DIY Kit Exchange 2006

What's inside this beautifully wrapped mystery package? Have I got your attention yet? Well, it certainly has got mine for more than a week since I received it. It's my Aion DIY Kit Exchange from Colette. Finally, today's the big opening day and I could hardly restrain myself any longer. I tore into the wrapping and look, this is what I got!
Colette knew I love EMS Designs and has kindly prepared this scissors case kit for me. It's a freebie and not supposed to be kitted up but she has gain Ellen's permission before doing so. I feel so honoured. Besides that, Colette has also stitched this lovely card for me. The design is from EMS' Garden Alphabets series. "V for Violet" is the design name or in this case, it's V for Veronica. *Cheeky Grin* Anyway, a very big thank you to both Colette and Ellen. I love everything.
As for me, here's what I got for my partner, Louise. She had mentioned that she loves samplers and is willing to try anything new and since I love Jeremiah Junction because of its bright and cheerful colours, I thought if she hasn't already stitch their designs before, I'll introduce her to it by giving her this Cross Stitch Crazy leaflet. The chart I've picked is "ABC Come Stitch With Me" but just in case she doesn't like it, there're two other choices for her, namely "Cross Stitch Crazy" and "Cross Stitch Forever". Very apt, I think, for all us stitchers. I've also included a postcard of Malaysia along with my kit.
Anyway, here's the card I stitched to accompany my kit. "Martina's Roses" designed by Martina Weber is my first Châtelaine. It's a downloadable freebie. I stitched it on light blue Aida and did my first specialty stitches - the Algerian Eyelet on it. It is also my first beading project. Even though there're many first involved in this project for me, I think it turned out really nice, if I do say so myself. I wrote a poem for her in the card but I think that's up to her whether she would like to share it. Hope she likes both card and kit.

It's Christmas Already?

No, of course not. I know, I know, time flies and some of you have been wondering what I've been up to since it's been a while since I've last shown any stitching updates, but time does not fly that fast! Then what am I doing stitching Santas? Well, this Santa Baby here is for Lene's "Christmas" Round Robin. I've had a few patterns in mind but after she specifically requested that someone stitch this adorable Santa Baby for her, well, how could I resist? After all, EMS's patterns are always a pleasure to stitch.

Anyway, with just one more person to go before the RR returns home (we had a participant dropped out), Lene, unless you want it to be a "surprise" (considering you already know what the other squares look like), then I suggest you either stop reading here or close your eyes, here's your Christmas RR with four squares filled in. Like it? I sure do hope so!

And again, another Santa, this time from Margaret Sherry, I present to you the first square of my "Santa" Round Robin for another 6 person RR on EMS Cross Stitch Board starting 15th June. Yup, you've guessed it, I joined another one. Another two, to be exact for I have another one starting in July but that's beside the point. This little Santa here took me a long time (read as more than two weeks!) to stitch and near the end, I was already so sick of it that I just want the torture (yes, you've read correctly, it was really becoming a pain!) to end because as you well know, Herritage Stitchcrafts designs equals squash stitches (which by the way, they renamed vertical and horizontal stitch) and tons of tweeding. (A big Thank You to EeKoon for being patient enough to endure all my complaints all those night when I was hard at it.) I'm relieved to have it over and done with. Still, the satisfaction I feel now is almost worth all the labour. Almost.

I've substituted the DMC cotton floss with pearlescent effects floss from the DMC Light Effects range for the snow at Santa's feet. Although you can't see the difference from the picture, I can assure you that the result is quite stunning in real life, especially when combined with the shine from the metallic gold threads that's woven into the fabric. Now it's packed and ready to be sent out. Whew!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the mothers out there, hope you have a wonderful day. I finally collected the bunny I made for my mum from the framers yesterday. I had sent it in last week and it has been ready more than a few days ago but I had been busy and it wasn't until yesterday that my dad helped me picked it up and snuck it into the house when my mum was out. Thanx Dad! Last night, I left it wrapped up on the table together with a set of clothes I had made for her to find in the morning. I was bedridden most of today by a horrible headache and as she had some church meetings to attend, it wasn't until later in the day that I she told me that she likes my gift.

It had not been an easy feat keeping it a secret from her. I remember how she came into my room when I was still halfway stitching the bunny. Boy, did I scrambled to get everything hidden! Actually, I just rolled it up and it was still in plain sight on the table. Since I've shown everything I've stitched to my mum, she assumed that I wouldn't mind her taking a peek at this one too so she must have been shocked that I practically shouted, "don't touch!" when she reached for it. Well, at least I managed to invent a reason, albeit a lame one, saying that it's not finished yet. At last, the cat is out and I can rest easy.

Bunny for Mum

I know those from the UK have already celebrated Mother's Day but here in Malaysia, we celebrate it on the second Sunday of May each year which would fall on 14 May this year to be exact. So, finally here's something non round robin related: Ellen Maurer-Stroh's "First Flowers for You" freebie which I chosed to stitch for my mum this year. It's stitched on Zweigart's 16 count Rustico Aida which I thought would set off the white nicely. Am pretty pleased with the results. I added in the words to make it more appropriate for the occassion. I designed the lower case letters, trying to make it look like a small kid's scrawl, thus emphasizing the more intricate upper case letters. Not sure if I managed to achieve the effect though. Now I just need to send it to the framers. I'm early I know but knowing me, I'll probably need the extra weeks.

 

Anyway, you must be wondering, there's no lack of Mother's Day patterns out there so why this one? My question back to you is, why not? Nah, just being cheeky there :p The reason behind it is I think my mum would like it, being born in the Chinese year of the Rabbit. Also, not only do I think the bunny is cute, I think it's rather sweet that it's presenting us with a couple of snowdrops which judging by the pattern's name (since Malaysia is a tropical country and there's no four seasons here), snowdrops are one of the first flowers of spring, which is a time for new life, new beginnings. As my mum is the one who brought me into this world... I'm sure you get where I'm going with this now.

Well, I'm getting too philosophical here and at the risk of boring you so I'll say no more. To those of you who would like to download this pattern, please visit EMS Cross Stitch Board where you'll find tons more great freebies. However, you'll need to register before you're allowed to log in. Man, I sound like a PR here. Oh well, I love her designs and I think she's a wonderful and generous lady.

Hooked on Cross Stitch...

A New Year and a new stitching journal for me. This is a first for me... have never been one to blog but after reading about other stitcher's interesting stitching stories and adventures, I decided that I really should try it out too. Still feeling my way around this site, trying to get the hang of things. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out how to do everything real soon.

I can't remember exactly when I picked up cross stitching but according to issue number 33 of Simply Cross Stitch magazine, which the chart of my very first cross stitch piece - The Gift of Friendship was printed in, it was sometime in 1997. I took the magazine, flipped through it, saw the chart, thought to myself, "this is nice, how hard could it be to do this?" and the rest, as they say, is history. Here is a picture of the finish piece.

I've been stitching on and off for give or take 8 years, that is, if you disregard the fact that I haven't been stitching much between 2000 to 2004. Then, I met a fantastic guy, now my fiance and I wanted to make something special for him for Valentine's Day last year. Immediately, I thought of cross stitch. This is the result of that, a freebie - Be My Valentine from EMS which I personalized by adding in words.

Since then, I've been stitching non-stop and am currently in a few international RRs (Round Robins) and a SAL (Stitch-Along). So now you know, the beginning of my cross stitch addiction...