Latest Crafty Happenings

Hello dear friends, welcome to August. I'm so happy as we're having some perfect winter days right now, a bit frosty to start - it was 0 c when I left for work this morning, and then a day of sunshine follows. It almost feels like spring is in the air, but August can get very chilly and cold. I have noticed that the mornings are getting lighter now too, when Glenn leaves for work around 7am it was pitch dark last week but this week it's noticeably lighter.

So what's on the go here over the past few weeks? My friend is due to have her baby later this month and just loved the knitting I gave her at the baby shower so I've got a couple of other little baby projects to make for her. I started this simple little blanket last week. The wool looks a bit pink in this photo but the colour is more like the second photo. 

I also started some more socks for my sister in law. This ball of Opal sock yarn was some of the first sock yarn I bought, can you see the sparkly thread running through the colours? I'm knitting Christine from Winwick Mum's basic sock pattern. 

I pulled out this stocking project on the weekend to stitch on, so enjoyable. 

Next up are three ornaments I stitched earlier in the year but only recently completely finished. All finished as flat ornaments with DMC thread handmade cording for the trims.

Mistletoe Kisses by Erica Michaels, this is Hannah's 2024 ornament.

The Prairie Schooler's 2024 Santa, I loved stitching the green stitching in this design.

From the 2023 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments magazine, a design by Karen Kirk from Fox & Rabbit.

What else do I have for today? My current reading pile, including some new books I purchased last week.  Looking forward to getting into all of these. 

See you soon xx

April update

The past few weeks have just flown by! Earlier in the month I celebrated my 50th birthday and what a wonderful day I had, or week I should say, as the celebrations were happening all week long! 

A family dinner, catching up with everyone was so lovely and we had such a fun night together. 

Love this photo of Hannah and I with my gorgeous nieces. 

I was totally spoilt by my work friends, not only did they surprise me with a very delicious morning tea, where some of my family also came along, they gifted me a Pandora necklace and charm. 

This fun chocolate board, hilarious. 

We enjoyed dinner out at our favourite local Indian restaurant.

Another wonderful little party with some family and my dear stitching friends. 

Hannah loved catching up with her young cousins, Logan, is about to turn 1 year old. 

I was completely overwhelmed when my lovely friends Kath and Wendy presented me with this wonderful quilt! I absolutely love it and its going to be well used this winter. 

Super happy as my cousin Donna came too, we hadn't seen each other in ages.

I'm so grateful for all the lovely birthday celebrations, and to my family and friends for making it all so special. 

Now for a stitching update - there's been lots going on but not a lot of time lately to get some things fully finished, soon I hope!

I really enjoyed stitching Valentine's Quaker by Primrose Cottage. Stitched on 32 count white linen with Classic Colourworks Ripe Melon thread.

My other recent fully finished project is Wilhelmina by Fox & Rabbit. Stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen with recommended threads. 

As I have several samplers on the go right now, I'm trying to get some decent stitching done on each one. Most weeks I pull one out and will stitch on it for several evenings. This week's sampler, Oh Joyous Day, hasn't been stitched on in ages, such a lovely design.

I think that's everything up to date for now. This coming weekend is a long weekend for us, tomorrow we commemorate ANZAC day, then on Friday Glenn and I are both taking leave to spend the day with Hannah as its school holidays right now. I think we're heading to Napier for the day.

See you soon x