ONE OVER ONE

I showed photos earlier  ( see posting January 27th) of the lovely piece I received from Celine in Valentine Stitcher's Toys exchange but unfortunatley I had accidently wiped the photos of what I had stitched for that  exchange, My contribution went to Celine which was fun as we have exchanged several pieces now.

I have received photos from her of the piece I stitched. A scissor fob stitched one over one  using a Simply Shaker Sampler Thread in a Ruby shade, The fabric was on oddment from my stash, not sure what it was but it worked well, the tiny beeds round the edge are from an antique necklace and I was thrilled to get the ribbon through the gold rose beads.
 Handy tip on how to do this put a little quick drying glue on the end of your ribbon, roll it tight between your fingers so it looks like the end of a shoe lace and let it dry before pushing it through the bead, cut off the glued piece later. The bead needs to have a reasonalble size hole.
As you can see I did her initial on the back.


My planned one over one stitching during my trip away was not so successful, one requirement for this fine stitching is good light, and not much chance to stitch by daylight, I found only two of the motels we stayed in had well placed lights for an embroiderer. So I mostly worked on cross stitch on 40 count which was no problem. I was very dissapointed with the one over one I had stitched that I have since stitched another piece to send with the goodies collected on my travels
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 More of this later.
                               
                                   

THE TRIP

I have made a map to show how much of the country we covered in our 21  days away...... in all close to 3,000 miles starting at our home in Stratford (1) we traveled to Wellington (2) before crossing the next day on the ferry to the South Island, where our first stop was at Lake Rotoiti, St Arnaud. Nelson Lakes.(2)  We had been to this lovely spot some years ago ,we enjoyed it just as much this time, specially the walks in the forrests and the bird life.

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Top-Lake Rotoroa, Top. R. and bottom L. The Silver beech Forrest walks at the edge of the Lake Rotoiki and one of the colourful toadstools seen on our walks.
We had three days and good weather during our stay at Lake Rotoiti and then moved on to the West Coast (4) last time we were there 15 years ago Paul was not able to walk so we planned so we could visit some of the places he had missed
.

He specially wanted to see the Punakaiki Rocks these limestone rock formations anre also known as the Pancake rocks  seen here in bottom L. photo........The two other photos were taken a short distance south of Punakaiki and are two views of the same rocks, one taken from the beach and the other from on the cliff above. Again blessed with good weather we were able to enjoy several walks on the beaches.

We then drove across from West coast to Canterbury on the East side of the Island, going via Arthurs Pass(5) a route we had not taken before. I was keen to see the Keas that could be found at high up on the pass, these large parrots are extremely cheeky and inquisitive and will examine anything that comes into their territory to the point of pulling anything they can off cars, including windscreen wipers, rubber seal on windows.... of the photos above I took the one top R, the others son, Barryn had taken and really are good views of the Keas. while I took my photos Paul was kept busy chasing the other Kea away from our car and the other one in the parking area.

Two night in South Canterbury at Geraldine (6) allowed me to visit places of my childhood holidays and to do some generalogy research, from there we moved south to The Catlins (7)


We had several days here, exploring both the coast line,  enjoying both forrests and bird life and the walks to the different waterfalls.

Paul is very pleased he made it to all the points of interest we visited, I have to admit I did not manage any of the steeper walks. We were rewarded with veiws of Sea lions sunbaking on a beach, the call of the rare fern bird right be side us when we did the estuary board walk, one friendly little South Island Tom Tit accompanied us along one forrest walk
He did not stay still long enough to have his photo taken..... but looked justlike this one I stitched some years ago. 

Some of the waterfalls we walked to in the Catlins, left is the Matai Falls where I stopped at this point and Paul went on up a very steep track to the upper section of the falls known as the horseshoe falls .. bottom R

 the Top R photo is the Purakaunui Falls  are really enjoyable walk through the forest.

view looking south from Nugget Point in the Catlins 

From The Catlins we headed north stopping at Christchurch, with a day at Akaroa Peninsula ( 8) we left Christchurch the day before the earthquake and were on the ferry crossing to Wellington when it struck.
From Wellington were travelled north to Napier (10) to spend a few days with my sister and her husband.

We finished our holiday with a Safari trip to the gannet colony out on Cape Kidnappers. When we lived in Coromandel driving up the coast road we would often see these birds fishing  but had never seen them close up.The Safari took us overland  through private property to quite high on the cliffs,  to the cliff top where one colony was and we were able to get up quite close to the birds.
How the parent birds find their own when returning from fishing is quite amazing
The late chicks are just balls of fluff and sadly some of them will not mature in time to leave, the young birds the grey ones will fly straight off the cliff with no practise flights heading to Austalia and return to their home colony in 5/6 years.
 At The Cape their are 3 colonys we visited the top one in the group of photos below centre L. is the Saddle colony and there is a lower one known as the Beach colony.

