A Winner

Sunday 19th August 2012

Well I have a winner for one of my bags and that is Jodie from jellywares.  I hope you like which ever bag you choose Jodie!

I had a great birthday and was very spoilt by my family and friends and the best part was I had lovely weather.  My birthday is always during the Brisbane show week and is well know for grey, cold and windy weather, but this year it was lovely and warm and sunny!

Bags and bags

Monday 13th August 2012

Back to the bag making again!  I found a lovely free pattern on line for a Japanese Knot Bag and just had to have a go.  This bag was relatively easy to make and while I adjusted the pattern slightly, next time I will make the handle longer and the actual bag slightly bigger.  This would make a lovely gift for a little girl, with a few items put inside (ie. hairbrush, hair ties or even a little handmade hat)!

This bag is made from furnishing fabrics so it is very durable and completely machine washable.  I especially love the lining fabric.  It is so bright and cheery!

I finally managed to reverse sew (unpick) the shopping tote I posted about awhile back.  I cut down the sides and remade it again.  This was gifted to a friend for her birthday and she is going to use it to put her folders in for college.  I love the way this turned out and will try and make more.  What a lovely bag to take shopping and put groceries in!

I also managed to find the time to cut down a top I had made myself last summer.  I had originally made it way too long and as a consequence I never wore it, so now that has been rectified I just need the weather to warm up so I can wear it.

I love the soft colours of this top and of course I have to wear a cami under it.  One thing I didn't like though was sewing with this material.  I hate slippery material to sew with and because I don't have an overlocker I have to zig-zag each edge so it doesn't fray.  Does anyone have any tips for sewing slippery fabric?

I also managed to make this cute key keeper for a girlfriend's daughter.  It is her birthday next month and she will be 17.  This little guy will fit into a standard envelope easily so it won't cost me a fortune to post.

This little guy doesn't take too long to make either!  Another free pattern if anyone wants to have a go at this guy.
I was able to harvest a colander full of greens this morning.  This will be placed into the refrigerator for dinner one night this week.

I also picked some marigolds that I will dry and then plant.  I love these cheery yellow flowers.  I doesn't help that yellow is my favourite colour.  What is your favourite colour?

On the crochet front.  The start of another ripple blanket saw me make a trip to Spotlight this morning to purchase some more wool.  Luckily they are having a 30% off sale at the moment as I walked out with 14 balls.  Stay tuned for a sneak peak at this project.  (I need another project like I need a hole in the head - what am I thinking?)

Take care
Andrea

Try again

Saturday 28th July 2012

I completely forgot about the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony!  How could I do that after being bombarded with it all week on the news?  Too wrapped up in what is happening to me I suppose and not paying attention.  I would like to wish all the Australian athletes the best of luck and you have already made your country proud!

Another Penny Rug

Thursday 12th July 2012

Remember a couple of posts back I showed you my version of a penny rug for Emily.  I had been busy working on one for Bec and last night I was able to give it to her.

I'm calling it village on the green.  Bec has a round dining table so I though the round shape would suit it best.

I really enjoy sewing with felt as I find it quite easy.

We had some exciting news on the family front last week.  Bec and her partner Rana are now engaged!  I keep thinking she is too young to be engaged but then I remind myself that I was 18 when Ron and I became engaged.  It is just hard to believe my babies are growing up.  It seems like yesterday that I was nagging them to clean up their toys.  Time flies!

Leftovers for dinner tonight.  I have some spaghetti bog casserole left over from dinner last night and some potato from the night before.  I will turn the potato into some fritters and just add a few bits and pieces to the meal to fill us both up.  Then for desert I have some leftover chocolate self saucing pudding and custard from last night also.  I love leftover meals as it means I almost get a night off cooking.  I don't mind cooking it is just thinking of different things to have each night that gets to me.

