Flimsy done.....

Yippee, I have put my embroidered teacups and pots into a top... it will be a table topper once it is all together.  

I have some more of the green that I put borders around the blocks which will be used for the binding...

Personally I feel the bold blocks take away from the dainty embroideries.... but I can live with that...

Anyway... I am now back to 13 unquilted flimsies in my cupboard as this one goes to join them ....

To celebrate I have started a new project.... circles.  I loved watching Sue do hers and then Michelle started one and I really didn't want to be left out! (I've picked out posts where they have shown theirs - just click on their names)  I have 3 batik charm packs collected over the years and I bought some prints that I like which contrast nicely

On our walky this week I noticed what looked like an unusual flower or leaves coming from the side of the bark.... 

... lots of little wiggly bugs with clever camouflage....

I didn't want to pick them up for a closer look ...

I am still struggling to do much quilting at a time in the heat.  I like using gloves as they give a good grip and therefore puts less pressure on my shoulders.  On projects that aren't too big a drop of Glycerine works well... just a drop rubbed in and allowed to dry and you can feel that bit of sticky....

Righto, Gotto Go.... I'm going to needing to use the gloves today

Project Bag

When one starts a new project one needs a bag to put the project stuff in.....

That's how it works isn't it???

This bag is made from Marilyn's pattern, however I used a different stitchery as this was one that was just the right size and I had it already ....

The case is a good size to fit in blocks, threads, the pattern book and everything I need to take on my sew days...

There are pockets inside the lid but you can't see them well with this fabric...

I was finding it hard to trace and read when the book opens like this... so often the pages just close on me....

I went off to Officeworks and they slice off the edge and add on this kind of binding....

... now it lies perfectly flat and much easier...

... only a little bit is sliced off....

I got 2 books done for $8.60 so I will be doing more.... Just thought you might like to know in case you have some to do....

This is where I am up to with the Dutch Treat blocks..... so far I am loving it and finding it hard to put down and do other things...

Righto, Gotto Go..... heaps to do

FNSI and first day of retreat...

On Friday morning I went off to retreat which is a gathering of the girls who go to the Friday Nights sewing at The Quilters Angel.... I have only been twice and I just love it.  There is accommodation at the venue but it is only 15 minutes away from where I live so I do come home at night.

Before I left an envelope was delivered to me.....

look what dear Anthea sent to me for Christmas in July.... a lovely personalised ornament

... now this is only 2 3/4" square so those stitches are minute... Hubz said "she must get sore eyes stitching that".  I have to say I was a bit tearful as I have never just received a Christmas in July ornament just because someone was thinking of me... thank you so much Anthea... very special and I'm looking forward to this ornament decorating my tree at Christmas in December....

This is one of the projects I got prepared for retreat... I made the quilt top some time ago and chose some border fabric on Thursday to finish it off....

...but firstly one of the girls taught us to make these lovely little bowls.. can be a thread catcher, or a thread holder, or a chocolate keeper....

very cute and I can see more being made...

It was FNSI hosted by Wonderful Wendy  in the evening so I sat dutifully by Hubz watching footy/cricket/whatever else was being watched and finished off this block for In My Garden...

I neglected to say that we had some lovely visitors up the range recdntly .. Raelene was over from New Zealand and Michelle collected her and came up the range... we met up with Kris for lunch and generally had a lovely day looking at shops... there may have been a few purchases made ....

... just a quick tip I saw and thus organised some of my machine needle boxes which seem to scatter in a drawer.... put them in a case ...

.. it's an old CD case... just the perfect size...

Righto, Gotto Go.... I want to see what else was done on Friday night....

Thanks for having us over on Friday night Wendy... it was such fun (even with footy/cricket/whatever)

Saving in the Laundry.....

I've been pinning this quilt... delicious fabrics in a simple design

.. then I needed a stretch so I went to replenish supplies ....

Another of my savings is with Laundry Powder....

Yea, I know.... better things to do with your time....

There is such a range of detergents available.. the cheapest I saw was about $4/kg (homebrand).  Based on 1/4cup needed per wash that's probably 15 washes...... or 26c a wash.....

Assuming one wash a day using the cheapest brand it's about $94.90 a year on laundry powder....

I spend $12 a year and it takes me 5 minutes to get it together

This is my recipe:

2 bars laundry soap (homebrand) 

1 x 500g bag of baking soda (homebrand)

(you can use Borax instead of baking soda but if you use grey water, which I do, it is not advised)

500g (or half a bag) washing soda (Lectric is found in woolies)

(If out of Australia I don't know any equivalents... sorry)

Grate up your laundry soap..... this is what takes up the time .... about 3 minutes per bar!!

Mix them all together....

I find the 1kg yoghurt container is perfect ..... this is over 6 months supply for me

Use 2 level teaspoons per wash (in most detergents there is a lot of extra salts... they don't do anything but add bulk because we seem to think a big cup of detergent means a better wash...)

I have a fun spoon which holds the 2 teaspoons nicely....

