My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Happy 2023

I hope that everyone's 2023 has got off to a great start. While I have started mine with no major goals or lists of ufos to work through, I do have hopes of being more organised and productive in my quilting life, to connect more with my online friends and community (I've been a bit slack the past year and have missed it terribly!). I'm not citing any figures but have the idea that I would like to end the year with a few less UFOs and a few less scraps - no promises though as my sewing time can be quite unpredictable due to the ebb and flow of family and farm life.
We don't tend to see the New Year in - it's not a custom we've nurtured as there have always been cows to milk the next morning - however it does seem to becoming a bit of a custom for us to babysit so various other family members can celebrate!
This year we also had YD and half her family camping on the farm so Mum, the babysitting grandies and I joined them in the early evening to toast marshmallows over their campfire.
The kids thought it was great but keeping them safe from the fire was a bit of a challenge!

I had a wee flurry of sewing on the last few days of 2022 to get my block count up a bit. The hourglass blocks for my Smidgeon quilt were closest to hand and quickest to sew. 
I also joined some more together—
And then I couldn't help myself and sewed some of my hourglass blocks to the 36-patches. Looking at the design, I can get away with this even if I haven't chosen my layout yet. It's always nice to have a little play—
And a bit more of a play; it's going to come together nicely—

I've stitched four Christmas stitcheries over the last month or so; these were a bit of an impulse buy but I couldn't resist as they represent a Kiwi Christmas in summer. ..... so many of the Christmas symbols I grew up with are from the Northern hemisphere - snow, sleigh and snowmen, lights, Red Robins, mistletoe, scarves, mittens and jerseys and so on - that it is nice to find something that better represents our kiwi lifestyle at Christmastime.
Pohutakawa under the sun —
Haha who can resist a nod to our reputation as having one of the highest sheep to human ratios! (Sadly that is declining but this is not a political blog so I will say no more!!!) — 
Christmas/summer BBQs —
And of course camping. How Santa finds all those campsites I don't know, but he manages it! —
Hehe our wingless bird has sprouted wings. Too cute —
I have no idea what I will do with these blocks but I am sure I will find inspiration.
This effort brought my December blockmaking tally to 25...and the year's block tally to 373! I was happy to report that to Prairie Moon's 350 blocks project but will be aiming for more this year :-)

Those of us who could, got together at ED's for a pizza meal the evening before Mum went home. It was a fun little gathering and the kids had a really good play while the adults had a good chat.
Mum was here for just over 2½ weeks and she got to see plenty of the family in that time. I am sure she is enjoying a bit of peace and quiet now!
Family were out visiting on Sunday, I thought this was a cute photo —

My 'baby' chickens are getting to the gawky teenage stage; they're nearly 8 weeks old now —
I'm about ready to give up on Bloglovin' as my main reader to keep track of my blog reading...I've been very patient with it but I haven't been able to access it for quite a few weeks now. I've signed up with Feedly.....my problem being of course that I have to start my list of blogs I follow all over again...I will raid my sidebar for some of them but it is a little frustrating to have to start from scratch again!

'til next time,
Happy stitches,

32 comments:

  1. it is hard to keep track of blogs when you need to change readers - quite some years ago now I changed to Feedly when some reader that I was on announced it was closing - I don't even remember what it was now. I just forget to add all that I follow on to my sidebar - sometimes I will remember to add a few then I get busy doing something else -- the kids look like they are having so much fun camping and toasting marshmallows over the fire.
    The quilt looks great.

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  2. What a busy start to the year. So much fun family time. Our over the road neighbours have their three little granddaughters staying and we were invited over last night. The girls thoroughly enjoyed toasted marshmallows with Nutella. I do love your kiwi Christmas stitcheries. So fun. Good luck with getting lots of stitching done and connecting with others. I hope your transition to Feedly isn’t too painful. I love it.

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  3. How wonderful to have so much family time while Mum was visiting.
    You did great with your block challenge and they’re coming together nicely.
    Love your Kiwi Christmas stitchery. I did an Aussie one some years ago.
    Funny chicken photo!

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  4. Your Christmas blocks are fun and much more appropriate for you - it must be weird seeing pictures of a snowy Christmas when it is so hot! The hour glass blocks and scrappy squares make a great layout. Lots of lovely family time for you all. Happy New Year. xx

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  5. Looks like a fun time with family. I'm always amused when I see traditional Christmas motifs like snow, snowmen, reindeer and such in the southern hemisphere decorations. I like Kiwi motifs, so much more in line with your celebration. Happy stitching!

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  6. your blocks are lovely and that is going to be one pretty quilt...and oh the stitchery, so adorable! what a crowd...how blessed you are to have such a big family...

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  7. Yes it really is annoying when technology changes. Why do they do that?
    Your stitcheries are cute. I get the southern hemisphere are not represented enough.

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  8. It looks like you have had a lovely start to the new year with your family. The balancing between family life and sewing is always a challenge. I really like the sashing idea between those blocks. Your embroidery blocks are so cute too.

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  9. What a wonderful start to 2023 you've had. Nothing tops family time. Your hour glass and 36-patch blocks look nice together. And those embroideries are just darling. I look forward to seeing what you do with them.

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  10. I foresee a wonderful 2023 for you and your extended family. What great family photos, everyone looks so happy. Lovely quilting and stitchery projects. I too want to finish plenty of UFOs in 2023, many of mine are waiting for quilting/binding.

