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

Blanket update .... and a wee giveaway!

It has been fabulous to be feeling motivated again and I am so excited that progress has really been made on my giant granny blanket. I am just adding the smaller squares around the edge now and will then do a simple border in white, with a wee picot edge I think. I'm absolutely loving it and hope to finish it while we are still having some cooler weather so we can get to use it before Summer! It is 41 rounds from memory and just a great size for snuggling under while watching TV. As much as I have loved making this blanket, I have however made a promise to myself that this will be the last blanket I make where I leave all the tying-in until the end. It is my very least favourite thing about crochet as I always seem to make a bit of a mess with my end tying! So from here on in, all ends will be tied in as I go. Famous last words ...??? Well I will do my best anyway! Hopefully I'll have it finished ready for my post next week. Rugby World Cup fever is still rampant here. We had Mr 6's school production last night which was a show about the World Cup. They did a fabulous job and even had some pictures in the paper this morning so they were all totally chuffed. We made All Blacks gingerbread men at the weekend. Miss 4 and Mr 6 requested that they be decorated as Dan Carter and Richie McCaw - their team favourites. These wee cookies are a family fave and we've been having so much fun decorating them in different ways. Recently we made some with a cast on one leg as a pressie for a little friend who had her leg in plaster. As the recipe makes soooooo many, we bag them up and do the rounds of school friends who love them too. Mr 6 went to a birthday party at the weekend at our local trout fishing centre. It was such a fabulous party idea. He was bursting with pride to have caught the biggest fish of the day - a whopping 1.22kg. Most of the fish in the lake are about 400grams like the other one here, so you can imagine his face when he caught this one! We had the most delicious dinner that night thanks to our wee guy.

And now for my wee giveaway ... I've mentioned before that I originally started this blog as a bit of a diary for myself, not really thinking that it would be of interest to anyone else. So I am so thrilled to bits to have reached 150 followers!! Your comments absolutely make my day and it's been wonderful to visit your blogs and discover like-minded folk all across the world. So as a token of my gratitude, I'd like to giveaway some things that I love and that are very specific to my part of the world.

The pendant features a Pohutukawa tree which is one of my most favourite things about New Zealand. It is often referred to as the NZ Christmas tree as it flowers over our summer. And if it flowers early it is believed we will have a long and beautiful summer. I have also popped in a Peanut Slab - again one of my favourite things!! This is a dangerously delicious chocolate bar and I adore them. My Mum used to post them to me when I lived in the UK because I missed them so much! Here's a closer look at the pendant.I have also got two more little pressies of a Peanut Slab tucked inside a small flax kete (Maori woven flax bag) so will draw additional names for these too!

So if you are a follower, either current or new (welcome!), please leave me a comment on this post by next Friday 30 September and I will draw a lucky winner.

Now before I go, I'd like to say a big thank you to Barbara for passing on a versatile blogger award to me. Thank you so much - it made my day!

I hope you're all having a fabulous week. See you again soon.

Leah
xxxx

What a fabulous week!

I was absolutely beside myself with excitement when this parcel arrived in my letterbox during the week. In a post a wee while ago I'd mentioned that I'd treated myself to a subscription for Mollie Makes that took effect from Issue 3 - and how envious I was of folk who had been able to buy the earlier issues. So I was truly stunned when the fabulous Tracey from TopCat's Corner wrote and offered to send me a spare copy of Issue 2. Tracey - you are a total gem and I am so very, very grateful for your wonderful gift. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of lovely folk in blog land and this has really touched my heart. Thank you again!

So it was perfect timing that I had an evening alone to sit and read this gorgeous magazine! Every page had something stunning and interesting - I couldn't put it down. Many cups of tea later and I was still ooohing and aaahing over each page! I have heard that it is now on sale in Australia so I will do my best to track down Issue 1 - fingers crossed!!

Now I know I have about 4 projects on the go already so what better time to start something new! There are some gorgeous big granny blankets on lots of lovely blogs at the moment and I really love them. A few weeks back I showed you some of my dear Nana's blankets which my family adore. So I thought it was time that I made one to add to the collection. This one is going to be one quite large granny square, then I think I will edge it with many smaller grannies using the same colours. In my mind I think it will be lovely - so I will have to wait and see how it turns out!

I'm really getting into using white wool! It makes such a lovely contrast and everything looks so crisp and bright. The perfect way to use up that giant ball of white I bought recently!!

And amongst the granny rounds, I've also been making hats, hats and more hats. All different patterns, all difference sizes. I've decided that making crochet hats is a bit like in the cartoons, where they put a cake in the oven and it comes out iced and even with candles ... because when you crochet a hat from the top down you end up with a complete hat dangling from the end of your hook and somehow it doesn't actually look real! Does that make sense? I'm sure I'm not the only one to have had this thought!!

And to keep the energy levels up, it seemed only right to whip up some hot scones for lunch. A piping hot cuppa and far too much cream - perfect!!

Then it was a bit of pine nut bashing in the kitchen making pesto to go on our pasta for dinner. Boy do I love the smell of basil - delicious!

Mr 6 had an indoor picnic at school on Friday for the last day of term. His class was given the job of providing the sweet course so we made good old Chocolate Crackle. The kids go mad for this and it has to be the easiest thing in the world to make. Melted chocolate and Rice Bubble cereal. Mix it together and pop it into a cupcake papers to set. How easy is that?

And what a lovely way to end my week - Karen from 4 Lil' Girls has given me an award. Thank you Karen, it really made my day! You should check out Karen's gorgeous blog - especially to see the fabulous granny blanket she is currently making - I love it!

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and just wanted to say this without sounding all gushy. When I started my wee blog it was because my dear friend Kylie had moved to the other end of the country and it was a way for us to show each other what we had been making. I never thought that it would end up having anyone else looking at it - so I am beyond thrilled that I have 99 followers!! Thank you so very much for visiting me and for the lovely, positive comments you leave. At this stage in my life when being an at home mum is just sometimes plain tough, it's the nicest thing to see a lovely comment. Thank you again and see you soon!

Have a fabulous week!
Leah

My Lovely Long Weekend

Yesterday was a public holiday to celebrate the Queen's Birthday so we had an extra long weekend which was fabulous. My husband took our small folk to Castlepoint for the night so I had 24 hours to fill, which I did with my gorgeous friend Ange. We managed to squeeze in an awful lot in one day too! In between shops and the local craft market, we had lunch at Nikau which is one of my most favourite spots in Wellington. The menu never disappoints and their kedgeree is so famous they now have a tea towel with the recipe on it!

Ah, the kedgeree! I am so utterly predictable, I always, always order it! It is absolutely gorgeous.

This fabulous Nikau Palm sculpture stands outside the restaurant - isn't it just amazing.

Earlier in the day I was having my morning cuppa when I came across this article in the paper. It was called "Wrapped in love" and it was about knitting and also crochet - and the fact that when you give someone a gift that you have created, it is always made and given with love. The final paragraph is about a blanket the author made for her small son and it says "I finished it just as the first cold southerlies of autumn came to town, and now when I tuck my little boy in at night, I pull this blanket up around his chin. I might leave the room then, but my love stays wrapped around him". Isn't that just so lovely! I think anyone who has ever made something like this will feel exactly the same way.There was a little bit of time left to crochet, so I made another gorgeous wee hat for a birthday gift for another little 4 year old friend. Then I made a start on some hexagons ... but I'm not sure they look good enough to make a few hundred of them! Maybe it's just the fact that I have never used white yarn before? It certainly is a very different look for me. I will carry on with a few more and join them up before I decide what to do. I really, really want to make a bed cover so hopefully I can get into the groove a bit more with them.This made me giggle so I had to grab a quick pic ... while I was at the petrol station this scooter pulled in and parked. When the rider got off, I spotted his wee dog sitting inside a fabric shopping bag which was connected somehow to the scooter. The dog was totally happy in his little bag too! The owner told me he wants to get him some goggles which was hilarious. Very cute. And speaking of giggles ... during the week I received a parcel and in it was this very, um, fetching royal wedding souvenir tea towel! I had won it in a magazine subscription draw - what a hoot. I'm sure William and Kate won't mind if I use them to cover my pikelets while I'm cooking. And last but by no means least, thank you so much to Saritha for giving me this lovely award! You have made my day. If you haven't visited her blog, you really should. It is full of lovely, bright, cheerful crochet goodness.
Have a fabulous week all!
Leah

Things that make me smile

My neighbour recently gave me this gorgeous book and I am absolutely in love with it. It's the 1955 Good Housekeeping's Cookery Compendium. It has been so well looked after - it looks brand new which is incredible.

I love the outside of the book just as much as the inside and now have it on my new kitchen shelf (my handy hubby put it up last weekend).

The pictures throughout are gorgeous. You probably can't quite make it out in this picture but her apron matches her curtains!! The perfectly manicured housewife, whipping up some sweet treats for afternoon tea. Now I might always be manicured but by heck my kitchen never looks like that!

The presentation of all the cooking and baking is just wonderful. A bit more fussy than we normally see these days but I love it. I would really, really love to have some friends around for a dinner party and to cook all the courses using recipes from this wonderful book. Dressing in 1950's garb would be essential too. I had considered doing it earlier in the year for my 40th but decided I didn't want to spend my birthday in the kitchen. So I'm thinking a mid-Winter dinner would be perfect! I am going to have to hit the op shops looking for gorgeous 50's clothing. It really is a fabulous decade fashion-wise isn't it.

So this morning I channelled my inner 1950's housewife, and made a batch of gingernut biscuits. I had to adjust the recipe slightly as I only have butter and not margerine so I can't claim that they are authentic.

