Hello Teddies

 The teddy cushion panels have finally received the last of their big stitch quilting.  Not at all difficult, but this project got put aside more than once while I worked on other things.  I do find hand quilting nice and relaxing, especially doing big stitch quilting.   These pretty cushion panels came from the  Sew Wots who often bring along items looking for a new home to our get-togethers.  I gladly picked them up to take home, they will be perfect for cushions for the foster kids, I decided.  

I outlined the teddies with big stitch quilting

Then it was a simple matter to add a lining to cover my stitching, then add an envelope opening for the back.  I had recently purchased some cushion inners so they were all ready and waiting to be stuffed inside.   The teddy cushions will be donated to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and will be  handed out  as a Christmas gift for someone to cuddle.

Two teddy cushions

We all know that bears, and teddies too, are very fond of honey.  I wonder if they would like a taste of my lemon honey I made in the microwave this morning?  Mmmm, it's delicious!

Lemon honey, freshly made

 

A little purple stitching.

 I had a rummage through my "bag of bag bits" to see what I had tucked away in purple, I was sure there were a couple of suitable pieces of fabric just waiting to be found.  What's this, two orphan blocks in shades of purple, a small piece of alien fabric and a stripey floral.  So I gathered toning fabric for the backs plus some lining fabric and started cutting and pinning.  The bags turn out to be different sizes, depending on how big the piece of focus fabric is.  The orphan blocks were stitched first.  One was a leftover block from my Batik Beauty quilt, and I think the other one was sent to me by my pen-friend Carol, quite some time ago.  So it was good to use them both up.

A new life for left over blocks

Aliens came next, and I'm sure a young boy would like this to put his treasures in, then I completed the final bag, a pretty piece of lilac and yellow stripey floral.  Luckily I had enough suitable cord for these bags so didn't need to go out and buy extra.  So that is the bags done, nice and early  for September.

Last two purple bags

And keeping with the purple theme, I spotted these pretty little flowers growing outside in a pot.  I'm not much of a gardener and think these may be hyacinths.  but I could be wrong.  I'm pleased that they pop up and flower each year without any help whatsoever from me!

A pot of purple pretties

Trip to the Vet

It was time for Gemma's trip to the vet for her annual vaccination.  She has been very healthy all her life so this is the only time so goes for a visit.  I had to be a bit sneaky in the morning.  Gemma has her usual routine, get up, have breakfast, then a morning snooze.  I didn't want her getting in to her hidey hole in the cat tower since we were going out.  If  I went to pick her up by reaching right into the tower and she didn't want me too, she has been known to get rather hissy.  Cats always seem to know when the usual routine is different don't they.  So I shoved a couple of cushions into the tower to keep her out, and shut the sitting room door to keep her in the room - that should work.

Tricking the cat, keeping this area cat free

She settled down on the dining room chair, and was soon scooped up and put in her carry cage.  Then off to the vet we went, just a short drive.  She is no trouble in the car, and barely makes a sound.

Ready to go

Once inside the vet clinic, out of the cage and onto the consulting table, Gemma was not very brave at all, and buried her head against me while the vet checked her over, and gave her the vaccination.  "Would she like a treat?"  the vet asked, and put a couple down for her.  No way, Gemma wasn't going to be bribed, and couldn't climb back into her carry cage fast enough.  She is in excellent condition, with a great coat, I was told.  I commented that Gemma was now 8 years old.  Eight years, four months, and so many days, I can't quite remember the actual number, I was informed.  Obviously there is a running total of her age on the computer screen.  The consultation was quick, professional and went very smoothly, so we returned home in no time at all.  She gave herself a quick groom, and settled down, not too bothered by her trip to the vet, and happy to be back home again.

As Gemma now goes into the cattery if I go away. I need to show proof that she has been vaccinated.  She always has been,  of course, we would never have compromised on her health.  But I guess not everyone takes pet health care seriously.

I noticed there was a sign on the clinic door not to bring dead birds inside and had asked if this was a problem.  Not so far, I was told, but because that nasty bird flu had reached New Zealand and killed some birds, it will surely get worse over time.  The public have been advised not to pick up sick or dead birds, and also to stop feeding them in the garden, as that brings birds into close proximity.  I had recently put a seed cone outside for the birds over winter, but will not be repeating that till I have heard it is safe to do so again.

No more feeding the birds for a while

I have been spending a little time at the sewing machine, and knitting too, but nothing really to show just yet.  And made some more soup for lunch, broccoli and blue cheese soup, delicious.  It's rather green, so it's got to be good for me!

Slow Stitching, and Birthdays

 Today was a lazy Sunday at home, and after I had dealt with a few chores, I settled down with some slow stitching.  It's been a while since I worked on my teddy bear cushion covers.  It was nice to sit down and do some big stitch quilting around the bear, with a cuppa at hand.  Luckily Gemma didn't want to jump up on my lap, there wouldn't have been much room for her as well.  But she was quite happy having a nice comfy snoozy nap on the sofa.  That cat certainly knows how to while away the hours while she is snoozing!

Teddy Bear cushion covers

Both of my adult children celebrated their birthdays this week.  Son Michael lives in Christchurch, in the South Island, so I didn't see him, but had a nice telephone call to wish him happy birthday.  My daughter Nicky takes the whole week off work for her birthday, good on her.  I wouldn't have thought of that while I was working.  I took the bus up to Palmerston North and met her for lunch on Monday, so that was nice, and grand-daughter Emma has Sunday and Monday as her weekend, so joined us as well.  We went to Cafe Cuba which has been recently refurbished, great food and coffee.

