FNSI Update

Last night I joined in again with FNSI and again I knitted.  I am nearly finished this shawl - less than 12 rows to go.  I would have finished last night but Kristen and I were off to the movies. 

I forgot to say on my last post what the pattern was called.  It is "The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief" and is a free pattern I found on Ravelry.  I am going a bit bigger than the kerchief and doing the shawl. My plan is to finish it this weekend.  

I also made this little bolero a couple of months ago and just had to put a button on it and done this last night. Now off to block it and into the stash ready for the local A&P show Home Industries entries later this year. With the left over yarn I also made a little turban hat to go with it. The patterns were found on Ravelry and called Entrechat By Lisa Chemery and the hat is Karina Baby Turban by Mariannas Lazy Daisy Designs.

Yesterday I also done some baking.  My daughter Kristen comes to stay on her days off regularly and yesterday she complained there was nothing in the tins to snack on, so while she was out at the dentist I cranked up the oven and started baking.  

The best cooking book out is the Edmonds Cookery Book, a New Zealand staple in every kitchen for years.  I have five of them and this edition that is now 30 years old is the best one. You can see I use it a lot obviously.

So yesterday I made some Peanut Brownies, Chocolate Chip Biscuits and a Sultana Cake.  I was going to make some ANZAC biscuits due to it being ANZAC Day on Tuesday, but when I went into the cupboard there was no golden syrup.  I will be making some in the next couple of days definitely when I get some.

Kristen does bring baking with her often, but this time she brought it for a friend who picked up an item for her while they were in Auckland instead and they were some good looking Afghans I missed out on.

Finally, yesterday Kristen and I went to our local dog grooming shop as last weekend when they had their grand opening of the new business, she couldn't make it.  While there, I bought Snowy and the gran pup Rusko a K9Chew and they love it.

 

My Granpup

 My daughter vows no Grandchildren from her (but she is still young), but she has given me a Grandpup.  He is a Spoodle and currently 19 weeks old and has a lot of love to give.

We only have one problem.  Snowy loves all dogs but Rusko is a bit to much for him and Snowy won't play with him when Rusko wants too.  Though I must say when I got home today they were best friends for once.

Such a cutie

FNSI Results

 This was my first time I have joined in FNSI and though I didn't get anything done here on a New Zealand Friday night as I was on a pm shift at work, I done it this morning knowing that somewhere in the world it was still Friday night for some.  

I was hoping to get this Christmas cushion all finished before I showed it, but alas the backing fabric had some marks on it so is being washed at the moment, so put a hold on my sewing for now.  The design is from Dixie Diary BOM which is being held over at Civil War Quilts.  While waiting for my fabric to arrive I thought would try the first block on some other fabric.  It was a simple 12 1/2" block to make.  I have not put the applique star or heart on it as you could do.

I also made some binding to go on a table runner I am just about finished for a swap I am in over at Our Craft Forum, but have to keep that one a secret.

Also here is Snowy on his favorite daytime cushion.  At night he steals the one we have for the cat.

Shoo Fly Shoo

For my December block for CQBSA I had Cynthia as my partner. She wanted any block, in any colour so I made this Shoo Fly block

Then over at  QBSA I have Debbie for my January partner and as I enjoyed making the Shoo Fly block for Cynthia, I made it again for Debbie.

Lastly here is Snowy, impressed I think that i disturbed his sleep for the photo.

A Quiet Christmas Day Had

So we were all alone on Christmas Day, but that was good.  We had family up before and family here now.  The day was hot and muggy...so much for our rain.  So hot that we sat inside for lunch as it was a lot cooler.

Even Snowy got in with the hat wearing.  And as usual ate way to much food, so lazed for the rest of the day.

Happy Easter

And Snowy went to Doggie Spa on Wednesday.  He is white again...lol

RIP Rab's

Rabs 2003-2012

Heartbreaking day today.  I had to get our rabbit named Rabs put down.  Poor boy had a horrible infection in his eye and was not getting any better...only worse and nothing was working.  It was a hard decision to make but he will now be at peace and pain free.  Miss 15 and I started bawling our eyes out when the vet nurse went to take him away.  She must be use to it as out came the tissues and another patting frenzy.  He lived to a grand old age as a rabbit...approx 8-9 years old. The vet said 7 years is average.  My son rescued him from the SPCA many years ago.  Rabs was also a rabbit that made us run.  When ever he got out we all ran to get him and living on a farm he had a big wide world to run in when he could.  We even learnt to sprint up hills and jump fences.....electric ones too..... when he got out.  Must have been why he lived so long, he was fit, and amazing the cats never got him.  We would come home and there he was hopping around the lawn happy as Larry.  Luckily the cat was too lazy and never saw him...lol.

RIP Rabs

Rabs and Snowy

Now onto a happier note.

