FNwF catch-up

My Friday Night with Friends extended over to Saturday morning as I fell asleep on the lounge on Friday evening. What I am making doesn't look too exciting and isn't. I have 12 sets of produce bags to make. I have promised 3 bags per set so luckily they are quite quick to whip up. I also have 12 other items of which I have made 8 and will get some more supplies when I go to town next.

And then I think my sewing machine will need a service. It is misbehaving a little. 

Thanks to Cheryll for hosting Friday Night with Friends.

Bye for now,

Tracy.

 

Crafting

 

The first Friday of the month means Friday Night with Friends which is hosted by Cheryll. I have an idea of what I want to get started on and maybe even finish tonight. We'll see.

In the mean time, I can share a couple of pictures of the items I made for the Advent craft swap I was in. It's a fun swap and if it runs again this year I will probably join again. 

My 24 items consisted of 6 'ouch-pouches'. Just tiny pouches to keep some basic first aid supplies in your bag.

My other make was 18 mini Christmas buntings. I really enjoyed making these and they were quite quick to whip up. A great way to use the stash too. 

Anyway, I hope I will be back sometime tomorrow to share what I made for Friday Night with Friends, 

Tracy xo

FNwF

Hard to believe that another month of 2019 has passed by. It has though and with that it means it is time for Friday Night with Friends again. I don't know what I will be doing but I do intend to include a little bit of creativity and crafting in my evening. Maybe just some mail art as I try to catch up on my correspondence.

I took part in Cheryll's Christmas in July swap. I was partnered with Illene who was very generous and sent me lovely gifts. And definitely hit the mark with my favourite colour, blue.

My new bag is really pretty and very handy. Thank you Cheryll and Illene.

Now I just have to make sure I take the time to check back in later/ tomorrow with any crafty progress I make. Until then,
Tracy xo

SSCS 2016

Another Christmas has been and gone and I am finally getting a chance to turn on the computer. I like not turning it on but miss keeping up with all of my good friends here. It's a question of balance.

But anyway. The point at hand.

A big thank you to Clare, my lovely swap partner in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap.  

Clare obviously did a wee bit of looking about on my blog. The stitcheries in the wall hanging are all garden themed and absolutely lovely and just right for me. Thank you Clare.

And a sweet little cushion too. I should note that there were some little Lindt teddy bear chocolates in the parcel but unfortunately for them, they didn't make it to the photo shoot 😀. Yum!!

 I'm really touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of the blogging community once again.

And not to forget, the tree ornament which I posted about earlier. Just so sweet.

Thank you Clare and Chooky.

Tracy

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

How exciting. My parcel in Chookyblue's SSCS has arrived. I'm not sure who my partner is yet but what I do know is that she is from New Zealand  and is very clever with needle and thread.

A lovely ornament with cross stitched snowman and koala. How cute!! And although the photo doesn't show it here, the koala's ears are fluffy. Absolutely lovely.

Thank you to my secret Santa who will have to stay a secret for a little longer. And thank you to Chookyblue for organising the swap.

Stationery Swap

Tracy from Mad About Bags recently organised a stationery swap. Tracy's swaps are fun and the guidelines are easy to follow and best of all I have had such lovely partners. This time around I was partnered with Melanie. Melanie's blog is full of absolutely fab sewing and lots of creativity. Melanie sent me a very generous parcel full of pretty and practical stationery items. Thank you so much Melanie and Tracy.

 Here it is all laid out higgledy-piggledy. A stylist I am not. Suffice to say I am happy and grateful and itching to write and sketch and have some fun. Tape, notebook, writing set, pencil (from the Eden Project which I want to visit), pencils, highlighters, eraser. The list is long. Thank you again Melanie.

 

One of the provisos was that you had to send something handmade. Melanie sent me this sweet pencil case with a puffin in flight stitched on it. Oh my what a wonderful surprise. It's in use and on display too because I want to look at it all the time.

 

In my haste to send my parcel to Melanie on time, I did not take a photo of what I sent her. In my haste to package up Melanie's parcel I forgot to include some things I had for her. They had to be posted separately and I assume are still somewhere in the postal system. Truth is they were lurking in my bag in their own little bag and stayed there until I had to dig around for something else. How terrible of me. Well it has been mailed and I hope Melanie has it soon.

 

So today I have a long to-do list. It won't all get done, never does. There's always something for tomorrow.

