Some progress at last

Ages ago I blogged about the Civil War Quilt blocks from here... Finally I got some daylight hours to get to this stage.  The blocks were meant to finish at 8 1/2 inch...  A few to many did not (not just me suffered this!). 

 It is a relief to get to this point - they have been hanging around to be done like a bad smell.  I need to decide how I'm going to quilt it.  Do you know how quilts from the Civil War times were quilted?  I am going to try to replicate this using my sewing machine (I know I know). 

Sue Spargo at The Quilted Crow

A relaxing weekend stitching new stitches with Sherri and Jan and meeting people like Sue and Lizzie (your company rocked guys).  Sue Spargo was so keen to share her amazing skills and encourage creative breakthroughs.  Generous with her goodies and patience.  I am so looking forward to when she releases her stitches book (I know gasp!)

We got to play with some seriously cool decorative stitches...

Beading - I mean yum people yum!

Even way out stitching.  Cool ha?

Sherri's design which I copied because people - it was cool.

testing testing 1.2.3

Yup it still works.  

I feel like I am always being creative 

but then nothing to really show for it.

I have done my homework for the upcoming Sue Spargo workshop next weekend at The Quilted Crows.  Jan is coming and so is a very dear friend from the mainland.  We are going to have so.much.fun.  

I am loving watching the vegies grow and the plot provide us with extra goodness at meals.  I am also trailing Hilbarn.  Where food is sourced directly from local farmers and delivered to your door.  The first box I got made me deeply excited about real food.

Been scrapping lots.  Nice to actually finish something.

Have finished all my Civil War Blocks.  Ahmen.  Now I am in the process of getting them ship shape to put together.  This has been a big project.  I will finish it.  No UFO happening here.

I am not really a fiction reader - let alone a book so thick.  This book has a personal link so I am getting through it.  So close to the finish and seeing what happens.  Been enjoying it.

I aint going to blog about groundhog house work or toddler wrangling or sibiling rivary or daily grooming a big hairball.  What about you?  What is keeping you?

Tree skirt

Yea I know - it is not Christmas any time soon.  

I am sticking to my order of projects so here it is done.

Done!

I just love it

I really wanted to knit this .. just got a bit daunted... 

 Thanks to the ladies at CWA (Country Women's Association) I can tick it of the list - ye haw!  An AWSOME free pattern by Flinlknits (yup the same gal who designed the Little Mans jumper).  I am  now eyeing off her beret pattern.  

 

The Little Man trying a bit of hip shaking as well.

Unravelled

Sometimes undoing hours of craft is therapeutic... You may say a concerning level of analish... I like to think what I gift is at my best.  This person is so worth it.

dilemma

Our outside fire - which I am loving - nothing to do with the post...

I am always aiming to support local independent businesses/food growers and products.

But then this happens.

I need a certain product.  I look at my choices.  There are four.

The shops own brand for $2.00.  I look at the ingredients.  All recognisable and safe.  Nothing obscure or sus.

The other three...  only one was Australian owned but imported ingredients $7.00.  Obscure ingredients.  Other two from or owned by overseas companies.  Again $7.00 and obscure ingredients.

I choose the $2 one.  Even though it is owned by a huge money making company - totally against my buying ethics.  ALL ingredients were safe and it was value for money.  How could I justify more than three times the cost plus very obscure product list?

Can you tell it stumped me?  I feel the need to be sensible but I have not even began to scratch the surface on the effects this choice could result in.

What choice would you make?

Furiously

I am furiously knitting this little secret...

What are you doing?

Just one square?

Sally has initiated making a blanket for the Born to Knit Save the Children's blanket appeal.

Good stuff she is.

So why dont you go to her blog and sign yourself up.  

It is so easy and quick and for a good cause people.  

She has even given us ages to complete a block.

Go on!  Lets see who can make their square first?

You can breath a sigh of relief

I have finished it... It is the most wonky of wonky projects I have done.  Machined stitched the binding because lack of (cough cough) patience...

excuse the poor light photos.  I just had to take photos and post ASAP