Between You and Me

Simply Gorgeous Shoes

2012-01-31T21:20:00.002+13:00

I have fallen in love with the Anni Downs new book Some Kind of Wonderful. The patterns and projects in the book are just beautiful and right where I want to be right now. I have made one design and finished it.... Simply Gorgeous Shoes.

So with that said, I have been collecting a few fabrics and have joined the SAL of Some Kind of Wonderful. I know I am a bit behind the eight ball on this project - what's new - but I know I will catch up over the winter months as I am a bit of a home body. Chookyblue will have her whip out at me I am sure!! So watch the progress as I make each block. Here are some of the fabrics....

Aren't they delicious?

Here are a few of my backgrounds, have gatherered a few that I had in my stash, and have bought a few bigger pieces. I am waiting on one more piece, hopefully in the mailbox

tomorrow.

I have always loved fabric. I just cant go past a fabric shop without looking inside. And the designers make it so hard these days with all the beautiful colours and patterns. I have decided I am more contemporary that traditional though in the things I like. And I am not all about quilts, I am always on the lookout for 'things' made with fabric. I will still stitch I know, but for this year it is about this quilt and Some Kind of Wonderful nd finishing off a few other projects. (I have spent a few hours sorting and cutting, and thanks to Clare for her help and advice too.)

Alison and Deb, yep, I know I will go this way at some stage, but for now I am enjoying both my stitching and the sewing. Wendy, no reason why you cannot join me in making your black and white quilt either.

Thanks for dropping by, till next time....

Kath

January Roundup

2012-01-29T22:48:00.000+13:00

Well, not too much really over this past couple of weeks. I have been particularly busy at work and have had some late nights and early mornings there, and quite honestly, by the time I have come home and cooked dinner and done a few chores, I have been quite tired. If I pick up a needle I fall asleep! I have not been watching tv even. So early nights have been in order and I have been reading a bit. I have enjoyed that.

I have been doing a lot of this though...

cutting out squares for a black and white themed quilt. There are oodles of these babies, so to get to and sew them together now will be great. I do find I need to cut in the daytime, so it is often home and into this for a bit each night.

There has been a bit of collecting going on over the last year, and this is one of my favourite fabric lines, Martinique by 3 Sisters. This is the fabric that will adorn the sewing room and I have a few ideas to make some deliciousness to cover my machine, overlocker and goodness knows what else.I did make these our of Martinique..... a ort bag, and a wee tiny bag to hold the threads I will be using when needleturning a quilt I am about to start. I knew I needed 'somewhere safe' for them lol. I am loving my new sewing machine!

I have not even worked on Holly and Ivy much, but here is where I am up to on this. I do hope to work on it this week a bit while watching a bit of tv in the evenings.

Another weekend over, back to work for another week. I am looking forward to the long weekend - Waitangi Day, 6 February, our national day. I know there will be stitching involved and some gardening will be a must also.

Have a good week, thanks for popping in, and I just love the comments you leave.

Kath

Girls and Their New Toys

2012-01-20T20:21:00.002+13:00

Well Hello!

After much debating with myself for some time now, and I guess it came to a head when Anna was here and we both wanted to sew. I knew the Bernina which belonged to my mum and I got when she passed away, was coming to the end of it's life and for the new sewing projects that I would like to persue, I had to do something. I looked around and talked with a friend who sews a lot, and looked a bit more and the decision was made.

I will let the photos do the talking.

by itself

with the mega sized tray on it

and the scissors, these are just fabulous and there is no more cotton all over the floor and no more wastage!

I am tickled pink with this machine and I know I am going to have hours and hours of fun with it, so keep watching and see what is produced over the nexe few months.

And during last year, I remodeled my sewing room. I had bits of furniture in there, and it really did not work at all. No space to spread myself and fabrics and bits as I would have liked.

This is the outcome....

The baskets on the shelf there are from my gradmothers collection and from my Aunt who made it some years ago and gave it to me for my birthday. I would have been about 12 at the time. Both very special.

the sewing end

the whole room.

I do spend a lot of time in here, poking around, on the computer, and constantly tidying it up! Constantly, so now I hope that things are sorted enough for me to actually accomplish something lol. I do love my little room, and what is best, it can be shut off from the rest of the house and no one would know what is going on in there! hehe

And lastly, my lovely neighbour Juene passed away. She had a stoke some seven weeks ago, and as a feisty, independent, lovely woman, she went to a lady who had to depend on everyone for help. She would never be able to come and live back in our lovely neighbourhood and she slipped away last Sunday morning. It was very sad to see this 85 year old who was extremely sprighty go this way. She had a lovely service yesterday, the church was full, outside was full, and people hearts were full of all of Juene's love for her family. A wonderful family she has too. Rest well Juene.

Kath

Rain, Rain Go Away!

2012-01-08T22:00:00.000+13:00

Happy New Year to you All.

Lazy holiday days have moved on now and tomorrow I go back to work, how quickly the days at home have gone. Anna has returned home too, and she made good progress on her quilt, and she did it all herself. I was really pleased with her efforts, particularly for someone who had never sewed before. Here is a bit of a snapshot of the making of her quilt....

She placed the squares...

she practised on the machine with scraps first

she sewed all the squares together.

The seams were very good and were matching perfectly as the rows were sewn together. Sadly that is as far as she got. Next visit she will do more to have it finished to take home.

It's been a particularly nasty day out there today, rain has come down in buckets, and forecasters are saying we will have this for a good few days yet. Oh yay!!! One thing though, it is great for crafting. I have not done as much as I had set out to do. I will update progress next time.
Thanks for dropping by, I do love to read your comments.

Kath

Lazy Holiday Days

2011-12-30T09:41:00.000+13:00

The stockings hung with care this year

How lovely it is to be at home with no rushing around. Just to spend time with the girls, in the garden and a little time with my stitching. I enjoy that. Even a lovely dessert....

A rolled berry pavlova

Katrina, Glenn and Hannah popped around on the day after boxing day and we exchanged out Christmas gifts. All great of course! Here is a sampling from Katrina...

a lovely stitchery which I will hang in my sewing room

a very cute bon bon

a great quilting book - really good ideas in this

These for Katrina....

Front

Back

a Thread Catcher

And ornament - found here

and I had a lot of fun making for these for Katrina, knowing that she wanted a cover for her sewing machine. And thank you to Clare too.... I got a bit lost in Christmas with my head in too many places, Clare set me right and helped me get the binding sorted and show me a few tricks. Great friends that is for sure. The patterns I used can be found here, here, and here.

