Another finished upcycled quilt

Eli modeling the quilt.

Yes I do seem to have a never ending supply of old PJ's. It is so cheap to pick up odd tops etc at 50 cents each that it makes a quilt very cheap. This was experimenting with using a batting which was free from a furniture removalist. But it is very stiff. This quilt is made for our new car. (check out the blog in May). Completed using the "quilt as you go" technique.

Perfect Fresia's

This year my fresia's have finally flowered. The last to do so was this gorgeous white one.

Kapahaka festival

Jakob on the far right and Liam third boy from the right.

Yes. That time of the year again. Kapahaka. My camera just does not take pictures well in dark auditoriums.But here are a few of the very hard working kids. Talei and Madysen can be seen (sorry Dawn, they are blurry). Eli's only photos that came out OK were the practice before hand in the classroom. Jakob and his best friend Liam are easily spotted in the older kids performance. Well done to all.

All the new entrant, yr 1 and 2 kids practising being "scary" for their haka.

This big group was only the Wheki Syndicate kids!!

Talei on the far right and Madysen is the third girl on the left

80 candles make the fire alarm go off

All the amazing candles - 80!!!

Setting off the smoke alarm

The campervan crew

Only Duncan missing - he was in England

My father had his 80th birthday in September. As many of us as could hopped on planes, got in cars or campervans and went up. The official party was in the morning, then a casual family day was had. In the evening Dad was presented with his 2nd birthday cake of the day. But so many candles that we set the smoke alarm off even before they started being blown out.

Montana-Rose was 6

Eli and Jorja playing - I really liked this photo of them

Mark supervising the shaky logs (and making it harder!)

Of course a cake. A pair of ballet slippers. Well done Anna

Up cycle a T-shirt into a party dress

This up-cycling project was slightly more extravagant than usual. I got the T-shirt free from an St Vincent de Paul op shop as it had a stain down the front. Thankfully a little sunlight soap, a wash and line dry later, it was all clean. I purchased quite a lot of good quality washable tulle and could not resist the pink sequin as I could see that it would go so well with the shirt. The underskirt was an off cut or lining that was on the sale / get rid of table at Fabric Vision. The sequin band around the hips was from the Salvation Army Op shop in Northlands for $1.

The result was a niece so happy with her 6th birthday present that she went and got out of her party dress and put my creation on. Thankfully it was hard wearing - I had not anticipated it being dragged in the dust on the first wearing!!!

Huge Snails

As previously blogged about - we give the boys extra money for snails and slugs found in the garden. A very organic form of pest destruction. Today it rained and on their way in from school they found this enormous snail by the gate.

Making Flags and Bunting for the Rugby World Cup

Well cup fever is here. We had lovely weather last week and the boys started painting checkered flags (black and white) and black ferns to hang up in their rooms for the world cup. We just used acrylic black paint. The boys had a great time and it has inspired a bit of painting over the week.

Still on the finishing streak

I have made some "kiwana" bunting for my UK friend. Finally finished after sitting around for a long time.

What happens at Sunday School on a sunny day

getting up was easy but sitting on top was a bit precarious for some

some had problems getting down, so Aaron's arms at the ready

After all the snow and cold yesterday was warm and fantastic. So Aaron and I decided to hold Sunday School outside. A bit of running around games first, then a study and then onto making crowns as the activity. Afterwards there was a lot of climbing happening, both on the pagoda and up trees.

The first seeds sprouting for the new season

Well two weeks ago I sowed a pile of seeds. Knowing this to be optimistic but I just couldn't resist. Inspite of three days of snow and some incredibly chilly weather after I have sprouts!!! The little container is a pile of mizuna to cut and use in salads just as new leaves. In the big container is my mix for mescalin salad - some red and green bok choy, coriander, red lettuce. All things quite cold hardy and yummy in another four weeks we will be having summer salad.

I planted some presprouted cauliflower in amongst what is my new strawberry bed. I had a big clean out of the old strawberry bed which has been going strong for 9 years. But have decided to reduce that in size and slowly phase out whilst starting somewhere new. The new season's broad beans are in the back of the bed and I am looking forward to broad bean humus.Yum.

Lemon Honey - yummy yummy

Or for those from the UK - lemon curd. Snowing again!!! Incredible that we have had two big snows in three weeks, when normally we only get snow about every four years. To think that I had just gotten very optimistic and sown some seeds in the glasshouse last week.
The lemons are from Margo and Warwicks tree. Always good to cook when it's cold. I had made a pavlova that went terribly wrong (I have never ever had that happen before) and there were egg yolks left over from that.
I also tried making it in the microwave. Just giving it short bursts. It worked really well.

A Finished Christmas Present

Front

Back

I have finished my second Christmas present. A pin cushion for my friend Kris in the UK. Somehow when I stitched it up I got it a bit lopsided. It is not my best - issues with centering of stitching etc. But I was inspired by Leanne Beasley's magazine "Vignette" which had a pin cushion for remembrance in it. Anyway. My design and my way. Using recycled linen from an old linen shirt, and cosmo threads.

Another almost finished project

A couple of months ago I showed the beginning of a quilt using "strings". Well while I was away on my annual quilting retreat (absolutely fantastic three day weekend!!) I finished the quilt top. Picture does not do it justice. I am really please with it. Now for the pining out and quilting.

My little boy is now 6!!

He had a few friends around for a play and some party food. The big present is a flight to Wellington tomorrow and he is very excited. We played the flour game. None of the kids had played that before and it was a big hit.

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!!