Chloe's Place

Blogiversary missed!

2012-01-09T17:29:00.003+11:00

The incredible sharonb is having her blogiversary - and that reminded me that I was somewhere in January, too, only a year later. Sharon was one of the first, on 9 January 2004.

So I am two days late remembering mine - having started on 7 January 2005. Here is my first post - and that UFO is still not finished, although it is much further down the line. If you don't believe me, you can check it out HERE. :)

So do drop over and wish sharon all the best - she has started a lot of us off on a really rewarding path - and has some thought-provoking insights into the world of blogging. She has blogged consistently most days, whereas I have dropped in and dropped out as family pressures take precedence. But it has still given me a wonderful record of what I have been doing, many friends, and an opportunity to write - some of us just have to write!

Purple Purse embellished

2012-01-08T19:13:00.003+11:00

I started on this purse last August, as something to stitch on while my mother was having treatment, and also to use a piece of tatting by Ann, from my mother's hostel.

It is now to the stage where embellishing is finished, and it is ready to be made up. I just need to get to a store to buy wadding and some stiffener. Can't find any of mine.

I was going for an "all-over" treatment that would allow me to show off the colours - all seams are in the same crossed herringbone I love, in Madiera Metallicas gold, with the same vine wandering across the block. It is in crochet cotton, which I am using increasingly. It is just random fly stitch, where I have gone over it with a second time to make each arm a leaf of flowers.

I spent a fair bit of time thinking about how to embellish the tatting. In the end I went for a small clear bead, sewn on with silver Madiera Metallica. The picture really doesn't do it justice. The beads in a packet are fairly ordinary clear, but once they are attached with the silver thread, they really sparkle. They were sewn on twice in the first pass, and then again once more on a second pass, with a different thread, to make sure they stay attached on a purse that may be handled a fair bit.

The beading took a bit of thought. I was right with the centre circle, then initially I wanted to fill in each loop. After a while, realised that a small bead for emphasis showed off the loops better, just sitting in there like a little flower, nestled in the pointy part.

The Christmas ornie I started is ready for piecing, so it is "what next". Think it might be a purple version of a doggie vest I have made once before.

Much Excitement!

2012-01-08T16:10:00.001+11:00

Much excitement here.

Only about three sleeps to go.

Why? Here is a clue.

Christmas Ornie Pattern

2012-01-06T18:56:00.003+11:00

It is always a compliment when someone asks for a pattern. The incomparable Leslie at Pinyon Creek Stitchin has asked for the pattern of the Christmas ornies I am currently making.

They look like this:

and are dead simple. This one was my favourite, that I kept for myself. For too many years I didn't keep one for myself.

First, a few more years ago, I started just doing four inch squares, and they turned out like this:

The clue is if you look at the one on the right. It definitely is not a square when it is filled, it is starting to go star-shaped, due to the amount of filling. So I decided to see what would happen if I took a square, and took a tiny "bite" out of each side, like this:

The template is a large dinner plate - if you want an even pointier star, use a bread and butter plate.

You end up with a pattern like this, based on a four-inch square:

This is the stitching line - you need to add a quarter of an inch seam allowance.

When I was making these ornaments two years ago, I posted a lot of descriptions on my blog HERE - just go down to the end of that month, and read from the bottom towards the top. There is also a set on Flickr, but without as much detail.

Two quick hints on making them up -

When I make them up, instead of trying to hand-stitch the last slit on the side (which brings them out uneven), I make the reverse out of two pieces of fabric sewn together, and once I have sewn around all the sides (with right sides together), I unpick part of the slit across the back, turn it the right way out, fill, and sew the slit up again. I don't get too fussed with how the reverse looks, but if you don't like it, you could always sew a bit of lace across it.

And I now like them with a dimple in the centre, so they are not too "fat". I use a button on both sides to get tension, but you might be able to get away with a large bead on each side if you wished.

Enjoy - remember there are detailed pictures on Flickr.

Christmas Ornies started!

2012-01-05T16:32:00.002+11:00

I know this may sound silly. Very silly. But I have started my 2012 Christmas ornies in January.

There are a few reasons. There is an absolute luxury of tennis and cricket on here to watch at the minute, so I am watching. When that happens, I like something small on which to work - something I will get finished. More and more I am liking the thought of working on very small pieces. Which I probably will not even keep. I missed having a few to pass on this Christmas.

But more than that - I am going to play with the idea of making up a stock of them, and somehow selling a few near Christmas for the auxiliary of the hostel where my mother is.

But all the time experimenting with stitches and techniques on each one. And using a tiny bit of tatting on each.

And maybe a few other things - when I can find them all again. So this is the first one, just hand-pieced, as I was too lazy to get out the machine. I need to revisit piecing, as I can see some parallel lines on there - and them I do not like.

So I shall take it as a challenge to see if I can disguise them.

Stay tuned.

Hello 2012

2011-12-31T21:42:00.002+11:00

Hello Everyone,

My Orts Jar on 31 December 2011. As a commitment to Sharon B to post quarterly. I have something special in hand for the next three years of orts.

Almost no stitching done in the last three months. But as of 25 November, I am living permanently in one house. And all my stash is in this house. Even if I cannot find most of it.

Roll on the extension!

I hope everyone has a happy, safe and healthy New Year - with lost of time to stitch, lots of inspiration. Throw in World Peace, and it would be pretty good.

xXx

New Orts Jar

2011-09-19T06:55:00.002+10:00

I am running late with my Orts Jar post - it was due to be up on 1 September. But do I have news!!!!

I am not sewing a lot, as we have extensive family business, part of which took me away for a while. While away, there I was in Highpoint in Marybynong, looking for a present for someone in hospital, and we found Happy Lab.

I know nothing about this shop - whether it is a chain from overseas, or something just starting here, except that it is a shop full of lollies in beautiful clear plastic bottles that mimic laboratory equipment. It is supposed to mimic that taking pills (lollies) is good for you. I think! Lovely lollies - this one was full of little aniseed jelly beans, that lasted for ever. Even the staff are dressed in white lab coats.

Suddenly, I was in a shop full of different Orts Jars, and I only bought one! I need to go back. They had racks of test tubes, that would make brilliant ones, where I could rack up a few years in a row. And beautiful laboratory beakers.

I had the camera, and didn't even take a picture!

All I have is this, my little miniature Orts Crystal Ball, about three and a half inches, or 8cm tall. I think there were bigger ones, but not sure.

I need to go back. Hopefully next weekend.

This Orts Jar started HERE.

Purse moving slowly

2011-08-03T11:06:00.000+10:00

The purse is moving along slowly - but it will happen!

Orts Jar for July

2011-07-19T09:10:00.002+10:00

Ooops, running a little late. I should have posted my Orts Jar on 1 July, but I suppose 19 july is better than not at all.

Not a lot of thread got into it in the last three months, but there is a little bit going in now. I am sitting around too long in hospitals with various people, not to fill time with stitching.

So what am I working on?

I have pieced a quick purple clutch purse, to place one of Ann's pieces of tatting. I think this might be a raffle piece for the hostel where Ann and my Mum live.

Tatting from Ann

2011-07-08T14:14:00.001+10:00

Tatting by Ann, at my Mother's hostel. The challenge now is to make something to sew them on to, and frame it for them.

The ladies want a purple bock. Surprise, surprise!

Off to sort some fabrics, find a trolley for the machine etc. Sunday seems like a good time to go down to start.

International Women's Day Dolls

2011-03-11T17:06:00.002+11:00

The two Comfort Dolls from International Women's Day are finished. The third is yet to be finished, but I am keeping her for myself. Deb worked on the beading on the one above, and we had a lovely time sitting out in the arcade outside her shop, nattering to whoever came along. Highlight? The 19yo butcher's apprentice, who knew all about textiles. I was impressed!

This is Deb, beading away in a quiet time:

Note the mugs. A visit to Deb's emporium often involves elegant mugs, or ever more elegant cups and saucers.

Thanks Deb, for being part of this.

Now I just need to get organised, and the dolls will be off to Brenda at the Comfort Doll Project. You can see the rest of my dolls HERE. Not sure what sort I will do next.

Comfort Doll 12

2011-03-06T16:32:00.003+11:00

Comfort Doll #12 is stitched and ready to bead. Only #11 to finish the stitching before Tuesday.

I had forgotten how much I like random Feather Stitch made up into flowers.

The heart is not as obvious on this one, but will be when it is beaded.

Orts Jar three months in

2011-03-04T13:18:00.001+11:00

Orts Jar, 1 March 2011. Three months in, and a lot of purple, green and white in there.

Doll #13 Stitched

2011-02-27T19:16:00.004+11:00

Comfort Doll #13 is stitched, ready for beading on 8 March. There is no sense to the order in which I am working - I just pick up 11, 12 or 13 as the moment finds me.

I now have the afternoon filled for 8 March - I will be out in the coffee shop at Old Gippstown, raising a coffee cup to Sarah Carter. The dolls will be travelling with me.

NB this is a digitally altered (ie cropped) image. All the backing cloth is still there in real life to keep it in the hoop.

More progress

2011-02-25T11:43:00.002+11:00

Remember these "blanks"?

They are starting to grow some personality!

Suffragette Doll progress

2011-02-22T10:29:00.002+11:00

Doll #12 is in progress.

And arrangements are made for 10am to 12 midday on International Women's Day, 8 March. I will be sitting at Jessiez Jewelz, stitching away happily. Midday I will be off down the arcade to The Butchers Dog to lunch and stitch. After that - still up in the air, but I have one option still being pursued.

Here be Dolls

2011-02-18T18:17:00.002+11:00

Okey Dokey - I am up and at it. The target is to have three dolls ready to stitch on International Women's Day on 8 March. Be a soda! Might make more yet.

Step 1

This is a bit more complicated than necessary, as I have settled on an exact size for the dolls that fits between two hoops.

Step 1 - find something like the 6 inch plate of craftwood I had made when I was doing stumpwork. This picture shows it in a 6 inch hoop, flush with the top, to give you an idea of size. If you were making a six inch doll, it would be perfect.

Trouble is, I am making one just a little bit bigger.

Step 2 - put fabric in 8 inch hoop, and round plate below. You need to draw on this side first, and then take it to a window to use as a light box, and duplicate the design on the other side.

You could do this without hooping, just I like the tension on the fabric when I am drawing. And all I use is a biro.

With the six inch plate I have to move it around a bit. Might get an 8 inch plate made.

Step 3 - take the fabric out of the hoop and piece across it, using a flip and sew action. I only used four pieces of fabric per doll. I am piecing in purple and green, then adding white lace, which will give me the Suffragette colours.

And here be dolls:

I know they don't look much yet, so I am off to stitch around the line on the back, and then trim.

Counting Down to 8 March

2011-02-17T13:31:00.001+11:00

Hmmm, warming up the iron. Ready to put together a couple of Suffragette Comfort Dolls for 8 March. Have just been to my current favourite cafe and triple checked the coffee is what I want to be drinking that day (it is).

Watch this space. Time to do some sewing.

And the Stash is going to ...

2011-01-21T20:14:00.002+11:00

Names were put on paper, one was chosen with eyes shut, and

Drumroll.................

500gm of stash is heading for Sharon in Melbourne. Hope you enjoy it.

If the others would like to drop me a note on kapana[at]ausvic[dot]net with a snail mail address (need yours, too, Sharon), I will slip a little bit in a normal envelope for you. Motifs and lace go a long way.

Arlene, do we KNOW if any CQ people have lost stashes? If we do, I will see what I can scratch up.

Any Aussies out there reading ....

2011-01-17T18:31:00.001+11:00

Any Aussies out there reading this who would like some lace, embellishments and other goodies?

I am having to do some serious stash reduction. So if you are an Australian, and would like 500gm of this pile, leave a comment on this blog. Some time after midnight on Thursday night, AEST, I will put all names in a hat and pull one out.

Really sorry to overseas readers - postage just makes it too difficult to send out bulky stuff, and bulk is what I have to reduce.

Comfort Doll 10 finished

2011-01-16T10:10:00.003+11:00

Comfort Doll 10 is finished, and I think I am getting closer to the shape I want.

Here she is with her immediate two predecessors - No.9 is on the left, and No.8 is on the right. It was a matter of both shape and size.

So I have drawn a pattern - you can find it HERE, if you would like to have a got at one too. She is a tad over five inches high. The pattern looks a little like Caspar the Friendly Ghost.

I like working with one piece of fabric - quick and easy. But I like working with pieced ones as well - just have to be that little more careful not to get seams in sensitive places when turning it out. I leave the bottom open now, and bead it closed at the finish.

You can see the whole lot on my Flickr set. There are five of them now in a bag waiting, but I am going to keep them with me until March 8th, International Women's Day, and then make a decision about whether they go to a refuge in Australia, or across to Comfort Doll HQ.

Comfort Doll 10 on the hoop

2011-01-15T08:35:00.002+11:00

Comfort Doll 10 is on the hoop. Well, she keeps jumping hoops actually. She is one piece of fabric, for a quick test of the modified pattern, but needs to be set up on the 8" hoop then moved to the 6" hoop as I can't reach the centre easily to sew.

She was supposed to be fast (only silver or white threads), but I did find some DMC perle 5 white thread. This is a beautiful, thick, soft thread, in the twisted fly stitch at the top. It is perfect for that.

Comfort Doll 9 finished

2011-01-13T18:48:00.002+11:00

Comfort Doll 9 is finished - she is almost exactly six inches tall, which is the upper limit for dolls in the project.

This is my first one off the eight inch hoop. but I am still going to modify the pattern. Off to try another one - maybe just out of one piece of fabric.

And here she is with her smaller sister. This one was much easier to work with and finish than the smaller ones.

The previous dolls, and a link to the project, can be found in my Flickr set.

Not a lot of sewing or posting going on around here at the moment - we are all very saddened by the flooding in Queensland. Our hearts go out to them.

Fly Stitch Combo

2011-01-10T08:55:00.003+11:00

This combo is in response to Sharon B's challenge over on Stitchin Fingers to post something with Fly Stitch. You can see a slightly larger one HERE.

I was wanting to experiment with the Twisted Fly Stitch flowers in pink, and they don't look bad from a distance. But close up they are a bit raggedy.

The stitching order was:

Line 1 - Chevron Stitch (that was easy!)

Line 2 - one Fly Stitch where the locking stitch goes over the Chevron Stitch, finished with a Pistil Stitch (I do this a lot)

Line 3 - Three French knots on every second Chevron Stitch, topped with a Fly Stitch closed with a Pistil Stitch (Beware - hard to get consistent)

Line 4 - on the intervening Chevron Stitches, in pink: a single twisted Fly Stitch on each side, closed with a Pistil Stitch, then three Twisted Fly Stitches up the centre, closed with a Pistil Stitch.

Line 5 - Stars in cream with two Fly Stitches, one almost on top of the other, facing opposite ways.

Phew!

Dolls 8 and 9

2011-01-09T17:29:00.002+11:00

Comfort Doll 8 is finished, and was a bit of a trial. She is a bit like all of us, has odd bumps all over the place where they shouldn't be. She was only four and half inches tall in the end, and was just too small. So I have moved to the 8" hoop. Here she is for comparison with Doll 9.

I like the system of just fanning a couple of pieces of fabric across. Just need to make sure that none of the seams are in a delicate corner when turning.

The dolls before her are in my Flickr set, where there is also a link to the Comfort Doll Project. Still working on the perfect pattern.

Two Days Late

2011-01-09T10:15:00.003+11:00

Sharon, the Queen of Bloggers, is over at her blog celebrating her 7th Blogiversary. Many Happy returns Sharon.

It made me check - I know I am some time in January. Rats! Missed it by two days. I started blogging on 7 January 2005. And the UFO I blogged then is still unfinished. But I have at least joined the blocks. Does that count as progress?

Current state at Flickr (It is the Peacock Wall Hanging)

Orts Jar

2011-01-09T08:32:00.002+11:00

Not an exciting photo, I know - but it is my first Orts Jar. And it should be very interesting by the end of 2011. Orts are little leftover scraps - in this case threads left on the needle when a seam is finished. From my life elsewhere, I know it is difficult to photograph clear glass with a flash, but thought I would put it on here anyway.

The reason for picking a sauce bottle - the narrower the bottle, the more defined will be the different layers - except they will probably all be purple, pink, green and white anyway - but the idea is to see if they are.

And ward off some evil spirits.

There is much discussion on Orts Jars over on Stitchin Fingers. I am off to stitch - and try to resist going out to buy a lovely narrow bottle of pickled asparagus, which I love very much. Just for the bottle, mind you.

Tomorrow will be Two months to .....

2011-01-07T16:47:00.004+11:00

It is two months today to the centenary of International Women's Day, on 8 March. Although I do not go deeply into the politics, I do have an interest in the original Suffragettes. Those who have known me for a while know I have a tendency to branch off into all sorts of combinations of purple green and white, and the badge, above, is an early suffragette one that I wear on occasion.

And I like to pause and do something on the day, in celebration of the fact that I am a woman in a country where I have freedom to make choices. So I will definitely be doing something on the occasion of the one hundreth such day.

At this point, I think I will take my stitching, and sit and stitch all over the place in public. I am sure the local bead shop will let me have a little bit of space in the morning, there is a nice cafe just down the mall where I can have lunch while I stitch, and I am not sure where I will go for the afternoon. Guerrilla Stitching may be in order - I may even go and sit and stitch in the local shopping plaza.

On what shall I stitch? I think it will be a purple, green and white Comfort Doll, for the Comfort Doll Project. Somehow, it seems appropriate. And if any other Stitchers see me and come up and talk (we Stitchers tend to be a forward lot that way, you should see how people approach me when I am Tatting in public, like in hospital waiting rooms), I shall have little bits of paper with the URL handy for the blogspot.

Is anyone else likely to do the same thing - or have any ideas?

