Matching Pegs

This December I unexpectedly went missing from my blog due to a whole new level of busyness that took me a little by surprise.  We had so many end of year events, concerts and commitments.  Several big ones involved Michaela finishing Preschool, where I surprised myself by shedding a tear or two.  My 6 years of involvement at the Preschool are now over, which will take some getting used to, as I spent lots of time over the years on the Committee of Management.  The Preschool has nurtured all three of our children and the people there have meant a lot to all of us.

Another surprise this December was a very welcome one from our garden.  We had so much rain this year, compared to previous years, that I was surprised by Christmas Lilies growing in our very own soil.  I didn’t even know they were there until these blooms appeared.  What a gift.

We had another Christmassy surprise in our garden, a Christmas Beetle came for a visit – I have not seen one of these for years.  Although I have no photographic evidence, we were also thrilled with a frog sighting, in our backyard, earlier in the month.  The months of rain have been fantastic for the garden and wildlife.

I managed to get all the presents for the teachers finished on time, and have almost finished the Christmas presents.  We have had lots of friends from “far-away” visiting Melbourne this month, which has been wonderful, and last night we hosted a festive gathering at our place for some of our dearest friends.

This Christmas is in sharp contrast to the last, which was a very dark time for our family, as my brother was very, very ill.  In spite of how much happier it is, I am very much aware that this time of year is very hard for many, especially those that have someone missing from their table.  I hope this Christmas (or as my American friend pointed out last night – Holiday Season) brings you more happiness than sadness, and some peace in amongst the bustle and noise.  Enjoy a cuppa in the sunshine if you can.

I have been so busy that I seem to have disappeared from the “interweb” without meaning too.  With so many end-of-year events to plan for, attend, and ferry to and from, I am feeling like I need to clone myself – just like the clones of my Christmas Angels pictured above.  These ones are being made for the Preschool teachers.

This is what I am making for the school teachers – an embroidery that goes in a frame.  Amelia is stitching herself, (she is the one with the headband – she always wears one) and then it is finished.  This was my original design, from last year, which we started stitching much earlier in the year.

For the one for Rory’s teacher, I have redesigned the faces of my kids, making them more cartoon-like, to fit in better with the other children on the stitchery.  It also gave me an opportunity to add glasses, which they now both wear full time.

Here is Rory.  I will show you a picture of the completed version 2 once it is in the frame.

I have almost finished the wonky star quilt top, but it has been so overcast and rainy that I will wait to photograph it, once complete.  I am pretty tired of the humid weather caused by the rain – but not the rain itself.  After over 10 years of drought, the rain is so welcome, and makes me so happy – Melbourne’s water storages are actually over 50% for the first time in many years.  It is so novel and wonderful to look around and see so much of the bright green of new foliage.

Are you making anything for your child’s teacher(s)?

A: A Wonky Donkey.

These are, of course, Wonky Star Blocks.  I am finally making up a quilt using Heather Ross’ “Far Far Away” fabric, and really wanted a way to highlight the beautiful creatures it contains, so thought these stars would be perfect.  The blocks finish up at 12″, and there will also be several 12″ squares of the “Princess and the Pea” fabric in the quilt – if the pieces were any smaller, the whole stack of mattresses would not have fitted.  You can find a tutorial on making Wonky Stars here.

In my scraps, I found a discarded Frog Prince that I could not bear to throw away.  I decided to make a tiny block (5 1/4″)  which I finished as a little wall-hanging.  With a message on the back, it is like a soft card.  I made it to tell a friend that I am thinking of her, so I hope the little froggy brings on a smile.

This quilt is destined to be a Christmas present, so I have at least started on my list.  How about you?

Oh, and here is another Donkey joke, to brighten your day…

What do you call a three legged donkey that plays the piano?

A: A Honky Tonky Wonky Donkey.

Recently Lara posted a photo of a new dress she had made, that co-incidentally, my mother had also made.  Lara talked about making it again in petrol Blue Wool Jersey.  Mum had just made this similar top for me, in Blue Wool Jersey, (which I would not call petrol, but it occurred to me that it is possibly the same fabric) which I mentioned in the comments.

Mum bought the fabric at The Fabric Store in Fitzroy, and the pattern is Vogue 8634. It is a top which can be made in 2 different lengths with 3 sleeve lengths. In the pattern, it has a horizontal seam under the bust that Mum eliminated. I’ve added this second, very ordinary photo, because it better represents the colour of the top in real life (the top photo has a bit too much contrast).  These photos were taken on an extremely pleasant, and sunny, Melbourne Cup Day hence the important addition of a hat.  Aren’t I lucky to have such a clever Mum!

Luke and I are off to my cousin Janet’s wedding this afternoon, (to a chap known as Pengy – I have to hear that story).  I am expecting it to be pretty stylish – Janet studied Fashion Design at the same University as we did, while we were studying Industrial Design.  The invitations are Art Deco in style, as I know the venue for the reception is – Luke and I had ours there 12 1/2 years ago.  I am really looking forward to seeing the Wedding Gown, which Janet has made herself.