Emma and Nicky

Nicky and me

My children were born way back in the mid 60s one year and four days apart, so I was a very busy young Mum indeed.  Some years ago I wrote a poem about this time, and would like to share this with you.  If poetry is not your thing, we'll say goodbye now.  

The Toddler and the Baby

With a toddler and a baby, going shopping's quite a feat

I tuck the baby in the pram and strap the toddler in the seat

With a heavy bag of shopping, food items that we need

I walk on home and then, it's time for baby's feed

With a toddler and a baby, I'm busy washing all the time

I hand wash little jumpers, and hang the nappies on the line

They both wear bibs at mealtimes, so there's plenty in the wash

Shirts and shorts and dresses, and little cotton socks

With a toddler and a baby, there's not a minute free

One is up, and one's asleep, I'm as busy as can be

With just twelve months between them, I'm on the go both night and day

But though my days are hectic, we still have time to play

The toddler and the baby, they fill my heart with joy

My precious baby daughter, and my handsome little boy

Do they know how much I love them, my little blue eyed pair

These children of my body, for them I'll always care.

Yellow RSC Sewing

I've been busy stitching yellow.  These  little drawstring  bags for foster kids were completed last week, but then I had to go and purchase some suitable coloured cords.  All done now.  The top two have motifs declaring "winner",  with a gold cup and laurel wreath, that's certainly different, and I received this fabric together with a whole heap more from my former neighbour Dorothy.    Then I stitched two bags for boys featuring trucks, tractors and diggers, and the last one with cute farm animals - these fabrics were donated to me recently.

Five yellow draw string bags

String blocks were also stitched, using a handful of assorted yellow strings.  Not quite enough, so I had to go hunting and cut a few more to give me the number I wanted.  I had decided on 20 blocks, to make a small cot quilt.  These were stitched on left-over tracing vinyl,  so I was pleased to use some more of that up too.  

20 blocks stitched

Once the blocks are trimmed they look so much better, don't they.  

I've just finished reading a book which I rediscovered tucked away in the book case, "There and Back" by Barry Crump, which tells about Sam Cash.  Sam is a teller of great yarns and tall stories, as he travels around the country finding a little work here and there to keep him in beer and before moving on to more adventures.  Barry Crump was a well known and much loved  Kiwi icon, a hunting, fishing, shooting type of bloke, and his writing career started in 1960 with his semi-autobiographical book "A Good Keen Man".  He continued to write 24 novels about the rugged New Zealand outdoors. 

There and Back, by Barry Crump

Sew Wot Tuesday

 There was another Sew Wot birthday to celebrate on Tuesday, this time Heather was the birthday girl.  We gathered at Carol's home, two of our ladies  couldn't make it, so it was a group of five this time.  Mmmm, I wonder what is in all these interesting parcels - we watched on as Heather duly opened each one.

Happy Birthday Heather

She received some bulbs and a plant for the garden, fabric, ironing spray, chocolate, a wind chime, and a pretty little plastic bin for the kitchen.  It's always so much fun to see what comes out of these wrapped gifts.

Only one show and tell item this time, it was my yellow dinosaur quilt made from an Op Shop duvet cover, with a cozy grey fleece backing.

My show and tell

There was a pile of quilt magazines brought along for us to browse through.  These were English mags, which I hadn't seen before, so I took a few home to peruse.  In the meantime we chatted away, most of us were knitting, I was working on my pink socks, and enjoyed each other's company.  

Morning tea was set out on the table, and look, a cream sponge with candles!  We all sung Happy Birthday to Heather.  The table was set with a very pretty soft blue quilt which Carol had recently finished.

Morning tea is served

Another lovely Sew Wot morning, many thanks to Carol for being the hostess this time.  Carol's husband arrived back home just before we departed, and he was reassured that we hadn't eaten all the food, there was plenty left for him to enjoy for lunch!

Heels - Done

 I always feel there is something quite magical about knitting heels on socks.  On my warm and cozy 12ply socks, these  heels are knitted in three stages.  First the reinforced heel flap, then turning the heel, and finally the gusset, picking up stitches each side to do the heel shaping.  Somebody really clever obviously worked out how to do do all this, and I'm in awe.    I have to sit quietly with my pattern, knit one row at a time reading the instructions, and carefully marking off each row in my notebook.  

Heels, done

I like to knit my socks two at a time, flat, on two needles, because there is no way I would even attempt those tiny double pointed needles, that seems much too hard for me.  And because both the foot and the leg parts are just straight knitting, it's really quite simple.  

Our weather has been quite nice recently, and there was a sprinkle of snow on the ranges behind us last week.

A sprinkle of snow

And then it all changed, with Mother Nature reminding us that it is still winter, and don't you forget it!  What a morning, rain blown by strong winds and cold temperatures.  Reports came through of wide spread power outages, not in my area, thankfully.    Strong winds and lightening strikes caused downed power lines in the South Island, with flights cancelled, and the interisland ferries maintained their sailings in the very rough sea conditions.   I always worry about our Arch Gola when the wind gets up, as I can hear it rattle and moan in the wind.  

It was a wet, windy, miserable day today

The storm seems to have passed by as the day wore on, hopefully it will be a much better day tomorrow.  It was a good day to stay hunkered down at home, luckily I didn't have to go anywhere.  I was nice and cozy, with tasty homemade soup for lunch, while the wind and the rain did their darndest outside.  Did a little stitching, some knitting, read some of my library book, a nice quiet day home, safe and sound.