The Emperor's Gift.

As planned, I took the Emperor along to my stitching day yesterday. I was more than happy with how much I achieved. Then after grocery shopping, lunch and a few more chores I sat down and stitched some more. He is complete.

And just in case you didn't guess what the gift might be.

The little Emperor made an appearance at last.

I am delighted with this piece and very happy that it stitched up so quickly.

The Emperor's Gift was a design in Just Cross Stitch Ornaments magazine 2012.

I stitched it onto a piece of DMC Morning Dew 14 count Aida.

So it has ended up quite large as Christmas Tree ornaments go. But I can live with that.

Now to get him made into a fully Finished Object. 

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What's next? You ask...

I already pulled out a small piece for my 15 minutes in the mornings and plan to find something else, something a little more time consuming for club days and evenings. Maybe even two projects?

Maybe?

For today, I need to do something quilty. 

Down in the Garden needs borders.

The memory quilt needs a final trim and bind

There are lots of things I could be doing, but first I need a hair cut. 

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The Quilt is Quilted.

Last night I achieved something I was beginning to doubt would ever happen. I finished quilting the Memory quilt.  Phew! It's been a journey. 

Here it is on the floor this morning. I had just finished doing a rough trim around the edges. I'll have to clear my worktable to do a proper tidy up before I attach the binding. 

It feels good to get it this far. Some of the issues I have had have been of my own making and lessons have been learnt. Other issues remain solely with the set up I have. And fingers crossed, that mortgage milestone is not too far away.

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Moving on, the binding will not be going on this morning. As I said, a bit of a tidy up is needed and its embroidery guild day, so I'll be out at that for most of the morning. Then on into town to do some grocery shopping. 

Back to the fun stuff!

The Emperor will be going to guild with me. He has grown. I managed to do quite a bit on Monday evening and of course 15-20 mins before work each day also soon adds up.

This is what he looks like now...

A bit kinky where the hoop was sat, but he'll get over it, I'm sure.

I'm hoping to make plenty of progress again today. Soon it will be time to look for another project to take along on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings.  I've had some thoughts and I'll keep you posted.

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Something else that has moved on is the Thistles.

The cross stitch part of that project is complete.

Now to turn it into a fully finished object. I was planning a needle book, but a little whisper suggested a Christmas ornament......We'll see.

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So, with Thistles complete, what is my lunch break project at work?

Santa of course. This was a free kit off a magazine. I picked it up at a sale or an op shop, probably for about a dollar! I'll complete it and hang it on my tree. 

I have started stitching him, but at the moment there is just a grey and white blob that if you squint you can see is his beard. So not yet terribly exciting.

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What other news do I have? Not much really. We had four days of the most beautiful warm weather. Now it is cold and dark again, a big Southerly blew in last night, knocked all the blossom of the fruit trees in the neighbourhood and dumped it all on my doorstep, I think! LOL We are in for a few days of cold unsettled weather and more snow on the mountains.

Hurry up Spring, get a foot in the door would you. 

Only two days off this week as the third will be an extra shift. I really will have to make the most of these two days. I'll have to maximise my time. Right now, I'm off to do chores before I go out to guild. 

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Not My Cup Of Tea....

 After finishing my chores yesterday, I got stuck in and finished quilting the Debbie Mumm quilt.  I used a very simple Karen Emmerson design called waves. It's quick and easy, just what I needed.

After a quick trim, the binding went on.

The holder upper was busy giving his freshly washed car a blow dry.... So I had to get the finished photos without help. First Old man tree.

Not quite right. Might try the lawn....

Still not right! But you get the idea. LOL

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While I was closing the binding, I discovered a Copyright mark.

At least one of these fabrics has been around for 30 years!

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Not that I have had them that long. 

Various pieces came to me in bundles from here and there. They are not really to my taste.  But I kept them safe and gave them a home.  Then back in February of 2024 I put some of them together and returned to them again in the May when the top was created with a few bits and pieces that seemed to work with them. It was soon after Chooky had her Churn Dash sew along. I think I ended up making three Churn Dash quilts. LOL

I blogged about this one back here. 

 

I have decided to name it, 

Not My Cup Of Tea.

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But I'm sure someone will love it. 

This one will be donated, very soon. 

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Today I'll be getting back to the memory quilt. I loaded it onto the frame last night, just before going out to dinner at a friend's place. 

Fingers crossed, all will go well this time. 

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Progress Report.

My cross stitch has been progressing nicely. Winter Fairy, The Emperor and the Thistle have all had a little attention lately.

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The Thistle has been coming to work with me and has been stitched on during my lunch breaks. It's almost complete now! 

I might just work on it at home over the weekend and get it finished and ready to become a Finished Object. Of course, that means I'll need to find another work project to take its place.

I have a few smaller pieces to choose from. (Make that two whole small shoe boxes' worth)! LOL

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The Emperor went along to Embroidery Guild on Monday and has also been pulled out for 15–20 minutes in the mornings before work. He's progressing nicely too. 

I might make him my next work project, although he's a little on the bulky side for tucking into my work bag. Decisions, decisions!

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Winter Fairy and Gus have also made a little progress. Another shadowy window has appeared. No image of that one today, sorry. I might wait until I've completed the whole page before updating the photo. You'll just have to take my word for it that progress is being made!

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One of my goals for this month is to get the binding onto the I Spy in the Clouds quilt.

And here it is, hanging in Old Man Tree. 

I used the offcuts of backing fabric for the binding, and there was just enough! 

It's all ready for donation now. Another quilt finished and ready to go to its new home.

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As you know, the Debbie Mumm fabric scrapper went onto the frame the other day. I've got around to winding the bobbins and have even managed to quilt a few rows. This is another job I'm hoping to get completed over the weekend.

 No grandchildren this weekend! Daddy has something planned for them, so I'll have a whole extra day to play. I will miss seeing them and having cuddles but will enjoy the extra play time. 

Once the Debbie Mumm quilt comes off the frame, I'll get the Memory quilt back up there. It will be good to get that one finished and sent off to its new home too.

So, how am I doing with my goals for the month?

Poor, very poor! LOL

But we're only a third of the way through October, and I still have 21 days. Three whole weeks! Surely, I can make a decent dent in that list before the end of the month.

Watch this space! 😂

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Stitches and Splashes.

 Well, I'm back at work, but I just had a long weekend off. So, what did I get up to you ask? 

Well, you know Tony and I took a short road trip, and I was able to visit the exhibition at symposium, and I did a little shopping too. 

All very exciting, but what about my own sewing, how is that doing? 

It is still dominated by my cross stitch at the moment. I really am enjoying it and will keep going as long as that pleasure lasts.

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So here we are, The Emperor's Gift has grown considerably.

I'll be taking him along to stitchy club this evening, so hopefully he will grow some more. 

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I did commit to getting a scrappy quilt top loaded onto the frame. 

The Debbie Mumm piece climbed out of the pile and demanded attention. I'm cutting it fine on the backing, but hopefully I will manage. I'll need to wind some bobbins before I start quilting. 

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And finally for this evening a quick look at Winter Fairy and Gus the Pus.

Finally, that blue blob over on the left is beginning to look like snow laden rooftops and shadowy distant buildings. 

I have managed to complete over three quarters of this page at last. I aim to be done with this page by the end of the month and maybe even make a start on the next page. 

There are six pages in this size and then two much smaller parts to add at the bottom. So, a long way to go with this project. 

Hopefully I can get back to some quilting soon and not bore you with Winter Fairy updates.

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And now I'm off to embroidery club. I deserve it after the day I've had at work. 

A pipe burst yesterday so the water was turned off! That meant, no showers, no flushing toilets, not hot zips for teas and coffees and no dishwasher. All meals and drinks served on paper plates and cups today. The escaping water had poured through the kitchen ceiling blowing some of the lights and shorting out the bane marie!

 No laundry could be done last night so it was piled high beside the machines. The plumbers didn't arrive until 08.30; they got the offending pipe patched up (Not repaired) and ready for use just before lunch. 

The electrician didn't arrive until after 2pm the bane marie is back in action, but not the lights.

At some point we discovered that someone had left taps on downstairs in the laundry and a bucket in the sink. The water was ankle deep and running out of the door!  

💦 Mop, Mop, Mop. 💦

Then it was time to make a start on last night's laundry!

With just one exception all of the staff and residents took it well. We laughed and joked and ignored the grumpy one. 

Here is to a better day tomorrow.