Blog meet up and a holiday.

Hello,

Last Thursday I finally had the privilege to meet up with Janelle from www.threadsoffriendship.blogspot.com We had a wonderful few hours chatting about our families our craft rooms and current and past projects. Janelle is the wonderful lady who first sent me an email enquiring when I was going to start my own blog. That was enough for me to get motivated and borrow the Dummies Blogging book from the library and here I am today.Janelle was kind enough to give me this beautiful bundle of fabric. It is in lovely greens and browns and looks even better in real life. I will have to make something special from this. Thank you very much Janelle. We intend meeting up in the not to distant future. In return I gave Janelle the Mug Carrier that I had made in my tutorial. I also machine embroidered a tea towel with a Debbie Mumm design of a teacup pincushion. I added a little tag/bookmark that I had great fun making up. A little while ago I won 2 pages of digital designs from the lovely Amy from www.abundantcuriosties.blogspot.com There was a page that had ladies from the 50's and 60's era which reminded me of the old dress patterns and a page of roses. This all came in a recycled bag that I got at a Earth Solutions Expo which I went to recently. Upon entry you were given this bag made out of newspaper and hay twine to carry the pamphlets we picked up.

On Friday Lucy and I went on a little holiday to visit Ainsley and Julian. We decided to go on the train. It took 5 hours which went very quickly. The train was lovely to ride in with TV screens and music to provide entertainment on the way. Although our headphones didn't work we managed to each do some reading to entertain ourselves. We had a relaxing time with Ainsley and Julian I did some hand sewing and reading visiting a garden centre and going for walks while Lucy had the best time doing band practice with Julian on the WII. Lucy can play the drums so well. Of course they played other games. I had to laugh when they played the game with the cows racing along and jumping over the fences. If Lucy could get points for knocking over trees she would have won hands down. We came back on the train last night and got in just after 8.00pm. It was interesting to "people watch" on the train. We were not far from the Buffet and two French men came up to order the food. The hostess couldn't understand them and asked one of the others for help. One of the workers could speak Italian but not French. It was fun watching them working out what the gentlemen wanted. The French man made motions with his arm like a chicken. He finally walked away with a Chicken Pie and some sort of drink.

I picked some more fresh roses to put on the table. Last week this table was full of my sewing things and I decided to give it a good clean up. Of course everything is just put into the sewing room. Will have to give that a good clean up shortly. The last day of the school holidays here so Lucy is enjoying her last day of freedom. Bonnie has gone to Bali with three of her girlfriends for 12 days. Have fun Bonnie and be safe.

Happy days.

Bev C

My Mug Carrier Tutorial

Hello,

Today I want to show you how to make a Mug Carrier. You will need the following material.

Centre piece 3 1/2 x 12 inches Fabric A

Side pieces 2 of 1 1/2 x 12 inches Fabric B

Side Gusset 2 of 4 1/2 x 8 inches Fabric A

Handles 2 of 10 x 1 inch Fabric A

Handles 2 of 10 x 2 inches Fabric B

Lining 1 of 12 x 7 inches Fabric B

Loop 1 of 1 1/2 x 6 inches Fabric B

Binding 1 of 40 x 2 inches Fabric B this allows a few inches extra it is easier to work with

Pellon 1 of 13 x 7 inches

Elastic 8 inches long by 1/4 inch wide

First off you join the centre and side pieces. Press. Place top on pellon with backing underneath. Then stitch down the seams. This joins the three pieces together.Trim to neaten it all up.

The next thing to do is get the side gussets and fold in half wrong sides together . Stitch forming a casing for the elastic at the top sewing about an inch down.

Next you get the side gussets and attach to the main part of bag centreing the two pieces together. I found it was easier to sew along the bottom first leaving a little at each end then rotate and sew up the side. Before sewing right to the top of the bag insert elastic then continue to sew to the top. Use 4 inches of elastic for each side. Some of this can be cut off depending how tight you want it to be.

To make the handles get the 10 x 1 inch strip cut in Fabric A and join a 10 x 2 inch strip of Fabric B first to one side then another. This forms a tube, use a loop turner to pull it out the right way then press. Make two handles and the loop. Pin the handles to the top of the Mug Carrier in line with the edge of the centre panel making sure they are placed the correct way up. On one side attach the loop. The next step is to attach the binding by pinning in place to the outside preferably starting along one of the sides making sure the handles are down. Stitch mitering corners at the top of the bag. Join the ends together in your preferred manner. Hand stitch the binding to the inside with matching thread. Attach a button or toggle on the opposite side of the loop.

Your finished Mug Carrier should look like this. These little bags are quick and easy to make and would make a great gift for those good ladies out there that are making items for the Mother's Day Stalls. As this is my first Tutorial please do not hesitate to contact me if you have trouble following the instructions. Most importantly have fun, make one for yourself.

Happy sewing

Bev C

"Spring Giggles"

Hello,

I heard the Australia Post courier van arrive this morning, following it was a brass band some cheerleaders and a whole assortment of wonderful happy people as well as choirs singing from above. You may wonder what was happening? My parcel from the lovely Cheryl at www.willowberrydesigns.typepad.com had arrived. I won this pattern sometime last year. I was the winner of her competition to name her quilt. Cheryl kept in touch via email to let me know what was happening with the pattern drawing. Cheryl even made me the cutest pin cushion from some of the material used in the quilt.It looks too nice to stick pins into it yet. I have been collecting some bright materials to make this quilt up. In the photo the colours are lighter. I am sure this will be one bright quilt.Thanks Cheryl it was well worth waiting for. On the sewing front I have been working on my bag swap. After being a bit indecisive I have finally worked out what I am doing.

Happy days and "Spring Giggles"

Bev C

Weird weather and slippers.

