ANZAC Day

Today is ANZAC day here in New Zealand and Australia and it commemorates all New Zealanders and Australians killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.

The date marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

Thousands of men lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign.  Among the dead were 2721 New Zealanders - almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli, 8500 Australians, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire and 87,000 Turks. 

ANZAC is the acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve. In many countries, the poppy is worn around Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand it is most commonly seen around Anzac Day, 25 April.

In the early hours of this morning all around New Zealand there were dawn services and again there were services mid morning. There are always big turnouts with the younger generation now taking the places of the soldiers who fought and have now passed on, in the parade.

Wellington

Timaru

These services as also taking part around the world and at Gallipoli as they have done for many years.

LEST WE FORGET

Eeekkkkssss....Less Than 24 Hours To Go

Less than 24 hours and will be dropping off Miss 16 and her friend at the Reece Mastin concert in Napier.  Someone is very, very excited and I can say it is not me....lol.  Told Miss 16 right from the start is was a drop and run.  Going to be to many screaming girls for me.

Reece Mastin

For those that don't know Reece Mastin, he won X-Factor Australia last year.

Here is his song Goodnight

I know Miss 16 is going to enjoy herself very much.

Finishes and A Couple of Swaps To Join

Well Easter has been and gone, and I got a lovely hollow Easter egg from my hubby which I was good and only ate half off then let him have the rest.  Being Easter I joined up to a swap over at Our Craft Forum with the theme being Easter of course.  I made Colette this lovely wall hanging stitched with Cottage Garden Threads I have recently acquired from Norma over at her shop.

Easter Swap sent to Colette

Then from Guliana I received this lovely bunny.  She is gorgeous and in her little basket are some cute eggs Guliana has sewn up

Easter Swap received from Guliana

There are a few swap sign ups at the moment happening around blogland.

Click on each of the pictures to get to their respective pages.  You never know, you may get me as your partner.

Quilting Mumma is holding a Mug Rug swap and sign ups close on the April 16th 

Lydias Treasures is having a Colour Swap and sign ups close April 21st

And only today the OASS sign ups has opened again for the Winter Swap and close on April 26th

Off swaps now.  Last year in the mail I received from Bev over at Kainga Happenings three lovely machine embroidered pieces.  When I got them a few things went through my head what to do with them.  First was a wall hanging, then cushions, back to wall hangings, then back to cushions.  I had material to do both.

Well finally I decided cushions and last weekend I added the inner borders on them and before doing the outer borders lined them up side by side and instantly thought table runner.

And finally, over the Easter period and the days leading up to it Mother Nature unleashed her fury onto us here in Gisborne again.  There have been some major road washouts in the country side and travel was difficult getting out of the East Coast, especially down to the Hawkes Bay.  I did get some photos but did not want to get out of the car to get to many as it was very very wet.  

The first two photos were taken of the river in the morning.  The rest were taken about 1 hour from high tide in the afternoon

Looking over at the Wharf

Gladstone Road Bridge - Wharf side

1 hour before high tide

Gladstone Bridge North side 1 hour before high tide

Marina Restaurant 1 hr before high tide

1 hr before hightide

Mug Rug Swap at Quilting Mumma

Quilting Mumma is having a Mug Rug Swap.  So head on over to here and join up by April 16th

Happy Easter

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

Table Runners and Blocks

More blocks have been sent and received in the past couple of months for the Australian Block swap.  My stash is building up nicely.  First received in February and March were some lovely blocks from Cate and Nolene.

Received from Cate - February swap

Received from Cate - February Swap

Received from Nolene - March swap

Then to Nolene this month I have sent this block.  Nolene want a Log Cabin Block with black on white and white on black, then starting with white on black.  I hope she like this one with some New Zealand fabrics within the mix.

Sent to Nolene - March swap

I have also this month finished a table runner I started making in January with some little charm squares I received from an earlier swap. These were probably the smallest squares I have ever sewn together so after motoring along sewing them I added a border and then put a binding on it and here it is finished.

I also received in a Kitchen Swap I participated in, another table runner from Colette in the USA.  I see some bunnies on it so will be a great addition for Easter.

Where Has The Time Gone?

Can not believe it has been a few weeks since my last post, where has the time gone.  I must say I have not really done much sewing but what I have done has been for other people.

My sister had a little girl at the start of the month so I made her some bibs.  I posted them over to her last week so hopefully the parcel arrives any day now.

Also last month I sent over to Suzzie her swap items for Our Craft Forums Kitchen swap.  I do hope she has got them by now and if she has is enjoying them.

I must really get back into my sewing as have a few swaps to complete shortly and alas bought a lot of fat 1/4's at the Craft and Sewing Show I went to this weekend when up in Auckland for Miss 16's trampoline competition.  Now that was a long drive due to the Waioeka Gorge being shut, so instead of 5 1/2 hrs, it took me 7 1/2 hrs getting to Auckland.  next time I vow to fly if the gorge is still shut!!!.  Anyway I got to go through Taupo which I haven't been to for about 8 years and went and had a look at the Huka Falls again.  They never change but are fabulous to look at.

We then we to the Huka Honey Hive farm where I had to get my Apricot, Wildberry and Beenut Butter honey.  Miss 16 and friends had to get their mug shots done too.

Lucy & Kristen

Kristen & Brea

And talking of my daughter, she turned 16 years old on Sunday.  My does time fly past fast.  Here is a picture of her at 1 year and now at 16 years.

One Xmas Item A Month, OASS & Some Blocks

Finally finish my items.  I started them a few weeks ago then lost my mojo and put them aside, but today they are finished.  This time I made 3 Charming ornaments and found the pattern here at A Spoonful Of Sugar.  Though they took me a while to finish they are nice and easy to make.

(Trying to take the picture was a bit hard as every time I thought I had it right a breeze came up!!!!)

I have also made my item for my partner for the OASS swap.  I am sending to Peta over at Just Crafting My Day Away.  For her a made this basket.  I had made this pattern before in another swap so thought to do it again.  If you would like to make one just head over to Geta's Quilting Studio. Will be posting away tomorrow.

Then over at Our Craft Forum I am participating in the 2012 Monthly Block Sampler Experience and we got sent our first block at the start of the month.  This month  it was the Baby Bud Block chosen by Jeanette and here is my one finished

Baby Bud Block

And finally, this month for the Australian Block Swap I sent to Cate and one of the blocks she requested was Square in square. Her colours were green, orange and turquoise so a made her this one.  Hope she likes it.

Square in square for Cate

OASS Received

Just the other day I received a swap it the mail.  It was my OASS item I have signed up to.  The idea of the swap was to make something with the Autumn theme - here in the southern hemisphere it is nearly that time of the year.  Parcels are to be posted by the end off the month, so I need to get my sewing boots on and get mine completed.

My sender was Raelene from Raelene's Ramblings.  The tablerunner has now taken pride on my dining room table.  The colours are divine and she tried to get them as much like civil war reproduction fabric and has done a wonderful job at that too.  Also along with these I received a bundle of autumn coloured pens too.

Valentine's Day Swap Update

Recently I joined in the Valentine Day Swap that was being held by Amy over at Sew We Craft.  My swap partner was from over the ditch as we say and I hope she has received them.  It was a secret who we are receiving from so I wonder how long she will realise I was her sender.  Anyway, I made her a set of four heart coasters and I hope she gets to use them lots.