July update

I commented to a friend recently that Sewing was a distant memory for me at the moment. I did get my machine set back up after its service but that's about it.
However, I haven't been idle so I thought I'd give myself a boost by showing what I have done lately.
Some time before I went to my son's, I did another bit of pattern testing for Juliet of Tartankiwi.
It was for a re-relese of an older pattern —
Don't you just love this Scottie Dog? I do!

I was really happy with how he came up in these fabrics. I have grand plans to sew this one up into a cushion fairly soon.....

(Passing the chicken inspection)

Last week we had some good friends come to stay (actually it was the week before - that's how long I've had this post in draft format!!). They arrived in their campervan so didn't mind 'glamping' (as they put it) in our incomplete kitchen. Of course there was plenty of chat and laughter and some good farm walks - they brought their dogs with them; we were pleased it was fine-ish so we could enjoy the great outdoors.

My friend always likes to bring crafting with her - she's a passionate crafter, and does a lot wider range of crafts than I do. Other visits we've done mosaics and hodge-podgeing. This time she brought a selection of her card making bits and pieces. First she made some bunting and then she got card making.......

I watched and knitted the first night, but then got busy card making too. She had all sorts of fancy cutters with her -

I made four cards in the time it took her to make over a dozen!!!

The dogs are stamps you colour in with pencils and then go over with a water brush. I made those two for the twinnie grandies who'll be 3 (yes 3!!!) at the end of the month.

It was an enjoyable visit :-)

Earlier in the month I made this pin cushion for a friend. It's called an African Star I think - a fun little make.

And YD is having a break from knitting dog jersies and made some booties for her sister.

School holidays have been and gone. The eldest grandies came up to stay with their dad and YD and we saw a little bit of them. Here they are helping on the farm.

Yes, that is a new calver you can see (the MOML has the calf in the trailer around the corner, if you enlarge the pic you can just see it!). So our busy season has started.

Another night we went to their's for a Gourmet Dinner cooked by the girls. Gordon Ramsey Burgers, apparently!

There was no way I could get through two burgers but I tried pretty hard - they were delicious!

Finally the other day, I got my two baby quilts basted......

...and have started on the quilting.

My plan was to have these completed before I went to Australia but you know what they say about the best laid plans?!! I guess I'm only a month behind schedule here; it could be worse!
My brother and his family are visiting from the US at the moment. It's the first time some of them have been to NZ so they are having an interesting time. Today they'll get to befriend some calves :-)
Thanks for persisiting to the end :-) Hopefully I'll be back with a proper quilty sewing post soon!

Happy stitches