Around the world blog hop

Today I'm partaking in a bit of a blog hop after being nominated to play by Julie from My Threadbear Life.  Julie's blog is one of my favourite to visit, she creates beautiful projects and has a talent for up-cycling her vintage finds.  I am spoilt having Julie living in my region and I have loved my visits to her gorgeous house and craft cottage.
The premise of the blog hop is nice and simple with just four questions to answer:

How does my writing/creative process work?
I started writing this blog in 2011 to keep track of my stitching progress. I had just rediscovered my love of quilting and part of my inspiration was all the wonderful sewing and quilting blogs so I was excited to connect with that community.  I see my blog as a way of recording not only my projects but also snippets of our life here in New Zealand, including family, pets, home, garden and baking.  I tend to jump around projects a bit; I still love quilting but there is just something so satisfying about a quick finish!!  Since last year I have also fallen in love again with knitting and clothes sewing.

Why do I create what I do?
Like most crafters, I create because I love it.  Making things is part of my normal.  I love to make things for our home, for the children and for myself!  I am also loving the process of planning and making my own wardrobe.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I could never claim that my work is special or unique in any way because there are so many talented and creative people out there making wonderful things.  And as Julie said I don't think I really belong to any genre because of the jumping around of projects that I do!

What am I working on now?

My current quilting project is the Chateau Hexagon quilt, you can see from the crease marks that I have been ignoring it lately.  I must get back to it!

I wanted to challenge myself with my knitting so I am working on my very first shawl.  Thankfully with the long trip to Napier last weekend I had plenty of knitting time so I am getting quite close to finishing.

As for my wardrobe, I am starting to think of spring and summer.  First up is a black skirt which was actually part of my winter planning that I didn't get to.  Then I have a few fabrics I bought in the beginning of the year waiting to be made up into some summer tops.  

Now, rather than passing the blog hop onto three friends, I saw a different idea at Sew Useful Designs:  I am passing it onto YOU if you'd like to participate!  I'd love to learn more about you, just answer the four questions and post about them on next Monday the 6th October.  And please let me know if you decide to participate, I would love to come and read your post. J Wendy xx

I've been spoilt

Michelle is my swap partner for the Let's Celebrate swap and she thoroughly spoilt me for my birthday. Look at the beautiful pouch she made me, I love the design and the fabrics. The project box is perfect for storing the blocks I'm working on and Michelle very generously filled it with lots of lovely goodies. Thank you so much Michelle, I love it all!
And thank you everyone for your get well wishes after my last post, you are all so kind!  I am much better and have got back to some crafting this week.  A bit of painting (which is different for me!) and knitting.  The jumper is for Charlie and the photo shows my first attempt.  I reluctantly decided it was too large for Charlie so have re-knitted it in a size small and with tighter tension.  Thankfully it is fitting her well this time and I am up to the bottom rib.  There has also been a little bit of stitching done lately but as it is all for gifts so I cannot show you it yet!  Wendy xx

Holiday crafts and Christmas thanksgivings :)

Hae everyone!!!

It's Charlie!!! I am now 16, and I have finished yr 11 in school this year, which is like old form 5...I think!!! It was a lot of work, but now its finished and I'm just awaiting the results for my exams. There's not a lot to do on holiday except read, watch movie's and help around the house. I'm not very good at the latter, something I need to work on!! But to fill in the time when I am not do any of those three things I have been crafting! Well, a little bit anyway :)

My best friends are both real crafty and they usually make me my Christmas presents. This year I thought I'd give it a go too. In one of mum's cool magazine's she buys there was a DIY friendship bracelet! I thought they were just so pretty and easy enough for even me that I'd try it! I think they actually turned out pretty cool, and I'm planning on making some more between now and Christmas!!!

I'm gonna give these to my friends on Christmas! Shhh, don't tell!

I've also done a bit of gardening to pass the time, something I almost never do! Since I was a little girl I have had a little garden of my own to look after. Sadly, for the past few years it has been shamefully neglected! But with all this time on my hands I decided to fix it up! It actually didn't take as long as I thought it would. I even managed to weed the corn bed in the vege garden! I'm very proud of it now, and I water it whenever I can be bothered. I already have some flowers!!!!

Purple is one of my favourite colours!

Three flowers on one plant!!!

The corn forest...

The other craft I invested my time in to was little button tree decorations. I'm not really sure where I got the idea, but me and my brother, Josh, tried our hand at Christmas ornaments! They are really very cute and mum even bought a little mini sparkley tree for them to hang on. I made a tree, a snowman, an angel, an elf and, of course, a Santa! All very Christmasssy! Josh made...a button Hulk...hmmmmm.

My little snowman and Christmas tree

Spot the button men!!!

Hmmmmm.......

Do you see the resemblance???

These holidays we all have gotten sick at one stage or another. None of us got sick in winter, but now that's it a bright warm summer, we all got something!!! Typical! However, even though mum has been sick too, she has worked soooooo hard with her part time job and house maintenance: something I think you are all familiar with!! Somehow though, she always finds time to help us out with our crafts, go shopping with us for the supplies we need and even bake us awesome things to eat! Last night, she made us these MASSIVE meringues, topped with whipped cream! Delicious! I don't see how she finds the time, but somehow she does!!!And I am soo thankful for it. I guess that's what mothering is really about!! This Christmas, I really wanna thank mum for all the time, tears and teaching (cheesy but true!) she has put into my childhood and for the support I know I will have as I go into my last years of high school and then in to the big-bad-world beyond. Thanks mum!!!

Merry Christmas everyone...and happy stitching :)
Charlie xx