The Rowan Tree

some days...

2012-02-02T06:59:00.000+13:00

some days I just want to sit and read everyone else's blogs...

but I have to tell you about the gorgeous goodies that Cat sent me, Cat was my swap partner for Cheryl's Initial Heart Swap for Valentine's day

thanks Cat, I am really going to enjoy this cup!

so after having the lounge walls painted some months ago... and we are not counting so I don't have to tell you how long ago that was, I have finally got around to putting up some of our artwork, and bits

looking a lot better, and far more homely and cosy

I love these plates, they were a pre-Christmas purchase from this outing here.. at the Broad bay China Shop... I just love that place!

and a bit of piecing, my niece had a baby boy last week, and so we will be travelling to Dunedin this weekend, so I shall get to meet him and take his quilt down to him

and a bit of playing going on as well in my studio this weeknow it is February, back to routines...holiday time over...
have fun!

so what have I been doing in January then

2012-01-24T07:22:00.001+13:00

well I did plan to do a post this day...

but it didn't quite happen..

I took lots of photos of old house, barns and sheds.. I do have a plan...

enjoyed a pedicure ~ mine are the black toes, and no, I haven't gone goth! 3 generations of feet here

made a cushion for a 90th birthday present

watched my puppy grow, and play

stacked fabric in my shop - boy have I stacked fabric!

read some of these

enjoyed some creating of a different sort - my latest craze ~ mini books/albums... and I do have a plan for these too

read some more of these

and finished this off for a friend

January ~ a great time for smelling the roses... and a great start to 2012
I hope you are having a great time too!

what are your plans today?

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000+13:00

I love this time of year, time for reflection, remembering, tidying, sorting, planning, plotting, ...

I haven't been doing much blogging, or even that much commenting on blogs, but I have been reading, and slowly catching up on all the Christmas and New Year adventures that you have all had, some quiet, some rowdy, some filled with family and friends, some holidaying, some playing...

I have been trolling in blog-land, and YouTube, ... pretty much every morning this past week, I have spent some time just cruising before my morning walk. Rowing Man gets up and heads off for his early morning exercise about 5.30am, and I cuddle up in bed with a cuppa, Ellie and my laptop - yeh I know sounds boring - but when I gave it some thought, not a lot different from lying in bed reading really - then I started feeling better about ~~wasting my time~~ relaxing and taking a few breaths and really got into it. And it is so nice to have Ellie all cuddled up and sleeping beside me whilst I do this. See I just can't move and wake her... a little growing puppy neeeeds her sleep now huh.. I have even checked out Etsy this morning.. a site that I have not previously explored - my oh my, some very clever creative people out there!

But ~ the YouTube clips that I have watched - oh boy, how addictive! .. and you can watch a YouTube on pretty much anything at all from how to.... to how not to... to... well, anything, and I mean everything. It's a bit like Google - you just type in words and see what comes up ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING!
So, laptop and cuppa at hand, I have found a whole heap of inspirational sites, here are just a few that I have been on this morning:
http://carolwingert.typepad.com/creatologie/
http://cindyadkinswhimsicalmusings.blogspot.com
http://pansycottagegarden.blogspot.com/
http://justlilla.blogspot.com/
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/
even if you are not on holiday it is still possible to feel in holiday mode, so spend some time on you and go check 'em out.. (then I won't feel quite so slothful either - and we can be partners in crime.. or blog stalking, internet trolling... or whatever..)
what a great way to start a new year ~ welcome to 2012!

where are you heading then...

welcome to 2012

2012-01-06T06:17:00.002+13:00

p.s. I will be back very soon...

2011-12-25T13:51:00.004+13:00

where ever you may, who ever you may be with, I hope your Christmas Day is full of fun, friendship, and family

Have a super fantastic Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas,

SSCS, FNSI, Christmas cake 'n' more...

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001+13:00

...well this post has been in the making for a day or two, so I apologise now for all the randomness, and the photo overload, it is that time of year and so much is happening, and like most of you, I have been rather hectic, trying to get Christmas organised alongside of daily life in the country and the quilt shop

my childhood friend visited with her Mum recently and stayed overnight, it was absolutely fabulous to catch up with them after so long, Beverley and I grew up across the road from each other, went to primary school together, but different high schools. We met up again when we both ended up doing our nursing training together in the same cohort, and keep in touch, even though Beverley now lives in Qatar.

..and Rosemary (from the UK), visited my shop too, when she was holidaying here with her husband - they were having a fab holiday in NZ, and I am so pleased that she called in. We are both doing the Sue Spargo 2011 BOM Imperial Blooms, along with many others worldwide,

When we went to Dunedin to see the Elton John concert recently, we stayed with our good friends Mike and Sarah, while the blokes were out rowing, Sarah and I headed to The Broad Bay China shop, this is a delightful little boutique junk shop, with the most amazing treasures galore - vintage linens and laces, and the most impressive collection of china - a true treasure trove!

and a bit of time in the garden, we have so much rain for what we usually have at this time of year, and everything is sooo green, of course that means that while the flowers and grass are flourishing, so are the weeds

YIPPEE - my SSCS present arrived from Lorraine - how exciting seeing who my swap partner was - THANK YOU ever so much Lorraine, see the lovely handmade ornament that Lorraine sent, and 2 more BIG presents for under the tree, I was so tempted to rip into them, my present to Kate has arrived as well, this has been such a fun swap, THANKS Chookyblue!!

BUT as the ribbon says ~ no peeking!

I played with these tags...

to create this which I saw here,

and finally got my December Daily album together ~ with some pages completed but lots more to do yet!

I have to show you my new funky chair, isn't it delightful, and great for sitting stitching, quilting or sewing on bindings,

some more treasures from Omarama, Ellie and I had to make a trip there Monday for her vaccinations, and I simply could not drive past this shop ~ not that I need any more of these, however I do have a few ideas....
Whilst I was poking about seeking out these goodies, I heard a car alarm go off, not once but 3 times. On investigation, I discovered it was my car, Ellie was buckled into the back seat but had some room for movement and set off the alarm ~ which I now know that we have!

finished the quilting on this Christmas quilt, can you see the Christmas trees?

and the fireflys on the back of this quilt, these are both Christmas presents..... and my effort for last Friday nights stitch-in, there is another one this Friday night as well to help us all get that Christmas stitching completed, head on over to Heidi's blog and sign up..

the binding now on this one

and some social time at the local pizza bar, just one of many end of year do's... I am so over wine and food right about now,

and this delightful little towrag, has been munching pine cones and made such a mess in our lounge,

oh and I finally made the Christmas cake...s

Saturday...

2011-12-04T08:11:00.001+13:00

well what a fabulous Saturday... I headed off off Friday afternoon with my friend Gaynor, and travelled over the Lindis, a must stop at Mrs Robinson's in Tarras to lighten the wallet a bit, on via Cromwell, through the gorge to Queenstown, quick bite of tea... and then off on the Southern route to Invercargill for the night.

Early Saturday morning saw us setting up our stall for the Southern Artisan Fete at The Hideaway in Lochiel, about 15 mins NE of Invercargill, what a perfect venue..

what a fun day we had, the weather couldn't have been more perfect, warm, slightly overcast... which is great for displaying quilts and goodies..

and the best site ever with wooden gates to hang the quilts over

and trees galore to hang skirts and quilts

and the view from our gazebo AMAZING!

more of Gaynor's fabulous skirts ...( more on these in another post, I promise you these are fantastic!!)

yeh... I have to leave you with a morning photo of Ellie... she is soooo good... sleeping most of the night with little or no noise now - she pees and poops in the right places... and just loves cuddle time!.... oh yeh and chewing EVERYTHING!
hope your weekend is a fun one!

S.L.E.E.P

2011-11-30T06:42:00.001+13:00

yep spells sleep, however Rowing Man and I are feeling just a little sleep depraved right about now,
meanwhile...

enjoy your day!

Sunday Snippets...

2011-11-21T07:13:00.001+13:00

this last week or so

2011-11-15T07:22:00.001+13:00

I have traced this design out so I can do this in the car on the way to Timaru this afternoon

and pieced this quilt top together, binding ready, just needs to find it's way to the quilty machine

and really enjoyed putting this little fellow together, we had a workshop over the weekend so quite a few of these about now..

potted out some garden colour

added sashing & borders to this Christmas pressie, it too needs to find it's way to the quilty machine

and a bit of hand quilting just to keep the fingers busy at night time

let me leave you with this snapshot taken on my walk yesterday morning, these are the beginnings of this years pine cones, isn't the colour stunning?
enjoy your week,

Bloggers Quilt Festival 2011 - Mt Cook Sunrise

2011-11-05T09:13:00.003+13:00

this quilt began when we lived in Dunedin and was a group project with my Dunedin quilt group - The Garage Ladies. Michelle led us with this quilt, and it was the first time for me to do foundation piecing, I just love it now and teach this class several times a year

not the best piccie, but in my haste to get this post up, the best that I could do as I just couldn't find where I have stored the better photos,

it currently hangs in my shop, just over the batik collection, as I find these work very well in this type of quilt. I made this to hang on the bedroom wall of our holiday home here in Twizel, that was way before we moved here, the colours in this are so reminiscent of the magnificent sunrises and sunsets that we have here in paradise

I really loved putting this quilt together, and I love teaching it as well. It is fascinating watching others put their own mark on this design, and watch it all come together. I have been meaning to try it out in black and white, with just a splash of red, ...stunning, but then it would hardly be Mt Cook Sunrise then huh..

