Quilt,Christmas and Tomatoes to name a few.

Hello,

Today is the last day of September,can't believe how fast the year is going. Over the last couple of weeks I have been working on a quilt top. Doing about 15 minutes at a time. It has been one of those quilts you have to pin and pin and pin. Who said jelly rolls make quick quilts?

There is still a small border to go on yet. The pattern came from one of the Jelly Roll quilt books which I borrowed from the local library. I used the Jelly Roll I had won earlier on in the year for OPAM (One Project a Month)  The lime green is from the one I got at Good Sammy's. I think there is only scraps/strips of it left now.The big plan is to have it finished by the end of the year. I am thinking about hand quilting it. Though  those plans could change.

I have joined in the Sew Happy Sew Along. Now I am doing something different with the pattern each week rather than making the Christmas Swag. So last weeks pattern I stitched and  made up yesterday into a Mug Rug for a Christmas present. This way each week I will have a Christmas inspired present ready to give at Christmas time. With this one I used chain stitch instead of back stitch and used applique for the two hearts.

The vegie garden has been wonderful over Winter and the start of Spring. During Winter lots of tomato plants came up and were protected by the Broccoli and Cauliflower and as you can see we will have little Tomatoes to eat very soon. Usually the race is on to have Tomatoes before Christmas. The Broad Beans have started and we have had those each evening meal. They are lovely and tender, pick them when they are smaller for a tasty meal.

September was National Sewing Month but did you know it was also National Reading Month. There was a little book printed about 50 books you must read. A great source of new books. I have recently read a book by Carole Mathews called "The Only Way is Up". I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I have just received a note from the library to say another one is available. I would love to hear what you have been reading.

Enjoy the weekend.
Happy days.
Bev C

Happy days.

"Tuesday's Treasures."

Hello and Welcome to Tuesday's Treasures.

This week I want to share a little box of goodies that reside in my sewing room. All these items belonged to my Nana.

In the box of treasures are some threads,including silk ones,very fine lace and a  filet doily crocheted by Nana in a size 40 cotton. I love that it is a Australian design with the emu's. It reminds me of the Australian Coat of Arms. Did you see the newspaper advertisement for Cashmere Soap. I wondered why Nana kept that but the mystery was solved when I turned the paper over. There were instructions for playing a game of cards. My Nana believed in keeping the mind very busy. 
To see other Treasures being showcased this week hop on  over to  Melody's blog who kindly hosts this each week. Maybe you have a treasure to share this week.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello, Happy Monday to you.

This week I am happy that there are great people out there in blog land.

Last week I received this parcel of happiness from Freda. I won it on a recent giveaway she had going. Actually Freda won this plus more in a giveaway herself. So she decided to pay it forward so to speak. Have you been to Freda's blog The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe You must read about how she came to naming her blog. Thank you Impera Magna.

I had my monthly sewing day on Friday and helped one of the ladies do some patchwork. She had bought all the material and the pattern was one of those freebies you pick up at Spotlight. Most of the material was already cut out but there was an error in the cutting out directions, only half of it was there. So we went step by step until we had all the blocks worked out so then we worked out what size the missing piece was supposed to be. I know we were all happy when it was finished. I had only read a hint a few days before this that before cutting out your material check to see if there hasn't been some corrections to the pattern if it is from a website etc. Even cut out a test piece from scrap material or paper to see if it all works out. Better to be safe than have 99 blocks that are incorrect.

Today I am happy to share the most delicious dip recipe with you. Bonnie had a dip night on the weekend with her girlfriends so we made this.

Ingredients:

Garlic
150 grams sun dried tomatoes
1 red capsicum
160 grams unsalted cashews
40 grams oil
40 grams white vinegar.

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and mix until the desired consistency.

This is far better than any bought dip. I threw in several garlic plants that I had picked only last week.
I only had Apple Cider vinegar on hand so used that. Bonnie was worried about not using the white vinegar but I told her Apple Cider Vinegar  in a glass of water is used to control your weight so that was OK. So this recipe may be not as fattening as you first think!!!

Hope you have a Happy Monday and even better week.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Tea in the Garden" at Kainga.

Hello,

I wonder what is happening at Kainga?

Would you like to come to "Tea in the Garden"?

 

The pretty cups are out.

Pink roses are picked and placed in a little milk jug.

Roses and Geraldton Wax a native that is in full bloom now fill the vase.

A rose scented candle is lit. The sun is shining.

I hope you can join me.

I will show you around the garden and give you the link to Michelle's pattern "Tea in the Garden"

Happy days.
Bev C.

"Makes Me Happy Monday" warning this post has a sex scene!!!

Hello,

Happy Monday to you. I hope you survived the storm we had yesterday if you are from West Australia. Can't believe that the weather people didn't know that was coming. We had some sheets of iron flying around the place,very windy and lots of rain. I think they may have fallen asleep on the job after all the excitement of the West Coast Eagles winning the footy on Saturday night. Cousin Darren and his boys are of to the east coast next week,fingers crossed big time for them.

