Season's from my window

Feeding lambs

2011-09-12T14:09:00.009+08:00

I was asked about our lambs, so I've posted a couple of photo's.

I think we need to change the song "Mary had a little lamb....." to "Justine had a little lamb...." and "Everywhere that Justine went...the lamb was sure to go"!!!

Another lamb was rejected overnight, so we're now bottle feeding a second lamb.

Even a "lamb kiss"!!!

It's been a while!!

2011-09-03T10:07:00.005+08:00

Time, that is "days and months" have disappeared rather rapidly. Even my daughter is worried at the pace of time.

Family changes have been happening this year - Our son has moved out into his own unit. This was a big thing and hard for me as his time with us seemed so short, considering his first 6 years were in an orphanage. During the past school holidays hubby and son were driving together, to go walking on Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges, and had a car accident on the way. The car was a write-off, but they walked away no injuries, but a big lesson for our son, yes, he was driving, still on his "L's".

For us the ornamtental cherry blossom is once again covering the trees; the ewes are having lambs; and we're bottle feeding one lamb, rejected by it's mother; we're starting to get warmer days, which I love as you feel the warmth right into your bones.

My crafting days have been limited with my part-time chaplaincy work. So I've not been as productive as I once was. However, I participated in a CQ Asian Challenge on the yahoo gruop CQ4Newbies. I was excited to tie for first place with this block.

Gerry on "Block Talk" has done a very helpful critique on my block, and so I will be working on it to make some changes.

I can't guarantee when I'll post again. But I can tell you we will be away on holidays at the end of the year, visiting Bali, Paris, America, London, Malta, Cyprus, Egpyt, Israel and the Philippines. This trip is to take our daughter back to her birth country for a visit.

Cyclones....!!!!!

2011-02-03T22:39:00.002+08:00

The cyclone that travelled down the coast of Western Australia, stayed out to sea and slowed down, it then hit the colder waters which downgraded it as it crossed over land, into a rain depression. Which we're all thankful for.

However, Queensland is really struggling. Not only with flooding since December, with nearly 2/3 of the state under water, about 3 times the size of Texas, which did go into New South Wales, then Victoria. Then they were hit with two cyclones. With the worst one last night, a category 5 cyclone, Yasi.

It's ladies like Jenny of ELEFANTZ I'm concerned for.

With all the flooding both in north WA, in the eastern states and the cyclones, the food bowl of Australia is severely descimated.

Rare Cyclone Alert for SW Australia

2011-01-28T16:18:00.004+08:00

The last time a cyclone managed to get further down the coast was Cyclone Alby in the 1970's.

It looks like we might be in for a bit of a rough ride over the weekend if the cyclone travels according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast maps.
You can view it at http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml

So to be on alert, from Jurien Bay to Albany, with possible effects felt on Sunday, is indeed, amazing.

Also there are two others off the coast of Queensland, so they are wtching and waiting also.

First 2011 project

2011-01-25T22:16:00.009+08:00

I have completed my first project for 2011. A x-stitch bookmark I received as a Christmas gift. It was "very me"!!! I love roses and pink with cream and green!!

Also end of last year I completed Kaaren's Huswif Needlecase, that she had as one of her First Friday Freebie patterns. The following is the stitchery completed,

Now sewn together with outer fabric, binding and button.

Inside the Huswif Needlecase. I altered Kaaren's last image changing it to a pineapple (from another of Kaaren's FFF's) and my own words "Heart given to hospitality." My home has been that in the last week and a half, with 14 guests either to a meal or staying with us.

Finally a picture of the lastest chickens my daughter is loving to death!!! This is a picture she took on the back verandah, where she plays with them for hours.

"Give Thanks" Free BOM from Jenny

2011-01-03T11:48:00.004+08:00

Jenny of ELEFANTZ has a new BOM with a slight difference. The following is what she shared of her thinking behind this BOM.

"Over the last couple of years there have been many challenges facing our nations, our world, our neighbours, family, friends, and our own lives. When struggles occur it is far easier to focus on the sorrows and trials than on the continuing goodness that still exists in our lives.

This BOM is my small attempt to have our hearts and thoughts dwell on those good things for which we can give thanks.

This month, January, we shall make the wall hanging part of the BOM. Then from February 1st – December 1st I’ll share a small stitched verse of thankful inspiration, made up into a mini hanging that you can display in the blank centre section of the wallhanging."

Months disappeared...Where? and What?

2010-12-31T12:58:00.016+08:00

I’ve wanted to post, for some weeks, but other things kept happening!!! Then a dear friend posted a comment, hoping I was okay, so I knew I just had to sit down and get it done!!

So where do I start?
My new job – as a school chaplain, started off and went very well. By the end of the term I knew over half the students by name and started to place sibling groups together. Coming into my office for “teddy hugs” has been a huge hit.

I also made some cushions for the office, using a very colourful cardigan someone had knitted, which I bought at a second-hand shop. It wasn’t complete – just the back and two front side panels, which had been joined, but no sleeves or anything else. I unpicked it, and made cushions with them. The photo’s show the outcome.

Just before I started the job I managed to get some DJ blocks made for someone I’ve been swapping with for a while. I made great progress then they came to a halt.

I made progress in getting 3 mug pouches sewn up for my giveaway, commenced the embroidery work after completing the colouring-in on the stitcheries, then they came to a halt.

Everything changed as my hours and days changed with working and affected my creative/sewing times. Plus I was feeling quite tied.

On top of all that, my sister-in-law was getting married and asked my daughter to be a flower-girl, along with her cousins. So making a flower-girls dress became priority one, in what little time I had. I really enjoyed making this dress, it's been a few years since I last did some dress making, which was also for a wedding. Back in my teens I used to make most of my clothes.

From this:-

To this:-

Along came Christmas, with family coming here. When we have Christmas here in our home, it’s become our tradition to make a ginger-bread house. So this is our 2010 Gingerbread house!!

Our son now has his "L" driver’s license . . . some of you know me as calm, quiet and easy-going. Well, we may have to now add, “she’ll go grey very quickly!!!”

Then yesterday morning…….my daughter had gone into the kitchen, when she called out “Mum!” I said “What?” (Hubby and I were lying in bed relaxing and talking.)

“Mum, there’s a snake in the kitchen!!” (Action…..fast jumping out of bed, unbelief that it could be so….)

There it was right in front of the kitchen stove. Hubby raced out for a shovel, while we kept watch, as it turned and slithered back across in from of the cupboards and sink.

My husband has said “it ‘naturally’ died of ‘natural’ causes!!!” It was a 3ft “tiger snake”. Some interesting stats: one person a year dies from snake bite in Australia. 60% of people die from a “tiger snake” bite.

We can only guess it came through the front door, when the flywire door wasn’t properly closed. Don’t try and think about it being in the house for the day and night, without us knowing!!!

So I’m happy to say we are all safe and well and I’m hoping for some creative times in coming weeks. I’m suffering badly from “withdrawal symptoms”!!

More denim and more things

2010-09-10T19:08:00.009+08:00

You have probably seen those adverts that want to sell you something, then they say “but wait there’s more!”

I’m going to tease you and do that right now.

Firstly, you need to see the view from my sewing room window at the moment. Isn’t it beautiful?

Secondly, I mentioned the “ah huh” moment I had after notification of the position as school chaplain, how I still having left over denim to use up and that I could make a journal cover. Well here it is. Can you see the “splotch of paint” on the denim? which is the reason these denim jeans were no longer wanted.

Well you can’t see it in the finished product!!!

Thirdly, I had a swap with Cyndi from blue bird swing, after she made a lovely comment on Sue’s blog "The House That Love Built" when I made and sent Sue a crocheted hat pincushion. I offered to make Cyndi one, so she offered to make something as a swap. I had wanted to make the wallet tutorial she had, and so she made it for me using denim fabric. Here is the gorgeous parcel.

But here are the special contents!!

Fourthly, I had contact from the editor of HOMESPUN after seeing the mug pouches I’d made. I was asked if I’d like to submit a “Readers Letter” sharing why I made the mug pouches, any changes I made and so forth, after using the pattern from their magazine. That was a real surprise!!!

Finally, the winner is…………

But wait there’s more………….

I decided, because I can, that I would make an extra couple of mug pouches. I knew it would be sad, when so may entered the giveaway, that I couldn’t make one for everyone.

So I decided I would choose -

Number 1 – Jeannette , because number 'ones' don’t come up often in random number generator’s, also because Jeannette has just started a new position in a school situation, in New Zealand. A similar story to me!!

Here are the next two winners, by a random number generator:

Number 92, which is Darlis, one of my anonymous entries. So Darlis, I need you to email me your email address. If I don’t hear from Darlis, by Monday Sept 13th, I’ll draw another number.