I am off to Temuka today, taking The Rowan Tree Quilt Gallery for an outing...to Ashfield Manor House in Temuka for a Garden Walk, Quilt Show & Mini Fete

at least the weather is a bit kinder today with blue skies, and no snow or rain like yesterday, much better weather for a garden walk!

then I am coming back to finish off this quilt, which is a surprise Christmas present for someone that I won't mention just in case they stumble on this post

pop on over to the Bloggers Quilt Festival and enter your quilt and check out all the others!
Enjoy your weekend whatever your plans...

another finish ...

2011-10-25T22:07:00.005+13:00

well another tick off the to-do-list

it came off the quilty machine yesterday

binding on last night..

finished off today...

off to a dear friend tomorrow..

FNSI

2011-10-22T18:27:00.000+13:00

well this won... as did the Aussies!

I sat and stitched while I watched.. Aussies vs Wales

the game was not that exciting really..

another finish.. both for me and the Welsh and Aussie teams..

the BIG game on Sunday evening - NZ vs France - GO ALL BLACKS

all done and dusted and waiting for it's new owner to pick it up tomorrow..
now, the next project...

one block to do before the borders arrive, which should be anytime soon...
I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

Friday Night

2011-10-21T17:40:00.003+13:00

well, we all know what tonight is don't we fellow Kiwis, not near as exciting as Sunday night will be, but tonight will still be a good game to watch anyway - Wales vs Australia in RWC... hmmmm which team will I be favouring...
one thing for sure, I WILL be stitching while I am watching, you can bet your bottom dollar on that!

BUT, what will I be stitching then,. Every month about this time, Heidi and Bobbie host the FNSI (that's quilt speak for Friday Night Sew-in)...

shall I do this...

or more hexies...

or get this off the quilty machine so I can do the binding...

or make a start on this... oh what to do???
So what will you be yoube up to tonight then... not too much on?/ then head on over to Bobbie's blog and sign up here & now and tell us tomorrow what you have been doing tonight.....
enjoy yourself, whatever you decide to do!

Barcelona Quilt Shops

2011-10-18T09:39:00.002+13:00

I found this one very quickly being just a few blocks from our hotel...

and at another, all this loveliness to tempt and welcome one into the shop...

lots and lots of eye candy..

had to snap this one quick in between the traffic - delightful shop! And lovely lovely lady owner.. didn't speak much English tho, so not a lot of talking, and a whole lot of gesturing.. we understood one another well!

lots of bags...

and even more window goodies to tempt one inside..

this pink skirt is actually one whole zipper, yep - just stitched round and round and round.... and round

lots and lots more goodies in here...

and much prettiness here..
I managed to visit 10 of the 12 quilt shops, pretty darn good going really I say, the other 2 were a bit further out of town, and the blisters on my feet said no more walking by this stage, .. so time to catch up on some stitching of my own...

...these are 2 more blocks for Imperial Blooms, Sue Spargo's 2011 BOM. I have been rather naughty and signed up for her 2012 BOM too ~ hooked on wool I am!!!... and I am loving all the hand embellishing... a little bit to finish on these and then 1 more block to go..

and this stitchery is from Anni Downs' latest book "Some Kind of Wonderful" - this is for a lovely linen bag to keep all my goodies in, if you look at the top of the photo you can see the linens that I purchased from one of the above lovely shops, that I will use for this bag...

and this is a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery, but ssssssh... it's a secret!
... see you later in the week then,

around the world in 8 days

2011-10-15T09:59:00.002+13:00

yep, you did read that right, I too am wondering what happened to the other 72 days,

This is the loo wallpaper in the Air NZ 757 he he he...

Twizel ~ Dunedin ~ Auckland ~ Bangkok ~Heathrow, London ~ Barcelona ~ London ~ LA ~ Auckland ~ Christchurch ~ Dunedin ~ Twizel; 1st Oct - 10th Oct - with the time differences we lost most of Oct 9th!

Casa Mila La Pedrera

.. an expresionist building designed and built by Antoni Gaudi, itbreaks with all traditional architecture by not using a singlestraight line, it has no load bearing walls, and has a completelyirregular floor plan. In order to let in as much light as possible,the apartments are arranged around 2 central courtyards, one oval andone round. It is open to the public, and they have one apartmentset up as it was in the early 1900's. Absolutely fabulous, and wayahead of today's world let alone the turn of the previous century.

Mosaic wall at Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo is another key feature in the architecture of the modernist Barcelonian, also built by Gaudi, and the mosaic garden wall is a beautiful feature of the outdoor upper story garden patio. It is also open to the public.

Catalunya cathedral

In the centre of one of the oldest parts of Barcelona, known as theBarri Gotic (Gothic District), and the heart of Barcelona, is thecathedral, known as La Seu. The first stone for this impressivechurch was laid in the 13^th century, but it was not untilthe early 20^th century that is was fully completed.

La Sagrada Familia

The Barcelonians obviously like to take their time building as this one is still under construction, but what a big job this is! Thisis Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece, and is one of Barcelona's mostpopular tourist attractions. Construction began in 1882, butcontinues, and likely will do for several more decades yet. It hasalready become Barcelona's most important landmark however, whichapparently was Gaudi's intention, and he has left very detailedinstructions for it's completion, so that it can be finished to hisdesign.

Placa de Catalunya

This is the central hub of Barcelona, almost everything happens here.The benches at the circular centre of the square are an ideal spotfor people watching, and boy, did I do plenty of that! Around thecentrally paved area are a couple of fountains, and a large number ofsculptures are “planted”, seemingly at random, and this makes fora very beautiful spot indeed.

Rowing Man is just telling me it was a Hong Kong transit stop on the way over NOT Bangkok like I have been telling everyone - oops, see what long haul travel does to one's mind... (one airport transit lounge looks like the next!!)

have a fab Saturday!

to market, to market...

2011-10-11T22:23:00.000+13:00

no, I am not buying a fat pig, but I could be tempted with these goodies

my oh my... where to start???....
so what are you up to- enjoying your day I hope!

kiwifruit anyone??

2011-10-10T09:32:00.000+13:00

so what's in a name then?
Well, it is pretty darn important to most of us, most of the time.
It is what we are all known by, to our families, friends, lovers, colleagues, fellow bloggers...
we all have one, or more... most of us are given our names at birth or very soon after. Some of us like our names, and some of us don't, and others are quite indifferent. Some of us change our names.
But as bloggers we all get to choose our name, for better or for worse, in the heat of the moment, or after much deliberation.
Check out Dawn's blog, in particular, this post. Link in and tell us where your blog name came from, and how you came to be, this all makes for a very good read indeed!
So kiwifruit-shiree, where did that come from?? and you know what, I really cannot recall exactly. I know that I had signed up for the Stitcher's Angel swap that Helen Stubbings had organised, and it seemed reasonable to follow with a blog. Blogs were kinda taking over, and remember this was before Facebook and Twitter and any of the other social medias that we have today.
Kiwifruit is the national fruit of NZ, well sort of.. and it just come together from there... I think that is the way it happened. Nothing too dramatic, or earth shattering or startling even, but there it is, and here I am

goodies arrived today...

2011-09-28T22:32:00.000+13:00

the courier man pulled up today into the drive most unexpectedly, but it is always exciting when his van comes my way, 'cos I just know he is bringing me some good things...

and today I was not disappointed

lots of yummy fabric

so tonight I have been rolling, and stroking, and folding and adding to my website...

I do love the courier man driving on in...

I'm adopted!

2011-09-25T10:18:00.000+13:00

I have been busy this week trying to get out some customer quilts before we take a holiday next week...

and have been working on some rather delightful quilts, but on Monday just passed...we had some very surprise visitors turn up on our doorstep..

how exciting is that, this charming young family had bought a new car and decided to take it for a drive to check it out... all the way to Twizel..

isn't he just the cutest,

and so cuddly and happy... and did I say cute??

so I am a Grandma by proxy!!

Having a good weekend then??

p.s. nice to see his parents too!

Creative Flair Fair Christchurch

2011-09-17T22:03:00.000+12:00

well the last 2 days have been fantastic, I have been playing at the Creative Flair Fair in Christchurch

The Canterbury Modern Quilt Quilt had a magnificent quilt display - check them out here

these were quite spectacular...

this group does some stunning work.. this is one of Roz Johnson's quilts

I love this bunch of flowers! very spring don't you think??

Miche'le showing off her gorgeous baubles, she taught this at the show today in a workshop...

and here we have Miss D, and Mr Willy ... Darby & Joan playing with Acer & Toshiba

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend, I am off to bed, following in Miss D's footsteps, it has been a wonderful but rather tiring day!!

Nowra Retreat ... finally!

2011-09-11T07:31:00.001+12:00

I am so so late in publishing this post, this was the most fabulous time away, Kim from Jukejema organised this retreat, and boy does she organise well! Colleen and I booked this retreat getaway a long time ago, and finally the day arrived and we hoped on the silver bird and were off - altho' we very nearly didn't make it due to snow and a whole lot of other silly reasons! Never underestimate the power of quilters off to a retreat!

