Hooray for time to sew !!!

Today was so nice !! No work.  I sewed all morning (in between checking email and blogs etc) and managed to finish the quilt top I started a few days ago. It’s a cot size.  Kiwi enough Cadi?   This quilt is going to be for Baby N who needs a link to his Kiwi heritage.  Should be able to finish this by early next week.  Yay.

Today was wickedly foggy, lasted till after lunch.  Consequently I left the car lights on after Kindy drop off and had to get my lovely friend Clare to pick up Cameron from Kindy and then get the roadside rescue peeps to come jumpstart my car.  Oh well.  All’s well that ends well.

I have half the giveaway sorted, you might have to wait till after the weekend for the rest.  Stay tuned.

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Nothing

I’ve got nothing for you today.  Between work, housework and the open night visit to the local college (in prep for Lilly going there next year, that’s High School for all you International visitors) no sewing was achieved today at all.  I did sit down at the machine but was distratcted by shiny stuff and then critters needing attention.  Bugger !

Tomorrow I have no work (YAY!) so sewing will get done.  Bugger the housework (it’s pretty up to date anyway).  It’s going to be raining, so first on the list is to get the next giveaway ready to blog about.  I think I might do 2. One open to everyone, one to regular readers

Véale mañana

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Getting used to new things………….

Well today was day 3 at work.  I’m not really into the groove of it yet.  It’s been 4 years since I’ve worked outside the home.  I’m doing industrial sewing, just Kindy hours, so 4 or 4.5 hours per day.   I need to work out the adjustment on my chair tomorrow as my back is killing me.  Having to get all the same regular stuff done with  hours less is hard too.  I’ll guess I’ll get used to it.

I have finally booked plane tickets for Cam’s birthday trip.  Cheap as chips $39 each way – Wellington to Auckland.  Just me and the boy (Ian will stay home and look after the big kids), two days to see Kelly Tarletons, Motat and Auckland Zoo.  Can’t wait.  Still need to book accommodation though.  But plane tickets are a start.

Pretty things in the post today, replacement fabric for the 2 quilts I sold in the last month.  I got this lot from Sheree’s Alchemy on Esty.  Great service, and very fair prices.

Some Arcadia, which goes with a FQ I was gifted (the cream dragonfly print in the pic)

and some red, aqua and green prints, a mix of Momo, Amy Butler and AMH.

The other nice item in the post was my order from Kings seeds.  All ready for spring planting, except for all the hard work

I’m working on a special project at the moment.  I’ll give you a sneak peek….

It’s very much a Work In Progress, but I’ll hopefully get some time to work on it in the next few days or the weekend.

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And on the crafty front…….

The last of my July bee blocks.  A hunters star for Jeanette.

Some barter sewing.  Nappies for Jen, as I owe her for Lilly’s new bed

Merino tops for Kylie, which is part for a swap.  Kylie is going to knit a Hooded Jersey for Cam, in exchange I’m sewing the baby tops, pants for her wee boy and some WIP bags for her knitting.  I’m getting the yarn for the jersey and some extra by swapping with one of the other ladies who hand dyes yarn, she gets a cot quilt from my shop. 

I love bartering

Last monday I got 2 more blocks complete for my Bear Paw quilt.  I’ve been slowly working on this for over a year now.  I’m not rushing it.  It will be worth the wait. 

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Thinking about spring.

I know we are only just past the middle of winter, but this year we are actually planning our spring garden early.  A good thing too as the expansion means there is a lot of work to get done.  We are going to use all of the tiny paddock next to the driveway this year for most of the vege garden, as well as our 3 raised beds.  It’s going to require a bit of sweet talking to the neighbour with a tractor as we have a couple of massive tree stumps to pull out first.  Then I’ll see if he can plow where we want to put the Corn in.  We are going to try growing our potatoes in tyres this year, plus we will have a few new raised beds.  The list of  things we’re going to grow??

Beans – Broad beans, Scarlett runners, Borlotti

Beetroot – Golden globe and Chioggia

Capsicum – (can’t remember which kid, seed on their way in the post)

Chillies – Habanero

Carrots – Scarlett Nantes, Baby Carrots, Purple Haze, Paris and Touchon

Cucumber – Lebanese,  Lemon and Apple crisp

Eggplants – mini golden

Fennel – Florence

Spring Onions – red and white

Peas – Petit  and Snow peas

Pumpkins

Radishes

Tomatoes – mini cocktail and what ever seeds I saved for last years fruit (a good selection)

Zucchini – Zephyr and Cocozelle

Lettuce – Iceberg, Ice King and Buttercrunch

Basil

Parsley

Watermelon

Gherkins

Squash

Potatoes (as many as possible)

Corn.

Last year we did okay with Corn and Potatoes, but could easily do with  about 3 times as much now we have another freezer for storage.  I sent off our order to Kings seeds yesterday.  Cam is busting to get planting.  We can probably start some seedlings off soon and leave them in the woodshed window. 

