What a week. Getting too old for this ha ha. My gosh that was an awful storm. The power stuff is still going on. Luckily I had fed the boys and had my shower before it was gone again grrr.
Yes there are some lovely shawl patterns around. I haven't even finished my second face washer yet and my niece rang from Australia to say she is going to be a Nana. So two babies to knit for. I have to get as much work done in the morning before it gets too hot and they say it will be hotter this week, The gardens are drinking up the water so we have to get the Water truck in tomorrow.

makerealbany - 2019-01-26 00:35:00

It's bad enough still having to buy bottled water because of the chlorine down here. I can't imagine getting in trucked water for gardens to survive! My knitting is really suffering LOL. Started a larger size (2 years) fairisle cardy in acrylic but haven't got very far and not that happy with it.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-26 09:03:00

Finished the face clothes. Thanks heavens I crocheted the last two on 3mm hook. Took ages. I am knitting some more Milos. We have a great filtering system my SIL put in so we can drink our water. They have been looking and are not impressed with any of the properties or their prices lol.
I had a swim in the pool today after weeding my garden for an hour. Its the most I can do and then my back complains. Enjoyed the swim after though. Then I had to clean out and refill 6 pots. Some of the potting soil is not sterilized enough and weeds pop up grrr.

makerealbany - 2019-01-27 01:14:00

A good days work by the sounds of it. LOL. Son S was out in the garden early yesterday morning and completed almost all of what I needed doing. I am so impressed and very grateful. For the first time since I got sick the garden almost looks like it did every summer. I loved standing watering it last night.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-27 09:14:00

I watched a decluttering programme on TV last night and spent the day reorganizing the way I fold clothes and put them in my drawers. I did my Rimu Drawers which took 2 hours and then my Dresser another hour. So I have stuff for the op shop and I can open a drawer and see everything immediately. Wish I had done this years ago. Tomorrow Ill tackle the drawers under my bed. A came over because M11 had seen the programme and did all of hers so A started on hers ha ha. I now have three more bags for the Op shop plus two bags to take to my sister.

makerealbany - 2019-01-28 00:13:00

Wow thats pretty impressive. LOL. I. and S. redid the garage yesterday, taking all of S's stuff back out and sorted that and re staked everything so there was more room to move in there. I realised why I. was so motivated till a speedway solo bike arrived after our picnic with L11 and B10. I. is entering a memorial race on the type of bike he raced over 40 years ago. OMG.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-28 06:12:00

Hi all, I finally decided to click on this thread, and have read all posts up until page 53. I think I just read Part 1 of a 10 Part novel..haha.
Such interesting reading. I didn't feel bored.
I think it's just the nature of crafters....all great people, who just love what they do, and love to share conversations.

When did this thread start, can anyone remember?
It looks like all the original posters are still here. You guys are rockin' it.
Is Zoe still here?

I'm Lynne btw. I do paper crafts...more mixed media now, but started out making cards.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

crafters_corner - 2019-01-28 14:24:00

To me this thread is more like the Jeremy Kyle show. Very little about crafts. I gave up reading it .

ffloss - 2019-01-28 14:31:00

I enjoy this thread - l’ve often been tempted to join the conversation but worried I’d be intruding somehow. Lindy, I think this thread has been going since 2012.

Ffloss, there is so much about crafts in this thread - it reflects how it is for many of us in real life - we would so love to be always doing the crafts we love, but first we have to deal with everything else that life throws at us, & our families (who mean the world to us) come first.

I enjoy papercrafts, calligraphy, quilting, embroidery & many other crafts ... so many crafts I want to try as well.

millefiori - 2019-01-28 17:43:00

Oh, & hi to grizzly & makerealbany - hope you don’t mind me popping in.

millefiori - 2019-01-28 17:47:00

Hi there millefiori and lindymi55. You understand completely millifiori. No you are not intruding lindymi55.
Crafts does indeed encompass a whole range of activities. I sometimes feel like I should be doing one thing and then switch to another project. So at the moment I am working on a crocheted baby blanket, knitting a Milo and making a patchwork baby quilt. Spent the day gardening though ha ha, I have a huge wool stash and material stash to wade through. I used to do mosaics but I find at my age its hard cutting the tiles and grouting. Also did embroidery for a few decades; I'm hopeless with papercraft but my 11 year old granddaughter loves it. She is very arty. They say when you retire you will have lots of time with nothing to do. They lied ha ha.

