Kiwi Blocks done

 My stitchery kiwi blocks are finally finished, just in time for the Chookshed Challenge in May.  I purchased a kit from Millie Mac Studios comprising of printed panels and stranded cottons.  These were a bit small for what I had in mind, and I'd rather work in Perle number 5 rather than the embroidery threads.  So I got the patterns printed larger, and sent the original kit up to my daughter to stitch at her leisure.

The designs show Mr Kiwi sporting his Christmas cap enjoying a variety of Kiwi Christmas activities.  Cooking on a BBQ,  and over a fire beside his Combi van, decorating a tree for Christmas, and delivering a sack full of Christmas gifts.

What to do with the stitcheries?  I didn't really want to make a wall hanging with them, and decided on place mats to use in the caravan.  The first two I bordered in a New Zealand tree design, and thought I could use this set  year round.

Kiwi busy cooking his dinner

Pohutukawa flowers border the second two blocks, and the embroidered designs are a little larger on these two.  I'll use this set over Christmas.  This tree is often called the New Zealand Christmas Tree as it flowers over the Summer.

Christmas Tree and a sack of gifts on top of a fine looking ram

It's always good to have a finish, and I'm certainly enjoying taking part in the  Chookshed Challenge.  It's been fun listing my UFOs for the year, and this was number 5 which was selected this month.

More Pink RSC Blocks

 The Rainbow Scrap Challenge colour for May is pink, and I've finished two block sets for the month.  Easy peasy sewing, and now they are done, I can get on with something else.    First up were my four patch units, something I had prepared earlier, as the TV cooks say.  I checked them out and discovered I had five pink four patch blocks this month.  Horses with flowers, flags, stripes, a pretty unicorn with stars, and another with dogs, cats and sheep.  A rummage through my bag of bits to find some fabric strips, and there, all done.

Framed four patches

Three Happy Blocks were made, butterflies and flowers were soon stitched, these are such fun blocks to make.  They will be added to the ones already made over the last few months.  But have I told you I have two sets made last year, one for a boy and one for a girl, still waiting to be made into a quilt.

Happy blocks in pink

In between times I've been doing a little sewing on my daughters birthday quilt for next year, a few blocks at a time.  It will be a big bed quilt so will take me a while.  Plus I always seem to have plenty of other projects on the go.  As I often tell hubby, I'll never run out of things to do!

We've been Busy

 We've had a busy old time lately.  Robin had a hospital procedure recently, one of those which require drinking large amounts of horrible liquid before hand - I'm sure many of you have undergone this as well.  Driving up to the hospital early in the morning, he had his paperwork done, changed into a gown, and taken away.  While I waited I spent some time in the hospital cafe with my book, a cheese scone (not the best one I've ever eaten), coffee, my knitting, and my phone, waiting for the call to come and collect him.  The procedure went well, the results were good, and there is no follow up, so all is well.

Morning tea while waiting for the call

Knitting and my batik  hospital bag, made by Jean

With a weekend caravan club rally planned, we went early and stayed at a new to us camp, parking  beside an older lady who lives full time in her motor home.  She was 94, and had just passed her drivers licence again, she proudly informed us. What an achievement.  The grand tour around this little village didn't take too long, but was still quite interesting.  driving around,  up and down the few streets, then we stopped at the beach.  Cell phone reception here is very weak, and there is a platform on the beach to climb up to and hopefully get a stronger signal.  Here in towns and cities we just take cell phone coverage for  granted, and don't think of the problems those living in smaller places may have.

Local cell phone users come here for a better signal

On leaving the next morning we stopped SH3 to check out Turakina Antiques and Collectables, after years of driving by, towing the caravan behind,  This place was huge inside, room after room choc full of crystal, silver, fine china, and some furniture.  Cabinets were packed full with crockery and china, there were several large dining tables with large place settings, and cabinets full of other collectables.  All quite beautiful, but nothing jumped out to say "buy me".  It was sad to see so many beautiful treasures, sold off and looking for new homes.  These beautiful items for sale needed a large colonial home with big rooms to show them off.  

Inside the antique shop

Then we enjoyed a weekend away with the caravan club, up to the coastal village of Kai Iwi.  The beach is rather wild with signs warning of the dangerous conditions.  We glimpsed a tiny little hut for Life Guards tucked away overlooking the beach.

At the beach

Our club President had arranged a visit to local car enthusiast Sandy's home to view his cars.  Sandy wanted a sports car with a long bonnet but couldn't find a commercial option, so decided to build one himself.  No plans, it was all in his head, just waiting to be acted on, he said.  What a clever man, so talented and I'm sure not many people would be able to accomplish such a thing like this.  I know that quilters can design and make a quilt from their imagination, but this is certainly a much more technical achievement.

