Christmas bunting

As usual there are a hundred other things I could and should be doing, but this was something quick and easy that served a dual purpose. I have a rather large stash of Christmas themed fabric, and having bought some really pretty modern fabrics last year and this year, I looked at the older ones and thought "what the heck am I going to do with this?" I hate waste, and knew I'd find something to do with them eventually. I saw a blog with Christmas bunting on it and immediately thought of my old fashioned materials - perfect! So here is my Christmas bunting - in piles on my sewing table when I'd finished.

And here is some of it pegged on the clothes line. I am going donate one length to our opshop to decorate the shop in December. The other two lengths will probably be hung up in one of our front windows, and also in the lounge or entrance hall.

Ah. Now I've got those out of my system, I'll get on to some more quilts for PNG :-)

Disappointments.

Well, the editor of Aust Quilters Companion must have thought the article about the PNG Quilt collective was not interesting enough to include in the magazine, because I've just bought the latest issue and it ain't there! Don't know why they bother emailing me and asking for information and photos...That has happened to me a few times over the years - has it happened to you? Some journalist finds out something about you that they think would make an interesting article in their paper or magazine, and they want all sorts of information from you. I've had people come out and spend a couple of hours photographing me with my linens or other stuff, then you never hear from them again. I do worry about what happens to those pictures...

If you've noticed the Aussie Hero Quilts logo on the side of my blog here, you can read more about it in this month's Patchwork & Stitching Vol.14 No.11. Jan-Maree Ball has worked very hard to get this off the ground and to her credit it has really taken off.

I haven't done much sewing at all lately and am really cheesed off about it. I have been given boxes of fabric to make quilts for the PNG babies, as well as Aussie Heroes, but just have not had time to do anything with it. Life at our place has been taken up with medical appointments and tradesmen the last few months. Ken said last week he felt like he needs a holiday. I said "YOU need a holiday? I need a holiday you mean!" Driving him to and from hospitals and medical appointments, driving him to leave and pick up bikes and car from mechanics garages...The only way I get time to myself is to do full day workshops, and he doesn't like it when I leave him for the day! I've enjoyed the quilting workshop mornings with Linda, and I've done two art full day classes this month, but I'm going to look for more next year. Particularly sewing ones, where I can do some constructive work for a change.

Updates

First update is about my quilting class with Linda Steele.  Our second class last Wednesday was very informative for me in particular!  We were busy stitching patterns on our sample blocks, when my bobbin ran out of thread.   I had another bobbin ready, so I popped it in.  The machine promptly made 'eyelashes' on the back, ie. the tension was all out of whack.  Linda came over and tried everything she could think of.   One of the other ladies suggested that the problem might be the different thread on the bobbin to what was on the top reel.   She was partly right; the thread I'd used to fill the bobbin at home was a very old reel of thread that I'd been given by someone having a clean out.  Linda warned us that old thread can really stuff up our machine, and said I should throw it out.  So I re-filled the bobbin with the same thread on the top reel, and while I was re-threading the machine Linda noticed that I'd placed the thread somewhere that didn't look right to her . So we scanned the instruction booklet and sure enough, I'd been doing it wrong all the time for the past six months! Once we'd fixed that, my machine hummed along happily.

The final class is not for another three weeks, which gives us time to practice what Linda has taught us on our sample blocks.  When we return, we'll start on a new block using coloured fabric and contrasting cotton, and Linda is going to show us how to do the 'feathers' design.  The lady sitting next to me commented after the class that she is glad Linda has broken the workshop into three days rather than learn everything all in one day, and I agreed.  We both felt there is so much to take in that if it had been a one day workshop, both of us would have gone home exhausted and forgotten everything by the next day!


Sorry this next bit isn't stitching related, but some of you left such kind comments here relating to my last post about my friend who has cancer, that I decided to give a bit more info . We visited our friends today and "C" was quite positive about everything, although once the guys left us for a few minutes we had a heart-to-heart talk . She goes into hospital next week and for the next few months life is going to be tough for them both, as many of you would know if you have experienced cancer treatment first or second hand. Here we are having a hug before Ken and I came home - I'm in blue, "C"  is in pink.  She is eight months younger than me.

