Queen of the Needle

Queen of the Needle by With Thy Needle and Thread was one of my summer holiday projects.

I stitched this design on 40 count Creme Brule fabric by R & R Reproductions and I used most of the recommended threads. I changed the blue of the lady's dress for a darker blue skein of Weeks Dye Works thread.

I spent a couple of happy hours at my sewing machine over the weekend and came up with a small bag for my stitching hoops and other accessories.

The fabrics I used are some of my very favourite Moda fabrics, I don't have much left now in these particular fabrics.

See you soon xx

Another Week & Prairie Schooler Santa Finish

Hello friends, I hope you are coping well with lock down, self isolation, quarantine or if you are still going to work as an essential worker, my heartfelt thanks to you for everything you are doing.

Another Monday has rolled around and our days seem to be blurring into one another. I've been working from home Monday to Friday for several hours, mostly my usual admin work and also, lots of time on the phone/text to my lovely coworkers, the people we support in the community and other work colleagues.  Staying connected, making sure everyone is ok and offering kind words, or help when needed.

I've had time to get a few jobs ticked off my list, starting with the kitchen, cupboards emptied, wiped out, sorted and tidied. The oven and microwave have also been cleaned. Only the pantry to go in the kitchen now.  I've also cleaned all the house and garage windows inside and out. Confession time, for many years now we've have a chap come in and clean them for us three times a year and he was due in last week, so I decided to get them done myself. Another tick on my list.

Outside jobs done have included potting up some vege seeds and also, winter vege seedlings planted into the garden. The ironing is up to date, and the house has never been cleaner, lol.  I'll share some pics in another post of what hubby has been up to, he's never idle that's for sure. Hannah has been having her dancing classes via Zoom, which she's really enjoying. The weather has been pretty good too, allowing lots of outside time in the fresh air, walks, etc.

Now for some photos:

I'm back tracking now until early March when I spent a fun afternoon with my stitching buddies. For a laugh, we got out all the project bags we had with us for show and tell - what an awesome collection.

I absolutely can't wait until we can meet up again in person and share in some stitching, yummy snacks and lots of laughs with another xx

I'll finish this post with another Prairie Schooler Santa finish, 1993.

Stitched with all the recommended colours on 32 count vintage mocha belfast.

Take care, stay safe and thank you for visiting,  until next time,

See you soon xx

Patchwork Sheep

I had a few stitching finishes during March and this is the first one, Patchwork Sheep by Heart in Hand.

This was a stitch along with Kath and Clare and I started this during our summer holiday break at the beach.

I stitched this on my favourite vintage mocha belfast linen, using all the recommended threads.  No plans yet as to how I'll finish it so I'll pop it away for now.

See you soon xx

Week 1 At Home

Strange days huh my friends?  I've been wanting to write a post here for well over a week but have either had no time or no words but this morning I'll do a little update what's been happening in our world during the Covid -19 Pandemic.

Over a week ago now, Hannah's school shut, Glenn closed up his joinery work shop and the community service I work for also closed for at least four weeks. From the 25th March, at 11.59pm, the whole of New Zealand moved into a Level 4 Lock down and we were advised to stay in our "bubble" at home. 

Now over a week later we are doing fine, filling our days with various things - some hours of working from home for me, jobs inside and out for Glenn and Hannah is keeping busy with lots of different activities. It's been quite the adjustment of having us at home, all the time.  We're just taking one day at a time.

I'm very grateful that even though we can't spend time with them at the moment, my parents live just across the road and we can wave out, chat on the phone. Same with our neighbours. Glenn's parents don't live close by but Glenn can drop off to their door any essentials they need.  We are also able to be outside and enjoy some fresh air - in our garden, sit on the deck, or go for a walk in our neighbourhood, following the social distancing guidance from the government.

Of course, there's been lots of cooked meals, baking, stitching, reading and Netflix too. I've started a new crochet blanket, which is going to be for a cousin's new baby due in mid July. 

With the uncertainty of what was going to happen, my stitching mindset hadn't really been there lately, but this week I've been able to get back into a routine - you know, Santa Sunday, Merry Monday, some Easter Stitching and also stitching on some works in progress including my stitchalong with Kath and Clare, Needle Nick by Lizzie Kate.

I've had one new chart arrive, Little House Needleworks' Kringles, just waiting on the fabric, which could arrive who knows when. With my birthday coming up soon in early April, it was going to be my Easter weekend start. But I've certainly got a lot of other projects I could chose to stitch instead.

So I'm going to try and post back here more regularly, with my stitching updates or other news.

In the meantime, take care, be safe, be kind and many happy stitches to you xx

Needle Nick Stitchalong & some Cooking

Some more stitch along fun with Kath & Clare, we are going to be stitching Lizzie Kate's Needle Nick and Flossie Claus this year.  I've only just started Needle Nick as I was waiting on some 28 count fabric to come in the post.  