We were going to take ourselves out for dinner Saturday night for a treat, but I have just finished speaking to one of my beautiful friends and have invited her and her family for dinner that night instead.  We haven't caught up for awhile and they are moving away in a few months so I have to make the most of them living close.  I think I will do a roast for dinner as it is lovely and warm on these cold wet days.  Then I will finish it off with this custard poke cake I found here.  I can get this made tomorrow and then that is done!

I'm off to do some ironing now as Ron hasn't any clothes for work tomorrow!

Take care
Andrea

Weekend Bliss

Monday 25th June 2012

We had a quiet weekend this time round.  Ron had to work on Saturday :(  This will be the norm around here for awhile as he has plenty of work to catch up on.  Such a blessing after a quiet year last year.
We have Em and Dave visit for the weekend again.  One of Emily's requests was, "could she do some baking? " I had no problems with this but as I had been around before while she worked in the kitchen I decided that it would be best for me to retreat to my craft room!  This allowed me to get some long term projects finished.

 First off the rank was this mini quilt I started years ago.  From memory it was a freebie off the Internet but I can't remember where?  It depicts Noah and his animals for the ark.  These are really small blocks and after doing all the embroidery and piecing it sat in my cupboard, basting done and everything.  All I had to do was quilt and bind.  The quilting was done and binding sewn on but I just lacked the motivation to hand stitch the binding down at the back.  Saying that it did get done and is now hanging on my wall until it can find a home somewhere else.  Maybe a special gift for someone!

Then it was on to a bag I had started and just had to put the handles on.  My collection is slowly growing but I still can't decide how I am going to sell them.  Online (etsy or ebay), local markets or maybe a morning tea at home?  I just can't decide.  In the meantime it gives me the opportunity to increase my stock.

I love this bright fabric and wish I had bought more of it.  The handles were attached by making button holes in the top of the bag and threading the handles through.  I then secured the handles with a zig-zag stitch and put bright buttons on for a bit of fun.

I eventually ventured out from my sewing to make some lunch and was confronted by ALL of my bench tops covered in cooking paraphernalia and chocolate everywhere.  She did a marvelous job though as she made a cheese ball, coffee biscuits for her father muffins, and a chocolate cake and slice, which she shared with us.  She also did a great job cleaning up all the mess and left my kitchen in nearly the state it was in before she started.  (I was still finding chocolate smeared around after she went home!)

I have always loved the look of penny rugs and amazed at their story so I thought I would make a modern version of my own.  As I have enough "things" in my house I choose bright felts keeping Emily in mind.  (She loves bright colours.)  I was a bit concerned she wouldn't like it but needn't have worried.

This is my version of a penny rug.

A close up of the design.
I have something in mind for Bec also but will have to wait to make it and give it to her before I can show you a picture.

The weather is really chilly and wet, not good for Ron's work or the vegetables.  We are still getting handfuls of beans and now the peas have started.  I love being able to put food on the table that we have grown ourselves.  The zucchini had slowed down dramatically but are now starting to produce flowers in abundance.  They are struggling with powdery mildew at the moment, so once the rain clears later in the week I shall have a go at removing some of the older leaves and spraying the others with 50:50 milk and water mix.  This is supposed to help, so I'll give it a go.

Snow peas and purple beans.  The beans change to green once they have been cooked.

Take care (and stay warm)
Andrea

It's a worry!

Monday 18th June 2012

Have you been to your local rubbish dump lately?  I help hubby with cleaning up one of our job sites yesterday and we had to make a trip to the local tip.  Our rubbish dump encourages you to sort your rubbish and place items in the correct areas.  They have areas for concrete, timber, steel, tyres and garden waste.  We had some concrete that we put in the correct area and some plastic and particle board we had to take to the tip face.

I was shocked.  There were cars lining up to empty trailers etc.  I didn't know there was so many people were going to the tip.  The only time we seem to go is if we have a large amount of green waste.  Even then I try and run over it with the mower and put it on the garden as mulch.

