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,

Snippets From My Week . . . . . . . .

Greetings lovely friends & readers

I hope this finds you all well & ticketyboo ?

 The Painters are still not finished though the bulk of it is done -  there are still windows & French doors to do ... fiddly stuff.   You can see top left, the new colour which is Resene Titania & the old colour which (showing yellow) was Country Way.  It appeared quite yellow on some walls & more of a clotted cream on other areas.  I am really happy with the new colour.   We have most of the plastic removed but still some windows partially covered up.  

The reason it's taking so long is because there is only a 4 hour window of drying time at this time of year - 10 til 2.  Then it's too damp, especially in this little basin where we live & the fog rolls in early.  

The 3 cats are most unhappy with the constant tradesmen here.  Little One went missing for a day & half a night last week - can you spot him up high in a tree?  Blackie has taken to the bathtub & Miss Pip has told me 3 times she is leaving home, tho' I haven't noticed her packing her things just yet 😉  We have 3 days peace & quiet as it's a long weekend here in New Zealand (Kings Birthday Weekend).

I have spent a lot of time outside & away from the tradesmen.  I managed to finish my mulch pile which delighted me immensely.  Last week I weeded my hothouse & made my new Lasagne garden for next spring's tomato plants.  Here is the no-dig recipe I use which I swear by & have great success with :-

- a layer of newspaper or cardboard

- a layer of leaves

- a layer of compost (I used a tray of worm farm castings)

- a layer of green waste (I used lawn clippings)

- a layer of peastraw (I used leftover strawberry straw)

- another layer of compost

- a thin layer of mulch.

Give it a good soaking every week so it all breaks down.

Late yesterday afternoon while I was burning some garden rubbish the cows all came over to the fence to see what I was doing ... I love how inquisitive they are. 

Click on the image to read the details about the book - a true story.

I managed to read this book in under a week which is a miracle for me as I am a slow reader.  I could not put it down & thoroughly recommend it.  I got my copy from my local Library - it is Sally Wenley's memoir.  

My friend Gail asked me if I'd like to go with her over to Matamata one day last week.  For Lord of the Rings fans, this was where it was filmed - here is the town Information Centre above - very "hobbity looking".

I've not been to Matamata for 2 decades now & we had the loveliest day out having a coffee, a wander around the township & then a nice lunch in a cafe.  

Gail's main reason for going was to visit this craft supplies store Rock Me Revamp as she was after decor transfers.

I purchased the small transfers above & decided to try some milk paint as I've seen it used on YouTube but never had a go myself.   

We had a wander around the Op-shops, of which we found 4.  I haven't op-shopped all year since my big January clean-out & I very much enjoyed my thrifting day & found some treasures to bring home.

The two plaster candle holders above left were $4 each & I am thinking of giving them the rust treatment.  The rectangular dish with the lacey edge was $4 & I've sat my dishwash liquid on it along with soap & dishcloth.  I've put my dishwash liquid in an old glass decanter because - why ever not ??!! 😊 Things can be beautiful as well as functional too dear friends. 

My photo is not doing this justice - it is a heavy glass tile, quite large, about A4 size - I thought it would be beautiful in my Easter decorating.  This was $6 ... all the above items were from the SPCA op-shop.

The enamel milk pourer was $4 & the decorative bracket above right was $3 ... I will use this to hang up my Fleur Woods inspired piece from * this post *.

This cane tray was $5 from Hospice ... I bought it home, cleaned it & warmed it by the fire before spray painting it with a matt finish off-white paint.  I plan to use this in my laundry.  

The Hospice shop had a free box out front & I picked up this old blue book.  A few days later I painted it .. I wanted a dark charcoal colour but had none so I mixed black with a bit of white to get the right shade.  I painted the entire cover,  then applied a transfer that I purchased from Paint Me Vintage earlier this year.

This is the first time I've tried the gold metallic transfers & I really liked how it turned out.  

