I was in the trivial mood today ...

The weather started out really nice today and then it all turned to custard with thunder storms and rain, with the darkest black clouds I think I have ever seen.

I was browsing through my December Homespun when I came across this simple pattern ... so in my mood do something trivial today I decided to have ago .... they really are simple  I was amazed how quickly they went together.

I think they were quite successful ... I have had this fabric for years now ...it is a printed patchwork and I just never had the right thing to use it on ... till now.

I also think the pictures do not do them justice I think I could have taken  better ones,  they are about 8 inches long and you don't see all the pearl beads  ... 

 and the fabric looks better in the flesh so to speak..

I have a few small gifts to do so may be a couple more are in the pipe line.

A Little Gift to myself

I know January is not a time to be buying gifts but this one was for myself.

I treated myself to this book I have seen it a couple of times and thought yes! a book I would love to have ... so while browsing the Book Websites I came across it and thought "Why not".

Anyone into crazy patchwork and stitch embellishment you will love it.

Saturday it arrived and I am so pleased with it ... here is a preview

Quiet Sunday

I woke this morning to soft pitter patter on the windows .... Ah! good don't have to water the garden today was my first thought, but it is still very warm outside .... so all the windows and doors are flung open.
So a quiet Sunday in doors thinks I... Mmm! wrong not so quiet the wind has gotten up and the rain is tipping it down in short sharp bursts ... everything that can move in the garden has moved or rolled around ... I can't have the windows / doors open because the curtains end up horizontal in the room or sucked out of the window and wet..
But over the last few minutes there is a skerrit of blue sky ... yes I can see the sun.

So hope your Sunday afternoon was quieter than mine.

Lets get back to the routine ... and the hydrangea's

Holiday time is lovely ... the build up to Christmas, Christmas it's self ... but once the New Year comes I just want to be back in the normal routine. I find my life works better that way.

So first of all the food has to go back to normal, don't get me wrong I love all this fancy food but a body can only take so much of it ... This weekend I will finish or remove all this kind of food ....  Monday is the start of Back to Routine.

Today is beautiful and so I walked around the garden to see how things have fared over the holidays as there has been a modicum of neglect for 2 weeks  +.

There is a small area where I park the campervan  and the garden shed is situated ... not an area I frequent very often ... low and behold the hydrangea ( which is just one plant by the way)  is almost 8ft tall  as tall as the shed and bears a head on every stem.
Here are just a few of the others that are scattered around ....

 

This one was just a cutting last season .... it is a beautiful colour and I was so pleased it kept it ...for sometimes they do change when you grow from cuttings

Another cutting just pushed into the soil.... also on it's 2nd season .... and I have a feeling it is going to get to large for this position

So back to the routine a simple meal tonight  as there are plenty of eggs may be a Spanish frittata ...  I am sure there is plenty of left overs to add to it in the refrigerator ...
Now that decision has been made I am going to do some stitching for the rest of the day.

My wish for you in 2014

"I Wish You Enough!®"

 By   Bob Perks



I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Two posts in two days ...Wow!! Forgot to mention.....

 

 

I did mention in a previous post that I had been put forward to join the

National Governing  Body  of Arthritis NZ

 

To my surprise I have been elected and join the Board in February 2014

This will mean trips to Wellington for a couple of days about 6 times a year.

 

If one is allowed to be excited  ... I am excited and looking forward to the challenge.

 

 

I am still here ...

So Christmas is just about over and the New Year is almost upon us.

 

I hope you all had a  peaceful and blessed Christmas.

 

It has been awhile again since I blogged ...  lots of water has gone under the bridge  over the last couple of months ... a few hospital visits nothing to serious and all on the mend.

Been busy sewing and not a lot of quilting but did make a few items for swaps that I joined.

 

Unfortunately I lost a couple of friends over the last couple of months ... I guess it is that time of life when one should expect this but it is always very hard when it happens especially

when it is sudden and unexpected.

 

I have also been busy getting things done maintenance wise on the house, the drive and cobbled yard have both been relayed not by me of course  ... some trees removed from the garden and all the rest have had a good hair cut again  by Bruce the lovely garden maintenance man.

 

I have spent some time sitting in the garden stitching since the break up  of all my activities for the summer period this is where I was sitting ... unfortunately I had removed the table when I remembered to take the picture.

 

 

Pictures of what I have been doing in the next post ...  promise  

 

So every one take care have a lovely Summer if you live in the South of the world

and

 a cozy winter for all you who live in the  North

Made from a swap stitchery and fabric

I have been busy this week with all sorts of things other than stitching .....  but what I did manage to do was use the "Stitchery and fabric " sent to me from Peg in the Once a Season Swap.

I have a work pouch sent to me from USA in a Xmas Swap  a while back ....  and always thought I would make one ... but no pattern!!  So it got put off which is so easy to do ....

When the lovely Fabric+ Stitchery arrived from  Peg I knew directly what I would do with it ... so out with the tape measure and extra fabric and low and behold  here is what I have ... I am so pleased with it ... I even put in a see through pocket so you can look for threads with out pulling them all out. I may even make more for pressies.. . But I should  have pressed it before I took the pictures.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Peg once again. xx