And

Number 18 which is Marianne. I shall be emailing you shortly.

I had 154 entries into my excel document, accounting for those that in one comment were a follower, or blogged etc. Thank you all so much for entering and for the increase in followers.

“Thank You, Sarah Tobias”

2010-09-09T23:10:00.008+08:00

Blackbird Designs released a x-stitch book in 2008, titled “Thank you, Sarah Tobias”.

I found out about it from Kaaren, as she told me of the gorgeous needle case in it. So I was able to get my own copy, and indeed, it was just beautiful and I had to “have it”!! Kaaren completed hers last year.

I was able to obtain the Crescent Colour threads at Janine’s shop, Colours Downunder, that I spoke about here. Then commenced the x-stitching, enjoying any and every moment. I bought the most gorgeous “olde world” rose type fabric, done on a black background.

I also found in a second-hand shop a beautiful piece of rich gold heavy lace (for $1), and knew it would look just right with the rose fabric.

This is the completed x-stitch, folded to form pockets and bound. The felt is sewn on the bottom on the inside. The black and gold button, just made for it!!

My finished version of “Flowers for Sarah Needle Case”!!

"Giveaway" Housekeeping

2010-09-06T08:02:00.003+08:00

Thank you so much, to so many wonderful ladies, who have entered into the giveaway. There is still time to enter, as the draw will be on Friday, September 10th.

I sincerely thank you for your thoughts and well wishes on the new position as a School Chaplain. I will slowly get to visit each of you.

It's interesting, one of the comments made by the school principal at the interview, that they required of a chaplain, is that the office is warm, inviting and welcoming - to put the kids at ease.

I've put some thought to this. I've decided I'll take two crocheted blankets I have, one made by my Nanna, who is now 96 years old, one I made when I was 14 years old. I have a framed stitchery that reads "If friends were flowers, I'd pick you." I'm thinking of having a few soft toys they can cuddle or just hold, to do something with their hands. What ideas can you think of?

***************

Just some housekeeping. I now know how sad it feels when Anonymous comments come in and I can’t reply back. So could Cheryl Camp, Darlene N, Darlis, two different Denises, Dot (I have two close Dot friends, so can’t tell if they are playing a friendly trick on me!!!) and Stephanie – please email me your email address. I can then respond back to you.

By the way, through my giveaway I have had Pilar from cenefas de flores, visit from Spain and she is having a giveaway that you’re welcome to enter.

"Mug Pouch" GIVEAWAY

2010-09-02T11:59:00.005+08:00

I decided I would have a giveaway, a first for me!! to celebrate the School Chaplain position, that I posted about earlier.

Therefore . . . . I'll make one of the mug pouches, I blogged about previously.

WHAT TO DO?

1. Leave a comment on this post

2. I'd love for you to become a "follower" of my blog. Leave a second comment if you do.

3. If you want to blog about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a third comment if you do.

I'll draw the winner on Friday, September 10th. I'll then be in contact, to find out your favourite drink, ie tea, coffee, chocolate ......, your favourite colour/colours, and favourite flower!!

Now I know you'll all want one, I'd love to be able to do that!!! I'm one of those very unsuccessful blog giveaway winners....yes, entered many, but sadly my name jumps away from random number generators or out of the bowl!!!

But I hope you'll have fun trying!!!!

School Chaplain

2010-09-02T09:43:00.005+08:00

In the 52MMMC, mentioned here and here, I had down as item no 7:- Get a part-time job – after being out of the work-force for 7 years.

I applied for a position as a School Chaplain, in a District High School, in a nearby town. I went through the stages of the Vocational Assessment, the interview process which involved two stages. The second stage held yesterday, with a panel of four at the actual school. In the afternoon I had a phone call, offering me the position as the school chaplain.

Yes, I was successful and thank the Lord for it all. It was a situation that arose completely “out of the blue.” Honestly, not a position I’d ever thought of doing, let alone applying for. So through the whole process I was praying about it and leaving it in the Lord’s hands, as to what He’d have me do. If it’s what He wanted then it would happen. I commence in term 4 - October.

What does a school chaplain do?

Chaplains provide general personal pastoral care and spiritual advice, comfort and support to all students and staff, regardless of their religious denomination, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

However, I’ve yet to learn and walk the path of this position to see and understand fully what it will involve.

I’m a little nervous as it’s something very new. But again with the Lord’s guidance and help, I know things will unfold and I’ll find my place and abilities within this position.

Edit Note: I did this post about an hour ago....walked away and did a few things. Then had an "ah huh" moment!! I know what else I can use some of the denim for!!! I need to buy a good diary now - a day a page with time break-up's in it - so I can make a diary cover for it!!! Like Jenny did to her "brown expenses" book!!

Icecream Container . . and . . Mug Pouch?!

2010-08-31T07:42:00.010+08:00

I mentioned two posts ago about the Re-Invention challenge by Jenny of ELEFANTZ. I can now show you what I did with the icecream container.

A few years back I saw the pattern for a mug pouch, by Christine Book, in the Australian HOMESPUN magazine No. 38 (Vol. 7 No.4). I wanted to make one then, but never did. Recently our patchwork group decided, as it’s growing “too big”!!! and to make it easier on the hostess, where we meet once a month, it was suggested to bring our own mug along. I knew exactly what I wanted to make, to take along my mug with.

I also made a couple of others for friends in the group also. So I’m using the last one I made, as the model for the process of making it and how the icecream container came in useful. I tried something new – colouring in with pencils the stitchery, painting over it with Textile Medium and iron setting it.

1. The pouch is made in two pieces, like mini quilts. With some embroidered pockets. One goes on the back for a teaspoon, and the teabags plus sugar.

2. It’s folded in a certain way, which makes sense soon…!!!

3. Embroidery completed, which I did as Crazy Quilting, as my friend loves CQ! Also a piece of icecream container. What’s if for? It will sit in the bottom of the pouch to hold the base out. I used it because I didn’t have any template plastic like the instructions suggested.

4. The pockets have been sewn on the front and the back, and now the two pieces are hand sewn together, to form the pouch.

5. The completed pouch!!!

6. Here are the three I made. The rose one is mine.

7. The back of my pouch, showing what the "spoon" pocket looks like.

Gorgeous giveaway

2010-08-28T18:34:00.005+08:00

Gerry at olderrose is having a gorgeous giveaway.

Here are the details:

PRIZE # 1.... One of Gerry's "Rise Above it All" pincushions.... This one is blue velvet and lavishly embellished with a vintage brooch and beads, jewels and trims....... plus a tiny locket... It is 8" tall with a weighted silver base. It will never get lost in your stash.

PRIZE #2..... Keeping with the blue theme, a trio of bluebirds hand-painted by Gerry... Since these are antique mother-of-pearl buttons they are especially luminous and reflect every light source in the room..... thus are very difficult to photograph.. They are only 1" in diameter and have a metal shank in back... Although difficult to tell in the photo they are edged with gold...

Stunningly beautiful and I would love to win, sadly my name never gets a drawn in giveaways. But I will try!!!

Re-Invention Challenge

2010-08-26T10:07:00.010+08:00

Jenny of ELEFANTZ has a Re-Invention challenge this month. I've continued to re-use a couple of denim jeans (which was Jenny's challenge a couple of months ago).....but I've also re-purposed an icecream container!!!

Firstly here is what is left of one pair of jeans!!!

In the previous post I've shown the bag I made from these jeans. I've since made a "remote control" pouch/pocket for my hubby as well!! I unpicked different seams to end up with workable pieces. For the control pouch, I retained both pockets intact, and added extra denim between each pocket to be the part that hung over the arm rest.

Secondly, here is what is left of the re-purposed icecream container!!!

I've made a "mug pouch" for myself and also for a couple of friends, which I'll blog about next time. However, it required some templastic, cut out to fit the bottom of the pouch, to hold the shape. I didn't have any, so I thought, I know what I can use....the sides of an icecream container....and it worked very well!!

THE OTHER PAIR OF RE-CYCLED JEANS

I made a "masculine" cover for my hubby's new iPad, from the other pair of jeans, shown in the previous post. Well "masculine" now meets "feminie"!!! A Kindle cover for me!!!

A gorgeous pattern from Moda's Bake shop...the...Bookkeeper Cover.

Re-cycled Denim Jean projects

2010-08-12T22:23:00.010+08:00

More projects for Item 2, on my 52MMMC list – using re-cycled jeans.

I made a “masculine” cover, using left over denim from the first pair I’d been cutting up, for my husbands new iPad. These jeans had top stitching already done in medium brown thread, so I continued that theme, top stitching where I could. I had some old plain brown fabric that matched well, to use as the lining and binding. I finished off by top stitching the brown binding in dark blue thread.

