Monday, December 30, 2013

I am on the other side of the Tasman...

 
For the next few weeks I am in Sydney spending some time with my Mum.  I thought that I would be off the internet till I returned home as Mum is not into computers etc.  My big surprise came on Christmas morning when I thought I had opened all my gifts and then I was handed another one... and inside was an IPad, I was blown away and speechless which is unusual for me.
So on arrival in Oz I bought a SIM card and will be able to keep track of what is going on..will just have to keep tabs on my data usage.  My big problem is coming to grips with how this iPad works..so a little trial and error will be the order of the day.  I took the photo out of the plane on the way ..and the last few nights have mucked around trying to work out how to get it on to the blog..finally some success...I don't know if I can fluke it again though!
You might notice some odd formatting as well as I come to terms with how to blog on an iPad...

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Swap catch up

It was the strangest coincidence for the 2 swaps I was in for Christmas.  Deb was my partner for Chooky's Secret Santa Swap as well as for the Santa Sack swap run by Cheryll.  I received a lovely box of goodies from Deb..and I have had to borrow the photos from Deb's blog as I ran out of time to take the photos before I left on my  holiday.  (I hope that is OK Deb)
So here is the gorgeous bag Deb made me for the Secret Santa Swap
It is a bag that I have seen and thought I would like to maybe make one day..but now lucky me..I don't have to...

I was also in the Santa Sack Swap and Deb was also my partner in it..I received the cutest little Santa, a lovely kit to make a sewing set,  a reel of ribbon, decorations magnet and the gorgeous stitchery..it was so exciting opening each of the parcels and I am just so thrilled with each of them.

Thank you Deb for my lovely gifts.
Thank you also Chooky and Googy Girl for organising the Secret Santa Swap and Cheryll for organising the Santa Sack Swap.  I really enjoyed being in both of them.
I'll be back with what I sent later.  

Sunday, December 22, 2013

SSCS 2013

I tried to visit as many blogs as I could last night to see what everyone got up to for FNSI.  There are some lovely things being made out there..very inspiring.
I joined in to SSCS again this year.  I am also in the Santa Sack Swap (for the first time).  The funny coincidence is that a box arrived from Deb and knowing that she was my partner for the SSS I got a real surprise to find that there was also a gift in the box for SSCS...fancy that!!! So here is a glimpse of the gift Deb sent me for SSCS with the most gorgeous ornament attached.

I sent my SSCS parcel to Janice and this is the ornament that I made..(out of Marg Low's Christmas book)
All my other gifts are under the tree..Deb left opening instructions on each gift..so I did open one today..will have to get the photo taken later..it is gorgeous.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

So what did I do for FNSI

Last night was the last night for FNSI for 2013.  I hope you all enjoyed 'stitching' with me.  I saw these little stars over on Susan's blog and followed her link to Attic 24's blog and found the little lacy stars pattern.  I had some white cotton so made a few up.
The red background for the stars is some fabric DD2 bought to make a sash/belt.  She had a black one but wanted one in a more 'festive' colour.  She was going to sew it herself but then asked if I would do it for her..following the design of the one she had I cut one out in red and sewed it up for her..she was pleased with it and she has worn it out to a Christmas 'do' tonight.  
Well that is it for FNSI for 2013..and I think that is probably it for me and my stitching till the middle of January as well..I have a few blog posts to do before Christmas, with 2 swaps that I have been in..so I will be around for a few more days yet and then take another little bloggy break while I am away on holidays....hope all your preparations for Christmas are going well..

Friday, December 20, 2013

Flower Mini Swap

Gosh, I have been missing from blogging for a while as I was in this swap back in November.  The theme for the last Mini Quilt Swap for the year was 'Flowers'.
I received this beautiful quilt from  Helen..it has been much admired by my stitching friends.  It has also given us some ideas on different ways to finish off.  Can you see the braid that Helen used around the centre panel and the gorgeous button in the corner?

I sent my mini to Cathy and here it is..and I since I really liked using the fabric in the border I went back and got some more of it!!
I have really enjoyed being a part of these swaps and am going to join in again next year.  Thank you Cheryll...I'm looking forward to next year.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

FNSI

Grab the Friday Night Sew In (FNSI) button

Yes it is on this Friday, so pop on over to Wendy's blog to sign up..it's the last one for the year..

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

It's a bit like coming out of hibernation I think..

