Gorgeous embroidery heart

When I was away at my quilting retreat I was lucky to be given a free project. Jane Van Keulen from Stash Palace goes to the same retreat. She gave us all a wee kit to make a gorgeous Christmas ornament (or just a beautiful thing to put on a door nob or whatever). She is the most amazing embroiderer and uses a lot of wool, which she dyes. This is wool and velvet. I managed to get it finished while I was at retreat and then fished through all my bits and started another one. It is so good having a quick project to finish. I thought it was a good travelling project.

I did all my wool blanket dying at Jane's place. She is so inspiring. Linking up to these places.

A bit of crochet - a modern take on an old classic

Another item of mindless craft that has been fantastic to do while recuperating is to finish my crochet squares and turn them into a blanket. It has kept my legs warm, as I have had a bit of time getting my temperature back to equilibrium post surgery, as well as getting rid of all my bits of wool in the cupboard. I am trying to craft from my stash rather than obtain more!! For years I knitted Kaffe Fasset pattern jerseys etc and these are all the leftover bits. My boys don't like the "scratchy" home knitting and Aaron has way too many. We have also really migrated to using the finer Merino.

         

This started as trying to be smart and complicated. Some large squares with a lot of smaller interlinking squares. But it just did not work as I envisaged. So I went simple. This project has been my TV watching project for a couple of year. Great to finish it but now what will I do in front of TV? 

Linking my finish to these places and Crazy Mum Quilts

My favourite kind of finish. Upcycled craft

The first finish of my recovery and convalescence. I love the designs by Jane Van Kuelen from Stash Palace, just because she uses everything, thinks outside the square and upcycles so much stuff, it is inspiring. When we were away on our annual crafting retreat Jane gave us the starter pack with the dyed wool blankets marked out with the pattern and a sample of her stitch ideas. There was an apple or pear to choose from. As you can see I chose the pear!!

 

I knew I would need heaps of sit down projects to complete. So I go this on the go and also used that as inspiration to start a shoulder bag. Again using Jane's dyed wool blankets and some off cuts of velvet that she dyes. It is so sumptuous. Of course there will be the requirement to add a lot of bling and other bits!

What I have found a bit unexpected in recovery though. Is that it is hard to get inspired and actually do the work. Quite a lot of mindlessness and inactivity happens in the day as concentration goes. Where I had thought I would get heaps of craft etc done as I had time up my sleeve, but a lot of that ends up in bed or watching TV. Slowly we are getting out of that.

I have tried to photograph better. The craft / computer room has a bit of a makeover thanks to my brother in law and sister. They pulled the old curtains down and installed the blinds I ordered ( and my measurements were accurate!!!), So I used the thermal lining on a chair to show off the article better. I am pleased with the result.
Linking to these places  and Crazy Mum Quilts, when I have the omph to do so.

All snuggly for winter

Yeah, a finished item. This scarf is a angora rabbit wool scarf. The wool is so unbelievably soft. I am slowly using all the wool from a jersey I unpicked (see back here) from the Op Shop.

It had to be really really long to be able to double over and wear like this. But Aaron was clear that was how he wanted to wear a scarf and who am I but to oblige him? He has worn it every day since I finished blocking it. 

Over the years I have knitted Aaron heaps of jersey's etc so he did not need any more of those. But when I finished my snood just before winter both the boys and Aaron loved it. Hence the beginning of a scarf for Aaron - two months later and it is done.

The best photo of my gorgeous husband, was no good as he had his eyes shut. Not only do I want to show off the scarf but my gorgeous man as well!!!

Then last night I put the rest of the wool to use as Jakob wants a hat with ear flaps.

I link to these places and finish it up Friday with Crazy Mum Quilts.

Who's that sitting on my quilt?

The newly finished quilt

Yes I am channeling the three bears. Last night I did it. Yes I finished my quilt for the second time!! Oh I am so so pleased that I redid the binding. I used a mottled grey that I bought at Fabric Vision. It is the exact colour I had in mind, but not having any in my stash and wanting to use my stash I tried something else. Never again. Next time I will go with my gut feeling.

I finished it last night and threw it on the sofa to photograph this morning. When I woke this morning there was no Morris on our bed. I commented to Aaron that it must be summery and warm for Morris not to sleep at our feet, BUT NO..... he was snuggled into my new quilt on the sofa!!!!!


I link to these places and am thrilled to link this to Crazy Mum Quilts - finish it up friday.

The new grey binding.

The previous mottled binding

AARGgggghhhhh

I thought I had a finished quilt to show off..... but now I have a Work In Progress (WIP) only.

Yes here is the picture of my lovely finished quilt. This could be called the procrastination quilt as after years I finally put the blocks together and pinned it out for quilting. Then it has sat again as how do you quilt it when there is so much handstitching and machine applique. Trying to work out a pattern just about did my head in.

So I finally stitched in the ditch. Then I auditioned bindings and opted for the best of the lot. It was not what I had in mind, but I could not find any dark grey in my stash, so in my attempt not to buy more fabric I used a stash material. Oh dear I just don't like it.

I have read before of people binding their quilts and then unpicking and putting on a new binding and at the time thought they were daft in the head. I would NEVER do that....... sigh....... last night I unpicked the binding!!!!!

So here it is finally ready to bind. Hopefully it wont sit in the never never pile again.
I link this up to  and other places here.

Done - 100% Eco recycled quilt

I started this a few months ago and have finally finished. I got stuck into it on Friday for the - friday night sew in- and finished it today. You can go back to this blog post to explain how it is 100% recycled - batting, backing, front etc. But the sewing thread was new.

I really like the finished product but I did not enjoy the process of this quilt at all. I have found it a chore to finish. I got in so much of a funk today trying to get it done, that once I had all the pieces quilted, I could not find the motivation to finish it and do the binding. So Morris and I went for a big walk around the Pegasus wildlife area. Lovely and sunny (but cold) great walk and had a fantastic coffee and amazing fruit slice at the cafe there. I came home reinvigorated and have just completely finished the quilt. Yipee. The boys are due home in 5 minutes so the timing is fantastic.

I have learnt that I do not like the quilt as you go technique. This quilt is done with raw edge applique, which results in quilt as you go. Icky Icky. The last one I did using that technique here - I did not enjoy either. So only pieced quilts from now on.

Another quilt to go into the slowly building stash for the orphans at Hope Homes International.

Hope you had a great Saturday like I did.

Linking to these parties

Still on the finishing streak

I have made some "kiwana" bunting for my UK friend. Finally finished after sitting around for a long time.