Let It Snow

Stitching snowmen in winter. Feels perfectly apt.

Design: Let It Snow

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 32 count Picture This Plus Tarnish Belfast linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers silk

One last snowman remaining before a major happy dance. 

Looks like I'll be spending most of my time stitching this weekend since Melbourne is once again in lockdown. Our fifth one since the pandemic started :(

Stay safe, everyone!

Snow Fun!

A tiny happy dance but one nonetheless...

Design: Snow Fun!

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 32 count Picture This Plus Tarnish Belfast linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers silk

I've been trying to finish some of my ancient WiPs. Here's my progress thus far on 6 Fat Men series:

On another note, I found out that Vicki Clayton is back, dyeing silks again! Coincidentally, hers are the silks I used for this project.

Unfortunately,  PayPal policies have driven shipping prices prohibitively expensive for overseas buyers this time round :(

A Moment Please

Finally, some progress on another WiP that's been languishing for years while waiting for the beads I ordered for Savannah to arrive.

Last update was in February 2016. I'm having trouble stitching the roses using the provided black and white chart. And there's still about a dozen more left :(

Wish me luck!

Ribbons

No stitcher will ever tell you they enjoy stitching with metallic thread. Likewise for me. Sure, we might like the shiny effects but gosh, it is so fiddly to handle and frays so easily. It's the abomination of all threads.

Which is why, after completing the swirling ribbons behind Savannah, I decided that I've had enough. Backstitches aside, I'm converting all the cross stitches in the "Welcome" word above her head to Mill Hill beads.

Hopefully they'll arrive soon while I'm still in a stitching mood.

Floor Tiles

Plugging away impassively on the tedious floor tiles during Melbourne's lockdown number 4.

At long last, the monotonous task has concluded.

Hope you're all keeping safe and staying healthy.

Dress is Done!

When one is working full time, spare time is unfortunately sparse. It has taken 585 days with numerous breaks in between to reach this milestone:

Savannah's dress is completed!

Now on to the bazillion floor tiles. How many tiles are there, you asked? Well, here's the rest of the fabric...

This just might take another two years.

Stayed tuned :)

WIP Wednesday

Quick update on Savannah. She now has two arms.

She also has a huge dress with a ton of white. 'Nuff said.

Brazilian Cabaret

More than half of 2018 is over. Where has the time flown to? Some updates about my life... I've dropped my Bachelor of Design and finished a Diploma of Accounting instead. Uni is just way too expensive, especially when you're an international student.

At least I passed my Diploma of Accounting with flying colours (high distinction in every subject. Woot!... And yes, I'm bragging ;P) so there is that :D Been working hard for the better part of the year so now it's time for some fun and relaxation while job hunting.

Savannah has seen some progress. Not as much as I had hoped but completing the over-one stitches of her right arm is an accomplishment I can't wait to show off. I dislike over-one stitching but I just can't give it up when the results are just so satisfying.

It might not be obvious in the photo but in real life, the different stitches lend a 3D effect, giving the impression that she is wearing the dress and the skin is under all the fabric and hair. If that makes sense? Anyway, moving on...
Last weekend, Sean took me to a Latin cabaret to celebrate. I had the time of my life. The lights, the costumes, the song and dance... I'll let the photos speak for themselves :)

The show was Viva Carnaval!, a Brazilian Cabaret. The venue was The Palms at Crown Melbourne.

The dancers were so talented.

My favourite part of the show was of course the grand finale with the elaborate feather costumes.

Did I mention the dancers were stunning too?

And yes, I managed to get pictures taken with them after the show ^^

They're really tall.

Or I'm just really short :P

And here's me with Sean.
Till next time, Happy Stitching!

10 Years in the Making

Finally, my first happy dance since setting foot in Australia! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... drum roll...

Design: Love with A Capital L

Designer: Pappilon Creations 

Fabric: 32 count Zweigart's Vintage Country Mocha (marbled) Belfast Linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers silk (Flag II, Examplar BlueBerry Soup and Examplar Ox Blood)

Measuring 16"W x 27"H with a stitch count of 260 x 434, this is the largest piece I've stitched to date and looking back at my blog's history, it has taken me ten years to complete. Granted, I took a long hiatus in between but I digress.