 

Tracy

Send a Little Love Swap

Have you visited Tracy's blog, Mad About Bags? It is really lovely and she makes wonderful things. Very inspiring. I signed up for Tracy's Send a Little Love swap earlier in the year and now parcels have travelled where they have to go and arrived safely. Yay! The swap guidelines were- something red, something heart themed and something sweet but five things all up. I actually think I may have forgotten the red in my parcel. Sorry Pat, I guess the orange dishcloth will have to be a near approximation to red.

I was partnered with Pat and I am so glad to have made a new friend in Pat. We have had some lovely emails and her blog is a joy too. Pat must have read my blog thoroughly because she really did send a parcel which was just right.

I wonder sometimes if I show myself in a true sense here so maybe I do. Or maybe Pat is good at reading between the lines.

A lovely card and package. Funnily enough, I put a heart on the outside of Pat's parcel too.

 Something sweet, the chocolate. I will admit right here and now that the packet in the above picture is empty. But it's ok, I shared.

Look at that apron. It is so cute.

Some heart shaped buttons, very cute sewing charms and a Mini Minor car charm (so cute) and preserve labels. Just right for me. Thank you Pat.

On the apron is an embroidered panel. Pat says she stitched it last year but had no idea what to do with it and then I came along. I love cats and bees so it is just perfect. And the stitching is beautiful. I feel very special.

Oh and beyond my wildest dreams.  A puffin postcard. These little sweeties have pride of place on my pinboard right now. I can't thank you enough Pat for taking the time to get to know me and for the gift as well.

I don't know what it is like in anyone else's home but in mine, happy mail and swaps are something everyone likes to look at, open, share no matter who they are addressed to.

Thank you Pat for your tremendous and thoughtful gift and thank you Tracy for organising the swap.

Bye for now,
Tracy

Sewing and soup weather.

A lovely wet and misty day today. I do love this kind of weather because it is a novelty and not the norm. Outside jobs get done quick smart and then onto some sewing. I am one of those who doesn't feel quite right sitting down to stitch when there is some work I could or should be doing. I need to let go of that notion or at the least loosen its grip on me.

So today I've pottered about. Prepping my Send a Little Love Swap hosted by Tracy. Sewing this and that in readiness for tomorrow's post so it can wing its way all the way to Pat.

Just a sneaky peep at some of the fabric I have used. Doesn't give anything away at all so Pat is still in the dark until her package arrives. I love this Aussie fabric but this is the last of it in my stash.

 Lunch was a big bowl of soup (I think dinner will be too). I bought some sweet potatoes because they were on special $2/kg (which is special for here) and because I love them. I make this soup all the time and truth be told most of my pureed soups are made in much the same manner as this one. Onion, garlic sweated in olive oil, add the desired vegetables and cover with water. Add a little stock powder too or use liquid stock if you prefer.

I've had stock on my shopping list for a week now and I keep forgetting to buy it. Never mind, a little bit of Vegemite has been doing the trick each  time I've needed it.

The actual recipe for this Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Soup can be found way back here in 2010. Wow, that's a while ago. Even the lentil shirkers in my house love this soup. It's easy  and I like that because sometimes no matter how much you like cooking, a quick and healthy meal is what you prefer.

Tracy

2016 focus

Ok. I have always tried to run our household frugally. We squirrel away money in the bank and live below our means, always saving for something. More often than not I don't know what the something we are saving for is, maybe just a rainy day. This year however the focus of my frugal energies will be on our trip away later in the year. I want to have most everything paid for before we leave home. I'm working on it. It's fun trying to find places to stay that are nice and budget friendly ( I might change my mind about that).

 

By the creek

Everyone's frugal/ simple living style is different. For some it is living 'on the cheap' and all about the bottom dollar which is great but not my style. I don't measure everything by its monetary value so I won't always take the cheapest option. Having a big garden (which does cost a lot in time and energy) helps me keep the grocery bill down and is probably the healthiest way to eat which in turn has cost benefits. Our entertainment needs are fairly simple. On occasion we'll eat out or have a cuppa in a café but usually we are happy to make a pot of tea at home, borrow books from the library and read, do some craft or even just sit by the creek for an hour or so and let the world pass by. A walk is really nice too. My expensive habit is letter-writing which as far as habits go isn't so bad and it makes me very happy and that outweighs the small cost of a stamp any day.

Fay.

