July Sewing (~ Part One ~) Kitsets Etc . . . . . . . .

Greetings lovely friends & readers

I have decided to split this Sewing Post into two parts as it is rather long-winded.

 The first bunch of daff's & Jonquils picked earlier this week - these looked so cheerful on my kitchen bench  💛

(The marks at the top are just the velour been rubbed the wrong way, not dirt as it appears)

Using some birthday money I purchased a new sewing chair in the 50% off sales.  My old one came from an Op-shop & was always uncomfortable.  I adore this new pink velveteen one & - so far - no cats have discovered it (!!) 🤞

When I did my sewing room clean-out in * this post * I put aside quite a variety of kitsets that I'd either been gifted, or purchased in recent years.  I wanted to get them made up & either used, or put in the gift box for someone else to enjoy.  I decided to make a start on some of these.

The first one I sewed was this triangle pouch made in a sashiko design fabric, fully lined & with a cute owl zipper-pull.  

The fun thing about kitsets is that everything is there, you don't have to think about what fabrics, trims etc ... you just Sew!

Choosing the simpler ones first 😉, I next made up these "Woodland Santas" hanging tree decorations.  These are only the size of a pen, so not large.  I thought these might be the perfect size to include in my Grandsons Advent calendar stockings.  

This Snowflake Table Runner was included in a Tilda Christmas box that I purchased in 2022 from Kitty Rose Cottage.  There were 6 kitsets in the box & this was my last one to be made up.  I loved the fussy cut hexagon Tilda bird in the centre.  I had started the English Paper Piecing on this awhile ago, put it aside & not come back to it.  I am so pleased it is finished now & can be used in this years Christmas decorating.

I hand quilted mine & also added a snowflake charm to each corner as I found a packet of different snowflake charms in my stash. 

When I visited my friend Claire in * this post *, & she presented me with the china bowl filled with beautiful goodies ... included was a tiny French General Charm pack.  So I sewed it up into a small mat ~ this one was machine quilted ~ I just adore this fabric range. 💓

Next project (not a kitset) was a new ironing board cover.  I'd purchased a generous length of Cath Kidston fabric last year to recover my board & make a new curtain for the spare bedroom. (A curtain for a shelf, not the window) 

To make a new cover I simply remove the old one, take out the elastic, lay it on the floor & cut around it, sew a casing, thread with new elastic, Viola ~ Easy Peasy !

The same with making the curtain - I used the old one for a "pattern". 

As you can see above, I had the usual supervision assistance with this project (!!) 😳 

And Yes I did have to wait 'til she woke up again to continue because I am pathetic like that ! 🐈

But the new curtain turned out lovely & so fresh looking.

I had the loveliest visit from my friend Sally last weekend & she presented me with this beautiful book as a birthday gift.  I absolutely adore Jessie Chorley's style & work,  & this book has inspired me to do more slow stitch work. 

This verse above rather sums up my sewing room currently dear friends & I have lots of "ideas lying around"

I am off to have a tidy-up but I will be back during the week with Part two.

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

With much love & friendship to you all,

Rope Bowls, Crafting With Sid & Little One Update

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Yesterday I picked my first vase of Daphne flowers - this brightened my day immensely, it is one of my favorite fragrances.  Then this morning I noticed the first daffodil had burst into bloom in my garden - how wonderful  💛

 

I subscribe to crafthousemagic on YouTube  and  * this video * popped up a couple of months ago.  It sparked my interest as I remembered I had two hanks of 7 mm cotton cording in my craft cupboard, purchased a couple of years ago now.  I decided to have a go right then & there.  My first bowl turned out great ...I made mine deeper than the one in the video & not as wide in the base.  I cut 1 inch strips of Tilda fabrics & used these in my rows. It was a lot of fun seeing it grow & I was delighted with the shape it turned out. 

I decided to fill it with some treaty bits & gift to a dear friend who was due to have a birthday early June.  

Wrapped up in cellophane & ribbon it looked wonderful & my friend is finding it useful to store small fabric blocks in.  

I decided to make another one for another dear friend whose birthday was early July.  As my friend loves blues & taupes I used a combination of these colours for my strips.  This bowl turned out great too & I did the same .. filled it with special bits & posted it off to her.  

My friend has styled hers with a trailing plant in & I think it looks wonderful - I love the raw texture of the bowl paired with the natural houseplant 💚 I am keen to make more of these - they were so enjoyable.  