Apple Blossom Block 8

2011-01-07T16:31:00.003+11:00

Just a quick post to show off progress (not all that fast) on Block 8. The dark green seam is where I was trying to get my eye in doing Herringbone at three different lengths - it is not easy. It was then finished with Pistil Stitch.

I've previously posted the Twisted Fly Stitch, but the Chevron Stitch combination at bottom right is new.

Step 1 - Chevron Stitch in Hot Pink

Step 2 - Rows of Fly Stitch on each side in light green (I cross from side to side - two stitches one side, cross to the other side, two stitches that side, cross back). Make sure the one on the bottom has the locking stitch from the Fly Stitch locking over the Chevron Stitch as well.

Step 3 - One one side do a Detached Chain closed with a French Knot, on the other a Pistil Stitch. Again, I cross from side to side in groups of two, but you might be happier working one side and then the other.

I like closing Detached Chain with a French Knot at the minute.

And I had fun with it the way of embellishing the tatting. Except that mercerised crochet cotton does not like doing French Knots I am tending now to use three wraps for the French Knots, not the standard two.

The Wogga is back

2011-01-02T18:08:00.003+11:00

I have found my missing Wogga Blocks. The full story is in the Flickr set. Where were they? Safe is a side pocket of my sewing bag. Trouble is, my resevoir of narrow lace was not with them, but that is the only thing I am seriously missing now.

This block had not previously been posted.

But I find I only have three blocks so far in this series. Back to the sewing machine (as I can find the raw ingredients) and I will have a heap more naked seams with which to play.

Sane quilters would have horrors over these blocks, as they are so warped. But I just crochet an edge, and join - the crochet is very forgiving.

Meditation on a Seam

2011-01-02T17:58:00.003+11:00

I was really sure I was "over" Twisted Fly Stitch. I was. So I picked up a block, and started to do a basic Feather Stitch treatment of a seam, to work on later. I was just one stitch into it, when I realised that Feather Stitch was just a chain of joined Fly Stitches, so would twist as well.

And it did, but not very successfully. Even when I put a fair bit of pressure on it, and only used very small stitches. So dash it, I went along it again, and sort of "tied" it with a small locking stitch. This was the result - Tied Twisted Feather Stitch. Bet that isn't in any stitch dictionary.

I sort of liked it a bit, as a knobbly Feather Stitch.

So what to add? First I went along it in the pink. working a Fly Stitch that I closed with a French Knot, instead of a straight stitch. Then I added a straight stitch in the middle, sort of following but curving the arm of the Feather Stitch.

I was a bit restricted for colour on the other side - I didn't want to put the candy pink on the salmon pink, and didn't want to confuse things with white. These blocks have very limited colours. So I went for green, working two opposite Fly Stitches on top of each other at the end of the arm, to form a star. They took up a bit of room, so I did a French Knot every second arm.

Another Stitch Combination is born. But I need to escape from the Feather Stitch and Fly Stitch for a while.

Attack of the Twisted Fly Stitch

2011-01-02T09:39:00.005+11:00

It had to come - I have discovered Twisted Fly Stitch, and have an excess of naked seams on my new Apple Blossom blocks. You can find directions for the Stitch HERE, although I do it a little differently. All I do is, when the needle comes up through the fabric to make the "tail" of the normal Fly Stitch, I avoid going through the V, and come around it and go into it from the front, and the V twists. (Yes, I discovered it by accident, then Maureen B had to tell me what it was)

Anyways, being Feather Stitch Tragic, I had to try for a few combinations.

Feather Stitch, one arm to a side. Second pass in green two Detached Chains. One on side one (the lower side) continues the line of the arm, the other makes up the pair. On the other side, one comes out at right angles to the arm, and the other points directly down to make the pair.

The bottom line then has Detached Chain with a Twisted Fly Stitch on top of it, then a Pistil Stitch. The top line has a Twisted Fly Stitch and a Pistil Stitch. There is a slightly larger version HERE.

This version was worked in a fine crochet cotton, and I don't think the stitches bulked up enough. I went in search of something else in my colours, and found some vintage knitting rayon in my late Mother-in-law's stash. It didn't fit with the all-cotton policy of this work, but I argued it would put a little bit of her in this work, so off I went.

Feather Stitch with two arms to a side. Second pass lower arm gets a Detached Chain pointing down, upper arm two French Knots and a middle Pistil Stitch.

Pink and white flowers are a varying number of Twisted Fly Stitch, finished with a Pistil Stitch. The slightly larger version is HERE. At the end, I didn't think the rayon was the right thread either - I went looking for a thick perle cotton.

Feather Stitch with two arms to a side. Second pass lower arm gets a Twisted Fly Stitch, upper arm gets a Detached Chain with a Twisted Fly Stitch on top of it, then a Pistil Stitch.

Pink Stitches are Twisted Fly Stitch in varying numbers, finished with a Pistil Stitch.

So that was it - I think I am over Twisted Fly Stitch for a while. I have put all these in my Flickr set for Feather Stitch, if you are after more combinations. I'm off to Sharon's Stitch Modules to see what else I can try. Might even get to watch more tennis (the season has hit in Australia) on the TV while I work. Cricket coming tomorrow.

Back to the Apple Blossom

2011-01-01T08:54:00.002+11:00

I am back at work on the Apple Blossom Quilt. You can see more of it in the Flickr set HERE.

Yesterday I pieced another six blocks for it, making a total of twelve. Not sure if this is the final number, and it will make a nice square wall hanging, or if it will go on to be a quilt. This block, above, is the last that my Mother was embroidering - I will finish that embroidery (I did think of leaving it unfinished), and make it the signature block. Must get Mum to write her initials fairly large, and embroider them on. The year gets finished when it gets finish. I mean, it was started in 1948!

There are still a lot of the unembroidered pieces, where I could use one to a block and embroider them after they are pieced.

Because the truth is - I really made these blocks so I can go all-out for 2011 on Sharon's Stitch Modules. I need the naked seams!

And, as an end-thought, which is probably the most important of the lot - I am meditating on personal style. This work is probably closest to where I am at, at the moment. I really prefer working with just threads and pieces of tatting (narrow laces gets a look in on other things, and seed beads), rather than lots of things that get just sewn on. The threads I use for this are almost all crochet cottons in particular colours.

It doesn't mean I am giving all the rest away, but a lot of my buttons which are too big to use are off to a friend so she and her grand-daughter can have a granny's button bottle together. But I will keep the small pearl ones.

Well, that didn't work!

2010-12-31T09:01:00.002+11:00

Ooooh, and she looked so lovely, But she wouldn't turn without splitting at seams, and pulling the wrong way. So not possible to make up at this stage.

Comfort dolls are six inches max, and this one was just under five inches. I need that extra size, so I am off to an eight inch hoop. This size makes a beautiful small doll, when it works, but only with very thin fabrics. Once you hit the satins, the trouble starts. And it didn't help that I had an incorrect thread on the machine. Aaaagh!

I think I will bind this one, by hand, and just keep her as a beautiful piece of work. Unless I make a body and stitch the one with the binding to that. Lot of work though - might need to keep her for a while.

Hot day coming up - might be time to make some blocks inside.

Comfort Doll 8 on the hoop

2010-12-30T09:09:00.002+11:00

Doll 8 is on the hoop. I have actually drawn a pattern for this one, and will modify / keep it depending on the finished shape.

Piecing was a quick fan-piecing. It minimises things going wrong in the turns, and actually allows a reasonable length of seam to get a good stitch combination going.

And I have found enough narrow lace to have a bit of a choice. Still haven't found my main box though.

These dolls are working out to about two days each, when I do them individually, and spend a fair bit of time on them. May not be able to do that once the holidays are over.

Comfort Doll 7 finished

2010-12-29T10:14:00.002+11:00

Doll 7 is finished - I never know what shape they will be, as I freehand them, until they are trued out. Not totally happy with this one, so I am (shack, horror!) drawing a pattern. The slightest change makes huge differences in the arms. Looking back, this shape has to be my favourite.

And I am almost out of faces. I draw a circle on cloth, my mother fills in the detail, and I colour them with watercolour pencils after they are sewn on. There are pictures of the process in the Comfort Doll set.

This is a closeup of the most recent one. The trick with watercolour pencils, to get intensity of colour (eg lips) is to slightly dampen the pencil.

Off to draft a pattern.

Comfort Doll 7 on the hoop

2010-12-28T09:01:00.002+11:00

Comfort Doll 7 is on the hoop. This one is based on an unfinished (ie unused) handkerchief. My mother got a lot of them from a factory for quilting.

But the really good news is that i have found my gold fabric box - and the red/scarlet one was with it, and I hadn't even missed it. Sounds like nice colours for next Christmas.

Now, why the narrow lace box wasn't there too is the question.

Spirit / Comfort Doll 6

2010-12-27T06:22:00.003+11:00

Spirit Doll #6 is finished (apart from wings, if she is getting any). I am enjoying making these, as I have now come up with a quick, easier method. So more will follow. I am unsure what I will do with them - send them off to the main project in the USA, or get together enough here to send them to an Australian refuge. Or maybe persist with seeing if they are needed in aged-care hostels. The women there love little animals and flowers on their walkers, and it helps them (and the staff) know whose walker is whose.

