The missing connection

To those who has been reading me for quite awhile may realized that I neglected to show what has become of my 2nd quarter of the year's goal nor did I reveal my next  pick for the 3rd quarter.  It's because  I haven't been stitching as much in the 2nd quarter. I was distracted to sewing a couple of other things in June which I am glad because I ended up making ahead some gifts for July babies and managed to stitched a long overdue giveaway.

Then August whoosh by very quickly as I was officially working only for a little less than three weeks. I had almost two weeks  break when the firm  closed  for the Muslim Holidays, I did made plans to sort of catch-up on some stitching that got side tracked in June/July but then  something unexpected happened on the home front which somehow dampen my spirits and the 'plans' just got pushed further away. The other stitching finishing I did other than the "Au nom de la rose" was this freebie by The Workbasket, Pink flower into a pin pillow which concluded my August month.

Now here comes September, the last month in the 3rd quarter, my first finished is a card. This will be my final birthday card on my list this year unless  the unexpected were to surface.  It's for the other man in my life who turns 24 this month.

Here's a collage with two of his best friends since childhood before they went out merry makings

A steam chocolate cake with chocolate ganache

Something from long ago that became UFO

with evenweave fabric in blue

Blue Bird and Daisy, a freebie design by Blue Ribbons finishing into a flat fold and a pincushion which is stitched  two over one. I had my reasons for putting this away then.

Rain Fell, LHN design, stitched two over one, patience tested!

Sorry the photos was blurry, we had a bit more rain lately and on the days I decided to take photos, the sun just refused to surface. On a happy note, I received words that Vickie received my giveaway.

Well, that's all for now, hope you are enjoying all that you have set out in doing this week.

August full of happenings

Lots happened in August.  I had good days and bad days, but I shall keep only to happy thoughts for my  August roundup post.

 A 3-D Birthday wishes is in a little treasure box/closet of  her favourite things

with a sneak peek of her college mates on their colour theme day; Red for girls and Blue for boys

 The last book on the shelf actually open up to pages with written wishes from everyone at home.

My first attempt at baking a Rainbow cake, doubt I'll ever bake a second one after this.

All I can say is that it's tedious and took me a day to bake and in a rush I forgot the flowers for the cake top. The blue candle is a musical candle that plays Happy Birthday when twisted

The next card for Mom in a flatfold finishing
Mom shared the same birthday month with Diane with only a day apart.

The Workbasket Freebie - Pink Flower

32ct Linen. Thought this would be a quickie but stitching this felt like forever. I had an on off stitching affair since I started it on June 26. Threads all original DMC colors it called for.  Finishing will be later .

A secret stitching project in August
I need the grids to stitch this, yet I kept getting cross-eyed.

"Au nom de la Rose" design adapted from driada7.ru

The Spider Web Rose Stitch is so intimidating, while the  Rhodes Heart stitch, my first attempt is so daunting. Can you imagined I even thought of replacing Rhodes Heart stitch with a button ?

Somehow I gathered enough courage an attempted the Rhodes Heart with not so satisfying result  nor did I perfected it. So MW, please pretend you didn't notice 'wink'

My first such finishing yet cheating the finishing on the inside of the stitching pouch.

Replacing the needle section with felts instead of more Rhodes Heart which I have no confidence of attempting successfully

Fabric Linen 32count

 Margaret's  Birthday card with her favourite item; pincushion, only that it's barely visible

Margaret's Birthday package

I was days late in mailing this out, needed a bit more time to finished the pouch 

I received words of its arrival a couple of days ago.

With left over batter from the Rainbow cake I made some half a dozen of Ferrero Rocher cuppies. I think I am loving this more.

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you have a great weekend.

  

Carrots and pincushions

I always had a thing for pincushions  but what have carrots to do with pincushions ?
I didn't bake a Carrot Cake either, instead I bake my first Banana Bread on Monday night. This easy recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking  is really a quick and easy  but I made one change, I added almonds. Loved the aroma from the cinnamon that filled my kitchen while its in the oven.

Back to pincushion,  meet Chef  Carat. Its from some ideas I have been toying. Always wondered if its possible.

The tape and coin for size

So what do you think ? I welcome your views.

Frame Pincushion inspired by the one given by Mel at the NNC Anniversary Meet, thou not as fancy as the one from Mel, picture below.

I had this little frames for a very long time, never quite know what to do with it since its too small for photos except those passport size photos which I am not too fond of as  you can guess, I always ended up looking either like  on "WANTED"  list or something scared the hell out of me !
Anyway,  stuffing this up ain't easy, now I know and I would finish it differently if I ever had a next, for now do excuse that shabby finishing.

It amazed me now on how Mel's pincushion look so perfect, all 18 pieces ! (If I recalled correctly) with that gorgeous frame !

