LET MY FINGERS DO THE WALKING

 

'Sparklingmerlot'  left a very good comment last night, it echoed what I was already thinking.

sparklingmerlot6:19 PM

I have an amazing recipe for a slow cook using that relish. It is a go to winter favourite.
If you can afford it, I would buy the new machine - you use it enough to justify it. If McDreamy gets fixed you can keep him as your back up and ditch baby brother. You sew at an almost commercial volume so it's not surprising your machines have a shorter lifespan.

I have been researching sewing machines, their life spans, problems they can have, if they are fixable or terminal etc etc.   

I've also researched what machine is the equivalent to Mc Dreamy, bearing in mind he's no longer available.

The new version of my Brother Dreamweaver is the Brother BS3100. 

I have found it in three shops here in New Zealand so far:

ABOVE: As you can see, there is quite a difference in prices, depending where you go.  My only concern about the cheapest place is that company is based in Australia, with a 'dealer' in Auckland.  I wonder about back up, warranties, repairs etc?

If Sewing Machine World matches the cheaper price, I'd get it from there, but somehow I doubt they will... as it's a very large difference in price.

I'm going to ring the cheapest place today and find out about all that stuff.

IF it sounds OK, I can see a trip up to Auckland happening very soon.   I will also talk to Neil at Sewing Machine World, and ask him what his 'best price' is for the BQ3100.  

I'm off to Cambridge this morning, I have a project on the go at Mosaics that I want to finish.  

ONWARD...

12.25 pm.  Home from Cambridge.

ABOVE: The bird panel I've been working on... I think it's finished.  Not sure if I will grout the gaps between the bird pieces or not... I'll ask a mosaic person next week if I should or not.

I decided last night to have a go at making my own Caramelised Onion Relish.  

ABOVE:  I went back to the supermarket and got a few things for that.  I'll either make it this afternoon, or tomorrow.  Depends on how I feel after lunch.

I often crash after lunch, feel super tired and sleepy.  I know that's not uncommon, and not even related to age. It's just one of those things.

COPYCATS

It makes me laugh ... how many of you peeps are starting to copy me!

The "not as hot/cold/bad as other people, sorry other people" thing has begun a life of its own.

I love it! 

I shall endeavour to keep it up.

Now, today?  I am going to do a grocery shop, we are a bit low on a few things.

Then once I get home, I shall go into the sewing room and get on with some work.  It's two weeks until our next market (Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure).  I hope to have a few more of the Fat Bottomed Girls runners, and Blue Wave runners done by then.

I also have to fix another of the hanging straps for the gazebo... and I'm going to make some 'spare' straps as well.  Running repairs on the morning of a market isn't ideal.

ONWARD...

First job of the day is done.  I ordered a new lid for my 'old' Hydro Flask.  Now I will have a 'spare' flask on hand.  Excellent.  

Now... I'm just about to  head out to the supermaket.  Then Spotlight.  Then sew.

ABOVE: Question.  Is anyone else getting HAMMERED with spam/junk emails of late?  I swear, I am getting between 5-10, sometimes more of these emails EVERY DAY.  I have tried blocking them, but they all have different email addresses, and they don't even go to my JUNK box, they come into my INBOX.  It's doing my head in and it's so damn annoying.... probably not as annoying as for other people, sorry other people. 😖😏

12.26 pm... finally home!  I have had a really GREAT morning!

First stop was Spotlight, where I couldn't get any strapping/webbing for the gazebo, as they had none.  

So I went into town to Davids Emporium, and they had it.

ABOVE:  20 metres of strapping and three clips... for a total of $19.70.

IF I had bought the EXACT SAME strapping and clips at Spotlight, it would have cost me $170 !   The strapping was .80 cents a metre at Davids Emporium, and $8 a metre at Spotlight!  WTAF???  I am still shaking my head, having paid the $8 a metre for previous strapping I've bought at Spotlight.

