Lemonade, Anyone?

At least to me, it looks like a lemon tree which automatically brings to mind my favourite drink - lemonade. Mmm... just thinking of it makes my mouth water. The summer topiary is aptly named given its bright colours which represents the season perfectly. Looking at it, I can imagine long hot days with me under the shade in a deck chair beside the pool sipping a tall, cold glass of... lemonade. For some reason, I seem to be craving for lemonade tonight. I wonder why ^_~ Definitely getting myself a big cup of lemonade tomorrow when I go magazine hunting in the mall again.

Anyway, this took me four days to complete. Could've taken me less time but I was going slow and easy on it. Now all I've got left is the autumn topiary but I think I'll leave that for another month or so. Feel like stitching something else now though I've not yet decided on my next project. Am eager to work on the couple of round robins I'm expecting but since it's already the weekend, I'll have to wait until next week for the postman. I just might start a new project... Will keep you all posted. Off to ponder some more on what to stitch next...

Stitching Blogger's Question: It's A Mystery!

Have you ever participated in a needlework mystery (i.e., a design that you started before knowing how it will look in the end and by which you receive parts of the design via the internet, magazines, or leaflets at spaced intervals)? If so, why did you decide to do the mystery? What appealed to you about it? Did you enjoy it? If you have not done a mystery, would you ever do one?

I've never participate in a needlework mystery before and probably won't ever do it. I think the reason for is because I really need to like a design before getting the motivation to stitch it. Since I won't know what a mystery piece looks like beforehand, I'll be constantly worrying that I won't like the end result and that would be very stressful for me, an absolute no-no for stitching is supposed to be a pleasure not pressure. Thus, my logic is that with already so many patterns out there that I love and more on the way that I'll never be able to finish stitching in this lifetime, why risk a mystery?

Adeline's Birthday Present

Well then, after finishing this weeks ago, I only got it back from the framers today, just in time to present it to Adeline. You know me, I was delaying going to the framers, that's why it took so long. Had it done at the same place as the wedding samplers. Well, since tomorrow's her birthday, I'm technically a day early so no harm, right?

Met up with her for dinner and as I doubt I'll be seeing her again tomorrow, I gave it to her tonight. Just like I predicted, she loved it. Stayed out with a couple more friends for non-alcoholic drinks after. She was really tired and I think anything remotely resembling alcohol entering her system would have resulted in knocking her out. Besides really liking the pattern, this is what she said about it: According to her, she's the cat and I'm the sheep and Woei Yang, a close guy friend of ours is the flower. Hmm... Oookay... wonder how much sleep she needs to catch up on.

On another note, I've been busy catching up (or at least trying to catch up) with the EMS Cross Stitch Board Seasonal Topiaries SAL that I've been participating in. I think I'm behind. Or am I on time? Not too sure about that but I know I'm definitely not early. Anyway, pictures of my day to day progress can be found at my Webshots. Am too lazy to upload it here. This series is a downloadable freebie by Passione Ricamo. However, I don't know when it will be taken off the website so better download it while you still can. I've been so busy with RRs and exchanges that it feels good to be working on something that is completely mine for a change. However, don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy working on those as well. I do too, very much in fact.

3 French Hens

The third in Margaret Sherry's 12 Days of Christmas series, here is my 3 French Hens for Jackie's RR. It's stitched on 28 count cream gold fleck evenweave. Many stitchers might think that this fabric is more challenging to stitch on as the flecks disguises the holes but personally, I don't find that a problem. I still love the delicate sparkle of the fabric and this pattern is a pleasure to stitch.

Don't you think she's cute? (Though to me at least, it looks more like a he.) She looks like she's toasting us with her wine glass, inviting us for a meal. The french knots for her eyes are missing though because Jackie's going to replace them with beads when the RR returns home. It somehow gives the appearance that her eyes are covered by her feathers (sort of like a shaggy dog whose eyes are never visible under all that long fur).

I nearly forgot to stitch my name and country as per Jackie's instructions. Luckily, I refered to Jackie's letter once again before packing it up. After more than a week of dragging my feet (or should I say hands) on this one, now it's done and ready to be mailed out. Think I'll drop it off at the post office tomorrow even though the posting date is not for another two weeks. However, the timing should be perfect for it will need about two weeks of travelling time before reaching its next destination - Canada, into Alli's care.

Round Robins Update

Ok, finally I have something more to show. Here are some updates on a couple of round robins that I'm currently in. This Winter Postcard by Passione Ricamo is stitched for my "Seasonal Postcards" round robin with the Malaysian Stitchers group. It is due to be sent out on 22nd March so I'm glad I've got it done and ready to be mailed out. There are four of us in this round robin - Aida, Margaret, Rozita and me. Sadly, this postcard series is no longer available as a downloadable freebie but the good news is that it will be published in The World of Cross Stitching magazine sometime this year so keep your eyes peeled for it.

Next is this adorable cat in "Purr-suit" of a bird by Margaret Sherry. After much pondering, debating and proscrastinating, I managed to make up my mind and stitched this design for Wendy's "Funny Cats" round robin. There are minimal floss blending required for this pattern which is great for me to practice with as it is my first experience with that. Since it's a Heritage Stitchcrafts' design which is famous for its squashed stitches, having to poke in between the Aida blocks is somewhat difficult but I got used to it after a while.

There was six of us at first but unfortunately, Cindy had to pull out because she has Carpal Tunnel, causing her hand to go numb which in turns, affects her stitching. Thus, the remaining five are Charity, Lene, Sherryn, Wendy and of course, me. It's scheduled to be sent out on 15 April so I'm rather early with this round robin but considering that I've had it for a long, long time now (more than a month, aiks!) it's way past time I finish stitching it. Wendy, here's what your RR looks like at this stage. Hope you like it!

My First Cattitudes

This is my very first cattitudes design that I've stitched. It's for my very good friend, Adeline's birthday this year. She was my ex boyfriend's sister's online friend's girlfriend. Have I confused you enough? LOL! Anyway, we hit it off right from the moment we met and it's been more than 5 years since then. She has always been there for me through the thick and thin, the high and low and everything in between. Even when I was away in Australia for a year, we still keep in touch.Thus, thought I'll make something extra special for her birthday this year. I choose this pattern mainly because she's crazy about cats and Margaret Sherry's Cattitudes certainly top the list of cutest cats in cross stitch. And I doubt I need to explain why I choose this particular sign. Obviously, it's because she's an Aries.

Now, I have a question for all of you... Do you believe in the horoscope? Me, I do and I don't. I don't because so far, not that I read it often but whenever I do, the predictions of what's gonna happen to me each day/week/month has never been true. Yet, I do too because I have found the character and personality description of each sign to be mostly accurate. Also, how else do you explain that most of my close friends are all fire signs with a few air signs? It's said that these two signs are most compatible with each other compare to water and earth signs. Coincidence? Maybe, but there always the possibility of something more than that...