No new posts for a while.

Remember the Elvis/Cats Ipad bag I made for a friend? We were going to catch up a few weeks ago, but I hadn't heard from her until today. She emailed me to apologise for not being in touch earlier, but she is 'a bit upset' at the moment. She has just been diagnosed with rectoral cancer which is spreading to her liver. I can't begin to describe how upset I am. We have been friends since we were 15 years old, and have gone through many ups and downs (and marriages) and been there for each other. Sometimes we don't talk for a few months, and Ken will ask if we've had an argument. We've NEVER had an argument! We are such good mates that we don't need to be on each other's doorstep all the time; when we do catch up it's like we talked to each other only a few days ago. A very comfortable friendship.
We spoke on the phone tonight and she was as chirpy as ever. She said that if she has to wear a 'bum bag' for the rest of her life, at least she'll be alive! She isn't even contemplating dying at this stage. Her hubby is not taking it well at all, and Ken had a long chat to him tonight. We are hoping to visit them in the next few days and she is looking forward to having her Ipad bag!
Sorry about this long explanation which is nothing to do with this blog, but I just wanted my followers to know why I have suddenly stopped posting stuff. I'll be back, but perhaps not for a few weeks.

Another quilt finished for the PNG Quilt collective.

I've just posted this photo to the PNG Quilt Collective blog, but am putting it here as well to show it off, lol! I've had the top sitting around for a month or so, but with so much else happening around here I hadn't got around to finishing it. This morning I decided today was the day, and once I got going of course it took no time at all.



And this is my new sewing machine travelling case, bought at Spotlight on Saturday morning. I took two photos and Tiger was determined to get in both of them, so rather than waste time taking more pictures, I've just left him in. I've always envied the women I've seen trundling their machines into sewing classes in these nifty little trolley cases, and now I can 'join the club' - makes me feel like a pro!

Machine Quilting class, Xmas ornie.

Last Wednesday, I attended the first of three quilting classes with Linda Steele.  There are eight of us in the class and it was very informative.    Linda showed us the correct method to baste the three layers of a quilt, and then we learned how to use a free motion or darning foot on our machines.   This was mostly how to use the foot on our basted samples, not doing any patterns.  That comes next week.  One of the ladies had a lovely little case to transport her sewing machine, and she told me she'd bought it at Spotlight.  I just had a look online and found it on sale until next week, so I'm diving over to Spotlight in Box Hill tomorrow morning!  I'd put my sewing machine in a suitcase on wheels along with my fabric and other stuff, as it was all just too heavy for me to carry from the car to the shop where the classes are held.  But it was unwieldy, so for $50 I hope to have a proper case next week :-)

In the meantime I've finished a little Christmas ornament in felt for a swap on another forum.  It is a 'snow globe' ornament which can be hung on a tree or from a door knob or elsewhere. 

Update on quilts for Papua New Guinea babies.

I now have 68 quilts waiting to be shipped over to PNG in December.   Sixty-three from around Australia and five from the USA.  You can see them all on the PNG Quilt Collective blog here.  I've got more of my own on the proverbial drawing board, and two friends have made tops which need to be finished off into quilts.  If anyone wants to donate just tops, I am happy to finish making them into quilts with the backing and batting.

I had an email from Australian Quilters Companion a while ago.  They are going to write a small feature on the PNG Quilt Collective - what a buzz!!  I think it may be the November issue, but that hasn't been confirmed.   I'll post something here when it comes out.

Eastern Palliative Care Quilt Show.

I met up with my friend Connie at the quilt fair this morning, and as always, we thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the beautiful quilts, and catching up afterwards over scones jam and cream.   You can see my photos of some of the quilts at my Quilt shows blog here.

Terrible fires in New South Wales.

