To day I was off to the beach at 7.30am it was 8C on my front veranda and a lovely 20C down at the beach with lots of tourist from down South where it is snowing swimming in the sea LOL. I was all wrapped up in 3 layers of wool and they were swimming !!!! I for got to take my camera which is sad as it was so beautiful down there.
I have been only hand quilting in the evenings lately while listening to TV or DVD’s.
I’m making a tie shoulder bag. I make these over and over as I love making the tiny log cabins, First I make a dozen or so of tiny log cabins then sew them down on to a piece of wadding and backing in the shape I want the bag to be. I want these wee blocks to look jumbled so over lap and twist them before tacking them down.
Close up showing the hand quilting around each log which ends up 1/2inch wide; I find this very relaxing, the quilting locks all these wee blocks together.
Back of the little log cabins and this will be the inside of the bag. Bunny sent me this wonderful fabric several years ago.
Found this when cleaning up the other day. This was my very first attempt at hand quilting, I did a wonderful session (if some what frustrating ) with a Hawaiian lady quilter, this was plain cream calico and I splattered it with paint using a tooth brush as I thought the cream boring 30 years ago LOL. I made my sample in to a fusion cover and it is still going strong if rather washed out now ????
I picked some pine cones up from the side of the road this morning, they make wonderful fire starters
We have had some sunny days at last so I have been water blasting to get rid of the ghastly mould.
Cleaning the Grandchildrens play area down stairs you can see where I have not cleaned it was so black with mould not healthy at all.
Now working on the path down the side of the house you can see where I started to play LOL
I have put in some big paves connecting two paths a short cut the grandees were using LOL This path was black with mould on Sunday????
A local flower grower gives the shop second grade flowers for us to sell when she has to many, to day she gave us gerber’s and I bought 3 bunches, one for a friend and one for my lovely DIL.
I’m off to link up with Esther’s WOW or WIP’s now. I always enjoy her links day.
http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com/
Thank you for dropping in and where ever you are I wish you happiness.
Cheers Glenda
Hi Glenda, such a darling idea for the bag with all those little log cabins. I really don’t do tiny and my hands are becoming a little arthritic so hand sewing is beyond me at this point. I have done some sewing lately–made a new pair of pillowcases today and have been packing a bag of UFO’s to take to my sisters. We will be gone a week and most of the time we will be sewing. Taking Mom as well and hope to get a lot finished. Will be going to a basket class one day during the week too. Keep up the good and unique work—I always like to see what you are up to. Take care and enjoy the nice weather. Your friend, Julie
Dear Julie how lovely that you are getting away with your mum and visiting sisters, sounds like you all sew. My mum loved to do embroidery but when I was growing up in NZ there were no books that taught you and she would spend months working how to do the different designs, I remember her teaching her self Black Work from pictures LOL. and she loved crewel work. There was not a lot of money to spare on the farm but she would knit her self a new suit every couple of years, but first would unpick one of her wool suits unwind the knitting, wash the wool in hanks and then reknit the wool. Again no pattern so she always had original designs and looked so smart to me. Hugs Glenda
You are always so busy!
I’ve never seen anyone make a bag ‘fabric’ like that, by jumbling the blocks. It looks wonderful! Can I have permission to add it to my ‘things I’d like to do one day’ list, please?!
That hand quilting sample is fun too – I like the thought of you customising it by splattering paint on it!
Hi Plum I would love you to make one, I have been making these on and off for around 12 years, made my first one out of left over log cabins scraps and loved the crazy look, now I all ways have one on the go. Only thing that is all ways the same is the shape of the bag and using mens ties as the gusset and straps!!!! That splattering of paint was house hold paint to0 as that was all I had when living on the Island LOL. Hugs Glenda
Dear Glenda
I was trying to visualize the bag you mentioned before, thinking it is log abin blocks in a row, now I see the photo’s it is a much nicer and fun looking layout. As for the splattering of paint, you were forward thinking. Best creative freedom I’ve seen in a long time. Love the gerber’s. With summer here, we are enjoying anything that will bloom and have colour with a splash of green.
Best Wishes
Maggie
Evening Maggi, yes it is the kind of bag you have to see made step by step to get the picture LOL. I carry a small bag every where I go if I leave the house and it is full of cut 1′ strips of fabric which I pull randomly and hand sew in to tiny log cabins, then when I have enough roughly 12 or 13 to make a bag front I start making a new bag LOL> Hugs Glenda
Your power washing goes to show there are always drawbacks to every place. There is no one perfect place to live. Love your log cabin bag. It is really cute. I had to laugh when you talked about the tourists swimming while you were wrapped up in winter clothing. Last winter when I was in Arizona I was thrilled to be in hot weather again and wore shorts, sleeveless blouses and sandals. But the locals were walking around in winter coats, scarves, mittens and hats! Have a good week.
Hi Gretchen; yes all though we live in Paradise 9 months of the year usually; there are some nasty Drawbacks too. LOL This year it has been the constant wet wight he mould been so bad which is very bad for ones health after months of it. If we did not have the gurney to get rid of it we would be in trouble. Mould is also a problem in the swimming pools and the pool companies have put out a specially strong mould killer just for the pools up here in the tropical rain forest areas as the normal mould off does not kill it. We also can buy a extra strong exit-mould for the house use to keep on top of the mould in the house and bathrooms. But when it is perfect here it is worth every down side. LOL Cheers Glenda
that is quite chilly for you isn’t it! winter! I love your little log cabin blocks so nice – it takes time to get rid of all that mold doesn’t – I have a sprayer something like that to get all the stuff off of the porch and deck – I didn’t do it this year – I was too lazy. I forgot to check Esther’s must do that now.
Hi Karen and YES it is quiet chilly for us, this morning I did not want to get out of bed as I knew the house would be freezing cold to me, finally I forced my self out of bed around 7.30am and to my delight DH had lit the firebox in the family room and it was LOVELY and warm. It is now 12am and it is still glowing and I’m still in the family room; I have moved my sewing gear in to here and have been making a Healing Heart for Charlotte all snug and sound LOL. I’m water-blasting for the 3rd time this year as we have had so much rain, usually we only do it after the wet season finishes around Feb but it did not stop raining this year???? Cheers Glenda
Sounds like me…I’m freezing and other are in the water.
I need to get back to a lot more hand work as I have a hard time being motivated to get my machine out.
Thanks for dropping in Marsha, I see on your blog that you have two challenges waiting for you to finish both are very beautiful, I wish you all the very best in getting them finished on time. My machine very really gets used mostly for household repairs or family mending LOL as they never seem to have time to do it. Cheers Glenda
Hi Glenda, the cold has come down to Melbourne well and truly and I have the heating on and am sewing away blissfully…its perfect quilting weather and I hope to make a lot of progress before Spring comes round. For a minute there I thought that black tangle was a QLD sized spider in your netting, it made my heart lurch!
Question: how many shoulder bags does Glenda need?!
Hi Esther, sorry about the spider scare LOL. Very few creepy crawlies around as the wet and cold weather has sent them in to hiding and not my house thanks goodness. I also closed my self in to my lounge to day as it was the only warm place and did mending not so exciting but great to have done. To tell you the truth I don’t own one of these shoulder bags LOL they are always given away. I did go for a drive in to the back area of the rainforest today and saw some beautiful birds but for got my camera. I’ll have to go again just for some photos. Cheers Glenda