Fairy Friends

A couple of weeks ago my littlest girl celebrated her 10th birthday.  Back when she was 4, and attending preschool I started to stitch this design by Natalie Bird for her.  The plan was to make it into a bolster cushion, but then I had all sorts of trouble with the weaveline I used wrinkling, and puckering, and I put it aside in disgust.  This issue sent me looking to fellow bloggers for help, a post which still remains one of my most visited, even now over two years later.  I decided if it was ever going to happen it would have to be very simple, so here we have it finished onto a canvas instead!  The look on her face when she opened it was priceless.  It certainly was a big surprise - she had asked me every now and then if I was ever going to finish her fairy cushion, I don't think she thought it would ever happen!

Stitchery from Fairyland book by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse

In the end, I used some starch spray and gave it another press before attaching some light batting and covering the canvas.  The starch has definitely helped the wrinkles, they are much improved ........ still a few there but I am trying not to notice them and hopefully anyone who sees them will be polite enough not to mention them ...... wishful thinking maybe!

After lots of discussion(and more than a little begging) I have agreed that my big girl could start a little blog of her own.  She is a girl who is crazy about animals and is keen to become a vet one day.  Her blog is focusing mostly on her pets and animals at the moment, but who knows where it might lead ......... maybe you might be so kind as to click through and have a little look at Farm Girl Junior....... thank you in advance from Miss FGJ and myself!  She is keen to find some blogs of other young girls similar in age or interests to her(she is 12) so if you know of any, or maybe your own daughter or granddaughter has a blog, perhaps you could leave a link either here or over at Farm Girl Junior.

I have the next four days at home on the farm, I'm finished at my off-farm job for the week, so I see lots more lamb-feeding ahead for a couple of days.  There were about 20 pets/orphans to feed tonight, so it all takes time!!

Thanks for looking.......... happy stitching......Nicky

Still here .......

Well hello, it has been quite a while since I've been here ....... again..........3 months ago today since I last posted.    So much has been happening, some good, some not so good, but I wanted to pop in and let you know I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth.

Here are some random pics from the last few months..............

Some misty winter mornings on the farm ...................

A pretty sunrise.............

This framed stitchery is called Friendship Tree by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse. I finished this in June for my best friends birthday. It was a lovely little piece to stitch, and I got the co-ordinating frame when we were in Australia earlier in the year.  I must remember to add it and another little finish from May(which is currently in transit) to my August OPAM finishes as I haven't 'finished' anything since February :-( 

I love the little wooden buttons that came in the kit, aren't they gorgeous?

I have been trying to find some crafting time in the last couple of days, and have managed to start another new project - surprise, surprise!   Nothing like starting something new when nothing else is calling out to be stitched on......... lol.    Can you guess what pattern this little lady is from?

She is from Anni Downs recent book 'The Simple Life', and will be a little zipper pouch.  It's been such a long time since I've done any fusible web applique that I'd almost forgotten how!  I'm not sure if you can see part of my little stripey dog on the left side of the pic, he isn't coming out how I'd planned, so I will redo him in a darker colour I think.  And then I'll have to learn how to put in a zip....... don't know how that will go.

Well, now that I have bitten the bullet and actually written a post, I hope I will be able to keep it up and not be a stranger any more!  I hope you are finding some time for some stitching.................. thanks for visiting, till next time ........ Nicky

The wonderful world of blogging .......................

Isn't it funny how reading one persons blog post leads you to another, then on to another, and then suddenly you just have to make something RIGHT NOW!  Last Friday I was reading about Josies day with her friends and what they were working on, which led me on to a new to me blog, Kristyne at Pretty by Hand and her wonderful Project Simplify challenge.  Kristyne made every quilt and cushion in Camille Roskelly's beautiful Simplify book.  Do have a look at her blog, I had a good giggle, she's a very funny girl, and thankyou Josie for sharing the link.

So I dug out my copy of Simplify and decided that right then I had to make one of the cushions in it.  I did choose the simplest one of course as I only had about 1 1/2 hours before I had to go meet the school bus.  So our youngest arrived home to a new cushion on her bed and she is pretty chuffed about it!  I used some of my Sherbet Pips charm square and finished it with some straight line quilting.  Now our eldest has picked out a cushion for me to make for her room, but that will have to wait until my Tis the Season is finished.  Which of course will(hopefully) be by this Fridays deadline. After a long drought this is also an OPAM finish for me for September.

