ONE MORE DAY... TILL MARKET AGAIN

 Tomorrow we have the Tamahere Market, so I shall work hard today to get a couple more runners made.

Last night I took over to Steve's a little gas  heater I bought MONTHS ago.  Stew and I had not been able to figure out how to make it go.

Steve got it going in minutes.  So typical.

ABOVE: It may be small, but it sure packs a punch!  I am sure it is going to help keep me warm on these cold winter mornings at market.

ABOVE:  Once I had 'fixed' the runner with the 'boo boo' last night, I started another runner.  I used the same fabric, just in a different line up.  

And then I cut off the excess on the sides, and had enough to sew them together, to make a small placemat sized thing.   I might make it longer so it's a runner too, we shall see.

Once those two are done, I'm MAYBE going to do ONE more before stopping for the day.  

I'm thinking of doing the final one in another, different colour way. Just not sure what yet.

ONWARD...

12.12 pm, and lol, I've just sat down after sewing for the last couple of hours.

I stayed up until 1 am last night, making  'just another runner'... you could say I got carried away.

I left it on the bench for Stew to see this morning, but he actually saw it not long after I went to bed.  He said it was a bit 'busy', and I had to agree.

Something about it was just 'off'.

ABOVE:  Often I look at something and just KNOW... and that fabric top and bottom?  WRONG.  So I took it off, and added a different fabric:

ABOVE: And YES!  That works much better.  And I don't know how I ended up making a PINK runner, after saying I wouldn't!  😖

ABOVE:  My goal this week (Mon - Fri) was to make 4 - 6 smaller runners.  And I did it.

Now I'm going to be a lazy tart for the rest of the day.

Might have some lunch next.

ONE.  HOUR.  LATER....

And nope, I didn't have lunch yet.  Instead, I decided to tidy up Crabby Quarters, vacuum the floors etc.

ABOVE: I had done a little re-arrange of where my sewing desk sat.  Instead of looking at the wall, I turned it around to face the computer.  That meant I had to move the  rug... which meant moving the desk and work table... what a mission.  But, I got it done.  Now I can sit back happy, knowing it's all tidy and ready for my next sewing endeavour.  

Now... LUNCH.  Or a nap.  Or both.  

*snort*... it's now 4.20 pm and I've not done either of those two things.  Lunch will become dinner.  Nap will become bedtime.

What did I do?

I finished a large Braid Runner, that's been in the 'to do' pile for a while now.

And I have to laugh, I've ended up making two runners, using colours I said I wouldn't use.  Derrr.

ABOVE: Browns, with a touch of yellow.  I'm sure the different colours will add some interest to the stall walls.  I hope.

I really am done now.  When Stew gets home we will load the car in readiness for tomorrow's market.

Then I can relax for the rest of the evening.

8.48 pm.  Nice... been relaxing since dinner time.  TV is boring.  Thank goodness I can do jig saws on my laptop, it keeps me from going mental.

Stew is off to bed early, and I won't be far behind him.  Catch ya tomorrow.

SOME COLOUR CHOICES

 

This morning I am going to try and come up with a new Braid Runner colourway.

NOT Orange.  Not Pink. Not Brown.  Not Grey. 

I've already done Blues, Greens, Yellows, Cats 'n' Dogs.  

What does that leave?

Hmmmm.

But first, I will finish the third green one on the table.

There's Coffee & Chat down in the Community Centre this morning, but I am thinking of giving it a swerve.  While it's nice to mix 'n' mingle with other residents here, I'm getting a bit sick of listening, predominantly, to the same 1-2 people and their opinions/stories bla bla bla.  Some people like to dominate conversations to the exclusion of anyone else.

I know that probably doesn't sound that nice of me, but then, sometimes I just ain't nice.  

I'm at an age when I know I can just walk away if I want to.  I don't have to put up with anything or anyone that irks me.  

Right, enough about that... moving on.

ONWARD...

It is nearly lunchtime.

I've finished the next green runner AND almost the new coloured one.

Photos soon...

ABOVE: The green one, done and dusted.

ABOVE: And the new one.  And DAMN!!!!    I didn't see the mistake until I took the photo.  Now I have to do a repair.  Can you spot the mistake?

