Design wall Monday

On my design floor tonight is the beginning of the second quarter of a trip around the world quilt. The bright colours are a change from my reproductions but I am loving watching it come together.

I have been keeping up with the challenge of sewing, knitting or crocheting for an hour a day. I have been knitting for the last two nights. Not much difference in the two photos I am afraid as I am a slow knitter.

The first picture shows the colour accurately.

When finished it will be a cute tunic for my gorgeous niece Ivy.

 

 

I did do so thing everyday this week.

Instagram is proving to be easier at the end of the day to post a picture of what I have achieved in my hour of me time. So here's a catchup on the days I haven't posted this week.

Wednesday. I spent my time finishing the components for the first block of the mystery quilt.

 

Thursday. Individual units all sewn and the block starts to come together.

 

Friday. Some me time with my machine. This will be a trip around the world quilt.

 

Saturday. Another night, another trip around the world. This one is hand pieced.

Happy to report that one hour has been managed this week on everyday. Bring on week two.

 

 

My cup is half full.

For anyone who knows me they understand how special the animals in my life are. Cleo has a special place as she was the first cat I owned in more than 20 years. She was a tiny 400 grams when she came into my life almost 13 years ago and sometimes it seems like she has always been here.

Today she was not well and we had to wait three hours to see a vet. A worrying time. We still are niot sure what is wrong with her but hopefully her blood work will give us some answers on Monday. Here she is snuggled up in bed with me this afternoon.

 

So why do I say my glass is half full. Read Donna's story of life and death on a farm and you may understand. The glimpses she shows of her life on the land make for compelling reading for a city girl. My hope for her and the rest of our farmers still suffering from the drought is simple - rain.

 

Crochet

I have always been drawn to pure wool. Putting I a lot of effort to make something in acrylic has never appealed. I have however succumbed and I am going to make a blanket from Stylecraft. DK acrylic.

I have always loved Lucy's blankets so recently bought a Lucy pack from Deramores. The yarn arrived today and after a couple of false starts I have decided on a single coloured granny square blanket. Watch this space for progress,

 

 

 

First injury

Anyone who knows Laurie will understand when I tell you he was the first victim of the garden redo. He was under strict instructions to leave the garden to me because of the thorns from the rose bushes I am removing. We'll of course he didn't listen. I give you exhibit A.

I dud manage to get growth removed from one section. On the advice of my gardening friends lots of mulch put on top. I couldn't resist some colour so planted just this one.

The theme while I get the garden under control is colour. I want bright and happy as a reward for my efforts.

Today's hour of sewing was on these units which will become block one in a Karen Cunningham mystery quilt.They are 2 1/2" finished and I need 16.

 

The alternate block for each month is appliqué. At the moment I am undecided about whether I will make them or just make two pieced blocks each month. Month two was much easier as it is machine pieced.

The star points are more raspberry than the picture shows.

I will get month 3 blocks on Thursday so need to get a wriggle on.

 

I'm back.

The question I have been pondering is blogging worthwhile? I love FB for its immediacy and Instagram for the pictures of things I like. What I have realised is that neither of them give me a record to look back on the way this blog has for me in the past. I write it for me and if anyone else reads it, well that's always nice.

I am not going to try and play catch up but just once again start recording the things that are important to me at the time of writing.

Sydney has just had a fortnight of rain. I am so over it. Today on the eve of spring the sun has come out of hiding. Everything seems possible again so time to get over the winter inactivity.

 

Laurie and I both love a garden but are basically lazy. Exhibit A this overgrown garden bed. Sadly there are several more in the same state.

 

My first project is to bring them all back to life and bursting with colour. My back will protest but I can achieve it if I chip away at it daily. Half an hours work this afternoon and some dirt is finally visible. I hope to spend no less than 15 minutes a day on bringing it back to life.

 

Spring project number two is playing along with Meredithe over at pomengranateandchintz. She challenged herself and anyone else who wants to play along to sew, knit or crochet for an hour a day and post pictures of what they achieve. I'll be doing this and my large array of projects will start to make appearances.

Today I started making a summer dress for Ivy. I have not sewn anything garment related in years. Tracing the pattern and cutting out the lined bodice was my achievement in an hour,

 

17/3/14

It's been a long time between posts. My mojo seemed to have taken a walk but it seems to be back now.

I do a monthly class with Sue Ross. We are not the most productive group so this year we are making a mystery quilt. Each month Sue gives us a block and we need to get it done. Here is the first block.

 

I made a start on the second block yesterday. Love my fussy cut star.

 

Everyone has made their blocks in such different colour ways. It will be interesting at the end of the year to see how different or alike they all look.

Head on over to Judy's to see what others have been up to this week.