Anni Downs was there...

and Janelle Wind

and Natalie Ross - 3 super ladies! and so very talented...

Sue was there with her super cute mini antique (well almost if you count 1952 as antique???) sewing machine, it was in perfect working order and so very quiet...

and we made all these lovely, lovely friends...some blogging buddies and some not...

thank you ladies, it was a FANTASTIC weekend! And a very BIG thank you to Kim who did such a wonderful job organising this fantastic retreat. We had a ball.
Now back to teaching a class in the shop today, and lets hope I can get back here a l whole sooner then previous posts! Off to the Christchurch Creative Flair Fair next weekend - so I am busy busy getting organised for that too!
I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend

Waggas

2011-08-26T16:46:00.001+12:00

well I have been away for what seems absolutely ages, and I have heaps to tell you, and I will ... over the next few posts.
First, I want to tell you about our local quilt group day yesterday. there is a loyal group of us that meet every Thursday in the local church hall, mostly we work on whatever takes our fancy, individual projects like, ..but yesterday, we had a guest.

Sue Weston is an extremely accomplished quilter, who spreads herself between Wanaka and Auckland - clever gal she must be I hear you say... and yes she is one talented lady in so many ways.

Last year, Sue came to our group and we all spent the day strip quilting, (see here), but yesterday..

we were introduced to the "Wagga" This is Sue holding up one of her Waggas. Do you know what a Wagga quilt is then?? Let me explain.. They are Patchwork quilts, bush or wagga rugs, using men's suiting samples or swatches and they were common in regional Australia in the first half of the 20th century, particularly NSW.

They are an important example of the Australian practice of reusing materials, or 'making do', when resources are scarce. You can read more about waggas here.

.. for ages our group has been visiting Op shops and other suitable sources to scrounge wool suits, skirts, blankets, you name it..

so yesterday ...

we cut, we stripped, we played

and pondered

and came up with a few really good results

and generally had a pretty good time

...and we made Waggas,
thanks Sue, we love having you come to stay!

p.s. in the next post I will tell you all about my fabulous trip away!!

Fugly Fabric

2011-08-03T20:50:00.000+12:00

I am sure you all know fugly fabric, we all have some from time to time huh.. yeh come on own up, I know you all have some!
well, when I was sorting through some of my own personal stash, and then cleaning out the shelves in the shop .... to make room for new arrivals, ... and my they are coming in thick and fast at the moment.. anyway... when I was cleaning and sorting, and looking at some of the end of roll fabrics, I thought to myself, as I often do...

what shall I do with these, they don't really belong anywhere, with anything else... and not enough to do too much with

and what on earth can I put with them or do with them.. after all they don't look much like this do they??
so I cut and pieced, and stitched.

and this is what I came up with

any fabric is glorious if you cut it up small enough... even fugly fabric...

It is off to the quilty machine now...

JULY

2011-07-31T10:03:00.003+12:00

over halfway through the year, unbelievable really. And what is more unbelievable is the weather we are having.. one day very sunny, then a cold snap, then more sun..... and NO SNOW! The local ski-fields are looking rather bare and patchy, and could do with a few good snow dumps. Our season ski passes have been used once, although we are planning on a day skiing tomorrow. Win some loose some I guess, and truth be told, I am really really looking forward to nice warm weather.
So a few finishes this month, a few Christmas pressies to tuck away for a few more months.

I managed to put this quilt together in less then a week, on a cold Friday I sat in front of the fire and pieced, then quilted, and finally the bindings went on Thursday night. This is quite a big quilt, and used a jelly roll that I have had in the stash for sometime - result of bad roads in Canada a few years ago forcing us to stop at a quilt shop!

and binding attached to this also, and it is now gracing a spare bedroom wall,

and this small wall quilt done and dusted - much prettier in real life honest!
.....and I have finished my June Block (#6) for Imperial Blooms,

I am now lurking by the mailbox waiting patiently (NOT) for # 7. I am so loving these blocks, have I told you that, they are fabulous to work with and such fun!
I thought I had another finish, but it must be a figment of my imagination, which at times is rather vivid,
I will leave you with that thought, and go grab a much needed coffee,
Enjoy your Sunday!

just for you Miss D!!

I even took it down and hung it on the trailer outside so you could get a good piccie... enjoy your cruise!
p.s. I took this quilt outside yesterday to get a photo in good light, forgot about it and it stayed out overnight - it is now frozen solid!!! I Need to leave it in the sun today to thaw out...OOOPS!

does my bum look big in this?

2011-07-11T21:02:00.001+12:00

when we lived in Dunedin, Rowing Man and I used to visit the gym on a very regular basis. I first started gyming just after Rowing Boy was born in 1981, he was 5 weeks old... he turned 30 the other week.
Rowing Man and I used to do a number of classes at the gym; pump, step, balance, RPM - and a personal training session each week. I am a real class girl, I just need someone else yelling instructions at me, and I will follow.I can just tune out and get a really good hard workout if someone else is directing. And then there is the motivation of the other gym enthusiasts right beside, behind and in front of you.
I really, really miss the gym! .. and whilst there is a gym here in Twizel, it is really very basic, very cold (there is something very wrong about putting a hat and gloves on to work out!)... and no classes. SOooo... my motivation levels have not been too high.. pretty much non-existent in fact - other then the very odd bike ride (3-4 in the last 2 years), and some regular walks - but even they appear to be waning, sommat to do with the cold I expect. Oh I forgot, I do go to yoga most Monday nights and have just finished a 10 week course of Tai Chi.

so anyway, this appeared on the doorstep - delivered by courier the other day

I just knew that Rowing Man was up to something...

and my bike found its way inside

my rarely used but rather lovely bike, Rowing Man and I both bought new bikes in the year before we moved up here, and had all sorts of plans to be out riding here which sadly didn't really come to much despite all the lovely places that one can bike here

so Thursday, while I was at quilt group for the day, Rowing Man put my bike on a stationary block so that I can ride inside in the lounge, on my bike, in some degree of comfort ~ would you believe it!!

maybe he thinks I have been spending too much time on my derriere, reading and stitching???

anyway, block 6 of Imperial Blooms arrived in the post Saturday, so I shall spread my gluteus maximus a little further as I sit and stitch tonight!
I know the weather most places hasn't been too great, but sure likes there has been a whole lot of stitching going on looking at your blogs, I hope you all had a great weekend..

I know someone famous!

2011-07-03T10:37:00.006+12:00

well. a lot of us fellow bloggers do.
Our own Miss D has been profiled in the latest issue of New Zealand Quilter quarterly magazine, so if you get a copy or know of someone who does, it is a must check out! What a privilege huh..

I have managed some good finishes this month, "tis the season" sat around for several weeks, and I have finally attached the binding and added this quilt to the finished list, it is looking pretty darn good if I do say so myself..

and this quilt managed to get quilted and bound as well, this one has been sitting around for a long time now, so it is great to get it finished..

these came out of their hiding place this week, and I am currently contemplating just what I might do with them..

I recently bought some HP tansfer paper so I would quite like to have a play with some vintage type pictures and see what happens, particularly with those very delicate and pretty looking ones that have a solid fabric centre and nice lacy edges
I finished the crazy quilt block from here, and it is ready to hang somewhere, once I find some wall space,

and I also finished the red, black and white crazy patch block,

I love the way this has a real modern funky twist, so I have cut out 2 more blocks, and plan on having a wall quilt of 4 blocks and border with some really super fabric that is sitting in the shop, and I have been eyeing up over the last week, and it gives me a bit of hand stitching at night time in front of the fire, great on these rather chilly nights,

and then I have cut out these hexagons, I coaxed a friend to join the Vignette Hexagon Quilt, and then dragged the chain myself, so finally I am getting them started, I decided to use a kiwiana jelly roll, so it will be really interesting to see what effect these have. I am, quite undecided at this stage if I will use the same set of hexies around a different central hexie, or just use them randomly, hmmm......
Can I leave you with these photos, I spent the day in Timaru on Thursday, had a coffee and catch up with a wonderful friend, and then on the way back to Twizel, I snapped these just in dusk.. rewind that thought! ...I cannot find the jolly photos, and I don't have the time anymore to muck around sorting out blogger, I am not even sure that the photos I have posted today are all going to show up and in the right places, I have played around with Picassa,, and several other ways, I know many of you are having similar issues... photos are not always showing up on others blogs either... very frustrating huh! Show you the photos another day maybe...

Happy stitching!

not near enough hours in my day...

2011-06-24T13:49:00.004+12:00

..seriously, I need about another 5 hours in my day.... but then I suppose they would disappear all to quickly as well.

I have been really busy with customer quilts since before Christmas,

it is really fabulous that with all the effort and time and love that goes into making a quilt, there is faith that I will do something wonderful with it on my quilty machine, and give it back quilted, to a satisfied client... at least that's what I hope I do.

To all of you who have sent me your quilts, and some of you have sent several, I am truly humbled that you trust me so well with your precious work, so a BIG thanks to all of you.

