Stylish home touches, and Daphne dog

 

Hello friends,

We usually call these richly scented oriental lilies ‘Christmas lilies’ since they bloom during our summer Christmas here in New Zealand.

But it’s August and we are in the depths of a frosty winter, so what do I call them now? Mid-winter Christmas lilies? Because they always smell like Christmas to me.

‘Mid-winter Christmas’ was a thing in the 1980s when my parents held and went to dinner parties.

It was a chance to feel a little festive when it was cold and bleak outside, and borrow from the fun of Christmas traditions from the northern hemisphere which suit wintry weather.

I remember buying a can of fake snow spray to paint on my bedroom windows at Christmastime when it was bright and summery, and then the crazy effort to scrape it off afterwards. I’m sure I left most of that to my mum.

So anyway, sorry about that mum, and thank you for one of the many times you cleaned up after me at home 🥰

I always think I don’t like fresh flowers in the home much, but I’ve discovered that it’s when they have no scent that I can’t see the point.

When they do have scent, I am happy to buy them. Oriental lilies, earlicheer and jonquils (I call them ‘spring flowers’ but they are always out in the winter), and Daphne. I love the smell of Daphne so much, I think that’s also a winter flower, but on a shrub. Also, scented roses. So delicious.

So I’m not a no-flower girl, I’m a ‘scented flower’ girl 😊

I’m glad to clear that up because I always felt like such a wowser when I didn’t enjoy buying flowers for our home.

These lilies lasted exactly two weeks and looked good the whole time.

Let me know if you are a fan of fragrant blooms like I am, and what your favourite flowers are to have in the home 😊

 

~~

 

 

 

 And hello from sweet Daphne, tucked in behind the pillow 🥰 She loves sneaking into corners, hoping she won’t be noticed so she can stay snuggled up beside me forever.

Especially at night when she’s meant to be zipped up in her cozy soft crate with blankets. She always tries to sleep on the bed and I have to disappoint her. I’m not against dogs on beds but she is a terrible bed sleeper.

Micky lies somewhere handy, like between our feet or between our pillows (I know), but Daphne always crimps your style, lying across ankles or forcing you to sleep in a funny shape to accommodate her.

Daphne’s expression here says: ‘If I don’t move, perhaps she won’t notice me.’ She has perfected it well 😂

And the sofa pillow is one of two I made my dad for Christmas one year. They came back to live with me after he died.

I love playing around upcycling denim so much. I have another set of denim cushions, placemats, and coasters... such fun ❤️

Happy weekend!

x Fiona

 

 

PS. You can find all my links here: fionaferris.com

And my latest book ‘Life Is Good’:

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission when you use my links, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it if you choose to use my links at any time!]

Autumn in New Zealand, and relaxing crafts

 

Hello from sunny, autumnal Hawke's Bay!

 

I am making the most of wearing my summer sandals on the warmer days, but we have also lit the fire some evenings as well. It’s winter one day and summer the next!

Autumn is a nice time of year for linen and I am drawn to it right now. This yellow blouse is linen, and I also have a couple of white linen shirts that feel lovely on. The fabric is slightly heavier than for true summer temperatures and linen feels cozy and snuggly in a lightweight way.

How is your change-of-season wardrobe switch going? I always leave it too late and only do it when I can’t find any suitable clothes. Maybe this year I can be more intentional about it? I’ve made a good start :)

~~

 

Ladies lunch at my mum's this week 🍃

 ~~

 

For ages I've been collecting pretty cards, stickers, and stylish postage stamps in a small box, planning to make my own greeting cards from them one day.

Well this one is the first I’ve made, for my Aunty's birthday last month. I love the colours and the cats and the French stamp.

Such fun! It’s great finding crafty projects that are actually useful (as useful as a greeting card can be!)

Doing things like this are all part of living (and loving) my epic small life. They are satisfying and you get something lovely at the end.

Pottering away on something like this doesn’t take much time (I always have the looming spectre of something being ‘a waste of time’ if it takes me too long :) and it’s fun too. Something you can do with your inner child.

Tell me something you like to do ‘just for fun’ but that produces a good result too. I’d love some more ideas to add to my ‘play’ list.

The book above is available on Amazon, in paperback and as a Kindle eBook.

