Relaxed

Yes today has been a perfectly relaxed post holiday sort of day. The household chores are up to date or at least they can wait.

While DH Wayne mowed the lawn I managed to  complete a trial block for the mystery quilt. My precision piecing has improved following all the tips Bonnie Hunter  shares.

I had stitched and and pressed a batch of the 4 patch strips ready to cut into pairs for sewing

When

DH surprised me by suggesting cafe lunch.  He googled and found a couple possibilities while I changed. A short road trip and we a deck of 5 restaurants nestled in the back of some corporate buildings. We choose a Thai restaurant over looking a small lake and fountain. The food was yummy , the venue pleasant and the company great. This girl couldn't ask for more.

Matching up pairs of 4 patch strips.

A happy session of matching and cutting strip sets ready for chain piecing tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying the easy time between Christmas and New Year. Time to reflect on the past year and anticipate the coming of the new year.

Enjoy  Terry

Colors of Christmas

Yesterday started with these rich red capicum ready to be roasted in preperation for Thursday.

The season has such a strong attachment to red and green that I see them everywhere.

. The red vegetable net which held the red bell peppers laying on my green counter top. Why did I think it was worthy of a photo?  Just because it was visually  pleasing.

Green strips of fabric for clue 3 of the mystery quilt. My intentions for this quilt have been honorable however the pleasure of lots of family time means I am still just cutting out fabric in anticipation of slow summer days . Slow easy summer starts just after Christmas.  Yippie bring on the season... of long days with heaps of stitching time.


Meanwhile I will embrace the cooking and festive spirit with the joy of the season and a little help from my

Friends .  What more could I ask for than to have the grand children wrapped in my quilts watching " Adventure Time "

Life as it should be happy relaxed and making me smile.

Hope you find time to smile today .
Terry

Not One But Two

I grew up in the northern hemesphier where the end of the school year happens in June and half a year later Christmas arrives with a second flurry  of activities.

Not so here in Australia . Since the previous post 9 days ago Yikes was it only 9 days?

We have gone to

Dance Concert
Music Recital
End of year Awards day  ( Speech Day)

Everyone adding their own touches to the Christmas tree. 

On the social calander two luncheons to mark the summer break and the holiday season. Lots of fun ,food and conversation as well as Secret Santa at both quilting and spinning. 

Snatching a few moments in between the happy activities I have .....

A couple squares

Parts from the Grand Illusion Mystery quilt.

Secret hooking while the recipient is out and about. I really really don't want to be caught so my slow crochet is slower than ever.  

Busy as life is at the moment I must admit I enjoy having family and friends to share the good times.  "Wouldn't trade for quids"

Life is good.

Terry

Feels Like a Quilt Retreat

The quilty space has expanded. A bit like the Tardis bigger on the inside . The room is the same size but the addition of a table to the left has made it feel bigger.

Well more like being at quilt camp with all the necessary equipment close at hand. 

I am getting ready to cut lots of 2 1/2" squares.  Just as soon as ..... I gaze, fondle and choose from the black scraps. Thunder is rumbling and lightening flashing. Maybe I will leave the cutting out until the storm passes and the sky clears.

The little wrens are all returning to the apple tree as the storm approaches. I'm going to but the kettle on. What do you do to weather a storm? 

Terry 

Up and Running

The newly established sewing nook has proevn successful.

The family has arrived and we are starting to get a routine going. There are still boxes. Oh and more boxes which you don't need to see. Trust me they are the last minute sort with t.p. and shoes and hangers. Why do we always have too many hangers when packing to move and not enough any other time?

I have my Featherweight set up and purring. I do not have a feline helper at present so will be content with the sound of my beauty.

The over flow on the left of the machine is a small box of 2"strips. I'm sewing three strips together as practice. Fence Rail or Nine Patch who knows?

Whatever the end result the journey is soothing.   AND  soothing is all GOOD as the holiday's  approach.

I love having my small family ; only 8 of us across three generations , around for the preperations. ..... Every Bit!!!!


Going to my nook while I can

Terry

Good to Go

The sleeping space has been rearrange in anticipation of the arrival of family.

The spare bed is moved with the trundle underneath. I was lucky to get it all moved with help from DH. The big repurosed lounge room furniture was able to stay.

