Felt Christmas Ornament No. 2

I’ve made a second ornament.  I’m two for two.  Go me!

This is what I have copied – the link for the instructions is below.

http://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Fuzzy-Felt-Snowman-Ornament

And this is mine:

I didn’t intentionally copy the background colour!  That was actually a nice foresty green in real life.  Funny how the camera washes out the colour.

I haven’t pressed it (which I’m not going to given that it’s acrylic felt) but I will put some heavy books on it to smoosh it down a bit.

I’m trying to improve my blog photography by including some arty farty shots like you see on the good blogs.  I’m not having much luck.  Perhaps it’s the kind of thing that you either have or you haven’t.  I shall persevere though, perhaps it will improve with time and practice.

How have you been spending your day?  Mine is quiet – my children are at a playdate and it’s wet and rainy outside, just the way I like it.  I’ve stitched while I watched some television.  There are worse ways to spend the afternoon.

Suzie

Sunbonnet Sue–onto the next step

It’s currently pouring with rain.  The day before yesterday was 43 deg c.  This weather is mental.

But good new!  I’ve managed to complete the next step of my Sunbonnet Sue – the blocks are all basted on now.

Yay me!  I only have to hand stitch the whole forty two blocks now.  Shouldn’t take long, right?

Very cute little ladies, I think.  I’ve never made a full sized sunbonnet quilt.  One from the quilt bucket list, I think. 

Some of them are done very well, some turned really easily.  Some – well not so much.

Do you know what happens when you save every single scrap of a particular fabric in a range you adore?  You get to piece ridiculous (though very cute) skirts like this one.

 

There you are – the whole quilt.  Quite large really, that is quite a big design wall behind it.  The girls have been up on that wall for months, I’m glad to see the back of them for a while.

And now we are back to this.  Grand Illusion Mystery.  One sad little block up there on the wall.  I was going to try and stitch some today but we had a better offer in town so we escaped from our house and went out for coffee.  I’m having a few quiet minutes without the children (this sort of occurrence has been a long time, let me tell you) until I go and pick them up.  Don’t you love friends who say ‘leave the kids here, go have some time alone!’.  Such a lovely thing to do.

(the sort of thing only a mum understands, just between you and me).

Assuming we don’t get swept away by the rain, and assuming our internet is still working (has been remarkably cross with the universe today, has our internet), and assuming we still have power after what is looking like a pretty fierce storm about to arrive, I shall post more photos tomorrow!

Suzie

Sunbonnet Sue–update

This is one quilt that will be finished in 2015.

There, I said it.  Hold me to it, won’t you?

This has been a big-step quilt.  Firstly, I had to cut out each pane of the skirt.  Then piece it, then trace all the other pieces out onto freezer paper, then turn it under and baste it, and finally baste it to the background fabric.  I know there is an easier way (probably more than one) but this way works for me.  It just takes such a long time.

But the basting onto the fabric step is almost finished. Then I have to hand stitch them down, but that part of it will be a nice, relaxed step that I can do at night in front of the television.  It will be such a relief to have this off the design wall.

Once the hand applique part of it is done, it’s a matter of stitching the rows together, handing it deftly over to my mother so she can long arm quilt it, and then back to me for binding.  I’m hopeful I can put this into our local quilt show in October. 

Hold me to it, won’t you?

Suzie

(yes I’m still plodding along with Grand Illusion, I’m hopeful to post a bit of an update on that soon)

Show And Tell–Bright Splash Quilt

Part of our role as quilt shop owners was to make new sample quilts as they arrived.  We received this range of fabric – I can still recall the name of it.  Navajo.  It struck me as an odd name, being American Indian but for the life of me I can’t associate that name with this particular range of fabric.  Nothing about this fabric says American Indian to me at all.

But I digress.  As always.

The design came with a freebie pattern printout.  It was long before the days of freebie internet downloads and we had a few leaflets shoved down the side of the box that the fabric came in.  So we stitched it up and this is the final result.

For some reason we decided the quilt wasn’t big enough and we put our own hand died fabric around the outside rather than more of the original fabric.  It doesn’t add to the quilt, in fact after years of hindsight I think it detracts.  Lord knows why we made that decision.  I’d unpick it but then I think it’s too small to do anything with, and adding different fabric would only put me back in the same position as I already am with it.

