I didn't get far, but it's a start!
A long overdue birthday card for a friend.
Friday, 13 June 2008
Cardmaking revisited
I've not made cards for months and months, & have used up my card stash that I keep on hand. So there was nothing for it but to break out the supplies.
I didn't get far, but it's a start!
A long overdue birthday card for a friend.
I didn't get far, but it's a start!A long overdue birthday card for a friend.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Dear Baby Jane update
Raining here today which is lovely. Means we might get some crops sown after all. Just a couple of Dear Baby Jane blocks to show you. This is C1 Trooper Green's Badge - foundation pieced, a nice easy one. 
But then there is TR4 Bennington Cross - again foundation pieced, but tricky & time consuming with all those pieces. 
If the Dear Janers out there have any tips on trimming these triangles accurately, I would love to hear from you. I don't have the 'you beaut' Dear Jane triangle ruler. And I am a tad concerned about trimming the triangles too small - that would not be good considering how much blood, sweat & tears is invested in each of them!
But then there is TR4 Bennington Cross - again foundation pieced, but tricky & time consuming with all those pieces. 
If the Dear Janers out there have any tips on trimming these triangles accurately, I would love to hear from you. I don't have the 'you beaut' Dear Jane triangle ruler. And I am a tad concerned about trimming the triangles too small - that would not be good considering how much blood, sweat & tears is invested in each of them!
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Busy times
I have all that I need for some stitching therapy, except for some time. The lovely Catherine at Willow Valley Store offered up these fantastic transfers recently in a giveaway & I am so keen to stitch them, but the stuff of life has taken over for just a bit. Hope the 'stuff' passes soon!
Friday, 6 June 2008
Hey Mum, can you knit?
My 12-year-old blossie has put in an order for an iPod cover. She spotted this very cool felted number in the latest Inspirations magazine Issue 58 prompting the query, "Can you knit Mum"?
"Well, yes my sweet, in another lifetime I do vaguely recall doing something click-clacky with needles & wool - perhaps you could ask Grandma?" I replied hastily, hoping to flick-pass the job to the wonder knitter of the family. Undeterred, blossie cajoled, "Oh no Mum, I'm sure you could do it. Now, I would like it in these colours if possible":
And so, as any mother of a cajoling daughter with her heart set on a pink, lime, mango & sea breeze coloured iPod cover would do, I set off to look for some yarn. I fully expected to draw a blank on the colours, especially in pure wool required for felting. But blow me down, I found just the thing: 
And so I find myself a long way from my usual fabric & thread & have blown the cobwebs off the knitting needles. Yikes! Here is the progress:
With an excited daughter at my side urging on every stitch, I expect it should be finished soon!
"Well, yes my sweet, in another lifetime I do vaguely recall doing something click-clacky with needles & wool - perhaps you could ask Grandma?" I replied hastily, hoping to flick-pass the job to the wonder knitter of the family. Undeterred, blossie cajoled, "Oh no Mum, I'm sure you could do it. Now, I would like it in these colours if possible":
And so, as any mother of a cajoling daughter with her heart set on a pink, lime, mango & sea breeze coloured iPod cover would do, I set off to look for some yarn. I fully expected to draw a blank on the colours, especially in pure wool required for felting. But blow me down, I found just the thing: 
And so I find myself a long way from my usual fabric & thread & have blown the cobwebs off the knitting needles. Yikes! Here is the progress:
With an excited daughter at my side urging on every stitch, I expect it should be finished soon!
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Precious
Thank you for the migraine sympathy on my last post. The head is a bit doughy & sore today, but thankfully the worst of it is over.
Little Miss 6 is sleeping over at a friend's place for the first time tonight, & she is super excited. Here is her packing list - see if you can decode it! 
And a code of a different type - a message left for me by my 9-year-old puzzle prince!
Aren't children just the most precious gift?!
And a code of a different type - a message left for me by my 9-year-old puzzle prince!
Aren't children just the most precious gift?!
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Creativity vs migraine
Not much news on the girly twirly skirt I'm afraid. Have been battling a migraine. So often for me, creativity and migraines seem to go together - very frustrating! I finished the latest of my Dear Jane blocks a couple of days ago. This is F5 Parcheesi. 
And my first 25 blocks, all together:
I try not to think too much about how many blocks there are to go for Dear Jane, but am enjoying piecing them just one at a time. Hope your day has been more creative & productive than mine!
And my first 25 blocks, all together:
I try not to think too much about how many blocks there are to go for Dear Jane, but am enjoying piecing them just one at a time. Hope your day has been more creative & productive than mine!
Monday, 2 June 2008
Girly, twirly skirt in the making?
Hmmm, I'll keep you posted! All that gathering on this bag has got me in the mood. And then I saw this photo & a creative spark flickered. Just hope the spark doesn't go out!
Friday, 30 May 2008
Bunny inspired post #2
Another bunny stitchery - this is one of three small cushions I stitched for the baby son of a good friend of mine. The design is by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched.