The shop has quietened down a bit over the last few weeks, when I walked up to the post and bank today, I was taken how quiet it was in the Market Square. A few shops were looking quietish - and several were actually closed down as they do, for about 3 weeks around this time - in between the end of autumn, and the beginning of the ski season. Well, not much about in the way of snow, and certainly nowhere near enough for any ski fields to be considering opening.

Anyway, with the shop being a little quieter ( - still have website purchase to deal with daily - thanks to you guys as well for your wonderful support!!.... ) I have been trying to get a few shop samples made up, and get the rest of my year organised.

Of course, with all the dreadful aftershocks in Christchurch, and some of them have been mighty fierce... the Australian Event Managers had pulled out from the September Quilt and Craft show, and whilst another shop owner and myself were trying really hard to get something else going, it doesn't look like this will eventuate, the ground is just too shaky, and getting so many people together in one building is just too risky...

Rowing Man and I walked over the hills a few Mondays ago, what a breath of fresh air, literally. Up hill and down dale, over Flannagan's pass ...

the most breathtaking views I tell you. And a bit nippy, we were walking in the snowline, so just as well there was only a smattering. A good afternoons walk... well it did take us all day.. stopped for a bit of lunch, and then a bit later for a nice hot cuppa and some shelter from the wind.

So here are the crazy blocks that I have been working on,

these were from the weekend that I went to in Timaru about a forthnight ago,

and I will catch up with the wonderful ladies from the Timaru Patchwork Group this weekend when I attend their annual retreat at Raincliff - bliss... a whole weekend of stitching, sewing, quilting, chatting, walking.. does that sound like fun or what. Poor Rowing Man, he is on call so he has to stay put in Twizel .. who knows, he may get in a row or 2, depends on the weather, and how cold it is.

well, you have a fabulous weekend too

who wants to do housework?

2011-06-08T00:39:00.000+12:00

I am having so much fun...

with these blocks...

these are from Sue Spargo's 2011 BOM called Imperial Blooms, check out her blog,

I have not worked with wool before, and I am loving it!

still a bit to go, and 2 more blocks to do once I completely finish these ones...

are you enjoying your week then?

Crazy!!

2011-06-03T07:28:00.004+12:00

I had the most marvellous weekend in Timaru...

I joined the Timaru patchworkers in their May Madness Weekend and it was a fabulous time.

This group is quite an active group, and organised a delightful 2 day weekend with 3 superb tutors visiting.

Diane Southey (Palmerston North) took a fabric dyeing class, Dorothy Leadbetter (Christchurch) tutored an applique class, and Karen Broderson (Nelson) an embellishment beading class for crazy patchwork.

Now I had never toyed with crazy patchwork before hand, so last week I made up several blocks with what I thought was my limited supply of suitable materials and fabrics,

butI think that my blocks kinda turned out and looked OK. I used some old ties that I had been collecting from the local Op shop ... we won't talk about all Rowing Man's ties that we tossed when we moved up here!!! Oh what I would give for a few of those now...

Anyway, Karen showed us some super beading techniques... here are a few of her samples

Karen is a member of a co-operative of fibre artists who own and operate the shop called Fibre Spectrum in sunny Nelson.

Her class was so much fun...

my work so far... still a bit of finishing yet...

but I am already thinking ahead to this block...

well lots of stitiching to be done, and the courier man has just delivered a parcel to the shop door, so fabric to be unpacking and folding today, better get started then!

Have a fabulous long weekend then!!

St James Walkway

2011-05-24T09:28:00.004+12:00

well I did promise you more photos of last weeks tramp on the St James Walkway in the back of Lewis Pass/Hanmer Springs area.We started on our road trek from Twizel, and first stop was lunch at Mrs Easy Peasy's (aka Jo Seager - wonderful NZ cook for all you non-Kiwis),

and then a browse around the local shops and art gallery.. then back on the road. We stayed in a a garden room at the Heritage Hotel in Hanmer, very nice but grossley over-rated and over priced for what it was. And the most hideous meal at Robbie's garden Bar - the service was absolutely non-existant - however...
..it was a fabulous 5 day 4 night hike through beech forests and open clearings,

mildly up and down so not too exerting, but we walked about 5 - 6 hrs a day, stopping where we wanted to look at the scenery,

boil up the billie and have lunch, take photos, shelter from the rain, ... yes we got very wet every day.
That just made getting to the huts and getting dry and warm by the fire a very pleasnat experience indeed, long nights in front of a blazing fire, a little bit of reading, some stitching, and lots of chatting with our companions.

We were the only ones we saw on the trek other then a couple from Christchurch on the very last night at the Boyle river hut. Solitude - well for the 4 of us anyway.

managed to get a shot of these beauties in flight ... after we scared them off (unintentionally that is).. every 3rd step was over duck poo or geese poo, amazing how much output they have! ...and the wild pigs make a right royal mess foraging for sweet roots around many of the trees..

and lots of fungus, so many varities, even purple, and the most deliciously gorgeous black cabbage rose one that I missed getting a photo of... but I have committed it to memory and feel a needlework coming on.. with maybe some beading embellishment mayhaps.

The last day was particularly wet, raining all day long. YAY for long hot showers when we got back to the hotel,... it was such a fun week! So good for the soul... I hope you are having a fab week too

.... and yes I did stitch... not sure what I will do with this.. any ideas??I do love working with Pam's threads, they are delightful

hello again..

2011-05-20T09:14:00.002+12:00

it feels like it has been such a long time since I have been here, and so much has happened, what a busy life!

I have been rather busy in the shop ... which is a very good thing. Lots of goodies arriving which need unpacking, sorting and shelving. Pom Pom de Paris fabric arrived yesterday, so need to get that on the website, and send out the orders.

and I have been busy getting a customers' quilt finished for her daughter's 21st which is this Saturday, binding went on last night while I was at book club... something I don't seem to do too much of lately,.. reading that is. Anyway, the quilt is all ready for pick up this morning.

and then there are about 4 or 5 customer quilts sitting waiting which I will get started on this weekend (we won't mention the stack of my own quilts that I have sitting waiting either)

and finally I have made a start on Imperial Blooms, Sue Spargo's 2011 BOM, I am loving it, fantastic stuff. I have 4 blocks and #5 should be arriving any day now! These wools are so lovely to work with, and the threads... OMG... they are just so gorgeous!

and tonight is the Friday NIght Sew In, these are great night to put aside just for sewing, stitiching, quilting... whatever takes your fancy really. Go here to sign up, and then check out everyone's blog tomorrow to see what they have been up to. I think that I will do a bit more on my Sue Spargo blocks, they are really talking to me right now... and I am having so much fun with them!

and I shall simply have to share some photos of the tramping that we did last week, FABULOUS... and great for the soul, and really blew out some cobwebs, altho' we did get rather wet.. more in a later post then

have a fabulous Friday!

Happy Mother's Day!!

2011-05-08T16:52:00.000+12:00

I hope every Mother everywhere is having a fabulous day!

good for the soul...

2011-04-19T09:40:00.001+12:00

autumn is a very pretty time of the year, and is not complete without a trip thru Central Otago where the landscapes are stunning most times of the year, but I have always thought of Central Otago autumn as rather extra special,

the leaves are turning and falling from the trees,

the landscape changes daily as the green disappears and the barren hillsides and mountains that this area is well known for, become so prominent, awaiting their first snowfall...

..the shores of Lake Wakitpu being no exception, you would never guess that behind this pikkie is a whole ton of tourists and holiday makers... it all looks so serene and peaceful..

the clouds over the Walter Peaks in the background from the steamer wharf,

the old and the new sit well side by side,

this is Queenstown's oldest building, it very likely started life as a working mans cottage, but is now home to a delightful interior design shop, it has the most delightful garden.. and great places to curl up with a coffee and a great book..

did I say book?? ....a browse through the bookstore found this gorgeous book...which I just had to have...

and to top it all off, a glass of vino at the end of a rather good shopping spree, yeh well I know it should be beer in an Irish pub, but I am just not that much of a beer drinker, ...and then pizza at my favourite pizzeria in Queenstown, The Cow.

Now, back home and quilting to do!

Have a fabulous week!

new winter boots

2011-04-13T09:14:00.000+12:00

strong...

practical

good soles....

good walking heels...

durable...

and a pair of nice warm snuggly merino/possum socks too

.... we just having really nice weather right now 'tho!

I hope you are enjoying your week!!

weekend wanderings...

2011-04-05T08:12:00.002+12:00

so we started along this path on a beautiful sunny Saturday..

clear blue skies the whole way... even though there were warnings that the weather might turn bad later in the day .. or on Sunday

we reached the top of the ridge... to here ... and I tell you, it was slog the whole way! My thighs are still burning despite the stretch at yoga class last night!

where we were planning on staying the night ... but was not recommended by DOC due to inclement weather on its way, so we ate lunch, and toddled back down the "hill". We were climbing with the architect who designed this building, he was fascinated as he had only ever been helicoptered in during the building and for the opening about 8 years ago, and had never walked in before, so he was pretty stoked!

managed to catch this avalanche in full motion, absolutely amazing, usually by the time you hear an avalanche, it is all over.. but this one was a biggie, and very close by. We heard many over the day, but mostly they were on the other side of the mountains.

Fantabulous views! In the pikkie above you can see the trail meandering in the Hooker Valley to the Glacial Lake Hooker, with the Majestic Mt Cook .. or Aoraki, in the background

...and quite a bit of snow.... winter heading our way huh!

I hope your weekend was a good one too!

#3 arrived today..

2011-03-24T23:38:00.000+13:00

the 3rd block arrived for Sue Spargo's 2011 BOM,

but then I haven't yet got around to block 1...

or block 2..... ever so colourful

and the threads are so deliciously scrummy...

but then I have been rather busy working on this...

and this customer quilt...

'cos I am really, really keen to do this, it is in the latest Quiltmania mag... and I have just the best fabric sitting right in my stash...BUT.. several other projects to finish first!!

have a happy Friday!

The Last 10 days

2011-03-22T09:37:00.001+13:00

Last Saturday morning (over a week ago now....), saw us trip into Wellington (the girls that is...left the menfolk behind... as you do! Rowing Man was at a medical education thingee for 2 days anyway), up to Karori... to check out PiecebyPiece, the cutest little quilt shop, had some gorgeous scrummy fabrics and quilting goodies

and the a meander down Tinakori Rd, popping in and out of shops at will and leisure...

just whatever took our fancy, found this terrific French looking furniture place, absolutely smashing, must come back here once we eventually get around to building our dream home... this really was the most gorgeous shop!!!

great finds here... we thought this was a coffee bar, sounds like it could be huh... but no it was one of those fun pokey-round-a-bit-and see-what-you-can-find shops...

like this colorful old crochet cushion!

next we found a few of these old really narrow streets, they really looked more like driveways then streets,

we were being a bit cheeky really having a nose, but they were so delightful! and Green Girl loved the lavendar...

just shows you how much we have upsized, Teeny tiney little turn-of-the-century-workman cottages

they have been renovated and tidied to the highest standards, and now protected by the local heritage society

Saturday evening & Sunday saw us do a spot of grandbaby minding... not ours... I wish!

and Sunday we were of to Te Marua to Sawmillers Quiltery, but missed on seeing Julz, guess she was off on one her bike trips...it was Sunday after all..Sawmillers have the most wonderful annual festival which I think must be one of those things that you simply have to go to at least one time!

and then a lovely morning devonshire tea at Stonestead, next door... scrummy yummy fresh scones 'n' jam! ... or chutney for those of us that had a savoury scone..

a delight for the young also...

and ever so fresh looking lemons growing in the garden..

these guys were so patient while we were browsing in the quilt shop... we were quite quick... (NOT!!)

then, we donned our hats, and played ladies for the afternoon at the local garden club's high Sunday afternoon tea party...

in our best china cups! Played croquet, and petanque, and wandered around the most delightful garden..

Monday saw us take a trip up the Kapiti coast to visit Rowing Man's mum, it is a beautiful drive, and was a good day in the car, chatting, yakking, catching up....

and of course it was number one daughter's (aka Green Girl), birthday, so what a stroke of luck being in Wellington for that! What birthday is not complete with a delightfully decdent mudcake???...altho she may not be too happy with me when she sees this photo, but it was the only cake on I took..

and the obligatory... and well deserved toasts to the birthday gal!

Monday, Rowing Man was at a meeting (medical stuff...), and Green Girl was back at work, as were my good friends we stayed with, so i tiki toured around Wellington all by myself, and had a great day, ...

Last week was a busy one getting a few customer quilts out, and the usual shop stuff, there were several groups passing through on their way to the Annual Wanaka Embroidery Symposium (... must go next year), so the shop was very steady.. more on that later..

AND...

We held our annual Twizel Country Day on Saturday which was a wonderful success,... but more on that later too..

I hope you had a wonderful time over the last week or so as well!

p.s. some greatmust-see exhibitions on in Wellington currently; A Slice of Heaven @ Te Papa, a tribute to Kiwiana over the last several decades; and a must see Crown Lynn exhibition on @ The City Gallery,

I'm leaving on a jet plane

2011-03-11T07:23:00.000+13:00

don't know when I'll be back again,...

well, actually I do, Tuesday evening,

BUT, for the next 4 days, Rowing man and I will be in Wellington, spending time with my very good friends, Colleen & Pete AND my eldest daughter, Green Girl, who just happens to have a birthday Monday

FABULOUS!

Enjoy your weekend..

weekends are good things

2011-03-08T10:59:00.000+13:00

we packed our bags and headed to Arrowtown on Friday evening...

woke early Saturday morning and had a long lovely walk by the Arrow river

and then packed a picnic lunch and headed to the Gibbston valley with good friends, food and wine, terrific combination..

and listened to Dr Hook and Credence Clearwater ... what a blast from the past, do you remember their music??

and this guy, Ray Sayer from Dr Hook, is like 72!! Can you believe the energy of this man, jumping around the stage at his age, FABULOUS!!!! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!
Followed by a marvellous dinner in Arrowtown at Saffron, honestly, I tell you, this is the best restaurant ever, the food is to die for, Superb!!! They have the most super recipe book, but beats me why you would try and recreate when you can eat there, Tim had the oysters a-la kilpatrick style, I had a morrocan fish tangine, Matt had a 3 curry dish, and I can't remember what Linda had, but oh my gosh, talk about food heaven!

and on a more sedate note, I managed to get lots done over the weekend, a bit of knitting.. haven't done any of this in a while but the bug has bit me again... getting ready for those crisp cold Twizel winter days mayhaps??

and a bit of reading... finding it a bit hard to get into really..

and a lot of stitching, this is my 'tis the season' stitcheries for the stitch-along, just started...

sitting in the car for many hours travelling gets quite a bit of stitching done..

and I managed to get several blocks for Life is Beautiful done,I am running this as a BOM via The Rowan Tree

... and several more drawn up,
weekends are great, I hope you had a super one too!

Shiree

cornucopia ... or stuff

2011-03-02T12:05:00.001+13:00

as I was out walking this morning, I composed this post in my head, and believe me it sounded a whole lot better then, I had lots of good stuff to say, but now that I am back home and at my lappie, it has all disappeared, I even had a really good title, but that has gone too,

It is rather hard to write knowing what our friends are going thru in Christchurch, but there has to be a cheerful and positive side to all that as well, and certainly there seems to be a very good positive community spirit,

so I am just going to write about stuff ~ and I was going to include a dictionary definition for "stuff" but when I looked it up, the whole blurb was just way too long, and it was all going to be far too boring soI decided against it .... and here instead is my "stuff"

the beautiful red sky that greeted me this morning

The toadstools growing by the river, a product of hot and wet weather

The wide open spaces where I live, the tall mountain ranges and the wide valleys...

The Majestic beauty of Mt Cook on my back door

what I have just taken off my quilty thingee


what I am currently stitching...

and my gorgeous man in the garden... a sight that I don't see too often, but I am very grateful when I do

it is all just "stuff"..... enjoy yours!

what's wrong with this picture

2011-02-26T12:00:00.000+13:00

no it's not the clear blue sky, or the weeds in the garden

or the stuff in the lean too that needs sorting... the back fence is fine

Rowing Man put this shed together last week, and very cleverly hung the door... upside down!

..well if that's all that wrong, my world is pretty darn good!

I am planning a quilting marathon this weekend, seeing as we have visitors arriving for an overnight stay today, let's see how far I get...

thinking of all you Christchurch folk!

Shaky ground...

2011-02-22T16:12:00.001+13:00

A level 3 emergency has been raised in Christchurch following a 6.3 earthquake today just before 1pm, and the whole area is on a high alert. The damage is reported as being extensive and the centre of the city has been extensively damaged with several building knocked down. there are a number of shelters and welfare centres being set up for those whose homes have been further damaged or destroyed.

how much more can that city take??

However, our Miss D is Ok, a little frazzled, but she is OK and so are her immediate family. That is great news particularly as there are multiple reported fatalities, as yet unconfirmed.
Phonelines are down, as is electricity to some areas, and Civil Defence is asking that phone lines be kept as clear as possible for emergency services.

check out the latest news here

our thoughts and prayer with all those in Christchurch

Friday Night Sew Along and an Exhibition

2011-02-21T23:27:00.001+13:00

Wow, how did it get to be Monday again so quickly? I am seriously concerned with how life is passing by. I have had a productive week, and the weekend saw a whole heap of things crossed off the list, but as usual the week ends much sooner than I anticipate, leaving a longer To Do List each week.

Last week I was pretty busy with our local Art and Quilt Group Exhibition, which ran from Tuesday thru to Saturday evening, while the National Rowing Championships were held here in Twizel. and what a wonderful success this was!... and oh such fun!

such a lovely lot of local art work,

and this is Roberta's strippy quilt from the workshop that we had several months ago, Roberta was at my class a few weeks back and made a stunning job of her blocks,

and Friday night for the Friday Night Sew In, I was really busy, but not on my GJ quilt, 'cos I finished that the week before, but I managed to get a customer quilt done,

ooops, should have rotated this one before I posted it, (shame on me), but if you twist your head sideways, this is the border of a very nice Kiwi quilt,

and would you believe, that of all the koru feathers I show you, this one has a loop on the end, ....

now I believe is heading to it's new home in Switzerland

I am sure that it will be a well loved quilt,...