As well as planting we will have animal stocking in spring too.  Piglets, Lambs and a new calf to keep Greycie company.  I’m putting some $$ aside now to pay for them.  Are you dreaming of spring yet??

Thanks to everyone who gave me book suggestions on my last post.

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I spy………

with my little eye, a small boy in a tree………….

It was nice to be able to play outside. We’ve had a few rainy days recently.

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Entertaining me.

So instead of a post about the kids, or crafting I thought I’d write a post about what’s entertaining me recently.

Movies………..  Some recent movies I’ve seen

Toy Story 3 – loved it.  The big kids enjoyed it, Cameron loved it.  A movie for any fan of the first 2.

The girl with the dragon tattoo – Lent to me on DVD by a friend, wicked movie, gripping, shocking and suspenseful.  I hadn’t read the book, not sure I’ll bother.  Planning on seeing the 2nd movie in this series in the next week or so.

Alice in Wonderland – Great movie, loved the make-up and special effects.

Sherlock Holmes – This was much better than I expected.  I guess I like movies about blowing stuff up – who knew??  I thought the acting was great.

Fantastic Mr Fox – Took Cameron to see this at the movies ages ago, had to watch it aging when it came out on DVD.  I think I enjoyed it more than the kids.

Books……………….

Non fiction – well, here is the selection I got from the library this week…….

The stitched in time book isn’t really my thing, but the others seem pretty good.

Fiction – I’ve been getting into New Zealand authors recently, reading a few of their older novels.  I like that fact they are real, and easy reading.  It really tickles me to read a book referencing places I know in real life too.

The 10pm question – Kate De Goldi - a book about a boy on the ASD spectrum, similar to “The curious incident of the dog in the night-time” which I also really enjoyed.

The Champion, Hostel Girl and The Fat Man- by Maurice Gee.  Most NZer’s would be familiar with some of his other novels like “Under the Mountain” , “The half men of O” and “The priests of Ferris”, the ones I chose are not science fiction, just about real people.  I really liked them.

I am not Esther – by Fleur Beale.  A moving a story of a girl sent to live with relatives who are Exclusive Brethren.  Interesting book.  I’ve also recently read “A respectable Girl”  and “At the end of the Alphabet” her 2 latest novels.  Great books.

I used to be a  fan of the big crime writers, Minette Walters, Patricia Cornwall, James Patterson etc, but I think I’ve outgrown that phase of reading.  I have a bit less time and feel the need to read things that are a bit more real and believable.  I read the last Stephen King book “Under the dome”, that was a huge book, a good read, but disappointing ending.

So, what’s entertaining you???  Can you recommend a good NZ author to me??  Or a good craft book ?

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Quilt Up!!

The bright side to an otherwise crappy day.  At least I got something finished.

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Good times :-)

Second day in a row that we’ve had settled weather, fairly warm, breezy enough to dry the washing and not even cold enough to need any heaters on, just the fire.

My chooks are starting to lay again, regularly getting 2 or 3 eggs a day, just my big hen is still moulting but she laid further into Autumn than the others.  They are looking healthy now that their feathers have grown back.

Aren’t they cute?!?!?

Cam and the dog have been hanging out together, so sweet to see a boy and his dog

Cam has made himself a nest out of the long grass on our little mound, he was happily playing there for ages, pottering about with some numbered diving sticks and an old bungy cord.  Doesn’t take much to amuse him.

Nathan has cycled up to the library to do some homework, as he has no internet connection at home anymore, he didn’t even moan about it.  He’s been great the last couple of days.  He was disappointed that he only came in the top 5% (in the country)for an ICT test, when last year he scored in the top 1%.  Not really a test for him though as it’s mainly about data storage etc, not about programming which is where his strengths lie.

 All in all the kids seem to be pleased to be back at school and kindy and I’m glad to be able to get lots more work done.  Tomorrow I’m off to see a lady about some work outside the home.  Be good to add a few more pennies to the finances

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A new machine !!

I’ve got a new sewing machine, yay !!  No, it’s not my dream machine (A Bernina 820 if anyone feels like springing for one for me, or a Juki and swiftquilter frame), but I’ve been looking for a small machine to take to sewing class for ages.  Having to pack up my big machine just for 2 hours is a PITA.  I’ve been perusing TM for a small Bernina or Elna, but they are all going for ridiculous prices. Thanks to my lovely friend Amy, I now have a little Elna Lotus SP.  It needed a bit of a service, but is just what I need for taking to class just to do piecing on.  I was only allowed to get it because just like my big machine this little one is “precision made in Switzerland” too.

 

Check out the size difference of it next to my 1230 !! The weight difference is huge, 7kg compared to 20kg.  Much more compact for taking in the car.

I managed to get a quilt pieced on the weekend (and actually got it quilted last night, but no pics of it done yet), I did take a pic of it layed out ready for piecing.  It almost the same as Cam’s one, but his is red and blue, this one is green and blue with a splash or red, and this one is a bit bigger (about 10 inches it think).  Need to get this finished asap and in the shop, I have a couple of people interested in it.  I’m on nappy making today though

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