Little sewing but —

Nigel thought he'd just pop in to show you how much activity there has been in The Palace lately....not much at all!

There has been a bit of action in the evenings though - relaxed in my comfy chair, I've made some progress on a few bits and pieces.
I finished these two vests I'd started earlier in the month —

Both the same pattern, needles etc - just different wool (although
both labelled as the same weight).

hehe - photo bombing pic

The pattern is Milo found on Ravelry *here*. This is 6 vests I've made lately, think I'll have a break from them now!
And I've finished this month's Whimsical Woodland Mystery Stitchery block (through The Country Yard) —

Plus a couple of stitchalong blocks for Ruth's Quilt. I'm doing this with the nofussswappers group but aren't being a very active member!

In between other projects in the evenings I've been making more zoo animals blocks —

ED and I were making this together; her's were the grey background and mine the white....below are our blocks together. I'm thinking 6 more will be enough.

I was thinking a teal to join them all together (ED's favourite colour) but she thought something more earthy. So we'll have to play and see.

ED's really slowed down on the crocheting lately - last week her babies Lily and George were born. 

They were decent sized babies so it's no wonder ED spent the last weeks of her pregnancy feeling very large and uncomfortable. (George was 7 ½ lbs and Lily was 8lbs!).

They came for their first visit to the farm the other day - no tractor rides but I think Mum and Dad just wanted a change of scenery. We're so lucky that they live close, it's nice being able to help.

Proud Ganma.

And, finally, a kitchen update. At last I have the oven and cooktop connected so I've been baking again. Here is lunch for the babies' first visit. As you can see, there is still (a lot of) electrical work to be done but we're getting there. We had several 'dinner parties' while my brother was here and I managed to feed everyone without the oven and cooktop - whew!

Bacon and Egg Pie (to be cooked) and Chocolate Weet-bix Slice.
First major cooking achievements in my new kitchen :-)

It's nearly calf-time so I'm off - 

Happy stitches ♥

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

FNwF...etc...

Friday night was the first chance I'd had to do some stitching for a week.
I'd just collected the latest block for the Whimsical Woodland Mystery Stitchery so it was the perfect thing to get into. And a happy coincidence that it was also Friday Night with Friends. I spent the evening stitching away in the company of like minded people from around the globe.
Thank you to Cheryll for hosting this event :-)
By the time I traced, found some stabiliser and finally got stitching, time was sneaking away on me, but it nice to make a start.

After taking this photo I decided it really did need a good press!

Now I have something to enjoy in the evenings this coming week.

Ahh, that's better!!

Although I wasn't stitching and sewing last week, I did get a bit of knitting done. I mentioned in my last post that I was off to vsit my son and his family.

I started this Milo vest while on the plane and continued on with it while at my son's. 

At ED's baby shower a few weeks ago, several of her friends expressed an interest in the wee vests I'd been making so I've decided to carry on making them. Soon there will be a glut of vests in my world and I'll move onto something else....

I've switched to this pattern without the buttons. It's not as quick to make, but just as cute!

I decided not to risk taking my big cable needles on the plane so started another one on the way home (was fairly confident the circular needles would get through security ok) —

It's taken me a bit to get used to the circular needles but I'm quite enjoying them now.

While at my son's I had plenty of time to play with the girls —

 — and had the odd cuddle with our newest grand-baby, wee Xavier, a whooping 10lb3oz, who was born while I was there :-)

The idea was that he would have already arrived for my visit but babies have a habit of deciding on their own schedule! It worked out well. Although the other nana was still there, there was plenty for both of us to help with!

Xavier didn't quite arrive on my birthday, which happened while I was away. Yesterday (back home) we had a nice little family get together for it. I have such sweet daughters :-)

Also while I was away I got my machine serviced..... I'm hoping to set it back up this week....

Happy stitches,