Lots of stitching and other news

Hello friends, how quickly the days seem to be going right now. It's been quite hectic at my work and I've also been helping one of my aunts that recently moved, with packing up and then unpacking at her new house. 

Hannah has a couple of days left of the school term, then two weeks holiday break, and once she goes back for the last term of the year, she'll only be at school for a few weeks before study leave starts for end of the year exams. She's recently had her annual dancing exams, and has also had a visit to our local polytechnic, where she is going to be studying one day a week from early next year. Exciting times ahead for our girl.

Lots of stitching happening here right now too. I've been really enjoying stitching on some of my sampler projects including Oh Joyous Day by Blackbird Designs. I love the colours in this design.

More finishing is happening when I have a bit of time to get my sewing machine out. These two adorable bunny designs are from Lila Studio's Spring Parade 1 & 2 booklets, stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen.

Strawberry car 

Carrot Car

Winter Rose Manor, which I started way back in January 2021, is nearly done. I don't know why I left the house stitching until last though!

Stitched on 36 count Wren by Picture This Plus linen with the recommended threads, WDW Conch for the house.

Part 1 of the 2024 Christmas Cuckoo Clock mystery stitch along by Tiny Modernist is finished and I'm looking forward to seeing what Part 2 will be on the 1st October.

One of my work friends recently made this pretty set of stitching accessories for me - needlebook, pumpkin pin cushion and thread catcher. I love the pink fabric.

A new start recently - I waited patiently for this chart to be released as a PDF, Beautiful Things by Primrose Cottage Stitches.  I think this design will look awesome on the front of a project bag.

I hadn't done any lunch box baking in ages so on the weekend I made a walnut, apple and carrot loaf, yum, 

Chocolate chip and banana slice, this was so tasty. 

                                                      

                  

I always love to try Whittaker's new releases and picked up these two from the supermarket recently - being a dark chocolate fan, the raspberry and strawberry would be my favourite.

I snapped a pic of these gorgeous irises in my aunty's garden the other day - I really do miss the spring bulbs at my old work place. 

This coming weekend we are catching up with some friends we haven't seen in ages, and our Daylight savings hours start on Sunday. I can't believe that October is nearly here!

See you soon x

Weekend things

Hello friends, I hope you enjoyed your weekend. I spent a few hours on Saturday morning with a friend as we browsed a local market - there were over 60 stalls, lots of food vendors and entertainment. There was also a Highland dancing competition and a sevens rugby competition all happening in the same area so our little town was busy!  The rest of the weekend was spent gardening, in the swimming pool as it was so hot, and catching up with friends.

Last week I had a spur of the moment start, and then finish a few days later - Valentine's Day Quaker by Primrose Cottage. 

I used 32 count white belfast linen and Classic Colorworks Ripe Melon.

I love that you can purchase these designs as pdf charts. I've also purchased the Winter and Christmas Quaker, and Sip Stitch Repeat patterns as well. 

What else for today - my current books to read, I've been reading a lot lately, and have had a few library reserves come in. I've been enjoying several books by Sarah J Maas, I've never been much of a fantasy reader but that has changed with these series. 

We enjoyed a couple of nights at Pourere Beach recently, the weather was pretty good, and it was lovely to get back out there, only a 45 minute trip from home.

Whittakers, my favourite NZ chocolate company, have released a new limited edition chocolate block, and of course I had to try it. It's a bit different, I do quite like the hint of orange in it.

It's been awhile since I did any baking so I enjoyed making some blueberry muffins and savoury scones the other day. 

Glenn was able to get more house painting done before it got to hot, he's now completed this wall outside our bathroom and laundry. Very happy with the colour we picked out.

Have a wonderful week, See you soon x

Stitching finishes, new stash and other news

After the past few weekends away in our campervan (still need to share photos from last weekend), it was lovely to be at home this past weekend, catching up on jobs around the house, getting lots of stitching done and catching up on some sleep, lol.

Hannah and I went along to a local production of Snow White on Sunday afternoon. Several of the younger girls from Hannah's dance school were in the cast so it was wonderful to see them perform. The show was really funny and had lots of great songs, we really enjoyed it.

It was held in one of our beautiful town halls - the CHB Municipal Theatre.

Sunday was a rainy day so perfect to spend some time in the kitchen, baking and prepping some food for the week ahead. I made Pappi's savoury scones for lunch, these are so yummy. Recipe can be found here:

Next up was Fay's mumbles, a slice we enjoyed for morning tea on our rail cart trip back in October. 