An original car, designed and made by Sandy

Time for lunch - but with the first choice closed up tight, we backtracked to Pukeko's Nest Cafe.  There was a group from a car club in attendance taking up a lot of tables,  but we managed to find a couple of tables for our group, and settled down to enjoy our lunch.  Soup was on the menu so that was my choice, and Robin enjoyed his bacon and egg sandwich.  Robin and I posed in front of the place names inside the cafe for a photo shoot.

Then just the other day we met up with our SLG friends for lunch, it was my turn to arrange this and we met at Porirua at Denny's.  There was plenty of choices on the extensive menu, but it still took us  a while of dithering to finally decide.  Calvin and Helen had recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversay, what a wonderful achievement.  They will be enjoying a big family celebration very soon.

Calvin and Helen

We all enjoyed our meal choices, and even indulged in desserts, that doesn't usually happen at lunch time.  It was lovely to catch up again with everyone.  Another customer was walking by and offered to take our photo for us, how kind.

Calvin, Helen, Robin, Jenny, Trish

With all these happenings going on, it is no wonder that my stitching projects have been neglected.  But never mind, it's been lovely getting out and about, and we are home this weekend, so I should be able to spend a little time in the sewing room again.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 It was my turn to be hostess this time, and I welcomed the ladies inside.  Two of our group couldn't make it this time.  The day was rather cold, wet, and miserable, but the heat pump made the room nice and cozy.  We needed the lights on too, it was a rather dim day outside.

Sandra had brought a bag of feijoas around from her tree.  Not everyone likes feijoas, but I certainly do.  How nice,  thanks so much, Sandra.

A bowl of feijoas

There was very little show and tell this time.  Jude had made some tiny booties and a little hat, aren't they just gorgeous.

Hat and booties made by Jude

And I showed the pretty flannel with a crochet edge that my daughter had made me for Mother's Day, and the pink 4ply socks I had recently finished for my daughter's upcoming birthday.

My show and tell

Everyone was busy knitting during the morning, except for Heather who was hand stitching her Kawandi piece.  This will be the front of a bag, when it is finished, and contains pieces of pretty fabrics donated to he a while ago.

Heather's Kawandi piece

Morning tea was served, including "Mum Gunn's Savouries", a recipe which my daughter had written out  by hand as a young teen, so I've had it tucked away for quite some time.    I hadn't made these for a while, and they were nice and warming on such a chilly morning, being bread cases with corn, bacon and cheese filling.  Robin was home so joined us for morning tea as well.

Morning tea time

Carol, Heather, Sandra and Jude

More Knitting and Happy Mother's Day

 I seem to be busy knitting a lot lately.  Probably because we have been away for several trips in the caravan, and had a bout of Covid too last month.  So sitting at the sewing machine just didn't happen for a while.

So what have I been knitting?  Socks of course.  My daughter chose this pretty pink sock yarn a while ago and I've been diligently knitting away.  As soon as I grafted the toes I just had to cast on another pair of socks, navy blue yarn I received for my birthday, so this pair is for me.  I knit my socks flat, two at a time, and have still to stitch up my daughter's pink pair.  That shouldn't take me too long though, just a matter of sitting down comfortably and getting it done.

Pink for my daughter, and navy blue for me

Now that winter is almost here, I'm pleased I finished these nice cozy triple knit (12 ply) socks for myself a while ago.  Made from gifted home spun wool together with a ball of Speckled Yarn, they will certainly keep my feet toasty warm.  

I had also knitted up four dish cloths in acrylic yarn using "Aunt Ev's Favourite Dish Cloth Pattern" from Make it Do patterns.  Two of these have just found a new home, so I'm pleased about that.  The next dish cloths I make will be done in knitting cotton, and I have several balls tucked away for when I'm ready to start this project again.

New socks and dish cloths

It's Mother's Day here in New Zealamd today.  We were enjoying our early morning cup of tea when I received a text from my daughter, Nicky.  "Happy Mother's Day, have you opened your present yet?"  No I hadn't so up I got to check out my gift from her.  Inside the gift bag was a card, a pretty flannel (face cloth) with crochet edging and a bag of home made chocolate dipped dried apricots.  How lovely.

From my daughter

Then later in the morning I received a phone call from my son Michael, who lives in Christchurch, so I'm a happy Mum indeed, hearing from both of them.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women out there, hoping your day was a pleasant one.

Yellow and Pink RSC

 I've realised it for a while - going away on caravan trips definately cuts into sewing time.  Now we are home again from a family trip, I'm in catch up mode, stitching away on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge block sets.  

Pink is the colour for May, and I've stitched up some Hollow Nines.  Then as I hadn't stitched any for April, I made a couple of yellow blocks too.

