Hello, Sweet Peas♡

Hello, Sweet Peas♡ Another week of summer has drifted by. The weather has finally begun to warm up and I must say I'm rather pleased about that. The hydrangeas are  beginning to turn blue (they've taken their own sweet time, though) and the froth of  sweet peas?? Well, these pretties are flowering like there's no tomorrow.

The funny thing is, the sweet peas we planted have adopted a slow bloom approach, but those seeds which the wind swept  up in a gusty swirl and scattered everywhere are a messy, tangled parade of gorgeousness. Every morning there is bunch after bunch to be picked both to perfume and beautify my humble abode, and also to share  with friends. The more I pick the more they flower. This year the sweet peas are 'Super Blooms'♡

Some of you last week commented on the buddleias, thinking they were lilacs. It's easy to mistake buddleias for lilacs as they are similar in both form and colours. And, both have the sweetest of scents. At this time of year buddleias are also stars in the garden. And there is always a flutter of butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, delighting in them.

Another week of birthdays. Another chocolate frosted chocolate cake baked, with lashings of cream and strawberries. Oh, the cake for my dear friend's birthday afternoon tea last Sunday?? 'Twas delicious.

So, another chocolate frosted, chocolate cake with lashings of strawberries to celebrate the birthday of one of my sewing girls from years past. Those of you who have followed my stuff and nonsense all these years will be aware of Holly, who came to the 'Kim Sharman School of Stitching Excellence' for nine years. 

The eight year old little girl, with hair in pigtails and feet resting on suitcases to reach the pedals is now sewing up a storm. Holly is now studying a business degree at University and has started her own little sewing business with the dream of making a living doing what she loves.  And.....I must say she's whipping up a sewing storm here in our little community and further afield. It's exciting to watch her excitement...her passion, with all things textiles. And, to think it all started years ago, a wee little girl having fun with needle and thread, with a little guidance along the way.

Another funny aside emanating from those days when the school bus would hurtle along our country road, screech to a stop outside our humble abode, ejecting eager sewing students. Pete was working in the front garden this week when a car stopped and a friendly voice said "hi Pete". It was a neighbour. She went on to impress upon Pete to tell me that her son, another one of my favourite students back in the day, had just recently shown his girlfriend all of the projects he had fashioned. Apparently they are all still in his room. How sweet. A young man keeping all his 'treasures' from his boyhood sewing days and showing his textile works of art to his girlfriend with much pride. It makes me smile.

This last little while I've been reading and perusing some fabulous books. A wide assortment of books. I must say I love to read memoirs... autobiographies, as this genre gives me insight into people's lives; who they are, their insights; their life experiences.  When I pick up a memoir Atticus Finch comes to mind ........"you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it".  So very true. I still remember reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mocking Bird when I was a high schooler. It was my favourite novel on the list in the school curriculum. It still resonates with me today,  fifty three years later. I have reread it many times. It's one of those books I love to revisit, as rereading a much loved book is akin to visiting with an old friend.  I listened to a few podcasts this week. One of note is one with Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, interviewing Jonathan Capehart. Having read his book I knew I would enjoy listening to his story; and I did. He's a wonderful storyteller.

This week I finished crocheting the sleeves onto the denim jacket. I love it. And, after refashioning it I will wear it a lot more than I have previously. Lin and Julie commented last week that a touch of embroidery and perhaps a crochet flower brooch would look rather spiffy. And, I must say, I concur. I can see in my mind's eye some embroidered flowers escaping from a pocket, or perhaps dancing on the collar. But for now, me thinks I'll leave my denim jacket as it is. I shall partake in a little omphaloskepsis re the embroidery. =) Watch this space.

Another week strolling in the garden, snippety snipping bounteous sweet peas, eating cake, drinking tea, crocheting, reading......pondering, laughing, crying (well, some stories that played out  this week compelled tears) praying, questioning........and at times, thinking of you♡ Thank you for your sweet visit, sweet peas ♡ Care to share a cup of tea in a pretty teacup and nibble on a lemon curd biscuit, or two; with me??

