One reason I don't like Winter!!!

I had to rush around the house this morning and hurriedly barricade us all inside. It was a beautiful Spring morning with a very weak, but welcome sun and I had every window and door in the house open. I managed to close everything in record time!

Buddy was on the prowl and trying to get inside so he could curl up on a bed and take his 12 hr nap :))

And what's wrong with that you might ask?

Well, nothing, until he turned the other cheek!!!

He was dripping in mud!!

In fact you can even see the high tide mark on him!

Poor Buddy could'nt understand why I didn't want to cuddle him and show him lots of affection :))

I mean, would you??

I ask you.......

Are we the only ones who have cats that come home looking like refugees?

So it was off to the bathroom for a bath!

Quick smart!

Yes, Buddy, that's all your dirt going down the plug!

Poor thing, he looked like some character from a Harry Potter movie LOL

After a nice rub dry, and you've never heard so much purring (!!) he is now very clean,
and curled up tightly asleep on our bed.

It's a cats life!

Have a lovely weekend friends
Carole :))

collectable postcards

I've been creating some more postcards for my collectable range.

Using up some of my lace and scraps of fabric I can't bare to throw out.

SOLD -thankyou

They are fun to make, and I often think it would be nice to be given one of these,
especially when most of what I've used is vintage!

Unfortunately, after I've finished making them,
I want to keep them all for myself :(

But they will probably all end up in my Etsy store
for who ever is lucky enough to find the little treasures.

Do you get attached to the art you create?

Carole :))

Check this out...

This is a pattern store belonging to Deb and Darlene.
They have decided to clear out their stock and guess what this means?
Yes, it means some gorgeous patterns at some reduced prices!

See you over there!
Carole :)

I must just tell you...

Yesterday I was very brave.

Yesterday Altrusa Palmerston North was holding a Fabric, Buttons and Bows fundraiser, to raise funds for literacy projects.

It was their very first fundraiser of this nature. I had to go.

I was very restrained, you'd have been proud of me :))

I restricted my buying to items I knew I would use, and not things "I liked".

I spent $8.60.

I felt like I had just purchased the crown jewels!

I bought rolls of crochet cotton on wooden reels. I never actually knew that they were sold on wooden reels.

Sparkling artificial silk crochet cottons,

three reels of silk thread,

four reels of linen thread,
which were by far my most extravagant purchase at $1.00 each.

Then the elderly lady gave me a lump of this to go with the linen thread, - a well used lump of wax.

Then I spotted all these odds of cotton, some are very fine,
they will come in very handy for my hand stitching.

At one table the ladies were giving everyone a wee bag,
fit as much into the bag as you'd like for $1.00.
There were boxes and boxes of nylon laces, not really my thing,
but I dug out some cotton bindings, I have just the project for these!

I particularly like this Busy Bee binding,
especially as it has 'Made in New Zealand' on it, a rarity now days.
I also like that it's fadeless and boilproof!

And then I found a pair of pinking shears for $1.00 and this daisy wheel!

Have you seen one of these before? I hadn't, the stall owner gave me a quick demo on how to use it,
it's been very well used in it's past life,
and I have a feeling it will be getting well used in it's next life!

Yes, I think I was very brave and very well behaved to be able to carry my purchases back to my car without the aid of a removal man!!

I will need to watch out for this sale again next year!

Did you have any exciting shopping expeditions during the weekend?

Carole :)

Absolute postal delight!

Yesterday Mr M&M carried in a large brown package from the letterbox. Mmmmm couldn't remember having ordered or bought anything.
The stamps were from Norway!

Foreign stamps on an envelope get me excited,
but foreign stamps on a large package send me to dizzying heights!!!

The package was from a student doing my journal workshop, and when I had read her lovely card with the hand-worked stitching on it, I discovered she had sent me a selection of her very prized fabric samples. They were all French and all pre World War 2!
Ati you are so kind and generous and I can't begin to thank you enough!

Each sample had it's original label

She had also included part of a bell pull that her mother had made many years ago, the design and lining was all so neatly stitched.
I don't think I could use this in my art work, I think I will hold onto this and keep it as a special treasure :)

And all these fabrics were wrapped in a large piece that had a fleur-de-lys pattern on it. Totally gorgeous. Now my head is buzzing with ideas for what I can make using them. Some of the fabrics will make gorgeous journal covers!