And I just must show you these cards Wendy made, for all occasions.... a brilliant idea!

And look at Wendy's ornament..... from this

to this...

A very cute angel.

We managed a bit of after Christmas shopping at the sales with a trip to Napier with the girls. I got a couple of things I really wanted.... and at good prices too. A couple of tops too, so have some summer clothes at last!

A great cookbook....

The days have been lovely and not too hot with a nice breeze just to take the edge off. I spent time in the garden - weeds wait for no one! - cleaned out the sewing room after the Christmas frenzy in there, and just caught up on chores so the next week can be for what I would like to do and to start a couple of sewing projects that had been put aside for this time.

Holly and Ivy - Shepherds Bush - a kit

The weather is meant to pack in for the next few days, so I can see the sewing machine being used a lot. I have found a pattern for Anna's quilt, and will purchase another fabric to use with the Bliss I won from Deb's giveaway.

Chris and Lauren are back for a night and will head back home today to spend time with their friends for New Years. Anna I will be here, no plans just chilling out. Cant say that I am overly into New Years parties, but a bit of time to think about the coming year will certaily be in order.

So with that I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, hope all your wishes and dreams come true and you and yours stay happy and healthy.

Kath

Merry Christmas to All

2011-12-26T20:30:00.000+13:00

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas no matter where in the world you are.

Lauren, Anna and I had a lovely day at home, opening presents, a lovey 'light' brunch and then our early dinner.

Ham cheese and tomato croissant

In between we played cards, all had a little nap - think all this Christmas business had worn us all out - and we all felt a lot better for it too.

I got some lovely things, a new food processor from Lauren, Chris and Anna. I had a wee accident with a part of mine a few weeks ago, and it was cheaper to buy new than to replace the part! (ou would not believe what they charge for parts these days!!) It's horrendous!

And some beautiful stitchy things from Clare...

and some other just as lovely bits from my other stitchy friends. A talented bunch!
I had been pretty busy making things too.... here is a bit of look-see at what I made..... a bit of a solly prductin line going on for a while there...

For Wendy

All th above are part of an exchange took part in, The Great Global Christmas Exchange organised by Fiona Marie

and this is what I received from Jessica Lynn

Another dolly....

For Kelly, I tried tmake her look a litte French

and just loved the way her hair turned out.

Thank you to my crafty friends, I think you are amazingly clever with what you come up with. Still a few more things to show, but cant at the moment as I have not given to the recipient as yet. Maybe tomorrow.

It's also lovely having the girls here, and the 'boys' are enjoying the extra attention too. With the days being warm and sunny after days that felt like winter, I am sure everyone is enjoying themselves being outdoors.

With having my paved area now, it certainly is lovely to sit outdoors. I know I will spend heaps of time with my stitching, book, lunch and drinks sitting in this lovely area. I even moved the bbq around there today....!

We have eaten well.... here are some of the meals we have had.....

Our Christmas dinner....

our dessert.... oh so yum!

This is a dessert I made on Christmas Eve when Chris and his family came for lunch, oh it was mightly lovely and I will make that again. A Christmas tart with meringue topping.

Katrina and I are going to work on our SB Holly and Ivy over the Christmas break, it is ages since I stitched anything SB so I know I am going to enjoy it heaps.

Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment, I just love to read them.

Cheerio for now, watch for some more updates....

Kath

OMG I Won!!

2011-12-18T12:46:00.001+13:00

Well, Christmas has come early.... I am so chuffed!

Deb's Doodlings had a giveaway, I commented, as you do, and guess what? I won. This fabric is going to a good cause, my Anna would like to make a quilt. Now this will be a first for her in sewing (eek) I will guilde her and make sure this will be a quilt she will treasure. So watch her progress as we work over the holidays on it.

This is the fabric and threads...

Thank you again Deb...

More Weekend Visitors

2011-12-13T15:46:00.000+13:00

This week saw me turn another year older and there have been some lovely birthday celebrations. Katrina asked me to her home for a birthday dinner with her family and it was just lovely to sit and catch up. We have not all been together for a while. I requested fish and chips so that none of us had to go to much bother with busy weeks around us and ahead. Of course, Trina didnt listen to me lol, and she and Shirley made lovely salads to go with our fish and chips and Trina made a beautiful Sticky Date Pudding.... it was just yum! Shirley added a fresh fruit salad.... just delicious. Hannah was her usual funny self, how caring she is and her sense of humour is just delightful. She is certainly growing up for too quickly.

I was very spoilt with pressies from family and friends.....

That cookbook is fabulous.... I have already tagged a few pages for my Christmas cooking this year

My new little iron and ironing board for my craft room... can't wait to use it!

Chris always brings me Macaroons from a specialty dhop in Wellington... just gorgeous.

Friday night saw Lauren and Chris come up from Wellington for the weekend. As always it was great to see them. They took me out to dinner at Lonestar - my favourite - on Saturday night and that was just lovely. We had a quick look at a couple of shops before heding to the restaurant and the day was much brighter than we had at home. I didnt take pics - drat!

When we got home the Christmas tree got decorated by Lauren and Chris and they made a great job of it. Left me to put the lights on this morning and this is them and of course there is always a little helper of the four legged variety that thinks he is a gnome under the tree.

I will get told off for this one!!!

The gorgeous Mr Zeusy, he is such a poser!

And where was Mr Bill? Why sleeping between the pillows of course!

It was all too soon for them to head back to the big smoke, but it will be wonderful as I know I will see Anna, Lauren and Chris and his family on Christmas Eve for a lovely lunch. I am so looking forward to that.

I hope the festive season is being kind to you all and that you have most of your shopping and goodies almost sorted. I still have a few things to do, but hey, that is Christmas right?

I have a heap mre things to share so watch in the next few days for an update!

Have a great week, thanks for visiting,

Kath

Weekend Visitor

2011-12-04T19:47:00.001+13:00

Gosh how times flies, and this year has gone particularly quick! Lots has been done though, so let me share some pics of this weekends work - with a little help from someone special.

Some roses were planted - Icebergs and some other bits too

Anna helped me dig the last of the garden

We picked strawberries from the garden

Mowed the lawn - it was LONG (Anna deleted all the photos of her busy mowing, she id a stirling job that is for sure.)

Poor Anna got blisters - I did tell her to put her gloves on

Anna made me a beautiful breakfast - it's my birthday this week.

No stitching to show this week, lots on the go and things finished. If I get a mo during the week I will post again with some of the other things I have been up to!

