Wintery July Days .......................................

Greetings lovely friends & readers

It's the very middle of winter here at the bottom of the world & it's been Chilly.

I started last week off by making a Fridge Drawer Stew.

  I had parsnips & celery going soft in the Fridge Drawer so these got chopped up & tossed in, along with a selection of other veggies. I have lots of silverbeet & spinach ready in the garden so I added a large amount of these to get our greens.  This crockpot full lasted us 3 nights for dinner.

Several months back my dear friend Sandy sent me a photo of her Lounge room rug (left hand pic) & asked me to make her a felt candle mat in these colours.  I slowly stitched away on this & then waited for Sandy's recent birthday to post it to her.  I tucked several other treaty things into the parcel along with the candle mat.

Just this weekend my dear friend Shirley celebrated a special birthday.  I'd bought this china tennis cup/saucer awhile ago in a thrift store with the intention of making Shirley a soy candle in it for her birthday - I knew she loved these colours.  The fragrance is French Pear - another of her favorites (a VeRy lovely fragrance) 💕

To go with the candle I made Shirley a Matches Jar.  I thrift any jars that I think are suitable for these & save them.   Remove the lid, a good wash & then I applied some offcuts of transfers, a ribbon & a charm.  I like to glue the striker to the base of the Jar but also pop one in with the matches. I use my own one of these every single day & love it.  

After I'd made the candle I was putting my box of candle-making supplies away in the top of the cupboard, I leaned back slightly & heard a "snap".  I was so disappointed & cross with myself as I'd been nurturing this orchid flower stem along & watching it develop for weeks.  And I could not blame any furry friends either (!!)

I found this wee doll in my sewing drawer with painted yellow boots. I cannot remember ever painting these boots or making the doll.   I thought she was the sweetest size to fit in my new china shelf & I knew I had a gorgeous piece of red toile fabric that looked just like the pattern on the china.

I had the usual assistance of the furry variety 😐

She is dressed entirely from fabrics & trims already in my stash - a tiny piece of raspberry coloured linen became her bodice & another cream offcut for her bloomers.  I just love the toile fabric of her skirt.  I am sure she is an old pattern by Wendy Briggs of Country Friends designs.

I think she looks right at home amongst my new/old red transferware china  💗

Don't you think her skirt matches the china pattern so well dear friends ??

As it's school holidays here in New Zealand, Alec came for the day last Friday.  We baked in the morning (banana bread & chocolate crackles) & then after lunch we went & saw the movie Twisters.  I kept the smaller banana loaf & sent Alec home with all the rest of the baking because .......................... it's better he consumes it than me!!

I had the loveliest visit from my sweet friend Sally yesterday - we don't see alot of each other nowadays as she works long hours.  She gifted me this Gorgeous book above which I have been devouring ... along with the sweetest little duck egg blue coloured jug which I am going to pop some daphne stems into.  

Using some birthday money I treated myself to a new dressing gown in Bed Bath & Beyonds winter sale.  

Correction ... I treated Pippi to a new dressing gown 😯😫 (!!)

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead dear friends - remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship to you all,