Sweet Mary

This past year we moved house, our son married, our daughter will be married in a few weeks, lost a much loved family member and a new job for my husband. Its been a lot in a year and not too much time or inclination for crafting. But as Christmas approaches I have put together a little bit of handmade bling. Click HERE   or on the felt. icon (right) to look.

I don't want to give up my blog but I do want a good long break. So, for the meantime if you want to check me out I am on Instagram. Click HERE . Cheers!

It happened! After many baking hot days it rained last night and is showering a bit today. Lower temperatures for the next few days too. After suffering local water restrictions I imagine the garden has taken a big sigh of relief. It is so pleasant out there, this is my view right now, looking out from my studio. Sometimes a tui will come down to the water for a drink and the fantail pair too but right now, all is quiet. I will be planting out this evening, plants that somehow didn't get in before Christmas and then didn't get planted in January either, sometimes that happens. I will sew today as well, putting the quilt top together before starting the hand stitching. I know it will change but weirdly it feels like autumn.

Happy New Year! In the blur after the Christmas festivities, on a warm, still morning we harvested the lavender that we grow on a friend's nearby property. Left to their own devices, our five plants bloom prolifically giving us two harvests over the summer months. The smell was amazing while we merrily bunched up the lavender for drying accompanied by the happy but slightly disconcerting buzz of many bees. Very hot summer days here now so the lavender will dry quickly I think. Come the early days of autumn I will strip the stalks for the rubbings, thinking of my lovely mum who always did this job for me.