#42

Heart #42 finished.

Hearts

I had a lovely weekend away - I am very lucky to have such an obliging partner - and this is what I achieved on my Saturday evening/ Sunday all day. The first heart is for Beverly Ann. Beverly wanted something soft and feminine. I really stepped out of my comfort zone with this heart.....I actually used some stash!! Some hand dyed lace trim and the beaded motif. I buy this stuff with the best of intentions, then NEVER use it in case I might need it. The print is one I got from Pat Winters esty haul. I embellished the hat, basket, and dress a little.

This next heart was one of the 'scrappy' hearts I pieced last week. I am a little unhappy with. I feel that it needs more, but I think that may be because I am used to a more 'encrusted' look. Please let me know if you think it is a little bare. Funnily enough this took quite a while, it was hard work thinking of seam treatments!

My excitement for this weekend, although I will miss the 'actual' excitement in action, is that I had the not so pleasant task of dobbing aa old friend into the police for P manufacturing. This guy and I grew up together, and although we haven't remained close, it is still hard to do that to someone who you have known forever. But having said that, it is not something that I will allow to occur around my family, my children, my grandmother. He has been locked in his bach for over a month. All doors and windows blacked out and a video cameras around the bach to see who comes and goes. It is hard to understand the situation, and adequately describe it, but where the bach is is a very close and tight knit community. Everybody knows everyone elses business, and for him to think that he could do this in the camp, and get away with it, is madness. Unfortunately, I know his family are aware that he was doing this, and they have buried their heads in the sand, but P does not go away. If he was just nurturing a few hydroponic dac plants in the bedroom, I would of left him too it ( and I guess that may turn out to be the case) but cooking up P is just bullshit in my books. I contacted the police yesterday, so hopefully nana will have some gossip in the next few days. I do not feel guilty about this, but I do feel a little sad, for him, and his family, but I am a firm believer in actions and consequences, and this needs one great big consequence. We have had so many really horrific attacks and murders in NZ in the last year that have been attributed to P, that I could not of done nothing. I'm sure I will have some consequenses of my own to face from his family, but I have gone into this with my eyes open, and hopefully he will get any help he needs.
Well, back to fun stuff....stitching to do.

Scrappy hearts

I am away for the weekend, a Playcentre regional meeting on Saturday, and R&R on Sunday. Because it is really hard to cart everything with me for stitching, I pieced together these scraps (that were lying forlorn on my studio floor). I intend to just stitch the seams. These were actually alot of fun to piece. No thinking, just grabbing a bit that fit. Should have something finished by Monday.
This is a link to my Playcentre's webpage, in case you are interested in what I do when I am not stitching or blogging. We have our AGM tomorrow, I am looking at another year of President, not because I'm any good, just because no body else wants it!!
Catch you Monday...happy stitching.

Tradewinds DYB

This is the first block I am working on in the Crazy Quilting International 'Do Your Block' RR. This block belongs to Hideko. I have done fine up until this point, but now I am stuck for inspiration as to what to put in the piece on the right. Any suggestions?? I am thinking about a bird...or more flowers
I will embellish the red ribbon seam a little more. I did this to add weight to the bottom of the block, and also to move the red from one side to the other.
I hope you like it so far Hideko.

Susan over at CQ4Fun, has started a new webring "Around the Block". This is for bloggers who prodominantly post about CQ, and post at least once a week. So if you want to see regular CQ eye candy, scroll down to the end of my links , you will see the button, and enjoy.

Gardening & S.E.X

Here's another weird thing about me. I LOVE gardening books, either useful, like how too's, or botanical encyclopeadias, or just plain old pictures of fancy schmancy gardens....but I HATE gardening, with a passion, my idea of a good day in the garden, is with the round-up, weed whacker and hedge trimmer, it's all about destruction. I have managed to create this one small garden, we're talking tiny here folks, less than a square metre. It's by my back gate. It comprises of an aloe, 3 different kinds of succulents and some mondo grass. It all came about because I saw a picture in one of those fancy schmancy gardening books of a barrel and water pump, but with succulents growing and spilling over the side like water. Well, I think I have done a pretty fine job of recreating that look. The pic is of my barrel...you can tell its not one of those fancy schmancy book pics cos of the 'junk' in the garage!!

I managed to get some S.E.X in yesterday too. It was the Auckland Quilters Guild 'Christmas' show this weekend, and I went with Mum. I do like to look at the quilts, but I really go for the merchant stalls, and below is what I got. The lace is just gorgeous, and very reasonably priced I thought. The wrapped packets were metre lengths and the most I paid was $8. It is all 'hand painted', and the designs are beautiful. The trouble is when I buy stuff like this , I don't use it.....I might need it one day!!
It was very heartening to see that there were 3 crazies entered this year. They were all lovely, and very interesting to look at. One was based on the piecemaker 'tree' quilt ( you know the one I mean) but with a NZ twist. I don't know alot about those quilts, but the work in this one was lovely. The others were very nice too. I shopped too long to look properly.
I was interested to see that although there was hand seam treatments on them all, an effective look can be created using trims and laces, which is not a bad idea if you want a CQ to weather wear and tear on a bed. Any way , something for me to think about.
My nana won a couple 1st place ribbons again this year. She does the most stunning applique quilts, and her quilt this year was well displayed. I was looking thru a trade table and it caught my eye. I said to mum " hey, that a stunner.....hang on....isn't that..... WOW". Good on you Nana.

