lavender

I have been thinking of ways to extend the life of some of my mother's lovely old table linen. I was very nervous about cutting any of it so I started with an embroidered cloth that was beyond repair. I figured any little bit I could save would be worthwhile and so I made these lavender bags and a few buttons.

I've also started a small lavender garden of my own. I've planted five different lavenders. The one in the photo, "True blue", is my favourite. I'm hoping the lavender will attract loads of bees to the garden. It already looks good and smells wonderful.

geometry

Here are some of my favourite quilts from my currently favourite book Gee's Bend: the architecture of the quilt.
You can see more beautiful quilts from the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama if you follow this link to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

I'd also like to share with you this video for making multiple pom-poms. I haven't tried this method yet but I think it has possibilities.

Reading When will there be good news? by Kate Atkinson

everywhere a pom-pom

I've been finding it so hard to stop making pom-poms that I've had to invent things to do with them. Hence my latest joy - pom-pom magnets! They are super easy and look strangely cute on the fridge.

Here's how to make them:
You'll need wool, cardboard, self adhesive magnetic sheet (the plastic kind that advertising comes on), scissors, things the right size to trace around, pencil
1. make a pom-pom using two rings of cardboard about 5cm (2ins) across
2. holding close to the knot of the wool string you've tied the pom-pom with, fluff the pom-pom up and away from your hand to make a flat area
3. cut a circle from the magnetic sheet about 3 cm across and press firmly onto the flattened part of your pompom
4. stick on your fridge and admire

Reading One good turn by Kate Atkinson + Listening to Aloe Blacc + Eating strawberries straight from the garden

taranaki

These are my favourite photos from a few days of camping in New Plymouth. The first two pics were taken on the coastal walkway - our "best thing to do" in New Plymouth - although we did eat some nice meals and drank some good coffee and enjoyed the rhododendrons at Pukeiti.

The third photo/second beach is Oakura Beach where Tom Cruise stayed while filming The last samurai in 2003. The locals still talk about it.

And the last one was taken somewhere along the Forgotten World Highway on our way to the tiny, remote settlement of Whangamomona. The locals declared the town a republic in 1988 after a boundary dispute with local government. The town's most famous resident was Billy the goat - the first animal to be elected as president.

spring flowers and winter hats

The sweet peas are from my garden. This year I remembered to plant them early and they are just starting to flower. I love the colours and how they all look so good together. And I love the smell! And the crazy tendrils twisting around everything.

The beanies are for my young great-nephews who live in the UK. I did wonder about adding the pom-poms. I asked a work colleague's seven-year-old son if he'd wear a beanie with a pom-pom on it and he said yes. My nephews could always take the pom-poms off if they don't like them. The hats will still keep them warm.

Reading Case histories by Kate Atkinson and Gee's Bend: the architecture of the quilt edited by Paul Arnett

cupboard love

Some beautifully worked old linen tablecloths found at the back of a cupboard at my mother's while helping her move house. They are all handmade right down to the crochet edgings.

pattern

These drawings were made by me when I was six or seven years old. They are from a school exercise book I found at my mother's while I was helping her move house. Each page of the book has rows of neat letters with drawings below. I think the drawings were designed to help with forming letters. For instance, the kites are with the letter 'v'. I can't remember if we were meant to embellish the shapes or if I was overly enthusiastic. The only comments from the teacher are "too big" or "too small".

This drawing is my favourite and, strangely, goes with the letter "I". When I was a child we lived in a suburb where every house had a rotary clothesline - just like in my picture. There were lots of kids in the neighbourhood and we had some good times over the long, hot summers.

Reading Welcome to your new life by Anna Goldsworthy