Fantastic weekend at CherryPie...

Have had a wonderful weekend with the my stitching group, this time we stayed at Cherry Pie, http://www.cherrypiequiltpatch.com/ not only is Cheryl a fantastic host, her quilting room, accommodation, meals etc were just devine - a real break away.

Lots of laughter, sewing and catching up was had by all... a new fairy by the name of Erin snuck away my Beck's Flowers (I had done the stippling on the Friday night and Saturday morning added the binding and pinned ready to handstitch - a chore I don't particulary enjoy) on the Sunday morning - hidden under her own quilt which I thought she was finishing stitching down the binding -and bless this fairy - she had stitched my binding and drawn through the threads for me, this all happened early Sunday morning whilst I was having a shower and then visiting Cheryl's quilting shop (forgot to take a photo of the wee purchase - will add it next post :o] )that is on the property, and as I was working on the next quilt top hadn't even noticed it was gone from my bag... Erin got a massive hug and kiss on the cheek...

Here are a few photo's of the workroom on the Sunday just before lunchtime...

Here are a couple of photo's of the finished "Beck's Flowers" - just the label to be added :) a new quilt was begun on Sunday "swirling leaves". Photo's will be added a bit later ...

Well the coldness in the air has got the better of us, and we turned the underfloor heating on last night (powered by line gas) what bliss it was to get out of bed this morning to a cozy house and walking on the polished concrete floor that was yummy and warm...

The cats are complaining for their dinner so will be back in a minute - must go feed them...

Back now and finished loading photo's for tonights post... time for me to sign off and browse my favourite blogs to see what everyone has been up to over the weekend.

Have a fantastic week - keep warm.

Hugs Jx

Beautfiul Singer...

While Chris was taking off the boxing from the wall - I've spent the day washing, hanging out washing, bringing in washing as the sun disappeared, re-hang washing in the lounge on the airers, and in the hot cupboard... to break up the monotony of walking between the washing machine and washing line - I diverted my attention for a moment to my beautiful Singer - here she is as I got her... a little dull and blotchy...

and here she is after a quick wipe of wood restorer - I haven't had a chance to clean her bobbin case etc and test her out....

It becomes quite addictive scouring eBay and Trademe to see what other wonderful oldies are out there looking for new homes...

Well for whatever reason it is taking ages for photo's to download onto the blog site tonight so I will sign off here. Hope you have had a restful weekend with your families. Have a wonderful week. Chat with you soon.

Hugs J xox

Boxing is removed ....

Chris was up early this morning removing the boxing from the new concrete wall - and wow - it has come out a treat - he has exposed the top layer to 'reveal' the pebble finish - ohh I can't wait till we can back fill the dirt and smooth out the bumps so we can load up with flat stones and plant some native grasses.... already am thinking of some scuplture type things to make to add into the mix...

Am having trouble loading more photo's so will finish this post and try within a new post...

Hugs J x

A Poem by Kait...

Kait had left her book on my desk for me to read her latest poem, I flicked back a few pages and came across this lovely one...

Fall
You were my rose
Beautiful as it seems
Through our meadow we ran
Eyeing up dreams
We forgot the past
But remembered the fun
Just you and me
Lying in the sun
Although when winter came
And snow was to fall
Away went the roses
Meadow and all
We faded apart
A daisy-chain we broke
But all for the best
A new love awoke

Kait never ceases to amaze me by her creativity, thoughts and artistic drive - I just love it :)

Saturday, Saturday... turns into a busy day

Yeah a lovely sunny day, without a sniff of rain on the horizon, so it was a perfect day for the concrete to be poured for another wee wall (see earlier posts for the construction...). Dad Tony and Sis Leigh came over the hill. Dad T was chief supervisor and troweler; Sis Leigh and I were chief's catchup-on-gossip, cuppa tea makers and pluck a few weeds from the garden :) Beck's was digger driver-in-training (check out her driving shoes!), Chris was chief digger driver and labourer and young Kait wasn't to be found (the call of music on the computer was her driver)... you can double click on the photo's to enlarge...










