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Sunday, September 29, 2013

... the end.....

... of this Stitch A Long hosted by Chookyblue....

This is a needlebook from Anni Downs Some Kind of Wonderful...

I chose not to piece the fabric for the front and used some sewing themed fabric instead ....... 


the stitching is done in Cottage Garden Thread "Cranberry" .... 


... some felted blanke wool for the needle patch....


... I was delighted to find a button which matched the fabric to perfection....
I just did a little plaited rope to wind round the button ....



.... thanks Chookyblue and all the encouragers on that blog.....actually it's good timing to end this so I can get on with sorting out my gift for Chookyblue's SSCS .......

Righto, Gotta Go..... I've got behind on my list - I need to speed up .....




Friday, September 27, 2013

Allsorts....

... sadly not the licorice kind of allsorts... I do loooooovvvveee them....

Between one thing another the week has not been the best ... although some wonderful things have been going on...

I went to the lovely quilt displays (didn't take pictures) but I did make a purchase....


... and fitted some on the bottom on my favourite rulers... really has made a difference to the non slip when cutting .....



 ............ and then we went on to the tea display ........

it is all so pretty


.... it happened to be lunch time so we had tea and scones with jam and cream whilst admiring the aprons and tea towels


This week is bookclub week and I chose to 'listen' to my book
"Schindlers Ark"
so confronting and sad as well as so inspiring regarding the resilience and determination of people in the face of extraordinary cruelty and hardship

I had to borrow a tape recorder for this - haven't used tapes for years


and whilst I listened I finished off this magnificent shop sample for Quilters Angel ....
... fits a queen size bed with a decent hangover.  It has lots of piecing and some applique and using large fussy cut blocks ....


... this is some close up detail of the quilt...

the fabrics are such a lovely quality and it really made a difference to working with it for the piecing.......


..... then I watched the movie Schindlers List (based on the book) whilst sewing some frosty snowman in between tears....


the thread I am using is not as refined as embroidery thread and so I have been running it through beeswax... definitely helped avoid knotting and made it sew much easier

...  I was given a lovely thank you gift .....


.... this old cutley box has been painted and lined with old music sheets ....


I've been looking for one of these for some time... 

Righto... Gotto Go... I have plans for my new box....

Monday, September 23, 2013

GARDENS 2013 - picture overload

Hubz and I went to 3 different parks and gardens for our Sunday stroll.....

loads of pictures so I won't say too much... but hope you can get a picture of just how glorious it is...

snowball tree... I have never seen this before....


... the flowers look like hydrangeas...


... rhododendrons... and a beetle?


... just loads of roses.... (Bev you would have loved them...)


... the colour hasn't come right but this one was such an unusual colour....


... maple grove was fun too (thought of you Jennifer)


... and fairies under the cherry trees 

(I used my little bag from you Jane... perfect for the walks)


... what a lovely corner in the garden... all set for tea...


... and little surprises here and there....


Laurel Bank Park (where we went Michelle) was a riot of colour....


... I think beds of poppies are perhaps my favourite happy sight....


... so clever....


panoramic view ....

... looking from above... an Egyptian theme... all done in pansies


.... just thousands of pansies ....


... and giant spiders... 


... and pretty decorative cabbages ...
(one woman dared to invite Hubz for a nibble!!!!)


... then off to Queens Park for more colour...

.... different colours, heights and textures....


...  people bring their picnics and sit and enjoy the surroundings...


...so clever....


... such colour....


.... beds and beds of colour....


... these were quite subdued, but unusual petunias...


... an overview of Queens Park...
(taken from a rather wobbly viewing platform at a height I don't really like!)



.. ended the day with a wonderful meal at a Thai restaurant
(Chicken Penang.. and it was amazing)


.... just one more....



Righto, Gotto Go...  

Sunday, September 22, 2013

I did sew on FNSI......

... just not very much...

... a few loops of my Scandanavian Rose block (Rosalie Quinlan) whilst notwatching footy with Hubz


... I was very tired you see after helping with the quilt show preparations...

This is during the construction of the stands... I thought the black cloth looked a bit like bats swinging on the poles..... (I know... a vivid imagination!!!)


My most favourite quilt there has to be this one and I chatted to the owner to ask if I could take pictures and share about it on my blog.....

... all hand stitched quilting as a whole cloth....


... I will let her tell you the story herself....


... and some close up of the stitching... so neat and little stitches


I love that the quilt was protecting the mattress from the metal springs of the base!!! There are a few stains on the quilt but otherwise just perfect.

HERE is a bit of history about Durham Quilts

I love quilts with stories..... and I even got to touch this one.... a lovely chintz type fabric

Righto, Gotto Go.... Sunday is here