Karen's Korner: December 2020

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

My Stitching Resolution Blog Hop

On my "to do list" in the sewing room is to learn two new techniques. The first one being scrappy applique. I was very happy with the fabric collage shoe that I did at the beginning of this year and thought that I would like to learn another new technique this coming year.

And second on the list is to learn how to make curved blocks. I have been thinking about making a drunkards path quilt for ages and this is a good opportunity to do so.

I will also join in the RSC again this year in order to finish off my fabric scrap baskets. I notice that the colour for January is pink so a pink fabric basket is the first item on my to do list this year.

To see more Stitching resolutions for the coming year hop on over to the following blogs.

Just Let Me Quilt
MooseStashQuilting
Words & Stitches
Sew Many Yarns
Websterquilt
Cocoa Quilts
QuiltFabrication
Stitchin At Home
Ms P Designs USA
Life in the Scrapatch
Kathy Kwilts and More
Karen's Korner
Quilt Schmilt
selina quilts
The Joyful Quilter
Becky’s adventures in quilting and travel
Karrin's Crazy World
Quilting and Learning: What a Combo
VroomansQuilts
Cynthia's Creating Ark
PamelaQuilts
Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué
Kathleen McMusing
Quilting Gail
Homespun Hannah's Blog
appliqueand...
Songbird Designs
Storied Quilts
Susie’s World

She's Stitchin Again
Creatin' in the Sticks

Thank you Carla for organising such a fun blog hop which is sure to give us all lots of inspiration and motivation for the coming year.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Best of 2020

Cheryl over at Meadow Mist designs is hosting her annual blog link party where we can showcase what we consider to be our "best 5 blog posts in 2020". It was fun going back through the year and seeing what was posted and achieved. I did not undertake any big quilts but stayed with mainly smaller items and did try out two new techniques to me. The first being my version of a fabric collage which had been on the "to do list" for over 12 months.

The next technique was to try and make a small landscape quilt.

I was given a bundle of batik fabrics and turned them into a tablerunner using the pineapple blossom block.

My next favourite was a couple of mini quilts to add to my collection.

And last on the list was a double oven mitt. I did end up making 3 of them.

Don't forget to go over here to see lots of "eye candy" and maybe even pick up an idea or three for future sewing projects.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Will We or Won't We

Be celebrating Christmas Day this year. This has been the question everyone in our local Council area who has been locked down since last weekend has been asking. We finally received the answer to that question at 11 am this morning when the Premier gave her daily press conference.

Sadly for us we are caught up in the boundary of north of a certain bridge and east of a temple so Christmas Day is cancelled for us. We did discuss Plan B with our family last weekend if it should come to this so Plan B it is. If the rest of our family lived within the same boundary we could have been together but they all live outside the area.

Our Christmas tree will remain up and the presents under it will stay unopened until we can all be together whenever that will be.

This is the first Christmas Day that we have not celebrated with my parents, our son, daughter-in-law and Miss M - a very sad time. I know this is the right decision for the good of the greater community and we all have to do our part in trying to stamp out this dreaded pandemic. Fortunately we are all well and not showing any symptoms so we have to be grateful for that. We will get together via screens at some point during the day.

I finished off the peasant top for Miss M during the week.

But have put a hold on making the dress as a few of the dresses that were made for her last year still fit.

I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and thinking of all those who cannot get together as a family to celebrate due to COVID.

Take care

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Friday, December 18, 2020

It is not over yet

Just as many restrictions that were imposed on us due to COVID were being relaxed 17 cases popped up overnight in my local Council area which in turn has caused the health authorities to ask the residents of the northern beaches to get tested if showing symptoms or have been to certain venues and fortunately for hubs and I neither of us are feeling unwell nor have we visited those venues listed. It has also been requested that residents of the area do not leave their homes for the next three days unless really necessary and especially keep away from crowded places such as gyms, places of worship and entertainment venues.

So my plans for today had to be cancelled but looking on the bright side I was able to make an early start on the last FNSI for the year and finished off my blue fabric basket. Using up those never ending scraps was one of my WOOFA challenges for the year. I now have a total of 4 finished fabric baskets with 5 more colours to go. I will have a break from 2 1/2" squares for a while and pick that project up again next year. Thanks Cheryll for moving us along during the year.

