Merry Christmas :)

I was sitting on my back porch late this afternoon,

sipping a glass of wine in the sun,

enjoying the warmth and 

thinking about Christmas Day.

Thinking about all sorts of things,

actually.

Mostly about the last few months,

and how so many things have changed.

I know that I have not been here much lately,

and I regret that.

But I know that that will get better

as I settle into my new job.

Some sense of normality will return,

after what seems to have been

the most frantic few months of setting up,

and now managing the new store.

 

I have a confession to make -

my stitching of late has been non-existant.

And my garden is growing wild,

although luckily it still looks so pretty

that's it's easy to forget there are weeds among the flowers.

But you know what,

I worked out a few weeks back,

that it doesn't matter!!!

I will stitch again,

very soon,

and the garden will get weeded,

also very soon.

 

These last few months have been the most exhilarating

and challenging,

and in all honesty,

the most exhausting as well.

But wow,

what a ride it's been.

Am loving this new adventure :)

 

So,

with only a couple of sleeps to go

before the big man

in red suit,

long white beard,

round tummy,

and cheeky smile

comes knocking at the door

(well really -

 there is no way in the world that he will fit down my chimney,

and I'm betting it's the same at your house!)

I would like to wish you a very very merry Christmas,

lots of love and laughter with your families,

peace and happiness,

and

lots and lots of chocolate

and trifle

and cake

for Christmas Day:)

Luv

Jenny :)

 

 

 

 

Posies

I'e done the teensiest bit of stitching

over the last two weeks.

 

 

How to make a teensy bit of stitching

look just a little bit more than what it really is?

Take a picture of both ends:)

 

I have a project in mind for these

sweet little stitchies,

although I do have a feeling that it may take me

a smidgen longer than normal

to complete.

 

Thought you might like a wee sneak peek

of some of the absolutely gorgeous Christmas goodies

we've been unpacking at the shop

this week.

 

 

...little felt trees...

 

 

...wee folk with cute knitted red coats...

 



 

...one of my favourites - cable knitted skinny trees

with buttons :)

 



 

It's been such a tough few days,

setting up the Christmas displays:)

Wait til you see them!!

 

Tonight I went for another wee wander

round the garden.

Can't believe the growth over the past two weeks,

it's almost scary!!

My tomatoes are growing inches each day,

and some of the flowers have shot up atleast a foot or more

since the last photos.

 

My first roses...

 

 

...fabulous deep purple and blue irises...

 

 

...favourite delphiniums...

They self seed so easy and now,

after three years,

they are scattered right throughout the garden.

Love them:)

 

 

...poppies...

 also just self sown from last year,

they're taller than me!!!

 

 

...foxgloves...

They are everywhere - all shades of pink

and some white as well.

 

 

...my garden...

 

 

...and a bit more of my garden:)

 

 

 It's a pretty little garden at this time of the year,

a nice place to wander for a while,

think thoughts,

and dream a little:)

Have a lovely week.

See you

Jenny

 



A Walk in the Garden

You wanna come for a walk with me through my garden

while I tell you all about the past few weeks:)

 

 

I took these pics last weekend.

Didn't want to miss out on capturing the wisteria on film.

As I walked up the steps after coming home from Christchurch

I knew it was in full bloom -

the perfume lingering on the air was amazing.
 

So,

I've been to Christchurch for two weeks training.

Not sure exactly how to describe those weeks,

but probably it would be a mixture of...

exciting,

daunting,

fun,

challenging,

busy,

inspiring,

and exhausting (but in the best possible way!)

 



 

Last week I was back in Dunedin,

starting to set up the store.

It's so much fun :)

 

 

Next week the fun really begins

with boxes and boxes and boxes of stock to be unpacked,

and shelved.

Have got lots and lots of helpers:)

The sheer quantity of stock is mind boggling.

 

 



I've been lazing about today,

and just might do the same tomorrow,

as I'm fairly certain

that there may not be much lazy time for over the next month:)

 

 

Popped out into the garden for a short time before the rains came,

and sorted the strawberry patch.

It was deliciously warm

and I was layering straw around the plants. 

The smell of the straw was divine.

Hard to describe how it smelt,

but it just reminded me of when we lived on the farm,

many many years ago.

 

 

I have no stitching or crafting to show.

Sad I know,

but I do intend to change that!

I poked my head into my sewing room today,

just to remind myself it was there:)

I started tidying up bits and pieces...

 

 

...and tonight I have a little stitchy project to work on:)

Inspired by the soft late spring colours.

 

 

Might be worth your while checking out my

Makers Studio blog :)

I think I found some bits and pieces today,

that looked pretty nice together...