NEVER again is my first stop Spotlight!  Davids Emporium all the way from now on.

After that, I went to MADE in Hamilton East, for a wander.  Nothing caught my eye, except this:

ABOVE: That is a light fitting in the stairwell.  It's so gorgeous.

Next stop was the supermarket... where I managed to get ten times more than I had on me list.

But... to be honest, the only thing on my 'LIST' was Whitlock's Caramelised Onion Relish!  😂😅😏  I got six bottles of that stuff, cos I love it.  

Now... making my lunch and having some down time.

I feel like crying.  I've been trying to sew for the past couple of hours, and BABY Brother just refuses to do the tight zig zag today.  Threads keep breaking, the automatic needle threader stopped working for a while... and I am about ready to throw the friggin thing on the concrete and smash it with a sledge hammer.   

BEYOND ANNOYED ... I rang the sewing machine shop to see how things are going with Mc Dreamy, same old story.  It's with the technician, he's trying to work out what's wrong with it.

HE'S HAD IT SINCE THE 18TH OF DECEMBER... sent it back twice ... STILL NOT WORKING!!!!  

I'm almost ready to go buy a new one.

Monday to Friday, if he's feeling up to it, Stew goes down to the Village gym after work,  and gets on the recumbent bike for 30 minutes.  I've decided to join him, only I will get on the treadmill.

ABOVE: So, after he got home from work tonight, we both did the 'gym thing'.  I took my portable fan, as the fan on the treadmill is USELESS.  Next time we will turn on the air conditioning in the room, don't know why we didn't think of it today.

I found 30 minutes quite enough ... it's different when walking for an hour with the FBG's, your pace is different, and you don't notice the time when walking with company.

It is now 7 pm, and I'm done here for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

I HOPE THIS HELPS OVER WINTER

 

Yesterday at market, I was talking to a fellow marketeer about how cold it was, NOT something I expected to be in JANUARY!

She said she had a portable gas heater, that she used for markets.  I asked her where she got it bla bla bla.

And she told me Trade Me, and showed me what it was.

I immediately got onto Trade Me and ...

ABOVE: That's the brand she bought... guess which one I bought?  LIKE, who the hell would pay $344.99 for one from overseas, and wait 3 weeks for it to arrive, when you can get one here for $56.99, and 1-2 days to arrive???

CRAZY.  I look forward to mine arriving in a day or two.  It runs off little canisters of gas, so handy.   I hope it helps keep me warm over the winter markets.  OH, and I can use it in the garage over winter as well... win/win.  I like that it runs on little gas cannisters... I won't get a big power bill using it in the house.  Kinda like, pay as ya go.  Love that idea.

Stew is back at work today, so it's just me and Coco.  

I am babysitting Lily and Dante this morning, while Bex and Archer are at school, sorting out his first year at his new school. 

Once I get home, I will be working in the sewing room, making more Fat Bottomed Girls Runners.

I also want to make more blue wave runners, having sold all of the bigger ones I made recently.   

Hopefully BABY Brother holds up, as there is no sign of Mc Dreamy yet.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: Incredible! Less than 24 hours after I ordered it, and it has arrived.

I will go out and get a gas canister for it after I leave the kids. 

ABOVE: This little madam knows how to take her own photo on Grandma's phone.

ABOVE:  Marley was less than impressed with a scary mask on.

After watching the kids, I went down to Mitre 10 and found the gas canisters.

ABOVE: They were like $7 for four, so it will be interesting to see how long they last.

ABOVE:  I also grabbed this cute little step stool, for Lacy and I to use when we do the markets in March, while Stew is laid up with his knee.  It folds down so small, it won't take up any room in the car.  *we won't be able to reach the top to place the hanging straps without a step stool*  We both had 'ducks disease'... before you ask, it means our arses are too close to the ground.

I've now got a nasty as headache, no idea why.  Not sleeping too well might be the cause?  Dunno.  Gunna take a pill and blob out for a while.  Housework etc can freakin' well wait.

