Its not all crafting

What else we got up too

My life isn’t all about crafting.  I actually do loads of other stuff and have a really full life.  I work 12 hour days and try to gym at least 4 days a week.  I am rather ADHD so sitting and doing nothing is not something I am good at unless there is wine involved.  As wine is not a practical solution (mostly) to boredom I stitch and knit and make whatever else takes my fancy.  This stops me from driving everyone around me bonkers and probably also prevents me from needing to attend AA meetings.

I find that I want to record more of the stuff that I do that’s not crafting.  I know that I am pretty much the only one who reads my scribblings, and my family don’t even know they exist, but they are making me really happy and I enjoy them.

That brings me to my new idea.

I am going to keep my Monday post strictly to crafting and makings including food if pertinent. On Tuesdays I am going to write about the rest.  This is going to be what I have watched or read, places I have been, things I have done.  Some weeks this is going to be a nothing post but others it could be Marathon.  I have a bucket list so the things that get knocked off it will appear here.

So here we go 🙂

Spring has definitely arrived.  The air is getting warm, although not drier, and winter jarmies are no longer practical night time wear.

Monday night saw the return of our neighbours.  They have been travelling the UK & Europe since April in a camper van and were happy to be home.  This is their second tour and it sounds like their last as far as these areas are concerned. We decorated their house with welcome home surprises that included bubbles in their fridge and they text after they got home and found them, insisting that we come over that night and join them.  It was only supposed to be one glass of bubbles at 6pm.  At 9pm after 2 bubbles and 2 rather strong gins each we wobbled home. It was so fantastic to see them again and we really enjoy their company.  Loads of laughs and chatting and catching up.  Discussed several books with Wayne so I dropped a couple on his doorstep the next morning before heading to work.

Wednesday was supposed to be Wine Club but we gave it a miss this month.  Mostly we were too knackered haha

Saturday morning I woke at 5.30 so read my book until it was finished, about 9.  The Magic Cottage by James Herbert.  Was ok.  Not my favourite one of his but not a bad read.  Felt a little Carrie copycat cop-out at the end.  I have a bunch of his to read in the stash.

This has now left things open for my next book which Wayne had recommended on Monday.  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.  Randomly I walked into the library on Tuesday morning at it was looking at me from the new returns pile so I figured it was meant to be read by me.

Saturday night was a couch night so introduced my husband to Game of Thrones.  He has been kicking and screaming on this as he thinks its totally different from what it actually is, but I pointed out that there is hoards of fighting and bloodshed as well as gratuitous sex scenes so he will probably love it.  I took it back to season 1 as I wanted to recap anyway he was hooked by the end of episode 2 🙂 YAY! 🙂 Next I will throw him into Vikings lol

Sunday dawned rainy and nasty.  It never stopped all day.  Started my above mentioned book until I couldn’t put off getting up.  I went downstairs late morning and watched the majority of Angel Season 4.  Its getting very melodramatic and teenage axt-y but I can’t put a series away till I finish it, a massive downside to my ADHD thingy.  I always feel like I’m unfinished if I haven’t seen all the episodes so I will continue to watch something even if I think its crap lol and yet sigh.

Kayla sent me a couple of amazing photo’s.  She’s in New Orleans currently and was on an air boat tour.

Yep that’s a freakin Alligator that she’s patting. She’s nothing if not brave.  Crackers, but brave.

She’s loving New Orleans and has fallen in love with Jazz music so I guess that means there are a bunch of people heading off to the Jazz Festival in Tauranga this coming Easter.

