Secrets and giveaways

Hello,

There are lots of secrets being kept around here. I have been making this hexagon item for somebody special. I was working on it the other night and Lucy said it looked like a beehive. A photo of the finished item will be revealed at a later date.

My Secret Santa has been in touch with me, thanks for stopping by. I have contacted my swap partner and have started on the present. I

got a lovely book from the Library yesterday about card making. So will have a go at making something special.

Kyle and Janelle are having a giveaway with a lovely bag as the prize, check them out at there blog; http://www.threadsoffriendship.blogspot.com you even get to choose the material. How special is that.

Happy stitching.

Bev C

Snapshots of an Open Garden

I visited a garden on Sunday as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme. This garden is on a farm on sandplain country. The owners had collected old items and these were displayed around the verandah. The sewing machine attracted my attention. Old posts were used along the edges of paths. They are lucky enough to have a lake as part of their garden, what a lovely place to spend on a hot day. Lots of native trees have been planted with plenty of them having finished flowering although there was enough other roses lavenders and numerous other trees in flower. A real bee's heaven. If you have the chance to get to some of these open gardens you will not only see different styles of gardens lots of the gardeners donate the entry fee to a local charity, a win win for everyone.

Happy gardening.

Bev C

Look what has been growing in my pantry cupboard.

Hello,

Look what I have had in my pantry cupboard for the past couple of weeks. A Choko, the botanical name is Sechium edule. You cannot buy Choko's at your garden centre I purchased this one at the vegie department at my local shop. If you want to grow them all you have to do is put them in a dark place for a few weeks and they will sprout. Now is the time to do this. Choko is a herbaceous, semi-decidious perennial vine and it is extremely vigorious. The pear shaped fruit is eaten as a vegetable or stewed in sugar which tastes like stewed pears. The whole fruit is planted by partially burying it at a 45 degree angle, with the growing shoot facing downwards and the stem end slightly above the level of the ground. I hope my choko does grow. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Happy gardening.

Bev C

Another Journal Cover

Hello,

I made this Journal Cover back in January of this year. It is another of Janelle Wind's patterns and was in the Australian Country Threads A Special Stitchery edition. Volume 7 Number 8. I actually try to mark the date I complete things in the magazine , this one was finished on the 25th January 2008. Even if you put the starting date this gives you incentive to complete a project. This way you tend to have less unfinished things. I wonder who has the most unfinished projects? Please let me know how may you have.

Happy stitching.
Bev C

Busy time here at Kainga

Hello,

We have had a busy time here at Kainga. Last Thursday I went to the Gardening Australia Expo. I listened to Peter Cundall and Sophie Thomson giving talks and advice. I even got Peter's autograph. Peter is such a fit and active man and he is just like he was on TV.I walked through Josh Byrne's waterwise garden complete with a water tank . I was in love with the new raised gardening beds. They certainly are the right height. I was amazed at the growth of the tomatoes in the hydroponic tanks. Some had fruit on them already and they were only planted a short while ago.

Friday saw me at Sewing. I was lucky enough a few weeks back to win a pattern and the original journal cover from Janelle Wind. Thanks Janelle. I made the bag, and was very pleased with the way it turned out. It is called Thelma's Day Out and it is from the Janelle Wind Collection.

On Saturday David had his School Ball. They boys looked very handsome in there suits and the girls looked lovely in there dresses and best shoes and some fantastic hair styles. Lots of photo sessions beginning with the first one here at home then onto his cousin's home then down to the local park where everyone had gathered. Then onto the Ball. Lots of dancing and a very nice meal was enjoyed then lots of dancing d-jaying photo taking and memories were made.

Yesterday we had his Graduation Ceremony and the best black pants and white shirt ironed we were ready to go again. They all had gowns to wear and a sash to keep which had everyone's name on it and the school logo. After the ceremony we all had a lovely afternoon tea provided by fellow students. A Graduation Cake that was absolutly stunning which had a main cake then every student had a cupcake with there name piped in icing. A lot of work was put into this and was really appreciated especially when the students saw it. The camera's came out as each student found there cake.

Will be back later this week with something else that I have made which Janelle was the designer.

Happy stitching.

Bev C