All the things

Hello friends, how quickly Friday has rolled around this week! It's Hannah's last day of school for 2023 so I'm heading to her final school assembly and prize giving later this morning. I now have only just over two weeks of work left before my annual holidays start and Glenn will start his holiday break then too. 

This coming weekend I'm so looking forward to catching up with my dear stitching friends, for some birthday celebrations and Christmas fun. It's going to be a great day!

For quite some time I've been on the look out for a portable stitching lamp and then I spotted this one on the Ribbon Rose website during the black Friday sales. I really like it so far, it has three light settings to use.

My friend Clare and I recently started a new stitch along together - the Light of Winter by Brenda Gervais.

I'm using all the called for threads and 36 count Ballet Slippers linen by Fox & Rabbit.

I'm so pleased that all of my 2023 ornament and gift stitching is finished and most of these have been fully finished now. I've got a few pics to come.  I've made this project bag for a friend's birthday gift.

This is also for my friend - this design is from Cranberry Christmas by Hands on Designs.

I picked up a new Christmas candle recently - it smells divine!

Even thought our Christmas tree and decorations are not out yet, Hannah and I are going to decorate over the weekend, this beautiful scent makes it feel like Christmas is on its way.

Isn't this dahlia beautiful, I took this photo when I visited one of my aunts the other day - she has beautiful flower gardens. I will really miss the dahlia's from my old work place this summer.

We headed out to the beach last weekend with our friends. The weather was mostly cloudy but Saturday afternoon the sun came out.  

Probably our last trip in the campervan until after New Year but we are currently planning a trip for January.  Exciting as its somewhere we haven't been for many years. 

Have a fun weekend, see you soon xx

Another beach weekend

Our plans to head out to the beach this coming weekend have been put on hold as it looks like we're in for another rainy weekend but that's ok as I'm planning to get some sewing done and more baking to pop into the freezer, as well as the usual around the house jobs.

We had a lovely weekend at Kairakau beach recently - we hadn't been out here since a New Year's trip back in 2022. A gorgeous beach here in Central Hawkes Bay, which is very popular for its freedom camping spots, surfers and day trippers.

We had a good spot right on the front and once the sun came out on Saturday morning, the weather was perfect.

No luck with the fishing this time sadly.  Lots of beach walks, chats with our friends, yummy cheese, chips and dips, and once again, Diesel was completely wiped out by the time we got home on Sunday afternoon. He just loves the beach - zoomies into the water, racing around in the sand, sniffing everywhere he goes. A thoroughly good weekend, its amazing how the sea air makes you feel.

See you soon xx

Stitching finishes, new stash and other news

After the past few weekends away in our campervan (still need to share photos from last weekend), it was lovely to be at home this past weekend, catching up on jobs around the house, getting lots of stitching done and catching up on some sleep, lol.

Hannah and I went along to a local production of Snow White on Sunday afternoon. Several of the younger girls from Hannah's dance school were in the cast so it was wonderful to see them perform. The show was really funny and had lots of great songs, we really enjoyed it.

It was held in one of our beautiful town halls - the CHB Municipal Theatre.

Sunday was a rainy day so perfect to spend some time in the kitchen, baking and prepping some food for the week ahead. I made Pappi's savoury scones for lunch, these are so yummy. Recipe can be found here:

Next up was Fay's mumbles, a slice we enjoyed for morning tea on our rail cart trip back in October. 

I've been working on getting through a pile of stitched ornaments and have nearly finished getting them completed ready for gifting.

2020 Wee Santa by Heart in Hand Needlearts

Dancer's Friends by Teresa Kogut.

I received a few charts in the mail recently from Farmgirl Dry Goods, two new and one older Brenda Gervais charts.  All of these are going to be kitted up so I can stitch on these during December and January. Can't wait to start the sampler!

Enjoy the rest of the week, see you soon xx

2023 Collector's Heart

 This was a fun design to stitch, the 2023 Collector's Heart by Heart in Hand.

I used the fabric, 32ct count Heartland linen by Picture this Plus, and thread, Leather Bound by Cottage Garden Threads, which came with the chart.  Finished into a simple pillow using some of my favourite fabric. The button was included in the kit too.

See you soon x

First Beach trip of the season

Last Friday after work, even though it was raining, we headed out in our campervan to Pourere Beach, 40 minutes from home. It continued to rain on and off again all Friday evening but when we got up on Saturday morning, the rain had cleared and it turned out be sunny and warm for the rest of the weekend.

Our friends were also there with their dog Meg and we had a great time catching up with them, lots of walks along the beach, fishing, yummy barbecue food, and I even managed to get some stitching done and finish a book.

Mr D was in his element, there was lots of racing along the beach into the water with Meg.  He was absolutely exhausted by the time we got home on Sunday afternoon!

If the weather is ok this weekend, we're off again, this time to Kairakau Beach - we haven't been out there in a few years so looking forward to it.

See you soon xx

All the Stitching

 Lots of stitching happening here lately - as well as my own projects, I've been stitching away on ornaments and a few gifts for Christmas and birthday presents.  I'd really like to get a few things finished as I have several new charts on the way from the US, the 2023 Jingle Ball is coming up and there's bound to be lots of lovely patterns released for it, and I have several other projects waiting to get started.

During the recent long weekend I pulled this lovely chart out and made a start.  It's the first time I've stitched a Silver Creek Samplers design. I'm using some cream linen from my stash and the recommended threads. 

Over the winter months here, I stitched a lot on this cute design and now only have the last part to go, Welcome to the North Pole by Primrose Cottage Stitches.

For the past two years I've participated in the Tiny Modernist's Mystery Christmas stitchalong and decided to join this year's - The Night Before Christmas. 

Part 1 is done - I'm using the recommended threads and the linen is Elephant Run by Fox & Rabbit.

Several Stitching with the Housewives ornaments have been stitched and finished. 

Have a fun weekend - see you soon xx