Catching up, a start and a finish…

Last night I put together the table runner made from Natalie Birds ‘Tis the Season’ book, next step is to make the prairie points, but here it is so far…

It was supposed to have been finished last month(our monthly project with a couple of my stitching friends), oops no make that the month before! Gosh golly where does the time go! So I am 2 months behind;oS Hmm… but I have made a start on this months…

3 Tilda Babushkas designed by Tone Finanger, I am pleased with them so far, I think I will be able to get them finished on time. I just need to do their faces and stuff them. So that’s the catch up and the start, and now for the finish…

Please excuse the horrible photo, I have been trying to take a photo of this quilt for days now but it is blowing a gale outside and the light is just not co-operating ;oS It is a DNP made from two packs of Thimbleberries charm squares…

Bev has done a fantastic job of the quilting once again…

and I am delighted to have another UFO crossed off the list!

Now I’m off to work on those prairie points…

Happy Stitching…

Michelle

It’s only taken me a year…

It’s only taken me a year to get around to making a new plastic bag holder for our new house, Lol 

Not sure what took me so long, I finally made up my mind to just do it the other day when I found this gorgeous fabric, maybe that’s what I was waiting for… the perfect fabric!

While I was at it I made two…

I’m not sure whether I will use this one for storing rags in the cleaning cupboard or put it in the birthday box. It’s almost too good to be a rag bag, but I’m not sure I want to give it away either;O)

I had quite a productive weekend, I also finished the binding on my DNP quilt(photo’s to come). It was also DS2 14th birthday, here he is armed and dangerous …

He is also the family ‘Jester’ never a dull moment in our house!

I now have 3 teenagers aged 14, 15 and 16! Can you work that out? I had 3 children under 2 1/2 years of age, they were certainly busy times but I now look back on those years as fun times, well for the most part anyway!

My DD1 (Miss Ruffles) had to cook grass for her agriculture yesterday!

We made hay while the sun wasn’t shining! The smell throughout the house was very strong, sweet and icky, quite overpowering even with the windows open and the fan going!

Into the oven it goes…

It ended up dry and crispy(for those that want to know) and kind of burnt looking rather than a nice golden colour like hay, but we got the desired result! It has now been added to the compost pile:O)

I am having a lazy day today, it is cold outside and we are all warm and snug inside! I have a bit of school stuff to do with the boys and after that I am going to sew!

Enjoy your day

Michelle

Pretty in Pink…

Last week I bought myself a pretty pink vintage vase…

And took a few photo’s…

Uploaded them to Picnik (it’s free by the way) and had lot’s of fun playing with special effects…

I think I got a little carried away…

But it sure was lot’s of fun!  I love my vase it is so pretty and dainty! The stocks are from my garden and smell divine:O)

Enjoy Your Day!

Michelle

Stitching group…

Wednesday was my monthly stitching day with Michelle and Claire. This time we went to Michelle’s house and oh my there was sew much to ooh and aah over, that I forgot to take pictures to share with you (shame on me, I know!) but you can pop over and visit her here instead!  I do have one photo of our projects we worked on over the last month though…

Sorry not the best photo, Michelle’s quilt is on the left mine is the piggy in the middle and Claire’s is on the right.  And I am pleased to report that I am not the only one who didn’t finish, Lol. We are all up to the quilting stage, so our plans for this month are to finish these quilts and make 3 Babushka dolls. Sounds easy enough;o)

Michelle made a tasty chicken and vegetable lasagne for lunch served with salad and bread rolls followed by peach pie and cream! Thanks Michelle it was delicious!

And… Michelle and Claire surprised me with some blue and white goodness for my hutch! Once again though I have no photo’s to share as I have been a busy bee for the last two days(I feel like I am being pulled in all sorts of directions at once!) I think I am almost caught up now though and will take some photo’s soon. Thanks for my goodies girls I feel very spoilt! I am already looking forward to next month!

Michelle

Quick and easy…

Sometimes it’s nice to have a quick and easy project to work on…

The Autumn Picnic Candle Mat, the free pattern can be found right here

I have really enjoyed working with wool felt, I think there will be a few more wool projects in the near future…

I know Autumn is officially over but it is too cute not to leave out on display…

Does anyone know of a good source for wool felt? (specifically in NZ) I’d like to buy local after all we are outnumbered by the woolly creatures!