Home again now, I have to rackle the garden the weeds have grown well in our absence, and hopefully the painters will arrive later this week to work on the house. Off now to catch up on some stitching.
                                          
                                                      
                                                   



HOME AGAIN

We arrived Home at the begining of this week, and life has been a bit hectic since then. I will post some pictures from our trip in the weekend, so I can show off New Zealand.
Thank you to all who left a comment on my last posting, I did manage a little stitching while we were away, however I need to mount the pieces I stitched before I show them to you., I also gathered some postcards to send with them.
When we stopped for a few days with my sister and her husband in Napier at the end of our trip, I asked Joan to give me a lucky number for the draw. She selected no. 6.

AND THE WINNER IS....
 Evelyne from France who was the sixth person to leave a comment.

Please send me your full name  address, Evelyn so I can post the pieces to you.

And here is one veiw taken on the West coast of the South Island.....more to come.

IT WAS TEMPTING

EMS Cross Stitch forum exchange for this month is óne over one'and I was tempted to take part I love the fine work of stitching one over one and could even think what I would stitch, only problem posting out date was the day we get home.
So I have decided still to stitch a piece, it will be a stitchers toy of some kind
 and have it as a give away for you all the followers of my blog...
here is what you need to do to go in the draw ...
be a follower of this blog.
post a comment during the month I am away telling what part of the world you live in.

Look forward to to reading your comments on return
See you in a monthy
                                     Lee

HOLIDAY STITCHING PROJECT.

We are preparing to go on holiday,  leave at the beginning of next week and will be away for three weeks traveling in the South Island, visiting some favourite places, some with childhood memories for me and some new areas. It is 15 years since we last had a holiday in the south.

I have been sorting out some embroidery to take, what needlewoman every goes somewhere with out her stitching. I have decided to take a Mon Ami Perre design '' Le Temps Qui Passe" will stitch the little pocket on 40 count permin linen with Chameleon Stranded thread ( floss) in THATCH which is a lovely slate blue shade. Promise to post the progress when I return.

 I have made myself a new Floss Ring Tag, the linen here again is 40 count 'Lambs wool"permin and I have stitched using one of The Gentle Art Simply Shaker Sampler Threads, this one is Briar Rose.

Welcome to, to some new followers to my blog, one of the lovely things about blogging is that you make friends in many different parts of the world, and are able to share an interest together.

See you all at the beginning of March.

Meanwhile Happy Stitching.

                                           Lee

VALENTINE EXCHANGE

This lovely Pin keep arrived in this mornings mail, it is from Celine in France, my exchange partner in EMS cross stitch forum Valentine exchange. It is an Atalie design "Louise" and I am so thrilled to recieve it. I often visit the blog http://ataliestitchers.blogspot.com/ to admire and enjoy the lovely work there. I have not yet found anyone in NZ stocking these designs.

Celine and I have exchanged pieces several time over the past year, its always a thrill to send something to someone you have come to know through exchanges. And this lovely piece is very special because these are her first atempts at French knots.

This exchange was for a needlebook or pin keep or scissor fob on Valentine theme.... I cant show you what I stitch till I know it has arrived, it is one of those piece I have mentioned as being under wraps for a while.

Thanks to Lynn B's blog http://happinessiscrossstitching.blogspot.com/ and information she share on Picasa 3 web albumns I am now able to make collage pictures for my blog. I can see I will have a lot of fun in future.
Still a couple of things I want to find out how to do.
More to share with you shortly, meanwhile Happy stitching

LITTLE BLUE WREN

I fell in love with this photo as soon as I saw it, my sister, Joan had posted it on her Face book page with other photos from their West Australia holiday, her son David took the photo and it is a great shot as they are quite tiny birds and I have put it on the desktop of my computer so I can enjoy it..

 I could get inspired to stitch it, and if you have looked at my bird album, you have seen a few of the birds I have stitched over the years. I think it would have been about 8 years ago I had a commission to stitch a pair of blue wrens, sadly with changes of computers I don't seem to have the photo of the piece any more.

Here are two more photo's David took of these tiny birds. the drab coloured one is the hen.

P.S. I am stitching but at present but can't share the pieces till they have reached their destinations.

AS THE NEW YEAR BEGINS........

