Having fun :)

Yep,

time does indeed fly

when you are having fun!

And I most definitely have been having fun,

but I have been working hard as well:)

And in between,

I've been enjoying our summer

which seems to have returned

in full force

these past few days.

 

It's lovely :)

 

 

Been out in the garden this evening

after coming home from work,

and brushing past the lavender

made me think

that I should cut swathes of it

and bring it inside.

Often I forget to do this

until it's almost too late

and the color is fading.

 

 

I knew the perfect place for it.

Jake made me this fabulous trug

for Christmas.

Isn't it gorgeous.

In all honesty I was so surprised

as I did not realise he possessed

such skills.

He has built it so beautifully

and

I think the lavender looks amazing in it.

 

This pic is taken underneath our plum tree

which has a ridiculous amounts of fruit

on it this year.

 

 

Last year I think we would have been stretching it

to say

we had six plums on the tree.

This year ...

more like six hundred!!!

Go figure.

How does that work?

 



 

The plums are delicious

and I'm at the stage where I try one each day.

They are still a few days off tasting amazing.

At the moment we are still in the

take a tentative bite stage,

wait for it,

yep,

still sour,

(and boy, does that taste wake you up!!)

I reckon just a few more days

of this fabulous sunshiney weather

and we will have more plums

 than we will know what to do with.

 

I have the day off tomorrow

so I am hoping for more glorious sunshine,

and I fully intend to spend

the whole day,

every single part of it,

in my garden.

 

The two stitcheries in this post

are from many years ago.

They were among the first I ever stitched,

designed by Cathy Penton.

I have quite a few of her designs stitched

and they remain some

of my very very favourite pieces.

 

Have to leave you with this quote.

I love these words.

 

I'm off to make some dinner,

and to start a little

cross stitch project!!

See you later

Jenny :)

 

 

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