Ooh me eyes...

My craft lamp has left the building. I can't even say it died or had an accident, it just seemed to perish and crack all of a sudden. I was too scared to use it in case I got zapped. So it's craft lights out here (boo!). I tried stitching tonight with the room lights, but I could feel my eyes starting to strain.

Oh well, as least I have some nice new stash to fondle...



The Silver Needle are fast becoming my favourite ONS. But boy the NZ dollar is very low against the US dollar, so there's not much to show for the amount spent. I got Bent Creek's Wedding Row and Just Nan's Frost on the Pumpkins (which I've had my eye on for a while) and the fabrics for them.

If you are depressed by the world and local news right now, like I am, then think KITTENS. Yes, lots of little fluffy cute kittens....



My Mum is a volunteer at the local animal rescue and is fostering a sweet cat called Ella and her four babies. When I took this photo last weekend they were about 10 days old. Ella is no more than a kitten herself and was very scared to begin with, but is really starting to relax now.

I did get a chuckle out of CarolR's comment about the invitations saying 'No presents please'. "Beautiful invitations Rowyn but 'no presents' - what are you thinking of?! LOL" I am sooo slow sometimes, I should have put the web address for my stash wishlist!

Happy thanksgiving to my American friends!

RRs galore

Thanks for all the nice comments on the invitations :-)

Tonight I have finished off Cheryl's RR. There was a problem in her RR and she asked on her blog for someone to stitch the remaining square, so I offered. I hope she likes what I have stitched. It is a combination of Strawberry House and M'lady's Strawberries.





Funnily enough, I just heard from Debby today to say she has finished my Hello Neighbour RR, and guess what she stitched for me? STRAWBERRY HOUSE!! lol. I am so pleased because I really love this design. You can see a photo of it on her blog. Thanks Debby!

Sneak peek

I'm nearly done with Cheryl's RR, but will save a photo until I'm done, done which won't be too far away.

Anyway, I thought I would let you see my wedding invites that went out in the post yesterday around New Zealand, England and Northern Ireland.



The cream paper is actually pearly, but does not show up well in the photo. My sister did a great job with the invites, and I was very pleased with how they turned out.

I actually have both my sisters in action - one on invites and one on bridesmaid dresses. That'll teach them to be so crafty. :-)

Chilli Pepper House

I thought I would share a photo of how Cheryl's RR is coming along.

I'm stitching Little House Needleworks 'Strawberry House'. However, I noticed when I was about to start stitching that the wrong thread was supplied in the chart pack. Instead of Ladybug (pink) I got Chilli Pepper (orangey-brown). I think though that it might tone in better with the other designs than what the Ladybug thread would have.



Hope you're having a good weekend.

Hooray...

Heather's RR is ready to be posted home, I hope she will like the finished product. I have seen a few people say they are glad the RR has come to an end. Me too!



It was a beautiful day here today, so OH and I went crazy in the garden. We went out and spent quite a lot on plants to redo my pots, then decided we needed some more and went out and spent about the same amount again. It looks great though, and it feels summery now.

We even got stuck into a pot of irises which belonged to my Grandmother, a job I've put off for ages. My Mum had them for about 14 years, and she gave them to me a few years ago... so they were well and truly root bound. OH took a spade to them, and we eventually managed to get in and extract the (many) bulbs. They did flower occasionally, but next Spring they should be spectacular. I've already asked Santa for two half wine barrels which I've seen at one of the local garden shops to plant them in.

Have a good week everyone!

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.