Mid Wintery July Days

Greetings lovely friends & readers

My first vase of Daphne for the winter season.

  I was unloading a trailer of firewood & wondered what the lovely fragrance was when I realised my daphne bushes were in full bloom - so special 💗

It has been mid winter school holidays here in New Zealand.  Sid & his family spent the first week on holiday in Fiji.  Sid's Mum's best friend turned 40 so 3 families decided to fly to Fiji to celebrate the occasion.

They had a wonderful week away with beautiful weather & froze when they returned home again. 

The second week of the holidays was spent mostly at Granny's house.  We did lots of things to entertain him & keep him off devices.  

We baked banana breads & did Paw Patrol Diamond Art projects.  We went to see the Super Mario Brothers Movie & Granny may or may not have fallen asleep during it 😳!!  

We ate pizzas, & we picked lots of citrus fruit & gave away to friends as my trees are laden.  We also took bags of citrus fruit into the Sharing Shed when we went to town.  

Sid made this little arrangement above using a cat tea-towel I was gifted for my birthday.  

While he watched YouTube football videos I managed some handwork & completed the Velvet Chatelaine that I started at Sewing Retreat in June. 

The round beaded lid lifts off to reveal a holder for your tape measure.  The beaded leaf flips up to reveal a space for your thimble.

The largest velvet "rock" is filled with powdered emery so it keeps your pins nice & sharp.  The corner pocket is a holder to keep your scissors in.  

Here is the back view & also the pattern.  This came as a kitset which I thrifted sometime early last year at the same time as I thrifted the Velvet Journal Cover in this post.  I am so pleased this is finished, I love it but I shall NoT be making another one as it was "challenging" at times 😉

I think the name is so appropriate ... "A little bit of Magic - a fantasy chatelaine "

Just prior to my trip down to visit my friend Sandy in my last post I finished this book.  This would be without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read & I truly could not put it down.  It is an intense, gritty read, not my usual genre, but honestly such a well written book.  I am on the lookout for more of Jeanine Cummins work now.  If you've ever read this please leave me a comment & let me know if you enjoyed it or not.  

Each month when I do my big grocery shop I pick up a copy of  NZ Gardener magazine which I love.  A couple of months ago they had an offer where you could send in an SAE & receive a free packet of pansy seeds so I did this. 

I duly sowed them in my handmade wool blanket seedling pots & they all grew really well - so this morning I decided to prick them all out into larger pots.  I've currently put them in the hospital corner of my lounge so I can keep an eye on them & keep them watered.  I'm hoping I get a nice variety of different pansies. 

Miss Pippi is really happy this morning because (a) school went back today so no Sid & (b) her Mother gave her two boxes to sleep in so she gets some variety 😉.  And this photo of Little One is just for you Ellie as you asked after him & I wanted you to see he is living such a stress-free life 😝

Thank you all as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead filled with special moments,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

Two Birthdays & An Aeroplane Flight ✈️

Greetings lovely friends & readers

And Welcome to the month of July !!

On my table today a jug of felt daisies, handmade by my friend Carolyn, along with a small bunch of roses from my friend Shirley.

 

On the very last day of June I celebrated another birthday, 66 years around the sun 🌞!! We had a simple family lunch together the Sunday prior, & The Mr surprised me with this stunning (& delicious) carrot cake from a local Bakery.

I was very spoilt indeed & received some wonderful gifts from family & friends  💗

A few days after my birthday I boarded a plane & flew down to the South Island to visit my dear friend Sandy.  Sandy & I met when our youngest sons were in Primary School so it is a friendship that has spanned several decades.  

Three & half years ago Sandy moved to the South Island to live just outside of Christchurch, & every year I would promise her that I would visit.  This year I finally did & I chose July because both our birthdays are within a few days of each other.  

The day after my arrival - Sandy's birthday - we drove to Kaiapoi as we were booked into Paris for the Weekend for a High Tea. 

What a wonderful experience it was - those Pink Scones were Vanilla & Rose & they were just so delicious !! We had such a lovely High Tea together ... 3 tiers of food & Yes we ate it all!!

After lunch we drove into the city, parked, did some shopping, walked to the Riverside Markets & then down to the brand new Te Kaha Stadium, only opened in March of this year.  It was stunning.