 

 

...nice enough for a little giveaway:)

 See you
Jenny :)

 

 

 

My New Adventure :)

Soooo....

a couple of weeks ago

I saw an ad in the ODT for the perfect job :)

Seemed like it had been written especially for me.
I decided to apply for the job,

and the tiny spark of the

possibility of a new adventure fizzed.

I got an interview :)

Kind of a daunting process

if you've not been to one for over 20 years!!!

 

Waiting for the decision was ridiculously hard.

I don't think I realised quite how badly I wanted this job

until I had to wait for the decision.

I got a lot of sewing done on Jane's quilt

while I waited....

 

And then came the call to say,

the job was mine!!!!

All of a sudden,

the possibility of a new adventure became a reality :)

Lincraft is coming to Dunedin,

and

I'm the new Manager :):)

I'm still pinching myself occasionally,

just to make sure it really is real,

and yeah, it is :)

I'm soooo excited.

It's all about the things I love,

and what a challenge!!

 



Packing my bags today as I'm off to Christchuch tomorrow

for the first of two weeks training in their store

at Bush Inn.

Can't wait :)

 

Soooo,

it's been a crazy week here...

had to make some decisions about what stays and what goes,

and as you will know my wee website was one of the things to go.

The other thing to go is the B & B -

I realised that there was no was to do both things,

so I have closed my B & B.

To be honest,

it was a little sad closing both the website and the B & B,

but there is a time and place for everything,

and a new adventure awaits :)

 

 

In amongst all that was an impromptu trip to Queenstown.

Had promised the child a day trip there during the school holidays,

for him to ride the hill.

Had an amazing day -

perfect weather,

retail therapy,

stunning scenery,

and even an idle hour of just lying in the sun,

waiting for the child to return

from his excursions.

 

Yesterday, another day on another hill,

this time in Dunedin.

Another race,

but a little bit of a shame about the weather!!!

I was the lucky one to be standing

right at the top of the hill,

doing the starters duty -

gale force winds,

a little bit of rain,

a little bit of snow/sleet,

and some sunshine with absolutely not a speck of warmth attached.

Sub zero temperatures for most of the day.

How much fun can a person have in one day!!!!

He had a good race though:)

 

Soooo...

that's what I've been up to,

that's what I'm going to be doing,

and did I mention I'm soooo excited :)

Off now to pack those bags,

see you later

Jenny :)

 

 



The Stitchery Sale

A quick post to let you know

about the last two days of sale,

over on

The Stitchery's

website -

www.thestitchery.co.nz.

Not sure if my emailed newsletter has been delivered,

as we are having major hiccups with Orcon,

so thought I would let you know this way.

Check it out -

two more days,

then all finished:)

See you,

Jenny:)

Jane Austen's Bonnet

So I've started...

 

 

This little black box

has been the ''home'' of a pile of little stitcheries

that I finished a couple of years ago.

I remember -

as soon as I saw the pattern for this quilt,

I fell in stitchy love

with it:)

Jane Austen's Bonnet,

an exquisite quilt designed by

Brenda Ryan.

It sort of got lost amongst other treasures

in my sewing room,

and when I opened the lid a few days ago,

I fell in stitchy love all over again:)

 



 

They were all there,

piled on top of each other,

just waiting...

 

 

...I'm not sure how could I have done that!

Just left them,

packed them up and

went away

and left them!!!

Have a feeling it might have been around the time

that I lost that stitchy feeling for a while :(

You know,

 when stuff happens,

and you just pack things up

and push them towards the back of the cupboard,

just for a while:)

 

 

 

 



 

Bit naughty, ay!!

But,

now I'm on a mission

to complete this beautiful beautiful quilt.

So I sorted out the fabrics today...

 

 

...and I cut all the stitcheries into diamonds ...

 

 

...and I sewed the first block :)

 

 

Me and Jane -

best buddies again:)

See you later

Jenny

 

Hellooo :)

Just to let you know,

I've just posted about a rather yummy

September giveaway

over on The Makers Studio blog :)

See you there,

Jenny

 

 

Stitch, paint and run!

 The "springie blue" giveaway

that I did last week,

inspired me to make a new cushion out of

one of the fabrics...

(and it's in my Etsy shop).

 

 



And I made another one of my

line and lace

cushions.

Love doing these

cos you just make it up as you go:)

Bit of this,

bit of that...

 

 

In between gardening,

and stitching,

I've also been revamping some furniture,

from plain brown...

 

 

...to shabby white...

 

 

I think it looks lots better:)

 

You know that thing on the bucket list

that I was working on,

well,

I've done it:)

Yesterday I ran the Dunedin Half Marathon:)

Had a moment (or two)

where I wondered if I could do it,

or more accurately,

why I was doing it!!

