First week of August

Hello, how is everyone... we had such a cold cold weekend ....  friends to stay and outings, wood fire, food, wine and plenty of laughs.

I have done a few blocks of the Scrappy Trip around the World.  I have been trying to keep the strongest colour (of 6) central to make a sort of pattern..... these 4 blocks are not sewn together but just an indication of how they could come together.

This Moda Love quilt top is together (free pattern HERE) - its very bright.  

We have a couple of aloes growing in the garden and they are looking splendid at the moment....

this one is harder to photograph but lovely red candlesticks!  After they have finished flowering we will see how much we can divide them up then add more to the garden.

Joy finished the sweet Christmas in July design and I made mine up into a little mug rug ....  thanks Joy for a little bit of mid year fun....

This weeks hand work is this applique on my Floral Fun wallhanging.  I am doing mine in needleturn and am happy with how it is looking.  Still quite a lot more applique to do so Caswell is going to be neglected for a while....

Otherwise, a bit of crochet, a bit of knitting, etc ... Makes a huge difference having some just gorgeous days where sitting on the veranda is a pleasure....

Righto, Gotto Go.... I am working on Jacks fishing quilt ..... I have to admit I'd much rather work to a pattern than make it up as I go.....  I haven't found a backing I like to I have ordered a flannelette doona cover to improvise....  

Take care, have a lovely weekend.....xx

End of July

Jumpers in July did not disappoint...

The trees were decorated.....

This one was for a pest control company... it made me smile!

We had lunch at the garden centre and the fluffy chickens were in their colours....

The Yarntopians had set up An Enchanted Forest... and it was enchanting to say the least

Some birds in a nest with eggs...

a wall on the side of the forest... the mushroom picture was crocheted ...

lovely little scene with bluebells and fairies, 

The tree was done so well...

Tiny mushrooms in a corner (sorry for the blurry picture)

lots of lovely wisteria

There was so much to look at...

One of the churches was open .... the alter cloth was beautiful...

outside they had flowers all up the tower....

Artist on display had these dangles...

every one completely different.... so imaginative

another artist had these giant snowflakes made from medicine bottles...

.. back to the trees.... of course I wore my jacket!  This one had a special place for people to stand and have their photo.... (apparently Susan made some of the flowers!)

Even the magpies in the window display were dressed up for the occasion...

This tree was full of hearts...

I popped into Shelleys as I have had a special request for a fly fishing themed quilt.... I knew she has a good assortment of novelty fabrics and I came away with these.... I have ordered a few more online so will have to get to work soon....

The second pair of mittens have been made and these are prepped up ready for posting... there may be some chocolate and $ inside them!

I was way behind in my blackwork SAL so I focussed on this .. the vines are all done now and it was a thrill that they met as they should ..... and I have mostly caught up on the flowers - by the end of 2 days I was making too many mistakes so it got put away!

A few more Sashiko blocks were done at Embroidery group....

... and yesterday at Quilt group I finished off another Caswell block....

It's always great to have some progress made on various projects .... and have an outing with a yummy meal.

Righto, Gotto Go..... I am planning to put together a Moda Love quilt top.... I've had the bits ready for ages....

Have a lovely rest of the week.....xx

4th week of July

Last week I showed our new table cover.....  it is the cats new favourite spot... this is later in the afternoon - enjoying the warmth .....

At Garment sewing April made up a pattern for me from a favourite blouse.... I didn't get the neck quite right but know how to do a better one.  I used a piece of vintage cotton I had been given.  It's a bit see through so I will need to get a cami.  Simple pattern so I will make another.  I am considering dying it another colour - I'm no good at keeping white white!

Something I have wanted to make for ages is a Newsboy cap.....  I will use this old jacket which has already lost  a sleeve!

I'm not a hat person and Hubz won't like it (though I think it will be perfect for a golfer!) but I want to make one

That will be my August sewing day - it will be fiddly.  

My first pair of Mittens is done.... one is a little bigger than the other!

... but much better than my first attempt where I read cm instead of inches!

Some of the left over bed cover quilt has been made into tray mats.

We eat our meal at night on a tray in front of the TV.

I still have a big piece left.... perhaps a tote bag next.

Some more scrappy stars have been made.... 

I do like how these come together.... the cream rectangles for the star points are used up now so need to put that aside for a while....  I  have other Scrappy plans .....

Because there are 5 Tuesdays this month, club will be having a 'destash' day where members can bring in anything they want to destash... there are often some great bargains - of course I'll take my purse and look for some cream scrappy pieces....

Righto, Gotto Go.... Hubz and I are off to Jumpers and Jazz today...... will be fun - have a lovely weekend xx

Third week of July .....

This week I managed to finish off another Caswell block.... 

... and hand sewing has meant a few more Sashiko blocks have been done.... up to 138/365 now...

I have cut up lots of 16" x 2 1/2" strips for Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks....

When we immigrated in 2002 I brought a small amount of special pieces which included some furniture and art (about 3.3 cubic metres - not very much but I wanted to hold on to sentimental things).  Anyway to protect some of the pieces I wrapped them in soft furnishings.  I had only recently had a new bed cover made and it was perfect for protection.  It has not been used in all this time but I have kept it as I just love the fabric!!!

We finally bought ourselves a table to sit at in our veranda, the top is tempered glass and I hate the sound of putting a plate or cup on it.... so out came the bed cover, chop chop chop .....

It was loosely quilted and I kept it that way.  A wide binding which I removed and added it around the circle and edges so I could loop cord through and tie it under the table.....

I'm happy with how it looks... and the cat is happier with a comfortable place to enjoy the sun in the mornings!

There is still a fair bit of it left and I have cut out a few tray mats to make up and maybe do a tote bag.... not sure what else....

Joy is hosting a Christmas in July themed stitchalong and I joined in.... I always like Joys pictures and they never take too long to stitch....

Any guesses what this will be?????? I have no idea... top of an ice cream cone?

Quilt group had Christmas In July - a very good lunch was had and most tables decorated.  There are a few girls at my table who like to go all out.... My participation was taking some Christmas themed Sashiko to sew....   the contrast is better in real life.

Yesterday I downloaded the next installment of Joys stitchery and added it last evening...  I am using the remains of a Valdani thread which has variegated red and green.

Righto, Gotto Go.... had lots on this week and I'm looking forward to putting my feet up tonight and work on the next Caswell block ...

Hope you have a lovely weekend xx .