tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27144834136851714542024-02-06T20:06:46.854-08:00by hoki quilts, HokitikaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-67506134277481046162013-09-15T14:05:00.001-07:002013-09-15T14:05:56.958-07:00An active observer<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As I sit deciding what to share with everyone today I’m also ‘half pie’ watching one of the races in the “America’s Cup”.  I’ve never been a sailing ‘nut’ but this fast pace sailing really is something I’m enjoying – while stitching, ironing, cleaning  or anything that doesn’t make too much noise so that I can still hear the commentators to the race.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--CxWjuwfNLM/UjYg-wU97oI/AAAAAAAAEVY/dE4o_aHYt4E/s1600-h/79065643_p%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="79065643_p" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="79065643_p" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lNBXtt2URpU/UjYg_l-PvvI/AAAAAAAAEVg/jjlzvTqwj8k/79065643_p_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I guess that is how I am in many things – an active observer. When our girls were younger everyday after school saw us with horses and although I did my fair share of ‘horsey stuff’, I used to sit marking books from my days teaching or planning future lessons while the girls went through their daily routines with their horses. Always there, ready to help, just in case and sometimes able to do some me stuff.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lr1TNnDA0wU/UjYhAV83MRI/AAAAAAAAEVo/qznKDEqMoR8/s1600-h/72745525_p%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="72745525_p" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="72745525_p" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-chVWe2LpIzI/UjYhBaginfI/AAAAAAAAEVw/jH169JL0Sy8/72745525_p_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I think that is how I tend to be in many things in my life.  I totally love teaching – especially patchwork, but I also love the ‘doing’ of the craft, the creating and finishing, the choosing and decision making (which my ladies say they know I’m doing as I tend to whistle at decision time) all of which I manage to get on with while having other things going on in the background.  This can’t just be a me thing, I really think it is something that as mothers we learn to do and multi tasking just doesn’t cover it.  It’s more than that – it’s actively observing everything that is going on and being there just in case…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KyFXOrPcoEk/UjYhBxpaOEI/AAAAAAAAEV4/HxGv-XK0Mjk/s1600-h/72745525_p%25255B7%25255D.png"><img title="72745525_p" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="72745525_p" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eV9IGavKBOQ/UjYhClqespI/AAAAAAAAEWA/VRUHBciJ5Iw/72745525_p_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Days in the shop when my wonderful customers and friends come to Sit’n Stitch have all of us being active observers.  As quilters/patchworkers, we are a sharing bunch by nature and when we sit and stitch help is always close at hand.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OqAkbShBPnc/UjYhDL4l6pI/AAAAAAAAEWI/y3S5cs2_BH8/s1600-h/72745525_p%25255B11%25255D.png"><img title="72745525_p" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="72745525_p" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjhG3M3y9hn6JS1vcDP41y4eQa8fWtlAKBd3zYiqRxyhDEwsjm6Y3eTl7PULrx2KNDTMU-pTw9HhMfcqPdkKc0PsZsB-Teqm9cmpvrB-THEwp6SXEcOFq3TbdBi1yDCfv7YFRvMOmhcWf/?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">With my passion for teaching and after seeing a number of customers come into the shop wanting help as they had been left ‘wanting’ as a result of teachers not teaching  fully, or responding to questions with “go on to U-Tube”.  This really disappoints me and after further chatting I usually find out that these people have paid for these inadequate classes. Geesh – I needed to do something.  So starting this week we are running a FREE beginners patchwork course.  The finished quilt isn’t huge – just 40 something inches but the variety of skills they will be taught – right from learning about colour, values, texture etc, etc, etc right through to squaring up, basting, quilting and binding, each block  teaching a new skill.  Enough for the students to happily go on independently making more projects.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d8thHRpzdxQ/UjYhFK65ZxI/AAAAAAAAEWY/o4rIMnlOSrg/s1600-h/004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="004" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yxz2G9yrA4Y/UjYhGBGZb0I/AAAAAAAAEWg/q5szdSxVdI0/004_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="272" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Places are filling up and surprisingly a number of my regular group wish to join in also – yeah – they are so much fun to be around.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9EMPEOHGS0Q/UjYhGtHvIZI/AAAAAAAAEWo/7cyKs-bnAt0/s1600-h/72745525_p%25255B15%25255D.png"><img title="72745525_p" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="72745525_p" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QNQW2NBDfZw/UjYhHvmPCaI/AAAAAAAAEWw/vIsPOQQJ7ng/72745525_p_thumb%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">It hasn’t been all teaching, observing and ‘multi tasking’ though.  We have a new addition to the BHQ family.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1LzcQCIkeuQ/UjYhIrNO-UI/AAAAAAAAEW4/pc5O3wZGQac/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="007" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="007" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzVzZN2XEOmwIfV11tJ5aZy3MKMagKoiafZnO81zYWH5HY4_jPwr8LquHfjd6uiAmD28zRKt7HJ9Flbjaz33p03F7audlugXbx0zG8J7UEI4tc72JbCsO7NDhMzacccoMLfE5K6wrYUrn/?imgmax=800" width="260" height="200" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This little chap is Jack and he has come to live with us.  Chuck our Goldie, died a few years ago and his loss left us mourning I suppose, for a long, long while.  We couldn’t just get another dog we needed to take time after all Chuck was a family member whether he had fur or not.  Jack is 8 weeks old and is a Bichon/Lab cross.  Just look at those feet!  I’m not sure how he is going to end up but with feet that size he has a fair old grip on this earth of ours.  Miss Polly, needless to say, is not impressed with such an ‘upstart’ moving in – oh well, she is getting on I suppose.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As for any stitching from me – well… for once I actually have something finished in time for Halloween – a gorgeous wee stitchery from Bird Brain.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ddY6UujtRkc/UjYhKSz7qPI/AAAAAAAAEXI/gr_alj0JpgQ/s1600-h/009%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="009" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7m846aglonQ/UjYhLRrGBNI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/zmHxdrDAjE4/009_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="168" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Other things have been finished and once I get photo’s taken I will share them with you.  Mostly I have been designing and have been fortunate enough, yet again to have a few patterns take up with magazines – how lucky am I?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, race one is over for today and team USA have just won that one – now onto race two for today and time to get the washing out on the line during the break.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a wonderful week wherever you are</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oU0fIJmG970/UjYhL-4K7vI/AAAAAAAAEXY/XQdRl7FIvFo/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="a name Miche'le" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iUGcOID1Z-o/UjYhMuqXhQI/AAAAAAAAEXg/YUrH4cYrojk/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-24586577202685159802013-08-23T12:07:00.001-07:002013-08-23T18:35:21.672-07:00The early bird<p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I think I’ve discovered the best time for me to sit and get to this on-going diary thing that we all call our ‘blog’.  The early hours, when there is nobody else awake, when the phone doesn’t ring nor when I get side tracked with some of my customers and friends. – So, 5.30a.m. it is, coffee alongside and now all I need is my memory to kick in <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0iwdxSNmTrO8tyfLeIpHcjb3GMUl-iOkPiUp0Bd5X5rfU7KbTW0wP-b7ceJI-WpRZoFMSttkx34A9YpwrdLkomC_O2tQqXkLqqOnJiKG_i57qIGz3nZkOOjAZc3E1auJkV0aApujgQ2i/?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Here at the shop life has become increasingly busy, especially the Sit’n Stitch days which are being Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Wednesday being the busiest.  As a group we are so very diverse not only in looks but in interests, age etc. but as well as stitching being our common thread (pardon the pun) there is something else that ties us together and results in much laughter and friendship. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Because Hokitika is more of a tourist type of town we often have lulls in passing customers as the ‘season’ winds down. Some of these tourists are also regular customers in an irregular way.  These ladies travel around in their camper vans going from town to town enjoying their travels and some make sure they are passing through on a Wednesday and join in our stitching days.  We have a couple of ladies that have done this for a number of years now and the ease with which they slot straight back in just confirms to me that we as quilters, in general, tend to get on and pick up where we left off just as we do with our stitching.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1F2npYqFxRs/Uheyn-irGxI/AAAAAAAAEQw/PbX9ZSxKftI/s1600-h/79065643_p%25255B3%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="79065643_p" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="79065643_p" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JVSkkEY3aSU/Uheyouv4aPI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/SIPwhG4sAcE/79065643_p_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="150" height="88" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">In the shop as I said, things have got increasingly busier.  With classes and groups on the go as well as the social groups, I manage to keep busy creating samples as well as doing my own thing (which should really read – thingS). The two monthly Strippers Club continues with the latest pattern being being one that required a little more concentration.  For my sample I used a collection of bright batik strips that jumped out from their black background.  Unfortunately my photographic skills haven’t really shown just how bright the colours are.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7j35Er0Zwrc/UheypzqB_2I/AAAAAAAAERA/rgGEwM_-KL0/s1600-h/006%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="006" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGCt__5qmMayKtmh-riWjZpznaYaYzOxQxiTRguD3RY689tS4KGSBJZGBpLsrqwz4r9CFt6XsiNPEpouzy1GeKLyeynH8nwtqTqLDl4yj8Qiz9vSv-wJb0KUC1V_Q0OpAHO55EUaddlnE/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another weekend and another class.  The Le Moyne Star </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wlc8HVCo4-A/UheyrlOMFdI/AAAAAAAAERQ/ZQ85cUhwZFY/s1600-h/007%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="007" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="007" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bYrCfmDF-FM/UheyspFRZkI/AAAAAAAAERY/o7TdJskyBV4/007_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="167" height="91" /></font></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">variant was popular and definitely held the interest of the ladies over the two day workshop.  The number of ‘Y’ seams in this quilt caused a few problems at times and as the first day went on the ladies</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZyMx4EurbqI/UheytR7CIGI/AAAAAAAAERg/cI2Zh2ptuQA/s1600-h/and%252520busy%252520fingers%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="and busy fingers" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="and busy fingers" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWMIxFkZEceWIGhADlNMYA7yw1JLxW-IQerAUbbc19yyiS62Wpmkzh4aL8Lz9jaMbSoqUIfIvO0DCCw63FekX17WmYqsgyrmwmREhmPE-0wpJ0MVG69mhhlWwe9YuHTfVF1XpbkII_UKa/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="112" /></font></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> discovered just how important that dreaded 1/4” seam could be in some patterns.  Jenny, is only a beginning quilter but she jumped right in and took part in the class producing a perfect star in  soft colours on a white background.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GMzWpHf_Eas/UheyvF-7pfI/AAAAAAAAERw/mYv-tk8p2jM/s1600-h/002%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="002" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FHMwYAo_N0U/UheywPe8oxI/AAAAAAAAER4/mB2qOs79nj0/002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">For my sample I chose to give fussy cutting a go – all seemed well until the flipping thing was finished, quilted and bound – then I saw how I had got one bit wrong – ho hum.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X5qEP4gNNP4/Uheyw65z7xI/AAAAAAAAESA/2s02y4B9g9M/s1600-h/003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="003" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QS6elrYBexA/Uheyxp32UNI/AAAAAAAAESI/z5KN4w5TRSE/003_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="240" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">In between getting samples for classes done I have also been quietly getting on with my own projects.  One was a UFO that had been stitched and quilted a number of times and ‘unsewn’ too as I was never quite happy with the results.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, for one so small – it’s about 15” square, it took a heck of a long time to get completed – about 5 years all up.  But now it’s done and well and truly completed.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yUr4NugBhMI/UheyyuhTWUI/AAAAAAAAESQ/EuquMWotkZg/s1600-h/009%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="009" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="009" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3N-MWW6npq9HbfbE5X6JcjXHTnZ2jXSjQsv-N4DwWf4gnay5FtDD7iIcxQVUA3vjMdOV1VTcZFLL6dJLFDkglJ7ci_A-IC7CryblNEg91b93hvCM8nhLUI7isq_O37IsgzHZAnpow0CDT/?imgmax=800" width="208" height="209" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">While I was in the finishing mood I also completed a little Redwork that I had been picking up and putting down.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--vzdeW_U3h4/Uhey0VWnPiI/AAAAAAAAESg/7rbKj9CTqek/s1600-h/005%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="005" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-waDhBK5bRVg/Uhey1B-xiCI/AAAAAAAAESo/vWwwY056TJw/005_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="243" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This finishing thing is quite addictive though.  Just recently I decided to finish yet another UFO – this time a small sampler quilt that in itself is to be the sample for another beginners group.  As I got working on it all was going well – I heavily quilted various blocks and thought the quilting could also be a sample of what could be done too.  Hummm, all going so smoothly until I finally checked the rear of my work – OH NO!!!  What a mess!  So, for the last few days my self and the seam ripper have got well and truly acquainted and now I am starting again, but you know – I’m OK with that.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">On that note it must be time for breakfast.  