Creative Chaos

Creative Chaos

Monday 22 May 2017

A month ago...

Photos taken a month or so ago at Ashford in Ashburton in the South Island - autumn colours which you struggle to find up here!
And the best wool shop out!

I'm dying from 60 hour weeks combining university and work. The next 3 weeks are mental, with the last essay due and an exam, but i don't even have many exam notes to study yet.

I told my principal I was leaving in term 3 today - 16 more weeks of school to go.
I'll take a term off to regain brain power and potter around at home. Sounds idyllic!





 YEP - I AM short !





Sunday 14 May 2017

Postcard from the Catlins

(Thursday May 11, 2017) My university lecture was cancelled today - a moment of great glee for me. Of course I've just looked at the tip in this house (as little was done while I was very sick in the school hols) and then consequently scrubbed a shower, emptied rubbish bins, cleaned up my bedroom, added to the op shop pile all in the name of essay avoidance. I've another one due in a week, another one due in 3 weeks and then an exam in 4 weeks - this all just frankly terrifies me! I could just happily quit work and stay home and do it all (the prospect of that happening could happen... I'm now taking the job term by term.... yes my focus and love is dwindling.....)

Anyway weeks ago, I visited the incredible Catlins area way down the bottom of the South Island. If you want empty roads, few tourists and stunning scenery, it is recommended! I'll be taking the husband back (it truly holds zero interest for teenage boys and I won't even bother trying to even attempt a family trip down there!).

(Sunday, May 14,2017 - Mother's Day but commercial hogwash in this house, so non-existent and I'm okay with that! )

The Catlins is stunning - I *think* this was the lighthouse at Waipapa Point - pity it was under re-construction! -  it was FREEZING, so we didn't hang around long! This is the bottom of the South Island! Lighthouses info of Southland is here




 Curio Bay blew me away - we saw a 180 million year old petrified forest - if you see the diagonal lines in the rocks - those are the trees! This was a wild, wild coastline - incredible just watching the waves and the sea come barrelling in!














 And a couple of general viewpoints on teh way back to Dunedin. I'd lvoe to go back and stay at some of the cribs (holiday homes - North Islanders call them baches!) one day - quite an isolated part of New Zealand, but i was amazed at how many holiday settlements there were. Such incredible scenery everywhere and very doable over a couple of days, but I'd love to stay longer!






Sunday 7 May 2017

Sewing blitz!








I've had a manic weekend. Friday night was spent finishing the most rubbish essay of my university history (and the MOST stressful one ever to do!) and submitting it.

Yesterday I spent all day with my aunt on her overlocker and sewing machine sewing more of my handmade wardrobe. We had a bit of a production line going - me cutting out patterns and fabric and overlocking ( OH! I need an overlocker - so much easier and faster and a much more professional finish than the old zigzag!) - and her doing lots of the sewing!  I am beyond thrilled with the 4 items we finished yesterday!

The shorts were tricky - yep - waaaaay past my knowledge level - in fact she ended up ditching and changing the pattern part way through! I'm lucky as Auntie Rayma spent years and years sewing for top New Zealand labels and commercial sewing/own clients/wedding dresses etc! She is FAST! I would have finished a dart or something and she'd have half the garment finished in the same time!

These are the skirt and short patterns (dress pattern at aunts.)


The skirt fabric was purchased from Spotlight - the italian wool fabric for the dress and shorts from Drapers Fabrics in Newmarket. I'm pretty happy with about a $100 outlay for four new wardrobe items! Not sure I can really go and buy clothing anymore from clothing shops!

Another skirt and dress all cut out and ready to go.... weeee - on a roll!