I am happy that Ainsley and Julian came for a visit yesterday. Mind you they had to drive through a hail storm to get here!!!! They had watched the new Smurf movie in the morning and loved it. Remember the Smurfs from the 80's. You used to be able to buy one of the figurines a week.

I finished the Milk Jug Cover last night. I had purchased a packet of glass beads from Spotlight a while back. The packet was only a dollar and had plenty of beads in. They are made in India and each is a little different. I sometimes wonder how craft companies can justify the prices they charge. If I only paid a dollar how much did the people in India get paid to make these beads. I suppose this is where mass production comes in.

I am happy to re-purpose items in the home. The little vase that is holding the flowers was originally held a candle. I thought it was to pretty to throw out and it suits being a vase now.

Oh I suppose you are wondering about the sex scene?

Two happy little Wood bugs/Stink bugs on the Hollyhocks in the vegie garden.

Happy Monday.
Bev C

A new project for FNSI.

Hello,

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Last night was Friday Night Sew In.  I see there were 161 people stitching there hearts out together. I started a new project that I have had waiting for a little while. It is designed by Michelle of Rag-tag Stitching and was a freebie through the Homespun magazine website.

It is called "Tea in the Garden". It has been designed as a wall hanging but I wanted to use it as a table centre so changed the design of the flowers. Michelle designed the flowers as three dimensional. Hoping to get back into stitching some more tonight.

We spent the day out in the garden,culling some old vegies and preparing the beds for the next crop. Can you smell the blended manure? Picked heaps of Cauliflowers, Broccoli and Garlic.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

A Day Out,Crochet and "FNSI"

Hello,

On Tuesday I  had a day out with my Mum. We left at 9 in the morning and got back home about 7.00pm. In that time we travelled about 210 kilometres visiting garden centres and libraries,craft shops etc.

We had lunch at the Melville Rose Nursery Restaurant. Lots of potted tulips were around the
outside of the restaurant.

The displays were absolutely magnificent.

Pots of Tulips and Dianthus in the smaller pots. This is the view I looked out upon. The bees were having a field day.

Pots of vegies were on display around the side of the Restaurant. The meal we had was delicious and so filling. If you haven't been to eat here you must. They cook "real food."

After lunch we travelled to a nearby garden centre and I found these two Emu's. Mind you I could have bought a round the world air trip for the same price.

I loved this artwork. With the light on behind it at night wouldn't it make a great garden feature.

The same garden centre had a chook yard. Look at there lovely feather heads.

I started this little doily earlier on in the week and have finished it. I used a size 20 DMC thread and a 1.25 hook. Hopefully I have enough thread to make another one which I will add beads to the final round to make it into a Milk Jug Cover.

Tomorrow I will be joining in Friday-Night-Sew-In. I have spent this morning getting a project ready so tomorrow is set aside to sew.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday"

Hello. Happy Monday to you.

Well Spring weather has been with us over the past week, especially on the weekend. A beautiful clear blue sky blessed us on Sunday. Lots of work done out in the garden over the last week. A little sewing was done also.

"Spring Delight"

I'm happy that I have  finished the "Spring Delight" bag designed by Sally Giblin. I didn't use as many fabrics as the pattern called for. I wanted to use the green material which is quite bright and found it was a bit difficult to match colours  I also added the applique and prairie points to both sides of the bag. The pattern called for iron on pellon but I joined up some wadding I had left from the sides of the Catnip quilt. This made it a bit harder to do the cross hatching stitching and sewing the bag together. The good thing about using the wadding it makes the bag a bit stronger and protects my camera etc inside the bag.

"Everlastings."

The applique on the sides of the bag reminds me of the Everlastings that are in flower in the back yard and the green material reminds me of the crop of Barley that is growing in the paddock opposite us. A real "Spring Delight" Thank you Sally for the pattern.

I am happy to have won a some fabric from Sandy. This is some of Anni Down's fabric. Not sure how I will be using it but I do have a few ideas. Thanks Sandy.

Now I better go and make a  Birthday cake for the man of the house. Happy Birthday Ian.

I will catch up later on in the week. Tuesday I will be taking out my new bag on a outing.

Happy Monday
Bev C

"Tuesday's Treasures"- Blasts from the past!!!

Hello and Welcome to Tuesday's Treasures.

I have a couple of Treasures to share today. The first is a cutting from a magazine.

My Mum gave this to me a few years back. Can you guess what is behind the cutting? I will tell you soon.

One of my other Treasure's is the common  Nasturtium. Now these come up each year in the garden. It wasn't until I was having a conversation with someone who had visited a friends garden and she was proudly shown the Nasturtiums growing out the front yard. The lady was so pleased to have them in her garden. It made me realise we take a lot of plants for granted.

So I went looking for information about it and found that Monet, the great French Impressionist used these old fashioned plants along the central alley of his famous garden at Giverny.