There are other cute designs in Anni's series called 'Simple Stitchings'. You can find the full range of designs here.
One of my favourite bunny makers is Little Cotton Rabbits - too cute! And just a little bit of Friday Flickr fun - some more bunnies for you. My favourite is the very last pink one. I love the stunned 'bunny in the headlights' expression!
1. august the bunny, 2. the long eared patchwork bunny, 3. little_babu_bunny, 4. byelittlee, 5. Cuori con coniglietti, 6. Usagi, 7. forest of tree ornaments, 8. blue boys, 9. Jojo's Bunny, 10. conigli tilda, 11. Two Best Bunnies from the Chocolate Box series, 12. Smile, 13. Ballet bunnies, 14. bunni, 15. Two bunnies for two little girls (best friends), 16. Pink bunny
There are other cute designs in Anni's series called 'Simple Stitchings'. You can find the full range of designs here.
One of my favourite bunny makers is Little Cotton Rabbits - too cute! And just a little bit of Friday Flickr fun - some more bunnies for you. My favourite is the very last pink one. I love the stunned 'bunny in the headlights' expression!
1. august the bunny, 2. the long eared patchwork bunny, 3. little_babu_bunny, 4. byelittlee, 5. Cuori con coniglietti, 6. Usagi, 7. forest of tree ornaments, 8. blue boys, 9. Jojo's Bunny, 10. conigli tilda, 11. Two Best Bunnies from the Chocolate Box series, 12. Smile, 13. Ballet bunnies, 14. bunni, 15. Two bunnies for two little girls (best friends), 16. Pink bunny
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Bunny inspired post #1
I received a comment from Rachael Rabbit the other day. Of course, with a cute blog name like that, I had to investigate. Rachael's profile professes her love of all bunny inspired crafts, so I am digging up anything remotely rabbit-related in her honour!
This is a little bag I stitched for one of my daughters. It is a pattern by Sue Brennan of Weigela Design who unfortunately does not have a website. But you can have a look at her lovely shop in country New South Wales here, here and here.
For anyone itching for some bunny stitching, check out this free pattern at Lynnette Anderson Designs. It is just one design in her free block of the month Noah's Ark quilt.
This is a little bag I stitched for one of my daughters. It is a pattern by Sue Brennan of Weigela Design who unfortunately does not have a website. But you can have a look at her lovely shop in country New South Wales here, here and here.
For anyone itching for some bunny stitching, check out this free pattern at Lynnette Anderson Designs. It is just one design in her free block of the month Noah's Ark quilt.
Monday, 26 May 2008
So you think I'm crazy?
Attempting to re-create a Dear Jane quilt may seem crazy enough, but just have a look at this! Hanne has just put the finishing stitches on her aptly named 'Nearly Insane' quilt. It is the most amazing quilt I have ever seen, and just stunning in red and white. Congratulations Hanne - you are in a league of your own!
My Dear Baby Jane progress:
B11 Melissa's Cross - I foundation pieced the centre (using Minka's 3/8" cross hairs) & hand appliquéd the curves as for Anina's method. The curves on this are more circular than square-ish as they should be, but it is symmetrical, so I'm happy!
H1 Peek-a-boo - freezer paper foundation pieced. Hmmm, very different to the original I know. The truth is, I am a bit scared of the Dear Jane blocks that have a large proportion of solid colour. Because they are so dominant in the finished quilt, I am worried I will muck up my fabric choice & it will look awful. So I tend to want to 'soften' the look of these blocks by using more than one fabric. What a coward I am!
I8 Pete's Paintbox - freezer paper foundation pieced. See 'coward' comment above!
BR1 Rosemary's Window - the first of the border triangles. One down, only 51 to go!
There is a code amongst Dear-Janers, which for me at the moment looks like this: 24:1:0:336. This means I have completed 24 blocks, 1 triangle, O corner blocks & have used a total of 336 pieces. The numbers should eventually read 169:52:4:5602!
B11 Melissa's Cross - I foundation pieced the centre (using Minka's 3/8" cross hairs) & hand appliquéd the curves as for Anina's method. The curves on this are more circular than square-ish as they should be, but it is symmetrical, so I'm happy!
H1 Peek-a-boo - freezer paper foundation pieced. Hmmm, very different to the original I know. The truth is, I am a bit scared of the Dear Jane blocks that have a large proportion of solid colour. Because they are so dominant in the finished quilt, I am worried I will muck up my fabric choice & it will look awful. So I tend to want to 'soften' the look of these blocks by using more than one fabric. What a coward I am!
I8 Pete's Paintbox - freezer paper foundation pieced. See 'coward' comment above!
BR1 Rosemary's Window - the first of the border triangles. One down, only 51 to go!
There is a code amongst Dear-Janers, which for me at the moment looks like this: 24:1:0:336. This means I have completed 24 blocks, 1 triangle, O corner blocks & have used a total of 336 pieces. The numbers should eventually read 169:52:4:5602!
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