School's Out

Phew we have made it!  Today is officially the first day of the holidays.  Thursday night was the school prize giving and as usual it was very hot and very long.  BUT... I am one very proud Mum because my daughter was awarded a Board of Trustee's Award for excellence and was selected to be a House Captain for next year.  So when her Dad says she is just like me, because she can be cheeky, stubborn and is always doing things at a million miles an hour, I will say YES she is!

A Tui in a Pohutukawa Tree

My inspiration for the Christmas swap this year came from my own back yard.  We have a line of pohutukawa trees (the New Zealand Christmas Tree) at the back of our garden and the tuis love it, they swoop from tree to tree with their loud squawks teasing our cats with "you can't get me".

So here is my version of the tuis in the pohutukawa tree...

Crafted from an old velvet ball gown, some shot silk I picked up at the op shop and some vintage lace from my stash.

Now you would think that may be flattered, but

NO - this was their message, left on a nice clean towel on my washing line.  I think they are laughing at my attempts to replicate something so beautiful.

Well this is what may happen if they don't watch themselves...

P.S. no tuis were harmed in the making of these Christmas decorations.

P.P.S.  If you would like to make your own birds I used the pattern at Spool Sewing as a base and made a few adjustments

Christmas Decorations Posted

Sorry Christmas decoration swappees I failed in meeting my deadline, but your little parcels are winging there way to you now (via fast post) and should be with you tomorrow.  I will post some pictures once they have been received.

Last year I did the Plum Pudding Fairy a close relation of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Every one was slightly different because I have difficulty doing exactly the same thing.

 I also have not shown a finished photo of the Babushka doll decoration.  Here she is...

Happy stitching or happy thinking about stitching if you are like me and finding it hard to get time to create.

12 More Sleeps 'til Santa

What a scary thought!!  I still have Christmas shopping to do and I am writing this post when I should be putting the finishing touches on my Christmas swap organised by Louise (2 days overdue - sorry swap partners).  I feel especially guilty as I received two lovely parcels in the weekend from 2 of my swap partners, thank you Maryanne and Norma for the beautiful decorations.  I had to claim my opening rights as a certain 12 year old girl was very keen to open my parcels on my behalf. I will take some photos in daylight and post some photos here over the next few days. The deocations are beautiful.

Did anyone else see the photo of Louise the swap organiser in Saturday's paper?  It was a lovley article about making Christmas meaningful with handmade rather than plastic cr*p.

I am pleased to say that there are no more markets before the Christmas.  I am feeling tired and my voice is giving out on me.  One kind friend suggested a change of career to an 0900 operator with my new husky voice.

On the fabric front I have received the latest samples from Kokka. Do you want a sneak peek?

It is called Bird Song and it is by the designer Etsuko Furuya.  I love this fabric - I am thinking a skirt.

And for the young girls or the young at heart..

 

  Hope everyone is surviving the pre-Christmas rush.  Keep happy and happy stitching!

Phew! 2 Markets Down 1 to Go and Some Christmas Decorations

The weekend was a busy one with two markets.  The Christmas Knack was great, lots of lovely fellow stall holders and fair goers.  Thorndon was also good except for that cold Wellington wind, it just made the day a little bit harder.  Some poor people lost their gazebos and their stock blew from their stalls. 

This Saturday I will be at the Seatoun Christmas market at St Georges in Ferry Street.  This is my home suburb so I am looking forward to it as I imagine it will be very social.

Last year I took part in the Christmas decoration swap organised by  Louise at Twenty Cent Mixture and really enjoyed it.  Not a lot of my firends are into craft so it was great to make contact with people who are equally obsessed as me! I am taking part again this year.  My decorations are not quite finished (slight under statement) so I can't do the big reveal yet, but I thought I would share some posts from other bloggers who have some great Christmas decoration tutorials. 

Christmas Owls at Diversions
Bird in a Cage from Felt o Rama
Jingle Mouse at Pimp Stitch
Christmas Tree Softie at LucyKate Crafts

Happy stitching!

To Market to Market

Just a quick note to let you know I will be a the Christmas Knack this Saturday at the Berhampore School in Wellington.

I am also excited because on Saturday my sister arrives on the late ferry (after the Nelson market) ready for the Thorndon Fair on Sunday.  I will be helping here on the day selling her wonderful jewellery.  Les is a glass artist and makes the most beautiful jewels with the beads that she lampworks.

We would love to see you at either market if you are in Wellington during the weekend.

Mills and Boon?

One of my weaknesses is books, especially crafting books and vintage books.  One of my more recent  finds is a Mills and Boon book (but not of the romance variety) and it ticks both boxes, vintage and crafting.  It is called Toys for your Delight by Winsome Douglass and was published in 1957.  First of all I love the author's name, it's not often you meet a Winsome these days and the embroidered toys and illustrations in the book are truly beautiful.

I was also fortunate to find An Orange Robin Story Book at the op shop.  I love the illustrations in this book and can see them as an embroidery one day.... 

 I may of course need a million "one days" to do all the things I would like to do.

Happy stitching!

Where does the time go...

Well that was a quick two weeks.  Now I am left trying to remember what I have been doing.

We are getting ready for the school fair in March next year and the craft stall always has to start early because sourcing materials and making stuff always takes so much time.  The other night several of us went to Lyndal's to learn how to wet felt and dry felt.  I am not so keen on the wet felting but loved the needle felting.  I would rather stab myself in the hand occassionally with the needle felter than put my hand in boiling water.  There was a lot of stabbing of fingers rather than felt going on which may have had a bit to do with the wine consumed. 

It was great fun.  Here is my first attempt at needle felting....

I definitely want to try this again and have invested in a new book Needle Felted Figures, which is beautiful.

Over the last few weeks we have been treated to several sushi meals.  Jack has been perfecting the art of making sushi and we have been willing guinea pigs.  This is part of his food technology class at school.



I have also been toying with an idea in my head for some Christmas decorations using the large babushka fabric... this is what it looks like so far..

I will finish embellishing and then create a stuffie with a hanger to pop on the Christmas tree.

It is scary thinking about Christmas - so much to do - so little time!

Entering the Blog World

Well I have been thinking about taking the plunge into the world of blogging for some time. I enjoy reading several of the great blogs out there written by fellow bloggers and have always felt quite initimidated. Well here goes ... I am jumping in at the deep end to see what happens.
I am hoping that I will be able to share some crafting and also motivate myself to not just start but also finish my crafts.

Today has been a great day, the sun was shining and as well as going to work I was able to spend some time pottering in the garden. I also took some of my friends out into the garden for some fresh air.

I think they enjoyed escaping the house!