100 Posts!

It has been really, really cold here over the last week, so evenings have been spent sitting near a cosy fire and making hats galore.  As much as I prefer hot weather, my hat sales sky rocket when the temperatures drop!  I spotted an adorable newborn pattern here and had to have a go at making a much bigger version for my wee girl. The bow is meant to be right on the top but it made her head look abnormally large so we moved it down a bit. It worked out really well and Miss 5 has trotted off to school wearing it today and was beaming with delight that she was getting lots of ooohs and aaaahs about it.  When her teacher asked where she got it, Miss 5 ran over to me and said "this clever lady here made it".  Too cute!! 

Last week I discovered a clearance table at a local shop which had a huge amount of tea pots at bargain prices so I stocked up.  I guess that means I have to get cracking and make some cosies to go with them now to get into my wee shop.  In the meantime, three of my tea cosies are in a REAL shop!!!  The lovely store Stitchbird that I've been raving about, now have some of my tea cosies amongst all their gorgeous wares.  I am beyond proud and get a silly grin on my face every time I walk past!

My sewing machine died a few weeks ago and I have really missed it.  I hadn't actually realised just how much I use it until I didn't have one anymore.  I hate the whole throwaway society thing, but sadly this time finances had to be considered and it just wasn't viable to spend all that money repairing an already old machine.  I had a very limited budget but managed to find a fabulous machine in a sale and got it for a ridiculously cheap price.  It's only a simple machine but that suits me perfectly for what I need to do with it.  Give me straight stitch and zig zag and I'm happy.  Anything else and I start to panic!  This machine has all manner of stretch stitches and fancy things that I will have to investigate in the future.  But for now, straight stitching is just fine with me.

This is the collection of fabrics I have put together to make some cushions and I can't wait to get started!  Lovely strips of fabric in different sizes, pretty trims and vintage buttons.  Now if only I could get over my fear of buttonholes and zips I might actually make a start....

I christened my new machine with a nice easy project - a draught excluder for our front door.  I love this beachy striped fabric and it has added some more colour to our hallway.  And it has succeeded in keeping that nasty southerly wind from whooshing under my door.  I managed to add round ends even if it did make me swear a little bit while I was trying to work it out.  I had my gorgeous friend Ange staying here over the weekend so we sat with our sewing machines on the dining table with a block of chocolate in between us and plenty of cups of tea.  She made a whole dress for her daughter in the time it took me to make this door-sausage!  

Now as the title mentioned, I have just realised that this is my 100th post!  I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all your lovely comments and your regular visits.  You can't begin to know how much it means to me.  Since starting this blog and in turn discovering other colourful, inspirational blogs, it has really made a change in my daily life.  It's the little things like buying fun colourful socks instead of my boring old black ones to keep my feet cosy on days like today, it's looking at things that were always in my home but with a different set of eyes, it's the way I have bought op shop treasures and found new places in my home for them, it's the way I carry my camera with me at all times to capture images I love - all these things are small but are making a huge difference.  It's funny considering what I had in mind for this blog when I first created it and chose the name.  But that's another story...

Before I go I also wanted to say a huge thank you to Barbina, AnaBC and Stitches, Scraps and Sparkles in the Sun for passing on such lovely awards!  Thank you ladies - I am chuffed to bits!

Oh one more thing, I have finally signed up for Pinterest.  After hearing so much about it I finally took the plunge and wow, why did I wait so long?  Talk about gorgeous!!!

Have a fabulous week all.
Leah
xxxx

Colourful Bits and Pieces

I am so happy ... a wonderful new store has recently opened and it stocks the most gorgeous fabrics and trims.  And best of all it's just 5 minutes from my home.  Stitchbird have a lovely online service, but there is something about being able to see things, to feel them and to wander around with a curtain swatch in your hand desperately trying to match up fabrics to make cushions!!  I was a bit overwhelmed - because I loved everything in there.  I couldn't walk away without buying these beautiful ribbons.  They will form part of the cushion decoration once I decide on a fabric (a seemingly impossible task given the choices!!).  

I was in a stationery shop looking at kids gift ideas when I spotted this adorable range of kids craft products.  Cheap as chips and totally gorgeous.  These buttons had to come home with me - they are the exact colours I use for my tea cosies - so now I will have ample supplies for my tea cosy fastenings.  

And speaking of tea cosies, I made yet another one over the weekend!  I have a few more teapots to make cosies for and then I will have to wait for another decent sale to purchase more teapots.  I like them to fit nicely so I can't just make a random cosy in the hope it will fit any old teapot.  

 Rainbow stripes are just what is needed on this freezing cold, rainy day!!

Crikey it sounds as if all I have done this week is shop!  But because it was Queen's Birthday weekend - all the stores had massive sales, so I took advantage of the savings.  I have been wanting this book for over a year now but it was too expensive.  So when I spotted it on Sunday for 30% off I couldn't refuse.  It was the last one in the store so I think it was meant to be!!  I love it and can't wait to have a go at some of these squares.  Here are few of my faves so far ....

I especially love this bobble pattern.  In fact, this was the clincher in making me buy the book.  I've had a go at 'inventing' a bobble stitch so it will be nice to find out how it is actually done!!

Some of them seem fairly simple and some of them send my brain into a complete and utter muddle!

I shall leave you this week with some calorie laden pics.  I completely forgot to show you these from way back at Easter time.  I had the most stunning high tea with dear friends Ange & Nicky (hi lovely girls!!) at this beautiful cafe in Petone called Sweetpea.  The cupcake cabinet was beyond belief.

 Now that's a cupcake!!  But clearly it's a healthy one because it has fruit on it!

 Very girly.  I'm loving the icing-to-cupcake ratio here.

 The light shades were made from old jars and bottles - really clever.

The high tea was filling enough, but no, there was more.  When it was time to leave, you got to choose one of those amazing cupcakes to take home.  Delicious!  I can't wait to go back there sometime soon.

I am off to pick up my crochet hook and finish my cat as part of Annaboo's CAL.  And then I really need to make more of an effort to finish my huge blanket.  It is absolutely freezing here at the moment, so a lovely big blanket on my bed is what is called for.  Not to mention the fact that working on a blanket keeps you toasty warm - just perfect!!!

Have a fabulous week all!  See you soon.
Leah
xxxx