My heart skipped a beat when I looked out and saw Emmylou out of the shed and shinning in the sunlight. She's undergoing some last minute testing of how well things work from the solar panels , to the batteries, to the water pump, the hot water heater, the fridge, the toilet and the lights and she came through with glowing colours.
Lets take a closer look. Above the windshield are the words Ye Olde Leyland after the motor that drives her
Then on the side at the front is her name Emmylou. She is named after Emmylou Harris the country singer who we had been to see twice and were great fans of, still are.
Come aboard and have the grand tour. Ahead you see the new fridge under the old gass hob.
Looking down the front to the drivers side and the side bed piled with cushions and rugs.
The navigators side in like style.
Here is a closeup of some of the cushions that I covered with New Zealand tea towels . A touch of kiwiana that I think suits her well.
This one is a bit blurry but You can see this jaunty tea towel of sheep in bright colours. There is a fantail one too and I have just aquired a kiwi one which I may make a smaller cushion out of.
A view from further back taking in the kitchen and dining area.
Dinning area. I am still working on the seat pads.
Sink bench , and pantry cupboard.
Cooking area.
Kerry did all the woodwork and structural work on Emmylou but his finest piece I think is these little cupboards for cups and glasses. The led effect is came out of a tube of led resiny stuff.
The wallpaper in this area was bought and put up over 20 years ago and is still much admired and suits her so well.
Now here is the newest revamp of our bedroom. We turned the bed around and Kerry has built side cabinets. I found some wallpaper that I thought would suit and be not too hard to hang and we are very pleased with the results. The paper is of open vintage books and I decided I would be able to overlap it in places as needed because of the curves and it should be forgiving and It was, very, and we are thrilled with it.
A closeup of the quilt that I made some years ago from Kaffe Fassett fabrics in a style I am rather fond of that I call lazy curves. I used to teach clases on it when we had the shop. It is such fun.
Kerrys side. I made the curtains from some fabric I picked up some years ago and had actually given to Janet and when I got the paper I knew it would be perfect and luckily Janet hadn't found a use for it so was glad to return it. I just had enough. The ties are crocheted.
My side. Of course it is looking a lot tidier than it will be when we are travelling but we have to be careful of leaving things where they might fall.
A closeup of the paper. I hope you approve.
And of course there is the smallest room with cassette toilet, basin and shower. Not easy to photograph.
Lets head back now as I have another wee project to show you.
Just can't pass my cottage garden. I know I've been on about it a bit but it is my utmost joy and the roses continue to flower.
Now here is my project. I found this lovely little blue suitcase on the side of the road in an inorganics collection around Howick where I was out with Stephanie doing the op shops. Thats where I found my dinner set I showed you last time.
It was raining at the time but I ran up the road laughing at the brashness of my venture. The inside was clean but in great need of touching up
So I found some patchwork fabric that was a housecoat bought from an op shop in Krd just for the fabric and now I had found its perfect use don't you think.
Now I am filling it with the sewing projects that I want to take with me on our South Island tour. There are 2 packets of 2" hexagon papers, 200 a piece. That shpould be enough for what I don't know but I will start with the kaffe Fassett fabrics maybe for the big cushions that I haven't recovered yet.
Do you remember this begining of a zine that I started at a workshop a couple of months ago well I would love to make some headway with it having lots of ideas in my head and I have been interviewing pieces of op shop fabrics from embroidered shirts and doilies.
And we'll add a few more colourful fabrics. Theres still room so I'll keep looking and sorting till I am satisfied. I don't know how I will go for posting while away as I haven't managed to do a post on my iPad. I might decide to take this mac with me. Otherwise I will post pics on my Facebook page. Thats another story. I have 2 facebook pages as I was trying to change my server and thats how it ended with 2 Trillian Lockes but one still hasn't got a photo yet. I'll sort it out one day, with help.
So just 10 days till we set off on the 24th for Te Aroha for a family reunion then on to Wellington and we are crossing Cook Straight at 2.30 am on the morning of the 29th and we should arrive at Picton and set foot for the first time for me, on the South Island as the sun rises. I am soooooo excited. We ahve a house sitter staying now who will look after the moggies, so they will be much happier than in a cattery as we had originally planned.
Well my friends, I don't think I will be back here before we go so I will bid you oodles of blessings and love, Trills xx
Yes indeed I am very happy in my woman skin with my woman mind and woman's world. Here is my man Kerry whom I love dearly but I would never wish to change places with him. Here, he is in his manly element in his man shed doing man things.
These are his man tools and bits and bobs. So metally and dirty, yuck. I do appreciate all that he does with his stuff and his inventive talents and am only too happy to lend a hand at times.
But mainly I prefer my woman's shed in all it's amazingly cluttered and disordered glory. Yes I know it looks as though I need to be going to Hoarders anonymous but it is in transition at the moment since moving down from the other house. Well that's my excuse. As you can see I certainly haven't rushed around tidying to show you.
This is the truth of it. Fabric and stuff in grand disarray. Ideas drop into my mind and I start rummaging about interviewing fabrics and whatnot for said idea then along comes another idea and off I go again rummaging. I love that word rummage. RUMMAGE!! Now I feel like Miranda, R U M M A G E !!! 
I wouldn't dare rummage in the man shed and Kerry is not at all keen to enter my shed for fear of falling foul over something. 
Kerry's treasure overflows his shed with 2 containers full and this working tractor between them
And these 2 old tractors waiting to be made into one good one under a tarpaulin alongside the containers. So there is another shed on the drawing board to go where the containers are.
There is not a lot of room left in here with the bus, the triumph car set to be a rally car one day, the spare motor for the bus,
The chassis of an Austin 7 destined to be a special one day,
The Lister stationary engine. A toy that comes out for shows and of course the 1938 Lanz Bulldog that iv'e mislaid the pic of but is very special and deserves its own post.
Meanwhile, my collection of lampshades await transformation with doilies or beads
Like this one still waiting to be finished.
Another suitcase that begs to be recovered, I think in fabrics.
Box upon box of fabrics old and not so old left from the shop. I sift through and sell or pass some on at times as well as adding more to the collection. I gather men's old ties, old shirts, old velvet sand clothes from op shops made from interesting fabrics, scarves and of course doilies and laces etc.
Then there are the books and magazines and other craft stuff.
Kerry has his memorabilia hanging along the loft railing
His old radio, always tuned into Coast radio and his very old telephone that he is very reluctant to change.
And one pinup. Yes, but that's ok because that is me. Yep! In all my glory, in my singing days and a photo shoot with this extra pic for Kerry. I am flattered that he keeps it.
As for me, I have my little corner for prayer and quiet times with God.
Come mid morning I like to have coffee with God reading, contemplating, and prayer. It doesn't happen every day, but it is always a special time that nourishes my soul.
Back in the man shed , magic is happening. Take a scrap of wood and some wiring and bits and bobs,
And take this plastic glass which was a wine to go cast off from a friends bin,
Some clever wiring to batteries and solar panels and
Taddah!! We have bedside lights. So dinky, so cute. He is so clever. I am so thrilled.
But I am still happier mending or shortening his shorts than wearing them. Yes, I am very happy with my lot and where we are together after 47yrs. We've weathered many storms and enjoyed some interesting adventures along the way and now in our retirement have plenty to keep us both busy and interested in life. I thank God daily for these many blessings and more. I hope my readers have much to be thankful for and many blessings in your lives. Love, Trills x
