Heading for the Hills.

Hello,

Last Friday I took my Mum to one of the best rose gardens for lunch and a wander around the gardens. If we had gone on Sunday we would have had to walk for quite a while to get in. It is always busy here. The restaurant is on top of a hill overlooking the gardens and roses which are for sale.

The zinnia's were in full bloom. Ladybirds and bees were everywhere getting pollen for lunch.We asked where they got the plants from and were told they came from punnets which are available everywhere. I will be trying zinnias next season.

Roses are under planted with lots of plants like saliva's cosmos and perennials.

This Camellia hedge was in full bloom and was attracting lots of bees as well. I bought two new roses for our garden. They were both pink of course and very fragrant. Chartreuse de Parme has a strong blueberry flavour which is delicious and a dark pink. The other one is called Violina which is a bit lighter pink with a strong fragrance. Not much sewing being done here my machine has been playing up and I was doing some machine embroidery for my Liberty project when it seized up. After making some visits phone calls and emails yesterday I have found somewhere I can drop the machine off to and it will be serviced at that shop. Lots of places take them elsewhere and as I paid a lot of money for my machine I want to know where my baby is at all times. Also it will be serviced on that day as I have planned ahead. So I will have to bring out one of my other machines. I will have to remember which button is where.

Happy days.

Bev C

Quilts,Liberty,Wonky Houses,Olives and Pauline's Blog.

Hello,

Another beautiful Autumn day here although I am sure the farmers would be crying out for some rain. There is no rain in sight just yet. I have been going through projects that need finishing off. Last year I made this lap quilt for myself. It has roses on it-my favourite. I had several fat quarters that I bought locally many many years ago and added some homespun in several colours to make the quilt. It was a case off using up all the material and hoping that I didn't need any more. Although when I took it to sewing class another lady had some in her stash. My threads that I will do the quilting with. I am still debating about which way I will quilt it.

My other project that I have had in the planning stages is using this Liberty material that is actually some curtain samples which I have had for several years. I washed and ironed the material and I am thinking of using the two on the right hand end in some cushions or table runner. These two have some birds amongst the flowers and I have a machine embroidery pattern that is very similar. I have this book about Liberty given to me by Chris my sister. I always thought that Liberty material came from a female. I was astonished to read that it is from Arthur Lasenby Liberty. If you have the chance to read about Mr Liberty do so because it makes for some interesting reading.

On Wednesday evening I stitched block three in "The Wonky Houses" block of the month designed by Jenny from www.elefantz.blogspot.com Block 4 was posted yesterday and the instructions to put it together. Once again I used some marbled homespun which Lucy and I made.

This photo is especially for Ryan and Edy. On Thursday I was up the back of the yard watering and I noticed the Olive tree that Ryan and Edy had given me in November 2007 as a Thank you gift ,had its first olive on it. I only planted the tree at the end of Autumn last year so it was a great surprise to see the olive. A few weeks back Ian and I had checked out our other three olive trees and found only several fruit on them and never even bothered to check this tree. So in a few years I will be able to pickle the olives.

Earlier on in the year while I was in New Zealand when I was staying at Chris's I was reading this book on her coffee table. It contained some great stories and poems written by her friend Pauline. Pauline's family had got this book published for her Birthday a few years ago. Pauline has this ability to write about anything and make it feel like you are there. She has a talent that I envy. Not long ago Pauline got her sewing machine out of hibernation and borrowed a camera bag that I had made Chris. Pauline didn't have a pattern to follow. Please check out Pauline's sewing at www.paulinespaddock.blogspot.com You can read her wonderful stories etc as well.

Happy days.

Bev C

Snickerdoodle Dreams,I love bags swap.

Hello,

I recently participated in a bag swap. We had a month to make and send the bag. After looking through my magazines I decided to make the bag from Australian Homespun No. 17 (Vol 4.3) which is a couple of years old. I made this bag for myself in the style which was in the magazine which was a "Sashiko" Shoulder Bag. I made no actual changes to the style of the bag but this one is reversible. Heather who is my swap partner requested a bag in pinkand purple so I raided my stash and came up with lots. I also included a little "Tilda" style make up bag that I had made previously.

This is one side of the bag with a Spring scene which is machine embroidered from Brother Card No. 55

The other side with more machine embroidery from the same card.

This is the inside/outside depending which way Heather wants to use it. This I appliqued and button hole stitched lots of flowers,hexagons and some machine embroidered bee's and ladybirds. These designs are from Cactus Punch "Garden Grannie"

And this is the other side. The handles are tied in a knot. This is a great bag pattern and very easy to make up. I thoroughly enjoyed making this bag for Heather. In the end I was really tempted to keep it for myself. Enjoy Heather. A special thank-you to Darlene who organised this swap. Have you checked out the latest edition of Australian Homespun? There is a gorgeous cushion designed by Darlene and Heather. The cushion even made the front cover of the magazine. How special is that!!!

Happy days.

Bev C

April's Stitching Challenge.

Hello,

Last month a challenge was set with Anita Heather and myself to do a small project each month. We each got the same stitchery design and we were allowed to do what we wanted with it as long as it was finished in the month. Anita did the red stitchery and made it into a rotary cutter holder. Now there are no excuses for not finding your cutter Anita!! Heather appliqued her design into a wall hanging. Adding a little ribbon bow to the hat and some flowers to the pattern which looks great. Congratulations ladies.

I also made mine into a wall hanging. First off I was going to make holder for my 6 and a half inch ruler but the design was too long so a hanging it was. It is interesting to see that although two of us made a wall hanging they were completely different. With the same design three different items were achieved all with materials we had on hand at home.I have sent the design for next months stitchery and it is a pattern for a chook table runner.

Happy stitching

Bev C

Sneak Peek of Bag Swap

Hello,

Today I wanted to show a sneak peek of the bag I made in the "Snickerdoodle Dreams I love bag swap." My swap partner is Heather and she lives in the Land of the Long White Cloud otherwise known as New Zealand. I hope Customs allow the bees and ladybirds into the country. I love the end result of this bag and wanted to keep it for myself. I hope you enjoy it Heather.

Happy stitching.

Bev C