very close now......

12 sleeps left.......hope you're all organised.  Me - I'm still trying to write cards (bit late I know), & I just got the overseas cards posted yesterday (hope they make it).  Suddenly an organised person (me) is just wondering how I got so far behind?????

 Here is our front garden - looking very dry at present, but the magpies just love the arch & bird bath (as well as the Agapanthus).  The climber on the arch is a clematis - it's been growing like mad, but no flowers as yet.

And some frog items my sister sent me - the shower cap looks wonderful on ( and no, there are no pictures of me wearing it lol) - she just spoils me. 

On the craft front - 2 pairs of bootees finished and posted off for my new great nephew, then to start on a little cardigan. (all crocheted of course - I can't imagine trying to knit wool that thin lol)
finishing off some Christmas things (now you can see why I'm panicking - so pictures to follow).

6 more working days for me & then 4 1/2 weeks off (yipee - I'm so tired - I haven't had more than a couple of days off since last year (and I can't remember how many days off I had then).

Hope your planning is ...well going to plan.....take care wherever you are & drive safely. 

~Karen~

what's new.....

Well - there's 27 sleeps to Christmas (sorry if you're not organised yet).........bit more shopping to do & then wrapping.  Why are men so hard to buy for (and I don't like buying the usual undies & socks either)....anyway it will work itself out I guess.

I'm working on a bolero in cotton (and white cotton at that) ...but pics of that next time when it's finished (back is done already).

young magpie

I can't quite believe the cheek of this young magpie......it's sitting on top of an Agapanthus flower (ball like flowers on long stalks).  These flowers look colourful in the front garden, when everything is gradually dying off - there's not much for the wildlife to eat now.

I'll try to do antoher post when I have some sewing to show.....thank you for your comments - they do make my day.  Thanks also for reading my ramblings....

til next time

~Karen~

show results.....

Hello again....time definately flies...41 sleeps to Christmas (just in case someone else hadn't mentioned it) and the weather is certainly warming up (in the southern hemisphere anyway).

So, the past couple of weeks have been quite busy.  We travelled to Adelaide for the craft & quilt fair...some lovely quilts but no photos (sign said photography was not allowed), and have increased my stash, but everything will be put to good use (eventually lol)

Hardanger doily on 28 count from the book Award Winning Designs in Hardanger 2010

Both our local shows have been held & my hardanger doily won a 1st along with a few other things in the first show, so put another piece of hardanger in for the second show and that won a second.  

I did read that handmade is 'back in fashion' - I wonder why it ever went away.  It would be nice if the number of entries increased but I wonder how we get people interested in sewing, embroidery, crochet & the like?  Some groups run during the day (which is OK if you don't work), but how do you get younger ones interested when they maybe studying or have young children???  Then probably the cost of materials may also be out of their budget.....maybe at the shows we need a place for demonstrations of crafts...or leave some flyers with some names to contact if they want to learn.  I just think in maybe 30 years time some of these crafts may all but die out in some communities.....Sad really

Not much else for now........thanks for reading...

~Karen~

an update and a win.....

Apologies - life just gets in the way of posting, but I'm over the moon at present.  I was having one of those weeks where nothing would go right and then Jenny of Elefantz (http://www.elefantz.com/) had a giveaway after reaching 1500 followers.  I love her work and she has inspired me to draw some of my own favourite things ready for stitching, then I was picked as the Australian winner - I still can't quite believe it.  Anyway a big thank you and thank you to Katherine for alerting me to the win as well - I'm not on here that often on weekends.

Butterfly on 28 count from Awaard Winning Designs in Hardanger 2010

I've finally finished the Hardanger - was quite a nice design and now it's ready for our local show.  Done on 28 count jobelin in no8 & 12 blue & white thread.