On a recent trip to Hastings, I picked up a few things from Kmart including a $29.00 pie maker - I've been wanting one of these for ages!  I've been trying out a few recipes, there's even a face book group you can join to find new recipes, and this was an easy lunch one day last weekend.  Mini egg, ham, onion and mushroom quiches.  They make a great lunch box addition as they keep well in the fridge for a couple of days.

I haven't done a lot of baking recently but now the weather has cooled I'm back into making a few lunch box treats on the weekend.  One of my favourite NZ food bloggers to follow is Vanya, from VJ Cooks.  Vanya shares lots of her recipes via instagram or on her website and they are pretty delicious.

Chocolate Banana Cake, recipe here:

Lemon Weetbix Slice, recipe here:

There are also lots of easy meals, desserts and other great recipes on her site. 

See you soon xx

Tea Kettle Pinkeep

My dear friend Clare recently celebrated her birthday so when I came across this chart I knew it would be perfect - it's the Tea Kettle Pinkeep by Pineberry Lane.  

I purchase all my Pineberry Lane charts as e-patterns directly from Pineberry Lane - instant gratification!

Stitched on 30 count parchment linen using Red Pear thread by Weeks Dye Works, I trimmed the pin keep with some Lady Dot Creations chenille trim, vintage colour way & backed it with some lovely red fabric.

I also attached one of the little charms my friend Kath gave me for Christmas.

See you soon xx

February Round Up -Stitching, Books, TV and More

How did it get to be March so quickly - January and February certainly whizzed on by and now this week there's definitely a touch of autumn in the air. We're still having hot days, it was 30 +c here on Tuesday and then yesterday, along with some much needed rain, the temperature dropped to well under 20 c.  Last night it was the coolest night overnight we've had in months, making it so much easier to get a good night's sleep. I do love this time of the year.

I've been getting much more stitching done in the evenings compared to earlier in the year. As always, lots of projects on the go, and also, 2020's Christmas ornament stitching is well underway. Last week I pulled out my Merrily Merrily sampler and I wonder why I haven't stitched more on this beautiful design? I'm using the recommended threads and fabric.

Some new stitching stash arrived from 123 Stitch yesterday and as well as a bundle of charts I bought back in January with some Christmas money, I have so many lovely designs to stitch this year.  Of course, there will be lots of new charts coming out shortly once the Nashville Needlework market is over. I have already spotted several Brenda Gervais and the Scarlett House charts for my list and I can't wait to see what Blackbird Designs might be releasing.

Last weekend good friends of ours got married and although I can't share any photos of the bride and groom, here's a few pics from the day.

The wedding was held at a little country church and then followed by a sit down reception meal:

Such a lovely occasion for our friends, and it was wonderful to share in their special day.

Books:

Did you read anything interesting last month? I managed to read four different books:

If you follow me on instagram, you would have seen my reviews of these books and I also share my reviews on Goodreads as well.

Watching:

So, so many good series on Netflix, Neon and also our TVNZ On Demand.

A few I've enjoyed so far this year include: the Crown, the Witcher, the Stranger, Deep Water, Bancroft, World on Fire, the latest series of Vera, and my fav heroes from way back - Arrow, the Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and the new Batwoman series.

There's a brand new Outlander Series 5 started and another fav, the Walking Dead is back on - I can only watch this during daylight hours, lol.

Glenn and I have also been sucked in to the latest Married at First Sight Australia, oh the drama!

It's hard to keep up some weeks!


Thanks for stopping by - see you soon xx

Chicken Joy

Another left over from last year in my unfinished ornaments project bag was this little cutie pie chart, Chicken Joy, a free chart that Priscilla and Chelsea generously had available on Priscilla's blog last year.  You can find it here:

I stitched this on 32 count belfast linen using most of the recommended threads and I finished this on Sunday - this year I'm still carrying on with my #santasundayxs stitching, a hashtag you can follow along with on Instagram. 

I'm finding stitching on the black linen so much easier since I picked up a cheap pair of +3.00 hobby glasses, which I'll only used for dark or high count fabrics. I do have a set of magnifiers that I can clip onto my prescription glasses but it's taken me awhile to get used to these. 

See you soon x

Easter Stitching

I've had this little chart for awhile now so I found the threads and some fabric to get it underway. I've got a couple of other Easter charts that I'd like to stitch this year so will work on them over the next few weeks.

Last night after work I started a major sort out and reorganisation in my craft office - I've been wanting to make a start in there for ages. I'm planning to look through every single item and then buy some new storage boxes for threads, etc. Unwanted items will be passed onto my stitching friends or the local op shop. This might take me awhile though, especially in the heat we've been having lately :)

See you soon xx

Current Projects

Last week I stitched ALOT - trying to make up for not getting much done during the summer heat of the previous few weeks. I pulled out one of the projects I haven't stitched for ages, Hear the Crickets Sing, part of Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers Series, For the Birds.

I'm using the recommended threads and fabric, the colours are some of my favourite to use.

I also stitched a little bit on my stitch along project with Kath and Clare, Patchwork sheep.

There's going to be a lot of white stitching in the two sheep!

See you soon x