An End-of-January Round Up

 Greetings lovely friends & readers

Apologies in advance - photo heavy post & apologies to Willie, no cat pictures sorry (!!)

It's been all about the Sweet-peas this week as they gradually come to an end ... & the hydrangeas are drying on the bushes as it's so HOT here  💜

January was a super busy month filled with many different things.  It's summer school holidays here in New Zealand - the children get over 6 weeks off school so there was lots of time spent with my Grandsons.

I travelled down to Kinloch & spent some time with Alec - he wanted to go to the Lake & snorkel.  Lake Taupo was so crystal clear & stunning, very cold though.  

We spent the whole morning at the Lake, then had a pizza lunch as we found a wood-fired pizza store right on the Lake front.  

I had Sid a lot more while his parents worked - we baked Banana Bread & went to the local movie theater to see Sonic the hedgehog.  We also crafted lots, but this Granny forgot to take any photos.  

When I packed all my christmas decor away I left out the Flat Angel that I made in * this post *.  I was not very happy with her & did not know why ... it felt like she needed something extra ??  

After looking at her for a few days I realised she needed something to frame her.  I found this old blackboard in my sleep-out & thought this might fit her perfectly size-wise.

I painted it with Linen chalk paint & the frame in Raspberry Beret.  Then I added some offcuts of leftover transfers to 2 corners. I attached my Angel to the board & was just delighted with how it turned out - I even think she is smiling brighter now 😊

I managed to complete the Euro Cushion Cover that I began working on in my last post.   I had wanted to use up the extra cross-stitch that my friend Jane gifted to me for my birthday last year.  

I had no idea what I was doing but had it in my head to make a sort of slow stitched piece incorporating more of the French General fabrics that my friend Shirley had gifted me.  This Antoinette range is especially beautiful.  I made the x-stitch the focal & then added bits of fabric around it, making it up as I went along.

I embellished with some yo yo hearts, pearl buttons,  & also lots of kantha stitches to give the fabric some texture, rather than machine quilting it.

I added in some vintage lace oddments from my stash .  .  .  .

A patchwork section to use up the French General fabrics, some braids & crochet lace & a gorgeous piece of linen handpainted with flowers - I think this was a blouse once-upon-a-time.

I made a simple button closure for the calico back, did not have any buttons big enough but found a button covering kit in my drawer so covered 2 buttons to use instead of going out & buying some.

I also made a Roundie cushion using a pattern from my Granny Chic Book & stuffing from an old pillow.  

Here are the 2 new cushions displayed on my bed.  I just love how it has turned out & look at that dear friends - 

not a cat in sight !!! 

My dear friend Jennifer from elefantz designs is encouraging us to pull out books & magazines we already have in our bookshelves, to give us inspiration.   I was leafing through my pile of Simply Vintage magazines & came across this Ladybird Pincushion pattern, then remembered I had a wee stash of these vintage jelly molds in my cupboard.  I chose the largest sized mold & made up the pincushion in an afternoon using felt scraps from my stash  🖤

Our small craft group is meeting next week to discuss the years program & I thought this might be a simple achievable project for the girls to do some time in the year ahead.

(The pattern is from Simply Vintage Volume 23, Summer 2017)

If you've made it this far then well done & Thank You !!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - it's going to be another Hot one here so maybe some time indoors doing more creative projects?

Sending much love & friendship to you all,