Let us, you and me, drink tea, and shine our little light♡

Take care, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ 

Out with The Old...In With The New ♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ 

The calendar has turned the page to a brand new year, a brand new month. January♡ I've always loved the month of January. Long, lazy days of summer rolling along in holiday mode. Hot, sunny days, long daylight hours languorous sleep-ins, late breakfasts, oodles of tea drinking and a little too much cake...........book readin', slow stitching, crocheting, snoozing in the afternoons............and sometimes doing nothing really at all. The long langorous days of summer just keep on keeping on here down under.

I wonder what pretties you will imagine to keep your minds and fingers busy, this year?? I wonder how you will fill your days during this new year?? I've started the new year with a refashioning project. Gosh, it's been an age since I've tarted up a garment. I've been cleaning out my wardrobe, discarding garments to be donated to an op shop. Clothes that I haven't worn for yonks. I came across a denim jacket that I wear occasionally with sleeves I've never really been keen on. So, I ripped said sleeves out with my trusty seam ripper, with the thought of replacing them with  colourful granny stripes. Out with the old and in with the new. 

Again, going with the flow, making it up as I go. With the denim sleeves no more and with a helluva lot of omphaloskepsis {belly button gazing FYI =) } happening, I tried a bit of this and a little bit of that, until I decided upon blanket stitching at 1/2" intervals. Then I began to double crochet in clusters of two. Row after row,  of coloured wool left over from previous pretties, tumbling down the sleeve. I tapered the sleeve as I skipped down, down, down, by decreasing a stitch at the beginning of each new coloured row. After crocheting forty eight rows I then decreased more gradually on every sixth row. I know......clear as mud!! It's a good thing I know what I'm doing. =) Besides, if my muddly head has moments of 'what-the-hell',  I wrote down what I was doing as I happily crocheted along. So, all should be tickety-boo. Fingers crossed. Every jacket is a different pattern and a different fit so what works for this pretty probably wouldn't work for another. One just plays, really.

I must say  I rather love how my jacket is morphing right before my eyes. Who would've thunk it......my jacket looks half decent. =) One sleeve done. Now for the other. I will continue crocheting this evening joining the other band of happy slow stitchers.

As for 'Happy New Year!! This year, I have a feeling we slow stitchers are going to need to pick up our needles and thread, and slowly stitch away, calmly, meditatively; without ceasing. The calender may have turned over to a new year but the chaos continues; ramps up. That vacuous void of rancour.....evil......stupidity.......still sits on that tacky, fake gold, throne of his and continues to stumble along that demented path he's tottering aimlessly.......lost; on.  With each pretty we stitch, we will have to remind ourselves that by keeping our hands busy stitching, crocheting, knitting, etc, each little stitch, we can bring a sense of order, peace and beauty into our little world. May each day this new year be filled with lovely friendships,  small joys, kindness, beauty........and love.

I'm off to finish icing a chocolate frosted chocolate cake with slashings of cream and fresh strawberries for a dear friend, who is coming for a spot of afternoon tea in celebration of her birthday♡ Chocolate cake and tea is always a very good idea♡ Have a lovely day, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ Let your little light shine bright♡ I have a notion our little lights will need to shine brighter than ever before♡

A Little Festive Wish♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies; lovely friends♡ How are your festive preparations coming along?? Are you ready for the Christmas festivities or are you busy, busy, busy with decorating...cooking...or  perhaps, putting those finishing stitches to those gifts??

Surprisingly, here at my little place everything is calm, and everything is bright in a shimmering and sparkly kinda way. Here in my little abode, Pete and I are ready for Christmas to knock softly on our front door. Today, I've enjoyed a lovely day visiting markets and driving through the summer countryside with Pete and my lovely friend, Trish; and as they chatted in the front, I sat in the back contentedly stitching a few more squares to my 'Trippin' Around The World quilt. Yes indeedy, this week I've enjoyed trippin' around the world several times.

But now,  I'm relaxing among the Christmas sparkles and enchanting glow of the tree, and the myriad of candles. The candles and scintillating lights effuse a festive glow. I cannot help but be peaceful.  And, as I sit here, the light of dusk  fades outside my window and the night sky dons a cloak of darkness. There is nary a star to be seen tonight but it does not matter as the reflection of fairy lights and candles in the window casts a magical glow in the inky darkness. It is the night-time where my little Christmas vignette transforms, illuminating the room into wondrous wonderment, sparking joy; sprinkling a little magic. Ahh......such is the ambience of my little Christmassy room.