I've been working on getting through a pile of stitched ornaments and have nearly finished getting them completed ready for gifting.

2020 Wee Santa by Heart in Hand Needlearts

Dancer's Friends by Teresa Kogut.

I received a few charts in the mail recently from Farmgirl Dry Goods, two new and one older Brenda Gervais charts.  All of these are going to be kitted up so I can stitch on these during December and January. Can't wait to start the sampler!

Enjoy the rest of the week, see you soon xx

More ornament finishes & end of September

Hello friends, I have two more ornaments fully finished, both stitched earlier in the year.

You know Dasher, which is a freebie design by Helen D, the Eastcoast Crafter and can be found on this page, scroll down.

Peace on Earth is by Misty from Luminous Fibres Arts:

I have several more finished, I just need to sew on trims, etc.  

Two charts arrived in the mail at the end of the week from Art & Frame in Christchurch. I'd been looking forward to getting both of these charts and over the weekend I started the Wee Santa, I love the colours used in this year's Santa.

Mr Diesel has been living his best life while Hannah has been on school holidays, spending lots of time curled up with her, all snuggly and sleepy, watching movies together. So cute!

Over the past few months Glenn has been working on another project, the outside deck and giving it a make over, relining the walls and painting to freshen up. As part of this, we have started painting the outside of our house, so now the wall on the inside of the deck has painted. It's going to look so different once the whole house has been completed but this might take awhile over the summer months.

It's been awhile since I did any weekend baking so I enjoyed making a few treats recently - chocolate fudge slice:

Chocolate chip muffins 

Jars of sunshine, or lemon honey, using a bag of lemons and eggs given to me a friend.  

Yum, this is so delicious on toast in the mornings.

I can't believe it's now October and last weekend Daylight savings hours started. Our spring weather certainly has been a mixed bag lately, very cold over the weekend after some lovely days, and fresh snow again on the ranges near here.  

Later this week Glenn and I are off on little trip away for a few days, the destination is somewhere here in New Zealand that neither of us have been to before. Starting in Taumarunui, we are doing a two day rail cart journey, staying overnight at the famous Whangamomona Hotel, then finishing in Stratford, Taranaki. Should be lots of fun!  

See you soon xx

Fully Finished, Gifts and more

The end of January is here already, and what a few days its been here in New Zealand. On Friday night, Auckland and surrounding areas experienced unprecedented rainfall over a couple hours that caused an epic deluge and severe flooding.  It was surreal watching on tv the flooding through the international airport, the Auckland Zoo, Eden Park (where Glenn and I went to the Guns and Roses concert in December), family homes, schools  and work places. It was absolutely chaotic and a state of emergency was declared.  Schools due to open for the new school year this week are to remain closed through until next week and people have been asked to stay home and not travel anywhere unless they need to.  Tragically four people lost their lives and millions of dollars of damage has been done.  More heavy rain is forecast this week for the region and further down the North Island.  My thoughts continue to go out to Aucklanders, especially those hit the hardest by flood damage. 

 Also, we now have a new Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, after a resignation from our current prime minister Jacinda Adern. This year is an election year so it will be interesting to see how things go there. 

Now to some stitching. Late last year I stitched several small pojects that I didn't get fully finished. I was able to work on these during my holidays.  

Joy & Good Cheer by Brenda Gervais, stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen using most of the recommended threads.

 

Merry by Mojo Stitches, I think the fabric was 32 count natural linen and I used the recommended DMC threads. 

Heart in Hand's 2022 Wee Santa - I love the colours in this design, stitched on 32 count vintage mocha linen and recommended threads.

The 2022 charms were purchased from Ali Express, must order some for this year.

I received the following charts and felt fabrics as part of my Christmas gifts from Kath, so sweet:

The next two photos are of gifts received from my friend Elizabeth, she is such a talented stitcher. 

Last week's sampler out of my stitching basket was This is the Day by Plum Street Samplers - the fabric looks quite washed out in these photos, it's more golden in colour.

Weekend baking is back on the agenda now we're back at work,and I like to make a few treats for my parents and Glenn's Dad. Forgotten Fruit muffins are a great way to use up fruit and this time I had some peaches that had started going a bit soft, yum!

Have I shared that Mr D is now six months old and what a character he is!  He is such a bundle of fun, so stubborn at times and makes us laugh. He's become my shadow, everywhere I go, he's right there -when I'm brushing my teeth and doing my make up, putting laundry on, etc. He does the same with Glenn and Hannah too.  

See you soon xx