I found some pretty fabrics in my stash during the week just waiting to be sewn up into garments for Miss M. The butterfly fabric will end up being a dress.

Today the green and pink floral became a twirly skirt

The white broderie anglaise underneath is on the cutting table and will be a peasant top to go with the skirt. Now that my social life has been curtailed again my aim will be to get both the top and dress finished off before Christmas.

Thanks Wendy for hosting FNSI on the 3rd Friday night of every month throughout the year so that we can spend time working on or finishing off projects and sharing them with others.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Friday, December 4, 2020

FNwF

The first Friday of the month means FNwF which is organised by Cheryll. I have to say that I did not put in one stitch tonight but I did have a bit of a marathon sewing session earlier in the week to get some childrens' aprons finished off for the hospital auxiliary stall today and tomorrow.

The ballerina and butterfly aprons were sold within the first 1/2 hour of us starting to sell on the stall.

During the week I took myself off into the City and was surprised to see just how quiet it was. Usually the Strand Arcade is wall to wall with people around 10 am - not this week.

Martin Place is always another crowded and busy area - not this particular day.

I did come home rather sad at just what effect COVID has had on our lovely city and to console myself we put up our Christmas decorations to bring some cheer. Next on the agenda is to write my Christmas cards and finish wrapping the presents. Those small gifts that are under the tree are the Christmas coasters made for our friends who we are having lunch with next week.

Hopefully those who signed up over here did a bit more than me.

A big thank you to Cheryll for organising us all on the first Friday night of each month - and during the height of our lockdown and restrictions she organised us on two Friday nights each month. Hopefully she will be running FNwF again next year.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Virtual Cookie Exchange and Christmas Blog Hop

I would like to share a favourite recipe - though not a cookie - which is nice to enjoy a cup of coffee/tea with one or three or ??? for a treat. Rum balls are very popular here in Australia at Christmas time.

They are quick and easy to make ahead of time and keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They can also be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.

For those who do not like or want alcohol just leave the rum out. They are just as delicious and "kid friendly".

INGREDIENTS

1 pkt Marie biscuits

395 g tin sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup desiccated coconut for rolling

1/4 cup dark rum (optional)

Extra coconut for rolling. You could also use finely chopped nuts or chocolate sprinkles.

METHOD

Crush the biscuits into a fine crumb.

In a bowl add the biscuit crumbs, condensed milk, rum if using, cocoa and coconut and mix really well.

Take dessertspoons of the mixture and roll into balls using your hands.

Toss balls through the extra coconut to coat.

Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy.

A tradition of my family is to serve a hot Christmas lunch even though we celebrate the day with quite hot temperatures. My maternal grandparents were from England and so the tradition of a baked meal for Christmas lunch is something that I have grown up. My mother carried on the tradition for many years and now it is my turn. Rather than serve up each individual meal I like to let each family member take as much or as little as they like.

We also have plum pudding with custard or ice cream plus a variety of other desserts to choose from.

And for those who have room for tea/coffee there is afternoon tea served with Christmas cake, fruit mince pies, fudge slice as well as some leftover cheesecakes from dessert time.

Now onto some Christmas sewing. I did mention in a previous post that I had joined a small quilting group and it was decided that we would make a tabletopper using the pineapple blossom block. Here is the one that I did

And here is a picture of the three of them together. I cannot believe just how different they look yet all three are the same pattern. Mine seems to have a more jagged appearance whereas the other two look they have a more square appearance. I am wondering if it due to the fact that I used a plain fabric for the centre squares and radiating corners. Perhaps someone can answer that question.

Now it is time to hop along to the blogs listed below for more sweetness. Enjoy and a big thank you to Carol again for organising another fun blog hop.

December 1

Creatin' in the Sticks

Doreen – Just Let Me Quilt Guest

Life in the Scrapatch

Ms P Designs USA

Just Sew Quilter

Cathie's Craftworks

Cynthia's Creating Ark