Easter Baskets and a new project!

Two little easter baskets for two little girls. Fully lined and reversible and totally useable after the day as little girl hand bags.

We are going to an egg hunt at a friend's house on Sunday so I'm making baskets for the kids.

Last Sunday Mum, Aunty and I went to the Craft and Quilting fair. I was so looking forward to it after abstaining for months from buying any fabric and also as I was feeling distinctly lacking in inspiration.
And I wasn't disappointed. I picked up several new projects and the three of us had a great day out. So here is my first project. Yarn made mostly from paper.

It is a bit difficult to knit with but the results are stunning. This is only 20 stitches wide, the yarn is not very wide but I'm using 10mm needles. They had a little triangular shawl on display that they'd made with 10mm needles and it was very cute.

My idea for this is that it is a very thin scarf which will look almost like a necklace when draped around your neck.

I'll share more on my other projects soon.

Red stack and slash quilt - quilted, bound and FINISHED

I think this is one of my most proud moments - I have FINISHED my red stack and slash quilt. It is pretty rough and ready but it is my first large quilt that I've fully finished and I have learnt so much along the way.

Thanks to the help of the awesome binding tutorial from Rita of Red Pepper Quilts and also the tutorial from Crazy Mom Quilts which Rita references. My mitred corners are still a little shaky but I managed to make the 90 degree joins in the binding and even where the binding joins together on the quilt.


I literally have just finished sewing the binding on and haven't even cut off all the little loose threads and stuff. Just whipped it off the sewing machine and grabbed the camera.

It makes a very cheery addition to my already very red couch and cushions. But it is so gratifying to sit in my lounge room enjoying my handiwork. And when friends ask what I've been sewing to be able to say "these cushions, that quilt, that little quilt of Guy's, that big cushion, this handbag....".


And you can find my fairly convoluted stack and slash instructions back at this post from 2009.
Next time I do one I promise to take photos and make a proper tutorial. If you do have any questions though please leave me a comment and I'll reply!

Have a great weekend everyone!

taggy blankets

A friend has just had 3 tiny bundles of joy come into her life after many years of heartache.
Two little boys and a rather chubber little girl.

I made these taggy blankets for them from flannel. Something lovely and soft to snuggle up with as well as lots of fun tags to play with.

And they're also great as doll blankets later on, I made a 4th as a doll blanket for Miss J.

olives

Guy's mum & dad have had a bumper crop of olives from their trees this year. So we volunteered to take a few off their hands to cure them ourselves. Lo and behold they turned up with 2 huge buckets of olives, although this is only a tiny fraction of what they've harvested, it's a massive amount for us.

Anyway we stood there and sorted them and cut them and they're now curing in buckets in my laundry. Can't wait to taste the finished product in six weeks time!

And for next year I think we need to investigate making oil!

garden update

It's been raining a lot here lately which is very unusual and great since I don't have to go out and water the plants of an afternoon. Not so great when the grass in the backyard is up to your knees and it's too wet to mow.

Our first lot of seeds didn't really sprout so we re planted the bed with some more. Since then it's rained solidly for over a week which has provided the little seeds with plenty of encouragement to come up. We've had a heap of butter beans, radishes and kale sprout.

Also coming along nicely are the sunflowers. It won't be long before the beds are a mass of bobbing sunflower heads. Already, even though the flowers aren't open yet, the buds still turn towards the sun.
And the tomatos as always are coming along beautifully, even the rogue bush growing by the side of the path. As it's loaded with tomatos and for so long was the only thing growing in the garden I don't have the heart to pull it out.

And as always the rain has brought a few unexpected visitors to the garden.

Have a great week every one!

Vintage Kimono Clutch

Possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever sewn I think.

A simple clutch purse made from vintage kimono fabric.


With a simple cotton lining and a magnetic snap.

Destined for a friend's birthday. I hope she likes it!