"The Eco Owl Cross Stitch."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

The past week I have been cross stitching. A lovely pattern of a owl I found on-line. I used the Aida cloth I had dyed with Eucalyptus leaves. I thought this pattern suited the cloth, both being part of nature.

The pattern said the stitched design was 60 by 60 in actual fact it was 80 by 80. I soon found out the thread I was using was not going to do all the pattern. I only had that one skein of thread, a brand called  MTM which is made in India. It was lovely to stitch with. I used a Semco thread for the remaining dark brown. I was originally going to make the cross stitch into a little pillow ornament until last night when I decided a little wall hanging would be more suitable. I had picked up the hanger at a craft fair that was on in the local parish hall on the weekend. For the backing binding and border I used calico that I had dyed with brown onion skins a while back. The colours don't show up so well in the photo but I can assure you there is a lovely effect achieved by the dyeing of the fabrics.The buttons and other fabric came from the lot Lisa sent me. So all in all a lovely project made with love from bits and pieces from the sewing room.

I did mention the craft fair Ian and I went to on Saturday. It was the best organised fair I have been to. You entered the hall and were able to peruse the stalls. If you wanted to buy something you took it to the person who was collecting the payment at the door. There was a lady doing some spinning. Why is it that when you watch someone spinning it just makes you relax. Imagine how relaxed they are. I have always wanted a spinning wheel. Not to spin with but to "just have".

On the home front, life continues to be rather busy. I thought October was busy with people coming and going but it seems November is much the same. Ainsley and Julian arrived back last night from a couple of weeks in Dubai. They got to see the Formula One racing which I know Julian would have loved. Ainsley would have enjoyed the concerts that were on each night. Lucy spent Saturday volunteering at McHappy Day, dressed as a pirate and helped out on the bouncy castle. We called in and found all the staff bouncing on the castle. It seems bouncy castles were the favourite place to be on the weekend because when we went to the craft fair the lady who was taking the money had just jumped off the bouncy castle too. On Sunday Lucy fulfilled a lifelong dream to attend Telethon. She got to see Molly Meldrum, stars from Home and Away and Winners and Loosers etc. Bonnie is recovering from a virus that knocked her out for the past week. We thought she had Glandular fever so she was pleased when the test came back negative. Her glands in the neck are finally coming down and she is finally able to open her mouth enough to eat. David has taken to blending heaps of fruit and vegetables in the blender. They are rather delicious and I can't believe he is even adding Broccoli which I am sure he doesn't eat otherwise. So I guess you could say a busy family is a happy family.

Happy Monday
Bev C

"A Table Runner and a Owl."

Hello,

Hope the weekend has started well for you. I joined in Friday Night Sew In last night. I had two finishes which was fantastic.

I actually had the top of the runner finished and had been debating about the quilting. I was thinking about hand quilting it but decided I needed a quick finish. Gosh it was quick compared to the hand quilting I have just done. The main part of the runner is a charm pack which features birds snails butterflies and all things garden.  I used the same blue fabric for the backing binding and border.

I also made up another Owl pincushion on the embroidery machine. I used some thick corduroy for the wings, which is just as good as felt. The needles and pins will fit into it nicely.

Thank you Cheryll for hosting the sew-in.

P.S Can you smell the roses?

Happy days.
Bev C

"Raggedy Anne and Andy Quilt is completed."

Hello,

At approximately 12.30 pm today I put the last stitch into the binding on the Raggedy Anne and Andy quilt.

I used a spotted material for the outside border and binding. I happened to get 2 metres of this Michael Miller fabric at Good Sammy's earlier on in the year for one dollar. It hadn't even been washed. I had no idea what I would use it for but it certainly came in use for this quilt.

I used Cream coloured quilting cotton for the main part of the quilt, Black thread was used in the sashing. For the outside border I quilted hearts in Yellow.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time hand quilting this quilt. It is amazing how much this quilt has been the topic of conversation here at Kainga over the last couple of weeks. I have a finish for One Project a Month and more importantly it has been ticked of a list I made at the start of the year.

I have joined in Cheryll's Friday Night Sew In which is happening this week. Now I have to plan a new project.

I have my fingers crossed that this post will be right. You see I have used up my limit for my photo storage. I just read some fine print that said if you keep the photo's under a certain amount of pixel you can still post. If it doesn't work out I will have to get out the credit card and re-post this as well.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello,

Happy Monday to you. We have been blessed with some rain today which was lovely.

 Last Thursday we celebrated Bonnie's Birthday. Going with the family tradition Bonnie got to choose the meal for the evening. She chose Indian from the local takeaway. It was the first time we had it and it was very yummy indeed.

 No candles on the cake, there wasn't enough room with the top filled with Peanut M&M's. Bonnie's favourite chocolate lollies.

I made the cake with a recipe I have used quite often. It comes from a school cook book from many years ago. It makes a rather big batch of cake mix so I put it into two tins. I used some of that frosting that comes in a plastic container already mixed up. In between the two cakes is that squirty cream from a can. Bonnie is currently on holiday in Melbourne for a couple of weeks. She will also spent sometime in Sydney. Enjoy your time away Bon.

I have nearly completed the hand quilting on Raggedy Anne and Andy.

I have completed all the blocks except some of block one. Then it is onto the border and the black sashing. I have left the black sashing for the time being because I am contemplating doing that in black thread instead of the cream thread I have used for the rest of the quilting. I will be so happy to have this quilt finished. No I haven't started anything else before you ask!!!!

Happy Monday.
Bev C

"I died and went to Heaven."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

On Sunday we had the best day ever!!! I don't know how many times I said to Ian "I have died and gone to Heaven." Let me explain. We decided to go to a Open Garden in Guildford. I didn't realise what garden I was going to. The entrance was behind the house in another street. Once inside the garden we soon worked out it was the house and garden that we had seen develop over time. I took so many photo's. There was plenty to take in plus there were several stalls on the verandah of one of the homes.

In the photo above, just to the right of the dovecote you can see the top of the Guildford Grammar Church.

We both came out of this garden so inspired. I can safely say that this is the best garden we have visited in the Australian Open Garden Scheme. We had lunch before we got to the garden, Ian was a bit disappointed about that and I was too because the Afternoon Teas looked so delicious. Hopefully they will be opening again next year and we will plan to have a cuppa in the garden. One of the interesting things that attracted me to this garden was that it contains one of the first Jacaranda trees grown in Western Australia. Ian noted that there were many standard roses. These provided shade for the plants underneath. A few more standard roses will be on the list for next years planting here at Kainga.

Happy Monday
Bev C