Aren't those little puppies the cutest ..............

And the book for the inspiration ...............

This week I've also been thinking about what to make for my partner in Chookyblues 2011 Secret Santa Christmas Swap, and to be honest I'm really not sure yet what it's going to be.  But it's been fun doing some blog stalking to get an idea of what my partner might like. 

Thanks for all the comments about my hens - it's 'eggciting' times around here, as we check the nesting boxes every day to see how many eggs there are, we're up to two most days now!

Until next time, thanks for visiting ...................... happy stitching ............ Nicky

SAL progress

It sure has been a while since I've posted, mostly because there hasn't been much to share. We had one of the wettest weeks ever last week, with over 5 inches of rain in four days, which is huge for us, there is surface water lying everywhere, everything is sodden, and the stock are making mud wherever they go. However, today is a stunner, so we've been making the most of it while it lasts.

It feels like I've achieved very little on the crafting front, however I intend rectifying that tomorrow! Here are my May blocks for the Tis the Season SAL, Christmas Angels and Chilly Penguins.

These are all my completed blocks so far....half way there. This is not the final layout, but I just wanted an idea of how they would look together.

I did finish Block C of A Gardeners Journal recently and shared it on the SAL blog. This block has taken a long time.....but boy is it good to have it done! 

I had a little splurge in town yesterday. I found this lovely book, thought it would be perfect for some ideas to use all those charm packs I've been hoarding collecting. The lovely ladies in the shop were unpacking yardage of the beautiful Pom Pom de Paris by French General, and I was hooked!

Thought I'd like to make this little quilt 'one day' with the Pom Pom de Paris charm pack. 

Recently Jody of Jody's Crafty Creations and Perri form Stitches in the Bush have both awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  I think maybe that 'versatile' might be a euphemism for 'starts far too many things and never accomplishes anything', but I am happy to accept LOL.   Thank you to both these lovely girls for thinking of me!  Jody and Perri both have beautiful blogs, so why not check them out.  Jody has recently started designing her own gorgeous softies and Perri has a wonderful store, and is the co-ordinator at the Vignette in Stitches blog too.  Busy girls!

 The Versatile Blogger Award rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post
2. Tell 7 things about yourself that others might not know about you
3. Pass along the award to 5 newly discovered bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers to let them know they’ve received the award

Now here is the cop-out!  I am quite possibly the most boring person in the world - I look at all the interesting things people share about themselves in these awards, and I can't think of anything half as exciting about me!  I received a similar award about a year ago and came up with some very uninteresting facts about myself!!  Might be time I took up a dangerous hobby to add some more excitement to my life. lol

I have discovered lots of new blogs lately, some of which are already on my blog list to the right, and many of these have already been gifted this award, so I'd invite you to have a look through and visit a few, you never know who you might meet just one blog away.   

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend ..........take care and happy stitching .............. Nicky

How did we get here?

Don't panic - I'm not studying anthropology, philosophy or started navel-gazing yet.  lol

BUT ............ I have been having a look at Blogger stats for my blog.    If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about have a look from your Blogger Dashboard at the Stats button.  I've never taken much notice of these before, but there is some cool data about how people get to your blog and when and where from.  Who knew?!?    Apparently the most popular search phrases that see people arriving at my blog are 'weaveline' or 'stitchery stabiliser' to this post,  'leannes house block of the month' to this post, 'a gardeners journal' to here, and 'shepherds bush stockings' to this post.  Now all of that makes perfect sense, but late last year I had a lot of people arrive over about 24 hours searching for 'lemonade stitch'  - they ended up on this post - which had absolutely nothing to do with lemonade stitch - whatever that actually is!  

And then there are the slightly dodgier searches like someone looking for 'farm girls in stockings' - thankfully you won't see me here in suspenders and stockings. lol   Seems there are a few people out there with a fascination for 'farm girls' - not sure what they're looking for exactly but this is probably not the blog for them(unless they enjoy stitching too of course!)

  

I'd love to hear some of the oddball searches that have seen someone visit you at your blog - sometimes it can be the beginning of a great friendship -  and sometimes you just wonder 'what on earth?'

Anyway that's all from me today, I've been doing a little stitching, but no pictures taken yet, I'm going to be out tomorrow night for Friday Night Sew In, so might try and get a bit finished up on Saturday instead. 