A great find in a second-hand shop some weeks back were jeans going at a $1 each. I picked out a pair where the denim was still a very nice dark colour. It also had a light blue cording set into the side seams. I made another bag this time working out the pattern as I went, with knowledge gained from the Make-A-Bag-Sew-Along.

I didn’t want to undo the seams where the blue cording was so that was left complete and I then sewed in a centre panel of fabric. This fabric is a Windham Fabric line “Sally Rose” ca. 1845-1865.

To make the bag base for making the box shape and to have enough denim, I had to sew a couple of pieces together, then set this in a bit as the “jean leg” panel flared out a bit as it went down to the base of the bag.

I wanted to be able to close my bag with a zip, and spent hours trying to figure it out thinking of the toiletry pouch and gathered clutch I’d previously made. But I had help from a fellow scquilter (Southern Cross Quilter's yahoo group) who pointed me in the direction of “how to insert a concealed top edge bag zipper”.

So I was able to accomplish this. Although in the tutorial she took the zip apart, I didn’t do that, just carefully made and sewed the fabric casing each side of the zip and achieved the same result.

I made denim straps using what long length I could cut from the left over jeans, which were 20 inches x 3 ¼ inches. I folded the denim in half and pressed in a ¼ seam down each length and top stitched these seams together, then a line of top stitching on the fold, to have a nice finish.

I cut the selvedge off with the fabric name on it and made a loop that I caught up in the lining seams to attach keys too.

I have really enjoyed these projects, loving the look and feel of the denim.

Make A Bag Sew Along - finished

2010-08-12T09:34:00.004+08:00

Item 3 on my 52MMMC list – is now completely complete!! I made the last two items for this set in the Make-A-Bag-Sew-Along, which were the sun-glasses case plus the bits-and-pieces pouch.

The complete set is made up of the tote, toiletries pouch, mini make-up roll, sun-glasses case and bits-and-pieces pouch.

* - * - * - * - *

The Biscornu in my previous post – I had some one ask, “what is a biscornu?” This link gives the definition and how to make one.

52MMMC - Part 2

2010-08-03T07:49:00.011+08:00

Two posts ago I mentioned this challenge.

I’ve made a few more slow-cooker dishes, back on July 7th. So here are some photo’s to tempt you!!

A Moroccan Beef with Kumara and Sultana’s. It had a cinnamon stick cooking in it also, which you can see on the top.

Plus for dessert Chocolate self-saucing pudding.

Three weeks ago I had family over for Sunday lunch. I prepared some of the meal on Saturday, but on Sunday had the dessert cooking in the slow-cooker, while we were all at church. The dessert was Blackberry cobbler….all very yummy, once again!!!

+ - + - + - + - +

While away a couple of weeks ago with my daughter, I visited Janine Smith's shop Colour Down Under. She has a cross-stitch class for newbies, and anyone else that wants to join in, on Wednesday mornings. I took a friends two eldest daughter’s along, while my daughter stayed with my friend and her other girls.

The group are working on a biscornu. A free pattern, Traditional Bulgarian Motif, which is quite simple and lovely in all sorts of colourways. Here is my version of it.

12. Make a biscornu. Completed July 26th.

13. Learning tatting.

Raggedy & Friends BOM

2010-07-21T22:12:00.005+08:00

Kaaren is offering a gorgeous "Raggedy & Friends BOM". A free BOM for 10 months.

Along with making this I can see I need to make a "Raggedy Anne" and a "Raggedy Andy" to sit together with the quilt.

So for the 52MMMC - that makes number 11. on the list - Two Raggedy Dolls.

52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge

2010-07-05T16:56:00.009+08:00

What am I to do when I see Jenny of ELFANTZ with an interesting challenge last month of making something by re-cycling some used denim jeans? I was given a pair by a visiting missionary family, who were passing through here on deputation, to leave at a second-hand shop (it had gotten some paint on them). So I decided I would use them some how…………..

Then I saw the “Make a Bag sew along” that Kelly's blog had, which I’ve already blogged about. So I decided I would do this fun project………………..

Then a couple of days ago, I saw this challenge, the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge . The idea is to make, learn or do 52 things in a year. I got thinking about some things I would like to do. So I decided I would have a go with this challenge……………

See where I’m heading too? So many things to make and do, and not getting back to my basket blocks, which I blogged about here, and no further sewing on my Dear Jane triangles!!!!

Anyway some things I’d like to achieve with the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge in a year.

1. Use my Slow Cooker or Crockpot more – found a couple of cook books in town. 5-Ingredients Slow Cooker Recipes by Jean Paré (Company’s Coming Kitchen Workbooks), at the local Post Office and the Women’s Weekly Slow Cooker recipe book, at Coles.

Have had fun cooking the following since July 1st:-
Homestyle Beef Stew (recipe from the internet)
Italian Beef Casserole (recipe from Women’s Weekly Slow Cooker)
Pineapple Cherry Cobbler (recipe from 5-Ingredients Slow Cooker Recipes)

All yummy, might I add!!!

2. Re-cycled denim jean items – Made a Japanese Knot bag from Helen Heath's Blog, that I’ve wanted to make for a while, and the Gathered Clutch. DONE July 4th and 5th

3. Make a Bag Sew Along – 3 accessories made – the tote, toiletries pouch and mini make-up roll.

4. Practice machine quilting – I made a table runner last year, using some cupcake fabrics I bought. I made it all, even sandwiched it, but stalled at the quilting. I had intended to machine quilt it all along, but was too scared to start or try…..so today, I thought “That’s it! I’m doing it no matter what!!” I want it finished and on the table I designed it to be used for. STARTED quilting July 5th

5. More Crazy Quilting (CQ) blocks and projects

6. Learn Ribbon Embroidery to use in CQ

7. Get a part-time job – after being out of the work-force for 7 years.

8. Complete the Dear Jane Triangles

9. Get up-to-date with the Basket blocks

10. Finish crocheting an Irish Rose lap blanket

I have a year to think of others things I want to make, learn or do for the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness in a year challenge, however, I’ve made or started 9 items in the last few days.

A Bag Sew Along on . . . MAKE

2010-06-04T16:43:00.004+08:00

Kelly is having a Sew Along using a charm pack and a bit of extra fabric....

You can make your own charm packs by cutting out squares.

Drop over to Kelly's blog and read what you will need, to make a great set of bags and accessories. She has listed what you need to get together, to start sewing along with her over the next eight weeks.

I think the set she has made is just beautiful, so image the fun we can have using our own favourite colours and fabrics!!

HOME TOGETHER

My men have arrived safely home after their two month's travel. Just suffering the dreaded "dehli belly" which makes for discomfort at the moment. However, its great to have them home. They have amazing stories to tell of people and sights, and just a testimony of God's protection and direction all the way.

ELEFANTZ Giveaway

2010-05-26T09:07:00.005+08:00

It's been awhile since I've entered a giveaway. I've been unfruitful in all. However, Jenny of ELEFANTZ is having one, I just had to enter. I loved the fabric and her designs.

Here is what to do:

1 entry: leave a comment on her blog post and be sure to leave your email or blog address for her to contact you.
3 entries: leave a comment on her blog post PLUS put the button below on your blog and link it back to ELEFANTZ! To make it easier for Jenny to count please leave 3 comments for your 3 entries. Please be honest!!!

If you enter this giveaway from learning of it here, please mention my blog in your comment.

http://seasonsforsusan.blogspot.com/

I really really would like to win some of that beautiful fabric!!!

Centenary Quilt revealed

2010-05-24T18:04:00.005+08:00

This afternoon we had the unveiling and presentation of the Manjimup Centenary Quilt. It was held at the Library/Gallery part of the Manjimup Community Centre.

A good gathering of over 50 people, men, women and girls. There will be an article in our local newspaper, which will make more people in the community aware of it, plus the many visitors to the library and gallery, where meetings and functions are held.

A great group effort from our local patchwork group involving 14 ladies. Also another lady who hand-dyes her own fabrics, she donated a lot of the background fabric.

Completed x-stitch samplers

2010-05-24T13:13:00.007+08:00

I’ve completed the Mary Poppins SAL designed by Ralina. It is now framed and hiding in hubby’s study, as it will be my “home made” Christmas gift for my daughter this year. Read here and here about our family "homemade" Christmas gifts.

I’ve also completed the Ten Virgin’s x-stitch by Gigi. It was stitched one thread over one thread. It's very fine and a bit difficult to run the finishing thread through stitches on the back to snip off.

The first photo is of the back:

The second photo is of the front. I have the frame, my sister-in-law is cutting the cardboard mat for me, then the project will be ready to hang up.

Chicken Doll??!!
What’s a young chicken and a teenage chicken to do, when the daughter of the house treats you like a doll?

Just sit there looking pretty!!

