Author Archives: paulainauckland

28/8 Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in books, grateful, High Five For Friday, stitching patterns by

LISTENING: TobyMac (eclectic Christian artist with a recent release but solid back-catalogue) and of course, Elise’s podcasts.

tobymac

READING: I finished Anchored (review to come) and started something I thought might be fluffy but has turned out to be a very thought-provoking romance series from Susan May Warren. Self-forgiveness. Massive concept. Her Christiansen family series, in case you’re looking for something new-ish.

CRAFTING: well not yet,but I love this suggestion from Simply Vanella about what I could do with my black linen. Isn’t this perfect?

DW2886 chalkboard cross stitch

http://www.123stitch.com/item/Design-Works-Be-Happy-Chalkboard-Counted-Cross-Stitch-Kit/DW2886

Also I found this ceramic owl HALF PRICE at Farmers so I can re-create one of Carol’s photos. Think I will choose Serenity, as that is my OLW for this year.

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DOING: Celebrating. Mason’s awesome anniversary report. Zac’s official rep selection for one of the Auckland U12/13 restricted weight sides. A bunch of awesome parents in this rep side. LAST Under 6 game for the season tomorrow – it’s been a long year! Freebie December Daily foundation pages (OK, they started out as lotto ticket wallets but that’s two standard and two pocket pages right there, peeps – and I left the lady looking up Ali & Becky’s websites). Springtime flowers seen during lunchtime walks.

Let me know what you find to celebrate this week!

Fabric Dye fails issue two

Posted in DIY home, embroidery by

Under advisement, I decided to try the iDye range of products. First attempt is the black. Follow recipe, even down to the time. It soaked it up a little too well.

Second is a lot more like I wanted. It’s pale & the only fault is mottling, which I think is down to either not pre-washing (I did soak) or that it was only in for five or six minutes at quarter strength.

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I think I’ll use the purple fail for Fairy Tales and without doing a floss toss, I think it should be fine for Raven Queen.

And as for the black, who knows?!

A Last First

Posted in family, grateful, You Can Quote ME by

Thursday is usually You Can Quote Me, an image or thought linked to my One Little Word,  Serenity.

Today is going to be a little different.

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That little thing on the 32ct mermaid tail? That’s my last child’s first tooth. This morning was the last time I get to be the tooth fairy (I’m assuming some kid at school will burst his tooth fairy belief today).

It’s bittersweet to be watching this boy grow up. He is an unexpected gift from God, even during the tantrums. We’re blessed to have him.

Today’s lesson then is to hold on tight to the good memories. They will bring you a feeling of peace even in moments of pain.

WIP Wednesday & Smalls SAL

Posted in conversion details, Mirabilia, round robin, stitching patterns by

Yay, Wednesday already! Work finished the fiscal month (oddly) early, rather than rolling it over into a 5 week month, so I’m like the duck – serene on top, paddling furiously underneath. It makes for a long, long eight hours! Luckily the children are just as tired so last night, they took themselves off for reading time just after seven. Bliss! A quiet house!

sunday's progress. primrose urn

sunday’s progress. primrose urn

WIP-wise I have put a few more threads into Persephone but mostly I’m forcing myself to work on the next NZXS RR. It’s just not my cup of java at all, from the aida cloth to the flower urns – I am reminding myself that THIS is why I said I’d organise a round robin or two! Once I had added the leaves (all the yellow and green was done last night, the urn on Sunday) I did like it more. It’s a very quick little piece. I do like the bird.

tuesday's progress

tuesday’s progress

I also finished Summer Queen, my contribution to Rachel’s RR. I converted some beads and of course the metallic DMC, as I loathe that stuff. Kreinik all the way! Look Zeb! I’m using my birthday notebook!

Summer Queen

Summer Queen

paula's summer queen bead conversion

paula’s summer queen bead conversion

You Can Quote Me

Posted in grateful, You Can Quote ME by

YCQM is a semi-regular post that relates to my One Little Word for 2015, Serenity.

I’ve made the decision to move YCQM to Mondays. Monday is the work day with the most pressure and demands, and of course, the most time spent in meetings (I’ve been absenting myself from one to regain a precious 30 minutes. For 6 weeks in a row I sat in the corner with no tasks and nothing to contribute. Once you start playing on your phone, you know it’s pointless to be there).

