Saturday, January 12, 2013
eight-teen (s.o.b)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Can I say shit-o-meter in the title?
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So when things do turn to shit - as they tend to do occasionally, I recommend some hand-sewing.
because we all know that keeping your hands busy means you can't actually kill anyone.
and that has to be a good thing...
Friday, September 26, 2008
Granny's quilt
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OK - Now for the binding .....any opinions. The green of the outer border so the binding sort of blends in - or the cherry pink of the small border?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Keep your knickers on!!!
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The sashing is actually cream and has a very small tonal pattern of leaves. I had to snap these pics this morning before work and it had been folded up all night so please forgive the rather crumpled look.
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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Annie kicked my butt!
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5:30
Bye Annie......
Stay tuned folks - this could get interesting..............or it might all end in tears.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Doing it!
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Its just that they....you know .....do that thing.
They've all been doing it for a while, and doing it together for years ......they all love doing it, they adore doing it. They do it alone or in groups and they do it as often as they can. They are kind of addicted to doing it.
And that's OK - I mean I am pretty open-minded, each to his or her own I say......its just that ........well...........I 'm not that fond of doing it. I don't really enjoy doing it and and I kinda suck at doing it to be honest. That's not to say I won't ever do it, and I'll do it a little bit just to be social but yikes a whole day of DOING IT !
Maybe its just not my thing? Perhaps I could just follow their lead and bluff my way through? I could make the coffee when it all gets a bit intense right?
Surely it would be better for everyone if I stayed home and finished off some monkey limbs, sewed the back onto my scarf, worked on the cushions, re-jigged the new softie, finished the ill-fated fabric birdcage and drew up some new dollies.
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Tomorrow- I quilt !
Friday, March 28, 2008
It's back !!
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Well it is true, I am very excited............................... and I have renewed crafty energy.
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After all, finishing that quilt top means I get to add all these "extra" greens to my stash !
Friday, January 25, 2008
Still quilting............
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I have decided to quilt and join these two pieces before I start to piece the last third, simply because it takes ages and drives me slightly batty.
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I was disappointed to find out today that the French word for Tampon is......................Tampon. Not even the French can make it sound attractive!
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Thanks for asking
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I am unwilling to commit to projects that take longer than two days to at least "look finished"
I do not understand projects that involve more ironing than sewing
I do not like projects that require special equipment
I do not like having to remove special equipment (see above) from sewing machine every time I give up on the "big" project to tackle something do-able.
I do get bored with the same fabric after about 3 hrs.
I do not understand chopping up about 300 m of fabric to sew it back together into something only 2m in size.
I hate basting
I hate pinning
I hate exactness
I embrace the wonky
I hate enormous things that require rearranging my house just so I can lay them out to look at them.
I hate that no-one told me that just winging it is not actually a bona-fide quilting term....because it is a totally STUPID thing to do.
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Yeh, so the quilt is coming along nicely, thanks for asking. No it doesn't take much time. Just a few minutes here and there. Yes I have only done one third, yes I haven't even laid out the other two. Yes I am sure I know what I am doing, so what if I have never done the quilt- as-you-go thingo before. Oh no, it's no problem to just make up a pattern, I really enjoy a challenge, Oh yes that's right, I will get so much enjoyment and self fulfillment when this is finished...........I mean ...I will....won't I? You know just like childbirth.....you never remember the pain afterwards.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
and another one bites the dust !
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I have also been toiling away at "The Big Project". I have quilted a mass of this fabric - probably more than I will need- It is the same fabric as the bag handles - lovely patterned black - the photo has just washed it out a bit.
I want to say a huge Happy Birthday to Annie - pop on over to her Flower Garden and wish her a happy birthday- she might just give you a slice of cake....
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Whiplash challenge.
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Yep.... thats right its all made from selvedge !!! I just love how it turned out !! I am soo excited by this I am planning a bigger project !
Step 1. Cut the selvedged edge off your fabrics leaving 1/4 inch of fabric (this becomes your seam allowance.) Then with right sides together sew two pieces together and press open, showing selvedge.
