BLESSED SPEEDY

What a pleasure it is to be a nanna! My daughter Aimee came with her two girls for two nights but left the older one Mia here for an extra day.  When Mia is here she likes to have nanna time and Gary time. Of course Gary time is usually spent in the tractor, doing farm work etc and her favourite being a fence (which involves standing with arms wide stopping cattle going somewhere and she is really good at it) Well this time in nanna time is asked her if she would like to learn to make a little quilt and she was very keen.  Fabrics were chosen by her.  I cut them - she had to iron them and then I sewed a few together and so did she. By this time her concentration was beginning to wane so I didn't want to push the issue so offered to finish it off for her which I did after she left.  She will be getting it before she heads back to Bendigo as she is currently at her dads in Cohuna.  Looks pretty good for our first effort. When I told my mum about our effort sh...

Things have been moving along here on the farm - we now dont have sick cows -we have sick calves :( So... lots of long long days feeding each calf very carefully with the best colustrum milk we have (freshly calved cows milk) and also giving them antibiotics etc and lots of love etc - sadly we have lost 6 heifer calves and 3 bull calves - hopefully no more though! BUT on a positive note - we had lovely visitors at easter time (see below!) Mia and Maddison and their parents Aimee and Jason came - its lovely to have kids around and to watch their joy at just being on the farm - things that were sad to us, seen in different eyes have given us a new perspective - and they give pretty good hugs too! I also managed to get a little quilting done - this cute little wallhanging was a kit I was given from my secret pal who lives somewhere overseas (I think America) and she send me a giftie each month - its a part of the Dear Jane group of which Im part of - I send gifts to someone el...

Ive just finally finished this quilt - and I must say Im really pleased with how it has turned out.  It was a lot of cutting (and HUGE amount of cutting - although I did cut too much fabric and have heaps left over), lots of sewing and then I stippled it myself on my domestic sewing machine.  I had to piece the back so thought I would use up more of the left over strips to join them together - I think it makes it look like it was meant to be. And the black and white fabric used in the binding was an afterthought and it think it fits in really well with the brightness and freshness of the quilt.

I've had a busy time cleaning up my now much smaller sewing area.  Before we renovated I had a much bigger space but due to having to move a large kitchen hutch into our sun room, my sewing area is now a lot smaller - although I have gained extra storage!Once I decided to clean though it wasnt too bad - and I found things I had forgotten (as you do!) even chocolate - but it was off so serve me right. In the process I refound several plastic baggies of leftover fabric from various things I had made - so Im determined to use them up or if not move them on to someone who will use them.  First two efforts are shown here - the lap size quilt is made up of leftover tumbler blocks from a large bed quilt I gifted to Mia last year and the table runner is from leftover Egyptian fabric I had from a queen sized quilt I made Aimee probably 6 years ago - but now all used up and two (yes two!!!) empty plastic baggies. Its a good feeling.

Well as its the new year - of course I had to have a bit of a declutter and reassess of my crafting activities. I dug out the kit for a BOM that I had (craftsy 2013 block of the month) and had a go at doing the first block - difficulties from the word go, not the block or the sewing but having to download dvds and instructions on the internet and of course it was a day when our internet connection was not that good was terrible.  After doing the first months block I had a good hard look at the whole quilt and realised that I really didnt like it! I do however like the fabrics.  Was brave and decided that there is no point carrying on making something I dont like as chances are it will never get finished.....and thankfully the patterns were free so nothing lost there. Hunted out a great pattern  giant scrappy dresden  and Im going to use my fabrics to make it Spent most of this afternoon cutting out and was oh so amazed how much easier it is to cut fabric when you ...

Five or so years ago I joined into an international block swap - we were placed into groups of five from what I can remember and we sent each of the other four people a piece of fabric to be incorporated into a quilt block and be sent back to us.  I received back three blocks and had my own but the lady who was making the fifth block was somehow lost contact with.  Therefore I gave up on that last block and made a table runner from the four blocks I had. However several weeks ago I had an email from that lady who lives in the US and she said she had always intended to make my block and had done so and was posting it back to me- I was stunned! Anyway the block arrived and I still had some of the fabric left that I sent (its in the centre of the star) so decided to add a few rounds to the block she sent and make a table topper. This is the result - and Im quite pleased with it if I do say so myself - and it this small exercise may well have rekindled my quiltin...

