Cabin at the Beach

Hello Paw-Pals,

It's me again - your favourite sheepie's dog friend.

On Saturday, Miss H, the Boss and I went out to our uncle's farm where the Boss has built a cabin on one of the hills overlooking the beach.

This is the cabin - painted green for camouflage. The entire front is sliding doors the Boss got on TradeMe (which is NZ's version of Ebay - but waaaaaaay smaller).  

The bed complete with cushions that the Boss pinched from home.

Plates, mugs, cutlery, gas cooker, and nail storage shelf. The Boss got the shelf at the Op Shop. 

Last time Miss H and the Mother visited the cabin they had to rescue a couple of the Mother's good drinking glasses that she had been gifted and several special mugs that the Boss had snaffled for his cabin. 

The old lazyboy armchair has found a new home after living in the garage for awhile. 

Soooo comfy plus gives a GREAT view of the beach. Also, not allowed dogs on it... haha. 

(Note: The bucket toilet is out the back so that the Boss's building was small enough not to need a building permit.)

The view froom the cabin - straight ahead, left and right. Except for the motorbikes and vehicles that drive along the beach occasionally it is pretty much a private beach as it is an hour walk each way for public beach access. 

Speaking of the beach.... Can I go for a walk now? PLEASE!

ARGH! I am Blackbeard the Pirate! 

Yohoho! I am the incredibly attractive one-eyed pirate - still with a black beard....

I'm coming... Wait for me!

Ah hah! I caught you! I'm ready to go home now. 

I had a great time at the beach and two LOOOOOOONG walks. I can't wait to go again. 

Slobbery Kisses,

Snowy! Woof!

Rainbow in the Meadow!

Hello Peeps,

Over the weekend Miss H cut off the threads of the children's quilt that she had sewn and quilted a few years ago. She hates cutting threads off and the quilt was in no rush to be used at the time she finished it so it lay folded in the sewing room or with the finished quilts for a bit. But over the weekend she found a special child to gift it to.

Let me go back to the beginning... The Mother works at a community centre in a very poor part of New Zealand and loves to help people who need it. One day, a lady came in as she knew a 6 or 7 year old boy who needed some clothes. The Mother didn't have any but said she would ask around if anyone had any spare - and thankfully someone did. Then last week the lady asked the Mother about clothes for a 5 year old girl. This little girl had to be taken from her mother and put in the care of her grandmother who had absolutely no clothes for her. Of course, the Mother was eager to help. She asked her friends who have girls who are 6 and 7 now so have grown out of their 5 year old clothes and they sorted out some of the cutest second-hand outfits for this girl. When Miss H heard about her, she thought the Rainbow in the Meadow quilt would be perfect for the girl as she goes through lots of different changes in her life. Something that was specially hers that she could cuddle up in.

Perfect timing that Miss H saw the quilt lying around in the sewing room and decided to cut the threads off so it was completely finished - before the Mother even told her about the little girl. This quilt was definitely meant for her!!!

So now, without further ado...

Rainbow in the Meadow!

The inside blocks are like eye-spy blocks with creatures you would find in a meadow. 

Can you spot the ladybug, dragonflies, and creepy crawlies? 

This is the quilt all laid out. It's so bright and colourful and makes you happy - just like a rainbow. 

I didn't find a pot of gold though...

Of course the back had to be just as bright! 

10/10 for snuggle quality! 

Lots of love from

Baa. xxx

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