The End of 2016

Wow, here we are staring down at the end of 2016 and into the beginning of 2017. 2016 has been a mixed bag of a year and this last week in particular has brought a string of curve balls that we could definitely have done without.  I cant wait to see what 2017 has in store but one thing I know for sure is that there is going to be change, lots of change.

My word for 2017 is going to be 'embrace' and it isn't just a word but an action and a change of attitude. Since I have become chunkier I have stopped doing certain things like swimming at hot pools, but I have bought some swimwear and I am embracing who I am now and not letting things stop me from enjoying experiences and making memories with my family. I am embracing opportunities and where they may take me, I am not letting fear rob me from experiences, I still have a lot that I want to do and accomplish

We had a lovely Christmas with our family and created many memories, we did some things the same and changed up other things.

Pavlova that my 2 3/4 yo granddaughter and I made for Christmas, definitely one of the best yet.

Scarlett and I on Christmas Day

Take care everyone, happy stitching and we will see you on the other side of 2016.

Christmas is done for 2015

The dishwasher has been busy, the washing machine is churning out clean sheets and towels and our family have started their long journey home in the steady summer temperatures that we have been experiencing here in Tauranga. 

The house is very quiet now but we all had a fantastic time together over the past week and many memories have been made and I feel incredibly blessed for my family and the quality time we have just shared together. As the time came closer for family to leave I have to confess that I did start thinking about what stitching was waiting for its turn under the needle. 

I did manage to get a little stitching done while everyone was here, sewed on a button that came off in the wash, stitched ribbon back onto a top for my granddaughter plus I did also get some hexies sewn.

Here is a pic of 'Oh, Christmas Trees' hanging on the wall. It was great having it completed in time for Christmas this year, an awesome sense of accomplishment and I do love it's more modern look. The green borders are my own hand dyed fabric which adds to the satisfaction too.

Unfortunately this beauty didn't get quilted in time for Christmas this year but it got put on the wall anyway. Today it is coming down and will be the first thing on the list to get quilted. I purchased this as a kit at the Taupo Symposium 2013 and can't wait to have this one done.

As always as the year draws near to the end I become very reflective about the experiences that that year has provided, the challenges - the good, the bad and the ugly, and the things I can be thankful for. One of the things that I have been reflecting on in particular, is what has worked for me, what hasn't and what changes I can make to improve things so as to allow for the coming year to be more productive especially in terms of my stitching. 

I do like the quilters planner that I have seen on several blog sites but I have however already sorted my diary for 2016 based on what I used this year. I like a large diary that I can write appointments or time allocation down, important events and things that have to be done. I also like space to put other information in, like what can be sown in the kitchen garden for each month. One of the things that I will be adding this year is my stitching goals, at the moment I have them in another book but think that having them together will mean that everything will be in one place and I will be reminded regularly of my stitching goals. Allocating regular stitching time into my schedule will help with my productivity this coming year too. 

Right now however, I need to get my sewing room back into production mode from being a guest room over the last few days. 

Hope to see you back here soon, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

All things Christmas

As much as Christmas brings all its own hustle and bustle, for those of us living in New Zealand it also brings our summer holiday which brings its own hustle and bustle as everyone is trying to get things tidied up for summer, Christmas and the end of the year.

The shops are busy, the temperatures are rising and tempers are fraying. Anyone working in the retail industry can confirm that. The other day in the supermarket there were definitely some grumpy people doing their shopping moaning at any holdup at the checkout. You know, it is what it is and there just isn't any point getting all grumpy, bitter and twisted about it. We just need to be thankful that we are here and can enjoy this festive season with our friends and family, so just grin and move on or at least don't moan or grump at those around you.

I enjoy being able to pull out of the cupboard some special things for the Christmas season. Here is a pic of the Christmas stocking that I made last year for our granddaughter. I used the stitch and flip technique for this stocking and others that I have made previously and I like how they turn out.

Some of my other favourites are two canvases that I did a couple of years ago now, they were kits that I purchased from The Apple Basket and are Ngaire William designs and I just love them.

I still have a couple of things to get completed if I can before Christmas, we will just have to see how things unfold around here.

Happy stitching everyone,

Donna-Maree

The hexies continue...

With spring cleaning  and preparation for Christmas underway I haven't got as much sewing done as I thought I would. However I try to sit and stitch for at least half an hour a day and it is working, even these little snippets of time accumulate into results.

Here is my hexie progress to date, in terms of pieces being sewn together. I have chosen to use all different colours of fabrics, I considered using just one fabric line but I can't do it. I am a scrappy, throw it all together kind of gal. 

It is surprising just how many hexies you can get out of some scraps of fabric. Maybe this quilt will be the quilt that shows my history - the fabrics through my quilting journey, scraps from special fabrics evoking special memories. 

I really enjoy sitting and stitching the hexies, I find it incredibly calming but incredibly addictive!

I am very grateful to have the scraps of fabric to enable the variety that I hope will be in this quilt, I am also very grateful for the time that I can just sit and stitch these small pieces of fabric together. Funny that as we sit and make sense of the fabric pieces we also take time to sift through our thoughts and make sense of the pieces of our lives.

