Unfinished embroideries and knitting

My goal is to finish the embroideries that I have started. I have quite a few: handkerchiefs, doilies, a table cloth, a patchwork bag, some children's singlets. I should aim to keep a record of finishing these.

I also have lots of beanies to give to Karen at Knitting for Brisbane's Needy.

Anniversary of my father's death

Sunday 28 June is the second anniversary of my father's death.

This is one of my favourite photos of him taken when he was in the Australian Air Force in WWII.

Knitting

Occasionally especially in winter I like to knit. Two years ago on 28 June 2007 my darling father died as the result of a massive heart attack. My mother was not well and was in hospital for about 4 months after Dad's death. I used to visit her nearly every day and started knitting beanies while sitting with her. Eventually Mum even knitted 2 beanies. I gave one of these to my beautiful niece, Helen, who was a wonderful support. I kept the other one for myself as a memento of something that Mum made.

I have since made XX beanies and these will be sent to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy. This group make and distribute knitted and other items to charities who give them to people in Brisbane who need these things. This group have made and distributed 22 000 items since 2006.

My favourite books

I have enjoyed Kate Morton's books. Kate is an author from Paddington, Brisbane, who has received world recognition for her first novel, Shifting fog. I preferred her 2nd novel Forgotten garden. I particularly enjoyed reading about Paddington in Brisbane but loved the tale also. This novel won the General Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards 2009. Sh is currently working on her new novel The Distant Hours, which is set in world war two England and will be published in 2010.

I do not usually like Gothic books but The shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of the most captivating books that I have read. I was browsing in Dymocks bookshop and a woman who was also browsing told me that this was the best book she had ever read. I picked it up and thought that I'd give it a go. I think I liked it because it was about books - especially the "cemetry of forgotten books".

I am about to begin his latest, The angels game.

Another novel that I enjoyed was the Thirteenth tale by Diane Setterfield.

In recent times I have read the Persimmon Tree by Bryce Courtenay and A singular hostage by Thalassa Ali.

I am now reading The gang of four by Liz Byrski.

I have just purchased the Book lover's journal which I will be using to keep a record of really really good books that I have read. What a fantastic idea!

I have recently discovered Robyn Lee Burrows and Australian author whose novels I have really enjoyed.

My quilt is finally finished

I finally completed the quilt that I started in April 2006 in October 2008 - yahoo!!

Nearly finished my quilt

I started a quilt in April 2006 and last night I was so pleased with myself because I finished the machine quilting. All I have to do now is the edging.

Welcome to Happy Stitching

Welcome to my stitching blog. I am exploring how to create a blog so thought that I would create one about my favourite hobby, hand embroidery. I began embroidering about 14 years ago.

Influences

My first recollection of using a needle and thread was with my grandmother who taught me a version of cross stitch which some call Australian cross stitch and the Americans call chicken scratch. My mother taught me to knit when I was very young and even though I dropped lots of stitches it was a very enjoyable activity. In the early years of primary school I worked on a sampler and discovered that I loved stitching. My mother bought some traced doilies which I delighted in stitching. Unfortunately none of these childhood stitching efforts were saved. However, I have some Australian cross stitch pieces that my grandmother made for me which I will always treasure.

My mother-in-law has also been an inspiration. She gave me three little white pillow cases that she embroidered and crocheted for my husband, her first child. I used them to prop up my babies in the pram and now these little pillows take pride of place amongst the pillows on our bed. I also treasure a piece of my own knitting, a skill which I mastered in my early twenties. I made a baby shawl for my son who is now 26. I took up embroidery because our climate is not conducive to knitting all year round and I love to have some form of stitching in my hands most days. I find that it brings such a sense of peace. In working the stitches and thinking about the design that I am creating I find that anything that is stressing me just disappears.

Learning
I joined the Embroiderers' Guild of Qld. Inc. because I wanted to learn more about embroidery. About 14 years ago my sister mentioned that she had taken up cross stitch and I saw some of her beautiful work so I decided that I could probably do this. I bought a book on how to cross stitch and taught myself. One day I purchased the first issue of Australian Embroidery and Cross Stitch and was fascinated by the beautiful work. After speaking to a Guild Member at one of the Craft Fairs, I decided to go along to the Guild.

I have spent the last 14 years learning, exploring and enjoying embroidery, sharing skills, ideas and being inspired with the added bonus of making many wonderful friends.

Playing

I like to have a go at most styles of embroidery but probably enjoy free style and creative embroidery most. I have done lots of embroidery, some I have given away, some I have just done for sheer enjoyment. Unfortunately I have a cupboard full of UFOs and lots of finished items which are just begging to be framed.