We had our last midwife appointment on Friday.

Last time, it took me by surprise. I felt sure I wasn’t ready to care for my baby without the training wheels. I found every reason I could to stall as the midwife left.


This time we were ready. E had picked out a gift, and I had even managed to get some photos developed. It’s high time I shared some.


The hat is from Janelle of Heartfelt fame and you can see more of the quilt here.

I’ve decided to jump in on the Sunday Stash Bandwagon. It’s so wonderful to be celebrating the stash. While it’s not your usual quilting fabric I thought I’d celebrate my latest felted acquisitions before they jump into the washing machine.

I stumbled upon the fairisle (knitter s, you can correct me if I’m wrong) jersey just over a week ago. At the time I didn’t have much to co-ordinate with it. However, on Tuesday while looking for some black jerseys, I found the other two to go with it.

Don’t you just love the label? Just think, I’m recycling the recycled wool.

As my felted jersey stash reaches 25* and the temperatures reach -2, I’ve been thinking about keeping warm. I have finally cut into some of the favourites in my felted stash to make the baby blanket in “Warm Fuzzies”.

I’m so excited about the colours. The backing is a vintage flannelette sheet my mother found in the attic. It’s just perfect for this. Together, the colours just seem to hum. I’m so pleased I have enough fabric to make a second.


*I stopped counting at 25 as it got to be a bit embarrassing. However I have just trimmed and felted another 7.

When Jennicakes asked for some extra helpers for her quilting bee, I had my hand up in a flash. I was like one of those kids in the class saying “Pick me, pick me”. It’s so rare that these virtual quilting bees are open to international post.
Jennifer sent a small bundle of fabrics to make two traditional blocks out of. I tried to make both blocks without any substitutions. After cutting the fabric, I saw another way, but it was a little too late. Some vintage chintz snuck in there too as it was the closest blue I could find in my stash.
I have also posted off my last two blocks for the Kiwi Quilters Block Swap. This was more of a swap than a quilting bee. First up there is the flower for Maree and then there is the aptly named “Lynda’s Star” for Lynda.
Thanks to everyone for letting me take part. I know I can be little tardy at times, but I got there in the end. This leaves me looking for another to launch myself into. Anyone want to swap?

I’ve been meme tagged. Twice. I tried to write a response on Saturday night but it was swallowed by the computer. I have only just found it again, so imagine it’s still Saturday night and half of the weekend is still to go.

I haven’t tagged anyone else as it appears everyone is in already. I’ve had so much fun reading about things I haven’t thought of for years. I mean, when was the last time you were asked for your favourite colour?

What is your current obsession?
Hunting down woollen jerseys to felt

What was the most interesting thing you did today?
After moths of trying to have dinner with friend across the road, we decided that morning tea was much easier with small kids. This morning we finally all sat down to baby bundt cakes, coffee and a children’s tea party.

What are you wearing today?
A teal cowl neck top, thrifted cardigan and jeans with a hole that I swear I will mend one day soon.

What's for dinner?
Roasted chicken drums sticks and vegetable with freshly picked herbs.

What would you eat for your last meal?
I can’t say at the moment, but if I were still seven I would tell you – pumpkin soup, roast lamb with roasted pumpkin and pumpkin pie. Can you spot the theme?


What's the last thing you bought?
Lemons for the baby bundt cakes.

What are you listening to right now?
The dim sounds of a tv in the background that I really should turn off. I think it might be Grand Designs.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
Janelle truly has far too much energy. How does she get time to have all those adventures?

Miss Smith has a great sense of humour and a great sense of robots too. She laughs and posts about pictures like this. I could only admit to close friends that these have me in hysterics. Oh and we appear to share the same china and table – very weird.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
In Arrowtown, but with really, really good central heating.

Which language do you want to learn?
French. I have tried and tried, but haven’t the patience. I wish some BFG could come in the night and just pour the language into my ear.

What's your favourite quote (for now)?
In and out of weeks and over a year – from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I’m mentally collecting child like images of time. They all seam to be in awe of any length of time as if it were some miracle i.e. He stayed inside for MORE THAN TWO WEEKS – from The Hungry Caterpillar.


