Thimbles ......

I have a nice little pile of fusion blocks growing... these still need to be turned out and edged...

I like to use a thimble when hand sewing .... in fact it has become such a habit now I 'think' I can't sew without one.... of course I have my favourite....

I kept it from my Mum's sewing things ... and this one gets used all the time ....

Then I found my finger under the fabric was also getting 'pricked' a bit too often and I don't really go for the blood on the stitchery look...

I used some of those plastic oval shapes... they work but didn't fit well on the curve of the finger... and I like those little leather circle patches but they get unsticky and have to be thrown out (I think I grease up too much because I couldn't use them over and over again like the label says!!)

I found some too tight lovely soft leather gloves in an Op Shop last week for $5 .....

felt sacriligeous but I chopped a finger off....

it is perfect for my 'under' finger... no more finger pricks .... and I have spares... I expect the leather will stretch a little with use and I may need to work out a little 'belt' for it..... any ideas??

I did see this pattern for making a thimble....  but I think a glove finger is easier... 

This is a sweet bone china thimble which was given to me by my Sister in Law from England  .... 

and most recently Linda sent me this one from France ....

... and I won these collectable ones of the Ned Kelly Gang.... they are apparently exact replica's with the 'bullet holes' and nail studs in the actual places..... I have turned Neds around to show the name...

So today the humble thimble is my treasure so I am linking up with Melody's Tuesday Treasures

Do you Thimble or not?  I'd love to see yours - or whatever your treasure is today .....

Righto Gotto Go...  I have got things to do... this little treasure is coming to visit a few days

The family are moving from Melbourne to Cairns and we are the half way stop
2 days to get here and 2 days to go

This is grandieboy Jack - I am so excited to cuddle him

- and I know you will understand me being quiet in blogland

Treasure Tuesday ...

I am linking up with Melody's Tuesday Treasure this week.....

first up I have a very sweet neighbour who dropped by the other day with a little gift...

with instructions to read the poem... not to open the gift!!!

I'm your little prayer rock and this is what I'll do .....

Just put me on your pillow until the day is through

then turn back all the covers and climb into your bed

WHACK!

your little prayer rock will hit you in the head.

Then you will remember as the day is through

to kneel and say your prayers

and then when you are finished just dump me on the floor

I'll stay throughout the night to give you help once more.

When you get up in the morning

CLUNK!

I'll stub your tow so you'll remember to say your morning prayers before you go.

Put me back upon your pillow once your bed is made

and your clever little prayer rock will continue in your aid.

Because your heavenly Father cares and loves you so

He wants you to remember to talk to Him, you know?

Author unknown

Isn't it fun..... I asked her if there was a hidden message in her gift.... she just giggled!

My other treasure is being amazed at how many good and loving people there are in this world...

I saw this post on Sharon's blog ... so I popped over to visit Stacey .... and read what a wonderful job she is doing for a sick little man.... she is also coordinating meals for the family...

It was an honour to be able to make a small contribution... it gives me such a lift to hear of people who make a difference in the lives of others....  wonderful...

Our mornings are cool but sunny at the moment..... for a couple of hours the early morning sun shines into the sewing area of my 'rumpus room'....

and of course a bit of humour is always a treasure.....

nobody could find the mistake on my mini quilt

(I'm glad it is not too noticeable) 

when I was sewing the little strips together one of the pieces folded back on itself....

I've slipped the scissor blade in to show it

that last square is not fabric.... just iron on vilene

..... it will be a talking point ......

I wonder if you would have unpicked and fixed a 1/2" square?

Righto, Gotto Go..... I have a day to enjoy....

Power Tools....

I'm linking up to Melody's Tuesday Treasure ...

This is a central bed in the backyard......

..... you can see it has become a bit of a jungle....

Hubz used a 4 wheel drive to remove bushes....

I got out the power tools for some chopping of the smaller stuff...

(My family get nervous at this stage... I have been known to cut through power cords!)

there was a really persistent plant that amused us...

 Hubz did most of the work and this is the comparison at the end of the weekend...

just a bit more tidying up and then we can let it grass over....

Job done.. (oh and we found 3 missing balls - dog is happy)

I get a bit too tired so I needed some soothing therapy....

and for the handsewing in the evenings a bit of this ....

  and this ....

without the mechnical power of tools (and vehicles) it would have taken a lot longer

so they really were a treasure this weekend

Do you powertool??? 

Righto, Gotto Go.... things to sew ....

Tuesday Treasure

I have sort of shown you this treasure before....

