Days to remember.

Yesterday was of course Anzac Day and though I was not able to join in any parades or gatherings I was remembering those who gave their lives for us and gave us the lives we have now. I remember especially Daddy Don as we always called him. Mums first husband, my brothers Dad and my fathers brother. Can you work that out. I told the story this time last year. I also gave thanks for my parents and others of that generation who helped shape our lives. THANKYOU! With all my heart.

After a morning of remembrance I was treated to lunch out with my son Russ and daughterinlaw Louise. What a treat it was. We went to the Wynyard Quater on the harbours edge of downtown Auckland. It is not vey old but built over and around what used to be the trading area for fresh produce , some going onto boats for export.

Some of the old fuel tanks are still there though used these days for displaying art and even movies.

It was soooo lovely. We chose the Italian resturant. Delicious pizza and a very Wellcome cider.

It was such a lovely treat. Thankyou sooo much Russ and Louise.

And now today I had my lovely friend Steph visit from Whitford. When she walked through the door I was so taken with her glamorous appearance and that skirt. She had just made it yesterday from an op shop dress. Was it ok that length or should it be a shorter one. I like the long style, what do you think. I think it is very chic.

She had so kindly brought along some lunch for us, all handmade too. Steph is so good at all things hand made. After lunch it was time for show and tell. This is a wee fur wrap made from the leftovers of another project. Nothing is wasted with this cleaver gal.

Now we have a selection of scarves made from old tee shirts , some from op shops. The flowers too are made from tee shirts.

They are super trendy and awesome.

These are the flowers. Can you believe they were tee shirts.

This is a lovely red and navy one with self fringing. I love them all.

But I think the cream one is my favourite.

Then out of her bag came these lovely aprons made from op shop skirts with a special Steph touch.

We had a day some time ago making these flowers after I did them for our church time out.

But that's not all. Next we have the handy shoppers. Again made from tee shirts and embellished. Steph says she got this idea from Pinterest. Look up upcycled clothes.

We settled down to some stitching punctuated with desert and drinks(tea) , Stephs driving. I continued with my hexies as, surprise! Surprise! While looking for something else I found my other denim jacket.

I thought I had brought it with me. Now you can see what became of the other hexies.

Steph was busy making more flowers for embellishments.

Like this grand flower to jazz up one of the scarves. Awesome!

She managed to make all these from scraps.

I made a hexie rosette for somewhere else on my jacket.

Thankyou for an awesome day Steph. It was certainly a great break in this time of enforced rest. Wonderful dear friend. Bless you.

This time tomorrow Jindina will be home from her adventure in China and I will be back home in Waiuku with Kerry and in my own space. It has been an interesting and eventful stay here. I bought this card some years ago when going through a long stretch of therapy for my mental health. It just grabbed me. WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE. It just struck a cord with me. We can't escape ourselves so we may as well learn to like ourselves and make friends with ourselves. These days me and myself are good friends most of the time. 

I hope you are good friends with yourselves and that you also have good friends in your life who are always there when times are tough. 

Abundant blessings to you all. Love, Trills.xxx

Time Out.

I am so liking these images I've been collecting from face book. I needed something cheery to start this post as I am quite down in the dumps. Yes, my knee was much better and I was hopeful of being fit for my trip. Kerry was on his way up to take me to A&E again for review and while I was waiting for him it happened again. It was so stupid. I was just standing by the table and went to walk away an bang. So by the time Kerry arrived about 15 mins later I was not a happy bunny. I was in so much pain I could hardly move even with the crutches. What is going on with this knee. No firm answers at clinic so will have to wait until Mon and see my Dr in Waiuku and physio and take it from there.

Meanwhile I rest the days away on the little sofa surrounded by all I need.

But I am getting a bit bored . Even with my blanket.

And the doves, which may after all not be needed until September. That is the thought at this moment. I should postpone my UK trip till this knee is sorted proper.

The wool doesn't inspire me today.

I've eaten all the digestives!

Maybe my little blue suitcase can tempt me out of these doldrums. I'ts been sitting on the window seat since I arrived on the 11th. Very patient indeed.

