Grow your Blog

Hi, my name is Michell and this year I have decided to join the Grow Your Blog party Vicki from Two Bags Full is holding.   I am a Registered Nurse working in a small hospital in Taupo, New Zealand.  The views are stunning were I actually live on a sheep and beef farm about an hours drive away from Taupo of Mount Ruapehu

 and on a fine day from Taupo the views are great too (just got to get some pictures).  I have only lived in this area just under three months now.  Previously I was in Gisborne where it has some pretty stunning views too

I have been blogging since 2010 and try to do a few post each month.  I enjoy sewing and stitchery and here are a few of my favourite things I have made

I also do cross stitch but lately that has been on the back burner but have a few projects on the go.  Here are some projects I have completed

I will now start looking at all these other blogs joining in, as I know there are many to get through.

Thank you for looking at my blog and if you want to follow me I have a few follow buttons on the side to choose from such as Google Friend Connect or you could just click on the logo below to follow me on Bloglovin if you like

or even Instagram

FNSI Results

Not much done this time, but at least I done something on this busy week.  
The stitchery of a little gift bag which is in Simply Christmas 2013 by Gail Pan Designs

I have made one of these bags before and loved how simple it was.  This bag will be put away for one of the many Christmas swaps I will be signing up for later this year.  Never to early to start I say.

Christmas Was Nearly A Month Ago .......

Hard to believe Christmas was nearly a month ago and all Christmas swaps are over and done with for another year.  One swap I have not yet blogged about was the Send Us Christmas swap I was part of.
For the swap we had to fill up a 1 litre container with items that included something with a Chrstmas theme, and a favourite recipe
My partner was Ange from Tall, Short, Tiny & a Pickle.  She sent me some lovely gifts

And from me she received all these

Another great swap and thank you to Kimberley for hosting it and if you go to her blog she is holding a Send Us Your Country Swap, which sign ups are open for now

Natures Journey & Some Goodies

I have joined up to the Natures Journey Stitch-a-long and today I received my pattern and some other goodies I bought from Patchwork Angel.  It is a lovely pattern just put out by Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched

It is going to be very involved I think and I am definitely going to learn some new skills, but as I say ..... "Bring it on!!"

While ordering the Natures Journey pattern I had to buy some more items .... obviously I could not resist.

Then the weekend just gone, I shot down to Palmerston North, detouring to my parents in Eketahuna first for the night so I could go and have a look at the Quilting Symposium being held currently in Palmerston North.

I had a look around the Merchant Hall and obviously bought up large again, while my Mum and Miss 18 waited outside as it was so hot.

I didn't eventually go to the bigger quilt exhibition, as like I said to my Mum, I saw exactly what I wanted to in the Merchant Hall a Farmers Wife quilt ....plus many others.

FNWF Update

On Friday I again joined in with FNWF that Cheryll is so kind to host.  With all these plan in motion to do things I had a hick up ........ I fell asleep....fast asleep.... on the couch.  I had a long week at work so was a bit zonked.  Anyway I did get this done.  I traced out the Christmas Wishes stitchery ready to stitch as part of Chookyblues Stitch-a-long.

Yesterday after my big sleep I went to Hamilton Zoo as when I asked Miss 18 if she wanted to go anywhere before she goes of to the Airforce next week, she said she wanted to go here.  So after a 2 1/2 hour drive we arrived.  It was a very hot day so was glad to get back to some air-condtioning in the car.
It was the very first time we went to Hamilton Zoo and enjoyed it alot.

On the way home we went through Rotorua and I popped into Spotlight to get a quilting ruler.  Unfortunately I did not get the ruler, but I did spend a little bit and to add to my stash of books are these.

So a somewhat eventful weekend had here

ALYOF Goal Setting

This year I have decided to tackle my UFO's which you can find on the side of my blog.  Some of these are in the container, other are scatter about my spare room come sewing room.

This year to help me along I thought I would join in on Fiber of All Sorts - A Lovely Year of Finishes or ALYOF.  The goal is to complete and finish each month either new project or to finish another off.

This month I have decided to finish my Redwork 'Love Is' BOM I started a few years ago that Paula from Pacific Patchwork put out.  It has been sitting in my box ready to layer and quilt, so I now plan on doing this.

Wish me luck.

Another Table Runner

Yesterday I showed you Joys table runner I made her for the advent swap over at Our Craft Group. Today I will show you my 25th  handmade gift from Joy which was also a table runner.  I love having different table runners and the colours of this one are right up my alley. Thank you Joy.

A Christmas Table Runner

Last month I ran and participated in the Advent Swap at Our Craft Group over on Facebook.  I was partnered with Joy and for the 25th present it had to be something made.  Mine was a bit late in sending so got there after Christmas, but has safely arrived.

This pattern was one I found on A Quilting Life a while back and printed off.  You can now get it  at her Craftsy here. It was a nice table runner to make and I am going to make myself one to add to my stash of table runners.

Happy New Year