Step 2. If you have nice thick selvedge you may be able to join one pair to another pair - giving you four (or more) joined togetherwithout losing all the details.
Step 3. When you have pieced a few strips together you can begin to foundation piece them. I cut (ripped) a piece of very light cotton to the size I wanted and then simply began sewing the strips on. Sew as close to the very edge as you can but remember that this is the selvedge so it is not going to fray.
Step 4. Continue on adding your little pairs of selvedge strips ( or bigger ones) until you have the size you require. I used my walking foot for this part.
5.
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Step 5. When you have pieced all your strips , turn over your work and trim the edges, squaring up if you need to.
Step 6. I used cotton batting in this little quilt and I quilted it very simply by running some lines of stitching across the quilt in a "stitch-in-the-ditch style. My finished quilt is almost fat quarter sixe measuring approx 18 x 20 inches. Then of couse a bit of binding and your done !!!
I really love this project and am keen to do a bit more with selvedges. I have been chopping them off every scrap of fabric in the stash.
The added bonus to this project is, when asked about all the fabric in the stash I can honestly say "of course I use them all I have put almost all of them into a quilt !"
Miss Eloise says it is very snuggly !
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Friday, May 18, 2007
Sewin' shoppin' and swearin'
Isn't it great?
The fabric is spectacular and that "kind of detail impressed me"(LOL) That is what is written on the fabric. The handwriting even had the little arrows on it that's guides children's writing - I just love it.
I am imagining a handbag with a red wool base -or cherry red with the fabric and then red handles - but i did spend some time this morning wrapping it around the existing cushions on the lounge and it look great - I just need a little something red in there............
Monday, February 26, 2007
Australasian Quilting Convention
I have just been luck enough to spend two days at the AQC .
I was asked to go along and help out my friends Emma and Pam of Ballarat patchwork.
They had the most beautiful stall and were surrounded by customers (sometimes five deep) for hours on end.
One of the big hits of the marketplace was the Yo –Yo. They are such fun and easy things to make (especially with the Clover “quick yo-yo maker). People loved Emma’s gorgeous rosettes and her garland and we completely sold out of the yo-yo makers.
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Emmas Yo Yo garland
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Yo Yo purse from the Clover stand
It was fascinating to see a show from behind the counter and to meet some of the most amazing people.
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Lisa's beautiful fabrics
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I met and secretly almost fell in love with Tony Sullivan of Victorian Textiles. He is the gadget man !!! I especially loved the rotating cutting mat, his tiny tiny scissors that fit onto a key ring and the scissors with large pad handles and spring loaded opening action. He had every gadget you can imagine and I wanted them all!
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I also met Christine Abela of Gecko gully and her friends who as you can see went to a lot of trouble for the show –there is 8 metres of fabric in those dresses!
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The AQC is a world class quilt show that showcases a collection of exhibitions. With teachers like Ruth B McDowell, Gloria Loughman, Pam Holland Sue Nickells and Esterita Austin it is no wonder that delegates were already booking accommodation for next year before this years convention had ended.
I have to mention the breathtaking exhibitions !!!! I was amazed and humbled by the magical quilts on display.
You must go and check out the AQC site and take some time to look at all these exhibitions – I cannot begin to explain to you how inspiring they are (and a bit scary – how can people sew like that??)
The Husqvarna Viking International Quilt Competition
Eyeline by tACTile
Best of the Best
Michele Hill’s Tribute to William Morris
Journal Quilts from the Australia New Zealand ArtQuilters
Stitch like an Egyptian
Victorian Quilters Challenge.
As a bit of a show junkie I have to say this is far and away one of Australia’s best events. I was there for two days but could have quite easily managed four. Even if you are not a delegate there are so many free seminars and exhibitons you would be hard pressed to fit it all into one day.
By far the best thing about this show is that it is a dedicated Quilt show so every where you turn you will see quilts, quilters, notions, fabrics and fibres – you just have to breath deeply and take it all in !