Parcels in the Post

Yummy I got a present today. A while ago I won a prize for naming a calf 'Greycie' on Highway Cottage blog and I chose NZ fat quarters. here they are.. Tui's and my favourite design that I used in George's quilt for the sashings. I don't have much left so it's really great to have more of it. They go really well together. I can use them next year to make pressie's for my sister to take overseas again.

Off to Steph's tonight.. it's Wednesday and we sew but I'm not sure if I should be. My shoulders and neck are so sore today. Work is the pits. I wish I wasn't on the computer all day... even though I take breaks there's no end to it.

Two more sleeps and I'm off to Palmy... home.... friends... fun... can't wait!

The Little Things in Life

What a FABULOUS weekend it's been here weatherwise. Wow, I've got washing dry, I've had windows open , the sun has been shining for most of the last three days. It's been a holiday today in New Zealand and I'm sad it's over!!! We've had so much rain and cold weather, the sun always makes me feel happy and motivated.

Today I had my neighbours over for a cup of coffee and 3 hours later they went home!

We talked and talked. It was really neat to get to know them better. they want me to stay here forever!! Middle aged, single and quiet has to be better than flatmates, booze and parties huh!

We watched two tui's in the camelia tree just outside the lounge window. They come every day but usually late morning, or in the afternoon. I think they are getting the nectar out of the flowers so I will miss them when they stop coming. Their colours are so beautiful. Often they will sit on a branch and look at the window. I have tried to take a photo but they are too fast.

The roses in my front garden are in bud, and my rose "In loving memory" is growing well. There are no buds yet but fingers crossed. Mum was given this rose when my Dad died but the rose sulked for weeks and I thought it was going to die too. But I bought it with me and it's survived.

I've made progress on my scrappy quilt. I could have got carried away on it tonight. I had laid out the last 15 blocks... all ready to chain piece, had them all stacked ready to go and I knocked them off the desk. (something tells me I didn't need to do any more sewing tonight... everything in moderation.

Here they are all sorted out again!

I've worked out the pattern for my bag... just have to wait for more hands now (my friends' hands in fabric that is). I will make some 'little' bear paw blocks tomorrow to go around the top of the bag. Bear Paw is the clubs logo block. And the words Hand of Friendship are also on logo. It's a challenge.. to make a bag with their logo on front!! It's the little label in the front of the photo.

Four more sleeps and I'm off to Palmy to see my friend Carol and then to watch my daughters play. Nette, Mum and I will go out for dinner first and then to the show. I was in my daughter's first two plays she directed about . Steel Magnolias - made famous by Dolly Parton, and Social Climbers, a Roger Hall play. I loved the experience. It gave me a lot of self esteem, pride and strength. In fact I'm really happy acting - it's easy compared to being myself in front of others!. I know this play is going to be a success .. I think this is No 4 for Nette and I am so proud of her!

"Yes, Mum I am looking after myself!"

Selvege blog had pictures of a label quilt blocks made from old labels out of jackets, shirts etc... so I flicked over to http://empirebom.blogspot.com/ to look at the quilt made by Karen Griska. It really looks wicked. But take a look at all the buttons in the sashings.. eeekkk..

I'm taking everything a little slowly today. A bit of sewing, a break, then a bit of gardening, been to the library, bit more sewing, outside in the sun, watched DVD, bit more cutting and sewing and now checking blogs.. I'm watchingt FINDING NEMO???? (I love children's movies) and soon I'm going to work out how many more squares I need for my batik beauty. My wrists, elbows and shoulders have been very sore the last 3 days and I've been getting pins and needles in my hand .. been here done this before so have to behave. Work is so busy but I am not going to let it ruin my hands .. I NEED THEM TO SEW!

More breaks and now I'm going to have another one! Tomorrow I am going to start the bag but I wanted to make progress on the batik before I started another project.

Six more sleeps and I'm off to PN to catch up with friends for the night, and then to see Taking Off.. a Roger Hall play directed by none other than MY DAUGHTER!!! Oh my god, she never stops... I am so proud of her.

