Monday, 31 December 2007

Mel's 2007 Year in Review

Well its the afternoon of New Year's Eve here in Australia.  I'm at mum's and it is swelteringly hot :)

So my Year in Review .... here's the list I posted last December .... today's comments come after the -- in each post.

OK well here's my list of anticipated realistic finishes for 2007:
Dutch Beauty -- didn't get much done on it at all
Rainmaker by Mystic Stitch -- no longer needed to do
2 more of the Ross Egyptian profiles for mum -- nope - got one done
The Castle (TW) -- insert insane laughter here
Cirque des Cercles -- nope
Mystery IX -- not finished
Midi Mystery 1 -- not finished
Midi Mystery 2 or 3 -- not finished or even started
Black Beauty or Something in Red -- not started
Catherine of Aragon -- yes one anticipated finish

I also expect that I will finish or be well on my way to finishing ...
a few Kats by Kelly -- nope. Didn't even get one started.
Frederick the Literate -- nope got four stitches in.
another InkCircles design (I have a few to choose from - depends on my
mood when I finish Cirque) -- Yep started and finished Dogwood Square.  Also THOM is *mostly* finished.
St Sophia -- not started
Fire Flower -- YES!  Finished !!!!
one of the FantaCat charts I have -- nope.
Another of Henry VIII's wives -- nope.

and the list goes on from there - from that point onwards the list is
huge and will depend on my mood, other commitments, other new designs
coming out etc etc. I aim to get the first list completely finished.
This is my goal. Everything in the second list will be wonderful but
unrealistic - anything in the unlisted third list will be wonderful and
will probably bump something off the second list to do it :) Bit hey -
I'm a Leo I'm allowed to change my mind - or completely fall in love
with a new design and have to stitch it NOW !!!

-- And that's exactly what happened!  I also finished this year four unplanned stitched gifts, Silent Night for Sisu, C for Claire, D for Donna and Late Shift for Hilary. I did two Moonflower smalls, Gothic and Stellar, and some smalls model-stitched for Inkcircles Hanky Pysanky.  Also two blackwork dragons and of course Party Cat.  Pics of all of these can be seen here: http://gothtigger.multiply.com/photos/album/2/Finished_pieces

So although I didn't get many BAPs finished (OK not one) I did better than most years in that I finished five items for gifts, my first ever model stitch jobs *and* eight pieces for my own walls.

Fourteen pieces is an outstanding number for me.

Now looking forward for 2008.

My anticipated finishes for 2008 are "b*ggered if I know"!  I am not writing lists, I am not planning, I am not setting up a rotation that I will just break.  I will work on what I feel like when I feel like as I feel like and I will *not* feel guilty about this in any way shape or form.

Except I suppose I'd better get a few stitches into my TW's The Castle and my The One project or a certain Darth List Mum might skin me alive ....

Oh and the pic above is yet another new unanticipated start - Spotted Butterfly by Szulet Creations.

Sunday, 30 December 2007

Hemmingway




This is my little "black" cat that stayed with mum after my divorce.

She really is a little cat - had a growth hormone problem so she always looked half-grown. She is 10 years old now and finally is starting to look like a full-grown cat ......

Friday, 28 December 2007

Moose


Dad took this one himself - with his new camera he got for Christmas. Dad's first camera.

Dad and his dog Moose

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

Christmas Day



I know some of you are still sleeping during Christmas Eve but here in Eastern Australia we've had a great Christmas Day.  Had a lovely sleep-in this morning, then breakfast, then Dad and Moose went for a long walk around our hills.  The picture above is Moose after they came back - they were both tuckered out.

Then opening the presents.  I received a beautiful box of chocolates from Mariann and a gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous dragon's box from Claire.  The box could not have been more perfect for me - it is absolutely gorgeous !!!!!!!

See pics here.

I also received a surprise phone call from Paula !!!!  So unexpected but such a delightful surprise!  Paula has such a lovely voice!

A quiet lunch followed by an afternoon of classical music including Handel's Messiah and a snooze for Dad and some stitching for me.

Lovely quiet dinner tonight and I'm catching up on my blog while Dad is snoozing in front of Hot Fuzz .......

Monday, 24 December 2007

Christmas Eve



Christmas Eve and I'm off to bed.  You can see the fabulous cards that I received so far this year - the *vast* majority from BAPXS'ers :)

I've already had Christmas with my friend Alison yesterday and again with Paul and his family today - so the only presents under that tree are Claire's pressie to me, one last present from Paul and all my presents to my Dad.

I'll share Christmas again with mum in a week-ish.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY !!!!!!

