Saturday 20 August 2011

One hundred and counting

Well hello there.............. you could be forgiven for thinking I'd vanished into the night after not posting for over three weeks.   Life has been a little crazy lately, and my computer has been at the doctor for an overhaul too ...................... so now I'm back to many hundreds of posts to catch up on in Google Reader..... but I will get there  ......... it might just take some time!

The cold blast straight from Antarctica last week that plunged most of New Zealand in to the freezer left us with our fifth dump of snow for the winter, the crazy thing is some years we don't get any, but this has been a dreadful end to winter.  It's taken it's toll on man and beast around here.  We're all desperate for spring to arrive, and hopefully some warm temperatures to greet the lambs due to be born in about two weeks.  At least some of us enjoyed the snow, hanging on for dear life on the sled behind the motorbike.......

Just so you know that amongst the craziness I have been stitching a little, here is a WIP, on it's way to completion.  This is Leanne's House New Couch Companion in a half finished state ..............because it's as much about the process as the finished object right??


Thanks for all the kind comments about me celebrating another year last month, and I think there are quite a lot of you who would be happy to receive a hen house for your birthday too. LOL


To celebrate both my Halfway to 70 birthday and this, my 100th post, I'm going to have a little giveaway. Because I can never stick to just one thing and am constantly swinging between cross-stitch/embroidery projects and quilty/stitchery projects, I'm going to give away a henhouse, no sorry a little bundle of treats for both.


Just leave a comment and tell me which is your favourite kind of stitching - Cross Stitch/Embroidery or Quilting/Fabric crafts or maybe like me you can't make up your mind prefer to sit on the fence and enjoy both?? Or maybe it's something else altogether!  There's no other hoops to jump through, you don't need to be a follower or advertise the giveaway anywhere, just say hi and I'll throw your name in a draw next Friday 26th August.  If you visit here, and have been lurking in the background, don't be shy, believe me I don't bite, I'd also love to put your name in the draw too!  I'm happy to send anywhere!

OK, time to go and catch up on all those blogs I'm so behind on reading, I hope you have a wonderful weekend  ................... till next time, Nicky


57 comments:

Unknown said...

Welcome back Nicky...
I Love a little of Both..Machine Pieced with Embroidery & Appliques..
It's Nice to have Variety..
Thanks so much for your Giveaway..
cheers

Anonymous said...

If I say I like hens will you give me your henhouse?!?!? PLEASE!? ;)
I do like both as well... I think I like stitchery cause it's quicker... but if I had the time I think I'd do more cross stitch! Congrats on your 100 posts and your 35th year! :) Hope the weather fines up for you and the lambs are born when it's at least a little warmer!

Anonymous said...

good to have you back Nicky and i enjoy all stitching crafts,thankyou so much for a chance to win your lovely hen house oops prize,lol.

Michelle said...

Wow, 100 posts and 35 ! Had snow here as well,not good but lambs are fine, all 30 of them! I prefer stitchery because its quicker and you don't have to think! But love a good cross stitch too! I think I am all over the fence. It fills in time because there is nothing on T.V.
Michelle

By Hoki Quilts said...

Well Miss Nicki I must say when the firsat lot of the 'polar blast' shot it's way up the island I wondered how our little shepherdess was coping. I'm so pleased to hear that the lambs aren't on the ground yet and hope that you all get a break in the weather before they arrive.
Now, as for your give away I'm a fence sitter (or would like to be, but my bums too big and I'd probably break the fence), so if my name is drawn I'll let you decide - you've got good taste.
keep warm
hugs - Miche'le

Cardygirl said...

Great to hear from you and see the snow at your place...I hope it starts to warm up for you soon. Ah...35, those were the days! I can just remember back that far. You know me...I love cross stitch and patchwork...I adore applique and hate too much machine work. In a bit of a cross stitch phase at present. Love your couch companion.

Deb said...

Hi Nicky, I certainly hope the weather picks up for you guys with lambing ahead of you. Nothing worse. The kids do look like they are having fun though.
Congrats on your 100th post, you're still just a spring chicken darling. Years ahead of you yet.

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Hi Nicky
We missed you! Congrats on 100 posts.
My favourite stitching is traditional patchwork.
Cheers
Linda
Taupo

Grethe said...

Happy 35 years and congrats on your 100 posts! Nice to read you post; it is lovely to see snow in the middle of OUR summer!! Must melt so I hope the lambing will go fine!
Do love stitchery and appliques, but thanks anything goes if I`m the one!
Happy Sewing,Nicky :o)

Christine M said...

Hi Nicky. I've been following you for a while but I've now officially signed up! Congratulations on your halfway to 70 and 100th post! I love doing stitcheries and putting them into patchwork! So I suppose I sit on the fence! Thanks for the great giveaway.

Fiona said...

Well thank you... the cold spell has arrived here in Queensland... all the way from Kiwiland.... but no snow....
The companion is going to be lovely... such pretty sewing...
I am a fence sitter.... 6 months ago I would have said a quilter and laughed about stitchery... I get others to do mine! back stitch is all... well no more... I am learning each week/month but not cross stitch - too small for me -
Hugz

Theresa said...