When a position became vacant for us to park and we got out, people were throwing away all sorts of things that could be recycled!  There was cardboard, toys, furniture, clothing and too many other items to list.  This was then get loaded into large bins and moved to a pit where it was getting dumped!  Come on people don't you realize what you are doing to the environment?

We recycle as much as we can and as a consequence we only have one, or at the most two bags of rubbish a week.  I am talking shopping bags and not the larger ones you have to buy.  I am shocked to know that while there are some people who care, the majority don't!  It is certainly a throw away society.  Thank goodness our rubbish dump encourages recycling otherwise there would be a lot more going into landfill.  Lazy people just have to sort their rubbish and place it in the correct areas.

On the topic of recycling, I did some of my own on the weekend and came up with a bag for myself.  This is going to be my Market bag to use when we buy our produce at the local markets.  It is a good size and I should be able to fit most things in this bag.

I made this out of some old covers from our stools, so it is more like a canvas than anything else.  This will make it super strong for carrying.  I lined the inside with an old pillow case that I had.  It had a couple of marks on it but nobody will see it as it is only the lining.  I was hoping to use it on the weekend and give you a report but hubby had to work and I wasn't feeling the best on Sunday.  Never mind, next weekend.

I have also been making other bags.  This one I'm not 100% happy with.  It looks okay now but I think I need to do some fine tuning.  I still not happy with the way it gapes open and will have to come up a solution to keep it closed.  I was very fiddly and time consuming but I will probably have a go at another one.

I made a singed flower to place on the front of this and I think it balances the black on the other side well.

On the gardening front.  I have still to get some fruit trees but my local nursery wants $30 for each tree and I'm sure they sell them at the markets for $20 each.  As I want 4 or 5 plants it will save me up to $50.  So I will just have to wait until I can get up there and have a look.

The vegetables are still doing well.  We have been eating the English spinach, Pak Choi, lettuce, zucchini and tomatoes and tonight we will have some beans.

I hope to be able to keep us going with vegetables until Sunday when I will definitely have to make a trip to buy some produce.

I have decided that because Ron has been working so hard lately (I have hardly seen him) I am going to cook him one of his favourite meals tonight.  Meat pie with mushy peas, mashed potato and gravy and off course our HUGE amount of beans!

Take care
Andrea

A Quick Post

Wednesday 13th June 2012

A quick post today to show you what arrived in the post for me yesterday!

I had been waiting for this to arrive for approximately two weeks now and it is finally here!

Just what I love.  A book that gives you ideas on how to up cycle items that you would never think of.

I love this bag made from old jeans.  I have made a patchwork quilt from jeans before but this bag uses the inside of the fabric.  Can't wait to have a go at this one.  Watch out jeans, you might be worn out before you know it.

This zippered pouch is made from a postage bag.  How clever is that.  I will have to try and get my hands on a couple of those.  I thought the bag that the book came in could have been used but it was lined with bubble wrap.  Never mind, I'll use it to send a parcel to someone else one day.

Can't wait to get started on some of these projects in the book.  Like I need more projects!

Take care
Andrea

Quilts

Wednesday 30th May 2012

Nothing much happening around here today.  I had computer troubles and by the time my technician had come and gone and then I realized he had removed my picture editing program (now reinstalled) time has gone nowhere.

I did get around to giving the caravan a clean and half making the bed in there (we hope to visit Em this weekend) which led me to putting this on the bed.....

This quilt was made in 2009, using some embroidery designs by Leanne Beasley.  I had the panels laying around and then put them all into a quilt.  The quilt was designed by me using a variety of fabrics including some Debbie Mumm.

 Here are a few of the blocks I made to go into the quilt.

 The quilt below was from a pattern on the Internet.  I can't remember the name of the site, but once a month you were given instructions on how to make a certain block and at the end of the time you were shown what the quilt looked like.  A lovely surprise.  I love the contrast of the bright pink and softer green and yellow in this quilt.

 This quilt was one of the first ones I ever made.  I cringe when I look at it now, but that is how you learn.  The embroidery pictures (all but the centre one) were drawn by a good friend of mine.

