A Tidy Start

A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all.

2008 has had a very windy start with the low off the east coast. I'm afraid I don't cope well in windy weather and can get quite cranky. So to ward off the grumps, I have kept myself busy in the sewing room. Pressing and cutting my way through my box of fabric bits and pieces until I now have tidy piles of squares and strips in various sizes. I also have a couple of ideas now on paper as to the use of atleast half and can't wait to get started.

Our New Year celebrations were very quiet. Everyone else in the family was too tired from work to stay up with me so we all just went to bed with the idea of getting up again at 11.30 ready to watch the fireworks on TV. Except when time came we were much too comfortable in our beds listening to the wind and rain outside. We did here the roar at midnight from the tavern down the road and some neighbours cheering in the New Year so our thoughts were in it.

Now the low has moved on and left us with hot sticky storm weather. We had a storm last night, another today about noon and it's building up for another one.

Maybe I'll get a start on those scrappy quilts tomorrow.

Last One For 2007

My last post for the year, wow. When I started blogging I set myself the target of blogging once a week and I've come pretty close. I'm continually adding to my list of blogs to view and regularly stare in wonder at the beautiful works pictured.

No sewing here since before Christmas but I have been busy in the sewing room. I've set myself up with a 34cm TV in front of the ironing board and am pleased to say that all my ironing is caught up. I've also been busy ironing fabric scraps and cutting them into various size squares and strips. My containers a filling fast and I still have a way to go. Now I have all these ideas of how to use the squares and strips in small quilts but I'm trying to finish other projects before beginning new ones. Cameron helped me to hang my two narrow jungle wall hangings as well.

I've also measured a wall space for a shelving unit of some sort. My intention is to purchase a number of clear storage boxes and eventually find a home for all sorts, bits and pieces, this and that etc where they can live on the shelf in nice tidy rows. Of course this is probably going to be a long term project but I'm OK with that as long as it keeps progressing.

My picture this week is of dear ol' Santa. He was made a few years ago at craft group and I'm happy to say that he was finished in time to be hung for that Christmas. Santa is done by hand in stem stitch and the piecing and quilting is all machine. Now each year he comes out of storage and hangs about for the festive season.

I'm in need of a small wall hanging to take his place throughout the rest of the year. I'll just add that to my 'to do' list.

Wishing all a healthy and happy 08 filled with family, friends and fabric.

Merry Christmas

My side of the family had an early start to the Christmas Festivities. As our families grow we seem to become wider spread so we decided to all get together and celebrate Christmas last weekend. After breakfast it was time for exchanging gifts. A few months earlier we draw names out of the hat and buy for that person. Secret Santa style. Lunch was steak on the BBQ, boiled spuds, corn on the cob and curried prawns to name a small selection of the menu. We cracked bon bons, told jokes and wore our pper hats, followed by the period of inactivity due to full tummies. Its a lovely day when we can all get together.

I have still had time for some sewing and made this Bolster Cushion for a gift. I've had the pattern picked out since early this year so will need to start looking now for next years gift.

I am also determined to complete the top for a queen size bed quilt that started out for my bed but now I've decided it will look much nicer in my daughters room. That means I can look for a pattern for my bed now.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS with peace, health, time spent with loved ones and a joyful NEW YEAR.

Whose New in the Hen House

I while back I mentioned that one of my silky hens was sitting on eggs. I've finally been able to get a reasonable photo of the two chicks. They're loosing that fluffy look now and love to get out and pick. Mum is the same colour but was too busy chasing insects to stop for a photo.

I also have three new additions to the hen house. 'Normal' size hens this time. That makes five hens, two chicks and one rooster. And I collected five eggs this afternoon, not bad. Fingers crossed that the chicks are also hens.

Once again the rain seems to have gone around us this afternoon. I knew I should have left the washing on the line. We did have just over an inch of rain Monday night which greened the grass up a bit and was much appreciated. Keeps the garden watered for me.

Free Motion Quilting Day

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself learning to free motion quilt. Once I got the tension sorted out on my machine I was away. I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn but I was very pleased with my sample and am itching to do some more practicing, but we all know how life can get in the way.

First we cross-hatched and then we stippled. Then we could try other patterns as we wished. This is Lisa's first attempt at free motion quilting. When she ran out of room on her sample she started going back over.




I realy liked the effect of 'fire', top left sample and also enjoyed the leaves.

One more week of work and then it's holiday time. Or atleast a change of focus. Of course there's Christmas to prepare for and the housework has gotten a little behind lately. And I still have one more patchwork deadline before Christmas.

The weather is so hot at the moment. There's a promise of a storm each day but we're still waiting for it. Hubby and I spent a good part of yesterday getting the pool sorted out. We'd had a problem with worn filter hoses but it's all ship shape and ready for a cool dip.

Shopping Day

Friday 23rd November, 5 ladies from our Quilters group jumped in the car and headed off for a day of shopping in Patchwork Shops of course. As well as 5 shops, 2 shops having and second location, making a total of 7 shops visited, we also managed a coffee shop, lunch and a chemist. The sun had set a while by the time we got home but we got value for distance travelled.

