Saturday 28 March 2020

What's Been Happening......

It's been rather quiet around here today.  No children playing in the street and very little traffic.  People seem to be heeding the advice we have been given.


We haven't left home at all today, and only for a walk around the neighbourhood yesterday, keeping a safe distance from anyone else walking.  This chapel is not far our home.  You can't see it from the road, so we strolled through the parkland past it.  Mick didn't even know it was there.
On Thursday, when we were battling the supermarket for hopefully the last time for a week or so, I was contacted by Chookyblue to call in at Anni's shop, The Home Patch, to collect a package, which I duly did.  Good timing.  It appears that those of us who were to attend the cancelled Scrub Stitchin' at Baradine next weekend will be working on something together.  No peeking at our packages until instructed by Chooky.  I reckon she loves being a bit bossy. LOL  That's something to look forward to.


While I was down at the shop I did make a couple of purchases, as you do.  Today was the last day that the shopfront was open for now.  They are just doing mail order until all this is over and done with.


I've made the most recent blocks in Moda Blockheads 3.


Last week's.


All the blocks up to that stage.


Yesterday I made this week's.  It is nice and cheerful. Just what is needed.

Today has been a quiet one at home. 


Mick has been pottering in the garden and picking more produce.  We picked about a punnet of raspberries yesterday as well.  So good to finally starting to get a harvest.


We also were able to pick four little strawberries off this plant.  Mick found it at the church fete in spring.  It has the prettiest pink flowers and very sweet elongated fruit.

For lunch we had zucchini fritters, cooked on the barbie, made with our own zucchinis and button squash and served with home made tomato sauce.  Rather yummy. 


As the weather was nice I decided that it would be rather lovely to set up a sewing machine on the back verandah and work on my Splendid Sampler 2 blocks.  I also thought it would be nice to use my little baby Elna Stella that I've had since I was sixteen.  I haven't used her for simply ages.

Plan A was to make a foundation paper pieced block.  There are a couple of blocks in the quilt that I don't want to make, so I want replace them with blocks that I love from Splendid Sampler 1. There is a block with a dress that I thought I could do.


Oh my!  What a mess, just to choose fabrics for one six inch square block.


The pattern is rather detailed.  Actually, the most detailed FPP block I will have done, to date, with the fiddliest tiny pieces of fabric.  It was a bit breezy outside, so I abandoned that idea.  Everything is ready to go, so that will be my next inside stitching job.

So, I still wanted to do some sewing outside.  What to do?  Well, my plan this month was to do sashings on another twenty of the blocks as leaders and enders.  That hadn't really got off the ground.


Therefore, I cut sashings, after tidying up the above mess, and got stitching.  I now have 35 blocks with sashings attached.  I still have to press the final seams, but will do that tomorrow, when I do the ironing.

It was so nice to sit outside.  It was also nice to use my little machine.  She does sew beautifully.  I may have to do more machine sewing on the verandah when the weather is nice.  Hopefully, I can sneak a bit more in before the weather gets too cold.


Other random things were doing the washing.  Not exactly memorable, except that I washed a tissue!  Blast, blast and double blast!  I haven't done that in ages.  Of course it was in a load of dark coloured clothes, including quite a few fleecy items.  The lint roller is going to get quite a work out.


Finally, we were able to buy some hot cross buns at the supermarket.  We were given some cinnamon tea at Christmas, so thought it would go rather well with them.  A few months ago we found this cute teapot with vintage cosy at an op shop in Orange.  Time to give it a whirl.  I'm not a big tea drinker and have never used a cosy before.  I was surprised how hot it kept the tea.  A very civilised way to have afternoon tea on the front verandah.

10 comments:

ButterZ said...

It sounds like you had a really great day. Lots to talk about.

loulee said...

Wow, you've been very busy.
My gran always had a tea cosy, I remember making a great long length with my knitting dolly and she stitched it up in the correct shape to fit her teapot. She used that for years and years.

Jenny said...

Afternoon tea looks rather posh! We haven't had any hot cross buns yest and I hope to buy some when e do a grocery shop early next week, running low on perishables. It's always nice to sit and sew outside in the good weather.

Ali Honey said...

Thanks for the tip of sewing outside...I usually only do handwork there.
Tea cosies and Grandmothers seems a shared memory.
I intend to try making my own hot cross buns ( experimental, but have ideas )

Fiona said...

Nice to get in a bit of a walk... and I love the idea of sitting outside to sew... maybe I should get my Stella out and join you. I don't have a proper table out there so will pull out my folding one... I remember that little dress block, it's so pretty but soooooo fiddly.. I did struggle with it.

Love the sashings that are happening.. going to be a lovely quilt...

Hugz

kiwikid said...

You have been busy Janice, your blocks all look great, I like the idea of sewing outside, like others I usually only do hand stitching out on the deck. (Or reading 😁😁) great produce from the garden and I like the sound of zucchini fritters. My exciting walk today will be up the back yard 🤣🤣, that is good to find new things in your neighborhood . My Mum and grand mother always had a tea cosy and it is surprising how warm it kept the tea. Sounds like a wonderful day Janice.

Cheryll said...

You and Mick get up to some "neat" things... keep on posting your adventures for us to enjoy...xox

Susan said...

So much in one post - enjoy your secret challenge - a great idea Miss Chooky. I don't drink a lot of tea either and usually use a tea bag (jsut lazy) but a teapot with a cosy is lovely.
Cinnamon tea sounds lovely - and a Hot Cross bun - whoa!

I loved that dress in Splendid Sampler - didn't do the quilt - but it was one of my favourite blocks.
Lovely to make use of your old machine - you should get it out every so often anyway just to keep it working...even if you don't actually sew on it - just press down on the foot pedal...

Love you blocks...enjoy the book - I got it at our last show - was lovely to see Anni as a retailer as she doesnt usually come up here.

happy Sunday

Karen's Korner said...

Gorgeous blocks and yes it is nice sewing outside for a change. Tea cosies are very big sellers at the hospital auxillary stall that I volunteer on. I think that we are all going to appreciate our areas from now on. Looking forward to seeing what you girls are going to be making.

Raewyn said...

Sewing on the deck sounds like a fabulous idea - shame about the breeze! Lovely to have a splendid afternoon tea - it does sound rather civilised. (Waiting, waiting, waiting for my Anni package...!)