July Challenge and Early Bird mini-gifts..

A fun week finishing off some of those 'need finishing off' items, starting new projects to go in the 'for stitching' box and happy afternoons stitching with friends round cups of tea and plates of fruit cake.....  Well, it has been a bit damp so what else should one be doing??

Thursday is my usual 'shopping day' and I have discovered a cure to the tedium of grocery shopping - pick up widget to entertain me.......... tired, but happy............

In an earlier blog I was trying out Dresden plates..... I especially wanted a 12 point one for the hours of my clock..............

This is the last of my July Challenges (Home Decor in 2 colours) - part of the Early Bird Christmas Crafters....  which is being hosted by Judith at Creative Studio.    Judith always has HEAPS of ideas and inspiration......

I did finish off these Early Bird mini gifts.............

The ladybird bug is my adaption from the little Bitty Bug pincushion designed by Goody Goody.  Goody Goody has lots of lovely ideas......I have fabric to make the rest of the family!!! 

These pretty Christmas Ornament Birdie's are designed by Robyn at Daisy Quilts.  Robyn has a free pattern available but I warn you - they are a little bit addictive!! 

Now to get to the 'wish for' box .................

Hugz to you all..................

Tuesday Treasure #3

My treasure to share with you this Tuesday is a Bible......

My paternal grandfather was a minister and served during the 1st and 2nd World Wars and this is the Bible he used.  I also have his little Anglican Prayer Book.

You can see it is quite tatty - I wonder about the people who may have received some comfort during such touch times from this much used Bible.

The Bible measures 12x7cm and 2cm deep and is both the Old and New Testaments - the writing is so tiny (there are 7 lines in 1cm).  I guess this would have been so he could easily keep it in his shirt pocket - but it must've been hard to use especially at night...... 

I never knew him as he died quite a long time before I was born, so it is quite a lovely treasure to have something that was important to him, both personally in his faith but as a tool for helping others.

Clare hosts Treasure Tuesday - pop over and see what others have and join in yourself if you like...... I love all the stories and insights into people's lives.

Hugz .........................

A bit o' baking and haircuts for roses

I love weekends...........

My mum was a great cook and one of my favourite cakes was Date Loaf.......... 

Once again it is so easy to make and hard to flop!

Lovely spread with butter - never lasts long in this house. 

I'll add the recipe in the recipe tab.

I have been working on a quilt-as-you go and this week I finished off a pile of blocks....

Mid-winter and it's rose pruning time.... 

Before:-

After:-

I'm looking forward to the show in spring................

I also finished off the Natalie Lymers (Cinderberry Stitches) design I have been working on - it is a gift for a Golden Wedding Anniversary and I wanted to frame it on canvas...............

Ready to wrap...........

July Challenge

Judith at Creative Studio has a fun July challenge on at the moment using two colours for some decor ideas - there are lots and lots of beautiful finished items on her blog - go HERE for a look.........

I have been working on a couple of designs for it myself....

These pictures are inspired by my love for rainforests ........

you can see some of my special loves behind..........

THE PICTURES, THE PICTURES

(my 4 precious little grandies.....)

............... not the bottles!!!!!

I used free motion to try and get texture and design into the leaves...

This is a cushion I have been waiting to finish.... the challenge spurred me on....

My first proper project in needleturn......

I have had fun over at Little Ted Canvas remembering knitting Nancy......... I remember making place mats with her .... what have you made with a knitting Nancy?

.........and I love these gift tags .............  and for us Southern Hemispherers having cold nights - try this mulled wine to warm the soul...

Bouquet and Itsy Bitsy Pieces

Last week I told you about Jenny's 'Bouquet' BOM that I had been doing, (somewhat later than most!) - I have put all the block's together now.  I rather like the bold cherry pink in the border........

I've been doodling with some ideas for quilting.....................

I am still enjoying reading other people's blogs and learning lots more about quilting and crafting ....... for instance I'd never heard about Crumb blocks until I read it in Loft Creations who saw a tutorial HERE.  

I wonder what you do with all your little spare bits? 

We all have them .....

I'd love to hear what you do......

I've been collecting mine in an old pillow case....

any little itsy bitsy pieces went in..... even trimmed off threads.........

once the pillow case is good and plump the end is stitched up....................

and off it goes to a new home.......

she likes it............ (if you look carefully the tail is out of focus as she was wagging so much!)

and up goes another pillowcase on the cupboard door handle...............

Tuesday Treasure #3

This weeks little treasure of mine is something I remember playing with as a little child at my grandmothers place - she always kept it on a low table so I could reach the little pieces.  The little man is not part of the original set but somehow he fitted into the setting and has stayed there ever since.

As far as I remember the pieces all 'lived' on the dinky little silver tray - the tray itself is about 8" long in total and the little square table is about 1" square.....

Many happy memories are evoked with this little treasure and I look forward to my granddaughter having hours of fun with it too!

Have a pop along to Clare's Craftroom and see what other treasures there are and maybe share one of your own........  

Jazz 'n Jumpers

Every July a nearby town hosts a Jumpers & Jazz festival. 

Trees on the street are given a make over and some protection from the cold!

The theme this year was Pychedelic. 

Such a lot of amazing creativity and talent.

There were so many to see and some other lovely things I will show another day.

I hope you enjoy these snaps .....

http://www.jumpersandjazz.com/