An empty box....

I have had this box of half done projects sitting in my sewing room for ages..... this week I determined to empty it....

First up was this mug rug which needed binding ….. sweet pictures on fabric which I couldn't think what to do with them.  

 Originally it was to be a zippy pouch but I realised I would spoil the picture by putting the zip over the top

Then  I did the binding on these two coasters.... perfect for the table next to the chair where I sew in the evenings.

… and finally I did make some zippy pouches with the last 3 vintage sewing machine pictures I had 

Great to have that box out the room now and some quick finishes done..... all these were made using up fabrics from my stash which is even better!

On the hand work side I have got behind in a project Thursday sewing group has been doing so I decided to do homework and do these bullion roses which I have been procrastinating about...

I'm not sure I really enjoy doing them!

I didn't make soup this week but I did prepare a bunch of toasties (my standard weekend lunch food)

A whole loaf of bread is made up and prepared then I put pieces of baking paper in between  so the butter doesn't stick (yes I like butter - it tastes nice)

Then I freeze them and quick and easy take out and toast. 

Righto, Gotto Go..... I'm going to tackle hundreds of French knots next.....

Hope your weekend is going splendidly.....

This week.....

Lots of talk this week about it being 50 years since man landed on the moon.....  who can forget those words 

"The eagle has landed" 

and

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"

I remembered we have a scrap book with some bits of newspaper from years ago....

I was 10 years old and at boarding school in a little village called Melsetter (now Chimanimani)

Do you remember where you were?

It's quite fun looking at other articles and advertisements in the papers too.

This week I promised myself a bit of time each morning doing some piecing so I got the sashing and borders done for Flowerville....

It looks pretty hanging on the board next to Wings..... 

… but I have folded it away with the binding.... ready for my quilter to get to it in due course....

This week I made cauliflower and bacon soup (thanks Jennifer for the heads up on this one)….. just totally deeeeelicious.  I made a big pot so there is several more meals in the freezer for those don't feel like cooking days (which happen a bit too frequently!)

This week I finished up the next four postcard stitcheries.... they were supposed to be done in June but that time disappeared too fast for me.... 

The design board now has the postcards spread out (there is still plenty more to do) so that I can do a bit of chopping of fabric and try and piece those for my morning piecing treat.

The deciding what colour goes where and cutting the pieces seems to take me ages....

Righto, Gotto Go.... I need to iron out the pieces of flannel first....

Have a lovely weekend.....

A lovely finish....

I'm very pleased with this crochet blanket....

I bought the kit in the UK three years ago.  It is called Hydrangea and the pattern is designed by Attic24.   

Lovely easy repeat and has made it a lovely weight and texture.... 

It has now gone to live with local DD …. 

A fair amount of left over yarn which will keep for a scrappy blanket one day....

My white (which is not white) African Violet has opened.  It's very pretty with the violet and white edges and yellow centres….

I think that is all the colours I have now.... 

Righto, Gotto Go.... I have some gorgeous quilts visiting me for a bit of quilting attention....

Have a lovely week.....xx

Newness.....

New to me is a flower....

Another of my African Violets grown from leaves has burst it's first flower....

The pinks are fairly close but are a bit different....

It's looking quite a pretty corner now - gets the morning winter sun....

The next one will be white... there are some nice fat buds coming along....

I am the caretaker of these plants… pretty impressed as usually I torture houseplants to a slow death....

New to me is this latest finish......

My sewing machine has it's new home!  The front has this machine stitchery

.. and the back is this lovely sewing machine fabric....

… it looks quite at home....

(and no, my sewing space is not usually this tidy)

.. and a new to me meal.....

This weeks soup is lentil and vegetable.... (thanks to Janice for sharing the recipe)

a bit of curry powder in it and it warmed us up perfectly... as well as filled the belly

Righto, Gotto Go....  Friday is here to enjoy

Have a lovely weekend.....x

Some quilting work.....

My final Flowerville block is complete now....

Here are all the blocks together... they do need to be trimmed down before adding the sashing...

I did finish this quilt last month but wanted to give it's to the new owners grandma first...

The whole quilt is a panel which I quilted around the shapes....

This is a nice way of learning free motion quilting if you wanted to give it a try..... follow the lines and in big spaces do something to fill a bit (like the elephant tummy)

It's quite fun from the back and the little man can learn the animal shapes when he is a bit older...

Nana Jenny is very happy and will be sending the quilt off to S Australia...

I continue with my crochet blanket.... its a good lap size now so it keeps my legs warm whilst I work on it....  still to do about 12 more colour rows then loop away all those join bits before doing a border 

I have been wanting some seating for our fernery.... local DD organised with my other children to get us this set for our anniversary..... 

as you can see it is just perfect... good and solid and looks like patchwork!

I'm looking forward to days when I can sit and have a cuppa out there....

Righto, Gotto Go... time for sleeping..... 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Done and dusted....

Thanks for the well wishes.... surgery went off fine and I got back home the same day (which is what I specially wanted).

I had my gall bladder removed as I had been having terrible pains with stones rockin' and rollin' inside of me...

It's a common operation I know, I have been lucky with good health - it was my first need for hospital in Australia and we have been here since 2002.

Luckily I managed ChooseDay sewing before...

I made up these two blocks for Les Courtiers.... (9" blocks)

and then lots of stitching, slicing, stitching and sizing up for these pinwheels.....  there are a bunch of loose ones too... (3" blocks)

For a long time I have been wanting to make a sewing machine cover so finally made a start.  The Quilters Angel have some of this gorgeous machine fabric in and a pattern which can be adapted to the size of the machine.... 

I have had that stitchery done for years so am using it as a focal point....  still lots to do on that project ...

Anyway, back at home and having to take it fairly quietly ....  I did get on and do a fair bit of the crochet blanket.... such a lovely thing to do not requiring too much thought …. 

… and I did work on making the heel for my socks when I needed a bit of time not thinking about my tummy.... 

Righto, Gotto Go... think I'll have my little walk around before some more crochet....