makerealbany - 2019-01-28 23:51:00

Hi grizzly. Boys and their toys ha ha, My Sil is now thinking of moving a shed. I don't want to know ha ha. Why am I suddenly making more baby things? My great niece is expecting and I have been told I have another granddaughter due in 4 months. That is a big shock to everyone ha ha. I was sure I would not have any more grandchildren but there you go. I cannot believe the prices of baby clothing. Consequently I have bought bulk buys secondhand from TM and have now finished my list of to buy. Now I have to get on with the To Make List ha ha.

makerealbany - 2019-01-28 23:57:00

makerealbany wrote:

Hi there millefiori and lindymi55. You understand completely millifiori. No you are not intruding lindymi55.
Crafts does indeed encompass a whole range of activities. I sometimes feel like I should be doing one thing and then switch to another project. So at the moment I am working on a crocheted baby blanket, knitting a Milo and making a patchwork baby quilt. Spent the day gardening though ha ha, I have a huge wool stash and material stash to wade through. I used to do mosaics but I find at my age its hard cutting the tiles and grouting. Also did embroidery for a few decades; I'm hopeless with papercraft but my 11 year old granddaughter loves it. She is very arty. They say when you retire you will have lots of time with nothing to do. They lied ha ha.

I tend to start one thing, then move to something else, and before I know it, I realise that I am in a bit of a pickle haha. My brain can't cope with doing too many things at once these days. It's an age thing right??

I'm not a natural crafter. Anything to do with papers, and I'm good to go, but anything else is beyond me. I used to knit as a kid. My nana taught me to crochet, but I've forgotten how to, and besides, I think my arthritis would make that impossible.

My dear Mum was a great sewer, knitter, she did rug making, macrame, tapestries.

Hope you've all had a great day, and thank you for the welcome makerealbany.

crafters_corner - 2019-01-29 00:18:00

Lindy I very rarely finish a project although I have big dreams!

I seem to be very good at accumulating craft supplies & I get great pleasure from just looking at my stash of beautiful fabric, embroidery cottons, rubber stamps & pens, ink etc. And I can get lost for hours in Pinterest.

Makerealbany I did a 1 day mosaic class several years ago & since then I have kept every piece of china that’s been broken because one day I’ll make something amazing lol

I also did a year of Leadlighting classes & have more coloured glass than I want to admit to.

I regret not learning to crochet when I had the opportunity- my wonderful Mum & aunties would have loved to have taught me but I just wasn’t interested way back then.

millefiori - 2019-01-29 00:42:00

Hi there, lindymf55 and millefiori. welcome to the days of our lives.... LOL. THis thread started in 2002 or late 2001. I joined in back then when Zoe was really unwell and I wanted to support her. Since then this thread has kept me motivated to keep crafting even when the rest of life tries to take over. One of the highlights has been meeting makeralbany in 2017 just after my cancer surgery. We had been chatting for 15 years by then!!!!!!!

grizzly4 - 2019-01-29 06:31:00

It would be great to see some photos of your crafts posted on here, ladies.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-29 06:33:00

Wow grizzly, this must be the Great Grandmama of threads!!! I hope a little of the thread’s magic may find its way to me as real life has presented many challenges over the last year - at times it’s been hard to just get through the day, & my crafting mojo seems to have taken a major hit.

millefiori - 2019-01-29 23:11:00

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/959014000.jpg
This is a stained glass suncatcher I made for a friend. I’ve only made 4 small things & I was really pleased with this one, but I’m not sure that my friend was so taken with it.

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/959014242.jpg
A Christmas card

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/959014752.jpg
Cross stitch on linen - will eventually become a Christmas ornament but I majorly ran out of time last Christmas (had intended it to be one of a set of 3 or 4)

millefiori - 2019-01-29 23:23:00

Wow great crafting. Ill have to learn how to put photos on here. Grizzly gave me instructions years ago ha ha I usually send her photos from my phone.
I started using a single crochet to join some squares together tonight. Its going to take awhile ha ha, OMG 15 years no wonder I feel so old ha ha,
I like looking at my stash of this and that until I cant find something ugh. J8 starts back at school tomorrow but M11 and K10 don't go back until next week. M is already trying to get me to go shopping tomorrow , which is one of her favourite pastimes lol I have no idea where she picked that up from says her mother mmmm

makerealbany - 2019-01-30 00:04:00

Great photos millefiori! I really like the stained glass one - just beautiful. Did you teach yourself or do this in a class? How long did it take you? I'd love to do something like this for our Womens Group at work.
Actually there are a couple of other threads longer than this one. LOL. I've posted on a couple of others over the years but they were more specific question answer type of things.
I only shop for the things I can't do without at present, makerealbany. Until this holiday programme finishes on Friday there are just not enough hours in the day or energy left. LOL. If memory serves me, M usually gets some great bargains doesn't she? Might be worth your tagging along, LOL.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-30 06:23:00

Gosh, ladies. Check out lindymf55's auctions. It must be fulltime work managing that lindy, lol. Lovely stuff on there, I'm looking forward to the lace I've just purchased.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-30 06:31:00

grizzly4 wrote:

Gosh, ladies. Check out lindymf55's auctions. It must be fulltime work managing that lindy, lol. Lovely stuff on there, I'm looking forward to the lace I've just purchased.

