4th week in October

As usual I have had a week with a number of different distractions in the sewing room!

A couple of sewing friends had birthdays so I made them each a project bag 

one in blue French General .....

and the other in red Australiana

... the backs are plain and there was vinyl on the front which I find so handy to see what is in there....

I hope they find them as useful as I do.....

A few more Sashiko blocks were done...... 

... and my knitted scarf is finished now..... I loved working with that Merino yarn.  I have a half done cardigan so I will go back to that now this one is completed....

I managed to go to the final garment making class of the year... I have only managed a couple this year so I'm glad I got to go...

I had done most of the cutting out and worked on this new dress style.  I finished it off at home the next day....

My favourite quilt shop The Quilters Angel is now doing a few of their own patterns and this is their "Angel Dress" .  I didn't find it difficult at all so will make another.  I also made the skirt less full and shorter sleeves - feeling more confident in making smaller alterations.

This Ginger Jar was stitched.....

Then I had a clean up of a box of vintage table cloths I have had for many years.... chop chop and now I have a lifetime supply of kitchen drying cloths!  I gave a bunch to local daughter.

It seems a wierd use of time but I find that vintage linen so lovely and absorbent and tough.... I also make my own washing up cloths from old towels (I have a lifetime supply of those too!!)... so much better than the commercial ones.

I'm not altogether sure what my thinking was in buying the vintage tablecloths in the first place!

This is the second Ginger Jar I got done this week.....

I am using Tilda's free pattern for this one

We finally got lovely rain..... well the first lot was very heavy and our gutters couldn't cope and water backed up into the veranda ceiling and down the window in my sewing room.  Not flooded but certainly good and wet carpeting.....  Nothing damaged except the old carpet which I'm not worried about at this stage but we are still drying out.  Since Wednesday afternoon we have had about 150mls and our tanks are full..... wonderful.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, ours is expected to be wet (no complaints)

Righto, Gotto Go.... sun is down and time to work on another Ginger Jar.......

Nearly the end of September

Hello, not much sewing done here but I did find a big project I finished a while ago and forgot about.

Eldest son's ride went well, it was lovely having him send the odd live video and a link to follow his route in real time.  Over 700 pounds raised I think.

Unfortunately a bad few weeks for little sister who has been back in hospital, now moved to Brisbane to sort out issues based on complications from the surgery.  It's been tough.

A few more rows have been added to the scarf, this is a good waiting project as I don't really need to concentrate too hard....

My table runner was finished a little while ago, I only just refound my photographs

I totally love it.....

This shows the fairly dense hand quilting I did....

The backing was left over from a previous quilt....

I am continuing with quilting my diamonds quilt when I get a chance.  It's all ruler work - not hard but fairly slow and I have just been finding the odd half hour to do it....

If I'm awake enough in the evenings I have been doing hand stitching for Christmas decorations.....I've always loved backstitch pictures.  I've been using variegated Valdani thread for these.

My pretty indoor orchid is blooming, we have 2 flowers so far and I love the pink blush ....there is 8 buds so I think we'll be enjoying these for a while.

Righto, Gotto Go..... houseworky stuff has not been done lately so there is a lot to catch up on.... we are not perfectionist housekeepers by any means but also don't like a total mess.

2nd week of August

Last weekend we had a game to watch.... it was cold and we were lucky to find a parking spot with a great view (though I thought the Hubz could have got out and cleaned the windscreen for me!) (Widget is Number 4)  They won the game ....

Trail Mix is a finish!!! I do love it ....

I did a flange binding... which means it is all done by machine so quicker than hand sewing it down...

The backing is very bright..... but there are some bright blue blocks in the quilt so I'm  happy with it.  Here you can see my hook swirly quilting....

Company at appointment meant I made a start on my shawl/scarf.  I do need a bit of concentration at the moment whilst I get the hang of the pattern...

World Embroidery Day was enjoyed and Embroider Guild made up little packages for us members...