    I use My Creative Blog List to follow blogs, as I too gave up on blog luvin. I will happily add more blogs to this list, if you want to send me a list. http://mycreativebloglist.blogspot.com/

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  11. What a great newsy post, lots to see and read. Lovely to have family time.
    I hope the storm isn't doing any damage up there in the far North.

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  12. What a lovely post! So many priceless photos. As far as Bloglovin - I gave up on them a while back. I use a combination of The Old Reader (free version) where I go to their site and click through the new posts and Follow It for the ones I want to get by email (although I do NOT like their click bait advertising). Follow It is free to a point but for longer lists it costs $3 per month. I also have a list of links in my bookmarks for the 20 or so key blogs I check daily (my list under my control)

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  13. So pleased your Mum had such a great visit with all the family. I love those Kiwi Christmas stitcheries, did you buy then from the shop where you work?.

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  14. Your Mum is looking really well Raewyn! How wonderful she got to spend those special weeks with you all. I love, LOVe your kiwi stitcheries. How appropriate as I always find everything is very snow related at Christmas time & here we are in the summer months (well - supposedly we are tho it doesn't feel like it now).
    I have to add here - totally unrelated to your post but when you mentioned the sheep number decline - the guy at Mitre 10 Garden Centre told me they are now adding chicken pellets to the bags of sheep pellets that I buy for my roses as the sheep poo numbers are down so much!! I thought he was kidding me but he assured me he was NOT!! Whatever next I wonder ??

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  15. Those stitcheries are super cute! Looks like you're having a fabulous start to the year.

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  16. Hi Raewyn, it sounds like you had a lovely holiday with family. Your blocks are coming along well (as is your chicken!) I wish you all the best for 2023 - having those very loose plans is a wonderful idea. Take care.

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  17. Such lovely family time together. I love your Kiwi Christmas blocks...so very cute. I am sure you will make something lovely with them. Xx

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  18. Oh, I love your scrappy blocks, but even more, your embroidered Kiwi Christmas blocks. Those are marvelous! I'm so glad you had a great family Christmas and with your mother, too. We just never know what's coming down the road, so I like to be sure to take every opportunity. Of course, my boys are living with me so that's daily and sometimes a struggle, but they've been so helpful this last couple of years, Without their help, I would have had to call an ambulance a couple of times, so they actually saved me money. Those things are hundreds of dollars for just a few miles! Leaves more money for fabric! LOL

    Looking forward to chicken stories and more cows, too. =)

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  19. Love your stitchery blocks, they are so cute. Sounds like a lovely Christmas/New year family time together.

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  20. The kiwi Christmas stitcheries are too cute!

    Those wonderful family times are precious. Looks like lots of happy memories in the making.

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  21. I love the Kiwi Christmas stitcheries - they are adorable!! Lovely that you can have the grandies with you while the others stay up late! I also love the look of the hourglass blocks with the scrappy ones - I reckon it will look gorgeous! Happy New Year to you and yours, may it be a wonderful one! xx

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  22. Loved reading about all the fun family time, and seeing your current projects. A scrappy project always catches my eye--those scrappy blocks look really good with the hourglass blocks. And I have to say that the Kiwi Christmas blocks are adorable!

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  23. Wonderful start to 2023 Raewyn, great to have the family around. Lovely to have your Mum staying. You have done well with the blocks you have made, love, love love the Kiwi blocks.

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  24. Good luck with your sewing plans. I find it very hard to get much done when family, especially grandchildren are around. They take priority and i want to make the most of my time with them. I can see that would be the same for you, especially as they are nearby.We have to make the most of it as they grow so quickly!!
    I changed over to Feedly a while back and I think I was able to transfer my feeds across. I suppose it has changed now but maybe a quick google search will give you some tips?
    Love your embroideries with the NZ theme. Not often that someone comes up with a good design, but this one looks great, love them!

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  25. I love the embroidery blocks! I've always wondered about the summer Christmas you all have -- you're right -- everything seems to be skewed towards cold during Christmas -- I'm glad you've found some that fit you. I've also had trouble with Bloglovin' -- pretty much gave up. Thanks for taking part in the 350 Blocks Project!

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  26. Lovely embroidery blocks Raewyn. And some great family pics, making memories of your Christmas celebrations. Blogging woes seem to continue, just when I think I've got things sorted, more changes happen!

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  27. Lots to see here and love the photos of the little ones with the marshmallows, it is difficult watching what they're up to when there's a fire nearby, but looks like they're all having a great time. Lovely group photo of the family, it's not often possible to all meet up these days.

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  28. Happy new year to you too!
    Camping in December? I have done lots of camping in my life, but this just fills me with a horror; but of course, you are down under! I forgot ;-)
    Nice stitching :-)

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  29. Great family photos, lovely to have your mum stay with you, I've not seen too many New Years arrive either, lovely stitchery blocks and good luck working on those UFO's you are not going to mention!

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  30. Camping at the farm, what a delight. Kids love that sort of thing! It looks so beautiful where you live.

    I too hope to have finishes and fewer scraps this year, but I also plan to start and finish a few things as well. I have fabric and patterns I have waited to sew.

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  31. I do love your Christmas camping and BBQing stitcheries. So darn cute! Glad you could find some more fitting to your Kiwi Christmas without snow and cold.

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  32. Raewyn - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the camping photos! And the stitching - adorable!!!

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