Redwork exchange received

Just a quick note to upload some piccies, and say a HUGE thank you to Leslie for my Redwork exchange piece ... isn't this the most gorgeous thing? I just love it! It's just so rich and scrummy ... I have most definitely fallen in love with redwork - I just can't get enough of it now! (Don't worry, though, I'm still most definitely a blue girl at heart, and that won't change LOL.) As well as the beautiful stitched ornament (which I adore), Leslie also sent some extra goodies along - some GAST threads and a fat 1/4 of some lovely quilting fabric ... all very very useful! :D As well as that, she also sent the chart and remaining charms that she stitched mine from - which I also love, and it's going to be very very handy as you've just given me a great idea for an upcoming gift :) This poor exchange has been sitting at the Post Office since just before last weekend, but this is the first time I've been anywhere near work during daylight hours to pick it up.

Before I forget, for Cindy - I used the flat-fold instructions from Judy Odell's book, which is wonderful ... but Kim has put very good instructions on her website here - the only major difference is that Judy attaches her ribbon before the pieces are put together, and she stitches the pieces together instead of using glue, using a ladder stitch - hope that helps :D

And here is the before and after photo of the Kitty Pi Mum knitted for me ... I've conned her into making another one (one for the lounge, and one for the bedroom), but I've found where I can buy the proper wool (ie Noro Kureyon) here in Melbourne, so we're going to get some of the 'Real McCoy' to use next time. As you can see, the ducks are seriously impressed with it! ;) Just for a change, I thought we'd go "blue" LOLOL - the actual colour is more muted than the photo looks.

As for today, nothing much done except for housework - the lounge is tidy now (including my stitching corner, will miracles never cease??) ... the next job is the dining table which is a pigsty, but I figure just doing a bit every day will eventually get the clutter put away - after that, I start decluttering the bedrooms, and that's a full-time job haha. I had a shocking night's sleep last night due to horrendously high winds making a racket, so I'm just taking it very very easy today, and I'll have an early night tonight ... hmmm, I wonder what rocket fuel cocktail I could make tonight to knock me out? LOL. Other than that today I managed to get Zohrah's replacement mail art exchange in the mail ... I haven't felt too creative this week, so I've just re-done the original mail art I did (praying this one turns up, as I don't think I could stitch it three times!!).

I think this arvo I'm going to drag out the Dratteds and put a few stitches into them ... I really wanted to get them finished by Christmas, and that date is looming really really quickly!! After that, I think Egyptian Garden Mandala will be replacing them as my focus piece on my rotation ... I can't wait to stitch on this one again :)