Although I think I like the idea of an Australian refuge, if I can get a dozen together.

On the Hoop

2010-12-26T08:32:00.002+11:00

We do a lot of quiet sitting and talking over Christmas, so I was just looking for something small on which to work. Where all the extra bits didn't take up too much on the couch beside me.

So it was out with the scraps from the tree decorations, and a quick spirit / comfort doll.

She hasn't told me yet if she would like to be an angel. But I know I can add wings later.

I hope everyone had a beautiful, joyous, peaceful Christmas, and that you are enjoying the holidays.

My own tree decoration finished

2010-12-24T08:31:00.002+11:00

Our own Christmas Tree Decoration for this year is finished - not that I have a tree up, mind you. It was worth it working on the four before it, as it really refined my ideas. The changes for this one are:

I worked seams in different stitches, but went away from the metallic gold thread, as I didn't want to take from the angel. She is a vintage one I have had for years.

The Angel stood out too much on the original star, so I recessed the centre using a pearl button back and front, and pulling threads through it. You can see the button on the front (maybe I should have used beads there?), but I don't think it detracts.

All my snowflakes were too big so I worked a smaller one to the same pattern, but in a finer cotton. I like it better, although they are a little harder to do. But much more delicate.

The bow is from an earring I had previously deconstructed.

The bow at the top was tied using satin ribbon and gold ribbon floss at the same time. With practice, I may be able to do even more together.

I did think about beading the edges, as I do with comfort/spirit dolls, but decided against it. Simplicity is the word.

If you would like to see all my Christmas Tree Decorations, they are HERE. It is amazing how many blog posts they have worked out to.

So it is finished, and hanging. Time to dig out my journal and do some entries, and to cook the chook for tomorrow. And to queue to try to buy prawns.

I hope everyone has a Peaceful and Joyous Christmas.

The View from my Desk

2010-12-23T10:43:00.004+11:00

We don't have a Christmas Tree this year, and all my Tree Decorations are down with my mother in the hostel. Except for my Angels. I have been sort of collecting one a year for a few years, although don't ask me which is which.

So I thought Jean's Angel might like to hang around with her sisters for a little while, before heading off to Jean in time for Christmas.

A couple of these are special though. The white knitted one is the work of my late Mother-in-Law, who was a wonderful craftswoman. The one obscuring the dog's face is an Australian piece of craftwork with an abalone shell shirt - my Beloved gave it to me last Christmas.

And the green stone one just below it sits at my desk to watch over me every day.

Quiet day coming up today.

Retro-fitting Angel Wings

2010-12-22T19:33:00.003+11:00

I have been busy, busy, busy. Because I have been struck by rare brilliance (says she modestly). I made this Spirit Doll a while ago, and she was supposed to find a home with someone who needed her. There is someone special she needs to go to right now, but since it is Christmas, she is going as a Christmas Angel.

First step was to make a template for her wings. To do this, grab any handy Angel, and copy shape in right size.

Next, it is do what I say, not what you see me do.

Choose a front fabric and a backing fabric. Make a seam through the FRONT fabric, and press open, the same technique I used for making up the Tree Decorations.

Draw the double set of wings on the backing fabric, including a seam allowance.

Sandwich the front and backing fabric, so the seam is from top to bottom where the wings join. (This example was worked with the seam in the backing fabric). [Must experiment with including wire in making them up]

Pin and sew just inside the line you have drawn. Trim, nick the fabric along the seams so they turn well, unpick the seam between the two sides of the wings, and turn the right way out. Press.

Fill with a little Dacron, using the split skewer technique, and stitch detail into the wings. Further fill out the points in the wings.

Attach wings at back - in this case, as my seam then showed, I added a line of beads down the back. If the seam had been on the front fabric, it would have been hidden by the body.

And that's it - I added a festive garland, and she is finished.

I think I like retro-fitting Spirit Dolls with Angel Wings - there are going to be a lot more next Christmas.

Now to get back to my own Tree Decoration for Christmas.

Making Bows

2010-12-22T09:57:00.003+11:00

Time for me to admit one of the failings that has bedevilled me all my life. I have never been able to tie bows. Not the nice little ones where the loops and the ends run the same direction.

Once, I admitted this to a friend, who blithely said "Just tie reef knots". I am quite used to them, having spent a long time around the Scout Association. I know how to tie them behind my back in the dark with gloves on.

But it didn't do them any better.

Then, suddenly, when I was making the bows for the Tree Decorations, it hit me. You tie the first half of the reef knot, manipulate them a bit (ie pull the right bits), and you have a perfect little bow.

So there was I making them up and cackling like a witch in Macbeth.

So on the tree decorations, the system was:

Tie a loop of cord with an overhand knot. Let the ends hang out a little, and tack it to the top front of the decoration, using Madeira Metallics Old Gold. Then tack on the bow.

Bring the thread to the front from the back, pick up two seed beads, one feature bead and two seed beads, and go through the ribbon to the back. Tie off.

If you don't like seeing the stitches on the back, sew a small pearl button over it.

And life is easier if you remember to insert the loop before sewing the two pieces together - but then you don't have the ends to hang down. I could thread beads onto those ends too.

Ornies Wreaths

2010-12-22T09:24:00.003+11:00

I am gently sewing along on my own Christmas ornie. Maybe I will confuse issues by calling them "Tree Decorations" from here. There is a good collection of them over on Stitchin Fingers. Just click on the link in the third line.

When I first started doing these, they used to be just a continuous circle - this one is in silk ribbon and ribbon floss. Which is fine. But now I like playing with something that is a bit more like a laurel wreath.

The one I am doing would have been heavier, if I hadn't run out of off-white rayon.

Making up the Ornies

2010-12-21T18:20:00.002+11:00

There was a bit of fun batch-processing the Ornies when I came to make them up. I'm never good at making things up - usually I get a piece of fabric for the backing, and just leave a little open at the side and stuff filling in through that, then stitch it closed. And it ends up looking lop-sided.

This time I got the backing fabric (which previously had a life as a blouse), folded it in half, right sides together, and ran a line of stitching down about an inch in from the fold. Then I cut it open and pressed it open. That is what you can see above.

I then turned the backing over, and put the ornies onto it, so right sides were together. The seam on the backing fabric ran across the middle of the ornies, well away from the points. They were then pinned (no time for tacking), rough cut out, stitched down, then trimmed.

Next step - unpick the seam at the back, and turn the ornie right way out. Force the points out with the blunt end of a wooden skewer. Fill - I used Dacron.

HINT: If you use a disposable skewer, and slit it a little way on the blunt end, you can catch a little of the Dacron in the slit and spin it onto the skewer between finger and thumb. It stays attached while you force it into the points to get a firm fill. Then just hold firmly and you can pull the skewer out again.

Then, when you have enough filling inside, just slip stitch up the back.

NEXT - those jolly little bows.

Christmas Ornies finished

2010-12-20T17:20:00.002+11:00

The four ornies that I needed to post have been finished and posted. Phew!!!!

This is a close-up of the one I sent to Sue. I know it is hers, as she gave me a candle where the wrapping was secured with gold ribbon. Nice ribbon. Too good to waste. Sending it back to Sue (with explanation). All are going to women on my team where I work on Wednesdays.

This is a close-up of the detail in one of them. I only had four of these angels, and I do so like them. Must find more before next year.

Only my own to make now, and I have some time up my sleeve for that.

Christmas Ornies Day 4a

2010-12-18T21:03:00.001+11:00

Third ornie embellished - might make the deadline yet.

Have definitely decided the order is 1. Wreath 2. Snowflake added. 3 Seams.

The bow is part of a previously deconstructed ear-ring. Wish I had more of them.

And gosh - the cricket sure is mesmerising. Wonderful to work to.

Christmas Ornies Day 5

2010-12-18T16:12:00.002+11:00

Here we go - two embellished, two to go for the Monday deadline.

Main lesson learned today - do the tacking for the outline of the wreath in one of the threads you will be using for it. That way you don't have to worry about pulling out the tacking!

Christmas Ornies Day 4

2010-12-17T19:01:00.002+11:00

Still working on the prototype, before I start mass production. Need to have four in the mail on Monday.

Above: The blocks are placed in an 8 inch hoop, and the design tacked in contrasting cotton.

Then, below, the blocks are trimmed and put into a 6 inch hoop.

Then, after doing some quick seams in two strands of Madiera Metallics, I worked the wreath in two layers of off-white rayon, following the tacking, then removed the tacking. One of my tatted snowflakes was then added.

To work the wreath, I start at the top and work one side in Feather stitch, finishing at the bottom. Then I work the other side, starting again at the top. Then I work another layer on top - basically building up texture.

Off to get serious about getting these finished.

Christmas Ornies Day 3

2010-12-16T17:57:00.002+11:00

Still ironing, but the Christmas Ornies have progressed a little further. This is my process so far:

Step 4: Make a four-inch square in light cardboard, and find a suitable curve to take a slight "bite" out of each side of the square. In this case a dinner plate was fine. This gives me the template.