Completed blanket from 63 Sampler Squares to Crochet

The blanket is also finally finished.  I should have tidied up each square before I joined them together - don't know what I was thinking (I obviously wasn't) and it's taken most of the weekend to end the threads off, but it's done.  It's also extremely heavy as it's all pure wool (now I know why I also do these rugs in acrylic lol). 

so what to do now....?  I'm one of these peiople who doesn't have 2 many projects on the go - I'm not a fan of UFO's or PHD's (Projects half done), although I can hear the stumpwork calling me again....(lovely design but I'm just not keen on working in silk thread that's thinner than human hair)...maybe I'll get it back out......

Anyway wherever you are - have a happy week and thanks for reading....

~ Karen ~

back again.......

Just a quick post today and then I want to get to my favourite blogs in the next day or so.

49 of the 63 Sampler squares

The rug above is complete as far as the squares go....I'm only doing 49 of the squares as there were a few I couldn't get to work & some I wasn't all that keen on.  This project has been a great way to use up some of this wool from my stash, which has been around close to 25 years, as well as a good one for the car (obviously not when I'm driving lol).  So now, to do a row of cream around each square, join together & then do the edge.  This picture actually shows the rug from the side.  If you come across this book - it's well worth a look - I posted about it when I started the squares a couple of posts ago.

3 weeks to our local show, so I will post before with my entries (assuming I get one of them finished).

Hope all is well in your week....

~ Karen ~

it's my blogiversary......

One year ago today I started this little craft blog and my ramblings.  A couple of times I've almost not continued doing this, but the comments always make my day and let me share others creative journeys.  So do make a comment, then I can check out your blog :) (I must confess I don't often comment either - but must make an effort too)

No pictures today, but I'm please to say some things are moving along again - the family tree cross stitch has had some names added and a bit more work done (although I must confess the tree in green is starting to really annoy me - it's taking far too long and there's so much of it).  My hardanger piece is getting closer to completion and the crochet sampler rug now has about 20 squares done.

Our local show isn't far away either and nor is summer and holidays.  I'm planning on a 4 1/2 week break (including public holidays) to have a good rest & get some things finished off.  I think I'm going to have to hand quilt the hexagons (I'd much rather machine quilt it - but my local advice has been to hand quilt) - a job I'm not really looking forward to - but once I get started it may grow on me lol.

enjoy your weekend & thanks for reading

~ Karen ~

I've not been back on here because I've been busy........

Warning: - picture heavy

Sorry for the long title, but I have been quite productive.....




The runner in white & beige above is for a Christmas gift.  I tea dyed some lace butterflies and used some ecru lace. It's backed in white cotton fabric & the panels are done in 60 degree triangles (I found these in a strip quilt design & used the concept here).  The edging was done from a simple quilt stencil I'd bought - making this one fun quilting over paper.



Red & Yellow runner



 This runner is also a Christmas gift (that's 2 done) - based on a simple design I saw that used embroidery, where I've used some of my fabric stash at the ends instead.   

Hexagons

The hexagon quilt is ready for quilting.  I've never done one of these before either, so I'm doing this my way.  The hexagons have been appliqued to the backing fabric in white.  I'm still deciding on how I will quilt this, which is why I've started on the panel quilt below. 



panel cot quilt

The quilt above is a purchased cot panel, that I've started quilting.  I've never tried one of these before so here it is....It's quite good fun but just need to be careful to stay on the lines....

what I'm crocheting at the moment....

 This book came in a set of 3 from the "Fox Collection", so I'm using some of the wool stash.  Since I took this photo, I've finished 12 squares - 4 in each colour.  I'm trying to use pure wool oddments to make this a special blanket.  The designs are written in the US crochet terms (which can be a pain), but on the whole it's enjoyable.  I thought if I got cracking, I could get 3 done a night, meaning it would be completed in 3 weeks - however, I've decided against this plan as I have some other UFO's to do.....

Lately, I've been reading on some blogs about pictures of finished stitched items being copied & then the item created. I love a free pattern as much as anyone else & if I really like the design I'll buy it.  There's enough free stuff about to not have to 'borrow' someone elses work without asking.....just ask.

Well, that's my rave for now....waiting for my fruit trees to get some leaves, then I'll add another photo.....

Have a wonderful week.....

~Karen~