Have a great week everyone, 21 more sleeps so they tell me!!

Kath

A Few Days of R n R

2011-11-06T20:51:00.002+13:00

I needed a break, not a big one, one enough to get over the winter blues, feeling blah and just be hone doing the things I love, when I wanted to. And I wanted to be at home.

I finished stitching these three little beauties for Christmas.... just for the making up now.

I made a few other bits that have to remain secret for now. I love what I made, how they turned out and well, they will all be in the post in the next few days. I hope who they are going to will love them as much as I did making them up. It is so nice to sit at the machine and see creations coming together. Really makes my heart sing.

John working his magic

the finished result ready for me to work my magic!

The garden got rotary hoed, not by me, but John did the digging and Jenny bought in the compost. Marvellous job they did too. I can start planting plants in a couple of weeks, after I have raked and turned it all over with a fork. Need to sort through some of the roots of plants that I had killed off prior to the rotaty how coming in. Just want to make sure they are gone! And planting will be no easy job, there is a lot more compost to be added to each and every hole. The soil here is very gluggy as it is clay, so lots of work to do there. It will be worth it and to see plants growing will be such a thing of beauty after bare ground. I hope lol.

The boys loved me being home, and of course me being home brings things that I put aside for an hour or two.... but look who I found in the laundry basket! That will teach me. He just loves the laundry and I guess it goes back to the times when he slept on a little hand towel, he still does! Even Mr Bill has been coming out during the day to see what is happening.

Zeus, he cant resist sitting on stuff

And Billy just wanted to look at the bobbin!

I sat and sewed for a while last night, and of course I had helpers. They just can't bear to miss out.

I am finding getting older hard this year, and things that would come naturally to me seem just that little more strenuous on the body and my mind too. It sucks. But I am determinded to get this house licked into shape and enjoy it. Never thought I would see me at almost 55 turning over a garden on my own, but there you go! Gave me a lot of time to think that is for sure and there were a few tears of where my life is right now. Quite therapeutic though. 2/3rds there but the next bit will be hard. Maybe half an hour each night after work, or if I feel energetic a bit more and wallah, I can plant. That part will be so good. More pictures next post.

Have a great week everyone, and thanks for popping in.

Kath

A Day Out

2011-10-22T16:53:00.002+13:00

This morning my neighbour Kelly and I headed off to Hastings. Napier and Havelock North on a plant buying mission. And a mission it was! We did have fun buying new plants for my new garden. We only went to two places with plants - and gee it was cold, very cold so got what we wanted and shot out of there pretty quick! We did get some goodies though.....

Three standard iceberg roses.... and various plants and grasses. About all that I could fit in my wee car, but home they came. I cant wait to get them planted now, it will be almost like and instant garden. There was some great specials too which made the trip even better!

And this is where they will go....

The grass is dying where I sprayed it a couple of weeks ago, and Kelly and I had a go at digging.... have decided we need a man with a little digger in to dig the rest out as it is just too big for us to do. So watch this space people!

I did manage to pop into JJ Crafts while we were in Napier too to get a couple of things I needed and came out with this fabric too.

As for stitching, there has not been that much of that going on, but I am almost finished the stocking for Lauren.... one more night I think and then a happy dance.

Gee it is so cold I have lit the fire! Off to make a cuppa and sit with my feet up for a while and see how much I can get done.

Hope your weekend is going as well as mine!

Go the All Blacks.... one more sleep till the final!

Thanks for stopping in....

Kath

Almost Done....

2011-10-20T20:02:00.002+13:00

I have been working hard on the stocking for Lauren, would really love to get this made up over the long weekend we have coming up. Will I do it???? Not too much done last night though, headed off to bed early.

And I am so looking forward to having a few days off, the old body is feeling a bit tired at the moment having had a cold and cold sores - have not had them for such an age, and had forgotten how much they hurt! Even my brain hurts, so to have that rest too will be great!! So a bit of R&R for me I hope. I know of a couple of boys who will love having their mumma at home too. Zeus waits on my chair for me....

Zeus came to sit on my knee, he got off and guess who hopped up...

yes, Mr Bill!

So have a good one Kiwis, and I must say too, the amount of Kiwi bloggers out there now is great, and such creative people. I am enjoying your blogs.

And GO THE ALL BLACKS!!! Just loved the game last week, hope Sunday's game will be as exciting and with the same outcome. Bit tense for sure!!

Thanks for popping on in.

Kath

Things Just Got Done...

2011-10-10T20:17:00.001+13:00

Oh what a great weekend I had. Nothing particularly special, and with a bit of warmer weather it is amazing just how motivated one can be.

Clare at her computer - learning how to blog!

Firstly, I did go and help Clare get her blog up and running and taught her to do a few new things. Clare is new to the computer and blogging, so helping her to get started was great. Watch her blog, she does the most beautiful stitching and quilting work.

After doing the obligatory chores after a working week, and a wet one at that, I managed to mark out and spray the grass where my new garden is going to go. Watch this space! I have a few plants to put in it and hope to find a good sale over Labour weekend to add a few more to this front garden.

I have marked where the edge is and have killed the grass...... watch this space for what happens next!

A couple of little roses that I have ready to go in the ground. Called Iceberg.

And some sweetpeas that I have in a pot - looks as if there is two varieties there!

Kelly came over, a lovely neighbour from across the road, and she helped me hang the artwork for my lounge. It has only been sitting on the lounge floor for the best part of a couple of months! It is great to have it finally on the wall. My walls are pretty bare really, apart from my bedroom where some of my treasured SB pieces hang. Also popped into give Katrina her thread and some mags, was nice to see her and her family too

Lizzie Kate - ABC Christmas

Shepherds Bush - Elisabeth Stocking

We then sat for a while with a cuppa, Kelly with her knitting and me working on a little more of Lauren's stocking. I would like to have this finished by Labour weekend, two weeks from now, to be able to make it up. And the others that I have already stitched. Good times.

2010 JCS Ornament magazine

An this has arrived..... I have already earmarked one or two must stitch designs.

So thanks for swinging by my part of the world, have a great week.

Till next time

Kath

Meet Clare.....

2011-10-09T08:42:00.002+13:00

Clare is new to blogging, and is ready to go now... visit her blog here and see the beautiful work that she does. She is a very talented lady.

Welcome to blogland Clare!

Hello Hello!

2011-10-01T21:23:00.001+13:00

I have been knitting fingerless mittens, Anna got the red, Lauren got the black and I of course had the chartruese!

I have been quilting a block of the month - My Town from Homespun Magazine

I have done some stitching....

Christmas Rules - Lizzie Kate

Christmas Alphabet - Lizzie Kate

a SAL Katrina and I have been doing

and it is about 2/3rds done now

Elisabeth's Stocking - Shepherds Bush

I have picked up Lauren's stocking and really want them all to be made up and ready for Christmas this year.

Billy likes to snuggle next to my pillow at night during the winters cold nights.

And now that the sun comes in the window in the lounge, Zeusy loves to sleep there. You know that box is only just big enough for him. He has been in the wars a bit over the winter, we have had a few new cats in the neighbourhood and he has been making sure they know who is Boss! But his foot came off second best..... not the best photo sorry.

Spent a lovely Saturday afternoon stiching with Katrina, Clare and Janet. It wa a nice quiet afternoon just stitching chatting with a nice suppa and some afternoon tea. I was just too slow to get photos!

So with that, I am off for the evening. I should be off to bed, byut instead I am going to catch up with Coronation Street and a cuppa. It's a bit chillier tonight so the fire is going.... very cosy. I know those boys of mine are stretched out in front of it too!!

Thanks for popping by...

Kath

May/June update

2011-07-03T17:09:00.010+12:00

Hello! What a busy couple of months I have had. First Laurne has her Graduation then about ten days later Miss Anna turned 21! Where ever have the years gone? I shot down to Wellington for the weekend and it is just wonderful. The weather was lovely, the meal out was lovely and it was great to see the girls again in such a short time. Here is Anna with me and her little cup cakes. They really were just delicious!

Then last weekend our little group consisting of Katrina, Wendy, Clare and Rosie tootled down to Paraparaumu to a house that is just made for a retreat! We laughed, and slept and stitched and ate. What could be better.... well a little shopping could! Yes we did that too, a few shops in Masterton caught our attention, and then one of my fovourites, Thimbles and Threads in Upper Hutt. One of our online friends from Stitch NZ, Margaret joined us on Saturday and we had a great time with her too. Was great to meet another NZ stitcher from the internet. I am sure she will join us when we have our retreats from now on. I hope so.

Here is Margaret getting ready to snap us!

And Clare with one of her wonderful creations.... Clare does some beautiful work that is for sure.

Wendy, Rosie and Katrina all catching up on photos taken at a recent birthday party.

Oh and Anna popped in on Saturday afternoon too, here she is with Katrina whose needles were on fire with her LHN piece.

I have not taken any photos of what I am doing, but there is stitching, quilting and knitting going on. I really have needed it as things have been a bit stressful at work of late, but hopefully that will all settle down now and we can all move on. Winter is quite mild this year, although we have had a few good frosts and then a few days of rain. Today was just sparkling though and I managed to get a few jobs done that I had been putting off. The weekend just flies on by that is for sure.

Happy stitching every one, and have a great week.

~ Kath ~

Mug Mat Madness & Chickens

2011-05-23T11:30:00.000+12:00

I have been sewing some mug mats and with friends having birthdays all around the same time, I took the opportunity to make a bunch. Great tutorial found at Molly's Meanderings and these could be made so many ways. Maybe, just maybe, I might make one for me this weekend.

This one should arrive to it's recipient today....
For Katrina...

For Wendy...

For Pat...

And Chickens.. well I have made a few of them too, very cute and fun to make.

For Katrina...

For Wendy

For Clare...

Thes come from a pattern I bought at Patch n Quilt in Naper, great place and way out in the countryside, a pleasure to visit. Pattern is called Flying Chicken Tool Caddy & Pin Cushion Kit by Art Fabric Studio, Susan Glenn Designs in Texas. http://www.artfabricstudio.com/ .

Thanks for stopping by.

Proud Moments

2011-05-19T13:33:00.000+12:00

Yesterday was a great day. I went to Wellington for the day to see Lauren graduate. What a lovely day it was and spending it with her was just fantastic. Here are a couple of snaps.... oh, then she tells us at lunch time she is only one paper away from a double degree!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Bedtime Bits

2011-05-09T19:36:00.027+12:00

A certain Miss H had her 3rd birthday recently. I made her some new sheets and a pillow, then a duvet for her Molly's bed.

I have made pj's for my girls... and they just love them.

It has been years since I have done anything like this for them, and well, I hate to admit it, I already had the fabrics in my stash!!! Lauren and I worked out it must have been there still a good 12 years. Wont be any other peeps with jammys like these ones. Power Puff Girls and Princess are for Lauren and PPG and Owls are for Anna. I even had fabric left over to make bags for each pair.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T09:04:00.002+12:00

To ALL the wonderful mothers out there, who do the hardest job in the world, do have a wonderful day that is just for you. You are appreciated by your family, are the hub of the home and are on duty 24/7!

Happy Mother's Day! To do something for yourself today, be spoilt and have fun.

I have my Anna here, she has spoilt me with breakfast, just a light one as we hve decided to have a nice lunch at home. Just where we want to be. The sun is shining, (cool wind out though) so all is good with the world.

January Update

2011-01-31T21:12:00.001+13:00

Gee, another month has passed. Where ever does the time go to?

Things have been going along well and there is much to share. No so much with stitching and sewing projects, they are underway, but oh so slow! With me waking so early - at 5 am, I am ready for bed by 8 pm so sitting stitching has not been an option this week. DRAT!

So what has been happening... there have been some lovely mornings when Iwalk with Kelly from over the road, I just love looking out my window as the view is to die for. I am not sure I want the fence up at the back yet, and while it is sitting there, I just might enjoy the view for the moment. Winter might be a different story when the howling southerlies come roaring through that gap, a small price to pay for the moment though.

Anna came to stay a few weeks ago, and she took this photo of herself.... I just love it. The days were very warm and she spent quite a bit of time wandering around with her camera, as she does. There was hay making going on and the smell of the freshly cut grass was wafting through just made it all seem so sweet and summery.

Last weekend was horrific weatherwise, and rain it did. While it was badly needed I did wonder if it would stop. Rain brings inside days though, and baking and the fire. Yes, I lit the fire, it was quite cold. Bake, well I made this loaf, and it was gorgeous. I would cut the sugar down if I made it again though. The recipe can be found here, and I substituted the zucchini for the beetroot. I had cooked the beetroot, next time I might try it raw. And making two loaves, it is economical on the power. I am going to make it this weekend with zucchini that Clare gave me out of her garden. Amd talking of gardens, mine is not doing too bad either. Look what I picked and plucked out of it....