Then we walked back up to the Bridge of Remembrance & on along the Avon River which runs right through the centre of the city.

We both wanted to see the Memorial Wall which is in memory of the Christchurch Earthquake of February 2011 & the 185 lives that were lost.  It was a very sacred place & beautifully scripted.

Later that day we were booked into Strawberry Fare where we enjoyed Mocktails & Desserts.  By the time we drove home the rain was setting in but what a wonderful day to remember, celebrating our birthdays & friendship.

The weather stayed wet & cold for the remainder of my trip but I did manage to paint a table for Sandy in her garage.  I'd forgotten to take a before photo but it was a patchwork of different pinks as Sandy had confused herself trying to choose a shade.  We both settled on Pale Rose which I've used before & is a lovely soft pink - it still needs one more coat in my last photo. 

Everything Sandy does is done with such exquisite taste & her home is no different.  It was lovely & peaceful tucked away down a Close.  

Prior to my trip I'd sewn a drawstring pouch from some Japanese Woven fabric & added a tissue & a triangle zipper pouch to match.  I'd filled it with a selection of soaps, washcloths, matches box & this diamond art bookmark that Sid & I made.  Sandy loved her gifts.  

All too soon it was time to fly home again & we have promised each other we won't leave it so long next time.  Next time I fly South I shall definitely choose the warmer months though. ❄

And you will be wondering what a certain ginger furry being thought of Mum being away AGAIN in less than a month ???

She doesn't wish to talk about such a despicable thing (!!!) 😉

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends,

I shall get around to visiting you all at your blogs now I am home again,

Sending much love & friendship to you all.

Sewing Retreat 2026 ~ (Part two)

Greetings lovely friends & readers

I spotted the first daffodil in bloom in my garden this week - June (mid winter here) seems very early to me.

I have a few more photos to share from Retreat, mainly scenery ones. It is situated in such a beautiful spot, between Lake Taupo & Turangi & has lake views from the Retreat itself.
  I meet up with my dear friend Leeanne who also travels to Retreat & we get to spend special time together including lots of lakeside walks.

Some of us partake in the swings 😉

I captured some stunning sunsets while we were there.

These photos are taken just outside the Sewing Room looking towards the Lake ... midday Saturday, & then evening.   Just such a magical place  💛

I first met Pam on Instagram & although we have corresponded for many years, we had never actually met up.  I was very excited to hear that Pam was coming to Retreat & it was wonderful to finally meet her in person - she was every bit as nice as I imagined her to be.  

When we were leaving on the Sunday Pam presented both Leeanne & I with a package.   It wasn't until much later when I got home that I got to open my package & inside was all the goodies below  .  .  .  .

There were choccies in the bag too but I ate them a ginger cat ran off with them!!!

Pam had sewn a beautiful patchwork project bag & filled it with a mixture of sewing related goodies - I was truly blown away by her kindness & when I messaged her to thank her she replied that it gives her immense pleasure putting together handmade gifts for people.  Thank You so very much Pam - I am still in awe of all my treasures. 

The week prior to Retreat I cleaned my sewing machine thoroughly, put in a new needle then packed everything away ready.  I needed some projects that didn't require sewing machines.  

This wooden trug was a thrifted find & I decided to paint it & fill it with some goodies to gift to Leeanne as we both share June birthdays.

I gave it 3 coats Vintage White chalk paint & then applied a decor transfer as I knew she loved both dahlias & the colour Red.  

I painted the handle in a contrasting red,  then added some grainsack stripes to give a bit of cohesion.  

I had been gathering sewing related supplies for awhile & I wrapped these & filled the trug with them.  Leeanne was thrilled with her gift 💗

After my cross stitch post * here * I found * this * free pattern & stitched it up in the called-for threads.  I remembered to tea-dye my aida cloth first & not have a repeat of the colours running.  I loved the simple primitive look to this design.  I found this hexagon design fabric in my stash which I thought went well with the stitchery.

Also in my stash was this thrifted board, light in weight so not a chopping board.  I painted it 2 coats linen chalk paint.  I really had no idea where I was going with this but carried on anyway  .  .  . 

