Busy, Busy as they grow up.

Sadly no stitching has happened over the past few weeks, its all sitting waiting for attention. We have had a busy time though so haven’t been sitting idly doing nothing.

Jack has once again dipped his toes into the water of flatting which we are so thrilled about for him. This is a very big step for Jack as when the earthquakes happened he shifted home and sadly become very depressed and life turned to rubbish for him. He became a recluse in his bedroom finding it very hard to socialise and just not having the will the do anything but sleep. It has taken him 2 years to get back to the happy child we knew, the young man brave enough to try things again. He comes home now and talks and seems so much happier overall, its such a pleasure to see his confidence return.

Beth, our baby has had her 21st birthday. I can’t believe they are both young adults now and it never ceases to surprise me the things they talk about and the decisions they are making. She has got a new job which she is starting tomorrow and for the first time in her working life she will be working Monday to Friday. “I’m going to be a normal person” she says not realising that this family is far from normal. lol

It also means that she will be free for all of her dragon boating which she loves with a passion. Her team “Ridge Riders” are a strong team and this year as in the past are once again achieving amazing results. Two weeks ago they were beaten by 0.2 of a second, not a bad feat. Then last week they had a regatta against the Australian teams and beat them too—wahoo. In a couple of weeks they have Nationals in Rotorua and then its all focus on the World’s next year they hope.

The 21st party was here at home and this found me busy most evenings cooking things for the freezer. Here we have my kitchen bench the afternoon of the party as things were being prepared to heat for the kids.

It was mainly her dragon boating friends who came that evening, and I can happily say what a lovely bunch of young people. They took the time to speak to the adults and although by the end of the evening we can say that they were wonderful entertainment as the drinks took their toll, I feel pleased she has made such lovely friends. Gosh they were all hilarious at times though but isn’t that what we were all like at our 21st’s?

Here we are as a family before the kids began drinking and below is the cake I had made for her. It was AMAZING. It is a red velvet cake with buttercream and white chocolate icing, decorated with blueberries and strawberries and icing daisies.

So as you can see life has been fairly busy. I am even behind on birthday gifts for friends!! So next weekend being Easter will be a long one and I feel that it is calling me to make good use of the time in my sewing room  and so far, that is exactly what I plan to do.

Hoping this finds you all well and happy, stitching up a storm .  Debs xx

Catch up…

Well what’s been happening here in my little corner of the world? I can’t believe it’s almost Autumn, what an amazing Summer we have had here in New Zealand. Its been a really hot season which of course is great for this time of year. I must admit I am a bit of a cool weather girl and don’t cope well with the heat, so the air conditioning has been going fully when ever we’re inside.

Now this is a photo of what Bill gave me for Christmas. Its not a little coffee cup and saucer, its a HUGE cup and saucer which is actually a planter. Anyway most appropriate with its spots isn’t it.

This is it now- filled with marigolds sitting in our box window in the kitchen. I wasn’t quite sure what to plant in it, but the marigolds are starting to flower so it will look lovely and cheerful.

I have another spot acquisition to show you also, well when half price how could I leave them in the store? I love them.

As you know I have been struggling for awhile looking for my mojo. Well I think its coming back but boy it’s happening slowly. Last weekend I managed to get another baby quilt that I have been doing all finished with the stitching and I have sandwiched it up ready to quilt then bind so that feels good.

It’s an exact replica of another baby one I did except I stitched the verse around this one.

Then I also spent some time cutting strips. Here’s the pile starting to grow.

And here is what I have finally started to do with them.

This is a fishy panel which Bill being the fisherman that he is, decided he really liked when we were in a quilt shop one day, It has two more long narrow panels which will be in it also.

Below is a little find that we came across one Saturday whilst out in the car. It was sitting in a car park with a sign say “Free, help yourself” so I said to Bill, “I want it!!” It will be amazing in my sewing room (of course when the house gets fixed!) So into the car it came and in the garage it is waiting for its sand and paint to match my yummy desk. The lid lifts up so I will be able to hide goodies in there also.

Can’t you see it all stacked with fabrics?

And here is my latest reading material. Thoroughly enjoying them so far.

And to finish off my catch up. Young George has turned the big “ONE” year old dog. We gave him his first canon bone but he had absolutely no idea what to do with it.

I can now say quite clearly he has learnt what to do with them very quickly and loves his bones.

Hope you’re all well and smiling, happy stitching, hugs Deb.

The Season.

Well its only three sleeps to go before the big, fat jolly man in red is due to come visiting  everyone. I cannot believe how quickly this year has passed by. Once again I would like to thank all of my gorgeous blogging friends for their friendship. I know I have been exceptionally slack posting this year and have actually achieved very little craft wise.  Its been a year of ups and downs, of being thankful for what we have and what we have achieved, of family times both good and bad. Lots of deep thinking going on this year and I am so thrilled to say the realisation of how blessed we all are. We have each other, family and friends and without those we would be very sad. I am so so lucky.

So to all of you out there who take the time to read my posts, its you I am thankful for. You’re the best and from the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish you all an amazing Christmas and New Year. I hope you have much joy, love and laughter and that you all form many beautiful memories that you are able to look back upon and smile.