ABOVE:  Lacy arrived for a visit, and I immediately gave her a job!  Coco is not impressed having her face washed, but it was necessary.

Now she looks half clean.  The groomer is coming next week to do the full job.

ABOVE:  Seems no one can see my boo boo.  It is.... no black strip on the bottom of the last coloured strip!

See the pins?   That's where I am adding the missing black strip.

ABOVE:  Fixed now.

And while I was back in Crabby Quarters, I made another one using those colours.  

This evening I stayed home sewing for a while, then I did a quick visit to Steve, Bex and the kids.  Then I came home.  I had planned to join Stew at the pub, but it was so quiet there this evening, Stew was already home by the time I arrived home. 

We are now looking forward to a couple of hours down time, before bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

KNEES, ARM, WHAT NEXT?

 

I've been a bit of a clux lately.

First I fall and hurt my knees, and then on Monday I was walking through the laundry, carrying boxes of things to put in my sewing trolley.

I had a box of stuff in my arms and a long cutting ruler.  It was jutting out a bit.  And then it hit the wall and lodged there, while I continued walking.  So the bloody thing smacked  into my upper arm didn't it?  F#*k that hurt.  But I just carried on.

Yesterday I looked at my arm as it was really sore.

ABOVE:  😒 Yeah.  Pretty good bruise.

No wonder it's still sore.

And all I can think of?  Things go in threes.  So I'm in for something else yet.

I better keep away from buses.

Today I am going to sew up that third green braid runner, then make a start on quilting and binding them.  I want them done before Saturday's market at Tamahere.  Totally doable.

Oh and my new batting?  I managed to spend a couple of hours yesterday re-organising a few things in Crabby Quarters and the linen cupboard, and by cutting it into smaller pieces I found places for it ALL here!

ABOVE: I pulled the drawers out of that unit under the computer.  The stuff that was in the drawers went into other places.

ABOVE:  I got a good big piece of batting in there.

ABOVE:  I'd used all the batting that was up on that shelf.... so now it's full again.

I also have a big piece in the linen cupboard.  That should see me right for months and months.

ONWARD...

12.30 ... Woke to a fog. As at 12.30 pm, it's still hanging around.  Ikkk.

I spent an entire HOUR this morning trying to work out the WORDLE word today!  AN HOUR!  But I got it in the end.  Whoever heard of the word (block your eyes if you have not done it yet)... PSHAW???

So anyway, after doing all the usual morning things, I decided to do a grocery shop. Something I've been meaning to do since we arrived home from Christchurch.   And now, I'm bloody knackered!  Who knew grocery shopping could count as a workout.

I'm now going to take a minute (maybe 30), before even thinking about going into Crabby Quarters to sew.

5.10 pm, and I have managed to get two of the smaller Braid Runners finished.  I'm really thrilled with how they look, they are slightly different to the big ones in that I put more of the 'plain fabric' on each end, instead of more strips.

It makes the 'central pattern' stand out more I think.

I have one more of this size to finish tomorrow, then I will think about making one more this size in a different colour.  I was thinking of orange, but just can't imagine me doing it.  So I'm leaning towards a different colour.  Just not sure what yet.

LOCAL  ALIEN:  I got the spitting and spinning muddled up, and spat on myself ONCE, then spun around three times.  I got so dizzy I banged into the wall!  Thanks for that.  NO new bruise though.  😂😅😀

Funny story about my bruising so easily/badly. I can remember going to the Doctor in Cambridge once, with a couple of rather large bruises on my belly.  I can't remember how I got them NOW, but anyway... The Dr saw them during an examination, and looked at me in this peculiar way, then said "Mrs Harvey, are you OK?  Is anyone hurting you?  This is a safe place if you need to talk to someone."

I had to snort and laugh, bless her for thinking I needed help.

I was quick to assure her I was perfectly safe, and had a bleeding/bruising issue.  I referred her to my medical file... I'm sure she double checked once I was out of her office.  😂

So there ya go, I bruise easily and badly.  Though, NOT as bad as I did years ago thankfully.

9.47 pm, watching Coronation Street, then off to bed.  Catch ya tomorrow.

