Spring has Sprung & Latest Crafty News

Here in New Zealand, spring has arrived. Earlier in the week, we had horrendous winds for a day causing quite a bit of damage around the district, and igniting several fires from recent rural burn offs. Our first responders and emergency service personnel had a crazy day, and they did an amazing job to deal with everything happening. The supermarket across the road from my work had some windows blow in, how scary!

In a few weekends time our daylight savings hours start and hopefully the temperatures will warm up. It's been an incredibly cold winter this year, we've been through so much firewood over the past few months.  But here's a cheery sign of spring, and I've noticed the neighbour's fruit trees all have blossom this week.  

September means #samplerseptember is underway, and this month I've chosen to start two new samplers.  First up, is Home on Quaker Lane by Brenda Gervais. I'm stitching this on 40 count Red Cedar linen by Cedar River Linens, and thread choice is DMC ecru.  

The other new start I'll have is Amazing Grace by Brenda Gervais.  I'm going to stitch this on 40 count Sandcastle linen by Fox and Rabbit. 

I made a new patchwork project bag recently using some Sacre Bleu French General fabrics I purchased last year.  

During a recent Friday after work finishing session, two Heart in Hand designs were fully finished:

The 2025 Collector's Heart

2025 Wee Santa, so cute!

I'm looking forward to stitching 2026's Santa, just love these every year. 

Spring time here in Central Hawkes Bay also means the start of the CHB Spring Fling, with various events being held during September and October. This Saturday is one of my favourite events, the Spring Market, where there will be lots of stalls, food trucks and entertainment. I hope the weather holds out for it as the forecast is not looking too good later in the week. My niece Zoe and her Dad Marcus, my younger brother, are visiting this coming weekend, as are my cousin Donna and her boyfriend Jess, so it should be a fun but full on weekend!

See you soon xx

Winter Days and Stitching update

It's been a busy few weeks lately - with lots of winter sickness doing the rounds at my work, we've been very short staffed, meaning extra hours and jobs to fit into the day. Here in Hawkes Bay, we've had some very wintery weather, even a day where snow fell on parts of the region that it never does!

So there's been lots of stitching, knitting, and finally getting some pieces fully finished, very satisfying. 

Stitched earlier in the year, Peace by Teresa Kogut, a Patreon ornament, stitched on 32 count Charcoal Belfast linen.

Also, stitched earlier in the year,  Mill Hill Santa Holding Heart and Candy Cane Santa

From the Hands on Design's Patreon Club Merry Moments series, Sweets for Santa, stitched on 32 count Raw Belfast linen 

A Vintage Rocker also by Hands on Design

 

I used some Lynette Anderson fabric for the backings 

A favourite hat pattern to knit, made for a friend, with NZ Merino yarn 

I also managed to finish the knitted socks, made for my sister in law. 

Some gorgeous new patterns arrived in the mail, from All Threads in Australia, and Kitten Stitcher in the US - very excited to get these newer Brenda Gervais patterns, which we are unable to buy here in New Zealand.

Home on Quaker Lane is going to be my start for Sampler September, the Cedar River linen is a stunning colour. 

During July, I stitched on a few ornaments and these will be made up soon,

From the Quilted Gingers Collection, Hands on Designs Patreon club, the Single Family Sawtooth chart was stitched on 32 count Up in the Attic linen by Fox and Rabbit.

Jingle all the Way by Stitching with the Housewives

Mrs Claus Stockings - Stitching with the Housewives 

Mr Claus Gingerbread - Stitching with the Housewives

Now for some new starts - a friend is expecting a new baby at the start of 2027 so I started this sweet baby blanket pattern from Lisa F Designs last weekend. 

Also started recently, Stitching Rules from Primrose Cottage Stitches, and for the fabric I'm using vintage grey Belfast linen. 

I really like the new House Rules chart and other patterns in the series so look forward to these being released as pdf charts soon.

Lastly for today, I popped in to see my friend Andrea, who owns our local sewing shop, Curtis Fabrics, and she was absolutely thrilled to show me her newest treasure — a beautiful Singer Featherweight sewing machine.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Andrea is also a By Annie pattern and supplies stockist so she was showing me the latest patterns, very cool.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, see you soon x

Latest Happenings

Hello friends, I'm so happy as we're having some perfect winter days right now, very frosty in the mornings to start the day. It was - 1 c when I left for work this morning, and then a day of sunshine follows.  Soon we will notice the turn towards spring, as we are now over half way through our winter months.

I have all the things on the go right now, and some days wish there were more hours in the day for all the crafty happenings!   My lunch break knitting project, socks for my sister in law, are progressing well, one sock down, and half of one to go. I've hopefully managed to match up the stripes up on both too.

