What's Been Happening?

Well quite a lot really I guess, although some days I wonder where the day went.  We have had quite a few outings of late which we have really enjoyed.  When you home school you are able to go and experience real life quite a bit more than when you go to school, and it's great.  I love it!  We love it!

You probably know that we, New Zealand, are currently hosting the Rugby World Cup.  Well sport in general has no interest to me what-so-ever.  But I must confess to having watched a couple of the games, and yes I have enjoyed them and even got a bit excited.  Yes really!  They are quite gripping sometimes, and rather frustrating at other times. 

Well we simply couldn't pass up an opportunity to visit a Pacific show in the 'Cloud', as they call it.  Auckland city is not a place you just visit for fun.  The city, until recently, has been a place where some people go to work, university or something similar. 

As a host city we have to step up and look the part, and my goodness have there been some fantastic changes for our boring city.  I love the new look and hope to spend many a lovely day here taking it all in.

Quite picturesque wouldn't you say?

Love the stripes that lead the way from the water front to the stadium.  We didn't fancy the 4km walk there.

On to other things.  Polish paper cutting anyone?  Such fun!  (Anyone else adore the TV programme Miranda?)  Can you imagine cutting these out with sheep shearing scissors?  They truly did!  Luckily we were given your standard paper scissors, moving with the times and all.

No.3 has taken up knitting.  She looks like a real granny I can tell you, and has a very unique style too.  It's quite difficult to fix up her mistakes as knitting isn't my thing at all.  Still with a little help from a real Nana she managed to finish a blanket for her favourite tiger.

And lookie lookie!  Spring has arrived down here.  So exciting and the weather has been super indeed.  Well not this week at all actually, but we won't talk about such things.  No we won't.  We'll pretend it still looks like this pretty photo.

Check out those white pins!  Check out the grass while you are at it.

Yes finally we have grass at our house.  At last the girls say.  Their dream is to be doing cartwheels by Christmas.  The poor man is still suffering from laying it all in one day and that included a layer of topsoil as well.  A full day's work that's for sure, but splendid it is. 

This week we have two little sickies and perhaps another on the way.  Some horrid vomiting bug that has left the little girls lifeless and very quiet.  The older two were astounded that one small child could sleep all day, then all night, then all the next morning.  After a car ride, some sushi,  the chocolate sauce off a sundae and some lollies, she perked up a treat.  Let's hope it's all up for them now.

Right I'm off to check on the suspected sickie.  She's our nurse so it's not good!  Oh dear and it's our skiing day tomorrow too.  Indoor skiing that is.

Progress is a Wonderful Feeling

Well it's all rolling now ladies!  We have 15 tissue covers, finished with tissues...  Another 2 to go.

9 hand knitted beanies and a scarf... (big thanks to my mother, Gran and my aunt!!)  We must confess that although they are hand knitted they were bought!  'Save the Children' though, so that still passes in my book.  There are several more genuine hand knitted hats in progress by my mother and Gran.

Tea towel library bags complete with a lovely story book... (Thanks for the books once again dear Mother)  Spot the doily!

A couple of CK Stan appliqued tea towel library bags...  Woof, woof!

Two polar fleece taggy blankets for the little ones who need something to snuggle at night...

Today in the mail I received my first parcel for the Gift of Love appeal.  Dear Michaja from France sent these wonderful bird hangings and lavender hearts.  MAF thought they were very nice too!  Oops!  They will certainly help a few little girls sleep well at night, thank you Michaja. 

A HUGE thank you to all of you who have offered to send goodies to our appeal.  We have offers to make dishcloths, crayon rolls, toilet bag, koala soft toys and other surprises.  It's a bit like Christmas when parcels start arriving.  Imagine what the music group (link to the leader of the group) are going to feel like?  They'll be excited, I just know it!  And that's what we want - a bit of happiness for a change.

Keep it coming ladies!  Cat and I have decided to make a deadline for  receiving your donations.  10th April is the date we would like to have received your makes by.  That's about 20 days to go.  That will give us time to parcel everything up and courier it down to Chch.

Till next time, happy sewing and knitting my dears!  If you would like to make something for a child, please let me know.

Finally!!

We are just the worst at hanging things on walls.  That would be hubby and I.  So bad that we don't actually have a single photo on display.  Truly.  We have always been this way.  When we do get around to putting something on the wall we end up moving.  Oh gosh I hope this isn't a bad omen!  Especially so, as this Christmas I'm hoping to get the nicest bedroom in the world. 

But to prove that I am capable of doing this task on my own, here are the photos to prove it.  Did I tell you that we usually disagree on where the pictures are to go which is why we don't hang them?  That's what you get when he is tall and I am short.  Pictures are supposed to be hung at eye level right?  Who's eyes?

Well today they are at my eye level.

And every one of them is hung straight too.  I measured them myself.

See these wonderful papers I picked out yesterday?  Aren't they divine?  I thought they would make a pretty notice board of sorts for No.4.  Not sure how I'm going to do it yet but I'm thinking of checking out the local op shops for an old frame.  Painted up and teamed with these pretty prints, I'm sure it will look great.  But gosh do I wish these came in fabric!  I adore fabric most, but scrap booking papers come a close second.  There are so many wonderful ones around.  These are put out by October Afternoon in case you are interested http://www.octoberafternoon.com/, must have a look myself.

Here's another pic of them.  The best thing about them is that they are double sided too.  These are my favourite sides.  Thinking they would be fabulous patchwork fabrics.  LOVE the one second to the right.  So very sweet and pretty.

