A Day in Devonport

The root structure on this old fig tree is amazing.

 

Wouldn't this make a great backdrop for quilt or garment photos

Looking over towards the Ports of Auckland

This tidal rock pool was built for soldiers rehabilitating after WW1

 

As a requirement for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, Miss B has to attend a two day first aid course in Devonport.  This suburb is on the North Shore of Auckland approximately an hour away from where we live.  Devonport is quite an old suburb (for NZ) with lots of beautiful old villas and homes.  It is also home to the New Zealand naval base, and has lots of historic buildings and points of interest.

Yesterday was the first day. Rather than drive back and forwards twice in a day, I spent the day in Devonport, walking, exploring, perusing the shops and reading in a park while listening to a folk music festival. Overall it was a lovely relaxing day.

I get to repeat the trip in a fortnight's time.  I wonder what I'll do then.

Things Here Lately

• I was so inspired with my Carolina Chain  quilt after my last post, that I ended up finishing the quilt over the next two days.  I added a charcoal shot cotton  border, which has taken it's size to approximately 51" square.

• While perusing the online fabrics at Drapers, I found a lovely double bordered fabric in the remnants area, as soon as I saw it I  was visualising it as my next Eva dress.  Again definitely more than 10 minutes a day sewing, but so worth it.  

• I have also been applying the "10 minutes a day" principle to other areas of my life too and I have found it is definitely making life a little bit easier and I am feeling that I am slowly accomplishing things on my to do list.  Currently it is rather long, we are getting the carpet replaced in all living areas and bedrooms in a couple of weeks.  There is a lot of stuff to be cleared out before we can rip the old carpet up.  Especially in the kids rooms.  Little and often is my motto at present.

• My poor garden is very dry at present. we have had a heatwave for the past couple of weeks, so there is not a lot of colour. I try to have plants that can survive with out being watered frequently over the summer months ( as we pay for water usage).  This mandevilla is providing a continuous splash of colour.  It wasn't doing to well as a climber in my garden, so I moved the pot, and it seems to be thriving as a potted shrub.  Look carefully for the wasp inside one of the flowers.

• I am very lucky, this little beach is probably only 500m walk from my house, sometimes I  remember to walk down there and enjoy seeing the sunset.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and week ahead.

Sew 10 Minutes

For the month of February, Nat from SewforLife_perth is running a challenge, called Sew 10 Minutes a day.  The idea being that with our busy lives, by sewing for 10 minutes a day, we will achieve things - slowly yes, but rather than projects sitting there waiting for a free day or the next weekend, or holiday, we attack them in bite size pieces.

Linda nudged me along to join up, and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to finish making blocks for my Carolina Chain quilt and get it to a finished quilt top stage and also a dress I would like to have for summer use.

Yesterday I rummaged around on my messy cutting table and found the three blocks I had cut out about a three weeks ago and sewed them up.  then realising I only needed to make another three before I can sew them altogether, I cut those out too.  This morning before I went to work I sewed them up.  Literally 10 - 15 minutes work.

Thirty six blocks are now  ready to  be sewn together,  so I figure one row a day for the next six days, then I'll get really industrious and sew all the rows together in one sitting.  That dress is really wanting to be sewn.