As the year begins, I too, have been planing what I will stitch in 2011, I have read of a challenge to start ... and finish 15 pieces from ones stash however I don't think I will commit my self to so many projects.'
At present I have a short list which no doubt will be added to-
1. An embroidered Hussif for daughter Jan, she has requested it to have all the tiny flower designs I have used so many time. This project I will keep you posted with the progress
2.To work with Caitlin on the VS. 12 Days of Christmas Sampler we just got started last year and then the year caught up with us.. so now the aim is to stitch it  1 part per month and have it.ready for next Christmas. I am to stitch the cross stitch sections as Caitlin dislikes cross stitch and she will stitch the specialty stitch which will extend her stitch knowledge
3. Make a cover for my bible before it falls apart... I designed this a couple of years ago but really must start stitching it now.

I guess you can add a few exchanges to the list and there are always gifts to stitch for friends. however I would like to find one really exciting project... let you know when I decide what it will be.

Happy Stitching in 2011.

TO ALL............

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,

The gladness of Christmas give you hope,

The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

~Author Unknown

To all who visit my blog may you truly enjoy the love

that Christmas brings.

CHRISTMAS RUSH.

I have done it again.... so please with what I stitched for my friend Ann that I rushed it off to the post before I took a photo. It was for our Stitching friends exchange... and I thought I had found the perfect design to stitch for Ann, when in a conversation I learnt that she had found the same design and was stitching it not only for her exchange partner but also for herself. The challenge for this exchange was a flatfold with a Christmas tree design on it and I had chosen JBW Designs "Christmas Motif Sampler".... the search was then on for another design to stitch and it was quite a while before I found just the right one. I decided on "Joyeux Noel" found on http://www.mingiustitch.com/.  and by then I was running late hence the rush to the post. ( Ann has promised to send me a photo after the Christmas rush.

This is not the first time I have done this with a gift for Ann, I did the same thing when I sent her a birthday gift this year, however I did get the opportunity  to take some photos later and will share them with you now.
The construction idea for the needle book was inspired by one seen on.Danybrod's blog and I used the peacock cross stitch pattern from a bag I did in a CA Wells workshop some years ago. The lovely Peacock pin is from the Just Nan's collection.         I have plans to use this idea again.

Back veiw.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

And I have received some delightful gifts and surprises. Firstly from Joan, my exchange partner in our "Stitching Friends"  flat fold exchange. The challenge was a flat fold showing a stitched Christmas tree.
Joan had stitched one of JBW Designs Sampler Trees, and what I love along with her very neat stitching is the very tiny stars decorating the tree, the finish is just perfect.

Next to arrive was a  packet  from America. Thank you  Annie (of Annie Bebop's Coloring Book Blog)

for such a lovely surprise, although its summer here snowmen are always welcome and if I look outside there is still a little snow on the mountain but with warm weather is could disappear soon.

Here are close ups of the decoration and the card. don't you just love the teddy bear, I do

Last night Naomi from "Stitching Friends Group" popped in with a surprise gift and when opened  it was this tiny angel, she is so tiny and has such a lovely stitch hair do ...the photo does not truly show her off.

I can see me making some of these next year. Thank you Naomi for this tiny treasure..

This mornings mail brought a parcel from Argentina and my EMS Forum  exchange partner.along with the card letter and the Jolly Santa was a small bag of sweets....  I wondered when the parcel arrived why It had be opened by the MAF inspectors, they must have gotten a smile when the saw what was inside.... it passed inspection  and made it to me. thank you Laurita.

And now its my turn to give away a Christmas gift. We had a fun draw here with my writing down the names of the friends who left comments to my last post and folding them up and tossing them on the floor and asking Paul to pick one up.................................................the lucky person is Laurie who is also the newest member of my Followers on my blog. Laurie please contact me with name and address so I can pop your parcel in the post.

THREADS and TEDDIES

This is the lovely collection of threads from my shopping in Auckland, they are hand dyed Chameleon Threads  from South Africa. I bought mostly Perle 12 with a few stranded cotton and some Perle 8. The photo does not show the lovely subtle shading in the skeins.

I have been using them for my Christmas project, this year I designed  a project for the younger girls (8 & 9 yr olds) in our Junior Embroiderers Group,  a simple Christmas stocking (7cm high) using back stitch and chain stitches with beads, ribbon and braid. Here on the left is Darrian's stocking, when their stocking is finished I  add the tiny Teddy Bear for them. It worked out so well I made some using the Perle 12 threads and a slight variation in the stitch size.

Don't you like this line up....most  will be posted out tomorrow however one will go in a draw for my blog friends, so leave a comment between now and December 8th and it could be on its way to you.