Fox And Bee.
Posted on May 20, 2020 | 7 Comments
Time to get back to old projects that were set aside at the start of this lock down. I had finished the embroidery on these two blocks but had not put together the hexie circles for them. I finally caught up with that task and have completed two more blocks.
Bees.
Foxes.
These are a FigNBerry design. I think I have finished six, so there are three to go.
I have spent a fair bit of time in my studio over these weeks, especially since the cold and wet weather has arrived. Lots of sewing happening but also lots of phone calls and Zoom chats. And it still looks reasonably tidy!
At least three projects on the table, more on the desk, sewing machine and drawers. And a lot more behind me on another table. There is always something to do. And for that I am extremely grateful.
Cheers, Karen
Moving Along.
Posted on May 8, 2020 | 12 Comments
I am keeping busy with all sorts of projects. And am also keeping to the plan of alternating something old and something new.
The old first. I am working on the last block of my McKenna Ryan quilt. The beach boxes are down with most of the stitching done. But I also needed to prepare the kangaroos. The pieces have been fused together ready to be placed on the block and stitched.
I also had a donation quilt cut and ready to go, but it had been sitting there for over a month. That is now finished and ready to go. It is about 40 in sq.
The something new is my next wool project. A smaller one this time with six blocks and then the borders. The larger pieces are cut out and being stitched down, before I add the smaller pieces and embroidery.
We seem to be going from one extreme to the other with our weather. Last weekend was very cold with snow on the nearby mountains. This week it has been delightful with lovely sunshine. This weekend is going back to cold, wet and windy. I took advantage of the sun for a few pics of the camellias.
Sticking with the garden theme – it looks like we will be picking fresh oranges very soon!
It is only a small tree but is very productive.
Even though the days are blending into each other I still have found there is plenty to keep me busy. Like everyone, I am hoping we can get out and about soon, but I only want to do that if it is safe.
Take care. Cheers, Karen
Meadow.
Posted on April 28, 2020 | 16 Comments
My Meadow quilt from Amitie is finally finished.
The pattern is designed by Michelle McKillop. And I bought the fabrics in a kit from Amitie.
As you can see, the centre is split into quarters for different colour ways. The internal borders and the flowers reflect the same colour ways.
Dark to light blue.
Orange and lemon.
Greens – light through dark.
And reds and pinks.
The HSTs were all paired with a black and white spot, but the outside flower blocks shared a variety of backgrounds.
The centre of the top was quilted in straight lines in a V pattern. I think the photos shows what I mean for that.
The narrow inner border was done with a serpentine stitch. And then each flower block had echo quilting.
There are too many flowers to show, but here are each of the corners.
Each of the corner blocks had extra echo quilting.
I used the same black and white spot for the backing and then a black and white stripe for the binding.
I think I put this one aside over 12 months back when I was helping my mother to move. So much has happened since then and I am pleased to have rediscovered this project and enjoyed bringing it to completion. Another one off the UFO list!!
Cheers, Karen
Ready To Travel.
Posted on April 20, 2020 | 16 Comments
Lots of work over the weekend has resulted in a finish. The caravan is together, the dolls are made, and then there was time to make something extra.
First of all, the little caravan carry case.
The front drops down to show the inside layout.
And these are the little dolls who will be living in there.
After all the fiddling around the final construction went smoothly.
I had a little more time left than I expected so I made a much simpler pattern from Two Brown Birds. These are called Bubs In Bed. They each have a face on the front and back – one awake and one asleep.
And they each have a sleeping bag.
So all the birthday sewing is complete and has been parcel up in the post.
Time to choose the next project to finish.
I do like good news stories, and I mentioned in my last post how a neighbour came to the rescue to chainsaw our tree that fell down. Well, the story continued. Another neighbour surprised us by pulling up in front of our house on Saturday with a commercial chipper on the back. He had been doing work elsewhere and before he went home he put all our branches through the chipper. We now have a tidy lawn again. How lucky are we to have such thoughtful and kind people living nearby.
Cheers, Karen
Pushing Along.
Posted on April 17, 2020 | 12 Comments
Some projects take a long time because they are big. But there are others that are small and still take ages. That seems to be the case for me with this little caravan.
The outside has been made. I have to add a wheel arch and tyre when it is ready to go together.
The insides are done, too. The bathroom is ready.
As is the bedroom.
I now need to complete the dolls to go in this van. The bodies are made but now need features added. And of course the caravan has to go together. I am hoping this weekend sees me done.
But of course there are always interruptions. We had strong winds last week and one of our lovely trees was blown across the road. That was not in our plans.
Thankfully a neighbour with a chainsaw came to help as it was too heavy to pull off the road by ourselves. And it is very easy to socially isolate when a chainsaw is going.
You never know what is coming next. Helps to keep us on our toes.
Cheers, Karen
Easter Stitching.
Posted on April 12, 2020 | 11 Comments
Happy Easter!
Regardless of what is happening in the world, the days still roll by and we reach special dates. I hope many children around the world get to have some fun celebrating Easter.
I enjoyed using my Bertie’s Springtime as a backdrop for pictures today.
This was a Bonnie Sullivan pattern.
I realised I had several stitcheries traced for Easter that had not been completed, so they were moved to the top of the queue.
I think this is a Red Brolly pattern.
This is also from the same designer.
They in their hoops ready to go up on the wall with the other recently hooped embroideries.
There are some Hot Cross buns warming in the oven, and I think the Easter Bunny has been visiting too.
I hope you have a special day.
Cheers, Karen
Keep On Finishing.
Posted on April 7, 2020 | 10 Comments
Trying to keep working on UFOs can be challenging when new projects want a turn, too. So now I am going one for one. I completed a Cherie Payne project I had lingering on a shelf for quite a while – maybe from the Christmas before last. Just a small mini wall quilt.
Each block is hand stitched down. Always lovely to work with wool.
I then machine quilted each beard to add texture, before quilting the whole top.
And also added some outline stitching by hand.
I decided to use my old doll making skills and drew simple faces on each Santa rather than use button eyes.
That then gave me the chance to work on something new. This is the finished bag/house for Miss Kitty and her wardrobe from the last post.
This is now in the post ready for a birthday later this month.
Not sure what is next – maybe something for Easter.
Cheers, Karen
Little Things.
Posted on March 31, 2020 | 15 Comments
The last day of March. Hard to believe it has come around so quickly. Like many of you I have been digging into my list of projects to be done as well as working on UFOs My finishes for this week are all little things.
I have started working on The Twelve Days of Christmas by Larissa Holland of mmmcrafts. I have completed the first day of Christmas – a partridge and a pear.
These are made using wool felt and a variety of perle threads and DMC.
I am also preparing for an upcoming birthday. So this is Miss Kitty.
And this is her wardrobe.
This is a pattern called Miss Whiskers and is by Two Brown Birds. There is also a carry case to go with this that is shaped like a house. That is my next task.
And another small finish is this little 24 inch donation quilt.
I had been given a large number of bags of fabric to pass on to a charity group. I offered to sew up some quilts to help out. Now, of course, it is all here with me until we can go out and about again. So it looks like I will be putting a few more donation quilts together. Happy to help out.
We are getting used to being at home and settling into a routine. We are probably lucky in that being retirees we have developed quite a few interests and will have no trouble keeping occupied. The weather has been pleasant so spending time in the garden is easy. I am extremely grateful that my sewing studio was built last year and I have plenty of space to spread out all my projects.
I have noticed a huge increase in the number of blogs coming up in my feed each day. With the extra time it seems people have rediscovered their blogs and are getting back to posting. So grateful we live in an era where technology can keep us in touch so easily. Make the most of it.
Cheers, Karen
Seeing Spots.
Posted on March 18, 2020 | 13 Comments
When I had completed my clam shell wall hanging, I had quite a few left over circles. I decided to applique them to a variety of black and white background fabrics and turn them into a mini quilt.
A little bit of quilting was done and then a spotted binding was added. It measures about 22 inches square. I am not sure yet if I should hang it or leave it as a table centre. Maybe both.
I have also managed to get back to my Dancing Chickens, Flying Pigs blocks and have finished number 5.
Number 6 is now being prepared.
That’s a short and sweet post for today. Hope everyone is finding plenty to do in isolation.
Cheers, Karen
A March Mixture.
Posted on March 11, 2020 | 10 Comments
There are a lot of bits and pieces that still need finishing, so I will try to keep on top of those UFOs in March.
Knowing that Easter is around the corner, I managed to find a frame for this little rabbit. I think it is a Bonnie Sullivan design (All Through The Night)
I had a pin cushion that had the stitching done from a long time ago. I finally stitched a backing on and stuffed it. It’s a Hatched and Patched design. (Annie Downs)
I managed to finish one hedgehog in time to give as a Christmas gift. I have now completed the second and this one will stay here with me. Here it is all rolled up in a ball.
There are quite a few babies on the way this year so I need to stock up on my monkey supply. Hope I can keep up.
There were two small snowmen pillows that also needed backings and stuffing, just like the pin cushion. Thankfully these are also finished. These are from Sunflower Fields Pattern Co.
And to round it out, I have been using up all the circles left over from my clam shells wall hanging. I have stitched them on to black and white backgrounds and will turn this into another small wall hanging.
I have managed to finish my Meadow flimsy and need to get it sandwiched for quilting.
So that is where I am at for the moment.
Enjoy your day. Cheers, Karen
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