"A dip in Auckland Harbour."

Hello,

I did promise to show the front of the journal cover. This is my one and only finish for OPAM. (One Project a Month.)

I did a bit of rec-cycling. The tapestry on the front was done by my sister Chris many years ago. It was part of a pair that she did. The moths had started to get to the other one but this one was in better condition. It took ages to get to her in New Zealand and unfortunately it certainly didn't arrive in the condition I sent it. The parcel arrived in a plastic bag with a wet sopping mess inside. It makes me wonder if it was a New Zealand postie having a swim in the Auckland Harbour/ Waitemata Harbour before it went north or Cyclone Pam was the cause. Either way this is the second time a parcel has arrived at Chris's home rather bedraggled looking. I am thankful that it didn't have any red coloured material on it, the colour would have certainly ran.

One day I would love to put a tracking device on a parcel and actually see how they are treated etc.

Last week I did start the quilting on the Folk Art Quilt.

It has come to a complete standstill at the moment. Haven't been in the sewing room for days but will get back into there this week. Just needed a rest.

 My priorities instead have been more towards how we live and what we can grow. After quite a bit of Internet searching I found a online supplier of Heirloom Seeds that offer free postage and low and behold are here in West Australia which was a bonus with only a couple of days waiting for them to arrive. Now we just need some of that rain. We were promised some today and yesterday. They were lying!

 Yesterday I had planned to make some cold pressed soap. I got out the ingredients and found that we didn't have any copha in the fridge so today I got to the shops and came home and made some.

The Coffee soap looked so delicious, it was hard not to take a lick. If I did I would have an awful burn.This batch is now curing and tomorrow I will cut it up and dry it for the next 4 to 6 weeks depending on how it goes. The longer you dry it the better/harder the soap will become.

I would like to wish family and friends a Happy Easter.

Happy days.
Bev C

What's happening?"

Hello,

The garden has been the place to be lately.

 We spent the weekend tidying up and spreading some Piggypost mulch around some roses in the front garden.

 Some of the roses are currently blooming. Just love the perfume that the roses give off as you walk by.

 Tough perennials are blooming after a long hot Summer.

 We cut open the watermelon last night. It was a rather nervous moment waiting to see if it was ripe enough. It was so juicy. The melon you get in the shops is lovely but this homegrown one was delicious.

On the sewing front I sewed together some of the squares and triangles that I was looking for last week  into a quilt. I classify this quilt as a freebie. It makes me wonder how many quilts I could make from the fabric that is in my sewing room. A rather scary thought actually.

What has been happening at your home?

Happy days.
Bev C

"FNWF"

Hello,

Happy International Women's Day.

Giant Russian  Sunflower.

 Sunflowers make me happy. This is what greets you as you walk in the back gate. Took this photo very late in January. It is now drying on the stem.

 I joined in Friday Night with Friends on Friday, during the morning I finished a recipe/journal book cover.
Will show the front another time. All I can say at this time that a little bit of recycling was done on the front cover.

 Whilst watching the Doctor Blake Mysteries in the evening I did a little bit of stitching on a cross stitch.

Thanks Cheryll for hosting Friday Night with Friends.

Have a great week.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Welcome March, Folk Art Quilt, Watermelons.

Hello,

It's funny how things work out sometimes. I was looking for a bag of squares and triangles that I add to every now and again when I happened upon a quilt that needed some work doing to it. The reason I stopped working on it was the middle block. The fabric was so white, far too white for my liking. The project was nearly turned into separate cushions a while back. Then I thought what would it look like if I dyed it with some tea leaves. Project saved! It doesn't look so glaring to look at the centre block now.

 So after dying the centre block I made up the sheep block and the top and bottom blocks. I hadn't downloaded the bottom block so I just based my block on the original quilt which was put out by Linen Closet quilts way back in 2011 and 2012. I also tea dyed the bottom block.I  also used ric-rac instead of bias cut fabric on the bottom and top row blocks.

I also added some more stitching to the basket handle. At the moment I have a heap of calico and cream homespun fabrics having a tea bath. Will make up a scrappy border with these.

Christmas time last year Lucy planted a punnet of Watermelons. These two beauties are about ready to pick with lots more coming along.

Late last month we welcomed a new baby girl to the family clan. My niece Jill gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called March Elizabeth. Congratulations Jill Dave and Beau.

The other good news is that Summer is officially over. A huge big YAY from me. Autumn is a much more livable/enjoyable season for me.

Happy days.
Bev C.