Stitching and Applique

Hello Peeps,

I hope your week has been as COOLIO as mine.

Miss H has attended classes this week and visited the centre that she is doing her placement at. I snuck into her jacket pocket where I commanded a good view of the place....

... and I am happy to report that it looks wonderful and the teachers were lovely, so I feel quite happy that Miss H will at least be going somewhere fantastic when she abandons me.

Though, I am hoping that she will take me one day as she has to do oral storytelling for one of her assignments and I think I would make the BEST prop EVER for a story!!! Just saying...

On to the craft!

Last week I showed you some applique blocks from a quilt Miss H is making. I also put up a link to the pattern but then mentioned Miss H is changing it due to her fabric requirements - so I thought I would show you her quilt layout.

Here it is! Miss H is making lemons, limes, oranges and watermelons - all those weird semi circles. And the circles with 2 ears are the bears. In the top left corner is the sun, and the bottom right corner is a flower. 

And LOOK! Miss H has already finished the watermelon!!!

Well, almost - they just need some pips. Maybe we could skip the pips Miss H, they are the worst part of a watermelon. You could grow a watermelon tree inside you if you swallowed one!!!

And the first very nearly completed bear - just needs some eyes and a mouth. 

Oh dear Miss H, I just looked at the pattern again and I think the nose is a little low... 

This is bear number 2! She is the only one who is going to have glassses and my, what funky glasses they are. Though mine are a close second. 

Here is a close-up of Miss H's blanket stitch. 

And now, like I promised, the stitchery Miss H has been working on... 

Ta-Da! It's not quite finished yet - but it is getting closer. 

Miss H thinks it is a perfect reminder for her, especially as she is going to start her placement soon and things are going to get super busy, so it will remind her to slow down and enjoy the little things - the little moments of seeing children develop, work something out, or just have fun, as well as the little moments of being able to craft. 

Miss H used some of her special thread - its thicker and one strand is enough. Here is a close up. 

Lots of LURVE,

from Baa. xxx

Wee Braw Bags!

Hello Peeps,

Miss H started back at university this week after 3 weeks of holiday - the first HOLIDAY all year (study breaks don't count as they are for studying).

Most of Miss H's holiday was spent at home. Her and the Mother got lots of sewing done. Their main project was to sew a bunny each. But Miss H has left those in Auckland as they are soooo special.

The Mother found this cute wee braw bag pattern and became totally addicted. She made LOTS and LOTS of them. So on arriving home, the Mother had lots of presents for Miss H. They have almost all been filled already.

Here are all Miss H's ones. The Mother made two of almost all of them so she could have one as well. Plus there are a couple extra ones she made as well (not pictured here). 

First up, this is the only wee braw bag that has nothing in it yet - besides me. Heeheehee...

This is the BESTEST smelling bag. Miss H and the Mother have gotten into essential oils and so this bag stores the little bottles. Just perfect!

Miss H's crochet is in time-out after several unsuccessful attempts to make something. But it is spending its time in such a pretty bag I don't think it will mind too much. 

Both of these bags contain UNFINISHED stitcheries. I have tried to teach her to finish one before she starts another but she informs me that you can't contain creativity! Oh dear! 

(There are 4 stitcheries in the brown bag...)

Miss H is also most of the way through these cute birthstones by Wild Olive. They just need their faces. 

And just in case you couldn't see the above bag properly - here is the COOLIO fabric it is made out of. One of Miss H's favourite. 

Speaking of finishing stitcheries - Miss H just finished this one. She used that coolio variegated thread that she bought a little while ago with the plan to make woven wagon wheel flowers. Don't worry, she still plans to make that, but she found this stitchery already drawn up so she decided to start with that. 

These bags each contain a hand stitched applique project that Miss H has started cutting the pieces of. She seems to have gone home for a holiday and started a 100 more projects! One is a wall-hanging and the other is a mini-quilt. 

Miss H also started a hand appliqued quilt and these are the first two completed blocks. 

She is using THIS pattern with a few changes to meet the amount of fabric she had. 

 

 In just a couple of weeks, Miss H is going on her second placement this year. This time with Over 2's. She is so excited.

I will pop back next week with more blocks from the quilt Miss H is making, and ANOTHER stitchery that she has started. HAHA!!!

Love From,
Baa. xxx

Catch Up!

Mālō e lelei Peeps, (that means "hello" in Tongan) 

Remember me? Small, plump, fluffy? Favourite food chocolate?
YUP! You guessed it! 

BAA IS BACK!

Miss H and I have been super duper busy. She has almost finished her 15,500+ word research report. Feel free to ask her ANYTHING about high order questions. Plus, she has completed a 2 week practicum in a Tongan speaking preschool centre. And another 3 large assignments. PHEW!

I have been drowning my sorrows in chocolate because Miss H has not had a lot of time to play with me, or take me on adventures, or type up my witty blog posts. Lots and lots and lots of chocolate.

In positive news, Miss H has still be crafting! Quite a bit. It helps keep her stress level down.

She started crocheting some fingerless gloves as it is winter here. But as you can see they failed... or did they?!

Look at my warm scarf/mini vest! And it matches me perfectly!

Don't I look super handsome?! 

I'm sure I will win the best dressed sheepie this winter!

Miss H has also be stitching 4 patterns for Christmas in aqua. 

The pattern is from Cinderberry Stitches. 

The owls are all set with their Christmas stockings.

The Christmas fairy. Isn't she pretty?

