My bed hog - you know the type!

Just had to include a pic of my fav bed hog! Isn't he just the cutest!!!

Garden is turning into a jungle again!

See what I mean! However it is the most delightful smelling jungle to be in! Sweet peas! I have never grown them before, but this year decided to give them a go. They are climbing all over the broad beans. I have been picking bunches of them to have inside and giving bunches away.
There are also marrows, beetroot and lettuces growing in there somewhere!
My radishes are only small, but this is when I like to eat them! I can spend ages wandering round eating things in the garden. I have the radishes planted with baby carrots. We don't eat many carrots, but the baby carrots sounded quite nice.
Hope you are all having fun!
Carole

MERRY XMAS EVERYONE!!

I would like to wish all my treasured friends a very merry xmas! I feel very honoured and very wealthy to have you as friends.
May you enjoy a day filled with the joy of children's laughter, a day that brings surprise gifts and beautiful food, and a day to remember and be thankful for.

Carole x

The day before xmas.......

Today I have been working on my New Zealand quilt. I have finished all the quilting now, phew! I have made the binding and sewn it on, so now all I have to do is hand stitch that down and put a little label on the back with the date, name and his birthday on it.


This lovely little ATC arrived in my letter box, I totally forgot about it until I saw the envelope!! It was made by Doreen in Australia as a swap for one I made. It is felted and I love the colours! Thank you Doreen!
A couple of works of art arrived at my place recently. This hanger was made by Debbi in Australia, we did a swap, (you'll see my hanger in a previous post). This is lovely! It is a lovely dusty pink, she is a fab judge of colours, Debbi never fails to impress me!! Thanks Debbi, and I look forward to our challenges in 2009!

This is a wreath my daughter made for us. It is made of Tui shapes (our native bird) and fern fronds. I love it! A real New Zealand wreath! Thanks Catherine!! xx

Oh, and a wee bit of shopping..... I know I'm suppose to be on a shopping diet, lol, especially when it comes to crafting stuff, but I just couldn't help myself!! I saw this pattern in a mag and it looks very simple to make, and very effective. So I plan to make a couple after tomorrow is over.

Sorry, had to add this pic! LOL! I know you are probably all strawberried out, but they just keep coming! (Although with 3 days of rain, they are starting to rot. But picked this lot last night to have with our pavlova tomorrow!!)
This little fella sits in our tree each year, he's getting on a bit in years now!
Carole ;)

Aww shucks.....An award from Tracy!

Proximity Award

This award states that: This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.
Thanks Tracy for thinking of me and visiting my blog!

One door closes, another opens.....I hope!!!

I am now officially unemployed! Last week after being on "special leave" from work for the last 5 weeks, the "issues" were resolved. I left.
After weeks of counselling, visits to doctors, stress leave from work, I left.
I am totally amazed at how much difference a change of staff can make in the work place. The people you work with, can make your work place an enjoyable place to be, or they can make it very unpleasant!

Now I face a whole new range of issues, what do I do next? Where do I go from here?
I was employed as a Community Services Officer, I spent a lot of time dealing with the community, but I also published a community newspaper. I took the photos, wrote the articles, did the editing, sold advertising and did all the design work. Work of this nature is pretty thin on the ground.
I think I will designate the month of Jan to preparing a CV. Then hit the "streets" beginning of Feb. At least then I won't have to compete with all the university students!

Wish me luck!

Here is a couple of pics of the quilt I have been working on. It is all ready for quilting now. What do you think? It is made using New Zealand fabrics.



Hope you've all had a great weekend!
Carole ;)

Yipppeeee! An award!!

The Marie Antoinette, A Real Person, A Real Award

Laura from over at Laura Kay's Place has been a kind soul and given me this award - which I might say I was very excited about!! Thank you Laura! (and I am thrilled you enjoy my blog enough to give me this!)

Rules of acceptance:
1. Put the logo on your blog
2.Place a link to the person who nominated you
3.Nominate 7 blogs to receive this award
4.Place a link to those blogs
5.Leave a message on their blogs to let them know they have been given this award

Now comes the exciting part...

doreen from doreeng.blogspot.com
leeanne from mixedmediamartyr.blogspot.com
joanie from joaniehoffman.blogspot.com
Jacq from jacqcfibers.blogspot.com

I know people are very busy at this time, so I've kept the passing on to a bare minimum!

