Some progress

 I have been stitching away n the evenings and have finished two unplanned projects, I think Lou sent her squirrels over here!

I bought this bag one day poking around on Temu, It cost about $4, thought it would be good for going down to the beach and then one day looking in my scrap bag I decided to try and cover the bag with fabric and this is the result

one side

the other side

all sewn by hand except for the top edging which I did on the machine and then hand sewed the inside bits that missed  😀

Then while I was in the scrap bag I decided to do this

machine sewn, oops this is the fabric layout

and finished. machine sewn to hold all the fabric pieces in place and the end pieces hand sewn in to create the pockets for the book cover to slot into.

I found PixxiBook on line and printed up last years blog, the covers are hard covers and the pages really good heavy paper, they have made lovely books, more expensive that I am used to getting but I am very happy with them.

I have books for 2024 coming in the mail, they have been done with IntoRealPages, slightly less expensive, soft covers, I did have a lot of trouble getting their page to work for me with with a lot of help from Jo, we finally got there. My main problem was that my book was showing from Dec 22nd on the first page to Jan 1st on the last page.....we could not work it out. I emailed the company, they said it can happen when there is a break in the transmission and the data gets muddled. They fixed it all up at their end and I checked to see all the posts were there, it is in the mail and due to arrive later this week.

I am happy to say I have finally finished my Temperature Tree

Is not perfect but I am very happy with it, my first attempt at Cross stitch. I have yet to decide how to finish it off. Thank you Susan for the motivation!

We had a special occasion on Saturday, Finn turned three!!

His birthday present from Nanny and Pa

His birthday present from this Grandmother ( he loves rabbits and has a large collection)

his birthday cake made by this grandmother

he was fascinated by the things on top, he also loves cricket!

Getting to eat one of the gummi bears players. We had a wonderful afternoon, Adam cooked a great roast dinner and then we headed home. 

I had better go check the sprinkler I left going on the garden and check also on the bike battery and see if it is charged, I was planning on a ride today 😁

Happy stitching.

A new month has arrived

 And I am catching up again!

David has been to see the oncologist, much was explained and advice was given and David has decided to not have chemo. Big sigh of relief from me! The information we were given was that chemo causes Parkinson's like symptoms so could cause David more damage than help and they didn't want to do that to him. So now he has blood tests every 6 months and a CT once a year to keep a check on him. David is away this weekend on a boys weekend, guys he has known since high school and Uni, I haven't heard anything but I am sure they are having a wonderful time!

I had a quiet weekend planned, was even influenced by a squirrel that popped over from Janice's place. Today was to be a day of cutting fabric as I already have the foundation paper sheets

But life had other ideas and I have had a busy day doing other things.

We are getting a lift installed to make it easier for David in the future and so we can stay in this house.

The builder has been here since Thursday, has not long left ( 5pm Saturday) and will be back tomorrow to do a little more so the lift fitters can come Monday as scheduled. I  wonder about the scheduling as their is no time allowed for the unforseen and there was lots of unforseen in this house!

We have a flat roof, no man hole, and it makes it a challenge doing anything electrical.

Yesterday afternoon upstairs floor

Upstairs ceiling ( the ceiling was too low to fit the lift so a bulkhead had to be created, lots more work that expected)

End of work today, floor, the area covered with tools will have the floor vinyl that was cut out, glued on to it, so it looks more floor like  😊

Underneath looking up.

It looks strange at present but will be much better by Tuesday. 🤞

Today I had to drive to Torquay (an hour away) to change the sim card I got for the lift - the lift has an emergency phone inside. The info from the lift company says to get a normal sim card not a pre paid. That was going to cost $50 a month. Mark the builder said NO!! Swap it for a yearly sim card that costs $76 for 12 months, much better. So he rang a contact at the Torquay shop and she said come on over and I will help. So I did and she did and she also sorted issues I was having with my phone, not a problem with my phone just something that was not explained to me ( yes I was the problem 😁)

Well worth the drive over. While there I finished at Adventure Lab in the howling wind and spitting rain

I had to sit the phone on the hand rail to keep it steady in the wind.

I found a lovely bookshop in Torquay and bought two new books, Twice by Mitch Albom ( I have enjoyed other books by him) and Nobody's Girl by Virginia Giuffre.

I also went to he Information centre and found two badges for my Aussie Travel map

Not the best photo but I got the VW Great Ocean Road badge and the 12 Apostles - of which there are only 8 left I think.

During the week I have quilted 3 quilts for Christine and Judy

Peas in a Pod

all scrappy quilts using up peoples scraps

I have started my own Peas in a Pod quilt, using jelly rolls I got on special from Spotlight

I was given a large bag of African themed scraps, so they have been cut up and are being sewn into a kind of post and rail design - I have a few large pieces that will stay large and be fitted in where ever possible. I was also given some Australian themed fabric so that will be worked in too. 

 So much for not starting anything new this year!!! Blinking squirrels!!!

