Update on some old work

You might remember some applique blocks I was finishing off for my friends in Toowoomba?  Well they have them all 'shashed up' and ready to decide the next step.  It is looking good.

Wasting time

I spent the afternoon watching the August edition of the Last Homely House.

I gave myself a subscription to this show and you know it was a good investment.   I slow down and watch someone else's everyday life and switch off from my own concerns.  What have I got to be concerned about?  Well the quilting of my C.Q. 5.  It isn't square because I used left overs and off-cuts and when I have come to quilt it I then have to make more adjustments.  Those corners are not quite matching up.

I don't think it will really matter in the long run but being a perfectionist it makes me feel uncomfortable.

My Jacquie Gering books turned up today.  My phoned dinged and there was a message that they had been delivered, I opened the door and there they were.

They are the same ones I purchased for the patchwork group. (no-one else got a look in.  I borrowed them out over and over.)  Now I have my own copies.  Just to be sure that I don't get them mixed up I added book plates.

I have decided to use a variation on this design.  I had outlined the embroidered square and then I am stitching radiating lines.

It is slow work and a bit boring, so I was glad to watch someone else stitching.

Lots of distractions

I haven't been sewing at all much.  I did spray up that quilt, which I hope to start today, but soooo many other things have got in the way. 

Firstly, I have had constant requests to teach again.  I did a couple of workshops for my local groups and love doing them BUT my health is not what it was and I don't want all the stress.  Then I started to clean out all my old kits etc and found there was a lot of classes already prepared.  So, I will teach again, but only on my terms (i.e. using up the kits I already have prepared) and all the money I raise will go to charity.

So one or two classes before the end of the year.

Kogin is booked in.  Just a drink coaster, "easy peasy." ( Here is a link to the tutorial)  You don't have to use Kogin stitching for this.  You could use repurposed embroidery or fabric, this pattern is multi purpose.

And I will see what else students might like.

Then, I got a request about a very old embroidery class I did years ago.  I couldn't find that one but I did a lot.  I think I will put them up here on the blog as well.  Someone might like them.

C.Q. 4

I had intended to outline quilt the characters in this panel but it just made my wrist too sore. 

I decided to stop at the fox and machine quilt the surrounds of the main panel.  The panel was given to my by another member of my Monday quilting group.  Still I'm sure it will find a good home.  Now, C.Q.5, all pieced, I have used a spray adhesive to put the 3 layers, backing, adding and front together.  Fixed the adhesive with a hot iron but I am going to have to find a sheltered spot to do this next time because it isn't sticking in places, so I pinned these.  I hope to get back to it tomorrow.

Now I'm thinking about C.Q. 6.  I have another 2 cot sized panels that have been given to me so they will be next in line.  This is a good size to practice my machine quilting.

More about Spring

Once I realised it was Spring I went looking for the Feesia plants that I planted 30 years ago.  My nose told me where they were.  Originally they were just planted on the path down to the beach. 

This was a candidate for erosion and  is why they were planted here.

It helped slow the erosion but didn't stop it.

But now they have spread their way up the creek.

The banks rising from the sea heading south now also have flowers in bloom.  We only planted white flowers but there are now lots of mauve ones as well.

I collected a small number to put in the house and the perfume is lovely.

There is no turning back, it is spring.

I am not sure these flowers will last very long, they now grow right to the edge of the beach.  The forecast is for a week of temperatures over 30 degrees C.  I will enjoy them whilst I can.