Wednesday WIP

Yes,  the end of my Ruby Nine-Patch quilt is in sight.  Yesterday I finished quilting the border and attached the binding.  One side has been hand stitched down - three to go over the next few nights.  All going well I will be able to take some photos on a fine dry day this weekend and show it off next week.  What is next on the quilt list - one for my son made of recycled shirts - I have roughly about 18 months to get this done before he turns 11. I think there may be a couple of small projects  just for fun for me to do before I attempt this though.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Today,,,

I have been:

Enjoying the splash of colour these flowers are giving my house on a grey winter's day

Reading this great book about England, France, and the people leading up to the battle of Hastings in 1066.
I have read a lot of royal  historical fiction based on events, kings and queens after this time, but never any about William and Harold. So it is very interesting and a new period in history for me to learn about.

Starting to machine quilt the border on my Ruby Quilt. The hand quilting has been done on all 36 blocks. I will be so glad when this is bound, finished and in use.

What are you doing today?

Holiday Fun

There have not been any crafty sewing projects done this week.  Mr J is back from his break with his grandparents in Cambridge and my mum has come to stay with us for a few days.  Today we went Ten Pin Bowling and then on to Inflatable World where Miss B and Mr J ran, climbed, battered, fell and thoroughly exhausted them selves.

We have also had a trip to the Auckland Botanic Gardens to see what is in bloom there at present.  A great space for Miss B and Mr J to run around in, while mum and I walked at leisure and saw a new garden sculpture made from garden spades and lots of lovely scented early spring flowers. Tomorrow mum and I have a child free day hitting the shops.

Have a fabulous weekend - whatever you are up to.

Seeing Rainbows

Miss B and I went to Westfield Manukau to spend her hard earned money at Smiggle.  I let her have a treat for lunch from Kiwiyo - underneath all the colourful sugary toppings was actually frozen vanilla yoghurt and mango sorbet.

At the shopping centre is a fabulous stained glass window designed in 1976 by New Zealand artist Shona McFarlane .  It depicts  rainbows over the Manukau Harbour and landscape.  It is one of my favourite things to look at there - especially when the sun is shining through it.

Weekending

This weekend is the beginning of the school holidays in New Zealand.  The Scout and Mr J are in Cambridge helping my father in law move hay.  Miss B and I spent Saturday with her Scout Troop doing a sausage sizzle to help fund raise for the Scout Jamboree  in Fielding at the end of the year. Luckily the day was beautiful and fine.

I have a fabulous pile of new library books to work my way through - currently I am reading Almost Amish, all about simplifying and slowing down your life.  Very thought provoking.

I have been the lucky recipient of lots of lemons and grapefruit, so on Sunday I made a up some Lemon Curd and then tried a new recipe for the grapefruit - Ginger Grapefruit Curd. The ginger taste isn't as strong as I thought it would be, possibly because I used crushed fresh ginger from a jar.  Miss B and I still enjoyed it on toast with a cup of tea for lunch.

Some sewing got done too.  A little purse which will attach to your key ring.  Great for when you don't want to take a full wallet or bag with you.  It will fit a drivers license and small amount of cash in it.