I covered a piece of card in wadding & the hexagon fabric then sewed a pocket in the same & handstitched the stitchery to this.  I added some rusty hearts & keys to my piece, tea-dying the lace to match.  I put Mums reading glasses in the pocket & a couple of old photos of her.  When I was lightly sanding the wooden board I accidentally sanded the edges of the stitchery but I loved that this gave it such a timeworn effect.  

I've written before about my "Mum Corner" - her table, canteen of cutlery & some other bits of hers.   I tucked my board into the corner along with all my Mum treasures ❤

Pippi is delighted that the Painters finished this week after 6 long weeks.  (Her Mother is rather delighted too  😉) 

To make her even happier The Mr received a package inside a box that was almost big enough for her to squeeze her ample proportions into !! 😉

Thank you dear friends, for your ever-welcome visits here today,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

Sewing Retreat 2026 ~ (Part One)

Greetings lovely friends & readers

I have been away to my yearly Sewing Retreat & had a most wonderful time.  You can read my post about last years Retreat * Here *.

 Beautiful King Protea flowers - a bunch gifted to me by Leeanne's friend Barbara, who grows them ~ just stunning 💗

Prim Olde Santa by Kerry Daly of Primitive Country Treasures

My focus project for this years Retreat was to make myself a Prim Olde Santa.  He is a pattern from an older Homespun Magazine (Vol 9.7) & although I have made several over the years for customer orders, I had never made myself one.  Here he is finished & hanging on my wall.  Our dull grey Waikato days do not show up the deep rich red that he is.  

As I didn't wish to be painting at Retreat there was lots of prep work done beforehand - boot painting, legs of rag-doll & also striped candy canes were all painted at home.  

Some closer pics of the details in him.

I made Raggedy Anne removable as she is lovely to have out all year round when Santa is put away.  

I'm looking at my pic & realising I've forgotten to blush her cheeks.

The 2nd project I worked on just a little was this table runner - a pattern called French Street by Georgina Jane Designs & this one has been 10 years a VeRy long time in the making.  Still lots of embroidery to do to it & then a patchwork border.  I shall keep plugging away at this project.

(A Little Bit of Magic fantasy chatelaine by tis the season)

I worked a full day on this kitset, a thrifted purchase very similar to * this * velvet journal cover I made last year.   I got most of it made but still lots of beading left to do which is labour intensive. 

I was pleased with the work I got done at Retreat - more than I had anticipated which is always a bonus.

At last years Retreat, Janice decided to get everyone there to gift her a tiny scrap of fabric from whatever they were working on.  For me it was my Ruth's quilt & you can see my scrap where the blue arrow is.

  She then sewed all the scraps into a panel which she stitched to the back of her denim jacket.  I thought it was stunning & she said she gets stopped a lot when she's wearing it & asked about it.  I just loved this whole concept. 

Mon spent the first day working on a handbag made from marine vinyl & then sewing the green paisley lining into it.  I forgot to get a finished pic.  The next day she made these sneakers above right, she imports the soles & then makes all the rest. I was blown away by her work.  Mon creates under the label UNiquely hands crafted.

The lady behind me was working on a gorgeous Stained Glass Window quilt & I watched her create the dragonfly above left.  

The chairs do not push out easily on the carpet & I noticed one lady had a remedy - she said her husband had made these tennis ball castor feet for her chair.  How wonderful!

The food at Retreat is always amazing.   One afternoon tea we were served Purple Cakes - Ube Cake made from purple Yams (!!) Delicious 💜

I was restrained in my fabric purchases this year only buying the fat quarters top left which were $2 pack.

  The stunning Kaffe Fassett fabric top right was won in the lucky draw we always have. 

Alongside the de-stash table there is always a Free table where other crafters leave things they no longer want.  Leeanne actually spotted this hexagon quilt top which was Free & told me it was my colours. I snapped it up very quickly.  It has a couple of stains on it that I feel confident I can remove. (again not showing up true to colour in my pic)

I always allow myself a couple of hours in Taupo en-route to browse the many Op-shops there.  The above purchases came home with me this trip.  

Miss Pip frets whenever I go away & often doesn't eat, then is clingy on my return. I was worried more as the Painters were already stressful for her.  She seems to have settled down a bit now especially as I have let her sleep on the clean laundry, something I never normally do. 

Thank you dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

I shall be back soon with Part two as this is plenty long enough,

Wishing you a wonderful rest-of-the-week & I shall catch up on all your blogs again,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,