'Travel' Mini Quilt Set

Amidst everything that has been going on around here, I managed to complete my fifth set of mini quilts that I have been making - just two more sets to make.

This set is relating to our travels.

I make four little mini quilts for each set so they can be turned over as well as  and also turned around - sounds weird, but they work.

The top LH side is obviously our vehicle and van, beside it is our 'home base' in South East Queensland. Bottom LH side is one called 'Flowering Stump' - when we head up to Bjelke Petersen Dam for our fishing trips, and friends joined us, we would tie off to the stump, and Christine would water the flowers coming out the top - Christine passed away 5 years ago, so this one is for Christine. The final one is a map showing the roads we have travelled, although I have taken the liberty of stitching in the coastal Western Australia road which we will be doing in the middle of this year, other than that we have travelled all the roads that are stitched.

Here is where I have stitched them into two lots of two, add some iron on pellon, before I put them right sides together and stitch around. They are then turned to the right side and the opening stitched closed.

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Then it is a case of giving them a quick press with the iron and hanging it over the lovely wooden stand that hubby made for me.

I am still going with my #1 challenge with the green and black fabric - more coming about that soon.

For now, sit back, relax and keep stitching.

June

Australasian Embroidery Convention

Today I took myself off to the city and visited the inaugural Australasian Embroidery Convention at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

It was an interesting trip down by train, looking at the other passengers and deciding which ones you think will be going where you are going, and in most cases I was right.

I understand that the organizers had to expand it somewhat to what they originally planned and from a few snippets I heard today, yesterday they were saying that it would have to be even bigger next year. Definitely yes to that!!

The variety of stalls seemed to be quite limited with about 6-8 (?) embroidery machine suppliers and oh my goodness, some of them were huge and I can only imagine the cost of them. No, I don't think I will try and work out what they may be worth.

There were ones that specialised in sashiko, felt work, lots with all the latest crop of embroidery threads, and of course a display by the Queensland Embroiderers Guild - they would not allow you to take any photos.

These next two photos are from Sew Sweet Pea - I was very interested in the lovely child's quilt that was hanging on the side board and the idea is something I may consider down the track.

Now this following photo is something I feel would be the 'ultimate' in organisation of a craft area, but for me, and a lot of others, it just wouldn't be big enough.

It was a long day and dinner was an easy one, so now I can sit back and relax.

For now though, take care and enjoy your stitching.

June

A Couple of Challenges

Finally we have had a couple of fine days, and I was able to pre-shrink some fabric that needed to be done.

For challenge No.1, I have metres and metres of fabric ready to be cut up and, as we usually do, then sew it back together again. This challenge is one for hubby and I need to have all parts finished by the beginning of next month.

At present this is all I can show you, so you will just have to wait for another few weeks - sorry, but hopefully you will like 'the great reveal'!

Challenge No.2 is one I saw on Facebook by Patchwork Therapy in Sunbury Vic., and you were to send $10 and receive a 1/2 metre of fabric in which you were to use a minimum of 50% of it to make anything you wished - bag, wall hanging, quilt, whatever, although it must be smaller than 60" x 60". You can also add any other fabric to this to make up your project, then send your finished item to them by 1 August, and all items will be independently judged for prizes, then if you enclose an envelope with return postage on it, your item will be returned to you.

To be honest I did not give it a great deal of thought, thinking, yes, I can do this!! Had a design picked out and thought how clever I was, and just waited for my fabric piece to arrive. As with all things you plan ahead, I did not received a piece of fabric that would work with the design I had thought of, but that didn't matter, just do a 360 deg. turn and think of something else. I have received this beautiful piece of fabric and have another design in mind - can't wait to get started.

It is now time to sit with my feet up and, surprise, surprise, another project under way. I am making myself a beanie for this coming winter, although the heat and humidity we are having st the moment is not altogether conducive with knitting. However, the fan is on and the air con. is also on - nice and relatively 'cool', so all is good.

'Til next time,

June

Teeny, Weeny, Tiny Teddy

As you know I have been clearing out some old papers ready for shredding, well amongst some I came across something that my Dad gave me way back from a friend of his and my mother's. Apparently she used to make these little guys, sadly she has most probably passed on by now, but I thought you might like to have a look at a teddy in a 3/8" box.

This next photo I tried to zoom in so you could actually 'see' the little teddy, and although it is not too bad, I had a bit of trouble and the eyes etc look a bit weird (I think), so how's this for such a little teddy bear?

At present I am trying to get my head around a couple of projects and of course there is time restraints on them, but hey ..... with so much rain around (have had around 500ml over the last 10 days) there really is not much else to do, but sew!!

'Til next time, take care everyone,

June

Different Font

Over the many months I have been visiting quite a number of blogs and keeping up with what others have been up too, and I am most taken with the fact that a number of you have different fonts to write your posts and for the life of me, I cannot work out how I would go about changing the font on my own blog - not all that 'tech savvy'. Some help and advice would greatly be appreciated - I just think some of them look really good.

I have finally sorted out a lot of paperwork, including the final lot that belonged to my late parents and I can now legally get rid of, that has been hanging around here for um ...... yes, well I won't go into how many years some of it has been sitting there. It is all in plastic containers awaiting the visit from the shredding company who come with their truck and actually shred your load out the front of the house - not taken off sight.

Another set of my mini quilts is coming along with only one to be completed before I put them together - hopefully will have it done by the end of the month.

For now though, I thank you in advance for your suggestions re: changing the font on here.

June