Saturday, June 29, 2013

Sox on a Mug Rug

A small gift was required for a friend, my friend has a Kelpie dog called Sox.  Sox is a well loved and a pampered pooch. A mug rug featuring a Kelpie - was the answer. It was not so easy to find some fabric with a Kelpie, most fabrics are manufactured overseas, the Kelpie is an Australian working sheep dog, most of the fabrics featured Border Collies, Pugs, Dalmatians, Labradors.
I was assured the dog featured is a kelpie, correct me if I am wrong -- it looks very like a chocolate Labrador puppy!

Sox the Kelpie
A mug rug was made, circular quilting with the invisible thread again, my friend was delighted with the mug rug, also the accompanying goodies as well. She chuckled and told me that her Sox had much more white fur, than this pooch on the mug rug.  Ah well --best of a bad lot --the only fabric I could find with a pooch that closely resembled a Kelpie!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Movin on to Bloglovin

After helping in the Shearing Shed this am, these are a couple of photos of this morning's activities.






I am following like a sheep, and moving from Google Reader to Bloglovin.
you can find me here.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Dresden Plate Mug Rug

 
Dresden Mug Rug
 I have been in temporary accommodation with my work place for five months, while a much needed upgrade of the building was attended to. Not only did the building upgrade occur, but a freshen up with new paint and carpet happened as well.  Woo Hoo --it was so needed.  There was a small amount of money remaining in the budget - this was quickly spent on  new office furniture
.
I am back into my work place, not yet fully unpacked, as a little hiccup on the home front occurred that same week.

 The middle 5BN sustained a hard knock at footy, being as stoic as he is - I bandaged the wrist for several days, administered pain relief, and decided it was only a sprain! We jointly decided the injury could be managed by Mum, rather than clog up the queue at A&E with a seemingly little injury.

Lesson learnt - or so I thought- from the previous trip to A&E, only months ago -- where we waited for an indeterminable amount of time to have steri strips and glue applied to this injury-  a clonk with a hockey stick to the nose.


After no improvements re the sore wrist-- were noted into the following week -- maybe it was time we arranged an X-ray,   Yep!!-- a clean total break in his radius -- the long bone in the arm,  As the Orthopaedic Surgeon laughed --no bandage was going to aid the healing of that bone in correct alignment.
No Mother of the Year award will be going to me--that's for sure!!
Large milkshake --calcium needed for the healing process!

Pristine cast.

Back to thinking about the revamped work environment, I decided I needed to sew a Mug Rug to ensure my new desk stays clean.  I auditioned some bright fabrics below.

Careful pinning of some jelly roll strips, as well as other fabrics.
Miss 5BN ably assisted and chose some fabrics in all the colours of the rainbow.  ROYGBIV
ROYGBIV!
 The Dresdens were quick to sew together, I followed the tutorial on Anorina's blog, and had this started, quilted and bound while the Sunday evening roast was in the oven.  Yum Yum




I pinned the Dresdens, and using my recently found invisible thread, I stitched them onto the background, I then quilted the background with a straight stitch, outlining the peaks of the Dresdens.
Using a jelly roll strip of Vintage Modern, I was able to piece the half circle, and bind the Mug Rug.
Cheers!

 
 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Zip Insertion into a Purse/Pouch

Last week, I had the good fortune to be told that the super Lisa would be doing a workshop with the local Patchwork Group. The workshop was to learn to make the wonderful zippered pouches/ purses . Lisa sells a multitude of these at the local Makers gallery, and the local markets, as well as her gorgeous quilts. . I knew I would be learning tips from an expert!  I rearranged my paid work - and skivvied off for the morning.
 
Pink Zippy complete and in use
Purses in a multitude of fabrics and embellishments were on display


Lisa was, as expected, a fun and informative tutor, many hints were shared to make the task of zipper insertion so much quicker and easier--- also less daunting.


All appears to be fine from the inside!  A view of the lining.

I enjoyed a wonderful morning, many thanks Lisa for sharing of your precious time, wisdom and knowledge. The conversation of like minded people is always easy, the group were welcoming, and even better - we came away with a finished product.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Lucky Quilt Block



When Camille released some new patterns recently, "Lucky" caught my eye.

I decided I had time to make one block only to road test this pattern, no time to make a complete quilt, and with the cooler months on us, several quilts are currently on high rotation on the couches in the house, Mr 5BN would nearly have a coronary at the thought of another quilt being added to the mix!
"Lucky"  by Camille.

Auditioning some fabrics
 One block, quilted and bound is the ideal size for a place mat at the table, currently Miss 5BN is the recipient of this orphan block / place mat.

Quilted, bound and complete.

Rotated 180 degrees.

A request for a cosy warm baby blanket this week for newborn Joel.  The two older brothers loved their warm blankets, so this new arrival was not to miss out.   Hunting through the container of cottons, I stumbled across a clear roll of thread, not unlike a fine fishing line, I had not used it in years. I will remember to use this again whilst machine appliqueing, how easy to sew those circle tyres, the fine headlight, also the rear light / bumper bar on this little car. No errors noticed / visible to the naked eye! Wonderful!

Clear thread being sewn with, - nearly invisible to the eye!
 The backing fabric is an absolute delight. It reads as the Used Car Guide in the Classifieds in a newspaper.   Aussie girl, Kellie Wulfsonn is the designer, this range is Peak Hour, by Riley Blake Designs.
The males in this household have avidly read the adverts, wondering should they phone any of the numbers listed! Luckily - it appears the telephone numbers are all a scramble of numbers, none actually listed to the local directory!


Zoom Zoom

Welcome to the world baby Joel, best of luck to you, as you speed through life.