Katrina and Clare also came to stitch for a Saturday afternoon, it was great to catch up with them and talk of stitching and retreats we may have this year and what we are all going to do. We hope that some of our 'old' stitching buddies will be able to join us for a good old natter and catch up. The lists are long for us all. I need a few more hours in the day, everyday, that is for sure if I am going to get all these things done.

I will come back with a stitching update during the week, just have not taken the photos yet and would like to get this post, posted!!!

Thanks for the comments for those who leave them, and thanks for dropping by for a look at my world.

December update

2010-12-30T08:59:00.022+13:00

Goodness, it's been well over a month since I updated my blog! Merry Christmas one and all, I hope Santa was very kind to you and you all had wonderful family festivities.

It's been quite a month! A birthday - yes, mine - and I had a pretty low key day. When you get to my age now, I think that is the way it is. Anna came up and spent it with me which was lovely. She was here for a few days and we just chilled. She was pleased to see 'the boys' and had a nice relaxing time.

Here she is with Zeus and Toby, the cat who is from over the road. He and Zeus get on famously.
I received these beautiful stitched pieces from Katrina and Clare. Thank you ladies for the love and care that has gone into these peices, they are just beautiful.

A is for Angel

Isn't this little needle booklet just beautiful too? Clare is the Queen of needle booklets. I am not sure what the pattern is from, I will have to ask Clare when I next see her.

December (October and November were no better) seemed to go in a blur, I hardly stitched, completely lost my mojo. Not a good time to do that at all. It happens and I have had to accept that. Even the things I did make I did not remember to take photos.... silly girl! So maybe I will just have to make more!

I have had the girls here over Christmas, separately as Lauren had to work, but we did get to spend one night together in Wellington. Anna and I stayed at the James Cook in town. And what a night it was. Rained and blew like there was no tomorrow, and the trip home was pretty horrific too. Debris all over the road, and Lauren and I witnessed one of the huge road signs being ripped out of the ground and tossed into the air. Quite an amazing site to say the least. Emergency services were quick on the scene to remedy the situation.

Here is Anna outside the lovely display at the James Cook. The photo just does not do the little house justice.

My girls, Lauren and Anna, Christmas 2010. I love them a lot.

I did receive some gorgeous pressies for my birthday and Christmas, and all had a couple of themes. Do you think my friends know me well???? LOL. I do. I am completely thrilled with my goodies and I know my books will be put to good use over time.

A very cute stitchery holder from Katrina, complete with a llittle green cat, a gorgeous blockroll and pincushion from stitching friend Clare, and look, the little green needle holder from Wendy. Aren't they just terrific? And so me!!! Thank you to my dear friends.

And cat things.... Anna fround these cute little candies, a gorgeous ornament stitched by Claire, and manicure set, in the shape of a cat and a wee pate knife from Wendy. Just too cute for words.

And these beauties.... cook books of the moment. And I have them all. I just love the authors of these cook books, and I am sure these will be the books that I will use and look and oooh and aaah over for many years to come. Anna and Lauren gave me the Jo Seagars, and Annabelle Langbein, Katrina the Jamie Oliver - this is a very good book for anyone considering purchasing it - and the boozy one from Wendy. What are you telling me Wendy????? Thank you one and all.

I am off work for a few days, and will return next Wednesday. I am enjoying the time away and cannot say that I have done much. I think after the year that has been, it is exactly what the dr has ordered for me.

This is what I want to do this year, 2011, and thank you to Katrina for the lovely stitched pieces that I have received from you this year.

I do hope to stitch more in 2011, I have several projects that I want to finish and I have a few starts on the go too. Katrina and I have a couple of SALS we want to do together, and we will also stitch ornaments each month. I have been collecting designs for a while now and have some really lovely ones in my hot little hand to turn into ornaments. There are quilting projects too, and these will probably be done with Clare on those cold winter Saturday afternoons. How much will I get done I wonder. I just know that I need to be focused about it all and stay calm lol.

Happy New Year one and all, thank you for visiting my blog over the year, such as it has been, and I want to make more regular updates to by blog in 2011. Time will only tell.

We Mourn...

2010-11-25T13:50:00.002+13:00

The loss of 29 men who have perished in the Pike River Coal Mine. Heart and prayers go to all the families and friends affeted by this most terrible tragedy. Rip.

And the Cat Came Back....

2010-11-07T20:35:00.012+13:00

Well he didnt come on his own. My brother Tim spotted him last Friday night when they went past my old place, he was having a fine old time rolling around in the stones on the driveway. We shot around there, but he sat under the tree on the neighbours, meowed at me and ran away. I have spent the past week trying to catch him, and on Thursday got a cat cage from the SPCA and he went in there last night. I got a call from one of my neighbours who had been helping me to watch the cage to say he was there.

So here is the little runaway, certainly a lot thinner than when he left, but home neverthe less. He has hardly left my side, and he remembers all his old tricks.

Here are some photos I took last night as he was settling in..... he looks so little.

and this is always a good sign....

And Zeus is a little unsure, there has been a bit of hissing and spitting going on, but things are a lot calmer tonight.

And We Have Green

2010-11-06T14:41:00.016+13:00

The grass has ris! There is a lot of green out there and gets longer by the week. A few bare patches that have been sorted, but on the whole pretty darn good. The whole neighbourhood is in grass mode at the moment and hoses are going constantly. It's very time consuming baby sitting the lawn! Good thinking time though and Zeusy loves to dodge the water as he scoots past the wand.

My brother Tim and SIL Claire were here last weekend, and Tim made me this.... so all I have to do now is add some compost and pop in a few summer vegies. Just lettuces and I have some tomatoes growing in buckets. It was lovely to have them to stay and we had a lot of laughs and reminisced a lot. Zeusy loved having them here as they made a huge fuss of him and he was looking for them after they left for a couple of days.

On the stitching front there has been some progress too. Katrina and I are stitching this as a SAL and here is my progress so far. I had to change the spelling of honor to honour, just to apease myself. It fitted fine, so I am happy. Wont be any more for a week or two, just waiting for the nextr set of aptterns to arrive.

And I have been working on this stocking..... do hope to have it finished before Christmas! Yep, I will be pushing it a bit.

And I treated myself to these little cuties....

So that is my time away from work. The days are getting longer, not necessarily warmer, but certainly longer. Predictions are that our summer on this side of the island is not meant to be that wonderful, but we will see.