Spring Fever Bingo

2010-05-20T08:47:00.002+08:00

I'm going to join in with Spring Fever Bingo. I haven't done anything like this, but it seems like it will be fun!!

Although it will be a bit tricky for the middle two weeks of June, as my daughter has to go into hospital and we'll be away for that, for two weeks. So hopefully I can access someone's computer while I'm away!!

Nima's Hat Pincushion

2010-05-19T15:13:00.007+08:00

Nima has this cute crocheted hat pincushion pattern on her site. She is encouraging any of us that are willing, to make one and then post a picture of our complete hat pincushion. It is very quick, cute and pretty.

I actually added one more row:- sc, 2 ch, miss one sc, sc into next sc, all the way around to give a little frill. I was thinking of making a "ribbon" of chains in a finer pink thread to weave in out of the frill, but with the thread colours I have, it would be better if my hat was pure white, rather than the cream in this photo.

Here is mine:

Hearts and Crazy Quilting (CQ)

2010-05-17T09:50:00.006+08:00

I blogged last year about the heart swap blocks we did in our patchwork group. One month, we swapped crazy patch hearts. I didn’t do a really “proper” crazy patch, although I did use different coloured fabrics for each section in the different colourways that each participant wanted, but it was foundation pieced really!!!

I have all the blocks put together including two special ones. One from Rosa and one from Cyn. I have a few hearts from Rosa and Cyn that will go into some pillowcases as part of the bed linen set.

I needed another row of hearts to make the quilt the size I need, for my bed, so have made the following batch, although I need two more. Another applique heart which is prepped at the moment. And a friend has offered to make the other crazy patch heart that is required.

This time I did do a “proper” crazy patch heart….and I loved doing it!! So I have discovered I want to do more CQing!!! It’ll be one of those projects I can sit and work away on at night, like I do x-stitch and eventually get through the fun embroidery and techniques. I now know I want to learn ribbon embroidery as well!!

I’m reading up on the history of CQ and more specifically, trying to learn the choice of motifs and meanings they have. So I put an anchor on my heart which represents ‘faith’. The spider and spider web have become a popular motif, which represents ‘good luck.’ I didn’t put that on my heart as one of the other crazy patchwork hearts done by a friend here, had the spider and spider web. I believe it’s walking in the steps of my Lord and His Word, that will bring peace, contentment, direction and blessing in my life.

The butterfly on the heart was using what was on that piece of fabric, it had a number of butterflies over it, so embroidered it and used the colourings for a specific butterfly from Tibet. I looked up butterflies in an encyclopaedia, for that one!!

"Home Alone" - Part 2

2010-05-13T08:25:00.008+08:00

Well six weeks have gone by with my husband and son being away overseas.

They had a very successful time finding our son’s birth parents, also his siblings (older and younger), grandparents and many uncles, aunts and cousins. A Romanian Baptist Pastor, that we came to be in contact with weeks before they flew out, was such a great help. He went and found them before my husband and son got to Romania. This Pastor took them to the village and was also able to do all the interpreting, which was such a blessing.

They have been through Turkey, seeing many Biblical places and enjoying wonderful friendships, hospitality and helpfulness from the locals. They also got into Syria, though it was a bit difficult at the border and organizing the visa.

Fortunately their airflights into Europe were before the Iceland Volcano, so didn’t get affected by the events of that. They were moving around on land by then, in trains and buses. They did however, get held up at Athens during the 24hour strike, which delayed them a day from getting into Egypt and thus they missed a connecting train, tour and flight previously planned. Hubby wasn't upset about this, as he had decided, financially, the train and tour would be a bit expensive. So they just stayed in Cairo. Here's a photo I got. My son is standing in the centre near the "wire thing".

They have also spent some time in Naples and Rome and now flying to Spain.

Quilt block for 60th birthday
I’ve mentioned the patchwork group I’m with, in regards to the centenary quilt. One of the ladies has just had her 60th, so all in the group made autumn blocks, as she loves those colours. This is the block I made for her

I did raw edge applique around the cornucopia, leaves and flowers, seeing as that was a new technique I learnt while doing the centenary quilt.

Next I filled in with some embroidery.

Finally filling in with yo-yo's using the Clover Flower shape yo-yo maker.

She was presented with this quilt last week, which looked absolutely wonderful, with the blocks done by everyone else.

The pattern was from an Australian Country Threads magazine.

Shooting practice
My brother is a registered shooter and he invited, my daughter and I, out shooting one night on his friends farm. We since have gotten together and had another afternoon, this time target shooting. This is the first time I’ve done this and was quite pleased with my efforts, as you can see in the photo. My daughter did very well also.

Town Centenary Quilt

2010-04-30T11:05:00.005+08:00

Many hours have been spent working on our towns centenary quilt.

We have a number of smaller “snap-shot” blocks, sewn by a number of different ladies from our patchwork group, that will be randomly placed onto a large quilt background which is one big scene of a typical valley around here of vegetable crops, orchards, pasture, river and trees.

I was working on the “street-scape” snap-shot with another friend. We used old photo’s and recreated the buildings in fabric. It is all raw-edge appliquéd. Finishing touches were also sewn on like the flag poles, window frames, wheel spokes and horse reigns and so forth. I’ve embroidered on the business names and the clock markings on the shire office.

The quilt is basically finished now. Another friend is doing the quilting, before another sews on the binding. The quilt will be unveiled May 29th. I'll show photo's of it completed, once our town has seen it.

Almost "Home Alone"

2010-04-01T09:42:00.003+08:00

Early Tuesday morning April 6th, my husband and son fly overseas for two months.

The primary reason is to visit Romania and see if they are successful in finding our son's birth mother. They will travel to many other countries including visits to many Biblical sites, such as the Seven Churches of Revelation and Mt Ararat.

Initially they fly from here, to Kuala Lumpar, to London, then to Poland for their first stop. They'll visit some of the concentration camps, before going onto Romania by train.

Would value your prayers, especially on Saturday, April 10th - the day he may see his birth mother.

From their they will catch the train across to Istanbul, Turkey, spending nearly two weeks in Turkey. Other countries will include Syria, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Ireland and finally India, to visit one of our church families who have gone to teach at a Christian School for two years.

Over the coming two months, I will mention some of the places they visit and how things go for them.

Colouring In

2010-04-01T08:38:00.009+08:00

We all have enjoyed the childhood pursuit of colouring in. More recently crafty ladies are using them in stitcheries etc. They look gorgeous.

I needed to colour in my own background for a flannelgraph series on the Old Testament Tabernacle produced by CEF, for our weekly Kid’s Fun Club lessons. I used oil crayons, then a toothbrush to brush/blend the colours into the flannelette fabric.

I was very pleased to finally get this Tabernacle series as it is an old set of lessons that CEF are no longer printing. The CEF representatives here in WA were able to find one hidden away somewhere in the USA, when they were there last year. I was very very excited when they called to say they’d managed to find it for me.

INTERESTING FACT: If you could fly in with a helicopter over the Children of Israel camped out in the wilderness, with the Tabernacle in the centre facing west and east, then the tribes, with numbers given in the Bible, camped either, north, south, east or west of the tabernacle according to the pattern God gave - you would see the shape of the cross.

Another one of the many pictures throughout the Tabernacle of the promised Messiah, who has come, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we come up to Easter time, we see many of the things He fulfilled, shown in "picture form" in the Old Testament.

Have you acknowledged your personal need of Him to be your Saviour?

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans 3:10

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

Gift Mail

2010-03-29T13:12:00.005+08:00

I discovered this wonderful Free Craft pattern site, where she links to tutorials and patterns….. I discovered on her personal blog, she loves owls!!! Her name? Khris . I decided to make Khris a crocheted owl night mask end of last year.

Well a lovely surprise arrived in the mail, back in February, for me!!!

Gorgeous owl paper hiding the gift within

Fabric covered note book (now in my hand-bag) and beautiful pastel fat quarters.

All just perfect.

Generosity amongst quilters

2010-02-15T08:56:00.004+08:00

Today I found out about another lovely free BOM stitchery. This one is GIFTS OF GRACE by Val Laird. It's based on the Bible verses Galations 5:22-23, known as the Fruit of the Spirit.

The generosity of fellow quilters, crafters and artisans is wonderful. Especially when some of us don't have the great drawing and designing skills that others have been gifted with.

Mary Poppins SAL progress

2010-01-31T15:10:00.006+08:00

I've enjoyed stitching this x-stitch.

The patterns on the rooves remind me of the Cathedral in Vienna. I saw this when in Vienna in 1989. It stills comes to mind at different times when I see x-stitch patterns.

X-Stitch progress

2010-01-22T12:02:00.004+08:00

The following is my progress on my Ten Virgins x-stitch pattern from Gigi. Since this photo I've completed this one. So I'll update my photo soon!!!