My Temporary Design Wall

and I used to hang it up on the cupboard doors.... but it has been modified by my tall and handsome treasure and now I think it is deserving of a place in my Tuesday Treasures 

So we have an ordinary cupboard set in the wall..... (my office/sewing room is a small bedroom)

These are the large hooks we brought and put them at the top of the cupboard... they are the temporary stick ones so if you can't use nails these are perfect......  they need to be big enough to hold whatever dowling you use...

 on my $2 cheap fuzzy lined plastic tablecloth I made a small envelope hem for the dowel to fit through...

so the hooks need to be far enough apart to accommodate the width of the tablecloth.....

hang it up and there is your design wall..... I just hand press (gently) the pieces on... when it is large heavier pieces I may need pins but I have had a whole (lap) quilt on there no problem.... you are only restricted by the size of your wall......

I roll it up and keep it in a corner when I am finished.... I didn't consider the bulk when it is rolled up but if you  want you can have more sticky out hooks and it could stay up there rolled up like a roman blind....

This is a very cheap DIY temporary design wall.... 

~ I like cheap because it means I can buy more fabric

~ I like DIY because it means I can give tall and handsome instructions 

~I like temporary because I usually need to get something out that cupboard and I don't have a spare wall

It really has made sorting blocks and thinking about them a lot easier

Tuesday Treasures  is hosted by the gorgeous Melody.... speaking of whom.... have a look what she sent me the other day

a lavender bag with this amazing felt flower on top..... - with some pretty charm squares

 I just love, love, love it..... thanks Melody....

Righto Gotta Go... BOM's to sew

Too far away .....

Sunday was the 2nd birthday of my first granddaughter Chloe

I was so lucky to go to UK when she was born

(her mother is my eldest daughter)

here she is all snuggled up for the snow we had when I was there

this is one of my favourite pictures... she was caught attempting a break out!!

this is a recent picture of Chloe and her two brothers

very special.... too far away......

Happy Birthday preciousness

Chloe is my link up for Melody's Tuesday Treasure

Tuesday Treasure....

Today was my turn......

Our local clinic is just wonderful... they make sure we have easy parking, they are so friendly, so quick and as gentle as possible.... 

I do hope you go for your regular check ups....  

We have had very humid muggy weather here... almost hard to breathe sometimes and my fingers have swelled more than usual....

Sweet Melody encourages us to find things that we Treasure on Tuesdays

these are my treasures I am sharing with you today..... 

my wedding ring (which has never come off since the day I got married)  and my mothers eternity ring, which she literally wore from when her first son was born (he is 57) until she passed away and since then I have worn it..... 

It used to have little hearts engraved on the white gold but that has worn down and so has the yellow gold bands on the side..

A little while ago the eternity ring slipped over my wedding ring and I just couldn't separate it.... 

It took the jeweller 45 minutes to cut them both off.... they kept slipping and it was so tight over my finger he had difficulty getting his clever little gadget in.... it was a bit sore at times too 

My finger is a bit misshapen

I really don't like not having my ring on

My wedding ring needs to be sized 6 times more.... and they can bring the eternity ring to look like new with reingraving and more gold but I have just asked for them to be fixed to wear again... 

I like it as it is... it is worn down because it has been so very loved...

After being squished and squashed and bent and twisted.....  I went to get the borders for my Sunshine Melody quilt....

I originally got the floral for the border and the tartany looking one for the binding... but I rather favour the tartany fabric for the border... I'll sleep on it....

I think I'll have a nice long cold Gin &Tonic tonight

...... and chocolate ......

Tuesday Treasure

Time does fly when you are having fun..... Tuesday again

Thanks to Melody who prompts me to look and remember those things that I enjoy

I found this trio of rather cute treasures in an op shop some time ago....

I put them with a tape measure so you can see they are really quite dinky...

the sewing machine handle turns .....

the cash register handle also turns and the drawer opens....

the spinning wheel also has movement on the handle 

they are all working pencil sharpeners

cheap little gimick items made in China.... no value but very cute huh?

I have finished my block from Shells BOM at Raspberry Rabbits...

"The Adventures of Harrington and Hannah"

and also the one from Melody's BOM at The House on the Side of the Hill

"Home Sweet Home"

Last week I received this lovely little treasure in the post from Wendy at Sugarlane Quilts

It is an iron on transfer for that cute stitchery in the picture

but I love the little box envelope it came in too!!

Thanks Wendy.... I do love stitcheries so this is going to be well enjoyed

and I do hope you are feeling less achey

Forecast is for lots of rain today.... I'm playing with this.