May your special day be filled with love laughter and relaxation and may 2008 bring all your hopes and dreams to fruition, be relaxing and not as stressful as 2007 and fill you with contentment and happiness with every facet of your lives.

And may the frogs stay away from your stitching!

1 New Item on My Amazon Wish-list

(This blog entry was automatically generated by Multiply's Wish-list Cross-posting feature.)

Below are items recently added to my Amazon wish-list. If you are familiar with anything below and have any comments or alternate suggestions, please leave a reply.

Click here to see my full and current wish-list.


Neverwhere CD
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
Price: $21.99

Learn More

Sunday, 23 December 2007

Mel's Sunday Update

Yes I have an update this week.  I have a finish, a framing job and a progress pic !!!  Woo Hoo !!!

The Finish.
I started stitching on the train again this week.  Yes after a train-stitching slump since Daylight Savings began back in October I haven't had the energy or inclination to stitch on the train - not until the last week before my holidays start :)  I finished off Fire Dragon - the companion black work piece to Water Dragon.  Although it doesn't look like it, the entire dragon is filled one with just one variegated thread.  What do you think?

The Framing Job.
I got Dogwood Square back from the framers this week.  I love my new framer - she's cheaper than the old one and has a sense of style than neither the old framer or I have.  For example she suggested a four mat scheme for Dogwood Square.  I think it came out looking really good.

The clearest pic is here: but the colours show up better here.

And finally the Progress.
I made some good time on Party Cat this week.  I got the backstitching finished on the train and got a couple of hours in on the squiggles while waiting for Dad to arrive yesterday.


Hope everyone is happy and relaxed and has all their Christmas planning and preparation under control.  As suspected and dreaded, I'm off to the shopping mall with Dad after breakfast this morning ....

103 New Items on My Amazon Wish-list

(This blog entry was automatically generated by Multiply's Wish-list Cross-posting feature.)

Below are items recently added to my Amazon wish-list. If you are familiar with anything below and have any comments or alternate suggestions, please leave a reply.

Click here to see my full and current wish-list.


V - The Complete Series
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Price: $22.36

Learn More

Godzilla vs. Gigan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Supernatural - The Complete First Season
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Price: $29.99

Learn More

Godzilla Vs Hedorah
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Godzilla: Ghidrah - The Three Headed Monster
Manufacturer: Video Treasures
Price: $9.75

Learn More

Godzilla 2000
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $5.18

Learn More

Heroes - Season One
Manufacturer: Universal
Price: $36.94

Learn More

Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.94

Learn More

Fool Moon: Book 2 of the Dresden Files (The Dresden Files) (The Dresden Files)
Manufacturer: Buzzy Multimedia
Price: $39.99

Learn More

Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8)
Manufacturer: Spectra
Price: $13.60

Learn More

All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
Price: $11.46

Learn More

Dead and Loving It
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
Price: $3.99

Learn More

Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera)
Manufacturer: Ace
Price: $4.09

Learn More

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Yojimbo & Sanjuro - Two Films By Akira Kurosawa - Criterion Collection
Manufacturer: Criterion
Price: $48.97

Learn More

Destroy All Planets + Gamera Strikes Back
Manufacturer: East West Entertainment
Price: $7.99

Learn More

Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $1.98

Learn More

Negadon - The Monster From Mars
Manufacturer: Us Manga Corps Video
Price: $9.28

Learn More

Gamera - Attack of Legion
Manufacturer: Adv Films
Price: $13.37

Learn More

Supernatural - The Complete Second Season
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Price: $34.99

Learn More

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
Price: $3.58

Learn More

Destroy All Monsters
Manufacturer: Adv Films
Price: $8.39

Learn More

Gammera the Invincible
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $3.08

Learn More

Gappa, the Triphibian Monster
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
Price: $8.94

Learn More

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
Price: $11.16

Learn More

Godzilla Versus Monster Zero
Manufacturer: Simitar Ent.
Price: $59.99

Learn More

Eerie, Indiana - The Complete Series
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $20.99

Learn More

Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla II
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

The Impartial Recorder: A Novel
Manufacturer: Fourth Estate
Price: $5.90

Learn More

Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $4.02

Learn More

Godzilla DVD Collection 7-Pack (Godzilla (1998) / Godzilla 2000 / vs. King Ghidora / and Mothra The Battle for Earth / vs. Destoroyah / vs. Space Godzilla / vs. Mechagodzilla / Giant Monsters All Out Attack / vs. Megaguirus)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $59.94

Learn More

War of the Monsters (aka Gamera vs. Barugon)
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $2.95