Someone's junk is someone else's treasure!

WoW Finally a blue sky in Wellington but on a Work Day!!! Grrrr.. A friend dropped in her mother's sewing 'stuff' yesterday. Boxes of old fabric and bias binding and buttons and zips galore... hmmm what to keep!! She thought it was junk! But there was treasure... look at this Myra ... wooden cotton reels .. they are so cute (Myra collects them but her collection is amazing.. big ones.. small ones... all sorts)!

Remember these.. boxes of cottons. My Mum had heaps too.And there were buttons... a friend was shopping for a button and it reminded me to look through my collection....and add to them of course.

I picked up the pretty amber coloured one (in the middle) from the recycled arts made of London Glass (says so on the back)... isn't it gorgeous.. I will have to make something to show it off.. a bag maybe...

These are mostly buttons I've picked up at op shops and recycle shops. My friend's Mum also had lots of buckles.. she used to be a dressmaker and made wedding dresses and suits.

These are very old.

Leek and Bacon Tart Recipe

My guests loved the meal and they've just left so no sign of food poisoning haha. I get so nervous about entertaining but this recipe is so easy and they loved it.

For Helen here it is.
LEEK AND BACON TART.

Slice 3 medium potatoes into thick slices and boil until cooked but not mushy. Line a 28 cm tin with potatoes.

Brown 250 g bacon until crispy

Add 1 leek sliced and cook until tender

Layer bacon and leek on top of potatoes.

Beat 5 eggs with 1/2 cup cream and 1 tbs Old English Mustard, salt and pepper and pour over top of leeks and bacon.

Grate 1 cup of tasty cheese and layer on top.

Cook at 180 for 30 minutes.

This would feel 5 or 6 people depending on how many men were eating. I added two estra potatoes, a couple slices extra bacon, and an extra egg and I had enough for 3 of us for dinner, and enough for 3 meals in the freezer. Served it with Salad, pumpkin and kumera roasties and asparagus. Had Peach Crumble for dessert which was realy nice too.

One of the girls from work called in today on her way home from her mum's ... she bought all her mum's old treasures as she's no longer able to sew garments ,,, heaps of cotton reels, a lot of wooden ones which I just love..button beautiful old buttons... an assortment of buckles in all shapes and sizes.

I've decided on my entry for the challenge bag to be finished by end November. I'll give you one clue... It's going to be a Hand bag.

Well off to bed. Work tomorrow. Maybe we'll find out more4 about the restructuring tomorrow. Nighty night everyone.

Progress

"Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day"!!

Like NEVER!!

Slippers on again, trip to town cancelled, heater on, Andre Rieu DVD and more sewing.

Visitors tonight for dinner... eek.. but I have found a recipe that is easy and yummy.. Leek and Bacon Tart.. it is so nice... was going to have salad but maybe I'll do some roasties instead since it's cold. Dessert.. maybe a peach crumble.. simple but nice! (Oh that's what I need to go to town for... ) Later.

Here's the progress so far on the batik scrappy. Last night I rang my Uncle and while we're talking I shuffled them around..... sat down... reorganised... excellent ... I'm sure I'll do a bit more before it's finished. It doesn't look quite so bright now!

So back to my sewing room.. Vacumn and cooking this avo.

see you all later!

A lovely surprise

I worked late tonight but while I was there a text arrived from my dear friend Louise from Dannevirke. She wsas in Wellington for the night so I drove into the hotel where they were staying and I had a beautiful dinner with her. /first it was breads with dipping oils and spreads.. a beautiful salmon spread and a beetrood spread.. very pink ,very easy to spread and very moreous. I had lamb bamp with baby leeks, Free too which was wonderful and thank you Louise for thinknig of me. She's going to check in on the blog from time to time now.

But the worst news.. more restructuring. And yes it will affect our departments we've been told. so time will tell.. here we go again....

SUNGLASSES NECESSARY

This is my scrappy batik project (started 2 + years ago) for which I've been cutting up every little scrap of batik I've had left over.. down to 1 1/2 inch squares and 1 inch x 2 1/2 inch strips. The largest are 2 inch x 9 1/2 inches. It's called Maths Lesson and is in an old Quilters Companion Magazine.