Fabric 32ct Sandstone

Floss : DMC

Design : A spot of Tea -   Dragon Dreams Freebie

A totally forgotten piece. Stitch this so long ago never get to finish it until I need to practice finishing of a flatfold before I went on to finished one for Dani. Apparently, one practice is not good enough.

Believe is finally almost done.  Its a bit intimidating with the french knots, so I'll get it done when the feel surface. I must start the final part soon

I am ending my post with  a little  teaser for my next post

Thank you everyone who came by and took time to leave your comments, I so appreciate.

Happy Crafting  !

Tribute to Dragon

Wanting to stitch a Dragon so badly, for this special lady who is a dragon baby and loves dragons,  I resolved to ransack my cupboard and found this design from a forgotten book. Thou, its meant for a bookmark, I improvised for a flatfold, my very first imperfect flatfold.

Private Exchange with Dani

Design from Cross -Stitch Design from China

by Carol Phillipson

Size 5" x 10"

Fibers : DMC my choice of colors

 With my exchange for Dani, I manage to save up a Special Edition Dragon Year 2012 Bottle Opener with a Dragon design from the Tiger Beer Chinese New Year promotion in red tin box complete with the chinese word for dragon,  a small pouch from Thailand and a personalized beaded alphabet that spelled D-A-N-I in black and white, the taekwando colors for Dani. I received word of its arrival a couple days ago from Dani, thank you Dani for your kind words on my finishing. I enjoyed stitching this for you thou a bit rush to meet this final dateline.

Hoot ! Hoot !
Size : Tip of ear to bottom 5"

Width :  4 1/2"

Lace pocket depth : 2"

My first Owl

Material : Owl body ramnants Jeans fabric

Cotton and felt on wings

Felt and buttons on eyes

Nose Felt

Lace 2 1/2" Width pocket

 If you think that the eyes is slightly tilted, its because it is.  I didn't realized that the jeans remnants  is of stretchable material until I was actually sewing it on my old machine and I just don't know how to control it from pulling on the fabric, if you know what I mean.

Thank you everyone for your comments on the Shoe Festival, its a good feeling to know that post such as that is being appreciated as much as I appreciate your comments.  Blogging from now on will have to take a back seat for awhile, with things that is going I hardly could find time to write, no I should say it take time for me to blog. I do have a couple of crafty things to show but first the photos need uploading and then I  need to find words to go with it. Sorry if you don't see me leaving comments on yours thou I may have taken a peek.

I wish you a good weekend everyone and thank you for stopping by :D

Where should I begin?

Have you been wondering what is keeping me so busy that there was no news of me for weeks and I didn't even visit you?

A lot has been happening here, stressful and crazy at times juggling between work dateline, kids and housework. I have been feeling sluggish at times. Weather has been lousy, gloomy by mid day followed with rain almost daily.  Then the pc which is only 8 months died on me after rebooting  for like two days and  the technician had to come 3 times in a week before got it fixed, today. Mom is currently recovering from a severe leg pain that affected her ability to walk for almost two weeks. Now that she is walking again, its up to her to remember all the dos and don't. It was a scary and intense week for all of us when  we feared she will never walk .

In between all the hoo-ha, DH surprised me with a short break to Genting Highland Resort,  2 nites at Highland Hotel with a great view of the lush green forest and the cable car insight. I took my Christmas stitching with me. This picture was taken at 7am from the room balcony. Looked at the fog! Its brrr...cold!

And the Indoor Atrium at First World is just like a city within a building that never sleeps. All the shops are having a great Christmas sales too

I call this the wall of spices, where all kinds of spices and flour lined  a wall

I attended the 8th Annual charity dinner for needy pupils again, also because my boss is the Vice Chairman  and Diane's Yamaha Piano examination and performance at a mall's opening is also done with and I am almost done with my Christmas stitching  while my WIPs take a set back . In fact I haven't been stitching any of my WIP  since my last last post. Some of the Christmas stitching are going away, I can only reveal later then.

Chinese New Year will be early next year, approximately a month after Christmas and while shopping for some home furnishings taking advantage of the Christmas sales I couldn't resists these fabrics.

Some days ago, I mailed out my first exchange of the year, a Christmas Box with HOE, I think this box turned out rather nicely, now my only hope is that it will arrive safely and quickly, hopefully next week I get to hear some news of it and hope that my partner likes what I sent her. Until then I will not be able to post pictures.

The last piece of stitching is not mine but a wonderful gift from Mylene, the design is from the JCS Christmas Ornament 2010 issue, correct me if I am wrong and finishing it into a flatfold is simply perfection . Thank you so much Mylene. Its my perfect gift this season !

Dinner tonite, pan fried salmon on spinach with buttered bread. The slice of orange is to add color to the plate..LOL

This is just about what is going on with me the past few weeks. I am sure everyone is busy too with Christmas now just around the corner. Thank you everyone who continue to come by and took time to leave me your comments I so appreciate.

Take care!