Step 5: Draw the shape on the backing fabric. I use a felt-tip pen, so the design leaks through to the other side. (What did I learn - make the backing slightly larger than 8 inches)

Step 6: Piece fabric onto the backing, on the "wrong" side, making sure all the design is covered. Try and avoid having seams going into the points on the corner. (What have I learned since - avoid lame/shiny stuff. Too bossy)

That is where I am up to at the minute. With two of the seven ornies I need to make. Need to get a move on, but will do some more ironing first.

Christmas Ornies Day 2

2010-12-14T18:46:00.002+11:00

Disaster!

Today was supposed to be:

3. (coming up), find sewing machine and fabric. (not as easy as it sounds, some in this house, some 50 minutes away).

However what it turned out to be was:

Step 3 Try to find gold fabric, and fail dismally.

Step 3a. Open whites/creams box as next best. This is a sealed plastic box in the shed. Find fabric all has that terrible damp smell, and little pockets of dust all through it. Still trying to work out why, as it is totally inexplicable. Yes, it went into that box after the flood a couple of years ago, and even if I hadn't noticed the damp, I would have noticed the dirt.

Bugger. Not option for it, but:

Step 3b. Three loads of washing. On delicate, as these are bridal fabrics etc. Many totally ruined.

Step 3c coming up - heck of a lot of ironing.

Meanwhile, I sure need an angel. This is a closeup of the one going on my ornie. I cannot date it, but it is beautiful.

The ornies will resume tomorrow, when the ironing finishes. Lot of fabric totally beyond saving, and going out. But the rest of the boxes, on a quick look, seem to be okay. Imagine if this happened to my purples!

Christmas Ornies Day I

2010-12-13T12:44:00.003+11:00

Mass production of Christmas ornies, steps 1 and 2

1. Make a heap of snowflakes.

2. Find enough angels. (One of them is an old broach I have been meaning to use for a long time. That one will be my ornie)

3. (coming up), find sewing machine and fabric. (not as easy as it sounds, some in this house, some 50 minutes away).

4. Sew.

Stand by - these will be the quickest and easiest ornies you have ever seen.

Christmas Ornies

2010-12-12T06:55:00.001+11:00

I always leave things to the last minute. Always! Now that the house is on the market, things may slow down for a little while, and I feel the need to make some Christmas ornies. Talk about leaving it to the last minute. I think I need six.

These are all some I make in 2004/2005, which I think is the last time I made them. Then life got just a little bit too busy.

So I am going to make a few quick ones in this format:

First trick is to make five more snowflakes. I have to do a long road trip as a passenger today, so hopefully .....

Shout it from the Rooftops

2010-10-22T14:00:00.002+11:00

Shout it from the rooftops. One of the great Australian modern Crazy Quilts has been sold for $70,000.

This is serious, serious news. The link above talks about the implications - it should be major arts news!

This is the link to Bobby La's blog - the maker.

Congratulations Robyn!!!

Buttonhole Combo I

2010-10-10T21:00:00.002+11:00

I have had the luxury of a day to stitch, so I have dived right into Sharon's Stitch Files. She has released Buttonhole Stitch, Herringbone and Backstitch. Right now I have decided that what really interests me is stitch combinations - taking one of the basic stitches and value-adding. I might occasionally use some small beads, but what I really want to do is seams, in stitches, without add-ons.

But my problem is that I am still using really basic versions of the first basic stitch, and relying on the later bits for the variety. So I thought this might make me seek a little more variety.

I use Buttonhole a lot, especially to edge the Apple Blossom Quilt blocks, but could use it more. So I tried Sharon's "double two-up, two-down", to give it a name. I am a bit short of unembellished seams at the minute, so my first attempt was across a large naked patch on the Pansy Vest. It suffered a bit in the centre, so next time I would lay down a chain first, and stitch either side.

This was the second attempt, where I actually found a naked seam.

It could be interesting to try offsetting the legs, so the short were opposite the long - could make it look a bit twisted.

And all this has made me rearrange my flickr photos. I now have sets on there for my combinations of Featherstitch (I like that one), Herringbone (I love that one, but need to scan more examples), and Buttonhole.

Featherstitch Combo I

2010-10-10T12:03:00.002+11:00

I have been experimenting with my favourite Featherstitch, making combos. The one above was the first one off the needle today.

Both are stitched in Hand-dyed Hues perle, and when I am finishing one thread and starting with a new piece, I make sure I cut and then knot it at a similar point to where the old thread ended. That way they blend in well.

This was my second experiment. For the record, the process is:

1. Work just the Feather Stitch, groups of two arms to a side. Make it fairly large and open. Be aware that if you are trying to meander a bit, you might get into trouble in tight corners (see near top right).

2. Work along one side of the Feather Stitch, then the other. Takes less thread than going from side to side.

3. For the first arm, do a Detached Chain (I still want to call it Lazy Daisy), that continues the line of the arm. Close it with a long closing stitch (I have been known to use Pistil Stitch here).

4. Work a Fly Stitch on top of the Detached Chain, where the leg goes down to the base of the Detached Chain. These might be easier to see in the single examples.

5. Going clockwise, repeat this with two more Detached Chain and Fly Stitch. Finish with a French Knot (two wraps) in the centre. I was experimenting a bit with space between these three groups - I think I like the one on the bottom right best, where there is a bit of space.

4. Go up to the second arm, and put in a single Detached Chain and Fly Stitch.

5. Move on to the next group of two arms.

I love playing with Feather Stitch - you can see more of my combinations at the start of my Stitch Combinations set on flickr.

Off to try one of Sharon's new Stitch Files.

Third Vest UFO

2010-10-08T18:33:00.002+11:00

I am chopping and changing around the two unfinished vests in my UFOs. This is my oldest UFO: my Biblical Vest from a RR in 2001, which also went for a second round in 2003. It has been worked on, in no particular order, Noel, Peggy, Kate, Chris, Vere, Maria, Mary, Sharon, Leisa, Cathy, Nancy, Chris (another one), Rina, and Anne. Although I suspect I can see a tree in there from MIII.

It was pieced over two days for a workshop in 2001, from an old fabric swatch of my mother's - and has very small pieces, so more than a few seams. As it was a Coat of Many Colours, from Thirty Pieces of Fabric, I named it the Biblical Vest, and sent it off to see what would happen.

And back it came, with some wonderful and fascinating stitches.

Now, I just need to finish a few seams - here is one I have just added:

It is probably not a vest I would wear a lot, but it will hang beautifully as an example of some fascinating stitches.

Sharon's Stitch Templates

2010-10-07T12:24:00.002+11:00

Just a quick post here, without even a picture!

Sharon B has a wonderful offer over on her blog of free stitch templates, to try them out for free before she releases some very reasonably priced modules.

Just what I need at the minute to get me stitching again.

I feel the need to make some blocks ......

My samples are on two block series, the Apple Blossom Quilt and The Wogga.

Some of my own Stitch Combinations are HERE.

I feel a need to make some blocks. I think I need to stitch .....

Stitching and Watching

2010-10-04T19:11:00.003+11:00

Beautiful weather outside, but good TV to watch inside. The Commonwealth Games are on, and much as I love seeing Australians win, I also really enjoy seeing competitors from other nations that we don't usually get to hear about - and who wouldn't get much of a look-in at the Olympics.

So I am sitting and stitching and watching.

This seam is on the Peacock Vest. It is a "Three to a Side" Feather Stitch in rayon, with half daisies across the top of each group of three in silk. Then, the arms wouldn't sit down, so they were couched in the same silk.

I like it. It is on a seam that needed a lot of strengthening, as this is a wearable.

Now for the Pansy Vest

2010-09-26T09:01:00.005+10:00

Last work has been finished on the Dragon Vest. I needed to knock back the green satin - Melody suggested seaweed for her Water Dragon, but that didn't work as I liked the way the dragon was swimming along the seam, using it as the surface. So clouds it had to be.

Now, all I need is a large flat surface, a pattern, lining fabric and a sewing machine, all in the one place. It might be a loooong time. In the meantime, there is a humungously large version of the whole vest HERE. The final one of Clementina is HERE.

So now, I am getting out the silks. I have been working with cottons for a long time, and am going to enjoy working on the Pansy Vest. You can watch it HERE. It is scary - it is not in my Journal, which started in October 2004, so it is from before then. It is from a vest round robin - I know Bear was in it, and I think I can see the work of Catherine. Other than that - I need access to m RR books.

In the meantime, here it is:

Clementina finished

2010-09-25T18:55:00.003+10:00

Clementina now has stash to guard, and a key for which to reach. Clementina likes keys, they could lead to more treasure/stash.

Both pieces of tatting have now been beaded - only two more major bits to go.

The full story is HERE. And a later photo of Clementina, which may be better, is HERE.

Dragon Vest rapidly advancing!

2010-09-25T14:23:00.002+10:00

The Dragon Vest moves on rapidly - especially as I am talking to Melody on facebook and M3 on flickr - life is confusing. And Chris by e-mail. Now if only DD Cath would send home M3's, we could have a virtual reunion!

