Among My 1st Ever Cross Stitch...

Eerrmmm.. It been ages since the very last time I hold my cross stitch needles. I wanted to stitch but been distracted with so many other crafts. But, for sure I'm not giving up on my cross stitch. Hope, I will continue again.. one day..

Well while playing with the puter, I remember my webshot account. Lucky I remember my ID & password, LOL.. so long I didnt update anything there.

So I would like to share one my 1st ever completed cross stitch projects so far. It wuz stitched in 2004 - the year, when I start picking u p my cross stitch needles again. This is sp ecially stitched for Shirley for her birthday. I hope she still have this in her collection. Oppss.. her birthday is coming next week !!

See the aida ? I stitched this on aida 10 ct. I think th is the only aida I found nearby my area. Later I've upgraded myself to 11ct , 16ct & 18ct as well to linen. Among all, I think I like 16ct & linen d best.

For this flower bouquet.. I didnt remember where I keep this piece. It should be in one of the XS mags in my collection. But I remember this piece very well, as I used to stitch this in the car on my way to work, of course with DH driving.. hik hik..

lotsa love from me,

What I'm Doing Right Now...

As promised, this week I start stitching on Inazz's RR. Pity Inazz, for gotta wait for more than a year b4 her baby really back home. I guess this is one of the longest RR ever completed. Out of 6 participants, I guess only Hani & Niesa received their RR back.

I wanted badly to do my own topiary bouquet.. and this is my first ever topiary I ever did, many many moon ago..

Lastly.. let me introduce Mr Nemo, our 4 years old male cat. We have another 2 more cats at home - Creame & Lady Mocha. Not forgetting, we also have our Mr Coco who happily jumping here n there in our little garden. Will upload their photos when I got a chance.

p/s : Welcome Hani to blogging world ... Happy Blogging !! To Linda, I saw you start warming up your blog already...

Quack.. Quack.. Quack...

I can't resist myself from joining this Quaker Pinkeep Exchange when Mona announced it over the board. And guess who's my partner ? The organiser, herself.. hik hik..



Since I have very limited collection of quaker charts, it took me longer time to find for suitable chart. Finally I fall in love with this chart called 'Essuie de Parade', from Gigi's blog. I stitched one of the motifs from the chart, using DMC variegated no. 111 stitched on white 28ct linen.

For the back piece, I used a fabby with prints looks like quaker (see the background of the photo) which I bought some time back from Craft World.


Thank Lene, Lillie & Dania, for visiting my blog.

Garden Theme Pincushion

Stitched for Barbara for our NeedlesNCrafts Pincushion Exchange. I decided to name this pincushion as Garden Theme Pincushion, where I stitched Barbara's initials in flower alphabets. I also used cotton fabby with butterflies print to match.

Spice Tea Pincushion

A lovely pincushion stitched by Zohrah for our NeedlesNcrafts Pincushion Exchange. Design is from San Man Original tea party, entitled "Spice Tea".

Thanks Zohrah, I really love this pincushion and admire your neat stitching. And at the same time, I feel honour getting this knowing that you spent hours stitching for such a big chart for this exchange.. Thanks and muacchhh....

XStitches Pendibule Exchange 2007

Take a look at these... !!! A collection of all pendibules that have been stitched by all the participants from the recent exchange.. They're all look very lovely, aren't they.. I love them all, in fact !

And this is the pendibule that I received from my partner, Mas.. Thanks Mas, I love it soooo much...

My Very First Pendibule

I've seen Zalita stitched a pendibule for her partner for the last Needlecrafter Scissors Fob, such a cute one. So when I newly joined another Malaysian based cross stitcher's yahoo group - XstitchesNXchanges, they're in the midst of organising a Pendibule Exchange and I've signed up.



So for those who has visiting my blog b4, this is what the pink and purple thingy that M in love end up. This is my first ever pendibule for my partner, Dania stitched on 28ct lilac linen which I bought from Linda of Stitch N Such. The patern wuz actually a border taken from the Joan Elliot book. My personal advice for stitching a pendibule, is try to look up for pattern meant for border as it much easy to work on.

NC Scissors FOB Exchange

This is the 2nd exchange that I joined this year.. It wuz organised by Needlecrafter Yahoo Groups (NC). This is the scissors FOB that I stitched for Normia. I chose to stitch her initial 'N'. After I have completed the scissors FOB only I realised what I've stitched for Normia are a bit bigger. It looks like a pincushion rather than a scissor FOB.



I received this cute scissors fob from Ila in return.. very cute, rite.. I like it so much.. Thanks Ilaa..

In Love With Pink & Purple

Take a look.. what I've been stitching last nite..

I guess M in love with those pink & purple colors & these small roses as well.. urkkk M still strugling to stitch the other side. March is ending and I still have 2 exchanges yet to be mail out. Not to mention my Needlecrafter RR which is due to mail out by 1st week on Apr 07. And I only managed to stitched 300 stitches out of 3600 stitches for my box... help .. help.. !!!!

Heart to Heart

I showed to Cheez a.k.a. Zalita my finished XS piece for Lillie and ask her any suggestion for the finishing. Instead, she suggest if we cud have an exchange between us.

