this time last year

What a busy week.  There has been no time for blogging, or sewing, I have either been working or spending time with family.  We have had my sister in law, Jenni staying, which is always a special time.   Jenni lives and teaches in Tanzania and this time last year Jack went back to Tanzania with Jenni for 13 weeks and went to the school over there.  As a Mum it was extremely hard to say goodbye and let my 14 year old go for that length of time, but I could not hold him back from an opportunity of a life time. So this time last year I was a blubbering mess.  I think it was the slowest 13 weeks in history.

Thank you Jenni; it is a very special person who can live with a teenager that is not their own!

This week has also seen more lights being made...

Lego Play Blocks

  

Flower Bed Chartreuse

Day at the Zoo

Tomorrow I have a date planned with my sewing machine.

Have a great weekend. 

*@$**F***Blogger### won't let me delete this photo.   Mumble Mumble bloody computers, think they can have a mind of their own @**F@#***

a cushy number and a market tomorrow

Cushions, cushions everywhere.  I am just trying to sort out all the details to offer custom made cushions in the shop and these are some of the cushions I have had made to showcase the fabrics. 

                           Circa 50 Cars - 100% organic

Echino Tiger on Flower in Fuschia

 

Echino Flower Bed in Blue

Bird Song in Green (one of my personal favourites)

I am also pleased to say that you can now order custom made lightshades in the shop.  This one is an 18 inch drum in Quiet Ground in Natural.  This fabric has sold out but there is more coming in the shipment in August.

And because there was some left over fabric that I did not want to go to waste I created some instant art for the lounge wall. 

Plus if you need a fabric fix tomorrow I will be at the Frank Kitts Market in Wellington from 10 am to 4 pm.

Have a great weekend and happy stitching.

Winner of the NZ Quilter Magazine and Goodies

The hat for drawing giveaways came down from its home at the front door to do another service at picking a winner - no random number generators here! 

The hat is another op shop buy from a year or so ago and I love to think of the stories it might share, who wore it and what events it went to.  Mr S would like to know why it is at our front door - my reply "just because" - it's a girl thing.

And the winner of the magazine and some little goodies is Macmaree.  Macmaree I hope you are reading this because I need your email address to organise getting this to you.  Please email me lyndy@stitchbirdfabrics.co.nz

Sorry this is a day late but I ran out of yesterday.

my name is lyndy and I have a problem....

...an addiction to op shopping.

This week's bargains included some fine (handmade?) tatting $1, rose lace hand-made in China, approx 1/2 a card of 48 yards $2, a NZ badge/tie pin that says ONWARD 50 cents, 1.7 metres of very dark denim $1, and a gorgeous old gingham apron with handworked pockets and hem $2.

The lace does have some age spots, but is looking pretty good for its age and nothing that a soak in nappysan won't get rid of.  (Oh if only it was so easy for me to get rid of my age "spots")

Also in the mail today was a gorgeous package for ME!

I love mail, especially this sort of mail...

I was the very lucky winner of the Frank and Dean giveaway that was hosted on Stella's blog the golden adventures of a very dark horse.

Beautiful postcards, envelopes, stickers and other gorgeousness.  Stella and her sister Rosa May are artists have just started their new business F 'n D Printers of Distinction, printing some of their gorgeous art work to share. Great for gifts and also for reviving the art of letter writing.

And it's not too late if you would like the Quilters magazine and other goodies, just pop a comment in and  I will do a draw thingy on Monday and I will include some of the rose lace in with it as well as some other goodies.

I'm off to spend some time sewing.  Enjoy your weekend.

exciting happenings and a giveaway

What with the school holidays I feel as though there is not a spare minute to come up for air. 

There are a number of exciting things happening at Stitchbird Fabrics, but I can't tell you just yet, otherwise I might jinx it!  But keep your fingers crossed for me.

One of the things I can show you is a gorgeous lampshade I have had made using the echino birdsong fabric in pink.

Now for the giveaway part which I know you were all wanting to read about - which I have left until last - so you have to read the other bits!

It has happened again, I have two copies of the latest NZ Quilter.  No, I am not going doolally and forgetting that I have bought one (although this could happen :)).  The lovely Mr S gave me a subscription for Christmas and the lovely people at NZ Quilter also send me a copy when I advertise in their magazine.

So would you like a copy of this magazine...

I love these quilts which are featured inside...

Also because I won a giveaway this week and I believe in paying it forward and sharing the loooovvvve, I will also pop some goodies from my stash in.  And I have got good stash!  

To enter just leave a comment, if you would like two entries, become a follower and even better tell your friends.

More about the giveaway that I won next time, with some photos.

Happy stitching.

Holiday Joys

I really love my kids, I really do, but they are not at their best when the weather is bad, their friends are away and the netball holiday programme for one of them is cancelled. 

Today we have had the "sock incident" a major argument because one put their dirty sock in the hood of the other's hoodie while they were wearing it.  Crime of the century, which I did not apparently take seriously enough! (Bad mother)  Or another favourite line of the day was "MUM HE KEEPS LOOKING AT MEEEEE!"  Terrible, quelle horreur!

They also make me laugh.  Today Mr 15 was wrapped in his quilt on his bed reading and my phone goes off, with a text from him that reads

can u please bring me a biscuit im 2 warm to get it myself

Ah well let me think about that for a moment.... hmmmm..... ah... NO, but he did get points for cheekiness.

But all is quiet in our house, a quick trip to the library and hiring of the DVD Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief worked a treat.  Both my kids loved this book and judging by the hush, are both loving the movie.

Time enough to attend to dinner homemade Minestrone Soup and french bread rolls.

Recipe for French Bread

4 1/3 cups heavy duty flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
4 teaspoons Surebake Yeast (or another yeast powder of your choosing)
1 1/2 cups warm water

place all ingredients into bread maker select dough.  Form into rolls or french sticks when finished.

Let rise in a warm place (30 - 35 degrees celsius) for 30 minutes.
Bake 12 -20 minutes at 180 degrees celsius depending on whether you are doing rolls or a sticks.  EAT

If you are going stir crazy with all this bad weather and would like an outing this Saturday why not pop into the Frank Kitts Market undercover on the waterfront in Wellington, that's where I will will be.

crafting for good

My sister Lesley is a fantastic glass artist (as well as a wonderful sister).  She lampworks the most incredible beads and makes them into the most divine jewellery which she sell in her shop and at markets.

Beads of Courage - these guys look like fighters flying into battle

She is also very involved in making and donating beads to the Beads of Courage Programme with The Child Cancer Foundation. Children living with cancer receive beads for every procedure they go through.  The colour and style of bead indicates what treatment  they have received.  For especially tough treatments a special bead is given and Lesley makes the most beautiful special beads for some very special and courageous children.

Lesley has recently started her own blog and you can read more about her work with the programme and some of the recipients on her blog.