Wrapping Up September

Hello friends, we're in the last few days of September already! We've just had a great weekend weather wise, it was quite warm yesterday.  Glenn and I have been super productive outside and over the past two weekends, we were able to get some trees cut down and cleared away, eight huge loads of green waste taken to our local dumping station. Wow, I was so tired and worn out at the end of the day! Some other outside jobs have also been ticked off the list - vegetable gardens prepped for seedlings to be planted, the greenhouse tidied up, outside house windows washed, gardens weeded, lawns mown and edges clipped - lots of work but it felt good to be out in the sunshine.  

This coming weekend, we are going to start getting our campervan ready for the coming summer months (cleaned, cupboards filled with non perishable food, linen aired out, etc) as we are so keen to head out on our first trip to one of the local beaches.  Mid to late October is when we usually go on our first trip but if the weather is good, it will be earlier.   We're also in the process of organising a summer roadie trip in the Christmas holidays, to a part of New Zealand we've not been to before so that's exciting.  

More finishing has been happening, and I'm really pleased how the next piece turned out - my first time at trying a stand-up finish.  This is the French Country Santa, Pere Noel, by JBW Designs.

A little freebie by Hands on Designs, which was from the 2024 Jingle Ball. 

Love and Joy by Heartstring Samplery

Bids that Sing by Michelle, from MommalovesyouGB

Another freebie by Hands on Design, also from the 2024 Jingle ball.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it but all the Christmas stitching I've been doing this year, it either for gifts for my family or to be donated to a craft sales event in late November.  

A lovely bundle of fabric came in the mail recently, this is some of the new Tilda fabric from the Merry Little Christmas range, so pretty.  Not sure what my plans are for it yet.

I decided to purchase a Kindle recently, previously I've used the Kindle app on my phone. This will be so handy over the summer months when we're out and about in the campervan.  

Over the past few months I've read more books than any other previous winter - you should have seen my library pile last month!  I'm on Goodreads here if you want to check out what I've been reading lately. 

See you soon x

New Goodies & an early wake up

I had some lovely mail arrive at the end of last week, which was perfect timing after a very alarming start to the day. There were three earthquakes off the coast of New Zealand - the first one at 2.30 am, 7.1, was felt widely in the North Island and South Island. I thought I was dreaming at first, then realised the house was creaking and the rolling motion went on for ages. A few hours later between 7 am and 8 am there were two more earthquakes near the Kermadec Islands, 7.4 and 8.1! Land and Marine Tsunami warnings had been issued and many people in coastal NZ areas had to evacuate to higher ground.  We live about 30 minutes from the coast so were ok.  Thankfully, the alerts were lifted in the early afternoon and people could return home and to their work places. A timely reminder to have all the emergency supplies checked and ready, and a plan with family what to do in situations like this. 

In happier news, some fabric I'd ordered earlier in the week arrived, some of the Tilda Wonderland collection. I'm not sure what I'm going to make with it yet, it's so pretty.

 

Another parcel was a surprise all the way from Australia from a stitching friend. Vicki sent the loveliest project bag and accessories, all made from Tilda fabric too. 

I couldn't resist these from my local sewing shop last week. New in store, I think they will be just perfect for using on cross stitch pillows, etc, as trims. Such pretty colours too. They were $3.70 NZ each.  

See you soon x