Today I had a rare few hours by myself - Gary had gone to play bowls and I had nothing I had to do while he was gone, so decided to dig through my ufos.  Guess what I found? One of the two dear janes I have been working on VERY spasmodically. This one I've been working on since 2006.  Don't think I've touched it for two years but today I got to see the light of day. It's not the complete quilt but about 2/3rds of it and I'm doing storm at sea sashings. After spending a good half an hour working out exactly where I was up to I managed to get six of the cornerstone blocks done, as well as printing out a heap of foundation papers and sorting out what went where.  Mind you I had to actually force, and I mean force, myself to start doing this, but once I got going I got into the swing of things and really enjoyed myself.  I'm going to try and keep going and actually get this one finished sometime in the nearish future.

With the weather being so hot - as can be seen by this photo that was taken two days ago in Cohuna (15 minutes drive away) at 7.30pm and of course with the cricket being on the television - thanks to my Grandpa who taught me from a very young age to really appreciate the "proper cricket" - i.e. test cricket and of course the "holy grail" of cricket - the ashes closely followed by the boxing day test, neither of which was on but still a great test game between Australia and Sri Lanka I have been working on not one but four projects at once, working on each as the mood takes me. Photo of all four is here - crocheted blanket in bendigo cotton, embroidery block from "love is" block of the month, a sock I am test knitting and chair covers for the two lounge chairs. I'm doing a bit on each in no particular order - just as the mood strikes me. But trying to do a "little bit" of each daily. Today I managed to finish the chair s...

 Currently these are the three main things I am working on at the moment.  Firstly this quilt made of squares of Christmas fabric that I received in a swap I took part in in 2007 - refound them while I was cleaning up and having been putting it all together, it might even be ready for Christmas 2012. This knitting is what I've been working on in the evenings while watching tv - the pattern is water and stone (ravelry link)  - I started this in July and was kicking myself as its such a lot of knitting to do.  I'm using lovely madelintosh sport yarn which is a pleasure to knit with and I'm actually suprised how quickly it is going now that I have been applying myself.  And finally this stitchery block is block number two of a block of the month pattern I'm working on called Scandinavian Rose by Rosalie Quinlan.  I've finished block 1 and as you can see almost done block 2.  Using lovely cosmo threads which are a...

Thanks to the lovely Linda  I now have a quilt made from scraps, batting used was scraps joined together and even the backing was a piece I had just sitting waiting to be used. As mentioned earlier, Linda has mentioned on her blog that she was making these great granny blocks, and as I was just home from hospital I was inspired.  Not able to scrounge around in my fabric tubs, I found that I could delve in my scrap tub - and this is the result. Lovely and bright and sort of free!

No photos today - the place (well my crafting area) is in a mess being tidied.  I've just stopped for a break.  But lots has been achieved and got rid of. I've been fairly ruthless - stuff I dont think Ill ever get around to using or doing has gone into one of four (yes four!!!) garbage bags and I've taken them into the local trash and treasure for them to sell and make money from. Yes I could have tried to sell them on ebay or one of the online groups that I am on, but I wanted to get rid of the "stuff" NOW and not wait and not change my mind.  And the profits from the trash and treasure goes to a good cause. I've now got a fairly largish pile of stuff I want to finish off - at least 8 things I think in the "immediate pile" so I will see how I go. P.S. I dont even know how some of the stuff got here - cos some of it I dont even remember buying!

If you are a regular reader of my blog you might have noticed a bit of a theme lately.  Since I havent been well, I seem to have returned to doing stuff I haven't done touched been interested in for quite some time i.e. embroidery/quilting etc. And how good does it feel! Thankfully I prepared and thought a lot ahead - years ago - and have actually been able to be quite productive without having to spend a cent - how smart am I? Today I was sitting quilting a smallish table cloth type thing that I have made with a "dessert roll" that someone gifted me years and years ago - prepared earlier????? And I was loving it! I've also been managing to post here on this blog every second day - have you noticed?  I've been trying to alternate it with farm stuff and crafty stuff and it seems to be working. Hope you readers are enjoying it too!