I finished these blocks from 'A Civil War Love Letter' a couple of weeks ago but have not yet got around to publishing them.  So without further ado

March to Winter Quarters

Liberal With Furlough

I also finished this little UFO last week and you can read about it here on my other blog called Michell's Cross Stitch.

It's Boxing Day

Well Christmas Day is over and done with and my parents are currently driving home, back to their farm.  Yesterday all it seemed like is we ate and tried to miss getting shot at by Master 14 year old with his Nerf gun.  Now who decided to buy him one of those, I wonder????...lol.  Good day had by all and today we are still eating......leftovers.  Well what else is there to do on Boxing Day apart from going to all the sales in town which I am keeping away from, though Miss 15 is itching to go...to late now anyway as it is nearly 4pm here.

Each year we try and get a photo of the kids in front of the Christmas tree at some stage and we managed yesterday morning and it took quite a while as Miss 15 thought she would be a smartypants and play up.  No one was impressed, especially Master 14 who was an angel throughout it ...Nerf gun came later on.

Xmas 2011

I was lucky enough to get for Xmas a number of things I liked and amongst it all was this book. Yay, I'm part of The Farmer's Wife club now!!

Now to decide what material to do it in.  I have heaps of civil war fabric from my Civil War Love Letter Quilt I am doing currently.  Maybe I will use that too.  The decisions I have to make.

I also opened the last of my advent gifts from my Advent Xmas Swap I was participating in over at Our Craft Forum.  Sandra (Fay17) has sent me so many lovely and useful things in this swap.  An earlier post list some of the items and since then I have received a number more which are:

Tin with buttons on it

Rolls of trim

Hand soap

Satin ribbon

Quilters circle

DMC/Anchor/Madeira thread

Tape measure

Seam ripper

Pins

Handmade Xmas decoration

Buttons

Mirror Compact

Emeryboard

Moisturiser

Totebag

Servittes

Then yesterday I got these two lovely framed hexi coasters.  Very very nice.  

Thankyou very much Sandra for everything

Xmas Advent swap 2011 - 25th pressie

Now for my partner, I made for the 25th present a set of placemats made out of a Meadow Friends charm pack, but silly me in my eagerness to post them off, forgot to take a photo.  My partner Sandy (Quiltn'sandy) is aware of this and will take a picture for me.  Big thank you Sandy.

Christmas day here also would not be complete without the scent of Christmas lilies and I found some a couple of days before Christmas.  Love the scent, though my dad got sick of them after a while. I don't know why because my mum usually always has them.

And talking of my dad, here he is after a big lunch relaxing,

love ya Dad!!

Dad Xmas day 2011

and here is Anthony having a feed off one of the hams.  As I type, he has just finished of the last of the pavlova we had last night.

Must not forget the furry family either.  The cat and dog have come to an understanding.  Well the dog has had to.  The cat just sleeps either with him, or on him....lol

Looky, It's Snowy...And A Giveaway

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED


Well, done the Christmas tree a few days ago and Snowy who is off to Dog Spa in 4 more sleeps for a much needed groom, was kind enough to sit still for a few seconds to quickly snap a couple of pictures.  Didn't help that the two lovely teens decided to keep on calling him at the same time, so he kept looking at them instead of the camera.  However I did get one decent photo of him looking at me....

Looking forward to that Dog Spa treatment on Tuesday.  He will look like a new dog.

Now I did say giveaway in my post title didn't I?

As mention in an earlier post, soon it is the Quilting Galleries 4th birthday, so to celebrate they are holding a Blog Hop Party to celebrate, and I have joined.  Saturday morning shortly after midnight Eastern time a list is going to be put up here with all the participants so be sure to go have a look.

So, now what  am I giving away?

Two Fat 1/4's to one lucky reader.

The first is a Christmas themed one from Cranston Fabrics named Away In The Manger.  So apt for the time of the year.

The second is a sewing themed one as pictured.  I am sure you sewers will love it.

So how to enter??

Just leave me a comment that you are a follower, new or old.  That simple.  

You can blog, twitter or facebook about the give-away if you want, but it won't get you any additional entries. Only one comment per person please. All others will be deleted.

On the 17th (New Zealand time) I will do the draw.

Make sure you leave a way to contact you because if I can not, I will redraw.

Open to every one.

Also don't forget to visit here. I am having another giveaway. For SMS Giveaway Day

Good Luck!!

Nearly Finished and A Swap

This is the second to last block in the Mystery Charm BOM 2011

Everyone has received their last block and I will make mine over the weekend

Great friends here. Snowy is probably amazed that something smaller than him will not chase him.  The cat usually chases him around....lol

Now also don't forget to enter the swap below.  This will be my second of Craftaholic Anonymous swaps I have participated in and they are fun.  I have got my partner already and am thinking of what to make now.

Sign up are from Nov 1-7 and item to be posted by Nov 30th