Chookshed Challenge

 The Chookshed Challenge is up and running again for 2026.  As I had quite good success with this challenge last year, I decided to join in again.  Can I find 10 projects to list?  Of course I can!  Here's what I've found to work on this year.

1.    Strings.  I've got bags full of strings, sorted into colours plus a whole heap of neutrals.  I want to get rid of some of them at least.

2.    Frilly apron - my adult granddaughter had asked for one of these sometime ago.

3.    Blue/lemon 9 patch baby quilt.  Top done, ready to be quilted.

4.    Play mat panel.

5.    Baby animals cot quilt.  Top done, another awaiting quilting.

6.    Strings.  Yes, again.  If I don't deal with these strings they will be chucked out.

7.    H S Triangles - there is a bag of these from another project waiting to be dealt with.

8.    Pillow cases.  The fabric is ready and waiting, I've been wanting to try making these for ages.

9.    Blue Rail Fence - some blocks done, so it's a start.

10.   Burgundy Log Cabin.  This stalled project was on my list last year and never got worked on.

That's my list of 10, let's see how it goes.  Number 3 has been chosen this month.  The top is completed, layers pinned, and the binding made.  Let's get stitching!

Ready for quilting, baby quilt and binding

Blue Hearts and Stars, and Contentment

 Of course, I'm keen and eager to join in with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC)  once again.  Blue is the colour for January, I must have known that as I've made a great start on sewing blue blocks already during the last month.   This is another secret project, and I don't think the recipient reads my blog. but maybe she does.  So I'll keep the details close until I have the grand reveal sometime later.

Blur hearts and stars

I've made a good start, and have completed all the star blocks.  The hearts have all be traced, cut, and fused, and now need to be stitched onto the background.  There was lots of rather old visoflix in my stash, which I was pleased to use up.  But of course, not quite enough, so now I've purchased some new stuff, which isn't coming away from the backing paper as before, so much easier to use.  I'll continue working on these blocks during January.  Still a way to go, but I'll get there, one step at a time.

I'm sure some of you watch Kate, from "The Last Homely House".   I really enjoy her vlogs, and she has such a nice way of chatting away, talking about this and that, as if we were friends together.  And in a way we all are, as we sit together on her lime green sofa, which goes right around the world.  Regular viewers will know exactly what I'm talking about.  

The reason I'm mentioning Kate is that in her New Year Vlog she decided that instead of wishing all her viewers a Happy New Year, she would wish us contentment instead.  That thought really resonated with me, as I don't feel at all happy with losing the love of my life, and I never will.  I'm not happy that my life has changed so drastically either.  But maybe I can work towards feeling more content - in my home, doing what I enjoy, being in the company of good friends, and reflecting back on happy times the two of us shared together.  Yes, that might be the answer.

Clickerty Click go the Knitting Needles

 Let's look back on how I've got on with knitting projects this year.  I'm not a fast knitter, by any means, and tend to do my knitting in the evenings.

In March  I completed three knitted blankets for the SPCA, for cats and kittens in their care.  The nice thing is that each cat and kitten receives their very own little blanket to take it home once they are adopted to help with the transition.  This was organised by the Knit World shops, and each year they choose a new  charity to support, with their customers only too happy to help.  The shop was selling the selected yarn at a very reasonable price, so I decided to buy three balls.

Three blankets for the SPCA

Then in April I decided to knit one for Gemma, using up two balls of cotton yarn I had.  I made it to go into the cat tower, she likes to snooze in the middle section, it's hard to see her when she is tucked nice and cozy in her tower.  

Pink Blanket for Gemma

I had a knitting finish in July, a cream toddler's jumper which had been started by my friend Eileen many years ago.  She was happy to pass it on to me to finish, and to be donated to a good cause.  This is a nice pattern, and I think I'll knit it again sometime soon.

Toddler jumper, donated to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

In September I completed another  little baby's jumper, using acrylic yarn I had purchased from the Op Shop, very pretty yarn at a good price too.  I love how it turned out.

Jumper for a baby girl

Plus I knitted five pairs of socks as well, including this pair which was part of my daughter Nicky's Christmas gift.  She had requested pale blue socks knitted in 4ply.

Socks for Nicky

So all in all, I'm pleased with my completed knitting projects this year.  And I've got three more projects already cast on, which will continue over to 2026.  That should keep me busy, I think.

Some More Finishes for 2025

 Last week I looked back through the blogs to find my Rainbow Scrap Challenge finishes for the year.  But there were other finishes  too, to celebrate.  So let's see what else I got up to in 2025.  I took part in the Chookshed Challenge, and in January completed my Wheels on the Bus quilt.  This boy's quilt was made from a recycled duvet cover, has been donated, and was fun and easy to make.