So that was the end of a decidedly average week. Nothing fantastic did occur, but nothing disastrous either so winning :).  No walkies due to crap weather etc.  Am hopeful that we can get up a big hill on the coming weekend 🙂

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Another Rainy Weekend

The weekly craft update

The rain just doesn’t want to let up.  It has rained pretty much constantly since April.  We may have had the mildest winter on record but its also been the wettest.  Which is fantastic for crafting, not so great for running.  This weekend was supposed to be the quarter marathon but it never stopped raining from Saturday evening through to Monday morning with multiple road closures due to flooding and slips, so I gave it a miss.  Our youngest 2 girls (my husbands from previous marriage) were supposed to be up for the week as it is school holidays but the road was closed due to major slips and the detour is a further 3 hours above there already 4 hour drive so we won’t see them for a couple more weeks sadly.  They have study leave coming up soon so hopefully then.

Still a rainy weekend is fantastic for stitching 😀  this is a good thing as during the week I accomplished pretty much nothing haha 🙂  The weekend saw 1,865 stitches achieved and most of season 4 of Angel.

Kayla’s Elephant is complete.  It has turned out beautiful!  😀 I just need to make it into a cushion now 🙂

Due to this finish I flipped the fabric around (Its rather large) and started on the Dragon cushion.

Sunday night saw me rather over stitching so I got the old stripey blanket out and have a happy couple of hours knitting 🙂

Accidently found a super Shakespeare’s Hamlet quote that could be made into small roll cushion, which also had a sister stitch so could be a second one to go with the first.  I am currently in the land of too many cushions and not enough couch or bed so they probably won’t be made for me but I am so tempted to get them regardless.  I would have already cept they are not downloadable and I would have to have them sent from the UK which is rather off putting.  I would rather download them. Hmmmm something to think on

Christmas Homemade List Progression:

1. Kayla: Elephant cushion – Elephant stitched.  Need to turn into cushion
2. Levi: Photo of him with Nana Fay – Must track down a decent photo first up.
3. Jordyn: Dream catcher – Had a practice run which am giving to a friend for her birthday.  Second attempt coming up soon
4. Veronica: Knitted bunny?
5. Natalie: Scary Movie cushion – Have pillowcase and waste fabric.  She also wants a small stitch for her favourite band – not started.
6. Ralph: Stencil art? – Find something
7. Jamie: Photo with beach boarder – Completed
8. Dianne: Not a clue – must come up with something. Hot chocolate/sundae basket?
9. Lunam Family Christmas: Dragon cushion – Started stitching.
10. Dad & Siblings: Memory stick of Great Grandad’s war diary’s and postcards – Have 6 memory sticks.All has been scanned. Individual boxes with quick note inside to explain what is on the stick.
11. Tash: Cross stitch photo – Finish it! Not going to happen I feel but worth a shot.
12. Marie – Wine glass candles
13. Margaret – Hmmmm
14. The bosses – Some sort of gift basket.  Need a theme

Can’t resist a 50% off sale

So I’ve been a bit bad and bought a few patterns in the 50% off sale at Heaven & Earth Designs.  I officially need to live to about 800 and retain excellent eyesight.

The Gift by Bob Byerley

I want to stitch this one for my husband

Mini Time I by Aimee Stewart

I just love the look of this one

Mini Bath Time by Selina Fenech

This ones been on my wish list for ages.  I want to put this one in the bathroom when finished.

Wilma Wonka Kat by Jena Della Grottaglia-Maldonalo

This one just makes me smile.  Probably because of the cat but I love the colours also

Tea Fairy by Enys Guerrero

I just love this one and it will go below the clock in the kitchen eventually 🙂 I’m not usually a pink person but this is so very cute 🙂

Rainy Weekends are the best!

The weather was hideous over the weekend, lots of flooding and landslides around the country.  For me it was fantastic! I got to spend the weekend having fun making stuff 😀  It had been a rather long, wet week which contained my birthday which was quiet this year without Kayla being home but Ralph and my dad spoilt me which was nice 😀

Saturday I made my first Dream Catcher and I think I love it.  Am giving it away to a friend for her birthday today.  I learnt a lot and there were some very definite flaws but I love it 🙂 Some turquoise and glass beading but loads of mussel and paua shell beads.  So happy, and the cat didn’t try to eat it 😀

I finally got a page finish, and therefore a challenge finish, on my HAED Warm My Heart.  Still love stitching this but its going to have to move sideways for a little while so that I can get some Christmas stuff done and I also need to get Tash’s one finished. Or until there is another HAED challenge 😉

I also managed to get 2 patches finished for my knitted patchwork blanket.  I had to restart this one as I was knitting it too tight so it scrunched up.  Not a good look at all lol It was also a bit time consuming to knit and seemed to take forever but we got there in the end. Not a great photo as it would not lay flat but I give you Chevron Striped Square

I also finished Basketweave Square.  It only took just over an hour and came together a breeze 🙂

I started Kayla’s elephant and made good progress on that.  I think I could probably finish it this week.  Was rather weird stitching 2 over 2 as I have not done this in forever and tend to always stitch 1 over 1 on 28 count fabric.  The stitches seemed HUGE! Looks great though and I am loving how the fabric looks.

Kayla is currently in Manhattan doing touristy stuff so there were a few hurried messages after yesterdays bomb blast.  I slept crap last night because now I’m worried about her safety, something I haven’t been until now.  Just a mothers frettings.  She heads to Washington on the 21st.

Sunday afternoon we broke into the neighbours house (slight exaggeration as we have a key and the codes) as they are home today after touring Europe and the UK for the past 5 months.  We set up a welcome home banner across the lounge.  We also set up a note and the gift of a hair brush from Simon cat so that they can brush him during morning coffee’s.  We also set up a note from us with a bottle of bubbles and some cheese and crackers.  Mental note: Next time don’t leave front door open while inside.  It took us 10 minutes to catch Simon cat who followed us in.  We would run one way and he would run the other and is way more manoeuvrable under tables and things.  We had to corner him behind the couch at which point he yelled loudly and I am pretty sure he called us rude words.  We are just rather grateful that he came looking for us as its a big house and could have ended badly hahahahaha 😀 When we came downstairs he was waiting for us a the door pressed against the window still swearing at us.

My Stripy Strip Blanket popped out of hibernation last night for the first time in a few weeks.  I got one more stripe done in cream and have done 2 rows of the nest chestnut stripe.  This one might stay out this week for a bit of a play.  Didn’t get a photo this morning sorry.

A decision was made that all family Secret Santa presents will definitely be hand made this year.  I have decided that this year everyone can sort themselves out so instead of me making 4 gifts Ralph, Kayla and Levi can make their own 🙂  I’m such a mean mummy/wife 😉

This weeks goals:

• Finish Kayla’s elephant stitch.  Maybe get the cushion put together but only really worried about the stitch.
• Get 5 stripes on the Stripy Strip Blanket done just so that I feel its had some progress.
• Get started on the memory sticks for the Aunties and Uncles.  I want to have the diary scanned by the end of next weekend and maybe start on the typed version.
• Start Natalie’s Scary Movie Cushion

Christmas List Progression:

1. Kayla: Elephant cushion – About 1/3 of the way through stitching elephant
2. Levi: Photo of him with Nana Fay – Must track down a decent photo first up.
3. Jordyn: Dream catcher – Had a practice run which am giving to a friend for her birthday.  Second attempt coming up soon 😀
4. Veronica: Knitted bunny?
5. Natalie: Scary Movie cushion – Have pillowcase and waste fabric.  She also wants a small stitch for her favourite band – not started.
6. Ralph: Stencil art? – Find something
7. Jamie: Photo with beach boarder – Completed
8. Dianne: Not a clue – must come up with something. Hot chocolate/sundae basket?
9. Lunam Family Christmas: Dragon cushion – Have fabric and design
10. Dad & Siblings: Memory stick of Great Grandad’s war diary’s and postcards – Have 6 memory sticks, just need to scan the stuff. Individual boxes with quick note inside to explain what is on the stick.
11. Tash: Cross stitch photo – Finish it! Not going to happen I feel but worth a shot.
12. Marie – Wine glass candles
13. Margaret – Hmmmm
14. The bosses – Some sort of gift basket.  Need a theme

that was not a productive week

Before I climb into the weeks adventures I would like to start with this.  Saturday was  International Suicide Prevention day, a subject that is very close to my heart due to the loss of my brother 20 years ago.  He is not by any means the only person we have lost to suicide but, obviously for me, the most difficult.  New Zealand has one of the worst rates in the world for Suicide and this really needs to change.  I posted on Facebook about it to rally some support and joined the ‘Keep the light burning’ movement as I do every year.

Being sick sucks.  I have spent the last 10 days feeling rather sorry for myself and have not managed to get much further on any of my projects.  At least the cats had sympathy for me.  I ended up having to have Thursday off work because of the bug and Simon snuggled with me in bed until 11.30am at which time I moved to the couch and his position was replaced by Squeak.  They were not the best nurses as they both complained if I changed position or sneezed or coughed too loudly but they make fantastic hotty bottles.

On Friday I decided I was not going to leave the house for the weekend so made a trip to spotlight to stock up on supplies.  I need some stuff to attempt to make dream-catchers for Christmas and it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Managed to get everything except the thick white string that I need for wrapping the hoop.  I will pop into Mitre 10 at some stage today and see if I can get some.  It meant that I couldn’t start of them during the weekend but at least I am almost ready to go.  Lots of feathers and turquoise or shell beads 😀

While I was there I had a wee accident in the wool department.  I found a beautiful chunky wool in the clearance bin reduced to $2 a ball  that I just had to have so I bought 15 balls.  All that night I fretted about what I would do with this wool and did I have enough.  I have visions of it becoming a big wooly jacket that I can wear to walk on the beach in during winter.  By morning I was fairly sure I didn’t have enough.  I went on line and found a pattern for the jacket in my dreams and had to head back to Spotlight to snaffle the rest of the clearance balls.  I now have 30 balls of this beautiful wool

Its also sparkly 😀

I’m still not feeling fantastic by I’m loads better so Saturday night I cooked a decent meal for the first time this week thanks to Jamie Oliver.  I have some for my lunch today also 😉

My thinker is still not fully functioning so cross stitch advancement is slow progress.  I missed my goal for the week of a page finish by 200 stitches dangnabit but I will get those little suckers tonight.

There was no knitting update for this week sorry, it just didn’t happen for me.

So this weeks goals are the same as last weeks:

1. Page finish for Warm My Heart
2. Two knitted Squares for the patchwork blanket
3. Start Kayla’s elephant cushion
4. Make a dream-catcher

 

Christmas List Progression:

1. Kayla: Elephant cushion – Have both fabric and pattern
2. Levi: Photo of him with Nana Fay – Must track down a decent photo first up.
3. Jordyn: Dream catcher – Most of the bits bought.  Just need string for the hoop
4. Veronica: Knitted bunny?
5. Natalie: Scary Movie cushion – Have pillowcase and waste fabric.  She also wants a small stitch for her favourite band – not started.
6. Ralph: Stencil art? – Find something
7. Jamie: Photo with beach boarder – Completed
8. Dianne: Not a clue – must come up with something. Hot chocolate/sundae basket?
9. Lunam Family Christmas: Need to make 4 things for the secret santa. Dragon cushion – Have fabric. Dream catcher – Not started.  Spice mix basket – Have jars.  4th gift – Not a clue yet. Stencil art?
10. Dad & Siblings: Memory stick of Great Grandad’s war diary’s and postcards – Have 6 memory sticks, just need to scan the stuff. Individual boxes with quick note inside to explain what is on the stick.
11. Tash: Cross stitch photo – Finish it! Not going to happen I feel but worth a shot.
12. Marie – Hmmmm
13. Margaret – Hmmmm
14. The bosses – Some sort of gift basket.  Need a theme

Keeps safe and well for the next week everyone xxx

 

Damn You Bug From Hell

I’m sick again 😦

Its the same bug from a few weeks ago as I had not gone away completely and now its back and kicking my butt . . again . . . worse than last time.

I have sneezed so much in the past week that my nose is peeling and I have gone through about 4 boxes of tissues.  I think I am my own version of the Walking Dead.

I had yesterday off work because of this nasty little bugger.  I eventually go out of bed around 11am thinking I would go to the couch and stitch or knit or something.  I made it to the couch and lay down again.  That was the total limit of my exertion level.  Please bear in mind that I am a woman in my mid 40’s.  We do not stop for illness and we certainly don’t lie down for it.  When my husband asked me what we were doing for the coming weekend I told him he was busy because my funeral would be a bit time consuming event and require his attendance.

I feel better today 🙂 Not fantastic but better.  Its Friday so that helps 😀

So my plan is to finish work early by telling my boss that I am fairly sure I am an Ebola victim as my reasoning and to scoot through to Spotlight where I will lighten their stock levels considerably.  From there I shall venture to my home cave and snuggle in for the weekend.  I fully intend not to leave the home cave again until Monday morning when I will be forced back into the real world to once again earn the currency that allows me to purchase more craft supplies.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone xxxx

One week, small progress

So last week was ridiculously busy.  We had 2 nights out and a super amount of work to get done.  To top it all off I have relapsed with my super bug and am as sick as a parrot.

As an aside: Who came up with the phrase ‘sick as a parrot’ and what was the parrot sick with to be labelled as such?  Are we to feel sorry for said parrot? Is it contagious? Should we be seeking medical help for the wee fella?

Anyway, although I spent the entire weekend on the couch with my friend the super bug that is trying, and succeeding, to kick my butt again my progress was very slow on Warm My Heart.  I had high hopes that I would have a page finish but due to nap requirements and concentration issues this was not meant to be.  All progress is good progress though right? 🙂

1: Start Point 2: Stitching Buddy 3: Finish Point

The was no knitting for the week and no progress on the Christmas gifts front although I have come up with a bit of an idea for Veronica.

I spent a bit of time in the kitchen this week before I was struck down with the whatever plague this is.  My dad bought me a new book and I bought me a new salad bowl.  Also have taken to lighting candles everywhere at home.  Candles also make things feel so nice and cosy.

This weeks goals are to finish the page on Warm My Heart and get started on Kayla’s elephant.  I also want to get 2 squares finished for my patchwork knitted blanket. If I get a chance I need to scoot into Spotlight for some rings, feathers and gems  and also Bunnings for string for Dreamcatchers.  I don’t know if I will get that far but I have high hopes for the page finish.

Till next week, happy crafting everyone xxx

Christmas List Progression:

1. Kayla: Elephant cushion – Have both fabric and pattern
2. Levi: Photo of him with Nana Fay – Must track down a decent photo first up.
3. Jordyn: Dream catcher – Not started
4. Veronica: Knitted bunny?
5. Natalie: Scary Movie cushion – Have pillowcase and waste fabric.  She also wants a small stitch for her favourite band – not started.
6. Ralph: Stencil art? – Find something
7. Jamie: Photo with beach boarder – Completed
8. Dianne: Not a clue – must come up with something. Hot chocolate/sundae basket?
9. Lunam Family Christmas: Need to make 4 things for the secret santa. Dragon cushion – Have fabric. Dream catcher – Not started.  Spice mix basket – Have jars.  4th gift – Not a clue yet. Stencil art?
10. Dad & Siblings: Memory stick of Great Grandad’s war diary’s and postcards – Have 6 memory sticks, just need to scan the stuff. Individual boxes with quick note inside to explain what is on the stick.
11. Tash: Cross stitch photo – Finish it! Not going to happen I feel but worth a shot.
12. Marie – Hmmmm
13. Margaret – Hmmmm
14. The bosses – Some sort of gift basket.  Need a theme