The Yearly "The Santa Claus" Movie Marathon Has Began

Again it is near Christmas so that means lots of Christmas songs on the radio and tv, and movies to watch.  Miss 18 informed me she was starting her "The Santa Claus" movie marathon on Tuesday, but she ran out of time, so last night was the night.  She told me these movies were her favorite movies too.  We have seen the first and tonight the second. I do like Tim Allen in these movies.  He is so good.

 At the moment I can not get enough of Band Aid 30 " Do They Know Its Christmas".  I loved the original as a 11 year old and ho hummed the ones after that, but the newly released one I love.

And I can never get enough of Wham's "Last Christmas"

So what are your favorite Christmas songs?

Christmas Is Not Far Away

Christmas is not far away and when visiting a local Mitre 10 hardware store during the the week I saw that they had some adorable Christmas ornaments out and I fell in love with these mice.  Well I fell in love with a lot more than the mice, but budget constraints only let me get these mice ...... for now.

Its Been A While

Well its been a while since my last post.  Things have been hectic as I have moved house, town, farm.  Hubby got a new job on a much larger farm at Kuratau, Turangi and I have just got a new Registered Nurse job at Taupo Hospital which I start in three weeks time. We do have a magnificent view of the mountains ....when it is fine ....... and there has not been much off that in the last 2 1/2 weeks.

I have not done much stitching in that time.  Just a few hexis and some Christmas swap stitching which is a secret for now. 

 I also had a go at making a decoration and changed the finish ever so slightly in incorporate my lace.

FNSI

On Friday night I joined in with the girls for another night of stitching.  This time round I started and finished block 2 of the Lets Start Christmas stitch-along, though I am quite behind at the moment due to work, study and packing up my house for our move in just under 3 weeks time.

12" Summer Mini Has Arrived

My 12" mini has arrived from Sue over at A Stitch In Time.  A you can see the theme this time was Summer and Sue said she grew up in Wairoa about and hour from Gisborne and summer up here reminds her of bright flowers.

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Very nice Sue and thank you very much

12" Mini Quilt - Summer

The last of the year and what a fun year it has been.  My mini quilt was finished last week but have just not had time to send it till now so off to someone special it is going.  

A big thanks to Cheryll for organising this fun swap

Lets Get Stitched Hokitika Weekend

Over the weekend I finally made my way down to Hokitika to attend 'Lets Get Stitched' which the lovely Michele' Armstrong of 'By Hoki Quilts' organised.  The weather wasn't that great, but it is a normal trait for the West Coast of the South Island and did not deter us from having a great time. I stayed at Stumpers Bar and Cafe and wow that was great with yummy food and coffee - which I had plenty of.

The first day there we had a look around the town ship and we were lucky enough to get a nail done by Jamie at The Beauty Spot with some real gold in it.

We also done a few more things like visiting the Sock Factory and got shown how it is all done.

Some of us even got to see a seal on the beach

Again I had more coffee at Stumpers Bar and Cafe

And then we had tea at Fat Pipi Pizzas and if you are in Hokitika you just have to have one.

The next day it was road trip time and we went and panned for gold and got some for ourselfs and then off to the Tree Top Cafe for lunch and again coffee.

Then off to Montieths we went, and got a tour of the brewery with some free tastings

And on the way Home went to Michele's Quilt shop By Hoki Quilts and then out for tea at Stumper Bar and Cafe where I could not even finish my Icecream Sundae as it was huge.

Sunday was stitching day and we made a variety of things with the help of Michele', Darlene and Joy

And a fab goodie bag filled with lots of things to take home and a new cutting mat

I also won a couple of things

Then on a blustery Monday morning I left home for Gisborne and going between Christchurch and Wellington it was beautiful weather, but not for long it appeared.

I do miss Stumpers Bar and Cafe coffee to.  Was some of the best I had tasted.

Some Redwork Stitching

Over at Our Craft Group I hosted a Redwork swap recently.  My partner was Laurie from here in NZ.  Great minds must think alike as we sent each other a needlecase, but different designs.  Lauries was her own pattern.

And what I sent her came from the Cinderberry Stitches blog and was a free pattern called Sweet and Spotty Needle Wallet

FNWF

In between writing and studying for my assignment I managed to stitch up this little stitchery.  It is block 1 of WendyB's 'Lets Start Christmas' stitch-along.  Go here to find out all the details.  Block 2 is traced and all ready to stitch up too.  A nice little finish for FNWF.

It Arrived, It Arrived, My Christmas In July Parcel

For some strange reason my CIJ parcel got sent back to sender, no idea why but at least it was not lost in the system.  So last weekend it finally arrived. My partner was the lovely Barb from Barbs Creations and she sent me these lovely items.  The chocolate items did not last long at all obviously.

 Everthing is so festive, and come Christmas they will look fabulous when on display