Almost forgot  - HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY! 

Take care, and as always happy stitching to you.........Nicky

It's been a year......

...........and time has flown.  A year ago today I started this baby, and look how far we've come.  I can't say thanks enough to all of the lovely people I've met and got to know just a little through blogging.

I've recently discovered the magic of scheduled posts, so hopefully we're still away camping and will catch up with you all next week!  Here is a collage of a few bloggy(and some not) pics from the last year.

So thankyou to all who've stopped by here for a visit this past year, left a comment, followed my blog, emailed me, you've all helped make this a wonderful first year for me.  Bring on the second year!

Thanks so much for stopping by - till next time, take care  ............. Nicky

Christmas Wishes .........

Merry Christmas

  Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season,

I hope you have a relaxing break and spend some quality

time with those you love.

I want to take this chance to thank everyone who finds themselves here, for reading, commenting, following,  and for some of the lovely friendships that are growing through comments, emails, exchanges and stitching together. 

While this year has sent some trials our way here on the farm, we are finishing 2010 on a positive note, with some great weather, healthy stock and a better forecast for returns for the current season.

It has been a fabulous first blogging year for me, I never could have imagined how much your friendship and the shared interest of stitching and all things crafty and/or Kiwi, would mean to me.  The inspiration and encouragement from other bloggers and stitchers all around the world is incredible, and I feel privileged to be reading about and seeing what is going on in your world too.

  So thankyou for your support through the tough times and for helping to celebrate the good times, and I am looking forward to what 2011 will bring. 

  I am going to spend some time reflecting on this year and thinking about what I want to achieve in 2011.

What are your dreams for 2011? 

Take care and Merry Christmas, Nicky

PS: I'll see you after Christmas with news of some swap parcels which are tempting me under the Christmas tree right now!  I promise I won't peep. lol

Where it all began .........

...my very first 'big' cross stitch.

I went to a stitching party-plan night in 1992, where a  lady was selling charts, fabrics and threads.  I was armed with Dad's chequebook(I was still at high school), blank cheque signed, and I bought all the bits I needed for this picture.  The only cross-stitch I had stitched prior to this was a tiny little kit of an Amish child that my aunt had given me, and I was hooked!  I only wish Dad was so keen to let me loose with his cheque book now. lol

I will apologise now for the quality of pics, I've found it pretty hard to get decent pics of the framed ones with glass in front, so please excuse my poor efforts.  This deer was given to my hubby(before we were married) for a Christmas gift.

Still stitching on Aida here........... I still have a fascination with the Amish way of life and fell in love with this one, loved stitching the quilt blocks in the corner.

I *heart* Hugs and Teddy Bears was stitched while expecting our first baby - I wanted something that would suit boy or girl!  By now I had discovered the joy of linen!

This is a Teresa Wentzler design - I think it's called Floral Bellpull.

These pansies and violets are still one of my favourite finishes, I love the colours and of course pansies are my favourite flower.

This little scissor keep was finished up quite a few years ago.

These littlies have all been finished up this year and I have shared on my blog already.  Blogging motivates you to *finish* things!

Shepherds Bush are one of my all time favourite designers. I also have quite a few of their pieces stitched waiting for framing, but that would be another whole post!

And one of my more recent favourite designers are Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks, who have such simple, pretty designs that are lovely to stitch - I think no back stitch has a lot to do with that.  Years ago most designs had heaps of back stitch which when you've spent so many hours on the fun stuff is the most depressing job around!  A little like stitching the binding on a quilt down, but it takes a lot longer. lol.  Thank goodness not so many do now.

This one is still to be framed(and ironed by the look of it)

Lizzie Kate Christmas Spirit series also needs framed, perhaps that should be a goal before December!

 And then finally one of my many, many, Works in Progress(very slow or non-existent progress), there are far too many of these to picture here, so this is just one, Numbers by Cross-Eyed Cricket, stitched with one thread over one.  This is an old photo, it is actually quite a bit closer than this to finished now. Watch this space...........

It has been interesting to go back and see how my tastes have changed over the years, so thanks for the motivation to get this display together.  You can head over to Chookyblue's to check out her cross stitch and for a blog list of the other ladies who are displaying their cross stitch this weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by, I'm off now to check out the other cross stitch displays...........Nicky