Happy halloween...

We do not usually celebrate Halloween, (but we are interested in ooky spooky stuff), so we decided to throw our nephew a surprise Halloween party tonight. He was definitely taken back when I opened the door with my witch hat on, my attractive witch nose and Tess (my black cat) under my arm.



Have fun if you are celebrating Halloween tonight!

Proud Aunty moment

I am currently stitching on Heather's RR, but won't share a photo until I am done. I am still aiming for the original 1 November deadline (not the extended 1 December deadline), as I have several other stitching comittments I need to get cracking on (Carol's RR, Cheryl's RR and an exchange).

Wedding plans are sucking up the rest of my stitching time - but surely there will come a time when there's nothing left to do but wait for the big day!?

So that this post isn't completely devoid of a photo or something interesting, I thought I would share a proud Aunty moment. Here is a photo of my sister's baby (cropped only to remove my sister's details). Look at that hand reaching out into the darkness, so cool!



Tomorrow is a public holiday, so I'm hoping to relax and actually get some stitchng done. Hope you all had a good weekend.

Super mail day...

I recently won Edgar's hobbit style birthday gift-a-way. We all know that Edgar is a very generous person, who spends a lot of time organising RRs and exchanges - so it really shouldn't surprise anyone that on HIS birthday he GIVES a gift!

It arrived today, and was beautifully wrapped...



and inside was a beautifully stitched and finished Pyn Keepe ... (you can click for a clearer view)



Thank you Edgar.... it is eqxuisite, and I love it!

My good fortune/luckiness has definitely continued. On Saturday I went to browse at wedding dresses. I found three possibilities, so decided to try them on. The second one turned out to be THE one! I was definitely worried about finding a dress, so I still can't believe my luck at finding one so quickly. I was encouraged to try on the third dress, but had already fallen in love wth the second one - so that was me set. We have our ceremony and reception venues chosen and booked, and are sussing out photographers now (ones that don't want an arm and a leg).

I don't think I've posted a cat pic in a while (and there's been no time for stitching), so I'll leave you with a photo of Giggsy. I only let him play with the catnip mouse occasionally because at 6.8kg Giggsy is like a baby elephant running around chasing it and he hurtles into things (although hasn't hurt himself yet, luckily). Don't let that sad face fool you, he's one pampered pet!



Have a great week!

Wow!

I was so excited today when I came home and found a big box sitting on the kitchen bench for me. It was from Neila for the Prairie Schooler exchange.

I really am blown away by her kindness, and all the wonderful gifts - including a beautiful pinkeep (my first), gold pins, fabric, chocolates, gorgeous green scissors, some stunning coloured threads, soap and handcream. Talk about spoilt!

I am afraid I can't find an email address for you Neila to send you a personal thank you, but I am very touched by your generosity. I hope your broken foot is on the mend and not causing you too much pain.



Thank you for all your congratulations on my upcoming wedding. Your good wishes are much appreciated. It is amazing what a good reaction we have had from everyone. I guess people love a wedding!

I love Carol's idea of planning a honeymoon in the UK (Carol's neck of the woods - Kent - is my all time favourite holiday destination), but OH keeps reminding me he has a business to run. Hopefully we might at least get a few days away somewhere after the big day.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Wedding bells...

Lately I have been stitching like there is no tomorrow. Nicola kindly allowed me to borrow Garden Pleasures. So I started it as a little break from all the RRs I've ended up with.

I think it's quite funny that someone lends someone something from one side of the world to the other. Apart from showing how kind stitchers are to one another, it also goes to show how small the world has become with the internet, email etc.



As for the title of this post... yesterday OH and I decided to finally set a wedding date. So by the time we wed on 21 February 2009, I'll have known him 10 years, we'll have been together 8 years and we'll have been engaged for AHEM... seven years! lol

Hope you are having a good start to the week.

An exchange, another RR done and some sunshine...

Stephanie sent me a lovely email to let me know that she received the Prairie Schooler (HOE) exchange I sent to her. I stitched 'F is for Friend' and made it into a little cushion (my first attempt at finishing something with my sewing machine). I also made a card, included some charts off her wishlist and sent an embossed New Zealand leather bookmark.



