New look diary

With so much rain falling yesterday it was a good day to stay in the sewing room.  My project for the day – to make a cover for my diary.  My friend and I have the same diary and on Monday we kept going to pick up each other’s diary.  So now mine looks different, and that problem is solved.

The piece of lace down the front was my Mum’s.  I can remember her using this lace when I was quite young.  The piece I had left was just long enough to fit down the length of the diary. 

I put a pocket inside the back cover to hold a small notebook and pen.

First day …

For Charlie, the first day of Prep, for Kai the second year at school, and in prep again this year.  They are in different classrooms but found each other in the playground throughout the day.

They had a wonderful day.

And a first day for me in my revamped sewing room. Today was the first get together this year for my stitching group.  We meet in each other’s homes once a month, and this month was my turn to host the day.  The room proved a great success – with the car out, and the desks spread out we were able to work very comfortably – 8 of us, with 4 sewing machines set up, while some did hand sewing.  We could have had more sewing machines working as well.

For those who wanted to, these were todays projects

A thread catcher, needle case and coaster.

I also made a matching pin cushion, and used fabrics to match my sewing machine covers. I have a machine cover in each of these fabrics – the green and the floral.

My first UFO finish for the year.

Oh this bag has haunted me I am sure.  I did this in a class that was to focus on using the different stabilizers – where to use what.  Well, the directions were so complex and the bag took so much concentration that I really cannot remember anything about using the stabilisers.  I didnt get the bag finished in class.  Every time I thought about finishing it I would remember the way the directions were written and decide against it – that is until a few days ago when I decided I had better just get it out of the way.  Fortunately I was able to work out what to do, not so much from the directions but more trial and error.  I dont know if it is the way it should be, but it did work.

It has a zippered pocket on the front under the flap, and one on the back.  I made it in a light denim colour, with the pink lining and trim. There were lots of pieces to cut out to make this, and one thing I can say is that everything fitted well, once I worked out where to put them.  That part of the pattern was just fine, it was just the way the directions were written up that was so complicated.

FNSI–Candlewicking

Last night was the first time I had participated in FSNI.  I have often thought about it, but always manage to forget on the night until too late. 

It definitely had to be hand stitching in front of the tv last night, while the tennis was on.  It made for some stop start progress, because it was such a great match, and I didnt want to miss the action. 

I have been working on candlewicking blocks for a couple of years.  Our LPS,  ‘Sew This and That’ have a handwork class once a month, and some of us have been working on our candlewick quilts at that class as well as at home.  I am using a damask fabric in a very light apricot/cream colour, and using a variety of light and dark cream and light apricot  coloured threads, some of it  variegated. I am using  some crocheting cotton, some pearl 8 , and some that I am not sure of the brand  but the colour is right.

Some of the blocks that are completed. Not good photos – I will take better ones when the blocks are completed.  The photo in the top left is the closest to the colour of the fabric.

I found a couple of new trims  yesterday while going on a bit of a shop hop to show a new friend where to go for dressmaking fabrics.  One of the stores we went to has a lot of dance costume supplies and the trims were amazing. I think I will be going back there in the future. 

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Our youngest two Grandies, Sammy and Harry have spent a couple of days hanging out together. They dont see each other very often, and they enjoyed each other’s company.

The Final Reveal

The final section of my newly refurbished sewing room to be photographed is the very hub of the room.  Without this section I guess it would not be a sewing room at all.

Over the years I have gathered lots of bits and pieces of furniture, so in this room there are 4 desks – one for the computers and 3  for when I am sewing. Yes, I think that is enough room  to have people come for a sewing day.  .  . 

Most of the shelves, cupboards, and even a lot of the containers have been handed on to me from family members when they  had no more need for them.  If I can use it I dont say no.

Here is the view from outside when the door is up.

  So that is my space – well apart from the laundry section which is in front of the car, and the cat’s bed which is supposed to be on the left hand side, but if I leave any fabrics or sewing projects out at night I can be sure she will use that for her bed for that night. 

It is hard to photograph, but here is a little cup and saucer my friend crocheted, and gave to me among some other goodies for Christmas.  She makes and sells these at market stalls (in the UK), and they are in great demand.

FMQ and Sammy’s birthday

I decided to join in the Free Motion Quilting challenge at  SewCalGal.  I am ok with ditch quilting and stippling, but am often short of ideas for doing motif type quilting, or different patterns.  After watching the demonstration on Utube, by Frances Moore, this month’s design of a heart shaped leaf stitched out well and was enjoyable to do.