Now about the toilet paper saga.  I found the first roll lasted precisely 23 hours, shocking really.  The second roll has only just finished and lasted an amazing 32 hours!!  The second roll was squashed so it didn't roll very well.  Cost aside, I feel that I'd rather enjoy my toilet experience than have to deal with a flippy floppy toilet roll.  So I'm just going to grin and bear it when I change over yet another toilet roll.  Well that is until I get my own bathroom back, then it's squashed rolls for the girls!!  Ha ha!

Bits and Bobs

I designed this little camera case a while back for Daughter No.2.  Well No.1 requested one for her holiday and I needed one for my camera too of course.  So I got sewing the other evening and I'd forgotten just how quick and easy they are.  Of course I had to use my favourite fabrics for mine.  And one of Aunty Liz's precious French antique buttons.  Well it just wouldn't be complete without one!

And now I can enjoy my favourite things anytime I wish now.

And just look what I picked up at the charity shop yesterday.  I think the woman thought I was a little mad not wanting the whole box of threads.  I explained in the end that I was only interested in the wooden spools.  Of course the silky thread will be lovely to use, if only most of them weren't purple!   Still they are looking lovely on my buffet in one of my rose bowls.

And then there were three!  Yes little Rosie was born on Sunday night.  She's preparing to leave the burrow already sadly.  A certain little niece will be receiving her for her birthday.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments regarding my little bunnies.  I even have a bunny swap lined up now with the lovely Amanda from Amanda Makes!  Several of you have suggested I make a pattern to sell.  We'll certainly think about that! 

Yesterday our weather was the best in months.  Summer really has been here for a couple of days.  We even visited the beach in the afternoon.  What a treat to have the sand between our toes once more and the warmth of the sun on our skin.  May it continue for the rest of these school holidays. 

There is something very special about a beautiful day.  It really gets you going and puts a smile on everyone's faces.  I hope you had a great day where you are too.

To Me...

Perfection is...

No.3's brand new shoes

My Great Grandmothers table cloth

A stack of new tea towels

A little project in the making

The sweetest little girl's dress ever

Just having my daily fix of red gingham!



Raggy Heart

Here's a quick project you can do in front of the TV in an evening.  It's so easy and so much fun, even the kids could make one of these.  And the best part, it's really cheap.

I picked up this wire heart for about $3 from Spotlight.  But you could make you own shape from an old wire coat hanger if you wished.  Good recycling as well.

Those bins of scraps that never seem to get used are just perfect for this project.  Just find fabrics in suitable colours or go for a jumble multi-coloured mix like I did.

Cut narrow strips about 15cm long and fold them in half.  Wrap them under the wire and loop the ends through the loop.  Push them really tightly together for a nice firm look.  The ends seem to stay up straighter this way too. 

You could hang a fabric heart down from the centre too.  Not sure whether or not I will.  I quite like the simple look of the bare wall.  I've had another three orders for these already - thanks girls!

I'm on a bit of a craft roll at the mo.  I have another project to show you next time that I really, really love.  I'll give you a clue.  It's made from some really old fabric.

Things I Love at Present...

My buttons, although there's nothing special about these ones.  I have them in this dish on the side board and the girls dip their hands into it and scoop and play with them.  I think they like buttons too!

My side board, because it's the only piece of my home that is clean and tidy.  I like the colours on it as well.  Very Autumnal don't you think?  Those apples will all be gone in a few days by the way.  That's the trouble with having six people to feed.  Lucky for me they only cost $2 for the lot of them.

Floral fabrics.  These are destined to become dresses for my littlest cupcake.  The one on the left is old and came via my Grandmother.  She loves it which is good.  It's a really soft cotton so should be lovely to wear.  The bright ones are new and should add a bit of zing to Winter. Please note that not one of them features paisley.

Now I'm wondering if perhaps Liz has popped on over from England for a cuppa... I know she has a granny trolley.  It certainly doesn't belong to us.  Now I'm calculating that I have precisely 3.5 hours until I get a jolly good blasting from her royal highness!!

I'm outta here!

Goodies For Me

I've done a little thrifty shopping this morning with my littlest helper.  She's ever so sweet to take shopping.  Here I was on the floor of the Salvation Army Shop, sorting through knitting needles, and I look over and she's lined all the others up, having a great time as well.  I have to admit to copying Dottie Angel's idea of  needles in a jug.  I just think it's such a lovely piece of art. 

Why don't they make such pretty knitting needles any more? 

This little lot cost me $1!  That's about 30p probably.

The shop next door is one of those emporium sorts.  With lots of interesting goodies that you never knew you needed until you saw them.  I came out with a medium sized bag of odd buttons.  I do like odd buttons.  They are usually a mix of the weird with the useful. 

Not sure about the orange hand!  That one will end up in the girls collection for sure.

Now I think you lovelies have waited quite long enough to see what was lurking in that parcel from yesterday.  Please forgive me for teasing you so much.

Well, dear Joan from Connecting The Dots (please do go and visit her, she's such a sweetie and so very generous) sent me the parcel.  Just look at these wonderful magazines she was getting rid of... yes there's even a Christmas issue, my favourite.

Would you like to have a closer look at that fabulously pretty yoyo quilt?  How long would one of those take to complete I wonder?  I'm tempted to make a cushion.  I know my limits!

And see these little treasure she popped in as well.  Love, love, love the red and white fabric so very much.  I think it will be in my next quilt.  The floral fabric was Joan teasing me about not having any purple fabrics for my quilts!  I could get used to it if they are as pretty as this one.

Now I wonder if she bought the hearts precut?  They will be perfect for my patch houses I'm supposed to be working on.  The ribbons and buttons are cute too.  How thoughtful of you Joan.  Thank you very much.