Productivity continues

I have another finish to show you today, but first.

I have mentioned that I have a new crochet start. And here it is. Growing slower than I would like, because the increasing activity in my wee room is getting in the way!

 LOL

I'm enjoying rippling along in the evenings and loving the variegated pinks. Such a pleasure to work with.

And now onto my finish.

I sat down on Wednesday to do this but ten minutes in, there was a power cut which lasted for over an hour! 

Yesterday was my first chance to get back to it. I quilted and bound it on the machine then curled up in the sitting room with Tony and had the binding closed in time to have it on the able at dinner.

My boy Joe was here, with his lovely girlfriend.

She's a keeper!

Today, after I get the domestic stuff done I plan to play with some pretty floral fabrics. I've been collecting them up, here and there, never really sure of what to do with them. Now I have a plan. A simple, quick and easy plan. Hopefully if things go to that plan, I'll have at least a top, by the end of today.

Right I'm off, the sooner I get to the chores, the sooner I get to have fun.

Another productive day.

I spent another afternoon in my playroom today. I needed a break from the hand stitching on the Christmas story and spied a wee bundle of fabrics I've had for some time. Inspiration took over.

In true blogger style, my photos are out of order and I can't figure out how to rearrange them using my tablet!

So, you get to see the sweet looking back first!

I plan to use this Kiwiana red as binding.

It compliments the fruits beautifully.

What a delicious looking table runner.

I also have a new crochet project on the go.

A colleague has a new grand daughter. Out came the pink yarn.

And I even found time to pop out to the garden and plant my garlic.

Spot the difference?

Aside from the obvious improved lighting, can anyone spot the difference between the picture I showed last time, and the one below?

You could be forgiven for missing it, it almost isn't in the picture.

What's my excuse?

LOL

Look at the border on the right side.

I was happily pinning away this afternoon when I noticed that I had sewn it on the wrong way round!

I even pointed out to Tony that the words on one of the applique pieces were upside down and I was Pi55ed off about it.

He didn't notice either!

*

So, as you can see, I have been busy in my wee room again.

I worked on two secret projects and prepped some Christmas ornaments.

They, like the above Christmas Story quilt, now need some hand sewing before I can move onto the next part.

Guess what I'll be hopefully doing over the next week?

I sewed!

I went into my sewing room to find a crochet pattern book, and ended up sewing! 

On my sewing machine.

Sorry about the poor quality picture, the light is dropping fast here

I finally finished the applique on the borders of my Christmas story quilt, then I stitched the last panels onto the quilt top.

Now I need to complete some hand stitched details, before layering and quilting.

I may get that done by December. 

Not necessarily December 2016 though!

LOL

A little crafting and a day at sea.

Well once again it has been a while.

But I'm slowly crafting on!

My supposedly quick to stitch dragonfly is coming along slowly! LOL

I'm enjoying the process.

 This crochet project is taking it's time too.

I got bored with flowers, too much starting and stopping!

So now it's become a sort of sampler, as I try out various stitches.

I'm currently working a few rows of V stitch on the right side edge as you see it here.

Not sure where it will go next!

*

We recently took some leave from work and had some time together at home.

We worked a little in the garden and a little in the house.

 We also took some time out to do nothing but rest for a couple of days.

That was nice. We watched a couple of movies and allowed ourselves to sleep in!

Then we took a road trip.

 We headed north for a few hours and stopped in Kaikoura.

Tony has taken me there before, we wanted to go out on a boat trip, but on the previous visit the weather was bad and no boats were venturing out.

This time things were different and the seas were calm.

So the following day we boarded ship and sailed out into the pacific.

To visit with the Sperm whales.

 It was wonderful.

 One of them even gave the iconic goodbye wave and he dived beneath the waves.

On the way home we stopped in Christchurch for the night and a quick look about, then hit the road again, not stopping until we hit Ashburton, where we stopped once more to visit Annies Country Quilt store.

Of course I treated myself.

*

I'm going to enjoy my last day off. Back to work tomorrow.