The invitation requested no presents, but I think hand made gifts contravene those rules, don’t you?

It has been a long time that I have been hoarding these beautiful Ink and Spindle fabrics (Birch Forest and Acaia) for just the pefect project.  I thought they went splendidly with the Grunge fabric I just received in the post.  Hopefully this is a nicely understated and stylish gift for the happy couple.

The weather is turning, and our local friends are starting to laugh a lot more.

This Kookaburra was very keen to make my acquaintance.  He/she spent an hour perching on different parts of our decking, coming closer, each time, to the glass sliding door.  Eventually he/she was only about a metre away.  At the time Michaela and I were making a birthday cake for her birthday party – stopping every few minutes to say hello to our visitor, through the window.  Eventually we were standing in the open doorway, where I took this photo.  Isn’t she/he lovely.

This is the cake that we made, featuring Michaela’s “Littlest Pet Shop” Butterfly, and some mushrooms made with marshmallows and Pfeffernusse I “painted” with red icing.

I think they kind of match my new cardigan .

What winged creatures are hanging out in your world lately?

The Internet and blogging are such a double edged sword.  I love the inspiration and connection of blogging and reading blogs, but they can be an amazing time devourer as well as a purchase inducer.

Lately I have been loosing the battle, spending more time reading than making – I think because I am tired and the weather has been cold and dreary.  Admittedly, some of my reading matter is from the library, and not online, but I think it is time for spring weather to get me more motivated.

Here is a purchase that I made for no good reason at all, except that I thought it looked fabulous.  Meet my Happle.  I really have to blame this purchase on Design*Sponge, because if I had not seen it on their site, I would never had “the wanties” for it.

Without bloggy sharing I would never have tried making my own Chai Tea mix either – thanks Suse for the recipe, it is yummy – pop on over to see how to make it, just don’t expect it to last long – it does contain Sweetened Condensed Milk, after all.

These last little acquisitions have nothing to do with the Internet, and everything to do with the generosity of like minded people.  My lovely friend Barbie, from my quilting guild, gave me these pegs last night.

Why?

Just because they are “the best pegs ever, and they are all one colour, so they will all match”.

Thank you Barbie – I have tried them and they are pretty snappy

oh, and the bright orange goes really well with denim……

Today I have been preparing for an important event.  My first baby is turning 10 on Sunday, and celebrating with a sewing party.  I am going to teach the three guests how to back-stitch, and the six kids are going to make these little “hoop faces” I have designed.  They were inspired by these beautiful faces.  The hoops are 4 inches wide.  The finished stitcheries are designed to be displayed in the little hoops when they are finished, (the outside circles are not stitched – they represent the hoops.

I am frantically getting ready, because I have spent the whole week ministering to sick kids, as both Rory and Michaela have had the flu.  I am pretty nervous that Amelia is going to catch it, just in time for her birthday.  Tonight she is off with her best friend’s family to see “Mary Poppins” on stage – the lucky duck.

I am going to be sitting at home tracing off vlisofix initials, for the cushions the kids are also going to design.  They have all chosen a font at school (via a print-out I sent along) and a motif for the appliques to go around it.  On Sunday they will pick which fabrics they would like, cut and place everything on a cushion front.  I will raw edge applique them and give them a finished cushion, some time after the event.  Tonight I am hoping to get my first good night’s sleep of the week.  Apologies if I have not replied to your comments on the past couple of posts – I have been busy holding buckets and providing honey and lemon drinks.

Anyone else out there had a sewing party?  What’s the most successful kids party you have had?

Here is a new-to-me technique for marking your applique background to centre your design.  After you press your block in half to find the centre, sew along it with large stitches, (which are easy to remove later).  For my “Tea in the Garden” Applique, I have marked 2 lines which quarter the square, and two more which cut diagonally from corner to corner.  It is making it much easier to line up the positioning overlay, to position the individual applique pieces.

In the morning I am off to our annual Guild Quilting Retreat, where I am going to sew lots, eat to an elegant sufficiency, have many cups of tea and interesting conversations, and probably sleep very little.  I will show you my sewing progress when I get back, but now I have to go and pack.

I have a lovely friend Danya, whose family has had a very rough year.  Today she is having a significant birthday, so I popped in to surprise her with a little gift.  Every second thing I have made lately is a scarf, so I thought I would play to my strengths, and make her a bespoke one of her own.  Especially as she has just boldly chopped of all her locks, (a look she is rocking) which I thought might make her neck a tad bit cold.

I am rather pleased with how well the scarf looks on her, especially as I have been mildly obsessed with Plum, a colour that does not really suit me.  It suits Danya just fine, especially with her recently revealed silver hair – Lovely.

Danya has many online friends who are familiar with the way she manipulates the English Language and creates a unique written “voice” of her own.  Awesomesauce is one of her words, which I would not even attempt in person, as it doesn’t roll off my tongue very convincingly.  I thought I would get away with it online though – have an Awesomesauce Birthday Danya – you deserve it.