Random Happiness

 

Things that have made me happy this week:

• finishing my Palatina Cushion - this includes putting a zip in the side seam.
• reading the latest Philippa Gregory book - I love royal historical fiction.
• celebrating Miss B's success in being selected for her school team for the National Chess Champs.
• eating freshly made Parsnip cake with cream cheese icing.  Yum yum
• my blue glass jar - found in the recent roadside inorganic collection - it has been washed and will be used to store something in my sewing room.
• a new magazine to enjoy with my lunch on this cold, wet, blustery day.

What has made you happy this week?

Wednesday WIP

 

Lots of hand sewing now on my Palatina Pillow.  I tried using the blanket stitch function on my machine to applique the crosses on, however I felt that the stitch was too big and clumsy looking.  So hand stitching it is.  Eight have been done  and there are another eight to go.  It is quite nice having something to do at night in front of the television though. I have also machine quilted on the inside of the crosses to define the star shape more.  I'm looking forward to seeing this pressed and completed - I just need to remember to get a zip for the back and it may get finished this weekend.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Foggy

Monday -  a very foggy start to the week.  I walk while Mr J scoots to school, we can only see about 6-8 metres clearly in front of us.  My pet gripe - all the cars that don't drive with their lights on when it's foggy. Other photos from my morning walk around the reserve.  The fog has burnt off now, so we should have a nice day.  Fingers crossed that it is warm enough to get the campers washing dried.

Weekending

The Scout and Miss B both managed to get to their winter camp - I am expecting them home soon, no doubt cold and with lots of wet and dirty washing for me.  I suspect The Scout will enjoy sleeping in a bed tonight - he and a few of the scouts were roughing it in a bivouac this weekend. Hopefully they didn't experience the huge thunderstorm we did in Auckland.
Mr J and I had a lazy weekend at home.  I am enjoying a bunch of Erlicheer,  purchased as a little treat for myself,  I love the scent of these.  I went to my local fabric shop and had an enjoyable rummage through their scrap chest for low volume quilting scraps, which have been sewn into the backing for my Paletina Pllow. 
I have quilted around all the crosses and now have to blanket stitch them on properly.
Other weekend treats - watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Saturday night, - I have read a few of the books this series is based on, but will have to read the rest I think. Starting the latest Phillipa Gregory novel - The White Princess.

What did you do this weekend?

The Week That Wasn't..

 

 

..  Monday and Tuesday I had Mr J home from school, sick with sinus pain and a sore throat.  Yesterday I was without a car while my brakes were getting fixed.  Today - my day of freedom after I finished doing some baking for Mr J's shared lunch tomorrow.  But no - today I have Miss B home all blocked up and snuffly.  She and The Scout are meant to be going on a Winter camp this weekend, however I don't like her chances.  Then after Mr J has already gone to school,  I remember that it is school photo day, I forgot to check that his shirt was clean, that he had done his hair - oh well I guess I'll find out when the photos turn up.  I have lost my creative mojo this week, so am taking photos of corners of my home, shells and sea glass from past summer camping trips, the beautiful crochet cushion my sister made for me, my jar of selvedges waiting to be sewn into things - to hopefully inspire and remind me that this is a little glitch in my life, and that summer will return, my kids will get well and that sometimes a cosy chair and a good book solve everything.

Two for Tuesday

Well actually two topics, four pictures.
Some of my recent library finds - found through blog recommendations.  I love reading other people's opinions on their favourite books or latest literary finds, fiction, non fiction, cooking or craft.  I have just finished Apricots on the Nile - a memoir with recipes about growing up in Egypt and France during and just after WWII. 
Some trimmings and colour from my latest project. .

What books are you reading or have you read lately - I'm always looking for new ones to try.

Weekending

Lots of baking and eating this weekend, jersey caramel biscuits for school lunches, very rich chocolate mousse made by The Scout and warm cinnamon scroll brioche for Sunday morning breakfast.

A litlle cardmaking for Father's Day and another fabric bowl for my sewing desk - this one has machine topstitching instead of hand stitching.

Flowers on my broad bean plants - they are absolutely laden with them, and lightly scented too. I have even seen a few tiny little pods.  I think that next year I will grow them in a different place, and with more support, mine are starting to collapse - they are so tall.  Does anyone have successful tips for growing them?

My mini Agapanthus are starting to explode open - I love the delicate colour of these ones.  They are flowering very early this year - fingers crossed I still get a summer flowering from them.

What did you do this weekend?

Fabric Bowl

 

 

I have favourited a few of these fabric bowls on Flickr, so I finally succumbed,  and bought  the pattern
from Nova at  a cuppa and a catch up.

This pattern is very clear in its instructions and photos - I had no problems making the bowl - lots of interfacing and some pellon in it for stiffening.  I made the 5" bowl, the red poppy panel is from Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill range and the lining is  from Riley Blake. A few rows of hand stitching for decoration and it's completed.  It is meant to be another wet weekend, so  I think that I will make another couple and have them lined up behind my sewing machine for scraps, selvages and  larger offcuts.

What are you making this weekend?

Flowers, Food and a Finish

A sign that spring is on her way - daisies growing in the lawn. It will look like snow come summer.  They are pretty though.
Orange cake made from this recipe, received rave reviews from the family and the rest was eaten by scout leaders here for a meeting last night.
Finished - the two cushions I was making for my bedroom.  Made from natural linen, various scraps of Bonnie & Camille fabrics, some Simply Color.  They are 14" x 21", and backed with an old but new pillow case.  There is a hidden zip enclosure on the reverse too.  Now I can start planning my next projects.

Today I am:

taking stock with Pip's game:

Making : Cushions for my bed
Cooking : Roast chicken for dinner tonight
Drinking : Hot chocolates
Reading: 1356 by Bernard Cornwell
Wanting: New glasses and a haircut
Looking: At new cookbooks from the library            
Playing:  With fabric            
Wasting:  Time on the computer
Sewing:  On my newly repaired machine
Wishing: For some decent chick flicks on television
Enjoying: Seeing Mr J snuggled up under one of my quilts
Waiting: For my aquilegia seeds to sprout
Liking: Seeing spring flowers
Wondering: When inspiration will strike
Loving:  My husband and kids
Hoping: It stops raining soon
Marvelling: At Miss B's chess playing skills
Needing:  A hug
Smelling:  Daphne from my garden
Wearing:  Exercise clothes and walking shoes
Following: Instructions on a sewing pattern
Noticing: That evenings are staying lighter for longer
Knowing: That chocolate always helps
Thinking:  About making christmas presents
Feeling: Pleased that I went for a walk today
Bookmarking:  A new brioche recipe to try in the weekend
Opening: Windows and letting fresh air in
Giggling:  With Mr J at the funny faces he is pulling
Feeling:  Glad that it is Wednesday


Go to Pip's link above and copy and paste the list - what are you taking stock of at present?