 This quilt is more a wall hanging.  I made it when I was involved with a craft group and it was a mystery quilt.  We were given six envelopes and you had to make a block using the items (if there were any) and instructions for that envelope.  The first one was a nursery rhyme, second - nine patch, third - using fabric contained in the envelope, fourth - favourite thing (s), fifth - small, sixth - from the garden.  Mine had a common theme in the ladybugs that are found in each block.

 This again was one of the very first quilts I did and had a go at quilting myself.  Nothing extravagant just some pretty fabrics.  I made one of these for my sister also.

 This quilt is unfinished.  I have put the top together but have yet to back and quilt it.  This is the first quilt I have done with alot of applique in it.  It took me ages!

 The two photos below are a couple of the blocks from this quilt.

Quilting is such a time consuming craft but really worth it in the end when you have something beautiful to show for ALL the hours you put into it.

I hope you enjoyed looking at some of my past projects, and just to think I have more to show yet!

Take care

Andrea

Another bag

Monday 28th May 2012

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  My was spent mainly at home without any visitors.  It was the quietest weekend we'd had in ages.  A trip to the hardware on Saturday to get some fertilizer for the vegetable patch and a couple more packets of seeds - peas and turnips!  We'll see how they go.

We were up reasonably bright and early to go to the markets as hubby had a hankering for some Manuka honey.  It is absolute favourite!  We braved the chilly conditions and were back home by about 8am to cook a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Hubby spent quite a few hours repairing the wheel bearings on the caravan, as we hope to take a trip to visit Emily this weekend!  While he was doing that I made the most of my time a put together another block for the quilt I am working on.  I now have three blocks assembled, 1 stitched and only 7 blocks to go!

I spent some time on Friday adding to my gift stash.  Actually I have promised this person one of these for a couple of years now so I thought I had better deliver!

This is a casserole bag, used to carry food to potluck dinners or your contribution to a meal or BBQ.  You can use it for hot or cold items.  You simply place the casserole or whatever you are taking into the bag, pull the cord tight and tie it in a bow then use the handles to carry it.

In the above photo you can see one of my casserole dishes in it with the cord done up and the two handles.

This way you can carry your item without getting burnt!

A friend gave me one many years ago as a birthday gift and I use it all the time.  When I say she gave me one, I was given the materials and basic instructions and then had to make it myself.

If the bag becomes soiled all you have to do is throw it in the washing machine with a normal wash.

If anyone is interested leave me a comment and I will write a tutorial on how to make this bag.  It would make a lovely housewarming gift if you gave it with a casserole dish and maybe a cookbook.

Take care
Andrea

Lady Bugs

Friday 25th May 2012

I have been trying to build up a gift stash.  Somewhere to go to get a gift at the last minute.  Hopefully all handmade also.  This has seen me cruising the Internet to get inspiration.  I came up with a cute idea that is reasonably quick to make, doesn't use heaps of material and should easily fit in a standard size envelope so is cheap and easy to post.

It is a cute little key holder.  Can you see the key ring hanging out the bottom?

Here it is with keys attached and when you pull on the leaves at the ladybugs mouth the keys go into the body.

This helps to prevent them from rattling around in your bag and marking everything, and because the red wings are so bright she should be easy to find in my handbag.

When I showed hubby he said it looks good, but he doesn't have to have one does he?  I told him YES and I was going to make a fish one for him!  LOL.  Seriously, that is a good idea though so I might have a go at one of those later!  Stay tuned.  There will be more of these to come!

After posting about my quilts the other day, I went searching for some blocks I had been working on more than two years ago.  For some reason I thought I had finished more than one block!

Feathered Friends quilt by Cinderberry Stitches



When I picked up the second one - nowhere close to finished - I realized why I had put it away.  My eyes just don't see as well as they used to so hand embroidery has to be something I do during the day and leave the crocheting to night when I don't need such good light.

I am excited to be back stitching again!