The actual design is quite pretty and reminds me in the slightest squint your eye way of Swoon, for those who are familiar with that quilt block.  One big block making one big quilt.  Apart from the odd ‘chopped off’ triangle point, we’ve pieced it pretty well, given that it was probably made fifteen years ago.

It sure isn’t ugly (though it is definitely busy) but I can’t help thinking we could have made much better use of those fabrics.

Not to worry.  It’s a very old quilt top that deserves to be quilted and bound and used.  But – as with so many others I have – it will be photographed, labelled and put back into the cupboard.  I will fold it differently this time than last – I’ve read enough on quilt preservation to know to do that.

I haven’t photographed, labelled and stored a quilt top for months now.  Once the children get back onto the school bus I will get back on that band wagon.  It’s a job half done, and I’m tired of half done jobs.

Hope you enjoyed today’s little show and tell. 

Happy Quilting!

Suzie

Bushwalking *picture heavy post!!*

One of the many lovely things to do where I live on a day when it’s not so hot is a bushwalk.  I must admit I’m not the most physical of people, but my eldest daughter loves a good adventure walk, and so the three of us went for a quick jaunt around a local reserve when the weather was cooler.  The baby (six years old) did really well but I must admit it was draining for her, she complained ever so slightly but we all survived.  The eldest had to be restrained often to stop her jaunting off the track into the denser bush, which was fine except for any number of snakes and spidery things that may have been lurking there.

No more words today, just photos. 

Happy Quilting

Suzie

Grand Illusion Mystery ….

Thank you for all your lovely words regarding the Very Big Fire. It’s still burning but the weather is cooling down somewhat and it’s not quite so bad though still promises to be fairly devastating for people living the beautiful Adelaide Hills.  Some truly awful stories are coming through now, particularly the loss of a kennel filled with people’s pets, presumably whilst they are away on holidays.  What a thing to go back home to.

It was so hot yesterday and the day before that the plums on my plum tree literally stewed themselves.  I went out to check on them and noticed they had changed colour, and when I tasted one I realised it tasted exactly like stewed plums.  I have no need to panic over what to do with all the excess plums now – our chooks will have a lovely time over the next few days. Certainly can’t be eating those ones now.  It’s not the end of the world, I have another tree that has given me so much fruit, I’ve made plum sauce and plum jam and stewed plums and honestly, if I don’t eat another plum for twelve months I won’t mind.

I finally had some time in the sewing room and managed to put a block together of Grand Illusion Mystery.  My colours are the same as Bonnie’s.

And here is one with the sashing also:

I really don’t want to sound ungrateful to Quiltville, and all the time and effort that Bonnie puts into her quilts, patterns which she freely shares and which I’m very grateful for.  But I’m really not loving this design at all.  I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of things that say more about me as a quilter than anything else –firstly the spinning chevron thingies do my head in.  I’m tempted to take that block out and make the whole block a star unit, which I think would work better for me.  But I’m really scratching for fabric now.  The older I get, the less ‘wobbly’ or ‘off centre’ I like things.  If a quilt works for me, it’s because it’s centred properly, the blocks all point the right way.  I’m getting more traditional as I get older.

Someone posted that they couldn’t find a place to rest their eyes on in her quilt, and that’s the way I feel.  It’s just too busy and active for me.  I think I prefer calming quilts.  Does that make sense?  But I’m not trying to sound critical to Bonnie, so please don’t take it that way.  Just trying to work out where my tastes are heading in the future.  Bright and busy isn’t really it.

But I’ll finish it and take a photo of it and perhaps I’ll warm to it.  I’ll wait and see.

So that’s my Sunday update.  How about you?  Have you been stitching today?

Happy quilting!

Suzie

It’s Hot…..and a freebie

Hi everyone

Today is a Very Hot Day, and it’s also a little scary as we head full throttle into big scary bushfire season. Every year at this time it’s a little like Russian Roulette – which part of the country will be on fire?  It’s not a case of maybe, it’s a definite danger and thankfully, we are not at risk this time.  But Big Scary Fires are burning throughout the Adelaide Hills, and I’m crossing my fingers hoping that the damage will be less than expected. 

I haven’t any fancy photos to show you today of my sewing as I’ve yet to put a stitch into something.  I’ve sorted out the sewing room now, I’ve emptied the various bins that were overflowing, cleaned out the last of the Christmas rubbish and recycling, and I expect I shall sew some more of the Grand Illusion mystery later this afternoon.  Have you been sewing along? Do you like the finished quilt?  I must admit, it’s not my favourite.  But perhaps my quilt will look fabulous when it’s finished, it’s in too many parts right now to make an informed decision.