I've also started on a Mary Poppins SAL, from here. I found out about it and saw it on Heidi's blog. I'm using DMC variegated 99 for the tumbling umbrella's in the border. the dark thread is 902 and the light thread is 3727. I've already made more progess since this photo.

Handmade "Christmas"

2010-01-22T11:45:00.010+08:00

In a previous post last year, I showed some of the handmade Christmas gifts I've done.

Using the same thought again for 2009, we had to make or give to each other something we had.

I chose to do some more "amigurumi" which is a Japanese art form of knitting or crocheting stuffed animals. I made my daughter the Elephant for Christmas, and the Monkey for her birthday, two days after Christmas.

I also made for my daughter and son, a tin of biscuits, re-using some tins they had. Then my husband got some homemade turkish delight.

Lovely Free BOM

2010-01-05T10:23:00.003+08:00

Last year Jenny of ELEFANTZ had a gorgeous "Shabby Rose" Free BOM going. She is now doing another one called "Bouquet" and is having a "special offer". Please visit and have a look.

2010 and New Year's Resolution

2010-01-01T17:52:00.004+08:00

Here we are, now 2010!! .... I can only join with many others in saying, "where has the past year gone!!"

I wish you a safe and happy New Year for 2010.

A number of different blogs are sharing their resolutions or plans for the year. So I thought I'd share mine.

Being a Christian, the Bible is the most important Book for truth, faith, wisdom and counsel. It's reported that many Christian's have never read the Bible in it's entirity, let alone every year. I was challenged by this and over the past few days of prayer and thought, it kept coming to my mind "the washing of the Word". A thought from this verse "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" Ephesians 5:25, 26

So that has become my New Years resolution - to read the whole Bible in a year. I'm following six booklets called "Cover to Cover" which came out in 1999, with Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J Partridge. It will take me through the Bible in chronolgocial order.

Today my reading started off with:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." John 1:1, 2

"Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Psalm 90:2

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Showing you my "busyness"

2009-12-16T09:55:00.010+08:00

My last post in November was a quick summary sharing my "busyness". So today I'm bringing you up-to-date with photo's.

Here are the "heart swap blocks" that we swapped in our local patchwork group. On the yahoo DJAlternateGroup, they had a "heart-to-heart" swap at the beginning of the year, which I didn't have time to join in. When our patchwork group talked about what swap project we could do this year, I suggeseted "hearts"!! Which they all liked.

Every two months we swapped them out.

The first month was machine pieced hearts, the second was applique hearts,

the third was embroidered hearts and the fourth was crazypatch hearts.

Each lady gave their preferred colours. It was just amazing to see the same hearts done in different colours. Everyone just loved this swap and want to do something similiar next year.

The next two posts I share about the Centenary Quilt and my daughter's knitted blanket.

Town Centenary

2009-12-16T09:42:00.006+08:00

My town will be celebratings its centenary next year. So the local patchwork group I belong to, have decided to make a quilt as a gift to the town.

We've commenced the "fun work" on this project. At the moment I've been making the birds. You can see one example below of our "Splended Blue Wren". The ruler is to show you the size of it.

Also some of our local buildings.

The old Dingup Church is just up the road from us (southerly direction).

The Balbarrup Post Office no longer exists, it was on our road, but in the northerly direction.

I have loved making these and there is more to do. Everyone is making a different "snap-shot" picture block of something historical or modern, which will be placed over a large background scenic picture, that represents much of the scenery around here.

Knitted Blanket

2009-12-16T09:31:00.004+08:00

I posted a whilte back "Licorise All-Sorts" about my daughter learning to knit with her class at school.

The "squares" they made I helped crochet together to be given away to someone who lost all during the bush fires at the beginning of the year. The next town north of us, Bridgetown, suffered a terrible bushfire a week before the devasting bushfires in Victoria. Thankfully no lives were lost, but at least 7 homes were completely destroyed.

One of those homes belonged to a teacher from my daughter's school. After much thought, they gave her the blanket. She was so overcome and very appreciative of the children's efforts. It meant a lot to the children as well.

As a result of this knitting, my daughter wanted to make a blanket for herself. She knitted a couple of blocks, but I knew she needed help, so her great-grandmother, both her grandmothers and myself, knitted extra blocks. It is now complete and on her bed. She loves it.

The photo shows her "modelling it" on my bed. She wants my bed, says it nice and soft!!!

Basket Case Quilter's - Part 2

2009-11-27T15:10:00.006+08:00

I'm very pleased to have gotten another couple of my "basket blocks" completed.

This month's block involved learning how to make "ruche flowers". I had enjoyed researching about this unique style that came to be used in the Baltimore quilts.

Busy-ness

2009-11-18T16:26:00.002+08:00

Even though I haven't posted much recently. I have been busy!!!

We have had wind-ups of different church ministries.

Keeping up with some swap block commitments.

Working on Christmas gifts.

Keeping the household running, while hubby is committed to an 8 day fortnight at head office, meaning he's away from the family.

Now commencing involvement in a community project - making a quilt, with other patchworkers, for our town's 100th anniversary.

So I am here. I do keep up with blogs of my friends.

GIVEAWAY

Elaine is having a "Thanksgiving (Quilting) Give-A-Way." Pay her a visit, you maybe thankful you did!

Pay It Forward

2009-10-26T12:05:00.006+08:00

A couple of months back I joined in the "Pay It Forward" cycle going around on crafty blogs.

Jeannette has safely received my PIF. Here is what I sent her. The amigurumi cup, cupcake and the needle case. (Everything else are just props to make the photo look nice!!)

Some days are

2009-10-26T11:36:00.008+08:00

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stone" goes the line in a song. My days haven't been completely stones, just not my days.

We had two weeks school holidays; then my son home very sick once again, for over a week. Poor kid, he wasn't a "happy chappy." He's been sick and home more time this year than nearly all his early school years combined. Hubby has commenced two months of an 8 day fortnight working at head office in Perth, as a Project Manager in records management.

So days I thought I'd have to work on blocks and things, haven't been as I wished.

However, I've been working on the "Ten Virgins" sampler, a free x-stitch pattern from Gigi. The photo's show my progress.

The second photo has been added because I now have glasses, just for close work. I began to notice I wasn't able to read the small print on jars and packages, when listing the contents, preservatives etc. When reading a book or doing fine hand sewing, I began to see things bit smeary and blurry. So I have to look like a "granny" as we often have described, when reading through glasses then looking over the top of them at everyone and everything else!!!

I'm adding extra to the "Ten Virgins" sampler. I put the Bible reference of the parable as spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll also add below the alphabets, the whole of the verse Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day not the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." A very serious message to take note of.

"Dear Jane" Quilt

2009-10-04T19:29:00.004+08:00

I love the Dear Jane quilt. I started my journey back in 2005. I completed all the centre squares earlier this year and just have 40 odd triangles to complete for the border.

So you can image how proud I feel with when my fellow DJ'er friends complete their quilt. Have a look at my friend Julia's completed quilt. Isn't it just beautiful?! I meet Julia in her own home, Christmas a couple of years ago, after finding each other on the DJ email list.

Here is a part of my own DJ progress, with another DJ'er, Irene, from Perth.

"Basket Case Quilters"

2009-09-29T13:24:00.008+08:00

I think the name "Basket Case Quilters" is a rather humourous name for a yahoo group I'm with!!

It's a free basket BOM, which has officially started this month, however, some of us were "biting at the bit" to make basket blocks sooner, so links to some free blocks on the internet helped "wet the appetite."

These are the blocks I've done so far. I'm using different basket weave fabrics for each basket, and using different background fabrics, as if they were "wallpaper prints".

I've used foundation piecing, hand piecing, machine piecing, applique and broderie perse so far.

Triplets now!!

2009-09-16T09:58:00.005+08:00

I've been posting over the last few weeks about our lambs. Our first lamb was "Floppy Ears", the next "Tan Leg" then two weeks ago, "Cloudy". Don't you love the names!!! All females as well.

Well we doubled our lambs with the birth of triplets two evenings ago. My daughter was out taking photo's of them yesterday.

One of them is already named "Brown Coat" because of the brown marking around it's neck and shoulders. I see spotty and such like names for the other two, going by the markings they have!!

"Among the Gum Trees"

2009-09-15T14:47:00.004+08:00

There is a wonderful new blog - Among The Gum Trees. Check this one out!!

In a (gum) nut-shell, this it’s what we’re all about:

A merry band of Australian designers sharing a few of their original and varied designs freely for your personal use!

Among the Gum Trees is the brainchild of Jenny of ELEFANTZ, who has brought together nine established and emerging designers to offer something new and exciting to the world - their own original designs – to download free of charge!

Free of charge?! Are we mad?! Well, no we’re not insane, but we do affectionately refer to each other as “the nutters”, and we look forward to sharing our designs, our news, and our ‘nutty’ journey with you along the way, and among the gum trees!

