Weekend giveaway

It would be very hard to say which is my favourite form of making and creating. This week has been a sewing week and one of my projects was a cushion cover with some very seasonal fabric I have been longing to use and frightened to cut into. I also used up the last piece of a thrift shop find, an old tweed style dressing gown, complete with original cord, which has been recreated into many small things in my house.

There is something very satisfying in dreaming up and completing something all made from things already in the house!

I was given a second copy of NZ House and Garden by a lovely friend. This month's issue features ideas and inspiration from Melissa of Tiny Happy who writes a craft blog about making and recycling. I love to see what she is up to and where she is getting her inspiration. Leave a comment about your favourite blog and I will send my extra copy of NZ House and Garden to you wherever you are in the world.

Happy reading, Blue x

Autumn Magic

I'm sure there is a hidden doorway to a secret world through there!

In Japan the changing of the autumn leaves is given a word all of its own, "koyo" and it is a national pastime following the wave of leaves changing as it sweeps the country. Here in Ripple Bay, where the climate is totally different, teetering on tropical, the koyo is like a game of hide and seek, with the added bonus that when you find a tree or a small gathering of trees in full flight of change then the effect is spectacular and heart warming. Each time I walk our Big Dog I watch to see the changes to a particular tree and by the time it has completed its circle and dropped all its leaves it feels like an old friend.

With winter on its way, I looked out my massive woollen blanket handknitted by my Great Grandmother and a quilt that I have made in Japanese blues, with the added twist of crimson embroidery.









The flowers and spirals were designed by Miss Blue and both Small People drew round their hands and added the date so that I have an embroidered record of their hand prints. I feel muchly pleased with myself about this small feature which means such a lot to me.


Happy Koyo, Blue x