My practice piece worked out well enough (though the photos are not so good – I used a fabric that is too patterned to show the stitching clearly in a photo).

fabric                                                                              backing

But I was happy enough to then use the leaf design on this UFO quilt that I had pulled out to work on. 

I will be waiting to see what next month’s design is. 

Today was one of those special days,  We celebrated Grandie Sammy’s 3rd birthday, and 5 of our 6 Grandies were there.  It is not often that so many of them can be in the same place at the same time.

 

Sammy enjoyed his day playing with his older cousins.

 

The old home town looks the same

Every time as we drive down the hill into town, we look around, and it is timeless, always looking the same.

Except for the odd time when something new catches our eye.-

A new building, and this time it blocks the view of our old house. (It is situated behind those trees in the centre back – the darker leafed ones.)  We can no longer see the house from the road.   Awww !!

But not to fear

Turn the corner, drive up the street and there it is, equally as timeless as the town.  Just as it was when I lived in it as a child.  Same letterbox, same play areas, our bedroom in the front room, the front door.  A trip back in time, as I check out the trees and shrubs Dad had planted, wondering if the daffodils flowered this spring, if there was any fruit on the fruit trees, is the asparagus still growing right down the back.  Even the front steps hold lots of memories – we often sat out there in the cool of the afternoon, and talked about the day.

Then off out of town, we drove.  And what a sunset. 

Meanwhile back at home, in my lovely new area, my car has parked herself back in among the sewing machines and fabrics.

  Now she needs to wipe her feet before driving in on the lovely new floor, and no oil to be dropped,  But she fits with enough space around her to be able to leave her in while I am working in the room.

And once again the “non twins” Kai and Charlie.  Love you boys so much. 

Another reveal

I have to record this lot of pics to memory because this table is NEVER this tidy.

 

This is my big cutting table, assembly table, pinning quilts table, (and usually store all those things I havent put away yet table).  It is good.  Right height for cutting, big, – 1.2 metres by 2.4 metres.so plenty of room for mess working on. I love it, but it is big, so in the garage is the only place I could use it.  It is also extremely heavy so doesnt get moved too often.  It is staying right where it is for a long time now, and everything else has to fit around it.

Hubby built a wide shelf underneath it (resting on the metal supports that were part of the frame)

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This is what I store on one side of it.  Thats all my threads, lace, oh all the sewing bits and pieces needed, and this is close to where my sewing machines are,  so everything is within easy reach.  ( those crates on the floor – mending, and “to do” sewing that isnt so interesting.)

 

And on the other side, my roll of wool batting hanging on a dowel from the corner supports and covered by that piece of curtain fabric to keep it clean, bins for dressmaking fabrics, and all other fabrics that are not patchwork ones.  Oh, and the crates underneath – 2 hold things waiting to be ironed and one is empty in case the ironing builds up even more than the first 2 crates can hold.

The top photo shows how the ironing board can slot under the table also, so very easy to pull out to use it.  (if it is so easy why is there so much waiting to be ironed? I dont know).

The shelves above the table hold my rulers (bottom shelf) and above is my safety pins in the olive jar, buttons, small pieces of ribbon and other bits and pieces in the candy jars.  Everything is in easy reach.

Another Peek and the giveaway I received

One side of my sewing room  which I have now filled up rather well with some sewing and craft supplies, fabrics and my books.

After refolding all my fabrics and repacking them neatly, I am very impressed with how they are looking. Now they all fit, which is a bonus. I wonder how long the cupboard will look like this.

Of course I found a good home for my spool collection.

Meanwhile last week I received this little bundle of batik fabrics which I received via a giveaway from Marjorie at Applique Addict

Gorgeous pastel colours which add beautifully to my little collection of batiks.  Not sure what I will do with my batiks yet, but one day I will use them for something special.  Thank you Marjorie.

My room is having a facelift

Renovations are going on in my work room (aka one half of a double car garage)
All walls are now painted.
Floor – now speckle painted.  Much better than the dusty concrete I did have to contend with. 
Cleaning the floor prior to painting. 

After – with the new speckle paint dry and ready to remove the masking tape:

First section to be fitted out:  my office area, containing my personal computer and the work laptop.  Just needing some cords to be tidied, and this section is finished.  And I can now use my computer again, after more than a week off air.  Yay !!!

No sewing yet – this work has occupied us for more than a week.  The rest of the room is nearing completion.  Photos to come when it is finished.
But I do have a pic of Harry ready for bed on Christmas Eve - wearing his Christmas boxer shorts. No standing still for a pic though.