Poppies

It has been a while since I've posted and as today is completion of the Poppies piece here's a snapshot to celebrate.   Sorry but I can't show you the finished product as its a gift for a friend who reads this blog so I don't want to spoil the surprise!

This afternoon I sorted out two unfinished pieces and will make a determined effort to get at least one of those finished by the end of this month.   You see, next year I plan on stitching the World Sampler that was in The Gift of Stitching a couple of years ago and my conscience says that I need to get my UFO's completed before I start that as it will be a mammoth project.   Fortunately I have only three UFO's and one piece of Ukranian Whitework I am currently working on for a Christmas gift so if I put my foot down and speed up I should be able to be UFO free by the end of the year.   Well, as they say "dreams are free"!!

Hope all is well with you and that your weather is a great deal better than the stormy conditions we have at present.   I'm off now to roast chicken dinner followed by an evening in the company of Inspector Barnaby and his Midsomer Murders.

Goodbye all.

The Draw

The Half Blind Half Deaf Elderly Mother says many many thanks for all the congratulations.   She had a wonderful birthday and "only sometimes feels like 80 years old"

Yesterday my little sister and her family flew up from Wellington to spend the day with us and celebrate this milestone.   My nephew is a police constable so in the presence of a duly warranted officer of the law the "80 year old birthday celebration giveaway" was drawn.  Little Sister held Grandma's Bowl and The Half Blind Half Deaf Elderly Mother drew a name.

And the lucky winner was ....

Oops can't read that can we...?

Congratulations Staci.   We all hope your mother had a wonderful birthday too.   And a gift package will be on its way to you very soon.    Thank you all for joining in and making this birthday a special one for Mother.

And after all the official business Little Sister sat and read all the comments....   so just so she knows I saw her, here's a snapshot.

Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend.

和美さん、傘をありがとうございます

和美さん、母が今日、高島屋の箱を開けて、”あー良かった。丁度ほしかった”と言って満足そうにじっと見ていました。ありがとうございます。

Congratulations

Amazing isn't it, the difference 80 years makes?
My half blind half deaf elderly Mother looked like this 80 years ago.

And today she looks like this!  

It's her birthday and in honour of the occasion I am having a giveaway.   Please leave a comment of congratulations on this post only and on Saturday 4th (when my little sister and her family come to visit) we will have the draw from Grandma's bowl.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER

Sheep Package to Pascale

Recently I sent a Sheep Package to Pascale in Belgium and once again forgot to take a photo so have borrowed this from Pascale's blog.  Do go check out Pascale's blog and see what else she makes -  she is so clever.
Can you see the small wooden thimble - it too is decorated with a sheep.   I am especially proud of the small toggles on the ends of the cord which ties the needle book.
Currently I am working on another gift so no snaps of that just now.
Have a good night everyone.

On my travels

When making the eight hour drive to Wellington we always break the journey and stop overnight  at a small rural town called Taihape - which is "world famous in New Zealand" for the annual Gumboot Throwing Competition.   Taihape is an extremely small town but even so on last week's trip I managed to make a wrong turn but as a result found this shop.  

Obviously the ladies of Taihape are quilters not stitchers - so what else would the shop be called!  

On the right hand side of that lovely technicolour door is the quilt from which the shop derives its name.   Do you like the hairy legs and knobbly knees?!

 

It was fun to look through all the goodies inside and the half blind half deaf elderly Mother bought up large on knitting yarn.   My shopping was more modest -  two buttons - which I have since mailed to my sister so she could finish off the garment she had knitted.   Just how virtuous is that!   Have you finished the cardigan yet Sis?

This package went to Siberia!!

Olya has let me know that her surprise package arrived safely so I can show you what I sent.

The inspiration for this package was two fold - first New Zealanders are often called Kiwis and I had collected several Kiwi bits and pieces to send; kiwi fabric, a kiwi pot holder, a kiwi towel, a kiwi memo pad, a NZ wood bookmark, NZ paua shell buttons, postcards of NZ flora and fauna and of course NZ made chocolate!   And because Olya is an embroiderer par excellence I included some thread and fabric.

 - second I found the pattern called Olya in this book and of course I had to stitch it for my friend Olya didn't I!!   You can read more details here.  Thankfully she liked the package and hopefully she enjoyed the NZ made tangerine chocolate too.  You should go check out Olya's blog - she has a great design for a Butterfly Biscornu (and for those who are afraid Google Translate helps out big time with the language problem).