On the run again

Day 18 of my August blogpost a day challenge

It was another cross country day today. Last week was the combined rural schools event. Today both of the primary schools our grandies attend had their school cross country events...luckily one was held in the morning and the other was in the afternoon!

Again all the kids ran well.

Kokopu School is the smaller school; it is great fun for the kids - they run and cheer their friends on, and I'm sure they've all run at least 3 cross countries by the time the event is over.

Such a lovely setting for a school!

This is typical; sometimes you can't tell who is in the official race and who isn't! Xavier running with his two sisters and cousin Odie running alongside him, to encourage and cheer him on -

Dad and sisters waiting for Xavier to run around the paddock of the farm next door-

This was the fun final race - adults vs senior children. Our son (in the black) was one of the four adults who ran-

And again, an energetic cheering party; his three kids making sure he lasts the distance - 

And accompanied by his kids, he's on the home straight and on his way to the wrapped chocolate as he passes the finish line - 

Then I had a quick lunch at ED's and her and I went to her kids school for the next round of cross country.

Maungatapere is a bigger school and the kids were all kept under control while they waited for their turn to run-

I couldn't get a photo of George running (only a distant one that shows nothing) but I was pleased to see Lily run as she didn't (want to) run at the Taniwha Challenge last week. She said that when she saw her Mum and I cheering her on, she felt like a Panther on Roller blades!

And went on to have a fabulous sprint to the end! -

So that was my day. It's quite exhausting watching the kids run!

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn

Mum's quilts

Day 17 of my August blogpost a day challenge

Mum always sewed and knitted (and crocheted) as we grew up but as we started getting older she really got into her embroidery.

She loved the quilts I made but only ever made four (that I know of) herself.

The first one was a quilt she made when she was expecting me - a VERY long time ago.

It was a traditional quilt - dressmaking fabric scraps, an old flannelette sheet on the back, and used woollens on the inside. I wouldn't call it beautiful but it is treasured all the same!

And I like to think it kept me, and my siblings, nice and cosy ♥ ( I do remember it on my bed when I was quite young.)

No quilting at all, but it's held together very well.

Lots of 50s and 60s fabrics - very retro I guess you'd say??? I do recognise some of the fabrics - I have an old apron of hers in one of the black/brown fabrics, and she made me shorts from old dresses in a couple of the other fabrics.

When she started having grandchildren she made her second quilt. As each child was born she cross stitched an initial and DOB piece, as well as numerous cross stitch pictures.

(Mum stopping it from flapping in the wind about 11 years ago!)

(Today's photo isn't any better!)

She hand quilted this one; stitching in the ditch around the squares and hearts in the plain blocks.

Two of my kids —

Unfortunately Marco, who was born 13 years after the next youngest cousin, didn't make the quilt which my sister was disappointed to discover recently. Neither did two step-grandies so I guess he's not alone!

Mum finished this quilt, and the next two, off as duvets. Very light batting for the quilting but then another back so an inner could be inserted. She thought it would make them more washable/useable. And she used sheets (new this time!) for all the fabric in the quilt, aside from the cross stitched pieces.

Mum also made two quilts for two of the grandies - one went to YD, and the other went to one of my brother's daughters. Both were crazy patch style with lots of dressmaking fabrics again. I know she intended to make more but never did - I have a box full of cut pieces and one day I will make ONE more of them - maybe when Marco has children???? Our one is tucked away right now (as a few things are when our son took over the downstairs room), but I'll pull it out one of these days for a photo shoot.

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn

Holly Jolly Christmas

As I pressed a finished stitchery this afternoon —

And prepped some more —

I realised that I had barely mentioned this project yet.

This is Holly Jolly Christmas, a BOM by Lisa of Fig 'n' Berry.

I started it towards the end of last year and have been working on it in fits and starts, but I'm now up to month 5 (of 12).

I decided to make it using the Tilda Christmas range which was released last year. Of course I bought way more than what was needed but I like the thought of having more of those pretties to use in another project :-)

The pattern is available through *the shop* but not in my fabrics. We put together a simple selection of Christmassy coloured fabrics to give people an idea, so I sewed up on one of my blocks in one of those fabrics.

I didn't have the persplex templates when I made my block - it would have been a lot more accurate if I'd had them then, but I made it work!

(The pattern advises to make the hexagon shaped block first, and then to stitch in the centre of it, but I prefer to stitch first.)

The final effect (off the pattern) —

Interestingly, I was chatting with Mary at Scrub Stitching and she is doing the 'same' design...Fig 'n' Berry has another pattern which uses the same setting, but is called Birds of Liberty with different stitcheries (birds, etc) and using Liberty fabrics.

This morning we sold another 12 calves - we sell all our beefy girls, and just raise the beefy boys plus the dairy girls. 

It will feel like I am on holiday when I feed the remaining 68 rather than 80 tonight!

That's 36 sold altogether - all of them were between the ages of 5 days and 2½ weeks when they went.

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn