Sep 26, 2011

flower cushion - front and back


I finished off the front of my flower cushion as I was worried that my yarn stash was getting a bit low and I still needed to make the back.


The back is now finished so all I have to do is make a insert and sew it up!




Sep 23, 2011

country jaunt - Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Mum and I took a lovely little jaunt to the 'country' today.  Toowoomba, which is about an hour and a half from Brisbane, holds an annual carnival of flowers.  For those of you from overseas who follow the news - this is where the 'inland tsunami' devastated - so it was nice to see things returning to some semblance of normalcy.

We looked at some pretty flowers.

 Before we got distracted by a quilt show (which was held as part of the Carnival).

Joye Peck - 'Insanity'

Lyn Crump - 'Serenstar - the Fire Within'


Vicky Draper - 'Christmas Wreath'  - Love this idea - might be an excuse to make some more hexagons! 

Then we got double-distracted by a Tea Pot Extravaganza!  A whole show dedicated to tea pots, tea cups, tea towels and aprons, as well as some kitchenalia thrown in.





How could a girl (and her mum) go wrong? Three of my favourite things in the world - flowers, tea pots and quilts!

Sep 21, 2011

a lovely friend's quilt

My lovely friend Meg was telling me the other day about the beautiful quilt her Mum made for her.  She sent some piccies over yesterday and I just had to share.


Here is the full quilt, I just love the colours, they are so Meg!

And here are a few of my favourite blocks.  The quilt was professionally quilted and I just love the detail you get from having that done.

Sunbonnet Sue I believe - love the quilting

a Dresden Plate - one of my faves

and this pretty, not sure what it's called.
Now my challenge to you, my dear friends, is can you identify the rest of the blocks for me?  I was telling Meg that each block has a name and a special significance but unfortunately that's as far as our history lesson went with my limited knowlege.  (Christine I'm looking directly at you here! :)

Well done Mrs Kiddle !  Beautiful work and it suits your Daughter very well I think.

Sep 17, 2011

my name is Bree and I'm a crochet addict

I think I have a slight problem - itchy fingers so to speak.  No sooner were the photos up yesterday of my blankets but I was searching around for something to make with the leftover wool.  I had already kind of decided to make a cushion for bub's room, to go with the blankets, it was just a matter of deciding on what pattern to use.

I played around with a few techniques this afternoon.  I quite like practicing my crochet and learning new skills.  Then all of a sudden, before I knew it, this had happened.


Not bad for one afternoon's work.  And quite easy to do I think.  Of course you can find the pattern over here at Attic 24 - just about everyone is doing it!

 

Sep 16, 2011

crochet blanket goodness


I've just finished my second crochet blanket.  I did give you a little look the other day but now that it's fully finished, border on and even the ends all woven in I thought we'd have a little bit more show and tell.

I just adore the ripply border, especially since I didn't use any patterns, I just made it up as I went along.

Here is is out in the sunshine, I think it gives you a much better indication of the vibrancy of the colours. 


And here of course with the 'big sister' rug - the Garden Grannies.


Still haven't finished weaving in the ends on the Garden Grannies - I'll get there eventually.


These are the remains of the original 200g balls I purchased from Bendigo Woollen Mills.  Top row - Lavender, Orange, Citrus.  Middle row - Aquarium, Leaf, Stone.  Bottom row - Cream, Delphinium, Pink.  'Luxury' range 100% wool yarn worked on a 4mm hook.  The Giant Granny blanket is 110cms square and the Garden Grannies is 105cm square.b 

 

Sep 15, 2011

another one piece suit

Today's project is super-easy and anyone could do it as a little gift for a baby shower or for your own baby (like me).



All you need is a one piece suit and some pretty ribbon.  I picked this ribbon up very cheaply the other day.  I thought it could be used both as a decoration or instead of a tag - just to remind everyone that your piece is 'handmade'.


I tied my ribbon in a bow, put a couple of stitches through the middle of the bow to keep it together and then stitched it directly on to the suit.

Very easy and very cute.  You could even make little ribbon roses.

Sep 14, 2011

doilie embellishment on a one piece suit

I've had a few queries about what I was going to do with my vintage doilies.  Truth be told I didn't have any definate ideas and definately had nothing to show.



Today however an idea came together quite nicely and while Guy was having a nap after a big morning play date I was able to execute my idea.


Take one vintage doilie and one one piece baby suit.  Stitch doilie to front of suit and voila!  A very cute embellishment.  The suit is actually pale green, it's a bit washed out in these photos, and the doilie is a latte colour (just think of that common colour you often see these doilies in!).  I left the very outside edge unattached so it sits up a bit like flower petals.  I did contemplate using applique heat and bond stuff but you would have seen it through all the gaps in the doilie.  So instead I stitched it on by hand.

So there you go - one doilie used up.  Does anyone else have any cute doilie suggestions?

Sep 13, 2011

more op shop goodies

I've been having quite a bit of vintage/ op shop/ thrifting joy lately.  I'm actually not a big visitor of op shops (they make me sneeze!) but there is this very cute little one around the corner from Husband Guy's work and every time I drive past I have the urge to stop.  Unfortunately it's opening hours are minimal - as with most op shops - it's staffed by volunteers for the MS Society.


Today however I was in luck so I promptly pulled over and went in.  The lady took one look at my 6mths pregnant belly and asked if I'd be interested in hand knitted baby goods.  I said yes of course and she produced a beautiful dress, booties and matching bonnet.  


As well as this gorgeous little jacket.  Now by the feel of these garments they are either really new (as in the lady had just cast off!) or they've never been worn.


I also picked up two crochet doilies.

So proud of my op shop finds!  I think I could become addicted to this!
 

Sep 12, 2011

Granny square blanket progress - 100 Grannies!

Well here you go folks, the first pictures of all 100 Grannies, all sewn together!  


And to prove I've not been totally slack, here is a pic of the back too - look nearly all the ends are woven in!

I'm thinking I'm not going to put a border on this one.  But should probably block it yes?  What do you think.  It's quite heavy this blankie, definately one for next winter - bub will be about 6 months by then.


I've also started a second blankie, which is much lighter than the last and very theraputic to work on.  

From 9 x 200gram balls of wool this is what I have left after constructing nearly 2 whole blankets.  Not bad for $100 hey!

 

Sep 3, 2011

belated birthday gift and more baby stuff

I'm pretty sure my Bro isn't a regular reader of my blog! So I feel ok putting up pictures of his present I've just finished, for his birthday which was at the end of April!


He is one of those rowdy Aussie ex-pats living it up in London so I thought this cute Kokka fabric would make great cushions for him.


I actually got the idea when I saw the fabric with the Tube map on it but unfortunately it sold out before I was ready to purchase.  So instead he got London landmarks and some cars which look like London Black Cabs to me.


Whilst I was sewing the cushions I used an offcut to make a little passport wallet for husband Guy.  He's been doing a bit of travel for work lately and the poor passport is looking a tad worse for wear.


And on the baby sewing front I've made 2 bunny rugs.  They are just 2 pieces of material, at least one flannel, with a satin ribbon edging.  The dimensions are roughly a full width of fabric (42inches) x about 1 metre or 1 yard (depending on what I had in the stash).  No batting in the middle as they need to be of a lighter weight for the Aussie climate.


 
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