Merry Christmas

It is Christmas Eve and we have just about done all the preparation that we can in readiness for tomorrow.

Our day will consist of Mum, my brother and his family here for a cooked lunch before Mick and I then visit some good friends in the evening.

I just realised I hadn’t taken any photos of our decorations this year.  They are much the same as usual with just a few changes in the entry hall.

My little collection of kitsch nativity scenes has found a new home on the china cabinet, together with my wise men and shepherd.

Our outdoor lights are up, but I haven’t taken a photo.  There seems to be quite a few less around this year, however, our street is still putting on a great show, with most houses joining in.

I have received a new decoration from Lou.

It is front and centre on my twiggy tree that features my collection of very special hand made decorations.

I can now share the one I sent to her.

I’m not sure if this one has been received as yet, so won’t mention the recipient.  They were both fun to make.

So, on that note, I will wish you all Merry Christmas.

It’s Finally Done

After heaps of delays and loads of frustration, the Three Yard Quilt using the novelty dog fabric is finished.  What a relief.

It is definitely not perfect, but it is a donation quilt and will still keep some kid warm.  I’m just pleased that it wasn’t a special quilt or I would have been really disappointed.  

The quilting has lots of imperfections, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances.  Monique is playing better, but still not quite right. After more googling, we have one more thing to try, but that will wait until after Christmas.

In the meantime, I am just happy to have this one over the line.  I will just be quilting donation quilts for the next little while until everything is running nicely again.

I had started this quilt at Baradine in September and it was my Chookshed Challenge project for that month.  This was the final goal to be met from the ten that I chose for the challenge and I’m stoked to have ticked all the boxes in the calendar year. The only projects that weren’t completed were the Laundry Basket Quilt, but the goal was only to progress the quilt, so that was fine, and to work on any EPP.  I worked on my hexies, so that was fine too.

This was my One Monthly Goal for December as well, so happy to also tick that box.

Now, I can concentrate on Christmas.  There’s two days left.  Plenty of time.

Rearranging the Deck Chairs

So, it is less than a week until Christmas.  I should be organising things for the big day, or I should be doing some housework, or I should be tidying my sewing room, or doing some sewing.  But I’m not. 

I seem to be in a bit of a slump.  This is mainly due the fact that Monique is still not playing nicely, despite her visit to the spa.  I want to finish quilting the Three Yard Dog quilt, but it keeps getting put back.

What is a girl to do?  My equivalent of rearranging the sock drawer.  I’ve been organising my sewing threads.  Such a high priority….not.

This is my little set of drawers that sits beside my sewing table.  We bought them at an auction years ago.  They were originally lever arch files.  My Dad enjoyed making little timber boxes, so for one birthday I requested he convert them to drawers.  He did a lovely job of them and even made little divider boxes for a couple of them.

The top drawer houses my cotton threads and the second drawer houses the polyester ones.  Yes, I have way too many threads.  In addition to mine, both my Mum’s, Mick’s Mum’s and ones that have accumulated from various other sources are all crammed in.

Oh, what a mess.  Every now and then I tidy it, but it doesn’t take long to get out of control.  I knew there were duplicates of some colours, so my main aim was to get those duplicates removed and stored separately, so that I would shop for them before actually going shopping.

This is the great setup that Dad made.

Now, doesn’t that look better. I do use lots of colours when I do my machine appliqué, so can justify such a variety of colours.

These were all duplicates.  I didn’t realise the problem was quite that bad.  Removing them has created a bit of space.

These older threads are still fine, and are now kept separately, but in the same drawer.  My aim will be to use them first, where possible.

I seem to have a collection of hand quilting threads, that I didn’t buy.  The other tiny bits left on spools are now sitting beside my machine to get used up in piecing wherever possible.  I have two reels of monofilament, which I have never used.