The Summer Vintage blanket is finished now - I loved making this, my first crochet blanket in quite a few years.  I purchased the yarn from the Wool Warehouse in the UK and the pattern by Amanda Hurrell, Eight by Six on Instagram, can be found as a free download on the website. I missed one colours, Buttercup, when I placed my order, so adjusted some of the rows, and I completed the border as suggested, using the different colours in the rounds.  

This going to be perfect to have in our campervan, as its very light weight and not too big in size.

As I mentioned last time, we recently had a long weekend to enjoy, with the Friday being a public holiday for Matariki here in New Zealand.  Glenn and I spent the Saturday in Hastings doing some shopping, and then to Havelock North, where we visited our friends.  They are having some new laundry cabinets made by Glenn so he needed to check out the space and get measurements. We then enjoyed lunch out at a very popular restaurant, Off the Track, which was delicious, and so busy that particular day, over 240 people were there! 

I snapped this photo on the way home, after the horrendous weather earlier in the week, it turned out to be a lovely day.

Our friends cutie pie wee dog, Bee, she is so sweet. 

No wonder it was cold last week, fresh snow on the Ruahine Ranges, this photo taken at the end of our drive way. 

This week, Whittakers, released a new novelty chocolate, Gumdrop.  It's pretty good, and reminds me of a childhood favourite ice cream, Tip Top Goody Goody Gumdrops, and yes, it's actually green :)

The school holiday break has finished so Hannah is back to high school for her very last full term of school, Term 3.  Diesel enjoyed hanging out with Hannah over the past two weeks, lots of snuggles together.

We try and get out walking with Diesel as often as we can, and this past Sunday was fairly warm while I walked him by the river. We are fortunate to have several good limestone tracks to pick from, only a few minutes drive from home, and they are very popular with other walkers and cyclists.

Diesel turned four on Sunday, can you believe it - he's the best good boy, he brings us so much fun and laughter.

Have a fun week, see you soon xx

It's raining, it's pouring

Hello friends, from a very wet New Zealand. There's been more flooding in the South island over the past few days, and it's slowly making it's way north. I'm off to work soon but I know where I'd rather be today.

We have a long weekend coming up with Friday being a public holiday, for Matariki here in New Zealand, marking the Maori New Year.  Matariki is a time of reflection, celebration, and renewal as the Matariki star cluster rises in the winter sky.  We don't have set plans this weekend, except for catching up with some family visiting.

As I mentioned last time, I've finished the last two ornaments from the first set in Hands on Designs Patreon ornament club.  I've yet to fully finish these but will get on with these soon.

A Vintage Rocker:

Hark How the Bells 

 (which doesn't want to turn, ha ha)

Next up in the club will be the Quilted Gingers series, so I have my fabric, threads and pattern all ready top go. As you can see, I've gone with Fox and Rabbit's Up in the Attic for the fabric choice.

Up in the Attic was my choice for July's fabric of the month, and when I placed an order from Helen at That Crafty Kiwi, I added a few charts from my wish list, and a new needle minder - super cute!

Over the past week or so I've had a break from working on wips, and decided to start this lovely design by Heart in Hand, the fabric, beads and charms came with the chart. 

Our gorgeous girl had her school ball last Saturday evening, and she looked amazing, having done her own hair and make up.  Her boyfriend looked very handsome in his suit, and they had a great evening with their friends. 

Enjoy the rest of your week, see you soon xx

Catching Up

Wow, how the weeks have been whizzing by lately!  I can't believe it's almost the end of June, and nearly one month of winter done.  We've had some very chilly days but also some sunny days that help to keep the winter blues away. If the next few weeks go as fast, it will be spring again before we know it, lol.

Over the past few weeks I've been focusing on a few older projects that I have on the go as well as the usual ornaments, mostly the Hands on Designs Patreon club designs.  I'll have an update on these next tine. If you follow me on Instagram you may have already seen the next few photos.

Friday finishing sessions are quite productive and I'm slowly getting through the pile of finished pieces.

This cutie is by Teresa Kogut 

Stitched in December 2025, Dear Santa by Stitching with the Housewives

Following a tutorial by Denise and Kimberley from the Fat Quarter Shop, I recently made a new project folder with this gorgeous Tilda fabric. 

It's already in use!

The last of the Lori Holt project bags have been finished as well, whew!  Because I really don't need 16 new project bags most of these will be gifts for friends. 

I have so enjoyed having a crochet project on the go this winter, and only have the border rows to go now on my Summer Vintage blanket.  Some more lovely yarn arrived recently for another blanket but that's going to be secret project so I won't be able to share until later in the year. 

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon xx