The spur of the flower is full of nectar and the bees love this. Children have been known to sip on the nectar as well. I have used the leaves in hamburgers instead of lettuce. The flowers can be thrown into a salad or used as decoration on a plate of sandwiches. The seeds can be pickled in vinegar and used like capers .

So next time you see some Nasturtiums growing in a garden remember that this plant has been around since the 1500's.

Sally  wanted some information about the Sweet Pea  (Lathyrus odoratus) so I will include it in this post.
Sweet Peas are native in the Mediterranean, growing wild in Crete, southern Italy and Sicily since ancient times. The first seeds were to England by Father Cupani a Sicilian Monk. Seeds were first released commercially way back in 1724. Sweet Peas are self fertile and apart from mutations come true from seed. Often the smaller shrivelled looking seeds are the darker colours so don't  discard them because they are smaller. They will grow into beautiful plants. It wasn't until growers realised that they didn't cross pollinate they took steps to ensure cross pollination and improvements in the plant  were possible. Around 1877 Mr Henry Eckford began crossing and selecting Sweet Peas leading to a strain with much larger flowers which became known as Glandiflora Sweet Peas. "Prima Donna" was one of the Glandifloras bred by Mr Eckford and from this a new sport was named which eventually became known as "Countess Spencer" which the famous English "Spencer" peas originate from.
The oldest developed Sweet Pea still in existence is the intensely fragrant,red and white, eighteenth century Sweet Pea called "Painted Lady" The Australian two-toned pink heirloom variety "Bushby" was bred from "Painted Lady".  I hope you enjoyed reading about the Nasturtium and Sweet Pea.

Oh yes, you are probably wondering about that magazine cutting. The page behind has my birth weight and my weight for the next couple of months. I weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces when I was born.

Visit Melody to see who is joining in Tuesday's Treasures this week.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday"

Hello and a "Happy Monday" to everyone.

I am so excited that I have finished "Catnip". The sun has been playing hide and seek with the clouds today so the colours show up a bit different in each photo. I can guarantee that it is a very bright Happy quilt.

I started the hand quilting on  the evening of Friday 12th August and finished that on Friday 2nd September. A little bit each day kept me motivated to finish it. Then the binding was sewn on and I put the last buttons on this morning. I didn't realise how long it took to sew the buttons on. This was the quilt I had almost completed the quilting by machine and unpicked because I didn't like it. I am so Happy to have done that.

I changed the design around a little leaving out the mice that were originally in the pattern. I do not do mice.
I also added the doll faces and the border was completely different. I added flowers and paw-prints and some machine embroidery with the words Catnip and Meow.

I used the fat quarters that I received with my Homespun Magazine subscription last year. The lime green fabric was from the 7 metre length that I got from Goody Sammy's for the sum of a dollar earlier on in the year. I used the same pink that is on the binding for the backing.

The pattern was in Australian Homespun Yearbook Volume No. 92 (Vol 12.1). The quilt is one of Toni Alexander designs.

I have thoroughly loved working on this quilt and adding my own personal touches to it. Near the end of it I was going a bit slower because I didn't want to finish it. Not that that is a bad thing I was enjoying working on it and it will feel strange not having it on my lap in the evening,quilting it.
"Happiness is a completed quilt"

I hope you have a very "Happy Monday"
Bev C

Shopping and the Markets

Hello,

Yesterday Ian and I had a day out visiting the Kalamunda Monthly Markets. These are run by the local Rotary club and seem to be a great fundraiser for them. Boy was this place busy. Finding a parking spot took quite a while this time. There are lots and lots of interesting stalls selling jewellery paintings plants statues,everthing you can think of. Of course my main aim was to get some plants.

I purchased 5 plants then we went and had a lovely lunch in a cafe nearby. I had by then decided that I needed to go back and pick up one more plant a Sweet Pea. This one is called "Windsor" and is a English variety. I am planning to save the seeds from this one. The other plants are great at setting seeds which is the type of plant I am after in my garden.

It was then time to go to Midland to purchase some material I was after.

I called into Textile Traders and got some Pink Backing fabric which was on special for only $7.50 per metre, a great saving so I purchased 3 metres. While we were picking up Ian's Fathers Day present in another shop I saw a basket of magazines for only 50 cents each with the money going to the Cancer Council. Which is a cause close to our heart. I chose a fairly old issue of  Australian Country Collections. I just love looking through this type of magazine and after all some things don't change that much in decorating. The other magazine was a recent copy of Australian Patchwork & Quilting and I was enthralled to see Melody's teddy bear on the front cover of the Handmade magazine. This magazine was printed in 2001 and Teddy bears will always be in vogue. Melody is having a giveaway on her blog at the moment,make sure you check it out.

Happy Fathers Day to Ian.  Presents and a phone call from Lucy in New Zealand made it extra special. Bacon and Eggs for Breakie.  When we went for our walk this morning we could smell quite a few meals like this being cooked. I hope all the Dad's have a great day.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Happy days.
Bev C