BAGS, BAGS, BAGS!

When I started Patchwork Class this year I had no idea I would end up loving sewing so much!

Not only have I made quilts, but wallhangings and bags too!
Sure I had sewn before.. but this is so much fun! The stitches and materials I am using are making it so .....creative, and that is what I'm loving so much!

There is a downside though... and it is a BIG one.....MY ARSE! It's getting bigger. I spend so much time SITTING ON IT....sewing. *sigh*.
I need to work out a programme whereby I sew for say an hour, then do some form of exercise for 15-20 minutes .... to break up the amount of time spent sitting on me touche'. It will be hard to implement I am sure... but something has to give, before me knicker seams do! ha ha ha!

Today I want to finish Bag #3 and think about the next one... as I loved this bag so much I will probably do it again in similar materials. Or whatever I have in me stash! I must not buy anymore!!!

Family time today? I feel the need to do something fun with Stew and the Kids.... not just shopping/lunch.... so I must get my thinking cap on.....

ABOVE: there ya have it... virtually finished, needs some hand sewing done and of course the button and button hole on the flappy thing. I need to find the PERFECT BUTTON tomorrow.

Stew's idea was to attatch the single strap to the inside of the bag and not 'mess up' the outside look! He was right about that. Clever bugger. BEFORE anyone asks, this bag is for my Mum for Christmas OK!

We haven't done much today.. went out and bought vege plants for the garden, a few bits and bobs from Bunnings... came home and had lunch then .... a bit of sewing and housework.

BLONDIE: stand in line girl!

ABOVE: Bag No # 2 now has the cutest strap on it... cos 'someone' said it needed one! Pffffft. Now 'someone' has to wait till their birthday to get it. ha ha ha.

End of Day: and it's gone really well... got heaps done... wrapt about that. I love being productive. nite nite.

edit: RENEE: not a problem. ANON: a bag takes a couple of days to make.

BUSY.. BUSY... BUSY

We are super dooper busy this morning!

9 - 10.30am : I go to the Doctor for a group Weight Loss Meeting.

11 - 12.30am : Stew goes to the Doctor for a group Diabetes Meeting.

11.30am : Griffin goes to Kip McGrath for an assessment... we are going to pay for him to get extra tuition to try and get his reading and writing up to par. He is not progressing, and his school have done everything they can. Time to get outside help.

***He (Griffin) has been assessed as having 'Moderate Needs'... and will be getting a short, intesive block of writing help at school 'sometime' this term, but I just don't feel this will be enough*** AND I am not waiting any longer to get help for him.

After all this... we will no doubt go out for lunch and then have a nice quiet afternoon! (I hope!)

Judging by the response yesterday... EVERYONE wants one of my little bags! ha ha ha! Too funny. Maybe when I feel really sure I have one that is PERFECT I will do another GIVEAWAY and it can be the prize! How's that then??? Until then... I have to make about 3-4 as gifts for family members... including a PURPLE AND SILVER ONE!

ABOVE: Last night I started this one... Hell I hope it turns out cos I am winging it with the pattern... I kinda made it up. I've never done that before!

AND in case you can't tell.....

I have gone for 'SUBTLE' colours... and no BLUE anywhere! Eegads.. I must be ill! lol

WHOOPS! Sorry been busy! This morning's activities went really well.... lunch was nice too.

Since coming home I've been.... SEWING... how DID YOU GUESS??? LOL. I'm up to the "Hmmmm, now what?" stage of the latest bag... cos I am so making it up as I go.

ABOVE: See? Right now it just resembles a sack....OK, a very pretty sack! But I need to line it... and give it some handles SOMEWHERE... Not got many ideas popping out of me head right now either... think I'm tired.

End of Day: Sometimes Stewy can be SO helpful! I couldn't decide if the bag needed one handle.. or two. So got his imput... and he came up with an idea I hadn't even thought of! A... MAZING! *SHAKING ME HEAD* ... and on that note... it's bedtime. I absolutely LOVE Bag #3..... it's not quite finished yet... tomorrow it will be. nite nite.