Tomorrow is moving day and most of the furniture will go into storage BUT not the bed. There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed and the room awaits

The sewing corner is all set up . I was able to find room for the important items and everything else is acessable . I'm a happy quilter.

The view from my sewing chair. The peace lillies are suffering from 40° heat with strong wind.

DH hand watering to keep the garden wet. Buffalo is snowed in and we'er
sweltering. Whatever the weather quilters are happy sewing.

Hold The Water

l

Relocating my sewing room caused me to measure the ground coffee straight into the cup. Strong black hold the water.

I'm shifting for a couple months while my lovely #2daughter and her guy stay with us over holiday period and into the new year.  The spare room will be thier's and the sewing room will double as spare room come extra space.

I found some strips cut from scraps 

a box of scraps and started cutting in preperation for my move

,

An empty box

Getting ready for relocating to a more public part of the house.  

The challenge will be keeping creativity tidy. Wish me luck!  ????

I do know the photos are the same but no one wants pics of the mess. I promise pictures after the move.

Nightmare or Delight ?

I've always saved useful scraps

And now 2 boxes of something  maybe useful for sometime

Inspired by Bonnie Hunter Leader Enders.

There is a happy caotic mess in the sewing room.  I have always made use of my scraps and explored variations on chain piecing. Recently I came across Bonnie Hunter's blog.

Her scrap saver system ( under techniques on blog).  Just the thing to wrangle this messy treasure.. while cutting 2" strips for a swap 2 1/2" squares are mounting up  as well.  Getting organised for the Grand  Illusion Mystery Quilt and summer stitching.

American Beauty

Update on a very slow wip.

A little quilt that's been on slow simmer for long enough to be well and truly ready.

I' quilting with friends today so progress  " I hope"

Shopping

Tuesday was shop the stash day. I took crates of scraps out of cupboards, bins out of the closet and turned out carry bags from finished projects.

Eureka*****

Perfectly pretty pinks

Always amazing aquas

Glistening grassy greens

Glorious golden yellow.

All the fabric for my next new project. 

From now until Thanksgiving my goal is completing some wips.

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Terry

wishes do come true

While I didn't exactly wish upon a star .I did find inspiration for some fiberey gifts. The tools and skill set are from my youth. The inspiration is from a FB post. Sometimes the world wide web is the answer.

The  projects require very basic fiber tools . A rummage around the garage located the potholder looms. Mine is the 2 part blue one with very close set teeth.  Knitting Nancy was watching over the looms which is a good thing because I will need to do some spool knitting as well. Nancy must have belonged to my DD's as mine was a large cotton reel which my father put 4 nails in. The potholder loom with the yellow center belongs to the daughters and the remaining one I think might be my SinL'.
The blue woven samples are done on the sunny yellow loom with double strands of wool. I'd never used yarn on the looms or woven a triangle . Never too old to learn.

O.K. so I have all the basics for one of the projects and none for another. Weaving sticks were required. Yes sticks 8" long with a hole in one end and lightly pointed at the other. A web search revealed several sets made in exotic timbers posted from all over the world with equally exotic prices. Not this little "Black Duck" dowel is cheap and a trip to the handy man store was already planned so off we went and I bought my treasures while DH wandered up and down looking for fertilizer.

I am capable but DH soon stepped up and offed his assistance. Who am I to sat NO? In the end we cut and drilled enough sticks for 2 sets of 1/4" & 2 sets of 3/8" weaving sticks. I am still sharpening the ends with a shiny new pencil sharpener and sanding before giving the weaving sticks a nice coat of wax.

One set of each size for me and one set for the GD so she too can enjoy fiber stuff (with Grama).

There has also been some stitching but it is also secret.

Enjoy whatever your up to Terry

Hard Wired

Spring is here.

 The view from the front door. I love the burst of delicate colour this apple tree has each year. Promise of a new season. Out the backdoor sunset. Beauty every way I look

The macadamia tree in full bloom was the view from the breakfast taple provided another view of spring.

My mind started to wander "late September time to start making Christmas gifts. "  Here is the hard wired part

Hand knitted and something everyone can use. MITTMENS.   DA ! Where did that come from?  Christmas in Sydney is for swimming not tabogining.  I guess the desire to knit Christmas pressents needs a re-think.