So I had a nap this afternoon,  I even got under the duvet cos I was COLD,  not as cold as other people, sorry other people (and DOGSTARS)! 🤣😅🤣😂

I'm now at WW, where I have recorded a small loss of 200 grams. I had expected a gain!  I'll take that.

Home now, had me dinner (a wrap), and now I'm going to browse the 'net, and wait for Coronation Street to start.  Then I'll be off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CAMBRIDGE CHURCH MARKET... FINGERS CROSSED

 

Another early start for us.  We are heading off to Cambridge soon.

I'm not looking outside.  The weather is whatever it is.  We will set up with it being wet in mind, that way we don't have to haul things in out of the rain, when/if it does rain.

Because I anticipate wet weather, I'm taking some 'work' to do while we sit there.  I am making some little fabric strawberries.

Useless, dust catching little things, but fun, cute and quick to make.

ABOVE:  I made one last night, and have about a dozen cut out, side seam machine stitched, and ready for the hand stitching.  That should keep me occupied today, if there's hardly anyone at the market.

ONWARD...

8 am and we are finally set up.

The weather? Showers so far. There's been THIRTY cancellations of stalls holders!  Some simply couldn't get here due to road closures, others just didn't like the weather forecast. 

ABOVE: I had to make running repairs to more straps. Lucky I'd thought to bring needle and thread. 

ABOVE: It is still bedlam here, people still arriving to set up, car jams and frustrated, impatient people. 

The sun! I'm sure I saw it a moment ago ...

WEATHER IS HOLDING... FOR NOW.

My hair has been commented on.  My response is... I will never cut it short. I love it long, it gives me options. I HATE hair on my face, hence wearing it up more often than not.  Each to their own right? 

11.41 am, heading into lunch time, which is traditionally when a market quietens down. If it gets any quieter it will be DEAD. 

ABOVE: 1.45 PM, ALMOST time to pack up, thank god. The only thing moving out there (just about) ... is Stew.  It has been a SHIT market, the only good thing.... the weather hasn't been as bad as expected.  

I WANNA GO HOME.

3.20 pm, and we are home.  Thank goodness.  I am so tired all I want to do is have a sleep.  I woke this morning at 2 am, and didn't get back to sleep at all.  Hence, very tired.

And feeling a bit ill, cos seriously, all I did today was eat shit.  Had a pie for brunch, then a sandwich, then an ice cream.  Just too much food.  Ikkk.

And while we made some money today, I spent some of it already on a Trade Me purchase.  More on that tomorrow, cos right now, I'm off to lie down.

TWO.  HOURS.  LATER... and I woke up!  I must have been tired.

This evening was dinner/relax/go to bed.  And that's me done for the day.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

SO HAPPY TO GET THESE TWO DONE

 Sleeping in today, it's just so nice to lie here and have nothing on my mind.  No big jobs.

Oh hold on, we do have a very important job to get done today.  Our gazebo needs some new straps and clips, so we will have to put it up and do that.

I've already stitched one strap as a replacement, I just have to hand stitch a new clip on by hand,  then we will be set for tomorrow.

ABOVE:  These are the two runners I got finished yesterday!  I'm so happy with them, I didn't think BABY BROTHER would do it, she really didn't like it last time I tried to do satin stitch around the fabric pieces.

But, lo and behold... she did it.

LEANNE:  I will be working on your Fat Bottomed Girls Runner next week.

So, back to today... once we get up, I'm not sure what we will get up to once the gazebo is sorted out.

But to be sure, I'll let ya know  😂😅😊.

ONWARD...

I didn't get out of bed until 9 am!!!  I was awake for hours before that... listening to Stew snore.  Such fun.  

I've now got dye in me hair, waiting to wash it out and put purple shit on next... hoping the yellow isn't too bad.  Sometimes it is, sometimes not.