TAAA DAAAA......

There we have it... the first bag....and the second one.

I 'upped' the pattern by 50%, what a difference it made! So much easier to sew...
I really like this one! The colours are more 'me'.... but I am going to give it to someone for their birthday next year I reckon. Unless Mike wants it! LOL..... it's his birthday next. (well.... AFTER MINE THAT IS)

During the sewing course last weekend we were encouraged to buy the Piping Foot ($64.50)... cos it was ESSENTIAL to doing easy piping.... MY ARSE! I used the zipper foot... not a problem! I'm feeling rather smug about that.

I think I have the bug for making this bag now... cos I want to make ANOTHER.... hmmmmm.... who else can I give one too???

LOL.

Today: Sewing. Housework. EXERCISE! Yes, I will do some today... I will... I will.....

I went out to get dog food... found a really LOVELY new Pet Shop in Takanini... and as I'd heard an advert over the radio saying Spotlight were having a 20% OFF EVERYTHING SALE today.. I headed over there.

And their SALE was yesterday... but they honoured the 20% off anyway! AWESOME.... but I only got a TINY bit more material for another bag... cos I am so trying to save money for Christmas! *sigh*

ABOVE: today's material purchases, I totally LOVE the shell material! *DROOOOOOL*.

Teddy and I went for a walk this afternoon, before picking the kids up from school. He saw another dog.... and he went nuts... literally 'screaming' and howling at it... and then... he shat himself.... all down his back legs. MAJOR eeeewww! I was gobsmacked! Stoooopid dog. He is locked out of the house right now... I so don't need dogshit in me house. Pffffft.

I am looking at that material I bought today.... now I'm not sure the shell material is right for a bag like the other two? Maybe I will use it for something else. To cover it with fancy stitches will just kill it I reckon. Agree?

Bloody hell! I havn't even decided who is getting that blue bag yet... and the girls are demanding it! *sigh*... looks like I will have to make at least one or two more!

End of Day: having takeaways for dinner tonight... yaaaaa. I'm tired! Have a good weekend everyone, I plan to! nite nite.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

It's Thursday... I'm gunna sew today.

I might even do some housework.

AND.... that is all for now! I am coming up with blank, blankety, blank for today!

So... what are YOU doing today??? Tell me. I hope it's more exciting than my plans.

I had to go out to get a few essentials from the supermarket, and dog food. It was raining so hard I missed the turn off to the Pet Shop... so didn't get the dog food. Pffffft.... it is a totally crap day out there!

At least I'm now confident driving ROXY... if I wasn't I would never go out in this weather! The traffic is nuts out there.

I am NOW going to do some sewing... and Yes, I know I said I would probably never make another bag like the one last Saturday... BUT.... I upped the size of the pattern so it's not quite so 'finicky' to sew (I hope!).

ABOVE: I've been sewing for about 3 hours... all the fancy stitching is done on the body of the bag.. now the bitch bit ... piping, zip... bla bla bla. Hopefully I can remember all the instructions... and hell... how to put the zip in! I've not done 'zips' much in me life....

I THINK ZIPS SCARE ME! ha ha ha!.....HA! Awesome... the zip went in no problem at all! Now all I have to do is stitch the top bit to the bottom bit.... no mean feat I might add. I am going to leave that particular 'challenge' till after dinner.

DINNER: is Spaghetti Bologneise... so yum! I don't hate dinner times now that I have set up a 'Menu Plan' ... I just glance at it every morning and I know what I'd doing for dinner that night! No more getting takeaways cos I havn't organised dinner. IT'S WORKING!

End of Day: and I can say that the zip was the EASY PART! Pffffft. Dinner was lovely, and I made enough for another night's dinner too. COOL. nite nite.

I'M NOT HAPPY... Pffffffft!

Mum is such a Tart! She decided to trim around my neck and face, cos my collar was making a huge mass of knots....

