Not One But Two

Yesterday when I headed off to set up my sewing machine I also had to bring old faithful out of retirement. I've been sewing lately on a 'new to me' little machine that my mum found at a garage sale as 'old faithful' was over 20 years old and the motor was on it's last. Remember these?

Not only could I not find the buttons for them ... I could not for the life of me get the buttonhole to work on my little machine ... hence old faithful had to come out yesterday and after 4 buttonholes ...

My third (and second) set of hand towels are complete.  I'm linking up with Anthea for CTTY where I was a lucky winner last month, and they will also appear on the 1 Xmas Item Blog. Great feeling to have a finish and something for the Christmas gift box.

Another lovely night of stitching last night. I managed to finish the blanket stitching around the word 'Little' while listening to some lovely rain on the roof. Measured 1 mm in the gauge this morning but the clouds are still looking promising today.  Time to get back to that sewing machine and perhaps some border preparation for LMF.

Just a quick (funny) clarification. By 'meals on wheels' in yesterdays post, I was meaning that the cows' meals arrive by tractor ... I wouldn't use the word 'meals' about or definitely not in front of the cows :o)

Happy Sunday     >^..^<

There Are Days

There are days when nothing seems to go to plan and you just can't catch a break. A cold windy and damp Friday managed to produce 4mm of rain. Of course it was my wash day and the line on the verandah quickly filled ... I don't use a dryer. Hubby was trying to do cattle work so I had to keep ducking out to help him while wearing the biggest, warmest coat I could find to keep the chill out. Waiting not so patiently for the mailman to see if expected paperwork will arrive ... the first lot is still somewhere in postal limbo.

Thought I'd grab a moment to sew a couple of button holes and buttons on some hand towels for my 1 Xmas Item A Month - August and to link up with Anthea for Christmas Through The Year. Now where have I put that large container full of buttons? I've looked everywhere I can think of but I guess they'll turn up when I'm looking for something completely unrelated. Isn't that always the way? I did grab a few moments to do a little more blanket stitching on the tractor and decided I'd just pick up the crochet rug after dinner and do a bit more to it, but sleep won out in the end.

This morning while the sun peeped out behind the clouds, I put some of yesterdays still damp wash out into the sunshine and did the rest of the washing. Happy I've managed to get it all dry before the sunshine disappeared and another shower came across ... the wind helps! More ducking out to help hubby and then some more blanket stitching to finish the tractor, moon and star. I've also ironed on Mr Farmer ready for stitching.

Hanging out for Spring ... it's just around the corner.     >^..^<

1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back

At least that's what it feels like this month ... I just don't seem to be able to keep in a forward motion but I am making small steps in the right direction.

First I finished off another dish cloth to add to mum's gift for Mothers Day. 

My computer went to the Dr for a day trip and ended up staying there for a week before I could get back to town to pick it up. On the up side these 2 golden sheenas got a much needed pruning.

Another 2 blocks for LMF are in the completed pile.

A visit from a cruel stomach bug has wiped out the last week and food is still not high on my agenda. Hubby had a visit from the bug a couple of days after me so things have been very steady around here...it seemed to sap every last ounce of energy. Poor Millie thinks we're both very boring and has taken to dragging her bed around the house for something to do.

Yesterday I pottered about with some fabric and prepared another 1 and a half LMF blocks (ran out of vliesofix). Then dug out a tea towel, a fat 1/4 and 2 buttons and made these hand towels for my Christmas Gift Box. I can see more getting made thanks to Cheryll's tutorial.

If you visit our 1 Xmas Item a Month blog you'll find lots of great gift and decoration ideas from the clever Elves.

My plan is to put my feet up and do some more blanket stitch applique today...what are your weekend plans?

>^..^<

FNSI, OPAM, 1 Xmas Item

Of course the camera batteries would be flat just after I've been to town and don't have any spares. So I have 'borrowed' the ones from the cordless mouse, taken my pics and replaced the batteries back in the mouse. Batteries are now on my shopping list! Wonder if I could buy Mojo batteries too?

Now ... back to Friday night and sewing ... I decided to go with blanket stitch applique on Miss Moo and have been able to finish the applique over the weekend. Just needing eyes and her name embroidered.

Then on Sunday I made a start on an IPad  beanbag for work. Hubby got the request for a nice flat rock about this big (using hands to show size) for a weight and found the perfect size somewhere up the paddock while pumping water for the cows. One IPad beanbag ready to go to school tomorrow and a tick for OPAM.

I didn't have a gadget to test drive it with so I used the pattern for my 1 Xmas Item long term project.

Which brings me to my progress so far on block 1 and my 1 Xmas Item A Month for February. If slow and steady won the race then I'm already a winner. I'm attempting needle turn again after several years since my first attempt. Lots of leaves to prepare next.

Another busy week ahead so it's nice to sit down after dinner and do some stitchery to unwind before bed.

Happy Stitches     >^..^<

FNSI and 1 Xmas Item for January

My Friday night took a change of direction after I finally found the project I thought I'd work on, to find it wasn't what I thought it was.  So I grabbed a pile of old magazines and continued sorting them into these 3 piles.

1.  Christmas themed.
2.  To be re-homed.
3.  Projects I would like to make.

There are just so many gorgeous projects and never enough time to make them all so I have to be strong.

Earlier in the week I delved into a draw of 'bits and pieces' and found a couple of ornaments that have been cut out since 2009, oooops!  These are from Marg Low Designs and were a kit in an online stitching day I had signed up for. The bigger of the 2 will have to wait for a nice button or something to adorn the centre.

These are my 1 Xmas Items A Month for January. Now to find a safe, clean storage place where I won't forget where I put them! The new blog has been super busy this morning ... you might like to pop over for a visit to view all the lovely Christmas goodies the Elves have been busy creating.

Happy Long Weekend for Australia Day     >^,,^<

2014 Steaming Ahead

See the bottom of this post for "1 Xmas Item A Month" join up.

Well ... this year has certainly made a scorching start! With the temperature rising to record levels all over the country, I've been doing my best to lessen the heat stress on my animal family as well as myself. Saturday when we peaked at 42 deg, Grace the budgie got to watch cricket with hubby while sitting in front of the fan and every now and then I'd give her a mist of water with a spray bottle ... she loved that.  Fleur found lying on the downstairs tiles the best spot while Jayne chose under the house with the rooster and hens who have been free ranging as well. The dogs were given refreshing drinks too.

Each afternoon once there was enough shade at the front of the house, we would all migrate to mesh chairs and try and catch a breeze (usually a warm breeze) and wait for the evening to bring some relief. What a sight to be seen! Me laying in the deck chair, Jayne laying out on a mesh chair, Grace in her cage on another chair and the chooks picking around. Can't really blame Fleur for wanting nothing to do with us. Finally last night a few storms brought a cooler change and hubby measured 23 mm (92 points) of rain in the gauge this morning ... woohoo!

This has become a regular sight out in the paddock. The cows come on the trot as soon as they hear hubby on the tractor bringing some hay. A recent shower has greened the grass a little but not enough to make it grow much. The dams are still crying out for good runoff rain so fingers crossed we (farmers everywhere) are in for a welcome change. Too many have done it too tough for too long.

I snapped this pic while out and about with hubby and almost got myself a wasp sting for my troubles. Didn't see the little beggars until they flew at my face and one landed on my top lip. Needless to say I made a hasty retreat and then used the zoom on the camera.

There's been no sewing of any kind so far for 2014 in my house but I'm hoping that will change soon.

Will you be ready for Christmas 2014?  
It's time to join in for "1 Xmas Item A Month"

I've decided to do things slightly different this year and hope that everyone will join in once more and share their lovely makes and great ideas for decorations and gifts.  Click HERE and you will be taken to the 1 Xmas Item A Month blog for all the details.

Happy 2014     >^..^<