Have a fab weekend ladies</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VQtUlS4DW0E/Uhey1hIThhI/AAAAAAAAESw/0jcMoEm2YIs/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="a name Miche'le" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9lYreOg7MQI/Uhey2is_JbI/AAAAAAAAES4/7X9DaFCQDik/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-84004479586963967462013-07-28T14:48:00.002-07:002013-07-28T14:48:30.404-07:00This is a bit of a trial<i><span style="font-size: small;">It has been well over a month - probably close to two months since my last post and there has been a reason other than not wanting to post. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">I had thought that I had got rid of the nasties that felt they needed to leave their anonymous comments by the dozens - really dozens of them, all up over 300! Following my last post I got some really nice e-mails offering lots of advice and I have taken most of the advice. One piece came from Canada and Jeanie suggested that I leave my blog totally alone for over a month and if possible longer. The reason she suggests is that by doing that I would end up at the bottom of the scammers address list if not off it completely so that's what I have done.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">I will leave the blog alone for another couple of weeks and see if any more nonsense happens and if Jeanie's suggestion has worked - then we are back in to it.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Wish me luck</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">hugs to you all</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Miche`le</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-89489572488215260362013-06-21T00:21:00.001-07:002013-06-21T00:21:45.899-07:00Not again!<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T7rpn8ID9mc/UcP-_VrOkVI/AAAAAAAAEPc/87vjD_viZfQ/s1600-h/022%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="022" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="022" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eDoNDpBg8y8/UcP_AGXKaEI/AAAAAAAAEPk/GsFOfmzwxlI/022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="213" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This is just an example of what I have been battling for the last month or more, this page is just under two days worth.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q2IJaTSc0WQ/UcP_BAEHJEI/AAAAAAAAEPs/56hnehvaI2o/s1600-h/024%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img title="024" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogzSItwMZUy40IIRXIWcAzoDqJT0k8GJ70GOQiMSe_pTxEUgPnxEvzFlqvFyX7RT7lWMcFfQvCEwIataUXHKHrZeSxx7_ZqvpaQ_B1ukXgC5Am0i9OLiIMBMNoKjsahpYSrfxSRJEwAXI/?imgmax=800" width="291" height="224" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I am so pleased that I get to say who or what comments on my blogposts but going through this lot day after day is daunting – not to mention a right royal pain in the pincushion.  It would seem that no subject is off limits and some is darned right disgusting, hence my hesitation in adding anything to my blog for the moment, especially pictures.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I do hope you all understand and for those that work so hard with OPAM – I’m sorry but I can’t even risk images for that.  The twisted minds turn everything into yuk.  As for OPAM though, I am still stitching frantically and maybe once this is sorted I can do a huge blogpost with all ‘finishes’</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">So, without further ado, I will sign off and hope that the idiots get bored with nothingness and leave my blogpost alone.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Take care one and all</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-73670995097066163752013-05-25T15:55:00.001-07:002013-05-25T16:08:07.458-07:00It’s taken some time<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I can’t believe I am finally able to actually get a post up – after all the fun and games on this thing we call the internet this is how I got here.  So, I have had just over 200 anonymous posts to my blog – fortunately they all needed to be actioned by me before they got posted, otherwise I think this blog of mine would be a lot different from one that focuses mainly on patchwork and quilting and would be  a display so called ‘art’ in an entirely different medium.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">To be able to read my blog or emails I have to log on with Firefox yet to write this in ‘Live writer” I have to use Internet Explorer, so as you can imagine there is a bit of juggling going on – but what the heck, we are here now.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9eevMUDVH8U/UaFBOtcXT4I/AAAAAAAAENM/N7eedRgr3T8/s1600-h/480419f38gzdedqd%25255B3%25255D.gif"><img title="480419f38gzdedqd" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="480419f38gzdedqd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAV4M2gGilLJW1QVbbQFDgWZNAKCZy-QcEOhXMbDSf2-DobWxxDZMnN1AP9R108moGdlzL2cc7gCQOECVU2KkppyMTVkOVVTYELKUrHZTfhUKt9Z9zCvX_aUXDaa1tGZTqyLIABKcQiqz/?imgmax=800" width="119" height="43" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">At some stage I must list all of my OPAM works too and rather than talking about each one I think I’ll just show the pictures as 2 months worth of work could be pretty boring for some of you to have to sit and read through.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">At the moment though Mr BHQ and myself are busy getting ready for some fun.  Next Sunday, 2nd June, our little shop will have been open for business for 5 years!  We are totally thrilled that we have managed to reach this milestone and decisions have had to be made.  One of those decisions was whether we would remain in business.  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_3xkGfnj1xY/UaFBQlVHqvI/AAAAAAAAENc/yjPhItO0Fo8/s1600-h/Shop%252520front%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img title="Shop front" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Shop front" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r2z6yKTXggo/UaFBRtqc19I/AAAAAAAAENk/NT123syDdJg/Shop%252520front_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="181" /></a>It wasn’t a decision I was looking forward to making either.  We needed to assess what we were doing and where we (the shop) was going.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Over the last five years we have crossed many hurdles – some good, some not so good and some just plain horrid but the one thing that has stood out has been my passion for our craft and for the love of sharing and teaching it.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">By Hoki Quilts is small but it’s ours, not just Jon’s and mine, but it now has an extended family of wonderful ladies – some of whom have been coming here at least every single Wednesday for Sit’n Stitch days for more than three years.  They have been the driving force here and I know just how lucky we are to have them.  The other people are a few reps that have egged me on when I thought it was just not worth it. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Carol and Terry from Ascot Lane/Broadway distributors were the first reps to answer my call when the shop was still in it’s planning stage.  They continue to come here regularly and continue to make sure that we are exposed to up to date fabric and notion selections. Then there is Debby from Craft Co, Andrew from Trendy’s and Geoff from Tiffs . These reps aren’t quite as regular as others but they still make the trip ‘over the hill’ and still make us feel valued as customers – a lot different from some, who just class the trip as not worth it!  Now I will only buy from those that make the effort and deserve the custom.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jHTF8JRV9OQ/UaFBSZv2KhI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/9vfLmiJRe4k/s1600-h/015%252520%2525282%252529%25255B1%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="015 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="015 (2)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WJKJE-U2r_k/UaFBTMY5HaI/AAAAAAAAEOU/aqDGc8PvVBw/015%252520%2525282%252529%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="119" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Hitting our 5th birthday may not sound like a big deal but just weeks after we opened a recession was announced – sales dropped and for a long while the grocery money went into the shop to ensure bills were paid.  Now we look around the shop and smile.  We have over 700 bolts of fabric on the shelves (yes we counted for stocktake) not to mention almost 800 pre-cut FQ’s plus notions, batting, books, patterns and threads.   By Hoki Quilts is here to stay and fingers crossed by our 10th birthday, the extensions will have been made.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank you for sticking with us, whether in person or here on the blog.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Miche’le & Jon</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IlmFQrk_J_g/UaFBUPJA35I/AAAAAAAAEN8/pXmPPrnzMQo/s1600-h/shop%252520sign1%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="shop sign1" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="shop sign1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HEwkfB7Fohc/UaFBU4oQryI/AAAAAAAAEOE/sSPUl6tAjvw/shop%252520sign1_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="167" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-20924036807077250802013-04-27T12:37:00.001-07:002013-04-27T12:40:18.508-07:00Ohhhhh dear, normal service will resume as soon as possible.<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">For the last couple of weeks I have been unable to see any of my information, including blogs I follow etc. on my BlogSpot dashboard.  I know that for quite some time I have had SPAM comments and have duly identified them as SPAM and not published them.   Also, my usual IP would let me quite happily read my blog but not my dashboard and when I went into my e-mail account and opened mail a message would pop up telling me that something was wrong and that the programme would close down – grrr, all very frustrating.  Anyway, I took some advice and downloaded Mozilla Firefox.  This solved my e-mail problems but I still can’t get into my dashboard on blogger and the only reason I am able to do this is because I went into my old IP and used Live Writer.  As you can imagine, all this too’ing and froing is rather frustrating.  If you have followed my blog for a while, you will be well aware that I am a total technophobe so any advice – given simply would be awesome – however, unless the problem is solved I won’t be able to read comments on my blog and only through e-mail – again, much frustration.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">There has been so much activity here at the shop and I would love to share it all with you – including my OPAM totals, but again I can’t because of the technical problems.  I do hope it is all solved before long as we are nearing the 5th birthday of By Hoki Quilts, the store and I’d love to be able to share all the goings on.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This is such a boring, non stitching post and I apologise.  I needed to let people know that I haven’t ditched my blog and do miss keeping up with everyone’s activities, please hang in there as I’m hoping that as they say on TV – normal service will resume as soon as possible.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I do hope you are all well and the changing seasons are treating you kindly</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Miche’le</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-21244773992166114222013-03-26T01:19:00.001-07:002013-03-26T01:19:05.227-07:00No excuse really, I should have written sooner.<p> </p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Oh gosh, here I go again – apologies to those of you that follow my antics here at the shop.  There really is no excuse apart from being busy – really busy, even on days when I am supposed to have the ‘closed’ sign up. </font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"> Last weekend was a prime example… two ladies were here, when they arrived at the shop I was already serving a customer.  It had been a morning of chain customers – you know the type, they are like tag teams, as one leaves another arrives.  Anyway these ladies were so lovely and as I finished their sale one suggested it was a cuppa time.  I answered saying I’m a bit peckish, and lunch couldn’t be that far away. Well, imagine my surprise when one of them told me it was almost 3 o-clock.  Time goes so fast when your having fun eh?</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2LS6SepjWrA/UVFZh4BWrsI/AAAAAAAAEHI/ON95Jr-D6UQ/s1600-h/883%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="883" border="0" alt="883" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G4U1RovVR7I/UVFZirEgw4I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/7XPuEh4nNXk/883_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="20" /></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">In the last month so much has happened and I just hope I remember it all – so let’s start.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">In early March we had a visitor here at the shop who asked if she could join our Sit’n Stitch day.  Anne had heard about our little shop way up in the North Island and was so very</font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YxuLEF4gPJQ/UVFZjCjIFlI/AAAAAAAAEHY/7mpKzoJl4R8/s1600-h/imagesCA52G0ZF%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="imagesCA52G0ZF" border="0" alt="imagesCA52G0ZF" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jDh8W_S2PXQ/UVFZkAZh_JI/AAAAAAAAEHg/O7vRzLw_0a4/imagesCA52G0ZF_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" height="240" /></font></a><font face="Lucida Handwriting"> complimentary about it.  She fitted in beautifully with our day and shared the gorgeous work she was doing.  This lady was/is so very talented.  Gradually we learnt about Anne’s love of applique – wow, this lady really is talented.  Poppies on Parade is one of Anne Yeo’s quilts and has been selected for this years World Quilt Show.  It’s absolutely stunning.  But the quilt she is working on at the moment left me totally speechless, and for those of you that know me know that I’m not quiet for very long ever.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UFQIFEg7j1E/UVFZlCPS9nI/AAAAAAAAEHo/i7116bdFy28/s1600-h/001%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k2daQU8Eat4/UVFZl-K0DjI/AAAAAAAAEHw/auW98NL6myk/001_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></font></a><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Anne very kindly let me take pictures and although they show just how gorgeous her work is, believe me, they are nowhere near as amazing as the real thing.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-selVJueWiwQ/UVFZm2fHClI/AAAAAAAAEH4/K4TFkVrEk3k/s1600-h/002%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSie0BTPPejrevxCVzXigNLGVUzGO1BEm0Qi0fAGesgsWD4ilULpJk2qlx3xgzopOM9q0vMNyzbdemOBWHLJhRBU95WEd0urXpQHXCrhNBDe2jiTvXxnnQPLvysztgRvCwwzq7SkiiLL64/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="226" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank you Anne for sharing your time and talent with us, it was a privilege to have you at By Hoki Quilts and in particular at our Sit’n Stitch day.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcCpkvdGeOc-Z9-QQKX-Dm2v2D06yjur6spKVp_C1Z3o-L69ePnz83ZKrwP1bkPdZj8cGmNB-lKvrN5qgFIQ5_OehY2UYV2nLNKeia2hyphenhyphens9OT7_DTKu9_BcQ0upQTY-u2w2-99kOhO1J9/s1600-h/883%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="883" border="0" alt="883" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-09a65ZmpIwo/UVFZosd7a0I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/P-dt_Dh4G2I/883_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="20" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">As for my stitching – well, I had yet another friend who was being tested in life.  I made her a special little pillow, almost the same as I have made a number of times before and so wish that modern science could find a reason for me never to have to make another.