The reports on the NSW bushfires have been shocking, and it may get even worse on Sunday as the weather prediction is more heat and wind.    Whenever there are extreme fires around Australia I feel so helpless.  It's no use to anyone but I wish I could do something other than donate cash to the Salvation Army or the Red Cross, which I will be doing online shortly.  Thanks to Ken's late Mum we are in a position to be generous, although it will be a pittance compared to what will be needed there in days and months to come.

Wonder if anyone will be doing a quilt collective for the fire victims, now that Jan Mac is no longer organising the making and collection of quilts for disasters over at Oz Comfort Quilts?   She was actually on vacation up in the Blue Mountains a day ago, according to her blog.  I hope she and her family haven't been caught up in the fires.

I follow quite a few blogger in NSW and some of them read my blog in return.  If at all possible, please leave a message here to let us know you are okay (or not) and if there is anything people down here can do for you.

I-Pad shoulder bag and Xmas card inserts.

Once I get going on something, it's hard to drag me away!  Ken had his first pulmonary rehab session at the hospital today which mean the afternoon was a write-off for doing any sewing, but I was itching to do a couple of things on my list of to-dos, and once dinner was over, I headed for what Ken calls 'my end of the house', and got to work while he watched a new DVD.

A friend recently told me that she'd lost the shoulder bag that she carried her I-pad in, and asked if I could make her another.  I've never made a bag before, so I looked at magazines and online for instructions, and although I found plenty of tutorials, I couldn't get my head around them.  So I asked one of my new blogger buddies (one of the PNG Quilt donors) if she would show me and she said, yes of course, come on over!  Sue lives near my hairdresser, so after I'd been there on Monday, I went over to Sue's place.

She started to tell me how to make a simple bag, and even borrowed her son's I-pad to cut out a template for me to use.   I started to write directions on it, but she could see that I was confused (blonde and senior is a bad combo, lol), so she took some fabric from her stash and proceeded to make a bag right there so I could see how it was done.

She made it look so easy!!   But she is a very creative and busy lady, so if you haven't visited her blog yet, hop over and see all the things she makes for charity groups.  Thanks again for your help Sue - I truly appreciate you spending all that time with me :-)

I knew that if I didn't make a start on my I pad bag, I would forget everything Sue has shown me, so I was determined to do it last night, and I did.   My friend is an Elvis fan, but also loves cats, so I decided to put Elvis on one side and some cat words fabric on the other.  It only took me a couple of hours!  Think she will like it?

 I still had enough time to make a start on some little patchwork Christmas card inserts. I've committed myself to a card swap and have to make nine cards by mid November.  I like the patchwork cards I made a couple of years ago, so I did some more of those.  Not quite the same, but the same principle.

First Christmas project completed.

I can't remember where I obtained the kit for this - opshop, Paddy's Market, maybe somebody gave it to me.  Anyway, it's been in my stash for a while, and I rediscovered it when I was looking for something else Christmassy a month or so ago.  I decided to do this instead of my original plan because it was quick and easy.  The design was supposed to be a cushion cover or a framed picture, but I added a cute button which I bought at the NOTY show last week,  framed the NOEL with Christmas fabric from my stash, and backed it with more Christmas fabric.  I might use some jumbo ric rac to hang it up, or I may just put it on the table over the Christmas months.

New quilting classes with Linda Steele

I have just booked into a three day workshop/class with one of Australia's top quilters, and I am looking forward to it very much.  As much as I am loving my new Janome, I really don't use it to its full potential as the  variety of possibilities with various pressure foots and things is way beyond my limited comprehension.  Linda assures me I'll be able to do a lot more with it after her classes.  They are being held in Balwyn - you can find more details on Linda's blog here.

Another good quilt show next week.

NOTYQ Exhibition.

I took a heap of photos at the NOTY show last weekend, and have posted them on my Quilts Shows blog here if you want to have a look.
And here is what I bought:
Two lengths of fabric - owls and aboriginal art - $10 each metre.

