Intro: Homestitchness and a Giveaway!

I really wanted to introduce you to my new love, Homestitchness and to tell you about her giveaway (at the end of the post)! I have fallen head over heels for these designs!

(classic kiwi bach)

I was in contact with Jenny at the beginning of this year when she told me about her plans to start her business selling her cross stitch designs. I've dabbled in cross-stitch in the past so have a love and appreciation for the art, but I know there are some pretty daggy designs out there.

Jenny's designs blew me away when I finally laid my eyes on them!! As a kiwi living away from home (she's now based in the USA) she has completely channelled her love of Aotearoa and embroidery floss to create these iconic, collectable cross stitch designs.

They are perfectly reminiscent of the Kiwi summer, homes and landscape and would look great in my home. I love the series of little cottages - they are the perfect mix of colonial and Maori. Much like our own whanau, actually.

The fabulous thing is she sells them in her Etsy store and they are sent to you on high quality cardstock and are shipped world wide for free. I haven't seen them in person yet but I imagine the pattern alone could be framed and displayed like a piece of art.

(Pohutukawa House) (Possibly my fav!! Whats yours?)

The exciting thing is to celebrate, Jenny is giving away 2 opportunities to win a pattern of your choice! The first winner will get a full kit with pattern, floss and linen, the second will get a pattern of their choice.

All you need to do is visit the Homestitchness blog and enter!!! 

If you've never cross stitched before this is the perfect opportunity to start, or pick up some skills learnt a long time ago. The patterns come with detailed instructions on how to create the piece, and you'll be able to hang it with pride in your Kiwi Home.

(Kowhai Cottage)

Thanks Jenny!

A Cinderella Revelio!

Specialis Revelio!

After a 4 year work in progress I found inspiration for my lost Cinderella. In the last few weeks of pregnancy I actually managed to finish most of it, and spent my last day of pregnancy sitting in the sun in our lounge working on her outline.

As I went into labour and we cleared out the lounge for our birth pool I had to pack up unfinished Cindy and place her on our shelf. I apologised out loud to her (Cinderella) and Camilla for not finishing her by the targeted time (birth).

Last night while Camilla was sleeping I finished the last few lines and today framed it!! So... Ta-Dahhh! Can I hear a YAY!????

Camilla was quite happy with her book this afternoon but when it was replaced with her gift she wasn't so happy. Poor Baby.

Its a trackpants day around here for the both of us (except I don't own trackpants... But I have them on in my mind). Graeme and I are both feeling a tad under the weather. I feel a cold coming on and woke up last night with a sore throat. After a long winter with no sign of sickness I'm hoping this doesn't turn into anything!!

I hope you're all enjoying a sunny Friday!

Cindy in the Snow

Day two of being snowed in. I haven't left our house since Sunday evening! Graeme has had to go to work both days, they are really busy, but he's just arrived home an hour early! Yipee!

My facebook status from 7 am monday morning:

In the mean time I have had a respark of love for Cindy. When I said I hacked off her lower half, I really did. 

In the last few days I've done most of the blue that you can see. I'm on a roll!! I had a few great emails suggesting I just get a smaller frame rather than doing her embroidered frame and then framing her. I think that's the way to go!

I hope you are all staying warm and happy! :)

x

Just Resting :)

Hehehe, I've had a few emails today from blog readers asking if my absence had meant I had gone into labour - unfortunately not!!

Although, I'm standing by my hopes that I will go into labour while snowed it. That would make an excellent story to tell the kids.

In the mean time, I have bunkered down on the couch with hot tea and a certain Cinderella cross stitch.

Waiting....

While Graeme waits on me hand and foot :) He even has to push me up off the couch. Its quite lovely really.

I hope you have enjoyed your snow day and for those in Canterbury; turn the heater on! We're in for another 20cm's tonight.

Its time for a hot shower for this preggo. Hopefully that will calm down the cramps and nerve pinches :)

Be back tomorrow with something more interesting!

x

A Lost Cinderella

Years and years and years ago I was given a prophetic word as to my likeness to Cinderella. I was living a fairy tale life - from rags to riches. Rags being my past sin and the life I had made for myself and my riches being all of the new things I had in God and all they offered.

That afternoon I went out and bought myself a cross-stitch of Cinderella to do. I quickly realised that it was going to take me foreverrrr to complete and I set a long term goal - to have it finished before I had a baby girl. That would give me plenty of years.

Well, years passed and I picked it up every 6 months or so and completed a new section.

Here is the last photo I had of my progress. Although, since taking this I had completed much much more of it. I had finished her hair and most of her blue dress.

Then, last year I had to make a quick present for a little girls birthday. I had little money that week and decided a handmade gift was the best! I downloaded a free pattern of her favourite animal and used embroidery thread I already had.

The problem was, I didn't have any more cross stitch fabric. I made the quick decision to cut off a piece (!!!) from Cindy's lower half (!!!) and reasoned that I didn't need very much, and that we wouldn't be having a girl for another couple of years. I still had time.

Well. Now I don't. Cindy is still missing fabric from her lower half - Probably too much fabric to bother continuing. And Baby Girl is due in 3.5 weeks (exactly 1 year since that gift was made).

*sigh*

Fail.