Monday, February 28, 2011

In Bloom- a floral theme

It's the end of the month- where has February gone? Here are some things I have finished this month. The 2 cushions for my mum are done- I added a strip of lighter fabric on the fold sewn in to the seam when I attached the borders. In a previous post I just showed the applique centre. They are in Mum's colours for her bedroom.
I've been playing around with some of the photo effects on the computer, so a little trial and error with how the photos appear. I've tried an effect that blurred the edges. It's amazing how quickly the time flies when you are experimenting and trying to get the post right!
The rose was a sample I did at the Quilting Symposium in Christchurch in 2003. You could hire a machine to use in class- so I went to a mini class to familiarise myself with its features- this was the little project we pieced and then tried out some of the stitches. All I had to do to finish it was sew down the binding, yet it had hidden itself at the back of a cupboard since then.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A Sad Day

It has been a surreal afternoon for many of us around the country but that is nothing compared with what the people of Christchurch are going through yet again.

The Cathedral is iconic - the pictures of it and the devastation around the city centre shows the force of the earthquake that struck this afternoon.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

A Finish (of sorts)

So what have I been busy doing? I have finished these two little stitchery blocks, so they can wing their way back to Queensland as part of the flood appeal. I got the 'Hug's and Kisses' blocks to do and I like the wording of the one on the left " Count your life by smiles not tears, count your age by friends not years"

This is the stitching part of the two cushions for my mum. Mum wanted something in purples and applique. They are actually on a white background, but the photo has uploaded more of a mauve one. I have usually done needleturn applique, but I found this pattern in an old magazine and it was in buttonhole stitch. I am not great at using a thimble, nor could I find one that I found easy to use, so the end of my middle finger was a little battered as I kept pushing the needle through with it (and it went through the skin a few times. Ouch!). If I am to do more like this I will have to find something to protect the end of my finger.
Now all I have to add some borders and add the back and they will be done.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

It's Sunday Again

Yes and it's back to work tomorrow.   It has been a busy time.  The week before last, a few late nights were spent helping to sew outfits for my daughter and her friends who were going to the Wellington Sevens.  I got the plum jobs (not!) of changing a top pattern into a dress pattern, cuting out, pressing hems up, ironing on the interfacing, sewing in the sleeves and doing the buttonholes- anything really that wasn't straight seams! Now I can get back onto my own things.  I have been doing 2 little stitched blocks for the flood relief and this week I want to post them off and also finish 2 cushions for my Mum. I have to put on the borders and then do the backs.  
Last week we thought summer was finally here- we had a morning of 35 degrees, and then a cool change came through and now we are back to waiting for summer again.

I thought I would try adding a picture, so found one of a table runner I had made for my mum. It is one from Viv's Creations and I put on a straight border. It goes well on the table and Mum was thrilled. A little trial and error and finally I have something I can share. A little more practice is needed both in taking the photos and in uploading them but I'll get there! I even cropped it before I exported it- crossing my fingers hoping that it would work!