Thursday 27 September 2012

a little needleturning

There is not much happening in the stitching department here.
I have been painting windows and following electricians around while they rewire my house.
How do they work this mess out?...... Its worse than untangling thread!

Spring has me in a renovation mood.....(Its more like continuous maintenance with old houses!)
just a little paint needed
I have started the applique block on 'the aunts quilt' from Amitie.
(And I'm still stitching the pieced block by hand.)  I just love the retro fabrics but the photo dosen't do it justice.
                                     

Looking forward to the long weekend...girls are coming home....YAY!
Till next time
cheers
Floss

Tuesday 18 September 2012

a few farewells

 Cardy couldn't leave the 'ol Brook without a farewell craft night, so the old stitching gang got together for some bubbly, a sewing machine cake with a lot of laughs too.
(With very little stitching done!)


Sewing machine cake and pincushion cup cakes
Ever tried cutting a cake with a rotary cutter and ruler?  don't....(its very messy!)

  Craft nights ( an institution for about 21ish years) will definitely not be the same without her and we will miss her heaps.... She always kept us well entertained with stories of her day or coming up with great ideas in the sewing field..... Her vast library of patterns will be missed also! And.... a fabric stash to die for!.. (she always had that little piece of fabric that you needed to complete a project.)
This is just getting all a little too sad for me.....and I know your just going to be down the road (a few 100 klms) ...but I'll miss your happy face dear friend and all those chats we shared almost everyday.
The house is empty and as tired as she felt...she looked extremely happy to be finally heading to a new home and life in Newcastle.....( I'll be down soon to check out my room in the new house too!!)
                                                               XXXXXXX

More farewells this week was RDA ( Riding for the Disabled) where I volunteer 1 day a week. ...I just love my days there..... The joy the kids get from riding the horses is just amazing and their smiles just melt my heart.
 (We close over the summer months when it is too hot to be out riding.)  
Just thought I'd share some photos as I find these kids and adults (even the horses!) absolutely inspirational! 
 riding Patches

a bean bag race-- (the bean bags go in the buckets)

giving Annie an apple--watch the fingers!
Annie is the carriage horse
me and my mate
Sir Arthur riding Arthur
Annie having her nails done.
On a trail ride
This fish fell in the drum of water--so its hanging out to dry!  



till next time.. and Id better get back to some serious stitching!
cheers
Floss

Monday 10 September 2012

stitching in the art centre

I quickly popped into our local arts centre in August and discovered this amazing exhibition called Murrurundi Mixed Media Marriage by artists.. Pearl Red Moon & Rodney Swansborough.
Just thought you might like a look.  I think I was attracted to the bright colours and the embroidery. The works were just awesome.

They were a combination of Rodney's portraiture in oil pastel and Pearl's textile mixed mediums.
Pearl uses cloth, wool fibre, embroidery thread, metalic lace, yarns....with the most glorious effects.






Aussie Icon 2
 


Aussie Icon 1
 

Out of the Violet and Blue
 


Bridget with Bright Flowers








You can check out Pearls work at www.pearlredmoon.com
reproduced with permission of the artist.


Till next time,
Keep on stitching
Floss

Sunday 9 September 2012

squishy in the post!

A squishy arrived last week from Amitie. .... Month 1 of 'the aunts quilt'
Isn't it YUMMY!! ...reminds me of gelato ice cream.
I'm just loving the retro fabrics and can't wait to get into it.

I've made a start.....after making one flying goose..... I'm wondering why I wanted to do the pieced blocks by hand. ? ?.. Oh well.... no reverse sewing here.... onward I go.
Till next time
Keep on stitching
Floss

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Hexi stitching

Travelling in the car gives me lots of stitching time (only in daylight hours), (and.. when I'm not the driver!)
So I have been working on 'This Goes with That'...A Sue Daley BOM... Patchwork With Busy Fingers.
The hexagons are 2 1/2" constructed from a variety of shapes.

 I am joining my hexis together with 2 1/2" blue triangles


A few years ago I did a similar quilt with 5" hexagons.
 It ended up queen size and I used mainly large florals from my stash.


Just thought I'd share some photos from the farm on the weekend.
new born carves.
 

 Feral goats that Minty keeps rounding up and bringing to us!
the new born kids are just so cute!
 two very keen 'working' dogs
 Flowers from my garden
 Just love freesia's!
 I think these look like frilly wedding dresses!
Till next time,
Cheers
Floss