ABOVE:  Hmmm... maybe next time I don't put the purple shampoo on my lengths?  The top/front still looks slightly yellow.  

Luckily, I am no longer bothered how my hair colour comes out, I can ROCK purple hair.  I'm joining the blue/purple older person brigade.

ABOVE:  LOL, it doesn't look quite so bad put up in a bun.  There's just so much more purple than usually happens... I think it was the new purple shampoo I used?  Lesson learnt. The front/top isn't looking too bad ... not as yellow as I've had it before.  

It makes me laugh how upset I used to get over a bad dye job, probably not as much as other people, sorry other people.   Now days, I really, really don't give a shit how it comes out.  The purple makes me laugh.

And I really needed a laugh this morning.  

SOME.  PEOPLE.  SHOULD.  STOP.  AND.  THINK.  BEFORE.  HITTING.  SEND.
Unless their goal was to cause upset?

6.09 pm:  We had pizza for lunch, it was delicious.  Then it was a long, slow afternoon.

We have packed the car in readiness for tomorrow's market.

The weather is looking VERY unsettled.  Like the past few days, wet one minute, sunshine the next.  Constant wind though.

I'm not holding out hope it will be fine tomorrow... it's probably going to be a very quiet, wet market.  

But, we go as per usual, cos we ain't quitters.  We are mad.

And on that note, I'm outta here.  I am thinking of taking something to do, (hand sewing), to market tomorrow, to relieve the boredom.

Catch ya tomorrow.

A DOZEN, PLUS FOUR

 

First up for today, I thought I'd show you the twelve new Scrappy Dolls I got done over the past few days:

ABOVE:  I am really happy with them, they will look so lovely on our stall.

Now, what are we up to today?  I will tidy up the sewing room, in readiness for my next session in there.

I like to clean up between 'jobs'... it's nice to start in a fresh, tidy room.

There's a bit of washing to be done, but that's about 'it' for housework.

Stew and I will go to the Base a bit later on to return the drink bottle I bought yesterday.  I hope they have the one I actually want.

And I think another visit to The Foundation is on the cards... I'm now craving the Seafood Chowder that Lacy had yesterday!  I had a little taste of hers, and it was so YUM!

DEE:  You asked in a comment last night if buying cheap pillows would be good for stuffing?  Simple answer, No.  I get 1 kg bags of Hobby Fill for $30, and that will stuff 8 Dolls.  That is dead cheap.  I only use the chopped up batting as well, as I have it, and it's not being used for anything else.  As I said before, "Waste not, want not".

ONWARD...

12.31 pm, and OMG, what a mish mash of a day weather wise! One minute sunshine, next minute  downpours and windy. Really not nice.

I spent the morning in the sewing room. Stew did the weekend shopping, then went to the gym.

Now we are out and about. Swapped the wrong bottle for the right one, and we are now awaiting lunch. We are both having Seafood Chowder. 

2 pm, and we are home again.  Lunch was just lovely.

A quick stop at Spotlight followed lunch, where I grabbed some machine needles and thread.

ABOVE:  My new drink bottle.  I could choose Black, Black or... BLACK.  And I don't mind it at all.  Stylish I reckon.

Gunna have a lie down now, my back and butt are killing me.  I'm not used to sewing for hours on end, it's been a while.

7.34 pm:  I have been sewing most of the afternoon, and have managed to finish two more runners for market on Monday.

I did NOT expect to get any runners done as BABY BROTHER would not do satin stitch last time I tried it.

BUT, as she did the Scrappy Dolls so well, I thought, meh, why not try it again?

And BOOM... she did it.  It was a mission, using a very tight zig zag instead of actual 'Satin Stitch', but it did the job.

I will show you what I got done today... tomorrow.

Cos, I need something for tomorrow's post right?  lol

Sewing all day has almost given me double vision, it really is a strain on ya eyes.  Probably not as bad as other people, sorry other people.