So when is all of this happening?

Starting on Monday 5th October and thereafter on each subsequent Monday during October and November, there will be a FREE Christmas-themed design for you to download. Nine free Christmas designs!!

Ranette's Giveaway

2009-09-15T08:36:00.002+08:00

Ranette is having a "Truly Scrumptious" giveaway. It really is!!!!!

Free BOM and Giveaway

2009-09-09T14:29:00.004+08:00

Dorothy Baker is starting a free BOM stitchery "Sweet Nostalgia" - it looks just beautiful. She's also having a giveaway to launch this BOM.

My view now

2009-09-09T14:13:00.006+08:00

A few posts back I showed a photo from my window. This is the view end of last week, as more of the buds opened up. However, it's been raining "petal confetti" so now the leaves are starting to show.

The second photo is a bit more to the right which shows the huge over 100 metre tall pine trees we have.

The third photo is taken in a different place, to show the "petal confetti" we've got around here at the moment.

"Licorise All-sorts"

2009-09-09T13:43:00.015+08:00

I have been busy working on all sorts of other things, so patchwork and my DJ quilt are sitting on the back-burner at the moment.

I previously posted about my daughter and her class knitting project. I've been going in every Tuesday and helping with this, then two weeks ago was asked if I'd finish joining all the "squares" together. Which I willing said yes to. I also crocheted a border all around it.

While working on it, not only were there all sorts of holes, but lots of dropped stitches, that would "run" more and more when used. I picked up each run and pinned a safety pin through the stitch. My mind raced with ideas as to how to deal with this problem. Especially one square which had over 25 dropped stitches. The idea of "fish" came to mind, which grew to other ideas for other squares that had dropped stitches. The following is the result.

Other squares had lollies; sun and moon; snail and butterfly; flowers and basic shapes - circle, squares, triangle and rectangle.

I showed my daughter Monday afternoon after school. She loved it and wanted it for herself!! Yesterday I took in the completed blanket for the kids to see. They just loved it!!! Different ones asking if they could have it!!!

WOOL WEAVING

They are now doing different weaving projects. I have completed the circular one, as follows.

Why Swaps and Giveaway?

2009-08-26T11:58:00.005+08:00

I've been pondering for a while, why we like swaps and giveaways.

One reason, is some of us, make many things and give as gifts, but often don't have friends or family who do the same in return. So swapping is one way of getting a "special hand made gift" we haven't made, but someone else has invested time into. We therefore appreciate the time and effort gone into it. Whereas when we make something, we're with it the whole process until it's complete - so getting a completed swap/gift in the mail is something special.

I'm swapping in different ways. In our local patchwork group we're swapping heart blocks every two months. We've done machine pieced hearts and appliqued hearts; the next swap is embroidered hearts and finishing off with crazy-patch hearts. I've swapped DJ blocks for fabric and other things.

You can read and see a photo at the bottom of Pam's post here of what I sent her recently.

Sometimes I reach out to someone just for the pleasure and offer to do something, maybe because it's something they can't do or would like to finish.

Then giveaways, there are so many wonderful and generous crafters and bloggers, so many things I would love to have, but the "dice" hasn't fallen my way yet!!

Giveaways are another form of giving, almost a "Pay-It-Forward" thing. Talking of "Pay-It-Forward" I've been working on my gifts that I promised. But I can't show any pictures yet.

Tell me why you like swaps and giveaways. Or if you can think of any other ideas as to why swaps are appreciated.

GIVEAWAYS

So here are two more giveaways.

Frummie is have a "Two 2 yard Giveaway"

********************

Lurline is have a "Regency Dandy Giveaway"

View from my window

2009-08-24T13:27:00.007+08:00

After seeing Pat's view from her window. I thought I'd show you a photo from my window, taken today. It has been going from showers of rain to sunshine all day. The cattle in the paddock belong to our neighbour.

Now you know that my "header photo" is in fact from my sewing room, taken in winter time. We have rainbows showing across the valley all the time.

I also decided to put in a photo of our other Golden Retriever, "Sam". He's getting on years - he's deaf, has an old husky bark and is 13 years old (in human years). "Kelly" has rich golden reddish fur, whereas "Sam" is the very blonde fur.

GIVEAWAY

Khris is having a "50,000 visit" giveaway on her blog. She will give/make one of her dolls. There are so many talented ladies around in blogland.

Pet photo's

2009-08-23T15:30:00.004+08:00

I showed a couple of my daughter's photo's yesterday of our lambs. Today I thought I'd post a photo my son took the other week, on his digital camera, with it set on "sepia". It's of one of our two pet Golden Retriever's - "Kelly", taken on our front verandah. I just love this photo.

GIVEAWAY

Quilt N Quilt Things is having an amazing giveaway on her blog in celebration of her 100th post.

Another Lamb

2009-08-22T14:05:00.003+08:00

We had another lamb born this week. This is a photo my daughter took of the lamb and mother.

The lamb born last week, now known as "Floppy Ears" is such fun to watch as it plays and runs around. This is "Floppy Ears" also a photo my daughter took.

"Civil War" give-away package

2009-08-22T13:09:00.004+08:00

Elaine is once again hosting a giveaway this time a "Civil War" giveaway package. Those of us who love Civil War fabrics would all dearly like to be a part of this one.

Fungus Doctor

2009-08-19T17:33:00.003+08:00

I'm sure you're surprised to know that such an occupation exists!! A "fungus doctor".

We required his knowledge recently. My daughter noticed this very interesting fungus growing at the base of our retainer wall of our new extension. My son took a photo of it and wondered if his uncle would know what it is, who knows a lot of our native flora and trees, also does dieback mapping in the jarrah forrest here. However, he hadn't seen it before, so told my son that we'd need to send the photo to the "fungus doctor".

Here is a photo of it:

And this is what it is called: a cup fungus, Aleuria rhenana or the stalked orange peel fungus. The "fungus doctor" commented that it was a nice photo.

Giveaway

2009-08-19T08:08:00.003+08:00

Karen is having a "giveaway" on her blog. There are so many wonderful and giving ladies in blogland. Karen comes up with some great "Tool Time" ideas!!!

Friends across the world

2009-08-16T18:17:00.003+08:00

It's amazing how friendships develop across the world, from sharing common interests and hobbies.

Rosa is one of those friends. She is celebrating her "250th blog with a Giveaway". So pay her visit and see what happens.

Treasure Box of Memories - Part 2

2009-08-14T08:46:00.006+08:00

This is the progress I've made so far for the items for my Nanna Hill. If she was still alive - she'd be 105 years old, amazing to think of it that way.

The "Heart" booklet is based on a design from Bunny Hill designs. It's a free pattern for a Bunny Hill Needle Case that could be given as a valentine's gift. I'm not going to use it as a needle case, but will add cloth pages to write the family tree of my Nanna, some interesting facts and information about my Nanna and other things I think of as I go along.

She was widowed for 50 years, being widowed 13 years after she married, and was left with three children, including my Dad, who was 3 years old at the time. Nanna and Grandad had talked about emmigrating to Australia from England. She continued to think on this dream and made plans to set about fulfilling it. She worked hard to save the money to bring her family to Western Australia. It took her another 11 years to do this. I think she was an amazing women.

I will make a needle case as well and will use the Blackbird Designs "French Souvenir with the Eiffel Tower" as Nanna was fluent in five languages including French. Funnily enough I'll be able to put a needle in that needle case of my Nanna's.

About a month ago my mum was going through things she had been given from my Nanna's things, and there was some incomplete embroidery items, including a crinoline lady apron by Semco (details on it - R890 "Maid's Apron"). Threaded at the bottom and not even rusty, was the needle she was using. It still glides in and out of the fabric smoothly.

Treasure Box of Memories

2009-08-11T13:49:00.007+08:00

I loved seeing the different projects on Blackbird Designs using their Petites Lettres Rouges sampler. So decided I wanted to make a treasure box of memories for both my grandmothers and my mum, who all were talented at hand work, as I referred to in a recent blog.

The treasure box will include:

- a small sampler for each, personalizing with their own name
- a heart needlecase which will turn in to a “cloth book” with details of their ancestory, lives and their interests and some important facts
- a pincushion with design done by myself – after playing around with a “Cross-stitch program” I have on my computer – I found it was quite easy!!
- Somes photos of them as young women and their marriage photo
- Plus anything else I think of along the way.

Here is what I’ve started for my Nanna Hill, she passed into glory in 1989. I'm using "Duck Egg Blue" throughout the projects. She had her lounge room painted with this, had it in the upholstery fabric and on a floor carpet. Also a round mounted plate with an "old fashioned girl" in it on the wall.