This dragon above, is the work of Chris - I outlined it and she filled it in. I haven't worked on it recently, but thought Chris might like to see how it ended up - I was fairly worried about putting anything too busy near to it.

I still have to bead the tatting above and below it, and will then declare that side finished.

You can see all photographs currently posted HERE.

Back at the Dragon Vest

2010-09-24T21:06:00.002+10:00

This vest is now getting very close to finished - except how do you decide when you HAVE finished? Here I was wanting to quieten down the satin around that lovely little cross-stitch dragon (must check who did it). I used the Cottage Garden Threads, one strand at a time, and it came out of the needle very well. I like it.

You can see what it was like before HERE.

I also did a bit of work on the Rock-Rack seam above it. It came back with a zig-zag of thin metallic thread to hold it in place, and beads, but I decided to experiment with adding the Fly Stitch and Detached chain on the edges - and I quite like the result. Might even make me use Rick Rack a bit more.

The trouble is - now I want to knock back the green satin around the head of the other dragon, above it. I think this was Melody's Water Dragon. Trouble is - the little green dragon needed some company, like the stylised smoke around it. And at this stage, I think that is the last thing the Water Dragon needs.

Time for more thought.

Back Again

2010-09-24T19:42:00.002+10:00

I've been a little bit quiet for a while - but have been stitching again over the next few days as I am sitting after a bit of a knee operation. So look out Dragon Vest, here I come.

But I have been meaning to put this post out there for a while. I was out at Mirboo North, and spied Nanna's Cupboard - lovely little shop, full of interesting things. Because I have been out of circulation for a while, I didn't realise there is also a new local thread supplier there - from Mirboo North too. Cottage Garden Threads has a range of hand-dyed cottons - I could only pick up one at the time, but the blog linked abovehas some interesting local stockists - looks like good reason for a shop-crawl.

It was a bit of pleasant serendipity that Mirboo North had just finished holding a Recycling Festival, so there were a few "re-use" items in the window at Nanna's. Including the beautiful tea cosy above.

And I was really taken with the quilt by Rebecca Bale (her first), of recycled shirts:

Not quite Crazy Patch, but beautiful. And could be very easily adapted to CQ - wonderful way to get a similar/matching palette. Maybe I'll have a go when I get a few UFOs out of the way.

In the meantime, one of those Cottage Garden Threads is working up quite well on my dragon vest. Back soon.

(Did I mention - Nanna's Cupboard also serves coffee, cake and lunch, and has some rather nice notions. I really liked the baked spud for lunch - which is appropriate, given that spuds are the main export from Mirboo North)

Help!!!!

2010-09-12T16:42:00.002+10:00

Help!!!! Can anyone name this form of lacemaking/handcraft for me??? Is it weaving? is it a form of macrame? or does it have a name of its own.

I have struck it a few times, but am really having trouble working out how to catalogue and classify it. I am really hoping someone out there in the assembled and impressive knowledge out there can set me right. Please.

Dragon Vest UFO

2010-08-29T21:21:00.002+10:00

I was at an Expo (nothing to do with stitching) yesterday, and my five vests got a workout - one on each of us on the display. Certainly made a point of difference.

So I came home determined to finish the three vests that I have in my UFO bin. The Dragon Vest (from a RR), was on top.

This is the area that I am currently working on:

You can see a bigger one HERE. I am basically just filling seams with very simple stitches, rather than trying to make each seam a star.

And I didn't persist with the crochet - those colours were dreadful when worked together. But I have been working on some others.

Back soon.

It looked nice in the ball

2010-07-03T10:22:00.001+10:00

Not a lot happening here. Have been spending far too much time in hospitals and aged care homes, and that will continue for quite some time. Could have done with something to keep my hands busy the other day (Memo - need to make a spirit doll blank).

Then I saw all the women knitting away (I cannot knit), at my Mum's home, and I really got the yen.

Then, this "wool" (I am from a sheep area, it ain't real wool), was $1.25 a ball.

It was too much for me - I want a scarf.

Not sure how it is going to make up though - the orange/yellow is a bit bright.

But it looked nice on the ball.

Amy, a Spirit Doll

2010-05-09T11:38:00.003+10:00

This is Amy, a Spirit Doll. I was making them for the Comfort Doll Project (well, I made three), but Amy was never finished. Now she is.

The Comfort Doll Project is a wonderful project, but I have decided I need to start one of my own, closer to home. But I do commend it to anyone who would like to help a sister.

Some of you may know that up until December, I was caring for my Mother at home, and that two days before Christmas, she went into care. So the workload I had changed - I was able to come back on a limited basis, but am still committed to daily visiting and many, many trips to Melbourne (our state capital, now only two hours away), for specialist medical care for her.

So this means I am also visiting the hostel where she is living, where there are about 50 women (and a few men), in her wing alone. Today is Mother's Day, and we have Mum here at home with us. Of the fifty-odd women, my mother was only the third to be picked up and taken out - and we were not early. Some were having visitors, and hopefully many more will be taken to their families this afternoon.

But many of them never have visitors.

Most have small wheelie walkers that they push around, many have funny little animals on them - helps them to recognise which is theirs. And the other day the auxilliary had their six-monthly stall, and I didn't have anything to put on there. So next September, I will. I think if I can make a few of these, and put them out for residents to buy at a really nominal price, those who really want them can choose the one they want. Limit of one per person.

The only problem I have, is I think I want to put wings on Amy, and make her into an angel. And I really want to start sewing on Bonnie (can you see the pattern - I think that is her name), and I don't have the fabric or machine at this house.

Stand by!

Six Blocks Together

2010-04-21T08:59:00.002+10:00

I have just put the six blocks together on a cork board. And can already see ways I could change them. But it doesn't really matter, as I need to make at least three more. Just it is nice to be able to get an overall impression.

I will be away for a while now, and will make them when I get back.

You can see the full sized one HERE. And the Flickr Set is HERE.

The Sixth Block finished

2010-04-17T19:28:00.002+10:00

The Sixth Block is finished. Time to make three more.

The bad news is that the sides are far from straight. The good news is that I am really not worried. I don't want 'orribly straight lines, and she'll be right on the day.

You can see how I have taken a bit of the impact out of the green block on the bottom with the white stitching, and the same with the green along the edge of the white block on the lefthand side. And totally the opposite, I have put a very "quiet" edging along the top right-hand corner, so nothing argues with the vine that is there.

I was looking for a way to add a centre to the tatted motif - so just doodled with all the leftover pink thread. I only have two colours of pink in the bag - maybe I need another, a very soft pink.

But in the meantime - I am off to play with the squares on my cork board. And resist any temptation to sew them together now.

Getting there with Block 5

2010-04-11T15:54:00.002+10:00

The inside seams on Block #5 are finished - now I just need to go around the edges, sneaking in a bit on the big green and big white patches.

Then I might lay out all six together to see how they look - and make another three. I need to resist sewing any together until I have all nine made. Cold, wet and wintery here, so it is a good Sunday for Sewing.

Tinkering around the edges

2010-04-08T20:45:00.001+10:00

Just tinkering around the edges with Block 4. It is now completely finished, so I am off to work on Block 5. That will then mean all six of the first set are finished, and I need to make another three.

Time to find a sewing machine - they are both at the other house. But I have scored my Mother's Horn sewing cabinet, which means I might have somewhere to sew here.

Vine Finished

2010-04-04T08:14:00.002+10:00

The vine is finished.

It would have been better had I known ahead I was going to do this, and completed the long green seam in an off-white. I tried to do the vine in as different a green as possible, but it is still a bit lost on that side.

But I can try this again on a future block.

The full process is over on my Flickr page. If you are trying to find it months after I posted, you may be better in the Apple Blossom set.

One thing I have discovered - I work from two different scanners, and the colours between them are quite different. Strange!

Having Fun

2010-04-03T09:46:00.003+11:00

Hi Everyone,

I am having some fun in what might be an otherwise busy Easter. I was looking at some unfinished blocks in another project, and found a seam treatment I had devised, that I rather liked. So I thought I would life it off a seam, and put it on a feature panel (above).

First step was to find a reasonably neutral area (ie no patterns), and treat the seams on it in complementary colours. The stitching (Herringbone with an extra cross - my all-time favourite stitch) also had to be reasonably "quiet".

Done!

This may take a day or so, but I will post to my Flickr pages as I go - so if you would like to see what I am up to, drop over there.

Going from Block 6 to Block 5

2010-04-02T16:29:00.002+11:00

I am about to declare this block finished. One good thing about the joining technique (crochet), is that it doesn't matter if the blocks are not totally square in the end - it is a very forgiving process.

I've tried doing this with corners before, and I like it. It is Blanket Stitch with three lengths, then Chain Stitch across them. This one is a bit rough, but I don't mind it. And I needed something in the centre of the tatted motif - to there are some Pistil Stitches, with one French Knot in the centre.

