIPs (the ones about to end, etc) in order to end 2009, so it's really time to be determined and focused. Wish me luck!CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-70205579443905801232009-09-24T07:53:00.004+08:002009-09-24T07:56:48.999+08:00Garden StarsALL DONE! NUFF SAID! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsgDs28zFhUu8j9D23AofWvc1EbivQzQcf1IPUiB1TJJzr2A4ZRZLqEwGT4_3i7v91PcWvRnPj7jTOtQvx7J92tig11gtX9gFny0FEmepfzGTCaXCKX3reyrxuyfzuza1w2fJ/s1600-h/Garden+Stars+finish!.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsgDs28zFhUu8j9D23AofWvc1EbivQzQcf1IPUiB1TJJzr2A4ZRZLqEwGT4_3i7v91PcWvRnPj7jTOtQvx7J92tig11gtX9gFny0FEmepfzGTCaXCKX3reyrxuyfzuza1w2fJ/s400/Garden+Stars+finish!.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384815744569362754" /></a><br /><br />Here's some scrap blanket knitting that I am also doing. IT's just one row a night, normally while watching a bit of TV... hopefully I can knock this one out before it gets too cold. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7q7c7EHm3vaRx2WRqjln1G8PsyKpZTvzhAIOwMj_os9bjxZmwxaB4FNCZ_vVKFzSt9E7xwzdHq-tVEF1QxlX86Llt1Zg2pw4ha7nrUOPEbWcnUFMbGMKTP3RyVC537C8R0fX/s1600-h/Sailboat+blanket+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7q7c7EHm3vaRx2WRqjln1G8PsyKpZTvzhAIOwMj_os9bjxZmwxaB4FNCZ_vVKFzSt9E7xwzdHq-tVEF1QxlX86Llt1Zg2pw4ha7nrUOPEbWcnUFMbGMKTP3RyVC537C8R0fX/s400/Sailboat+blanket+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384816050350162002" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />So... what WIP would we like to work on next? A tiger? Hmm.CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-20611205496831342142009-09-16T05:01:00.004+08:002009-09-16T05:07:01.264+08:00The Ink Circles WIPsGoodness.... because Tracy Horner makes such wonderful, stitchable and addictive designs -- I kid you not... every single chart of hers is such a joy to look at and stitch, is it any wonder that I have a bunch of Ink Circles charts and some of tem are already wips.<br /><br />Of course, the most "constant" project has been Garden Stars. (I also have a Cirque, and a couple others that don't warrant much pictures yet). <br /><br />Well, I am so pleased to show the growth of Garden Stars and how it is creeping towards its completion. Maybe a week or two weeks to a HD? I hope? Err.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YnfrHsIx1DT6qOujUC9iB0vO4sF3c6Fe57PVBXAiOccURhsHimVECKR9ujoUM-hv-qkAG9_-1EWwAeFhjoL9MqQtplykbn8aGH0GGiY5mxy9JL4TwRzNjQgu6HiyOf09ir55/s1600-h/DSC_0206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YnfrHsIx1DT6qOujUC9iB0vO4sF3c6Fe57PVBXAiOccURhsHimVECKR9ujoUM-hv-qkAG9_-1EWwAeFhjoL9MqQtplykbn8aGH0GGiY5mxy9JL4TwRzNjQgu6HiyOf09ir55/s400/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381802828624305810" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And during a stitchathon held at the Crafty Coven (organised by the one and only Joyce!), I put a few stitches into Nine Lives too. So now it resembles this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX38b_YBt0hyC_Dv572hBsV-lda-jhp1YpT_xDrUNZOrsI0cbpshva5UxmrDC9r5LgvI9-t-FnnP1lGsVhRNMTpOcn6y-ncDP90OwQVUhsDitz_3eoTPzNB83aw9p0M4-V7gsT/s1600-h/DSC_0205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX38b_YBt0hyC_Dv572hBsV-lda-jhp1YpT_xDrUNZOrsI0cbpshva5UxmrDC9r5LgvI9-t-FnnP1lGsVhRNMTpOcn6y-ncDP90OwQVUhsDitz_3eoTPzNB83aw9p0M4-V7gsT/s400/DSC_0205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381803108210026434" /></a><br /><br /><br />I also had a couple of smaller finishes including non stitching that I have forgotten to post or photograph, so... apologies for that. Some of those are sent off as gifts already, hehe.<br /><br />2009 has been a big year for finishing, so I'm just going to try to push through with as many as I can. There's another 3 more months or so to go before 2010. After this/these, I still have a couple of non sampler pieces that need a little work. One of them is for my mother.... a 2 year old wIP... oops...CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24845660.post-79111032221114965302009-09-03T06:31:00.002+08:002009-09-03T06:33:20.165+08:00And finally, a decent pic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DrTUEdXtlbZ2dncq07vaNgMwZtEhqP1hXDzLAr_PH-uu0A4oTEXY0gMNGpQO709qdj4cgQu78P-a3h6kaKS9pvo8nEljTVCSI8ePVySlfeh-jXC8K2rU8tYd8c5BgqXtAbzY/s1600-h/DSC_0206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DrTUEdXtlbZ2dncq07vaNgMwZtEhqP1hXDzLAr_PH-uu0A4oTEXY0gMNGpQO709qdj4cgQu78P-a3h6kaKS9pvo8nEljTVCSI8ePVySlfeh-jXC8K2rU8tYd8c5BgqXtAbzY/s400/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377001466545143778" /></a><br /><br />Now I have been taking photos of this in natural light and it's always turned out looking sort of muggy (see past posts' photos). <br /><br />This time around, I put it under fluorescent light at the tattoo shop... and voila. Everything true to colour. And hasn't this green thing grown! <br /><br />I've been knitting here and there, but not branching out into lace quite yet. And just trying to work on finishing some WIPs for the rest of the year. This has been such a stellar year for finishes.CraftyPretenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13408884030378097713noreply@blogger.com1