Gifts for Babies

I have so many ideas for baby gifts, and I haven't even been on Pinterest! How is that even possible. Any way, I sat down at my sewing corner tonight and finished off one of my projects. I'm sure I would get more done if i didn't have an aversion to pinning (the pointy sore kind, not the online fun kind). Taking time to pin properly is what puts me off most of the time. Anyway, here it is.

Grandpas Birthday

I want back to Grandma and Grandpas for a last hurrah! Stanley was there, which was fun. We painted the porch and did sundry other chores.

Tea at Dave and Ginnys.

The weekend with Kristi and Ryan

I went to work with Kristi on Saturday, we worked on the girls trip album then went out for lunch.

We went to the old Italian part and old Victorian parts of the city. So pretty with the brick streets and beautiful houses.

We found an old school house that was home to Senior Citizen crafts.

Sunday was conservatory day. 

 Butterfly release, glass blowing and a mini fairy tale railway.

Carla and Trents

Uncle Dave and I drove to see Trent and Carla and family in Batesville

Such a cute Alice

Amelia and Uncle Jack. Aubrey on a watering can.

Biltmore House

We went to Ashville, North Carolina to the Biltmore House. It was amazing, and the perfect place for girls weekend photos.

Birthday Dinner

We all donned dresses from Kelly's wardrobe  and headed out to the Rusty Rudder by the water for a birthday dinner. We got to see a drunk guy strip his shirt off, get rowdy, and get carried out by three security guys. We also had to wait an hour to get a seat.....

Lata Plantation

We went to visit an old plantation. Lucky for us they were putting on a living history day.

We enjoyed a tea party and an old fashioned craft (making a broach out of watermelon seeds). Everyone was in costume and demonstrating how things were done back in the day.

Cooking over an open fire, the barn

The blacksmith, kisses, piggies and a trappers tent.

Going to North Carolina

Had a quiet day just mucking around at home, and learning to drive the tractor.

Road trip! Left on Thursday after Kristi and Aunty Brenda got home from work...... Drove all night after an hour detour. Stopped at A&W for supper. A first for all of us!

Family

I have managed to meet up with a bunch of cousins. Here are photos to prove it

At Margaret and Chad's - Vera, Jack, Calvin, Margaret and I.

With Uncle Jack

Water fighting with the kids.... It was so hot!

Then, Monday night at Becky and Joes.

Belle, Lexi and my new buddy Nick. Chandler, Alicia, Cailey and Sue

Shelley, Becky, Belle, Lexi, Nick, Shaun and Joe

Bits and Pieces of Indiana

George and Maxine Fryburger. Had to go to a funeral which was sad, but at the same time good, because I got to meet up with people I haven't seen in years.

We purchased plants

We planted the gardens

I rescued the cutest wee turtle from the back doorstep

We had visitors. 

Went to the farm store (and bought grass seed, not chickens)

More Shopping, but of the Supermarket Kind

Aunty Brenda was able to take the morning off. This meant that we were able to go out to breakfast with Kimmi, then visit Tim at his supermarket (plus do the supermarket shopping)

Uncle Dave was kind enough to lend me his car for the drive to Indiana.....

Here am I with it.... Will take a better one eventually... I'm getting better at the whole 'selfie' thing.

Shopping

Kimmi and i had a marvellous day shopping at Easton, and the Designer Shoe Warehouse Monday. (Abigail, this place is for you). We managed to get ourselves so many discounts that we saved more than we spent.

Eating at CPK

Backseat of the bug full of bargains.

What I have packed in so far

Applebys, Gatsby, apple pie,

many puppy cuddles, 

my first shop at Joanne's, new shoes, 

Mexican, and a game of trivial pursuits.

Heading to Columbus

I flew to USA on Friday night on the most cramped flight I have ever been on. Met some friends in LA who sat in front of me the whole way from NZ. They were on my flight to Denver, so it made time in the terminal while waiting for a delayed plane pass quickly. The delayed flight meant I missed my connection to Columbus, so I ended up spending a (discounted, not free) night in Denver!

 

Tag a Day

I had the great idea of making a tag-a-day early on in January. It lasted about a week before I got bored of tags, but it was fun while I was doing it. I want to use up scraps etc on them, hence the name "Ragtag". Here are just a few of them.

Lampshade #2

I was left with a plain white, round lampshade after using the base for my last lampshade. I also had strips of fabric left over... So, I remembered something I saw in a blog http://www.creationsbykara.com/ and tied the fabric strips around the lampshade. I'm extremely pleased with the results.

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Crafted Lampshade

I have finally got around to crafting the 'bones' of a lampshade that I picked up from an awesome shop called Junk and Disorderly. I think that the idea came from Pinterest at some stage, but can't remember which blog its from exactly.

I cut various rough strips of old fashioned floral quilting fabrics . The strips were then wrapped around the bones of the lampshade. This covered up the white metal of the shade, and it meant that the fill in strips did not slide up and down the shade as I tied them. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't take before, and middle photos to go with the finished version. Thankfully I already had a lamp base that works perfectly with the shade. _

Such Savings

The greatest special of the weekend was when I happened across an extra 10% off the sale items at Kiki K.

I spent $38.00, and saved $70.00. How cool is that?

Christmas Crafting

Gail and I went to Calico Christmas (quilt show and retail) before Christmas for some inspiration. We saw these really cute "christmas tree" canvases made out of strips of fabric. We got together one Saturday to make our own versions.

Mine is made in red, white and cream ribbon, some vintage lace, and fabric scraps. I used iron on hemming web like a double sided tape to stick the strips to calico.

To finish it off, I sewed on some wooden scrapbooking embellishments.

starting again

I have decided to start the blog again - this time focusing on crafting, with a place to post travel photographs. So, Watch This Space :)