Pausing to be Grateful
This week I’ve been loving
how much good stuff is happening in Christchurch and how so much of it is about making connections. I think the silver lining of all the quakes down here has been the feeling of community it has created.
These amazing trains on every Sunday afternoon and so reasonable to go on (and perfect for celebrating boys who have turned 4!)
There is this new crafty awesome cafe
This cool clothing swap with a stylist that another Chch blogger highlighted to me
The Atlas spent some time last night joining in with volunteers who are creating a pallet pavillion
This amazing retro clothing evening coming up (which I happen to be MCing - whoot!!)
… and the rest
Sewing time
And my little boys who are all that AND a box of crackers!!
I’m also loving announcing my October giveaway winner - congratulations to Juliet Cameo Brooch coming your way!!
Also if you’ve ever wondered what I sound like and the kind of stuff I talk about when I’m talking about my faith this is me – speaking about Belonging. Let me know if you have a listen 
)
I’ll be launching my November giveaway this weekend too
Are you having time to relax and enjoy the Spring or is end-of-year-crazy getting in the way??
Make My Week #44 – More Little Houses
These are the latest in my little houses thing.
The larger one was for my sister’s birthday and the other is just a play to see how it looks when the colours are reversed.
I’m quite pleased with these.
Happy November!
Click onto the Creative Spaces button down on the right to see other people making fun stuff.
Make My Week #31 – The Sports Lover Cushion
Another 6th birthday party. This time for a little sports lover.
As it’s the Olympics and all I thought this was an appropriate design.
The birthday boy is a real sweetie with a super competitive approach to everything he does – he plays to win.
I think this will suit him very well!
My big boy modeled the cushion and my little one took most of the photos!
Want to see more crafty stuff I’ve made this year?
Make My Week #10 – Sewn Picture
This year I want to create pictures for a story I have written.
So I started with this one, which is probably the easiest
I’m quite pleased with it
I hope I manage to do the other pages too. This one is just fabric, free motion stitching, a feather and buttons.
A Little Coaster Loving
This week the weather co-operated and I finished these little coasters.
The images are from an old Goldilocks book. It was hard to choose my favs but I like the way this tells the story.
I didn’t make them with anyone in mind but now that I have made them I think if you had more coasters it would be a cute gift for a 3-5 year old for story telling with.
Creative genius and inspiration to be found over at Our Creative Spaces.
Make My Week # 32 One Woolly Beginning
This little woolly wonder is the first part of a knitted nativity.
You can probably see why this is the first knitted thing you’ve seen on my blog.
He has what I like to call ‘character’.
It’ll take a while to get through them all especially as I have a bag of scrappy wool and it is all different weights. Still it is a good project to work on in front of the TV on a snowy night.
What are you working on at the moment?
Make My Week #21 Baby Mat/Quilt
This is my first ‘whole cloth/ applique’ style quilt.
I made it for my sister’s 30th birthday. In the hopes I will have niece or nephew one day to play on it.
I used a thicker batting than I normally would.
The tree trunk and branches are hand sewn and then free-motion embroidered with the sewing machine. The sun/moon has hand stitching around it as does the tree.
I’ve called it ‘A Bird Called Hope’. It was a good way for me to start. I’d like to do some more picture quilts.
Power Tools
I may have purchased a new tool to add to my repertoire
Something I have wanted for a time
A staple gun! And it has already been put to work which is good because my soldering iron and heat gun are still in their boxes! (I will use them though, I promise)
Before
The kitchen chairs I covered last year were sadly covered in ground-in weetbix and beetroot stains. So I bought some vinyl/oilcloth type fabric and fixed them up. I’m planning a serious make-over for these chairs.
I also had The Atlas make me a board from some spare wood and covered it with this teatowel I love. I even loved it enough to iron it before I stapled. My mama will be pleased!
I had seen it ages ago in a shop and couldn’t find it again until I spotted it in a wee knitting shop in Karori while we were being refugees from the eq.
Pretty pleased my efforts. Now I’m looking around for what else I can staple.
Christmas At Home
Not my home but I can hope one day mine might be like this.
Last night I went to see my friend Annette’s Christmas Open Home in support of the Cancer Societies Relay for Life.
Annette is an amazing sewer, actress, mother – you know the type – not sure whether to love them or feel very resentful of all their talents!
The house was full of amazing Christmas creations that she and her mother had made. Part fundraiser, part tribute to her mum who lost her battle with cancer this year it was a treat to see and be inspired by all the loveliness.
The whole family had done an amazing job at converting their lovely home into a full-on Christmas fest.
Thanks Annette for sharing. Wishing you a VERY special Christmas. xx
99/100 complete
Let Me Entertain You
71/100 complete
Master 1
Today I completed Challenge 13- to take flowers from the garden to a friend.
Mama's Entertainers
This afternoon I was gloriously entertained by 2 little people.
Once Upon A Time
We have this theatre-land set and let me tell you the stories are much more entertaining than the characters would suggest.
Just Through Here
Master 1 managed to introduce a car to his turn.
Vrooom!
It was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon as all usual activities are currently suspended.
My Storyteller
It is great fun watching the boys imaginations grow and develop and at least it gives me something to write about in the lack of creative activity.
Entertained
I did make a very little baby gift last night. He has 2 taggy ears and will hopefully be a nice thing to chew on and snuggle into. All hand sewn.
Baby Gift
I also made some more of the never-ending blossoms for the project that I hope to finish and send next week. I know a lot of crafters constantly have a number of projects on the go but being such a bad finisher if I started down that route I’d never finish anything. So instead I am in creative limbo until I finish this current project.
Ready?
And this afternoon I made a spiced apple cake for a family that needs something good to come their way.
Make Me Smile