Learn More

Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
Manufacturer: Roc Hardcover
Price: $16.29

Learn More

Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too
Manufacturer: Wiley
Price: $13.98

Learn More

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah - Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Rodan
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $24.99

Learn More

The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
Price: $22.94

Learn More

Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.84

Learn More

Space Amoeba
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
Price: $12.97

Learn More

Academ's Fury (Codex Alera)
Price: $73.98

Learn More

Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
Price: $1.40

Learn More

Mothra vs. Godzilla
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $12.24

Learn More

Yongary: Monster From the Deep
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $3.92

Learn More

War in Space
Manufacturer: Discotek Media
Price: $14.54

Learn More

Godzilla's Revenge
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $4.02

Learn More

Rodan
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $4.02

Learn More

The Outer Limits (The New Series) - Season One (1995)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Price: $23.49

Learn More

Tales from the Crypt - The Complete First Season
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Price: $18.98

Learn More

Mr. Dixon Disappears: A Mobile Library Mystery (Mobile Library)
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
Price: $5.50

Learn More

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla / Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $12.98

Learn More

Blood Rites (The Dresden Files, Book 6)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $2.70

Learn More

The Case of the Missing Books: A Mobile Library Mystery (Mobile Library Mysteries)
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
Price: $0.47

Learn More

Undead and Unworthy
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Price: $16.29

Learn More

Attack Of The Monsters (aka Gamera vs. Guiron)
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $1.99

Learn More

Godzilla Raids Again
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $11.99

Learn More

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.95

Learn More

Are You Afraid of The Dark? - (2 Pack) First and Second Season , (Compleate Seasons 1 and 2)
Price: $49.99

Learn More

Return of the Giant Monsters - The Magic Serpent
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Price: $12.71

Learn More

Son of Godzilla
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $12.83

Learn More

King Kong Vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Price: $14.17

Learn More

Gamera 3 - Revenge of Iris
Manufacturer: Adv Films
Price: $14.80

Learn More

Terror of Mechagodzilla
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $34.99

Learn More

Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3)
Price: $6.49

Learn More

Destroy all Planets / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet -- DOUBLE FEATURE dvd REMASTERED
Manufacturer: PC Treasures
Price: $0.01

Learn More

The Twilight Zone - The Complete Series (Season One)
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
Price: $20.98

Learn More

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $12.34

Learn More

The Twilight Zone - Seasons 2 & 3 (1986 - 1988)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Price: $39.12

Learn More

Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.99

Learn More

Undead and Uneasy (Queen Betsy, Book 6)
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Price: $12.89

Learn More

Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector's Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956])
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $11.13

Learn More

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $12.39

Learn More

Captain's Fury (Codex Alera, Book 4)
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
Price: $14.80

Learn More

Godzilla - Tokyo S.O.S.
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Gamera vs. Monster X / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Price: $12.66

Learn More

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Godzilla's Revenge
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $19.99

Learn More

Godzilla King of the Monsters
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $34.94

Learn More

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $13.70

Learn More

Terror of Mechagodzilla
Manufacturer: Classic Media
Price: $7.95

Learn More

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Destroy All Planets
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Price: $2.68

Learn More

Gamera - The Ultimate Collection
Manufacturer: Vintage Home Ent.
Price: $3.82

Learn More

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.96

Learn More

Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera)
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
Price: $13.73

Learn More

The Twilight Zone - Season 1 (1985 - 1986)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Price: $37.43

Learn More

Godzilla vs. Mothra
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
Price: $29.95

Learn More

Varan the Unbelievable
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
Price: $11.81

Learn More

Gamera Limited Edition Box Set
Manufacturer: ADV Films
Price: $35.98

Learn More

Undead and Unreturnable (Undead)
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Price: $3.45

Learn More

Many Bloody Returns
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
Price: $12.00

Learn More

Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
Price: $3.31

Learn More

The Mysterians
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
Price: $12.76

Learn More

Bones - The Complete First Season
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Price: $28.85

Learn More

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $9.99

Learn More

Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine # 2)
Manufacturer: Criterion
Price: $34.77

Learn More

Gamera - The Brave (Widescreen)
Price: $14.94

Learn More

Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
Price: $1.60

Learn More

Godzilla - Final Wars
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $6.99

Learn More

Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $2.45

Learn More

Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, Book 4)
Manufacturer: Roc
Price: $3.96

Learn More

Zarkorr! The Invader
Manufacturer: FULL MOON
Price: $4.45

Learn More

Godzilla DVD Collection
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Price: $21.99

Learn More

King Kong vs. Godzilla
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
Price: $58.99

Learn More