Remembering Mum...

I have been without my Mum now for over 16 years and I still miss her.  We did not always have the perfect Mother - daughter relationship, but it was ours with all it's faults.  Her name was Marie, but pronounced like the end of Waimairi (the Maori place name).   

If she was still alive my Mum would now be in her 80's and she was a product of her times.  She had me in her late 30's, the youngest of 4 children and I always got the feeling that she and others thought this was quite late to be adding to your family.  As the youngest of 4, I do not have any photos of the two of us when I was a baby.  Again I think photos were more for special occasions and also my Mum was quite ill after she had me.  Although I am not aware of all the details, it may have even been post natal depression, not that it would have been diagnosed at the time or talked about.

She was quite the career woman in her day and owned a hair dressing salon from a very early age, but marriage, moving towns and babies meant the end of her career.  She had a love of beautiful clothes and always liked to be immaculately groomed.  I remember her always being very "dressed up"  even for things like school events and meet the teachers.  In fact she would most probably disapprove of some of the photos I am going to put on this post!  

Mum loved baking, cooking, sewing and gardening.  She made a lot of our clothes, not that I was necessarily grateful at the time, I remember desperately wanting store bought clothes.  But when I think back, my favourite clothes were those my Mum made.  

She had a little red Mini that she drove and on Fridays she would bring a bought lunch to school for me and my brother - we would run out to meet her at the school gates -  chocolate cream buns were the bomb!

We also went on family holidays (all 6 of us) in that Mini.  My two sisters (as the eldest) often had to catch the bus to wherever we were going.

I was 13 when my Mum had her first stroke and lost the use of her right side.  However she was very determined and worked very hard to get most of the use of her arm, hand and leg back again.  But her health was never great and  her heart problems were compounded by her own smoking.  Despite all this in her 50's she worked with young teenagers who slipped through the gaps, providing some one-on-one tutoring to give them life skills - helping them get their drivers' licenses, open bank accounts, set budgets, apply for jobs and do their own grocery shopping.  

One of our daily routines involved sitting down with a cup of tea at the end of a school day and tucking into some of her home baking and talking about the day.  How I wish I could sit down with her today and do that once again. 

Remembering my Mum on Mothers' Day.  

Catching Up

The past weekend I was in Melbourne with my sisters.  4 days of indulgent bliss!

Given the exchange rate there was not a lot of shopping done - as the prices were very expensive - but there was lots of window shopping, trying on and giggling.  I loved all the colour and displays....

The flower stall at night

The Queen Victoria Market

I have just downloaded my photos from my camera, whilst drinking a lovely chai tea bought at the market. 

 Thank you to my two lovely sisters for being such great company and my family for letting me escape.

Melboune - the ultimate girls' weekend away - suggestions please

The excitement is building as my two sisters and I get ready for the ultimate weekend away in ...... Melbourne.

This is the time that we leave our families at home alone, eating bread and water and generally economising so we can have FUN!  (I wish - it is usually when Mr S purchases major electrical appliances).

We take this very seriously - we have a girls' weekend bank account and every fortnight we put in $30 each towards our trip.  Because we do not live in the same city we justify this in that we would most probably spend that much seeing each other for coffee and cake if we lived in the same city. 

We have been doing girls weekend away for about 11 years now.  Sometimes life plays cruel tricks and we need to get together and support each other in other ways - one year my eldest sister's partner was terminally ill, another my Dad was seriously ill and yet another my dear brother in law had to have a quadruple by-pass.  But even when things are tough we know that next year it will still be there and we will have a bit more money squirrelled away. 

So we have four days in Melbourne at the end of this month and I would love to know what recommendations you have for eating out, crafty girl spots and good shopping.  We are also thinking of a day trip to Daylesford - is it too far for a day trip?  Once there what would you recommend we see and do?  And if we went on a Sunday would shops etc be open? 

11 more sleeps to go.....

exhausted

Yesterday was the Martinborough Fair.  A country fair/market held in a small town one and a half hours drive from Wellington over a big windy hill road.  The fair is only held twice a year and is huge.

I went over to help my sister Lesley with her stall and Miss M travelled over to help her uncle sell his toys.  As my sister says she has a "toy boy" for life.

The day was scorching hot, I think my feet increased two shoe sizes and I felt like I was melting.