COFFEE AND A KID

 

I shall be off to Coffee & Chat this morning, having missed it last week.  I wonder if there is any gossip?  lol

After that I shall come home in time for a visit from our granddaughter Emily.

It's school holidays, so she's going to come and hang out with her Grandma.  Nice.

ABOVE:  I visited the village vege gardens yesterday afternoon, to check how 'my' beetroot plants were doing.  Seems they are doing very well, and need thinning.  The village gardener will do that I'm sure.

ABOVE: There is now a new Gardening Club here in the village, so they were inspecting the vege patch too.

Not a group I shall be joining, I'm really not into gardening.  Nice to look at, not to weed.

ABOVE: We bought one metal bee from Akaroa while down south, the two extra ones we ordered afterwards arrived late yesterday afternoon.  Now I have to find somewhere inside to put them... on a wall.

I don't want them outside, they will weather too fast being small.

I have an inkling of where to put them.

Maybe Emily can help me do that.

My big order of Batting from Spotlight should be arriving today as well... that's exciting.  I have ordered enough to last me the rest of the year (I hope).

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  This is the next runner I have on the work table.  I know it's another green one, but seriously, that's what sells.  Blues and Greens primarily.

I have a pink one.... it's been in my stash for about 3 years.  So no, I won't be making any more.  Same with Brown, not a good seller.

I am thinking of making one in orange's.  Bit of a risk as I've never made an orange one before.  Could be interesting.

ABOVE: Well the batting arrived at 8.34 am, so that's great.  I don't have to hang around all day waiting for it.  NZ Post are damn fantastic with their deliveries. They email you when they pick up your parcel, let you know the date it's expected to arrive, then another update when it's actually on it's way to your home.  You can't ask for better than that. 

It's a bit wet today.  Not super cold, though I do have the heat pump on.  I am no longer suffering in a cold, damp house.  It's not good for our health to be freezing INSIDE.  I should have listened to EVERYONE much sooner eh?  😖😏

I'm now going to try and wrap that batting up again, so it can be stored at Steve 'n' Bex's home.  There is NOWHERE here for it.  I might even cut it into more manageable pieces.

ABOVE: Emily arrived, and we got to work moving the stingray from that wall...

ABOVE: it's now back where it was originally.

ABOVE: Then Emily got to work on the bees...

ABOVE: And there ya go, three bees above the flowers.  They look so cute there.

ABOVE: I do believe she was quite proud of herself.

After that, we went to The Base for lunch and a wander, before going to visit...

ABOVE: Bex and the kids.  Lily thought Emily was fun to play with, and Emily even got a kiss and cuddle.  

Once we arrived back at the village, I took Emily on a little tour of our Community Centre.  Soon I will be taking her home, then coming back here to cook something for our supper.  I'm thinking of a savoury scroll...

ABOVE:  And there's our supper.  I had a savoury scroll on Monday, which was cooked by the chef here, and she had put some sort of relish on the dough before rolling it up.  

I did the same and it's come out beautifully.  I had to try the smallest little piece eh?  lol

Those will last us a few days of course, as they are quite big.

9.30 pm, watching Coronation Street, then off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FEELING DESPONDENT

 

I'm feeling a bit despondent about markets right now.  Wondering if it will ever pick up again.  I keep spending money on fabrics, batting, threads and lets not forget the new machine... with very little return.

Yesterday I was thinking, why do we keep doing this?  Should we stop?

Then I remember all the money invested and sitting in Crabby Quarters.

AND, what would I do with my life if I wasn't making my runners etc?

I wouldn't have a life, I've not done anything else for years now. 

At some point, we will stop, but I hate to think it will be sooner, rather than later.

So yeah, right now I'm feeling quite depressed.

Yesterday we sold that cute small green Braid Runner that I finished on Saturday.  I am going to make 4-6 more in that size over the coming week, all going well.  Starting today.

It's craft day here in the village, so I'll gather up all I need and head down there mid morning.  Liz and Loretta will be there, so I'll have company.

Misery likes company.

I read this and liked it:

UNSPOKEN RULES OF A GEN-X WOMAN...

