Sewing Machine Cover

This afternoon I put the last stitches into my new sewing machine cover while sitting on a quilt down near the cattle yards while the children played in the dirt and on bikes. It was peaceful, shady and lovely sitting there.

Thankyou so much to Jenny of Elefantz for the challenge to get covers over our machines. Jenny is also having a giveaway for those who finish their covers before August 31st, that's Monday only a few days away.

I did my quilting to remind me of Jenny, with waving quilting.

As you can see from my pictures I put ends on my cover, also made it longer than my machine to accomodate the extra room I get as the sewing boxes on front and back slide along a few inches to the left. It's not much but the sewing boxes seem to remain almost permantly in their extended position!

This is the inside of the cover, made so it is pretty in and out; and can be reversed if so desired.

Sitting back in the far corner is an old workhorse that doesn't get used much nowdays, my overlocker. I have some fabrics sitting on it to decide what to use for the cover for it. Nah, not this month, I have two more projects that I will be madly working on in the next few days to get them finished by Monday.

If you are waiting on an email from me it won't be long. We have had a hectic hectic ten days or so. More about that in the next post, which will be in the next couple of days....

Sleepy Acres start

I have made a start on the Sleepy Acres quilt by Amy Bradley. This is the quilt my 9 yr old son has chosen. We looked at both Amy's cat and dog quilts but ds couldn't decide; then I found her Sleepy Acres quilt. This solved his problem as it had lots of animals in it, and he loves animals.

This block isn't finished yet, only partially done.

He has helped go through my stash and the scraps to find suitable fabrics for the quilt. Only thing is I don't seem to have any fabrics in gray tones... need them for the horse and sheep. There are plently of other blocks for me to work on before I get to those ones though!

I have all my bits ready to start on my sewing machine cover for Jenny's challenge. It took me a while to decide on fabric; because if I wasn't on my self imposed ban I would have went out and bought fabric instead of thinking over what I had in the cupboard. So glad I did. This is French Hatbox by Tanya Whelan and is very pretty. I don't have enough for a quilt as I bought yardage of 5 prints I liked best. This project has taken thinking on because a sewing machine cover is something I will be looking at everyday and some days for quite a portion of the day, so it had to be something I really liked; it also had to go with my green walls.....

Here is the folder cover I made the other week. It is my sisters birthday present. I didn't want the jar in the middle and am really pleased with the final effect with her name up the side of the folder.

It is for recipes. DH does not like to see the leaves in the jar... *grin*.

These are my espalliaed apple trees, I started mowing around them the other week, and now have to mow more to the left of the picture where we have posts in ready for another row of trees next autumn.

This is done by push mower too, as our ride on is older than the dinosaurs and no longer safe to use. Could definately do with some rain, it is getting dry. There is only green in this pic because the apples are on a dripper system from our bore.

Pincushion Madness

The finished hexagon needlecase that I showed partially completed last week, or was it the week before???

Inside, with a pocket and wool for safe keeping needles.

The back with my little quirk, I stitched the test iron-on piece and put it on the back.

I finished ALL of these last night! They all need stitching closed and the buttons putting on; the ricrac on for one. I had been putting this off for ages and surprised myself with how little time it took to finish them. These are in my Christmas Stash too.

This is a Melly & Me pincushion that I finished a while back but hadn't blogged. I found dealing with the slippery ribbon awkward and ended up with uneven sides, I am sure a little more patience on my behalf would have been rewarded with even sides.....

Also for the Christmas Stash. Gosh I hope every one on my Christmas list likes pincushions as it appears that is predominatly what my Christmas gifts are!!!!

(They aren't all pincushions.)

The past two days here have been almost spring like, the nights too. Next month is spring but I am not holding my breath as we usually have a warm period August/September then it is cold again for a short while. One of the children have been asking about swimming...... I don't think so! At least not yet.

Catch up on Nundle

I have pretty much been offline since my last post, no blog hopping, no surfing and no returning emails etc etc so this post and the next one are catch ups.

Saturday last week I went to Nundle in the afternoon to catch up with Chookyblue, Farmyard Crafts, Cardygirl and Kerry. I met some lovely lovely people there and had a fantastic time. I had four of the children with me and was so very glad that they were well behaved and didn't complain about being there for hours.

Prior to going I finished this book;

Love it. It all makes sense now why there is no record of Joanna returning to Elm Creek Farm.

A beautiful book.

While in Nundle I stopped at the Woollen Mill (the kids always love looking through the railings at the old working equipement) and bought some wool. 8ply and 20ply.

I am starting to get the hang of knitting, though still don't do it near often enough!

Look at these gorgeous colours they offer in the different wools......


I am still not purchasing new fabric until early/mid December this year.
You can check my bag.
The girls did at Nundle.

See, no fabric there!
I have to admit though, to eyeing off some chenille for longer than I should of.... so so nice but December won't take long to come!

I bought two antique spools to wind my bindings onto, so I don't lose them anymore; and aren't they going to look lovely displayed on the spools!
A square ruler found it's way into my bag, it's going to be great to have one; and this 'easy angle' rule too - I think it will be used quite a bit!
Yes, that is iron on pellon next to the spools, like to keep it on hand for those unplanned projects!

