A creative day...

Finally started working on the quilt club challenge for our exhibition to be held in March 2008. Here is the progress from starting with the photo design working from - the challenge fabric the multi-orange coloured one - ugh - through the various stages today. It is now ready to start machine quilting tomorrow, hopefully it will continue to rain so I don't have to work in the garden :)

It has a fine gauze over the finished piece and then some more of the challenge fabric 'leave's placed on top...

Hope you have had a happy day.

Love J xoxo

And so it is Christmas (Eve that is)...

Here's hoping Santa leaves you all lovely presents, good health, love and happiness.

Enjoy Christmas Day, eat lots (New Year is just around the corner to make new resolutions), be happy and enjoy your families.

Love and Hugs

Julz xox

I'm back...

Sorry friends and family

- the days have got away from me... and only one sleep left till Santa :)

Here are a few needle holders I've been stitching for my Thursday group ladies to put with their christmas gift...

And then there has been work, christmas present shopping, tidying up the house and garden... check out this gorgeous full moon last night - didn't see any broomsticks fly by though !!

Have booked myself and the two young witches-in-training a "cackle gathering" (holiday) - we are off to visit Junior Witch in Oamaru in early January - we are so excited and are polishing up the broomsticks for our maiden voyage...

Love

Middle Witch xx

23 sleeps till Santa...

Upper Hutt's Santa Parade on Saturday... check out my works floats - can you guess which fairytale this represents....

A great number of floats and lots of kids involved...

And the float that everyone was waiting for...

It is hard to believe that we are at the Christmas Crazy time of the year again.

Beck's is off to her Year 6 School Camp, poor girl came came off worse for wear with a piece of timber today that Chris was loading into the trailer and she happened to bend down the same time and collided with the end of the timber plank. Black eye is brewing and a split eye-lid which we have terry-taped together - not a good start to camp week...

Managed to get some work done on Chris' quilt today - finished stitching around the dragons - so can now start quilting around that area - that will be tomorrow nights task I think :)

Time now for a cuppa tea and a quick read of a few more pages in the latest book I am reading... "Lots of Love" By Fiona Walker.

Nite Nite

Love J xox

Taking Time Out to Smell the Roses...

One rose, with different looks...

a daisy...

... and love in the mist...

Bliss ... xx

My new Jandels...

What do you think of my new jandels... don't you just love them?

I saw them last week in Avison's Attic and have been thinking about them ever since... they are made out of light weight 'rusted' tin - and have the effect they are covered in sand - can't really see though the backs are pulled apart like well worn jandels and they have heel imprints - just love them. I've placed them on the wall in the "loo"...

I know should really be thinking about Christmas shopping - though couldn't resist. Just love that shop a real treasure trove of goodies for all budgets.

Well didn't attack the husband's quilt like I said I was going to the other night - so will definately make some progress on it tonight...

So will sign off here - and get motivated - just had to share with you my new footwear :)

Love J xoox

Beginning of a long hot summer...

Well have finally started to come down to earth after my most special Saturday, last weekend - it was such a huge surprise and I still smile and occassionally get the leaky eyes again when I think about it all - just blew me away...

I think we can safely say that summer is finally here... another glorious weekend of blue skies, sun and enough of a warm breeze to dry the washing on the line :)

It got to 46 degrees in our roof today and 25 inside the house - have no idea what the temperature was outside - though just lovely...

In between doing some more quilting on husband's quilt - have started 'another' project - this is mainly so I have some handstitching to take with me to Monday Stitch n B**ch; and Thursday Kwilting Katz nights (well that's my excuse) - just love the soft antique colours at the moment. This patter is from Leanne Beasley and her version is called Ruth's Quilt - I haven't thought of a name yet for my version...

The sun is starting to set, and the house is getting cooler - so it is time to sit at the sewing machine and get lugging husband's quilt and get a few more areas quilted !

Nite Nite and hope you have had a wonderful relaxing weekend.

Luv J xox

Celebrating the "0" Birthday...