Congratulations on your 100th post :D the couch companion is lovely, I've not noticed that pattern before. Hope your snow soon departs - we're still trying for some summer over here but it's not really happening! I'm a fence sitter on the stitching as well, I like a little of everything :)

Christine said...

Well done for reaching 100 posts. I love to do stitchery and hand applique in the evenings and piecing during the day. Recently discovered hexagons to and loving that as well.

Michelle said...

Hi Nicky
I have been thinking of you... like you things have been crazy busy here too! Nice to have you back:O)
I am still on the fence... I am into my quilting at the moment but there are a couple of cross stitch I would like to do...

Rainy Day Crafter said...

I hope the snow clears up for you and your lambies soon!

Congratulations on your 100 posts, and thanks for the chance to enter you giveaway! :) Well, I just love cross stitch, but I'm also eager to have a go at some hand embroidery and applique and I've just invested in a sewing machine too, so there's lots that I'm hoping to try over the next few months :)

suzitee said...

Hi there Nicky, and welcome back! Please don't make me choose...I'm not only on the fence, but throw in paper crafts to the mix as well. No wonder my WIP pile is out of control LOL! Good to see you making some progress on yours, and I'm hoping for some warmer weather for those little lambs of yours :)

Unknown said...

Golod to see you post Nicky. Yes, the snow has been a treat for sum, a hindrence for others, but it has been jolly cold. I love making things with fabric, and I call myself a sticher who loves fabric too. If it has a needle involved, I am there! A lovely giveaway. Stay warm down there.... and good luck for all those little lambs.

Tricia T said...

How fun to see snow! Well, I suppose you've seen enough, but it's fun for me to look at! LOL. Let's see, I'm a fence sitter, but right now I'm leaning heavily toward cross-stitch. : )

Congrats on your bday and 100 posts!

Carol said...

Oh, Happy Belated Birthday to you, Nicky!! (I'm afraid I missed that post about your hen house when I was away at my parents last month!!)

Snow again?? You guys have really been hit this year. I'm already dreading the coming of winter, but I so look forward to our autumn after this brutally hot summer we've had.

Your WIP is darling--you always choose the loveliest colors!

Congratulations on 100 posts!! And of course, I would love to enter your giveaway... You know me, my number one love is cross stitching :)

Blu said...

Glad you're enjoying the henhouse.
That couch companion looks awesome!
I'm a cross stitch person, but I'm thinking about dabbling in embroidery and quilting. Only thinking for now.

Aunty Bee said...

Well done with 100 posts. I have been told constantly that we are due for more snow, aren't people lovely. It's due end of the month, early September.The only good thing would be more snow days for sewing.

Ali Honey said...

I do hope it warms up for lambing.

Love your birthday present - I am green with envy - I have put my order in for one too!

Annie said...

Congrats on your accomplishment! The snow is beautiful, but just makes me realize how soon our nice summer will be a thing of the past. Mother Nature really seems to be in a mood!

Your are so sweet to offer a giveaway. I'm so over-stashed at this point that I think I'll pass on this one. I might have to move out of my home if I bring anymore in!

Lyn said...

Hope things warm up for you before lambing- that cold weather is still hanging around..Looks like you managed to have some fun in the snow..I tend to have a few things on the go and dabble in a few crafty things- involving hand or machine - often, of late, I just feel like sitting and stitching especially when there is family around... (and the pressure of finishing Tis The Season!!!)

donna said...

Congrats on your 100th post and Happy Birthday. I would love to have snow about now our weather has been really extra HOT. My favorite is quilting and then stitching.
Hugs
donna

Ruthena said...

Hi, I have been visiting your site regularly. I love both crafts - stitchery of all sorts to do in the evening and patchwork quilting during the day. I hope the weather warms up a bit more before your lambs are born. It has been a glorious spring day up here in Auckland. Happy birthday.

brandy1 said...

A belated happy birthday Nicky. Gosh you are lucky-- only 35, wouldn't mind being that again. Congrats on your 100 posts, quite an achievement for a young busy Mum.I love my stitchery, really enjoy stitchery blocks for a quilt. Thank you for the chance to enter your giveaway.I live in the Waikato, very cold here also but no snow. We were in Auckland for the last week and got flurries of snow in the Waitakeres, my how exciting that was! Shirley

Leonie said...

I'm new to your blog! I'm a cross stitcher who knits and is just getting into stitcheries and quilting. Just at the moment I'm enjoying things that are finishing quickly :)

Bev C said...

Hello Nicky,

I would love a henhouse!!! Our chooks are laying so well, I have a fridge full of eggs. So glad to hear that your lambs haven't been born yet. New Zealand really copped a lot of snow over the week.I could sit and stitch all day,love cross stitch and wish I could get that extra hour in the day to do it. Congratulations on 100 posts.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Christine said...

Hi Nicky,I love both. Cross stick sometimes take a back seat as it takes so long to do a big project! Your photos make our Scottish summer seem positively tropical - lol!
Congrats on your birthday.
Christine

Tatkis said...

A lot of interesting events around you :) Happy birthday (belated :) ) and congrats with your 100 posts!

