Todays Doings.

I'm still settling into my new routine. It's taking a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure I'll get there.

I worked an extra shift yesterday so today is my only day off until Sunday. I wasted spent most of it sat here at the computer, but in that time I did manage to get onto Amazon.co.uk and arrange Christmas gifts for my beautiful grand children back in Blighty!

I love that I can do that.

Miss Faith (5) requested everything unicorns please!!

So one or two items bearing that creatures likeness are on their way to Birmingham England.

Master Floki (6.5 months) has requested some PJs and 'not plastic' toys please.

So his wish is also being granted.

DS Joe has settled into life with a young lady here in NZ, she already has a beautiful wee girl who is a bundle of energy. I can't leave her out, so this afternoon I settled into my room and put together this advent calendar for her.

Now I just need to find some goodies to fill up the pockets.

 None of the above is what I had planned to do today!!

I was going to put a lap quilt onto the frame and get it quilted. LOL

It would have been a lovely day to work in the back room today.

the sun is shining and the garden is looking lovely.

 The wedding cake tree, the one you all like so much is looking resplendent and heavy with flowers.

The birds are going to get a good feed of that later in the summer.

Just beneath it the peonies are beginning to flower. I've been cutting single stems and bringing them into the house.

They do look stunning.

I'm off to see what else I can achieve before Mr H gets home.

The New Rhythm.

After the initial flurry of excitement I find I'm struggling to settle into the new work/life rhythm. I thought I would be able to spend time crafting in the mornings before my later starts, but very little of that has happened. Even my days off seem to have very little crafty time in them.  Sigh, maybe it will come in time.....

That doesn't mean my crafting has stopped altogether.

I finally got the binding closed on this wee cot quilt and took it over to Claire for her craft market stall.

I'm also working slowly on topping up the blanket pile on the stall.

The garden of course is taking up some of our free time. I would show some photos, but it is pouring with rain, it has been for nearly 24 hours now. 

Instead I'll show an image of my happy boy. His blanket has arrived safely on the Isle of Man taking only 7 days to get there.

I'm told it's on the bed, the very first layer after a cotton sheet. 

And as I can already attest, he says it's very cosy and warm.

Both he and his lovely lady are delighted with it.

Right, I'm off to do some secret Santa stuff I think, I hope..........

I'm not due at work until 11am. 

A quick note.

Sorry, I didn't mean to leave it so long!

Life suddenly got very busy, between starting my new job, with it's longer and very different hours, working in the garden and a weekend away fishing, I just haven't had much time for crafting, let alone blogging.

I have done a few wee crafting things though.

I spent two afternoons on some secret stuff.

And made myself some bunting.

But try as I have, I just can't seem to get a decent photo of the bunting for you.

 It's hanging in the window of my sewing room.

 Which of course is not an ideal place for great photography.

 I'm sure you get the idea.

I also pulled out a very loud and busy piece of fabric that came to me in a bundle purchased from the WWW.

I chopped a little piece off and added a red border around that.

Then used a larger piece for backing.

 There was just enough in the off cuts for binding.

Which I didn't close up yet, but I did make a start over at Debbie's place last night.

Maybe I'll get it finished today.

This one will be going onto Claire's market stall.

She sold one of my crochet blankets and one of my quilts in recent weeks so it's time for a top up.

I don't start work until 10.30 today, I should get on and do some domestics, so that my days off can be all about me stuff!!

A Few Goings On.

In between the final shifts at my old job and inductions and introductions at my new job, there has still been time for crafting.

I used some of the floral fabric left overs to make a pretty girly bunting. 

I also used some soft creams and a little beige, I'm regretting that now though!

There may be more bunting, or maybe not. I'll see where my muse takes me.

On Wednesday after lunch with the girls I wandered home, not really sure what I would do with myself. 

I finished up making a little quilted needle roll for my crochet hooks.

 I started out looking for scraps of fabric, but ended up cutting in to two fat quarters that seemed made for each other.

I even found a scrap of gross grain ribbon with paw prints on which seemed appropriate, given the main fabric has Scottie dogs on it.

I've had a tidy up in my crochet corner and have a few smaller items on the go. I'll pull them out for a show and tell on another day.

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The garden is taking up quite a bit of our time at the moment.

We have most of our veges planted and some tomatoes in the green house.

We just need to keep on top of the weeds!

 I thought you might appreciate a quick look around. The snow ball tree is putting on a great and scented display at the moment.

And just over the foot path, the wedding cake tree, (Which you can see from my quilting studio window) Is also getting warmed up and will be flowering very soon. 

 The big cherry tree, (Which is also outside the quilting studio) has just about finished flowering.

 But it's smaller friend, on the other end of the green house, is just getting going!

The lawns have all been treated with a weed and feed supplement and will be getting a mow any day now. So on the whole, the garden is looking pretty good at the moment, with just one bed awaiting attention.

No gardening for me this afternoon.

I plan to spend it stitching or sewing quietly someplace. :-)

New Beginnings

Things have been a little quiet on the crafting front, I've been busy with other stuff.

Lots of gardening and a job interview.

I'm moving on. I've had enough of getting up at 04.15 and feeling tired for the rest of the day!

I'm off to work in the local supermarket.

Not the most glamorous job in the world, but that's just fine with me.

I still get to be me. I'll probably see most of the folks I have gotten to know at the pool.

And most importantly I still have plenty of me time and Wednesdays are free for girls days out!

I shall miss my colleagues at the pool and have many fond and some hilarious memories.

I couldn't resist sharing this wee gift with you.

What a perfect reminder of some fun times.

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All of that doesn't mean there was no crafting.

I did get a little something made and will share soon.