What a fantastic weekend was had... My 40th birthday dawned with the best surprise... my baby sister (Jnr Witch) waking me up by singing "Happy Birthday" (she has a great video clip of this!) This led to a great day of having lunch at a local cafe, sitting in the sun and having lots of laughs with hubby, the girls, Big Witch, Jnr Wizard and Jnr Witch. The evening rolled along with me thinking it was just "us" going to dinner, walked into the restaurant saying over shoulder to hubby..."Thank goodness you booked us a table - they're really busy tonight" - DOH - as I walked in I realised that half the restaurant were there for me :) It was the most amazing night, filled with lots of laughter, leaking eyes (they just wouldn't stop filling up and spilling over!). A complete day of surprises all organised very secretly by my hubby - and then having so many people in on the secret and not letting it slip - even our girls were in on it from the beginning - they did so well to keep it to themselves. And talk about eating lots of humble pie - as was getting rather snitchy with hubby thinking that he hadn't remembered - yadda yadda...


My Thursday stitching girlfriends (Kwilting Katz) gave me a beautiful "O" birthday quilt - it is lovely and snuggly and has beautiful embrodiered butterflies appliqued on... Licorice loves it too and hogs it during the day...

Module 5 - Communication & Coaching Conversations - has arrived this week - still awaiting my results from Module 4 - so will need to get cracking and get this module finished before Christmas so I am back on track with the timeline to get it all completed (still have 11 modules to go... to complete the double diploma).

Have been making one of my Thursday girls a lovely green needle holder as is her birthday this Sunday so will wrap in green fabric for her - can you guess what her favourite colour might be?

Last club day on Saturday for the year for Quilt Club - so is a shared Christmas lunch, a few fun games, show and tell (yes I have to take my "O" quilt to show, so the girls can keep rubbing salt into the wound - and also my lovely "40 christmas' quilt hanging" my MumS made for my birthday).

Well had better go finish the needle holder and have a cup of milo before heading to bed.

Nite Nite and sweet dreams
Hugs J xox

Yeah have finished...

... module 4 of my life coaching studies - phew - this one has taken way too long to complete, too many distractions of late with work, family and 'stressful October' - though it will be in the post tomorrow and will email Leading Edge so they know its "finally" on its way....

Had yummy steak on the BBQ tonight for tea, for a grey cold day it got warmer and even blue skys shone again - so nice to have a crunchy salad, fresh potatoes and juicy steak - yum.

Well am off now to tidy up the kitchen and then get the sewing machine whirring again.

Hope you've had a great day.
Luv Jx

Clothshop Saturday Sampler BOM

I've just finished my 9th block for the Clothshop Saturday Sampler Block of the Month...

And here are the completed 9 blocks, now to work out how to put them together and grow the quilt so it is big enough to use...

Now had better head away and do some housework, so I can work on Chris' quilt this afternoon, the weather is turning, getting windy and cold, so it will be a great way to spend the afternoon :)

Chat with you later

Luv J x

Happier things

I have to tell you about a new wonderful block of the month pattern I have ordered, I'm an avid fan of Leanne Beasley (of Leanne's House) - her link is to the side of my postings. Leanne has not long finished her Butterfly Garden quilt sample and patterns. I just can't resist as its "butterflys" and in such lovely colours... anyway I thought a couple of days ago - bugger it - I am going to order this... So have placed an order with Honeysuckle Cottage who are in Aussie - so that I can get the same fabrics as Leanne's original - here is a photo of the gorgeous quilt - the first block (pattern and fabrics & threads) will be sent out in December - just in time for some lovely stitching over the Christmas break :)

I also went to a beading class that was run through my Quilt Club - one of our member's is a fantastic toy/doll/brooch maker and was sharing her skills... here is the sampler I created while learning some new skills - and here is the brooch that I've started to bead - as you can see still lots to do...

...and

I've been working away on husband's quilt... have started working on the lantern section at the moment - and here is one picture of the detail...

Well I think this makes up for the lack of entries lately... I will sign off here as the new programme that is causing lots of debate starts tonight "Californication" and curiousity is one of my weaknesses, so have to watch to see what all the fuss is about !!

Sweet dreams, and enjoy happy days

Love J x

Has been a sad few weeks...

Hi there, it has been all go since before Labour Weekend, and following has been pretty emotional and stressful.

Amongst the number of sad things that have occured during October, our dear Amber dog was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, 26th October (we made the hard call not to go through all the medical treatments as we didn't want her to suffer any pain or see the inevitable changes that would begin to occur) - she came home with us for the weekend so we could say goodbye and Amber was then put to rest on the Monday amongst many tears and sorrow. It is very sad for us all not to have her around, even her continual barking at nothing is missed. She was 13 years old, and had gone deaf in the past year - a loyal companion to my husband and a great playmate to our daughters. It is weird though I am sure I hear her bark often late at night before I turn the last of the house lights off before I head to bed...