So much has changed both in the stitching world and my personal life that it was a rather poignant moment when I put in the final stitch. I remember back then, forums were popular with stitchers and Google Reader was still around. Those were my main stitchy update resources. Nowadays, it's mainly Facebook and the occasional blog.

While we're still reminiscing, I realised that there are quite a few Mirabilia WiPs that I started in 2012 and 2013 that I've yet to show. Ah, that was quite a tumultuous period in my life and haphazardly starting new projects seemed like the best way to keep myself sane.

First, there's Touching the Autumn Sky on Crafty Kitten's Lavender Mist Opalescent Belfast.

This design reminds me of the times my mum took me to the playground when I was a little girl. I love the swings best. This will be a gift to her when completed, whenever that may be.

Then, there's Red on Sparklies' Winter Skies Opalescent Belfast.

Lastly, the first Mirabilia design I fell in love with... Mermaids of the Deep Blue on Crafty Kitten's Aurora Opalescent Cashel.

I believe I started this on 8 December 2013 as a birthday pressie to myself. I have to admit that the amount over over one skin is rather intimidating.
By the way, I'm sure most of you have seen the latest Mirabilia by now? It's been a while since I've been this excited over a new release. I've already ordered her and is impatiently awaiting her arrival. In the meantime, I've been playing with my fabric stash trying to find the perfect backdrop for her. I think I've found it... Miss Cherry Blossom on Polstitches Crocus Opalescent Belfast. What do you think?

Well, this ended up being a rather long post. Till next time, Happy Stitching!

6 Years Later... Still A WiP

It’s been a while since I’ve cross stitched and even longer (six years, actually) since Capital L has seen the light of day. Finally, here is the latest (and final) WiP picture before I have a happy dance, hopefully before the end of the year.

   

Only the borders left now. Wish me luck!

I Thee Wed

First semester of uni is done! I'm currently on holiday :D To celebrate, I have a new start...

Sean and I bought an apartment that will be completed next month. We'll be moving shortly after. Hence, Savannah is my logical choice ^.^ I'm stitching her on Fall to Pieces by Colour Cascade Fabrics.

I realized I've yet to mention here that Sean and I got married :D Our simple garden ceremony was held at Lakeside Cottage in Kilsyth South last October.

 

My bridal bouquet was a lovely combination of sunflowers (the flowers Sean gave me throughout our courtship), statice (to match my tanzanite engagement ring) and babys breath.

   

Below is my absolute favourite photo from the wedding.

   

I think our photographer, Melissa Holden did an awesome job.

Uni starts again 1 August. Hopefully I'll have some updates before then.

Till next time, Happy Stitching!

Buchan Caves

Guess what? After weeks of waiting, I've finally received an offer to the Bachelor of Design at Swinburne University! To say that I'm stoked is an understatement. Orientation Day is next Monday. Wish me luck ^^

In the meantime, I took advantage of the long break by making quite a bit of progress on Moment of Reading.

Only the roses left to go now.

Fast forward to Valentine's weekend, Sean and I had a getaway at Buchan Cave Reserve. Immediately upon arrival, we were greeted by grazing kangaroos.

   

Early next morning, we went for both the Royal Cave and Fairy Cave guided tours which are operated daily. The honeycomb of caves was formed almost 400 million years ago by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock.

The calcite-rimmed pools in Royal Cave are absolutely beautiful to behold.

   

Gravity defying stalactites hung from the roof of the cave.

   

Both caves are well lit with concrete pathways.

   

Yup, that’s me being completely awed by the elaborate stalactites and stalagmites in Fairy Cave.

I believe this formation is named The Chandelier. One can easily see why.

   

Words alone cannot describe how spectacular the limestone formations were. Hopefully the photos we took have been able to marginally convey some of the grandeur.

   

If you ever have the chance to visit this area, do visit Buchan Caves. It truly was a magical experience.

6 Months Later...

I'm back :D I've finished my Certificate IV in Design. Woot! Looking to do a bachelor degree next year but for now, I'm free! Been stitching with some progress on Moment of Reading made.

   

I'd also like to show you drawings from another school assignment that I'm most proud of...

   

The brief was to produce illustrations that provide a visual advertisement about a new restaurant or cafe for a newspaper, magazine article or blog.

