All Sorts

Hello friends, 

another week nearly over, and it seems the days are just zipping on by lately.  We've been enjoying some really nice weather  - I love the weather at this time of the year, cooler mornings and evenings but gorgeous sunny days, hopefully it stays this way for a bit longer into autumn. It's also crazy to think that Easter is just around the corner now. This year we are heading away over the Easter break for a big family catch up with Glenn's Dad's side of the family up north.  We've hired a house for a couple of days with Paul, Jude and the girls, and then will have a night at Taupo on our way home, which we are also looking forward to, as we haven't been there for several years.  

It's been a busy few weeks around here, lots going on and lots of happy events to attend.  Good friends of ours got married several weeks ago, one of my uncles turned 80 years old, and then last weekend, we went to the wedding of one of our school friends, which was an amazing weekend, so wonderful catching up with all our good friends.  Hannah's school year is well underway, and she has had lots on too, this year she was chosen as a House Leader, so there's been extra activities she's been involved with. 

This year I've joined Cathy from Hands on Designs' Patreon ornament club and have the first two month's designs now stitched.  

I'm using 32 count natural linen and the recommended DMCs.

My current lunch break project is some sock knitting, these socks have been on the go for ages, and I did have to reverse quite a few rows as I'd made a major muck up in the heel part. 

New Mill Hill Santa in progress, because apparently I’m addicted to stitching them!

I recently renewed my lapsed subscription to the Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine, and I’m so glad I did — this sweet Crocette a Gogo design immediately caught my eye and I started it straight away!

During 2026, I'd decided to create my own fabric of the month club, where I purchase a fat quarter of linen each month, whatever colour or count, and February and March choice's recently arrived from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi.  February's choice was 36 count Dust Bunny by Fox and Rabbit, which I'm intending to use for this newly purchased Stacy Nash design.

March's choice was 40 count Saltbush by Fox and Rabbit, and as it couldn't travel alone, ha ha, I added this cute Primrose Cottage design to my order.

I haven’t ordered from 123 Stitch in ages, so I’ve got some fun new stash coming — a mix of Nashville releases, wish‑list charts, plus some threads and fabric from a NZ stitching store.  Photos to come!

This week at work we’ve been treated to some beautiful dahlias from one of my staff member’s gardens. They’re brightened the place up so much, absolutely lovely.

See you soon xx

Primrose Cottage Stitches Finishes, and Walks

Hi Friends, 

Two recent finishes to share this morning. Nativity Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches was a fun stitch, lots of stitching in this little design and I had quite a bit of reverse stitching to do one day as my placement of the Noel word was completely out, ha ha.

Stitched on 32 count lambswool linen using DMC threads, I used some Lady Dot Creates ric rac for the trim of the pillow. 

I had been thinking for awhile that I needed to put a fob on this little pair of red scissors, before they fell down the side of the couch!  This cute Valentine's Day chart was a perfect stitch, finished in a couple of hours. It's charted in Colour and Cotton threads so I picked a selection of Classic Colourworks threads from my stash.  

Stitched on 32 count New Dawn linen by Countrystitch, and the trim was made with DMC 760.

Earlier in the week we enjoyed a morning walk with Diesel, along one of our favourite limestone tracks on the stop banks by our local river, the Tuki Tuki.  

 

Diesel loves to have a splash around in the cold water and a big drink before we head back to the car.  He's then tuckered out for the rest of the day!

See you soon x

A few finishes, beach weekend and more

Hello friends. 

Wow, what a wild few days it’s been. High winds and heavy continuous rain have caused so much damage around New Zealand. Our main street even flooded during one of last week’s downpours, and several shops were hit hard. My workplace didn’t escape it either — one of our rooms is still drying out a week later. Such unpredictable weather for this time of year!

After all that wild weather, it's meant more time for cross stitching. I’ve actually made some good progress on my current projects, and even spent some time at my sewing machine.  

This little cutie, Sweetly Sayn', was included in one of the weekly newsletters from Primrose Cottage Stitches, I used some pretty Tilda fabric for the backing and some Lady Dot Creates chenille for the trim. 

Another fully completed project, Stitching Quaker, also by Primrose Cottage Stitches. This was stitched during 2025, fabric was 32 count ice blue Lugana and I used the recommended DMC threads.

Cathy from Hands on Designs is offering an ornament club through Patreon this year, and I've joined in on the fun.  This month's ornament is called Sweets for Santa and I'm using the recommended fabric, 32 count raw Belfast, and threads. 

Now for a couple of finishes from my holiday stitching.