I've finally made a decision after much thought and discussion - I was (a couple of months ago - before stuff happened) very keen to run for local council.  I had had many people ask me to run and offered their support and/or help which was very flattering. However events over the past little while have made me realise that now might not be the best time to take on something as time intensive as this.  So I've decided NOT to throw my hat into the ring. On the plus and finishing side - I've finished something else - this embroidery sampler that Mum gave me I dont know how long ago to do for her - I think it was a freebie in a magazine or something, I dont honestly remember as it was so long ago. Anyway its done now, and bound and ready to be given to Mum when I next visit her - btw got the border, backing and binding materials from Mum - she was so excited to go through fabric with me and choose them!

I havent been idle - but actually quite productive - its amazing what you can get done when you are "grounded" (i.e. not able allowed to drive).  I've made these 6 blocks after seeing a post on Linda's blog - granny squares I think they are called.  Im using scraps from my scrap tub that I had already cut into 2 1/2' strips so no delving etc required - and so far so good! Secondly, I've managed to finish another stitchery - this one a heart as can be seen here on the left.  I think the money for this went towards Breast Cancer research or something similar when I bought the kit.  Anyway it turned out pretty well - used the lovely cosmo embroidery threads and they are fabulous to use, they hardly ever knot etc.  Quite liking this rekindling of my love of doing stitcheries - plenty more in my stash to do!

I've finished the round robin quilt that I received home from the quilt with christ yahoo group. It was quite lovely as it was but I added some embroidery around the outer border as well as a couple more hearts heading towards the outside.  It is now sitting in the centre of my dining table

Goodness! I cant believe that one month of 2012 has gone already! It will be Christmas again before we know it - I dont know about anyone else but time seems to be running away these days And another hurrah!!! Finally (yes finally after two years) managed to finish this single block which is done by needleturn.  I really dont like it that much mainly as Im sick of it hanging around and actually had to FORCE myself to finish it but thankfully its finally done!

The chook quilt (which Speedy the cat was inspecting on a previous blog post) is now finished and delivered to Mia - of course she loved it - she always loves anything that I make for her which is really gratifying. Now that is done Im moving on to the "rest"of the pile of stuff to be finished.........sigh.........its huge! I have a needleturned panel that was from a class a year or two ago which I really must finish as Im not really that in love with it but very determined to finish it!

You know some things just never change - last night I was pinning together a quilt top - out of chook fabrics that my mum gave me = and guess who gave me a hand/inspection - speedy!

When I had my big clean up/clean out of my sewing and craft area I found that for some reason I had several things that were started and not quite finished off.....so.....today I had an afternoon to myself - Gaz was at lawn bowls and Megan was a friends place and I didnt have to milk or actually do anything........so.........I worked thru some of the abovementioned pile - Firstly, this panel was gifted to me in a karma swap over on ravelry from msdonna - I received it months ago and thought I would make it up for Aimee's new baby that is not that far away from entering the world so layered it and quilted it with an allover stipple design, bound it and hand sewed down the back of the binding with the hanging sleeve whilst watching lost in austen on dvd. Next effort was this table runner that was finished ages months ago and just needed the binding handsewn down, so did that too while watching more of the abovementioned dvd.  It will probably go in the gift cupboard awaiting its ne...

Ive had a bit of a finishing effort - this beret is called Tulipanaros and is a test knit for a fellow member on ravelry - the pattern is yet to be released but it is by Maria Naslund so I suppose you can search for it once its released - the beret will probably be gifted to my daughter sarah as she loves berets like this and I have made her quite a few already. This next knitted item is called Palindrome and the ravelry link to the pattern is here  I received the yarn and pattern from a fellow ravelry member in a swap called project in a postbag.  The idea is that you swap a ready made sort of kit with yarn and pattern.  The yarn is soy wool stripes/solids and the resulting scarf will be lovely and warm and soft - just not what you need to wear on a day like today which is looking to be 40 degrees celsius plus! The third and final piccy today is of my round robin which has finally made it home.  It is one I have done with an online group I am a member of called...