And if you prefer an Amazon alternative you can download the eBook from my eStore.

Happy weekend to you, chic friend!

xx Fiona

PS. My audiobook ‘100 Ways to be That Girl’ is now available in my eStore too, for instant download. You can see it here. 

 

 

 

My newest interview, and teddy bear handcrafts

 

 Hello chic friends,

I'm thrilled to share my latest interview with you, available now on YouTube or you can watch it below :)

The delightful Daniela Acitelli interviewed me and we had such a fun hour chatting.

I had a fabulous time with her – she is a great interviewer. I hope you enjoy it too!

~~

We had a bright moon last Saturday night, with ribbon-like clouds adding to the beauty.

Plus, fairy lights in the trees of course. I love restocking at Christmas and enjoying them all year round.

Such a magical evening view it was!

I like nothing better than a Saturday night at home, just the two of us with a lovely dinner and wine to go with it.

And jazz on the stereo too. Bliss ❤️

~~

I love doing little handcrafty projects but don't often have the opportunity.

My Aunty's childhood bear Edward (who is more than seventy years old) needed teddy bear surgery after their miniature dachshund puppy savaged Edward's face...

It was such a fun project, and even though he looks different than he did, he now has a sweet face again.

You can see through the photos how he progressed from all his stuffing hanging out, to a stitched up face, to a new facelift.

I googled 'how to stitch a teddy bear nose, and other equally cute phrases. He also needed an ear and one paw mended ❤️

I like to use what I have so the fabric, and button eyes were in my small stash of bits and pieces.

I knitted his jersey back in the eighties from leftover yarn that I'd made my own bat-wing 'house jersey' from. It's such fun to use what you have.

Handcrafts bring happy memories!

 

(Edward is quite bare as my Aunty plucked him as a child 😂)

And he is so old and fragile that you have to support his neck like a newborn 😭

I hope you enjoyed Edward's story today!

Do you have an old toy? I have 'Susie Doll' from the early 1970s. And my Daisy doll from a little later, maybe the early eighties.

xx Fiona

Day 3: A Week of Christmas Self-Care

 

 

Day 3: A Week of Christmas Self-Care
~ Do what soothes you ~

The holiday season is the time of year you want to enjoy most, yet it’s also the busiest and most stressful.  Aside from all the organization that Christmas entails, there are all the loose ends that need tidying up before the end of the year.

Something that always gets out of control for me, but paradoxically is the thing that calms me down the most, is being tidy and organized.  I often ignore a messy area because I tell myself I don’t have time and I’ll get to it ‘later’, and it almost feels as if I am being decadent and utterly frivolous for considering spending time tidying!

So for me, it would be tidying and organizing.  I have quite a few areas that are bothering me at the moment – my wardrobe, writing desk, candle cupboard and sewing room.  Yes I have a candle cupboard…

I’m not going to make everything show-home perfect before Christmas, but giving myself half an hour here and there to do a little bit will make a huge difference to both how the space looks and functions, and how much calmer I feel.  I spent 30 minutes in my wardrobe today, and similar in my sewing room.  Plus I took a box of donations to the charity store.  I feel the weight on my shoulders lifting slowly :)

I know it sounds strange to say that tidying up soothes me, but it does.  (I promise you it’s not a humble-brag).

It might be something else for you, maybe something completely different such as reading a book.  I always take time to read a book, mostly five minutes before I go to sleep which doesn’t sound that luxurious, so perhaps I have to find a bigger spot.  It certainly beats scrolling Twitter for worthiness, and I always seem to find time for that!

Perhaps yours are baking, yoga, or knitting.  Find out what your soothing activities are, and make sure you do them more.

See you for Day 4 tomorrow.

xx Fiona
 

Hobbies as self-care

 

I picked up my new sewing machine last week, and I didn't realise just how much a missed having a fully functioning it's-a-pleasure-to-sew-with machine!  I bought my old machine in the very early 1990s, so it was almost thirty years old.  Even with regular servicing it was just O L D and did not sew as well as it could have.

So I chose this mid-range model from a moderately priced brand, and even though it's simple and basic, it's wonderful.

