A Year in Review

Not that much stitching done in this house this year, although there will be this year! I did find quilting so that did take most of the winter up. Here is my year in review. Pop over to see Su's blog for the details on how to join.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2010 brings health and happiness to you and your families. I spent a lovely evening with Katrina and her family having a quiet drink and of course wonderful food once more.

Onwards for stitching and blogging and of course my house this year. I am sure this will be my year for some really good things to happen. I hope it is for you too.

December Birthdays and Christmas

December is such a busy month in my world these days that if I could go back to the beginning of November and have another go at it I would. How fast the days all went by. It was lovely to walk out of the office for a good few days knowing all was up to date.

As mentioned, I had a birthday, yes, another year older. The day itself went ok, but the highlight was when Katrina invited me to her home and she had made me dinner, we had a few laughs and her mum and neice Zoe was there too. I even got pressies, and they are lovely.

And friend Clare made me this lovely block roll and little needle bag, it is very cute.


And I did get a few little treats myself....

My friend Lisa had a major birthday and this is what I made for her.

Christmas Eve came and Lauren and Anna arrived. I had been waiting to see them as Christmas is my favourite holiday period of the year.


I had beavered away at a project through the year, and this was a present for Lisa. It is the first stocking I have made up, (although I have stitched quite a few, and I was totally chuffed at the finished product. The backing fabric was just perfect for Lisa as she loves black and red. I have several more to do so that I have them ready for next Christmas.

And I made a couple of Christmas Dollies for Shirley and Heather.... I love making these, they are very cute. Just realised I forget ot colour their cheeks!

Christmas dinner was spent with friends and family at Heather and Cliffs. Everyone was there and it was such a fun time. Everyone contributed to a most beautiful meal.... and I made this dessert to go along with the turkey and salads we took along. Just berries in this, and it is totally delicious and loved by all. (The whole meal was just beautiful and the whole evening could not have been better.)


Here is Katrina and I with Katrina's neice Zoe.

I still have a project to finish, I went to buy supplies for it on Christmas Eve, but the shop was closed! Was not impressed, so watch this space in the next few days.

Today I take the girls back to Wellington, it will be a very long day for me and lots of driving. I am sure my sleep in tomorrow morning will be well earned. I have thought I might stay at my brothers and see if we might have a catch up.

Happy Holidays to you all, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving comments. I do appreciate them a great deal. Hope 2010 will bring a lot more blogging and I am hoping that this year is going to be mine with some really exciting projects ahead of me.

Yo Yiddily Yo

And what have I been up to for the past few months, yes it is THAT long since I blogged. Not that I have not had good intentions, it just hasn't happened.

The winter has gone now, (although there are some days I wonder) but on the whole we are getting some brighter and some hotter days. The sun is so nice touching the skin.

I have stitched, and found quilting over the winter months, and there are an awful amount of unfinished projects in my work basket. I had been beavering along on them hoping to be in my own home for this Christmas. That is not to be, but there is a method in my madness as I am going to build. I have bought land, and my plans are now with the Council awaiting a building consent. They have promised it before Christmas, which we all know is just around the corner.

So here am I putting the sold sign on the board....

It is in a lovely new area, a cul de sac which will be quieter and of course safe for the boys. The fur boys that is! I love my plans, and had them drawn up by the chap who had done all the previous houses that had been built. I am super chuffed to say the least, and just cannot wait to get into it, around Easter - give or take at this stage.

The girls are both good, and Anna and Aimee came and had a weekend with me recently, then a few weeks later Lauren and Andy came up too for a couple of days. Yes, they are back from Australia for a good year it seems, both are going back to school, Lauren to finish her degree and Andy to do something completley new.

So just to let you know that I am around, are doing ok (most days) and are looking forward.

Catchup Time

The winter is long and harsh here this year. There are good things that come from this though, and one of them is crafting.

Here are some photos....

I finished the ring pillow for Michelle and gave it to her last Tuesday. She gets married on 18 July so we are all very excited for her.

I have also been working on my quilt and that is coming along nicely. I so enjoy the stitching with this piece, and I have always loved fabric so to have both elements in the one project I am pretty tickled pink! I have to say a big tanks you to Clare who is such a great teacher, and has so much love and patience to give.

And here is Clare and Katrina at a recent afternoon spent at Katrinas. Much laughter was had by all.

I have also pulled out an old project I had on the go, with all this stitching thing with fabric going on, I thought I could now tackle a project that I once thought was a bit beyond me!















And I had a wee spluge out not long ago and this is what I got ...



Sally Giblin, an Australian designer has these designs out. More stitching with fabric! I have decided I am a stitcher who loved fabric!!
Watch this space lol.
And last but not least here are 'the boys', my constant companions who just love being in the warm . Zeaus on his pink hand towel and Billy on the back of my chair fast asleep.














It is cold in the computer room, and my hands are nearly frozen solid as I finish this off. Till next time, happy stitching and thank you for visiting my blog. (Apologies for the funny setting out this time.)

Brrrrr

As I write this the day is certainly getting colder, icy cold in fact.  I had been outside cleaning out the inside of my car and got colder and colder.  The outside is just going to have wait with it's paw prints from the kitties on it for now.  We have had some beaut frosts this week, but lovely days after it.

I have doing a little stitching and have nearly finished the ring pillow I started weeks ago.  I have the beads to put on then will make it up.  If I feel inclined I may even sew the beads on this afternoon. Pictures will come when this is finished.  I have also stitched on my Mother's Heart...

And I have discovered quilting.  On my, this is very cool and I am just loving putting my first quilt together.  Leanne's House. I have had this kit for sometime now -  a good couple of years! - and a friend, Clare, has been helping me get started.  I have done a couple of blocks with some half completed, and some with a little of the stitching done too.  I think I like these quits as they have both elements that I love to do in them, makes the quilt interesting with a story that goes with it.

It's pretty cool and I am already contemplating my next quilt, Journey of a Quilter.  I have already started gathering a few pieces of fabric for this one.  Next winter perhaps!!

Off to finish some chores and warm my hands up!

A Happy Day

Oh how I love short weeks at work!  I have managed to get a little stitching done this week, and it is a ring pillow for Michelle, a girl at work who is getting married in July.  I am really enjoying working on some hardanger again, although I must admit I had to frog this piece and have a fresh start.  I think the frogs had got to my brain!

I hope that is not a rogue cat hair in one of the kloster blocks!

And yesterday I went to Hannah's birthday party.  Katrina did a wonderful job of organising the party and the food was just delightful.  Here is Hannah with her cake..... (this little girl would have to have the most wonderful temperament, nothing fases her, she is so receptive to everything and everyone, a true delight!)

Happy First birthday Hannah!