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FaykA3QZdPA/UVFZpmE-VkI/AAAAAAAAEIY/cGk3izCTtE8/s1600-h/004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC8gVNYSR0ugAa8H_Uelt5lyboqWGhled1FLUv3THL9PgcEQMbopzl2xQe16UR4XmJfTIHwAicXfhoS8pa19NUuydyrVKYoG9ZpWXQD1IkESsOLBRa_A14IL8uW0ZQNHkZcMB6APl2A67/?imgmax=800" width="310" height="287" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">In amongst the crosses I have stitched little crystal beads, it’s just my way of sharing my hope for a brighter, crystal clear future for her.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bssxPD82zs0/UVFZreJbz_I/AAAAAAAAEIo/rl5V2cHVw6U/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U_Vsl87BDh8/UVFZsNHo4yI/AAAAAAAAEIw/Rm13bTHHS88/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank goodness it found it’s way to my friend on time, in fact just in time as it arrived the day before her surgery – whew. The surgery went well and this special lady is now on the road to recovery and all of our prayers are there to help her along xx</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ethQc9ZkLeQ/UVFZsvHDPsI/AAAAAAAAEI4/ZCFGmPsLW18/s1600-h/883%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="883" border="0" alt="883" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fE4XYqexaQ4/UVFZtPqWysI/AAAAAAAAEJA/CMrIKoNPh_8/883_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="20" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Now being a Grandma of three gorgeous girls I have lots and lots of girly patterns floating around in my sewing cave, so when Ashleigh, one of my gorgeous nieces, let me know that she was due to have a babe in July and that she was having a little girl, I went into girly stitching.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">This is the quilt I packed up and sent to Ashleigh a week ago, something special for what will be another great niece.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d8QkltlZ_Cw/UVFZt--9SXI/AAAAAAAAEJI/sjvsa_EoJ5w/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uNwuxaYUdhs/UVFZu2ylMqI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/ok1mqA8N3TI/010_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="240" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">It looks a little lopsided in the picture – sorry about that, DH was on a bit of a lean I think, haha.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Other little bits of stitching that I’ve played with have included a couple of mobile phone covers.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9aXwe1CpvK4/UVFZvuam6-I/AAAAAAAAEJY/tVj1UncZj-0/s1600-h/001%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m7zzEaHqQCC0O7ddYtUfHtAzH7Lwkt5qEk31SaglHECnYTmJ05ZOW1vGUlWqRIWT-KvGnv5syMT9bJOFepCwgJmrFj1BmXrCkYsokkDngKRE5aTDsmqkP1vNQHCULcFNzR7SHUC5-XUX/?imgmax=800" width="181" height="244" /></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7UroF0vlz2E/UVFZw6ADapI/AAAAAAAAEJo/a6qjXfoxSCM/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehfhkha3JTABXPtzhY7xdz_BcM4uvEwywXAmPC9mdaQw5za7ZIwyFAkvZkAIT4RBp_Eot_TwvwGowAwSJQYyGFQO2Y4uuoIUd7Iq_R4NcXki8DyYv-1obi68BCmsdmmJDVRjk2saXWGLc/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">A new wall hanging, or is it a runner?</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0zFU-_iyBEw/UVFZyQhaQ_I/AAAAAAAAEJ4/ERVeKw3tvmw/s1600-h/003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1hs4_qZ-6i8/UVFZzOzldmI/AAAAAAAAEKA/59kicmLd6Ow/003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Then there was a bit of playing around with tray cloths that are no longer used.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LmIJ5hXImNE/UVFZzvyH39I/AAAAAAAAEKI/G72y3moGSQE/s1600-h/009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XaiiphGvxFs/UVFZ0dynH5I/AAAAAAAAEKQ/xy2c2i3Yorc/009_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="175" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">A little bit of doodling with Inktense pencils and taa daaa – a new door sign for the shop.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TTAB20BNmoE/UVFZ1DWcDtI/AAAAAAAAEKY/zSDkCwM5CvQ/s1600-h/010%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PjpayLFV7NY/UVFZ1v0yJ9I/AAAAAAAAEKg/HI54ivhVStk/010_thumb%25255B15%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">A far better way to show off the beautiful machine embroidery than sitting in a drawer tucked away for ‘one day’.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tSjigywrFpY/UVFZ2a599cI/AAAAAAAAEKo/fCEpAZMr8eo/s1600-h/011%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jtjxFELPIi0/UVFZ24383JI/AAAAAAAAEKw/WgatDJWnR1A/011_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="133" /></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4OaDA7qBsys/UVFZ3aqN0kI/AAAAAAAAEK4/RbRXyNqWgFg/s1600-h/883%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="883" border="0" alt="883" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JtkeHAogR5g/UVFZ3_NNZSI/AAAAAAAAELA/DzVEx18zfaw/883_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="20" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">We also had another ‘Strippers Club’ day where this time it looked like everyone was using ‘Bali Pops’.  Karen brought her ‘flimsy’ into the shop last week to layer and while she was there Frosty popped in to get her backing and wadding so it was a great time to sneak a picture or two.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pRQPZmIwaQM/UVFZ5EnJmeI/AAAAAAAAELI/tO-ip6mT2Tg/s1600-h/005%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sIBueRRQJEc/UVFZ59IsWuI/AAAAAAAAELQ/LoKg9B5_8GM/005_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="199" /></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kseDtVkamBc/UVFZ6rTiX0I/AAAAAAAAELY/38Rh-8wRG6Y/s1600-h/007%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy01Ss7rhvTkxO4T0wPxs-fZh_8RbmVScTjrX_wCtorKdqtkGcqIBgwhzPHeRPNNufXRF6I7kNpSINTehSIv1HYrk3cP_Hyj7fiNpJAINRRdiBQBQoKpfQYxWyD87zwjFDljxjYVQzbZSZ/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="223" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Stunning in the batiks I think.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Stitching aside our little patch of paradise has been hit by drought, something those of us living on the Coast just are not used to.  Surviving from water tanks that are fed by rain has been quite a challenge for many.  We are one of the lucky ones, where we can visit our daughter and get water from her, but so many others, farmers especially are suffering.  This weather pattern is very weird indeed however being an early riser I have been so very lucky to watch the morning skies.  This picture is just one of many I’ve been able to snap over the last few months.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dy7cblk_e-A/UVFZ8Obf-rI/AAAAAAAAELo/x633z6odlHw/s1600-h/002%25255B19%25255D.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZM7t4hscPkQ/UVFZ86FP6gI/AAAAAAAAELw/DpLkz8OhDoE/002_thumb%25255B24%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="203" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">My apologies for this being so long, I guess that’s what happens when you get carried away with family, life and work.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Take care everyone, hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UAqcOgCBlGo/UVFZ9Cr5mWI/AAAAAAAAEL4/x9wrag8T2UE/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LfsRPcQg3F0/UVFZ95OfYnI/AAAAAAAAEMA/KmXAurPVCpc/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></font></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-68563163866305668382013-02-24T00:36:00.001-08:002013-02-24T00:42:42.009-08:00It’s Been A While<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Whew, it’s been a while since I last wrote a post and as my lovely customer friends tell me, it’s about time I wrote another.  so, here goes…Oh, by the way – sorry, it’s a bit picture heavy.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sCxKORzIKRk/USnQWDb4ybI/AAAAAAAAEAM/Pj2n0n2OlWc/s1600-h/263171lxlble1hnk%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="263171lxlble1hnk" border="0" alt="263171lxlble1hnk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkBsD-ODCqSjm6Q3KsJ8oM7pjbJD5bB348g5psXVQKUnNHJL066oP0O4hCTTd6a0_D9yT3v3juyk9LBy255rPHrSwrvhuI-EFY207Yr9kqravwaCnVh7tUSHqxsxbZzDwZQLD4g94m0qs/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="13" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">These entries could be all over the place and totally out of sequence because that is roughly what life has felt like lately.  I’ve stitched plenty and my regular ladies have managed to see all that has been stitched but I can’t put some of the pictures up as they are for secret squirrel projects that I have been lucky enough to have accepted for magazine publications – exciting huh?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">In the shop we have also been busy – I know that on more than one occasion I toodled off for lunch only to find that it was well after afternoon tea time – now if only my weight would reflect this – ho hummm.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">A couple of classes have gone ahead too – <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1QmhyGkiJ9s/USnQbAnsh2I/AAAAAAAAEAc/hXiMbG3_1-c/s1600-h/012%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GXisVrdbcJ4/USnQcoXxt9I/AAAAAAAAEAk/6uNGmZm0-iE/012_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a>one was the giant pin-cushion.  The girls all managed to finish theirs and left with big smiles on their faces – even poor Liz who managed to complete the project despite having a <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JXBWUa_R9EQ/USnQeG0DOPI/AAAAAAAAEAw/b6CIVlFXE94/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4f0t0lMcJPQ/USnQfDi4N7I/AAAAAAAAEA4/z6c0yyH4_F8/007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a>pretty cute  purple </font><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">plaster cast on her wrist smiled her way through the aching.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Actually while Liz has had to take sick leave from her nursing job she hasn’t sat back and rested on her cast – oh no.  This lady has been quietly stitching <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ef_-bo4HolA/USnQgpZ4kfI/AAAAAAAAEBA/XkkjmZsJLvI/s1600-h/002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-es9as67ooIc/USnQhq2LMXI/AAAAAAAAEBI/YuKPnlafEY8/002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="125" height="96" /></a>away finishing her ‘Strippers Club’ projects and then making more.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ijyUkNnefR0/USnQi2zSYoI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/M1_Ef1k3It0/s1600-h/003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DqG-DbfrjHw/USnQkJDllOI/AAAAAAAAEBY/eCqIvsPMXGE/003_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="193" height="148" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhResjriRptt8_VdcDKm1EylBgvj8XNX4WcQQJhyphenhyphenPipmT5NhTgMNkIyKWidxBUO8tPbrO35PlFa14QlD9XAvk1SBeH2iQZl7aRCXtMVjDr9ns6dNsjwNUefj0mhuywWvovaegEIfGHY3MGc/s1600-h/006%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L4LvVcfdyQ4/USnQmSetG-I/AAAAAAAAEBo/b4dJODglkVk/006_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="193" height="148" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">These are just three of her finishes – there are more I just haven’t got pictures of them.  Good on you Liz.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now somewhere through my time warp of the last month I managed to get Miss Faith to come and stay with her stitchy Grandma. This little girl is well and truly into sewing with Grandma.  Over a year ago she picked up a needle for the first time and although there hasn’t been much stitching of late her eyes lit up when I gave her a little ‘toy’ sewing machine.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The machine is just a chain stitcher but this little girl can sew a straight line – more <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yyLtaaXpAGQ/USnQnRg8F3I/AAAAAAAAEBw/eXzi3kG_BVo/s1600-h/015%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Niv7yGMwoZ8/USnQoYFnS0I/AAAAAAAAEB4/WITTR_2Pdlk/015_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="185" height="196" /></a>than some adults I know.  To begin with she knelt on the carpet and stitched in the lounge, then next thing she set herself up on my little ironing board in my sewing cave – yeah, how cute.  Speaking of this little four year old… Miss Faith is also<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2j3XTMRX8ik/USnQpZK8FcI/AAAAAAAAECA/zGIaV4M7XyE/s1600-h/554135_10151256055242163_181762015_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="554135_10151256055242163_181762015_n" border="0" alt="554135_10151256055242163_181762015_n" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yIz3pPPYOhA/USnQqdc1LII/AAAAAAAAECI/mdAHk2pPeAk/554135_10151256055242163_181762015_n_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="88" height="132" /></a> supporting a little bit of plaster – <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ok3qUBroJjw/USnQrrpcCCI/AAAAAAAAECQ/0FqK2V3jpDs/s1600-h/002%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--DW4aIG3v2k/USnQsSngh6I/AAAAAAAAECY/4H0rAGNwlBA/002_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="201" /></a>jumping off the freezer in the garage isn’t a good idea without a soft landing pad – yep, this little lady has six weeks in plaster too.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">                   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qqFx4sGHIdQ/USnQtYZNIDI/AAAAAAAAECg/YoM0V8gA5Fw/s1600-h/3hearts%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="3hearts" border="0" alt="3hearts" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZGXOHBLE3od0-tJNFHid_3ZbC7j3q8DoD7MgX4MDWut1kC_DD9zAj1zvLPGI0IuhzX4tAV0dTNRtg4SoKY3CG3Chl0_M0TCEl6di4kXlCgms3VLTAVqxKV6_bvgdp8I8_8-aONJApeNa/?imgmax=800" width="42" height="44" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HSrBvbC-YrU/USnQvIbTE4I/AAAAAAAAECw/fmfVZq1eHkU/s1600-h/008%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Lgj_kinMm4/USnQwHpoy1I/AAAAAAAAEC4/DyQvLVSvFO8/008_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="107" height="148" /></a>Another Strippers Club day has taken place this month.  The girls worked solidly for about six hours and this one really challenged them – jus<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vbi97C7_MJE/USnQxsja5nI/AAAAAAAAEDA/EB_YM06s9BY/s1600-h/007%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I5AqkxKDfwo/USnQyqxbz_I/AAAAAAAAEDI/n7rugH9y4_8/007_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a>t look at the pictures, the levels of concentration are amazing.  Frosty, <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H3HLc09dJkk/USnQ0PiBGpI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/Gh7yM5s41FE/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyBQMLwUjqEUCJSIMXuPLgEWlLpN2Jm1iBZU6K15nLITa5VllAKEltULDaJnDBL6qlNdw2cRZNz-agMOj96KNkFZehhP5f5ICdfiZOyW3XFsqAnGY5LilMkfaqqk-XmykxRaJFFAnk7Jb/?imgmax=800" width="223" height="171" /></a>is using a gorgeously rich Bali Pop and Karen on the right has one that has the most mouth watering limes in it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5Nqa6uwLNb0/USnQ2hZIUtI/AAAAAAAAEDg/cxQiQOgvqhY/s1600-h/005%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVneV6HZ-5BLjZcqDvHUznaDQ02aSGSLBgw_Yui94Gi59NP85fzd0aigFbGKeiApKt8Mn-wg7UhzfWd04vMbq127HNTlIlv0j2-yn2boS_tq9ClqgMcyuKtcP3iH0WNYWK8lGn80bL_Lzo/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="138" /></a></p> <p>  <font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Of course, before class started the girls had to be well fed – they needed the energy for this one.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qDanmDrr_kk/USnQ47zjaMI/AAAAAAAAEDw/kW6llCumdlM/s1600-h/008%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3GDIecNjfxI/USnQ55LopYI/AAAAAAAAED4/0uYt7eVl5Tw/008_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="162" height="127" /></a></font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another thing that has happened recently was By Hoki Quilts was asked to put up a display at the recent Agricultural & Pastoral Show.  