Catch ya tomorrow.

OFF TO GET A NEW BOTTLE TODAY

 

When I'm sewing, I put my drink bottle and phone on my sewing desk, easy to reach right?

Last week I knocked my drink bottle, and it flew onto the concrete floor, but luckily no damage was done.

Yesterday afternoon I did it again, only this time the sippy bit on the top snapped off.  And there went a $100 bottle into the bloody bin!  I was really pissed off with myself for being so clumsy.

ABOVE: HYDRO FLASK,  best bottle ever.  Keeps your drink cold ALL DAY LONG!  And handles Diet Coke like a rock star.

Today I'm off to buy another one, as it is the BEST thermal, sipping bottle we have found.  Usually those sorts of bottles don't handle fizzy drinks, but these ones have been perfect.  No fizz spurting out the top EVER.

I'm expecting Lacy to join me this morning, so we will get me new bottle, then go to lunch somewhere.

Before going out, I shall continue working on the next 8 Scrappy Dolls.  

ONWARD...  

12.40 pm, and I'm just home after having had lunch out with Lacy.

I bought a new bottle, got home and realised I'd bought totally the wrong one!  I will be taking it back in the weekend.  I don't know how I made such a dumb mistake really.

ABOVE: For lunch (at The Foundation), I had the lamb sandwich again.  This time I wasn't that impressed.  Weird.  And I couldn't eat it all, and only had a couple of chips on the side.

STEW, we brought a rather full 'doggy bag' home for you.

ABOVE:  Lacy had the seafood chowder, and I've never seen anyone enjoy a meal more!  She absolutely LOVED it!  No prizes for guessing what she's having next time we are there.

I worked all morning on the dolls, so will get back to them soon.  Right now, I'm in a food coma... might take a nap.

  5.30 pm.   A nap? 😂😅😂  Yeah, nah.  Wasn't happening, so I got back in the sewing room and worked all afternoon.

ABOVE: The black sack full of off cuts of batting...

ABOVE: And what I did with some of it.  I then sprinkle it through the Hobby Fill, and use it for stuffing Scrappy Dolls and the like.

Talking of Scrappy Dolls, I now have 16 ready for market.  So the lady who wants to pick up two on Monday now has more to choose from.

I will show you a photo of all of them tomorrow.  For now I need to get off me bum and actually do some housework!

I'm a little ashamed to say last night's dinner dished are STILL on the bench!  I don't think I've ever left them this long before.  WHOOPS.

10.10 pm, and I've been utterly lazy this evening, just sitting watching TV and doing a jig saw.  I've even got a numb bum.  Probably not as numb as other people, sorry other people!

Stew ended up doing the dishes, double WHOOPS!

Off to bed shortly, tired but happy to have got that big job (the dolls), finished.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FINISH THEM OFF TODAY

 

A big Yaaaaa!   I got one of the Scrappy Dolls finished last night, then ran out of hobby fill.  Therefore, I will be off to Spotlight first thing this morning to get more, then I can finish the other three Dolls.

I'm thinking I might even start a few more, seeing as I can turn out 4 in just under 2 days.  It won't hurt to have a few 'spare' up me sleeve.

I should be going to Mosaics in Cambridge this morning, but I think I'd rather stay home and get my Scrappy Doll numbers up.

I'm so happy that BABY Brother is doing fine with this basic work, just using straight and zig zag stitch.

At least I can sew something.

ABOVE:  That's the doll I finished last night.  

ONWARD...

1.15 pm, and I've stopped work for lunch.

I'm watching a live feed, news video on my laptop about a potentially tragic event that happened today in Mt Maunganui.

ABOVE:  A terrible landslide at the bottom of the Mount, landing on the camping ground.  People are missing, and efforts are being made to find/rescue them.

There's been so many landslips, road closures, homes flooded, people having to be rescued from rooftops etc in the past 24-48 hours due to the storm sweeping across the country.

