Comments

Thanks heaps for all the helpful comments regarding my first applique attempt. I don't feel so bad about it now.

I always try something new (applique, setting up stuff on computer etc) with the thought "How hard can it be?", only to find that it is quite hard after all. I think I should be able to get it on the first go. Not so, obviously. I suppose I thought that I wouldn't need to do too much preparation, but now I see that I do. That's cool, as long as I know. When you see other people's work you don't often get to see what goes on behind the scenes. "The one I prepared earlier" gets whipped out, and it just seems so easy! Joke's on me I guess!

While thinking about the applique I thought I'd try the sock knitting. The real reason was that I was in the vicinity of the very nice wool and thread shop Threads and More last week, so I went in and asked for the basic sock pattern. The lady also sold me a set of double ended needles that were so small they looked like the skewers you thread meat on to make satay sticks (they were bamboo). Anyway, I got home and opened the pattern, expecting to see a couple of sizes, which I thought was indicated on the back of the packet. Wrong. Then I measured my (HUGE) foot, to find it is 2cm longer than the larger of 3 foot sizes for the One Size Fits All pattern.

At this point a bizarre and evil thought came over me.... "Perhaps I should knit the tension square?" Now I have to tell you that this concept goes totally against my philosophy in life ie. "Work smart, not hard". I mean to say - does anyone ever knit the tension square?? That's just extra work as far as I can see it, for not much pay off. But I did it. Well I started to. Just enough to establish that it wasn't going to be big enough. Blast. I found some old needles of my Nana's that were a 3.5 not 2.25, and started again. I did that bit you see in the photo, and think that they are probably the more appropriate size. So tomorrow I will be near the shop again, so I will buy some more pointy skewer sticks. Then I will start asking for help! I think I'll be able to get to the heel if I can get my 4 needles working. After that I will be needing help. Keeps me off the streets.

Adventures in Applique

This picture is as close as you're going to get to my first ever needle turn applique attempt. Talk about fingers and thumbs - I nearly 'sewed' my finger to my thumb. I did sew my finger to the back of the fabric 8 times though...

As you can see when I ran out of thread down the bottom I used this as the perfect excuse to stop. I had troubles with my bends. I got this great book out of the library which has really clear instructions for all types of applique, so first I tried the Freezer Paper on Top method. This was going well til I got to the right hand bend at the top of the heart. I had enough to contend with without an extra bit of paper on top. So I took that off and sketched the line on the red fabric. The pointy inside bit in the middle at the top I clipped, but the fabric went all frayed, so I gave up on that bit and kept going. I was doing ok with the stitching; it is the turning under part that was hard. I tried to pin it, but hmmmm... not so good.

I have looked back in the book - there is a Freezer Paper on the Bottom technique where you pre turn the seam allowance to the back and baste it, which looks easier, but then it would be a lot more work. There is another interesting one where they make a proper template out of Templar, put it on the wrong side of the fabric, then 'paint' the seam allowance with spray starch squirted into a little cup, using a cotton bud. The seam allowance is then ironed over the template. Again, more work. Perhaps I had better keep practising, but maybe using an easier shape. Any suggestions gratefully received.

The Sniff of Approval

Man, I'm on Fire! Well not literally. That's a football saying we have here - I wonder if it is everywhere? What I mean to say is that I've achieved a lot (for me) over the last 2 days. Not only have I changed my cutter blade (grin), but I have finished the Flimsy of the Girl Guide quilt, minus borders.

And it has received the official Sniff of Approval from Simon. He is probably really just freezing, as I have the temperature set so cold in the sewing room that it is almost Antarctic.

As for the borders I will have to buy more fabric tomorrow. I thought the solid mauve for the outer border, and ? for the inner. Depends on what they've got I suppose. I used all sorts of fabric, and am pleased that I am getting a bit more adventurous with my choices. I tend to 'hang on too tight', but this quilt has a Japanese fabric, 2 different stripes, 2 solid colours, a spot, a squiggle, cat paws, retro floral and more. Oh and I put the pink with bikinis in too.

Plus I didn't obsess about what goes next to what. I just made an effort to put the 2 darkest fabrics next to a light and went for it. Very liberating, and it turned out fine (IMHO).

As for credits, this is Bonnie's Bricks and Stepping Stones from Quiltville, which as many of you know I also made recently in brights for my nephew.

How Quickly We Forget..

..the simple pleasure of a new rotary cutting blade. I finally changed it today, and wonder why it didn't occur to me to do it before now? See the old blade? That brown ring is RUST. I do live by the sea where everything rusts, but I think I let this go a bit far.

In retrospect I could've done a better job on the fabric with a steak knife!

I have been sewing all afternoon in the airconditioned comfort of the sewing room. I set the temp to 22 deg C, the dogs got on the spare bed, and I have shocked myself by finishing 99% of the blocks for the Girl Guide raffle quilt. I ended up doing the Bricks and Stepping Stones as per Daniel's quilt, as I really just wanted something easy that I could do pretty quickly. Having just finished the last one I knew exactly how many blocks I needed to make it the size I wanted etc, so I just went for it.

I have used a bit of the lime green, but the rest are pink and purple with a touch of lime and aqua. I even cut into one of my Amy Butler fabrics (not my favourite ones, mind). I will try and finish it tomorrow when I will post a photo of the progress. Then I will have to quilt both of them... It's the pinning and carrying on that I don't like.

Double Pink

When I think of a double pink I think of something like the fabric on the left in this photo. It is fairly bright, but still pink. I wouldn't even mind something like the fabric on the right for the setting squares of my 4 patch, but I can't seem to see anything I like that I can afford. I think the pinks must be very popular and rarely make it to the sales.

Is the one on the left what would be called a double pink? I suppose too that the old quilts we see in books (like the one that inspired me to start the 4 patch) are faded, and we get a feeling for the paler look, even though the quilt probably didn't start out that way.

Anyway, it isn't going anywhere - I'll just keep looking and one day I'll see something.

Pink Fabric

What about this one for the squares?

Addit: sorry that wasn't very clear. I am looking for a pink 1800s fabric for the setting squares of my Repro 4 patch.

I have been out to dinner tonight at the home of another nurse that I have met going to night duty on the boat. Another nurse who lives near me also went with her husband, the hostess' neighbour and SIL were also there. It was nice to get out (she lives on the next island), and nice to meet new people. It isn't too easy to meet people when you are a 42 yo single shiftworker, who really prefers to stay home with her dog and her computer!

It was very nice, but I tell you - when I get home I'm so glad to be home. I really am a solitary person, but I'm constantly forcing myself to connect with other 'real live' people (well ones that are actually in the same town) because I know it's good for me, but really I feel much more comfortable with people's dogs and cats. But I will soldier on and invite them here soon. I'd better start cleaning up the house and sewing room now. Well, in the morning maybe... off to bed.

Stash Enhancement

Well, didn't that last post bring the Brownies, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts out of the closet? I believe it was Lord Baden-Powell in England that started the Boy Scouts, and then Lady B- P started the Girl version, but correct me if I'm wrong...

I have had a heap of coins lying around the house for many months, that I always mean to take to the bank. Some of them made it into individual plastic bags, others were just lying around. Last week I finally got them all together and counted it up - $60! You beauty!

Today I took it to the bank, then promptly went and spent $60 on some stash, or as Karen would say "Collection" Enhancement. It felt so good, as I have been trying very hard not to spend any money lately (mainly cos I haven't had any to spare). I went to about the only shop around here that I buy from any more. They get in a limited assortment of fabrics that are often 2nds, at approx 1/3 the normal price here. Sometimes the white of the selvedge is a bit wider than it should be, or occasionally there is a repeated spot where the pattern is a bit lighter, but many of them have no visible fault.

I found some Michael Millers, some black and whites, a few odd ones, and this pink one (separate photo) which is a Judie Rothermel Art Deco range. I have been looking hard for a reasonably priced Repro pink or double pink for the big squares in my Repro 4 patch, but have had no luck. I was even thinking of just using shirtings, but then I saw this today. I suppose if it's called Art Deco it is 1920's, but then it looks like an 1800s design to me. Try and click on it and see if it will give you a closer look.

I only bought 0.5m so will try it out with some of the 4 patches and see if it looks any good. Thoughts please from the Repro fabric Fans. Off to fondle my fabric...

Finished Flimsy

I'm very happy as I have just finished the Flimsy of Daniel's Quilt. It is pinned up sideways in the photo - it is about 50" x 74". I'm very pleased as I haven't been able to get motivated to do any real sewing for ages - just the hexagons.

I'm planning to put the remainder of the lime green homespun on the back. I just hope he likes it, and doesn't think it is too young for him. He is 7. If he isn't too keen on it I have another plan for it, so we will see.

I was talking to one of the other nurses on the boat going to work the other night, who is also the Girl Guide Leader on Russell Island. Do you have Guides in the US? I think you have something similar but with a different name. Anyway we were talking about it as I was a Guide back in the Dark Ages. It seems they are always short of money and have to do fund-raising to keep afloat, so I thought I'd make a quilt they could raffle. If Daniel isn't too keen I'll give her this one, or else I was thinking of a String Quilt like the String-X on Quiltville, as I have a lot of pink fabric that I can't see me using in the near future. I don't think this Bricks and Stepping Stones would work, as they are mainly light toned fabrics, not mediums. I do have 2 x 1/2 yard pieces of cute pale pink fabric; one with bikinis, and the other with fashion-type motifs on it which I could use for the triangles. I'll think about it. Apparently the girls in the group are mainly 9 or 10 yo, so I suppose it would be better to do something a bit girly.

Otherwise not much happening. "Don't mention the cricket" is the motto around here. It is amazing how many South Africa fans have popped up this week - one that doesn't even live there, and one that is really an Aussie. Gail and Ruth you know who you are!

Australia : CLOSED

I'm sorry to report that all followers of the Cricket have declared Australia CLOSED to the Rest of the World for a suitable period of Grieving, and for some Squirming in Shame and Horror.

Australia will reopen eventually...

Scary Photo

I can't imagine that you are all too excited to see my right foot, but you may have noticed the lump on the ankle. Yes this is my foot pedal foot, and it is rather sore. I twisted it on a bit of uneven road this morning, and at the time it felt ok, but a few hours later it was very swollen and sore. So after elevation, ice and drugs it is feeling better, but I'm going to baby it as I am due back at work in under 48 hrs.

Now the good news is that this gives me a really great excuse to sit on the couch tomorrow with it up watching the cricket, doing more bloody hexagons. I know I don't sound too in love with the project at the moment - I even had an evil thought about starting some in 1930's colours tomorrow... But I think I want smaller ones for that.

The Aussies MUST WIN tomorrow, or we will have to close off Australia to the Rest of the World while we squirm in shame for being beaten by the Poms. So if you don't hear from me or Tracey for a while, you will know that the worst has happened...

Speaking of which, there is a message on Clare's blog saying that Jen (Hedgehog) is fine, just hibernating as apparently Hedgehogs do in the winter.

I've Turned a Corner

Too corny for words, I know, but...
I haven't been doing too much quilting so I'm excited when 'something' happens. I'm still plodding along with the hexagons, but I have to admit I'm not as keen as I was. But I can't stop, or start a new hand sewing project til I'm finished.

I've had a cold, so have been laying low, but I have been reading other people's blogs - there are so many to look at now that it is a real effort to keep up with them all. I know I keep saying it, but I think some small quilts are next on the agenda. I'm a bit fed up with myself starting all these great big ones, then struggling to finish.

I'm inspired by all the lovely quilts on Karen's blog Sewprimitive, and want to try something similar. I also love the customer's quilt Patti has on Quilting is My Passion. I'd like to try some applique too, but that is hand sewing which totally goes against my promise above . I also saw a little string quilt on someone's blog (can't remember who - Dawn's Quilts and Pieces), which would be a perfect way to use up the scraps from the hexagon quilt. So much to do, so little gets done...

But boring things beckon - I'm going to hang out the washing, iron my uniform for work, have some lunch, then go to bed in preparation for work tonight. What a drag, huh?

Adit: in response to questions - I have 'heaps' of projects on the go, but I'm afraid with the hand sewing project, because it is so time consuming, that if I stop I'll never start again. I'm trying to have some discipline (dirty word for me) and keep going with it til the bitter end. I have about 5 other quilts in various stages, not to mention the flimsies that need quilting!

Curtains

First, thanks to Tazzie for some help getting my Q4P link back - we had a talk on the phone and figured it out by nicking someone else's code and changing the number. First time I've talked to Tazzie; I have met Heavens to Bettsy.

It is hot as hell and humid here today. You must get sick of me going on about it, but it really is almost unbearable some days. I was woken at 3.30am by a storm, and now there is another one coming, so had better post and get off the computer.

I have been hiding in the aircon all day fiddling around, and finally starting the curtains this afternoon. I have lived here for 18 months with no curtains or blinds downstairs, but I've finally given in. I'm not too keen on curtains, but I had to do something. These 2 doors that you see are each 3m wide. The one on the left is my "front door", and the one on the right leads out onto the deck at the front of the house. As you can see I have grey glass, which is great for the glare. During the day no-one can see in, but at night 'everyone' can see in. All they see is me cooking or sitting in front of the TV, so I haven't worried too much about it.

However, the neighbours told me recently that the rather 'unsavoury' fellow that was renting across the road had been looking into everyone's houses at night with binoculars. That sealed it. I was looking at a great sliding panel system at Ikea, but because of the bulkhead above the front door which is covering a steel beam, it wouldn't work. So I have been to the dreaded Spotlight to buy curtain fabric - what a disappointment. In the end I bought 14m of dark blue cotton denim from the dress material section, and have started today.

They are nice and dark, and I think they will be fine. I just want something that will sit quietly in the corner during the day, but will block out the neighbours at night, and the morning sun that comes in. I have just made them up as I go along with some curtain ring tape along the top which I might gather just a little to stop the rings dipping down and showing. I will wash them tomorrow and hang them by the rings to dry so I don't get peg marks on them. Then I will hem them after a few days. They are going to run, so the excess dye will dye the white tape blue, which will be good.

Probably not the way the Curtain Police would do it, but too bad! I'll try and get the other two finished tomorrow, then back to Daniel's Quilt. The sewing machine needs a service badly - it is doing something tricky down in the bobbin housing which looks ominous...

Sunflowers

First thing - my Q4P link isn't working. My fault. Kim sent me the new code, I deleted the old code then realised that I didn't know my Ring number. Woops. I have emailed her but it is probably the middle of the night where she lives, or she is having a Sunday sleep-in.

Next, for those of you on the wrong side of the world who are not seeing much sunlight, here is a photo of some sunflowers I picked up at a farm stall yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?

Then a photo of a painting I bought today. It looks better in real life - the light is shining on it in the photo. There has been an art show here this weekend (Australia Day) and I bought it there. It was quite inexpensive, but I like it. Now I have to decide where to put it.

The cricket is on - I can just hear that someone got out.

Better get back to it. Australia is going pretty well against New Zealand (3nd favourite enemy after England and South Africa). The game is in Perth today and the temperature on the cricket ground is 41 deg C. Imagine that?

Daniel's Quilt

As you can see Daniel's Quilt is suddenly well under way. This afternoon I shut myself in the sewing/computer room, put on the aircon, and got into it. The 1st photo shows the top still in 3 parts. I just have to sew them together, put on a border and then put it together. All the fabric so far is from the stash.

I had a bit of stash anxiety this afternoon, as I suddenly realised that I didn't have anything for the border. I like the idea of a thin red inner border, then a wider outer border in the plain blue, which is a bit darker than how it has photographed with the flash. I was hoping to get it finished this week, so tomorrow when I am on the mainland I will try and get the fabric.

I'm going over with 2 of the other nurses that live over here to a big book sale that is held by the Salvos I think. Hoping for some sewing books, otherwise a few novels maybe. As I have 3/4 cleaned out my bookshelves downstairs lately, and culled a lot of books, this is probably pretty silly. I suppose I am mainly going for social reasons, as we will have lunch too. The only thing is I will be in someone else's car, so hopefully they will be OK with me stopping quickly at the fabric shop.

I have been a bit worried about the outcome of this quilt, as I thought the black and white 4 patches have got 'lost' a bit due to the bright colours. As Bonnie wrote on her website this quilt is all about contrast, and I think the bright colours are too bright. But then when I looked at the photo it seems a bit better.

Simon has been helping - well actually he has been snoring in the cool of the aircon, waking briefly to have his photo taken. Swampy is in the dog bed.

Short Post

It is so hot and humid here that I can hardly do anything! The temp was only 31 deg C today, but it is 21 overnight. It's the humidity that kills you. I woke up sweating this morning, and couldn't make a decision what to do. The dentist's receptionist made the decision for me by asking if I could fill a cancellation today instead of my appt on Wed.

I had a filling in a tooth that has been troubling me on and off for a while, and 7 hours later the Local is just about gone. I tried to have a drink of water about 2 hours ago and half of it ran off my chin! I have come in the house at 21.45, opened all the windows then brought the dogs and the laptop up to my room and turned the aircon on. What a relief - hang the expense.

Bought the batting for Daniel's quilt today, and I am going to Craft Group tomorrow, so must get on with the top.

Mum's visit wasn't too bad - small doses are more manageable. Someone asked if she does any craft. She does lots of different things, embroidery, garment sewing, crochet, goldwork, a few quilts and Ikebana.

No photos sorry. I'm enjoying all the snow and ice photos.

I just looked at the weather link and it is 80 deg F with 82% humidity and it is 10.30 pm

Flylady, Where are You?

My Mother is coming over tomorrow - oh why haven't I been a better FlyBaby? And what am I doing sitting on the computer reading blogs? Paper everywhere!!

The really bad news? Mum has had her cataract fixed...

Adit: all the better to see the dirt with

Can't Get Moving

I'm in some kind-of Post Christmas Slump, or something like that. I can't seem to get my act together. One minute I think I'm coming down with something, the next I think that I just need to get out more. Or work more. Or 'something'! Feeling unsettled and restless, can't sleep at night (only all day), and can't even seem to get any sewing done, except for (you guessed it) the blasted hexagons.

Here is a shot of the border I've decided to do - doesn't show up too well on the dark floor but I can't be bothered to redo it. Sorry. Now I need to decide about the outside edge. Do I do as someone suggested and applique it on to something, or put another row of hexagons around and slice off the edge to make it straight?

Going back to bed. Happy New Year!

Sewing Again

I've dusted off the sewing machine and started to sew. I had in mind I would make this for my nephew Daniel, but first I will see how it turns out, I think. If it isn't too girly I'll give it to him. I have a lot more blues and yellows and greens to go in it, so maybe it will be ok.

This is Bricks and Stones from the Quiltville site and as you can see I have only just started really. But I plan to not muck around with it and get it finished without delay. On that note though, I have 2 nights of work now, so next week I will finish it, I SWEAR.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas - I had a low key day which was very nice. Caught up with all the rellies over the break. Mum and Dad gave me a $50 voucher for my favourite quilt store, so that will be fun to spend.

Otherwise nothing to report - the weather has been quite pleasant, not too hot for a change. We have also had some rain, thrashed the Poms at cricket, and I am still plodding on with the hexagons...

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas from Australia - here is a shot of the weather taken at o7.30 - it is going to be hot and fine with a storm this afternoon.

I am off to my Sister's place on the 08.30 Waterbus, so the fun hasn't started yet. I can hear some kids screeching with delight down the road - obviously getting some good stuff! It was very windy here last night, but Santa obviously didn't get blown off course.

Hope you all have a nice day, and just know we are dreaming of snow here!

Cane Toads

Well, somebody asked to see one... They are awful looking things, and so well camoflagued that you almost step on them before you see them. Shudder shudder.

I'll put the link only so you don't have to look if you don't want to. Cane toad.

Otherwise on I plug with my hexagons. I'm getting there. I have my 7 yo nephew staying the night tonight for the first time, so I have been busy keeping him busy. I have never had any kids so it is all a bit different for me. As for when I was a kid, all I remember is Mum getting on with whatever she had to do and we kids amusing ourselves. It isn't quite the same these days.

We have been for a quick dip in the sea - the tide was going out - had his alloted 1 hr on the computer, been for a walk with the dogs, eaten morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, had a bit of tv time, and then it was bed time at 7.30pm. I'm going to go to bed early too, as apparently it all starts again at the crack of dawn. Much smarter to have a nice beagle I think, but we are having a good time.

Sanity has prevailed re the birthday quilts - I'll do it in my own time, not for the Jan 8 deadline. And Daniel, bless his little heart, told me today that he really likes my hexagons, especially all the nice patterns on the fabric. He told me he thinks it is my best quilt yet! I might make his quilt first just for that comment, sweet child. I asked him what colour he would like, and he said he would have anything as long as it wasn't pink. So I asked him what his favourite colour is, and he said he likes lots of colours. Red, blue, yellow, green - primary colours. But did I know that green isn't a primary colour, as of course you use blue and yellow to make green? Yes he is 7.

Non Quilty Stuff

Today I plan to watch the cricket and do more hexagons - I'm on a roll. But before I sat on the couch and stayed there all day, I thought we would go outside, fiddle in the garden and go for a walk. I started planting this bit of front garden 12 months ago, and it is starting to get going now. The purple cordyline in the front of the photo has about tripled in size. That's a 5 foot fence.


We had storms and lots of rain yesterday and overnight, so there will be more new growth in a week or so. I have just put my little pond in, so I will get some little White Cloud fish to eat the mosquito larvae. The first day I filled it up I came home to find a cane toad relaxing in there, unable to get out, so now that I have put some plants in there, I will plant tall grassy plants around it too, to try and keep them out. Horrible things.




See the Crow's Nest going yellow in the centre of the leaves - it really needs more shade. Hopefully next summer the surrounding plants will have grown up enough to shade it. Last summer when it went in it had a chair over it draped with shade cloth.



Then we went for our walk... This is Swampy who jumped in the mud today. The mud around here is very black and sticky, and does not come off. As children when we spent a lot of time in the Bay on a boat, our Mother spent half her life (or so it seemed) saying "don't get your clothes covered in Moreton Bay Mud, as it won't come out". It doesn't. We would head off with Dad to the nearest mud bank to pump yabbies, stand in the wrong spot and next minute would have our t-shirts covered in black mud. Oh and it smells too.



Swampy has had a wash under the hose but it has only half come off. She is currently outside with her bone and bowl of water. And there she will stay. I'll have to try and find some dog shampoo somewhere, or she will be an outside dog til it all falls off.


Yes, she looks very proud of herself. She must have been in full flight with her tail in the air when she went in, as her tail is clean.

Anxieties

Check this block out. Don't you like the name? As good as Death Penalty from my last post. Anxieties are what I'll be having working this one out. Those stripes are very thin. It's a 6 inch block.

As for Blogger, I tried a number of times to do the word verification thing and it still wouldn't come up. I don't know if you've noticed, but Quilt Junkie has gone over to Typepad under a new name Thee Handworks, so I'll be watching with interest. I also notice that some of the really nice blogs I look at are Typepad blogs, like Soulemama and Posy Gets Cosy, and you never see them complaining about blog problems. I had a look and it's US$50 per year...

Otherwise, off to bed for me. The aircon man came and fixed the machine. At 4 pm I went to turn it on and grab a few hours sleep before work, and guess what? The power went out! Aah you gotta laugh!

Blogger on Blink

I have just been trying to visit some blogs, but on many of them Blogger won't show me the letters to type for the verification! Hopeless - I give up. We might go for a walk if I can wake the dogs up.

Gift from the States

My friend Di has just been to the USA on a short holiday (with her husband on a business trip). She knows of my fabric obsession and asked if she could bring me something home. What do you say to that? Di is not a quilter, but one of the friends she stays with in Oregan is a quilter. Where to begin? So I asked her if she would get me this book which I haven't found here, and it would be much better value for money if she bought it, then there would be no postage to pay.


I am very lucky to have such a nice friend. Here it is. I have been looking at it, and realise that some of the blocks look quite complicated (to me), and it looks like I will have to have a go at foundation piecing eeeek! Look at this block which is 6 inches finished. What you see here is the sum total of the instructions
I have discovered a Yahoo group run by the author, who each week gives advice on the order of sewing a block using the foundation method. There is also a CD which will run on EQ5 which I suppose would allow me to print out a foundation sheet? Of course it is US$10 for the CD and US$9 for the postage! I know it isn't that much money, but it really irks me to pay that much for postage. Then there is the exchange rate..


In fact it is quite an expensive business living on an island - postage from the only place that has any exciting quilting stuff (US) to this island (Australia), and the $220 I will be paying the aircon man tomorrow for coming to 'this' island to fix my broken aircon which is UNDER WARRANTY! Oh yes, I have to pay for the barge, then compensate him for the time he has to spend while sitting in the fresh air on the barge reading the paper. The I have to pay for the time he spends driving from the factory to the barge and home again. And all of this is contingent on whether or not his girlfriend has a baby today!

Sorry to whinge, but to me the bottom line is that if their inferior product didn't break down less than 12 months after being installed, there would be no need to come out at all.

Back to the quilting... Any advice on foundation piecing? I was interested to read about Tazzie's post about freezer paper templates. The link she gave was good too. Maybe this would work. All experiences gratefully received. I imagine the Dear Jane-ers would know too?

Hexagon Photos

Here are the photos I tried to post yesterday that blogger wouldn't allow. I think there is a bit of a hexagon trend rippling around the world. The latest Patchwork Tsushin magazine that I have features hexagons, so the Japanese are into it too. These photos are from that magazine. Isn't the bag nice with the hexagon quilting and then what looks like the hexagons sewn on with raw edges? The quilt is pretty amazing too - I like how the centre section is a big hexagon.

I buy my hexagon papers too as I would rather spend the time sewing. They are quite cheap really, so I'm quite happy with that. I do recycle them sometimes too.

I have been out nearly all day today "doing lunch with the girls". I have one friend on the island here who I see a few times a week - we walk the dogs together and talk about gardens and work and stuff (she is also a nurse). I went to her place today and she invited 2 other women who I don't really know. One lady I had never even seen, and the other I say hello to when I see her, but haven't been introduced to. We had a lovely afternoon sitting on the deck eating beautiful Lebanese food and talking about all and sundry. I was there for over 5 hours! The dogs came too and cruised around with Neddy and Lucy.


We all have an interest in trees and plants and not cutting down every tree on the island, and the lady I've never met before was an art teacher and has a lot of arty crafty interests. She told me today she is interested in antique/vintage fabrics which was cool. So we talked about fabric for a while and both agreed that the internet was going to be our downfall! She is a bit scared to start looking on ebay for more fabrics as she is worried she won't stop. She doesn't really sew, but just likes to have them - I can relate to that. I feel the same way about buying antique quilt tops - I'd love to own some, but fear that once I started I wouldn't stop.

The other lady lives a simple life with no electricity and is a vegetarian. How could you manage? No internet or sewing machine? I think she plays the guitar and listens to the radio a fair bit. She also has a kayak. So, it is taking a while, but I am meeting some interesting women here, which is nice. But I would still like to meet some quilters.

Anyway enough rambling. I did some hexagons while I was there, so some sewing was done these days off!

More Hexagons

Sadly blogger isn't playing tonight, as I was going to put up some hexagon photos I took from the latest Patchwork Tsushin Magazine. I'll try again tomorrow.

As for the hexagons, they are quite large ones - I thought I would get too discouraged if I started with tiny ones. They are 1 1/2 inches along each straight side. I have a template that is just a bit bigger so as to add seam allowance. It can be used with the rotary cutter, but I find I just trace around the template with a pen onto the wrong side of the fabric, cut it out and then tack it to the paper. I have tried to tack it so that the needle and thread don't go through the paper, but I can't seem to get it straight.

I don't have a method as such, it depends on where I am. I will often cut out fabric and baste while watching TV at night as this requires less precision. Sometimes I will cut out and baste, then sew the hexagons one by one. I usually only cut a couple of each colour as I go. This is a slow way for sure, but I think the whole method is slow, so what the hell? Anyway, this is the first time I have done them, so as usual I am just making it up as I go along.

I am quite surprised that so many people said 'no border'. You know - I have never made a quilt without a border! What a thought. I take the point about not having too stark a border against the mellow repro colours. I was thinking of a dull purple, but maybe a 'natural' looking border by just gradually sewing random colours getting darker as they go out? Or I could break with tradition and have no border. The problem with this house is that it is very 'casual', and if I draped the quilt over the couch the dog would sit on it, so we can't have that. It is pretty silly really making these lovely things that either won't get used, or will get abused. I've been thinking of getting a glass front cabinet to store quilts in.

As for Alex's quilt, I bought 6m of lime green plain for the sashing today - just because I bought it doesn't mean I have to make it asap. This is what I tell myself. I could have it done in a flash if only I applied myself to it...

Ruth - have you tried to email from the profile page?

Hexagons

I haven't posted much lately - been a bit slack. But I 'have' been sewing hexagons. I have been glued to the TV the last few days watching Australia THRASH the Poms in the 2nd match of the Ashes Series (that's the cricket for those who don't know). So I have managed a few hexagons while on the couch. I have about 6 or 7 big groups sewn together, but they are all uneven around the edges, so I have been trying to square them up for joining together. Probably next time I will make more of an effort to keep them organised as I go. Anyway, this is a photo I just took (had to use the flash) of the groups layed out on the table. The table is 35 inches wide, and the hexagons stretch 60 inches up the table.

I started sewing the hexagons with no real plan, or even confidence that I would get the bug, so now I have to decide where to go from here. Maybe make a square quilt that would just sit on top of a queen sized bed. Or maybe just make a quilt with no intention to use it for anything in particular?

The other thing is borders - originally I thought about a plain straight border, but now I am thinking a dark one colour hexagon border with a single different colour hexagon evenly placed (separated by a hexagon of the dark colour) in the centre of the border. Does that make sense? It would look like a coloured spot border all the way around in the centre of the dark border. But then how long would this take? Long long time. Hmmm. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I have to stop trying to make huge quilts all the time (or aiming to make huge quilts). This is why I don't get much finished, then feel like I am not accomplishing anything much.

I might go back downstairs and rearrange them to make something more square, then rethink the idea. I would have to buy more fabric from the States to have enough of one colour for the border, as all the fabrics are 1800s repros, and I wouldn't be able to afford the fabric if I bought it here. It would probably take a long time to arrive at this time of the year. Or I could make a border of random fabrics, but making them all dark fabrics...

As for everything else, I am a bit stalled. I have been toying with the idea of making a quilt for each of my 4 nieces and nephew for their birthdays in 2007. The only problem is that Alex will be 14 in the first week in January. I know what I would make for her if I decide to go for it, but this is probably a silly thing to start now. I could probably make the top pretty quickly, but then I would have to quilt it, which would be the problem. The thing is I have to decide pretty quickly as I would need to buy the sashing fabric tomorrow. Decisions decisions!

More Things Japanese

My Mum recently went to Japan for a holiday - she is into Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arranging), but can be relied upon to look out for interesting fabric. These are some of the pieces she brought home. There were a few others, but I seem to have left them at her place.

Mum went to a Shibori factory, where the 4 blue and white pieces and the red and white piece came from. The solid red piece seems to be quite large - I just love the way the Japanese package things, so I haven't undone the thread to see how big it is.


The metallic pieces are scraps from Obi, I think. So beautiful, but what to do with them all?

I think I will just own them for a while, and see what comes to mind. I love the pack of small striped fabrics in the top photo too. I folded the top ones under so all the colours are visible. The texture is like that of a fine seersucker.

Feeling a bit more with it now. I will work a short shift tonight which is a pretty easy one, then I have about 5 days off, so hopefully I will get some sewing done. As my airconditioner in my bedroom has broken down again and won't be looked at for another 2 weeks, I have moved into the spare room. I have my old bed in here, plus the sewing machine and computer, so I lie in bed right beside the design wall. I have been looking up at the Aqua and Lime wallhanging, and have been thinking about it again. I will tackle that this week I hope.

I have also been having network problems with my laptop, but I think I've sorted that out today by disconnecting everything, turning everything off, and starting again from the router up. It seems to be ok now, so fingers crossed.

I miss blogging, so have to get going again.

So Boring

I have been very boring and slack this week. I had a lazy day today, the only major thing was changing to BetaBlogging, so no-one is probably reading this anyway! I expect I've dropped off Bloglines, so I can probably have another week off before anyone notices.

I won't ramble on - next week some definate sewing (promise to self). I'll just do some vicarious sewing instead while sitting on the front deck with the laptop. To those of you on the other side of the world, have a great weekend and Thanksgiving Holiday.

Kids have Germs

So much for my days off spent in the sewing room - so far I have spent them in bed with some vicious stomach bug, no doubt picked up from one of the vomiting children at work on Sunday night. Little wretch. My hands are nearly raw from washing them, but that doesn't seem to help. They have their dirty little mits all over everything...

Sorry to those that have kids, but I've been really crook the last 24 hrs. It isn't too easy to get to a doctor from here, plus I tend to just ride it out. But at 8.30 this morning I got the most excruciating pain in my chest and and stomach that I broke out into a cold sweat, and nearly passed out! But anyway, it went away totally after about an hour, and apart from a temperature, I'm fine now. Made me think about hiding a key somewhere, because if they had to come and cart me off to hospital they wouldn't have been able to get in.

But I'm good now. Thanks for the tip on the .jpg resizer Ms Jan - hopefully my little Fairybread photo is there for all to see. As for you Tracey, I'm SHOCKED that you would make fairybread in such a haphazard way. Pizza cutter? Have you no respect? Jodie isn't quite so bad, but still...
The FBPolice will be on their way if you're not careful.

No photos I'm afraid - if I'm well I will be going to the local Craft Group Christmas lunch tomorrow - it can't be Christmas yet, surely?

Look What I've Got

Hey, it's not much of a photo - the blurry shot goes with the blurry eyes - but this is my latest arrival from Hancocks. It was on backorder for a while and I sort of forgot about it. It is a sample colour card of all 169 Kona Cottons. Perfect for the internet fabric shopper.

All the little squares are actual fabric, and there is a larger piece on the back that you can feel. So many colours to choose from...

Glad you enjoyed the Fairybread Tutorial. There were a few questions:
No we don't tend to put 100s and 1000s on icecream here, but they do go onto icing on little cakes. They are also on Freckles, which is a whole other story.

I would call the long skinny coloured one Sprinkles, but when I was a kid all we knew was 100s and 1000s.

I quite like the way they taste - they are sweet.

I tried to put the last photo as my ID photo, but Blogger won't take it as it is too big. It will only take a file below 50, and it is 60 odd. This is already the reduced size for emailing. I must confess I don't know how to make it any smaller. Suggestions gratefully received.

As for the mini disaster day last week, all is well now. Except for the aircon man though. He was to come on Friday, but got a better offer, and is now supposed to be coming in the morning. We'll see. So I'd better go to bed so I can get up in the morning. I have 4 days off now, and I am determined to get some sewing done, so watch this space. I also plan to do my tax this week which is overdue, so that should be a good incentive to sit at the sewing machine!

Fairybread Tutorial

A few people have asked lately "What IS fairybread?"
I think it's time for a tutorial. Aussies and Kiwis can look away now.

Fairybread is traditionally eaten at childrens' partys, however I don't know a single adult that will knock back a piece of fairybread. Now while we all know that there really aren't any Quilt Police, there are, I'm sure, Fairybread Police. Therefore strict rules apply when making it.

I have been meaning to have a little fairybread photo as my ID photo, but I have been reluctant to do so, as I usually don't have one of the main ingredients in the house, and didn't want to risk a visit from the FBP. I would like to make it quite clear that what you are about to see is not "real" fairybread, as a result.

INGREDIENTS:
White bread, preferably from a square loaf
100s and 1000s
soft butter

In this photo we have a piece of multigrain bread. This is not allowed, ok?

METHOD:
Cut off the crusts, making the bread square. Then liberally butter the bread, as close to the edges as possible. Cut the bread into triangles. At this point, I would recommend transferring the bread to the serving plate. This is traditionally a white paper plate.

Sprinkle the 100s and 1000s over the buttered bread, using a clean finger to gently press the 100s and 1000s into the layer of butter. This is an important step, as when you pick it up you want to minimise the number of 100s and 1000s falling off.Try to get as close to the edge as possible.

Once ready, artfully arrange the Fairybread triangles on the plate, ready to be eaten.

Don't they remind you of little flying geese, or star points?

When a Slump is Not a Slump

I'm not in a slump, per se, but I don't seem to be getting much done. I think it is work's fault - work seems to take up a lot of my spare time! Then there is the sleeping getting over work. Then a day or two to re-decide what I'm going to do with the UFO's, and suddenly it's time to go back to work again.

But, the good news is that I'm still sewing hexagons in stolen moments, and while sitting and waiting. Sometimes even while at work. I'm getting quite a bit of it done actually. Soon it will be time to start thinking about how to finish the quilt off. Plain borders? An inner hexagon border? Try to hand quilt for the first time? Do another class on 'how' to hand quilt?

It all seems too hard to think about at the moment. I have come home today after being away for 2 days working. I stayed at Shane's in the city and he stayed here and spent some quality time with the dogs. The morning staff was late this morning, so I got off late, which meant that I didn't get to go to the shop before getting on the ferry. I was nearly home when Shane rings and says the island car has a flat tyre. So I started walking while he changed it, then I got a lift for the rest of the way. Then he lost his sunglasses - left on the grass while changing the tyre? He couldn't find them. Meanwhile it is getting very hot and muggy as a big storm was coming down the coast. The dogs were in the car, and Simon was shedding white hairs all over my navy uniform. Then Shane missed the boat to go and pick up the lawnmower which broke last week, so we come home here to a house FULL of dog hair that hadn't seen a vaccuum cleaner since before I left. Then I had to drive him back to the boat with the tyre to get fixed.

Now I should really be in bed, but the aircon is broken!! I rang the man who installed it today, and he will come on Friday, but he is already trying to say it isn't his fault, when the man from the Aircon company said it sounds like he has not tightened it up properly and its gas has escaped.

And so it goes on. On a positive note the storm has gone around and out to sea, as it had strong wind warnings with large hailstones! Enough of everyday life, I think! If you have read this far you must have too much time on your hands!

The Bum House Postcard

Here is the Bum House Postcard underway. A fair bit of the background will be trimmed away at the end. I have to tell you that it is giving me plenty of entertainment, so even if Daniel doesn't laugh, it has worked it's magic. Did you all notice the black circle between the cheeks?

I used a scrap of fusible web I got from Helen, and have done a little bit of top stitching so far. I learnt from my first card to do all the top first before getting excited and fusing it all together before I was finished. However, I am still not able to get the mirror image fusible web thing. Luckily the letters are all able to be turned upside down or over. The green bit of the house had to be cut and pasted to get the shape though.

Speaking of Helen, she has started her cross-stitch, which is the main thing. She'll get into it I know. It is light-hearted pestering, so don't worry. She won her old-fashioned mother and daughter apron pattern on ebay, so that will be fun.

I'm on my way, Helen...

I'm going over to see my sister Helen this afternoon to check on the progress of her cross- stitch. She is in a crafting slump, due to feeling like she has to make things to sell, thereby not having any FUN. I bought her a little cross-stitch at the Craft Show last month to try and guilt her into doing something for herself and getting back into it.

She told me on the phone yesterday that she had started it finally, so I'm going over to check the progress - look out Helen! I will take my camera to take a photo - maybe it will give her some Blog-type incentive to crack on with it. I will also see Daniel, who was shocked to see a photo of the Bum House on my blog. Apparently he said " That's the Bum House! What's it doing on there??" Wait til it arrives in the letterbox! I'll get some fusible web today to try and get it done.

Heavens to Bettsy knows Helen, so I'll get her to email Helen and give her a hard time .. sorry I meant "some encouragement". Look out Helen I'm on my way!!

NEWS FLASH! Blogger uploads 3 photos!

Shock Horror! Blogger plays nice today. Here are my HSTs that I made last week from the Triangles on a Roll. I have used Thangles before which I like, but this method was good for making a big heap of triangles from the same fabric. From this piece of triangle paper I made this many HSTs. They are 1 1/2" finished. See them all sewn together on the wall - that's about 3 yards of border. In the Collaborative Quilting Style I was very casual with the seams etc, and they didn't turn out too bad.


This many triangles came from 2 pieces of fabric, each 22 x 10" - that's the size of a fat eighth isn't it? There are all these arrows on the paper telling you which way to sew, but of course I didn't bother with that. I think next time I will bother, as they seem to be there for a reason (grin)!

See also the bright coloured blocks and strips I found when sorting my bright fabrics recently. I remember making them now. I bought a pattern (only one in my life) to make the star blocks - it was one of those ones where you stack up all the squares of fabric then cut the pieces using a paper pattern on top, then shuffle the pieces and sew them all back together. I only got these ones done, as I found it surprisingly difficult to get them all back together accurately. The pieces for the other blocks are floating around the place and pop up all the time.

Then I remember thinking that I would do some strip piecing with the left overs and make a quilt out of the parts, but obviously didn't ever get around to finishing it. So it is up on the wall, and I plan to use them all, along with some extra parts to make something.

Quick Post

This is my first post from my new baby - it isn't that easy typing while lying on your stomach in bed I've discovered! Here's hoping it works. I have had some technical support from the router people today and all is well I think.

Heavens to Bettsy emailed me and said she couldn't leave a comment on my last post - I went in and had a look and found that I couldn't either, but that I had also had the same error message yesterday when trying to post a comment on someone else's blog. Is it me or Blogger? One wonders whether blogger is not coping and worse is to come.

At work last night I discovered 2 quilters - quite exciting. Monique said she is a fairly new quilter but just loves the fabric and would like to be a fabric designer (she'll do), and Helen the ward clerk is right into it. So we are doing a bit of show and tell tonight and each taking in some books for the others to look at. Quilters are lurking everywhere. We need a secret handshake I think.

Otherwise the only exciting thing that has happened here is that we have had some good rain, which if you are an Aussie you will know how big that is. In some neaby rural areas it is the first good rain since 1999, and has probably saved a lot of stock, farms and farmers.

Better go back to bed and try and catch a bit more sleep for tonight. Days off after tonight so hopefully I will get some sewing done.

The Bum House

This is the Bum House, taken (fittingly) from behind. Daniel thinks it is hilarious - go figure.

This is the Barn House, as it looks like an American Barn.




Then there is the Stonemason's House, for obvious reasons.

And the Yellow Sun House, which you will notice is much the same as my house - kit houses. There are more around the place with names ie the Tobacco Barn, but I didn't want to overcrowd Blogger with more than 4 photos - you all know how it gets. Also I didn't want the word to go out that I was "casing a few joints"...

The Tank House

This is my house, which I believe is called The Tank House by some people on the island. Why? Well I suppose it is the curved corrugated iron roof, which looks like the side of a huge water tank. I love that photo of just the ground floor frame and the roof - looks like it is going to take off. Or the Flying Nun.

As you can see it is a high house. It is built to the maximum height that the council will allow here, which is 8.5 metres above the natural level of the land. The 2nd photo is taken from the landing of
the house across the road, which is also high. It is hard to get a photo of the roof. The Electricity
company wouldn't hook the power straight to the house from the power pole across the road, as the roof is higher than the pole.

In the 2nd photo you can see my own personal property pole to the right of the house just inside the fence, which I had to have installed so that they could hook the power cable to that, then I had to run the cable underground through the yard to the fusebox. MORE money! I want to get a Pelican to put on top of the pole, but I still haven't seen one I could put up there...

Tomorrow I will take a photo of The Bum House. There are a lot of individual type of houses here - anything goes. There is an American Style barn house, as well. I'll snap a photo of that too.