Then, I decided to highlight the Cherry Blossom (or is it Apple Blossom) on the satin. This fabric is a robe I found in an Opportunity shop. I rather like the effect. Maybe I could also try Blanket Stitch. So I might go back and "Retro Sew" some of the earlier blocks.

Or I might move on to Block #5 - these blocks are NOT in numerical order.

For those who have stumbled on this, and wonder what the heck it is - I am trying some self-discipline. It is a "stitching only" work, the only embellishments being added are tatted motifs I do myself. All stitching is in crochet cotton, and every seam is in one colour only.

I won' always stitch like this, but it does allow the pieces of Apple Blossom embroidery, from an unfinished work my Mother started in 1948, shine through.

Hello Again

2010-04-01T21:34:00.002+11:00

Hi Everyone,

I have been away for a while, as life became very complex, and I was not sewing. Life is still complex, but in different ways, and I am finding some time to sew again. So I have grabbed one of the blocks from the Apple Blossom Quilt, and been doing a little stitching.

Hopefully I will be back regularly soon.

Love to All

Quilts for fire victims

2009-02-10T22:12:00.002+11:00

I dropped two of Mum's quilts into the Salvation Army at Traralgon tonight - they have so many donations it looks like it will take forever to sort them.

So at the moment, people will have something to wear, and I didn't check the bedding - but if the rest is anything to go by, they will have immediate bedding.

It is later they will need the things that are just that little bit better, and a little bit more meaningful.

So my quilting co-conspirator and I have six of Mum's in hand, being backed/bound. And she is looking through hers.

Should anyone wish to donate to the people of Gippsland (and this is not in any way to detract from places elsewhere, who have also lost people, in many cases more than our 21 people), I know the Gippsland Emmergency Relief Fund. They are practical, and every cent goes to the people, as all administration is carried out by volunteers. I have seen them at work since 1977. My money has gone to them.

Bushfires

2009-02-09T04:04:00.003+11:00

Several people who know where I live have contacted me following the mind-numbing bushfires that have been happening around us. We are fine - a bit of soot landed on us, but that is all.

For the past few days we have just watched, prepared for the worst, and felt terrible to be glad that we were the lucky ones.

One news report is HERE. Whole towns have been destroyed.

I am near the Churchill / Traralgon South / Callignee fires, which are not over yet - we are still waiting in dread to hear the names of the nine who have so far died in that area. My brother was on a fire truck there during the worst of it, and saw home after home just burst into flames.

I am trying to work out what I can do. There are families out there who have to start all over again without anything. Imagine losing your entire personal possessions, all the little items that were unique, that meant so much to you. Tomorrow I will go through my storage boxes, and there are a couple of my mother's hand-made quilts there that we will never use.

In the weeks and months that come, people will be setting up homes again, and that is the time to think about what can be done.

The local shires co-ordinate recovery, and I am reasonably sure I will be able to deliver any handmade items anyone would like to send in such a way that they will definitely go to women who have lost everything. Right now they are given disaster money to buy clothes, toiletries etc.

But in a month's time, or three months' time, it may be there will be quilters out there who need, for their own emotional well-being, to start building up their stash again. I think I have found a home for all my mother's fat quarters. Those are the last things they need now, but there will come a time when they are going to be what they need more than anything.

It is times like this when we all feel helpless, and all feel we need to do something. So if you would like to stitch a small gift for another woman out there, one who has lost her entire worldly possessions, and include a note to show that you care, when the shouting and the tumult lessens, I will ensure they get to the local municipal co-ordination centre. I am still working this out as I go, but the neice of a good friend of mine is fairly high in the local government of the shire that has been hit worst - I can probably get items to there with an assurance also that they will go directly to those who need them most.

Again - these are not the sort of things they need this week, or next week - I went into the Ash Wednesday fires area in 1983 with a work team, and hardware stores were just pulling up with truckloads of barrows. That is the kind of help they need now.

But if you are like me, and wondering what you can do - make something. If I can find a way to move some basic craft materials in, I will let you know.

I have a lot of dry leaves to rake up, to make sure if the fires get near here, that my home where my mother is, is as defensible as possible. Then I have a museum with forty buildings to clean with my team, that is full of soot. So I am not sure what I am going to make, but I think what I would need, if it was me, would probably be a nice shoulder bag, with a little heart sewn somewhere on the inside. Practical, but a reminder that someone cares.

If you would like to send anything (and it will get to actual people needing it), my snail-mail address is available from kapana[at]netspace.net.au

Doiley Press

2009-01-10T11:41:00.004+11:00

I found a beautiful Doiley Press this morning at the market. The vendor tells me she bought it from a house where the woman was going into a home, and that both she and her mother were great craftswomen. She claims she made this, but I am not sure I believe her - the background is printed, and the woman is cut from thick ply and hand-painted.

It still looks commercial to me, but definitely a bargain.

Taking a Rest during Beading

2009-01-02T18:47:00.002+11:00

The current Spirit / Comfort doll is developing a personality. I noticed it happen as soon as she had her backing on and she was turned the right way out.

This is her, taking a rest on a tomato leaf, during beading.

I thought I had her hair worked out, but she let me know she didn't like it. So I am off to tatt another piece.

Apple Blossom #4 and #5

2008-12-29T15:11:00.002+11:00

I have finished with Block #4 for a while - I am having all sorts of philosophical discussions with myself - mainly about whether to add a new element (my recreation of the Apple Blossom, on the ivory silk, currently at bottom right), and what to do to knock the green in the middle back a bit.

The Feather Stitch at the top is inspired by this piece of work by Jo in NZ - might try and exactly duplicate it next. Nice work!

So I am exercising my mind on how to approach #5 - not much work has been done on that.

The whole lot of the blocks, including some of the philosophy behind the work, is in the Flickr Set. There are some of my interpretation of the flowers, on another work, early in the set.

That's it - I'm off for a couple of days to garden. The cricket is not looking good - unless you are reading this in South Africa.

Comfort Doll

2008-12-28T11:22:00.002+11:00

I have been working on this Comfort Doll too, for the Comfort Doll Project. She has been sitting in my work basket for a while, and is now ready to do the backing. Except I don't think I have the right fabric here to do it.

She is going to be edged with beads, like my others, and I think will have a garland, possibly with a heart.

The sewing is a nice break over Christmas, and I will try and keep going once I am back at work - but Mum is taking a lot of my time, as well as work, so not a lot is getting done.

And I am enjoying my garden - I think I sew more in the winter at the moment.

Quietly Working

2008-12-27T16:05:00.001+11:00

I have pulled out the Apple Blossom Quilt to work on over the holidays. While listening to, and half watching the cricket. Australia is playing South Africa, in a five-day test.

There are more views of this one on the link above.

Block Four is almost finished - but they are not necessarily in order.

Not that they are in order, mind. Blocks one, two and three were, but I am working on different bits of four, five and six, as they appeal.

The other project I had in mind is on back-burner, as I wasn't able to get into the shed for the fabrics I wanted yesterday. But I will.

Christmas Wishes

2008-12-25T09:19:00.002+11:00

Every year, I get another Christmas Angel. The Blue Gum "Fairy" has come to join me this year - her skirt is abalone with a Mother-of Pearl head, from Discover DownUnder.

May everyone have a Peaceful, Joyous and Wonderful Christmas.

Some time this afternoon, I am going out to the shed, finding some white fabric, and starting on a wall hanging for next Christmas. Along the way I can feel some ornaments coming along. I think I really have got my timing wrong!

Ten Years Ago

2008-11-01T18:18:00.002+11:00

We are just back from seeing Auntie Dot after her 90th Birthday. Ten years ago I made this for her 80th - and never photographed it.

I have no idea where the sheep brand came from.

Hang on - yes I have. It is a photograph of a corrugated iron brand I printed as an experiment. When we went to see Auntie Dot we went chasing corrugated iron brands with her, and this was a reminder!

Apple Blossom Block 6 continues

2008-10-24T20:40:00.002+11:00

Here it is - almost finished. I think it needs some tatting on the top RH corner. I will do some while I am away. Almost ready to start packing, except need to do a quick run to Melbourne tomorrow (state capital), as DH wants to go to the Wood Show. I'm unlikely to find anything I want there (didn't last year), but you never know.

Just don't ask where Block #5 is. It was actually Block #1, and I trimmed it. I haven't trimmed blocks since. So I need to put edges on it again so I can hoop it.

Hopefully I will get the edges of this turned under, so I can start doing edges. They are all Blanket Stitch, with extras, and then I join them.

Apple Blossom Block #6

2008-10-22T19:36:00.002+11:00

I am sewing, I am. Occasionally. The garden is getting all my spare time at the minute. So I grabbed the wrong block, and have been working on Block 6, above.

In passing, if you want some real inspiration on disciplined stitches, slip over and have a look at what Jo in NZ is doing.

My big news is that I am off on a week's holiday - I almost can't bear to hope it will happen. A couple of days in Benalla, and then a quick trip to see my Beloved's aunt. She has just had her 90th Birthday. So I am going to have a lot of time for sitting around sewing, and tatting while a passenger.

Not sure how I will bear to leave my garden (we are putting the tomato seedlings out to a Seedling-Sitter). How could you bear to leave tulips like these?

