A visit and vignette

 

The weather this week has been damp and foggy until yesterday when I woke to a perfect autumn day.  I had been wanting to visit Julie at Threadbear Cottage for what feels like ages so I decided to ignore work and make the most of the sunshine.  Julie lives only 30 minutes away from me and the countryside is beautiful.  Everywhere looks lush and green again, I guess the drought is definitely over.  Julie's house and shop are so beautiful and inspiring, full of the many gorgeous things she has made.  I bought a sweet little doll for Charlie's room and hung it beside her noticeboard.  Charlie noticed as soon as she came home from school and loves it.  The little red doll I bought for me, it looks really cute with my red and white things.  Julie was so generous and gave me some of her famous potpourri and a lavender heart, my house is smelling amazing right now!  Thank you so much Julie, visiting with you was the highlight of my week!
As for my sewing, I have been plugging away at my Vignette quilt and have finally finished two more blocks, so that's ten blocks done and six more to go!  Wendy xx

Mother's day swap

Round two of the Let's Celebrate swap with Mrs Martin's Quilt shop.  A fat quarter and sewing supplies in time for Mother's day.  I went with a Lynette Anderson fabric and buttons for Michelle and made her a little pincushion too.  Michelle knew exactly what I would like and bought me a little bit of French General, Liberty fabric and a gorgeous binding.  Love them all!!  Next up is a mug rug swap, sounds like fun!  

Paul worked on Sunday but he more than made up for it by cooking me a delicious dinner.  I love how he arranged the roast vegetables, very Master Chef!  He also bought me a beautiful bird feeder, knowing how I enjoy having birds around.  We get tuis, white eyes, grey warblers and fantails and I'm hoping they will find their new feeder, Wendy xx

Pretty crafty home

Our bedroom is finished!  Paul actually finished wallpapering and painting it before Christmas, I told him it was the best gift he could give me.  The curtains and blind were installed about a month ago so it really feels finished now.  I absolutely love it, it feels like a calm peaceful place to be.  In fact, I have sometimes been found hiding there with a cup of tea, enjoying my own space (and Paul's of course).  I added the mosaic of photos of how it used to look, half stripped and rather ugly, and also one where we were down to bare bricks before the insulation was added.
The room is a mix of new fresh things and old treasures.  The more expensive items were the insulation, the curtains and blind, and the ironing cupboard.  Some of the vintage treasures we thrifted from second hand shops and TradeMe (like Ebay) are the tall mirror, the chair, the thread holder and the china plates.  Inherited treasures are the chest of drawers from Paul's parents and the crystal clock from my mother.  I had written a list here inspired by Sandra at Cherry Heart to make my home prettier and it included purchasing a bookcase for the bedroom and tidying craft supplies.  In the end we didn't buy a new bookcase, Paul was coerced into painting yet another piece of furniture white which breathed new life into an older bookcase and little shelf. I had fun tidying my quilting supplies and magazines in their new home.  I love that I now have my own little sewing supplies corner, pretty and crafty!
I also love the ironing board cupboard; we tend to leave the ironing board out so we can iron most days; now we can tidily fold the ironing board away into it's own cupboard.  For me it was the perfect solution.
I have one question for you, do you think I should leave the old chair as it is or paint it white?  What do you think?
Now where's Paul, I want to tell him about my plans for the lounge!  Wendy xx

Friday night with friends

The children were out at youth group last night so it was the perfect evening for an easy dinner, a movie and sewing with friends.  A friend had given me a lovely old china teapot for my 20th wedding anniversary and I wanted to give her a thank you gift.  But what do you give a non-sewing friend?  In the end I settled on a mug rug and a pretty matching mug.  I hope she likes it!  I had started this on Thursday and was able to finish it last night.  It is a paper-pieced pattern 'Mug O' Love' by Jennifer Ofenstein at sewhooked.com.
I was also able to finish the Harvest cross stitch I had stitched last week.  Marina had a great idea of sewing the back with a seam in the middle to help give neat edges.  The back seam gets covered with a ribbon or lace and becomes a scissor keep.  Isn't that clever!  Thanks Marina.
So I had a good Friday night, sewing with a movie.  Thanks to Cheryll for hosting Friday night with friends! Wendy xx

A new noticeboard

Many years ago I had made a noticeboard for Charlotte's room but it was now looking tired and uninspiring.  Charlie researched for ideas on the internet and found a style she liked.  We found a basic noticeboard that was large enough for us to make two so Josh gets one for his room as well.  Charlie enjoyed shopping for trimmings and we used a staple gun to attach everything.  She then found a tutorial for me to make her the fabric rose.  I'm really enjoying seeing her style develop and seeing her choose what treasures to have on display.  A friend made her the Charlie sign, I made her the Tilda cat some years ago, and she definitely wanted a photo of her beloved Nana and Granddad on display.
The cross stitch is the latest little project I have been working on for a friend.  It is a free pattern from here.  Now the part I struggle with, how to finish it!!  Wendy xx

April Christmas item

 After a summer of drought we are now in a state of constant rain.  I braved the weather this morning to get an outside photo but was soon chased inside by the rain starting again.  My April Christmas item is a Snow Pocket designed by Bunny Hill Designs and is a free pattern here.  I am linking with Narelle at Pins and Whiskers for the one Christmas item a month.  I am enjoying being part of this and it encourages me to use the Christmas patterns and kits I have collected over the years, Wendy xx

More Easter goodness and hearts

Just before we left for Queenstown some gorgeous mail arrived for me.  Michelle is my Let's Celebrate swap partner and she made me the loveliest fabric Easter eggs. I love that I will be able to pull these out each year for a little Easter display.  She also made me the gorgeous bag with handles.  I have decided it is too lovely to put away so it now sits with my sewing supplies.  Thanks so much Michelle.
I made the hearts on Sunday using the Simply Rouge book from House on the Hill company.  My white shelves needed something to hang from the bottom, what do you think?  Wendy xx