Getting ready for Christmas.

Its been more than a month since I posted on my blog. November is always a busy month preparing for Christmas and end of year school things. I had the whole month off work so hubby and I took two weeks away from the farm to holiday and visit our son in Sydney and other friends and family. Two of our sons also had birthdays. School is over for us now as our youngest son prepares to go to university.
      I of course did as much reading and sewing as I could  It was a hot month ( global warming in action) with many days in the mid to high 30's which I always find makes sewing more difficult. I certainly didn't do any knitting or crochet. My crochet project will have to wait till winter unfortunately….

The view along the coast from the top of our holiday hotel!!

My current quilt Jazz Hands is coming along steadily although I have taken a break to make Christmas craft decorations and gifts. I try to put something that I have made on my tree every year.

This year much of the fabric I used is from one of my favourite designers Annie Downs from Hatched and Patched. I mixed her fabric with some of the more traditional Christmas fabrics. I enjoy making small projects that can be completed in a few hours. Embellishing with braid and buttons is fun too.

On the reading front my book choices when I look back have been mostly crime! I do like a good murder mystery. Mortal Mischief by Frank Tallis is the first in a series of books combining crime and psychology. I really enjoyed it. It is set in Vienna in 1902. I love Agatha Christie and found one that I hadn't previously read. Inspector Chopra is a lovely Indian detective who solves crimes with the help of  his pet elephant. And of course Jo Nesbo, who's previous books have been chilling. I'm still reading this one and not finding it as good as his previous novels.

Clean up Day

This is the view I have from my sewing room looking over my sons cricket nets, then out across the paddocks to the west. Yesterday we had a lovely storm brewing which was wonderful to watch, although there was not much rainfall resulting from it. It gave me the opportunity to hide away for the afternoon in my sewing room in the loft, without feeling like I should be doing anything else.
    What I really needed to do was try to organise my fabric stash. I've been meaning to do it for months. It has been in plastic boxes which has made it difficult to see at a glance what I have! I actually have fabric in my stash that dates back 20 years so I probably need to do a cull.

My books and patterns also needed sorting. These are probably my favourite books…..Kaffe Fassett, Kathy Doherty , Sandra Fielke , Barb Adams….I use them all the time for inspiration.

Current project on the go...No 1 is Jazz Hands by Sarah Fielke. I have four blocks completed. Its coming together quite quickly despite being hand sewn.

Next project By Leanne Beasley from Leanne's House. This is machine pieced and hand embroidered. I'm lagging with the embroidery.

No 3 is a bag which is nearly completed. I just need to put the buckles and strap on. 

No 4 is my hexagon quilt still waiting for the border to be added.

My mind is on what I will do next already!!

A Marvellous Dilemma.

Hello I often have the dilemma on my days off when deciding what to do that day. I love to garden, read and sew equally. Often the weather makes my decision easier. Rainy or wintery days are probably my favourite for the reason I can hide away and alternate sewing and reading. They however are rare!
Today it is warm, humid and a little overcast so I was out in the garden early. Now I will have lunch on the verandah and do some patchwork during the hottest part of the day.

I am working on a quilt called Jazz Hands by Sarah Fielke. I have made several of Sarah's quilts from her Material Obsession books. I am making this quilt entirely by hand which allows for greater accuracy. There is something very peaceful about handwork isn't there? I like that I can do it anywhere.

My colours for this quilt are blues, greens, pinks and browns on a white spotted background. I rarely buy fabric specifically for a quilt as I have a huge stash and like quilts with lots of different fabrics. The background is a gorgeous fabric that I have used in many quilts. I bought 10metres of it many years ago  and this quilt will use the last of it.

My crotchet squares have been slowly taking shape and will eventually be made into a cushion cover.They are a good project to take to work on night shift and do a little in those rare quiet moments!

Finally a rainy day!!

Between running my son to his final year school exams I did manage to do some sewing and gardening yesterday. Recently my husband put his chainsaw through some bushes at the front of our house. We had planted them not realising that they would eventually obstruct our views of the paddocks around our farm house. Since then I have been relocating hippiastrums which were growing under the bushes. They are the hardiest of plants and seem to survive the long hot dry spells we often get here. They are also easy to replant as they are a bulb and have flowered almost immediately. Now thankfully it has rained to settle them into their new position. Thankyou Mother Nature!!!

Above is my hexagon quilt which is slowly making progress. I've chosen purple grey and green as a theme…way outside my comfort zone. I've discovered craft glue which has been a revelation…no more sewing the hexagon papers to the fabric. Unfortunately I ran out of my background fabric. I forgot to allow extra for the hexagons. I'm learning the hard way!!!

I have just finished Eva Hornungs book Dog Boy. Set in Russia it tells of a young boy living in a dog pack, and how they survive. It is sad and bleak but very interesting. Easy to read and a must for dog lovers!!

My hippiastrums newly planted beside the daylillies. Both are robust to survive the long dry spells we have in Australia. I have to put rocks at the bases of my plants when I first plant them or my chickens will dig them up.

And lastly a lovely package of Annie Downs fabric has arrived this week. I will be looking for a Christmas themed project for it. I am horrified to think that Christmas is just around the corner!!

Quilting gives me much joy…..

Craft and making things is a huge part of me. Quilting has been a constant over the years....before babies, then when my boys were small. It gave me something of my own that I could escape to when a break was needed. I made many a quilt with them at my feet playing with fabric or wool.

I love colour and texture.The quilt above was made as a wedding gift for my nephew and his lovely wife. Pinks and brown is a favourite colour combination.

Something a bit more contemporary and bright which was in fact a kit that I had bought at the Sydney Quilt show.It became a raffle quilt.

This is one of my favourite quilts. I began making this beautiful Kim Mclean quilt . It was such a mammoth task that I did not complete the borders. The fabrics and colours were a joy to work with!! I loved the designs too. She is such a clever lady.

This quilt I made as a raffle quilt for my niece who was raising funds for breast cancer. It is a pattern of Sarah Fielke's who's designs I also admire a lot. Made in predominantly pinks.

A knitted cushion for my sewing chair.

And finally my beloved garden, where you'll find me when not sewing! Not enough hours in the day!

First Blog Post.

                           Hi everyone my name is Sally and I am exited to be writing my first blog post.
I love colour and texture and enjoy making things. My favourite craft is quilting, followed by crotchet and knitting. I don't always make my own patterns, but I always change things a little!

I love reading other craft blogs .Currently I am working on a hexagon quilt, an English template quilt and crochet cushion cover. There is not enough hours in my day as I work full time as a nurse at our local hospital and also love to garden  and am an avid reader. 

I am hoping someone will enjoy reading this as much as I have making it. I would love to connect with other crafty folk!