Sewing, knitting and work

So it goes another month is near its end and what have I been doing. I've made Bella-boo for Lily for Easter even if she is already playing with her. She is in Melly and Me's book, Kaleidoscope bought at Craftexpo when it was on at Sydney Olympic Park Homebush. I have had an order put in for Bubbles the Unicorn from her mummy for her 30th birthday in August.

I've made BAGuette by Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches that was in Homespun 78. It just needs handles/straps I still can't decide what I want but the bag is finished. I think I want red leather ones like Natalie's one in Homespun. I used a variety of remnants bought from Craft Depot at Pennant Hills. I did the stitcheries in DMC linen threads, they are so nice to stitch with and were a present sent to me from DD Kate when she lived in London.

Drum roll the bargain buy of last winter was 20 balls of Patons Merino Deluxe DK for $20. I've knitted the fitted cardigan in Jo Sharps book Saturday. Oh did I say 20 balls I actually bought 50, 20 in colour 2 chestnut, 30 in colour 1 beige. That said the wool is selling at yarnsgalore for $7.60 a ball.

There will be a photo tomorrow when the sun comes out of the finished cardigan, I'm very pleased with it, if I do say so myself.

Have you seen advertised "Dynamo to go" it's a instant stain remover you can carry in your handbag. You know when you spill the last of that coffee on your nice cream shirt well this little pen will help you get through the day without looking a complete dag. Have picked up the sales pitch yet, this is the latest instore promotion that I am doing , mostly in south west and western Sydney, 3 hours spilling coffee and red wine on small white squares of fabric for people to try out the pens. Its interesting work and helps pay the bills but I would rather be sewing. Its a good thing that Supermarkets don't want you in there stores this week because of Easter, meant that I got more stitching and knitting finished that I had hoped for.

By the way must remember to show you the first 2 blocks of a quilt that I have just started, I do a class once a month with Barbara Gower and I am making her design called Steps and Ladders, it's in Batiks that I bought in London in 2008 at the Knitting and Stitching show.

Sew-Fantastic has a giveaway

SewFantastic is having a Kona Colour Wheel Giveaway. Run don't walk....translated....click quick...clickity clack and enter so you too will have an opportunity to gaze upon these lucious fabrics in person. Good luck to you....I hope you win!!!

OPAM - February

So here we are almost at the end of February and after almost no casual work for 12 months I have work this week, 4x4 hour shift demonstrating Pacific West Asian snacks, which means I had to get this months projects finished before Wednesday night. This is the second month of Peg and Kris's One Project a Month (OPAM)

I am very proud of myself cause I finished 3 projects and still have time to maybe add some more.

First off I saw Elizabeth over at Oh,Fransson made this great little ironing table. I went what a great idea for someone who has little sewing space at the moment. The next week Aldi had TV trays on special for $14.99. I went and bought one and have made my own sweet little ironing table. I used some heavy weight check I bought from Spotlight a while back as the top and leftover batting. I really like the way it turned out. Thanks Elizabeth for a great idea.

My daughter Elizabeth was up from Melbourne over the weekend so I got the chance to have her dress made. I bought the fabric Christmas eve but didn't get the chance to have it made for over the Christmas, New Year when she was up. She'd picked pattern 6776 from New Look and lovely crisp white fabric, the blue star fabric in the sash was on special so we bought the rest of that as well and that is still to be made up when she decides what she wants out of it.

And to finish I made a Double Irish Chain quilt 12 months ago, had it quilted, did the binding and it was finished, or so I thought. The 8" white squares looked lonely, it needed something more - hearts, flowers, hands!!!!

I traced everyones hands including both of Lily's and then chain stitched around them. They all look really neat, there are still 6 white squares with nothing in them and that might become another project if I decide that they need something too, but for now it is finished and on my bed. It is quite a wide quilt it almost comes to the floor on the sides (this means I still have some in the morning). It was made from 2 jelly rolls, Blossom by Urban Chicks - I just love the fabric and all the hands are embroidered in DMC cotton perle no.8

So this is what happens.......

When you have a piece of glass in your foot for 3 weeks. Four hours in emergency at local hospital and hey presto no more glass and a nice hole in the foot.

So there has not been a lot of sewing going on here, however today I decided to try and finish the hand stitching on my Double Irish Chain quilt. I have traced a hand of each member of the family (both hands of Lily) onto the white squares and I am chain stitching around them in Perle cotton. Photos to follow as we are about to have a thunderstorm hit.

When finished this will be a OPAM for February

OPAM

OK so I am slack, been sick, had lots of tennis to watch - watching Women's final at the moment come on Justine!!!!. Oh well she did OK it wasn't straight sets.
I have joined in Peg's and Kris's One Project a Month (OPAM)
For January I have finished a skirt that was going to be a dress and worn that to a family wedding last Saturday. Thats the fun part of being married to a Baptist Minister all the family get him to do the Weddings and Funerals. The wedding was held at Tumbling Waters Retreat at Stanwell Tops and was lovely.
But I digress I got a quilt back from Vicki my longarm quilter, its Teapots and was made in 2008 in a monthly class I did with Barbara Gower.
Lastly I have been following Cathy for a while even bought fabric of her last year when she was cleaning out her stash. I saw a quilt that she was selling in her Esty shop middle of last year and liked the design you can see it here
A friend bought me 2 Wonderland charm packs and I have used them to make the quilt top up.
Photos to follow when and if the sun comes out tomorrow but here is the Teapot quilt on the lounge and the quilt top laid out on the floor before being sewn together.

Christmas here we come ready or not

I joined in Vicki and Jenny's quick FQ swap. I sent my parcel to Jan in USA and received a lovely package back from her. What I sent Jan is on top and what I received from Jan is below. Have you checked out the Among the Gumtrees they are doing some great freebies during Advent.

The tree is up, decorated with help from Lily, the presents are still being made - I am making 3 of the 'Audrey and Maude' Christmas bauble quilts, 2 of the tops are finished I just don't think that they will be quilted before Christmas though. I will have a few months grace on these as one will be going into a home being built and the other is heading to Mildura where DS Josh and DIL Jaclyn are moving to in the new year to work.

I have made the Blue Lagoon quilt top out of Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott, I used Snippets by American Jane and this is probably going south to Melbourne for DD2 as her Christmas present. We are trying to do handmade this Christmas so for me that only leaves DS2 who has his 23rd birthday on 23rd December, DH Steve who has his 54th birthday on 9th and Lily who I still have to decide what to do for.

Well it has taken me a couple of weeks to get to a second post but I am starting to get the hang of it..... till next time Sue

First post

Ok so I have finally given in to having a blog.

I have been reading blogs since Kate and Graeme went to London in 2006, when they kept a travel and whats happening to them overseas. This also included "squishy's" alias Lily Dorothy born June 2008 in London.

I want to share some of the stuff I do and make. I love patchwork, making bags, embroidery and cross stitch.

I want to share my journey in the world of blog and craft, I have learnt so much from reading other peoples blogs over the last couple of years and look forward to reading what is going on in your lives each day.

I am looking forward to doing another Bonnie K Hunter mystery or challenge as she is now calling them and can't wait to see what it is.