It must have been one of the hottest weekends we had had for a while and putting up the quilts certainly got the brow ‘glowing’, anyway the following are images from some of that display – I don’t think they need any dialogue.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i-ewESvnhPk/USnQ7Zp2lbI/AAAAAAAAEEA/9iiFsbC1DWU/s1600-h/74188_329726193804590_713407850_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="74188_329726193804590_713407850_n" border="0" alt="74188_329726193804590_713407850_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vLEvh5sx0x4/USnQ8rFFJGI/AAAAAAAAEEI/d5fH5jrm0rI/74188_329726193804590_713407850_n_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="160" /></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NLOAkm6IGCs/USnQ9z0E54I/AAAAAAAAEEQ/HU9_5_yXeCM/s1600-h/483064_329225473854662_419658329_n%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="483064_329225473854662_419658329_n" border="0" alt="483064_329225473854662_419658329_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sy52Q87tWmg/USnQ-8PZCQI/AAAAAAAAEEY/Aqj_i9xGICc/483064_329225473854662_419658329_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="220" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tw9t5E3Xuug/USnRABRGHUI/AAAAAAAAEEg/r9dZ92Gj4tc/s1600-h/385329_329726270471249_1466065950_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="385329_329726270471249_1466065950_n" border="0" alt="385329_329726270471249_1466065950_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dAKee1R6tBA/USnRBHp0DUI/AAAAAAAAEEo/WxWV_dCojX4/385329_329726270471249_1466065950_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, that’s been the last month – or the last month as I can remember it at the moment but I can guarantee there is probably an awful lot more that I have forgotten. It’s been busy, really busy but a lot of fun too.  I hope yours has been too.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Take care, hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W287zAtua8M/USnRB36bbfI/AAAAAAAAEEw/q-3EK4zUHAs/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xf2K61m6kbY/USnRCsB2SVI/AAAAAAAAEE4/PNhFl0RltJg/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-45682853880324534072013-01-18T12:31:00.001-08:002013-01-18T12:31:08.077-08:00I am still alive and kicking, in case you were wondering.<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Oh my goodness I hadn’t realised just how long it had been since I last wrote a blog post – and yes I have reprimanded myself sternly and whacked myself with a wet bus ticket too.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I can’t really blame any one thing for my tardiness but I will have a go at spreading the blame around <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cCzXpm_XrHo/UPmwrHzcSuI/AAAAAAAAD9U/gUrTqQenbYQ/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oWczjH_P0bM/UPmwsDc4OJI/AAAAAAAAD9c/GB81oxBiNd0/s1600-h/herzchens%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="herzchens" border="0" alt="herzchens" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5MjCxCJNcmM/UPmwtnFsdqI/AAAAAAAAD9g/XNXkOLiTzTg/herzchens_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="200" height="25" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">First of all my little shop has been so very busy, I guess that’s the beauty of being the first shop as you enter the boundaries of our town.  No sooner do I settle down to stitching something than the door opens and another smiling face enters.  Tuesday is usually our closed day, but if I’m home I’ll open up and just lately I am so pleased I do.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ANZDMw7tMOs/UPmwu6C7pbI/AAAAAAAAD9o/zo_w0aehn2s/s1600-h/67631535_p%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="67631535_p" border="0" alt="67631535_p" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i0DxsTEGv6o/UPmwwEA92nI/AAAAAAAAD9w/YNFBDt_mkwc/67631535_p_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="128" height="65" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">A couple of weeks ago three gorgeous ladies, two of whom are from our side of New Zealand came into the shop along with the niece of one of them.  You know they were just so lovely and for ages playful bantering went on.  I’m sure if they are reading this they will recognise themselves and hopefully be sitting there smiling. Thank-you ladies, you made my day.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BCHU_bOLQB4/UPmwxP1C4FI/AAAAAAAAD94/6B_1tdcdRBU/s1600-h/67631535_p%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="67631535_p" border="0" alt="67631535_p" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HUqeRFPTfBU/UPmwyX2z44I/AAAAAAAAD-E/C_N2bAVYbe4/67631535_p_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="128" height="65" /></a>Part of the joy of living and working in a tourist town is that many people come back year after year.  Our shop is nearing it’s 5th year of being open and I see some of the same faces each Summer since we opened. Just lately that has really so very obvious and for some of the customers/tourists, we are almost able to pick up conversations where we left off a year ago.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cfx8_jNou5U/UPmwzevBquI/AAAAAAAAD-I/ZXqOIP4Yne0/s1600-h/herzchens%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="herzchens" border="0" alt="herzchens" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S_QVuyPB75k/UPmw0jyaGMI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/I8iwXwcCQHY/herzchens_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="200" height="25" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">It hasn't all been shop work though and I do have a couple of things finished and ready to go onto the new OPAM tally when it gets up and going again.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Firstly, a bargello spiral.  I had a lady come into the shop asking if I would teach this to a group.  As I suspected it would take longer than the time allocated to complete I thought I’d actually give it a time trial.  Yes, it did take well over the time and as I really prefer to only teach classes where flimsies are complete or near to complete this one is definitely more than a one<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MoCq0hYIu9o/UPmw2Eyi3mI/AAAAAAAAD-c/ol7TmFaVyU8/s1600-h/001%252520%2525285%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001 (5)" border="0" alt="001 (5)" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEhsy-UGOAwGzkIcQo3dLhyphenhyphenDaJmJ8E7SPCrdZfrQXiirbg90tehCkRTBydu6-DTz-vWy84xv4dJBJcMIrjXiB9KkCmAzG2eJB-13CHNz0SIzRETHIH42maXw2_sTDko-QjRqS9zQQkQ_C/?imgmax=800" width="217" height="293" /></a> dayer.  I chose to quilt it using a metallic thread – a new thread for me, but with the assurance from the retailer (thanks Jackie) I gave it a go. WOW!  This thread is going to be used a lot more often – it is fab!  Anyway, I didn’t know just how I was going to quilt the flimsy and left it all pinned up for over a month.   Eventually I took the bull by the horns and just did it.  I love the quilting that many of our long arm quilters produce but am also aware that many quilts these days are so densely quilted that they are no longer soft and supple.  Well, this quilt is the total opposite of that.  Minimal quilting is how I went, mostly because of ability on my part but also because I just couldn’t decide on anything different – oh wellll.  By the way, sorry about the poor quality of the picture – it was bucketing down outside so it’s an inside shot I’m afraid.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yCfCVuJ6Rvw/UPmw4kce1pI/AAAAAAAAD-o/aPbwXEyUpro/s1600-h/herzchens%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="herzchens" border="0" alt="herzchens" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qi6c3UGCyR8/UPmw5119Q6I/AAAAAAAAD-w/a83FiExP3P4/herzchens_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="200" height="25" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The next completed quilt is a sample for our next Strippers Club day.  I used a Bali Pop and a couple of colours from the  Michael Miller Krystal range also.  It’s more of a lap size, but a comfy lap size.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vURAfe03dlo/UPmw7wgG3vI/AAAAAAAAD-8/iPtE6PMhDsQ/s1600-h/003%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eyHUMQTiTbQ/UPmw9g64k_I/AAAAAAAAD_E/LHxLuR5rgQ8/003_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="242" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Since my last post I have had the not too thrilling job of totally emptying out my sewing cave so that one of the walls can be relined and also so that the carpet we replaced in the lounge could be put down on the floor in the cave. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, as a result of that Mr BHQ now has a fairly accurate idea of just how large my stash is – oh the shame (heehee).</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Watching him as yet another box of fabric was carried out of the emptying room was priceless and in the end I just gave up trying to hide it and compared my collection to his large collection of tools – especially power tools in the garage.  Well, that soon stopped the “what more” comments and as for ‘the looks’ well, I got good at ignoring those.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now I have a lovely light and bright <strike>sewing room</strike> cave where I can hibernate over winter quite happily.  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0KGcM7WHSw8/UPmw-0xeRpI/AAAAAAAAD_I/oUSDmPtcovA/s1600-h/561116_500062593344452_615243681_n%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="561116_500062593344452_615243681_n" border="0" alt="561116_500062593344452_615243681_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8rE8us272JU/UPmw_0t0h3I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/yfZicCnYORw/561116_500062593344452_615243681_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="153" height="136" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well that’s about it from this little part of paradise for now, there is another quilt on the go and along side me here a little stitchery for evening work, but I’ll share that later.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great week everyone</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0TDfhosTqNs/UPmxBF3IUdI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/4LPzmt4Q_RE/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_3gNPe57K0g/UPmxCPaLfkI/AAAAAAAAD_k/KfrcyEYDlPs/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-21754790347001334622012-12-30T21:53:00.001-08:002012-12-30T21:53:34.777-08:00Just in time for OPAM 2012<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The last stitch in the last quilt for 2012 is done – this quilt has been hanging on my sewing room design wall for at least a year, probably closer to 2 years.  So with OPAM to be updated and nothing I can share at the moment I got stuck in and finally finished it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eVP2JttvIS8/UOEoO4gtfSI/AAAAAAAAD8M/lrUtjJobLYM/s1600-h/003%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xy1jEETgZKU/UOEoQP7Q1rI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/NwXfDj62xwQ/003_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="357" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">A number of years ago I saw a quilt like this and couldn’t find a pattern for it so I decided to make my own.  The puritans out there would probably have a fit at how I worked out measurements etc. . but it worked and lays flat and square AND I quilted it myself, which for someone that really classes herself as a hand quilter, I was rather pleased with.  A wee bit of stippling, some ‘in the ditch’ and some outlining and it was done.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5OCaTzAfr2E/UOEoRuLliFI/AAAAAAAAD8c/SSN3yZE3c2M/s1600-h/004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ahla3zV2z_8/UOEoS37xjXI/AAAAAAAAD8k/IeNrctSrj0Q/004_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="298" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">So that’s it – the last stitch in the last quilt for 2012 and my last project for OPAM for the year too.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank you to Peg and Kris for running OPAM for yet another year – I’ll be ready to sign up for 2013.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5cp6UMbRsIo/UOEoUJn1JiI/AAAAAAAAD8s/IvbUOAL6ar0/s1600-h/biene%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="biene" border="0" alt="biene" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tRMcrPKPRX4/UOEoVH8lREI/AAAAAAAAD80/aQmxSHYOepM/biene_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="28" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As far as here at our shop – my goodness we have been busy over the last few months and getting a regular day off has become a luxury.  Thank you to all of our regulars – you are the heart of the shop and to all of our visitors, we hope to see you again.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">2013 will start with two clubs – Strippers and Table Toppers plus there are already a number of classes in the diary so if you are interested e-mail me or drop into the shop.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a wonderful New Year, may it be full of good health and good company and just enough of anything to keep you happy.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sVZeIucaHitf3WePDZwykN4rY-B9q3HSqJlC1DBPQeV88HPIAS3BSGTHK0bEApm5spWnNZ8YKUufpc7bKRxDwqyapa-ONAATsUdjSlvSfOO01A87F4ItX7aR3YJmKSLQozyHw0MjbEb8/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YDP4IsJETok/UOEoXEsReWI/AAAAAAAAD9A/_mgzMcowL1I/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-77926361525008817122012-12-25T22:01:00.001-08:002012-12-25T22:01:50.555-08:00How to spoil a girl<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">How do you spoil this girl?  Easy really, you sign up with Chookyblue’s S.S.C.S and get a gorgeous girl, Annette  from Jindi’s Cottage as your secret partner and taa daa, instant spoiling.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Annette went well and truly to the max when she made my gorgeous little<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qjGZlOU0UPM/UNqSXmUTr9I/AAAAAAAAD4s/vzvtHvp7n8A/s1600-h/003%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="003" alt="003" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-57HyuDOeGrA/UNqSYw2JNII/AAAAAAAAD40/ivDdxbShZCU/003_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="116" height="163" /></a> ornament which I have hanging down on the shop Chrissy tree, along with her gorgeous tags.  The little Snowman looks very comfortable surrounded by baubles, tinsel and a little swansdown just to add a bit of fluff <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FcIIKu4oChw/UNqSaFt1heI/AAAAAAAAD48/NTA5t8jAOg8/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Yesterday I got to open the rest of the bundle that Annette sent – this lady had done a wonderful detective job<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zFuCr8tlF7Q/UNqSbjOxb5I/AAAAAAAAD5E/3vLvH1m7LoM/s1600-h/002%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="002" alt="002" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BoPDwHAoLNg/UNqScgiUGNI/AAAAAAAAD5M/lpNGMp8vfok/002_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" height="175" /></a> and met all of my likes – to begin with there was chocolate – yum, not just a single flavour but a box of chocs all in a bar.  Wrapped with the chocolate was a lovely mug rug  - just perfect for my spot when working.