Bookmark Variations

I have come up with other ways I could do these bookmarks.

1. Instead of 'fussy cutting' the fabric for the hexigons I could embroider small motives on each one.
2. I could use circles instead of hexigons and fussy cut  fabric or embroider the circles.   Or maybe draw faces on the fabric?

Everything else would stay the same.

There are so many little patterns you could use.

Source: Pinterest

Or what about mandelas?  You could draw or stitch them.

Source: Etsy

So many ideas, so little time.

The book marks.

As I said before, these make nice gifts and should be quick and easy but...  Maybe it was more difficult because I didn't have a pattern and I was making it up as I went along? So, here they are.

 

Anyway , I have included a pattern,  Download Book mark Xmas 2022 if you are interested.

Some interesting pointers along the way were:

Keeping the hexis straight.  Those things move around!!! I folded a line down the middle but they just moved on their own.  Luckily I had cut my base fabric a bit bigger so I just cut the edges so the hexis were straight. I bought my 1/2" hexis pre-cut.

It is important to be consistent with the number of stitches you make along each side of the hexi, I settled on 4 as that looked the best.

Different Interfacings.

I tried 3 different weights.  The one I ended up with I don't even know the name of, it has been in the stash for years.  I think that if I had to buy one today it would be a light weight 'Parlam fusible wadding.'  (You don't want the bookmark to make a big wedge between the pages.)

The ribbon trim.  I'm going to have to start checking Op shops for ribbons, I had to buy this one as I had non in my stash.

The other thing I bought was a collection of 2nd hand books to put the bookmarks in before they go in the baskets.  There are lots of good cheap  2nd hand books around. 

Those bookmarks have got me thinking about other variations I could use in that design.

WIPW

I am slowly, (very slowly), getting those bookmarks made.  After years of always having ribbon on hand , (like 30 years), I have finally run out and will have to buy some more.

Bookmarks are supposed to be quick and easy.  Not these ones.  Why do I always make things difficult?

I still have a number of dolls on the go and am experimenting with the addition of ears,  (as in elves.)  I will keep working on this.

And I thought I might try a hobbit.  I bought some furry wool but it is not to good on 4 needles so I went back to 2 needles for the feet and then back to 4 when I got to the legs.  Oh that wool!!! It feels as if I am knitting furry caterpillars, that's what I keep seeing in my mind and I have the hair to go!

And I am STILL trying to sew those pot holders.

Not a lot of success this week.

(School returns next week so I must get this sewing room cleaned.)

Getting organised

As part of my 'self organisation' I need to have tidy, organised surroundings. 

First problem, my cleaner has gone on holidays and won't return for another 2 weeks.

Solution, start cleaning myself.  (Oh NO!!!)

So I am taking it one room at a time starting with my bedroom.  It takes me nearly a whole day to clean this because I have trouble moving.  I started at the ceiling and worked down.  I am non to stable on ladders but I got the curtains down, washed, dried and up again.  That was a major achievement.

Then when I remade the bed I realised that I need to make a new bed cover.  This one is still serviceable but I only give it a couple more years and it is big, King sized.  Another job to add to the list.

I then got out my 'Accident Quilt' to put on the bed.

Why do I call it the "accident quilt"?  Well it started life as the backing of another quilt but I unpicked that quilt and put a different backing on it.  As I didn't want to throw it away I quilted it and made it into a quilt top and now I find it is the right size for the king sized bed.  I had collected lots of Australiana fabric prints and had no idea what to do with them all so decided to use them as a backing for a quilt.  Bad idea, it made the quilt too heavy.

I can see that I will need to make the new bed spread in colours that will compliment this.  And blue just isn't the colour.  I had been using it for the paddlers who visited but Covid restrictions had stopped their visits and they haven't returned.  (I'm not sure if that is good or bad.)  Now to start on the sewing room.  Really, it might be easier to just clean the rest of the house and come back to this.

 

 

Some Direction

I think that I have  'lost direction' in my life.  I have always lead an incredibly busy life with 'family first' being the item I use to sift my activities.  But once again I find that I have not taken enough notice of my own needs.  I rushed to do things for my family and others and put off getting my own health needs seen to.  When I did get to the Doctor this time my blood pressure was up over 230/110, and that is stroke territory.   Granted this was partly caused by the fact that my own doctor had gone on holidays and I couldn't get on appointment anywhere else.  And yes, I did try 4 other doctors, but couldn't get an appointment for at least a week.  In the end I decided to move to a Doctor closer to home but there was still a 5 day wait for that appointment.  (Covid has changed all our lives in so many ways.)  All it required was an injection and now that I have stablised I think I need to do some stock taking.

When I was working full-time I organised my time far better.  I set myself goals for the things I wanted to do and achieve, both at work and in my personal live.  Maybe I should formalise this again because it used to work in the past?  It is funny, but when one 'retires' you think you have time for everything, but you don't.  I am still going to have the responsibility for home-schooling my grand daughter for next term so that will take a large part of my time and stitching is the way I stay sane.

I follow the blog of  Hannah Brencher and although I don't agree with all that she write I think that these 5 points, which I have re-worded to suit myself, are a good place to start my planning.

Eat foods that make you feel good.  Avoid overly processed foods.

Get out and move.

At all costs, remember you daily devotions.

Be surrounded.  Accept invitations.  Do the the things you don't feel like doing.

Take your medication and your vitamins.  Don't miss a day.

So, on my walk today there was this beautiful sunrise.

I have no trouble with the "keep moving" one and if I did Little Bear ,(my dog) ,would annoy me until I took him for a walk.