Old Needlework patterns

2008-10-17T07:31:00.001+11:00

Dunesong has very kindly posted a number of early needlework patterns at Flickr. Some of them areperfect for crazypatch with waste canvas.

Well worth a visit.

Apple Blossom Quilt

2008-10-12T09:52:00.002+11:00

I've dragged out the Apple Blossom Quilt. It is spring here, and just the right quilt for the season.

This is a rough shot of the first six blocks - three finished, and three in progress.

I'm working on Block 4

For those who haven't met it before, I have a set for it at Flickr. It is cutting up an embroidery my Mother never finished. And I am trying the disciplined approach. All the stitching is in crochet cotton, with only about ten balls of it available.

I like it. I'm going to work on it for a while, without stressing about perfect stitches, or anything like that.

A Little Bit of Sewing Again

2008-09-28T10:01:00.002+10:00

Time (and the recovery of my sewing hand after an op), has allowed me to do a little bit of sewing again. Not a lot, mind you, but small things that I can carry around, as I am on the road a lot.

So I have dug out this Spirit Doll to finish.

I am replicating the pattern on the fabric, but giving it more texture by oversewing with a mix of metallic gold thread and a green cotton thread. I started just doing detached chain for the leaves, but am now ending the detached chains with pistil stitch. I prefer that.

Then I will add some beads. Not sure where I will go after that.

Or what will happen to it. But it will keep me out of mischief for a while

Another Tea Cosy

2008-09-25T08:03:00.002+10:00

Another nice Tea Cosy Cover from Old Gippstown. This one sort of reminds me of art deco.

I wonder how many more are out there for me to find.

More Cosies

2008-08-01T11:45:00.002+10:00

Two posts in one day - don't get too excited!!!

Here are some more cosy covers. They are both in the Old Gippstown Collection.

And this is the ultimate - an egg cosy. from when breakfast was served to delightfully, with an egg in a cup, on an embroidered cloth. With its own egg cosy. It is different on both sides.

Looks like a nice, really simple little project for a piece of crazy patch!

Drawn Thread Work

2008-08-01T11:27:00.002+10:00

It is a cold, wet day, so I am working on the computer. And just thought I would drop over and say "Hi" to anyone still calling by.

I am not sewing at the minute, due to real-life pressue of work.

But I am still cataloguing beautiful linen. I thought everyone might like to meet this Tea Cosy Cover.

We have two of these in the collection, made to an identical pattern, just with a slightly different ruffle. This is one of the most intricate pieces of drawn thread work I have seen, worked in very fine thread.

You can see a really big close-up HERE.

We have a few of these tea cosy covers in the collection - they are designed to go over a padded inner that actually insulated the tea pot. But none of them ever have room for a spout. The whole thing must come off to pour tea.

*toodles off to find some more pictures of them*

Basket of Flowers

2008-01-17T12:36:00.000+11:00

Just flitting through - thought people might enjoy this Basket of Flowers on a Doiley at Old Gippstown.

In the hundreds I have looked at, I hadn't seen spider web flowers used on doilies.

It is a really simple piece, but beautiful. The stitch used on the handle is interesting:

I am thinking it is laced Herringbone, but I am not totally sure.

Drawn Thread Work

2008-01-13T10:17:00.000+11:00

I have always been drawn to Drawn Thread Work (no pun intended). Somewhere, I have a beautiful piece that has come down through the family, but do you think I can find it? No.

It must be the most basic and essential form of fancywork a woman could do - all she needed was some reasonable even-weave white cotton fabric (I think mine are cotton, not linen), and some white thread. I am not totally sure what they used, possibly it was crochet cotton.

Pull out the threads in the necessary places and group the remaining threads, using the white thread. Then add some needle weaving accents - as in the Maltese crosses in the example above. I THINK the spider webs were formed as part of the grouping process.

I am also wondering if it reached its peak in the 1930s Depression - around the time Chicken Scratch was popular. It certainly was a low-cost option that produced stunning results.

So, what I am thinking about now - is does anyone do it any more? I don't think I have seen much in the way of contemporary discussion about it.

There is an entry on it in Wikipedia, but that doesn't really show the sort of work I mean, although there is a good example of hem stitching, which I learned at school. In the 1960s they still taught "proper" needlework in my secondary school. But not a lot I can find on the net.

Think I need to go and have a very serious search for the piece I have. Somewhere.

(Oh, yes. This piece is from the collection at Old Gppstown).

I've been Tagged

2008-01-13T09:16:00.000+11:00

Sharon, Annie and Gerry have been kind and generous in naming me on their blogs in the You Make my Day award.

Kind and Generous, as I haven't blogged since 16th December! Although I am closer to returning - 2008 has to be better than 2007.

So Thank You, to the three of you. Please consider yourselves tagged back - you are three warm and generous women with wonderful blogs.

So I have further seven to give out, which may be difficult. As some of you, I know have already been tagged. I am reading, even if I am not writing.

But what the heck, here I go anyway, but in no particular order:

Calidore (love the vest)

Maureen III at CrazyQStitcher

Maureen II at Kenmaur's Corner

Marty at Textiles in Time

Jo at No Matter Where I Go, I Always Meet Myself There

Bear, in her Embroidery Den

and I only have one left, and there are so many. So I am not going to use it. Except to say that, if you are reading this post,please consider it is yours, as it still gives me a sense of wonderment to think that people read what I have to write, and as such, you all make my day.

Thank You

PS There is a nice little log/plaque / whatever that goes with this - but my brain does not have the space in it to think how to grab it. So if you would like it, feel free to grab it off the blogs of the three kind people who nominated me.

Still here

2007-12-16T14:24:00.000+11:00

Hi Everyone,

Just to let everyone know I am still here - and looking forward to some stitching time over Christmas. There has been precious little of that recently, with some family health issues taking all my spare time.

And, the other thing is that I have been very hard at work on the three museum catalogues I administer. Which made me suddenly realise the other day just how much like crazy quilting cataloguing really is.

Yes. I mean it.

I am pulling together all sorts of things from everywhere, in a hodge-podge, but of information, not fabric. There is beauty in photographs attached to information. And beauty in all that coming together. Well, for a cataloguer there is. True cataloguers are born, not made. They have a compulsion to make lists. The same as there is a compulsion to sew. You have to do it. So maybe my compulsion to create is being satisfied that way at the minute.

And we get to handle some lovely items. Here are some that have come into the collections recently, when the National Trust of Australia (Western Australia), offered items to other collections.

How they could part with that tray cloth with the fillet crochet motifs, I do not know.

And, while this doiley is machine lace, it is stunning:

The large version is HERE.

I do run blogs for two of the collections, which are HERE and HERE. Not that I am getting a lot of time to post on them either.

Market Finds

2007-11-10T10:38:00.000+11:00

Just had a quick run through the local market, and found two bargains:

This was all of ten cents. It is a set of pre-1966 shell buttons, on their original card. Pity the ten cents price was written on there in pen. But then, I might have had a greater crisis of conscience otherwise about removing them from the card.

(For non-Australians - if the price is imperial - pounds shillings and pence, as this is - it is pre 1966)

With it was this rather nice little compound metal broach, for 40 cents. This one is delicate enough to be stitched down, and maybe its bulkiness broken with some ribbon woven through it.

Into the stash with it.

Still too busy to blog much - I am off to Canberra for a week tomorrow, but things may settle down a little after that. It needs to, as I have a yearning to work in odd colours - I can feel something autumn creeping up on me.

In the meantime, I have posted a few more pages in the Craig's Needlework Book.

Melba Needlework Book all there

2007-11-03T08:01:00.000+11:00

Life is still a little bit busy around here for me to sew or post much, but I have managed to get the entire Melba Needlework book up on the net. It ended with some tatting instructions.

The whole thing is HERE, and I am waiting to hear if the other two earlier versions out there are substantially different. I suspect they will just change the designs they are trying to sell, and that is it. So it really doubles as a catalogue.

Interesting that the only other two so far have turned up in the same state. But then, it was published here.

Having actually succeeded in getting the whole thing up, I will go and see how much further I can get with Craig's Needlework Book.

Back One Day Soon

2007-10-14T07:11:00.000+10:00

For about the last nine months, regular readers may have noticed I wasn't blogging as much. That was about the time my Mother was diagnosed with serious health issues. The road since then has been rocky, but yesterday I picked her up from hospital, and things are looking good.

But this means I am off for a week or so to nurse her at the home with dial-up only (gotta think about priorities here). So you won't hear from me for a while. But I will get to weed the grossly overgrown garden.

I have been thinking gardens a little lately - the very lovely Rose at Quilted Hills was kind enough to pass on an award to me - and I have been looking through the other blogs she listed at the same time. There are some seriously beautiful garden blogs there. Thank You, Rose. I don't have a minute at the minute to work out the technicalities of picking up the graphic (hopeless, me), but if someone would like to pick it up on my behalf, and pass it along to others who make them smile - please do.

I am off to the garden, with the irises and roses just starting to come out. Must pack the camera.

Back in a week or so