If you'd like to see what Ati gets up to, you can visit her here.
In the meantime, I'm off to look through the fabrics for the umpteenth time and possibly to create!!

Have a lovely weekend :)
Carole

rain rain go away, come again another day....

Yesterday I donned my gumboots and ventured outdoors. I have, over the last few weeks restricted my outside adventures to trekking from the house to the car shed, but yesterday it was different - the rain stopped.

I've been avoiding the garden, everything is soggy and suffering winteritis.

It was however, lovely to see a splash of colour from spring bulbs.

We've had a lot of rain over the last few days. The ground is waterlogged.

Of course when I venture outside, I always have company :)

The first of my spring bulbs are starting to flower, the scent is divine.
It's nice to see Shelby 'taking time to smell the flowers'

and Wednesday was suffering from a strange bout of insomnia,
she's usually curled up asleep during daylight hours :)
I noticed she didn't want to get her feet wet, she was content to sit on the fence and watch the goings on. Then she followed me back inside to the comfort of her special chair.

Don't forget to take time out to smell the flowers -
between showers that is, if you're in New Zealand!

Carole

Lilly finds a new home!

Just thought I'd let you all know that gorgeous wee Lilly has found a new home with a loving family.
Thank you all for your kind comments re Lilly. Her new owners rang me last weekend to let me know she was settling in well.

She used to spend the day sleeping on my chair in my sewing room, listening to classic hits from 50s and 60s, and then play all night!

Did you notice the scratching post in this pic above? It is nearly 3 years old and has been (still is) used by Buddy and Wednesday. They are now onto their 2nd scratching post!
Just imagine what the furniture would look like if it weren't for the scratching post!!

Have a lovely day,
Carole :)

Don't know what came over me?

Yesterday was an amazing day.

It was terrible outside, cold and showery.

I washed floors, cleaned windows, made a huge pot of hearty winter soup,

planted out another 300 spring bulbs.

Before I could stop and think I also had a rather large pile of 2 1/2" squares cut!

I hope this affliction doesn't last too long - it's not even spring yet!

Margaret's stitchery project arrives...

The five of us girls in the QB5 group are each working on a stitchery.
They will be sent around the group so that each person can add something delightful to it
before sending it off to the next person.

Mine has been sent on it's merry journey around the world.

Margaret's has arrived, (above).

I've added a touch of blue, (below).

Whose will arrive next?
Carole :)

CLASS REGISTRATION OPENS!

Let me introduce you to my next online class!


It's a little bit different...
In this class you'll be creating gifts especially for others!

In this workshop I will work with you to help you take my ideas and create the perfect gift for giving :)




Here's the perfect chance to use those specially hoarded doilies,

those pretty vintage laces,

buttons that bear the scars of years gone by.

Here's your chance to play with transfers,

to add some hand stitching.

Here's your chance

to give a gift of love,

for absolutely no reason at all,

except that you care!

Join me in a fun workshop

as we recycle and create

and then wrap and then mail!


Then imagine the smiles you'll give
when you share this with someone special!

I'll make you smile

online workshop with Madness and mess
stop press! NOW STARTS: 1ST Sept and runs indefinitely


cost: $US35.00
Please make your class payment via PayPal, (link is on the side bar)

As soon as I see your payment
I will issue you an invitation to join my workshop blog
Please check your spam for my email if you don't hear from me.

A list of the things you will need plus treasure hunt items
will be added to the workshop blog before the start of the class


The private class blog will be up and running for 2 months, during this time you will
have full access to it so that you may work at your own pace and revisit it if you choose to go
back and make a different version to your first
I will also be available to help during this time.

Once your workshop fee has been paid there will be no refunds


If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me
(link on the side)

I'd love to have you join me



Carole :)

I'll make you smile

Into smiles?

Here's a class designed to help you create something to send someone else.....

Why?

To make them smile of course!

Class details coming soon.

Have a great day!

And don't forget to smile!

Carole :))

the middle of winter

It's the middle of winter, there is snow covering the distant ranges and we've had a few very crispy, crunchy frosts.
But we always seem to have a gorgeous day once the sun breaks thru.

There's not much happening in the garden, the strawberry plants are keeping a very low profile.

There are a few rose blooms, but not many

a few passionfruit left on the vines, yet to drop

But the sunny days mean only one thing.... it's time for a really good beauty treatment!

The girls are ready for their bi-monthly pedicure!

Just the thing for a bunch of expectant mums! LOL

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

Carole ;)