It is very funny to see the recipe require you to mix the dry ingredients with the 'fat'. The evil three let word you are not so likely to see actually written in a recipe these days! Hilarious.

Mine didn't spread as much as the recipe picture above, probably due to the butter thing, but they are absolutely delicious. Really light and quite dainty if that's an appropriate baking description! I'm certain my small folk will love them as an after school treat.

I have been doing lots of crochet this week but not a lot to show you as most of it is black and it didn't photograph very nicely. I have made myself a lovely winter beanie, similar to this little one, and am in the middle of finishing a matching scarf. In my mission to get more colour in my life I realised that there is still room for good old black!!

This little pink hat is for a friend of mine who has just had a lovely wee baby girl. The hat looked so very tiny, but in fact it probably won't fit her for a few more months. You really do forget just how little they are don't you.

I know I'm waffling on a bit today but I'm only doing one post a week at the moment so I have a few things to squeeze in! These are just a few of the things that are making me really happy at the moment and I thought I'd share them.

This flour container was $1 (boy I love a bargain) at my local op shop. It was lid-less and has a tiny, tiny crack in it but it looks lovely on my kitchen shelf and will make a fabulous vase.

And another lid-less treasure (again $1) that I bought a while ago, but is now sitting on the same shelf. This is really quite old I think and it is so gorgeous. I don't care if these op shop finds have a wee crack or chip here and there, they still have lots of life left in them, you just have to be creative in what you do with them!

Making my whole family happy this week was the appearance of a single lonely little feijoa on one of our trees! We planted these trees over 3 years ago and every year the small folk get so excited that we might have their favourite feijoas growing in the garden. Year after year there has been nothing but last week suddenly this gorgeous little one appeared. It will be eaten for breakfast tomorrow - about half a teaspoon per child - but they will be in heaven because we grew it!!

This is just a silly pic but it has made me smile. I love, love, love red shoes and have wanted some like this for ages. When I spotted them last week (and on sale too) I grabbed them. Happy, happy feet.

Now I have to apologise for being a bit slack. I want to give a big thank you to Jane from Hook and Yarn for giving me two lovely blog awards - Versatile Blogger and Liebster Blog - you made my day. If you haven't visited her gorgeous blog yet, then make a cuppa and sit down to have a good look around. It is full of fabulous colourful crochet and always a pleasure to visit!

Have a fabulous week!

What a week

It has been a really sad week folllowing the devastating earthquake that hit Christchurch just last week. On Tuesday all of New Zealand observed a two minute silence which was impossible to do without crying. I can't begin to imagine what my fellow NZers are going through in Christchurch. I live in Wellington, which is known for its seismic activity. We actually had a 4.5 quake here on Tuesday night and I was terrified having seen the destruction this force of nature can cause. My 100 year old house still shook and creaked enough to have me leap out of bed, ready to scoop children out of bed if necessary. Luckily our quake was brief and small in comparison. I think any earthquake we experience now will frighten people more than ever before.

So it was a real spirit lifter to log on and find that Gill at Gillyflower had awarded a stylish blogger award. Thank you so very much - I am hugely honoured. You have made my day!

I have been told that there are 3 parts to accepting this award. The first being that you thank the person who awarded you, and acknowledge their blog. The second thing is to tell 8 things about myself and the third thing is to pass this lovely award on to 8 other blogs that I love.

So here are 8 little things about me ...

1. I am left handed but have been taught to crochet and knit right handed so my brain gets easily confused!


2. My two favourite movies are Love Actually and Moonstruck - cheesy but great!


3. I own a tiny, very old Fiat 500 and 'she' was recently featured in Next magazine here in NZ.


4. I never leave the house without my lippie on.


5. I love the smell of freshly mown lawn.


6. In my 'old' life I worked in an advertising agency. My job was based around television advertising which meant I had to watch a lot of TV for research purposes! That was my excuse anyway.


7. I absolutely adore red nail polish. Occasionally I'll change it to dark brown but red is by far my fave. And I am never without it!


8. My favourite treat is strawberries followed very, very closely by chocolate covered licorice bullets! Neither of which last very long in my house.

As for choosing 8 blogs to pass this award onto - well that's a really difficult task! There are so many wonderful blogs out there that I come across on a daily basis. I have chosen the following blogs as they all inspire me with their creativity, colour and make me smile whenever I visit. I am fairly new to blog land so forgive me if you have already been subject to this award. Please accept it again with my best wishes.

http://blueteacups.blogspot.com/

http://thecraftenook.blogspot.com/

http://byelizabethcat.blogspot.com/

http://karinaandehaak.blogspot.com/

http://fieldwonderful.blogspot.com/

http://mckinleyscloset.blogspot.com/

http://clevercheshirecats.blogspot.com/

http://creativehaven1.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

PS: My cushion is nearly complete - hope to finish it tomorrow! I can't wait.