April update

The past few weeks have just flown by! Earlier in the month I celebrated my 50th birthday and what a wonderful day I had, or week I should say, as the celebrations were happening all week long! 

A family dinner, catching up with everyone was so lovely and we had such a fun night together. 

Love this photo of Hannah and I with my gorgeous nieces. 

I was totally spoilt by my work friends, not only did they surprise me with a very delicious morning tea, where some of my family also came along, they gifted me a Pandora necklace and charm. 

This fun chocolate board, hilarious. 

We enjoyed dinner out at our favourite local Indian restaurant.

Another wonderful little party with some family and my dear stitching friends. 

Hannah loved catching up with her young cousins, Logan, is about to turn 1 year old. 

I was completely overwhelmed when my lovely friends Kath and Wendy presented me with this wonderful quilt! I absolutely love it and its going to be well used this winter. 

Super happy as my cousin Donna came too, we hadn't seen each other in ages.

I'm so grateful for all the lovely birthday celebrations, and to my family and friends for making it all so special. 

Now for a stitching update - there's been lots going on but not a lot of time lately to get some things fully finished, soon I hope!

I really enjoyed stitching Valentine's Quaker by Primrose Cottage. Stitched on 32 count white linen with Classic Colourworks Ripe Melon thread.

My other recent fully finished project is Wilhelmina by Fox & Rabbit. Stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen with recommended threads. 

As I have several samplers on the go right now, I'm trying to get some decent stitching done on each one. Most weeks I pull one out and will stitch on it for several evenings. This week's sampler, Oh Joyous Day, hasn't been stitched on in ages, such a lovely design.

I think that's everything up to date for now. This coming weekend is a long weekend for us, tomorrow we commemorate ANZAC day, then on Friday Glenn and I are both taking leave to spend the day with Hannah as its school holidays right now. I think we're heading to Napier for the day.

See you soon x

Stitching this week and Family Catch Up

 Hello friends

Even though I'm trying to stitch on projects already underway, I couldn't resist starting this chart by Teresa Kogut last week.  It was given out to members of Teresa's Patreon club as it was a freebie from the Nashville stitching market. 

This week I have also spent a few evenings stitching on the Light of Winter by Brenda Gervais

Last Sunday we enjoyed a family lunch out at one of our favourite local cafes to celebrate my niece Zoe's 23rd birthday and also my brother Marcus, Zoe's Dad, birthday is coming up during Easter. We hadn't seen everyone since Christmas so it was good time catching up.

Next time we catch up will be in a few weeks time for my birthday celebrations, it's an "0" birthday this year!

See you soon x

The Tiny Modernist Mystery Sampler

 For the past few years I've signed up the Tiny Modernist's mystery Christmas Sampler. It starts on the 1st September each year with the first part of the chart being released, then parts 2, 3 and 4 follow through until December.  

It soon becomes a "non mystery" though, as I can never keep up with the parts being released ha ha.

I have totally enjoyed stitching this fun design and the colours used are so bright and cheery.  I made this my focus piece late February and have pretty much only stitched on this during the week, with smaller projects on the weekend.

I think this will make a lovely Christmas cushion so I will take it along to my local sewing shop to match up some backing fabric.

Fabric used was 32 count Prehistoric linen by Fox & Rabbit and the recommended DMC threads.

See you soon x

A few finishes, family and sunflowers

 Hello friends

I have a couple of finishes to show today, these were both stitched last year and I made them into ornaments last week.  

A Classic Christmas by Hands on Designs, stitched on 32 count vintage mocha, made into a pillow, Lady Dot chenille trim.

Joyful Santa, 2022 Annual ornament by Homespun Elegance, stitched on 32 count cream belfast linen, made into a pillow, Lady Dot chenille trim.

My other sewing job last week, ribbons for our ballerina's new pointe shoes. Hannah recently had the opportunity to have a ballet class with some of the members of the Royal New Zealand ballet company, a great experience for her.

As it's been awhile, here's Mr Diesel, the goodest boy. Last weekend Glenn went away on a fishing weekend and Diesel was a bit sad, he sat by this window for quite some time after he left. 

We recently had our lovely nieces, Alice and Sally, come to stay for a few nights with us, and Buddy their black labrador. It was so good to spend some time with the girls, and Diesel had so much fun with Buddy. 

Some days I get to do some really fun things at my work, and this week we took our clients out to a local sunflower field.  It was the perfect weather for viewing sunflowers, they were amazing. We got some awesome photos of everyone.

On our way back into town we stopped at the scenic lookout, where you view our town, Waipukurau, beside the Tuki Tuki river.

I made many wishes in this wishing well as a kid ha ha.

See you soon x

Welcome to the North Pole

Sorting out some photo files on my computer, I realised I hadn't share any photos of this cute design which I finished stitching at the end of December.

Welcome to the North Pole by Primrose Cottage Stitches, stitched on 32 count platinum belfast linen with the recommended DMC threads. 

Such a cute project, I'm not sure how I'll fully finish this one yet so into the finishing box for now.

See you soon x

Weekend things

Hello friends, I hope you enjoyed your weekend. I spent a few hours on Saturday morning with a friend as we browsed a local market - there were over 60 stalls, lots of food vendors and entertainment. There was also a Highland dancing competition and a sevens rugby competition all happening in the same area so our little town was busy!  The rest of the weekend was spent gardening, in the swimming pool as it was so hot, and catching up with friends.

Last week I had a spur of the moment start, and then finish a few days later - Valentine's Day Quaker by Primrose Cottage. 

I used 32 count white belfast linen and Classic Colorworks Ripe Melon.

I love that you can purchase these designs as pdf charts. I've also purchased the Winter and Christmas Quaker, and Sip Stitch Repeat patterns as well. 

What else for today - my current books to read, I've been reading a lot lately, and have had a few library reserves come in. I've been enjoying several books by Sarah J Maas, I've never been much of a fantasy reader but that has changed with these series. 

We enjoyed a couple of nights at Pourere Beach recently, the weather was pretty good, and it was lovely to get back out there, only a 45 minute trip from home.

Whittakers, my favourite NZ chocolate company, have released a new limited edition chocolate block, and of course I had to try it. It's a bit different, I do quite like the hint of orange in it.

It's been awhile since I did any baking so I enjoyed making some blueberry muffins and savoury scones the other day. 

Glenn was able to get more house painting done before it got to hot, he's now completed this wall outside our bathroom and laundry. Very happy with the colour we picked out.

Have a wonderful week, See you soon x