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Next there was a long bundle but <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqlFIrjESHoP64ZRMqcJsolYcJZfUetyxF0rbwT991whsU_a63yd8Y0WXIsx_dpycL9oX-QWhVwznrZNdIbB6Rv5j9MxjQ7AS9JjxcytfClYnrDSUQl5oa6d8GOO83CDe1CU5BNUSkJI2/s1600-h/002%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="002" alt="002" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yxukuoemil0/UNqSfu2PxbI/AAAAAAAAD5c/cx2DWPyS11E/002_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="113" height="153" /></a>before I ripped that apart I found a smaller one on top – wellll, what a gorgeous note pad.  It<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Bof4Ug9meAg/UNqShKbw4tI/AAAAAAAAD5k/-5s9epvfO5k/s1600-h/003%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="003" alt="003" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7qw2EGJtfqw/UNqSi7zPi7I/AAAAAAAAD5w/FtiIZ7ftOkk/003_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="142" height="187" /></a> already has a spot in my bag ready for use and to show off.  Isn’t the note paper pretty?</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aap8hp-ya84/UNqSkUCaG1I/AAAAAAAAD54/zwZFAg8EUeM/s1600-h/001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="001" alt="001" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2TOjK-IEXi4/UNqSlgAIrAI/AAAAAAAAD58/osaX3XIW6rQ/001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="114" height="150" /></a>Now time for the big one, but first I really have to admire another beautifully stitched tag and another for my tree.  This girl Annette is just the most beautiful stitcher.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">So, here is the big one<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K1w6kWH0IPM/UNqSmy75ksI/AAAAAAAAD6I/N33Ev_-HgJk/s1600-h/004%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kh0pYHjLRqc/UNqSoA8zHOI/AAAAAAAAD6M/ftJR1uQIdZE/004_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="176" height="274" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Isn’t she just delightful and aren’t I the lucky one?  Just look at the stitching on her dress – here have a close up</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DhBoRbQbBcA/UNqSpRG1ljI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/fKhc7pXoEiE/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-431wGCYxi9o/UNqSqyFRePI/AAAAAAAAD6g/0My-f63flq8/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">I told you Annette was a lovely stitcher.  Well that is me well and truly spoilt.  This little lady has been named Jindi after Annette’s blog, jindiscottage and she is sitting next to Miss Faiths bunny, Miss Tillie that lives at Grandma’s house.  </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">I didn’t have dolls, that I can remember as a child, so am now really making up for it and friends like Annette are helping fill the spot.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cYACS620YE8/UNqSsNBPfgI/AAAAAAAAD6o/BRuqoycGe58/s1600-h/009%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="009" alt="009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UyetZB5FsEY/UNqStN-o3YI/AAAAAAAAD6w/CQVsxTomfFE/009_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="218" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Chookyblue you chose such a super partner for me, thank you so very much – and Annette, I just sent you an e-mail – mwah!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another gift I received was from Miss Dalrene.  Darlene has been to my home a few times and when she found out that my man was to be away for a few days she booked herself in here for a night of chatting, pattern swapping pizza and the odd wine (of course).  Darlene left a parcel behind for me for Christmas day – again another woman who knows me, and probably too well so she chose a book that I will most definitely make use of in the months and years to come.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2kdYPY2CMog/UNqSvCOhwkI/AAAAAAAAD64/rKGUZfcIlwQ/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="010" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2rrlICmVQWc/UNqSwa2W0VI/AAAAAAAAD7A/zDSDqmzPuiI/010_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="130" height="172" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">How lucky am I?  Very, I know.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">I hope all of our blogging friends had a wonderful Christmas day.  I was really lucky as DH who I wasn’t expecting so early, arrived home in time to demolish a Christmas feast.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">On towards 2013 – let’s all make it a good one – I am certainly setting a few goals for myself and our shop.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">blessings to you all</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LEA7reE82IM/UNqSxsQ8PXI/AAAAAAAAD7I/TM1RM9X4m94/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PJTf5UAUHXI/UNqSy8E2qgI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/J8yUdltW3H0/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-77470716176694520622012-12-13T23:58:00.001-08:002012-12-14T00:58:08.779-08:00Updating<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Somebody please tell me where the last month has gone.  I’m sure it was only last week when I wrote my last post – not last month!</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">So much has happened and yet nothing has is if you know what I mean.  My first bit of news is that I got a big parcel in the mail from my SSCS partner.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L0BJJFidDLE/UMrpqb1aXMI/AAAAAAAAD20/djFM7wgsGFE/s1600-h/0013.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L0BJJFidDLE/UMrpqb1aXMI/AAAAAAAAD28/sC_5WuLCSz0/s1600-h/0014.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hZ1JyZmtUQY/UMrbW4Cip1I/AAAAAAAADxA/KXWO7vYy3KU/001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">As  the rules state, I was able to open the envelope and the package that is the ornie – all the rest have to wait for Christmas Day.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G0uOGCFTWqQ/UMrbYMJ9i-I/AAAAAAAAD3A/UEeiMlYgWlU/s1600-h/0044.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G0uOGCFTWqQ/UMrbYMJ9i-I/AAAAAAAAD3E/assTki1LRAY/s1600-h/0045.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oyhh6GE-hmk/UMrba8Q1uyI/AAAAAAAADxU/7guUoPgzNao/004_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="176" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Once inside this gorgeously tempting envelope I found a number of parcels.  Look at the fab labels – all carefully stitched, little treasure that I will also hang on future Chrissy trees – here, have a look…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qtd5O1Eigno/UMrbcYi2pgI/AAAAAAAAD3I/smQese-1Vc4/s1600-h/0034.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qtd5O1Eigno/UMrbcYi2pgI/AAAAAAAAD3M/kIBvZ6DTW88/s1600-h/0035.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Adm0rDHmCSE/UMrbgKmejEI/AAAAAAAADxo/Rr6_J1HYHzU/003_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="141" /></a></a></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Ir1nVa-lFs/UMrbhcSmUgI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/1dQzzTTkcro/s1600-h/0094.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Ir1nVa-lFs/UMrbhcSmUgI/AAAAAAAAD3U/DyDN6FcTkTU/s1600-h/0095.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qbaSr_XLO2E/UMrbkfwwSFI/AAAAAAAADx8/IYhMYV09SeY/009_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="142" height="240" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank you so much Annette, your name and labels will be with me every Christmas.   The ornie parcel was just as exciting – look at this cute little character…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--AgHNoM5O8k/UMrblzFCjaI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/Ng206jTOG6w/s1600-h/0083.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--AgHNoM5O8k/UMrblzFCjaI/AAAAAAAAD3c/5GDpEAwoy1Y/s1600-h/0084.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r2ABQAPu53c/UMrbppSUp-I/AAAAAAAADyQ/5TFI-A_BS_A/008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aZwYwzugF-I/UMrbrUkjGBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/zBvEHhZ5rOc/s1600-h/0063.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aZwYwzugF-I/UMrbrUkjGBI/AAAAAAAAD3k/N3J7BmGvxn4/s1600-h/0064.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CfSxfKNxOg0/UMrbub9193I/AAAAAAAADyk/8xCzArZccLU/006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">plus the other little treasures too.  Now I’m getting excited and can’t wait to see what else is in the parcels waiting to be revealed on Christmas Day.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-43PK7Pn95Jg/UMrbvyhFIoI/AAAAAAAAD3o/oAAQ36kS2O8/s1600-h/0054.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-43PK7Pn95Jg/UMrbvyhFIoI/AAAAAAAAD3s/7INoxaVNnEs/s1600-h/0055.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jvWa3VKVcsA/UMrbyyqpxRI/AAAAAAAADy4/X0AZd3A7jT0/005_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="118" /></a></a></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Thank you again Chookyblue for taking the time to run yet another SSCS</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H_ATZK0VvME/UMrb0JWX28I/AAAAAAAADzA/TmgiSt7kNbI/s1600-h/1852448wnxihr5glr%25255B2%25255D.gif"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="1852448wnxihr5glr" alt="1852448wnxihr5glr" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eqHENRuDJGA/UMrb1scPEZI/AAAAAAAADzI/kqUsEB9Iu-E/1852448wnxihr5glr_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="240" height="71" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Christmas, this year is going to be a bit of a non event in our house.  I already was aware that DD#2 and Miss’s Faith and Taylor wouldn’t be here and that DD#1 and Miss Hannah had other plans so was looking forward to a low key day with DH, infact the house is devoid of anything that looks slightly festive and for someone that thrives on this time of the year that is so very unusual.  The Christmas tree is up in the shop though,  so I have stashed all the parcels in there under it. Anyway DH , told me the other day that, that was all going to change.  You see on the 20th he flies out to Chile as a police escort and at this stage he should be back late on Christmas Day.  So, knowing that he is going to be a wee bit shattered when he gets home we will do the Chrissy meal another time and I’ll make sure I have a good movie or three to keep me entertained throughout the day (and night) and of course a wee bit of stitching all prepared too *wink*.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4VT6AM48Gy0/UMrb20727NI/AAAAAAAADzQ/9xLArpheImM/s1600-h/2546222awreaqqp5m%25255B3%25255D.png"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="2546222awreaqqp5m" border="0" alt="2546222awreaqqp5m" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG6bEyGkgCsmIgPzBhyphenhyphenh8gTVN327Vnru6ZmrlfdWDC9AoTA8PQO1e_74tn7i3h-9xQVKLN8jlsPJbEIYwY83px6dSGpOjxeVV4kxRqm2uOtqE5ClsgZWCU5a4P6y8KEcBfGIA38ZJljl-/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">On the stitching front I have been really busy.  Three new patterns are waiting to be written up and I can’t for the life of me settle down to writing them.  Here are just two of the newbies</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ytDusPnv488/UMrb69uNCCI/AAAAAAAAD3w/92zrS5A-nH8/s1600-h/Love-Letters3.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ytDusPnv488/UMrb69uNCCI/AAAAAAAAD30/Hj5KGX3ABRg/s1600-h/Love-Letters4.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="Love Letters" alt="Love Letters" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-akfLNBKbUC0/UMrb9oUOsaI/AAAAAAAADzs/Dm014B9P9mI/Love%252520Letters_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" height="240" /></a></a></a></p> <p align="center"><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Love Letters</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Lucida Handwriting">and…</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OoFMCoSOziE/UMrb_PLazRI/AAAAAAAAD34/O6mdeSrZ5-A/s1600-h/Pinked3.jpg"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OoFMCoSOziE/UMrb_PLazRI/AAAAAAAAD38/b0FezSponGw/s1600-h/Pinked4.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="Pinked" alt="Pinked" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96W91-vy3yRJihcpGhoUlBmc5Kk2xPwwbOCKa9ofzhsUBaH0tDmN4kC0E-drkJBQOfz4NNthqFKlSzwMdqSUwDFi87bBDYWKsHM7bLSqwY_63D-wiiM7xsqR1ehqQY6RHYRNRmHqHkAfC/?imgmax=800" width="211" height="240" /></a></a></a></p> <p align="center"><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Pinked.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Sitting alongside me is another, but I’ll wait to share that.</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TMrftO8AUsI/UMrcEF4HXNI/AAAAAAAAD0I/Aq62SjQAl9o/s1600-h/Christmas%252520bough-bell%252520divider%25255B3%25255D.png"><font face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Christmas bough-bell divider" border="0" alt="Christmas bough-bell divider" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U3Z42Vj2oIU/UMrcFWcFIUI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/9vVP6kQn8j0/Christmas%252520bough-bell%252520divider_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="240" height="32" /></font></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <font face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, less than a month to go until we welcome in a New Year – time sure is running away on me.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas </font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-46PJ2K0i6-I/UMrcKJKb0wI/AAAAAAAAD0s/_2upL1muYIs/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8sEeo-mPGN0/UMrcLuxxDnI/AAAAAAAAD00/PezcJF5UVtA/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-24598141823384054422012-11-17T21:18:00.001-08:002012-11-17T21:18:57.056-08:00I just have to share…<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">A couple of weeks ago I was browsing through an on-line auction site just having a look/see at what treasures people were offering for sale.  As I was looking at goodies under the ‘Antiques’ label I didn’t expect to be purchasing anything.  Well, that changed and I got lucky and had the winning bid in the auction -  woo hoo.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I really like collecting ‘old’ things.  In the house I have a healthy collection of old brass objects, some beautiful big bronze figures that I collected when living in Asia and then a few Asian figures in bone (not ivory as I respect elephants too much to collect that), then there is my fabric stash – but we wont go there *wink*.  I also really like to repurpose old things too, so when I saw this gorgeous ‘donut’ box I couldn’t resist it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R1faYvneQSA/UKhvo5zp61I/AAAAAAAADvc/WVWaXT6LyPg/s1600-h/004%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8QSFIotANJ4/UKhvqI4asDI/AAAAAAAADvk/0d07ndP9cIs/004_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="237" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">It’s condition is superb and just look at the art work.  On the side there is a treasure of a closing clasp.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gaFUIwg951g/UKhvrqzwm0I/AAAAAAAADvs/HdY0CkO91Rs/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Xkbhiugd-9E/UKhvs00MyfI/AAAAAAAADv0/0WR54XKG8NI/010_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" height="240" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">There isn’t a single thing wrong with it both inside and out, quite honestly it’s in a better condition than I thought it was.  And what am I repurposing this gorgeous piece of work into ?– well…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QBkuig6QdRU/UKhvucy678I/AAAAAAAADv8/_sVL-LvZQ3M/s1600-h/008%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2cavYyg70Es/UKhvvsDL_nI/AAAAAAAADwE/f956lBXl9N0/008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">What do you think?  Where the donut is supposed to sit snuggly I discovered that my bobbins fit in just perfectly.  Awesome. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> Now all I have to do is tidy my tip of a sewing cave so that I can find a space for my new bobbin case where I can admire it while working.  This could be a long term project until I can share those pictures with you – the room is an absolute shambles and became a bit of a dumping ground while we were decorating, so I’m not sharing pictures of that it’s too embarrassing, really.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a wonderful week one and all</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Miche’le</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> </font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-62083069173569204812012-11-14T22:05:00.001-08:002012-11-14T22:05:18.087-08:00Back to Normality, sort of<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">I have to share my latest ‘finish’ with you first today as I’m just so flipping pleased with it.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">‘Sherbert’ is what I named this particular quilt as when I was describing the colours I wanted to use I suggested the colours of the sherbert that we used to be able to buy many moons ago as children.  So, without further ado may I introduce ‘Sherbert”</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGUFIZjvYBEKywByQPEuZVoapg6jFp-oqDvrvasOdn984CEO5ZCYne9j669Svdya0DkRfHVecRDC0J7w3hKly19V4Nl0fUuuzGpjjzibEiK2G9hOWdLMD834y0gKq1oLHULpMU_S9ds0y/s1600-h/005%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1e6W6gdOmKo/UKSFr-SmNEI/AAAAAAAADrU/xWzd5zgUymU/005_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="311" /></a> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now I hope you can see why I’m so happy with it.  My friend and long arm quilter Sue did the quilting and I really think she has enhanced the entire quilt – this one is a ‘keeper’</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Along with this quilt I have also been plodding along with stitcheries that I’ve been getting done for little gifts and also the odd cushion.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E56r9N8Ejv8/UKSFtUlKqyI/AAAAAAAADrc/dNNttCf1Dxk/s1600-h/009%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8pE5ztNZTb8/UKSFu6sJZgI/AAAAAAAADrk/gCuv1NMt3IA/009_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="307" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This is the latest cushion from the production line – I’m sorry about the ‘shiny’ glare, I forgot to take a photograph before I covered it in cellophane for the shop.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The last couple of weeks I’ve been busy finishing off the renovations of our lounge while nursing an injury.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Following many months of dust and grime the lounge has gone from this<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H4Jn09TvkDE/UKSFwWY17jI/AAAAAAAADrs/HP1Tn-bCTxQ/s1600-h/001%25255B6%25255D.jpg"> <img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DJ51Jp3cDYQ/UKSFxnoMnlI/AAAAAAAADr0/UHZRCYvDA_I/001_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="208" /></a>                               and this<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1zk2AfzcC2A/UKSFzOMOM2I/AAAAAAAADr8/-gRxoWO7pno/s1600-h/003%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NaEN_HP5Q2s/UKSF0aYATJI/AAAAAAAADsE/VD1gWCJ3PPE/003_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="169" height="133" /></a></font><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">To this</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IdcKXyIln4Y/UKSF2FcfV5I/AAAAAAAADsM/u80ieLLFXjA/s1600-h/006%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zNUwqQ8O0Lg/UKSF3J_AbiI/AAAAAAAADsU/e6zY4bZF-n0/006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eeh4NLwV-Bc/UKSF5OmQjaI/AAAAAAAADsc/Kqi_gVk6sLI/s1600-h/002%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HQWf1vRhqsc/UKSF6faRxnI/AAAAAAAADsk/Qy-miuVfI54/002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vgzplh97WHc/UKSF8K_ffXI/AAAAAAAADss/dITXLrL_Rz0/s1600-h/003%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FdsfibnIaas/UKSF9TpJ-WI/AAAAAAAADs0/znaVhP9l_pk/003_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">There are still quite a few bits and bobs to get put out and hung up, including the odd quilt or two – but in the main we are finished – yeah!!!!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As for the injury – mmm, well I managed to drop a large cast iron beautiful shabby chic tray onto my toe. At almost 4kg it kind of hurt like heck but worst of all was being back into plaster for a wee while as I had broken my big toe in a few places.  I’m not quite sure what the plaster was achieving as my poor old blackened toe was still able to move.  Anyway, eventually I was able to talk the dear doctor man around and get the cast off, leaving me with an impressive bruise and quite a bit of swelling.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltI4xYIJ4Q1MTl4HKcGcBXamI2ourokM3c5yxxjz8UlIz1ZeYduaWvIq0uvD_0kQPhpyboAN6hPrS7zeCzOJ_p3nuYreMgXchIKMtmXemcrDroKqBvFLEnuacvJWD-EhRHmzIetmdRW42/s1600-h/015%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ge4WMN5LoRQ/UKSGAkwrfiI/AAAAAAAADtE/LXD4Cc1eLpU/015_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="118" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now the bruising seems to have settled and is really only visible under my nail – a good excuse to buy some dark nail polish to hide it I reckon *wink*.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fg9uAETCaGk/UKSGB_JgFgI/AAAAAAAADtM/LuFeDCHXiLw/s1600-h/001%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CAQHw21l8t4/UKSGDaKbCAI/AAAAAAAADtU/9nm9PRovTfc/001_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="77" height="72" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, on that colourful note I think I’ll share just one last image – this one is from the shop with the wisteria doing it’s best to frame the entrance to the shop</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiolQYvWz-cINbj8U3AX0yUZsp0-_0r4UWiByyJe4B_23DkeGkd2BB-Meuehuy-nyn2NhlFoE7E4ENq0cpNLnkKFAdO6_MO5vf3tgCi2Nu2IzIFZSo_aNVf12o7Z-msE789l_kIzV7OgGy/s1600-h/017%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YZ7sEQUkc6M/UKSGGm3U33I/AAAAAAAADtk/5_elbw2xz0Q/017_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="314" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">have a great week everyone</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs             <font size="5">Miche’le</font></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-4385040752559859612012-11-02T23:07:00.001-07:002012-11-04T00:06:54.507-07:00Scraps and spares.<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Last year Chookyblue organised one of her SAL’s and this time it was a small Christmas ‘stitchery’ quilt “Tis The Season” by Natalie Bird. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">About that time and not long before it either the city of Christchurch was rocked by a couple of nasty earthquakes. These shakes un-nerved a few people and even doing what appears normal to many of us became almost impossible for some while others just couldn’t concentrate even on the simplest of tasks.  It was because of a combination of these things that one of our fellow bloggers – <a href="http://theangelandthe pukeko.blogspot.com">Deb</a>, decided not to continue with the SAL.  Armed with this information Chookyblue set to and organised a number of us to make one of these little quilts for Deb.  My part of the SAL was to join the blocks and borders together then to hand quilt it in the same style as Natalie had.  Many of you sent blocks and fabric to help with this task, one of you had to send her block TWICE as the first one took so long to arrive that we thought it MIA.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Anyway, when the long lost block finally arrived here, there really was no need for it but I decided that I would hang onto it as well as all of the left over fabric and make something for the kind lady that had supplied two blocks.  With Christmas just a few weeks away I thought the time was right to pull out the fabric scraps and the treasured block and make something to send on it’s way.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Daa daa, here is what I put together</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9CcV9ArJ350/UJS0j4QDONI/AAAAAAAADp4/P5zaN-_MJfA/s1600-h/007%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UvrI6Lcw8rE/UJS0mEja4SI/AAAAAAAADqA/HLgJoVz_c3U/007_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="311" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">A cushion cover featuring the self same block that had taken so very long to arrive on my door.  And who may you ask was the lovely lady it was going to?  To our own Miss <a href="http://sweetascinnamon.blogspot.com">Dawn</a> of course – just a wee way over the Tasman.  I wasn’t able to include everyone's names on the label but did let her know what it was all about by the label and from the card I included.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d8vEdiPJuHU/UJS0ovUmM-I/AAAAAAAADqI/oLxZtK6xdMc/s1600-h/006%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tsN20zvXcVE/UJS0qAPKakI/AAAAAAAADqQ/A_XqdXKm_6Q/006_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="173" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">So, for those of you that contributed to Debs quilt this is what happened to all the leftovers – I hope you are all OK with that.  And to Dawn – hugs and thanks for being the generous loving woman that you are – mwah.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fefE-KthFcs/UJS0rkCkYwI/AAAAAAAADqY/E-OxVAy4iiY/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-36gUKYqrQ4o/UJS0s3bTveI/AAAAAAAADqg/q74tIZBgzWw/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-43546412535146318972012-10-29T23:40:00.001-07:002012-10-29T23:40:39.889-07:00Keep Safe, Keep Dry and some projects<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">First of all I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers for all that are in the path of Hurricane Sandy.  I hope you and yours come through unscathed.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6hxRzUN_ZuY/UI92EyoKifI/AAAAAAAADnk/EAbbvf0n72c/s1600-h/22905565_p%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="22905565_p" border="0" alt="22905565_p" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lG9Ak8wOc-E/UI92GR80dVI/AAAAAAAADns/TPeGvQDUH0A/22905565_p_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="209" height="66" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Like so many others at this time of the year, I am getting busy.  It’s not because Christmas is creeping its way closer each day, it’s just because a number of things are slowly coming to a ‘head’ so I’m guessing that once they do get done life will return to it’s sedate self.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5VMNsZXtmWc/UI92HtDR3HI/AAAAAAAADn0/CjhdJ2OvjWE/s1600-h/22905565_p%25255B5%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="22905565_p" border="0" alt="22905565_p" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qO1ghff8-k4/UI92JHjA5RI/AAAAAAAADn8/JEoFxtZHFgg/22905565_p_thumb%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="209" height="66" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The first project nearing completion is our enormous renovation job.  Many months ago I shared pictures of ‘the man’ taking down a wall in our lounge  - well for months I’ve live with that unfinished sight that is until I discovered that the mention of getting another man in to get things done at a fee brought action to the fore – yeahhh!  So we have gone from decorating one room to, next Monday,  where the whole house is having new carpet laid and vinyl put in the bathroom, toilet and shower room.  The lounge has been redone though so I thought I’d share the new colours with you.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qnBoUyUoCzs/UI92LSFNfiI/AAAAAAAADoE/LFEe8_ssMZw/s1600-h/002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TJZNh3xHes0/UI92M9Ue2OI/AAAAAAAADoM/dWRn6yjcUV4/002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="190" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The curtains (bottom of pic) are a taupe and in real life quite a bit darker than shown here.  The wallpaper – at the top, has a touch of taupe and a subtle amount of pink and ivory in it. Once the carpet is down and I have chance to unpack all the ‘bits and bobs’ I take a proper picture where it hopefully all goes well together.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Playing around wallpapering and painting hasn’t left a huge amount of time for stitching but I have managed to finish this….</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2DKWH3l_aKs/UI92N_dzMNI/AAAAAAAADoU/lQa99x7djDE/s1600-h/007%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6WWttP0LUqA/UI92PekxnnI/AAAAAAAADoc/K9Gq7oiXWck/007_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" height="132" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">and this….</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QERHGzzB-7M/UI92QlRQDxI/AAAAAAAADok/yVGFiz8IsYc/s1600-h/004%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3PKWEVLRRcc/UI92R5C6OuI/AAAAAAAADos/HWStJsVAAZc/004_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="154" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Both of which are for SSCS, hence the reason for only little cropped pictures – later in the year I’ll be able to show you the full images – tee hee, isn’t it fun?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">One lovely finish I would like to share with you all though is Little Miss Jessie-May.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5qouao8EgKI/UI92VHbw9XI/AAAAAAAADo0/EZCaNoeTjR4/s1600-h/003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Kj6W84259e8/UI92Wj7aCtI/AAAAAAAADo8/78nTsriSYKs/003_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" height="272" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I just love cloth dolls and learnt a very long time ago that the only way I was going to get any was by making them myself.  Jessie May I have made out of ‘doll velour’, it’s a lovely fabric to use and has that lovely ‘peach fuzz’ finish.  I somehow don’t think Jessie May will be the only one from this pattern that comes to live in this house.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Well, that’s it for the moment.  I know somewhere deep in my sewing cave there are many other things that need finishing so I guess I had better go and hunt at least one out.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great week one and all</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hYqqXDW_zjA/UI92XrPq0jI/AAAAAAAADpE/38o81oOIqsI/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-esFuTFjdg5Q/UI92ZCIsL0I/AAAAAAAADpM/-dp_LePXqWs/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-67483806425557177302012-10-14T11:31:00.001-07:002012-10-14T11:31:03.334-07:00So many secrets<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">It’s that time of the year again when many of us are taking part in Chookyblues secret Christmas swap.  As a result we are so busy stitching away for someone we don’t know but have been paired up with and need to play detective through blogger to find out all about our partner.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Because it’s all very ‘Secret Squirrel’ stuff<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TY6tUE9qtog/UHsE2hzdFWI/AAAAAAAADmo/uNrCdyFwo4k/s1600-h/aaaaaaaaaaasecret%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="aaaaaaaaaaasecret" border="0" alt="aaaaaaaaaaasecret" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xe3XXXziHlI/UHsE3xzC-vI/AAAAAAAADmw/oP1YZdeor58/aaaaaaaaaaasecret_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="119" height="164" /></a> there isn’t much to share – not at the moment anyway.  So with that in mind I can share another UFO that is now finished – yeah.  It’s using one of the patterns from our ‘Striper Club’.  The colours haven’t shown too well but this one is a cot quilt.