What is your favorite color?
Red or brown, but not always and probably not together.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My great grandmother’s cape. It comes with tales of being worn for her debut in London, when it was still pink.

What is your dream job?
One close to home.

What's your favourite magazine?
Selvedge – It just doesn’t age. I was delighted when my Godmother sent me half of her back copies. She sent the other half to my cousin so we could both read them and then swap.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
A copy of Material Obsession Two for myself, a pair of Mary Janes for E and maybe a whole chocolate cake to share with friends.

Describe your personal style?
I dressed myself. Things get thrown on as I need them, and not necessarily with a particular rhyme or reason. However, after watching a few re-runs of Mad About You, I am wondering if my style is more embarrassingly along the lines of early 1990’s.

What are you going to do after this?
Sit down and watch Bedtime Stories while eating date cake and eggy custard.

What are your favourite films?
Only because I could watch them time and time again, in order of when I first saw them – Labarynth, The Princess Bride, Reality Bites, Amelie and Dinner Rush.

What's your favourite fruit?
Raspberries and Nectarines

What inspires you?
Catching my daughter admiring herself in the mirror. Why don’t we all do this more often.
Also, colours and textures and when they just happen to be put together in a way that makes me stop, observe and think.

Your favourite books?
The English Patient and anything by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Do you collect anything?
China – Poole in any form of blue, blue and white striped cornishware and Crown Lynn mixing bowls.

What are you currently reading?
“Eat, Pray, Love” and I have my doubts about finishing this one.

Go to your book shelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:
“The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom took the salute and addressed the troops in a characteristic Churchillian speech”

From “Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-45, 28 (Maori) Batallion”

What makes you follow a blog?
Creativity and humanity. Ideas that I can build on or just admire and a sense that this a real person as opposed to a perfectly turned out Martha Stewart magazine.

What do you love most about where you currently live?
The pace and the time taken over teacups. I love that everyone I encounter here agrees that children are a treasure to be cherished and can pass time without talking of crippling mortgages and monetary issues.

I finished the quilt. It’s a rare event for me to get a wedding quilt finished before the actual wedding. I still have an unfinished wedding quilt in my bottom drawer from 2005. I was indignant when my husband suggested that we take the finished quilt up next time we drive to Auckland. With the four of us, there was a fair bit of luggage, but there was no way I was going to let this opportunity pass, even if I had to board the plane wearing it.

The bride is a very stylish and modern person, so I was expecting a request for a bright contemporary quilt. I sent her a link to the Sew Mama Sew Quilt Month quilts and she sent back the numbers of the ones she liked. I was surprised as they were all very traditional. So here is the most traditional quilt I have ever made (as proclaimed by my dearest).


It’s a bear’s paw with setting blocks, based on one in Quilts Down Under earlier this year. The quilting was done by Debbie of Quilter’s Lane in Masterton. I really rate her work if you are looking for someone for your next quilt. You can see the progress of the quilt here, here and here. In case your wondering, I managed to secret it away in my bags before leaving.

My Brother in Law was married on Saturday. I’ve been calling his wife my sister-in-law for years. It’s so much easier than my brother in law’s partner. But now, I really can call her my Sister-in-Law.


I tried to be subtle, not wanting to be one of those horrid people who whip out the camera during the ceremony. Here is glimpse of the happy couple as I do my best secret squirrel.

E spent the wedding ceremony reading her new favourite book – a Thomas the Tank Engine Catalogue and rocking along with the organ music.


My big plans to make myself a new outfit for the wedding were scaled down. I did, however, make the accessories and the quilt was finished too. There will be more on the quilt later, I promise.

The couple are now off to sunny Fiji to spend some time on holiday. As I load up the fireplace once more, I think I might be jealous.

We are off to Auckland this weekend and apart from my usual favourites, Salvage and Patchwork Passion, I was wondering where I should go. I'm on the lookout for fabric-y, crafty and thrifty goodness. It doesn't all have to be the same place. Ideas anyone?

In the tradition of Marcel Marceau I will be brief with my words.
The result of confusing moisturiser with barrier cream and helping oneself.