Keeping Warm.

Posted on July 11, 2021 | 10 Comments

Lots of chilly mornings here but we are getting lovely sunshine during the day. All the heating systems are working overtime at night keeping us snug and warm.

Perfect weather for these little frosties which are stitched from designs made by Michelle from Michelle Ridgway Designs.

These are stitched from Cottage Garden Threads.

I plan to add these to two others made previously to make a long wall hanging.

I have kept the knitting theme going through my last few posts. I made a pink jumper for our granddaughter. (Shown in a previous post.) She loves the pink but also asked for jumper with rainbow on the front. We agreed to use what was already there rather than knit a new jumper. So now the pink jumper has a rainbow.

I had also completed another jumper.

This was a gorgeous pattern with a lovely diamond design.

Then of course it needed a hat as well.

This used a different design. It was knitted from corner to corner and created a raised spiral effect.

Both jumpers and the hat have been made using yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills. It is so soft and a delight to use.

Time to head outside to make the most of the sunshine, even if it is just to rake the leaves.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Knitting, Stitcheries, Yarn

The Halfway Mark For 2021.

Posted on July 3, 2021 | 11 Comments

Surprising to think that we are already half way through 2021. Maybe I have been busier than I thought. Although not sure my stitching shows that. We are having some lovely sunny Winter days. Still very cold but great to see the sun shining. After having little opportunity to sew for a month or more, I am getting back to some stitching. I am choosing to get small projects done as these are easy to work on when I am the taxi service or am sitting in waiting rooms for doctor and hospital appointments.

These little Llama ornaments will turn into Christmas decorations with a little bit of tweaking.

They are made using wool felt from a design by HeartFelt Crafting Co.

I have also worked on some Christmas stockings which are about 10 inches tall.

These are designed by Michelle L Palmer. She has been doing these for the past few years as a free pattern for Christmas.

These are again made with wool felt. I decided to add ribbon and a tag to the top of each stocking.

When I was scrolling through FB one day I spotted a sweet little pentagon bag and decided on a whim to buy the pattern.

This is a design by Andrea Taylor from Bittern By The Bug. Another hand stitching project that was easy to prepare and carry around.

It also gave me a chance to play with some sashiko stitching.

And last, but not least, I have completed the last section in the second row of Over The Hill by Fig n Berry.

I hope to sew them together soon and getting the prep work done for the third and final row.

The weekend is looking good so time to make the most of it.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Christmas, Embroidery, Felt, Ornaments, Work in Progress

Welcome To Winter.

Posted on June 15, 2021 | 11 Comments

Brrrr…. . Winter has arrived here. Cold, wet and windy. Good time to stay inside where it is warm and dry.

I have been working on my blocks for the Wendy Williams quilt, Over the Hill. Two more blocks have been added.

These two blocks are part of the centre row.

There are lots of details in each part to keep me busy.

Lots of sheep as well as chickens. And a very colourful garden. I am well on to the third block for this row so will be able to stitch two rows together very soon.

One big bonus of the cold weather is that the citrus fruits are ripening and are ready to pick. The mandarin tree has been very productive this year.

I have also kept my hands busy with some knitting for our youngest granddaughter. She still enjoys wearing woollen garments so I will happily keep making them. These have all been made with Bendigo Woollen Mill yarns.

A friend gave me a ball of decorative yarn and I used it in the band and cuffs, as well as in the beanie.

Of course I had to sneak in a pink one. I ran very tight with this one. I only had a few metres of yarn left at the end. Very lucky.

Okay, time to get back to stitching. Enjoy your week.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Embroidery, Knitting, Work in Progress, Yarn

Happy Squares.

Posted on May 28, 2021 | 11 Comments

Very happy to see another finish. This is not a very big quilt but it is enough to have on your lap for a bit of extra warmth. The size was dictated by the amount of fabric I had – the Japanese indigo prints. I kept going until I had very few scraps left over.

I had lots of red and orange fabric, so no limits there.

The design was very simple – six oblong pieces around each square.

I also enjoyed the lovely designs in the indigo fabrics.

I pieced the backing from a selection of reds in my stash.

And found another length of fabric for the binding. It is actually the square showing in the picture below.

It has turned very cold here and we have also gone into another lock down. Possibly for only seven days. Fingers crossed as hubby is in hospital and no visitors are allowed during the lock down.

To finish on a bright note, here are the beautiful colours in the leaves of our ornamental pears.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

Colourful Pinwheels.

Posted on May 11, 2021 | 10 Comments

Another top has turned into a a completed quilt. The last stitch has gone into the binding and it is ready.

The quilt is made of pinwheel blocks, each block using two fabrics.

The fabrics came as a charm pack with the addition of a single piece to use in the border.

There was even enough to make the corner stones.

I did have to add another fabric for the sashing so kept that neutral.

And I had to hunt up another stray piece for the binding.

I was able to stick to using my stash as I had a big colourful piece to use as the backing.

I kept the quilting basic – flowers and loops. That made sense as nearly all the fabrics had floral designs.

One bonus from the lockdowns we had last year was that I have been making the most of the fabrics I already have. I am trying to keep going with that approach. I know that there will be pieces to buy, but I am happy to try.

And not having a local quilt store any more does stop the temptation.

Time to move on to the next quilt!

Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

A Colourful Finish.

Posted on May 2, 2021 | 12 Comments

My finishes have been few and far between lately. Same with posts. And now they will all probably arrive in a rush. That’s the way it often works.

I have completed my colourful, woolly flower quilt. Blocks together and binding done.

It has been a pleasure to work with the wool for this quilt. It is so soft and stitches easily.

The backing is a black and white print.

And the binding is a black and white text print.

Not lot of quilting was needed so I kept to simple meandering.

Cornerstones in wool.

After all that work I think it needs to be on display for a while so I need to find a wall.

I also managed to finish the final block for another quilt.

This will be the centre block. Hopefully these will be stitched together this week. And another one to be quilted.

We are getting into our colder days here now. We both managed to get our flu shots a couple of weeks ago, and after the recommended time period we are lining up our first Covid jab this week. Glad to have that one lined up. Plenty of other things to keep me busy this week including some sewing days and catching up with friends.

Hope your week is a good one.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Embroidery, Felt, Quilts

April Catch Up.

Posted on April 9, 2021 | 10 Comments

Time seems to be flying by with lots to do. Is it because we are all still catching up on things since our long lock downs? I know I am still putting in time with my sewing but progress is slow. I do have a few quilts sandwiched ready for quilting but they are a couple of weeks away from being ready. I do have some little finishes.

The rabbit block from Round The Garden Path is complete.

I am now working on the final block which sits in the centre. Nearly done.

I have been busy making doll clothes for an 18 inch doll. I wanted to have them ready for these school holidays when we will be having the grandies staying over.

The other big task has been setting up all the backgrounds for the blocks for Over The Hill. I have completed all the work on the top row but then decided I needed to get all the backgrounds done before continuing on with the applique and embroidery.

This is the missing block just about to get set up for applique.

In the middle of all this we took advantage of the lovely Autumn weather and spent quite a few days in Beechworth.

We did the jail tour.

Of course they featured the Kelly Gang stories.

We visited the historic buildings. The streetscape is gorgeous. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn and the colours are beautiful.

We had to check inside the old courthouse.

I was impressed that as well as all the rooms for jurors and legal people, there was a bedroom for the judge. No, not to have a nap during breaks in the trial. Because judges had to travel far and wide, there was provision made for the judges to have accommodation in the courthouse. But apparently most judges didn’t stay there – too cold in Winter. They preferred the hotels instead. Probably not just for warmth!

We had to check out a couple of the local breweries. Great pizzas, too.

And we even found a running creek where we did some gold panning. Yes, a few flecks were found, but a long way off the cost of a fat quarter.

So that’s where the last four weeks have gone for me. Just had the central heating serviced today so we are ready for Winter, but not in a rush for it to arrive.

Cheers, Karen.

Category: Dolls, Embroidery, Felt, Quilts, Work in Progress

Autumn Has Arrived.

Posted on March 13, 2021 | 9 Comments

Our tree out the front has been keeping a calendar and decided that on the first day of March it would start changing colours. It is still a very young Crimson or Scarlet Oak. This is what it looked like a week ago.

It has become a much deeper red and this is the colour today.

It will interesting to watch to see how deep the color goes before the leaves fall.

I have been working away on my woollen flowers. They are now ready to go together.

I have completed the stitching on all the corner stones so it is now a matter of cutting the sashing and borders to get it ready to go together.

We managed to get away for a week and went to the western end of the Great Ocean Road, staying at Port Fairy and Port Campbell. We stayed at the Gardens van park in P Fairy and it was lovely seeing these stunning wood carvings. There are quite a few throughout the park.

And of course we went to all the tourist attractions along the coast. We enjoy the views every time.

We are lucky to have such stunning scenery on our doorstep. And the bonus was that because of Covid and being cooler weather, there were very few people around. Perfect views.

Speaking of Covid, I do like it when our government departments can use a little bit of humour to get an important message across. This had to be one of my favourite signs.

You may also notice that on the sign there is one extra rocky outcrop compared to my photo above. Yes, it collapsed a few years back. ( The Twelve Apostles.)

Well, that’s it from me. It has started raining here and I must say that is very welcome. The tank we use to water the garden is empty and this should help fill it up some way.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Embroidery, Felt, Quilts, Work in Progress

Chickens And Pigs Finished.

Posted on February 24, 2021 | 11 Comments

Yippee! My Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs quilt has made it to the finish line. It has been a lovely quilt to work on and I am now looking forward to catching up with Anni Downs next design.

Quilting done and binding finished.

Lots of fun, quirky blocks in this quilt. They are all entertaining but here are a couple of favourites.

I think a quirky quilt needs a fun backing as well, so I chose these bicycles.

And to finish it off I used a blue batik for the binding, similar in colour to some of the wool used in the blocks.

I am steadily working through projects from last year, many very close to a finish. Two more quilts have been sandwiched and are patiently waiting. Lots to do.

Have a wonderful week.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Embroidery, Felt, Quilts

A Lot Of Years In This One!

Posted on February 18, 2021 | 11 Comments

It seems like this quilt has been a long time in the making. I think I bought the pattern and quilt kit over 10 years ago. I didn’t get around to starting it until 7 years later. A long wait. Then when I started making it I was only pulling it out once a month when I went to a Christmas sewing group. And then Covid put a stop to that so I had to get myself organised to work on it at home. I finally managed to finish last year but then had to wait for a while to finally get it quilted. But the end result is a quilt that is finally finished.

This is Chrissy Down Under by McKenna Ryan. I gave my long arm quilter all the patterns so that she could use the ideas in the pictures for the quilting. She also added a lot of her own ideas. I am very pleased to have finally finished this delightful quilt.