Wow It's Been 2 years

 Wow its been two years since I posted and boy has a lot been going on in my life.  Yes I have been doing the sewing crocheting, knitting, cooking, preserving, baking, reading to list a few, but I have been dealing with a lot  and going away often to see my unwell son and quite often, more so lately.  I won't get into that much but just to say he is a strong fighter when life treats you a hard blow.

Anyway we had the call to go down to him two weeks ago and I must say he lives in the part of the country that has the best scenery and views.  I would love to live down there but alas the hubby does not like the cold weather.

Here are some pictures of our visit to Te Anau, Southland.

The Old Creamoata Factory in Gore

We had a day we decided to have a break and travelled through to Milford Sound as our daughter had never been there and it was well worth it.  They say it is wet 200 days of the year and we were lucky to have no wet weather on this day once we got through the Hommer tunnel

Below is the view my son gets from his lounge.  Would love to have this every day.

We also stopped to get coffee each day we headed out to his place and one off these places also had farm tours that you could do which we did not as from a farming background, but highly recommend people to go there.  The link is below

Woodstone Farm Te Anau

Did I by any of that great Southern yarn?  Oh yes I did from Davaar where you can buy the knitwear online too, but if you go into the shop they have large skeins to buy, so I obliged.  Also the best coffee we had was from the Sprig and Thistle at the same place.  If you click on the links you will find out the history of this place.

Anyway, I am aiming to post further on my blog once I sort the little issues out I have.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge Feb Challenge

 

February's challenge  was to "Sew a Christmas table topper".
Challenge completed.  I done so well I even started a second one with a slightly different pattern that needs to have binding added still.
This is the first one where I made it so no binding is added.  The other I will post when I get a picture.  

The March challenge is:

So going by my list this month I need to:

Sew a Halloween table topper

I have started this one already but to take a picture too.

To be honest I have to go outside to my sewing room and it is a bit dark and quiet so will take these pictures during the daylight hours.

On to other things.  I do like sitting binging Greys Anatomy and either knitting or crocheting.  Yesterday I went into my yarn stash and pulled out a bag I had prepacked for projects and the bag was for a crochet baby blanket.  So yesterday I sat and started to crochet this small blanket up.    

With crochet blankets I like going straight rows blankets so this is my first granny square blanket and am enjoying it a lot.

This may end up being an entry into the local A&P show at the end of the year.  Though simple, I like entering anything I can to keep the momentum for others to think they can also enter as you never know what will come out trumps.

Finally, the granpup and I had some facetime chats recently.  He and his mum have moved further away so he does not come visiting on her days off any longer.  His face when he hears me is so funny.  Sometime all I see is his nose.

This weekend though, I am heading down to their place to visit a Quilt Show so he gets to see me in person.  Only four sleeps to go.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge Update

I have been a bit slow in posting the last month my update, but have been away a lot, but now the summer break is over for me I am back into the grind.  I thought I better post my January update where the number was 6.  

On my list it was "Work on my Civil War Love Letter quilt".  I have not worked on this for a long time and is amongst one of my long time WIP.  It was good to do the fours blocks I did.  

I would have done more but I can not find my CD with all the paper piece templates.  It is in a safe place.  I however did have some printed out from putting it away safely so could do these ones.

Tents of the Enemy

Steamboat

Fall of Richmond

Lonesome Place

Paper piecing I feel uses up more fabric but I do enjoy how the points match more evenly.  Now I must find the CD to do some more.  

There is a link at the top where it shows other blocks done a while ago. That I will add slowly too.

Onto February and the number is 2.  

For this months challenge I have down to  "Sew a Christmas table topper".

I have the pattern and I have the fabric, so on to make it.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge

 While looking at blogs I follow I came across a challenge that I though would be good to join in with.

So this year I am joining Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge.

For this we choose 10 projects to start, complete or work on and each month a number gets drawn and you work on that number on your list for the month and post your progress.

So my 10 projects are:

1: Knit some a pair of bootees and hat

2:Sew a Christmas table topper

3: Sew a table runner

4: Sew a Halloween table topper

5:Start a new cross stitch or work on one if I have already started it

6: Work on my Civil War Love Letter quilt

7: Start a Christmas stitchery

8: Sew an advent calendar

9: Sew a bag

10: Crochet a cowl

I already have the supplies for these starts and this challenge will get me to do these.

If you want to join in click on the link on my side bar to find out more.

A Christmas Ornament Swap

 This year I again participated in a Christmas ornament swap and again thoroughly enjoyed it.  My swap partner sent me this adorable ornament and it looks like a cute granpup I have.

I sent this one and the pattern is one I found on Pinterest.  I am not use to stitching on dark fabric but done ok.  no frogging needed so was pleased.

This year i have a plan on doing more stitching, so watch this space.

Merry Christmas

 

A Taupo Trip

 Last weekend hubby and I headed over to Taupo for a couple of nights to go to the Kinloch Market.  Was a nice market to attend and some beautiful weather.

We done some of the free touristy stuff we have done many times before and just relaxed.

I love Taupo and miss working there but it is only a few hours drive away so easy enough to visit.  We drove via the Napier-Taupo Road so had to drive through the Esk Valley which was devastated during Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this year.  The roading crews have done a great job with the road and it was a great drive.  Just didn't like seeing the devastation that is still being cleaned up. So hope we don't have to go through something like that for many many years.

Winnings

 Again I entered the local Gisborne A&P Show that was held this month.  Again I entered way to much, but then I cam home with a lot of placings and a couple of silver cups.  The two cups I received were for most points in knitting and crochet and most points in knitting, crochet and sewing.  I was quite chuffed as the knitting and crochet cup has been won by the same person since it was first presented in 2014.

I also entered in some photos in the photography section and was happy with my placings there too.

And then the preserves again I done well in along with the baking section.

Another successful year had. Roll on 2024.

I will sort my items out and get photos up of some in the next few weeks.