Hollow Nines, done

In making these nine patch blocks, I'm committed to only use squares already cut and tucked away in a little bag.  The blocks will keep getting stitched when the monthly colours are announced as long as I have cut squares in my drawstring bag.  As I'm not really a lover of sewing with little squares, I'll be happy to see the end of them.......but there seem to be so many hanging around.  But we all know that fabric pieces seem to breed in the dead of night, don't we.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 Most of the Sew Wots met at Jude's home this Tuesday, with one lucky lady and her hubby away on an overseas trip.  How exciting, it's been quite some time since we have done that.  After a general catch up, and a look through some magazines looking for a good home, we got down to the always exciting show and tell.  First up was Mary, who had just finished a pair of socks - the sort of socks which let the yarn make a statement.  So pretty in pink and green.

Mary's new socks

Jude had been busy making crochet cotton dish cloths, aren't they pretty.  They look almost too good to use for dish cloths.

Made by Jude

And Heather was justly proud of her selvedge bag.  Which reminds me, I've got one of these waiting to be finished, tucked away somewhere.

Heather's selvedge bag

Mary had a lovely quilt to show us, made for Ray with stitcheries of his interests, and his quirky sayings.  The backing was made with many New Zealand themed fabrics, full of memories of his life.  

Made by Mary

What else?  Carol had made a very pretty 1930s baby quilt, these fabrics are always so nice.  Plus a baby singlet, hat and toy set for donation.

Made by Carol

As for me, I had brought along a nice wooly pair of socks and some knitted dish cloths, finished a wee while ago.

My knitting

Then the tea trolly was wheeled morning tea was served. 

Morning tea time

Thanks so much Jude, for a lovely morning.  There was some discussion about who was the next hostess - oh goodness, it's me.  I had forgotten my turn was next.

Family Time at Hawkes Bay

 The last four days have  been spent in our caravan at Napier NZMCA Park.    There was a sad reason for our trip, to attend the memorial service for my brother-in-law Dennis.  My sister Kathleen passed away three years ago during Covid lockdown, and her husband Dennis died last week.  We were pleased to attend and support my niece and nephew, and their adult children.  It was a nice service, sad at times of course, but plenty of happy memories.  Dennis enjoyed writing and several of his poems were showcased, I particularly liked this one, very apt at this stage in our lives.

Hideout Henry

I'm playing hide and seek with Henry, and I'd better find him quick

I'm wobbly today and kind of dizzy, and Henry's my walking stick

Today we called around to the family home and I collected a couple of bags of Dennis's clothing, to make a quilt for his grandson Adam.  There are shirts and pyjamas to work with, and I decided I will keep it simple.

Plenty to work with in here

There are always a couple of favourite places we like to return to up here when we visit.  Such as Arataki Honey, where Robin refilled a jar with delicious Manuka honey, and purchased a slab of Manuka comb honey too.  So yummy.

Honey time

And we really needed to visit Silky Oak Chocolate for morning tea, well, that's what I decided.  How about an iced chocolate for him, and a hot chocolate for her.

Deliciousness indeed

Of course, I needed some hand work with me to do, so I packed two knitting projects.  First was a pair of socks, but that didn't go well.  I'm up to the heels, but forgot to bring the pattern, so no  knitting on project number one.  And my new blue cardigan, which sad to say, has been unravelled a couple of times already.  The pattern took me a while to get it in my head, but I think I've got it all right now.  

I had trouble getting this lacy pattern right

Gemma always enjoys her time away, and likes to spend a little time outside, safely on her harness and lead.  That's until a noisy car drives by, or a dog appears, then she is back inside in a flash.  Then she is quite happy to look out the window to check things out, maybe she will see a few birds out there.

What's out there, Gemma?

Where is my number five?

 Number 5 is the number chosen for the Chookshed Challenge for May.  But I had two problems with that.  I checked my list of 10 challenges to find that I hadn't anything listed for number 5.  My list went from 4 to 6, very strange.  Then I remembered that I had made kiwi blocks my number 5 challenge, to join in with some of the others who were making kiwis too.  However, mine are embroidered, not pieced.

After sorting that little problem out, I went hunting for the elusive kiwi blocks.  They weren't in my bag with all the remaining challenges, so where were they?  I finally tracked them down to my block roll - there they were, hiding away, and waiting to be found.

My elusive kiwi blocks

This set of stitcheries show Mr Kiwi enjoying a Kiwi (New Zealand) Christmas.  Cooking on the BBQ, toasting marshmallows, decorating the tree, and r4iding on a fine looking ram delivering Christmas gifts.  

What to do with them, that is the question.  This challenge will have to wait for a few days as we are away from home, to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial for a family member.