Michelle

No matter what…

The sun came out from hiding yesterday so I took advantage of it and went outside to take some photo’s of my latest finish and another UFO to cross off the list…

I am really pleased with how it’s turned out…

It’s a Natalie Bird Design…

The fabrics were from a pack of 1/8’s I bought from Grandmothers Garden several years ago…

A few post ago I mentioned that I had claimed an old rusty tool box from my DH, it was used to store tools for fencing and stuff but I think I have put it too much better use;o)…

Last weekend I bought the trellis and DH attached it for me, it’s given the old woodshed a whole new look! At the moment the box is filled with daffodils for a lovely spring display until I decide what I want to grow up the trellis, a rose? or a geranium?, perhaps a clematis? Decisions decisions…

Michelle

15 Today….

He’ll kill me but it will be sooo…. worth it!

Happy Birthday Son!

PS Please excuse our family’s sense of humor!

Having fun…

This is what is happening in my little sewing corner tonight. And a sneak peak at a finished UFO…

Michelle

Moody Mountain…

All week we have had the most beautiful days, full of glorious sunshine(not necessarily warm though) but almost perfect for tackling the jobs that need doing in the garden. I have been waiting all week for today(Saturday) so I can get out and do just that! But I should have known better the mountain did try and warn me yesterday…

Can you see the cloud that covers the mountain top? Well whenever that happens it is a sure sign that it is going to rain! And as I sit hear typing this sure enough there is rain pelting against the windows. But even knowing the mountain is almost always right, I ignored his warnings, still planning to get out into into the vege patch today, I even bought some more plants to plant! So next time the mountain puts on his woolly cap I will heed his warnings and plan for a cozy day inside;o)

Here’s a photo of Mt Taranaki as the sun is going down last night, I’m sure the next time he peeks out from behind the clouds there is going to be lot’s more snow!

And here is a photo of Mr Curly one of last years lambs, at the moment he is tied up outside the kitchen windows. When I’m in the kitchen he jumps up to get my attention hoping I might throw a yummy snack out to him!

He is a very affectionate fellow, and loves a good scratch!

Since the weather has packed up, my plans for the day will be to make a heart warming soup for lunch followed my some vitamin Q and a roast for tea! Sounds good doesn’t it!

Enjoy your weekend…

Michelle

Pottering…

I didn't get to the basting stage the other night(oh my was that nearly a week ago!), I must have been very tired that night as I somehow managed to sew three blocks round the wrong way! Duh! It was rather funny because I had only seen two and asked my family if they could see what was wrong with the quilt and they pointed to one I hadn't seen, Lol. Never mind I have decided it can stay like it, the quilt made by the designer has one block turned the wrong way too, so that makes me feel a little better! I did find some time during the week to get it basted, now I just have to decide what thread to quilt it with.

I have been pottering in the garden this week. I stole my husbands old rusty toolbox he used to store farm tools and stuff in, and have planted some daffodil bulbs that were sprouting in an old bucket, (right where I had left them from last year as I didn’t know where I wanted to put them;o) The problem with our garden is that I want to do so much with it, but because the farm isn’t ours it’s probably not worth putting in too much effort. I couldn’t resist buying a Daphne bush though:o) I will try to take some photo’s of the garden tomorrow.

As you can see I have been shopping at the Book Depository again and bought this book I am hoping it will help me learn more about my camera.  While browsing I couldn’t resist buying another 2 books…

                          

especially since they were both on special and then the book depository sent me an email coupon with another 10% off!

Yesterday was officially the first day of winter, you wouldn’t have thought so though, they have been absolutely beautiful days, no clouds in the sky just lovely, but I think we’re going to get our first frost tonight.

Well I have a very early start in the morning, I have to be at my sisters house by 5.30 (yes that’s am) she asked if I would babysit for her so instead of waking the kids up and bringing them out to me I said I would go to them!  Gosh I’m nice, Lol My day is jam packed with activities tomorrow, I am so pleased it is a long weekend this weekend, I plan to have a very relaxing one, what are your plans for the weekend?

Michelle