Thrilled with the refashion

I went from a stack of linen shirts and jackets, all from Op shops at a total cost of $8

To a casual colour blocked shift dress. I used a dress that I enjoy wearing and overlaid it as I cut items for this. That pattern worked out quite well considering I did not even make a paper pattern.  

I really like natural fabrics being linen, cotton and wool. This being 100% linen shirts has made it a bit stiffer than the shift I modelled it off. I need to start thinking about the flow of material. Recently I have purchased a few "fake" material tunics and the drift about the larger body frame rather nicely. 

I was really struggling to get enough dark material for the bottom of the dress so made a bias binding and used that for the hemming 

Absolutely thrilled with the secret pockets in the front of the tunic. I get really annoyed that ladies gear often does not have pockets. What to do with my phone and car keys? Drives me nuts. So these are quite deep. 

Now I have some sleeves and lots of buttons to do something with. Can't waste a thing. 

This has been on my to do list for about two years. I put it onto this quarters projects to finish with "2016 finish a long" to motivate me. And yay it is done.

 as well as these other links and now a new link up with one of my favourite refashion blogs "Sew Outside the Lines"

From the sublime to the ridiculous

At our favourite camping spot. We are all on the bridge.  

We were joined by my brother-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Quite a lot of swimming and a lot of walking went on. Well for some of the smaller crew there was a whole lot of being helped going on. Great to see the cousins so involved with each other.

Sometimes holidays are exhausting. 

A bit of quiet time before bed. NOT!! Anyone that knows this book will know it is not a restful bedtime story, but it is fun. 

Family time together. 

Oh my goodness we swam with massive stingrays!! Not on purpose. But just as we got onto a different jetty in the sounds two huge rays went past. To say Jakob and I freaked out is a mild understatement. 

Then in the middle of it - We got evacuated from the campground. Huge flooding expected. 

But one and half days later it started clearing and we went back to the camp. 

Did a lot of this in the rain though.

Another great week camping at Pelorous Bridge.

A bit of yummy bread making

I had a little bit of time to think about cooking as we came home from holiday early at Christmas. So I pulled out my bread book. First I made Ciabatta. This is rising before heading into the oven. Not as good as it normally is, maybe because the yeast was expired in 2009!!! But I did test it first and it frothed etc as it should. So being a bit disappointed I then heading for a no fail recipe.  

I followed the recipe to the letter and made gorgeous Chelsea Buns. The filling looked fabulous and this was the look prior to rising.

Oh my goodness what a success!! Tasty tasty, with soft bread and a delicious mixed spice and fruit filling. The glaze was meant to be made with orange water but as I did not have any I substituted rose water and it worked really well.

Linking to these places

Arthur's Pass

 My sister was with us for a couple of days as they wanted to do Cave Stream near Castle Hill in Arthur's Pass. We ended up having a big day doing Cave Stream, The waterfall track at Arthur's Pass the the limestone rocks.

Definitely and amazing place to stay

When you have just crossed the stream to go to the waterfall track in the Arthur's Pass township, if you turn back, you see this amazing stone hut tucked in the bush. I so want to stay there!!!!

After the second bridge the boys decided to scramble rather than take the track - always up for a bit of adventuring. 

Unfortunately this was the only striding out I did! My blood pressure was low and I was dizzy and could not sort it out so I had to wander around the village, do my knitting etc. 

I took a lot of photos of the old old cute houses that are around. 

Gearing up to do Cave Stream.

The intrepid cavers ready to go.

Starting to emerge from the cave 1 hour later. Kids first. 

Adults last. Have to say when I saw the kids coming out I was a bit worried about the adults fitting through the ledge!!!

Of to the boulders. This was one walk I could slowly do.

Great day out. Lovely to have family staying over the holiday time.

Rethinking means a finished item

In September last year I realised that small projects get finished. This gives me great satisfaction. So I finished a couple of small projects and then got stuck. I had two panels all quilted and ready to go. I was intending to make a zip pouch but the blocks were too big. I just could not resolve my dilemma so parked them.

I had been inspired by Tiina in Finland who makes a lot of small pouches, that are immaculately quilted. 

So I was posting about all the things I needed to finish and realised that I just had to suck it up and cut the blocks down. Once I had made that decision then it was easy to get it all sewn together and finished.

I link to these place and also to 

Joining the 2016 Finish-A-Long

I have so many things that I have started and not finished in the last few years that when Fluffy Sheep Quilting decided, with the assistance of others, to host a finishing year - I had to join in,

I started taking photographs yesterday and just found more and more projects - sigh!! So I have tried to be realistic about what my get finished for the first quarter and here they are.

I have a scrap quilt that I have been making for ages. