Thursday, September 30, 2010

School holidays

Spring, the sweet spring, is
the year's pleasant king....
-Thomas Nashe

I have decided to use as many bits of
scrap material as I can while I'm on school
holidays with the family.
I have been given so much material, it's coming
out of my ears and time has been against me.
So as I have a few days without two of my
darlings, I have been caning my sewing
machine.

This is a banner to hang in the library when I have
a dinosaur display up.
I thought I would applique around each letter..
oh and I also had on hand 2 little dinosaurs!!, added
some nice spotty material that will look great on the
pinup board and got some old material as a
backing.
 I'm getting very excited about the bits of material
finally finding a good home, it's great.

I have also made a clown cushion cover, found some
ancient egyptian material for the library as well. Still
digging through the material box, came across a
panel someone had given me and that will also come
in handy for displays.
In the daytime hours I am sewing and at night my
knitting needles are fiercely clicking away.
While at the library I picked up this little treasure
of a book.
I must say there are some beautiful baby patterns in
here and as I am knitting stuff for next year's annual
show (and finding patterns that 'show off' doesn't
have), I will no doubt be knitting from this book.

Well it's back to the sewing machine for me and
perhaps I will actually get my lovely cloth dolls
made!!!

Have a great week everyone.
Kind regards, Anita.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Been sick

Glittering garment
of the rainbow.
-John Audubon, Describing a hummingbird.


Things have been very quiet around this way, I've been sick.
I suspect my darling Pixie passed it on to me. Many thanks Pix!
Today at least I have enough energy to open my eyes and type.

Before I came down with whatever it was, I was well enough to go to the Toodyay wool
shop and buy some wool. Then I went to the craft shop in town (to make things fair) and
purchased some baby wool as well. Have to shop locally.
 As you can see I have already started knitting a baby jacket with the baby wool purchased. I am going to knit the jacket and the matching bonnet, then tuck the whole thing away in my storage box for next year's annual show. The other wool will be made into something nice but I don't know what that is just yet.
 After having a paper bag swap with Teresa and seeing the lovely santa decoration that she made for me, I just had to make some of my own. I think they look cute and easy to make. I managed to use some
scraps up and painted the eyes on with Jo Sonia paints.

 I have also cut out some cloth doll patterns and when I feel up to it, I will make some pretty dolls. I am on holidays with my three darlings, so there will be time for everything.
 I might just buzz off now and lay down for a while, I'm starting to run out of steam a bit. I hope you are all enjoying this glorious weekend, and will show you my finished cloth dolls when they are finished. Kind regards, Anita.


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Big balloon!

There is memory
in the forest.
-Margaret Widdemer, The Factories.

What a surprise we had this morning, when the neighbour's dog kept barking
I went to investigate. I went out the back door and got the shock of my life
to see an air balloon so low down that I could see the people aboard waving to me!
I ran inside and shouted to everyone to come and have a look, they came running of course...
even Brandon, my teenage son who was awoken with all my comotion.
Unfortunately, by the time it dawned on me to get the camera, the balloon had lifted and this
is as close as I could get the picture. We could even hear the people talking  and laughing with each other.

I have had a few lovely surprises lately. A gorgeous parcel came in the post for me on Friday from Teresa. We did a paper bag swap and at the end of the month swapped bags. What a lovely surprise I got!!

Bright paper, lovely hearts...

A beautiful knitting binder, a santa decoration, lavendar hearts.

Don't you just love this design and three things I live by: laugh, love and create. I was just
already thinking how spoilt I was when....I opened the binder....

I was blown away when I opened the binder only to be bombarded with so
many other goodies. See the chocolate eclairs? They were yummy. Many thanks Teresa, I feel
like a spoilt girl. The gift I made for Teresa is an angel swag and angel doll, shown below.

I have already started on knitted items for the Annual show next year...yes I know, I'm jumping the gun and getting in early. I will show you next time what I have already made and by that time I will have
some more things to show as well.

I plan to start my washing now, with the change of weather comes the spring cleaning. All of my wall quilts
will come down and be washed, antique tea trolley needs a good dust. That will keep me out of
trouble for a spell.
Enjoy the lovely weekend and we'll get together again soon.
Kind regards, Anita.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Annual Show

A person who is happy must
actively enjoy his blessings.
-Cicero

Another Annual Show over for the year, and Heather
and I made our mark. I managed to get 1st, 2nd
and 3rd placings, along with Heather being the overall
winner and scooping up the trophy, highest points
and 1st place in her entries. Well done Heather!
I had a great time with my knitting and Heather and I both
made socks.
My socks are the buttercup ones and Heather's are the darker
coloured socks. I thought it would be interesting to
share with you what our over sixties are up to as well.
Except for the picture frame in this photo, everything else
painted are old saws and blades. My neighbour put 2 saws together and made a
shark. There is some talent in this wonderful town of ours.
I have been a paying member of our local Agricultural Society for a few
years but this year jumped on board and joined in. What fun we had. The
crowd I have joined are a bunch of hard working farmers and farming families who love a
good time. It is incredible how much time they put into making sure
the show is a success.

It was incredible to find out that before they start work over show weekend,
they first get up at the crack of dawn to do many of their farming jobs and then
stay at the show all day right through until the wee hours of the morning.
And the other thing I realized they are a real laugh, teasing each other
in the nicest possible way of course!
It is a pleasure to have found them all.

Just before the show I did manage to make a funny little felt creature. I do
remember enjoying the stitching that went into him.
I found him in a magazine. Do you love the bright colours?
Now that I missed out on knitting and crafting this weekend, I am now
going to make the hottest cup of tea and knit!
Later on I will put the roast on......today Pixie went out to get a load of wood, so
it is only fitting to make him a splendid night time meal!....then back to the
knitting. Hope your weekend was fantastic like mine was, enjoy what
is left of it.
Kind regards, Anita.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Happy Father's Day!

Happiness should be your life's work,
not a vacation that you postpone
until you have more time.


Here's wishing all the Father's out there
a wonderful Father's Day today.
Every day is special but we have one day
in the year where we really acknowledge Father's.

My boy will be home later on today so he
will get all the spoiling he needs then. I have had
a wonderful weekend of sewing, knitting and travelling.

Every month Bev and I do a challenge of some sort.
In August we decided to do crazy patchwork...needed
to get rid of some scraps. I found an unusual pattern
and had a play around.
I saw a quilt made with this style patchwork and the
whole thing was the American flag. It was very effective and
I also can't remember where I saw it!! I'm very helpful.
I'm not really into green that much, but I thought this
colour brought out the whole design. I am happy with
it and happy lots of my scraps have been used.

Yesterday Heather & I went for a drive to a small
country town called Meckering. Out there is a special farm,
with a special barn called Collingully Barn.....it is full of
material. Friends kept saying to us for years...go out there!
This unassuming barn is full of material!!! The best! The
security alarm are the two farm dogs who bark like mad
when you drive into the place. When you go inside....
Can you spot young Heather in the striped jumper? This is only
some of the inside, I couldn't fit it all in one shot.
To the back and side of me, whilst taking this photo is
another room and a stack more materials, patterns, books etc.
I didn't take a photo of upstairs, there are beds up there and
quilts everywhere!!!

Collingully is a patchwork retreat and you can spend the weekend
there. We will be going back....soon. This is my stash.
Now that I have all this new material I will have to make
some more lovelies out of it. Hey catch up with you all
soon, I'm off to plan my next project and need to put the
kettle on to do so. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Kind regards, Anita.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Gokarts = Sewing weekend

..The winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of singing has come.
- Song of Solomon 2:11-12

The coming weekend will be gokarting for Pixie and Cory....peace and quiet for
Brandon...and a sewing weekend for me!!
At work this week I spent lunch times knitting with a group
of interested girls and what fun it is. I got
to experience being surrounded by young 9 years old for
lengths of time. They talk about some funny things....or I'm just
getting older!

We have been knitting squares and they will be joined together. To
start with we were going to make a blanket but I am feeling that
the girls would like something to show for their hard work and it
seems that maybe they will all be getting a scarf each.

These are all the lovely colours knitted up so far....oh and still a bag full at school. The
girls have really enjoyed themselves and I am going to encourage them to
comtinue the craft.

At home however, I have started knitting beanies for the King Edward
Memorial hospital in our capital city of Perth. King Edward deals with premature babies.
These beanies are so small you could put an apple inside and it would fit
real snug. The wool I have used is the leftovers from my show
entries.

Oh yes.......
A spot of cooking as well. These sausage rolls turned out lovely, there weren't
too many left after lunch. The recipe is an easy and tasty one I found in the
Golden Wattle cookery  book.

Wishing all the Father's a wonderful Father's Day this Sunday and hope they all
enjoy themselves. Pixie won't be home most of Sunday but I'm sending
him lots of kisses and wishes for the day. I hope my 'Pixie the prancer'
has a lovely day.

Kind regards, Anita.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...