That's it....

of course if you do more washing you make more savings

P.S. I do use a tablespoon of the Di-san (Aldi's napisan equivalent) in my white wash... adds a bit of extra cost and also I do need help with hard stains (but I think we all do whatever detergent we use)

.. and then I made a big mess with cutting blocks and applique preparations....

Righto, Gotto Go... I've just saved $100 ... shall I use it on fabric?

Wendy is hosting

this Friday... sign ups are HERE.... hope you can join us.... Wendy has made chocolate pudding.  I've got a load of handwork I want done....

Fixing......

In my attempt to reduce my grocery bill and also do more environmentally friendly cleaning (but without too much extra work!) I am trying out a few alternative cleaning methods....

This week I just sighed at my shower door... why do they make clear glass ones?  they only look nice when they are new ....

Here are the comparison pictures... there is an improvement.... and it wasn't hard work either and inexpensive 

The etching marks aren't completely gone but they are a whole lot better....

Shannon Lush is the clean queen in Australia and her recommendation for the 'etching' that happens to the glass due to the suds and salts is....

~ spray with vinegar and wipe clean

~ using a rolled up pair of pantihose wipe over with small amount of sweet almond oil

(I found this at a chemist ... $9 for 100ml and it will last forever as I hardly used any)

this picture shows when I started wiping with the oil... you can see the marks where it has helped...

This remove etching  treatment will need to be done regularly (like once a month which is not bad) as the almond oil does wear off.... 

Has anyone else tried this... how did it work for you.. any improvement ideas?

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Now to something much more pleasant and happy making....

I finished off the edging of my framed hexagons and put them together.....

... and sighed....

... you can clearly see where I went wrong???..

... so I left it and went to talk to my sewing machine.... as she was being friendly to me...

sewing on the binding... I saw this tip somewhere.... I have a lever lift for my machine foot but you can use the leg under the machine.... It did help not to get those miles of binding in a big rolled up knot...

... last night I fixed the hexagons table topper.....

These are lovely little stitchery designs by Michelle.... I love them... and I love the happy Christmas fabric I used to frame them (Nancy Holverson I believe!)

I traced an extra heart by mistake and Michelle sent me an extra picture on purpose so I have two matching coasters to go with the topper.... 

.. they are perfect to hold the Christmas bottles glasses of beer and wine

Thank you so much Michelle... these have been such fun

Righto, Gotto Go.....  no cleaning today.... I'm going to sew....

Keep Calm and Carry On Quilting......

I have a new blogger to introduce you to....

..... meet Joy ......  I hope you can pop over and say Hi and welcome to the world of blogging....

.... now I know I am a bit star struck with Joy .... you see I just love her quilting and she has taught me loads in the two workshops I have attended.... she is my quiling heroine after all!!

.... although quilting is Joys forte' she also does beautiful stitching.... I am sure you will find lots of inspiration.....   when you look at her work remember it is not computerised... 

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Righto... so now on to what I have been doing.....

I have started another Scandanavian Rose stitchery... this one I wanted to have a bit of the shabby chic look so I am using Cottage Garden lavender..... I think it is so pretty....

... and here is the quilting I have done... the borders.... about 7 hours of work there... I did the curves and straight lines using my new rulers.... and the feathers in the curves were free-hand....  I am learning on the way....

the inside curves (on the green fabric)  were a challenge because I had to fit the whole quilt inside the machine arm - and get out the ironing board on my right hand side to hold the weight.... but it worked...

lots of straight line ruler work does take a long time... but I wanted that bit of formality so it was worth it.... by using the rulers I don't need to do much marking...

.... probably wouldn't do so much intricate work on such busy fabric... you don't really notice the quilting... but as this was a learning experience that's okay....  practice on busy fabric with a thread that doesn't stand out.... mistakes don't show ....

.... now I want to do the lines on the other side and circles in between the curve lines and then work on some of the inside blocks .....

..... I have heard it said to work from the centre of a quilt out..... but as Joy taught me if the blocks have all been stitch in the ditched it's not going to move anywhere ... much easier to do the parts you want first with no pins in the way....

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Hubz had some office stuff to do yesterday so I had a bit of a look around....

found this fold up table ...

.... the legs extend so it becomes a great height for cutting...  (or be short for a great working table for grandies to sit at!)

....  it is a bit wobbly so will need to lean against a wall when doing the cutting ....

Hubz has already tried to hijack it for his beer!  hmmmm... it may just become a multi-purpose table!

... folds away to easily fit under the bed.... great if you are short on space ...

... also found another pair of gloves to try... these are quite snug ... so far I like them....  As I like my hands flat when I am quilting full gloves with the whole base rubberised seem to give me the most control....

 ..... maybe not terribly exciting shopping but they are both things I will get a lot of use out of in the sewing room ... and relatively inexpensively.. 

Do you use 'everyday' non sewing objects to help your sewing?  I'd love to know what....

Righto, back to the quilting today.... it's a beaut of an Autumn day and I will be in the garden later.....