Thank you for your generosity of spirit and kindness each time you visited my little place throughout this year♡ Thank you for the gift of your visits; your uplifting words♡ Thank you, lovely lovelies who each week encouraged me,  as we delighted in our slow stitching at Kathy's lovely place♡

I know there will be many moments this week, where I will gaze upon our tree bedecked in all its wonderful wonderment and think upon the Christmas story. The story of Jesus' 'Birth'day on that first Christmas morning long, long ago. The story of love and grace that is woven throughout. I am ever thankful for the love of Jesus; His grace; in the good times, the bad times, those impossibly difficult times.

My little festive wish for you is for your Christmas to shimmer and sparkle as your joy touches and brightens others' lives. For it is you in your little corner of the world, and me in my little corner, who can each day, in our own unique and small way make someone else's life a little brighter. And, with the evil that seems to have had no bounds this year, you and I can be the miracle in another's day. Let us, you and me, keep our little light shining♡ My little festive wish for you is, for you and your loved ones to enjoy a blessed Christmas as you celebrate the joy of the festive season, together♡

Until next year.........

Scrappy Delight♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ A little Sunday love to you♡ 'Tis early Sunday evening, and after a little slow stitching was enjoyed this morning, whereafter a pleasant day ensued, I'm now sitting in the parlour soaking up the Christmas ambience. It's peaceful in here. All is bright and a-glowing with candles.

This week I stitched a dolly quilt, mattress and a pillow, for a wicker pram which Pete and I bought sweet Riley for Christmas. It's a pram designed by an Australian company, Olli and Ella which is owned by two sisters. There are so, so many pretties in this shop to delight a child......and a granny. =) Riley has a few dollies she loves to play with so when she is not pushing her dollies in the pram, the pram will be a fabulous (and pretty) way to corrale her dollies. 

I stitched the wee quilt using strips of pretty fabrics in my stash and for the backing, a scrappy, pinwheel fabric was used. Just strips with oodles of flowery patterns and happy colour dancing across the width. I machine quilted flowers here and there and this morning I stitched the binding. The mattress was again made from fabrics in my armoire. To make the mattress thick and puffy and soft as a feather, which any dolly would love to sink into, I doubled a thick polyester batting. I stitched a little pillow and a pillow case for dolly to rest her weary head.

My daughter did say......."don't go to too much trouble Ma............". Well, we can't have a boring and plebeian dolly's pram, now can we?? Surely said pram has to dressed with all the fancies??

This week I started two new English paper piecing pretties........just because I can. =) A hexie lap quilt dancing allover in Liberty prints and a Trip Around The World quilt, dancing in colourful squares.

The Liberty pretty is for my daughter's birthday in August next year, so there's no rush to finish. As I still have a few more fabrics to purchase, not a stitch has been stitched. At this stage I've just been playing; covering hexies in Liberty gorgeousness.

The second EPP pretty is for me. A Trip Around The World where little squares of lovely pattern and colour will promenade around and around dancing a merry jig. It would of course be a lot quicker if I were to machine piece this quilt but as I'm not in the mood to accurately match little two inch squares ad nauseum on the machine, I'm going to hand stitch. Crazy?? Perhaps. But then I love, love, love to stitch by hand. After all, 'tis summer here (well.... at least the calender tells me so) and long, lazy days of gentle and mindful stitching, in some secret corner of the garden, sounds rather relaxing to me. "And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles." Francess Burnett Hodgson Ahh yes......so, so many miracles to be seen in the garden each new morning♡

The Christmas tree is twinkling, the candles are a-glowing and I think I'll enjoy a little promenading, a little world trippin' with colourful squares. Yes indeedy, as the sunshine beams upon the Christmas tree, a little slow stitching will be enjoyed by moi. From my Christmassy Home Sweet Home to yours, have a beautiful day, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ May sprinkles of joy find you♡ Sprinkles of sunlit joy are ricocheting here♡

Until the next time......