I think I've got enough scraps to finish it now but I won't make it as big as a single bed... (I think someone could go blind) They're just laid out whereever at the moment as I've several more big ones to do.. might put in a few quieter colours ..to tone it down a bit... Off to the Post Office today if it stops raining at lunchtime to post some parcels.


Warning.. it's very bright....

Jandals

I've been making jandals from corrugated card.

My sister is decorating for her niece's 21st and after seeing some in a shop, I thought I could make them as decorations on the photo boards.

Just need a crystal stick on in the middle of the flower and the ends of the thong and all finished. Easy...

I was going to have an early night tonight... hmmm ...10pm??? great intentions haha...

I've been so tired at work today...

Drum Roll Please

Well, I took all the names to work and work has been so busy today I bought them all home again..... so I've just been over to my neighbours and he drew out the winning entry....

And the winner of my 100th post give away for a
bundle of fabrics and embellishments
is
HIGHWAY COTTAGE

Congratulations. You'll get a bundle of fabric and embellishments that I hope you'll enjoy.

I thought it was quite exciting so I got Kevin to pull out three more names and I'll be sending a fat 1/4 to

PATTI NUBS

LESTHOOK

DIET COKE ROCKS

So please email me your addresses so I can put these in the post by the end of the week. My email address is in my profile.

Last chance tonight

I have 9 names in the bag for tomorrow mornings draw for my prize giveaway to celebrate my 100th blog!! So still a few hours to put a comment on my blog about what crafts you like (if I don't know already haha) and you could be a winner. I'll name the winner on my blog tomorrow night.

Have had a fantastic awesome day. It's the first day I haven't felt 'homesick'. The people were very friendly and I had heaps of fun. I wish they had these sew in's more often but this was a one off. HOwever this is just the start and I know I'll make friends here in the Hutt.

I got a lot done on my batik scrappy one - will put a photo or two up later. didn't start the quilting on my floral thing as there were some 'expert' quilters so I was a little shy!!! I'll have a go at home.

We had a show and tell for the retirement village people this afternoon and they were very interested. It was only a 10 minute drive on the motorway.. much easier driving than around the city haha.

Well, off to heat up left overs of last nights roast and make some card jandals for someone's 21st. Hope you've had a great day too.

PS THE SUN'S BEEN OUT ALL DAY...

THE WASHING IS DRY AT LAST...

I HAVE BARE FEET

AND NO CHILLBLAINS!!!

YAY!!

Why Moan

Yeap, it's still crap weather in the Hutt. Absolutely teaming down and icy cold today. I've been in to see my sister in Welly and it was warmer in there! But now I'm back home and I'm in heaven.. doing what??


I have the gorgeous Josh Groban playing on my dvd player, loud too but he is just an incredible singer and an amazing musician. I adore his talent and his music.. and he is GORGEOUS!! I've got a little weeny roast pork in the oven and I've moved my cutting table out into the lounge by the heater, my fluffy boot slippers on and I'm in heaven... so who cares about the rain!!!

This is my on and on project called Maths Lesson that I'm working on. It's using up the tiniest scraps (smallest 1 1/2 inch squares) of my batiks.. can't bear to waste them.. So last night and today it's a mindless job that I can cut up more scraps.. Tomorrow I'm going to a sew-in at the local guild and I plan to start quilting my flowery UFO.. and I'll take these to sew together when I'm tired of quilting.

We just had an earthquake 6.05pm .. a real doozy. Earthquakes are awful.. you sit and wait for the next one.... I was in Dannevirke in the Mothers Day earthquake.. that was frightening enough.

PS No more earthquakes. It was only 4.8 but centred close to Wellington.
And I've won a prize. I entered a name the calf competition at Highway Cottage blog >>>>over there and I won. I named her Greycie, because she's a Murray Grey, so will turn grey as she gets older and she's from Greytown area. And my childhood neighbour was Gracie, her birthday was the same day as mine and Gracie and Greycie are both lovely. I think calves are gorgeous anyway.