I love cross stitching, but life in Australia I think will soon become more quilt-making :))

Hugs,
Tatyana

Denise said...

Hi Nicky, I would not mind having your hen house either. I have one my self but yours is cuter.
I like to do both as well. But my favorite is counted cross stitch.
Happy Stitching
Denise

Wendy said...

Nice to have you back!! It's strange sitting here, seeing your photos of snow when I'm sweating in the heat (and that doesn't happen often in England)! Love the couch companion...

I love a bit of everything - patchwork, hand applique, machine applique, embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, sewing on the machine... I'm just about to try Hardanger...

dq said...

I like it all! but i cross stitch the most only because i have limited space to quilt!

Julie said...

Its so weird to think that someone is getting snow when its so hot here!!!

Thats a hard one I like them all and knitting, weaving and spinning my own yarn. Do you think we do to much!

Siobhán said...

Welcome back! Happy birthday, too! I hope the weather clears up for you and the lambs-to-be!

I'm more into stitching than quilting but like both!

Wendy said...

Congratulations on your 100th post, I love to visit your blog. Thanks for the opportunity of a give away, I love quilting and cross stitch. Thank you also for your lovely comments on my blog.

Leanne said...

I have worked out I do not like stitching ha ha ha quilting is more me - just need t i m e

Your only a baby at 35!

Love Leanne

Fee said...

I'm a bit like you Nicky - I love a bit of both. Great accomplishments. I would really love a new hen house too for my girls.

Deborah said...

I love both but cross stitch is my first love. Thanks for having a great giveaway. Happy BD and congrats on the 100th post.

Deborah said...

I love both but cross stitch is my first love. Thanks for having a great giveaway. Happy BD and congrats on the 100th post.

Deborah said...

I love both but cross stitch is my first love. Thanks for having a great giveaway. Happy BD and congrats on the 100th post.

Suburban Stitcher said...

I sit on the fence and enjoy almost equally cross-stitching, quilting, and a bit of knitting now too! I think that I'm just a lover of textiles and anything I can make with my hands.

Shiralee Stitches said...

I have been hearing lots of snowy tales from 2 friends just returned from a driving holiday in NZ....they had to put chains on their wheels!!! We have been rolling around laughing, imagining this duo(both sewing ladies from our craft group) actually driving in the snow with the chains.
Now to quilting or hand sewing....it's both for me I'm afraid....I just love all the fabric, and enjoy playing with it by hand or machine.....congrats on all the posts, and birthday wishes to you....thanks for the opportunity to enter your draw, and hope you get some nice weather soon...

Perri said...

WOW! 100 posts... happy birthday ... I totally understand the changing from cross stitch to stitchery then on to patchwork .. I have done the same ... at the moment I'm on the embroidery ... goldwork and loving it ! Again, congratulations !!
Happy stitching, P

Seams Sew Together said...

Hi Nicky,my first love is quilting but I have combined the two and made four patchwork/embroidery quilts which have turned out to be my favorites, probably because of all the hours that go into them and they look good too!! Thanks for the giveaway

Karen said...

Hi Nicky, I'm like you, kinda sorta catching up and trying not to loose track of the world.
As for which is preferred. That is easy. Quilting or fabric crafting that has embroidery or stitching on it. The two together is a perfect combination.
Spring cant get here quick enough!
Take care

Debbie said...

Congrats on your 100 posts!
I like doing hand embroidery the best, and making small projects, that's all I have time for lately!

Debbie said...

I am now a follower too!

Chookyblue...... said...

have fun with your giveaway........hope it has warmed up for you now with the lambing.......ours is a nightmare with no feed as you could imagine..........

Chookyblue...... said...

oh missed the last bit....but I guess you know i like all the above........

Jenny D. said...

Congratulations on your halfway to 70 and 100th post!
Not sitting on the fence - I am learning patchwork ... stitching may be in my future ... but not yet.
Thank you for sharing!

Juels said...

Happy Birthday! I am a fences sitter and love both. I sew during the day and stitch at night. And sometimes I do judt one thing. Thanks and congrats on your 100th post!

Thimbelina said...

Congratulations Nicky and welcome back to blogland. Gee I hope your little lambs arrive safely with all that snow you've had...poor little mites! Anyway, I'm also a fence-sitter and can't decide if I prefer quilting or stitchery...I love them both and would love to be included in your giveaway. Hugs

Jennifer said...

Many congrats on reaching 100! (Isn't it fun?)

If you had asked a few months ago I would have told you that I'm a cross stitcher and that I would never be anything but. However, after some convincing from my husband, I'm now the proud owner of a beautiful sewing machine and this quilting beginner has been sewing almost as much as cross stitching. I guess that means that I officially sit right on the fence.

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!

Patty C. said...

I'm a cross stitcher And I also love embroidery - But I am just learning to quilt - I Guess I like everyhting !!!

100 posts/And halfway to 70 - lol - That's just wonderful ;)
Congratulations !!!!
Count me in for the Giveaway-

Bobby said...

Nice to have you back.

I like to switch between quilting, cross stitching and embroidery.

Thanks for the giveaway...

Smiles.....

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