Candy Cane Santa by Mill Hill - I love stitching these designs and hope to get another on underway soon.

This next design has a lot of stitches!  Deer Santa by Stitching with the Housewives, stitched on 32 count black Lugana fabric and DMCs. Not sure yet how I will finish this design.

We did get away earlier in the month, heading to Porangahau Beach over Waitangi weekend. It was a wonderful few days, sunny and hot, and we really enjoyed the break.  The fishing went well too so we enjoyed fresh fish, and homemade fries for dinner one night.

We had some very special visitors come out to see us one day, my uncle Paul and cousin Chelsea, from Melbourne. They were in NZ for a family reunion and it was awesome to see them, it's been a good few years since our last catch up. 

Even though it was a cold windy day, we went to Hastings and Napier on Sunday to get out for a few hours and stopped by a cafe I haven't been to in a very long time, Westerman's, this one used to be a favourite of Glenn's Mum.  My coffee and brunch, Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, was delicious.

Diesel enjoys the cold weather as he gets to snuggle up and snooze the day away zzzzzzzzzzz

Have a happy week, see you soon x

January stitching - new starts, and new stash

 

Hi friends, isn't this dahlia gorgeous, one of my favourites, cafe au lait.  This is in my aunty's garden, mine doesn't even have buds on it yet :)

During my holidays, I spent some time sorting through my stash, putting away threads and fabrics I'd finished using last year, and then I kitted up several new projects to stitch on.  

First up, a new start on the 1st January, the Midnight Santa stocking by Teresa Kogut, a purchase from the 2025 Jingle Ball.  There is a stitch along running on Facebook and Instagram for this organised by Karen from Fox & Rabbit, and Liz, the Wandering Stitcher.  

I'm using 40 count ancient ruin by Fox & Rabbit and most of the recommended threads. 

Next up, Nativity Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches, I'm using 32 count lambswool linen, and DMCs.

Another Teresa Kogut santa, the Pink Coat Santa. I just loved this design when I first saw it. I'm using a suggested fabric from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi, 36 count Rivergum by Fox & Rabbit.  

Started back in late October 2025, Garden of Quilts by Lori Holt, I've stitched more on this lovely design. I'm using 36 count Rhyolite linen and recommended threads. 

Peace on Earth by Samplers Not Forgotten, the linen looks much darker in this photo.  It's 36 count Cafe au Lait by Fibre on a Whim, Weeks Dye Works threads.

Couldn't resist starting this cutie too - The Postmouse's Christmas Delivery, using recommended threads on 36 count vintage mocha Belfast linen.  Not sure if I'm happy with the mouse colour, my skein of CC Whately Woods is quite yellow and brown variegated compared to the model picture colour.

Primrose Cottage Stitches send a freebie in their newsletter on the first Friday of the month. I thought this was so sweet.  I'm waiting for a skein of the darker pink thread to come before I can finish this. I'm using a light pink Country Stitch linen and recommended threads.

On one of the rainy days during my break, I got out my trusty over locker, which I've had for many years, and went through all my stitching fabric boxes, ironing and then overlocking all the edges on every piece.  It did take a few hours!   But it made me realise that I don't really have a lot of bigger pieces anymore, just lots of fabrics for smaller designs and ornaments.

So this year I've decided to do my very own Fabric of the month club and purchase a fat quarter of linen, maybe 36 count, or 40 count, or even 32 count, whatever colour I chose for the month. Some months I might purchase more linen, especially if there's new projects to start.

For January's choice, I purchased Fox & Rabbit's Dust Bunny 36 count from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi. 

A very lovely order arrived recently from Rebecca at Rainbow Stash.  I ordered some of the new Lori Holt happy charms, a new vinyl bag, some fat quarters, another pair of scissors, zippers and another  panel of her bags to make up. I've yet to make up the other bag panel I purchased last year but a friend and I have plans to get together one day soon to get going some of the bags underway. 

I think that's about everything caught up with about my recent stitching and new purchases. I do have two finishes so I'll share them next time. 

I have also spent a bit of time going through some Christmas charts and have kitted up several ornaments and other smalls, all ready to get underway for 2026. Earlier this morning I signed up for new Hands on Designs ornament club on Patreon, so I'm excited to get the first design underway. Like during 2025, I see a lot of Christmas stitching coming up this year. 

We have a long weekend coming up, a public holiday on Friday for Waitangi Day, so we're off to Porangahau Beach with our friends for a few days. The weather is looking good, lots of walks along the beach, catching up with our friends, maybe some fishing, it will be a fun weekend.

See you soon x