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

Welcome to 2026

 Hello friends, and happy 2026 — even if we’ve some how already arrived at the start of February!

Glenn and I are back at work after our summer break, and Hannah is currently on school camp for a few days. She officially starts her last year of high school, Year 13, on Wednesday. 

So here's bit of a round up from Christmas and New Years before I go onto this year's happenings.

The weather after Christmas was a bit unpredictable.  We had a lot of rain and wind so a few of our summer plans didn’t quite happen, but that was ok — there was plenty to keep us busy at home, and Glenn made great progress on painting more of the house and tackling a few other jobs.

Christmas Day was a lovely day, we headed up to Bayview, just out of Napier, to spend the day with my niece Zoe and her partner Dylan, and Dylan's family.

Zoe loves Christmas like Mum and I,  and she had made their house so festive, it looked awesome!

Even their little dog was dressed up, so cute x

I made our favourite for Christmas dessert, chocolate brownie trifle, and this was a big hit with Dylan's family, not much leftover!

I also had made up some treats -Russian fudge, chocolate salami (pistachio and cranberry), chocolate marsh mellow truffles and rocky road, yum!

(We enjoyed another catch up with Glenn's brother, sister in law and nieces a couple of days after Christmas as they'd been with Jude's family over Christmas). 

Boxing Day we were up bright and early to head up to Hastings to purchase an outdoor furniture setting we'd seen on a previous visit, but first we fueled up on the most delicious breakfast. Eggs Benedict with salmon is always my go to choice if we're out for breakfast. 

Then it was home to unbox our new purchases, and Glenn was able to get this all together in no time. 

The days between Christmas and New Year were filled with house painting, a couple of shopping trips, family catch ups, a bit of decluttering, and plenty of sleep ins after late nights binging tv series, and of course, stitching time.  

After New Year's, we packed up our camper van and then spent a week at one of our local beaches.  The weather was great, sunny and warm, and we had a wonderful week, lots of beach walks, reading, stitching, visits from friends.  

The ice cream truck was out and about, yum, this was just perfect on one of the hot afternoons.

Diesel, as always, was in his element, loving the beach walks and playing in the waves.  He was absolutely worn out by the end of the week. 

Glenn went back to work earlier than me so I had a few days before I returned to work to get on with some house jobs, sort out some stitching stash, and spent a lovely few hours with a friend, catching up over a cuppa with our stitching.

Our vegetable garden is going ok this summer. I have downsized the amount of seedlings I plant, and this summer have chosen to only grow beans, cucumbers, lettuce, a few cabbages, and we have several tomato plants going well in the green house. 

Next time I'll have an update about what I've been stitching over the holiday break, and some stitching plans for 2026.

See you soon x

December Fun -

I have now officially started my summer holidays as my work has closed for it's annual four week summer break.  It seems like the past week or so has gone by in such a blur - we've had several end of the year functions to go to, Hannah's last ever dancing show, a wonderful stitching get together, work things and last night, Hannah and I went to see Wicked for Good at the movies - loved it!

Glenn and I were invited to a function by some of his clients at their farm property last weekend.  Unbeknown to all the guests there, it turned into a surprise wedding as their daughter got married! It was a great evening, with a local band playing, and it was a perfect summer evening weather wise.  This was the view that greeted me the next morning, from where we had parked up our campervan.

The stage they have set up on their amazing property, look at the huge mirror ball!

Hannah had her last dancing performance in her dance school's end of the year show - it was a very emotional day. We are so proud of all her dancing achievements,  and her dance teacher Miss Deb acknowledged all of the hard work, tears and many hours of practise Hannah put into not only her ballet, but tap, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre dance over the years. Hannah "might" be enticed back next year to help teach the younger ballet students, as she has thoroughly enjoyed it over the past two years.

The beautiful candy cane dahlias and Christmas lilies are now flowering in my aunty's garden - to me this means Christmas isn't far away now.

During the first week of December I got two new stitching projects under way - first up, Deer Santa from Stitching with the Housewives.  So cute x

Peace on Earth is a sampler that I've been wanting to stitch ever since it was released. I'm stitching this on Cafe au Lait linen by Fibre on a Whim using the recommended threads. All the the little stitching accessories I'm using were gifted to my by my friend Clare in last year's advent swap.

We held our annual pre Christmas get together for our stitchey friends on Sunday, and what an amazing day it was. I just love these get togethers, we have so much fun, sometimes there's absolutely no stitching achieved as we are too busy catching up on each other's news, having lots of laughs, enjoying some treats, and ohhing and ahhing over each other's crafty projects on the go.  We always have a secret Santa and usually play one of those "left' "right" games, hilarious.  My lovely parcel included the following goodies:

included was this gorgeous yarn bowl, and I've been wishing for one of these for a very long time.

Here's what I included in my parcel:

I had a lot of fun making these project bags a few months ago, following a tutorial by Elizabeth Ann Can Stitch, which I can now share as they have been gifted to friends.

I also made up some cross stitch clutches as well to with the bags. 

For over five years now, my friend Clare and I have participated in an advent swap, and we exchanged gifts yesterday. These are the gifts I received, including the stunning blue bag, I just the little sheepie!

Two stitched ornaments Clare also included.

Clare is so very talented with her craft work, and I feel very lucky to be the recipient of one of her bags.

These are the gifts I put together for Clare:

Ornament by October House Fibre Arts

I took a different approach to my stitched gift this time, and gave Clare the two stitched pieces from the Bee Still my Heart pattern by Heartstring Samplery, for Clare to finish how she pleases. 

Our Christmas plans this year include spending the day with family at my niece Zoe's in Napier, and then catching up with Glenn's family on Boxing Day.  Then we are off to the beach for a few days over New Year's, with another beach trip planned a bit later in January. 

This will be my final post for 2025, as I’ll be taking a short break until late January. Before signing off, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you. Your visits to my blog, kind messages, and the thoughtful comments you leave here, and on Instagram truly brighten my days.

I wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas, filled with laughter, special moments, and plenty of delicious food. May this festive season bring you happiness and peace.

Merry Christmas, and I look forward to reconnecting with you in 2026!

Katrina xx