ipe Daily Bliss

Daily Bliss

Today's lovely moments are tomorrow’s beautiful memories

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Paris

It has been a while!

Thank you to those wonderful people who sent Romeo and Juliet texts. The students were thrilled with them. Your generosity always continues to amaze me.

Neither stitching nor blogging (writing or reading) has been done here since September. These days, I don't seem to be able to work at school, keep a home, walk the dogs, stitch and blog all in the same week span. Sadly, I don't have the same abilities as I had when trying to be Supermum to four teenagers. The adrenaline rush has passed.

Ah well. Things change. I'm off to Paris on the 28th November for seven glorious weeks of summer holidays in a winter climate (read: romance, nice food, French culture and professional development).

The MOTH (who should be renamed The MNAH - the man never at home - with all the travel he has done in the last 5 months) is going to get a chance to miss me, for a change. He has a meeting in Paris in November and one in London a few weeks later, but he has to return to Brisbane (to work) in between times. Hopefully, he will stay in Paris for a few weeks from Christmas.

Anyway, who wants a visit? I have a few free weekends for train travel if anyone is game! Email me and we will arrange something.

Happiness & laughter to one and all,




posted by Felicity | 8:20 am | 12 comments

Monday, September 28, 2009

Updates - Grand Marquoir & MTM

Both very beautiful and both wonderful to stitch!
My fave, though, is Vautier's beautiful Sampler done in DMC 839 & Kreinik Gold.


Isabelle Vautier's 'Grand Marquoir' Partie 2 is now finished except for an opening for a signature to be done later on), so this is a mini happy dance.


A week's worth of stitching on MTM.

I'm really missing The MOTH, who is away for work for the duration of the Spring break, but time alone at home gives me some worthwhile stitching time between walks in the park with Lucy & Harry and visits to the gym, both of which my hips need before the next round of family birthday dinners in October. The Cadet Princess (or is that La Princesse cadette?) turns 21 on the 19th, so the weekend before, she will be home from university in the north for a party with family and friends. The MOTH's benjamin son also has a birthday at the end of the month.

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posted by Felicity | 5:30 pm | 12 comments

Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Lost Symbol - review

I'm surprised that this book got published in its current form. If it was written by one of my students, I'd have called it a second draft not ready for submission. It goes to show that the publishing industry must be quietly desperate for a hit money spinner.

It's 'formula written' and then ends up with a sermon to end all sermons. I so wanted to give up five pages before the end, it was so bad.

Save your money!

posted by Felicity | 7:29 am | 0 comments

Sunday, September 20, 2009

New Beginnings - Medieval Town Mandala

Thank you one and all for all your lovely comments about my mermaid and my cats. They made my heart sing.

For those of you who asked, I have ordered the cat pattern for you, but as it has to come from afar, it may be a month before it drops into your letterbox. I'm not into a simple photocopy job because I sincerely think that Isabelle Vautier deserves her 2c worth for such brilliant designing.

It's now time to introduce my next project (not that I haven't already got enough going) - Medieval Town Mandala (aka MTM) designed by Martina Weber. You've all heard of a BAP - a Big Arsed Project, right? Well, this is a B$P - big dollar project. To kit up MTM from scratch here in Australia cost more than $300.00US. It's my 50th birthday gift to myself, I figure.

Here is the kit. I'm using Antique White Lugana 32 count and all the recommended silks. I've got to tell you that it is simply gorgeous just seeing it all together!



This photograph shows my first days of stitching. I've gridded the fabric, as I always do with my big projects and I started on the left upper-most corner. This is contrary to how the group stitched it because I bought the pattern AFTER it was published and I cannot find the centre on the jumbled pattern that Martina hands out after the group finishes. I'll get to it, I'm sure!

The best part of the project is that Spring break from The College of Nerds started on Friday, so I have two glorious weeks of stitching when I want to stitch while The MOTH is working out of town. Woo hoo!



Wish you were here to do a stitch-along-together on this one.

Happiness & laughter to one and all,

Felicity

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posted by Felicity | 8:07 am | 18 comments

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Framed!



Lettres à mon Chat
by Isabelle Vautier
Fabric: Antique White Lugana 28 count
Threads: Anchor 1036 & 1355



Queen of the Sea
By Joan Elliott

posted by Felicity | 7:33 am | 18 comments

Friday, August 28, 2009

Panda Days - Update No. 2


15 hours of stitching

posted by Felicity | 12:34 pm | 11 comments

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Panda Days - 11 hours of stitching

A week or so ago, I introduced readers to a cute little panda published in the October 2009 (Issue number 129) of Cross Stitch Crazy. Above is my progress after 11 hours of stitching (pardon for the yellow tinge. I took the photo at 6am so the light was not too good). He's already quite cute, isn't he?

Other updates - my embroidery scissors are found! They were hiding (point up) in the veritable paradise of the bottom of the Useless SAL Vase that sits at my feet when I stitch. It was only that I kicked the vase over the other day that I found them.

Off Topic But Big News ...

It's amazing how a week changes everything in one's life. I said to The MOTH on Monday evening, the 10th, that I was going to investigate a position vacant at one of the local high schools - one that is fondly known as the College of Nerds. Long story short, a phone call the next day secured an interview for the Thursday (Wednesday was a public holiday) and then a start on Friday, the 14th. So much to everyone's surprise because I said Hell would have to freeze over before I did it, I'm back teaching three classes a week (which is a 3/5 load that translates to working full time all week, but having weekends and evenings off).

But that's not all, folks ...

On Wednesday this week, The MOTH came in after work and told me that we are not going to Paris for my birthday next year, after all. There wouldn't be enough time.

"Pick at date this December and I will book tickets right now, while the fares are cheap and accommodation is available," he announced.

So, right then and right there at the kitchen bench while I cooked lasagne, he forked out for two air tickets for almost a month in Paris from the 20th December! How cool is that? Our job this weekend is to book an apartment. I want to stay in the 13me arrondisement where I lived when I was in Paris in 1997. The MOTH may have other ideas...

Meanwhile, as if you want to hear the mundane after those announcements, doggy walks now start at 4.45am (about 4km on work days and 8km on weekends). Lucy & Harry are in Heaven as far as their lives are concerned because they get more to eat on big walk days, sleep in the laundry at night (because it's winter) and they get to run hard and fast in the park on weekdays because all other dogs are still asleep in their warm beds and there is no need for a lead.

Gypsy is not so pleased. She used to sleep in the laundry, didn't she? Her nose is so put out that now and then she goes and plonks herself in the middle of the dog bed just to stir up trouble for bedtime. A blanket on the sofa in the family room must be a poor substitute.

... and that's my news. The MOTH has finished his rowing session (he's on a health kick & looking as trim as a 20 year old) so it's off weekend trekking the streets for us both.

Happiness & laughter to one and all,

Felicity xoxo

posted by Felicity | 6:06 am | 7 comments

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