new things

Here are some new pieces for my Crown Lynn collection. I bought the cups and saucers from Aunty Mavis. I think they are 1980s and probably from the 'Avondale' range but I'm not certain. The egg cups - I've been collecting for a while, buying the odd one here and there.

The dog is not Crown Lynn and even though it looks a lot like a Staffordshire poodle I'm sure it's a fake. It does have "made in England" stamped on the base but, more interestingly, it also has a red and gold sticker that says "Selected at Eunice Chick Gift Shoppe, 31 Wellesley St., Akld." All I've been able to find out is that the shop was demolished along with other buildings in 1963 to make way for the new library. The dog itself is pretty weird with a strange almost human face and a sad (or is it aloof?) expression. But I think it's wonderful. I should give him/her a name. What do you think?

Also purchased at the Auckland Art and Craft Fair on Saturday - did you go? - were two sets of "Summer flower papercut" cards by Melissa from tiny happy and the latest copy of extra curricular. Extra curricular has some of Melissa's water colours in it and a tutorial by Joanna Davies on how to make a terrarium. Terrariums would make great Chrissie presents, I reckon.

rhubarb and strawberries

 

The rhubarb and strawberries "appeared" on my kitchen bench yesterday - harvested by my husband from his garden. I'd wanted to try rhubarb and strawberries together so this was obviously the time to do it. And, weirdly, I'd been reading about rhubarb and ginger crumble over at tiny happy. So I made a crumble with them using this recipe from the BBC Good Food website. It was delicious! I substituted lemon zest for orange and left out the pine nuts because we didn't have any. And we ate ours with Greek yoghurt. So good.

The flowers are peonies. Sadly, it's not cold enough to grow them here in Auckland so these are not from my garden. They must be one of my favourite flowers. They remind me of those over-the-top still life paintings of vases crammed with flowers and set against dark backgrounds like these ones.

Reading All made up by Janice Galloway + Listening to Claimed by the sea by French for rabbits + Watching Homeland season 2

instead

 

This week I visited Gibbs Farm, went to yoga class, enjoyed having house guests, cooked fish pie and sold a bed. But I have no sewing or knitting to share with you, I'm sorry. Maybe next week I'll have something finished.
Enjoy your week.

blanket

 

Here's another baby blanket like this one one I made earlier in the year. Again I used the Purl Bee pattern and the Filatura di crosa 'Zara' wool. This one took me a bit longer to knit because I got to half way and I decided I didn't like my colour choices/combinations. So I undid the whole thing, bought some more of the colours I did like - pale grey, blue and charcoal - and started again. I'm pleased I changed my mind about the colours but now it's going into summer and I'm not sure that a woolly blanket is an appropriate gift for a summer baby. What do you think?

carnivorous

A couple of photos taken at the Auckland Carnivorous Plant Society spring show. It's always worth a visit. There are usually plenty of really bizarre plants, enthusiastic growers and plants for sale. Next show is in March.

Also I changed my blog header. I did it using PicMonkey and this easy-to-follow tutorial. If you look under 'blogging tips' on Sew many ways you'll find lots of help - should you too need it for your blog.

welcome baby

I've been making baby gifts. I'll be giving the rabbit and this t-shirt to a friend whose baby is due in early December.

Both the rabbit and the bear are made from gloves and are from Miyako Kanamori's book. Should you like to make one for a child in your life, the instructions for the rabbit and a dog are available on the Martha Stewart website.


Watching Pina - dvd celebrating the life and extraordinary work of choreographer Pina Bausch + Viewing Art in the dark + Eating lunch at Cable Bay vineyard, Waiheke

cacti

Some photos from the Auckland cactus and succulent show held over the weekend. It was well worth going to. Lots of amazing and unusual plants.

Also you might like the amazing and inspiring artwork of textile designer, Lourdes Sanchez - my latest 'discovery' thanks to Uppercase.

Have a great week.

Reading Spitalfields life by the Gentle Author + Watching (even though I think I might be over it) Downton Abbey, season 3 + Working out how to use my new camera