Good morning, and thank you very much.:)
It sure has become my job now, and I love it. There is something special about ladies who craft. Since I've been selling crafts on TM, I have never yet met one who has been anything but lovely.

I bet I know some of your secrets ladies....that the housework gets put off because you are too busy crafting?? And that PhD you're working on....Projects half done. You understand, right?? I am never going to get my PhD. How about you?? lol

So, how does one put up a pic on here??

I hope you are all having a fab day, and not getting too hot out there.

Edited by crafters_corner at 11:54 am, Wed 30 Jan

crafters_corner - 2019-01-30 11:54:00

Grizzly I went to leadlighting evening classes for a year. The tricky part was learning to cut glass & use the soldering tool (I opted for copper foiling rather than leadlighting) - I don't think I could have taught myself that. I would really like to go to some more classes as I'm not super-confident & haven't don't much outside the classes, but it hasn't been in the list of classes taught for a few terms now. It's so sad that there aren't so many evening classes now - your Womens Group sounds interesting.

Makerealbany did you go shopping? My favourite type of shopping is opshopping - I walk into an op shop & alll my troubles disappear as I'm engrossed in a search for treasure.

Lindy, your listings are lovely. I especially like the vellum butterflies. And I've always wondered about those embossing/ diecutting machines but have purposely not even looked at them as that would open up a whole new world of wants for me :)

millefiori - 2019-01-30 18:57:00

Here are some really clear instructions for putting a photo on a thread. I think they were written by callum.irvine over in TradeMe Discussion.

1. Go to your “My Trade Me” page, click “my photos”
2. Click “Upload photo”
3. Click "Browse" and upload your photo from your computer.
4. Click “view your photos”
5. Double click the uploaded photo
6. Highlight the URL in the top bar of your browser
7. Right click the highlighted URL, select copy
8. Right click the thread where you want to place your photo and select paste.

millefiori - 2019-01-30 22:08:00

Great instructions and now they are in the thread again . I will have to try . I avoided the shopping it was too hot, I did the washing and jumped in the pool with M. After every job we went back to the pool. In and out all day. I could not water the gardens until 9 tonight too hot. I sat down at 10.30 and starting crocheting a border for the 3 large squares I'm making a cot blanket out of.
millefiori I like op shopping as well hee hee. Your username reminds me of Venice. I had such a great time there. Lots of arts and crafts experts there.
lindymi55 No I'm never going to get a PHD, Thought I might years ago but too late now. Haven't got the time ha ha. I must have a browse on your listings.
Grizzly you will be pleased when the holiday programme is over. I also will be pleased when all the grandchildren are back at school.

makerealbany - 2019-01-31 00:36:00

I will also be pleased to get my house and life back to normal. S is no bother but I am struggling for alone time for myself and also craving the conversations I. and I used to have when it was just us. Having people around is exhausting for introverts like me. LOL. No chance of a weekend away for at least a month either as I. is all excited about this memorial speedway race coming up and spending all his time in the garage. Yes, it will be a help once the holiday programme finishes tomorrow but I have to get through today first, have a couple of difficult conversations ahead with parents about behaviour yesterday. So hard when it all happens once I have left for the day and I am hearing 3 or 4 different versions of events.

grizzly4 - 2019-01-31 06:09:00

Yay it's Friday!!!!!! And I have nothing planned for the weekend except to finish this fairisle cardy as I am back in the shop on Monday and to finish one of the gardens I started on over a week ago. The weeds sure love this hot weather, don't they?

grizzly4 - 2019-02-01 06:16:00

Yes they do. I'm working for a couple of hours I the garden each night as it helps me to unwind before I sit down to knit or whatever lol.
I was about to bid on some baby clothes on here and then when I read the full description ( Have been in storage for a couple of years and need a wash) ugh I decided not to. I wouldn't dream of selling something that wasn't clean. I am amazed that people do. I'm still doing the border of the blanket which will take at lest another week ha ha Heat and nice breezes outside at night chew into craft time.

