Recycling- upcycling Merino Jersey

Well I have been doing my upcycling again. Two old Merino Jersey's from the Op Shop. Eli will not wear knitted wool as it is "too scratchy". So as Merino is soft I tried that - with what I think is great success. Eli wears it and thinks it is cool - certainly a good result. He loves the longer sleeves with the holes for his thumbs and it came in handy in the snow recently. I think this is what I am going to have to do for the next few years to get him to wear wool. I do not believe polar fleece to be as good as wool. So this cost $9.00 for the two ladies jerseys and about 2 hours of my time. Normally I just whip them up on the overlocker but I went all out and stitched as well as overlocked and finished it all correctly. Not bad hey.

Snow everywhere - First on the Lewis Pass and then at home

In the snow getting a good break in the journey

Our own back yard!!

Big snow fight going on.

Collecting the snow for the fight. 

We went to Motueka for a few days last week as Aaron had work there and we had not seen my parents for ages. Great trip. On the way up and the way back we only stopped once. At the Tarn at the beginning of the St James Walkway going into Cannibal Gorge. The lake was frozen over and we went skating on it and the snow was knee deep but icy. Thinking this was the only snow we would see meant we spent ages getting cold and having fun. BUT then we come home and have amazing soft lovely snow (which today has turned to very crunchy dangerous icy covered snow)

Another finished project

This is for my nephew Jack's 2nd birthday. I started with a his and a roar but then took two months to do the stitching for the dragon breath. Why is that?
The dragon pattern was from an Australian magazine - patchwork and stitching. Don't know volume number. I turned the bag into a backpack by adding two straps on the back of the bag. Filled with goodies for the long haul flight to England in September.

Boys

I walked inside at bedtime yesterday to find the boys trying to convince me that they should sleep in front of the fire. I said,"Not on a school night". Eli was on the cell to Dad who was saying that I should let them. Convenient for him when he is in Hamilton and not here at our house dealing with grumpy kids because they did not get enough sleep!

A very crowded knee

We have had the girls with us a bit lately as Dawn has not been well. On Monday night everyone, including the dog, wanted to be on Aaron's knee.

Looks like a full table.

A walk uphill and a soak in the outside bath

Last weekend we were privileged to be able to use our friends bach at the Hurunui river. On Saturday the weather was amazing and we climbed the huge hill behind the house. Well i only went about a 1/4 of the way but was really pleased as I actually managed to go uphill. But didn;t want to push it too far so Aaron and the boys went on to the top.

busy boys

Aaron near the top

As it was getting dark we decided to utilise the outside bath. Absolutely fantastic, though it took a bit of practise to keep the wood under your bottom so that you did not burn your behind!!

Eli and Talei at the Music festival

Eli and Talei all excited before it starts

Thursday night saw us all off to Rangiora for the choral festival. Eli and Talei were in the Kaiapoi School Junior Choir and had been practising hard all year. The festival was fantastic. We all really enjoyed the night. All the schools did great jobs with their items and the mass choir was very well done.

waiting while everyone was arriving. all chattering and excited

Mieke loves glasses

Mieke came to visit on Thursday and everytime you put the fake glasses on her she either giggled or got a huge grin. She is full of chat and giggly. Had a great time seeing her.

Yet another earthquake and another day off school

The end result

We will not talk about the continuing stress and uncertainty of earthquakes! But today found me taking my two kids to work. Thankfully work today was at my sisters house in Amberley. Off we all trotted (an hour late!). As a break in the middle we had tea and cup cakes. The boys spent ages and lots of concentration on decorating the cupcakes. Albie continually insisted that he was allowed to eat two!

total concentration on the task at hand

Having fun making one for Matthew

Satisfaction when eating

Rambo lives here

On Saturday my work, Longsilver Construction, had a paintball and pizza afternoon. Aaron thought he was Rambo, so did Mark and so did half the other guys. I had not realised it would be so funny to watch. Some just went hard out shooting and running with no fear (and had bruises to show). Others, aka Aaron, looked like they were at real war!! It was Hilarious!!! The kids all wanted to try on the gear and got to shoot using the paintball gun and the tree as a target.

 

Eli

Montana

Albie

and Jakob

new projects started

the finished size ready for sewing together

Yes I know that I should be finishing stuff. But I was trolling through various peoples blogs on my favourite list. Looking at their favourites etc. One person had a tutorial on using left over scraps to make scrappy triangles. It was only 3 inch in size and strips were only about 1/2 inch wide. Way too much work. Plus it was paper foundation. So I decided to do 4 1/2 inch triangles with no fixed form. No template, just sew left over bits into a triangle, rectangle size and then use my triangle ruler to cut them out. Very quick and satisfying. The tip of the triangle uses such a small amount of fabric that you really do use left over trimmings. At the same time I started doing 12 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch strings for what????? but they look great. I am imagining them with grey.

this is the strips sewn together. no ironing until cutting out the shape

This is the finished strings. Looking glorious. Again just using bits and pieces.