Craft Show Weekend

Even though I am working full-time in a contract position at a local university, I will still be working this weekend at the latest Brisbane Craft Show.

When I work at the craft show I usually go up with a rather large 'crafty' shopping list - but this show my list is quite small - hard to believe I know!

My son's girlfiend, Shannen, turns 15 on Saturday - so I will miss out on her birthday lunch on Saturday :(

But I am going to make her a bracelet as a present & I'm hopeful that there will be some beautiful beads to purchase from the show - so that is on the top of Saturday's list.

I promise I will post a photo next week, along with the present that my Nic bought for her; which is also very lovely :)

I did start creating a needlework present for Shannen for her birthday, but with working & my uni studies I just could not possibly finish it in time - so that will become her Christmas pressie instead - which makes my life easy as I won't have to think about what to get for her then.

My shopping list for Sunday is quite small - I am going to find out the price [only] on a portable stitching lamp & magnifier & I want to purchase a particular needlework kit [which I usually dislike] that I will make up & frame for Nic's 17th birthday in June this year.

Other than this, I really don't have anything else that I would like to get, but there are a few stands that I will definitely be visiting & who knows what nice things they will have that will catch my attention ...

The funniest thing happened with my needlework this week!

I am part of a Yahoo group for Aussie stitchers [mainly cross stitch] & I made a comment on the group that I simply had to know who the designer was of one particular piece that Tim is working on. Luckily both Tim & Val sent me the link to the designers page - it turned out the piece was a free pattern that was created to celebrate the life of a very dear friend.

Cheryl was the type of person who would only encourage others with their stitching & the design was to celebrate her zest for life & for people - the website has asked that if you stitch the piece that you should try & use bold & bright colours - as they were her favourites. So the design is called Cheryl's Bouquet :)

Tim, is using a verigated thread & has started stitching in the centre & he is using a fabric with lurex through the fibre - very colourful :)

I am stitching the piece in black & white thread on a Honey coloured linen & I have started stitching in the top corner - I do intend to change over to black thread again when I get to the edge of the motif that Tim is currently stitching.

I cannot wait to see both projects finished - as I'm sure the contrast is going to be amazing. I think that is the aspect that I love about needlework the most - that two people can stitch exactly the same design & just by using different fabrics & threads the end results can be totally different :)

So, other than the craft show I will be spending the Monday public holiday glued to my laptop doing uni studies - oh what fun! Actually, it will be good to get through some more maths & get ahead in my other subjects.

Until next time, take care & stay safe.

Ciao
Mish :)

I think I understand Algebra!

I just had to post this quickly - I CANNOT believe that I flunked the basic level of maths in school & now I think I actually understand Algebra - OMG!!!

We were suppose to start these lessons last week but I had to delay it, as I needed to resit my 2nd module maths test - still waiting on my results :(

So, tonight I got home, got changed & sat down at my laptop & started working on only maths - I want to get at least one week in front, so that I have the option to go back & redo, if I need to.

But it seems that I might not need to take this option - still it will be nice to be a week in front.

Tomorrow night I am going to work on the last third of this section & hopefully finish off the test for the end of the module.

Then next week I can start working on the other third of the 9th lesson, which is Equations.

Oh what fun!

Until next time, take care.

Ciao
Mish :)

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Phew - what a busy week I'm having!

Even my weekend was full to the brim. While hubby worked on Saturday I trained & then taught Tai Chi, ran a few errands & finally got to spend a few hours later in the afternoon indulging myself by reading a book.

Took Nic [as pack mule] with me to the markets Sunday morning & spent the afternoon trying not to swear & cry while completing the second version of my 2nd module maths test. I emailed the test to my lecturer about 4pm - haven't got the results yet ..... just hoping I get more than 50% - that's a pass.

Then in the evening I decided to make some Potato & Leek Soup for dinner on Monday night - it was yummy & there are still a few servings left in the fridge - lunch for work :)

Working full-time while studying part-time & doing all the other things I have on my plate certainly doesn't give me much spare time.

That's why I decided to post tonight, as I have to spend Wednesday, Thursday & Friday night working on university studies - although I will take an hour off to watch Better Homes & Gardens.

I've just finished giving myself a manicure - I had to as I broke a nail at work today :( but at least I now have pretty gold fingernails :)

I decided to get up a half an hour earlier & spend the time doing Yoga on the WiiFit - but so far I haven't manage to do it once ...

I did do 30mins of yoga on Monday after training & teaching but I have to do it at least 4 times a week to gain any effect. I know I should also be doing some of the muscle & aerobic exercises, but I just couldn't find the energy to make myself sweat that much!

Most of the books I've been reading lately seem to be focused on beauty, or more specifically, French beauty & how French women seem to stay so youthful looking for much longer than the rest of us.

I have a French girlfriend & she always looks lovely, even in our training outfit - she just seems to exude that air of grace & elegance that is built-in in French women.

Sometimes I wish I had just a little bit of French ancestry in my family somewhere, preferrably someone with a flat in the heart of Paris that I could borrow sometime in the future ....

My parents are off to Europe in August this year & about the only two places that they will be visiting that I am jealous about is Paris & Rome.

If hubby & I ever get to take a trip to Italy he's going to have to superglue me to him to get me back on the plane, as I am certain I will refuse to leave!

So, because I LOVE Paris & Rome & because I need to go to bed, I thought I would leave you with a few photos of these two amazing cities.

