Long time between posts

It's been quite a few weeks since my last post and the weeks are rolling by so quickly, can't get my head around the fact that it is December this Sunday, the first official day of summer here, and now only three weeks until my summer holidays start.  As of this evening, after prizegiving, Hannah will be finished high school for the year. She recently sat her Level 1 exams, and this coming Saturday morning has her annual end of the year dance show, which I always love going to. 

The last few weeks have been filled with a few trips away, celebrations and as always, lots of stitching.

I'm looking forward the 2024 Jingle Ball getting underway from the 7th December and this year I purchased three of the classes, yay, PDF charts, as kits are not available to overseas stitchers. I don't think I'll have the stitched pieces ready for the finishing classes over the weekend but each class does come with instructions, which I'll use when I'm ready to finish the stitching.

One of the classes is Hashtag Joy by Cathy from Hands on Designs, which I got underway recently.

One of my friends made me a new project bag recently from this cute fabric I'd bought from my local sewing shop.

Another friend had made these lovely strawberry fobs so I was able to get one for my little scissors.

My sewing machine has been getting bit of work out lately as I'm getting all my gift stitching made up. Primrose Cottage Stitches featured a tutorial for these easy thread catchers a few months ago so I decided to make up a few to add to friends pressies. You can find the video here.

In other stitching news, I had a small parcel arrive with two of the new Brenda Gervais charts, these will be my December projects, and a fat quarter of Picture this Plus Legacy Linen. I'm excited too because a recent order from 123 Stitch should be delivered any day with some fabrics, accessories and a chart I've been wishing for ages, I'll share this next time.

Glenn and I had another trip to Auckland recently, this time for the Pearl Jam concert, which was awesome!

The start of Christmas shopping

We took the ferry across Auckland Harbour one morning and had a stroll around Devonport, before enjoying coffee and cake at one of the cafes there.

Unexpectedly, due a cancelled flight, we had an additional night in Auckland, so we were able to catch up with some friends for dinner, one of whom we hadn't seen in few years.

Going back to where I left off in my last post, we were heading out to the beach for the first trip of the season in our campervan. We had to change locations due to the many other campervans all ready parked up but found a great spot at another of our local beaches, Porangahau.  

We had a wonderful few days, the weather was hot and sunny, and really enjoyed the break. Fishing, lots of beach walks, good food and company with our friends. 

I had to share this photo of myself and a dear family friend, Alison. Many years ago, when I was in my last year of university, I boarded with Alison, her husband Cliff and their two young children.  

I love my time staying with them, no stress, just a warm home, family meals and always, a ride to an from uni when I needed one, or missed the bus! Alison's Mum is a good friend of my Mum's so a short time ago, we met for lunch with some other friends. It was a wonderful catch up as it had been several years since we'd last seen each other. 

Each year I like to see which of our roses flowers first, and for the third year in a row, it was the divine smelling Friesia rose. 

This is Courage, gifted to us by friends when Glenn's Mum passed away. 

My number one favourite, Blackberry Nip.

Earlier this week, I headed along to see Wicked at our local movie theatre, and absolutely loved it. I think I'll go again during the holidays!

Finally for today, a very special occasion at my work a few weeks back, we celebrated our 30th anniversary of our disability service. It was a lovely afternoon attended by our mayor, deputy mayor and other invited guests.  This beautiful cake tasted delicious and was enjoyed by everyone.

See you soon xx

Several finishes, catching up and twenty years of blogging!

Hi friends, lots of stitching happening here lately and I'm so pleased to have finished two samplers during Sampler September.

First up, is the Light of Winter by Brenda Gervais, I started this in late November 2023, using Fox & Rabbit's Ballet Slippers 36 count linen, and all the recommended threads. 

                                       

Next up is Winter Rose Manor by Brenda Gervais, stitched on 36 count Wren by Picture this Plus, using the recommended colours. This was started way back in January 2021.

                                         

A couple more ornaments finished for this year - both designs are by Stitching with the Housewives.

We've been out in the evenings walking Diesel along the lime stone tracks we have beside the river. Diesel just loves getting out, especially when he can have a dip in the cold river!

Hannah and I went along to a local production recently, When you wish upon a star.  Several of the younger girls from Hannah's dance school were in the cast so it was wonderful to see them perform. The show had lots of great songs, we really enjoyed it.

So proud of Miss H, she recently received her results from her dancing exams, Distinction Stars all round again, well done to Hannah!

We also had a trip over to Palmerston North last weekend to watch one of Hannah's friends in a nation wide dance competition. It was held at the Regent on Broadway, a beautiful old theatre, which I hadn't been to in many years.

The girls also had some time for shopping at the mall and a late lunch of sushi before the drive back to CHB. 

This coming weekend we get a four day break thanks to two public holidays, Hawkes Bay anniversary on Friday, and then Labour Day on Monday. The weather is looking pretty good so we've decided to head out in the campervan for our first trip of the season to Pourere Beach.  Friends will also be there with their campervans and caravans so it should be a fun weekend catching up with everyone, fishing and lots of walks along the beach with Diesel. 

Can it really be twenty years ago that I started this blog? I don't believe it!  Just seems like yesterday.

You can read my first introduction post here. 

See you soon xx

Lots of stitching and other news

Hello friends, how quickly the days seem to be going right now. It's been quite hectic at my work and I've also been helping one of my aunts that recently moved, with packing up and then unpacking at her new house. 

Hannah has a couple of days left of the school term, then two weeks holiday break, and once she goes back for the last term of the year, she'll only be at school for a few weeks before study leave starts for end of the year exams. She's recently had her annual dancing exams, and has also had a visit to our local polytechnic, where she is going to be studying one day a week from early next year. Exciting times ahead for our girl.

Lots of stitching happening here right now too. I've been really enjoying stitching on some of my sampler projects including Oh Joyous Day by Blackbird Designs. I love the colours in this design.

More finishing is happening when I have a bit of time to get my sewing machine out. These two adorable bunny designs are from Lila Studio's Spring Parade 1 & 2 booklets, stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen.

Strawberry car 

Carrot Car

Winter Rose Manor, which I started way back in January 2021, is nearly done. I don't know why I left the house stitching until last though!

Stitched on 36 count Wren by Picture This Plus linen with the recommended threads, WDW Conch for the house.

Part 1 of the 2024 Christmas Cuckoo Clock mystery stitch along by Tiny Modernist is finished and I'm looking forward to seeing what Part 2 will be on the 1st October.

One of my work friends recently made this pretty set of stitching accessories for me - needlebook, pumpkin pin cushion and thread catcher. I love the pink fabric.

A new start recently - I waited patiently for this chart to be released as a PDF, Beautiful Things by Primrose Cottage Stitches.  I think this design will look awesome on the front of a project bag.

I hadn't done any lunch box baking in ages so on the weekend I made a walnut, apple and carrot loaf, yum, 

Chocolate chip and banana slice, this was so tasty. 

                                                      

                  

I always love to try Whittaker's new releases and picked up these two from the supermarket recently - being a dark chocolate fan, the raspberry and strawberry would be my favourite.

I snapped a pic of these gorgeous irises in my aunty's garden the other day - I really do miss the spring bulbs at my old work place. 

This coming weekend we are catching up with some friends we haven't seen in ages, and our Daylight savings hours start on Sunday. I can't believe that October is nearly here!

See you soon x