Now onto the drawer of poly threads.  I forgot to take a before photo, but you can picture it.  It may have even been more out of control than the cotton drawer.  For the record, I very rarely use or buy poly threads.  I occasionally buy one if there is a colour I want for appliqué that isn’t in the cotton range.  Mum did buy me a box of a large collection of Gutermann threads for Christmas one year, so that is where a lot came from.

This is how I ended up.

If I want to use a poly thread I generally just look for a reel in the appropriate colour with no rhyme or reason.  I figured, if I sort them into reel and brand styles, I could try to actually use one sort up first and eventually empty some reels, rather than using a bit off lots of reels of the same or similar colour.  That’s the theory anyway. Also, the little bag at the front of the drawer holds duplicates of poly threads as well.  They will be put aside.

My other plan is to actually use some poly threads for piecing quilts.  I know a lot say you should always use cotton, which I have in the past, as the hot iron can cause the stitches to come apart.  Well, I figure that my clothes are sewn with poly thread and they don’t fall apart when I iron them and I don’t use the hottest setting on my iron.  It just makes sense to get some of these threads used up.

That looks so much better.  Wish me luck in keeping it tidy.

Now to put those duplicates somewhere that I will remember…….

EDIT: For when I can’t remember, the duplicates are in the top of my cream chest of drawers.

Here There and Everywhere - Braidwood Airing of the Quilts - Part 2

In addition to the quilts hung outside there were a couple of exhibitions that we visited.  The first was an Apron Challenge.  The entrants made and adorned an apron, all using the same pattern.

There was such a variety of ideas.  Here are a few.

The Christmas apron was a collaborative effort by a craft group.

The two in the top right consist of squares created by primary school children and their teacher added the to the aprons.  Apparently, there were quite a few made by juniors.

This final one was made from a beautiful cross stitch table cloth and then intricately machine quilted.

The other exhibition was the quilt show.  

Oh my!  There are some talented quilters out there and such a wide variety of styles.  Here are some for you to drool over.

The winner of the best traditional quilt and best hand quilted. Beautiful.

I had to add this one for my Kiwi friends.  It is entitled “Extinction” and depicts the Moa and includes various Māori symbols.

I always love quirky Sue Spargo quilts.

This started as an unfinished top purchased from an op shop.  The maker finished piecing it and then hand quilted it.  I feel the quilting really makes it, as the blocks are so simple.

This beauty was the maker’s first attempt at hand appliqué, completed in a series o Katrina Hadjimichael workshops. The colours are perfect.

This was my viewers choice vote.  It is a Sue Cody pattern.  I just love it.

I always enjoy seeing the various versions of the Field Journal blocks.  So much work in them.

Great use of colour.

You can tell this is a Chris Jurd pattern.  I love the pickle dish block, but don’t know if I will attempt it.  All those curved seams.  Maybe one day.

This one is so simple, but so effective.

Such fun.

This was so effective on the darker background.

So much work in this one.  There is nothing nicer than a traditional medallion quilt.

Mick is always drawn to the Sashiko style quilts.  This one is a beauty.

What a gorgeous treatment of a stunning panel.

And finally, a beautiful African inspired quilt.

By then it was lunch time, so we found a nice cafe and enjoyed a delicous, huge, sandwich.  So big we shared and were still full.

As it was so hot, and we had seen everything that we wanted to, we made the decision to start heading home a day earlier than planned.  We decided to aim for Crookwell, where there is a nice little caravan park, with power - which meant AIR CONDITIONING.  There was no point in sitting for another night in the heat for no reason.

On the way, we drove past some new wind towers.  They seem to be getting taller all the time.

The following morning we got an early start, travelling through the picturesque countryside.  You feel like you are on top of the world.

Crossing the Abercrombie River.

We were home by morning tea time, so plenty of time to empty out the van and get some washing done.  

We don’t expect to use the van for the next few months, as it is too hot, too busy and the garden needs looking after.  Hopefully, we will do some more exploring in the autumn.