*SNIFF* .. now EVERYONE can SEE where I was a naughty boy and scratched my neck/chin! It is getting better... but I bet Mum doesn't let me keep my collar off for ages. (she trimmed me bum too.. HOW HUMILIATING!) So NOT HAPPY!

Yeah, it's a crap job, but I just saved myself $70! I am not trusting anyone with Teddy again... I will try and groom him myself from now on. He does fight.... but I'm BIGGER and can hold him down! *smiles*

Today: might go buy a wee bit of material for another bag... I know I have heaps of material already, but NONE is 'quite right' for the bag! Go figure.

ONWARD... I can honestly say... I have had a really NEAT morning, I met some really nice people today! And I still havn't managed to buy some material either.. that is next.....


ABOVE: the colours I chose for the 2nd bag.. what do ya think??? Just started it this afternoon...
Then I walked up to get the kids from school... and it RAINED. Nice one... it even got a little bit cold! But not as cold as Palmy... hee hee he.

End of Day: I had hoped to crack on with the sewing tonight, but I've come down with an awful headache... so am going to take a pill and lie down.... hopefully it helps. All good though....it's been a really nice day. nite nite.

FEIJOAS LOOK LIKE TENNIS BALLS..., YES?

ABOVE: Last year this feijoa tree was lush, green, and covered with masses of feijoas... almost ready to pick and eat.

NOW? I am cutting it down. Cos.... much as feijoas may LOOK like TENNIS BALLS...... they really are not!

Brylee and Griffin must have THOUGHT it was a Tennis Ball Tree, cos they got two tennis rackets and hit all them lovely feijoas right off that tree!

THE TREE HAS PACKED A SHIT..... AND DIED .

So now.. the baby climbing gym is there instead.
ABOVE: I wanted our back yard to look bigger, but maybe not at the expense of the feijoa tree! I love feijoas! *sniff*

I was not amused when it first happened, you should have seen the look on Brylee and Griffin's faces after I had finished ranting at them! Priceless. NOW... I have to stifle a smile! It is only a tree. I planted two more.

TODAY? I'm taking my sewing machine over to Howick to be picked up by the repairman. And they are giving me a 'loaner' machine to use.. so that's good! I can still do some sewing.

Done. The machine is back at the shop... and I told the lady there that it was the last time I was going to bring it back for repair, if it plays up anymore, we expect a new machine.

I'm now off to do some sewing on the loaner machine... which is not as fancy as mine, but it will do eh?

*************** I JUST HAD A RANT ON PEPSI! ***************** and I went on.. and on... and on...

End of Day: feeling flat. Crabby. Tired. Annoyed. Going now before I start ranting here too! nite nite.

YAAAAAA..... A WINNER AND PEACE AGAIN!

AND THE WINNER IS:

Pfffft... he wasn't even watching what he was doing.. he was watching Bathurst on the Telly!.....

Hee hee, it took him a while to open it, every entry was cellotaped closed! There were over 335 entries! And yes, he ripped it getting it open....

And there we have it... the WINNER is : 'SPARKLINGMERLOT'. I will post your prize out to you sometime this week chick! CONGRATULATIONS.

It breaks my heart not to be able to send each and every one of you a prize.. but not possible. I THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING... and all I can say is..... I will do it all again on my 4th ANNIVERSARY!

TODAY: yeah baby yeah! Kids go back to school, and I am off to my patchwork class at Papakura.... I am thinking of making another one of those wee bags... only slightly bigger this time.

I've been asked to ring the lady who sold me my sewing machine... she saw me on Saturday at the sewing class..... where my machine DID jam up a few times.... hmmmmm???? I am feeling NERVOUS! Stupid eh?

AND ONCE AGAIN... my machine has to go back to the workshop! I AM JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH RAGE! FRUSTRATION! PISSED OFF MAJORLY! When are they just going to give me a new machine???????

I can't go to patchwork class.

ABOVE: Stew found this mix at the supermarket the other day. So we tried it... SUPER YUM... and only 2 points per serve. EXCELLENT. I'm having me a Falafel Salad for lunch today.... and 'ESTEEMED WEIGHT LOSS LEADER'... we are baking them in the oven... so NO OIL!