1. Our tolerance for stupid people left the building with our hormones.

2. People who chew too loud should eat somewhere else ... for their own safety.

3. "No" is a complete sentence.

4. If we sit down after 8 pm, it's game over.

5. Once the bra comes off, we're not leaving the house.

6. If it's not written down, it doesn't exist.

7. Trust your gut.  It's been right for decades.

8. Comfort wins over fashion every time.

9. Tweezers in the car are a necessity.

10.  Life's too short to GAF what others think.

Turns out one of the best parts of getting older is realising most of the rules were made up anyway.

STEW can attest to #2. 100%. 

HE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL, VERY CAREFUL.

ONWARD...

3 pm!  All I can say is, I've been busy.

I went to the pharmacy and picked up more medications, then came home and packed my craft room trolley, and off I went to Craft Group.

ABOVE: This trolley has proven so handy!  I love it.

ABOVE:  I went down early to craft group, and spent a very happy 3 hours with Liz and Loretta, until the other ladies arrived at 1 pm.  In all, I spent 5 hours down there.  It was so nice and warm too.  We've had the most gorgeous day here, sunshine and not very cold at all.

Oh yeah, I got two braid runners sewn up and ready for quilting/binding.  I would have got 3 done, but my mouth...  yakking.  😂😅

Now I'm home, and will unpack the trolley at some point.

Re: my mood.  I've yakked with the ladies at craft group, and taken on board what they (and you) have said.

Because I love sewing, and get such a thrill when I finish each and every runner, I shall just keep on making them!  If I die with 52,000 runners still unsold, Stew, or whoever in the family is able, can either continue selling them, or just gift them away.  I don't care.    Same with all my fabrics/machines etc.  Once I'm gone, it won't matter to me.

Though I do hope the fabric and machines find nice homes.

NOT that I'm thinking of kicking the bucket yet, right?  The thing is, you just never know what's around the corner. 

Right, enough of that.  I'll go and unpack my trolley now.    

9.26 pm and it's time to sign off for the day.  It's been a nice, productive day, with a relaxing evening tacked onto the end.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CAMBRIDGE TRASH 'N' TREASURE IN JULY

 

Well as predicted, it is a bloody freezing start to the day.

I doubt I will even feel one iota 'warm' while we are at market today.

Even with all my layers on, I just know I'm going to be miserable.

July is the coldest month of the year, so I can't wait for it to be over.

The only 'GOOD' thing about today?  The sun is going to be shining, so we might get a good amount of people coming to the market.  We might even make a sale or two?

Bex is also going to be at this market, so that will be nice.  She can set up next to us hopefully, like last month.

Right, time to get a move on... I've got several layers to get on, before we get out of here.

ONWARD...

Something I forgot to yak about yesterday...

My new pyjama pants were quite long, and in bed they rode up to about my knees, which was bloody annoying as F.

So I did something about it.

ABOVE:  I stitched the bottom edges closed.  Works perfectly to keep them down in bed!  And they are still perfectly comfortable to wear.  Like having socks on when I'm walking around in them.  lol   Has anyone else done this?

ABOVE: Our windscreen.  

ABOVE: 8.03... all ready for the day.

ABOVE: Bex made her stall sign.

It's pretty neat.

ABOVE: And she is all set up as well. Frost underfoot. Might take a while to go. 

2 pm, and we are home.

The market went OK, but very slow sales for us.  Bex did very, very well I'm so happy to say.

Once the frost went, we had a beautiful, sunny day.

ABOVE: The only cloud in the sky for ages.  I thought it looked cute.

Now we are home, and I'm going to get warmed up.  I might even get into bed.  I woke at 3.34 am this morning, and that was it for me.

So I am freakin' tired as.

I had a nap for about an hour, I'm all warmed up again now.

Stew and I are going out for dinner, kinda like a pick me up after a shitty day.

ABOVE: Bubbles to cheer me up as well.

ABOVE:  Dinner at our favourite Indian Restaurant, and it was delicious as per usual.

I had Butter Lamb and Stew had Chicken Tikka Masala.

Once home, we blobbed out for a couple of hours in front of the telly.

Off to bed now, catch ya tomorrow.