makerealbany - 2019-02-01 10:04:00

Finished one sleeve and half way up the second yesterday. Only had a couple of hours at work, my hips were making it very uncomfortable sitting at a desk. Gave up and came home to take pain relief and rest - which means watch movies and knit. Yay for Netflix. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-02 09:11:00

It’s lovely and cool this morning - I haven’t been coping at all well with the hot weather. I remembered we had a paddling pool so hauled it out from the back of the shed. Thought sitting in that would be better than melting in the heat! Unfortunately years in storage hadn’t been kind to it and there were big holes in the plastic.
I have been making double-sided, quilt-as-you-go hexagons. Very much a learning curve as I don’t always get my inner hexie centred exactly the first try, and my stitching is not very neat or even. It’s another of many ongoing projects!
Another of my ongoing projects is a hexie quilt made from men’s neckties, and I’m also making a crazy quilt from neckties.

millefiori - 2019-02-03 08:34:00

3 quilts on the go at once, millefiori! Thats a mission and a half. I love looking at quuilts but never attempted one myself. I was up till midnight sewing in ends of the fairisle cardy and sewing it up. Today I have to get the bands done and buttons on. PLus I have ironing and some mending to do before L11 comes back tomorrow from his Mum's. He is back to school this week so now we try and find a new 'normal' routine until S. finds them a house. He is well on the way with his savings but we all now it's not necessarily about the money when trying to find a rental property.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-03 09:12:00

I have been sitting with my feet in a bucket of cold water knitting ha ha, I often jump in the kids pool but am waiting for a phone call to go out.
Good going on the quilts millifiori I have two sitting and waiting ha ha.
Yes Grizzly rental properties are hard to find. One of my sons is moving into a new one next week so I will have more space when he picks up all his stuff whoopee.

makerealbany - 2019-02-03 17:07:00

OMG finally finished the cardy. What a mission.... Once I am off here I will check my stash to decide on my next project. I haven't used my foot spa this year as my recliner is higher than my last chair and I can't touch the floor. LOL!

grizzly4 - 2019-02-04 06:05:00

It was very nice getting back to a normal routine yesterday: washing out before I left...back in the shop.....well as normal as it's going to get, I guess for the time being. And boy, it was hot! Going to be same again today but rain tonight possibly. My gardens will love that. I transplanted some self sewn dahlias to a new border and I am nurturing them through the shock of being shifted plus the heat. Poor things, fingers crossed it works. I did a wee beanie in self patterning wool last night - quite cute.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-05 06:27:00

Phew cooler today thank goodness. As much as the gardens need some rain I hope the weather doesn't interfere with all the Waitangi Day events happening.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-06 09:58:00

No rain here sigh. Have to get more water in tomorrow. We are ploughing through it as the ground is so dry. I finished the Pram Blanket and I'm still working on the cot one. Round and round ha ha. My son was moving some of his stuff into his new flat. Told me it would take weeks to sort out his gear in the sheds ugh. I pulled a muscle in my leg trying to yank out boxes before he arrived with his trailer. That will teach me to be impatient.
I do like the self patterning wool. I haven't knitted the ones I have too yet to match the three Milos and the two Cardis. This shifting and sorting is getting in the way ha ha.

makerealbany - 2019-02-06 23:17:00

So much for retirement!. You are not setting a very good example of rest and relaxation, makerealbany. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-07 06:40:00

I have to say having a day off in the middle of the week did not make getting through the week any easier! LOL. I t was like having 2 Mondays. But yay it's now Friday and the craft group is back for the year so I might pop in for an hours cross stitch and see how they all are. My knitting project for the week is another baby crossover cardy, this time in pink. They are lovely and quick and hopefully make me feel like I'm back on track. I. is at Ruapuna tonight and tomorrow so I'm a speedway widow again, S is going away to a friends for the weekend and I think L11 is off to a sllepover tomorrow as well. Oh my Gosh, I may have some craft time to myself......fingers and toes are crossed.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-08 06:22:00

Go for it grizzly get some time for yourself. I am part of an International Lotto so I sent my parcel off today. Its great fun really. I'm on the Bind off with the Cot Blanket. Its getting heavy. I allowed a long tuck in on the bottom. So much yarn , not enough time ha ha. I have to make some more little cardis as well.

makerealbany - 2019-02-08 18:29:00

International Lotto? How does that work? Well done on the blanket. I'm pushing myself to do some of the wee cardy I'm working on before work and at night to stay on track. I'm becoming a little frustrated with managing my morning routine but it might be a little better next week with 3 showers instead of 4 happening before I can do the laundry. Noticing a difference with the power usage over this summer compared to last as well. Of well, it's all about family, isn't it? Looks like we are on our own again on this thread, malerealbane. LOL. Or maybe their lives are in order and they are happily crafting!!!!

grizzly4 - 2019-02-09 09:35:00

Hi grizzly and makerealbany. Grizzly my life’s never in order! Often I have a peep in at the messages but don’t have much to contribute because getting to crafting is a rare treat at the moment. I’m so impressed at how much crafting you ladies get done, even with everything else you’re doing (and would love to see photos!).