Since this morning I've had a yak with Stew and it's been decided that if I have any more problems with the machine after it comes back from the workshop THIS TIME, he is going to talk to the woman and insist we be given a new machine. I find her too intimidating. THERE, decision made.

This afternoon we went back to the Orthodontist ... for Brylee to be fitted with her plate:

ANNE, the Orthodontist is just lovely...

It's in.... and only comes out for tooth brushing.

Griffin was a MONUMENTAL PAIN IN THE BUTT! He kept touching things... and asking "What's this for?"... to the point where even Anne said "Don't touch that...!"... she is gunna have to sterilise a few things after our visit! LOL.

End of Day: well... didn't I have a lot to say today then? LOL. I will shut up now and watch the telly for a while! nite nite.

I WANNA MAKE ANOTHER!

I dreamt about that figgin bag... and making another one! Colourways.... bling..... *shaking my head*!

I need to save my money! I... (I mean SANTA)... has to save every cent for Christmas presents! Grrrrrr.

BUT... I do have lots of material! Just need a piping foot for me machine... and more cottons. I can probably swing it.

Today: we are off to peruse the Kayak... and get it paid for and held for Christmas! Wooo Hoooo!

Last day for folks in the Northern Hemisphere to get their names in for my GIVEAWAY! I will be doing the draw tomorrow morning!

TOMORROW MORNING! Yeee Haaaa... kids will be back at school! BLISS..... I can get my house in order and enjoy the peace.

All sorted! Got the Kayak, paddles AND lifejackets for the kids with a $300 discount! Can't get much better than that.
Had lunch at Sylvia Park... and now?

Housework. Gardening. Sew Griffin's name on his new school shorts. JUST NORMAL STUFF.

Aaaaah.. always worth taking a photo of... a man working! In this case, Stew getting my summer vege garden prepared. I will be able to plant out tomatoes and lettuces next weekend.

End of Day: it's been a neat day! Nothing to add to that. nite nite.

DAY TEN: IT'S MY 3RD YEAR BLOGAVERSARY TODAY!

3 YEARS BLOGGING!

MY GIVEAWAY: DAY TEN

LAST DAY'S OFFERING!!!! Four Fat Quarters... two are New Zealand fabrics... two are random ones!

SO..... this is your last chance to enter! I will be doing the draw in two day's time.... cross ya fingers/toes/lips (yep all of them!)... and let's see who wins.

I'm feeling rather chuffed with myself! I let my fingers do the walking.. and I tracked down one of the two Kayaks we want SANTA to bring for Christmas.. at a good price ... wooo hooo! This one is big enough for Stew, Brylee AND Griffin to ride on.

Now I just have to get the second one (for me)! And a roof rack. And some life jackets for the kids. And some paddles. EEEEEEK!

I will be 'away' from my computer for the rest of today... I'm off on a sewing course in New Lynn. Stew has the kids all day to himself.. the lucky guy. (tongue in cheek)....

LATER.....

"HI"... I'm back! It's been a long day sewing... very tiring. Today's course was all about learning about what our machine can do in relation to fancy stitches.... eeee gads! I already knew about it's stitches, but the item we made was a tricky little bugger!

ABOVE: the first step was to put all the little strips of material together and then do the fancy stitching... then after 6 hours ... and only a few swear words and one stabbed finger:

ABOVE AND BELOW: Taaaaa Daaaa! A little bag! Fully lined too!

I had never made anything so finnicky before... and maybe I never will again! I tell ya, it was a right bitch to sew in some parts! BUT.. it's done. And I'm sure someone will love getting it for Christmas!

Stew has been wonderful, there is a roast of pork in the oven... and now I am going to relax and have a wee tipple.

Keep those GIVEAWAY entries coming in... you have a wee bit longer left! Of course .. YOU people over on the other side of the world have exactly 1 day longer... seeing as you are BEHIND us by a day!