I was surfing the other day and found the most gorgeous freebie that you may have seen already, but I’ll share it again.  I see more than one of these little cuties in my future.

I don’t know that I will necessarily make them as pin cushions, but I shall definitely have some of the little cardinals below for my Christmas tree next year!

You can find these little lovelies over Riley Blake designs, and also at www.quiltscapesqs.com and I thank them both very much for the instructions.

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2014/11/03/little-birdie/

Think of me, won’t you?  Sweltering in the heat. 

Have a lovely day

Suzie

Felt Christmas Ornament No. 1

I know Christmas is officially over, but bear with me.

One of my big, clever ideas last year was to do one felt Christmas ornament a week, so that by the end of the year I would have a lovely collection of felt ornaments.

Didn’t happen.  Of course it didn’t, you know me well enough by now.  But this year I think I may give it a go.  No grand statements (that should be my catchphrase for the year, not more productivity less procrastination!) but I’m at least starting as I mean to go on.

I have used a lovely tutorial that was offered at Bugs and Fishes blog, by following this link:

http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/felt-ornament-how-to-3-christmas.html

and once all the little people had gone to bed, I sat and quickly stitched this:

It was remarkably easy, though I think one the next one I will use less strands in my embroidery threads, it kind of looks chunky.

But it fits very well on the tree:

and in a larger view:

There it is, right next to the giant cat sized hole.  We are missing a whole branch.  Lord knows where I’ll find that.

Hope your day went well.  We are sweltering here on a very hot day.

Suzie

Seeya later 2014, bring on 2015!

It’s been a hectic time here in our little house, but it’s been filled with friends and family and laughter.  So who can complain about that?  Certainly not me, though I’m glad my cooking for large numbers responsibilities are over.  Bring on leftovers!

We had a lovely Christmas – the girls were delightful and our family all feasted here this year.  The pool was used, the slip and slide that Father Christmas gave the girls got a great workout, especially by 40 year old men who had more than a little beer, and various teenaged cousins.  Much fun was had by all.

Last night, New Year’s Eve was a smaller affair with steak and salad being the choice of meal, but I must say I did fairly okay with the cooking of the steak, despite pressure from the men of the evening who thought they should be cooking it on the barbie.

And now the rush is over, today promises to be a Suzie day.  I’ve already told the various members of this household that I don’t intend to do anything that isn’t Sewing Related for a few hours, as it’s been so long since I’ve had time in my sewing room.  I actually feel a little jittery, must be withdrawal symptoms.

Usually at this time of year I feel a great need to write down all the UFO’s in my cupboard and decide which one I need to get a start on.  But I’ve been diligent about updating my UFO book (yes, my list is so long I need a notebook!) throughout the year and that’s a job I don’t need to do.  Yes, there are many, many UFO’s still on there, most of them overflowing from previous years.

Sadly, I didn’t get to finish half of what I wanted to in 2014.  But I’m not going to beat myself up about it – it’s about the pleasure I get from the stitching, not the finishing (although finishing something does feel pretty darn good).

More for interest’s sake rather than anything else, I thought I might share with you my 2014 finishes as I recall them.  There were smaller, undocumented finishes along the way last year that I didn’t share with the blog, and if I have just one resolution, it is to be more diligent with recording them. 

And there you have it.  Clicking on the picture should bring you to the page where I wrote about the quilt finishes. 

It doesn’t look as speccie as I hoped, mainly because very few of these are start to finish-finishes.  Mostly I just had to sew a few rows or blocks or applique a bit.  Still, a finish is a finish is a finish, right?  Nine new quilts, that’s good work (we shall not comment about the quilting and binding still to be done on them, will we?)

Each year I try and think of a word that will be my mantra for the year.  This year it’s a couple of words – more productivity, less procrastination.  I fear I may have to restrict my Ipad time – it surely is a work of the devil, that thing.

So that’s my first post for the year. Hopefully 2015 will be a productive one for me.  No grand statements though.

Thanks so much for your following this year, and all the lovely comments.  I’m sorry if I didn’t reply to you as I should, sometimes I don’t see them appearing on my reader and it’s only months later I realise someone has commented on a blog post I did ages ago.  I will try harder!

Hope your New Year’s is going well, and I will post soon!

Suzie