Sweet Mary

A week ago I was all set up and waiting for the start of the Hospice Holly Trail Fete which was held at one of the beautiful gardens and homes open to ticket holders. The fete ran for the three days of the trail and was a great success as usual. There were about 30 stalls with a mixture of food, crafts and homewares. Not everything is home-made but its all of a high quality and a fun shopping experience for the mainly female shoppers! I sold a few of these and lots of those (below). One of my five Heart cushions sold so I have a few left for my next two Sweet Mary stalls. I am so pleased with my cushions that I will be very happy to keep them if they don't sell. Thats the nice thing about making stuff that you would love yourself. I will be at the Hawkes Bay Design Market this Sunday. It starts at 9.30a.m. and is being held at Ormlie Lodge. See the link, top left of my blog.

A completed Sweet Mary order soon to be on its way to a special customer in Sydney.

A few weeks ago it was my birthday and as usual I received more beautiful tea towels to add to my collection. Now, if any of the givers are reading this and thinking I am having a bit of a moan - I'm not. I am lucky to be given these little beauties, each one is joyfully received. I never buy beautiful tea towels for myself so am delighted to be given them. One in particular from my friend Nic just needed to be remade into something else. I unpicked all the seams and added rik-rak, sewing it on between the red lines that frame the profusion of flowers. A thick linen type fabric for the back. I edged the opening in my cream linen bias tape that I bought from here . Then tied the back together with more rik-rak. I know it looks like a not very well filled pillowcase (it is!) but there is a method in my madness. I could use it on my bed but think I will try it on the sofa for a while. Sometimes its nice to curl up and cushions are just not the right shape for this sort of rela...

A bit of late night sewing the week before running my Sweet Mary stall at the Pukeora Estate . It was a four day event with a very pretty but slightly tiring drive to and fro each day. When packing up I always wonder if I will have enough and what item will be the "favourite" this time. These red check tea towels decorated with vintage cream lace and appliqued fabric hearts turned out to be the winner. Its an unusual venue - stall holders set up in a series of rooms and corridors. It was a first time for me and I was a late booking so there wasn't much choice. So, although I enjoyed myself I think my spot was a bit out of the way and some people had trouble finding me. If I go back next year I would have to be somewhere more prominent. But I did meet some lovely people and as always I came home with a list of "good ideas". Pukeora Estate sits on top of a hill so the views of the valley below are truly amazing. I will be at the Porangahau Spring Fair on septe...