I have much to be grateful for especially coming up to Christmas which is such a special time giving us the opportunity to spend special quality time with those that are closest to us, our friends and family. 

Some stitching time is waiting for me - so until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

First day of December 2015

This is what I am focusing on today.

I have used the end of the kitchen bench to batt this up - I am wanting this done!

Christmas is just around the corner and my list is too long.

What are you working on? Leave a comment and let us all know.

Happy stitching 

Donna-Maree

Keeping busy

I am waiting at the hospital today and have my trusty 'to go' bag. My motherinlaw is having surgery and while she is in theatre I thought it was a good opportunity to get some more stitches in. Not many more stitches are needed before this is done, such a good feeling. 

Just a quick update ...

Hi everyone,

I hope that you have all survived Christmas. I find this time between Christmas and New Year an unusual time, a kind of no mans land - where time doesn't seem to belong to either year. 

This year it is even more a little unusual as we are working hard getting the property ready to go on the market. There is a bitter sweet feeling about getting things completed that have been hanging around for a while. It is awesome seeing them finished, but sad in that we know we won't be around long to enjoy them. We are having a quieter day today, as yesterday was sooo hot and unfortunately I have a headache which I can't seem to get rid of - dehydration I am pretty sure.

The tree and decorations have been packed away earlier than usual this year, so that we could get the lounge back to normal ready for house showing. The tree looked particularly pretty this year with the white and gold colour scheme that the girls chose.

Here is a photo of my great-nephew as he was being taken home from the hospital the other day. Although he was born three weeks early, he is doing very well and isn't he just gorgeous. His parents and grandmother are going to visit Whangarei next week and we can't wait to have snuggles with this little guy.

Here is the photo of my mothers house again as I wanted to tell you all how she had done in the competition this year. Mum has decorated her house for Christmas every year since moving to Whangarei five years ago, and this year decided that she would join the official list of properties to visit. As a participant she was invited to attend the official announcement where the winner is announced. It was with much surprise that she learned that she took away third prize! This is no small feat as it takes mum a long time to put up all of the decorations and it is entirely her work and design. Well done Mum!

I haven't done any sewing so far apart from a little bit of hand sewing, however I have not done enough to show you yet. I also need to put some more work into sorting out my sewing area. I will give you an update of everything very soon - both, the organised sewing area and projects on the go.

Until then - happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Merry Christmas Everyone

Well here we are ... the presents have been opened ... the Christmas meal has been eaten and we are all blobbing watching a bit of tele ... well some of us anyway.

Our eldest daughter and her partner have been here to share Christmas with us from Perth, WA. It has been lovely sharing the day with them when they have been here, they have been spending time with Jays family as well. We look forward to more quality time with them before they return to Perth.

I hope that Christmas has been good for you - if you have had it yet and for those that are on a different time zone and are still to experience it, enjoy.

We are without some of our expected house guests this year due to the fact that baby Phoenix was born yesterday afternoon. My sister, her son and his partner were due to drive up yesterday but alas yesterday morning saw Kylie in labour, hence they are still all in Auckland. So I am a great-aunt, my nephew and his partner being the new parents. Yes my sister is now a grandma and my mother is a great-grandma! Very exciting. I can't wait for the opportunity to visit and have a cuddle.

And on that note I will retire, this festive season is exhausting.
Catch up soon,
Donna-Maree

The days are flicking past ...

Things have definitely been moving along with lightening speed.
We have had most of the Christmas related social events now, which have been very enjoyable and a little bitter sweet knowing that we wont be here next year.

We are now on the slippery slope to Christmas. This weekend sees our eldest daughter and partner arriving from Perth for three weeks. It will be awesome having them in the same country, even if it is for a few weeks and that we have to share them with Jay's family and their joint friends.

My mum really gets into Christmas and decorates her house with a fantastic lighting display. I admire her efforts especially as it takes her quite a while to get everything set up. I also know that this year she put things up only to take them down several days later and change her grand design and redo it all. This is the first year that she has entered the local light competition - the results aren't known yet. However I do know that there are many, many cars that stop at her place to admire the lights.

Last week we made a very quick trip down to Tauranga to look at possible high schools for our youngest daughter. I managed to take these photos through the gorge coming home. I have never taken photos from a moving vehicle before and was impressed with how well they came out.

We stopped at Paeroa on our way home for a pit stop and I took advantage of the opportunity to stretch my legs and have a look around. Everyone in New Zealand should recognise this photo.

What I didn't know was some of the history - I thought these were an interesting way of displaying that.

Each one of these round things had the information on the top.

I thought this rubbish bin looking like a lemon was cool!

We took presents down for the family when we went down to Tauranga as we are having Christmas here this year, it will be our last Christmas here before all of the changes next year. This way Kelsey and Jay can share Christmas Day with both families. Back to the presents - I created photo collage canvases for gifts and hope that the special people they are for enjoy them. I really enjoy making these and experience a trip down memory lane each time I create one. There are no photos as I forgot to take them before they were wrapped up and delivered.

We stopped here for a break on the way down. Awesome food and they even have wifi!

Anyway, this is all for now, although I know that I have enough to tell for another post - so check back soon.

Until then - happy stitching everyone!

Donna-Maree