First day of holiday

Had a good day yesterday with arriving a couple of hours late after delays with the plane. Good flight and lots of sleep so I was pleased. Today we were up early and Ewan and I went down to have breakfast with mum and dad at the hotel.
Off at midday for a shopping trip for Alex in his new apartment at university. He will be all sorted with some stuff for his room. After a quick side trip to Joann's for mum and I, MJ drove us down to the waterfront to go to the America's Cup park and watch the second race. In fortunately damage to both boats and an increase in wind speed meant that racing has been postponed for today, but still saw the boats go past on their way back to dock area. Had nice lunch and time for drinking while enjoying the ambience.
Tonight we dined out at a nice local restaurant which was a good meal and evening. When we got home Erin and I got into Alex's mardi gras beads which was quite fun. They were really heavy and he collected them over a number of days. MJ took this photo.

 The mardi gras queens.

Adventure begins

Just sitting in the koru lounge in Auckland airport waiting for flight to San Fran and then to Los Angeles for Ang seminar next weekend. Here is a photo of the yummy biscuit I am enjoying courtesy of Marie's sister Cheryl who made day of the dead cookies for her birthday today.

Unfortunately I ate the mouth before I took the photo.

I only bought a mill hill kit with me to stitch as still have prep work to do only seminar piece and also thought that my Latvian is tired of travelling the world and not being finished. Also bought a little bit of beading for the BJP but have done two pieces so currently only july and August behind now. 

This is one of the creative Stitchers pieces which I have been using for my BJP pieces. Turtle for month of June. I currently have a heart and ginkgo leaf to do. Ginkgo leaf is started buried did not bring it with me as too fiddly with the range of bead colours I want to use.

Back to stitching.

With the holidays over and not as much hand stitching done it has been a busy week at school with lots of changes to our phone system. Just when we think it is all going well it turns to custard.
I have managed to get some stitching done though with snap trays made for Lee and Sonia as well as one for mum to take to seminar. Also made some ATC cards for a swap. They all used tissue as the basis with embellishments. The paua series were fixed onto pellet vilene and then machine stitched a picture. I wasn't sure if it would work but had to use the old sewing machine, which worked out fine. I beaded the steam giving the impression of heat and punched a label to affix. The dress series was a tissue which had two printed layers. The first layer was stuck on across all three labels then the top layer trimmed, fixed on and coated. I then added the fringe and diamantés. Thought they turned out well so hope that the recipients like them, for a swap bot swap.

     

 My ATC cards made. cannot turn picture around no matter how many times I save it.

 
Snap trays are my latest craze. These have been made for a variety of friends and the NZ piece (in right photo) for mum to take to seminar. Snappy bag in left photo has mum's piece of stitching incorporated in it as well. This weekend I hope to make a snappy bag and tray for me to take to Seminar.

Day 2 pantry redo

Nearly back together. It's been a bit of a discovery tour examining the pantry from five years nearly of being in this house. Found the cornflour container so that was a discovery as thought i had put the icing sugar in the wrong container.

Not a great day today so washing is in the conservatory once again. Went to see pacific rim last night at the movies and going to the Lone Ranger tomorrow so that will be great. Seeing the Calendar Girls at the Little Theatre in New Plymouth next week. 

Pantry sort out

Recently I went to make a cake (don't die of shock all you readers, I can bake albeit not well) and could not find the icing sugar in the pantry. Decided that holiday job one would be the pantry clean out so today is the day. Started with the top two shelves and found the espresso cleaner so did that job too. Here are the photos to prove the start. Hopefully the break to go to school won't be all afternoon so I get it finished.

Stitching finishing

It's been a busy month with bits of stitching nearly completed as well as a new little project started. I made a number of snap trays so that was a bonus and hope to sell them. It started with making one to match the snappy bag I made for Maree. She really liked it so that was cool and I am hoping to make a couple of kiwi ones to take to Los Angeles in August.

Card demonstration at Sarah's and the wonderful items they made. All different but from the same starting point.

Finished pieces from night class project.

Night class have finished with our Christmas tree project. It has been a really stunning project to stitch and I have enjoyed mine on the 45 count Florence and single strand of silk as well as the 100 count silk for the hardanger sections. You can see the difference in the fabric count quite markedly as mine is half the size of the other pieces.

May also saw the cold weather return with a vengeance and we had snow settle on the ground on the 22nd May.

Tulip flower for Mary V.

This is the latest piece that I have done for the Creative Stitchers 12x12 challenge. I have been doing beadwork on each of these and also using these as part of my beaded journal project items for this year. I made the decision that I would bead something each month and so this is the piece I have finished for May. I am not certain if I have a copy of Aprils face but I will be able to take a photo at another stage.
For March I completed a snowflake on Rosalind's piece and for this month I have a pear to complete.

Most Fabulous Product

As most of my friends know I love notebooks and this set on the Stampin'Up product range is a great new one. I am thinking of getting one for myself and having an afternoon to show it off later in the month.
http://www3.stampinup.com/nz/documents/DEMO_this_and_that_flyer_SP.pdf

You can order one yourself via my web presence on stamping up.So if you would like toorder online you can do so by following the link below.
http://www3.stampinup.com/home/en-NZ/find-a-demonstrator

Search for my name and join me, then follow the promptsthrough the agreement. This will mean that you can order items at any time andthey will be attributed to me. They also will be delivered direct to you so nowaiting time for me to deliver to you.

have fun and I will show you my latest cards here which I have sent to some of my swap-bot friends.