Some beautiful buttons. I buy buttons now because I HAVE to buy them for a specific project I rarely find what I am looking for. I also love shopping at home!


I keep eyeing this rose maker off in the magazine ads, so was very pleased to see it sitting on Kerry's shelf - looking forward to trying it out.

Tomorrow I will be blog hopping, so keep your eye out for me!

Needlecase Day

I had the day today that I needed. The children worked hard with their school work today and were finished early, I left all the household chores - very very sick of washing and cleaning up that is demolished again in five minutes flat and I spent some time with my sewing machine.

I finished these two stitcheries a few weeks back but only made them up into the needlecases today. They are Christmas presents, very enjoyable to make. This was one of the projects at Girls Day Out in the Country back in March, by Rosalie Quinlan.

I used pink wool and a white floral fabric from an older FlowerSugar range by Lecien.

I must say that I am very pleased to have these sitting in my basket alongside some pincushions that I am also making for small Christmas gifts.

Do you make things during the year to put away for Christmas????

Not finished yet, but I have done all I can on the machine for this hexagon needlecase, also by Rosalie Quinlan. Don't mind some crooked stitches - I got a bit distracted last night watching the tv show with the badly behaved teenagers, very pleased that my 9 yr old is quite disgusted with their behaviour!

I will finish the handstitching on it tonight and show you tomorrow, I have changed something. Can't help it!

Are any of you joining in Jenny of Elefantz challenge to make a sewing machine cover by the end of August????

I am pondering over which fabric to choose.....

and if I will use one piece of fabric or piece something....

so many options!

Kids Christmas in July Swap

Recently four young stitchers had their own Christmas in July ornament swap. Jessie Girl, Fairy Girl, Tink and Angel. Due to there only being four swappers they all made and sent to every one; if they wanted to keep one of what they made then they made four ornaments.

All we had discussed prior to the swap was that felt was good for chlidren to work with; so it was amazing to see that both Jessie Girl and Fairy Girl made very similar ornaments!

Here is what my Jessie Girl made and sent. Here is what Fairy Girl made and sent.
Here is what Tink made and sent.
This is what Angel made and sent.

All the girls have done a fabulous job, it seems they all enjoyed their swap and can't wait for the next one!

I have sorted myself with what I am working on now. Yesterday I was going to work on my sisters birthday present (which I know now that she regularly reads my blog so I can't show it here until she has it!), however I could not locate the fabric I was using. Not anywhere. So I spent an hour or so cleaning out part of my cupboard searching. Eventually I found it, but by then was in 're-arranging' mode and not 'sewing' mode. So I sorted things into 'have to make' and 'not sure if I will make' shelves. This has lifted a weight off my shoulders, knowing that there isn't a HUGE pile of things waiting to be made hiding out in the cupboard. and it is things, not quilts. So once I get dinner on this afternoon I will get to it and put together my sisters birthday present.

Here is something I found while delving into the dark depths of my cupboard.

A Santa bag that I started for dd3 who is 6yrs old. I started it when she was a baby......

So it is definatley on the WISP Challenge list!

I did all hand work on it, some mroe handquilting to finish then I can put the bag together.

**** oh, and Jenny of Elefantz has a challenge for everyone..... ****

I am taking it up, so come join us!

Chookyblue and Farmyward Crafts will be finishing their no new fabric ban this Friday as they are going to Kerry's Cottage on the Hill for a retreat. Not sure if they will be rejoining me or not.... time will tell!

Christmas in July - Quilting in CT

Christmas in July arrived for me on Friday - Thankyou Tracey! I love the things she has made for me. A huge Christmas bag, a GAIL PAN Christmas wallhanging, a couch companion, three co-ordinating fat quarters, some maple syrup candy (very very yummy!) and a lovely Mary Enlgebreit card!

This is the gorgeous GAIL PAN wallhanging, love it - and Tracey has used a varigate thread which I love!

This is the beautiful couch companion Tracey made me, love the colours!

I have to show you up close her stitchery work, such neat and even stitches!
The pincushion part of the couch companion.


I am sorry to take so long to post about this but weekends here are rather hectic, and today was not the best school day we have had - I am pleased dinner is started and the older children busy with chores.

All last week I was busting to get some sewing done, yet when I had the opportunity yesterday to do a bit I just kept floundering, like just now. Guess I just need to sit down and focus on what is most urgent to be finished!
I have a quilt to piece and quilt before the end of this month, another 5 quilt tops to baste, a couple of birthday presents to make and a huge list of wish-to-do's! What are you up to this month????

Tomorrow I will share JessieGirl's Christmas ornament swap with three other girls her age, Chooky has already blogged about it here and here.

Before I forget, almost did!, Jenny of Elefantz and Chookyblue have both posted a bit about leaving comments for blogs. So if there is a blog or two that you just lurk on, leave them a comment - comments are sooo much appreciated by blog owners, don't forget about new bloggers either.

Till tomorrow, here's hoping for a better day!
(I KNOW this Sunday will great, as I will be visiting with Chookyblue, Farmyard Crafts, and Kerry!)