Stay safe if you are travelling this silly season, be thankful for small things, love the ones you are with and know that its not only you, there are nuts in all families  and unfortunately since they are family you’re stuck with them . Remember though the nuts amongst your friends will keep you  sane!

Much love and see you in 2013,

Debs xxxooo

Ahhhhhh, I’ve been hibernating and now I’m running out of time!!!

Hibernating, what a load of baloney! I have been hiding, no I haven’t, the truth is I just haven’t done anything new that I can show you.

We have been on holiday to see friends in the Bay of Islands for 2 weeks. Had a lovely time. Here we are outside the Old Stone House in Keri Keri.

Then  we came home and I was home a week and away I went to Auckland with my girl and two friends and we went to see…….

MARY POPPINS. See even the birds heard me singing “Feed the Birds” that night. OMG what an amazing stage show. I would go again at the drop of a hat. I think I spent most of the show with the most unladylike look of mouth open wide ! Beth enjoyed the show also so I was thrilled that she appreciated it as much as I did as a kid. We had a lovely Mother Bear / Baby Bear weekend.

Then home we came and the next weekend my Baby Bear left home to go flatting. Such a cute wee flat she is in with her BFF, it was a sad day for me but I am so proud of her.

Then today its only ONE MONTH till Christmas, ahhhhh!! We have been hunting for a new Christmas tree for a couple of years now as our old one was 20 yrs old and had served us well. I wanted a shorter one and one with thicker branches. Finally Bill and I found one yesterday and it was 50% off so was obviously meant to be. (We certainly would not have bought it at its full price)

Home from shopping and it was Bill’s job to put up the tree and put the lights on and then it was my job to decorate. I culled a lot of decorations this year, its funny how our taste changes.

But look what I found…….. wahoo!!! Red and white spot balls, I think I may have to buy some more of these.

So that’s the decorations done so now just a couple of things to finish and I think I might be organised for once, don’t hold your breath though.

George thought we wouldn’t see him if he hid behind the tree.

Hoping you are all well and happy,

Hugs Deb xoxo

A new season, hopefully a brighter time ahead

Isn’t it lovely seeing the start of Spring! It always gives us such hope with its bright blooms and all of those cheerful little heads smiling at us from around the gardens.

The fragrances that start to tickle our noses as we walk around the streets with the dog are so lovely. The weather has started to warm up and we have these urges to try new things.

So on this particularly beautiful spring day we took George for a walk down to the river at the end of the street to feed the ducks and to see what he thought of the water.

Well there were no problems there. He was a bit peeved that he wasn’t a duck and allowed the bread but the water, heck hold him back. If Bill hadn’t had him on the lead I think he would have just kept on walking out into the middle of the water. He loved it which is great.

Here he is another morning sticking his head through the cat door and chatting to us whilst we are in the bathroom.

I tell you nothing is private anymore when you have kids and animals is it!!

Craft wise things have been fairly quiet as I have been struggling with migraines again due to a few things going on in my life at present. As I said lets hope that Spring really is a start of new beginnings and better things to come.

I managed to get hold of this fabulous book that Jenny had shown on her blog not long ago and I got stuck in and knitted myself these gloves. (Yes there is another one, both hands are covered!).

I have also started a wall hanging and stitchery which I have designed to go in our lounge as we bought a new lounge suite so decided had to update the walls. Hopefully a photo next time.

I have managed to knit 3 more tea cosy’s and am just finishing stitching the last one all up so that will be another photo for next time.

Apologies for not much of a blog but just felt it was time I popped in and said Hi.

Also before I leave I would really like to ask that you pop into visit Di from Snippets’N Scraps at some stage as she is going through an extremely traumatic time at present and I think could do with as much love and strength that we are able to send her.

Thanks everyone,

Hugs in stitching and blogging, Debs xx

A Little Bit French and a Birthday.

I have been taking part in the “Little Bit French” swap being run by the gorgeous Cheryl. I was lucky enough to be given Laurie as my partner and now that she has received the parcel I am able to show you.

I made Laurie a lavender bag and a lavender sleep pillow. Also as a wee extra I knitted Laurie the tea cosy below.

My partner was Juliette from Holland (no blog) and the parcel that she sent me was lovely and to top it all off it arrived on my birthday, so an added surprise.

See the gorgeous wee clogs that Juliette sent as well and Juliette explained that she left the lavender off one embroidery and replaced it with a clog as you can see. How appropriate was that.

Thank you Cheryl for making this swap happen. Love ya!

Now as I mentioned it was my birthday so here are some lovely goodies which I received. This beautiful bag and fabrics from Melanie. As always the things that Melanie make leave me speechless.

My darling Bill bought me these gorgeous earrings and the wonderful book below. Very spoilt, he did well!!

And I got this cute as polka dot mini sewing kit from the gorgeous Miche’le and another very dear friend gave me the pad set.

The flowers were from Beth as she was up North for my birthday. All spring flowers, the smell was divine. My first ever flowers from one of my kids.

 

I had a lovely birthday, the day was quiet and peaceful. I had the company of my amazing man and the kids, what more could I ask for.

And here as always to say Hello and Goodbye is George, who got dressed up especially for his 7month photo.

Au revoir for now, happiness in stitching whatever it may be.  Debs xx