Another lockdown, another flurry of finished items.

Well just over a month ago we were going to have our embroidery meeting and suddenly we were in lockdown 4 stay at home. How many were taken by surprise at the swiftness of the lockdown and were you prepared for a lengthy stay at home event?

   

Hardanger Scissor case and needlebook - finished.

My stitching was certainly taken by surprise. It sat up, looked at me and said you have time, stitch me now. Unfortunately, it did not happen. I did finish a couple of small items, stitched the remainder of my guild project "Wessex Sampler", (thought about the finishing and decided I didn’t quite know what I was doing), sewed more masks and wheat bags as well as a stitch bob for myself. Magazines were reviewed with some since Level 3 finding a new home as  life has opened up. I even managed to complete about three days of card making which used a bit more of the stash and was a relaxing way to have a three day weekend.

Mystery Sampler moving right along

Since I have been back at school, the mystery sampler has been looking at me and I have been busy stitching, changing the stitches and sorting out the colours. The power of the black and white photo is great when looking at tonal variety. It has been interesting to view the many finished ones online, and hopefully at the next conference we should have a great display. Many are finishing them as a bag pocket or cushion which is totally suitable.

Project bag - partially made from recycled laundry bag.

Another thing i have been trying to improve is my sewing skills and making project bags. My friend makes really lovely ones and I have been the recipient on several occasions. This is my attempt at making one with a see through front using a recycled laundry bag. It took a lot of undoing before it was finished.

Fruit paste version 2 - Citrus and apple

Also this year I have been using excess fruit in making fruit paste to have with cheese and crackers, mostly becuase I no longer have jam and toast for breakfast. The first lot was feijoia and apple - this is citrus and apple. Very tasty as mum and I had some at the weekend. I am also trying to use scraps of linen to make scissor fobs for sale and this is one that is quite nice to stitch and bead.

Scissor fobs - for sale.

 Diane

Another busy week

It's been a busy first week of the holidays with a friends father in laws funeral and a 50th birthday party on the same day. Since then I have been at work, the dentist, visited with my brother who is out from California for a week and had a couple of card making, sewing sessions. Today I have nearly finished the third in the banner series (actually banner #10), made hoummas and small sausage pizza bites inspired by a TV programme.

Banner series from Grandmothers Garden

Cooking

Cards that Sonia and I made using the one sheet wonder template a. We a now working out how to do it as a Sunday class for my ladies. 

Weekend cooking

This weekend was a wonderful time spent with one of my best friends, Sonia. Saturday was a quick shopping and visiting trip to New Plymouth. Then home for a lunch and time to get Sonia's project life organised. Saturday night was roast dinner at Marilyn's celebrating mums birthday and David being home from university. I then went home to change into my beach dress for the school ball "the Beach Ball". It was loads of fun and the students were the best at dancing and having a good time. Lots of great dancers and the boys were certainly more into dancing than the girls. I was home in time to turn into Cinderella so that was good.

Sunday I was up early to back and cook lunch for Sonia who was coming to make cards. I made individual fudge cakes for supper on Thursday at institute, and more of them for school on Thursday for Fiona. The items in the square baking tins are potato puffs. These are my favourite lunch dish but does require cooking the potatoes the day before. Sonia really enjoyed lunch as I made quinoa salad as well so that was good.

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Below are the cards that we made. It was just from a card idea on Jessica Taylor's blog so we worked well and it was a fun afternoon. The cards were all just general ones and I am thinking about taking some to friends to sell.