So. Monday. Hello.

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Book Review: The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather

Posted in books, food, growing by

The-Feast-Nearby-book

Subtitle: How I lost my job, buried a marriage and found my way by keeping chickens, foraging, preserving, bartering and eating locally (all on forty dollars a week)

Mather was a food writer and critic for several publications over a long period and the book is essentially a story about her return to contentment after a horror week that involved her husband announcing that he wanted to divorce and being made redundant from her role at the Chicago Tribune.

She doesn’t dwell on the miserable and looks to find the good, even in the little things. Thoughtfully written and thought provoking. My takeaway lesson from the book is that I need to buy local more, grow more and eat more seasonably. Unless I get a glasshouse, it’s not OK to have salads in August.

Author blog (which hasn’t been updated in a while, TBH) : http://thefeastnearbywordpress.com and there’s a Q&A session here: http://www.domenicacooks.com/2011/06/q-a-with-robin-mather-author-of-the-feast-nearby/

Also it’s well worth perusing the blog and book for the recipes included – several have a long family history. You know those will become favourites!

High 5 4 Friday!

Posted in grateful, High Five For Friday by

LISTENING: The new CD from Rend Collective is out today (NZ time). A quote from their blog: importantly, we belong to a larger family, and that family includes you. The children of God have always been a people on the move, driven by a mission and a purpose. We aren’t part of a social club, but we’re given a charge from the Father: to share His love with the world.

 As Christians we know this world is not our home. We’re all on a lifelong journey that ends on greater shores. Until that day our purpose is clear, and our companionship is the family of God. He’s given us each other to encourage, rebuke, care for, weep with, hug, pray for, and laugh with. It’s so purposefully beautiful.

Rend-Collective-As-Family-We-Go-August-21-Rocking-Gods-House

READING: I’ve re-discovered the love of the library stack. I managed to get the one I really wanted from Elise Blaha Cripe’s recommends, which is The Dirty Life & started that one this morning. Review next week of The Feast Nearby.

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KITCHEN: I love having fresh herbs to hand. I’ve grown basil and Italian parsley this year, and taken cuttings & potted up even more basil for friends. The pot on the left? That’s from the sage seeds that were given to me. Smart cookies will be able to tell that it’s carrots. I couldn’t tell until it came to about six week’s growth. I left a couple in anyway. And the thyme was picked up and re-potted. Thyme on pizza or even garlic bread is yummy. I also have two rosemary – one outside that was allowed to flower for the bees and one inside that is for cooking.

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Also par-baked bread rolls now my breadmaker is toast (pardon me).

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CRAFTING: Life. Changed. Typo have erasable highlighters that aren’t so moist that they go thru the page. Brilliant for my working copies. Plenty of colours and cheap at 4 for $6.

SHOPPING: I found this print yesterday at Typo when all I intended to do was show Simon a funny set of magnets. $15! Bargain.

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CELEBRATING: the letter from college arrived yesterday. Look at that! Isn’t it awesome? So proud of how much Zac achieved already.

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Life is good. Hope you find something to celebrate today too!

You Can Quote Me

Posted in books, Journal, OLW, You Can Quote ME by

YCQM is a semi – regular post based on my One Little Word for 2015, Serenity.

This week I’m trying to reintroduce my planner as our schedules change up and I don’t instinctively know where and what I’m supposed to be doing, let alone the kids.

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I’m also writing down the book recommends and who made mention, and the post – it will go into the planner on the day I start reading. These are from Warehouse Stationery but I’ve seen cute ones at Typo too.

What’s your top tip on keeping sane during a period of change?  

Fabric Dye Fails issue one

Posted in DIY home, Mirabilia, stitching patterns by

So I thought I’d dye myself a piece that would be (depending on the tonal depth) be for either Mirabilia’s Raven Queen or Rose of Sharon.

I picked up some plain white 32ct linen from Spotlight – they had it marked at $13.99 pm rather than per 10cm! – cut off a section and paired it with Dylon Elephant Gray. Which is clearly not that gray.

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Almost a complete fail. I was going for a 415 tone, not part way thru 341 & 3747! But at least it’s even, no blotchy bits!
I think I’ll list it in the up cycle group and try again.