Hello,

On Saturday we were lucky enough to get some rain which I don't think was expected. We had wonderful loud claps of thunder and plenty of lightening to go with it. The power went out several times. Just before six the whole sky went yellow and it was very weird. Lucy grabbed the camera and took some photo's. The one below is the view out to the front of our home. The photo below was taken of a huge rainbow out the back about a minute later. The sky was pink by then. Most unusual but very beautiful.

Over the years I have made and tried many different crafts. I have done ceramics,bead making,paper tole,folk art painting,made First Communion dresses as well as dress pants shirt and waistcoat and bow ties for First Communion,graduations dress,ball dress,Baptism dresses,quillows,quilts embroidery candlewicking and the list goes on but the most unusual thing I have ever made is a pair of chenille slippers for Lucy. A couple of years ago I was going to the City to have classes for my machine and we did something different every month for us to get used to our machine. I made some of the things like a smocked coat hanger. Unfortunately the slippers were put on hold. Last year I managed to work out how to make them. The pattern was fairly basic and was obviously meant for us to make it up straight after the class. There is a couple of layers of flannelette material and the bottom has that non slip stuff that you buy from the al-cheapo shops to stop things moving on your shelves etc.There is a little drawstring with a toggle on the ends at the top to help hold them on her feet. Slippers are not something that I will go into mass production with but I am pleased with how they have turned out and Lucy does enjoy wearing them.

This is the last week of the school holidays so hopefully will get lots done before my routine changes. I have two new Mary-Rose rose bushes and a native called Grevillea Rosmarinefolia which is a quick growing dense shrub which grows to about 2.3m by 2.3. It has pinkish flowers which has lots of nectar which the birds will love. I also have two Lavenders to pot on in bigger pots for the time being called Miss Katherine and Egerton Blue. These can both be used in cooking and making tea. There is also a beautiful Salvia Muelleri which has the most stunning purple flowers to plant out. So lots of gardening to be done here.

Happy days.

Bev C

A finished quilt and some mail.

Hello,

Look at the lovely parcel that arrived in the post today. This arrived from Barb from http://www.barbscreations.blogspot.com/ I was lucky enough to win the prize in her first ever giveaway. The prize was for a journal cover. Barb said she was adding a few extra items. Well I was blessed to receive this parcel, it contained some new gold pins some beautiful buttons some pink cotton lace a packet of write-on-tabs to put in the journal. There was also 4 strands of DMC thread two in green shades and two in pink shades. The pink shades was No. 107 which is a variegated thread and No 3705. The green shades were No. 471 and No. 92 which is a variegated thread. There was also some extra material. I think Lucy has eyed this off already.Thank you very much for this lovely prize Barb.

This morning I put the binding on "A walk in the Garden Quilt". I bordered each embroidery with some chicken wire material. The main fabric I picked up last week at Textile Traders. It is a lovely garden print. In some of the embroideries I added some more flowers. In this sunflower block I embroidered over the first lot of embroidery to add some dimension to the flowers.

I was extremely pleased with how this has turned out. Now I just need to get a hanger for it.

Thanks to Lyn Briggs from http://www.moorepatchwork.com/ for giving me this pattern.

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Autumn weather.

Happy days.

Bev C

Friday's Adventure.

Hello,

Yesterday we packed the esky with food and drinks and headed of to a day out at Adventure World. What fun we had. We tried out several of the rides,ones that Lucy recommended. She obviously has a better stomach than Ian and I. We thoroughly enjoyed the bumper boats that squirted water at each other. We never cycled so much, on the paddle boats and on the mono-rail. Both Ian and I had a camel ride which was great fun. On the way home we stopped at a park and enjoyed a lovely meal of fish and chips. During the past two weeks Lucy has been doing work experience at a Vet's at a nearby town. This is part of the Structured Workplace Programme at school. She has enjoyed her time and learnt lots of things. She has seen some surgery on dogs went out on call with the vet groomed dogs and cats and seen a cat and dog put down. A fair amount of the time was spent cleaning and washing but this is all part of being a vet nurse. Well done Lucy. On the sewing front it has been a bit slow but I did manage to waste a few hours one day looking for a pattern. I thought it was in a certain magazine and when it wasn't there I searched all my magazines. You ask where it was?? On the top of the first pile of magazines I looked at!! Oh well a few hours looking through magazines is time well spent I think. I hope everyone is having a safe break over Easter. Happy Easter to everyone.

Happy days.

Bev C

Some stitching and a challenge

Hello,

I have been doing some of the little stitchery designs for the pattern "A walk in the Garden by Lyn Briggs. I haven't followed Lyn's suggested colours as I have a lot of threads that only have a bit left and I have been using these up.

What do you do with all the stitchery patterns that we download ?I have set up a challenge to finish some of them. Two local ladies Anita and Heather have joined in the fun. Last Friday they got this cute stitchery pattern delivered to them and we have a month to make something from it. The rules if there is such a thing is that we use what we have at home unless you need some vilene or wadding. We can enlarge or reduce the pattern, applique, paint it or whatever takes our fancy. We have a month to finish it off.With the beautiful weather we have been blessed with I think I will spend some time out in the garden. I purchased a big bag of mini gladiolus on the weekend and will find a spot to plant them.

Happy days.

Bev C

In the Garden at Kainga.

Hello,

Today I thought I would share some of the garden here at Kainga. Please enjoy. This is how we tell the time at Kainga.

"Earth laughs in flowers" Ralph Valdo Emerson

"The garden is a mirror of the heart"

"Flowers are the poetry of earth, as stars are the poetry of heaven"

"When heaven falls to Earth it becomes a Garden" Stouffer

The roses are as follows;In photo No. 2 "Pink Rosette." In photo No.3 "Maurice Ultrillo" and photo No. 4 is "Seduction".

Happy gardening.

Bev C