Something for nothing

Before



Back here I wrote a to-do list for a pretty crafty home and I am happy to say I (with Paul's help) have completed the second item on the list.  Sandra's idea for June was to get something for nothing and I did it!  I had seen photos of pretty white kitchen shelves in books and on the net and my little knick knack shelves just weren't doing it for me.  We had the larger shelves in our laundry and Paul very kindly tidied them up and painted them white and I enjoyed finding some pretty things to sit there: the kids gave me the Keep Calm tea pot and cup for my birthday in August and the goose teapot was a wedding gift (almost 20 years ago).  There is room for some more things I think and perhaps I could hang something from the bottom bar at some stage.  I was also able to hang the gorgeous teapot wallhanging that I got from Sheila, doesn't it look perfect there?!  So I love my new kitchen shelf, definitely a happy little corner.  Also making me happy this week is the Tis the Season quilt, I am so enjoying stitching these blocks and got three more completed.  I love the little stitcheries, Wendy xx

FNSI results

I'm sure I have said before how much I love Friday nights and it was even nicer knowing I was participating in FNSI.  You may notice I have started a new project!!  In my defence (do I need a defence?) Charlie's quilt is on hold while I wait for more thread.  I wanted to make the Tis the Season for last Christmas but never got to it and it has been on my to-do list all this year so it feels good to have finally started.  I'm not sure I will get it finished by Christmas though! We enjoyed a beautiful day today, the sun has been shining and I spent three hours gardening.  I am definitely a fair weather gardener!  Yesterday I was given lots of perennials by a dear lady from church so that was the push I needed to get stuck in with the weeding and make room for the new plants.  Spring is such a pretty time in the garden, I enjoyed wandering around and snapping photos of flowering plants.  The pink fuchsia flower is tiny, the size of my little fingernail and the pretty ruffled daffodils are my new ones planted this year.  The fiery orange clivia's are doing really well this year too.   It's cooling down now, time to light the fire, then dinner, and I wonder if I can fit in some stitching too?  Wendy xx 

Pets, knitting and FNSI

I am happily wearing my new cardy today, thanks to size 9mm needles it was a super quick project.  It is not perfect but, considering the yarn was only $20 total, it is okay.  In the pattern (Jo Sharp Yoke Cardigan) it is worn with a shawl pin, which I don't have, so I am wearing it with my liberty brooch that I bought from Fiona Marie.  I attempted blocking it a little to stop it curling up at the edges.  Then I put it out in the sun to dry so of course both cats investigated and Holly spent the afternoon sleeping on it, I'm not sure if that helped with the blocking!  Holly loves to be near us but prefers that we don't pick her up or put her on our knee which is why she looks reluctant in my cuddle.  My husband thinks I look like Wilson from Home Improvement.  And I had to include this photo of Josh and the chickens, too cute!  And, lastly, I have signed up for FNSI at Handmade by Heidi, I already have my project organised.  Now I better get on with tidying as we have people coming over tonight, Wendy xx

Little bits of sewing (and knitting)

Quilted coin purse designed by Fiona Marie Clark

Mini angel from Tilda's Winter Ideas by Tone Finnanger

Last night the children and Paul went to Youth Group to play indoor netball and soccer.  As much as I love my family, it was the perfect Saturday evening for me ... a peaceful night in front of the fire, watching BBC's North and South, and only cats for company!  Just what I felt like after a busy week.  I am knitting a free Jo Sharp pattern, the Yoke Cardigan, and it's progressing nice and quickly thanks to size 9mm needles. After finishing the second sleeve I switched to some sewing, working again on Charlie's quilt.  I have only five more flowers to appliqué, some pin-wheel blocks to sew, and then I can finish sewing the quilt together.  Our little Holly cat was the perfect couch companion.  The other bits of sewing were gifts I made for Leanne's birthday.  A mini Tilda angel and a little coin purse, I hope she likes them.  Today the rain has come back and we are having a relaxing Sunday.  Church in the morning, home made Butter Chicken soup for lunch (yum), then more sewing and knitting planned for the rest of the day, lovely! Wendy xx

September catch-up

Badger Cottage pencil case - Lynette Anderson designs

September is racing by - only one more week of winter sports and then hopefully life will feel less pressured!  I have managed some sewing though, finishing my Badger Cottage pencil case.  I even found a cute little bee charm for the zip and it goes perfectly with the bees and beehives on the fabric.  I am going to use this little set for sewing things.  Spring is here (yay!) and I couldn't resist buying a gorgeous bunch of daffodils which are really brightening up our table.

I am hoping to get some time in the next couple of months to get some spring cleaning done and I have written a list for my Pretty Crafty Home inspired by Sandra at Cherry Heart.

• Tidy bedroom stereo, make topper
• Re-purpose and paint shelves for kitchen
• Purchase bookcase for bedroom
• Sort and tidy craft supplies
• Purchase shelves or cupboard for laundry and tidy
• Tidy and accessorise bookcase in dining room
• Tidy and accessorise computer area
• Tidy and sort linen cupboard
• Purchase new curtains for bedroom
• Tidy bedroom chest and annual accounts

Our bedroom is still a work in progress.  It is up to plastering, painting and wallpapering which is all in Paul's domain so I am just focusing on the little jobs I can do (Paul just read this and asked why those jobs are his domain, ha,ha!).  This afternoon I finally sewed on the binding of the little topper I was making for my bedroom stereo.  So I can tick off number one on my list.  A while ago I bought a little second hand table the perfect size for the stereo and now I have a topper to pretty it up.

Before (the stereo is hidden behind the book which is used to block out the light at night time!)

After

Vase of flowers - designed by Lori Smith in Love of Quilting magazine, May/June 2012

Improved I think!  And so nice to get a couple of little finishes, Wendy xx

A finish

Badger Cottage journal cover and Little Thimble Bag - Lynette Anderson designs

Well it took me a bit longer than I thought to get a new USB port, but here is my finished Badger Cottage journal cover.  I think it's such a cute pattern, I love the smoke coming out of the chimney and the heart on the door.  I was so inspired by meeting Lynette that I joined her Project Club and she shared her Little Thimble Bag pattern which I made above.  It's so cute and, yes, I do have my thimble safely stored in it!  And I have started sewing the 3/4" hexagons together to make the Badger Cottage pencil case.  After feeling like the Waikato was awash with rain we have had about four days of glorious sunshine.  It is amazing how everything feels different when the sun is shining.  Today is another lovely day so this is just a quick post, I must get onto my washing and other Saturday chores, Wendy xx

Signs of spring

I have been quoted as saying that I like winter because I love staying home with the fire.  However, it feels like this winter has been rather cold, wet and dreary.  It was nice to get some sunshine on Friday so, while I was hanging up the washing, I had a little wander around the garden and was pleased to see some signs of spring.  My first daffodils are flowering and lots of the others have fat buds just waiting to open.  The flowering cherry tree is covered in pink flowers and my Magnolia Stellata is in flower.  Not long I tell myself, surely better weather is just around the corner!  Our two new chickens have settled in well and the photo is of their first time let loose in the garden.  They are funny little things, running after each other in case the other one has found something delicious.  In sewing news I have finished part of my Lynette Anderson sewing project but the USB adapter from my camera has decided not to cooperate so hopefully I will be back tomorrow with photos of it.  Wendy xx