Carole

First taste of summer!

Another little coin purse!

Yesterday we went for a drive out to Himitangi Beach, approximately 30 minutes drive from home on the west coast. I can't remember ever visiting this beach before.
The weather was fabulous, and everyone else had the same idea. There were cars parked along the sand, and kids on 4-wheeler bikes and not-so-little kids on motorbikes blatting along the beach.

The surf life saving patrols were on duty, and had their flags up. Then a couple of life savers took their boat out for a spin.

Some people were swimming, and some were fishing. Although I thought the water felt warm, I wasn't game enough to immerse my whole body under water!!

But it did feel really lovely, and I look forward to my next visit!

Carole ;)

something little...... and something big

I made this little coin purse a couple of nights ago. I thought they would be nice to make as gifts.


Here is a close up of part of the quilt I'm making using all New Zealand fabrics. The top has been finished and now I have to sandwhich all the layers together.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Carole

MY VERY OWN RANGE OF GIFT CARDS HAS ARRIVED!

HERE THEY ARE!
My very own range of gift cards, using typical New Zealand photographs!
You can purchase these for a wide variety of occasions,
buy one or buy a set of 10 cards!
(These will also be listed on my etsy store)

old fishing hut, jacksons bay
(great card for house warming, new home, new flat, or just use for any occasion)

colours of a changing season
(great any occasion card)

lake moeraki, west coast
(Good luck, new job, engagement, friendship, teenagers leaving home)

jacksons bay wharf
(Nice card for any occasion use!)

flying south
(great card for any time use, or coming to visit!)

tawaki - fiordland crested penguin
(lovely card to use for leaving, farewell, good luck, teenager leaving home, leaving work)

lake whakatipu, south island
(great anytime card!)

grasses in the evening sun
(this would be nice for a "thinking of you" card)

tawaki - fiordland crested penguin 2
(could be used for engagement, wedding, friendship)

main trunk line, national park
(great for farewell or trip)

Prices: New Zealand $3.00 each or $25.00 for a set of 10 cards with envelopes
Overseas $ 3.00 each or $25.00 for a set of 10 cards with envelopes

Each card comes with an envelope and is printed on nice quality card.
These cards are blank inside for your own personal message, making them more versatile for a variety of occasions!
These cards can be individually framed and given as a gift.
A set of 10 cards, 1 of each design would make a lovely gift, Christmas or birthday, or even as a thank you gift for that special friend.
If you'd like me to send them to someone for you as a gift, let me know and I will take care of it for you.

If you are in New Zealand and would like to buy any of these cards, email me!

Carole

check out this give away!

Susan is giving away a copy of her new book!!! (I would just love to own a copy of this!) It's gonna cost a fortune to buy in New Zealand! It's called Exhibition 36: Mixed Media Demonstrations and Explorations

You can read all about this on Susan's blog. Go check it out and put your name down!!

A new quilt in progress.....

Here is a sneak peek at my next quilting project. The fabric has been measured, cut and sewn into strips. I'll keep you posted!

Carole ;)

Another block nearly finished

I worked on this today during the heat of the day. I need to finish the bees with some hand stitching and then sew all the appliqued pieces. Woohoo! only 2 blocks left to complete after this!
I also made a hanger for Debbi, who I hope isn't in the process of reading this!! CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW DEBBI!
Carole ;)

Don't you just love the promise of things to come!

Like glimpsing a flash of red amongst the leaves in the strawberry garden and tasting the warm juicy flesh in your mouth,

Like discovering hundreds of flower buds forming on the passionfruit vine, and the promise of the black summer fruit!

Hope your weekend has been promising and colourful!
Carole

Sewing progress!

Remember this? It is a McKenna Ryan pattern called "In Full Bloom". (you can check it out on her website) It is made up of 8 blocks, and yes, it's all applique! I have been working on it for 2 years, and have just about finished another block. Yay!! I have to sew all these pieces on now, and then block 5 will be finished.
I made this little atc too, if there is anyone who would like to swap with me let me know!

Now you will remember Bird from the last post, well I guess you could say I suffered a case of cot death on Wednesday night. So I cared for him for 24 hours, and then I think he just missed his real mum way too much! He has gone to where all good birds go!
This is a pic of him taken on Wed morning when he was trying to take some steps.
Hope you are all fantastic!
Carole