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

Wild wet weather

Hi friends, 

What a stretch of wild weather we’re having at the moment. Just last weekend we were under a cyclone warning, and now this week the North Island is being hammered by heavy rain. It looks like this weather is set to stick around for a few more days yet, and with the temperatures dropping, you can really feel winter is on it's way.

My latest finish depicts the weather perfectly, Mr Bunny sheltering his chicks from the rain :)

I couldn't resist starting this new Teresa Kogut chart, Spring Rain, when it arrived. Stitched on 32 count vintage mocha linen using most of the called for threads. 

Another Mill Hill Santa completed for the collection.  The back stitching in this design almost drove me crazy!

I love seeing what the free stitch Friday design is going to be in the Primrose Cottage Stitches newsletter each month. This time it was another Sweetly Sayin' design, a little sampler all about stitching.  This photo has come out quite dark so doesn't show the colour of the fabric very well,  Pewter Lugana. 

One of my friends and I have been getting together to work on some of the Lori Holt bag panels. We've been having a good time, and lots of laughs, as we work out the best method for us to put the panels together. We've both been using Elizabeth Ann Can Stitch's project bag tutorial on You tube and have made a few adjustments, including using iron on stabiliser and lining fabrics.   Not sure what I'm going to do with 16 new project bags, ha ha. 

I had a birthday earlier in the month and it was good timing as the fabric I'd ordered for my own fabric of the month club arrived from Helen, That Crafty Kiwi.  This month I chose 40 count White Clay by Fox and Rabbit, and added the cutest needle minder and a pink Nurge frame to the order. 

A parcel also came from Elizabeth at Stitch NZ, with some fabric and threads, and also a tacky bill, which might make the beading on the Mill Hill Santas a little easier, and prevent beads from going everywhere!

The day of my birthday I also received my recent order from 123 Stitch, containing some Nashville releases and wish list charts, and the red Aztec linen in the next photo. 

Isn't it great when designers offer PDF charts - instant gratification, and awesome for international stitchers.  I purchased Peace on Earth, and several others, from Teresa, Kitten Stitcher, as soon as the chart was listed in her site. Peace on Earth has been on my wish list for two years since it was first released as a retreat exclusive.   I started it on the weekend so when I've made some decent progress I'll share a pic. 

Birthday bubbles using a special glass gifted by my niece Zoe a few years ago.

Another lovely mail delivery,  a new Glasshouse candle and fragrance to enjoy over the coming months.

I had the nicest day with my stitching friends recently. We’ve been meeting up more often this year, and it’s been wonderful to enjoy that time together.  Kath treated me to some new accessories, which I just love:

I also received a little gift in the mail from my dear friend Elizabeth, 

This wooden needlebook is so sweet.

I'll be back soon with a couple of new projects, and some new books too.  Have a great week.

See you soon x

January stitching - new starts, and new stash

 

Hi friends, isn't this dahlia gorgeous, one of my favourites, cafe au lait.  This is in my aunty's garden, mine doesn't even have buds on it yet :)

During my holidays, I spent some time sorting through my stash, putting away threads and fabrics I'd finished using last year, and then I kitted up several new projects to stitch on.  

First up, a new start on the 1st January, the Midnight Santa stocking by Teresa Kogut, a purchase from the 2025 Jingle Ball.  There is a stitch along running on Facebook and Instagram for this organised by Karen from Fox & Rabbit, and Liz, the Wandering Stitcher.  

I'm using 40 count ancient ruin by Fox & Rabbit and most of the recommended threads. 

Next up, Nativity Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches, I'm using 32 count lambswool linen, and DMCs.

Another Teresa Kogut santa, the Pink Coat Santa. I just loved this design when I first saw it. I'm using a suggested fabric from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi, 36 count Rivergum by Fox & Rabbit.  

Started back in late October 2025, Garden of Quilts by Lori Holt, I've stitched more on this lovely design. I'm using 36 count Rhyolite linen and recommended threads. 

Peace on Earth by Samplers Not Forgotten, the linen looks much darker in this photo.  It's 36 count Cafe au Lait by Fibre on a Whim, Weeks Dye Works threads.

Couldn't resist starting this cutie too - The Postmouse's Christmas Delivery, using recommended threads on 36 count vintage mocha Belfast linen.  Not sure if I'm happy with the mouse colour, my skein of CC Whately Woods is quite yellow and brown variegated compared to the model picture colour.