In the spirit of decluttering, I took my old machine to the auction, plus another machine I had too (it was even older).  Even if I only get $5 for each, someone else can get use from them, plus they are out of my house.  The Bernina lady told me that sewing machines are hard to come by all over the world, because everyone is sewing in lockdown.  From the order my machine was in, it was the only product that turned up - all the other machines were out of stock.

So far I have done some hemming and some upcycling, however I am becoming enthused about making clothes again now that I have a new machine.  I think sewing has always been my first love, right back to when I was ten years old and learned to sew.  In my teens I made lots of clothes, and it was such a fun time.  Mum said when I ran out of fabric I started raiding her sheets for material.  Oops!

Feeling good with my creativity and future projects got me to thinking that hobbies aren't just an enjoyable thing to do with our time.  They are also a form of self-care, just as much as having early nights or making yourselves healthy meals are.  When you find a hobby you love, you are enjoying yourself while you are doing it, but you are also clearing your mind.  You get into flow as you do something and your mind is settled.  There is no room for worrying thoughts of future possibilities or past issues when you are focused on your task.

My friend Justine who I have just reconnected with, spins wool and knits, and she told me that ten minutes on her spinning wheel calms her right down when she is feeling frazzled.  Gardening is the same; I'm sure baking is too, and many other hobbies.  And, at the end you get a result!  A garment, new yarn, a weeded garden, or some cookies.  How excellent is that!

My exciting project for my new sewing machine is that I am going to find some good patterns for summer dresses that are simple to make, flattering, and comfortable that I can wear every day when it's hot - we are just coming into Spring here in New Zealand.  I may even have a go at drafting my own pattern based on dresses that I like from my own wardrobe.

What do you do as a creative outlet and does it help your peace of mind too?

xx Fiona

~~

 

You can find me here as well:

 

My books on Amazon

Blog

Shop

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Podcasts

Lithuanian edition

Russian edition

Spanish edition

Vietnamese edition

Chic book freebies

Free writer’s encouragement

~~

These are my four most popular books at the moment!  Click on the image to read more :)

30 Chic Days at Home - Day 10 - Create Something

Image: Rebecca Grant, Unsplash

I don't know if there is a bigger fan of 'making things' than me.  Well, I'm sure there are, but I'll be right up there definitely.  Mum always told us when we were growing up that 'bored people are boring' so we'd stop bugging her when we were 'bored', and find our own entertainment.  She did us well with that advice!

There are endless things you can create around the home when you have time on your hands, or even if you don't have that much extra time with working from home and homeschooling, making something takes you into a meditative space.  Even a small amount of time each day will bring benefits to your wellbeing and it's nice to intersperse telly watching with something that makes you feel like you've achieved something.

Depending on what kinds of supplies you already have at home you could:

• Start writing your book
• Knit a garment
• Sew something
• Do cross-stitch
• Bake cookies or bread
• Use craft kits you have stashed away
• Complete a jigsaw puzzle
• Take cuttings from your garden and plant them in bare spots (I have this planned for my geraniums)
• Colour in, paint or draw

I remember dad buying my sister and me balsa wood and tissue paper airplane kits when were young, maybe 10-12.  I loved making mine.  It was very satisfying to follow the instructions and create a model airplane.  I don't think my brother got one because he was quite a bit younger, but my sister and I rocked our craft kits!

And can I just nag, I mean gently encourage, you a bit on the first point - to start writing your book.  I know there are tons of you keen to do this (but haven't started yet), because over the years I've had many emails about this wish.  There has never been a better time to write your book.  If you need some inspiration and motivation, please join my free email class on being an author.  There are action steps and tips over the course of three weeks - a new email every few days.  Perhaps that would spur you on?

You can join that email course here: 

Free writer’s encouragement

Please share what you are creating at your house.  I'm busy with my writing and may well bake some gluten-free cookies over the next few days.  I don't have a favourite recipe as I rarely bake, so I'll just google something when I'm in the mood. I have gluten-free flour, butter, sugar and some dark chocolate to chop into slivers, so I should be right, hopefully!

Keep busy and keep safe, everyone!
xx Fiona

~~

You can find me here too:

My books on Amazon

Blog

Shop

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Podcasts

Lithuanian edition

Russian edition

Chic book freebies

Free writer’s encouragement