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:)