</font><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="554" border="0" alt="554" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xFCqgK2BHrM/UHsE5LFjsxI/AAAAAAAADm4/j7TEhrgr6qI/554_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I have used a plain white homespun to join all the colours together.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">It doesn’t seem much to share but as I said, the other stuff is secret, ssshhhhh.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great week everyone</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">Miche’le</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> </font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-77941458130860960332012-10-01T22:58:00.001-07:002012-10-01T22:58:57.637-07:00And I was doing so well<p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I really was, last month I got my OPAM totals loaded well ahead of time, then Miss Pfaff needed repairing – well… since she has been home I have been completing stuff flat out and before I knew it the date on the bottom of the screen said 2/10/2012!!!  What the… not only had ‘daylight saving’ arrived here but someone has walked off with at least a couple of weeks of mine as the time has just flown by.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">So without further waffling around I will share some of the OPAM finishes I have done for September:</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Candlewicking is still something I’m playing around with not just cushions – or the large ones anyway, but a little pin cushion too.</font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HiIMYLoaE4E/UGqCY69HVhI/AAAAAAAADk0/_1hL845zbfc/s1600-h/013%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JWWCTRzjgC0/UGqCajz_oMI/AAAAAAAADk8/vEAsTwIcNaw/013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Then just because I could, I came up with a little table mat pattern that I’ll use for my beginners class.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bmwcB3QuLA4/UGqCcp075AI/AAAAAAAADlE/Hx_mz4Sfu6U/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3q17arOZLgA/UGqCd3xr1KI/AAAAAAAADlM/K6U2woTuqtw/010_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="217" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Then I got to complete a couple of stitchery thingies – the first is gorgeous and is not my design, but that hasn’t stopped me stitching it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HPROsnyqmAE/UGqCfRa2fxI/AAAAAAAADlU/NXxm22MXxcs/s1600-h/015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9mwfUNm6MhY/UGqCg38svSI/AAAAAAAADlc/kfosciA43nI/015_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">“Love you this much” is a saying that Miss Faith and I have, isn’t the design just so cute?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The next stitchery was a freebie on-line that I quite liked a while back, so when there was no machine to stitch with I turned to this and turned it into a little wall hanging.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUCJ9tFzIxdaZpbUHmjpMxiUykzsWBN6bK7G0tRbISrxc9xYYapuwk2yMJhHDo5YPsQaaoj8a31ZeGgt6gp5QVp9kXhtLtN1CHliZ93Sj9YDpuVPI8iQjIxbFfWMI_4prXQ0aXQArnSJd/s1600-h/009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sT_x8t-Tjnc/UGqCkNaJlaI/AAAAAAAADls/I5dqXZC5ra0/009_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="220" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Then finally I got to finish my latest ‘Strippers Club’ Quilt sample.  This one is a large quilt and although the background fabric looks like a goldy tan it is actually a taupe!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M8GiGANYK8Q/UGqCl0Q2d9I/AAAAAAAADl0/vTfF8-xorJs/s1600-h/002%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ieb7jM9AchE/UGqCnAgZiqI/AAAAAAAADl8/VmNY1pY35ug/002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">So there you have it, 5 finishes for OPAM for September – I’m so sorry to our dear ladies who keep our tally, I just got too busy to load my totals on.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">happy days,   hugs</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Handwriting">Miche’le</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-44366335987397475532012-09-15T03:01:00.001-07:002012-09-15T03:02:07.790-07:00Addicted, habit or lifestyle?<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Last time I posted I had just sent my trusty Pfaff off to the ‘surgeon’ to get fixed.  Well, she is still not back and life is so very different without at least one daily sit down session in front of her.  I was explaining this to our DD#1 last night and she with her 33 years of wisdom told me that I was displaying the behaviour of an addict.  Noooo I answered, more a lifestyle is what I have not an addiction.  Somewhere in the back of my mind I was trying to find a difference as ultimately both had a reliance on something.  So I guess little Miss Oh-so-clever was right – but please, don’t let her know, shhhhh.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The long and the short of it is, my Pfaff still isn’t back *sigh*.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I haven’t been idle though, there has been a huge amount of hand stitching going on.  I seem to have fallen into another style, something I started doing last month – candlewicking.  There are four more large ‘fronts’ finished and waiting to be made into something, plus a couple of little thingies that will probably become gifts for some gorgeous friend or two.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tm6ooSTff74/UFRRwaMNYBI/AAAAAAAADjA/sr2c-PuOspo/s1600-h/Quilted%252520stars%252520divider_thumb%25255B7%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Quilted stars divider_thumb[7]" border="0" alt="Quilted stars divider_thumb[7]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-leCnF1yCrcc/UFRRxuHG_3I/AAAAAAAADjI/JtcS-nvac5Y/Quilted%252520stars%252520divider_thumb%25255B7%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="29" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">On the home front the renovations are charging ahead.  During the last two weeks a plasterer has been in ’gibstopping’ the new ceiling in our rather (now) large l</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PoG7tIiApM4/UFRRy6aL7NI/AAAAAAAADjQ/2AAwnJs8srU/s1600-h/009%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DszRh2-qzmc/UFRR0Pm-hvI/AAAAAAAADjY/KaibmPBSPSg/009_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="100" height="149" /></font></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">ounge.  I don’t know if you remember but at the beginning of  the year my man knocked down a wall the divided the</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B2WnaIV9DLA/UFRR1WoecHI/AAAAAAAADjg/DnePcGbpi0M/s1600-h/002%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lYzZcG0NXew/UFRR2rkOB0I/AAAAAAAADjo/UHNLfwRXGug/002_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="123" /></font></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> lounge from a silly little space that was the hallway with the front door at the end of it.  Well… on the ground floor of this house we have three lots of ‘ranch sliding’ doors  plus a back door that is really the main door.  So really </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SH-oBM2lvNY/UFRR4CQyxfI/AAAAAAAADjw/Li8-Gf-WhMY/s1600-h/006%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9uR2AqkeUKMp5FQi0Hed0dThk883GdHkQi5mdYlCgLhBxRfC928QDlNIqWvNJPbhhVsQ3NSp6t74hwMzKffTPUWr3qlw6OjLE-kaPur1gQ9IdyoVaATonXOFj3ilk46mVKHLh2GSzoh5/?imgmax=800" width="167" height="139" /></font></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">no need for a separate front door, so along with the wall out came the door.  Now the lounge is a wonderful size and we are now in the throws of doing all the other ‘bits’ that a reno involves including carpeting the entire house, new curtains and new wallpaper all of which are long overdue. This huge job is leaving us with very little in our lounge and most of the furniture stacked up in the dining room. Just quietly, I can’t wait until it’s all finished and I can get to ‘dress the room’ just in time for Christmas – which I’m afraid to say isn’t that far away.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">With that thought I’ll wish you all a wonderful weekend</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gwIg8BnC7FY/UFRR6M-uVvI/AAAAAAAADkA/FkOOtFIl6_Y/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-49dcRVaxiJk/UFRR7buq4NI/AAAAAAAADkI/uxpxypnrenA/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-5561641994857092482012-08-31T12:45:00.001-07:002012-08-31T12:45:14.507-07:00Just Plain Worn Out<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As the start of a new month arrives, I am so very pleased to be able to add a couple more cushions to the collection – officially they were made last month so I suppose I should include them into my August OPAM total.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The first is another ‘stitchery’ type complete with a few Prairie Points to add interest.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZrFOeGbTirk/UEEUGSB1Z8I/AAAAAAAADgA/_2neCimVHWQ/s1600-h/012%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LfjwcXKSyJo/UEEUH08MMiI/AAAAAAAADgI/if4Jaff57wY/012_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="222" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I altered the pattern slightly, not the stitching but the piecing, just to make the cushion a little more square.  I’m really happy with this one, the whole thing made from my stash – yeah.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">The next cushion is very different.  A touch of candle wicking. So oldie worldly but so calming to sit and stitch.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VM5PBdZO1y0/UEEUJeQwO2I/AAAAAAAADgQ/1QYvKtbw0f0/s1600-h/009%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dP5OqFJKf4Y/UEEUKvDCVPI/AAAAAAAADgY/t9tu2xcXZsA/009_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="215" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another made from my stash, I had the calico but not the candle wicking cotton so I used 4ply knitting cotton.  It took some effort to stitch with it but I think the results are just great (for me).</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u30JLFRCrlE/UEEUMc4Hp-I/AAAAAAAADgg/Edx_IBD0X-w/s1600-h/010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UEvjVQuEIQM/UEEUNk9j3HI/AAAAAAAADgo/a7PMIB6cdS8/010_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="225" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">As you can see from this close up I machine quilted around the outer edge of the stitching.  I did a small stipple to flatten the outer out letting the candle wicking ‘pop’.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">There should have been another little cushion but while I was busy putting the outer sashing's on it my machine  started misbehaving – or so I thought.  On inspection I found out that the little arm that keeps the bobbin casing in position had broken – it had just plain worn out.  So now my wee Pfaff is visiting her surgeon and hopefully will make a full recovery.  I know I have other machines, mostly Featherweights, and they are great for piecing, but they’re not Miss Pfaff and I really do prefer to stitch on her.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-us-gK_DPoIE/UEEUO87z-rI/AAAAAAAADgs/A5BKd3Xgs2E/s1600-h/aawesstringofheartspink%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="aawesstringofheartspink" border="0" alt="aawesstringofheartspink" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kn9gzljdOfA/UEEUPzZWJJI/AAAAAAAADg4/A-FBxzbAeF4/aawesstringofheartspink_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="240" height="60" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Today is the first day of Spring here in New Zealand – and judging by the amount of unplanted flowers (aka weeds) sprouting up in the garden I guess I need to do some outside work this weekend.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I hope you all have a great weekend</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tPz_zu3fa80/UEEUQ08lVCI/AAAAAAAADhA/EDnWeAnrNR0/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rVTL2TW9Og8/UEEURxhseEI/AAAAAAAADhE/eXb2Xu6zz1Y/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"> </font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-23751913768700235432012-08-19T18:42:00.001-07:002012-08-23T20:35:40.755-07:00Rolling On<p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another little pillow filled and trimmed – yeah, this sewing mojo has certainly kicked in.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8NuU6jH-yIk/UDGWC3y5H-I/AAAAAAAADeQ/AT3Axp6FtK4/s1600-h/003%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-15n8Xt6BeJc/UDGWEZ0OKKI/AAAAAAAADeY/UgQpl3hx3XA/003_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="258" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now I’m trying to complete the quilting on another quilt that I made as a sample for our Strippers Club.  Trying is the operative word though.  For  some reason my little Pfaff will stitch quite nicely for about 4 inches and then the tension seems to tighten and the thread breaks.  Arghhhh!  I’m only meandering on this quilt and I’m using Signature thread – as I always do. Oh and yes, I have changed my needle and done all of those pre quilting thingies.  Any ideas as to what may be the problem I would oh so welcome – meanwhile I’ll go and find some more hand stitching and let myself and my little Pfaff cool off.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great day</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vMw8I8QGqOc/UDGWFRuu13I/AAAAAAAADeg/njWYBscCW4M/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e_N_ArT0kVA/UDGWGtIVB_I/AAAAAAAADek/RGDf_sbPCjs/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I’m adding a little wee PS to this post – another little bolster finished, this time the colours are much stronger and with Spring in the air the yellows remind me of the </font><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">daffodils that are trying to bloom and the pink?  Well, I just liked it ; )</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZqLoUGg0uT8/UDb2g1eRwrI/AAAAAAAADfQ/CEXpx-5aDpc/s1600-h/004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ork__eNJUWY/UDb2iXqarsI/AAAAAAAADfY/JuySqkHfEeg/004_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="198" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now for a change of style – I’m off to the land of knots – ‘Candlewicking’, after all the 2 stranded work it will feel like stitching with rope.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great weekend everyone.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-43795688337164925172012-08-18T23:42:00.001-07:002012-08-19T13:37:50.922-07:00Head Down, Tail Up<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I’ve been plodding along lately trying to catch up on UFO’s and treating myself to a couple of new projects too.  After getting into the cushion making mode following the order the other week back I made another using the Cathedral Window variation.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pN8vSLT12DU/UDFOkj6ii2I/AAAAAAAADdk/AA6icRTL7J4/s1600-h/0048.jpg"><font color="#333333" size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pN8vSLT12DU/UDFOkj6ii2I/AAAAAAAADds/Wa1OwsHPXG8/s1600-h/00410.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XVxcfUDhNbM/UDCKs9rOhFI/AAAAAAAADcE/8bt8umO3Hr0/004_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="302" /></a></a></a><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This time a I used a fabric with a Maori design on it – it seemed to suit the design, but  this time I placed the blocks on point and chose to reverse the colour on just one.  Sorry about the glare on the photo – I have the cushion in the shop for sale and have it wrapped in cellophane.