Vatican City

Notre Dame

Colosseum

Eiffel Tower

Until next time, take care, stay safe & make sure you hug & kiss the ones you love.

Ciao
Mish :)

University & Work

Got good news & some not so good news today.

GOOD NEWS
I start working at a local university tomorrow for a month as the PA to the Dean of ### [I'm leaving out the subject on purpose] - yeah!

NO SO GOOD NEWS
I just received an email from my maths lecturer. I got 84% on the first test, 48% on the second test & 80% on my third test. This means that I now have to sit another version of the second test, because I did not reach 50% - sigh :(

So, now I have to find time in my schedule to resit the test while I work full-time, plus I have to notify the university of who my exam supervisor is going to be for our exams in week 12 & week 26.

Unfortunately my first choice cannot help because she is working, so it looks like I will have to ask a favour of another friend, as you cannot use family.

PLUS I have training in Brisbane on Friday night at headquarters, teaching on Saturday morning & we have planned to take a trip to Brisvegas [Brisbane] to hunt around Chinatown for an outfit to use for the QLD State Tai Chi Competition later this year.

Now I'm thinking that perhaps Sunday will be devoted to resitting my maths test - as I doubt I will get the opportunity to complete it today, due to other university work.

So, I'm going to have a rather hectic weekend - which is why I'm posting now & not on Monday [as per usual] & Yes I do realise that I am procrastinating by posting now - lol!

Anyway, enjoy the next few days & your weekend, whatever you have planned.

Until next time, take care & stay safe.

Ciao
Mish :)

Stitching Progress on Wiehenburg Heart

Hello Again :)

Got two more progress photos to show you of the work I have done on the Weihenburg Heart.

The first photo is Friday nights stitching effort & the second photo is Saturday nights stitching effort.



I am really happy with the progress I have made & I cannot wait to finish this one & start working on the 2009 design.



Back at university this week, only problem is we've had a few email issues at home & I suspect that uni is experiencing the same challenges - as they haven't sent us this weeks work update.

Never mind - I'll just have to make sure that I log on bright & early Tuesday morning, so that I don't fall behind.

I've had a busy day today, running errands, washing, dealing with our email problems & I have Tai Chi tonight - it will be a nice way to end today.

The weekend was also busy - I started Saturday morning as normal with Tai Chi training & then teaching. After that hubby & I ran an errand or two & did have plans to go out for coffee but we needed to go home to drop off my set of house keys to Nic [he left them at the mechanics on Friday] - only problem was that once we got home I fell asleep on the lounge for a few hours; so I spent Saturday evening stitching into the wee small hours.

Sunday morning I slept in, luckily we got to the markets just in time to pick up all the fruit & vegetables we need for the week. We even found a new stall that sells pre-made Japanese Curry Sauce - it was more spicey than hot & we took home a packet of the sauce to use for dinner later this week :)

We spent the afternoon visiting my parents & uncle - Mum & Dad are going to Europe for 10 weeks later this year - lucky things! Can you believe that Mum is already making plans for who needs to do what while they are away ... typical mother, we can never be too organised can we - lol!

Speaking of which, I think I might have to start planning my 'shopping list' for the trip - how exciting!

Until next time, take care & stay safe.

Ciao
Mish :)

More Stitching!

Just finished a quick 'chat' on the Wiehenburg Yahoo Group & discovered that Martina designed another heart for Valentine's 2009.

Hubby has the day off today, I showed him the design & he likes it!

So I've decided to use the left over red fabric to stitch this design in the same manner as my current project, I'll get them framed the same & then they will be hung in our bedroom.

It's always exciting when stitching serendipity happens!

Ciao
Mish :)

Stitchng & Uni Holidays

I am really enjoying my university holidays - even if its is only for one week. I'm using the time to re-organise the house & do lots of stitching :)


I took two projects away with me to Tenterfield but unfortunately did not have a good enough light source to do much work in the evenings on either of them.


I am still working on the baby sampler gift but I did get some work done on Valentine Heart 2008 pattern from Kristine Herber at Dragonfly Stitches. Thankfully, I was able to finish off the project last night [photo below].

I did have to frog [undo] most of the left side border stitching as I had mis-counted the placement of these stitches & did not realise until I got to the bottom - argh!


The design is only 53 x 53 stitches in size - so not that large & the fabric is 28 count natural linen - so it was a fairly easy project to stitch.

Next time we go away I'm either going to take a portable stitching light with me or not take any stitching with me at all - problem with option 1 is that a portable light from Spotlight is $129.00 - ouch! Might have to wait a little while for this little splurge.


I also started working on the Wiehenburg Heart sampler last night - yeah!


I only got in 90 minutes of stitching time but because I am using one colour & because I use both methods of creating the stitches my progress was more than I expected.

Being a self taught stitcher, I do not let myself get up with the 'rules' of stitching. Yes I know this will probably shock more than a few stitchers but I find that this works to my advantage at times, as I am willing to try new ideas for creating unusual projects.

The only challenge I am having with this project is the fabric; the edges were not overlocked & I had to pull out the cut threads so that I had an even edge to start working from; regardless of this I am really enjoying this project.

I have no idea what I am going to do with the piece when it is finished - it is not suitable for a pillow & I'm not sure where in the house I could hang it; so I'm rather stuck for ideas.

I would love to hear any of your suggestions :)

Going to spend today stitching, reading, visiting the library & our local art gallery - fun :)

Until next time, take care.

Ciao
Mish :)