The focus for our farm this year is to just continue as we have been going this past year. We don't eat meat and we no longer sell any animals for meat. Actually I think we are at the point now where we won't be selling anymore animals at all. So I would say we are not really farming at all anymore. We just have our 'pets'. They all have names, they have the run of the paddocks and are the most ungrateful, pampered cattle, sheep, ducks and chickens around. Our vegetable and fruit growing though is ramped up though because that is what we do eat. The animals do have a purpose, they provide me with fertiliser for the garden and they are just a joy. We do still sell honey but as always that is just our excess, we aren't big time producers. I am happy with three hives and don't think more is better (Tim would always have more hives). If perchance we ever revert to eating meat, I think we will only eat homegrown but I can't see it happening. I like vegetarianism.

Craft-wise I want to focus on finishing projects that have been on my to-do list for a while. I don't want to buy more fabrics and supplies unless I really need to. I don't need to, I have enough. I am going to participate in a swap or two this year and already have one swap to package up and send. Swaps are fun as long as you don't overcommit.

In the kitchen I want to make sure waste is kept to a minimum and prepare most meals from scratch. I enjoy cooking but sometimes it does get boring being the one who always cooks and makes the decisions about what to eat. I'll make sure I delegate sometimes even though delegating is not something I am good at.

As I've said before I am de-cluttering too. So far it has been mostly little bits and pieces but it all adds up. And I hope that a clutter-free or at the least a less cluttered home looks better and is more peaceful in some way. It would be nice to make a dollar or two from some of our unwanted stuff but thus far I haven't found anything that I think anyone would pay for.

I like keeping fit so in 2016 I will continue with my exercise program. Workout dvds, yoga, jogging and bike riding. My flexibility needs improving so that is something to focus on this year.

My newest focus, is journaling. I have an art diary and another journal for writing and just being creative and I want to put some effort into those. It's fun and free.

Well, this post has rambled and I think I will stop for now or I could write all day.

Tracy

Initial Heart Swap- thanks

Thank you to Cheryll for organising a lovely swap to start the year off. My partner Lisa sent me such a lovely little parcel. A pillow which has my initial on it so neither of my girls can claim it, some pretty pink embroidery threads and some sugar-free sweets. Lisa didn't know this but I am watching what I eat at the moment and am not eating anything chocolate-y or too naughty so these are perfect. If you look carefully, you can see that I have opened them. YUM!

Lisa has a lovely blog that is very much worth a visit.
Tracy

FNwF Catch Up and other stuff

Thanks Cheryll for a fun night of creativity for Friday Night with Friends. I almost wore my hand and eyes out writing letters to put in my decorated envelopes. I had fun and I hope all the other friends did too. If you'd like to see what everyone else got up to, then click here.

I can now show what I made for the Valentine's Initial Heart Swap because Sue has received and opened her gift. Along with a few purchased items- chocolates, tea towel, fat quarter- I made Sue a candle mat with a red heart. I really liked the design which I found on Pinterest. I added a gift tag made with denim. I really like it and Sue says she does too which is most important.

Now back to it. The asparagus bed will not weed itself. I know this because I have been waiting for it to do so.
Tracy

Santa Sack Swap

A big thank you to Cheryll for organising the Santa Sack Swap. Cheryll does an amazing job organising so many swaps. If you are keen to be a part of one, there is still time to sign up for her Valentines Swap. I'm joining in and I don't even celebrate Valentine's Day. The more the merrier.

 

 

Quite some time ago, I signed up for the Santa  Sack Swap which gave me plenty of time to get to know my partner Wen and make her a few gifts which I thought and hoped that she would like. Of course me being me, I don't have a picture of those to share. I'll have to wait until Wen has posted her pictures to share them with you.

 

Wen sent me a great Santa sack. Hope used it this year as her Christmas stockings are a bit on the small side or so she says. Inside the sack Wen included things that were just right for me. Thanks Wen.

An embroidered necklace. I've never seen one like it before and I'm quite impressed.

A wonderful little organiser/ notebook and pen. Perfect for a list maker.

And a zippered pouch in the loveliest bright floral fabric. The other items were a set of pot mitts, a KikkiK notepad and some cute coasters.

Wen is a clever clogs and has a sweet blog all about her adventures in crafting and cooking and life in general. Well worth a visit.

Tracy

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

Firstly a big thank you to Chookyblue for organising this swap again this year. I know that her efforts are very much appreciated by everyone who participates. Thanks Chooky.

 

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my swap partner Marica for sending me such lovely gifts and spending her valuable time making a gift just for me.

 



My ornament which I opened a couple of weeks ago is a rather cute set of angel wings. 

 

The main gift is a table mat . The red is quite Christmassy but it is the bluey-grey fabric that I am most taken with. Lovely!

