Saturday, June 25, 2011

1 Xmas item a month

I have been trying to find something to do with these hankies I bought a while back (years ago). I was playing around with one and had an inspiration to make a triangle pouch. Turning it into a lavender sachet was the next logical step. Everyone can use a lavender sachet in their clothes or hall cupboard or fabric stash. I made two for today and think I will make some more for Christmas through the year. I cut the hankie in half then put bias binding at an angle. I did a narrow french seam on the raw edge side and threaded in the ribbon.









1 Xmas item a month is hosted by Narelle at Pins and Whiskers. Why not see what others are doing and maybe join in with the linky.

Narelle had a link to Stitched Sunday which sounds really good. Learn to stitch from scratch every Sunday starting tomorrow with some pre-lesson info.

Happy Sewing,
Val

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tickled Pink Tuesday and Tuesday Treasures Double Up

Some things are treasures without me realizing it. I love having my daughters' art works on my walls.  (A mix of the 2 daughter's works. They are both very artistic.) I look at them all the time and think how nice it is to have original drawings and paintings done by them over the years. I also have some family photos hung where I walk past all day. It is nice to stop and look sometimes.















Family links are always a treasure :) 

Interested in Tuesday Treasures? Visit Melody's House on the Side of the Hill to link up to other treasure posts.
Allie-oops and Polka Dots and Rick Rack will have what is Tickling them when the calender rolls over to Tuesday in their neck of the woods.

Happy Blogging,
Val

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Beenleigh Quilt Show

Luckily I managed to remember that the quilt show was this weekend. I was sitting outside sunning myself when it just came to me. I picked up the phone and spoke to mum. She said she had seen it advertised and was going to ask me if I wanted to go but she had forgotten all about it. Between the two of us we manage to get things done :)
Before I rung mum I had checked if it was really on and wound up at Joy's Joypatch blog. She had a picture of her stand and some of the comments were from friends of mine. It never ceases to amaze me how intertwined the blogs are.
Anyway, we had a lovely couple of hours looking at all the quilts and tote bags and I chose some fat quarters and buttons. The buttons were on Joy's stall. They are designed by Nikki from www.handcraftedbuttons.com. Nikki also has a blog: http://nikkitervodesigns.blogspot.com

Here are my fabrics and buttons.


These are plastic ones from America. 2 sets here $5 each.




These ones are Nikki's made from porcelain about $4 each.




They are very detailed and so cute. I would have liked lots of others.

I nearly forgot - we bought three bundles of pre-loved craft magazines for $5.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Friday, June 17, 2011

Crazy Quilting Friday

I have three blocks to show today. The first one is made from strips I had left over from my Christmas quilt and I just placed them on the diagonal.


The second one is also Christmas fabrics but I bought these in a scraps bag. I love all these traditional style fabrics with gold highlights rather than the Moda style brights and cartoons.

It is actually square!
My third one is also from a scraps bag. Some of the pieces are excess partially made blocks. The two triangles in the middle were already sewn together.


I have a good collection of scraps from my own projects now so I am going to start using them to make some blocks. I don't know whether I am patient enough to wait till I have enough blocks to make a quilt. I might start making some place mats or pot holders just to have some fun sewing.

This week coming I am determined to finish my overcoat. I am thinking positive thoughts about flying to Adelaide in three weeks time. I want clear skies!

It is fun to find out that many quilters are also tea enthusiasts. I am going to try some Rooibos tea now. Especially after reading all the health benefits it has. The site I found expounding its virtues also sells it but I figure some of the blurb is likely to be true.
http://www.teabenefits.com/rooibos-tea-benefits.html

I am also going to buy some Turkish Apple tea. The Tea Centre shop I frequent stocks this. You can also make your own. Here is some info from the tea benefits site on apple tea:
http://www.teabenefits.com/flavored-tea-benefits/apple-tea-benefits.html

It says it is popular in Turkey and even sold in carpet shops :).

I love being part of Crazy Quilting Friday
You can see who is making blocks over at Quilting Fiesta.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tickled Pink Tuesday and Tuesday Treasures Double Up

Hope you don't mind me sharing an older post about tea. I did a few tea things a while back and they are still relevant.

Today I want to make a cup Darjeeling tea. This tea is delicate and has a lovely colour.


The more letters describing your tea the better quality it is.
Generally the FTGF refers to the quality and OP refers to the size of the leaf. You can actually see the leaves easily after it is brewed. Tea bags are generally made from tea dust!



From Wikipedia:
FTGF OP - Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe - Highest quality grade (Note: "Special" is occasionally substituted for "Finest", with a number 1 at the end to indicate the very finest) . Often hand processed and produced at only the best plantations. Roughly one quarter tips.

The tea industry uses the term Orange Pekoe to describe a basic, medium-grade black tea consisting of many whole tea leaves of a specific size
  • Flowery - A large leaf, typically plucked in the second or third flush with an abundance of tips.
  • Golden Flowery - Tea that includes very young tips or buds (usually golden in colour) that were picked early in the season.
  • Tippy - Tea that includes an abundance of tips.

The first flush is more delicate and just a little less fruity than the second flush.

You need to boil the water for this tea. Warm the pot and quickly add the leaves. You can clearly see the size of the leaves in the dry tea. The paler pieces are the tips or buds.


