The blink of an eye . . .

Good afternoon dear friends & readers,

The past couple of weeks has passed by in the blink of an eye ...

Last weekend I had the unexpected pleasure of a visit from a  friend I originally met through my blog  -
my dear friend Leeanne from quiltmekiwi came down to the Waikato for a couple of nights.

"Lets go Op Shopping" was her only request ... I was more than happy to oblige   :-)

The left hand pic is my car boot after our day of hitting the Op Shops & the right hand pic is (some of) my stash spread out on my bed

This was the end of my lounge as I hung all my Op Shop treasures on the clothes horse to dry after soaking & washing them ... I love this sight  :-)

(It was so lovely to spend time with Leeanne, & even though The Mr & I tried really, really hard ... we were unable to sneak a kitten into her car before she went home again!!!)

After Leeanne's visit the rains came & have stayed around for the rest of the week, so I have been spending some time in my sewing room.

Last winter I took part in The Hottie Project & was really pleased when I got Lisa's email inviting me again this winter as I think it is a fantastic project

These were the four I managed to stitch up & post off to Lisa ... I tried to make a selection that was suitable for both boys & girls, & especially loved the v-dub beetle fabric which I teamed with the orange retro blanket.

My baby cuddly blankets in the Cottage were looking a little depleted, so I ran up some more fleece cuddlies from this gorgeous polar fleece I had purchased while down at Mums in April.

Several months ago I bought these plain glass jars in the "sale bin" at my local Supermarket & popped them aside with a project in mind

 I had an idea floating around in the wilderness that is in my head to make up some herbal bath sachets ...

I made up a combination of rose petals, lavender, oatmeal, a few herbs & some epsom salts ... then I realised the plastic stopper actually comes out of the lid, so I filled some with dried lavender & some with rose petals 
(& yes, I did have to "test run" one under the tap in my bath that very night)

I was especially pleased with these beautiful sheets of "Vintage Adverts" that I was able to get from Paperzone & use as labels for the jars 

This little doll belongs to my sister-in-law & was bought back for her from Vanuatu

 She was dressed in a ghastly plasticy dress which we removed - my sis-in-law asked me to dress her in a simple white dress with a touch of black & turquoise (the colours of her newly decorated bedroom)

She was so difficult to fit any clothes on that I ended up actually removing her head from her body!!!!
The little box sitting beside her was to give me the exact shade for the turquoise - I hope to come across a small turquoise flower to pop in her hand when I am next in town.

Warning  :  Kitten photos !!!!!

The Kitten Diaries:-
(for those of you that wish you may close your browser now)

We have discovered that Mums potted grasses in the terracotta boots makes the most wonderful soft little "nest" to sit in & bounce a bit ...

We are eating lots & growing fast - we prefer to be outside but sometimes at night we will venture inside for one of your stupid games that you play with us involving string & paper ...

The smallest of us (little sickie) prefers Mums fabric wrapped balls to chase but sometimes you need a little nap part way through this game

We have stopped hissing & spitting at you but we really prefer not to be patted - thanks very much

We often go walkabout for a day or two & sometimes we wonder why you come out in the most appalling weather conditions to look for us . . . (we figure you must be quite insane) ... calling us in that stupid voice you use ...

Our adoptive Mother .... & no, she is not weeding the garden ...

Thanks so very much for your visit today folks - I have an appointment with my sewing machine this rainy afternoon
Wishing you a wonderful rest-of-the-week
much love & friendship to you all    :-)
Julie 0x0x