Christmas through the year and a few projects

I have made a little gift this time. I tiny quilt block fridge magnet. Very fiddly and took as long as making a big block! I had planned to make a few but that will have to wait. Christmas Through the Year is hosted by Allie of Allie-oops Sweet Happy Life.  On Allie's post Mr Linky has links to those who have joined in for July.

I have a few projects on the go or nearly finished. I made another pair of arm warmers for DD1. She liked the first pair so much. I just have to sew up the wrists and the thread ends.

I am more than half way through my lacy scarf using the alpaca wool I bought in Adelaide. It feels so soft and I love this pattern. It is the same row over and over. The label recommended no. 4 needles but I have used no. 5 to make it a bit looser. The pattern is here:
http://home.online.no/~tu-mell/onerowlacescarf.cfm

I made a crazy block using a different pattern and I will make it into a heat pad/mug rug by using blanket to pad it. I want to make the book shelf block as well.
These are designs from Don't Call Me Betsy.
She has a tutorial page link along the top. Her latest post is the book shelf block that she made for a friend's birthday present.

Lastly, I have been working on the Christmas quilt and have just finished one side of the final border. I should finish it in a couple of weeks without pushing too hard.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Works in Progress

I have been keeping busy the last few days. I have started my block keeper. The piecing is inspired by Henrietta Whiskers but the applique is a big fat pumpkin that I got from Wee Folk Art.

I started a hand bag tote that I am hoping my mum will like.

It was inspired by this bag in a Homespun specialty magazine. I am going to put daisies along the top using machine stitched needle turn. I think the DVD that showed me how to do that came with this magazine.

I managed to finish two pairs of arm warmers for the other daughter. One pair longish and one short pair. I will be including a water melon slice brooch. Not the slice in the picture. One a fraction smaller. I have to sew the two sides together and put the pin on.

Hope you are having a great weekend.
Happy sewing,
Val

Amber Jewellery

I love to do a bit of beading but my husband is into grinding and shaping gem stones. His latest favourite is amber. Not exactly a stone but tree resin that is millions of years old. It polishes up to a lovely lustre and has a soft honey colour in lots of shades. When I sort out my ETSY shop I will be putting these up for sale so stay tuned.

I set up my table cloth in front of my little lounge. I used to have a coffee table here but I put it into my sun room. It makes me feel like I am in Paris again.

I also made some arm warmers for one daughter.

I have been busy doing some autumn applique on my orange tea towel today. It is like drawing with the machine. I love how it is coming along but it won't be done for a few days yet.

I tried to look at some of the FNSI posts but there are just so many! I started going down the list from my name and have only visited about 10 blogs because it is impossible to visit without reading and commenting. There is just so much going on out there.
Time to take a break.

Happy Quilting,
Val

FNSI and catchup

This is just the top. I will finish it today.

Hi everyone.
I can't believe how hard it was not to make contact with you all in blogger land.  I checked my mail a couple of times but I had promised myself a break from typing (a laptop on a desk is not good for the forearms) and I wanted to rest my eyes a bit. Sewing is pretty intense on the eyes as well. I am typing with the laptop on my lap this morning. I guess that is the way it was meant to be used.

It is always nice to get new followers so welcome to Maryellen, Tarnyia and Donna. I hope you visit often and don't forget that even better then followers are comments. I love making contact with people.

I showed you my teacup fabric the other day and I have been busy making my table cloth. It is not completely finished but I have done the top and have the back ready to sew. At first I was thinking of a check binding but it didn't seem right  and I thought that table cloths don't have binding they have borders. I decided to include a narrow border in the top and the back and sew it right sides together and turn it.

I added borders top and bottom then the sides like a patchwork block.

I found a great pattern for crochet arm warmers on Julia Crossland's blog and made myself a pair. I decided to adjust the pattern a bit by decreasing either side of the seam each four rows ( from 41 trebles to 33 at the finger end ) and I moved the thumb hole slightly further from the seam line. I am making some for my daughters and have finished one more arm. I am going to make myself a short pair as well. I used Big W Shawn Sheep Stirling pure wool 8 ply.  50g of each colour should be enough. (I used some left over balls). I bought some Panda for the daugters' cause it is very soft.

I said I was going to look at the hills in my time off. It is a very pleasant view. I spent some time outside reading my crochet magazine and crocheting.

I was looking out my kitchen window and could see a big red blob in the swamp gum. At first I thought it was a bird but then I realized it was the first flowers. It is a lovely tree with big gum nuts and big flowers in a lovely shade of pink.

Such a pretty tree. It is Western Australian.

I can't believe how pretty my pincushion looks with the flowers Fiona added. You can have a look on Fiona's blog. I still haven't got Deedee's in the post yet. Should be here this week though. Now it is a bit of breakfast then back to checking around the blogs and replying to comments.

 Happy Quilting ( and blogging) :)
 Val