Primrose Cottage Stitches send a freebie in their newsletter on the first Friday of the month. I thought this was so sweet.  I'm waiting for a skein of the darker pink thread to come before I can finish this. I'm using a light pink Country Stitch linen and recommended threads.

On one of the rainy days during my break, I got out my trusty over locker, which I've had for many years, and went through all my stitching fabric boxes, ironing and then overlocking all the edges on every piece.  It did take a few hours!   But it made me realise that I don't really have a lot of bigger pieces anymore, just lots of fabrics for smaller designs and ornaments.

So this year I've decided to do my very own Fabric of the month club and purchase a fat quarter of linen, maybe 36 count, or 40 count, or even 32 count, whatever colour I chose for the month. Some months I might purchase more linen, especially if there's new projects to start.

For January's choice, I purchased Fox & Rabbit's Dust Bunny 36 count from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi. 

A very lovely order arrived recently from Rebecca at Rainbow Stash.  I ordered some of the new Lori Holt happy charms, a new vinyl bag, some fat quarters, another pair of scissors, zippers and another  panel of her bags to make up. I've yet to make up the other bag panel I purchased last year but a friend and I have plans to get together one day soon to get going some of the bags underway. 

I think that's about everything caught up with about my recent stitching and new purchases. I do have two finishes so I'll share them next time. 

I have also spent a bit of time going through some Christmas charts and have kitted up several ornaments and other smalls, all ready to get underway for 2026. Earlier this morning I signed up for new Hands on Designs ornament club on Patreon, so I'm excited to get the first design underway. Like during 2025, I see a lot of Christmas stitching coming up this year. 

We have a long weekend coming up, a public holiday on Friday for Waitangi Day, so we're off to Porangahau Beach with our friends for a few days. The weather is looking good, lots of walks along the beach, catching up with our friends, maybe some fishing, it will be a fun weekend.

See you soon x

Catching Up

It’s hard to believe how quickly the weeks are flying by—it’s already December! It’s been a few weeks since my last post, and now there are only two weeks left until my summer holidays begin, with Glenn starting his break at the same time.

The last few weeks have been filled with a trip away, work activities, school prizegiving, hot days, family visiting and as always, lots of stitching.

Glenn and I had a weekend in Auckland recently, this time for the Lenny Kravitz concert, which was awesome!  We spent the weekend with my brother in law Paul and sister in law Jude, and had a fantastic time.  

I always enjoy trying out the seasonal drinks at Starbucks - this was a peppermint mocha frappe,  much needed after an afternoon of walking up and down Queen Street, shopping and finding things Hannah had on her Christmas list lol.

We had a great flight coming home and the views coming into land at Napier were stunning.

You know summer is here when strawberries start appearing - yummo!

Beautiful iceberg roses at my aunty's house

A treat bought back from Auckland, a new Glasshouse Fragrance candle, Naughty & Nice, 

Hannah has now finished high school for the year, and she has had a very successful year. She received awards in Trades, Life skills and also, from her Hair & Beauty course.  Another milestone achieved recently when Hannah passed her practical driving test (restricted here in New Zealand). Hannah has her final ever dancing show to perform in coming up, which will be very emotional for her, as she is finishing all her classes, after all these years.

Last weekend we headed along to the annual Christmas Farmers market, and had a lovely time browsing all the stalls of handmade goodies and trying out some new food trucks.

These soda drinks were absolutely delicious, especially as it was super hot day!

A little parcel arrived recently from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi.  I ordered some Cedar River linen for the Daily Reminder chart by Brenda Gervais.  This is going to be one of my summer holidays projects.

Couldn't resist the 2025 Wee Santa from Heart in Hand :)

Another recent purchase came from a shop called the Yarn Bowl in Australia, and this cool little container is called a Notion Nook, for any little stitching or knitting notions.

Now for some stitching, Candy Cane Santa - I just love working on these designs

A small bit of progress on Garden of Quilts by Lori Holt 

I'm looking forward to the 2025 Jingle Ball getting underway this coming weekend. This year I purchased two of the classes and I haven't managed to start either class yet, maybe they'll be holiday projects?  You get thirty days to view the class videos so I'll be sure to watch so I can make sense of the finishing instructions.

Looks like we're for some hot days coming up over the next week, forecast to hit 30 C over several consecutive days, which will mean our swimming pool will be getting a lot of use!

Have a fun weekend, see you soon x