At first M thinking to stitch the other French Inspired Heart, a complementary pattern from the The Gift of Stitching. Since she prefer something in green/turqoise, she requested if I cud stitch the same pattern as what I stitch for Lillie as it’s features the peacocks. I used the Malaysian made overdyed, Dip & Twist - DTN --- on a brown 28ct linen.

And this is a Quaker Heart stitched by Cheez for me, designed by Janice Wood using white DMC and some overdyeds on 32ct lugana (in mocha). Thanks Cheez !!!! I love it !

French Redwork Exchange

At the end of 2006, Needles & Crafts organized a French Redwork Exchange (FRE) where those who participate can stitch anything, be it a pin cushion, needlecase book, pin keep or anything but one theme to follow – it must be a French chart to be stitched in RED colour.

Barbara being my partner send this beautiful needlecase to my office address. It is such a beautiful rose, of course all stitched in red. Such a lovely piece indeed.

[ Front ]

[ Inside ]

[ Back ]

For this FRE, I stitched this French Inspired Heart, a complimentary pattern from the online XS magazine – The Gift of Stitching. As M not gud in my finishing, so I did a pinkeep for Lillie, which does not involve any sewing. This is my 1st time doing a pinkeep, so M juz hoping Lillie like my 1st ever pinkeep though it’s not perfect.

[ Front ]

[ Back ]

Welcoming 2007, Bye Bye 2006

It’s already February, going for the 2nd week but I have yet to welcome 2007 and say good bye to 2006. I wud say that it’s been a slow progress in my stitching in year 2006 thou I have started at least 2 big projects, Gone Fishing & Garden Fairies in 2006. Sadly none of them has completed. So with the coming of 2007, I hope I will able to complete at least one of my big projects. And I also have a big hope too that 2007 will be my great sititching year !!!

I have not updated my blog for couples of months, thou I did completed 2 stitching exchanges from Needles & Crafts (French Red Exchange) & Needlecrafters (Scissors FOB).

I have really slow down on my tatting, I guess I need to take some refresher classes from Teacher Faizon one of these days. On the 25 Motifs Challenge, still it’s a slow progress.. I managed to complete 5 out of 25 motifs that I supposed to do. Weyyy… I got 20 motifs to complete by October 2007. Errmm.. I need to dig out back my tatting notes b4 Sharon goes after me.. Sorry Sharon !!

Color of the Month (COTM) - Pink

I supposed to update on this many many moons ago. Now I hardly recall in which month we did our COTM for Needlecrafter yahoo group, hik.. hik..

This is my stitched piece which I've mailed it out Yusmar.

And in return, Nita has sent this to me.

Stitching Bee & First Time Linen Encounter

Went to Nik’s house last Sunday for a stitching bee session after our magazine hunting trip to Amcorp. Well, only managed to grab Cross Stitch Gold, Issue 37 from the 9.90 mags shop.

The stitching bee session started at 4 pm and it took us about 2 to 2 ½ hours. During this session, I stitched a birth sampler for Baby Alya which I started a night b4, using linen. This is my first time encounter stitching on linen, but I love the smoothness and the hoop did help me a lot.

Thank Nik, for hosting this stitching bee session & look forward to join for another session. Wish if I stay somewhere nearby my stitching friends, where we can always have our stitching bee together every weekend.

First Ever Big Projects

This is my first ever big project.. or shall I say my focus piece for 2005, the Gone Fishing. Chart wuz taken from 2005 Cross Stitch Collection magazine bought by DH during one of his overseas trip last year. Since he like this chart very much, I decided to stitch for him for his coming birthday in September. I hope I will be able to finish it by Aug the latest, b4 sending it for framing.
This design is rather big for me.. 204 x 240 stitches where I find it really challenging. It requires about 33 colours, and there’s a lot of colour changes within 10 x 10 square boxes. And all area will be fully stitched. Earlier I think to stitch in using linen, but after deep thinking I decided to stitch in on recommended 16ct aida. And I substitute Anchor floss to DMC and I hope it turn well once completed. And happily I like to report M almost in my 30% progress.

My Garden Fairies

I love this chart very much the very 1st time I saw it featured in 2005 UK Cross Stitcher magazine. The garden fairies are so cute, hiding among the flowers n leaves. I knew I won't be able to stitch it as I consider this chart quite big for me until I saw it in Aw's webshot. I wuz so tempted to stitch it for myself. Finally I've started stitching it on my very own tea-dyed 14ct aida. I only stitched for abt 10% from the chart, juz to please the urge of stitching it. Sadly I've abandoned it for almost 2 months as M concentrating on my focus piece.. Gone Fishing. Shall pick up my Garden Fairies when I get bored with my Gone Fishing.. LOL !! After all I want to see at least one fairy smiling looking at me there..

2005 Valentine Stitch Card Exchange

This year I took part in 2 Valentine Stitch Card Exchange (VSCE). The first one by Malaysian Stitchers Yahoo Group which goes to Kak Ji of Terengganu. And in return I got mine from Kak Jie too.. The chart wuz taken from the 2005 UK Crossstitcher magazines. It wuz stitched on my own hand-dyed 14ct aida. I like this design very much especially the love shape border. Anyway, I didn't really happy the way I did my card. Very unprofessional, may be I shud brush up my card making skills..





