(photos by Felicia Semple) I'm excited to tell you that The Craft Sessions will be happening again this year, in September. And i'll be teaching two classes: 'Embroidery 101: Project Bag' (a new class), and 'Embroidery from the Natural World' (returning for its third year in a row!) The Craft Sessions is a creative retreat…

It's getting cooler here which means knitting time. I'm here to tell you there's nothing nicer than sitting on the sofa watching this (or something similar) with glass of wine and knitting close by. Although you probably knew that already. Here are a few small knits I've been working on lately. One Jane (ravelry link) hat…

Keira was given this wooden envelope template for her birthday. By me, that is. Umm yes, it's possible I bought my daughter a gift that I wanted to use myself. But in my defence, she had seen them in the shop a few times and asked me for one.  Anyway, we've had some good times…

I did some sewing on the weekend, and tried out the Hemlock pattern by Grainline (you can download it here) to make two new tops. I was first inspired by this post by Felicia. What a great pattern. It was originally designed for knits, but can also be made up in woven fabrics. I made…

This is my latest finished project: new curtains for the sleep-out (spare room). I should say new/old curtains really, because I used some fairly old fabric to make them. I'd been hoarding it for ages (since this post) but it was already old before I stashed it away (probably from the 1950s-60s, I'd say). When…

:: Pre-washing some new fabrics bought last week. My idea is to make a couple of new things to wear to work. The striped fabric is silky grey, with embroidered cream and black patterns. :: Nasturtiums are very much at home in our garden.  :: Isn't this a beautiful-looking salad? I'm going to make it tomorrow night.…

These photos were taken this evening on a walk in the neighbourhood. I wanted to take some pictures of the kids but they were not into it. However they did point out some things that would make good shots: 'look at that strange garage!' 'that must be at least 150 steps', 'what about those people…

Some more treasures from inside this parcel:  :: blue-skies garland which is now adorning the walls of Arlo's blue bedroom :: a collection of vintage fabrics. I have plans for them already… Wishing you a happy and relaxing weekend!

Just a little of what Helen tucked inside the parcel I wrote about yesterday… A copy of Betty, a gorgeous, new (to me) magazine from London, and a collection of handmade zines as well as a copy of Bill Manhire's beautiful Under The Influence. The zines include the hand-stamped BE HERE          …

It's properly autumnal here in Wellington; golden light lazily gazing through the window onto the kitchen table, soup on the stove, kids bringing home pocketfuls of acorns. After school today, I made them some of this to drink for the first time since last winter. It's always nice to mark the seasons with special foods…