Start of a new year, I just hope it does not fly by so quickly as last year did. I still have not written my yearly letter I send out over Xmas and New Year for 2011 yet?????
Over the last 6 months we have had lots of family and friends to stay and this makes the days fly by.
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What a way to start any fresh hand sewing year, this is my Xmas present form my darling Hubby, it was his idea and he has made it for me, custom designed for me. I just LOVE it. Each table turns and each table can be set to any height. Every hand sewer should have one???? My blog this week is covering the last week as I was going to blog last week but forgot till Thursday!!!! So make a pot of tea as it will take that long to read to the bottom this week!!!!!!
My challenge this year is to complete the 3 quilts above. Back one needs to have the applique finished on it, middle quilts needs to have the hand quilting completed, and the front hexie quilt needs 30 more hexes to complete it, 18 of these are just plain blue so hopefully I will finish these before March when one of the family are coming home for 3 weeks and all quilting will be put on hold again!!!! I started my hexie quilt with Sue Daley in 2010 but have added my own spin to her design that was a weekly online session then. I have been also making hexagon’s to add on the back around the border so I can have the edge as you see it now. More time consuming but I think it will look more interesting than straight sides??????
Some times you are in the right place at the right time, On Wednesday I pulled this out of a box of old used fabric and could not believe my eyes as it grew and grew, all in one piece and NO rips or holes. It has been washed and the dark blue has bleed but it is still a beautiful piece of hand applique. I could not under stand why they had stitched it on to a heavy heavy tightly woven cotton but when I arrived home and had more time to look at it closely it is actually a cushion cover with zip and all. It is 1 metre square so some of the needle turn applique pieces are very small. I just love it and will turn it in to a wall hanging. yet another project for 2012!!!!!!
My Xmas table centre has some blood spots on it, I did not realise I had pricked my finger so bad till the next day, now I need to add 4 wee bees to cover the spots!!!!!!!!! Would you believe that I forgot to use my centre on Xmas day!!!!!! Hobby horses were handed in to the Opp Shop very much pre-loved and to dirty to sell as is, so they came home with me and I cut the stitching around the neck and the stick sleeve and head went through the washing machine, they are so well made they came up like new, now to find time to sew them back together for sale???? Red bag needs a new zip in it, it is also a well made bag and needs rescuing for a friend who loves these bags. Love never fails is my last piece that needs the Stem stitch around the outer shape, Peaceful Pathways corner stones for my HD now need the hearts in the corners, main part is done on 3 and the last one 1/2 done!!!! Birds need to have the buttonhole completed around them, I’m using invisible thread and it is so frustrating to use????? I need 25 more paper pieced hexagons to complete my This Goes With That Quilt!!!!! Looks like 2012 is all ready full does’nt it as far as hand stitching goes??????
I have finished all but the red-work and blue Hexagons but I still have the 15 pieced hexagons to make!!! I used bottom line from superior single thread for the bees, they are 1/4″ long and 1/8th wide. Hobby horses are sewn and ready for the Opp Shop Tuesday, wee heart has been completed and sent to some one special, I forgot to take a photo of it though???? I can not believe I have been sooo productive this last week????
We took a day off and went for a drive up to Mt Molloy about 40 mins inland from home, on to Mossman back down the coast to Port Douglas and Cairns along the coastal road just breath taking. A lovely lovely day out. May be we should do it more often.
This beautiful drive is so close to our our home, it takes 3 hrs with a good lunch stop to drive inland up through beautiful country, down to the coast and a beautiful drive home along the coast. we really do live in paradise lost.
In my garden now at this time of the year we are having so many Hugh insects, I have not seen so many of them here like this year, it must of been an exceptional breeding season for them all. I use to see them like this in PNG where I lived for 6 years, up there the stick insects grow to 14inches plus!!!!! Big and mean managed to get in to the house last night and land on me while sewing, I was not amused as he had long legs with little fish hooks all along them and they scratched my skin, I finally caught him and sent him on his way out side!!!!!!
These wee fellow all of 1/2 inch to 1 inch long come as soon as we get the first monsoon rains in the hundreds, they are sooooooooooo sweet but oh what a noise they make, they all came out last night as I had the sprinklers on yesterday!!!!!!