I hope your week has got off to a fabulous start

fresh from the garden

2011-02-17T17:43:00.001+13:00

look at all this goodness, can't beat fresh!

mmmm, methinks I will be having a fresh healthy YUMMY tea tonight!!

Friday Night sewing

2011-02-12T18:29:00.001+13:00

Friday night sewing.... I managed to get a bit of machine quilting done, and now just need to bind my GJ Quilt,

This blogger thing is annoying me tonight, and this isn't the best photo shot...

loading photos is a bit of a hassle, and I should be out the door and on my way to a BBQ, and then a 40th birthday, so sorry about this, will try and load the other photos later,

Enjoy your Saturday evening...

(well what do you know, the photos are here after all....)

Friday Night Sew-In

2011-02-10T20:23:00.000+13:00

pop on over here and sign up for Heidi and Bobbi's Friday night sew in, it is so much fun, and for all you out there in quilty blogland (and that's quilty not guilty), it is a great opportunity to work on some of those projects that you have been meaning to get to for a while,

go on... what else have you got to do with your Friday night, you will pat yourself on the back come Saturday!

ENJOY!!

tools of the trade...

2011-02-08T17:10:00.001+13:00

well, I don't usually have the shop open on Mondays as that is Rowing Man's day off, and we usually do stuff together,.... but Kerry from Fastpatch called me the other week, and asked if she could call in and show off her stuff. She is doing a roadshow promoting her products, and they are so fabulous! She makes the most wonderful quilts with her marvellous "tools"

Kerry uses her own batik fabrics, which are such a delight to use, hand dyed 100% cotton, and such good qaulity, no shrink. Have a look at the selection here

I love this version of Kerry's drunkard's path, she made this using her own tools, and made the work so much easier...

and this marrinier's compass, using this

look at these delicous batik's

and the quilting, Kerry uses a number of different techniques to hi-light her quilts inlcuding using embroidery stitches for quilting, and embellishing...

she's hiding behind one of her glorious quilts... camera shy??

these 3 quilts (2 above and 1 below) are all made using the same cutting tools,

we had a great day thanks Kerry, and all learned heaps, I will be sure to be stocking some of your great tools in my shop...

what a great weekend....

2011-02-06T19:03:00.000+13:00

oh what fun we had today at The Rowan Tree...

we cut, we sliced, we shaked and moved.... and look what we come up with, oh and we ate lollies and chocolate and cake! (it helps with the design don't you know)...

well not quite the whole quilt, but this was the class I was teaching this weekend, a class for this great wall quilt, I made this one several years ago at my Dunedin quilt group, and had such fun, I wanted to share with everyone

these are Joh's blocks....

and this is Diane's on the left and Raewyn's on the right

and Roberta busy with her blocks,

these are Ria's

Lynda's,

Mary busy putting together her blades

and don't they look stunning!

Lynda playing with her table runner block

doesn't it look spectacular,

we had such fun playing with all the fabrics, and putting this with that, and that with the other, this is such a FUN quilt, it looks way harder then it actually is, altho' it does take a bit to get your head around the foundation piecing. but once you have the hang if it, no looking back.... and all these ladies were fizzing!

thank you ladies for such a wonderful time!

cut 'n' stack 'n' whack

2011-02-03T17:10:00.001+13:00

so today, I have been busy in the shop, all this fabric needed to be rolled to store on the display shelves...

so I have been cutting up cardboard boxes....

into these to wrap fabric around...

rolling, rolling, rolling... (wasn't that a theme song from a TV show from way back when??)

and so now we have these, all nice and neat and tidy, and on the shelves...

I hope you are having a happy Thursday,

and I really hope that all the Queenslanders' are safe and well following Cyclone Yassi,

finishes for January

2011-02-01T17:38:00.003+13:00

well, I feel like I am on fire!! what a great start to the year and hopefully this momentum will keep up for a bit, , you know what it is like at the beginning of the year, all fired up, you get cracking, and then it fizzles,

well hopefully not, I really have a number of projects that I want to get done, and many more that I really NEED to complete.

and to help me out, Allie is running a Christmas Through the Year Challenge so I have finished these for Christmas presents, I am pretty sure that the recipients do not read my blog, but even if they do, I don't think they will get what is for whom...

(hmm the photo doesn't want to be added)
and then Kris and Peggy are running their OPAM, for which I will get my new projects done, 5 so far this year (well actually one is a big quilt finish so not technically a new project, but I put it into OPAM,

and Myra is running a PHD you can see her blog here, I have committed to doing these 10 unfinished projects by May 2011 - yes I have this many, and many more projects on the go!! Unbelieveable... I don't have a finished project for January, but should have my first one done in a day or two 'cos I procrastinated over the border...

and Wendy & Dawn have a Sew it's Finished Challenge, which is where I will put the other dozen (?????) or so unfinished projects that need to completed,

Believe it or not, I actually do have a list (it is a spreadsheet), above my desk for each of these challenges, so that I don't get muddlead and use the same projects for each of these challenges, now that would not be fair now would it.

and to top it all off, Chooky has her SAL project for GJ, and then in March 'tis the season, and I am so nearly done with that,

PHEW, a gal is going to be super busy huh, but I am determined to get this pile of UFO's, PHD's, WIP's or WISP's done and dusted!

..all while Rowing Man is doing yet another Postgrad diploma, this time in Aviation Medicine so he can do pilot medicals, a LOT of pilots up this way, so he could be rather busy! Oh and I do have another couple of ideas brewing....

..... and I have managed to get 7 customer quilts done this year as well,

sleep is over rated!

enjoy your week

Saturday morning sleep in

2011-01-29T08:55:00.001+13:00

morning all,

I was sitting up in bed with a cuppa tea, my brekky, my man, and my lappie - yeh what a dynamite combination! Anyway, we heard a tap at the back door, so I got up to see who was visiting us so early in the morning, and lo and behold

a package on my doorstep

what a cute little guy is'nt he... and the parcel tied up all so beautifully

and inside the brown paper was some yellow tissue, my chirpy little fellow is helping me out here...

and lo and behold, what gorgeousness!!! Darlene has sent me this beautiful chalk board, how delightful!

and some chalks, but oops, one of them not quite like the others

but it writes well!! Thanks my good friend, I have just the place for this

have a fabulous weekend..

Monday Monday...

2011-01-25T22:29:00.000+13:00

well actually it is Tuesday, but don't hold that against me, feels like a whole week has gone by in the last 2 days

this was Friday nights effort for Heidi's Friday night sew-in, I just love these nights and get so much done! But the weekend was soooo busy and I have only just found time now to blog about it..

Rowing Man was on call all weekend and I was busy in the shop, Monday afternoon saw us up in the air, after a morning gardening...

and the view was absolutely spectacular! Yep, we treated ourselves to an afternoon gliding, it was our Christmas present to each other

back on land, finding feet again, poor Mr Rowing Man, he had to use the barf bag, tsk tsk... mind I did feel a bit green myself by the time we got back, the winds were not that great and after initially gettin up to 6500ft, we couldn't get back up and spent ages circling trying to get a thermal to take us back up, but no luck ~ maybe another day then,

I hope you are having a great week,

Friday Night Sew Along

2011-01-21T12:33:00.000+13:00

well, another great night for sewing, and whittling down that to-do list of UFO's, Bobbi and Heidi are co-hosting the first Friday Night Sew Along for 2011

tonight I plan to work on my GJ quilt which sadly has been sitting untouched for some time, despite my best intentions

join up here and see what you can achieve in a night,

so come back tomorrow and see how I have fared, and share what you have been doing as well

enjoy your evening,

Annual Show

2011-01-20T15:31:00.000+13:00

by all accounts this promises to be a very good day, I promised I would promote this, so save the date and all you ladies that live close or nearby to this event, go and have a looksee, who knows what you may discover..

in need of a little tidy up

2011-01-18T12:33:00.002+13:00

if I post about it, then I have to do something about it, is that how it goes??

this is my kitchen.. newer version that is. Rowing Man painted this on Sunday as the rowing regatta was cancelled due to winds, shame I say... (NOT - got the kitchen painted!)

now remember that this man is the local GP and a rowing nut extraordinaire, NOT a painter, but he has done an absolutely super job of this,he is really taking on board this home renovation stuff!

a silk purse it was never going to be, but remember this is our short term temporary home until we decide to build, so while we want it clean and tidy and liveable, we do not want to spend a ton of money, but it now needs to be put back together, and the groceries on the floor need to go on shelves and cupboards, and homes found for all the stuff that currently lives on the floor or bench

and it might be rather nice if we can eat at the dining table tonight, (we have plans to paint these walls too, it is rather dark with that wallboard on)

and seriously, the Christmas decorations really need to be packed and put away,

soooo ... if I post that I am gonna do these things today, that means they get done???

hmmmmmmm....

