Finally Have Finished The Challenge

What have I finished? Do you remember back to the beginning of March, I mentioned I was going to enter a patchwork challenge organised by Patchwork Therapy down in Sunbury Vic. I felt quite confident that I could 'do this', so sent off $10 to register and get back a piece of fabric to begin my project.

I received the 1/2 metre of fabric from them - I had to use at least 50% of it in my project and the item we made was not to be larger than 60" x 60".  Just as a refresher, here is a photo of the fabric we were sent. Everyone who was entering the competition was sent exactly the same fabric.

Obviously you could add fabric to your piece and make whatever you wanted to, from bags to cushions to quilts etc.

These are the additional fabrics that I chose to go with my piece.

 

Sadly with the light coming through the window the colours do not come up as being quite vibrant
as they really are.

I had decided to create a knee rug, and started to cut out all the bits and pieces that were required, and start stitching them together.

First stage of the blocks taking shape.

Now for the green and orange pieces to be put together and added with the corner stones added from the original piece of fabric.

There were twelve of these made to make up my rug. The sashing and borders were added.

From here I put on my cutting table and began pinning it together with the backing etc. Now that's a job that gives you a back ache! Time to start quilting it on the sewing machine.

Of course it goes without saying that a label was added to the back of the quilt along with a 'security label' added. The original fabric was called 'Harvest Spice' so I decided to call my project 'Harvest Spice'. The hand stitching down of the binding was done on a cold day (for us) we had here and I was able to have the rug spread over my legs as I stitched - it passed the nice and cosy test.

To finish off, here is the finished knee rug.

Over the last week or so as the Covid-19 situation has worsened down south, I have been wondering if I really should be sending it or not. I received notice that the competition had been put back a month from the end of July to the end of August as some folk were having trouble getting supplies.

However, I posted it (by registered mail) off yesterday, hopefully it should arrive OK.

Now it is time to have a well earned rest, and well ..... maybe I just might do a bit of knitting.

'Til next time,

To everyone, please look after yourselves, take care and stay safe.

June

Countdown to Christmas - July

Goodness, this year seems to have flown by - in one way, yet in another it seems to have been so long. Guess that is what comes from being 'i-sew-lated' most of the time.

We are now into July and it is time to start on my 'Countdown to Christmas' items. I have found some really nice items to make for this year, with a couple of 'new' techniques that I haven't tried before.

So for this month, I have made some Santa Boot cutlery stockings ....

I still have plenty of projects on the go, so keep watching, including the unveiling of my Challenge Quilt from earlier this year. It will be sent off to Victoria this coming week.

For now though, take care and keep safe,

'Til next time,

June

Diving Into the World of Hexagons

Oh dear, I sometimes wonder what on earth I have let myself in for when I decide that a project sounds interesting and I might like to give it a go.

Well that is what has happened here. I was 'surfing' the internet (as we do) and I came across a sew-along from Lauren at Molly and Mama from Highfields on Southern Queensland. Looked really cute and I thought it would be a nice idea to add to my 'Countdown to Christmas' projects. That is where the 'cuteness' ended! It is done with hexagons and .... oh dear, it is SO long since I attempted doing hexagons - mainly machine stitched ones at that, so I thought I had best get myself in the right place to give this a go.

I had purchased from Hugs 'n Kisses in Hobart, Tasmania a small hexagon kit some time last year, and as you do, it got shoved in the drawer, never to see the light of day for many years. It was time to pull it out and try my hand at hand stitching some hexagons. The kit has only 7 hexagons in it - I can do this - with an embroidered one in the centre.  It all came in this lovely little wooden hexagonal box, which I most certainly will be using to keep a few little items needed for doing my stitcheries. Have to mention here, that the fabric needed for the backing did not come with the kit.

Well .... as the saying goes, if all else fails read the instructions! This is what I eventually had to do. I got myself in a mess as I just could not get them to fit properly as I 'thought' they should go together. Found a tutorial on how to put them together, and yes, they fitted!

It was them time to place and stitch them on the front piece of fabric.

A piece of iron-on pellon was added before I cut a rather large hexagon from the backing fabric, folded over the edges and stitched down. Once this was done I added the row of running stitch around the floral hexagons just to finish it off.

Rather pleased with my effort and now feel reasonably confident to tackle the sew-along that will be starting soon.

I have been busy with some other projects - more about them soon.

For now though, continue stitching, take care and keep safe.

'Til next time,

June

A Lovely Start to a Sunday Morning

Today we ventured out to a nice little cafe not far from our home. Although the name of the cafe defies being there for breakfast, it certainly was well worth it.

 It was a fine morning and the sun was just breaking over the island and lighting up the shore across the water.

As we waited for our ordered breakfasts, it was lovely sitting overlooking the water and the guys from the VMR (Volunteer Marine Rescue) start their day getting their boats ready to take out if required at any stage through the day.

Oh wow! Our breakfasts arrived and we sure were ready to get into them and enjoy.

 

Hubby had the 'Big Breakfast' of bacon, eggs, a couple of little chipolates, baked beans, mushrooms, a hash brown and toast. Me, well .... another of my loves is pancakes, so I had a couple with maple syrup, blueberries & raspberries and ice cream. Now I ask you, ice cream for breakfast? Plus eating it with a knife and fork. Oh, it was S-O yumm!! Hubby's was washed down with a flat white coffee, whilst I had a chai latte with mine. 

Not the most flattering photo of me, however, what a lovely start to a quiet Sunday.

The rest of the day was spent making a start on another new project, and I realized that for the second time during this 'i-sew-lation', I am teaching myself a new skill. The first was a complicated design (for me) for the comforter I made, and now I am trying my hand at hexagons. Photos later.

For now though, it is time to put my feet up and relax for the evening.

'Til next time,

June

A Happy Treat for Two

As you know, my three great loves are my hubby, my lovable furry friend (aka Crosby T. Bear) and chocolate. 

Well, today whilst grocery shopping at our local Woolworths store, I found an absolute incredible treat, and it goes without saying that I just had to buy a block. You would not believe it when I tell I purchased a block of Darrell Lea's Bear Hug chocolate - I am not kidding you, there it was on the shelf, lots and lots of it. Oh yummmmmm, I am going to enjoy this - all for me.

On bringing it home, Crosby  jumped off his seat and wanted to know what we had bought in the shopping bags, and of course you can imagine him doing flip-flops all over the place when he found the block of chocolate.

Now you would think that with it so close to lunch time that he would wait to have some after we had finished lunch as a treat. Nooooo ...... that was not going to happen was it, someone got stuck into it straight away, and I was left (after I finished my lunch) with just a couple of squares.

I have to admit that it is a very tasty bit of chocolate, however 'someone' has gone off to bed with a big tummy ache tonight from eating too much chocolate. Do I have any sympathy for him - no!

Now that this evening is a little quieter with Crosby gone to bed, I shall do a little hand stitching whilst watching some TV.

'Til next time, when I should be able to show you some of my stitching

June