"Projects and Camera's."

Hello,

What makes us want to buy? Sometimes it maybe because we have a project in mind. Or could it be we need it for later on. We are not feeling so happy so buying some new fabric will make us happy won't it. I visited a home recently and I couldn't believe how much fabric was in the home. It was everywhere. It actually made me realise I have enough. I haven't bought fabric recently and have actually walked right by the fabric when I have been in shops. I have seen photo's on the net of people's stash and couldn't believe how much they have but until you walk into a home and it is everywhere that was when it hit me. So I have decided to work on what I have in my sewing room. I don't want to buy more of those plastic crates to hold fabric.  After all those plastic crates aren't that pretty are they. The challenge for me is to make things with what I have.

So with this in mind this week I started a new cross stitch and some crochet.  The crochet is going to be one of those string bags. I was given a string bag when I bought some cross stitch supplies last year from a shop and have been using it for our weekly shopping. It is so handy. I don't think this one will be as big but certainly very useful to put in my handbag. Especially as a lot of shops are encouraging you to bring your own bag.

Earlier on in the week I went to use my camera and it wouldn't work. The lens wouldn't come out and it was making a funny noise and trying to talk to me. I looked up on the net for some answers. It seems if the lens didn't open the camera was no longer any good. Well I knew that!!! Found another site where it suggested some dust or a piece of dirt was blocking the lens coming out. It was suggested to get a fine needle. This is where being a sewer comes in handy. Run the needle around the lens and it would clean it. Wow it worked. They said the main culprit is a dirty camera bag. Well I realised I hadn't washed my little camera bag for quite sometime. It was looking a tad dirty so in the wash it went. They say "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" don't they. So now I am making sure I wash my camera bag on a more regular basis.

Catherine has kindly put the written pattern for the Jam Jar Covers on her blog. Please check it out if you want to make one of these.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Sunflower cross stitch finished."

Hello,

Happy Monday,

With all the rose pruning that has been going on here at Kainga over the past couple of weeks. I decided I needed a little project I could work on in the evenings. I won this pattern from Cheryl from Prairie Grove Peddler so decided it would be just the right one to stitch. I picked up the DMC threads from Spotlight on a previous trip to Midland. The only thread I couldn't get was the one called "Whatley Woodlands" a Crescent thread so I substituted this with DMC 3829 and I also used DMC 519 for the word "Sky."  Cheryl had used the Crescent thread for the words, this is where I added my touch to the pattern by using the different coloured threads for the words.

I just love the little crows at the bottom of the sunflowers. It was stitched on a piece of 18 count Aida that has been dyed.

I haven't decided what I will turn this into yet. Maybe a purse or wallet or if all else fails a cushion. Will think about it over the next couple of days.

Yesterday I got a lovely surprise when I was walking past a garden bed out the back.

The first of the Iris have bloomed. I planted this new lot earlier on in the year so hopefully in a few years these will multiply like the rest I have planted around the garden

Ian picked the first of our potato for the year. Always happy to be eating our own vegetables.
Especially with the roast Chicken that Ian cooked on Sunday evening.

I love this time of the year when the "Stocks" are in bloom. You smell the perfume as soon as you are out the door. I didn't plant any new plants this year. Just scattered the seeds from the previous years plants when I cut them back last year. So it is a bit of a lucky dip to see what and where they are blooming.

Remember years ago when people lost Garden Gnomes from their gardens and received postcards from far flung countries? Well it has been a bit like that around here. The Birthday Gal my Sister Chris has been gallivanting around and using her Passport. Happy Birthday for today Chris. Have the best day ever, I know you have because I rang you!!!! Love from your "Younger Favourite Sister!!!!" and family.

Whatever you do today have a Happy Monday.
Bev C

"Who's that sitting in my hoop?"

Hello,

Lucy found Clyde sitting in my hoop just after lunch.

"Clyde the Quilter???"

Now I wonder if I could get him to finish the hand quilting???

I believe it is Birthday time for someone...

Happy Birthday "....." hope you enjoy looking at these 6 cupcakes that Bonnie made last week.

The sun is shining here, enjoy the weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Gardening and Family win over everything."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Ian and I enjoyed a few hours out over the weekend. Enjoying a lunch together and browsing through some Gift and Antique shops. Amazing what is making a comeback. I had to smile in one shop where I saw those old toilet paper holders. You know the ones made from wire and wood. That hung in every toilet years ago. Well they are in apparently!!!!

I made a jam jar cover on Saturday. Catherine had a  pattern and needed help deciphering it.Everyone that has seen this little cover thinks it is very cute. Maybe a few of these will be made to give as gifts when I make preserves and jams.

Happy to have spent most of the day out in the garden. A beautiful day here so lots of pruning and weeding going on.

The roses in the photo have never been pruned before. They are called "Mary Rose" You can see them in full bloom here. I still have about a hundred roses needing pruning so will be busy over the next week or so in the garden.

David told me last week he would be home on the weekend with some clothes for the Red Cross op shop. Apparently this is code for our lease has run out and I will be shifting back home until we find a new place. So now we have three out of the four back home. They must know that "Kainga" means home and food!!!!

So with all the gardening going on I will be taking a little break from blogging until I have finished. I may need the Walker that David brought home with him by the end. I must explain that one of David's part time jobs is in a Chemist and he is able to bring home the shop samples.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Aspire."

Hello,

"Aspire not to have more but to be more."

"Calendula officinalis."

Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Sewing for the Kitchen, makes a Happy Monday."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

Since I have been tidying up my sewing room I have found a few projects that needed my attention. In this case a piece of fabric that was waiting to be made up. Always happy when something gets used up in the sewing room. I made a kitchen set consisting of a reversible apron, potholder and glove.

"Kitchen Trio."

I used Lucy's old cooking apron from school to trace the pattern. The other side is the blue fabric. I used Brother Machine Embroidery Card Number 55 for the embroidery designs. I found I had enough of that wadding that is heatproof for the glove. I also used some cotton wadding so there is no chance of burnt fingers while using the oven glove. For something different I used "Feather Stitch" for the quilting.

We are very happy here at Kainga that rain has decided to fall. We had a very dry July with only 14.75mls in July. We have passed that mark already in August.

There was a Craft/Wood Show on in Perth on the weekend. Ian and I had planned to go but with the car being out of action and a few appointments in Perth already this week I decided not to go. I was only really after one embroidery thread that I need for a cross stitch. Instead I plan to do some on-line ordering so I won't miss out.

I know I don't post sad things on Happy Monday but I was sad when I read in the paper last week that Maeve Binchy had passed away. I loved reading her books. Now I will have to find another Author to satisfy my reading tastes.

Happy Monday.
Bev C

"Sing, Choir of Angels."

Hello,

I have my first finish for the month of August. Wednesday night I finished putting the binding on the wall hanging, "Sing, Choir of Angels".

"Sing, Choir of Angels."

This is the project where I used the dyed purple fabric, the Angel in the middle, the piece in the middle of the top border and the large piece on the left side border. I really enjoyed making this as it had a lot of hand sewing. I can sit and hand sew for hours. I much prefer doing buttonhole by hand than machine. I also hand quilted around the Angels and Stars.

I found the pattern in  Australian Homespun The Christmas Issue No 74 (Volume 10.7) It is designed by Roz Leadbetter of Country Cupboard Designs.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C