But I did do it:)

And,

well,

there you go....

I'm still grinning about it today,

and I'm pretty sure that I will be doing it again...

next year.

I'm not a natural runner,

in fact,

I'm not the sporty type at all.

But it's been on my list for quite a while now,

for no other reason than that

I just wanted to prove something to myself.

So now I can put a ''tick'' beside that one,

relax for a few days,

 catch up on some stitching

and other crafty stuff

and

I think that I have earned

extra chocolate:)

See you later

Jenny:)

 



A snippet of blue.

Just popping in to tell you,

I'm doing a ''springie'' blue giveaway,

over here.

Here's a wee snippet of what's there...

 

 

See you there,

Jenny :)

 

I luv Spring :)

I know that it's not officially
Spring

for another couple of weeks,

but in my little corner of the world

it definitely feels like Spring,

and the garden certainly tells me it is .

I soooo love Spring,

but must admit that the handwork

takes a back seat for a few weeks,

while other stuff takes priority.

I've been busy packing up the Studio,

and getting the guest rooms

back into perfect order

for the coming season.

The garden,

of course,

is keeping me on my toes

(but no complaints there,

I love it to bits!)

You can read about that, if you want,

over on the cottage blog,

and then there is the,

(....shudder....)

painting!!

Add to that mix
something off my ''bucket list''
that I'm working on,
and a certain child

whose race season has once again started,

which means I get the sheer pleasure
of countless hours of driving

up and down "the hill"
(and no, there is not an ounce
of sarcasm in that last sentence:).
Not to forget the late night driving lessons
with the child
in his newly acquired vehicle,
(which, I must say,
have usually been quite uneventful 'cos he's
a darned good wee driver,
perhaps with the exception of the time
that he stalled the van
directly outside the Dunedin Fire Station
in a mild state of panic
as the doors opened
and the fire truck was coming out!!!
Probably didn't help matters that I was laughing
so hard
that even the blokes in the fire truck
were grinning.
So mature, I can hear you say!
Well, it was funny :)
And we did get out of their way,
pretty quickly!)
So,

truly,

it feels a little like

I'm running around

like a

headless chook

at times:)!!!
All I can say is,
thank goodness for chocolate:)

So...

please excuse my lack of stitching

to show:)

This is about all I've managed to do

these last few weeks,

but I'm pretty happy that I have done it,

cos it's been on the ''doing'' list

for about 10 years,

and its finally finished.

He is gorgeous, don't you think.

And in plenty of time for Christmas :)

Actually,

I've just remembered,

I have done something else to show you...

... yep, I think I started these last year!

I wanted to match a pair of cushions

to match the quilt I've got hanging

in one of the guest rooms.

Well,better late than never.

Now..

I think I will go take some time to smell the roses,

or in this case,

the blossom:)

See you,

Jenny



It's Pink!

Teensy post -

if you like pink,

and giveaways,

go check out

The Makers Studio blog

over here

and leave a comment,

or

 check it out on my Facebook page

(on the sidebar).

See you :)

Jenny



Treasures and Friends :)

This week I've been finishing off

some lovely little treasures

that I have stitched

using designs from Barb's gorgeous new booklet,

''When a Bird Sings''.

As you can see I had to use the

sewing machine

just a little bit

to make the wee pillows

but

you will be pleased to know that

my fabulously tidy sewing room

is still

fabulously tidy :)

Don't you love it

when a surprise package turns up in your letterbox.

I've had a couple of these lately

and

'wow'

don't they just change the whole flavour

of the day.

Inside this "oh so pretty" paper,

(which I will be recycling

'cos

it's far too nice not to)

were these adorable

little

handwarmers :)

I've filled them with rice,

stitched them closed,

and heated them up,

and

they are wonderful!!!

(and very very cute:))

Thank you so very very much

Simone

for such a gorgeous

and totally

unexpected

gift:)

My hands thank you too :)

And a few days earlier

these arrived ...

...aren't these colours simply delicious.

Makes you think of spring.

These are beautifully hand dyed

by another friend

I've met

through the blogging world.

She was telling me about her fabric dyeing,

and said she would send me a few pieces to play with.

My goodness,

a few pieces indeed -

it's a whole stack :)

Thank you so very much

Hylda :)

The picture doesn't do them justice,

girls,

they are absolutely gorgeous.

I have been thinking about a project

to show them off,

and I think I have settled on something,

but

not telling

quite yet!

I've been spoilt, ay.

Ta ever so muchly,

you are such lovely amazing friends :)

Happy stitching,

Jenny:)