For Needlecrafter Yahoo Group VSCE, I stitched this patchwork design which I named 'Patchwork Heart' for Linda. Original design wuz taken from old magazine (I think for than 10 yrs old mag). Actually it came in set of 9, but I stitch one for this occasion. Thinking to do all 9 patchwork hearts one day.. when ?? he he... only God knows..

2005 Stitching Report Card & 2006 To Do List

I hope it’s not too late to write my 2005 Stitching Report Card thou now is already March. Had wanted to report much earlier but January wuz a very busy month with the kids are back to school after for than 1 ½ month holiday.

I think I didn’t have much achievement in my stitching but I wud say that M improving, by looking at the numbers of completed piece. Here goes my list :

1. MYS Valentine’s Card for Wendy
2. MYS Bookmark Exchange for Nik
3. MYS Card Exchange for Niesa
4. NC Card Exchange for Neng
5. MYS Overdyed Colour of the Month (Blue) for Radha
6. MYS Overdyed Colour of the Month (Red) for Harsha
7. NC Needleroll Exchange for Harsha
8. Archie Bear for Stitch for Love Charity
9. Pink Panther for Stitch for Love Charity
10. Nik’s Frickle Minded RR
11. Cheez’s Frickle Minded RR
12. L*K SAL with Cheez – Snug Like A Bug
13. L*K SAL with Cheez – Love Bug
14. L*k SAL with Cheez – Believe
15. Aida’s Baby RR
16. Birthday Stitch Cards for :
    - Angie
    - Suriati
    - Lene
    - Ina
    - Lillie
17. Mini Tuck Pillow for Harsha’s Birthday
18. Scented Sachet Bag for Niza’s Birthday
19. NC Single Pattern RR – Lene
20. NC NC Single Pattern RR – Inazz
21. NC Single Pattern RR – Hani
22. NC Single Pattern RR – Ann
23. NC Single Pattern RR – Niesa
24. NC Single Pattern RR – Enon
25. NC Single Pattern RR – Norli

Wow.. !! I had stitched this much, but sadly I haven’t stitched not a single project for myself.. Will do so in 2006.

My 2006 To Do List

I keep on telling myself that this year, I wud not joining any exchanges but to stitch only for myself. But I broke my promise by joining 2 exchanges early this, i.e. Valentine Stitched Card Exchange (VSCE) for both Yahoo Group : Malaysian Stitchers & Needlecrafter. Anyway, I have completed and send out my VSCEs to my secret partner. Shall posted the photos once my another partner received hers.

Meanwhile, this is my ‘To Do List’ for year 2006. Thou it’s not that much, but I know I have to struggle to finish it, especially the ‘Gone Fishing’ chart for my husband’s birthday in September. Hope I have enuf time to complete it before his birthday..

Here's my list :

1. Gone Fishing chart for DH’s birthday
2. My FM RR Fan Chart (supposed to finish b4 my birthday last year)
3. Alya’s Birthday Sampler
4. L*K Teaching for my son’s class teacher
5. 2 Mail Arts for my stitching friends which I’ve owed them more than a year !! Gosh !!
6. SAL Lingerie Chart with Cheez

Well.. my to do list is very minimum compares to the number of charts I’ve collected. I wish I could add my to-do list from time to time. Errmm.. probably to add ‘Joan Elliot Kimono Rows’.. *wink * ha.. ha.. very ambitious !!!

My Hand Dyed Fabrics - The Photos

Sorry.. dear, I took many many moons before really snap and upload the photos here. So here are the photos of my hand dyed fabrics : using Dylon, Coffee & Tea.


Notice my coffee hand dyed ? The colour are more lighter rather than my tea dyed. Probably I need to add more coffee powder in future. I also took Aniza’s suggestion by using a mixture of coffee (this time I make it sure, I add more coffee powder) and tumeric powder. Well, it’s not bad & I like the result.. !!

Hand Dyed

Last nite, for the first time I have successfully do my own hand dyed on aida 14 ct. Initially I was in the kitchen, dyeing my son's white shirt to light brown. He need a pair of light brown shirt and pants for his concert next Saturday where he will be acting as Lion King. As I couldnt find the right pair, I decided to dye his white shirt & pant using Dylon.

After satisfied with my hand dyed project, suddenly my mind run wild. I remember reading my stitching friends in Malaysian Stitchers group discussing their experience doing their own hand dyed. Tarraa.. I start looking for my 14 ct aida and soaked them in pot. As M using a little bit of 'Havanah Brown', my white aida has turned to pinkish brown tone. He he.. M satisfied anyway and love the colour !

I also remember my stitching friends has also dyed their fabby using coffee and tea. And I decided to tried them too and wallaa.. now I have a pair of rustic fabby!!! Probably because I used a little of coffee, the fabby did not turn well but the colour still charming. My daughter then giving me a wild suggestion, why don't I try do my next hand dye using Milo. Well.. see whether I dare enough to do that.. hem hemm.. I smell of cocoa now !