They were so nicely presented....

and inside a little kit to make up a needlecase....  the base is already sewn and the picture drawn - all the rest provided.  I thought it was such a nice touch ...

My evenings are focussing on the Christmas stitcheries..... loving doing them ...

The owls are on the quilting frame.  Each owl will be different ....

... and the background wiggly texture.  I just love the background fabric and wish I had more in different shades....   I bought it ages ago....

.. and since I had a finish I decided to start a new project..... these are Tilda fabrics...

... and this is the quilt I am making.  (Tilda provide loads of free patterns on their web page and this one came with their recent range "Something Blue"....

May take a while!!!  

Righto, Gotto Go... the owls are hooting.....

Have a great weekend....x

4th week of July

It has been a busy week with one thing and another but of course I still find time to play in my sewing room ....

The last two of the 'panels' have been done.... there is two identical pooh bear quilts.  These look like they are patched but it is the fabric.  I used a doona cover for the backings - nice and bright and can be reversible now.

Oh what fun with my Parliament of Owls..... once the curve sewing, pressing and trimming is done it is easy and fun making up owls.

I now have 10 small owls to make.....   I looooove them!

... and I have a gorgeous finish

 

Wings and Pretty Things was designed by bestie Michelle (see hers HERE) and we sewed it sortof together with Lin(see hers HERE)

I did do custom quilting....

I love the detail Michelle included (even if I am not a giant fan of EPP)

I loooooove it.....

I did purchase a pretty skein of yarn at the Jazz and Jumpers festival.  I have to say this is the most expensive ball of wool I have bought but it is hand dyed Marino wool and I will make a Simple Variations Shawl as made by Janice.... (thanks for the link)  I looooove it ... (see one Janice recently made HERE)

and woohoo I completed this final corner of my Table runner..... I am now going around the edge in a chain stitch as seen in the bottom of this.....  I loooove it....

Just one more picture ..... it's worth it....

So a lot to love this week......

Righto, Gotto Go.... cooler weather has arrived and the fire needs stoking and the soup needs heating....

Have a lovely rest of the weekend.....x

Back home

A few intensive weeks in Brisbane.  I discovered the surgery my daughter had has a nickname of MOAS (Mother Of All Surgeries) and I can see why.  It is brutal and tough, I was told it was the largest of the surgeries they do at the hospital.   A few days in ICU and then a couple of weeks on the ward and at the weekend took her home.  Recovery is always better at home isn't it?   Time will tell how effective the HIPEC (chemo) was (and what next for that) ...... as with all cancers regular scans and tests for the next 10 years at least.

I never even opened my box of projects! but I did do a few rows of crochet in the evenings at the unit, and I did alter a couple of her nighties so she could wear them over the PICC lines.... the sleeve needed to be able to open so I cut across the top and applied some velcro - worked a treat.

Before we left to Brisbane I did finish quilting "Wings and Pretty Things" (designed by friend Michelle)

Hard to see the quilting but curls in the background and outlining the applique ....

Straight lines through the EPP pieces.....

Just waiting for the binding to go on now.....

I just wanted a couple of days quietly at home and the best way for me to rest is to sew.....

These two items were already cut and partly sewn...  you will see they are both the same fabric - because there was plenty!

A favourite top of mine.... Bondi top

The back has a pleat ....

And a wrap around dress ......

Now that it is cooling down I'm not sure I will really have a chance to wear them until it warms up again...

The evenings were spent finishing off the blue beanie.... so now these can be posted to the grandieboy brothers in Victoria.

Oh, and I thought I deserved a treat so got the kit of Anni Downs new fabric range

The girls at The Quilters angel have added a coordinating fabric for binding and included a preprint linen for the embroideries....

... and of course the pattern book

I'm holding off starting this as I still have lots of other handwork projects on the go  - it's so tempting especially with the preprints!!!

Righto, Gotto Go..... a quilt is set up on the frame, scrappy blocks are all over the sewing space and yarn is bubbling out the bucket next to my chair!  xx