..or my own self imposed exile from blogging.  Life became just too busy at school (the last month of the school year usually ups the stress levels somewhat) and there were things that I needed to finish off.   So I had to avoid the temptation of reading all your blogs and focus on what I had to get done.  I was on a strict time schedule.
 I have missed out on a lot of what you have been up to.  So now begins the process of catching up.  I need to get out my camera and take some photos..I need to take a tour around all your blogs and say hello..
As I'm sitting here the bell has just rung for the end of lunch at the little primary school across the road...what a lovely feeling knowing the bells aren't running my day for a while.  Our school finished up last week..I've had a few days to relax...
and so today I am...


Monday, November 18, 2013

FNSI

Yes I am still here, though it is the time of the school year when I always feel like saying, STOP! it's going too fast..so much to do and time is running out..
So a quick post about what I got up to on Friday, though not much that I can reveal in detail as I have been working through some secret sewing (still going!!)..so here is a peek at some fabric I am using and part of a design that is on the go..

Well that's all for now..back soon I hope!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Slow progress on the stitching front...

..this piece has progressed a little..still some work to do on it though..
..I haven't been stitching too much lately..we spent a couple of days in the garden digging out some shrubs that were past their best (gee some of those roots were hard to get out) and then did some replanting.. must have been too much for my stitching arm..I was getting a pain in my elbow as I was stitching afterwards..so have given it a rest...now I feel the need to get on with some projects that are waiting for me..

Monday, October 7, 2013

A Friday spent with Friends

One of the good things about being on holiday is that I'm able to spend Friday with a very special group of ladies who make up the stitching group I attend.  Usually I just get to call in after school each week.  Last Friday was special though, as we made a whole day of it.
We went out to a special little place called the Crafty Byre.  What a little treasure of a place it is, they run some classes, have a lovely selection of fabrics to tempt you,  and from this week the Christmas Shop will be set up..with even more lovely things to buy.
We all took a plate and had sorted things so we had morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea covered as well as some nibbles to keep up our energy!
We had a mystery bag waiting for us...
It was a great day with lots of talking, lots of eating...this is the first time I have worked with felt and this is what I achieved ...
 I had a fabulous time.  It wasn't too hard to see who had been distracted by talking and who was able to multi task and keep stitching at the end of the day ( not me!).

Sunday, September 22, 2013

FNSI catch up..

Here it is Sunday night and I haven't been back to update my progress from Friday night.  I got out my piece of  bobbin and worked a little more on it..with one eye on the rugby and then the rugby league on TV and trying to keep track of what I was doing..so no guarantees that there aren't any mistakes in this piece.
Besides FNSI my motivation for working on it was that it was our little lace group's get together on Saturday.  We now meet on 2 Saturdays each month (and since some times in the past I haven't been organised with a project  and have thus taken along some stitching to do, I thought I had better have some lace to take this time!!)
I crocheted a few bands to hold the bobbins in place when I am not working on it.. and that is why there is the brownish band around them...here is a piece of another one I made..quick and easy really.
I'll have to make some time to visit and see what everyone else got up to on Friday night..so that might be a task for tomorrow..

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

Winter Mini Quilt Swap...

I was in Cheryll's Winter Mini Swap.  I received the most gorgeous little quilt from Carin in Sweden.   It has the cutest little cross stitch centre with tiny birds on the branches..just beautiful...
also in the parcel was a bar of Carin's favourite chocolate..yummy..which is not available here in NZ as far as I know (such a shame!)...and a lovely bookmark..

The mini I made was sent to Carin, so unknown to us (because it was a secret swap) we were swap buddies.   Since winter is yet to arrive in the Northern hemisphere Carin will be able to hang it before the year is out. 
I added some beads to the snowflakes and snowman. which are easier to see below.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

What I've been working on...

this month for FNWF.  After a couple of weeks with not much stitching being done (too busy with school 'stuff' ), Friday night was the perfect time to knuckle down and finish the stitching on this piece.

Then yesterday was a gathering of our little bobbin lace group (6 of us were there) and that saw me beginning this new piece.  I had ordered some new bobbins and thread from England and lucky for me they arrived on Friday..just in time for me to use them..now to see how much I get done before the next meeting in a fortnight.
Now I'm off to watch a bit of the NRL, which has just started,  and a bit of 'popping around' to see what everyone else got up to for FNWF...