Hocus Pocus

2011-01-12T08:37:00.000+13:00

what devastation across the ditch at the moment huh, first the fires in Western Australia, and now the horrid floods in Queensland. Rowing Man and I have just watched u-tube footage of cars being picked up and swept away as 'tho they were matchbox toys - what is Mother Nature up to??? Our thoughts and prayers are with all those in the flood stricken areas

this is a quilt that I have finished for a very dear friend who sadly is no longer with us, Kate was making this quilt for her grandson, and I had the privilege of finishing it for her, and her family.

this quilt started one Thursday at quilt group, when we all took along our scraps, tipped them into the middle of the floor, and we all started making our own string blocks from the potpourri of fabrics on the floor (my blocks are sitting in my studio waiting to be pieced together..... WISP)

so I see some of my fabrics in here from previous quilts - isn't it great when that happens,

doesn't it look great!! Iam sure Kate would be so happy with it, and I am sure her grandson will treasure it dearly

not bad for a scrap quilt!!

I am still waiting to get here 'tho, I have great book that I am reading very slowly,

and this photo (below) is for you Chooky, just to remind you what you need to come visit...

have a fabulous day people!

look what the postie brought...

2011-01-10T22:36:00.000+13:00

these arrived in the post this morning,

and this too....

so I pulled a few of these together..

and I as already have these fabrics sitting on a shelf in my shop, it was pretty easy..

a customer sent an e-mail enquiry jst before Christmas, asking about these fabrics and a particular BOM that she was keen on,

so being the obliging person that I am, (well most of the time??)

I ordered the pattern... and several others

these fabrics are all looking pretty good right about now

so tomorrow, (after I have been to Christchurch for a coofee with Miss D), I am making up a kit for this lady for this BOM, Life is Beautiful by Helen Stubbings, (you can follow the progress of many other doing this BOM here )

I kinda think that I might just do it myself too.... like I need another project, but I sure would love all that stitching!

hmmmm..... what's a stitching gal to do I ask?

recycling..

2011-01-09T09:11:00.000+13:00

I have never been much of an op shopper, but I have taken quite a penchant of late for browsing in these "junk" shops, peering, and poking,sifting and sorting thru....

and yesterday I visited our local such shop, and came home with these,

I thought that this chair might tidy up and be quite useful, as well as this little wall cupboard, I am not sure if I will leave the door on, or maybe remove it and just use them as shelves - maybe in the kitchen, and the embroidered linen table cloth, well that was in such good shape that I couldn't leave that behind now could I?

and I picked up this bedhead, perfect!! It is quite big and chunky, I haven't decided if I am going to leave it like this or paint it white, what do you think?

and lastly, I picked up this little side table, which again is perfect in the bedroom as a bedside table.

These Twizel houses are really quite tiny, and with most of our stuff still packed away, these will be very useful, and we can just leave them in our house here when we eventually sell and build,

Rowing Man can see the uses that we might have for these, but he has suggested that I not bring home any more ~~crap.~~..oops I mean treasures,

have a wonderful Sunday, me, I am off out to the studio to do some quilting

SSCS...

2011-01-04T10:15:00.000+13:00

I have had this post in draft for the last few days,, and just reading Chookyblue's blog reminded me that I had not actually taken it out of draft and had better do something with it!! My swap partner Sonia sent me these goodies...

these goodies were all very prettily wrapped in lovely blue and green tissue

and this was the Christmas ornament

isn't it ever so cute!

.... and the peice de resistance!!! Ta da!!!! A super duper really scrummy table runner in wonderful, fabulous Lumiere De Noel collection by French General fabrics which I just adore,

and all these wonderful goodies too, what a super duper SSCS, a really BIG heartfelt thanks to both Sonia, and Chooky

Now on a far more serious note, 'cos I know how happy I was to unwrap all these goodies...

My SSCS partner was Lori, who has not yet recieved her parcel - QUELLE HORREUR!!! I simply cannot believe this - if you follow my blog you will know that I had a horrid time around swaps last year, and was not at all keen to repeat the experience, so very carefully organised myself and sent the parcel away on time at the end of November, but ALAS, it has not arrived at it's destination. I have been stalking and lurking on both Lori and Chooky's blog to see if they have arrived every other day, but NO. Poor Lori... left waiting for her parcel, so back to the drawing board - well sewing machine, and back onto it - so watch out Lori, I will send you an email when I post off the second lot....

have a very happy day everyone!

OK lets get this year started...

2011-01-03T08:08:00.001+13:00

Myra over at has issued a challenge to finish your PHD's with, have a look here

This is a 6 month personal challenge, to get moving on projects that have been sitting around for a bit unfinished... now we all have those don't we, go on be honest and put your hand up

I usually join up with Peg and Kris's OPAM challenge, and I will certainly be doing this again this year when sign ups open up at the end of January, but Myra's challenge caught my eye, and my interest, 'cos it is for 6 months only, so surely I can manage to keep up with that and complete some projects -methinks

So I had a look around my studio, and believe me, I didn't have to look to hard, and found these, which need just a little attention and they will be finished projects!

Like this, I have most of the blocks appliqued, and need to finsih off the stitching - I started hand stitching these, so need to get back into this, maybe night time might be an ideal time to chug away at this project for a bit,

and lets peek and see what is in this bag, that has been hiding rather well under the quilty machine - these haven't been around for too long, I only started playing with these last winter, there are 2 quilts in here, both in very soft pastels. One from a jelly roll that I purchased when we were in Canada early in 2009, and the other is a disapearing nine-patch from 2 charm packs, ... I think

and there are 2 quilts here that just need to be finished off with a bit of quilting, and then binding, now that shouldn't be too hard now should it especially with the big quilty machine

oh and this one is destined for the quilty maching as well and then it is done,

and these 2 as well..... (hmmm that's 5 to be quilting then)

this one has been sitting for a bit now, I started this in the begining of 2009 I think, actually it may have been 2008 even, Brenda ( from my Dunedin Quilting Group - The Garage Ladies) and I both started this at the same time, Brenda has long since finished hers, but sadly mine is still waiting... this is Postcards from Paris designed by Judy Gray from Rose Patchwork Cottage

and this is Aunt Millie's Garden from Piece of Cake designs, (I have this pattern available in my shop) another one started some time ago, and not completed, thisis being machine appliqued, and most of the blocks are done, this quilt is a "quilt-as-you-go, so I am not sure what has been holding me up really. I started this one with Margaret - also of Garage Ladies fame, this was 2009, before we moved here to Twizel,

WOW - that is a grand total of 10 PHD's, not the 6 that I told Myra I had, and that is not counting Gardener's Journal Stitch-along or the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along - for which I have completed all the blocks for both, however, I need to peice them together and add borders, quilt and bind - goodness me - Rowing Man might have to be chief cook and bottle washer for a bit - now that would be a very interestign concept (NOT!)

so what are your plans for this bright New Year then??

2011

2011-01-01T14:38:00.000+13:00

Happy New Year to you all!!

I really love the start of a new year, January is a very precious time to stop, relax - or chillax as my youngest daughter says, and regroup, and it is a time for reflection and planning...

Each New Year brings a Pandora's box of emotions for many people. Some are excited by the thought of starting over with a clean slate, others fearful about new beginnings, but most of us will take it in our stride marking the most of starting a new day, a new month and a New Year

2010 was year of great happiness and fun filled times, but it was also a time of great tragedy and sorrow,there were many highs and lows, joy and sorrow; and for many Cantabrians and West Coasters, 2011 is going to be about healing and rebuilding,

People around the world are celebrating and welcoming in the New Year, as we move from 2010, the year that was, to 2011, the year that will be. Taking time and making the effort to celebrate, spending time with our loved ones is good for our health and our happiness,

and my good friends, that is hopefully what each New Year brings us, although we never really know how it will be until it is...

So here’s to a joyous, prosperous – and serene – New Year for every one of you, may every day be a positive one;

whatever your plans and goals for the year, here’s wishing you a spectacularly good one...

all in one day

2010-12-28T18:16:00.000+13:00

Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
Now Incy Wincy spider went up the spout again!

we started the day with torrential rain, a right royal downpour,

and now we have brilliant sunshine, people out walking their dogs, kids on bikes

all is well!

Christmas at our house

2010-12-22T09:45:00.000+13:00

I wish...

2010-12-20T22:59:00.000+13:00

......

Friday Night Stitch in

2010-12-18T23:47:00.002+13:00

Heidi has been holding these great stitching nights most of the year, and I have participated in a few of them, seems we don't have too many Friday nights at home, well not the ones that the stitch-in is on anyway. This is the last Friday night stitch in for 2010, but I seriously hope that Heidi will run these again next year!

Last night, I was determined to get quite a bit done, and I did indeed, however, I can't show you too much as they are Christmas presents, and you just never know who might be blog lurking...

This is on of several heart blocks that I made and will be winging their way to Timaru - these block will be collected as part of a national project, and will be made into quilts to give to the familes of the 29 miners who perished at Pike River on the west Coast, lets hope that they bring some comfort to those familes.

this one I pieced together on Friday, and quilted last evening, talk about being on a roll....

and this quilt is one that has been sitting in the UFO pile for far too long, (like 7 years...), so I unpicked the little amount of quilting that I had done - which was quite a bit, given that it is a very big quilt. Rowing Man lent a hand too, made the job thta much faster, and seemd much less tedious. So this goes on the quilting frame on Sunday - yeh that's tomorrow, and hopefully one more project done and dusted!

these roses are out of my garden, I only planted them a few weeks back, and already I am getting masses of flowers off them, they smell so heavenly, I have right beside my bed, such a delicious fragrance as I nod off...

SSCS - parcel has arrived!!!