CQCrazy RR

This RR had a wee delay, but Jammies blocks arrived last week, and this is what I have done so far. I added the fargo rose/pearl trail, and also the buttonhole stitch, with a row of detatched buttonhole, down the seam on the right, under the button cluster. The SRE/bead trail curves gently around the cats whiskers, and fills in that patch nicely. Below is is slightly closer pic of the treatment. I have mastered the fargo rose, IMHO anyway!

Tag , you're it!.....and a catch up

Julia has tagged me to list 5 weird things about me (or my pets), and tag five others. So weird things, gosh, I've often been called weird, but that was in my younger days when myself and my peers were under the influence of....eh-hem...stuff.
1. I have a rare hereditary form of colour blindeness - it is blue/ yellow, not red/ green ...weird!
2. I had a stigmatism in one eye, its not there anymore, and stigmatisms, apparently, don't just go, but mine did...weird!
3. I have had alot of cats...5 of them named JIM...is that 5 weird things??
4. I don't feel labour pain, I only know I'm having a baby when the head starts to crown....weird, and a bit scary!
5. Maybe not weird, but interesting - I have 9 piercings (calm down, 8 are in my ears!) and 2 tattoos. I would have more of everything if I could afford it and a had a 'temple' suitable for public display.
I am going to tag Maureen C, Hideko, Ktj , Stacy and Cat (when you are back online).
You don't have to answer, but it's only 5 things, so I didn't think it was too much of an imposition.

I have been away for a couple of days, actually spending time with my children - there's another weird thing - I much prefer my children when they are far away, and with someone else, not that they are bad kids, they are just, well, kids, you know. There was a reason I've had a lot of cats, they look after themselves- had a nice few days, I am home now, with just Jono, and we are going to do fun stuff tomorrow (how much 'fun' can you have with a 2yr old!).
I also signed up for one of Sharons classes. No more procrastinating, I want to do it, and thanks to IRD ( our NZ tax department, Susan. Inland Revenue Dept) I can afford it without too much guilt at where the money could be better spent.
My sister is expecting her first baby any day now, and I think she is hoping that my kind of labour is hereditary!
My dad is finally going back to England for a visit. He leaves Saturday. He has always been very funny about going back, but finally, he's made the decision, and I think he is really looking forward to it. I can tell this because he keeps deciding to extend his stay!! Not good timing with baby coming, but he has always managed to avoid births anyway.

So, thats about it. I will post pics tomorrow of the bit of stitching I did while away. I worked on Jammies WOW block, and I really enjoyed it!! I was dreading it, but it was actually really good to focus on the stitching and texture, without having to worry about colour.( hummm, I wonder if white on white paragraph should follow birthing paragraph? Don't worry Jammie, I won't take it to the labour suite with me, promise)
I'm off to read a book, not something I do often anymore, but I do love books.
Goodnight.

the rest of the bags

Thanks for the comments on the previous bags. If you are wondering about size, the squares are 8" blocks, and the rectangle is about 8x6".
I have some 'work' (wash my mouth out) that I have to do, so I won't be assembling bags today. But I have made a great start.
The colours aren't so great in these pics. The pics of the naked blocks were taken outside, and they are fairlky close to true. The blue is lovely and vibrant, and the purple has a really pink tinge to it. Well I have run out of blocks to embellish...I might
have to fix that, after all I won't be 'working' tonight in front of the telly, will I?

Now, I feel I have to say this, as it is very rare to hear anything good abut the tax department, but today, I LOVE IRD!! and I think I made poor Nigel's day when I told him so. They have given me back a significant refund. Nigel got my exclamations of love when I rang to check that the money was actually mine, and they wouldn't be taking it back. (Although I love, I DO NOT trust!). So, I am a very happy Jo today. Most of it will go away for a rainy day....but not all of it....

bags...

These are what I have been working on today. Having the house to myself, I have been able to pretty much just stitch, and finishing the embellishing on these bags has been a good exercise. I think that each bag will take about 3 hours start to finish, and I intend to sell them for about $30 each. If the kids had been around I would of felt that I had put alot more time into them, and that $30 wasn't reasonable compensation, but as it stands, I'm happy all round.
I have kept embellishment fairly simple because a) I don't think full on CQ has a huge market appeal, and b) that would be alot of embellishment. I am trying to portray a feeling of summer fun and freshness. Is it working?
I have another finished, but want a daylight pic, and the black and red one is almost done. I hope to get at least a couple of these sewn up and completed before the tribe return.