This is Wicked, I got to choose a prize from quilts, chocolates, wool and NZ fabrics... that was hard.. chocolates oh yummmy but I've chosen NZ fabrics so I can replenish my stash before my sister goes back to Israel next year. I will be able to make some more souvenirs for her to take and give away. I stumbled across this blog and I am so happy I did. Now I can watch Greycie grow!

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter my prize give away. It closes tomorrow night and will be drawn Monday at work. this was for my 100th blog that crept up on me!!

I'm easily pleased

Guess where I've been at lunchtime today. Yes, I love the library. And the Hutt library is fantastic. They have so many different patchwork and craft magazines and a large variety of books on patchwork etc. There's a gorgeous book of Japanese patterns .. really arty ones similar to what my clever friend at Diet Coke Rocks does. Hmmmmm (Oh and by the way My friend Chris DCR has been blogging for 3 years, not 300 posts.. check out her giveaway... It's fantastic.) And mine too for my 100 post!!

I'm tempted even to start reading again.. used to love the old Catherine Cookson, Maeve Binchy type novels... the old english countryside or autobiographies. Some nights it would be perfect to read a novel when I'm tired after work??? I've found this gorgeous picture in one of the mags.. now to figure out how it was done.

But for tonight, it's Coronation Street, Outrageous Fortune and flick through these mags. And an earlyish night as I've still got a bit of a head cold... comes with the job at the moment!

Oh and the sun is out in Welly but still chilly. So I've done a load of washing to hang up tomorrow. Haha it will no doubt rain again now!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway. See my post on Friday October 2nd. I'll be drawing the name out on Monday at work. So just leave a comment on here and every comment since Monday will go in the drawer.

Freezing in October???

Yes, it is FEERRRRRRREEEZING here today. Even at work I have been frozen today. My feet are numb. I ventured outside at lunchtime to return my library books and quickly went back in again. There's no snow in Wellington but I can feel it in the air. Must be up on the Rumataka's today. The only things for me tonight are my big woolly slippers and the heater.. on two bars.. how extravagent!!

I think it is everywhere so where ever you are stay warm.

No time to ponder tonight. It is so close to Christmas and I have to work out my budget.. gross what a word but life down here in the big smoke is so expensive.. at least $140 extra a fortnight just on rent. I'm too scrooge to buy a lotto ticket so it's just hard work and going without to make ends meet and keep some in the bank.



Back to it. Times like this I really hate being single and I miss life in Palmy, my friends, familiar places... but not work... no definitely not the workplace! The environment down here is much nicer. Oh well, that's the price one pays. Now do I have a garage sale or get a second job... hmmmmm

I am so lucky I' had a mammogram

Today I have been standing in freezing cold rain, slipping in deep mud, sitting outside under a tarp (oh and I have to mention porta loos gross) but with a huge smile on my face and oh boy, it's so great to be alive. this was the mud in his first race.

To see my clever grandson Cam 9, racing around a mud track on a 65cc motorx bike (and doing his very best to stay on the bike I might add) has been awesome. The concentration on his face as he passed the kids in front, unable to see much because of the mud on his goggles....

this was his second race.

He did really really well, and came 1st in the support race. He is in the 9 -11 year olds and there were too many kids in his grade today. He didn't qualify for the main race (sigh of relief* 30 kids on the track at the same time in 6" mud did not look safe to me). Cam only had 10 in his race but he was so fast! Wow!
I have just watched a video I made of his third race on my camera and oh dear.. a proud Nannie is a noisy one haha. I get so excited. I am just a big kid. And I do sound like my mother... whoops..

the mud in his fourth race (please note Cam's bike is washed down after every race!!

Just another reason why a mammogram is worth it huh!