Wheels on the Bus donation quilt

Two  Chookshed Challenges completed in March.  Some pencil pouches, which should have been finished in February,  and a pink and grey cot quilt, nice and cozy with a flannel backing.

Pink and grey cot quilt

April was a busy month too,  and I finished a memory quilt for my great nephew Adam's 30th birthday, using shirts I had received from his late grandfather.  Just a simple four patch, I decided, framed in red and black.

30th Birthday quilt for Adam

And after 32 years I finally finished my clam shell quilt in shades of purple.  Big stitch hand quilting, I decided, was the way to go, and I used a variegated pastel thread.  I don't do a lot of hand quilting, but really enjoyed working on this quilt, but I think I would like to add more hand quilting to the clam shells sometime.

Purple Haze

And just before the end of April, I completed the Chookshed Challenge for the month, a little cot quilt featuring houses.  I was rather pleased how this one turned out.

Cot quilt, donated to The Nest Collective

And in June I completed that month's Chookshed Challenge to get my Christmas wall hanging completed.  All the little blocks had been embroidered and put aside, now was the time to get it assembled.  I really enjoyed stitching these little beauties.

Finally completed, and now hanging on the wall this Christmas

And I managed to complete the Chookshed Challenge in July with just a day to spare.  This was a zoo panel, donated to me from my elderly neighbour's stash when she went into a rest home.  There was no piecing involved with using this panel, so it was just a matter of smoothing the layers out,  pinning them together, quilting and binding.  This one went to The Nest Collective, an organisation offering help and support to new mothers.

Zoo panel cot quilt

In September I finally finished my daughter's 60th Birthday quilt, I had been working on this off and on for quite some time.  Nicky had requested 9 patch blocks in pink and green, and I added an applique border.  This was beautifully custom quilted by Jacki, who worked so hard to get it completed in time.  I had spare blocks, so added two matching cushions too.

Nicky's 60th birthday quilt

In November I completed three teddy bear cushions from small panels I had been hand quilting.  Very cute I thought, and maybe good for little girls to cuddle.  I donated these to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in time for them to be passed on as Christmas gifts to the children.

Teddy Bear Cushions

And my final finish for the year was my memory tablecloth, stitch to commemorate the coach trip I did in October to the Far North.  It is made with fabric featuring New Zealand flora and fauna, both batiks and prints,  and is a wonderful memory of my trip away.

Memory tablecloth

I've still got plenty of projects to keep me busy in 2026, some need quilting, some are block sets, and some are just a bunch of fabrics gathered together with an idea  of what to make.  Another year of happy stitching time to look forward to.

Christmas Day

 It was an early morning start with the alarm going off, and into the shower.   But.... there was a nasty intruder waiting for me in the shower, a horrible black cockcroach was on the glass shower wall and was waving his antennae at me!  What to do?  Whatever the answer was, I had to do it by myself.  So I crept into the shower, quickly placed a drinking glass over the insect, and a piece of card underneath to keep him inside the glass, rushed outside and threw him on the lawn, yuk. I didn't need that upset to start the day.   

Showered, dressed, a quick cup of of tea, put the bag of wrapped gifts in the car and I was away at 6.45am.  The roads very extremely quiet and I arrived at Kiwitea at 8.00am.  Just in time for the traditional family breakfast of hot croissants with ham, cheese and tomato. And a welcome cup of plunger coffee.  

Robert is a farrier, amongst other skills, and made this lovely Christmas tree, one for each of his daughters,  from horse shoes a few years ago, this is Emmas.    I think they are  very special indeed.

Tree made from horse shoes

Then it was time to open the presents, always a big occasion with this family.

Gifts for all

Granddaughter Emma was the Christmas elf handing out the gifts, and we waited to see what was inside each one.

 Granddaughter Emma is excited

Granddaughter Megan, partner Michael and their two corgies, Gracie and George

My favourite (only, as I tell him) son-in-law Robert and daughter Nicky

Family dog Noodle at my feet.  He was exhausted from his favourite Christmas Day pastime, demolishing a squeaky toy!  Each year he can hardly wait to be given his parcel, rips the wrapping paper off, and gets to work, dealing with that squeaky toy, till it squeaks no more.  Then he ignores it.

Noodle is worn out now

All that's left of the pink pig, Noodle did a great job

I had a look around outside, stopping to admire some of Emma's cactus collection.  Then I was invited to go and check out her baby pumpkins, she was really excited about them.  

Cacti galore

Then I met Thor, a beautiful blue roan bred by Robert,  he certainly is a big boy.  And not at all worried about that strange lady talking to him.  Mind you, I think the carrots helped.