I hope they find and rescue those who are unaccounted for.  So very sad for so many affected and involved.

Back to my daily life...

ABOVE:  I'm very happy to have four more Scrappy Dolls to add to my stock.

ABOVE:  I anticipate in the next few days I shall have these 8 ready for market as well. 

Right, I'm about to make a chicken wrap for my lunch, then get back into the sewing room. 

Oh I forgot to tell you about something I did this morning, that I've never done before.  I was cutting up scraps of batting to use as stuffing in the dolls (waste not, want not), and I got a bit careless and cut the top of my finger with the rotary cutter!  That thing is razor sharp as any sewer will tell you.  So I just pushed the flap of skin down and put a plaster on it.  I don't want to look at it again for a few days.  NASTY.  And serve me right for not being more careful. 

I spent the afternoon working on the dolls, then I took Stew to the pub and visited the kids for an hour.  After that, I spent an hour with Stew and our friends at the pub, it's always lovely to catch up with all the regulars there.  We have made so many new friends there.

Now we are home, and I am absolutely knackered.  I am totally looking forward to bed... probably not as much as other people, sorry other people.

I didn't really think I'd do the 'sorry other people' thing today, but it slipped in there somehow.  😂😖

Catch ya tomorrow.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW

 

At markets, we often get someone who will say "Oh I love that, but can't get it today.  I'll take one of your cards and contact you later".  Or something similar.

9 times out of 10 you never see or hear from them again.  It is what it is.

Well anyway, at our last market, a young lady did just that, said she wanted a Scrappy Doll but didn't have any cash on her. She took a card.

Yesterday afternoon she contacted me, and is going to come to our market on Monday (Auckland Anniversary Day), to buy not one, but two scrappy dolls.  She had even taken a photo of the dolls, and showed me which two she wanted.  Serious buyer then.

That means we will only have two dolls left! Eeeek.  I am going to try today to make a few more, using BABY machine.  I think I can do it.  I hope I can do it.

Wish me luck.

I'm outta here, got work to do!

But just before that, this is why I blog, why I get so much enjoyment out of it:

lynney625:16 PM

Hi Chris, I'm 82 as of a week ago and sadly one of "the other people" 🤣 But I'm happy for you and your progress! Every day I read your blog and just LOL every time you say "probably not as bad as the other people">>>LOL!! You have such a great way of seeing/living life! Just want to say "your garden looks so beautiful"!!💖
So happy for you and Stew enjoying your new home and making new friends!! I just love reading your blog everyday...LOL abounds always just with you! Take care! Love life!

That comment was left on Monday's blog post.  Isn't she just lovely!  Thank You for such a lovely comment Lynney.

ONWARD...

Well... obviously I've been a bit busy today.

First up, I did a grocery shop.

Then I came home and started working on Scrappy Dolls.

Putting fabrics together for the bodies, then putting aprons on... eyes, mouths etc.

ABOVE: It is now 2.15 pm, and I have got 4 dolls 'fronts' done.  After a break, I will get the arms, legs, hair etc done.  Then I will stitch the backs and fronts together, and stuff them.

That might not get finished today, it depends on how my back holds up... it's really hurting right now... probably not as bad as other people, sorry other people.

I need lunch, so am stopping for that, I'm going to have a chicken wrap.  I bought more wraps, chicken mince etc this morning for them.  Our WW leader did a cooking demo last night and made chicken wraps, hence me doing it today.

ABOVE: That's Andrea, our WW Coach. She's just lovely.  I like the little portable cooker she uses, might even get one.

ABOVE: That's the wrap recipe Andrea used, you can tweak it to suit yourself.  I made a small, long sausage instead of three meatballs.  And I used hummus and basil pesto under my salad and chicken.  

10.46 pm, and it's time for bed.  I had a quiet evening with Stew, we both had a chicken wrap for our dinner.  Coronation Street has just finished, so I'm off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.