And of course, jolly Santa Claus!

The fourth one is a handsome reindeer which Miss H is part way though. 

You may have noticed that none of them have eyes - Miss H is leaving all of those to last. 

The Mother was terribly sick for a week and Miss H couldn't go see her as she had classes in Tauranga. 

So, in addition to some phone calls, she stitched her this cute little gift. 

The Mother LURVED it!

Miss H has started a new quilt. It is lovely and simple. 

She is going to call it White Picket Fence because the fabric reminds her of a perfect family home. 

Uhhhhhh... Miss H, I don't think it should look like this? 

It's a fence, not a staircase. 

Here is a sneak of how it is going. Such lurvely fabric!!!

Miss H has also finished another 15 hexagon flowers for her Grandmother's Garden quilt. She is getting closer and closer to finishing ALL the flowers. 

Then she will have to stitch them together with white hexies in between. 

And she treated herself to some coolio variegated thread. She is going to stitch a wagon wheel rose. 

She is going to use THIS pattern with different words. 

Love from 

Baa. xxx

21st PAR-TAY!

Hello Peeps,

Over Easter Miss H turned 21! She is now officially an adult.  

Miss H doesn't like big parties so she just had a little one with her close family and family friends down at the bach in Pauanui. Even the Geek (Miss H's brother) came up from Wellington. 

Look at the beautiful frame that was set up. 

The table not under the frame was for Miss H's nieces. 

The table was set with pretty pink spotted paper plates. 

And just look at that yummy tray of appetizers (which I was not allowed to eat, harumph!). 

Look at the beautiful flowers that the Mother and Miss H made. 

Sooooo much tracing and cutting out. 

The Mother's old window frame that will one day display a quilt was used to display pictures of Miss H. 

This was Miss H's beautiful party dress. This little sheepie thinks she looked so beautiful. 

There was a first course - but I was FAR more interested in the yummy dessert. 

YUMMY! 

Grandma made pavlova (which is a Kiwi classic) - it was filled with lemon curd! 

Miss H made some tasty chocolate muffins - I may or may not have sampled one...

And the amazing Miss Bee made the malteser cheesecake - divine - and the COOLIO birthday cake! 

And just look at the AMAZING cake! 

Miss Bee used special piping nozzles to make the amazing flowers. 

It was a wonderful party that reflected Miss H perfectly. 

I can't wait to show you her VERY special presents. 

One is very warm and snuggly... and another is hard and wooden. But those are the only hints I can give. 

And I was forgiven for eating Miss H's Easter decorations. She gave me a delicious chocolate Easter bunny. 

Lastly, Miss H had a wonderful prac with the Under Two's (her favourite one so far) and she was sooooo very sad to leave. 

Love from,

Baa. xxx

I'm grounded...

Hello Peeps,

I will start with the good news: Miss H is LURVING her placement with babies! She has started thinking that they are the BESTEST age group.

Here is a piece of their artwork from an activity Miss H set up. 

She has another 2 weeks to go. I think she will be quite sad when its over. 

Now to the BAD news:

Easter is fast approaching so Miss H thought that it would be nice setting up some Easter decorations on the table. 

Doesn't it look coolio and delicious? Oh so DELICIOUS!

Yummmmmmy looking bunny and M&M eggs. 

Then Miss H left and I... well, I got into mischief...

In my defense they were irresistible and one should NEVER leave chocolate unattended on the table...

The temptation was just too much for this poor little sheepie!

So, now I am grounded... :(   and I have a tummy ache... :'( 

Love From

Baa. xxx

Up the Mount

Hello Peeps,

Miss H starts her practicum (or placement) with under 2 year olds on Monday, so I will have lots of time to get into mischief  be a good sheepie while she is away. I will keep you updated on the trouble fun things I do. Hee...hee...hee...

Today Miss H and her friend climbed the Mount (that's what all the locals call it - it is actually called Mount Maunganui). I was not invited because Miss H said she didn't think sheep would be allowed up the mountain and it is a reserve.

But what did she find at the start of the walk!

"What do you mean sheep aren't allowed here?" baaaaaaa-ed this fellow before running off to join his many friends.

Harumph! Next time I will go too!

This is the view of Mount Maunganui beach - which Miss H and her friend swam (fully clothed!) after their hot and sweaty walk. 

 Beautiful views of the beach (left) and Matakana Island (right). 

This is the view of Tauranga City...

...and the Mount Maunganui area. 

Pronunciation hint: "au" is pronounced "oh". Syllables are split by the vowels - e.g. Tau/ra/nga 

Love From
Baa. xxx

In between studying

Hello Peeps,

How are you all?

Miss H and I have settled into our new home. I've been feeling homesick, and have even missed Snowy! But Miss H has kept me company and I'm feeling much better now. 

While Miss H has been busy writing the first two chapters of a MASSIVE research report, I have been snuggled up reading. 

And I must say, this is my new favourite book of all time. 

Aren't the puppies adorable?

Miss H has been stitching - these are two that she did parts of in class. (It was a very boring class...)

She has also started on this Christmas stitchery. There are four of them and they make up a mini quilt. She hopes to have them all finished by Christmas.

Mostly though Miss H crochets in class as it is easier and helps her to focus - really it does.
(Note: she is a good student who takes lots of notes in class and stops crocheting to write down what she needs to; and she knows which classes not to crochet in - scary lecturer!).

Look at how much she has done on the Mother's blanket! Hopefully she will have it finished by November.

Love From

Baa. xxx