This made me think of you Lynn & Precious as I know you have long lap times  💙

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend dear friends - I am off to make myself a sticky lemon slice as I've had a sugar craving all week 😐

Thank you as always, for your ever-welcome visits here today,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

My Cross Stitch Attempts, Alec's Birthday & Some Changes . . . . . .

Greetings lovely friends & readers

One of the things I wrote down on my List-of-Hopes-&-Wishes as the New Year rolled around was to teach myself to Cross Stitch again (I don't make Resolutions, preferring instead to have this List). 

It is over 2 decades since I last attempted cross stitch & when I look at some of the beautiful work my crafty friends do, I always wish I could manage to cross stitch but my eyesight always failed me.  It was my dear friend Shirley who suggested I try on Aida Cloth as the Aida is much easier to see the tiny squares, compared to the Linen.  

 I found a remnant of Aida in my stash & decided to have a try using this free pattern from Whilst Iris Naps.  My dear friend Jane kindly cross stitched this design for me back in 2022.    I found the little rabbits not too tricky so I had a go at the carrot which ended up a teeny bit wonky but I was able to fix it up.  I made these little items up into a sweet Easter display in a thrifted glass dish.  

Inspired by this I tried another free pattern, this one from The Primitive Hare..  This took me longer but I was thrilled with how it turned out ... until ... I decided to teadye the aida once I'd finished it & the red dye in the Cottage Garden Thread I'd used, ran.  I was so disappointed, rinsing out what I could, but deciding to sew it up into a small cushnion anyway.  Note to self Julie - tea dye the aida before stitching in future !!

I saw this sweet rabbit pattern on Instagram, a freebie from @arcadia.stitchery so I printed it off  & have not long finished stitching it up.  I am backing these pillows with leftover chenille fabric from my stash & filling them with crushed walnut shell as it helps them to sit nicely.   I am hopeful I can continue with these simple little cross stitch designs as I do enjoy making them.

Last Sunday was Alec's birthday & he was turning 11!! A Very Important Age Granny  he informed me !!  I baked a batch of cupcakes & Rice-bubble crunch to take down to Kinloch.  

I also had some more charity sewing to take down.  6 cats & 6 rabbits from my wool blanket stash.  Yes that IS a ginger cats tail you see tucked in there 😯

Alec's parents had gifted him an electric scooter for his birthday.  He gave Granny a demo.   I think this was a wonderful gift as it got him up & outside, & away from his devices.  He has apparently been on it all week after school - out until dark.  I gave him money towards a new, safer helmet which he has purchased this week.  

We all went out to 2 mile bay Sailing Club for a pizza lunch & Alec's Mum had made him a birthday cake 

(which was delicious).  

I was most taken with the black swans that were serenely swimming around - I took a short video of them but can't get it to upload unfortunately.  They were just adorable. ❤

In the midst of last week I was rearranging some furniture & needed to move my wall unit some 7 inches to the right in order to fit another chair into the gap. 

I'm not sure how, but I ended up taking all the china out of my wall unit, washing it, & then (in a moment of madness) decided to wash all the teddies that sat in it also.  

Thankfully it was a nice autumn day & I got them all dry on the clothes line.  

I washed the lace runners & doilies & everything just sparkled once I'd put it back together (which ended up taking 3 days in total). When I deep clean the lounge, somehow this unit always just gets a lick & a promise, so it was wonderful to know it had been thoroughly cleaned,

There are a few changes happening here at Threadbear HQ as we are in the midst of getting our house exterior painted.  This is what the the windows look like currently -  like being in a cave.  While I am so thankful to have (4) tradesmen here doing work that would otherwise be mine to do - it is also very stressful & the furry family members are most unimpressed & traumatised.  

There appears to be changes in blogland too, as I had so many issues getting my last two posts to publish.  My Fleur Woods inspired post took 5 days & has had very little traffic.  I was going to delete my testing post but as some folk have kindly left me comments, I shall leave it up.   It is bewildering to me so, as I hit Publish on this post, I shall hold my breath & say a Prayer. 

As always dear friends - thank you for your ever-welcome visits & for the sweet, kind comments you leave me here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,