End of Day: and I'm knackered! It's been a neat day... and the roast Pork was delicious! nite nite.

DAY NINE...AND IT'S WET AND HORRIBLE

MY GIVEAWAY: DAY NINE

OOOOKKKKK.. today we have two KIWI Bags.... made of canvas... perfect to lug the groceries home in. Me foot is NOT included! *smiles*

The end of the school holidays is almost upon us.. three more sleeps! I can hardly wait.. as per usual. Even though the kids have been EXCELLENT these holidays.. they have both been sick and snotty... and I am over them!

I need my own space .. peace and quiet sometimes! They make CONSTANT noise.

TODAY: not sure yet... I will be back later....

Yes FELICITY, it is wet and miserable here today too. The poor kids have hardly spent any time outdoors these holidays!

ABOVE: Griffin and Teddy looking at all the entries for MY GIVEAWAY.. is YOUR NAME in there??? Tomorrow is the last day to enter.....

I'm going out later to look at Kayaks ..... I so regret selling our kayaks when we were down in Palmerston North... but hey, I didn't know then that we were moving up here did I? *sigh*

Griffin is keen as mustard for us to get some, he loves being in/on the water, and he wants to go fishing! Anything to get him off the Playstation I say! SANTA will have to start saving her money! lol

DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!..... MY FAULT.... SHIT I'M SO MAD!

Last night I decided to take Teddy's collar off... to give him a break from it... his chin was well on the way to being all better... and he's back on his steriods... so I thought he would be alright:

Was I EVER WRONG! That little bugger has totally munted his chin AGAIN! It's a huge wound again. I could cry.
COLLAR IS BACK ON... probably for weeks. ( AND THAT PHOTO OF GRIFFIN AND TEDDY WAS TAKEN JUST BEFORE I CHECKED TEDDY'S CHIN)

LYNDA: about 95% of the comments I have are from 'regular' commentors anyway... I'd like to think they will still comment AFTER the GIVEAWAY too. I will take your name out of the hat then.

Thank you Emily for all the advice. Teddy is on a special diet for Hyper Allergenic Dogs.... he gets NOTHING else to eat but his special food. The Vet has said he could be allergic to GOD KNOWS WHAT, and allergy testing is VERY expensive and we may still not find what he is allergic to! He is like a very naughty kid who picks at himself! Yes, he gets Evening Primrose Oil too. You are now in the GIVEAWAY DRAW (twice)! lol

End of Day: I had a great afternoon.... I found what I have been looking for! More about that tomorrow. Stew came home with Falafel mix from the supermarket... fresh mix... and I cooked them in the oven instead of in oil... it worked really well. So yum with a lettuce salad. nite nite.

DAY EIGHT....AND MOVING FURNITURE AGAIN!

MY GIVEAWAY: DAY EIGHT

Today to add to the pile we have another wee plate, made by me! It's only a little one... got to watch the weight of this GIVEAWAY! It could end up going thousands of miles away eh? LOL

I got bored, so moved some furniture again:

I didn't do much, just put the dining table on an angle and did the same with the green couch...

AND it makes such a difference to the room! Hard to show on a photo really.. but believe me it does! I think I get just as much of a thrill moving furniture around as I do shopping! I'M WEIRD.

That's about it for now... back later no doubt....

We went out to 'post' a fishing rod to Whangarei... and get a few more groceries.. bloody hell... where does it all go??? I bought some evil chocolate too... I JUST COULDN'T WALK PAST IT anymore without getting some! I am hopeless, I know.

AMANDA: my room looks lovely... Pffffft! AND it's MY POTTERY! Stand in line...

UMMMM.... SANDRA.... perhaps I FORGOT to mention how much chocolate I bought!

WHICH little bit can I have now???? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!

I. AM. EVIL....EDIT: I bought them cos I could.. and I sooo wanted some.... but I am actually going to put them in the 'Christmas' cupboard and have NONE. I wanted some.. till I got them home... and now I can CHOOSE not to have any...or some if I want. I DON'T WANT. Does that make sense to anyone....???

