Van Life, Charity Sewing & New (Winter) Cushions

Greetings lovely friends & readers

          On my bench today the rose "Heaven Scent", one of the roses gifted to me when my Mum passed away.  

💜

(I acknowledge this next part may be of no interest to many folk but I wanted to document it as I write this blog as a memory book for myself & my Grandchildren, for the future - so wanted to include it)

In October of 2024 my youngest son Kayne (Sid's Dad) purchased a van privately from Auckland.  The van had belonged to a carpet layer so was a generous size which was good as Kayne planned to fit it out as a Camper for himself & his family.  I took these photos when he first bought it around to show me.

Over the course of the next year Kayne gutted it & set about fitting it out with bunks which folded out into a bottom double bed, a handbasin, toilet & made it able to be certified for Freedom Camping.  You need a certificate for this here in New Zealand.  This was all built by Kayne as time & - mostly funds - allowed.  Nicole did all the painting, sewed the curtains & the soft furnishings for the van.  

It was all done on a shoestring or as my dear Dad would say - the sniff of an oily rag.    All the while they planned & saved for a big South Island trip. 

 Their South Island trip came to fruition recently & they all had a most wonderful time away.  Unfortunately with the cost of petrol currently in NZ, it was not an ideal time so they ended up cutting their trip in half & only doing the top part of the South Island, which in hindsight, was a good decision.

A week before Easter they headed off from Te Awamutu (white asterix), drove down the middle to Wellington (yellow star) where they caught the Interisland ferry across to Picton  (this takes 3.5 hours to cross)

I've tried to show their trip around the top of the South Island here ...

 (1) Picton to (2) Nelson, down to (3) Murchison, (4) Hanmer Springs, (5) Christchurch, out to (6) Akaroa, up to (7) Kaikoura & then up to (8) Blenheim before back up to Picton for the ferry home.

They were away for 3 weeks all up, staying a couple of nights in some places, sometimes freedom camping but also staying in some Camp Grounds to use the facilities. 

Here they are at one Camp Ground - they had purchased this tent-style-cover which you attach over the back door of the Van when it is up & it adds another "room" to the van.  It was wonderful. 

 A few holiday snaps showing the wonderful autumnal weather they experienced. 

Such a great experience for all of them.  Sid's favorite place of all (yes I asked) was Hanmer Springs.  He actually had his birthday while away on the trip & turned 9 !!!   I'm sure you will be seeing more Van Adventures on this blog in the future.  😊

Last weekend was Anzac Weekend here in New Zealand.  I'd been having a sort out of my wool blankets & decided to make some hot water bottle covers.  These are going to a charity that my eldest son has put me on, to but I will document more about this once they have been received as I have still to get these down to Taupo.  I made 6 covers & then put new hotties inside them.  Little One gave them the "seal of approval".  

While i had the offcuts I decided to make some lavender hearts.  I used to make & sell so many of these in my craft cottage.  They are filled with my homegrown dried lavender.  These are going to the Charity also.  

You can see I wasn't quick enough putting the wool blankets away & Someone has taken up residence on the lovely thick orange one ... well I guess it is her colour  🧡

Late last year my sister-in-law gifted me this plum velvet bolster cushion that she no longer had a use for.  I must admit I didn't use it & tucked it away in my trunk.  Recently I noticed Bed, Bath & Beyond had the same plum velvet cushions with 60% off so I treated myself to two.

As we've had a run of fine sunny autumnal days I've been washing all my bedlinen & changing to winter sheets & blankets.  It has been great to get them all dry outside on the clothes-line.

I pulled out my burgundy quilt from the trunk as this is a good weight for winter & it matched the cushions well.  I also pulled out my Zinnia cushion made in this post back in 2021.

Although the cushions seem to be photographing quite dark today they are actually a rich plum colour.    I picked some of my hydrangeas which are similar colours at present, & put a Jugful beside my bed.  

It's amazing how just the addition of 2 new cushions can add such a warm cosy vibe to the room.  And look at that dear friends .  .  .  not a cat in sight (Yet) !!

Thank you all so much for staying through this long post.

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

Sending much love & friendship to you all,