Alison's Visit

2010-10-24T07:14:00.000+13:00

Alison from Australia came to visit. We had long been internet friends and her little trip across the ditch was much anticipated. And I was not disappointed. We had a great time and laughed and giggled a lot. Was it the food or the drink I wonder......

We ate and drank...

Exchanged gifts ... Alison gave me these goodies...

And I gave Alison this and some other goodies....

Great friendship between us and while Alison was from Oz, there was much banter about whose accent was better. Much fun. And even the weather was nice, which was lovely as we have had a huge amount of rain this year.

Watch for some more updates, I have a few photos to share over the next few days.

The Big Update

2010-09-12T08:57:00.013+12:00

This post has been a long time in coming. Yes! I have moved and here is a little preview of my new home. I love it! There is no denying that. I am happy with the people (especially my builder Cliff) who have all done a stirling job. Absolutely stirling. The finishing is lovely, and the finished article is homely, relaxing and I know I will be happy here. The neighbourhood is lovely too and it is lovely to have neighbours to chat to now and again.

The cats moved well, but Mr Billy has gone awol. He has now been missing three weeks. I have not seen any sign of him anywhere and while I have been back to the old place - it is literally around the corner - he is no where to be seen. He has his collar and name and phone number on him, and he is microchipped. He is one very high maintenance cat that is for sure even when he is here. i do miss him though as he was a real sweetie when he wanted to be. So for the moment there is just Zeus and I. Zeusy is happy and has found a new sleeping spot where he can survey all that is going on around him. So that is that.

This was a big move, and I did mostly by myself. My lovely brother and SIL came and helped move my boxes and everything, in the rain (they were real troopers) and I had movers to bring in the big things. Lauren also visited for a few days too and it was lovely to have her here too as she cooked our evening meal, something less for me to worry about. It took me almost two weeks to get things all done and how I would like it, and there are still a couple of little things to be done (tomorrow hopefully) and then I should be right. Still have to have pictures up, but want to make sure I get them in the right place and I need an extra pair of hands for that. (Gee, where's a good bloke when you need one lol!!!)

I am just getting back into stitching and crafting, so there really is not anything to show right now. I am looking forward to the end of the month when Alison arrives for a few days from Australia. I do hope by then that the section is leveled off, it is a real mess right now and there is no grass or anything. Fingers crossed.

As most of you will know, Christchurch was hit by an earthquake a little of a week ago. The city is still in a state of shock, but things are returning to 'normal' for them, whatever that might be. I feel for these people and the emotional toll it must be taking on everyone with constant aftershocks. Always wondering. And we here in Hawke's Bay have not been exempt either, there have been a couple of good jolts over the last week which certianly gives you a fright. Earthquakes are just so out of the blue, nothing can prepare you for them. It is a constant concern for me now that I live alone.

I also have a new computer, so if you are reading this and I email with you, could you please email me as my old address book has not been transferred over and I have no contacts list to reply to emails that have come in over the past few weeks. It has been a bit of a mission with the new computer, but all is up and running now.

Thank you for visiting, I will be back looking at your blog soon too.

Some Finishes... and the Cat

2010-04-17T09:48:00.005+12:00

Friends Scissor Fob

Lori Birmingham design

Friend Clare had a recent birthday and I included this in with her parcel. It is one very sweet scissors fob that is for sure.

Katrina has said on her blog that she did not have any mittens, so I knitted her some and included them in with her birthday parcel. Great quick knit and I really enjoyed making these.

Ihad a few days off work after Easter to recharge my batteries, and Zeus just loved me being at home. He found some 'new' places to sit (even if he did not fit) and did not leave me alone for a minute, only when he put himself to bed in the linen cupboard! Then he sat on the lounge coffee table.... he can be a tad naughty this kitty. I love him to bits though and I am sure he does not think he is a cat!

Small Token - Blackbird Designs

I also stitched this we beauty for Katrina as part of her birthdya gift. It is one lovely stitch and I love it so much I am going to stitch one for me for my smalls basket. I had some lace that was perfect for the finishing and tea dyed it to match the fabric.

How Time Flies....

2010-04-05T07:23:00.007+12:00

It's been a good while since I updated my blog, not because I have not wanted to, just because there has not been that much going on in my house of late. I lost my stitching mojo, thank goodness I have found it again, and the hot summer days and working quite hard at work has taken its toll. I am not a fan of high summer and the heat, so maybe that is why my mojo got up and left!

Autumn is well and truely here now, and how I just love these days. The crisp mornings, the clear sunny days and the cooler evenings just make my day perfect. The Easter break has been fantastic, although today as I look out the window there is no clear sunny day, that has made way for a grey sky and some rain. We do need the rain though.

Lauren is here with me for the few days she has off, and it is lovely to have her here and to laugh and joke around. We headed off to Hastings and Napier on Saturday, and had a lovely day doing a bit of shopping and having a look around. Some great sales around too! Mind you, we just mostly looked.

So here is a bit of an update on the house...

The house.... yes we have frames and roof trusses on, and I am hoping that maybe we will have roof on this week although the weather is not looking too likely for that and it will be up to the builder whether he does it or not. It's all about safety too.

And here is a little Easter goodie thatg Istitched for friend Katrina as we always stitch for each other at Easter. SB Robins Egg.

So that is about me for the moment, I will update again tomorrow I think, I have a few days off and are looking forward to some sewing and stitching and just doing what I would like. A bit of a treat!

A Year in Review

2010-01-03T10:10:00.002+13:00

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

2010-01-01T10:23:00.002+13:00

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

2009-12-26T16:25:00.028+13:00

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

2009-11-29T07:51:00.004+13:00

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

2009-07-12T10:09:00.027+12:00

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

2009-06-07T11:39:00.007+12:00

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

2009-05-10T07:57:00.007+12:00

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!

A Bit of a Change

2009-05-06T11:24:00.007+12:00

Oh how the days have changed and so quickly too. I have gone from this....

to this....

and it is amazing just how cold it has become. But winter has its good things too, and I am hoping that plenty of stitching will be on the agenda for me this year. And I love my pippers heaps.

I am home at the moment too, injured. Poor old Zeus has had a bit of a problem and I ended up having to take him to the vet on Sunday. All went well there till I came out of the consulting room and headed off to pay for the visit. The floor had just been mopped and I went for a real skate. Landed on the top of my left leg and man did it hurt! For ages. I sat there for about 10 minutes unable to get up, and once I was up had to sit for a bit longer hoping that I could get out to the car to get home. There are real disadvantages of living on your own I have discovered, and being unwell is one of them. Anyway, Monday came and I toottled off to the Dr and he gave me the verdict after x-rays of a soft tissue injury and said to rest for a couple of days at home. So here I am on the last day home. Work again tomorrow, just Thursaday and Friday then the weekend again.