OK, this is funny! ....This morning Teddy came inside... and he kept GROWLING and pacing up and down the family room...GROWLING all the time! It was so weird. I had no idea what he was on about...

Last night Stew and I went through the kids soft toys, cos we wanted to give some to the Samoan Children affected by the Tsunami... and I was going to add a little cushion too, but Stew said "NO, put it on the couch" ... so we did.

It would appear Teddy does not like that cushion on his couch! 'Cos after much growling, he jumped up on the couch and attacked that cushion and dragged it onto the floor and left it there! I see... he doesn't like that new cushion on HIS couch! Too bad, he has to get used to it! His nose is right out of joint!

He really is the most delightful little dog.. I love him so much.

End of Day: another day done and dusted... just tomorrow and the weekend to get through now... then I can go back to being bored and lonely! lol! nite nite.

DAY SEVEN...AND THE KIDS LAST NIGHT

MY GIVEAWAY: DAY SEVEN

So.... today's offerings are..

ABOVE AND BELOW: two funny fridge magnets.... and

ABOVE: this cute wee NEW ZEALAND keyring thingee.

Now for a few photos from last night:

ABOVE: Teddy getting spoilt.. we took his collar off for a while so he could enjoy the evening! He's finally looking like his old 'fluffy' self!




ABOVE: It's so lovely to see Lacy and Tim so happy with each other.

Today : I am still trying to work on UFO's! So much to do... and not a lot of time lately to do it! Brylee and Griffin have been wonderful these holidays... but as they are home all day I am not getting much done in the way of sewing.
Oh well... they will be back at school next week.. plenty of time then eh?
ONWARD....

Best laid plans and all that! I STILL havn't been able to get to my sewing... we got unexpected guests in the form of my Aunty and her wee Grandson Nico. So.. it's now well after lunchtime and I'm ready to take a break from the housework... and visitors.. and get some 'me' time!

We popped out a minute ago to get some more of my HRT pills... stuff getting those hot flushes back!... and I thought..OOOO better get Griffin some more summer shorts for school! He wore the bottoms out of his last ones... so off we went to the uniform shop... and the little bugger needed size 14's! He's nearly 8 years old.... eeeeeek! What size is this kid going to end up?

I've now got lamb chops in the oven for dinner... ooooo mint sauce gravy... ALREADY DROOLING!

End of Day: and I had a really nice day actually. Had a long 'yak' on MSN with our youngest son, Mike tonight, which was just lovely. I live in hope that one day he and his brother will come up to Auckland to live. Till then I hang out for the odd phone conversation and MSN. *sigh* nite nite.

DAY SIX...AND MORE VISITORS

MY GIVEAWAY: DAY SIX

Today's offering.....is this cute wee necklace! I love it... cos it's BLUE of course!

REMEMBER! This giveaway is open to everyone who reads me blog and leaves a comment... you will be in to win EVERYTHING offered! 10 days worth no less!

It was so cold yesterday... I didn't want to go down into the garage to sew... but today I'm going to. I so want to get a few UFO's done and dusted. So, think of me won't ya if you are nice and warm!

Yaaaa.... I have the cash for Brylee's teeth! I sold two of my late Dad's fishing rods... awesome! I'm sure he wouldn't mind!

What else? Oh yeah... I'm earning some 'brownie' points .. I'm bloody-well IRONING! Someone give me a medal.... I've got the chest already... THANKS.

I'm knackered! I have spent most of today on my feet.. ironing, doing housework... and I've just finished making a mince/bacon/potatoe top pie for dinner.

Lacy and Tim are calling in on their way back up North for dinner... so I had to hurriedly make the pie bigger before in went in the oven... but that's cool... I love to feed people!

******PEPSI UPDATED ****** PEPSI UPDATED ******PEPSI UPDATED*****

End of Day... and dinner went really well. It was lovely to see Tim and Lacy again. Will post a couple of photos tomorrow, for now... it's bedtime, I'm stuffed. nite nite.