Spot the plane in the last photo!! I just loved the look of the flax flowers that are now well past their prime - the blue of the sky, and the golden-ness of the dried flowers and the crisp green of their shiny leaves - gorgeous.

Now Chris has to be VERY patient before he can remove the boxing timber. The plan then is to smooth out the dirt in the middle - and lay lots of big flat stones (and a few rocks from the quarry) then plant some grasses - nothing too major as there are all the storm water pipes, gas and power cables under this garden.

Oh I haven't told you about my best buy off Trademe (an online auction in NZ) - I'll post photo's later - however she is a gorgeous 1933 Singer sewing machine (knee action) - she is tomorrow's job to shine her up and polish her wood before a few photo's are taken and posted. The Singer is just like the one I learnt to sew on as a child, I've got my eye on an EBay auction that has the additional feet and a few other bits that would compliment her perfectly...

Hope you've had a great Saturday.

Love J xoxo

The eagle has landed...

The parcel has made its way to Oamaru to Jnr Witch's home...



And here are just a few of the goodies that were inside - I can show you know as she has opened her parcel....


As I've mentioned in an earlier post the cushions have large sections of fabric from Jnr Witch's gorgeous wedding dress, and the wall hanging of the paris lady's dress also has a piece from the wedding dress (stitching kit, and border fabric are from The Stitchery, in Dunedin, also check out Jenny's new blog http://www.stitcheryjen.blogspot.com/). Jnr Witch was so excited to see her goodies and I am so pleased that she loves them... Its hard to see in the photo - though there is a white dog stitched which is to represent BonBon...

... isn't he just the cutest :)

Oh did a little quilting today - well sandwiched and pinned "becks flowers" quilt out so it is ready to take to my stitching group's weekend away in two weeks - can't wait - we are off to CherryPie in Levin.

The 'gecko' in the header is what I made at a weekend class a couple of years ago - he is to be hung on the curved wall in the back courtyard once we have laid the concrete etc - so for now he lays in the sun on our bedroom floor...

Have a lovely mothers day tomorrow, I hope your children let you sleep in, bring you a mug of tea and some toast so you can stay snuggled in bed and read your book - Kait and Beck's I hope you read this...LOL

Love J xox

What the cats have been up to today...

First there was Holly and Licorice tolerating the same couch....



Licorice looks so snuggly and comfy...



Quarry cat was on sewing machine guard duty....



oh ... and here's Jazz thinking that no one was watching and trying to get a head start on taking out the rubbish :)



What were your cats up to today....

Love J x

A great chilly weekend ....

Definitely feel winter in the air... the headcold is back for the second time ... the days over the weekend have been lovely and cold - always gets me motivated to sit at the machine and sew and sew... finished stitching the last block for Leanne's House 'Ruth Quilt' on Saturday afternoon at my girlfriend's house.

Came home and Beck's and I laid out all the blocks I had pre-cut waiting for the stitchings to be finished, then I started sewing the rows, everyone went off to bed and I kept sewing, when had 12 rows joined together, called it a night at midnight... this morning finished sewing the rows and one quilt top completed -yeah. We have named it "Beck's Flowers" as Beck's even helped with a few stitches in some of the blocks.






Whilst at my girlfriend's house on Saturday afternoon, after drinking lots of her yummy coffeee, stitching and gossiping up a storm, we braved the cold and went outside to the barn to meet their three new additions to the McMoo fold. Two of the new furry babies (11 weeks old) have been named after my girls - so cute :)

Meet: Bella Kate McMoo (she will go a lovely black like around her nose as she gets older)



Meet: Crumpet Becks McMoo (little red calf); Flossie Soxs (4weeks old - she is a big girl) is the other little black calf.



Kait and Becks are back to school tomorrow, they are looking forward to seeing their friends, though are not looking forward to having to get up early - am trying to convince them now would be a great time to head off to bed and settle down for the night (9.10pm)...

Well its too cold to be sitting at the computer, so will sign off here, go grab a cup of coffee then sit on the couch under a quilt and finish stitching the binding on Jnr Witch's gift...

Have a happy week and keep warm
Love J xoxo