people's choice award

Wow, Miss M had her peg doll selected for entry into the people's choice award at Small Acorns.  Check out the amazing creativity over here  http://www.smallacorns.co.nz/index.php/page/26/ps_action/return

She was indignant that they had her age wrong, "I'm not 10, I'm 12, almost 13!" Oh to be that age when you want to add years on to your age!

The cool thing about Heidi as I was not allowed to get involved, other than acting as a mentor like Tim, when really I wanted to design and enter my own doll! 

How come kids get to do all the fun stuff, where is the peg doll competition for grown ups?

life before blogs

My Dad has just sent me the transcript of my Great Great Great Great Aunt Barbara's journal (I hope I have given her enough greats).  The journal is fascinating and I thought as well as some of my own blog posts I could share some of her journal entries. 

Barbara was born in 1831 in Scotland and emigrated to New Zealand as a young married woman in 1857.

"On Tuesday afternoon the 10th February 1857 we arrived at Melbourne, after a voyage of 58 days in the EARMC's steamer "European".  We had a beautiful voyage, but for me, not a very agreeable one.  Firstly I was so sick and then there was a low and vulgar set of people, hardly any one of them one could associate with, with any degree of pleasure.  the only nice ones were Mr and Mrs Ford, and Miss Garnham, the latter a most amiable girl but very delicate.  We stayed 4 days during the Christmas week at St Vincents, to coal and a hotter 4 days I never spent.  We went on shore once of twice, but there was nothing really worth seeing.  The place was devoid of anything like a tree, and the sun scorched every attempt at vegetation in the shape of grass.  It was just a perfect desert, and the town and its inhabitants were the most miserable I ever saw.  It proved the old adage that appearances are deceitful, for it looked most lovely from the steamer, as we lay anchored about half a mile from shore."

I am not sure where St Vincents is that she refers to. It may be in Haiti. 

Barbara's journal includes recipes (pickled tongues and raspberry vinagrette) as well as her daily observations.  It is fascinating partly because she does not hold back on her opinions of others.

seeing double

My very kind husband gave me a subscription to the New Zealand Quilter magazine for Christmas and because I advertise in the magazine I have been provided with another copy.  I only need one.  If you would like the other copy please just leave a comment in the comments section.  (If more than one person places a comment before I get back to my blog I will do the hat draw thingy).  Comments are now closed and the magazine will be zooming its way to FaerySarah.

make it work

I have been playing Tim to Miss M as she has been preparing her peg doll ready for the runway.

Small Acorns have a competition running for children to design and dress a peg doll.  The stakes are high with Trelise Cooper clothes offered as a prize.

Heidi has been glued into hew new outfit and sent to the L'Oreal make up and hair style room and is about to step out onto the runway...

This photo does not really do her justice - she is wearing an asymetrical skirt with ribbons and ric rac sewn on. 

I think the prize for Miss M was designing and making the peg dolls outfit, she has really enjoyed the whole process.  She even did style drawings...

playing with a new toy

This afternoon was my first opportunity to play with the new toy I received for my birthday last week.  Whilst I am excited about my new super dooper red K Mix, I am a little sad because for the last 13 years I have been baking with my Mum's 60 + year old Sunbeam Mixmaster.  It seems like the end of an era.

When my Mum passed away my Dad asked if there was anything I would particularly like of hers.  I asked if I could have her cake mixer and recipe books because some of my fondest memories growing up were of baking with my Mum.

Every time I bake or sew I feel like she is close by. 

POP POP POP

I wll be popping into the pop up shop on Thursday and Friday this week at 302 Tinakori Road. 

They have them in London, New York and now Thorndon, Wellington!

A group of very talented Wellington designers have banded together and taken out a temporary lease on a shop in Tinakori to show case their work and designs.  Cath Baddeley creates fantastic jewellery and art tiles;  Kate is the designing force behind Native's locally made designer clothing and one of Lyndal's AQ bags have become a must have accessory for Wellingtonians.

They have very generously asked others to join them in the Pop Up Shop and so a number of guest designers will also be displaying and selling; including  Ro Design, Cactus Flower, Tea Pea, Smudge, Stitchlips, Phoenix cards, We Got Knits, Imba, Citrus Green Gifts, Cahoral Clay Art, Taprobane, Sweet William, Zamm Lights, Cupcake Sweeties, Boocraft, Diane Massey-Molloy, Melissa Banks, Sue Tyler and Stitchbird. Artists Sam Marsh, Liz Ritchie, Jenny Sutton and Jessica Hallet will also feature their works.

Did you see me in there?  Yes I was very flattered to be asked if I would like to join in.  Yes please, yes please, (I feel a bit like the cool kids have asked me if I would like to come over and play).

