Sweet Mary

My sewing table over the weekend while making treasures for my Sweet Mary stall and yes, some of them are for Christmas! These lavender pillows (15x15cm) are filled only with New Zealand grown lavender rubbings from Hauiti Lavender Farm. Made with Cath Kidston fabric topped with vintage lace and embroidered heart, they have a red with white spot base fabric. These pillows would make a lovely Christmas present for a special friend or family member, to scent the bedroom and help with a peaceful sleep. I only have 5, so if you just have to have one, make sure you come along to the next Craft and Design Market at Hawthorne coffee shop in Havelock North. It will be on Saturday 22nd October, 9-12.30pm. And finally, a bit of prettiness to make you smile. SMILE!

I was writing an email this morning and mentioned the gorgeous view outside my window so decided to put that view up on my blog for everyone to enjoy. There can hardly be a better sight to behold than the early days of spring and the promise of the warm days to come. This tree has the most wonderful shape, spreading out out from the ground from at least a dozen branches and is covered in soft white blooms that open from pale pink buds. I leaned out the window to get this photo and to let you see the under planting but just missed getting the fluffy baby in the shot who was very busy following a black bird. Just following, thats all. Recently I fiddled around with these squares of Cath Kidston fabric, vintage lace and red cotton thread. Putting all together with the idea of making a cushion cover - the idea being that it would be my twist on the popular Union Jack cushions on a lot of the English blogs. I love it! So, this one is for me and I will work on a few more for my Sweet Mar...

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...