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2YCdOV5QqwA/UDCKuM5snOI/AAAAAAAADcM/Arih75uYd8A/007_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="209" /></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Another cushion I made was designed by the gorgeous Fee of <a href="http://designsbyfee.blogspot.com">‘Designs By Fee’</a> fame.  I had collected one of the far too many stitching magazines that I buy and was taken with the cushion on the cover – it turned out to be one of Fee’s.  With a little bit of stitchery and a few lengths of Robin Pandolph  leftovers – taa daa – another finish.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nhZqGitmqm0/UDCKv5fPZHI/AAAAAAAADcU/3obP4zJwuVY/s1600-h/005%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vUsOCuB0aDM/UDCKw-CqkMI/AAAAAAAADcc/2J5vmsJV5Rs/005_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="227" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Then today, with the weather becoming so awful and not feeling like doing something like housework (well, why would you?) I raided the shop and acquired a couple of bits of new (to the shop) fabric.  From the cute fabrics I stitched and stuffed a little Elephant named Elmore.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wZmvm-O0lzo/UDCKyCC7mOI/AAAAAAAADck/CAK7foLhHXY/s1600-h/001%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cr6V5V9o4Qs/UDCKz5f6SqI/AAAAAAAADcs/qig81bdJMwM/001_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="307" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now I’m starting to get back into the groove and with DH going to be away for the next week I hope to be able to share a whole lot more.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great week ahead</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mMq083BB3-g/UDCK09GFoWI/AAAAAAAADc0/LRiRLCgE2II/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4ChuoFARyVk/UDCK2VtuQTI/AAAAAAAADc8/US_y5LpqWEM/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-78148117801456701032012-08-10T01:45:00.001-07:002012-08-10T01:45:02.714-07:00Wonders Will Never Cease<p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">My goodness, I’ve surprised myself this time – I’m actually blogging with a couple of finishes and it isn’t even the end of the month!  Wonders will never cease.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Firstly, following our last ‘Strippers Club’ day there were a number of scrap leftovers from the Black/White & Lime quilt.  They sat there in the basket staring at me and daring me to throw them out.  After trying to hide them a number of times I still couldn’t bring myself to throw them out, so, without bothering to match points or ‘nest’ seams, I stitched most of the bits together and, taa daa</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-__NLV6_k1pg/UCTJ_PkMsSI/AAAAAAAADao/Tt_x4W7mYpk/s1600-h/001%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W9TG-2ABCq4/UCTKAOcbG2I/AAAAAAAADaw/RnhOd-fPp_4/001_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="298" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">…another quilt, this one is for DD number 2.  Although the colours are way out of my comfort zone – I’m a country girl – the lime is really starting to grow on me.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Earlier this week I had a customer bring me in a  picture of a cushion she would like me to make for her.  Always up for a bit of a challenge I told her that I would and to give me a few days.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">This one needed to be done in black/white and red.  (There must be a bit of a black and white trend going on at he moment).</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Anyway, the cushion design was a Cathedral Windows variation and I did it in a variety of B&W fabrics with a vivid red  and around the outside edge I piped in just plain black. So, here it is:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ov1rWyLuIT8/UCTKBU-fJDI/AAAAAAAADa4/PnwzqStSt8w/s1600-h/003%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y5z1bfeHpto/UCTKCDYy9tI/AAAAAAAADbA/3LaY_jBZAOk/003_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="225" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">I so</font> <font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">hope my customer is as happy as I am with it.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Now onto a few more finishes and hopefully they will get done and reported on long before the next OPAM totals are due.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Lucida Handwriting">Have a great weekend everyone</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bUzUCjuJrUU/UCTKClINXNI/AAAAAAAADbI/T0OWxyUj6SQ/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GPMZC54JI7Q/UCTKDffV2LI/AAAAAAAADbQ/5Is1JqNnFB4/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-59378949224199914212012-08-04T12:45:00.001-07:002012-08-04T13:00:45.357-07:00The older you get–well!<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Have you noticed that the older we (that is the royal we *wink*) get the faster time seems to fly by?  As a child School terms went on for ever and waiting for Christmas to arrive took an eternity.  Now, someone or something keeps taking my time.  I’m committed to listing my OPAM totals for each month and for the third or is it fourth month in a row I’ve been late – I swear my time is being acquired by someone or something else.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">With all that said, I do have a couple of finishes  I’d like to share and add to my OPAM total – albeit 5 days late.   My first one is a “secret squirrel’ project that I can’t share : ( but the second one is the result of a new club that I run here at the shop.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">The club is called the ‘Strippers Club’ and no, we don’t remove our clothes.  The Strippers Club revolves around Jelly Rolls. </font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"> When I first advertised the club I had no takers and was getting rather low, wondering what I could do to get people motivated and out of the low of  Winter.  All it took was one person to book and then wow, others were interested and joined.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3KDy8XCh7vM/UB17rj8cjKI/AAAAAAAADZc/JeeScRzJGKQ/s1600-h/003%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglHLztOb1NtVqia_L8YgPoKXEu8Y_b_7uFmrHcHiszHOFIuSIdXjzuH4cShCGg3P_Y5PKjxO81PEsBSVYW4v4PxFJfky_anKAEbnV_FCAOAcmINbVrika30fmxC9DcBfBDbYYZvKGf64z/?imgmax=800" width="330" height="268" /></a></p> <p> <font face="Lucida Handwriting">This is the one of the results from our first club day – simple B&W with lime.  Another B&W that was being made by our lovely Liz had a beautiful turquoise added to it. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fURIKw9ocGk/UB17tkWDcTI/AAAAAAAADZs/4YJc-umw9JE/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CfS8n2h5d6g/UB17ukvxAOI/AAAAAAAADZ0/jScAbiCjtjc/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">Between the club days, doing my ‘thing’, pattern writing, running the shop and our Sit’n Stitch days time is running away.  If by chance you happen to find it please kick it back home as I sure could do with it. </font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting"> With all of that being said, I don’t really think I want it any other way.  Things are great, I love my job and I’m so lucky to be doing what many others dream of.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">I hope you all have chance to do something that is your passion too.</font></p> <p><font face="Lucida Handwriting">hugs<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wZZ_pmSPqfQ/UB17vdvqgvI/AAAAAAAADZ8/uVdHmw40L34/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="a name Miche'le" border="0" alt="a name Miche'le" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cB65qNGJJkM/UB17wZ8hCYI/AAAAAAAADaE/5BVqHziRGZg/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="115" height="39" /></a></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714483413685171454.post-14876749778672913242012-07-26T14:50:00.002-07:002012-08-01T02:15:47.585-07:00Saying Goodbye and Hello<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">Every Wednesday here at the shop we have a core group of brilliant ladies that turn up to enjoy each others company, swap recipes, share jokes and to solve the worlds problems</span><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">, oh and to stitch of course. like Liz other ladies drop in when their timetables allow them to make it but this trio are the regulars, the noise makers, the ones that keep me on my toes and the ones that I am proud to call not just customers but real friends.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uKZBgpdeMec/UBG7HHUOv0I/AAAAAAAADVw/9A2eUHvIM-E/s1600-h/017%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img alt="017" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jF8gst31NYg/UBG7IakG8HI/AAAAAAAADV0/kFdAHSB9FWc/017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="017" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">On the left there is Karen – now she’s the one that comes up with some of the funniest jokes and her ability to have us rolling off our chairs is priceless. On the right is Sue – now this lady has some of the finest handwork I have ever seen. Each stitch is so even and carefully placed. She is also another joker, but hers fill up our inboxes and give us chance to share them with friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">That lady in the middle is Gillian – master baker, cake maker and a walking library of delicious recipes – some of which she has shared with us from time to time. Gillian has only been with us a short time and came to our group as a total beginner in the craft of patchwork and quilting – she is now addicted and has a total ‘thing’ for stitcheries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">Sadly today is the day that Gillian and her man take another turn in their lives and move from our island to the North Island and it’s with tears in our eyes that we say goodbye but are heartened by the thought that she wants to remain a ‘virtual’ member – how cool is that? Now I just have to learn how to use Skype so that she can join us for our stitching days.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WATQVTGXNQg/UBG7JYcA9VI/AAAAAAAADV8/R-9bjFjH-7E/s1600-h/aawesstringofheartspink%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="aawesstringofheartspink" border="0" height="60" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rSh2tgb0Mz4/UBG7Koy65TI/AAAAAAAADWI/A0-dtfd0R9w/aawesstringofheartspink_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="aawesstringofheartspink" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">With our little group we have regular challenges. We draw straws and the winner chooses what the theme is to be and then we have 3 or 4 months to complete the challenge. The most recent was chosen by our joker, Karen. She gave us the topic of something useful. OMG what to do? The choices were endless and one by one we competed our challenge. I think the cuteness award must go to Sue. Sue mad the most adorable thimble pods and as a bonus gave us all one.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CepFjPvcubE8q4zKl0ag_WQOUGTQ5Yf5_R-pNcBJpjpkJ6kqI1jS_JYd2b2Mzegb-mlAA2Q7zyl4namHvtC8_S8ifrEViZcBRxCufZrLK_LoFvt5FIppWssxn6NdXoEsAJ9CgSwOYgO2/s1600-h/008%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="008" border="0" height="158" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uK_8Bw25_dw/UBG7NcOSsJI/AAAAAAAADWU/tcin_81KODo/008_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="008" width="164" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U5IT93PCgkY/UBG7OwKazLI/AAAAAAAADWg/x3VfyWq_vYo/s1600-h/003%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img alt="003" border="0" height="108" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0DMdvt1GttQ/UBG7QeqweeI/AAAAAAAADWo/_vaAYJEsPvk/003_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="003" width="133" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FHJf1pdGX4M/UBG7TGXFROI/AAAAAAAADWw/4qjbcbhSE1s/s1600-h/004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img alt="004" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1SsFYWl5hNQ/UBG7VBCL7yI/AAAAAAAADW0/iISA5Q7pVJg/004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="004" width="240" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">Now that is useful! Thanks Sue.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--CJNXF5Bb90/UBG7WPp3lEI/AAAAAAAADW8/Es1NhTvFUOM/s1600-h/aawesstringofheartspink%25255B7%25255D.png"><img alt="aawesstringofheartspink" border="0" height="60" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J4hXc8lSxgA/UBG7XeYc2bI/AAAAAAAADXI/7prS-Lng0m0/aawesstringofheartspink_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="aawesstringofheartspink" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">During the last week I’ve also had an old friend staying here</span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_QQhgdJXqEY/UBG7Y6UMp8I/AAAAAAAADXQ/aQSxl9A7yaY/s1600-h/019%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="019" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jcaE5_R7WyQ/UBG7Z_TZDYI/AAAAAAAADXU/XV-ITXMBUyc/019_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="019" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"> at By Hoki Quilts. Jan is more than a friend to me, she’s one lady that talks straight and is more than happy to sort out a worried mind with her straight talking and common sense. Here she is with Polly – her latest fan club member.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"> Jan is also a fantastic quilter and was someone I really needed to see to kick my motivation up a gear. With all that said you can imagine just what it was like each day – did we sew, did we ‘play’ with fabrics in the shop or did we go into the final frontier – my sewing cave – which may I say I had done a sort of tidy up in for fear of Jan giving me a good telling off, LOL – see</span><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">I know is looks dark and gloomy <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z2UOcNcCkMA/UBG7bgA1g2I/AAAAAAAADXg/tkAtX2G6Vnw/s1600-h/034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="034" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mO2R33FL7ls/UBG7c1mx1gI/AAAAAAAADXk/HFwU45uAaAI/034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="034" width="240" /></span></a>in this picture but for some reason or another it looks neater too. This is the look my DH gets when he pops his head around the corner – he hasn’t been brave enough to open the three 6’ high cupboards that are just to the left and right of this picture. My goodness if he ever did I’d never be able to purchase a single scrap of fabric again, as it is he complains about the over full scrap draws that are near the window.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2BS_6EWq4jk/UBG7dycAU0I/AAAAAAAADXs/xyDQSptCRyg/s1600-h/aawesstringofheartspink%25255B11%25255D.png"><img alt="aawesstringofheartspink" border="0" height="60" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hkKU5W9CnMg/UBG7fKYmIcI/AAAAAAAADX4/C9K_ufImf8k/aawesstringofheartspink_thumb%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="aawesstringofheartspink" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">With the weather being kind I should go outside and get those roses pruned ready for a good show over Summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">I hope where ever you are the weather is being kind too, take care</span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S2LcXV0vIiI/UBG7gjyv4jI/AAAAAAAADX8/Ej_3A8b8n8w/s1600-h/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="a name Miche'le" border="0" height="39" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IJEzyHe1OKM/UBG7h49ysBI/AAAAAAAADYE/JV3nY9eERdg/a%252520name%252520Miche%252527le_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="a name Miche'le" width="115" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6