"A crochet string bag and another visitor."

Hello,

I finished a second crochet string bag this week. I found another pattern and actually preferred this one to the previous one I made.

The pattern was easier to follow and went in rounds not spiraling up like the previous bag I made. The only changes I made was putting three chains or two chains at the start of the round instead of the treble or double crochet. Old habits die hard and I guess everyone has been taught differently. Plus the last round called for Crab Stitch, it didn't look nice so I did another round of double crochet. The pattern is available from Penny.
This will add one more finished item for "One Project A Month."

The other day I walked out the back door and who should I see coming for a visit.

Mr Bob. I hope he found a warm spot last night. It was minus 2 overnight and Freddy Frost had visited as well. The Gazebo roof and gardens had a covering of frost. After yesterday's cold windy day it was to be expected. Though it is hard to believe we are having temps in the high 30's on Monday. Lucky we have a Public Holiday for the Queen's Birthday.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Eco-Dying and a Bloggers Lunch at Kainga."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

The other weekend I decided to try my hand at Eco-dying some white Broadcloth with Eucalyptus  leaves.

I filled the pot with leaves and added rainwater to the top.I brought this to the boil then let it simmer for a hour.

I then took out the leaves. Added the cloth,heated it again then let the cloth sit in the pot for just under a day. I know you can leave it longer but I couldn't wait. I did tuck a few of the leaves in the fabric while it was in this stage.

It was a bit hard to get a good photo of the piece but it has come out as I wanted. I didn't want it too dark as I was seeing how the leaves dyed up. I plan to dye some fabric for cross stitching so this was just a test. I will probably use the cloth for a garden stitchery. You can see the original white Broadcloth beside the piece.

Now on Friday there was a special guest for lunch at Kainga.

Bev and Sue.

My Blogging friend Sue came and we enjoyed several hours of chatting and eating. I have never laughed so much when Sue told me about her exploits on a recent fabric buying holiday in Bali. They say it is a small world, well we even discovered that our Ancestors settled in the same part of West Australia at the same time. So you see we were destined to meet. You will have to excuse the windswept look of my hair  in the photo. The wind was blowing a gale. The storm we had on Friday came just as we were taking the photo's and about a minute later it was raining. Thanks so much for visiting Sue and I hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend and got lots of stitching done on that beautiful wall hanging you showed me.

Happy Monday
Bev C

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"Blue Cross Stitch Sampler in DMC 931."

Hello,

Earlier on this week I finished the cross stitch sampler I have been working on.

I used just over two and a half skeins of DMC 931, stitching on 14 count Aida. The pattern is available from
Gazette 94 blog. One thing I did find though that on the house on the right side there are a few stitches missing on the pattern sheet .You will soon notice that they are missing, and add them in if you are stitching this pattern.  I will use this piece to test out a framers seeing my one I usually use has retired.

Now to decide what to do next.

Happy days.
Bev C

"The lesson I have thoroughly learnt..."

Hello,

"The lesson I have thoroughly learnt,
and wish to pass on to others,
is to know the enduring
happiness that the love
of a garden gives."

Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932.


Wise words indeed Gertrude, here are some snapshots of the garden at Kainga.

Now a wise word from me...

"When you have lots of pruning to do, buy some new loppers and secateurs. The bigger the better."


Happy Sunday, enjoy the rest of the weekend.


Happy days.
Bev C

"Open Garden Visiting and a Birthday."

Hello,

Last Sunday Ian and I had a great day out. We visited several Markets and two gardens that were open under the Australian Open Garden Scheme.

The first one we visited was open for the first time. This was in Gooseberry Hill. We were amazed at the terrain of the property. Very steep in places. You could get lost. I had awful thoughts of the lady owner falling and no-one finding her for ages. It was a lovely garden filled with lots of native plants. Paths were twisting and turning, very narrow in some places. There was a plentiful supply of water with a creek running through the property. The highlight for both of us was the pool area.

With views across the the Perth city. There were lots of people just sitting and relaxing enjoying the view.

Not far from the old home was a rock. They called it "Bold Rock"

Of course I had to have my picture on the rock!!!.

The next garden we visited was in Kalamunda. This garden has won awards for the best large garden. It was amazing, we both loved this garden more. I think because it was more accessible and the garden had some amazing plants and there was so many of them.This garden also had a wonderful water supply. With the garden being watered from a well and rainwater. No scheme water was used at all. Oh to live somewhere like this!!!

The lady owner made her own pottery as well. Sculptures and cast offs were dotted around the garden. The chook yard up the back had the biggest Rooster we have ever seen. It was battling to walk but found out it wasn't that old. I think it needs to go to a weight loss centre.
We purchased lots of plants from this place, all cuttings grown from the garden.

Visiting gardens like these just inspires us to keep on gardening. I have come to the following conclusions though. First I won't be using any more horse manure or free manure on our garden, far too many weeds have come up this year. The garden owner of the second garden also had this written on her blurb about her garden. The second one is that it takes about 30 years for a garden to really take shape. Only another 20 to go!!!

Here is Ian having a rest in the first garden. He must have known it was going to be a busy day!!! Ian celebrated his Birthday on Wednesday. He was suitably supplied with presents and Bonnie cooked him a nice Scotch Fillet Steak for tea with fresh Peas and Potato from the garden.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"A very Yellow-Lemon toned post."

Hello,

Hope all is well. Our Internet was slowed down last week. Thanks again David!!! All back to speed today. I have had a few finishes, all yellow toned ones. The first one is the Sunflower cross stitch which I turned into a cushion.

I picked up a cushion insert from Spotlight in Midland on Sunday so it is now on our lounge.

The other finish was the string crochet bag.

 I used just under 2 balls of thread which were 50grams each . I started with a size 4mm hook but found it difficult to get the hook into the stitches a couple of rounds in.  I then used a size 3mm hook. The thread I used was called "Thorobred Scheepjeswol" a product which I think is no longer available. I picked up about 10 balls for a few dollars from Good Sammy's. It was a lovely thread to crochet with.

I have starting picking the lemons to make lemon cordial. There is probably enough fruit on the tree to fill another ten of these laundry baskets. I also made a Lemon Cake yesterday which is always popular.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello,

A super Happy Monday to you. Creating things to help me along with my crafting always makes me happy.

"Babushka Thread Holder."

I have been making a couple of these Thread Holders. I couldn't find any thin wood at the local hardware shop. I purchased a length of Balsa Wood from the Toy shop. Next time we are in Bunnings I will get some  wood. In the mean time I think this will work nicely. I found the image on the net and printed it out onto thick card. Then glued it on then a coat of Acrylic Varnish to finish it. I used a thread holder that comes with cross stitch kits as a template to mark the placement for the holes. I cut up a junk mail magnet for the needle holder.

"Homegrown Pineapple from Kainga."

Our Pineapple production is in full swing. I should say our only pineapple was cut and eaten over the weekend. Yum. I have kept the top and will be re-planting this in a day or so. Always happy to be eating our own produce.

"Bouquet of Happiness.'

Flowers on the kitchen bench always make me happy. This lot contained Jonquils. A very powerful perfume.

Ian had a lovely Father's Day as I am sure all the Dad's did. Had to smile at the card  in the craft shop window. On the front it said "Real Men don't need Manuals."

Happy Monday
Bev C