It was great to spend time with family and we get to do it all again on the forst Saturday in March.

back home

After a wonderful time away, including morning walks on the beach ....

Building beach huts

Mr S being lifeguard

 It is back to.....

washing, lots and lots of washing.

P.S.   I am also packing for tomorrow's Frank Kitts Market, if you are looking for something to do I would love to see you.

The Knack Market and Miss M's Magic

I have the most completely awesome daughter.  (She has me under her spell, while she massages my back).  She is amazing, what would I do without her!  "What else do you want me to say Miss M?"

"Mum, you have big ears".  Hmmmm not sure that was quite what I had in mind!

As you can see I am easily bought.  For the price of a massage or someone playing with my hair I will do anything. 

And the final result....

(Where is the make smaller button on blogger!)  This is a rare event a photo of me on my blog, I would much rather post photos of others ...

Such as Alley enjoying the spring sunshine on Miss M's bed, while Miss M reads Tomorrow When the War Began series (my books).  "Mum they are really good books" - yes I know.

Or fabric.....

Sorry for the lack of blogging around here, but now all my wholesale orders are completed, hopefully my life will get back to normal (well sort of).  I may even get some making in and be able to blog about that.

I am also getting ready for a market this weekend - the Knack market is on this Saturday from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm at South Wellington Intermediate (SWIS) in Newtown.  Love to see you there!

Aroha to everyone in Christchurch

Christchurch is my hometown and at 4.35 am this morning it was struck by a 7.2 earthquake.  My family is all ok and so far there appears to have been no fatalities.  Thank God it happened in the middle of the night. 

I know of one person who has lost there home and a cousin's dog was crushed by a boulder.  I am sure there will be a lot of stories that come out over the next few days.  I can't believe the photos, the video footage, the devastation - surely it is somewhere else.

Below is a link of one video of some of the destruction. This is not far from where we used to live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HTySEWxbmc

To all my whanau, friends and everyone else in Christchurch our thoughts are with you - stay safe.

Thank you Palmerston North

Fabric a Brac in Palmerston North was fantastic.  Thank you to Josie and the team for organising this wonderful event and the lovely fabricaholics for attending. It was great to meet some blog readers and I am sorry if I did not have much of a chance to chat, but I do appreciate the hello!

This week has been extreme - what with travelling to Waimate (not easy to get to) packing up Dad's house (which was emotionally and physically exhausting), working, fabric shipment arriving and a market.  Yes, the fabric has arrived, just before lunch yesterday, so there was a lot of frenetic measuring and cutting ready for Fabric a Brac, and even then I only got some done!

I will be putting fabric into the shop over the next week - there is a lot. 

Including these wee fellas

And these ones..

I am hanging out for bed time - about 7.30 I think!

I hope everyone's weekend is going well.

half price tickets

Just a quick note to let you know that my sister is offering half price tickets to the Dunkleys Great NZ Craft Shows in September in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill over on her blog.  Lesley and her husband, aka the Toy Boy (he is a toy maker), have some seriosuly cool stuff.  Say hi and a hug from me if you are going.

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@#***

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.

sisters

Did you know it is Sisters' Week?  This is a special time to celebrate that special relationship that you have with your sisters.

Lesley and Jane

I am blessed to have two of the best sisters in the world - Jane and Lesley.  When I need advice, someone to celebrate successes with or someone to share my woes, they are the two I call.

When I was growing up they did alot of the "mothering" of me, which I did not appreciate at the time (sorry).  They also had the dubious pleasure of sharing a bedroom with me when they were sophisticated and worldly wise teenagers and I was just a pesky younger sister, poking my nose into all their special and treasured things.  Oh they had the coolest things!  Oh how I covetted the little wooden house money box with the secret drawer, the Cindy doll, the make up...

When my babies were born my sisters were the ones who celebrated and supported me (along with the wonderful Mr S of course).

We don't live in the same place, but what we miss in physical closeness we more than make up for in emotional closeness.

Several years ago we started our Annual Sisters' Weekend.  This is our special time, once a year, when we get away for a long weekend together - to spend time, talk lots, laugh even more, eat, drink and pamper ourselves.  Every fortnight we each put $30 (what we would most probably spend on lunches and coffees together) into a joint bank account and we use this to pay for our weekend away.  Some years have been tough and we have not made it (a partner's terminal illness and major operations) but I think this makes me even more appreciative of what we have.

