I don't believe it

There I was busy chain piecing apron neck and waist straps  - quite  a mindless job - when I happened to look down and noticed that I had sewn one and half strips - well over a metre - without any bobbin thread.  

That will teach my mind to wander to what was going to be cooked for dinner that night and other trivial matters.  

It would be nice if  sewing machine manufacturers could devise a mechanism which would stop the machine when the bobbin ran out even though I do have a top loading bobbin with  clear plastic over the top of it this is not the first time that this has happened to me.    Very annoying to say the least.   Note to self - concentrate on the job at hand.

However my day was brightened when going to the letterbox there was a parcel with my name on it and upon opening it this is what was inside

One of these lovely set of placemats (I have used the actual photo from June's blog) was sent to me by June from June's Jottings which she had made from fabric bought on her recent travels into the Red Centre and onto Darwin.   She has even made a smaller mat for Miss M.     I had been admiring them on her blog recently and little did I know that a set would be coming my way.  Lucky me.

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Happy sewing all

Re-purpose and re-use

I was asked during the week if I could help out and make a few adult aprons from some donated tablecloths.    No problem I said and this pile of tablecloths was left at the front door yesterday while I was out and about.

Twenty five tablecloths to be precise.     I did my first one today and this is how it turned out

One down and 24 more to go.   By cutting the tablecloth a certain way I was able to get the apron, the neck and waist straps as well as a pocket from each one.    Every apron needs a pocket.      

Into the sewing room for some more cutting and sewing.

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Happy sewing all

This Week in the Sewing Room

It was an "odds and sods" week with a big tidy and clean up in the sewing room all due to call for help from a friend who is looking for a pattern for 7" doll clothes.   Yes I definitely can help you I said and knew that there was exactly what she was looking for in my sewing room.    During the process of searching fabrics which had been put aside to make more library bags were uncovered and have been turned into 10 bags.

More bibs are being cut out for the next hospital fund raising stall next week.

But alas the pattern book for the 7" doll clothes still alludes me.   I can only think that it is caught up in a huge pile of books and magazines which will be my next job to go through.....call it future research as I am sure to find many interesting projects to add to my "to do list".

The knitting needles have kept me busy of a night while sitting in front of tv with one beanie completed and another on the way.

Well back to my sewing room to keep looking for this missing pattern book.   

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Happy sewing all

For My Giftie Box

The way the year is skidding by it will be Christmas time before we know it so my thoughts have turned to making some small items which can be used as stocking fillers for family and friends.    During the week I have been busy rummaging around in my sewing room and particularly my scrap bins to see what could be used to make up some snap top bags.    I was able to make an early start today  and finished them off.

There are a couple of more ideas that will also be added to the box very soon.

Thanks Wendy for hosting another fun FNSI.

Spring is in the air...…..when doing my daily walk this afternoon I followed my nose and saw this glorious wattle bush almost in full flower

In the next photo I really did turn my nose - this time in a different direction - as the garbage truck was doing what garbage trucks do.     Our council has just acquired a new fleet of very bright trucks. They come in red, yellow, blue, purple, pink and this one outside our house today was lime green.  

Linking with Oh Scrap

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Happy sewing all

     

This Week in the Sewing Room

Very little was achieved due to having Miss M stay for a few days.   We did however find time to make a small blanket and pillow for one of her favourite toys and while we were finding suitable fabrics for them she saw this love heart fabric - as she called it - and asked if her new apron could be made from it.

I declared this weekend "a catch up on sewing weekend" and managed to cut out and sew up her new apron.  I used the same pattern that is used to make the childrens' aprons for the hospital stall but enlarged it in a few places.

Next onto a job which I have been procrastinating over doing for a couple of weeks.   Hubs bought a new pair of trousers without trying them on and of course they needed to be altered.     Not only were they too long but they were quite loose around the waist so a complete make over was needed.  Here they are all fixed up and ready to wear.

After that episode it was time to reward myself so out with my pretty pink fabrics to cut and sew four curved log cabin blocks which was my nominated OMG for July.

What were you able to achieve in your sewing room over the weekend?

Linking with So Scrappy
                      Oh Scrap
                       OMG

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Happy sewing all

A little piece of Scotland

Hubs likes all things Scottish - especially shortbread - and when shopping in one of my favourite quilt shops sometime back  I saw a fat quarter which depicted all things Scottish so home it came with me and sat in my sewing room until the other day when it was made into a cushion cover.

Hubs was delighted with his little piece of Scotland.   With all the heavy fog that we have been having lately anyone would think we lived in Scotland.  

It is good weather for eating lots of warming soup.  I like to make a large pot so we can have it over a couple of days for lunches.

Fortunately the weather  has cleared as hubs and I have had Miss M with us for a few days so we have been able to get out and do all those holiday activities like scooting around the lake

Playing in the playground

Riding on the Manly ferry and seeing the sights of city as they come into view.

Doing some potting of plants at the local garden centre to take home and look after.   Miss M is proudly showing the poppy that she planted.  

All the toys have been picked up, the colouring in books and pencils back where they belong, the sewing machine and computer are mine to use again and Miss M has been delivered back to her mummy and daddy.     I will miss my "little shadow" and hope that she is able to come and stay with us again  next school holidays.

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Happy sewing all

   

Christmas in July

My quilting group issued the challenge of making some small Christmas decorations/ornaments which will be given  Kris Kringle style at our meeting next week.    Digging into the pile of Christmas scraps I came up with the idea of making some Christmas tree trivets which can be used as table decorations.

I made a couple of these for my own use a few years ago and found them good to put under small bowls of goodies that we tend to put around at Christmas time.    They are a fun a quick project to work on even though I had to re-think how to do paper piecing.    Working backwards does my head in at times.    

I was working on these over the last couple of days and finished them off this afternoon after returning home from enjoying a Christmas in July lunch with my walking companions.     We will have to do an extra long walk to justify eating such a large meal.   We were  however very good as none of us caved in and order the pudding with custard.  

Thanks Cheryll for organising FNwF 

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Happy sewing all

Pretty in Pink

The rainbow scrap colour for July is pink and I am looking forward to sewing these fabrics below  to make up the next batch of curved log cabin blocks which I will nominate as my OMG for this month.

Since my last post I have slotted through the drawstrings on  20 library bags so these can now be considered a finish.

Linking with   OMG

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Happy sewing all