   

The stipulated medium was brush and ink. Hence I ended up with the ink wash technique which is basically brush painting using only black ink in various concentrations.

   

I chose to depict an upscale luxury cafe specializing in desserts.

   

I've played with watercolour and done some Chinese paintings when I was a kid so I'm more or less familiar with the technique. After much trial and error, I have to say I'm pretty happy with the result :)

A week to Christmas. I hope everyone's got their Christmas shopping done? I doubt I'll be posting again soon so until next time, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Change

It's been so long since I've last posted that I'm unsure where to start. I hope everyone has been well. There has been a lot of changes in my life. I quit my long time job as a receptionist/assistant administrator back in September. I had decided that I wanted to go back to school. So I signed up for a design course, packed my bags and here I am now in Melbourne, Australia.

So far, I'm having the time of my life settling in again, looking up old friends and meeting new ones. I'm no stranger to Melbourne as not only did I visit here last year but I had lived here for a about a year a decade ago. Everything was just as I remembered, yet new and different somehow. Having Sean, my current boyfriend, here with me really helped too.

Monday was my birthday. Sean took me on a Horseback Winery Tour. I hadn't been on a horse since I was a kid of eight plus being led around a ring doesn't really count. It was an exhilarating experience. Besides, you can't top any activity that's involves wine, right? ;P

Sean, on the other hand, had other ideas up his sleeve. During our first winery stop at Mantons Creek Esate, he had the guide led our horses away to a secluded area among the vines and proposed!

Of course I said yes.

Isn't my engagement ring gorgeous?

 

It's a tanzanite (my birthstone) and palladium ring custom made by Eckart. The craftmanship is exquisite so if you need to have any jewelry custom made, I highly recommend him.

And here's my adorable puffer fish birthday cake courtesy of Alice and Kenny whose wedding I attended only just last month ^.^ Thanks, guys! 

 

Anyway, on to stitching... (Finally! I hear you say? :P) My stitching mojo has returned tenfold but since all my stash are still back in Malaysia, I had no choice but to pick up a kit. 

 

I chose Lanarte's Moment of Reading. I think it's a lovely adaptation of Vladimir Volegov's artwork. 

 

I started on 5 December and this is my progress thus far. 

 

I'm really enjoying stitching this. The colours are soft and romantic, almost like a watercolour piece which is a particular trademark of Lanarte. The only complaint I have is that everything is stitched with a single thread. I'd have vastly preferred to stitch with two to better cover the fabric. I didn't as I'm afraid I'd run out of floss. That said, perhaps that's the reason the entire Lanarte range possess that fine, delicate look.

Lastly, you might have noticed that I've changed the name of my blog. Since I've been showing more than just stitching and with me learning design next year, I believe the new name is more suitable :)

Here's to a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!

Another New Start

This is my last WiP pic. I promise. Next one should be a finish. Now if only those beads I ordered would arrive...

Deprived from beading Lady Alexandra, I delved into my stash and pulled out Mermaids of the Deep Blue. Yeah, not like I have dozens of WiPs waiting eh?

This design is very special to me as it's the first Mirabilia I fell in love with. Still, I wonder why I've yet to stitch it. Perhaps it has something to do with the number of fabrics I've bought for it that just doesn't seem quite right.

Clockwise from top left:

• Polstitches - Ripples Opalescent Cashel
• Polstitches - Monsters and Mermaids Opalescent Cashel
• Picture This Plus - Splash Opalescent Belfast
• Silkweaver - Aegan Aqua Opalescent Cashel
• Picture This Plus - Splash Opalescent Cashel

Oh, don't get me wrong, each and every one of them is certainly pretty enough in their own right but somehow, just not the one for Mermaids of the Deep Blue, know what I mean? Sigh! OCD much?

Finally, I decided to go a different route. I ordered Crafty Kitten's opalescent cashel Aurora, requesting that it has minimum green than normal. It arrived on Wednesday.

Holy moly, my hunt for the perfect fabric is finally over. I'll be starting Mermaids of the Deep Blue the moment this post goes up ^.^ I have to admit though that I didn't come up with this idea solely on my own. I've seen plenty of mermaids, including Mermaids of the Deep Blue stitched on this particular hand-dyed fabric and they're all stunning!

Till next time, Happy Stitching!