First lamb for the season

2009-08-11T13:15:00.005+08:00

It was rather exciting when hubby came in to declare our first lamb for the season had just been born late yesterday afternoon.

It's exciting because we didn't think we'd get any lambs, as the new young ram we got from our brother-in-law, died in May. We feel it was from a snake bite. We didn't know if he'd had a chance to perform his duty with the ewes. However, it seems all will be well for lambs this year!!!

It's fun watching them and how quickly they start trying to jump and run around, including trying to climb the base of a large pine tree!!

We're told to "behold (or look) to the Lamb of God" - the Lord Jesus Christ, who came as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. We no longer need the old law and sacrifices - they were a shadow of the reality; they were to point to the coming Messiah and Saviour.

One of my passions

2009-08-08T19:21:00.007+08:00

It's interesting to see how many of us have more than one "crafty passion"!

I was 8 years old when I learnt to embroider in my school class. I remember the "big year 7 girls" coming over to help us out. It involved threading wool and sewing patterns on hesian bags. This is in the late 1960's. Both my grandmothers sewed, knitted and embroidered. My mother embroidered a new cushion cover while in hospital having each of us children. She also made all our clothes on the "good ole" Singer treadle sewing machine. It is still going and she still uses it. I used it days before I left home to get married, making my "going away outfit" on it.

Birthday presents and end of year class honour gifts to me, were embroider sets. I learnt knitting, then learnt to crochet when I was 12 years old, by a lovely old lady who lived up the street from us. She was so tidy and particular that I had to sit around the corner from the kitchen door on the back verandah. Makes we smile when I think about it. I then went home and taught my mum how to crochet. From my teens, due to "Home Ec" in high school and into my twenties, I did my own dress making.

Mid twenties I discovered cross-stitch. The ladies that served me, in the shop I bought my first kit, book and threads from, kindly warned me "it was addictive"!! They were exactly right. I haven't stopped. In amongst that I got into bobbin lace making, then patchwork and quilting.

My most recent cross-stitch was a gift to Kaaren. I made one for myself, only personalizing it for me instead.

However, I have many large and small one's on the go all the time. Many getting completed and moving onto the next. The last two "large" ones, completed last year, were the Dear Jane Cross-stitch designs by Linda Myers. They are "Quilt Sampler VI: leaflet 79" and "Quilt Sampler XIV: leaflet 92"

So, um Sew....many crafty passions. I can never say I'm bored and don't know what to do with myself!!

GIVEAWAY

Here is a lovely giveaway for Lynn B’s one year blog anniversary. Another lady passionate about cross-stitch!!

The worth of a week

2009-08-07T12:50:00.006+08:00

I'm one of those people who likes to be organized and productive all the time. I write lists and think about what I want to accomplish, why and when. Most weeks it is tied down to a routine between family, ministry and personal time slots. Most Wednesday's can tend to be for me only, which means its craft time. But I do get other spots in the week. At night I do a lot of hand work while my husband is busy studying to all hours for preaching and sermon preparation.

Now I'm flexible enough to change my plans, when family, friends and church needs require. I look upon "interruptions" as "God's appointments." As ultimately God guides and directs my steps, so my plans my be "just my plans" for the time slot and not what He wanted.

But I must confess when lying in bed and losing days, because I'm sleeping and too weak and too fuzzy minded and in too much pain (my head felt like it wanted to explode at the throat!!!) to do any "sensible craft work", it is sooooo hard. I did pray a lot as I mentioned in my previous blog. I did get to think about things in the coming weeks. I did get to plan some things in my mind, but couldn't do anything with my hands. I think you know what I'm talking about, as I certainly have identified with different ones of you in your times of sickness and troubles.

I have turned a corner though, yesterday afternoon around 3:00pm I woke from a very deep sleep and felt "so much better". The pain had eased away enough that I could eat a whole sausage and mixed vegetables and swallow a full cup of tea. How wonderful that was? I had another and final antibiotic injection at the hospital this morning and my doctor was very happy to hear things were improving. So thankfulness to the Lord for His restoring power for another day.

So a week is valuable, whether I accomplish much of what I enjoy or if God's plan is to have me laid low, to restore me in His time.

GIVEAWAYS

I was able to quickly look at some blogs and found some friends have been busy planning also.

Elaine is have a second "Stimulus Package Giveaway"

Jenny is having a "Giveaway" including a Christmas stitchery.

Terry is having "A Hint of Pink" giveaway for reaching a milestone of 30,000 hits.

My turn to be unwell

2009-08-06T14:35:00.007+08:00

A few posts back I talked of health, wellbeing and thankfulness, after being "Nurse Mum" on my rounds between my two children.

While I did the checking and giving of medication I had time to sit quietly while they slept and made the following:

It is a "Travel Case" pattern my friend Cyn sent me. A design from P3Designs. This designer has a couple of variations on this design.

It is very simple and cute. The cutting mat in the back pocket, is 7inches by 5inches, so it's a mini "travel case". Cyn very kindly sent me the mat. I hadn't seen that size mat before. Next time I'm near a large store I'd like to buy one of the mini rotaty cutters and a few other things to put in it as well.

However, as my blog title reads "it's my turn at being unwell."

It started just over 6 days ago. Initially the horrible symptoms of flu with fever and sore throat. Anyway it continued on to an extremely sore throat, that makes my head want to burst open, with all sorts of secondary pain in my teeth, jaws, neck, eye socket, ears and so forth. It is now quinsy. I've had to go in for antibiotic injections the last couple of days and more to come. My doctor said if our country hospital wasn't so full, as it is at the moment, he'd have me in hospital. I am struggling to eat and drink, let alone anything else.

- But I'm thankful I can get up, then quickly get back to a warm comfortable bed.

- I'm thankful for the "cariness" of my family. The kids have been fantastic, giving back their love and attention they received some weeks ago.

- Before I fall asleep again, I can pray for friends and their needs.

- I'm thankful the next breath God gives me and accept His purposes for my days, right at the moment. It includes not being able to go up to Perth with hubby for a preaching/teaching engagement he has in Perth. He'll take our daughter up, who will enjoy spending time alone with her grandparents, something she hasn't done before. My son will stay behind helping to keep things happening here on the home front.

Pay It Forward

2009-08-02T21:07:00.003+08:00

This is something I've seen a few times on different blogs and always thought it a lovely idea. When it came up on Janes blogs I seriously thought about it and the special committment I considered this to be.

This is the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on.

So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on the blog requesting to join this PIF exchange.

I do not know what that gift will be yet, although I have ideas mulling in my head!! and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise!

What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I look forward to creating something special for the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post.

Wish I was a garderner!!

2009-07-30T10:55:00.001+08:00

There, I’ve made a confession….I am not a “green thumb” and I don’t enjoy working in the garden, whether a flower garden or vegie garden. Yet I love flowers!!!

Thankfully we have a number of fruit trees on our property and have access to many orchards and fruit sold a lot cheaper than the supermarkets. I’m also thankful when someone passes on a bag of produce from their garden, no matter what it is, because that is when I can do what I like doing. I love bottling fruit - did diced tomatoes this year. I love making relish, jam, pickles and sauce.

I made a batch of my “Zucchini Relish” today. There is the “yummy smells” of spices, vinegar and sugar lingering in the air.

I reckon the perfect solution would be to have someone who just loves gardening and have them do all the gardening side of it, then I would take over and do all the cooking and preserving for them and us.

Droughts and Flooding Plains

2009-07-22T10:51:00.014+08:00

Australia is very much a country of contrasts. “Droughts and Flooding Plains” is mentioned often in the talk of politicians to everyday people, especially the farmers.

It comes from a line of this poem, in the second stanza:

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of rugged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding plains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror -

The wide brown land for me!

The full poem “My Country” can be read here.

I remember when I was young learning the song "I Love A Sunburnt Country".

We saw the evidence of great contrast earlier this year, while the same time Victoria suffered devastating bushfires, further north in Queensland and New South Wales, there was extreme floods.

We have had days of rain here and all the water ways are just overflowing. Our dam in the lower paddock has banked right back through the paddock. Water is racing from our dam, out through a creek and into the Wilgarup River.

The first two photo’s are of our dam, then water logged paddocks further down from us, right over the road from the Wilgarup River.

These photo's are of the Wilgarup River, near the old Dingup Church.

My friend Elaine is having a “45th entry”giveaway on her blog.

Health, well-being and Thankfulness

2009-07-21T10:01:00.006+08:00

It’s been an interesting five weeks for me.

Firstly, my 15 year old son flying out from our home state with his Year 9 school class group for a week at Canberra.

He got to visit the old and new parliament houses, other national monuments and places of interest.

