Something to show ..

No posting until I had something to show - well, here goes.

This is the knitted skirt for my granddaughter. Soft and warm for autumn days approaching much too quickly. I am well underway with the jumper, but it's not for this month's opam list.

               

And here is the strip quilt I have made for my friend - all done. I have called it "Summer in the west" - bright colours but needing that extra bit of warmth. Just like our summer here! It has been fun sewing this.

Here is the back. It's handquilted along the middle strips and then I tied knots in each square. I have used a thin cotton batting and a pale green fleece for the backing. I have even labelled it! 


I have also been busy sanding the rail on the fence around our terrace. It was white and I want it dark brown. Now I must wait for dry weather so I can paint.  
Who nows when that may be ...


In the meantime I have some ideas I'd like to start on and I must get some bits ready for when we go to visit the in-laws. 

Hay-ho, hay-ho, off to work I go ....

I'm on a roll .....

I am a lucky girl ...
First I got this pattern for a lovely mini-quilt from Di, just because I guessed how much postage she paid one day. It is so cute - I can't wait to start on it.

Then I won a giveaway on Octoberfarm - and the book came today along with some tasty toffees. By the way, you can find some lovely, tempting recipes on this site. I am certainly giving some a try even though I've never been much of a cook. My husband is the real cook in this house - he is so talented :) (and I am so grateful).

I had hoped to be finished with my strip quilt by now, but my sewing machine (just back from the "cleaner's" is now extra sensitive to the thickness of the material and just wouldn't agree to top+batting+fleece. So I have ordered a walking-foot online (couldn't get one in town)and hopefully that will arrive soon. In the meantime I am handquilting and find it more of a challenge than I thought (at least if I want the back to look good). And it is warm work in summer! I think I'll be on the lookout for a frame. Do you use one?

I have finished the skirt for my granddaughter and started on the jumper - photos will follow.
I'm not doing so good with the Early bird Christmas challenge though - maybe it is a bit too early for me? Will try to think of something soon. In the meantime I am going to watch the rain teeming down outside while I have a cuppa and chew toffees and sew some more. And maybe I can figure out why Google wants me to write in the middle of the page only????? See ya:)

What's keeping me busy?

This is one of the things .... a string quilt. It's for a friend of mine. It's for outdoor (terrace) use, so I haven't used too many light fabrics. I thought this would make a big dent in my stash, but I'm surprised how little fabric I've used. At the moment the blocks are laid out on a bed, I'll get a better photo outdoors when it's done. It has been great fun sewing this.

I have got a pale green fleece I've planned on using for the backing - but will I still need wadding? And I think I will quilt in the ditch on each side of the middle strip.

And this has been my telly-work this week. No, it's not a hat! It's a skirt ! The colour is more cerise, really. It's for my granddaughter, but if it doesn't fit I have a great-niece (wow, that made me sound ancient!) that is a year younger. And then I'll make a slightly bigger one for "Missy".

I love this alpaca wool, so soft and easy to knit with.

Well, Friday again - so have a nice start to the weekend!

Mail again!

This time all the way from Australia - my opam winnings ..... look at the cute teddy card!

Lovely fabrics, a text marker and a note pad (design Lynn Andersen). I am such a lucky lady!

Ooops - my workspace is a mess! But I do know where things are ....

Now I did try to load up photos of the reason for the jumble, but Picassa won't let me load up more than 3!? I have no idea why.

But that means you will just have to be patient and wait until tomorrow for the answer!

Maybe you have an idea?

A finish for July!

I have a finish! Granddaughter's bag is done! Here is a detail from the flap - I have used Jenny's little bird stitchery. So pretty and just right for this project.

Here is the bag. Oh, I have bought a pink button to close it - am going to sew it on when the little terrors have been tucked in their beds. The bag is quilted to give it a bit of body. (And the flap isn't as big as it looks in the photo - terrible photographer today!). Missy was very pleased with the pocket inside for her mobile phone - just like grown-ups bags :)

And here are his and hers! Only a couple of weeks before they are off to Paris for their holiday. I have put a pen and notebook in each bag. Then they can draw or write about their adventures.

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out - so are the kids and that's the main thing.

Have a nice weekend! Remember to take some time to do something you want to do!

Brutus and the mail

My latest Brutus. Just in time for the next one!  I think I'm rather like him at the moment - prefer dozing and dreaming in the sun.

Oh look - the postlady has been here and something for me today .... hm .. from Di  in New York. Now what has she been up to ?

I am so lucky! Thanks Di, for the lovely teatowel and the decoration that spells "friend" (see to the left - ok, photo could have been better )... you are truly a special friend! I love the colours! 

Just what I needed after taking Filix to the vet. He has a skin problem and we are now testing for allergies. While we were there we took x-rays of his hips (he has always walked a bit funny, but now he squeals sometimes when he jumps up). It seems as if he might have HD (hip dysplasia) - so he has to start on meds. It doesn't affect him much yet - he still jumps into my bed in the mornings! At the moment he is knocked out - and he'll most likely have a hangover when he wakes up. Poor thing - he hasn't even been partying!
Tiffi is playing nurse - she keeps snuggling up to him. Cute. Can't get a picture yet - he is lying in the hall; the coolest, but darkest place in the house. I'll have to try later ....
Off to trace a stitchery for granddaughter's bag - talk about WISP ....