I did have some photos from Easter to show too,

These are little Easter goodies that Katrina has made me for Easter over the years. I just love them and look forward to Easter each year to bring them out along with these little bits of mine.

And Ihave moved yet again, when will that ever finish? I know I will have at least one more move, if not a couple yet. I guess that's life.

I am off to stitch on a ring pillow now, I have done the mere outline and hope to have it finished over the weekend along with my Mother's Day piece I stitch in memory of my dear mother each year.

Stay safe one and all, and happy stitching. Thanks also for the great comments I receive. I just love them.

BBD Contest

2009-04-27T18:53:00.007+12:00

Oh I have had a busy wee time over the past few weeks. I ahve moved - again - and yes, it is getting very tiresome to say the least. One day it will end.

Over the past week though, I have stitched. Joined the contest with the Blackbird designs and this is how my piece turned out.....

Stitched with dmc thread, colours 730. 732, 734

on Summer Khaki 32 ct Evenweave

It is a tribute piece to my lovely Grandma, the lady who gave me the bug to sew, stitch, knit and other crafty things. Leila Gwendoline Houston Needham. Grandma has not been with us for many, many years, but there is not a day goes by when I do not think of her. She was a very special lady who lives on in my heart.

I gave a copy of this pattern to friend Clare and she stitched it as well....

We both had a lot of fun sitching these pieces and look forward to seeing all the other stitched pieces.

Happy Stitching everyone.

BOO!!!

2009-04-01T11:53:00.002+13:00

I have not hibernated - yet - or disappeared into thin air, just busy and with lots - again - going on in my life.

I am on the move yet again, at the weekend to a very small flat. While it will be cozy and warm for the winter, I know I will not be able to be there long term.

The other thing is, I will not have internet for a good few days and will get to with some photos and things when I am on holiday the week directly after Easter. I am so looking forward to a few days off I tell you!

Cheers everyone, I love your blogs and look regularly. Some of the stitching out there is just amazing.

Hotter than Hot!

2009-02-10T21:17:00.009+13:00

I haven't stitched as much as I would have liked but progress on Glad Tidings is coming along nicely. Katrina and I stitched on Saturday as we had a long weekend which was rather nice. Here is some progress on Glad Tidings. I am enjoying this stitch a lot.

Oh it's been hot. Hotter than hot even! My kitties have found a shady areas and I found Billy here the other day...

and he snuggles into the grass and keeps very cool....

Meanwhile Zeus is happy under the shade of the tree

but by night he sits here! Right on the coffee table. He knows he is not meant to be there too.

But when I go up to the computer room, he always comes with me and sits right here...

They are such great company my kitties. And we have rain as I write this, it is a total blessing for us all. Humidity is up there though and it is very sticky tonight.

I am thinking of all the poor people in and around Victoria Australia, the bush fires they are totally horrific and my thoughts are with you all.

On that note, it is time for bed, work is busy and I need my beauty sleep these days! Happy stitching to you all and thank you for your lovely comments.

In the heat of Summer

2009-01-25T16:24:00.009+13:00

Well, where to start....

It's been hot. Very hot. Can't believe that we still have the two hottest months yet to come, I can see some pretty tired and grumpy people coming out of this. Roll on some rain I say. The ground is very dry and grass is not longer green.

I have been doing a wee bit of stitching though, have finished Scatter Christmas

I might do some more of this series, I really enjoyed stitching this chart. The photo does it no justice really, the fabric is green and is really very pretty.

I also finished this piece a bit before Christmas and have not yet popped into my blog...

A Pine Mountain design piece.

The new piece I have started is this.....

Glad Tidings from Shepherd's Bush. And this is where I am at with it.....

So I am ticking away nicely and trying to put in a few stitches each night no matter how tired I might feel. I know I feel better for doing something.

Have a great week everyone, stay cool, dry and warm where ever you might be.

After Christmas Bits and Pieces

2008-12-29T21:27:00.023+13:00

Oh well, Christmas is over for yet another year, and this one has been lovely spending it with my girls. We ate, laughed, spent time with other families, and had friends from my old life drop in. It was lovely.

I am home now, and have bought Lauren with me for a few days. This could be the last time I see her for a while, as she and Andy are heading off to Melbourne, Australia in the New Year. Here she is in the sun reading Twilight.

But before I go on, there are some other things I would like to post. I got a beautiful parcel from my friend Wendy-Jo for my birthday. My very first floss tag, and I just love it to bits. And some lovely Crescent Colours threads, these will come in most handy. Thank you Wendy-Jo.

I also did quite a bit of baking before I headed south.... here are some photos of what I made.

Shortbread Angels - I made these parcels up and gave them to workmates.

Afghans, always a favourite.

Yo Yoes, Anna's request.

This is a plate of goodies I made up. Yum!

Our Christmas lunch, we ate outside in the sun and it was totally delicious.

I got making in the days before Christmas, we had been extremely busy at work and I had left my run to finish these off a bit late, but they did get done. Great fun to make and I just love them.

And while I did not do the traditional tee thing this year, this is what we did have.

The photo really does not do it justice. I had ornaments that were all stitched by friends, and from exchanges over the years. I loved it.

Alice enjoyed Christmas too.... she is Anna's little cat.

I did catch her a couple of times trying to take the ornaments off the tree, she is into everything and is a busy wee girl.

So, while I am off work these few days between Christmas and New Year, I have also been working on this piece - SB's Scatter Christmas.

I am hoping to get it finished before New Year, as I have a SAL that I am joining and have a couple of SB's I am going to stitch for that.

So that is how our Christmas went. While it was busy with a lot of travel, it was good. I am looking forward to 2009, things can only get better for me and the girls. I am hoping to stitch a lot more and produce some designs that I have been longing to stitch.

Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T21:49:00.002+13:00

Merry Christmas one and all and I hope that you are having a great time with family and friends.

This is the first time I have had to sit at the computer, being away from my home and down with the girls in my old home town. It is lovely to be here and really nice to be close to them.

It's been a busy old time with family, friends and the girls, but I am enjoying every minute of it. Bbqs, drinks and making the meals here has kept us all busy. Some great laughs and meeting some new people, it is nothing but a joy.

Lauren and Andy have been here, and my brother and his family came by today and we spent a very enjoyable day together. Anna is at work tonight, Lauren and Andy have headed back to Wellington for a day or two, and my brother and his family headed home this evening too. I am home alone!