 And a bracelet for me too. There was a package of Santa marshmallows but they are nowhere to be found and have like a lot of sweets, missed the photo opportunity.

Thank you so much Marica.

Of course you don't just receive, you give as well and it is just as much fun. My partner was Grethe who lives in Norway. I'm quite fond of Norway as one of my penfriends from my teen years lived there. I'd really like to visit, even more so after snooping around Grethe's blog.

I sent Grethe a babushka doll ornament and various bits and bobs.

As her main gift I made this table runner. I do hope she likes it.

Tracy

New ornaments

I like to buy a new living tree each year to display the handmade ornaments I have received but thus far I haven't found a tree that I want to spend money on this season. So, the ornaments that people have made me are on the regular Christmas tree... for now.

 

 

This lovely cinnamon tree from Vickie was delivered on Thursday. It travelled all the way from Humpty Doo. I do love that name, Humpty Doo. Thank you Vickie one of my very first and best online friends.

 

A new crocheted snowflake from my #postcircle penfriend Joan in England. Thanks Joan.

A cute Santa Claus painted on a shell. This one didn't travel very far at all because Grace made it for me. Thank you Sissy.

I've shared this one before, it is from Marica who sent me a parcel via Chookyblue's Christmas swap. Thank you for the cute angel wings Marica .

 

 

I gotta do some weeding. The great rain we've had this week has given the weeds and grass a boost and they are reaching for the sky and ready to take over.

Tracy

Don't blink, it's December

2014 has buzzed by in a blur. It's the same every year it would seem. These last two months of the year do seem to speed by quicker than the other even if it isn't the truth. It's blink and you'll miss it time. I'm doing lots blinking, my eyes are tired and a little sore. Just quietly, I think I might need spectacles so I'll have to have to make an appointment soon. I'm surprised I've made it this far without needing them. I do apologise to anyone receiving cards from me if my writing is more messy than usual.

 

Today was a quiet day at home which is really the best remedy for a feeling of being rushed. My mail box was a happy place. A penpal letter from the US, four parcels- two from penpals, one from my Chookyblue SSCS partner and Gary Kemp's book all the way from the UK.

I have been a slack gardener the past couple of days too. Storms have been passing through at odd times during the day and night so no need to water since last Wednesday. As much as I love my garden, it is nice to have a rest now and then.

What I am still doing is my advent challenge, giving away at least one thing a day this month.

I would dearly love it if someone would take this beastie and its cohorts off my hands but I wouldn't do that. AT the moment the nasty ladybirds are in controllable, squash-able numbers so the damage is minimal... thankfully.

What have I been giving away? Mostly things I don't need or want so it's easy. Unwanted clothing, books, DVDs, Christmas tree. Lamb milk.  My time.

I have a microwave oven languishing in the shed which I will probably pass along too but it's one of those things that I have an inkling that if I get rid of it, my own microwave will break down instantly. So silly!

Tracy

Seeing Red

Lots of sewing but nothing to show and tell because it is all secret sewing. What did I do to see red? I measured twice, I cut once but I didn't think thrice. I cut the chevron pieces the wrong way and it just won't do. Aargh!

I've surprised myself using so much red. It is bold and bright and demands attention. If I was a colour, I would NOT be red.

Tracy

Friday Night with Friends

I'm quite happy with my effort for this Friday Night with Friends this month. It's always a good sign when you want to keep what you've made. I'll just have to make another. The only problem is I can't show or tell because it is swap sewing. It's that time of year where anything I make is either being sent away near or far or is going to be wrapped up and secreted away until birthday or Christmas.

I've been making sure I have everything sorted too with lists and such. I'm very good at writing lists.
Tracy

Swapping, Christmas Style

October was the month to swap Christmas gifts on the Down to Earth forum. I know that seems much too early to me too but with all the hubbub that surrounds the end of the year, October does make sense to avoid pressure and stress. It also makes perfect sense when you swap items that are Christmassy and can be put to use during the festive season.

 

I swapped with the lovely Becci and she sent me a wonderful parcel filled with some her crocheted goodies, some FruChocs and a beautiful handmade card. I like the Christmas star dishcloths so much that I think I might make some myself to include in one of my other swap parcels.

 

 

Thanks Becci.

 

What did I send to Becci? 

 

 Some Christmas bunting.

 

A Christmas stocking made from some unwanted jeans. I popped in a couple of other goodies  and a handmade card which I didn't take a picture of.

 

I do like to sew and make and be creative. I just forget how much when I have been out of practice.

 

Tracy