I had a project in mind and managed to purchase almost enough fabrics plus a thread box. This leaves me with a new shopping list for the next time I can get away to the fabric shops again.

I didn't think to take the pattern with me, just the requirements of 4 cream/yellow fabrics and 12 other prints. When I got home and lined the fabrics up, I took out 2 from the top row, moved the 2 cream fabrics to the top row and now need two more fabrics to make up the 12.

The house fabric I just liked and the thread box I have filled already. One of the yellow fabrics from above has already been used as a backing.

Yesterday we adventured into the world of Free Motion Quilting. I had a ball and am eager to do some more practice. I have a quilt sandwiched and awaiting my new, um, skills? We'll see.

Calico Hearts

A little while ago I was asked if I would like to contribute to a quilt which will be raffled next year to raise funds for cancer research. Gladly. We were handed calico squares with the instructions of - add a heart or hearts, any colour, any technique. My mother and grandmother also joined in and here they are ready to be returned.

The three on the right are mine ~ a lazy daisy pair, blue crazy patch and blanket stitched trio. Top left is grandma's ~ chain stitching on lace. Middle and bottom left are mum's ~ chain stitching and french knots around the two, and blanket stitching for the flower pot.

I really enjoyed the handwork and plan to follow up with some hand embroidery on a christmas gift. Excellent for working on while relaxing in front of the tv at night.

Our small group of quilters have planned a shopping trip for next Friday. Can't wait!!!

Bag No. 1

I was fortunate enough that my good friend was able to take a couple of photos of my first bag as it hadn't yet been handed over to its new owner, so here they are.




As per the second bag, the first bag is also reversable.

Bag No. 2

I have just finished the second bag to be donated to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research and this time a took a photo immediately.




This first photo is right side out but I was very particular with the placement of the backing squares so that the bag is completely reversible as shown in the second photo.


I'm very pleased with the end results and think they're quite cute. They measure approx. 10" high by 11". Another bag could soon be in the making as a lovely gift for my little niece.

The sky is promising a storm this afternoon. Here's hoping it brings plenty of rain but none of the destructive winds that were about last week.

Forgetful

I've done it again. I was in such a rush to hand over the bag I forgot to take a photo of it. But I was asked if I would make another one by Christmas so I will make sure I get a photo of it if I have to tie the camera around my neck. I like to keep a photographic record of the items I make.


Here's the denim quilt I made for my daughter's single bed that I couldn't upload last week. I used a country striped fabric for the side and bottom borders with demin blocks in each corner. The top has no border. Sorry but I'm not the best photographer.





Next on my agenda is a small piece of about 2 feet square that I can sandwich and start practicing some machine quilting on. I feel the need to move on from ditch stitching and straight lines so i'll just start small at first and see if my machine can cope with it as well as myself.

Slow Week

I'm afraid this week has been very unproductive. I seem to have contracted some bug that keeps me in a constant state of feeling off colour and have little energy for anything but the basics.

Then there is the weather. The sky has been overcast and the wind has been blowing for days now but no rain to speak of. I much prefer the lovely sunshine.

I have made time to keep track of my favourite bloggers and oooh and aaah over their beautiful creations. My photo is of a single bed quilt I made for my daughter out of old denim jeans. Some pockets are within the patch of fabric and others have been stitched on later. I didn't put batting in this one as it was already quite heavy and warm. (Sorry, no photo. Blogger says unable to upload. In keeping with my week I guess. Hopefully next time.)

The bag I mentioned in my last blog is still waiting for handles which I purchased this week. Perhaps later today.

Lost Time

Wow, I didn't realize how long it was since my last blog. Time really did fly over the school holidays and I hardly touched the computer, or my sewing. Then this last week we have had storms almost every night so as soon as I'd get home from work it was get the outside jobs done and battern down. We lost power Wednesday night for a while and again on Thursday night but didn't have power back till the next morning. So again I haven't even turned the computer on for fear of blowing it up.



Luckily the storms didn't do damage like they have in other places. Just lots of wind blowing branches down and some nice rain. Today is lovely and sunny but blowing a gale. A good day for staying indoors and catching up on my favourite blogs. Then I'm off to the sewing machine to work on another bag. This one is using a specific fabric for Breast Cancer Research and will be a donation to raise funds along with other various bags made by our Patchwork group.





While I'm in bag mode, I've included a couple of photographs of my coffee cup bag. It has a draw-string top to keep my cup safe and six pockets around the outside to keep everything from coffee sachets and tea bags to biscuits for a snack. It lives in my craft basket and is always at the ready. I also made one of these for my good friend, again I forgot to take a photograph. Since blogging, my memory for taking photos is getting better.







I also have some news on my chickens. In a previous blog I had a photo of Anthony and Snow and mentioned that Ella was sitting on eggs. Well, Ella is now the proud mum of two sooty coloured little chickens. I will endeavour to take photographs but at the moment they move like lightening.