This quilt is by a very talented Australian lady called Natalie Lymer from Cinderberry Stitches.  She does such whimsical designs.  I have one block down and eight to go and then the border!  Plenty of work ahead of me.

While I was digging around in my fabric yesterday I also came across a bundle of fabric that I bought to do another quilt with and a packet of stuff that I have started doing a paper pieced quilt with.  When I dug out these blocks I found another two (oh my goodness) quilts that are only partly finished!!!  All of this work in progress.  I really need to stop finding new projects and start finishing ones I have already started!  I'd better get to it!

Take care
Andrea

Bunting, buckets and burlap!

As mentioned in my previous post I had been making something for a special soon to be five year old.  Whenever possible I try to make the gifts I give, and for me part of the challenge is coming up with something different to make.  This year, this special boy is getting.....

some bunting, with his name on it.  I have seen this around on the internet and thought it would be great for a boy.  I find boys especially hard to make things for.  If anyone has any more suggestions please leave me a comment.  Below is a photo of the finished bunting.

This was surprisingly quick and easy to make.  I simply chose the size of the top of the triangles, measured the point in the middle, which is the same measurement of the tops and then drew the sides down to this point.  This gave me a triangle that was the right shape.  I backed each of the front triangles with interface to make it a bit firmer, then drew out the name and appliqued the letters onto each triangle using a straight stitch and raw edge applique.  You can see this a bit clearer in the top photo.

I always find that one project leads to another and because I detest buying wrapping paper (it only gets thrown in the bin) I made this cute bucket to put his gift in.  He can then use this to store items in his bedroom.

I used the same fabrics I had used in the bunting and again, used raw edge applique to put his initial on the front, really personalizing it!  Again this project led to another and I have just completed these this morning!

These were made from an old hessian (burlap) bag that my daughter gave me when she moved out of home.  I really love the rustic feeling of the hessian with the neater look of the lining.  The bottom bucket is my favourite. I love seeing the stipe fabric on the handles and just a peek of the lining.  I'm not sure what I am going to do with these but they will probably go into my gift stash for giving away throughout the year. 

I hope you all enjoyed these photos.  I enjoyed making all of these items (can't wait to do more) and the best thing is they cost me nothing as I had all of the materials in my stash!

Take care
Andrea



Previous Patchwork

One of my favourite things is patchwork.  I love getting the beautiful fabric together and waiting for inspiration to hit.  I haven't done any patchwork for awhile, but hope to change that soon, as it is something that isn't easy to work on and you need plenty of space.  I simply didn't have enough time when I was working.  I have one quilt top finished waiting to be backed and quilted and another that I have started the second block on, but it will take awhile as it has a lot of hand embroidery and applique.  I will get back to it one day soon I hope!

In the meantime I have found some photos of some quilts I have made in the past.  This is just a sample of some of my quilts.  I have plenty more!

The above quilt is one I made for Emily.  It is a double bed size and as you can tell by the fabric it is all horse material.  Emily is horse crazy and we had been saving bits and pieces of fabric over quite a few years to eventually make her a quilt.  Another stipulation was there could be limited lighter colour fabric as she wasn't known for being very clean at the time and I was worried about having to constantly wash the quilt.  The design for this is called Hidden Star.  She still uses the quilt today!

This is a quilt I made for my bed.  At the time I was going through a floral stage.  This is a huge quilt as my bed is a queen and this quilt hangs nearly to the floor.  There is a needle turn applique heart wreath in the centre.  No doubt this quilt will probably end up on our bed again one day.

This is a wall hanging I made for my parents for Christmas one year.  My father loves gardens and I wanted to show that in a quilt.  All of the embroidery and applique has been done by hand and the design of the quilt is my own.  The embroidery patterns were given to me by a friend so I can't tell you who designed them.  If you know please leave a comment.  My parents have since moved house but now have this hanging on the wall of their new home.

I am working on a birthday present for my nephew who turns 5 in June, so hopefully I will have some photos to show soon.

Take care
Andrea