Saturday, October 5, 2024

Chookshed Challenge #8

At the time of compiling my list last year I put challenge #8 as a "mystery item" which did indeed turn out to be a mystery for me.    I was approached by the sales manager where we live and asked if I would be interested in making some fiddle muffs for dementia patients in a couple of the local nursing homes.    Fidget mats I had heard of but not fiddle muffs so after some research ideas were found and I said yes to her request.  Collecting suitable fabrics together with bit and bobs was all that I managed to do when joining in with FNwF.


Now to get sewing them up and I hope to have some fiddle muffs to share with you at the end of the month.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Chookshed challenge #7

Done and dusted.     12 bowl cosies finished and each has their directions for use attached.


They now live in my giftie box and have been allocated for Christmas gifts.   That now leaves only 1 more challenge for this year.  

Two more finishes happened during the month.


A few more beanies have come off the needles.    That magic stripes yarn makes me look so clever.


Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Out of control bushfire

What started out as a hazard reduction burn on Saturday quickly got out of control and was declared an emergency. This is the view from my balcony and as you can see it was close


We lost count after 20 fire trucks, at least 4 police cars and 4 ambulances roared past where we live within the space of just over half an hour.   The street was closed off and could only be used by local residents and emergency vehicles.

Once the water helicopters were brought in things started getting under control not long after.  As you can see blue sky is starting to appear.



The Fire Service had decided to continue backburning across the road from us into the night.   This was the situation at 7pm


Not much sleep happened last night and I became aware at around 2 am that there was a snap, crackle and pop sound coming from across the road.   On looking out the lounge room window this is what I saw.   The flames were  spread over a longer distance and leaping up into the tree canopy with several fire trucks and crew in attendance.   As I type this post on Sunday afternoon the fire is still burning out of control but we no longer have the threat across the road from us.     Helicopters have been water bombing since early morning however the wind has picked up which will not help the situation.     


While all this drama was happening I headed to the sewing room and finished off the two summer nighties that Miss M had requested.


Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all   

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Paint chip Challenge and FNSI

Members of my Saturday quilting group were given a paint chip challenge.   Each of us had to draw blindly a paint chip card and this is the one that I drew from the pile.    We could make anything using those 3 colours with the addition of black and white if needed.


The paint chip sat on the edge of my sewing table for a month before ideas came to mind.   The colours reminded  me of lemons which triggered my memory that somewhere in my "sewing ideas file"  there was a pattern saved for a round trivet.   Below is the result which I had been working on during the week and finished off last night when joining in with FNSI.  


It is called citrus slice which is exactly what it looks like.    I was lucky to have enough scraps in the yellow scrap bin very similar to the colours on the paint chip.   Green and orange would have also worked for this idea.  

This month's book club book is like reading a very detailed and in depth school text book.   


Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Simply stunning

Is the only way to describe this year's David Jones Spring flower show as you can see by the photos below.    The flower show features 20 floral installations with over 150,000 blooms, more than 50 species of flowers and foliage showcasing the unique beauty of our land.












A sit down in the Pitt Street Mall under the lovely trees with their fresh spring growth before catching the bus back home.  


Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all





Saturday, September 7, 2024

Busy as a bee

Spring has definitely arrived Downunder with the spring blossoms in full bloom and the bees doing what bees do


It has been lovely to take advantage of the warmer weather (now that the gale force winds have abated) to sit outside with some knitting, an audio book, a cup of coffee and a little sweet treat.


A couple of finishes happened during the week.


Some quilting took place when joining in with FNwF last night


As well as cutting and pressing bindings.


Miss M has requested some summer nighties please grandma.   Fabrics and pattern are ready to go. 


Time to head off and make a start on the day.  Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Chookshed Challenge # 7

On consulting the list for me is 12 bowl cosies.   Into the stash to pull out some suitable fabrics and getting them cut out happened yesterday.


When completed they will go into my Christmas giftie box.

You can see more nominated #7 challenges over here.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Sunday, August 25, 2024

May your bobbin be always full

Which is something that rarely happens around here so I took time out from the sewing machine to wind bobbins, bobbins and more bobbins.


That should keep me going for a while.

A couple of small quilts were finished off during the week.


This was the quilt that Miss M put the squares together when she was staying with us during the July school holidays.


This audio book has been playing along side the sewing machine.


More reading material from the library


While putting the shopping away this morning an email arrived in from Chooky advising that a Zoom session was about to take place......perfect timing as I have been out and about when the last couple of Zoom sessions have taken place.     There were only a few of us on but it was an enjoyable time none the less.


Time to go and organise some lunch and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Catching up and FNSI

This month is just skidding by.   A few family members have had health issues, which hopefully are being sorted out, a few more have clocked up another year on the birthday ladder and so life goes on.  

When joining in with FNSI last night I worked on sewing the drawstring channels on the library bags which are also my Chookshed challenge # 3.  


Here are the 21 all turned and ready for delivery.  Very happy to have those completed.


A few more beanies have come off the needles over the course of the last couple of weeks and another about to


This month's book club book is


I have read Mao's Last Dancer and look forward to starting this one.  

During the week I popped into the City to see an exhibition marking the gift of David Jones' archieves to the Powerhouse Museum.   There is going to be over 3,000 items donated to the museum detailing the 186 year old history of the store.  Unfortunately there was only a very small selection of items on show in the store.  For more than half a century the department's store distinctive black and white houndstooth pattern has featured on everything from bags to garments.



This is the view from the 8th floor of the store looking back across Hyde Park and St Mary's Cathedral.


That about wraps up what has been happening so I am off the do some blog hopping to catch up what the other bloggers have been up to over the past couple of weeks.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Chookshed Challenge #3

According to the my list made way back when is heat packs but this is going to be changed to making library bags as I volunteered to make more library bags, when I handed the others over back in June, for Network Heaven and seeing that the packing process starts next month it is time to get these done.


Time to get out the tape measure, rotary cutter, cutting board and overlocker to get the job done.

Thanks Deana for organising us.  

Back soon hopefully with a progress report and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

Friday, July 26, 2024

Chookshed Challenge No #1

Was to make a candle/tablemat for my quilt group Christmas in July challenge.  (Love it when two challenges collide) This was the fabric that we were given


Extra fabric could be used if required.   This fabric was added for the border


Here is the end result


And just to prove that all fabric given was used this is the back



More fabric squares were cut during the week for the next small quilt.


Time to head off to the doctor for my second shingles shot in the arm.   Ouch!!!!!!!

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Saturday, July 20, 2024

FNSI with a bit of this and a bit of that

As Miss M was staying with us during the week not much happened in the sewing room although I gave her a pile of 6" squares to arrange for the next small quilt.


Putting the last square in place


We also visited the local mini golf centre for a round of 18 holes


A sugar fix at the 19th hole


We did a bush walk accompanied by one of her favourite Beanie Boos


I managed to finish off a beanie and start another one while joining in with FNSI.   


Miss M has now returned home and the domestics that were not done during the week need to be caught up on.   Better go and check that the washing is still pegged on the line as it is blowing a gale here.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all