Friday, September 6, 2013

It's the first Friday of the month..

and that means that it's time for Friday Night With Friends again.  I've been over to sign up and am now looking forward to stitching away with you all tonight.
Everyone is WelcoMe
It has been a busy couple of weeks so I'm looking forward  to sitting back and relaxing tonight.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

A great day for Otago

the new holders of the Ranfurly Shield...which is New Zealand provincial rugby's most prized possession.. first played for over 100 years ago.
The last time Otago held the shield was in 1957.  There have been 22 failed attempts to beat the holders of the shield in the 56 years since then.  Until last night that is when they won..you might imagine the excitement...and here is our team with the shield..

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Oh lucky me..

The lovely Peg had a giveaway on  her blog recently and I was one of the 3 very lucky people to receive a special gift in the mail.  It was wrapped in this lovely fabric with one of Peg's special cards.  I had no idea what was inside until I opened it up...
..and was I blown away..it is just gorgeous and so in colours that I like as well...the words are..'Stitching seams with polka dot dreams'
I feel so very fortunate to have such a special piece of stitching..thank you so very much, Peg..

Sunday, August 18, 2013

FNSI..


I joined in to Friday Night Sew In this week.  I had a later than planned start to my stitching due to a meeting that I had to attend first.  When I got home though at 9.30pm I got on to doing some stitching on this project, which is something for me this time.
I made a Winter Mini Quilt as part of the swap that Cheryll organises and sent it winging on its way abroad. My work is more travelled than I am!!  I just have to sit back now and see how long it takes before it touches down in its new home but here is a sneak peak..
All will be revealed later when it arrives..

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Friday Night With Friends..

The sun has been out today and what a difference it makes after the cold, drab day we had yesterday.  Not that it is anywhere near warm but certainly an improvement on our high of 12 degrees yesterday.
Friday night saw me working a little more on this project and all the stems are now done...it's a good one to save to work on at night..even if it is one thread stem stitch that I have been doing..just a bit different from the backstitch I usually do..
 I get the Vignette magazine and usually select my own fabrics...but when I saw people starting to use the Tilda fabrics I thought why not go for a kit this time...and this is the lovely bundle of fabric that arrived by mail..just love those sort of squishy parcels.  I'm not ready to get started yet (still have things that need finishing) but I thought if I didn't get them now then they might not be available when I was ready to start!!!
I'm going to pop over and see what everyone else did on Friday Night With Friends

Friday, July 26, 2013

More Christmas items..

Well it is time to share some Christmas items for the month again..the months seem to roll around quickly.  I found another star pattern at Attic24..just 2 rows is all that is needed to make these cute little stars, and I used cotton this time..(that was a different experience to wool)....
Remember these parcels that I shared last week..
well they were sent to Michelle as part of the Xmas In July Swap... and the contents were briefly in the box for July so I suppose I can share them too as they are Christmas items.


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Xmas in July Swap

It's the 25 July and time for all of the participants in this swap to open their parcels.
 
My lovely parcel of goodies arrived from Michell in the North Island.  I am absolutely thrilled. This is what was inside....
                             

Michell made me this lovely cross stitch ornament... Candy Shoppe...there must have been a lot of counting of stitches going on there..
....Something to hang to remind me of the joy of Christmas...Peace, Joy and Love
....and then a small cushion with a saying that really sums up what Christmas is all about..Christmas has a special magic of its own...
and it has been very special being able to celebrate in July with the opening of these special gifts. Thank you so very much Michell for these lovely surprises and the thought and stitching that went into them.  I love them!!
And a very special thank you to our Swap Mama, Cheryll for her great organisation.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

FNSI

I'm back again, a little later than I thought I would be.  I joined in with lots of others stitchers around the globe last night for FNSI....in fact I was also lucky enough to be able to join my stitching group for the whole afternoon yesterday since I am on holidays.. so lots of chatter and a bit of work done on this project..(it has been a bit of a slow mover and keeps getting put back in the box when there are other things that need my attention)...so I am rather pleased with how far I got with it..

Today was my lace group's workday...so I started to wind some bobbins and get ready to start a new project..much better to do that when you are in good company.
I joined in to Christmas In July and sent off my parcels earlier this week..the big reveal is on the 25th so all I can show of what I sent is this..
I hope that all of you that joined in to FNSI had fun...I'm off to look at what you got up to....