Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Odds and Ends

Is what I found when cleaning up my sewing room yesterday.    With  a New Year only two days away it was time to do a clean up and tidy of my sewing room.     I hate to admit it but the floor was not visible in some areas because of the piles of fabric, books etc that have somehow not been put back in their rightful place after using them.   While doing my tidy up I found a few UFO's that have gathered - my pet hate as I do not like to start something and then not finish it - but my excuse was that I had to stop and start something else of importance.     These include what started out as a quilt many years ago and never  progressed past the second row so it was time to call it a tabletopper and get it sandwiched and pinned ready for quilting.

Some Christmas towels that just need to have the top part sewn on and a button for hanging.  They can then go into my "giftie" box for next Christmas.

I also started what was intended to be a bedrunner quite a few years ago and it was buried under a pile of fabric.   The time has come to turn that into a tablerunner but before that I need to take off the paper.    Something to do in front of tv of a night.
Then there is the matter of many dozens of hexagons which have been made up into larger flowers but never progressed past that point.     I do have a plan for them but need to give that a bit more thought before finally deciding on their fate.

A Christmas panel which I found while putting fabric away.    I also sandwiched and pinned it ready for quilting.
 
I have to be very strict with myself and get all of the above done fairly quickly as the "project co-ordinator" at my quilt group  has lined up an exciting year of projects and challenges and I want to take part  knowing that I do not  have a string of unfinished items.

On a positive note I did start and finish a few burp clothes for a friend's soon to be born grandson.  I will make a few more but have run out of flannette which I like to use as a backing on them.   That problem was sorted out this morning with a trip to the fabric shop.    I have pre-washed it and it is on the line drying.  
And I  had a secret sewing item that I was not able to show before Christmas.   I made this cushion for hubby for his special chair.   He has a love of steam trains and when I saw this fabric I thought it would be perfect for him.

So it looks like I have a couple of busy days ahead finishing off the above.   I hope to be back soon with some piccies of what I have finished and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A trifling matter......

As I mentioned in my last post I was celebrating Christmas early this year.    Saturday was a busy day cooking the turkey and vegetables and I was aware that it was going to be a rather warm day so as well as serving the traditional plum pudding with custard for dessert   - and a cheesecake for the non pudding eaters - I decided to make something cool and refreshing.   I have to admit that I have never made trifle before so with the help of "google" a recipe was found.    It called for cream however being the cook that I am and never sticking to a recipe I substituted Greek yogurt topped with blue berries, strawberries and mango and it was absolutely delicious.

Anyway before all the eating took place on Sunday Santa had been to  our house to deliver all the presents early for a certain little lady.   Bub had spoken to him earlier in the week and told him that she would like an Octopod  and he came through with her request.    There was also a cradle for her dolly as well as a farm set and a pink tiara amongst other goodies in her stocking.   Needless to say there was one very happy little girl.


I did show a sneak peek of some fabric that I was using to make a gift which I can now show in full.    My son and daughter in law are very big Star War fans so when I saw this fabric a couple of months ago I knew  it would make up into a great cushion cover for my son.      I have since had a request for a pair of shorts for my daughter in law in the same fabric.


Santa was also very good me and and one of the items that he left was a bobbin side winder which I have been playing with this morning.   I find it very frustrating when sewing having to stop in the middle of something to wind a bobbin now I can just lean over the push a button to do the job without having to re-thread the machine.    What a great invention.

The rain is falling down here so I am heading back to my sewing room to make a few burp clothes for a friend's grandchild due next month.   Back soon with some photos and in the meantime
Happy sewing all



Saturday, December 19, 2015

FNSI

This is the last FNSI for 2015 and I am afraid that I did not get too much done in the way of sewing due to a number of other happenings.     I have been busy preparing an early  Christmas as bub and her mummy and daddy will be out of Sydney on the "real" Christmas Day visiting other family members so we decided to have our "family Christmas Day" this weekend.  Also  Grandpa and I had our little visitor for a couple of days so that her parents could attend the midnight screening of the new "Star Wars" movie.

Grandpa and bub watching a very cute reindeer email

The next day all the storms that were rolling around the area cleared so we headed off to the beach with our bucket and spade

After a play in the sand it was into the pool for a few kicks and a cool off


I am very pleased to say that the fairy houses and fairy playmat had lost none of their magic from last week and many hours over the three days were spent playing with them as well as having the odd ice block to cool off in between

So after all this activity I had a little time to have a  play around with some scraps and found native Australian flowers, gum leaves, red, white and blue fabric and the Aussie flag which I thought would be appropriate to use in  January's Sun Bonnet Sue  and call it "Aussie Sue" seeing that we celebrate Australia Day in January.

Thank you Wendy for being such a lovely hostess and inviting all us bloggers along each month to take part in a fun night of sewing and crafting.    To see what others have achieved during the night please hop over to Sugarlane Designs.   I look forward to joining everyone again in 2016 and I wish you  all a very happy Christmas and lots of lovely sewing and crafting in the New Year.

Back soon and in the meantime

 Happy sewing all

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Road testing....

At last the playmat was finished and I had a little play with it first before handing it over to bub to make sure that there is plenty of room for houses, carriages and fairies.    One of the fairy houses is in the woods and the others are at the end of the roads.    There is also a pool for the fairies to swim in.


Bub was staying the night at grandma and grandpa's house so it was time to put it to the real test and see if it is up to standard.   I am very happy to say that bub and I spent two days playing fairies.  

 

Bub is staying with us again next week for two nights so I hope that the fairies and the playmat still hold their magic.

The days between now and Christmas are busy with preparation, shopping and meeting up with friends for a couple of pre-Christmas lunches so I have to say that not much has been happening in the sewing department.       I hope to remedy that soon.


Happy sewing all