So I will be in the pop up shop this Thursday and Friday.  The shop will be open until 8.30 pm this Thursday for all those hard working souls who can't escape the 9-5 grind or equally hard working Mums and Dads who would like to come and have a look and shop without children.

Regular shop hours are 10.30 -4.30 Tuesday to Friday; 10 -3 Saturday and Sunday (closed Mondays).  The shop will be open until 1 May so make sure you pop along and check it out.

Stashing and Rehashing

What are you doing this Sunday?

I will be at Stash Rehash in Christchurch (my home town) selling my wares:

Sunday 18th April 2010,

11am - 2pm,

at the Scottish Society Hall,

corner of Edgeware and Caledonian Roads,

St Albans, Christchurch

If you are in Christchurch pop by and say hi.  Entry is free but please note that all sales are cash sales.

This is a teaser photo from the Stash Rehash blog.

To drool over more of the goodies that will be at Stash Rehash market visit the lovely Deidre's Stash Rehash blog.  You will also be helping out a worthy cause - Arthritis New Zealand, so you can feel very altruistic as you buy up large on gorgeous fabric ;0)

Sewing insomnia

Does anyone else find it hard to get to sleep some nights because your mind is whirring with sewing and crafting ideas? 

This quilt idea is just one of the things that has been keeping me awake at nights.

This is using the Saffron Craig Owls Range.  The central panel is all sewn together but the rest is a work in progress as I lay pieces out to see what I like best. I intend to use the other half width of the Owls Nesting on the back with plain white.  The question will then be to border or not to border.  What do you think?

Drumroll please...

With the help of our very own Divine Miss M the winners of the giveaway were drawn.  The winners are....

SarahH and Wendy the Wonderful whose blog I Love Baby Quilts is a visual delight, all those quilts are made by hand, including the piecing!  Wendy you are a brave woman!  I will be in contact with you to find out your fabric choices and address details etc to send you your giveaway goodies.

Thank you to everyone who entered.  I loved hearing about your favourite fabrics as a child, the trousers that made noises when you walk made me laugh, because I have that now, only it is nothing to do with the fabric and all to do with my Wonder Woman thighs :)

Happy stitching everyone.

P.S.  SarahH can you please email me as your contact details do not come up on blogger.  Thanks

Last Day for Giveaway and Breaking the Diet

Be in quick - today is the last day for the giveaway, if you would like to enter just leave a comment on the post HERE. 

Sshhhh... don't tell anyone (especially Mr S) but I have broken my op shop diet. I know we don't need any more "stuff", but how could I resist these wee babies; they are not "stuff".

They won't take up much room (they are only 9.5 cms in diameter) and they don't require feeding.  The little marks on their bottoms say they are Royal Doulton and my research on the web indicates that they were manufactured between 1902 and 1922.  The tree and flowers are all hand painted.

Beautiful for putting a little jam or pickle into for the table or to just look at.

Easter Weekend

No more embarrassing moments pulling a business card out of my handbag to find the edges bent or lipstick smeared on it.  A new business card purse is created. 

I have been meaning to do this for ages and the Easter break has allowed me the time (and head space) to do a few bits of sewing for myself.  I downsized the pattern from here , thanks to Every Spare Minute for blogging about this pattern.  The lining and zipper covers are in the little green spot and I love them.

The Frank Kitts Market on Easter Saturday was disappointing, very few people came through the market.  I had heard from others that it was slow, but thought it was worth a try.  The up side is I got to catch up with other crafty people who I have met at other markets.

Francois and his friends got a days outing at the market, but alas were not adopted.  I usually make my bears from woollen blankets that I dye and felt, but Francois is an upper class kind of bear - he is made from 100% upcycled cashmere wool and is very soft.

I am sad to see the Easter holiday come to an end.  It marks the real change of seasons for me.  The clocks have been put back, the leaves are falling and there is a chill in the evening air.

It's a little dark and some crafting

Oy - it's very dark in here!

I am getting ready for the Frank Kitts market this Saturday.  It is a first for me so it will be interesting to see how it goes.  Hopefully it won't be too dark; the market is in an underground carpark.

I have also been playing with some of the new fabric...

This bag uses Kokka Le Ballet Girls in natural, the base of the bag and the lining is made out of Red Spot Two Ways.  I have used the little spot in the lining and the big spot for the base.

I hate turning fabric when I am making handles, I usually end up getting very frustrated swearing.  So I use one these great devices...

A Tape Maker

If you don't already have one I would defintiely recommend purchasing one.  To make my handles, I make two lengths of tape and sew them together - easy peasy and no swearing involved.

Also off to the market this weekend is Bob

Bob is a bit of a "ladies' rabbit" (aren't they all) and likes to tango.  He doesn't like being upstaged by Easter Bunny. 

Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments on the giveaway - I am enjoying your fabric stories, it's not too late if you wish to join in.

Happy Easter