A little more progress has slowly been made on the Temperature Tree, fitting in the October leaves.

I have sewn together the first few rows of the hexie quilt, I am waiting until the lift is finished as there is plaster dust through the house and my design floor is gritty!!

That is me up to date for now, off to sew a few more post and rail bits and Peas in a Pod bits, Tomorrow I will cut the edging fabric for the peas.

Hope I have not put you to sleep with a long post!!

Happy stitching.

 

FNWF

After a busy day and dinner out with Adam and family I got stuck into my temperature tree

The start

And here is where I finished up last night, I have caught up to June. I am enjoying the changes in temp from being at home and then when we have been away.

I have been trying to catch up with the weeding the last few days, I mowed the back grass, need to do the front, maybe tomorrow. 

Hubby has been in hospital for 2 weeks, he had a cancerous growth removed from his bowel, the anaesthetic and Parkies played havoc with his brain, making him paranoid and frightened. Thankfully he is coming good and is more like his usual self.

I had a walk along the foreshore in Geelong after visiting today.

Off to do some machine sewing i think .

Happy stitching.

Chookshed Stitchers 2025

 I have been stitching away on the sashiko this last month, doing a bit now and then, somehow my plans of getting lots done while away didn't come to fruition

I decided to do green leaves, pink flowers and light blue for the water, next I will do orange for the koi.

I have also been putting leaves on the temperature tree

mmm...blogger has decided this photo needs to be sideways! But you can see leaves progress, I have done Jan and Feb and now onto March. I have many more to do, but they will be done in the fullness of time. Slow stitching is supposed to be relaxed right? 😊

I have another project I have been working on, I did the applique before went to Coolum and have been working on the extra stitching the last couple of nights. I bought the jacket a few months ago and then decided to make it mine

I hope to finish the white flowers today and maybe some yellow will go in as well.

We are off again on Tuesday, flying to Sydney and then getting on the Indian Pacific and heading for Perth. I have not been over that way before, so am looking forward to it.

I had better go and check the washing is getting dry, it is arranged around the house as it is raining outside.

Happy sitiching.

FNWF

Last night was FNWF hosted by the lovely Cheryll, I started some knitting and then pulled it undone as I was not happy with it. Then I pulled out the  cross stitch to do a bit more of that. I forgot to take a before photo so this is where I am at

Stitching towards the needle holder.

Happy stitching.

Last day

Today is my last day here in Waiuku with Jenny, tomorrow is the day to head to the airport and head home,  I am keen to get back! 

Julie very kindly drove up here to meet us for lunch, she also brought us wonderful fresh veges from her garden and some brownie 😀 

It was very special to have a catch up and a chat. We had a great lunch in the Hidden Cafe.

Some progress photos

This blanket was knitted and sewn together by Jenny, I did rhe crochet edge, it will come home with me and go to KOGO.

This blanket is KOGO squares sewn together by Jenny, crochet edge by me

This blanket was knitted and sewn together by Jenny, crochet edge by me 😁

This is my progress on the Temperature Tree - four branches to go and then I can start on the leaves. I am very happy with it considering it is my first attempt at cross stitch. 

No sewing tomorrow, probably reading and watching movies on the plane.

Happy stitching.

Cuteness overload!

I spent a couple of afternoons with Finn last week

we put his pool out on the front deck and played with a little bit of water - Not nuf Ga Ga I was told!!

"Cheese!"

I bought this T shirt a while ago, online, it was supposed to be a cotton linen mix, but is super shiny and slippery and was too tight around the bum! So it has had the chop and now is a bag!

I love the frog and wanted to keep it, so now I have a bag for the cross stitch project.

Next is #10 for the Chookshed Stitchery Challenge, I have moved a project around to fit in with retreat.

I have been wrangling applique pieces, tracing cutting and ironing

A few to be cut out here!!

After a few evenings they are all cut out, now to get the backing ready

Marked out and ready to iron on all the pieces

Done, after an afternoons placing and moving and placing again.

Yesterday I added the borders

This project is called Australian Flora Mandala, Wattle Brush and is designed by Sonya Else.

I bought the kit years ago and as Sonya is coming to talk to the Guild in March I thought I have better get my act together and get it made! 

I am planning to sandwich it and then attach all the leaves and wattle flowers with free motion and that will be part of the quilting. That is the plan anyway!! 😀  I am on retreat next week so will be the perfect time to get a start on it. I am not sure if it will be done this month as I am off the NZ to support Jenny straight after the retreat.

Poor Jens thought she was going to have a knee replacement in Feb but was having terrible pain in her hip, the Dr. said we will do that one first so it was done at the end of Jan, all happened fast for her.

 I have been stitching away in the evenings and was very excited to start on the first branch of my Temperature Tree, I have made mistakes along the way but have unpicked and continued on, I have just realised I have left 4 stitches on the branch with stitches one way 😯 I will fix that soon.

OK I am off now to continue stitching, fix my mistake and hopefully continue without problems.

Have a happy rest of the week and happy stitching.