2010-12-16T17:06:00.003+13:00

YAY. my Secret Santa Pressie has arrived!!!!

what goodies are in here then.... can I possibly wait until Christmas Day?????

BUT look at this cute Christmas tree ornament, isn't it just way way too cute!!

Thank you ever so much Sonia,

and a really BIG thanks to Chookyblue for organising yet another wonderful swap

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... there is something soft in there, and something rattly as well....

Regatta season on..

2010-12-12T13:24:00.000+13:00

well the 2010-2011 rowing season began yesterday, the first regatta at the Lake Ruataniwha Rowing Complex for the season,

I missed yesterday's action as I was busy here in the shop, there are obviously a number of rowing followers that quilt! I missed Rowing Man's big race early yesterday morning, he won his single sculls race and beat his nemesis, so you can imagine that he is pretty chuffed about that. I got a text message after the race that simply said "WAHOO" so I knew that he had won. Go Rowing Man!!

Today I managed to get away for a bit, and watched him row in the Master's quad race, which they won also.

it is such a wonderful day for rowing, and these lads were certainly very happy with their efforts!! One more race today and then home for a BBQ tea, YUM!!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend

Shop Open Day... oh what fun

2010-12-07T17:52:00.000+13:00

well I didn't turn away thousands but I did get some great sales, and a few more people know that I am about now, so I am happy,

I have just got eftpos sorted for the shop in the week prior so that is all up and running rather smoothly, isn't it great, swipe the card and all that money goes flying (metaphorically) down the phone line and out of one bank account into another!!

Margaret and Keith came up from Dunedin for the weekend...
... And then to top the afternoon off, Miss D and friends stayed over for the night, we all had a marvellous time sitting in the sun/shade enjoying a glass of wine... or 2 or 3 and a great BBQ tea, ahhhhh that's what life is all about huh..

Thanks my good friends for coming over and supporting me so well!

'tis the season

2010-12-05T17:22:00.003+13:00

yesterday the post man came ... again, well the courier man actually, and delivered the cutest little books
'tis the season by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse

these books are terrific value and at such a low cost for the all the stitchery and project patterns, as it is in a cute little flip book form and all for only $25 NZD

There are 13 great Christmassy stitcheries in total,

the main project a quilt measures 33 x 41 inches, perfect for getting inot the seasonal celebrations,

other projects include a bag, wallhanging, scrapbook or photo album, hanging pocket and a gorgeous little cushionusing any one of the stitcheries

Chookyblue is organising another of her famous stitchalongs, so head on over here and sign up, this project starts March/April and runs for about 6 months, so plenty of time to get organised over the summer ..or winter if you are in the northern hemisphere,

have fun!!!... and don't forget to sign up!!

p.s. if you want a copy of the book, email me, or check out my website later this evening.
I would list it right now but friends have just arrived and must get them some dinner, YAY for BBQ's huh...

p.s.s just listed on the home page, scroll to the bottom of the page and add to your shopping cart... I am really sorry but the pikkie is not showing up on the website, I don't have a clue why not, and my website dude is currently on holiday overseas somewhere,... ooooh the hassles that I have had with computers of late, but tappity tapping on my brand new lappie here and it is great!!!

Open Day at The Rowan Tree

2010-11-30T12:44:00.000+13:00

                              OPEN DAY SATURDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2010

                                          10AM - 4PM
                                14 Maryburn Rd Twizel

I think this will be FUN day, certainly a great day to catch up with friends and have fun, lots to do between now and then 'tho.....

my good friend

2010-11-27T09:10:00.000+13:00

she learned to quilt on Monday her stitches were all very fine
she forgot to thaw out dinner, so out they went to dine

she quilted miniatures on Tuesday, she says they are a must
they really were quite lovely, but she forgot to dust

on Wednesday it was a sampler, she says that stippling is fun
what highlights, what shadows, but laundry wasn't done

her charm quilt was on Thursday, green, red, yellow, blue
I guess she really was engrossed, she never made the bed

it was a wall hanging Friday, in colours she adores
but she never seemed to notice the crumbs on all the floors

Kate Strachan - 29.12.1943 - 18.11.2010

Kate was an extraordinary woman, she will be missed from our quilting group and from our lives. She was my friend.

Cross Stitch display blog hop....

2010-11-14T14:09:00.000+13:00

I cannot remember when I did this one, but it would be in the 80's sometime, and at the time it was quite different from the usual that I had been stitching, I do so love the colours in this one...

what a marvellous trip around today looking at all the cross stitching, my there are some really clever clever people out there, I have had some rather big hassles with my lappie over the last few months, a combination of living in the back sticks and not having great internet connection, but also sadly the lappie that I have been using died on Friday evening, and has sadly not been able to be revived.... so a new purchase is inevitable when we next go to town in another week or so... Rowing Man has an Apple Mac, and whilst they are a great machine, it is not that easy to flit between 2 systems, as everything on that unit is so very different from other units...

I have only a few cross stitches hanging about our tiny little cottage, these are some of my favourites,
the rest haven't yet made it out of the packing boxes, and I am not sure that they will until we build... I am not even sure which boxes to look in to be honest

This school sampler is currently hanging in our bedroom ... you will have to excuse the reflective glass doing it's thing, but this is the best photo that I could get without taking it off the wall...

and this one is also hanging in our bedroom, it is the best place in the house that avoids the direct sunlight, other then the wee room, and you all know the one I am talking about, and I am not hanging them there!

there is a small mistake in here, but I didn't notice it until it was all framed up and hanging on the wall,

Thanks for the tour guys.... have a look at Chookyblue's blog for the list of blogs to visit

I haven't done too much cross stitching over the last few years, and I did buy a couple of lovely kits when we were last in Paris ... hmmmm where did I put them?? which box might they be packed away in??? perfect for a nice quiet summer night...

home again, home again, jiggety jig

2010-11-09T08:20:00.000+13:00

well, what a fabulous week up at Karapiro both for New Zealand, NZ rowers and a great holiday to boot!

But... we caught the big silver bird yesterday, and after the long drive home, here we are, back in paradise, ready to get right into the long list of jobs and things-to-do... never ending huh.

The builders and electrician and plumber were here while we were away putting in our new kitchen, still quite a bit of work to do, and the electrician needs to come back and do a bit of work, but the cabinetry is in, and the flooring is down, and the plumbing works, no stove tho' so no cooking in this house for a bit!!!! Hopefully the electrician will be here today, tomorrow.... before the weekend???

lots of parcels have arrived while we have been away, so quite a bit of unpacking, and sorting and folding will happen in the shop today, watch here and here for further details and pikkies of the goodies

and Leanne Beasley's new magazine "Vignette" has also arrived and I will post this out to all the pre-orders. I am sure you will all have fun with this new delightful magazine, it has a really scrummy BOM that Leanne has included to wet your whistle, and get your stitching mojo going ...

so up and at 'em. Talk to you again later today when I have unpacked and sorted the goodies...

bon apetite

2010-11-05T07:28:00.000+13:00

whitebait fritters ..... didn't last long!

aren't holidays great!

2010-11-03T22:47:00.000+13:00

Mike 'n' Me 'n' Karen 'n' Rowing Man trying out a beanbag at the World Rowing Champs at Lake Karapiro just having watched the Melbourne Cup on the big screen. 'Dis da life!

look at what I am doing come January 2011

2010-10-30T14:42:00.000+13:00

This is Sue Spargo's seventh annual BOM starting in January 2011. Sue's newest BOM is inspired by Central Asian Folk-art and will be constructed out of hand dyed wool and textural fabrics.
The finished size of the quilt will be 42” x 42”. It will make a fabulous embellished wall hanging (Suzani) focusing on being heavily layered with textural fabrics and embroidery. Each month will use 4 different embroidery stitches to embellish the blocks. That will be a total of 44 stitches throughout the year. How wonderful is this? Sue has limited sign ups to 300, and already these have sold out, lucky lucky me I say!

wedding plans on track

2010-10-19T16:39:00.002+13:00

try if you might, but this post was such a long time ago so you could easily be forgiven for not remembering, Rowing Boy and French Chic got engaged immediately prior to Christmas 2008, and then we had a fantastic time celebrating at their engagement party , well the big day is less then 5 weeks away!

... yesterday Rowing Man and I were in town, but part of the day, while Rowing Man was busy elsewhere, I managed to get round a few dress shops, and try on some gorgeous creations ..... and finally with Rowing Man in tow...last shop of the day, 5pm.. I managed to find just what I had been looking for,

you know how it goes, you're not exactly sure what you do want, but you certainly know what you don't want,

and you try on several pretties, too many to mention really.., all looking pretty good, .... but they just don't have that zing, that WOW factor, that feel that the minute you slide the fabric over your head, and pull it down over your body,

...and look in the mirror, that this is what you have been looking for the whole day! ...this makes you feel good... and that makes you look good!

it might not be the colour you thought you were going to wear,

or even the style that you had in your head,

but this IS the dress that makes you feel a million dollars, and still doesn't take any magic away from the bride or her bridesmaids, (not that you could ever do that anyway) or the Bride's mother, everyone is going to look and feel great!

now I just have to not wear it for the next 5 weeks, and keep it clean and spot free, I have already had it on twice today!