As we head into November, am looking forward to a month that is filled with laughter, rather than tears...

May your days be filled with love and joy
J x

Sunday, Sunday

A busy week has flown past - one of those few weeks where I was out every night - Monday at Stitch & B___ch; Tuesday Quilt Club Committee; Wednesday caught up with a girlfriend who was out from Singapore for a quick trip to celebrate her parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary; Thursday Kwilting Katz stitching night; and Friday was Club UFO ... lovely husband took over the household reigns for the week.

A couple of little projects finished this week...

A dress stitching for my hairdresser Shelley, she is a young lady who brought her business nearly 1 year ago and is doing so well, her salon colours are black with a shot of Jade and she is always asking what crafts I am up to - though have never brought anything in to show her - so thought it would be a lovely surprise to give her one to keep instead...

I've also managed to finish last night the three stitcheries from the Arts & Crafts order - so will ring the lady today to say they are ready to collect - I hope she likes them...

Today is so windy - the weather reports say it will be 130km winds - I've just washed the bed linen and now too nervous to peg it out incase it ends up down the hill in the neighbours property - lots of pegs required I think :)

This afternoon plan on plucking up the courage to start quilting husband's quilt...

Love J x

Young Lady Visitor...

Yesterday morning we were woken by a young lady who had lost her way - she landed on our front lawn quacking away and wandering around outside our bedroom window, then headed around the side of the house... she stayed around for a wee bit - then must have heard her mates calling her and off she flew - very cute... one way to get the oldest daughter out of bed early on her last day of school holidays.

Here's our young visitor mid-quack...

Today caught up with Steph, who I don't get to see that often, had a lovely lunch at Palmers Garden Centre, an awesome long gossip, browsed through their plants and ferreted amongst their gift items - they had Christmas decorations out for sale already - aargh - I've still got Christmas crafts that I haven't completed yet for the tree...

Tomorrow morning heading off with Sandra and Shirley to SusanClaire @ Toad Hall as is the last day of Susan's quilting fabric sale - ooh temptation, though I'm on a mission to get the fat 1/4's for our club monthly raffles well that is my excuse :)

Though it has been very windy today - it was SO NICE to finally see blue sky and feel some warmth in the sun, after having a week of rain and cold weather.

Better rescue the chicken am cooking for dinner and make the salad.

Hugs J x

From Quilt Garage Sale to an afternoon of quilting...

I seem only to get to my blog on a Sunday night lately... yesterday was quilt club meeting - and it was our annual garage sale, where members can hire a table and bring in all their no longer needed crafty bits and pieces to sell as treasures to others...


The following photo from club day are a few of the quilts brought along for show and tell - the one on the right hand side "autumn leaves" is the club quilt that is being raffled for our Exhibition in March 2008... really gorgeous - note to self : buy lots of tickets - as would love to win this one :)

Today, Sunday have had a lovely day of having sister, Big Witch and nephew for lunch, made pikelets - yummo haven't made these for such a long time - and they turned out delish...

Grandad, Aunty Leigh and niece Nikita brought Rebekah home late afternoon (from staying overnight in Masterton for Niki's birthday) and stayed for a cuppa and last of Big Witch's sticky bun and the pikelets... then got stuck into finishing the top of husband's quilt - yeah its finished... then pieced together a backing, sandwiched and pinned it - it is now ready for the next challege - quilting....

Well, is the first day of daylight saving and feeling like have just run out of steam... hope you have all had a lovely weekend, the weather turned tonight to howling winds and rain - arrgh - who would believe it is spring...

Nite for now

J xox

Busy weekend...

Gorgeous weekend, with lots happening around the house. Concrete truck arrived on Saturday morning for the stair pour...

Chris decided the easiest way to get the concrete up the bank was to use the digger ...

The first bucket load...

And near the end of the pour...

The boxing on the stairs can be taken away on Wednesday - yeah - then can fill in the space beside the stairs with dirt and plant up.

Also started some mosaic's on Saturday - haven't done this for years - have tiled up one pot and is now ready to grout - will load photo soon.

Spent today (Sunday) cleaning the house, scubbing out the bathroom (oh fun!) and vaccumed and washed both the mini and my car - no crafts done today :(

One good thing though, Chris and I shifted our very heavy outdoor table around to the front lawn so we can make the most of the sun and the view - can't wait until we get the front patio concrete laid as for now the table is sitting in the middle of the lawn.

Time for a cuppa and some stitching...