Keeping Hands Busy.
Posted on September 29, 2023 | 9 Comments
September has flown by. But Spring is here and we are enjoying some lovely sunny days.
This is what is happening to our orange tree.
We have only recently finished picking the last of the oranges but that wasn’t going to stop the blossom opening. The whole tree is buzzing with bees.
I have been concentrating on hand work. My machines are still not repaired. This is going to be a giraffe, about 8ins wide by 11ins.
I think it needs a closer look.
The stitching is done with a single variegated thread. It is a design by Hazel Blomkamp in her book titled Crewel Animal Portraits.
It is going to take many months to finish.
I have been able to use a small machine that I borrowed from a friend, just to finish piecing this quilt top.
It is made using a bundle from Cutting Cloth in Fairfield. A small lap size quilt.
And because it always scares me when I think of how close Christmas is, I have started on some cards. Crazy, I know, but it will be here quickly.
We have a long weekend here with a holiday for the AFL grand final. And it looks to be sunny every day.
I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead, too.
Cheers, Karen
What! No Machine?
Posted on September 8, 2023 | 10 Comments
I am having withdrawal symptoms. Both of my sewing machines are in for repairs. My large machine had error messages that I could not rectify, so I turned to my smaller machine (plan B). I had only been stitching for a few minutes before I noticed a smell and then saw wisps of smoke coming from the motor. Oh, dear. So off they both went.
I didn’t realise how often I used my machines until they were gone.
On to Plan C! Hand stitching and lots of cutting in preparation for the return of the machines. It has been interesting because I have found quite a few projects that have been tucked aside and now are getting worked on.
First up is my collection of houses from Sue Spargo’s Homegrown.
I had started the houses prior to the pandemic, but was distracted by other wool projects. My plan was to prepare all the backgrounds, then do the embroidery. I had kept all the fabrics together, so now I am back working on it. I have finished preparing 15 of the houses and have 12 more to go. Of course there is a central panel and borders, but at least I am back on track with the houses.
The next project I found was a wool blanket full of embroidery.
Most of the embroidery is complete but all the blackberries need finishing. They are made from layers of french knots and then have dozens of beads added.
I think there are a few more flowers to add, but at the moment I am concentrating on the beads.
And for something different, I have completed another pair of my crazy socks.
Slightly different to the first pair, but just as warm.
I did manage one finish before the machines stopped. A little pumpkin pin cushion.
This sweet pattern is from Attic Heirlooms. I have cut out a few more so I can get the embroidery completed on those.
I am getting a lot of cutting out done for a couple of other quilts. Maybe the break is a good thing?
Let’s see what the weekend brings.
Cheers, Karen
Paris. Maybe. One day?
Posted on August 25, 2023 | 9 Comments
No. I am not lucky enough to be in Paris, but I have been using a lovely fabric range called Dance in Paris by Brigitte Heitland. She has designed a pattern for Zen Chic named Spring In Paris.
I have followed her design almost to the letter. This is my version.
It is about 60 inches square. The pattern only required a Fat 1/8 pack of the range and I still have plenty left. It goes together in rows of triangles that then match up into hexagons.
As you can see, the colours graduate from lightest to darkest going top to bottom.
I took this one to a long arm quilter and she loved to quilting design on the pattern and was happy to follow that. But she did sneak in some shadowing in the white on the lower left corner.
It just added an extra highlight to the design. It copies the petal quilting in the hexagons.
As luck would have it, we found a backing piece that held a lot of the colours and had lots of small hexagons in the design.
The binding is one of the darker blues from the range. I had several options and they all worked well, so it was hard to make a decision.
I am really pleased with this finish and it is already hanging on the wall so I can see it often.
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend planned.
Cheers, Karen
Many Colours.
Posted on August 18, 2023 | 7 Comments
While it has been cold outside, I have made the most of having my Harbour Blanket on my lap so I could finish the borders.
This is a design from Attic 24.
It is quite large. This is a double bed.
I had a laugh when I saw this photo. The edges look so uneven. I can assure you that is due to the doona underneath.
Here are the edges.
I didn’t have enough to go all the way round in one color, so I used one colour for top and bottom and then another colour for the sides.
This was a lovely project. Not quite sure what to do next with crochet. So I may finish some knitting instead.
There are lots of flowers in our home at the moment, due to one of those 0 events that occurs now and then. I had to take photos as they are all so lovely.
A beautiful bouquet.
With roses, gerberas and chrysanthemums.
There is a beautiful posy of natives.
Gorgeous daffodils – they are struggling a bit with the heating being on.
The lillies are opening.
The next are called Blushing Bride. Not sure what their correct name is.
Okay, that’s the end of the flower show and tell.
I am hoping to head to a small, local quilt display tomorrow.
Enjoy your weekend, too.
Cheers, Karen
August In Felt.
Posted on August 10, 2023 | 6 Comments
A few little bits and pieces have been finished. And all have been worked in felt.
I made a box/cube using four Sue Spargo designs.
Each of the designs was stitched onto a felt square.
At first I was a bit stumped as to how to use the pieces. I think they were originally in a wall hanging. But the size made me think about a cube box.
Each piece was backed with more felt and had plastic inserted like a sleeve to stabilize the sides. Looks like it has worked okay.
The sides are about 10 inches square, so quite handy for storage. I am now thinking about making a smaller one.
I have been continuing my work on the Squash Squad blocks and have finished two more.
There are now only two left to finish and both of those have a fair bit done already.
I have finally reached the end of the rows for my Harbour Blanket (crochet) and only have to complete the border. Yay!
Happy to have that on my lap on these cold nights.
The weekend is coming. Have a good one.
Cheers, Karen
Jumping Into July.
Posted on July 7, 2023 | 10 Comments
It has turned very cold and wet. Not surprising for the middle month of Winter. But it still feels Brrrrrr….. .
The trees have taken a while to change colour but the last two weeks have changed all of that.
Perfect weather to be inside stitching. And that has led to a finish.
My Tinsel BOM, (Sue Spargo), is now a completed top.
I have shown the blocks along the way as each one was completed. That left the border to go. All those snowflakes kept me busy, 144 little circles in all. Once sewn down, each little circle was stitched around in silver thread. Now it is time to work out how to quilt it.
A little bit of knitting has been done. A small Scandi Bear.
It is only about 15cm tall and uses 10 ply. This one knits up very quickly. I bought the pattern through Ravellry.
I have also been working on a new quilt top from Zen Chic called Spring In Paris.
It is a bit crowded on the design wall, but at least you can see where it is up to. I now have to trim both sides so they are straight, then add more white to the left hand side. So nearly there. I only needed a Fat eighth bundle to make the top, and I still have plenty left over. Maybe I will have it quilted by Spring?
It has been school holidays here so that means we get to have the grandies for sleepovers and lots of play. Can’t beat it!
Hope you are looking forward to a good weekend.
Cheers, Karen
Making Progress.
Posted on June 4, 2023 | 8 Comments
Bits and pieces are starting to come together. Always good to see progress.
The last block for Tinsel has been completed.
So now the nine blocks are ready to go together. There is then more applique to go on to overlapping blocks. Plenty to keep me busy with this project.
I have also manged to finish a second jumper for our granddaughter. Good timing as it has turned quite cold here. This was a quick one as it was a 10 ply yarn.
That is a short a sweet post for today. Have a great week.
Cheers, Karen
Christmas, Easter And Winter.
Posted on May 20, 2023 | 8 Comments
That’s a few of the holidays and a season covered!
Christmas refers to the Sue Spargo embroideries for Tinsel.
I have two more finishes and only one more block to go. Of course that is not the end as there is also a lot of work on the border.
I am leaving some of the guideline markings there for when I eventually trim the blocks.
Next, Easter. Our neighbours had a lovely Easter display in their home. They used some fun rabbits purchased from one of the chain stores. I asked to borrow them and had a go at making my version.
And last of all, we have Winter.
It has been time to get knitting for the youngest grandie girl, as she is the only one who will wear a knit jumper. This one took a while as it was in 5 ply with a pattern that kept me on my toes. Definitely worth it , though.
She chose the pattern and the colour. Perfect.
One of the features I really liked on this design was the buttonholes. They look great.
I am always learning.
That’s my collection for the day. Very happy with these finishes.
Cheers, Karen
Over the Hill And Far Away.
Posted on May 5, 2023 | 12 Comments
This quilt is a design by Wendy Williams named Over The Hill. When I first saw it, the curved backgrounds for the blocks took my interest straight away. And of course I love working with the wool felts.
It was easy to work on as the design was broken into smaller sections, making it very manageable.
I used the picture on the pattern to help with quilting each of the blocks. Here is a quick summary of the sections.
I found a lovely print full of circles and thought that would make an appropriate backing.
I also used it for the binding.
Well, it took a while to complete the blocks, and then another while to finally get the quilting done. But now it is finally a finish.
I hope you have a lovely weekend planned.
Cheers, Karen
Short And Sweet.
Posted on April 15, 2023 | 7 Comments
As the title says, this is a very short post.
I am working on several baby quilts, trying to collect a pile for friends who are having grandchildren. They can give them to the family, or keep them to use at their home when the new grandies visit them.
This is the latest finish.
This is a very simple design using a sweet doggie fabric.
In fact, I have enough of this fabric to make a similar quilt with another colour in the sashing, and a third one using leftover scraps in circles.. Neither is quite finished yet.
I had a coloured spot in my stash that I was able to use for the backing.
So there it is. Short and sweet, as promised.
The grandchildren are arriving tomorrow for most of the week, so lots to do to get ready to play!
Cheers, Karen
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