First Post

Hi there 'Like Minded Ladies'

 

I'm Rae and it is Mothers Day here in New Zealand today and this is my very first post on my brand new blog. I have been thinking of blogging for soooooo long now and it wasn't until yesterday that I finally got started. I followed links given by other stitchers to Amy Wilson's blog http://threadinhand.blogspot.co.nz/ and finally motivated by her posts and her enthusiastic work ethic when it comes to stitching, I thought, I can do this. Of course I cannot imagine myself acheiving the amount of stitching Amy does on a daily basis but I figured it would at the very least serve to motivate me to achieve especially now that I have received Lesson #1 of the awesome 'Cabinet of Curiosities' outstanding and amazing online course offered by Tricia of 'Thistle Threads' http://www.thistle-threads.com/.

 

So a little background about me.... We live in a converted old methodist church built by early settlors to New Zealand in 1881. We are semi rural with a lovely view of the Auckland skyline which is 40 km's away. I live here with my husband Craig and two daughters Tiger Lily who is 12yrs and Jazmin who is 6yrs along with our two cats Paris and Louis. I adore all things historical to do with needlework, doing my own needlework along with all things interior and french with a shabby chic twist.

I have been doing needlework off and on since I was a young adult. My Mum is a prolific needleworker and has stitched some awesome hardanger and stumpwork embroideries in the Jane Nicholas style http://www.janenicholas.com/. Of course being a Mum of young children and work commitments ( I am an accountant by profession) have largely restrained me over the years and I have done more needlepoint tapestry to date than any other styles. But now as I have been able to undertake a well earned break from paid employment thanks to my husband's property development skills I have been so far on a year long journey learning all about historical needlework  online and from copious books which started with a fascination with Berlin Woolwork and the amazing handpainted charts from the mid 1800's and has now culminated in an obsession with embroidered caskets. Once I discovered Thistle Threads I was hooked. Being so far away down here in little NZ with no access to museum archives other than books and online, the Cabinet of Curiosities course is a lifeline.

Of course I also love doing applique style patchwork  and have a stash of needlework and sewing projects that would far outstrip my lifetime but the mind is willing and I am not quite at the big five zero but not far off and so I better get started...

....Here is a little glimpse into my space and my personality ......... :-)

 

 

My Workspace

 

My Stitching Space