Tonight I finished stitching on Edgar's QFRR. I really enjoyed stitching this, the fabric and thread are just gorgeous (you can click the photo for a clearer view)



It's typically spring at the moment. Just like summer yesterday and earlier today, and now it's pouring with rain. It was nice while it lasted (although I was not tempted to get in the water!).



Someone else enjoyed all the lovely sunshine too...



Hope you are having a nice weekend

2 down, 4 RRs to go...

I've finished my piece on Donna's RR for the Quaker Friendship RR. My restitch and Donna's RR will both be going in the post next week.



I now have Cheryl's RR in my hot little hands too (thanks Edgar!).

Judy asked if I'll be stitching my sister's baby a birth sampler. I did think about it, but my Mum said she'd be doing one (she's already knitting baby stuff on the quiet).

But that's OK, I have another exciting idea. I am a bit of a fiend for old family photos and genealogy. Last year I made contact with a lady who was able to give me photos of my Great Great Great Grandparents. So I thought I'd get a photobook printed starting with those photos and working my way through all the relatives to the present day. It's actually far more affordable to get a book printed and hand bound than I thought it would be. I think it will make a nice keepsake.

Did any Kiwi bloggers watch the doco on Romanian orphans last night? Oh my, I couldn't hold the tears in while watching that one. I'm so glad there are people helping and trying to make a difference for them.

Hang in there folks, it's not long until the weekend!

I'm in love....

With my Quaker Friendship Round Robin restitch...



(Of course the photo is terrible, but if you click the picture you get a clearer view)

I stitched it using Needle Necessities 135 (Bali Hai) and DMC 3750. I just love the colours, they remind me of water (the ocean, lakes, fjords...). I picked the 3750 last night, and was pleased to see in the daylight today that it was a good choice.

Kathy your Kiwi bookmark kit went in the post today. I love native New Zealand birds. A lot of them (Tuis and native Wood Pigeons) are starting to make a reappearance after Winter. It's always nice to see them.

I also posted my HOE Prairie Schooler exchange. I stitched my all time favourite PS design, so I hope my partner will like it too. I even managed to finish it into something with my sewing machine (yay). Will post photos once it has been received.

Thanks for all the comments on my recent posts, they are always appreciated. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Ooh-la-la

I was after a particular kit by The Sweetheart Tree, which I was having trouble finding. After surfing around and making some enquiries, I eventually found it at The Silver Needle. I hadn't used them before, but definitely would again... look at how it arrived all wrapped up in pretty paper. Postage was very reasonable and shipping was fast.



I got a sweet freebie too - a JBW chart complete with a little charm. So sweet.



The kit I was after was Sparkling Shamrocks, which I intend stitching as a memorial piece for someone I knew in Northern Ireland who passed away in July. A very sad and sorry tale, indeed.

I'm a bit scared at the moment - I need to get my sewing machine out to finish my Prairie Schooler exchange on the HOE blog. Wish me luck!!

Here comes the summer sun...

It is a glorious summer-like day here today. OH and I were up early, so decided to head out to one of our favourite beaches.

It is one of our favourites because it is wild and rugged. The wind is usually blowing so hard the sand whips around your bare legs, your hair gets in a tangle and you can see some huge waves crash onto the beach. There's only usually a handful of people about too, so we always feel like we have it ourselves.

Plus, on a good day you can see the South Island. As can be seen in the first photo, today was a very good day - we were able to see the Kaikoura mountain range (which is in the South Island) in all it's snow capped glory.



And where else, other than in New Zealand, do sheep graze on the beach?? LOL



Sorry for the delayed drawing of the Kiwi bookmark. But the winner is....KathyA. If you could please email me your address Kathy (I only have your Arizona address), then I will get it in the post to you soon.


I can't show you my latest stitching finish yet (it's for the Prairie Schooler exchange on HOE), but I can show you my QFRR restitch. I started it last night. I'm using one of the lovely threads Kendra sent me for my birthday.



We bought two leather recliners for our lounge the other week - it makes stitching so much more comfortable! I can't tuck my Ginghers into my slippers when I'm stitching anymore, because my feet are too far away. LOL.

Have a great week!