Secondly, illness became the “family occupation”! In the middle of his time away, he started with a sore throat and caught what was already racing through the students, a bad flu. When they all flew back in they were so tired and sick. My son stayed home the following week and had gotten over things, when the school rang to say one of the students had been confirmed positive with the swine flu. It was decided to keep my son home an extra day and go to school the following week.

He woke in the early hours of the Monday, of the following week I referred to above, very distraught and in a lot of pain with a very severe headache. It was starting all over again for him.
In the mean time my daughter was ready to walk off to the school bus, when she told me she had a headache and sore throat. I just said, “You’re going to bed.” Both of them had severe fevers, very hot and nasty dreams. My son ended up with antibiotics as he had tonsillitis.

All of this caused them both to miss the last week of school, of term 2. Now we have just completed two weeks school holidays.

Yesterday they were so glad to be getting back to school!!

That then leads me on to mention my niece. She was about 9 months old when she had complete kidney failure. She then went on a dialysis machine and had to grow and be of a certain weight before she could have a kidney transplant. She was about two when she got a kidney from her own dad. It was a successful transplant, but then later developed cancer in her kidney’s, which had been left in place. This required their removal and followed on with chemotherapy. This was all a very hard and stressful time on the family, with much separation from each other.

She is 12 years old now and doing amazingly well. I call her “Twinkle Toes”. She is small and slight in build and runs like the wind. She has a brilliant, intelligent mind and already advanced a year in her schooling.

However, with the possibly of the swine flu around our community, she is at “high risk”, as she is immune-suppressant. So the family have had to isolate themselves from school at the end term 2, right through the holidays, even from other friends, family and attending church. It’s been a tough time.

It makes me think of that film some years ago “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble”. The film was based on the life of David Vetter.

We don’t realize what other families live through and how much we take our own health for granted.

INTERESTING FACT: We are God’s wonderful creation. Did you know that nearly every organ in our body has more than one primary function? Kidney’s also are important in relation to blood pressure and the production of growth hormones.

I’ve mentioned all of this so that we can:

Be thankful as the sun came up over the horizon and
gave light, for another day.
Be thankful for the air you have to breathe, for another breath.
Be thankful for God’s keeping power of another heart-beat, for life.

Another "Christmas in July" giveaway

2009-07-20T14:52:00.004+08:00

I can't help myself.......I love Christmas as I've posted about before.

Here is another lovely "surprise" Christmas in July giveaway.

Siggies and friends around the world

2009-07-10T16:48:00.010+08:00

About 18 months ago I joined Annelies International Siggie list - a follow-on from swapping siggies (signature blocks) based on the Dear Jane block, D-13. There is an annual Dear Jane Siggie swap also. It's been a wonderful way to get signature blocks and met some wonderful people.

This is a photo of the siggie I was sending out to those on the international list. I had to buy another lot of "wattle" fabric as I eventually ran out of the fabric shown in the photo.

This is how the quilt top looks so far, with all the blocks I received in 2007. Those I received in 2008 are still sitting in there special bundles and bags along with Birthday Siggies I received last year.

One of those people I got a siggie and letter from was Micki. She is having a giveaway on her blog. She is a very "crafty and productive" lady!!

Christmas in July

2009-07-08T11:02:00.004+08:00

Last year we celebrated, as a family, "A Christmas in July" evening. It was really fun getting the Christmas decorations out and having the full "hot" Christmas meal. Something we don't worry about at Christmas time, when it is sooo hot!!!

Those who know me, know I love Christmas time and Christmas decorations. I put them up early and still have them up sometimes right throught February. Why? I love the colours, the glistening of the tinsel, it makes me feel happy and the kids love it as well.

Each year I try to make something new towards my Christmas collection.

Barb is having a wonderful "Christmas in July" giveaway.

Amy Karol: "Bend-the-rules Sewing"

2009-07-07T11:29:00.020+08:00

A while back I saw someone mention on their blog about the book “Bend-the-rules Sewing” by Amy Karol. She has a blog as well. What was said, the project made and shown, got me interested. So I got a hold of the book.

I mentioned my daughter knitting in my previous blog, so from Amy’s book I made two of the “Charming Handbag” - one for my daughter’s knitting and one for me (mine has the crocheted heart on it)!! I made it from a fine corduroy.

After that I made the “Artsy Clutch”, “Pleated Beauty Bag” and the “No Cash Wallet” (Why that name? it’s to carry loyalty cards, credit cards and so forth). I made them as a set.

The front panel for the “Pleated Beauty Bag” I used a design from Cinderberrystitches. I also used an element from this stitchery design for the “No Cash Wallet".

I really enjoyed making them.

Knitting and Crocheting

2009-07-04T18:39:00.006+08:00

I had a pleasant surprise nearly a month ago when my daughter came off the school bus carrying some knitting in her hands. Her Year 5 class, in Technology and Enterprise, were being taught how to knit. They are making squares for a blanket to donate towards the terrible Victorian Bushfires we had earlier this year.

Here’s an interesting blog to read about Snuggle Quilts and their story on quilts for the bushfire victims. There has been an amazing “giving spirit” from people all over Australia and around the world for quilts and also in the knitting arena. It’s been lovely to read of the response of adults and children on receiving a quilt. The expression of deep thankfulness, how they feel they haven’t been forgotten, and that someone they don’t know, cares for them.

I’ve been going to the school and helping with crocheting, in black, around the squares and have stated to join the squares together. I should say “squares” loosely, as the kids do some amazing “increasing designs” as there are some funny shapes!!!

My daughter has decided she wants to make squares for a blanket for herself, so yarn has been bought and the squares have started. She’s had two squares given to her from her 95 year old great-grandmother (my Nanna), two from her Nanna (my Mum), a few from me. We will also get a couple from my hubby’s mum. So there will be a few “generations” represented in this knitted blanket.

I finished this week, my first pair of knitted socks!! The pattern is from this DIY Net Work program. I now want to venture into getting the thinner yarn known as “fingering yarn” in the US and the small needles then make some socks they will fit me well. My daughter has requested some socks for herself!!

Last month I crocheted this “Perfect Purse” as it was called from Lion Brand. It now carries all my crocheting hooks.

It was really funny that first weekend my daughter came home with her knitting. I had my brother over to a meal, which we followed up with watching a DVD, on Egyptian History. There was my daughter knitting away sitting next to her uncle, while I was in the other chair crocheting the "perfect purse". I had a good chuckle to myself.

Past Christmas Gifts

2009-07-03T12:06:00.011+08:00

A couple of years ago hubby made the suggestion that for Christmas we make or give something we already have, as gifts in our immediate family.

I was very happy with the idea, an “excuse” to make something different.

The first Christmas for my son – I converted a cartoon he had drawn, in to a small wall hanging.

My daughter got a Manicure Set from HOMESPUN March 2007

I was taken with the knitted Plum Puddings in HANDMADE Vol 24 No 12 (2007). I knitted up three of them for a small display. I made some extras as the Christmas Swap gift for our local patchwork group.

IDEA: If you make something you like, make another one and keep it in store for a birthday gift, “just because” gift or Christmas gift. I do this often. I figure if I “like” something, then someone else would too!!

Last year I made a valet tray for my son, from COUNTRY THREADS Vol 8 No 8 (2008). It involved recycling a skirt.

For my daughter she got a Babushka Doll from HANDMADE Vol 25 No 10 (2008).

My daughter celebrates her birthday two days after Christmas, which means I have to be very organized for her. For her 10th birthday she got Little Miss Mushroom from HOMESPUN.

I added the magazine details, because I know I often see something someone has made and "wonder where that pattern is"!!

Blogs, Diaries : Books, Libraries

2009-07-02T12:12:00.000+08:00

There will be some friends happy to see this!!!

How did I get here? Well it certainly isn’t because I’m a great one for personal dairies or journals. My husband is great at that!

He’s kept a daily diary since his teenage years. I know only one other gentlemen we’ve meet in our years of living in Sydney (NSW), Adelaide (SA) and Manjimup (WA), that keeps a diary. It would be interesting to know how many men folk enjoy this discipline. It really is a personal self-discipline to keep up with a diary.

Further to my husband’s interests are books!! He has a personal library of over 8,000 books. Thought you might enjoy a “look-see” in his study. The books in his study, which are wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling, are only a portion of the collection. We have book shelves in every room of the house. There is another large portion of the library outside in a fully-lined, back store-room.

So what does his library mean to me? Well I get to use many books on many subjects whenever I need them. I have a wonderful supply of books to read right here in my home. It means he supports my own desire for books for all my crafting needs and I can add to that, “magazines” as well!!

When we lived in Sydney and were studying at Bible College in preparation for church ministry. We had a lecturer say “go without bread, to buy books.” Thankfully we haven’t had to go without, to enjoy our interests.

So here I am joining many friends and like minded “crafty” people in “blog-land”. I will be sharing all sorts of things from my part of the world.