We are known amongst the nieces and nephews as the crazy aunties, I think because when we get together the whole is greater than the sum of the parts; we just fit; we talk loudly, laugh and enjoy ourselves.  I like this kind of crazy.
 

 Jane and Lesley, I love you dearly, thank you for being such great sisters.

my thoughts are elsewhere today

Today my Dad gets out of hospital after almost 6 weeks.  It is a tough day because instead of going home to his house he is moving into a rest home.  He has been diagnosed with Parkinson's and his mobility has diminished dramatically in the last few months, as well as other health issues that mean that he needs some help.  For someone who is so stubborn and fiercely independent, he is being very gracious about the move.  My big sis has gone to Timaru to collect him and fly with him to Nelson.  I will spend some time with them when they pass through Wellington. 

I am looking forward to having him closer.  When he was very sick he promised his girls a feed of oysters in Nelson when we are all together.  I will be there Dad in the next few weeks and we look forward to you keeping up your end of the bargain!

I will leave you with a photo of some of yesterday's sewing.  The Owl Hat.



The fabric was bought last year at the Plunket fabric fundraiser organised by the gorgeous Mindy at Juniper.  It was donated by Thunderpants.  Do you think kids will mind the fact that other people have the same fabric made into knickers?

Living in a Parallel Universe

Well I am back home after a very topsy turvy 9 days.  I am pleased to say my Dad is out of any immediate danger and is recovering. I came home briefly (1 night) to repack my bags and head off to Auckland  and the Crafternoon Tea market on Saturday which was great.  It was lovely to meet people who have stopped by on my blog and website and meet the real people behind some lovely blogs I read.

It felt weird being away from my "real life" for so long.  It certainly was not planned for and it felt like I was living in some parrallel universe, with my real life carrying on somewhere else.  It was also an emotional roller coaster, thank goodness Jane, one of my sisters was with me! 

Mr S was very pleased to see me home he had had enough of being taxi driver, chef, launderer, procurement specialist, cleaner...

At Crafternoon Tea on Saturday I was very fortunate to be next to the lovely Jennie of A Little Vintage.  Jennie makes the most incredible dolls...

This lovely lady was there on Saturday.  Jennie also custom makes dolls using your own child's special clothes and will make the dolls to resemble their new adoptive "parent".  She does beautiful work.

I am really looking forward to doing some crafting of my own this week.

Hope your week is going well and happy stitching.

Happy Mothers' Day

Today feels surreal as it is not about Mothers' Day for me but about my Dad.  He is in hospital in Timaru and I am down here to be with him.  He is 84 and lives alone.  I am lucky that my eldest sister, Jane has also come down as well so we can support him, as well as each other.

It is a special time.

So happy mothers' day everyone, but more importantly love and cherish your families.

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.

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. 

big weekend

It has been a big weekend and I am enjoying some quiet time at home alone, while the rest of my family is at the Phoenix's semi final.  Time to cruise some blogs and do some sewing.

Saturday was the second Martinborough Fair. Miss M and I go over very early in the morning to act as market assistants for my sister and her husband.  Lesley is a glass artist who makes beautiful glass jewellery and my brother in law is a toy maker.

One of Lesley's landscape beads at the market...

And one of the toys at the market, the snail's shell comes off and is a rattle.

Martinborough Fair is a long day - the market starts at 8 am and finishes at 4 pm and there is one and a half hour drive to get there and home again.  The market is outdoors, around the town square and we arrived to find that the council had dug up the area we have our stalls to lay some new cables, then it rained and we had mud, mud lots of mud.  Not a good way to start the day!

Luckily it did not rain for too long, we had a lovely day together and the market was very busy.  So busy at one stage that one "shopper" decided to take a 5 finger discount and stole a couple of bracelets off the stall.  We know who it was, but by the time we realised they were gone, so had the person.  We felt bad about it, but did not want to let it spoil our day. We also heard that one unfortunate stall holder had their whole cash box stolen.

Apparently markets have become more of a target with the recession and we have certainly noticed that more has been stolen in the last 12 months than ever before. 

Last night J had his Birthday get together/sleepover so we had six 15 year olds to feed.  Luckily gone are the days when Mum and Dad have to provide the entertainment, our roles are strictly catering and clean up duty.

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend!