BLESSED SPEEDY

 Once upon a time there was a quilter who liked to make quilts.  She made lots and gave them to people near and far.  One sad day her sewing machine died and she didnt know what she would do.  Thankfully for the quilter she had a guardian angel (aka her hubby) who bought her a new machine (see previous post) and because of this she felt inspired to make quilts again.! She also did a dangerous thing - she went into a quilting fabric store - Honeysuckle Patchwork in Bendigo - and saw lots of lovely fabric that she just had to have.  Mind you she had plenty of fabric at home but the new stuff was well shiny...........and new. So with much haste she set about making a new quilt!. She decided on a carpenters star - as she had two very lovely fabrics that were from the Tulla Pink fabric range which looked well together and she sat down at her sewing machines (who is named Sylvia ) and sewed and sewed and she was very happy with the result. Once all the pieces were tog...

 So this happened  thanks to my lovely husband - a few days ago my trusty Janome 6600p died after 15 years of solid work. Yes gary pulled it apart but the motor was seized. He told me he knows how much sewing means to me so told me to go and buy a new one - so meet Sylvia (cos it’s part silver 😆) a shiny brand new Janome 6700P - here’s to the next 15 years or so!

 Right Im a quilter (or patchworker as some like to call it) I dont make garments (well I have in the past but not for a very long time Hence, I dont like mending things or taking up hems on things etc When my girls were little they got all excited when I started to attack the mending/hemming pile and found stuff from everywhere in the hope that I would repair or take up the hems (yes my girls were ones who sometimes stapled up the hems of their pants!) So for me its actually a big deal to do these things - and I only do them for those that are worthy of my work and time - and hubby Gaz is one of them. So I applied myself and have hemmed four pairs of work pants for him - and to his credit he was grateful as he knows full well who knows when I will do it again!

 Ive always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with gardening - I like doing it but in the past Ive been spasmodic at keeping up with whats needed to be done But not this year (or a lot of last year).  We've had great rainfall here and that has helped out as well.  Ive now got to the point when I would much rather be outside gardening than doing other things. So here's my progress so far - and I have several other ideas brewing away but I need Garys help to move some big logs and things - so stay tuned And enjoy my garden - I know I do - and Im creating a lovely place to live as well! #lovewhereIlive 

 Im a member of a book club in the next town over from me and its organised by the owner of the bookshop there - The Little Blue Bookshop in Kerang.  Great place to visit if you are in the area. My friend and I joined and started in January, however I was intrigued about how the members talked about the December book and how it was quite divisive.  So I bought it! Well......I cant say I enjoyed it as such, but Im glad I read it.  In fact the best way to describe it, is as the author does in the acknowledgements at the back of the book " This book has been one of the hardest and yet also, in a strange an inexplicable way, one of the most fulfilling I have yet written.  Being based on a true story, dealing with actual people and the shocking events that unfolded, the cruelty meted out and the impact this had on the lives of those in and around Pittenweem at the time became all-consuming - in a fraught but also good way. The book is set in the early 1700s in Scotla...

 One of the things Gary wanted to know before we got married was whether or not I could make tomato relish and if I did, did I make it better than his mum. I think I can and do! Everyone in the family seems to like it to - so today was the day.  Unfortunately it always seems to be a very hot day when you make it (OK 33 degrees isn't not - but it is hot when you are stirring a pot over a hot stove!!!!) Well actually it started last night - as I chop up the tomatoes and onions and sprinkle salt over them and leave overnight - like this!  Then today was about cooking and stirring and cooking and stirring.  And the result as you can see from the pic above - 11 and a half jars of relish (yes there is a half one which is in the fridge for Gary to eat first) And yes this is a create - Ive created relish from tomatoes and onions (and a few other secret ingredients)

 Ive just finished this cute little quilted wallhanging Ive made many similar type things in the past but not for a long time so it was so nice to make it.  The centre is a preprinted panel that you embroider and then I added the cute buttons I had in my stash instead of embroidering them.  The borders around and the binding are from my scrap basket - that Im on a mission to downsize but it doesn't seem to be happening. However as I was working on it I got to thinking - yes this looks cute and finished and all put together well but if you could only see what it looks like on the inside/back you might well be horrified Heres what THAT looks like  All messy and Ive jumped from one spot to the next in each colour Arent we all a bit like that - on the outside we look cute neat and tidy but on the inside we are all a bit messed up! So my message today my friends is be kind to each other you never know what someone else is going through on the inside but that mess helps us...