I have had Sid odd days this week & he has also attended a school holiday sports programme.  We did arts & crafts together.  

Alec is no longer interested in crafting & makes this quite clear  "I think I'm a bit old for that now Granny".  Well, I said ~ I'm 65 & I still enjoy it!

I am saddened to feel that Sid may soon no longer enjoy this either so I make the most of it while he is still keen.

He made a robot called Bob & some other various "weapons".

I've just realised my blue bird has lost its black beak (!!)

Meanwhile Granny had watched yet-another-YouTube-video & seen how to make these sweet little origami style birds.  

* Here * is the video if you are interested ~ it is only 5 minutes long. I am always on the look-out for simple creative projects that might interest my Grandsons but Sid was not keen on making these.  I made mine into a mobile.   

Earlier this week we popped into the Salvation Army Op-shop & Sid got a soft toy for $4, & Granny bought the sweet little rabbit egg cup for $2.50.  I made it in to a pincushion with some delightful Peter Rabbit fabric in my stash.  I am thinking about rubbing some dark wax over him to take the gloss off, not sure as yet 😳

This month marks 2 years since The Mr bought Little One home from the farm.  As much as I would love to say otherwise, they still do not get along.  This photo taken last night is about as close as it gets, & just look at that ginger girls face, she is figuring out if she has the energy to run & hiss at him or not.  

Here is an example of doing as he pleases ... NO CATS ALLOWED ON THE GOOD BED QUILT!!

I love all my cats but Little One is an entirely different nature altogether.  He is now a teenage boy in Cat Years & like all teenage boys, he knows everything, doesn't listen, does as he pleases, & breaks all the rules (!!) 

Believe me, I should know, I have only raised boys.  

I have long ago given up hope that they will all get along - it's lucky we adore them all so much that we bow & scrape to them accommodate their different needs 😬  

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

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

A Birthday & A Family Celebration

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Welcome to July - here we are in to the 7th chapter of the year already !!

 It's mid winter here at the bottom of the world & there are no flowers anywhere in my garden so I did a little arrangement with a pretty cyclamen on my table, just for a splash of colour these grey days.

On the very last day of June I celebrated a sort-of-special-birthday.  By that I mean I turned 65 & here in New Zealand you receive the Government Superannuation once you reach 65 years of age.     I am curious if this happens in other countries too, so please leave me a comment & let me know. 

My brother & sister in law travelled up to spend the weekend with us - they've not been for over 8 years now.  I decided to have a family lunch on the Sunday, this way my sons & their families could attend also.  

As I was seating 10 people I decided to turn my dining table sideways instead of longways.   You can see above, that a certain ginger family member was none too happy about this fact & also, by the way Mum (Me) was running around, it was apparent that guests were arriving ... this always displeases Her Royal Highness (!!) 😉😾

We'd decided to have our usual pizza lunch, we all enjoy pizzas & the local shop makes such delicious ones.  I made some dips & nibbles & The Mr ordered me a beautiful Carrot Cake from a new local Bakery Station Grill

Bubbles & Birthday Cake .  .  .  .  what's not to smile about ?? 

From left to right, the birthday girl, sister in law Leonie & daughter in laws, Sarah & Nicole.

We all had the loveliest time - it's very rare that we get together with my brother these days (apart from funerals) & it was so wonderful.  Just all very casual & relaxed with plenty of food & laughter.

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

Then on Monday (my actual birthday) we had a craft get-together at Gails & she made me yet another cake & I was gifted the flowering plants above right.  The stunning table runner (left) was made by my dear friend Leeanne - my photos do not do it justice, it is just the most gorgeous shade of green, heavily quilted & made from vintage dupion silk that she thrifted.  💚

It's now school holidays here in New Zealand & this week has been time spent with Alec.  We went to the Minecraft Movie yesterday & I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would 😉

Today is pouring with rain & we have had 2 days of heavy rain warnings.  Little One is on the good bedspread 😖 & Madam Pip is tucked up in a wee ball in the "hut" her mother made her in a corner of the couch.  

(Blackie is out in the carport asleep on the ride on mower seat)

Two little verses that appealed to me on Instagram & I thought I'd share them.  The first one is funny (& certainly true for this "woman of a certain age) & the second one is VeRy true.

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

Sending much love & friendship to you all,