WIPW

With so many people coming and going from the house things have to be simple.  Those simple embroideries are great for stitching whilst you are sitting chatting, so three more finished.

One member of my Patchwork gave me a machine embroidered piece as a Xmas present.  I wasn't sure just what to do with it.  Then my grand daughters said they thought it would make a nice wall hanging.  I have added boarders and now it is all pinned up ready for quilting.

And one of the things I didn't put into the clean up, (which has now been delivered to the Salvos) is these small panels from France.  Another gift from a travelling friend.  They are about to be made into place mats.

And I made a new 'skirt and binding' for the piece I have in my hoop,  this means I can fit smaller pieces of linen in the hoop.  I have the next Cross Stitch ready to go.

Although, all this may have to wait until everyone goes home.  Even then I might need a couple of days just to catch up on sleep!!

Australian Designers - Jenelle Kent

This designer is a bit different to the other patchwork and quilting ones.  She has written a book called "Farmhouse Fresh",

and she has a shop at Mac Master's Beach north of Sydney.  (The link takes you to her free projects.)  One of those projects is this rather sweet pin cushion.

Her designs have a 'beachy' feel and are just a bit different.  I also like this table runner, called  'Bramble' which is for sale in her shop.

Her use of 16" towelling is interesting.  She also designs for Moda fabric in the USA.

( The more I look at this towelling the more I like it, might have to buy some of that.)

Holidays

I am inundated with visitors,  even though the weather isn't brilliant and COVID is everywhere.  I have my grand daughters sewing with me.

My sons and their friends have got the boat in the water, despite the weather.

I wasn't real happy about the men taking the girls out on the boat.  As I have written before, these waters are deceptive and I remember a time when we had to rescue my son when he and his friends were teenagers.

But they told me I was being  alarmist and everything was fine.  Yes the weather was a 'bit over-caste' , but they were experienced.  So, off they went.

Then I see them 'turn turtle', and although they are experienced they had a child with them.  But, the Life Savers were on the beach and they rescued Monique, who thought it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her.  The rest of us were not so happy.

The boys came back very shaken up and have decided it isn't the place to take kids in this weather.  All the other adults agree but the kids are a bit put out.  This will be a holiday to be remembered.

Where I Live

This is not a usual summer this year.  Normally I am melting by this stage but there are some big cyclones around just now.  I got this lovely photo of the island from the mainland the other day but you can see those rain clouds everywhere hence the rainbow.  Sometimes the rain is really heavy and the winds are high.

Where it would be bright sunshine everything is just overcast.

My sons have got their new boat up and ready to sail, and it has pushed the car out of the carport, but Guy has a broken wrist and the weather is just too unstable to put her in the water.

This time of year sees king tides and that, in combination with the cyclone sitting just off the coast, has seen that water levels rise.  Each year the tide seems to come up just a bit higher.  It has been threatening to rise over the beach and swamp the creek for some time.  That has now happened.

At low tide this creek disappears and the puddles that are left are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  No worry about that at the moment.

The water level has risen so much that waves are washing over the rocks on the shore line that are usually high and dry.

When I go down the track,  which runs from our home to the beach, I can see the water lapping at the edge of the bush. This is normally another 10 metres further away but there is still a bit of distance and the bluff before the water would reach us.

 

What this will do to the plants and trees that live along the shore line we will have to see.  The eastern side of the island was hit by a cyclone a few years ago.  Many of the big trees were swamped and died as a result of inundation from the salt water.  We are just going to have to watch what happens this time.  There are non of those big gums down on this level.  The worst senario is that it might destroy the barge ramp.  Then no one could get any vehicles on or off the island.  I think I will move my car back to the mainland in the next few days.

WIPW

Just enjoyable sewing going on at the moment. 

My friend Carol gifted me her old dressmaking dolly.  I have put CRC (oil) on all the wing nuts and got her working again.  She is now all set up ready for the next garment.

I finished a friendship block (not due until February) for a member of my Patchwork group.  This applique actually took nearly a whole day to put together , but I am pleased with the outcome.  (Oh that Bernina machine is wonderful to sew with.)

And I have started yet another friendship block for another member of the group.

A couple more simple stitched sayings.

And I have got my knitting out again.  I just have to finish these sleeves on this cardigan.  I put it away because my wrist was so sore so now I do just an hour or so every now and then.  Monique will be coming to stay in a few days so I will be able to get a fitting and finish it.  Then I have to knit something for her sister.

 

Sometimes fate steps in.

I have been agonising over clearing out all my fabrics.  I had 6 bags full of fabrics.  All in good condition, all use-able but all surplus to what I needed.  I had to steel myself to load them into the car ready to give away.  But, it just had to be done.  I am seriously considering giving up teaching at the end of this year and I will not need all those supplies. 

Now it is done.

My daughter and son-in-law came to pick up a motor scooter, that is also surplus to requirements, on New Year's Day and to arrange a loan so that they can start the renovations on their home.  Laura is teaching 'Summer School' at the University so things have to be fitted in around that.  At breakfast she excitedly told me that she had started a 'Sewing School' as well because so many people had approached her to teach them.  "Would you like to go through my fabrics to use in your classes?" I asked. 

Now the majority of the fabrics, a collapse-able cutting table, a bag of extra zippers etc have all gone to set up her new enterprise.  She is also dabbling in quilting, so I know my stash and library will go to a good home.  I knew she could sew and also that she is a great teacher but I hadn't put the two things together.  She has a Doctorate in Business and is academically very gifted, I would never have thought she would love stitching more than this.

Looking back I realise that my love of stitching, which I took from my Grandmother, has been there for my family to see.  I have never tried to 'make' them like the same things as me but it has been passed on almost like 'osmosis'. 

Now I wonder if anyone will pick up on the embroidery?

Time for a review

So, time to check if I completed the list I wrote for 2021, and, it didn't happen.

Perhaps I should say, some of it happened at different times.  I ditched the Easter gifts and made Xmas ones.  So I suppose that happened.

The faces stalled when I got to using colour.  I have to face that fear this year.

Didn't do a thing on the Graffitti Quilt or the book.  There is only one more applique to put on the quilt so it is do-able.

I got 6 animals knitted, then I stopped, because I couldn't find a charity who wanted them.

I finished the classes for stitch club and the sample for Exploring More Stitches along with two Charity Quilts finished and one that still has to be quilted. and Instead of sewing bags I made pin and needle keepers for the Kogin.

Now that I have written it down I see that I did achieve most of the things I wanted to.  I have not looked forward to doing this because I was sure that I had failed but that is not the case.  The things that didn't happen were the faces book and the Graffitti Quilt, that doesn't mean that they will not happen.  Those ones go on the list for 2022 along with a note to not be so hard on myself.

So my No 1 New Year's Resolution is:  to be kinder to myself in all things.

(Only one resolution? There has to be more than one resolution, doesn't there?)

So, I think I will change tack and instead of long term goals for the year I will set goals for each month.  This will allow me to change my plans if I need to and set smaller tasks that will suit the prevailing circumstances.  I would like to have one or two major projects that I can work on over the whole year but if I don't finish, so what?

This was the 2021 list.

2022