 Well today I finished three things All different but all related (sort of) Firstly these socks for my hubby Gary, who is VERY knit worthy as he loves wearing the socks I make him and even commented one time "I know you love me as you knit socks for me" - correct! The pattern is Vanilla Latte socks and this is the 16th (yes 16th) time Ive made them - its my go to pattern for easy mindless knitting.  The yarn is dyed by a friend of mine Heather from Heathermaid yarns and I bought it at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show a couple of year ago.  It was caked in two skeins so I didnt have to worry about the socks not matching. Second finish is a book - A Court of thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas - my daughter Sarah told me I "had" to read it as she had not long ago finished it and really enjoyed it - I did too.  Its a fantasy read about love, fairies (or faeries) and evil beings as well.  Sort of a fantasy Beauty and the Beast but a really good read and I would recommen...

 So you may ask - what on earth is a magic yarn ball? This...... is how it starts........the person who gifts it to you unravels the yarn and rewraps it in a ball - and while doing that they add little gifts that "fall out" along the way as you knit The pattern is also gifted to you so you know what you will be making - for me its a beanie.  Oh! And I made the mistake once of gifting yarn for a pair of socks - thats a lot of wrapping of gifts I can tell you! Here's some progress - Ive done the brim and the first gift has "fallen out" - its nylon that can be used in making socks - excellent as I dont have any - it will come in handy indeed. And here's it all finished - with all the gifts as well - the pattern is Curves are Beautiful Beanie and the yarn is zealand rim dk  - lovely yarn to work with and my first time using yarn that has possum in it! Its a bit hot to wear today (its 35C!!!) but will be great in autumn and winter. 

 Those that know me well, know that I like to knit socks! And with DPNs (double pointed needles) as they make me feel smart LOL So prior to Christmas, when I saw there was a sock KAL (knit along) over on instagram, with clues released each day - I was excited and jumped on board. What a journey! The sock design is gorgeous, but complex - I cast on and knitted away merrily until I realised Id missed a clue and in fact really messed up the first sock. So whats a girl to do but unravel it all and start again which I did on the 3rd of January. As I said the design is gorgeous but complex with lots of cables and twisted stitches - but Ive got it done and Im really happy with this pair of socks. If you would also like to make these follow the hashtag #apgalsxmas2021 over on insta and you will find it, its a collaboration of three designers. Oh and the yarn is plucky fingering and I used 2.25mm dpns Enjoy! And challenge yourself to make those tricky things - its worth it - you never know ...

First book of the year finished - Cilkas Journey by Heather M. Morris I was lucky enough to meet the author at The Little Blue Book Shop late last year and what a pleasure that  was! She went through her research and reasons behind her writing and how these stories need to be told and not lost Because we were going to meet her I "forced" and I mean forced myself to read the tattoist of auschwitz and Im glad I did! A period in our history that is terrible, but lessons need to be learnt so that this never happens again! After reading that, I had to read the next book(which is Cilka's Journey) again a challenge to read but also a witness to resilience and not giving up Did it make me feel uncomfortable - yes - but so it should And I highly recommend it and thank you Heather for telling these stories!

 So last year I read 60 books! Either in paper form or by audio when I had a goal of reading 52 This year I’m going to aim for 55 - and #reading fits well with my theme for 2022 of #create as it’s creating time for me #yearofcreate @goodreads  Thanks 

 So here we are - its 2022 and somehow I managed to survive 2021 and all its ups and downs Hopefully this year is not a repeat My "word" for this year will be "CREATE" - create things, atmospheres, space for myself, just to name a few and I think as I delve further into what it means to create I will learn more. Found this quote - and it fits beautifully. Lets see how I go! And.....seperately...... but related I blocked my skyline wrap that I made from an advent kit from dyed by hand yarns - and I love it - its bright and its bold and it looks awesome! Heres what it look like before blocking and after Here's to a joyful, positive and creative 2022!