 

 

And lots of cute buttons! I was looking for this seller at the Quilt convention, but she told me she doesn't go to the big craft shows. So I made up for lost time to the tune of $60 - eeeeek!

NOTY Quilt show this weekend.

NOTY shows are one of the best quilt shows in Melbourne.  They are only held once every two years, so if you miss out this time you'll have to wait two years for the next one!   I know Eltham is a long way to travel for some of my blog readers, but I can guarantee you it is well worth the drive.  As well as the fabulous show of quilts by these talented ladies, there are traders selling lots of goodies....as if I need more stash...sigh.

Works in progress.

I've been working on/playing with a variety of projects lately. I'm half way through another quilt for the PNG Quilt Collective, but have also been doing some cross stitching on the Peacock Sampler and simple backstitch on the Possum. It depends where I am at the time of stitching - I do the possum in waiting rooms because I don't have to refer to the pattern while stitching over drawn lines on calico.
I cross stitch the Peacock when I'm on duty at the Guild because I'm sitting in one spot for a long time, and can have the pattern spread out in front of me without it being disturbed. The quilt top is sitting on top of the sewing machine patiently waiting...

But all of a sudden I had an urge to make something cute in felt. This generally happens when I see a pattern in a magazine, or if I pick up one of my felt cuteness books to look at. So this is what I made yesterday. I love felt because it is so easy to work with - cut into shapes and sew together!

It is supposed to be a mobile phone case, but as I don't have a smart phone, I'll use it for something else, or I'll give it to my grand-niece for her birthday next week.

My two entries at the EGV Annual exhibition.

Today was the final day of another very successful exhibition of members' work at the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria.  I was on duty again this morning, and took the opportunity to photograph my two items on display.  The Guild doesn't usually allow anyone to take photos, but as I was only photographing my own work, the ladies on duty turned a blind eye...thanks girls!

The next time these appear in public will be at the Lilydale Show in November, along with another two projects being worked on at the moment.

Embroiderers Guild Annual Exhibition.

The Victorian Guild's exhibition is on now, and finishes on Sunday 22nd September, so if you haven't been yet, do try to go, as it is well worth a visit. (I've got two items in the Exhibition too - just mentioning, lol).
I was on duty at the Gift boutique on Sunday, and bought a cute little cross stitch pot holder for $10.  There are hundreds of items to choose from, and all the proceeds go towards running the Guild.

I will be on duty again next Sunday morning, so if you happen to visit, pop into the Gift boutique and say hi! 

Some stitching done today.

It's been a while since I've spent hours stitching in a hospital waiting room, as Ken has been keeping away from hospitals as much as he can!  But today he had cataract surgery, and had to be at the Eye & Ear Hospital at 7 am.  His procedure didn't start until about 11 am, so that meant about 3 hours stitching time for me, allowing for a coffee break and a walk around the block.
I decided to take a simple one colour stitchery project with me, as it is easier to sit and sew without having to change threads and consult a pattern.

I'd seen this in a recent Country Threads magazine and put it aside to do, because possums are regular visitors to our front porch at night!

This is what I achieved today.

Pile of donated fabrics.

Sue, who made 20 quilts and bunny rugs for the PNG Quilt collective, also gave me a huge bag of fabrics to make more quilts. I took two photos because the first one doesn't give the impression of just how much fabric there is, so I piled it all up for the second photo.
In the top right hand corner of both photos is a purple floral piece.  This is actually a pair of flannelette sheets that Sue bought at Savers, to cut up and use as backing for the PNG baby quilts.  What a super idea!!  Opshops often get winter sheets donated, and when they are washed and pressed, they can be cut up to the size required and made perfect backing for quilts, being soft.  So much cheaper than buying flannelette by the metre from one of the fabric shops.
If you are reading this and would like to make up some quilts but don't have the fabric on hand, just email me, as I will never use all this myself (I've got enough of my own stash) and will be very happy to share this around to those who would like to help out with the PNG Quilts.