Let's open it up and see what treasures it holds. Colourful fabrics. The doily cum embroidery project I started at a workshop last year.bags of bits and bobs.

Pretty lacy stuff for whatever I fancy. Some of them for the aforementioned project.

Now this perspective hexagon is what got me started on the patchwork path. I was hooked and most keen to be traditional about the process drawing around the template on brown paper to begin with then progressing to a master sheet of drawn hexies to be photo copied whenever I needed them. As you can see in the picture I have now taken to buying ready cut papers. So cheap and handy. 

A few weeks ago I showed you this project and promised a reveal later. Well I'm afraid I can't reveal because I left it at home. I'm most annoyed with myself.

This is a $1 denim jacket that I set about embellishing with soft pretty fabrics with the Dresden plate on the back and small hexies arranged elsewhere. I had another Op shop denim jacket that was a longer style and I thought might be suitable for the UK spring so that's what I am doing with the bright bigger hexies. 

Here are some of the unused ones so far. Maybe I could get some more ready. It looks like I've got more time now and it will be an Autumn jacket instead.

I'm using scraps left over from decoupaging the torso now in my studio.

Lets make a start and see if it stirs some enthusiasm for this quiet afternoon of enforced rest.

The little blue suitcase has saved the day.

Piper is most attentive. Can you see that caring almost sympathetic  look on her face. She is so sweet.

Of course there are times when I need to leave my corner for calls of nature and for sustenance.

What the heck. It maybe a bit early but I'm in the mood for some wine and crackers. It can do for my tea. I'm afraid to eat too much while sedentary. Yum!!

I will weather this little storm and look forward to the rainbow. Hope you are all in good fettle. Thankyou for visiting and blessings to you all. Love Trills. Xxx

Resting it up.

I'm trying very hard to behave and follow instructions. Rest, ice packs, anti inflams, crutches. I'm so worried about my fitness for my imminent trip. I've got 10 days to get right and able. It was such a stupid thing to do and I really don't know exactly what I did. I was just standing by the car and made a small move and bang. 

So here I am. Surrounded by all I need to keep me occupied.

Phones at the ready, and tv controls in easy reach.

I never usually watch daytime tv , but it's company. This is The Real Deal. Ho hum.maybe we could turn the clock back to last Wednesday when I visited my friend Trudy up at Silverdale. They have lived in many homes on the Whangaparoa Peninsular over the years and are now building a new home in the new Millwater estate.

Her 4 grown sons work in the building trade together. Here is the beginnings of the new house with main builder Gas and Dad Gary giving a hand. Trudy is very good at designing houses and has put her individual stamp on each home they have had.

Their
home is bound to stand out in this new area.

There is a nice open outlook over playing fields to the water of the inlet next to Orewa beach.

The new plaza up the road gave us plenty of home eye candy as we went from shop to shop. One of our favourite activities.

What do we like? I'm taken with this chunky pottery and the colours,

Trendy lampshades. Not my style but they make us smile.

I do like this cushion, but maybe I could appliqué something like it. One day?!

Now this I do like very much. Antique leather, feather filled couch. All our furniture is second hand and I like it that way, but if we were ever looking for a new sofa this would be my choice and the price wasn't too bad either.

After a bite of lunch we went around the red shed and took armfuls to the fitting rooms. Turned around and we both had the same thing on. What a hoot! We doubled up with laughter till I got serious about recording it. Quite different sizes of course. A good laugh with long time friends is always good medicine. Thanks for a jolly time Trudy.

Being on forced rest means I've been having a hooky time on my russet Autumn blanket .

It has a lot of different stitches, some quite challenging so is going slowly. I'm following Notyouaveragecrochet blog and the stripey as you go blanket.

But now I think I will take a break and do a few more doves. The different activities put a strain on different joints in my hands so swapping back and forth keeps things good. 

Just like to share this little crochet project for the adventurous crochet fan out there. Courtesy of Facebook. Somehow I don't think Kerry would agree to me doing this to our bus but wouldn't it be a hoot.

Also loved this little chap from Facebook. How happy he is. He's found!! Yeah!! Joy!! Joy and blessing to you all, love Trills.xx