Holidays

I have survived a 12 week term with my Grade Ones and now I have been rewarded with 2 glorious weeks of holidays - oh, the joys of being a teacher. I am heading north today with 3 children on board to visit Granny and Pa and my 2 sisters. See you when I get back...

The kindness of Bloggers

I've often read about the kindness of bloggers, and I have witnessed it first hand with M.Kate
A lovely parcel from Malaysia
A sarong from her cupboard that she thought I could use in my sewing projects rather than it sit unused in her cupboard.
Much appreciated

Buckets of fun

To my delight, yesterday, while I was deep in the depths of my sewing room, 2 of my children seemed to be happily getting along.

I was so excited when they called me out for a "show"

They had made all the characters and several backdrops and it was just fantastic.

Bravo!

While they were doing that, I was getting rather addicted to Jodies Sewing Buckets. They are just so easy to make, and I found this little birdie pattern in one of my (thousands of) magazines. I thought I'd give it a try.

This has changed my life . . .

Hands up who owns a slow cooker?

I have been wanting one for AGES and finally bought one. I can tell you now you get heaps more sewing time. I have put the dinner on already, and won't have to go back to the kitchen until it's tea time. Sorry to those who love cooking, but I would much prefer to be in my sewing room, or out in my garden.

Lucy Locket Quilt Swap

Can you imagine my surprise and delight when I went to the post office to collect an overseas parcel and then when I got home there was another overseas parcel waiting for me. Thanks go to Lucy and Clara for 2 lovely mini quilts. Lucy also sent me some ribbon bits which was great,

and some goodies were in with Clara's too. Thanks girls. It made for a great finish to a long week.

Lucy even inluded a little "chick chick" in the corner of hers, and I was very pleased to see it.
It occurred to me that I have forgotten to blog about Jodie and my Craft at Work challenge for a little while. Each Tuesday and Thursday we meet in the Library and do a little stitching to wrinkle out the stresses of the day.
As we are only able to complete this project "at work" we have both made little bags to carry our challenge work, and if we get really itchy fingers at home, we are allowed to embroider onto our bags. So far I have put 2 little birds on my bag, and last Tuesday I actually forgot to take my new stitching piece, so I started some more bag work.

As well as it being second last week of term, we had a special Warm and Fuzzy week with the staff. My buddy was a "train watcher" so I made this little bucket from Ric Rac's tutorial."I can't wait . . . for the weekend to begin . . ."

This is . . . where I create

Thanks to Michelle for this week's theme and the our Hostess Three Buttons

Just looking at my space in a collage, I am getting the feeling that it is quite a busy little place. Mr Flowergarden almost needs sunglasses to enter my room . . . and a strong cup of coffee. He only comes in on invitation and only every now and then.

Perhaps that's why I love to get out into my garden to have that contrast of peace and calm

Not that I'm not totally in peace surrounded by all my treasures and lots and lots of fabric!

"Emerging Adults"

Look what "Chick Chick" has produced!!! I'm very excited.
Went around the garden today and admired the last of the roses. Soon it will be pruning time.

Pink Nerrines and Daisies
...and just a little sewing too for good measure.

At the weekend, I had a lovely day sewing with one of my friends. We both had our sewing machines whirring and there was chat and contemplation.There were new blocks being formed and the ironing board was getting a good work out - only time it ever gets used is for sewing purposes! I bought the "Sock and Glove" book on Friday night and had fun playing with the monkey page. Ran out out stuffing so it has come to a standstill.I enjoyed watching my clever friend turn fabrics into this . . .
And as the hours rolled by, it turned into this....
...then this!

Tonight when I got home from school, I was excited to recieve a parcel from Amitie

. . . very exciting stuff and oh . . . what to make ? ? ?

Love it, love it, love it.

Etsy Love and even MORE flowers

I have been loving the work of the lovely Jane at Picciolo. When she made this lovely pincushion and put it on her blog, I eagerly snapped it up from her ETSY shop. I even did it B4 school one day, as I didn't want to miss out. She has since made more and they are equally as beautiful, and I would like to buy them all, but I guess I shouldn't be greedy and will leave some for others to share. They are double sided so you can choose which side to use, or have a change every so often. Mine was very quick to be put into use as you can see.

We have had more sprinklings of rain, and this is making me very happy.

I still have quite a few flowers out even though we have left the Autumn season behind and slipped into Winter.
Soon it will be time to get out with my "snipper snappers" and do some cutting back. That is one of my favourite things to do in the garden.