October is Pink

It is October again and this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in New Zealand. My friend at Little Bear Studio http://draffinbears.blogspot.com/ has a gorgeous pink blog today so I've decided to 'copycat'...these are a few of my favourite pink things... it is my favourite colour and I get lots of compliments when I wear it. Pink Roses from my dear old Dad's garden which he cared for every day. The garden was his favourite place when he was well. He had 199 roses at one time and this was one of the photos I framed for his birthday once. I love roses too, in fact he took 35 of mine when I moved to Brisbane. Everytime I see a rose I think of Dad. I miss him so much.My grandson's new shoes... hmmm well.. they are PINK! Makes me very humble as I used to give my old boss Stew heaps about his 'favourite' shoes which were red, white and blue shoes .. I told him they looked like union jacks.. (hanging my head now). I showed George a photo of them. He loves Stew's shoes... so good on them for having the confidence to wear what they like no matter what!! But they are PINK?
Of course my little Princess... my gorgeous granddaughter looks wonderful in pink. She was only a couple of days old in this photo And she still loved pink at 2 1/2 years

And here she is 6 months ago on her 5th birthday, her favourite colours are pink AND purple now. Olivia is 5 1/2 now going on 15! I thought I'd given her plenty to keep her amused last weekend but she'd do that and ask for "another job please Nannie".

This gorgeous shrub is so amazing and beautiful. This is all one branch.. so many colours and shades. It was growing over a fence when I lived in Brisbane 6 years ago. I never found out the name of it but I wish I'd asked now.
Of course, my favourite quilt is the one my friends made when I had surgery. I had to say what was my favourite colour.. and so it is pink... I treasure it .. whenever I'm homesick for my friends I have my quilt. Finally this is a necklace my sister bought back from USA in 2007. They go to Israel every year in September and that year I was recovering from my surgery so she bought it for me. And yes, right now they are back in Israel at the Festival of Lights organising the ushers at all the meetings. Hard work but they are very committed christians and have met many wonderful friends from all over the world. I think this is their 10th year of working at the festival.

To all the wonderful courageous ladies who have suffered and survived this incideous disease CELEBRATE.. WE ARE SURVIVORS and each new day is precious. To all those who have lost a loved one because of breast cancer, my heart goes out to you but their loss should be an inspiration to you to take care of yourself and live each day for them as well.

Don't forget my giveaway for my 100th post and check out Diet Coke Rocks giveaway.. which includes a gorgeous quilt and fabric so far... It's her 300th blog!!!http://dietcokerocks.blogspot.com

Two chances to win

Wow I've made 100 posts.

But first here's a photo of the finished quilt and my grandson George who really loved it.

And this is what I did at Sunday's class "Tumbling Blocks" organised by Capital Quilters.

Others used just 3 fabrics .. a light, a medium and a dark... but I was trying to use my stash so mine is a bit different. I think you can still see the 3 D effect on some of them but it was fun trying it out anyway. It'll make a small knee rug or something.

I didn't realise it till today that I'd reached 100!!! .. I'm such a techno phobic person I didn't even know where to look. Have just figured out what 'follower' means haha. So I guess I'd better have a lucky draw!! I don't get a lot of viewers so believe me you've all in with a chance.

Sooooo ..between now and next Sunday 11 October you can go in the draw to win a surprise package of craft items ie. fabric, buttons, ribbons etc etc.

All you need to do is leave a comment saying what craft you enjoy the most and I'll put your name in the draw. I will get someone at work to draw out 2 winners on Monday 12 October. Remember if you don't have a blog you will need to send me your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

My friend over at http://diet-coke-rocks.blogspot.com is also having a lucky draw for her 300th post. She's adding something to the prize every day until the 10th of October. Today it's a gorgeous quilt she made .. be lovely hanging on the wall in my room. Have a look through Chris's blog at all the neat quilts she's made in the last few months. She has great colour confidence.... So be in with a chance to score a beautiful package from Chris. I think her instructions were in the blog about Wednesday this week? I've already won a prize on this blog and it was absolutely amazing. (Which reminds me I still have Quilt Diva to finish.)

Hopefully I will get onto sewing this weekend but Sunday may be watching my grandson Cam at motorx which is going to be held in Wellington.