DVD instructions Ruskin Lace

Ruskin Lace

    NZ Embroidery Guild has a library of books and DVD"s that you may borrow.... our guild decided to  take out some DVDs and one of them is the above  ... 2 DVDs approx. 4 hours long... a couple of my stitching friends sat with me on Friday evening and we watched one DVD ...after it we felt as though we had done a whole evenings stitching just by watching Elizabeth giving her demonstrations.

I watched the other today  and the instruction DVD is amazingly  good with step by step or you could say stitch by stitch  or thread by thread ... my fingers are now itching to have a go ...
I have done some needle lace before but not this actual style ... so my next project ! may be....

Pincushion by Elizabeth Prickett

This weeks finish .....

I have finished my "door stop"   the embroidery has been finished for ages but getting around to assembly seems to take  for ever sometimes and when I did it took me approx. 15 minutes on the machine ..... yeap !! now I wonder why it took so long to start the completion....

The only draw back is it is made from calico and it is rather the wrong colour to go on the floor ... tried it and the cat thought it was fair game.... Oh well !!. now what to do with it " paper weight " was suggested but it is rather large 7 inch base by about 8 inches high  ???

A little Monday smile .....

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)    -You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10 -No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10 2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10 3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8 4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8 5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? -Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure) -On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin , age 10 6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? -When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7 -The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7 -The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8 7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child ) 8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8 And the #1 Favorite is....... 9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10

In my life time I have gotten passionate about all sorts of things but one of my favourite ones is  Commonsense  ... I was always asking my children " where the heck was your common sense" after they had done something stupid,  just plain daft or dangerous.
You can often in fact more times that I like to admit find me talking to the  person on the TV or radio  after they have given an absurd answer to a question or daft reason for something or other ... telling them to get their brain into gear or use their commonsense .

Then low and behold my  Daughter in Law  Claire sent me this ... so I am passing it to you.

Obituary printed in the London Times.....Absolutely Brilliant !! Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for surehow old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, -by his parents, Truth and Trust, -by his wife, Discretion, -by his daughter, Responsibility, -and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; - I Know My Rights - I Want It Now - Someone Else Is To Blame - I'm A Victim - Pay me for Doing Nothing Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him and appreciate his loss … condolences

Painting and Garden visit

We are lucky to have Jeanette Blackburn as  a resident here in Rotorua for 47 yrs now so she is classed as a "Rotorua girl" ... A group of ladies from Rotary group went to visit her this morning  at her home ....

Jeanette and her husband Graeme proudly invited us  to visit the Garden Art Gallery.

THE GARDEN
This is a superbly designed city garden featuring rose arbors, gazebo, fish pond, aviaries, dovecotes, old fashioned roses, rhododendrons and perennials. Step into a world of sweetly scented flowers, inviting pathways and cooing doves. A stroll through this delightful cottage garden is an unforgettable experience.

THE ART GALLERY
Set among the roses is a magnificent art gallery displaying Jeanette's work. Available are original paintings, limited edition prints, calendars, cards and placemats.

Jeanette's work is well sought after by collectors throughout New Zealand and overseas.

Renowned wildlife and landscape artist   …She has painted since childhood, and has been a professional artist for over 30 years. She paints mainly in acrylics because the minute detail she strives for (such as the fluffiness of birds’ feathers) is best captured in this medium. She then adds oils as a finishing touch to give the 3D effect often seen in her wildlife and landscapes. “Wildlife painting.” she says “must be accurate”. Following this philosophy, she captures realism in all her works of art. They remind us of our natural heritage and the beauty of nature in all its glory.

Through her art she tries to promote the appreciation of wildlife and conservation of all New Zealand’s natural resources. Jeanette’s paintings are held in private collections, not only in New Zealand but throughout the world. Her commission list runs into several months at a time, and she rarely has an exhibition as her art sells so quickly.

We had a glorious couple of hours with Jeanette and Graeme showing us all her little secretes and how she borrowed stuffed birds from museums  to paint from to make her pictures life like.

Jeanette has painted stamps for  NZ Post  and was commisioned to paint a picture as a gift for Queen Elizabeth ll   on her visit in 1952

Ever wondered about Amercan sweet tea

While living in USA ......  I always had iced sweet tea in the restaurants  with lemon. I never  could work out how they made it there was always something missing from mine when I made it ....

I tried making "Sun Tea" where you   put tea bags and cool water in a glass jug and set in the sun until brewed sometimes took all day  then refrigerate ...  after adding  sugar and lemon ..... this was good but still not the same.

While scrolling through blogs .....  "Voila" .... I found a blog giving the secret  ingredient ....

Perfect Sweet Tea. (makes 1 gallon)
(Adapted from the Lone Star Steak House)


Ingredients -
5 - 8 Family size Tea Bags. (or 12 regular Lipton Tea Bags)                    
1 Quart (4 Cups) - Boiling Water
3 Quarts (12 cups) - Cool Water
1 1/2 - Cups Sugar.
1/4 teaspoon - Baking Soda (this IS the SECRET Ingredient!!)

                           **********************************
Directions -
1. Sprinkle baking soda into a pitcher 
  Add Tea bags to the pitcher/baking soda,
Pour Boiling water over tea bags,
Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
                    **************************
2. Remove and toss out Tea Bags,
Add Sugar and Stir until completely dissolved.
Add Cool Water.
Refrigerate until cold and ready to drink.
                     ***********************
3. Serve over ice, with a twist of lemon
Take a nice long sip.....      Swoon. ......     Repeat.

Obviously you can make smaller quantities but it will keep a couple of days in the fridge okay.

First Feesias of spring

This post is about spring ...but just loved this picture of Apples  which of course has a ring of Autumn about it ...never mind I just likes it.

Spring is almost here so time for a change of template .... I am not sure 100% about the green  but will leave for a few days to see how I feel about it.


Today the sun is shining and I took a walk around the estate i.e. my garden
and there tucked behind a lavender bush were these Freesias ...as they could not be seen where they were I decided to take them inside where I can see and smell their heady sent...  Could not decide which picture of the vases to show you so uploaded both.

Welcome to spring New Zealand

Chicken snacks

This has been passed to me and I gave it a try and they were lovely, ideal snack or lunch or even a picnic item.... they have a nice sweet taste. Serve with salad  and a yogurt dip...... yummmmy!!

8 Cooked  chicken  breast strips  ( these can be fried or oven cooked or poached )
3 large table spoons  apricot jam

Take plain cooked chicken strips place in shallow frying pan  add the apricot jam and allow to coat by shaking pan while heating .... fry gently until chicken becomes sticky and brown.  They will crisp up as they cool.

Hamilton Quilt and craft show

A car load of  us girls went across ....  we had a great day .... BUT there was not one stall doing embroidery fabric etc.  Helen Dafter was there from Australia but she only really had patterns and kits.  So was a bit of a disappointment in a way to us embroiderers....
There was definitely more stalls this year and many of them were from NZ which was lovely to see, lots of new ideas and stuff and gadgets, amazing fabric and I did not even buy a fat quarter ...I am so proud of me.

So here is a  small show of the quilts... I am sorry for anyone who went to Melbourne Show for these were all there.

Best of Show

 



An amazing variation on a Log Cabin Block .... was beautiful  my favourite

 



Monday Finish ..... still going !!

My finishing is still on track ... have just pulled out another for today  ... but this one depends on a friend bringing the pattern for the construction later this afternoon...

Drum roll    da da da da!!!

Mondays finish ..

This one has been finished on the stitching  side for a little while just needed to get around to framing it ..  this frame in distressed wood which suits it perfectly.... Thanks to a friend who has also done this piece she found the frame in Briscoes ....

The winter has been a little chilly here but the cat found no problem at curling up somewhere warm ... I am sure he thinks he is human some of the time.... he sure likes his creature comforts.

Sunday finish ...... Hussif

Sunday I spent most of the time doing some finishing..... as promised here is number one.

This Hussif is a variation of Sue Thomson's Cornpad work.  The only thing I wish was I had made it bigger, this is not going to hold much... as it is approx A5 size when closed.