I did get to one of my favourite op shops and bought a basket full of embroidery cottons and a linen tablecloth with about a quarter of the embroidery done. Many of the cottons were unstarted and still in their paper bag from The Lace Fan, which was a lovely local craft shop, now closed. Shopping has certainly changed in the last few years and it’s sad that it has meant a lot of craft shops have closed.

LOL now I not only have my own unfinished projects but also unfinished projects from other people.

millefiori - 2019-02-10 08:28:00

LOL, very funny, millefiori!. Went to do my cross stitch on FRiday and the cootons had all mixed up in the container. It's not a purpose built one but has makeshift partitions. I keep promising myself i proper one but always forget to look when I'm in craft shops. The other problem with my cross stitch is the photocopy I took of each page has the bottom 2 rows of stitching missing, now I'm making up the gap to meet the next page. Grr!

grizzly4 - 2019-02-10 08:58:00

The International Lotto is a lucky draw and you send the winner wool from overseas.
I blocked that blanket and it is going to take awhile to dry even in this heat. I spent the day with two grandchildren. I have now seen the second Lego Movie, Very well done. The kids love watching all the characters and buildings. I have a very full week with early starts and late nights. Both parents working to the max. I also have paperwork for the Trust as well as more sorting of my sons stuff to his new flat. My lounge looks like an Op Shop ha ha.

makerealbany - 2019-02-10 23:29:00

How often have you been lucky in the International LOtto? I'll bet you get some interesting wool when you do. I know what you mean about op shop. I can't even have my furniture in the normal place because of extra people and extra stuff. LOL. My son mentioned yesterday staying a year to save to buy, OMG I hope he was kidding. He has the money together for the bond now and is sorting out linen etc he needs. Has a couple of big bills to sort first and then he should be good to go. LOL. L11 is off to his Mum's this week so it will be a bit quieter, I guess. Going to be a stressful week at work this week, too. I have found a piece of flooring in one of the toilerts has gone soft under the vynal so have to get a plumber and builder to come in and sort it. JUst in the wrong time of the year, too as I'm eeking out our fundiing till the next rounds in a few months. It never rains but it pours.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-11 06:14:00

Darn what a shame grizzly. That's the trouble with buildings maintenance costs ugh. Took a load up to the flat today as he is sorting things out as we deliver so as not to overwhelm them ha ha. I don't mind really . OMG did I just say that ha ha, Four days to go until the weekend ha ha. My blanket is still drying. No knitting tonight as I got home late.

makerealbany - 2019-02-11 23:36:00

Stull drying in this heat? LOL. Plumber coming tomorrow so I can just wait for the bad news and keep doing funding applications for everything else. 2 more years of this and I'm getting out once I. is 65.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-12 06:25:00

Two more years ugh. Hopefully it will pass quickly. The years seem to be racing by for me ha ha. The blanket is dry now. It is double knit. Still unpacking and packing lol My grandchildren have been really easy to get organised so far this week. I am so busy I have to keep a notebook to remind myself of things. I also log reminders on my phone. How is your new phone grizzly?

makerealbany - 2019-02-12 23:32:00

My new phone is lovely! LOL. I have officially moved into the 21st century, haha. One of things I'm enjoying most is taking photos of stock items in the shop on Monday and being able to put them on the facebook page immediately instead of trying to remember to take my camera, down loading photos at home the next day and then putting them on facebook. The job is taking literally seconds now. LOL.Check out the Purple Patch facebook page when you have a minute. We have increased our sales by doing this each week and posting to customers nationwide.

grizzly4 - 2019-02-13 06:08:00

Fingers and toes crossed today, please. The plumber is coming to work today to let me know how bad the leak is and how much damage it has caused. (Moan).

grizzly4 - 2019-02-13 06:10:00

Aha you clever girl. I will take some photos tomorrow and try it ha ha. Hope the visit from the plumber was not too much of a shock. I haven't been home long, After my SIL arrived home tonight I packed the car and went to my son's. I can finally see space at home. I will check your page.

makerealbany - 2019-02-13 23:40:00