Mind you, I have done the laundry and cleaned up after us all so the house is back to normal!

Tomorrow I am having a quiet day, friends are dropping in, but I will stitch and just do some quiet things and try and catch up on some sleep. There have been some really early mornings and some very late nights over the past couple of days. This girl is just not used to it!

I will post some pics of Christmas in the next day or two.

Thanks to those who drop by, I hope to be updating a lot more this year, follow your blog too and stitch a whole lot more.

No Stitching but Other Stuff

2008-12-14T21:31:00.007+13:00

Crikey, another weekend gone and still no stitching! It's becoming a bit of a habit, or is it just that time of the year I am asking myself.

Had our Christmas party last night, oooh it was a late night, then when I finally did get to bed I couldn't go to sleep. Great!! Fabulous night though and lots of laughs, good food and a few drops of wines to boot.

This afternoon Katrina rang and said that Anne was popping in with her Mum.... what a lovely chatty time we had with them, and here are us all, Hannah is sound asleep. What a lovely pair they are, and it was a lovely relaxing time. I hope we all meet again one day. I stayed at Katrina and Glenn's for a lovely BBQ dinner, how I miss a good bbq!

I also had a wee finish on a project I had been working on.... here are the results.

My Christmas Tree made of stars. I love it. I do need a decent 'something' so the points are stuffed a little more. I am on the lookout for such a tool.

And as I was leaving Katrina's tonight, she gave me her ornament to me.....

Isn't it pretty. Thank you so much Katrina.

Righto, on that note it is time for bed. Have a good week everyone, 11 more sleeps till Santa!!

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-12-09T18:45:00.016+13:00

Oh yes, another year has passed and brings me a year older. How fast the years go!!! In my head I still think I am 28... if only lol.

I had a lovely day with my friends, Katrina and Lisa in Palmerston North, shopping along with Katrina's family and friends. It was hot, but we shopped, lunched and had a lovely time. It was a long day leaving at 8.30 and not getting home till about 5.00. Plenty of Christmas goodies bought by us all.

I got some lovely goodies too...

From my neighbour Jill, I got a cut little piggy

From my lovely friend Lisa I got a fabulous little set of goodies, and I just love my new cup in my favourite colour,

From friend Katrina I got a fabulous bunch of goodies, just love everything there,

From Pat, there was some stash - YAY!

And last, but certainly not least, Wendy popped in tonight for a cuppa and a bit of a chat and gave me this wonderful package.

It's great to have friends like this, thank you one and all.

A Warm Weekend

2008-11-30T16:02:00.006+13:00

What a lovely weekend it is has been weather wise and it is a shame that it is coming to an end and back to work tomorrow.

I haven't got a lot to show this week, as a lot of what I am doing is for Christmas. But I do have a couple of photos of lovely Zeus, who thought it would be nice to sit under a tree in a bag while I sat outside for a while doing some sewing things....

He made himself quite comfortable under the tree for the whole time I was outside. Completely asleep. Oh to relax like that!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate, I think it is a wonderful idea and wish we did it here. I hope you all enjoyed your family and friends, ate well and managed to get some stitching done.

Update time...

2008-11-22T18:17:00.011+13:00

I know it has been a good while since I updated my blog, but I am still here and thank you to all who follow me and my goings on.

I haven't been totally idle, and here are some updates.....

My first ornament stitch from the JCS 2008 issue, of course it is Shepherds Bush. A change from the set they had designed but nevertheless, just as nice.

And Merry Christmas, a gift I got for my birthday last year. I just so enjoyed stitching this piece, and I do have a passion for the Quaker patterns. When I took this photo it was not quite finished, but I can safely say it is now.

This is a Christmas decoration..... watch this space to see how it is finished.

I have also started another stocking, for my Anna. Soon I will have enough stitched stockings for the girls to one set at their homes and one at mine! I still love stitching these treasures.

And I have been a very lucky girl receiving a beautiful parcel from Alison who went to the Shepherds Bush Retreat back at the end of September. These are the things that she picked out for me.

And I got these things too......

And look at these little cuties that came in the parcel too. I am very blessed to have such a lovely friend, and although we have never met, Alison is one of the best. Thank you so much Alison.

So what am I working on now - other than the stocking, I have some sewing projects on the go, and some of those pics will have to wait till after Christmas. I am stitching some wings for a little sheep to make a sheep angel, and I hope to start Scatter Christmas for myself.

And last, but certainly not least, I was awarded a little something from Elisa....

So thank you to all who follow my blog, you are lovely bunch and I too so enjoy so many blogs. How the internet has changed our lives and introduced us to so many other people with passions such as ours.

The Stitcher Finished

2008-08-03T17:35:00.004+12:00

The Stitcher
Design by Homespun Elegance
Stitched in DMC threads

I have been stitching this for most of this year, stitching has been very slow for me and I am so pleased to have a finish at last!

Edited to add: The cloour of the threads and fabric isn't as gtrue as it should be, here is a photo a lot more true to colour.

An Award

2008-08-03T12:03:00.004+12:00

Wow, the lovely Kajsa has given me a Kreative Blogger award. How lovely.

Here are the blogs that give me so much joy....

Katrina

Deb

Deb H

Alison

Wendy Jo

Thank you so much Kajsa, you are a special friend in my life and your stitching is inspirational to many.

My New Life

2008-05-24T18:36:00.003+12:00

Hello All

It's been a long while since I posted anything to my blog. As some of you will now know, my life changed very suddenly with Kevin deciding he wanted out of our marriage. A huge shock to us all.

I have moved closer to my dear and lovely friend Katrina. She and her families and my friends have been nothing short of brilliant with their support to me and the girls. I have Zeus and Billy with me, and live on my own.

I have a new job which I have been at about three months now and am enjoying the people contact and the challenges that it brings. Ultimately though, I would like to be working here and are going to step up that thought and get my self together and just go for it. With the price of petrol now, I need to get things changed!!

I have done very little stitching over the past months, but have just started picking it up now and again, so look for some pictures quite soon.

I would like to thank my internet friends, you do and have made me feel so much better when the darkest days were there.

Love to you all.

Happy Birthday Lauren

2007-09-06T09:07:00.000+12:00

Where do the years go..... here she was then and as she is today.

Anna's Ball

2007-08-11T20:59:00.002+12:00

Here is Anna in all her glory off to her school ball.... sorry about the quality of the photos, not the best I have taken. There are probably better ones on her camers and I will get them tomorrow.