Steep for 2 to 5 minutes. I prefer less time than more. The flavour doesn't just increase it becomes bitter.
I have used my little one cup pot from Somerton -Green. It has a charming scene on the sides. I think I bought this one in Maclean near Yamba in northern NSW.









I don't have a matching cup so I have used my Seyei Fine China cup with a wooden saucer. Seyei was a Japanese company but I don't think they are in business any more.



I started a Tea Journal a while back and first recorded drinking this tea in 2006.
The cover has coffee pictures on it since I couldn't find any tea fabric at the time.

This is a single estate tea from the Goomtee Estate in NE India.

I laughed when I inspected the photos and saw I had spilt rice on the bench at lunch time. Never mind.
I left my cat board on the bench. I love all the cute cats. My big board on the other bench has dogs.
This afternoon when I came into my sunny room I found these two arch enemies sleeping almost nose to nose in the sun. Even when they noticed each other Blacky just rolled over and went back to sleep. Seeing them this close together is very unusual!


I am linking up with Tuesday Cup of Tea at Antiques and Tea cups
on Tuesday 11th Dec 2012

Interested in Tuesday Treasures? Visit Melody's House on the Side of the Hill

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Tickled Pink Tuesday and Tuesday Treasures Double Up

Here I am a bit late for Tuesday again! But it doesn't lesson the treasuriness of my treasure.
Today I am sharing my green tea making process. I get a lot of satisfaction from following the correct procedure. It just makes you feel good as well as giving you a lovely cup of tea.
I chose my Japanese green tea with lime peel and lemongrass. $6.50 per 50g. I open the container (it is still in the shop bag since I only bought it yesterday) and smell it - mmmm delicious.


I measure out a spoonful with my lovely tea spoon and place it in a dish.



I heat the water to 85 degrees C and put a bit in the teapot to warm it.

Tip out the water then quickly add the tea (this is why it is ready in the little dish) and put the lid on for 30 secs to steam the leaves.

Pour in the hot water, put the tea cosy on and steep for 5 mins by the oven timer.


Give it a quick stir then strain it into the cup. It is a lovely golden colour and you can see how the leaves have unfurled. Some of them are almost whole.



Because it is so damn cold here today I keep the lid on my cup between sips.
The brew is soft and smooth with a hint of lime and lemongrass. A perfect cuppa.



I found this bit of info at this site:
http://www.thefragrantleaf.com/brewingtips.html
 
Why are green teas better at lower temperature?

A number of substances in the leaf contribute to the flavor and aroma of green tea. The overall flavor and sweetness of green tea is determined by a variety of amino acids and natural sugars. Bitterness and astringency are contributed by polyphenols ("tannins"). Amino acids dissolve at 140°F (60 °C) while tannins dissolve at 176°F (80°C). Therefore, brewing green tea at lower temperatures will ensure that its sweet and complex flavors will not be overpowered by the bitter-tasting flavors.


Interested in Tuesday Treasures? Visit Melody's House on the Side of the Hill to link up to other treasure posts.
Allie-oops and Polka Dots and Rick Rack will have what is Tickling them when the calender rolls over to Tuesday in their neck of the woods.


Happy Winter Days,
Val

Monday, June 6, 2011

Pincushion sew along

I put the finishing touches on Sandi's pincushion this morning. I took some artistic license with the kangaroo since I only had dark brown felt. I tried to make the existing greyish band look like a tree and put a cockatoo next to its nesting hole and a bit of bougainvillea on the country fence. It is off to DeeDee now for the final addition. They must be all quite close to home now!


Happy Stitching,
Val

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Self Absorbed

I have been a bit self absorbed this last week. I have done a bit more on the second border of the Christmas quilt and twiddled a bit with Sandi's pincushion. Just a few more stitches for the pincushion and I will send it off to DeeDee.

I have about a month before I visit Adelaide for the Australian Sewing Guild shopping and sight seeing tour and I want to make a new outdoor coat and a dress up coat/jacket. This means I will have to put away all my patchwork things to make room for cutting out.

I felt a bit stressed because I was checking the ASG site for information on the Northern Italy tour and casually mentioned to my husband that they were doing the American tour again next February. He said why don't I go on that as well. So within a few days I had found a good flight, spoken to the organiser several times, sorted out the Portland Oregon flight and visited the travel agent twice and now I am the proud holder of tickets to San Francisco with extra days each side of the tour for Feb next year. I was a little bit stressed because it was the Italy trip that I had my mind on. That will be in May next year. My mum and I will do the 18 day tour with ASG then stay on for another 20 days of Italy, Amsterdam, Paris, London and surrounds. It is too early to book the flight but I have noticed that the accommodation around London is going fast. Apparently the first week in June is the Queens Jubilee anniversary.

I believe the Puyallup craft show tour in America will be offered to Americans as well. I don't know who through though. For us Aussies we have to be members of the Australian Sewing Guild. I highly recommend the tours. I have done one to Sydney last year and I had a great time. Next year is Melbourne so mum and I have decided to do that in July next year.
Have a look at the ASG site. The travel page has links to the brochures for America and Italy.

Nothing much happening now,
Val
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