I’m just of to the beach I will upload some photo’s if I remember to take them!!!!! Have a wonderful day every one. Cheers Glenda
up date 1.50pm
I remembered to take some photo’s and this morning the beach was picture perfect, we walked from one end of the beach tot he other, it takes around an hour just perfect as we start at 7.30am before it is to hot. I also took a photo from the range look out looking towards Cairns at about 800feet above sea-level, it also looked beautiful this morning. Then After breakfast at the beach I went in to the city and spent some Xmas money see all the goodies I bought, you need to zoom in and see the delightful piece of yellow fabric it has the most delightful wee birds on it, it is just 3/4 of a yard I found it in a pile of material, what a find, you will see these wee birds popping up here and there over the next year!!!!! Then I went and bought my self a DVD Limited addition of Lord of the Rings with another Xmas voucher from Hubby, I love this story so I had a WONDERFUL morning and home by 1pm, oh yes I also bought a length of drain pipe to extend the wet season torrential rain run off drain which I’m going out fit now!!!!!!
I have been busy on my hexagons will show my progress next week!!!!!?????
Remember to tick the wee box where it says
Please check to prove YOU ARE human. Thank you. This is the last line just above comment box????? This is to stop the spam!!!!
Glenda, you have been up to all sorts! First off, that custom tower your DH made you is simply superb! I can see how useful it is and how much you are going to enjoy using it. Nice opp shop find- what a treat, that quilt looks really great. All the opp shops round my way are full of items people were too cheap to take down to the tip. The bees are a good idea too, whenever someone dropped some paint during a stencil class, I’d always say ‘turn it into a butterfly’ Ha! I can see you live in a paradise Glenda, but I’d like my paradise without any insects. ..
PS
Yes I’m a human!
Fantastic find at the opp store! Really enjoyed all the post.
Lovely post Glenda,
I just adore seeing photos from your part of Paradise.
Cheers from (it’s forgotten it is summer) Melbourne.
Hi! This is the first time I could see that little box LOL love all your photos.
Hugs Bunny
Hi Glenda, love all your creations. the TGWT project …love yours! I too started one but haven’t been back to it for nearly a year!! I told my sister that we should both try and finish it by the time she visits again in april…..I’ve only finished 1 more hex since i said that…. been doing other things that i shouldn’t. Now about the blood spots…. I don’t know if you have ever heard I was told (now this doesn’t sound very hygenic) but…. that if it is ‘Your ‘ own blood then get a cotton bud and put it in your mouth and get it soaked with your own saliva and then dab it over the blood spots and it should remove them….but the bees are a great idea too! try it next time you stab yourself!
What a clever hubby you have Glenda. I don’t read many blogs but have enjoyed the time spent here and love your beautiful photos
Hi Glenda, finally had the time to look at your WOW, love all the pictures, love your projects, the cute little birds in the yellow fabric, and what’s not to love seeing all the beautiful beach pictures, cute little froggy. didn’t love that “big and mean” bug so much. Here I thought our bugs are big, but they don’t even come close to yours. Heidi
To remove those blood stains, use your own saliva, rub well
and when you wash it, the stains will be gone. This doesn’t
work with someone else’s blood. I hope this works for you
and you won’t have to do more emboridery if you don’t want
to.
Glenda –enjoyed the post. Would love to visit your beaches. Something to try for blood stains. Wet spot with the saliva of the bleeder. Blot dry. It works.
do you know that your saliva will remove your own blood from fabric? thanks for all your great photos and good luck with the UFOs! you have one clever husband there – love the ‘table’
Hi Shirley thanks for the tip, I do know about the saliva but it has to be done straight away to get it to work well, and it was several days before I spotted them???? Cheers Glenda
Love the beach pictures! Sure is some fantastic weather you are having for this time of year!!!
I heard a good tip from someone to get rid of blood stains…soak in beetroot and blackcurrant juice for about 20 mins…works every time!!!
Love ya!
PS. Not sure if I should tick the box or not…
And here i was thinking that i was busy!