I've had fun this week playing with some old linens that wanted to be made into new things for my weekly shop update. Some of these linen pieces were given to me and some I found at the local recycling centre. All of them were damaged and had done their dash as tablecloths but of…

It's starting to get properly frosty here in the mornings now. K has been asking for a scarf for a while, and I must admit I was feeling slightly reluctant about knitting one, because of her tendency to lose them shortly after their departure from the needles. But then I came across an idea on…

I adore this pair of cookbooks, 'Ladies a Plate', by Alexa Johnston. You can learn more about the books and sign up for recipe-emails at the website. The title is taken from an old-fashioned New Zealand custom of women bringing plates of baking to social events such as dances and meetings. I heard a great…

(this last photo is by Louana of nzgreenbuttons) I've been using a few of my own fabrics to make some things for friends, family, and my little shop. It's a bit of a thrill to use your own fabric, actually. It's fun. The 'Climbing Trees' print seems to be just the right scale for baby…

Small stitches that filled in any gaps of time I had this week. That's the good thing about embroidery, it happens one stitch at a time. Take care, see you tomorrow. 

A beautiful winters' day here today. Feels more like spring, really. I made some things from vintage linen for my shop update today. The willow branch linen was a gift from Louana, thank you! I wrote a little about knitting yesterday. I've decided to knit this, and have ordered the quince yarn for it. I thought…

I finished this blue dress for Keira over the weekend. The pattern was found in this book and the design is #B. I used a soft blue wool-blend fabric, so hopefully it will be cosy with tights and boots this winter. I embroidered the yoke of the dress in white thread- with some simple branch-like…

The sun came out over the weekend, which was surprisingly uplifting and even inspired a trip to the beach to soak in it. Even though it's been a strangely warm winter so far, it's been dark and rainy most of the time. We saw people having a midwinter swim yesterday. Brave things. The children brought…

I carved these very tiny and simple stamps the other day, while the children were having their music lessons. I used regular rubber erasers cut in half, and the finest lino-cutting tool I could find in my craft cupboard. (I've made them in the past too- here and here.) The main reason for making them…

I can't remember if the jasmine vine normally flowers on the winter solstice, but I'm pretty sure it shouldn't. In any case, I picked some for the kitchen table today. The leaves are so glossy and green. Come to think of it, there are many plants in the garden that seem to be having some…