Sewing, new starts and books

Hi friends, 

More Lori Holt bags were finished this past weekend after a few hours at my sewing machine, I still have a few more to go from the two fabric panels. 

I love the colours in these ones. 

I started two new projects around my birthday earlier in the month - first up, A Daily Reminder by Brenda Gervais. I'd purchased this chart last year and then bought the fabric from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi, so it's been kitted for awhile.  The 36 count Arboreal fabric by Cedar River linen is a lot greener than this photo is showing.   

Another new start this month is Peace on Earth by Shakespeare's Peddler, I'm stitching this on 36 count Dust Bunny by Fox & Rabbit with the recommended threads. 

Two night's stitching:

This week I've finished the third ornament in the current series from the Hands on Designs, Plaid Tidings.  There'll be another design coming out sometime after the 1st May.

It’s been a little while since I talked about what I’m planning to read, but I’ve added a few new titles to my stack, all of which I’m really looking forward to.

That's it for today’s update — now to decide which book to open first, and which of the above stitching projects to work on later.

See you soon x

All Sorts

Hello friends, 

another week nearly over, and it seems the days are just zipping on by lately.  We've been enjoying some really nice weather  - I love the weather at this time of the year, cooler mornings and evenings but gorgeous sunny days, hopefully it stays this way for a bit longer into autumn. It's also crazy to think that Easter is just around the corner now. This year we are heading away over the Easter break for a big family catch up with Glenn's Dad's side of the family up north.  We've hired a house for a couple of days with Paul, Jude and the girls, and then will have a night at Taupo on our way home, which we are also looking forward to, as we haven't been there for several years.  

It's been a busy few weeks around here, lots going on and lots of happy events to attend.  Good friends of ours got married several weeks ago, one of my uncles turned 80 years old, and then last weekend, we went to the wedding of one of our school friends, which was an amazing weekend, so wonderful catching up with all our good friends.  Hannah's school year is well underway, and she has had lots on too, this year she was chosen as a House Leader, so there's been extra activities she's been involved with. 

This year I've joined Cathy from Hands on Designs' Patreon ornament club and have the first two month's designs now stitched.  

I'm using 32 count natural linen and the recommended DMCs.

My current lunch break project is some sock knitting, these socks have been on the go for ages, and I did have to reverse quite a few rows as I'd made a major muck up in the heel part. 

New Mill Hill Santa in progress, because apparently I’m addicted to stitching them!

I recently renewed my lapsed subscription to the Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine, and I’m so glad I did — this sweet Crocette a Gogo design immediately caught my eye and I started it straight away!

During 2026, I'd decided to create my own fabric of the month club, where I purchase a fat quarter of linen each month, whatever colour or count, and February and March choice's recently arrived from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi.  February's choice was 36 count Dust Bunny by Fox and Rabbit, which I'm intending to use for this newly purchased Stacy Nash design.

March's choice was 40 count Saltbush by Fox and Rabbit, and as it couldn't travel alone, ha ha, I added this cute Primrose Cottage design to my order.

I haven’t ordered from 123 Stitch in ages, so I’ve got some fun new stash coming — a mix of Nashville releases, wish‑list charts, plus some threads and fabric from a NZ stitching store.  Photos to come!

This week at work we’ve been treated to some beautiful dahlias from one of my staff member’s gardens. They’re brightened the place up so much, absolutely lovely.

See you soon xx

A few finishes, beach weekend and more

Hello friends. 

Wow, what a wild few days it’s been. High winds and heavy continuous rain have caused so much damage around New Zealand. Our main street even flooded during one of last week’s downpours, and several shops were hit hard. My workplace didn’t escape it either — one of our rooms is still drying out a week later. Such unpredictable weather for this time of year!

After all that wild weather, it's meant more time for cross stitching. I’ve actually made some good progress on my current projects, and even spent some time at my sewing machine.  

This little cutie, Sweetly Sayn', was included in one of the weekly newsletters from Primrose Cottage Stitches, I used some pretty Tilda fabric for the backing and some Lady Dot Creates chenille for the trim. 

Another fully completed project, Stitching Quaker, also by Primrose Cottage Stitches. This was stitched during 2025, fabric was 32 count ice blue Lugana and I used the recommended DMC threads.

Cathy from Hands on Designs is offering an ornament club through Patreon this year, and I've joined in on the fun.  This month's ornament is called Sweets for Santa and I'm using the recommended fabric, 32 count raw Belfast, and threads. 