I have been conversing with a blogosphere buddy about marketing her wears, so I thought I would give her a plug. Go and check out Stacy's blog Mama's Doodles, and her etsy shop. If you have a little girl who would love a tutu, or a grumpy teen who would grudgingly accept a leather wrist cuff, Stacy is the gal for you.

Todays efforts

This is what I have achieved today, along with a hair cut, visit to the bank, and a visit from DSD (dear step daughter). I did actually sleep last night, and I'm feeling reasonably calm tonight, but I'm not ready for bed yet...

Heart #39

Here is the third under sea themed heart. Lots of embroidery. It is a very textured piece, busy, busy, busy....maybe a bit too busy? I have done some of my very rudimentary needle tatting for this heart.

My family have taken off for a few days at the bach, leaving me in blissful peace during the days...and absolute terrified paranoia at night!! I hate being in the house by myself. I am fine until I go to bed, then I just get myself so worked up, about every little noise, and usually 'not noise'...meaning it's all in my head! I know it is all in my head. I used to live alone in a little cottage with 5 cats and I just left the back door open at night for the cats, and later the flatty who lived in the sleepout, but now I have this place locked up like a fortress, no one is getting in here, not covertly anyway. In about three more nights I'll be at the 'Home Alone" stage, rigging up booby traps and the like. I think it is since having the kids. I'm just all round a bit unhinged, and this is just another manifestation of it.
Anyway, you can probably expect a few late night posts, and obscure ramblings from me for the rest of the week, while I sit here trying to keep my eyes open. I'm not sure why staying up until I fall asleep in my chair makes me feel all the more better prepared to deal with intruders, but as I said, the minds a bit screwy....

Oriental tote construction

I was just browsing my own blog ( sad, I know!) and I saw that I said I would post pics of how I put Elizabets tote together. It may be of interest to some of you, and you may have suggestions on how I could do it differently. Please bear in mind that I don't measure, I cut once, and I make it fit regardless!
Click on pics, they'll get bigger.


First, I line,sew, turn and close up each side. So this in itself is a completed block.







I have already made my handle, as wide as I want it to be, and as long. This bag has a long handle. I would do the same for short handles, but the gusset would stop at the top of the bag, and I would of added tabs (for hardware handles) or sewn in fabric handles when sewing up the sides, This pic shows me positioning the gusset centrally on the block. I sew together just along the bottom.


Then I sew on the second side, just along the bottom. This ensures that both sides are placed evenly on the handle.
All sewing is "right sides together" as per the usual








Next I sew the sides up on one block. I tend to start from the bottom of the bag, and sew to the top. That stops that 'runching up' you can get. ( I don't know where the other side is in this pic, but I was careful to keep them in order, so it's there somewhere.



Here I am lining up the other side. Again, I start from the bottom and sew up to the top (opening end) of the bag. I added the pocket before lining the block (make sure you sew it on the right way!)






This it what one side looks like finished. I have also stitched across the bottom from corner to corner, just to give the bottom a nice square look.



This is the last row of stitching being done. I just rolled the bag up, and whipped it through the machine

All that is left to do now is sew the handle together at the top. I didn't do this with Elizabets bag. We decided that it would be better for her to adjust the length to suit her.
I find this works much better for me than making a separate lining, as they usually don't fit well. The bag has no raw edges showing, and looks well constructed. Who could ask for more?

Concertina book

This is what I made this evening. I didn't choose the colours, Janette already had kits made up, which was really cool, and she showed us how to whip these little numbers up. I am very excited. The possibilites are endless for their use. We discussed using them for people to write in at 21sts and weddings (you could match the cover to wedding invite) , You could add kid art, motivational saying, psalms, photos, poetry...whatever floats your boat!! I am going to make on of these for my DYB note book. I will add some extra pages, and I haven't decided if will use Kiwi themed papers, or if I will make a fabric cover of some kind. Watch this space.

Heart WIP

Just a pic of the heart I am working on.
I'm going out tonight to a friends place where we are going to make little concertina books. I am looking forward to it. I am hoping that I might be able to use the book for my DYB notebook. I'll have to see how bulky it is.

New bag

This bag started off life as a wallhanging, and it looked like this.
I pulled it out of the draw the other day and decided that I REALLY like it, so I made it into this little number. It was a little difficult to decide how I was going to put it together. It was made in one piece, and it has a definate central point for the front, so I couldn't just fold it in half and add handles...well I could of, but I didn't want too. I folded it around, added a rounded base, which could of been WAY MORE DRAMA, but it went ok.


The back looks a little funky ( bad funky, not good funky) but I am still happy with it. This will be sent to my SIL to sell.