Robert and Thor

Then it was time to get the BBQ going and cook the Christmas favourite, chicken breasts wrapped in bacon.  They smelt to nice.  We had Christmas Lunch on the deck, BBQ chicken and assorted salads, the sun was shining so it certainly was a lovely time.  Glasses of champers were filled, not for me as I was was driving, but I enjoyed some grape juice instead.

Robert cooking up the chicken rolls

After that hearty meal it was time to relax again, and have another cup of coffee.  The time rolled around, it was getting later so I said my goodbyes, and thank yous, and jumped in my little car to head home.  Such a lovely day indeed.  There was no need for a meal that night, after all that lovely food, but I did manage a hot drink and a piece of Emma's Christmas Cake.  Then I settled down to watch the news on TV, King Charles's message, and the Royal Special, Together at Christmas.

I received some lovely gifts, including an Air Fryer cookbook from Emma, (*you may remember that both girls bought me an air fryer or my 80th birthday) and a wonderful photo of me and Robin from Megan, printed on a wood block.  I knew the photo was taken on our 2023 South Island adventure, but had to check the blog to find out exactly where -  it was on the Swing Bridge across Hokitika Gorge.

From Emma

From Megan

There were plenty of other exciting things from the three girls as well.  Inside the gift bags was a bottle of elderflower cordial, preserves, a crocheted dishcloth, a painted rock, bags of homemade shortbread gingerbread men, and a bag of "crack" which I had read about but wasn't quite sure what it was.  Plus chocolate!  

Lots of tasty treats in these gift bags

So I had a wonderful Christmas Day (except for that dastardly cockcroach).  I'm so proud of my Kiwitea family, and it was so nice to chat on the phone to my son Michael  as well.  I do hope all your Christmases went well too.

Busy Days

It's the lead up to Christmas and the days are still so busy.  On Monday the first thing on my list was a visit to the library, as I had found out that the local library would be closed for two weeks over the holiday period.  Oh dear, what if I run out of books to read!  So I called in and collected three more, just in case.   The library was nicely decorated and had quite a Christmas vibe, very nice indeed.

Letters for Santa go in the red box

I think that arm chair is for Santa

With enough reading material to last me for a while, I then headed off to my Monday craft group.  This was to be the last get together for the year and we were all taking something for a shared lunch.  I decided to make some fresh fruit kebabs with strawberries, grapes and marshmallows.

Easy to make and so yummy indeed

There were all sorts of goodies to share, sandwhiches, quiche, cheese and crackers, Christmas fruit mince tarts, strawberries galore with dipping chocolate, plenty for everyone.

Lunch is served

After our delicious lunch, we all settled back into our projects.  There was knitting, diamond art, drawing, plus a small cuddly brown teddy was being assembled, all ready to meet an expected grandchild who was arriving very soon.  It was nice to wander around the tables and see what everyone was working on.  I took along knitting and hand quilting to work on.  Carolyn had made us all a little Christmas angel and we got to choose which one took our fancy from the box.  I decided on a pretty white sparkly angel with silver legs.  That was so kind of her, and mine is now safely home with me and hanging up, spreading her Christmas angel wishes around my home.

I chose a sparkly white and silver angel

Today, Tuesday, dawned very wet indeed.  What happened to Summer?  I had one more social occasion on the calendar, to celebrate a belated birthday lunch with my friend Dot.  Her birthday was several weeks ago, and it took us all this time to find a date which suited us both.  As I mentioned, it was a wet and miserable day indeed, and the cafe had Seafood Chowder on the menu, a mutual favourite, so that is what we ordered.  

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I'm staying home, there is no need for me to brave the Christmas shopping crowds again.  I have a little baking to do, some gifts to wrap, then I will be all ready for Christmas Day.  

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, have a wonderful day, and if you are traveling, stay safe on the roads.  I do feel a bit nostalgic seeing all those caravans and motorhomes taking off for the summer holidays.  

What's on the Table

 Christmas is almost here so I need to put something festive on the dining table.  Sometimes I use a quilt, but this year I decided on my Christmas tablecloth.  Just a simple one really, made by yours truly.  Somewhere or other I had purchased a pretty piece of Christmas fabric, featuring small panels of Christmas trees and  wreaths, and some musical notes scattered though some of the designs.  Wonder is it is "real" music, Christmas carols perhaps?   Much too pretty to cut up, I decided, so I simply hemmed around the edges and soon turned it into a tablecloth.  Don't ask me when I made it - I've searched the blog but couldn't see any mention of it.

Tis the season of Christmas

We're in countdown mode now, Christmas will be here in just a few more days.