Now for a couple of finishes from my holiday stitching.

Candy Cane Santa by Mill Hill - I love stitching these designs and hope to get another on underway soon.

This next design has a lot of stitches!  Deer Santa by Stitching with the Housewives, stitched on 32 count black Lugana fabric and DMCs. Not sure yet how I will finish this design.

We did get away earlier in the month, heading to Porangahau Beach over Waitangi weekend. It was a wonderful few days, sunny and hot, and we really enjoyed the break.  The fishing went well too so we enjoyed fresh fish, and homemade fries for dinner one night.

We had some very special visitors come out to see us one day, my uncle Paul and cousin Chelsea, from Melbourne. They were in NZ for a family reunion and it was awesome to see them, it's been a good few years since our last catch up. 

Even though it was a cold windy day, we went to Hastings and Napier on Sunday to get out for a few hours and stopped by a cafe I haven't been to in a very long time, Westerman's, this one used to be a favourite of Glenn's Mum.  My coffee and brunch, Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, was delicious.

Diesel enjoys the cold weather as he gets to snuggle up and snooze the day away zzzzzzzzzzz

Have a happy week, see you soon x

Wrapping Up September

Hello friends, we're in the last few days of September already! We've just had a great weekend weather wise, it was quite warm yesterday.  Glenn and I have been super productive outside and over the past two weekends, we were able to get some trees cut down and cleared away, eight huge loads of green waste taken to our local dumping station. Wow, I was so tired and worn out at the end of the day! Some other outside jobs have also been ticked off the list - vegetable gardens prepped for seedlings to be planted, the greenhouse tidied up, outside house windows washed, gardens weeded, lawns mown and edges clipped - lots of work but it felt good to be out in the sunshine.  

This coming weekend, we are going to start getting our campervan ready for the coming summer months (cleaned, cupboards filled with non perishable food, linen aired out, etc) as we are so keen to head out on our first trip to one of the local beaches.  Mid to late October is when we usually go on our first trip but if the weather is good, it will be earlier.   We're also in the process of organising a summer roadie trip in the Christmas holidays, to a part of New Zealand we've not been to before so that's exciting.  

More finishing has been happening, and I'm really pleased how the next piece turned out - my first time at trying a stand-up finish.  This is the French Country Santa, Pere Noel, by JBW Designs.

A little freebie by Hands on Designs, which was from the 2024 Jingle Ball. 

Love and Joy by Heartstring Samplery

Bids that Sing by Michelle, from MommalovesyouGB

Another freebie by Hands on Design, also from the 2024 Jingle ball.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it but all the Christmas stitching I've been doing this year, it either for gifts for my family or to be donated to a craft sales event in late November.  

A lovely bundle of fabric came in the mail recently, this is some of the new Tilda fabric from the Merry Little Christmas range, so pretty.  Not sure what my plans are for it yet.

I decided to purchase a Kindle recently, previously I've used the Kindle app on my phone. This will be so handy over the summer months when we're out and about in the campervan.  

Over the past few months I've read more books than any other previous winter - you should have seen my library pile last month!  I'm on Goodreads here if you want to check out what I've been reading lately. 

See you soon x

Finally some finishing

After work last Friday afternoon, I set up my sewing machine, got out some supplies, and spent quite a bit of time over the next few days finishing off a whole pile of stitched items. That's in between catching up with friends, going to the local spring market, dropping Hannah off to the dance studio a few times, having dinner with my parents, niece and brother, doing the usual housework jobs, and keeping the dog entertained as he was missing Glenn!

Jingle all the Way by Crafty Bluebonnet Designs

Wee Santa 2024 by Heart in Hand

A Little Bit of Joy by Hands on Designs

A Whole lot of Joy by Hands on Designs

Several Stitching with the Housewives ornaments 

Joyful Christmas ornaments 2024 by Stitches by Ethel

I've been wanting to make one of these project bags ever since Elizabeth put up her tutorial on her You Tube. This was a fun make, quilting the fabric first.  I used some pretty Lynette Anderson fabric on the outside and inside, with a pink glittery fabric for the binding  - just love it.  I'll definitely be making more in this style. My new project bag is already filled with a special project.

Lastly for today, our gorgeous ballerina, so proud of all the work Hannah has put into her ballet this year.  

See you soon x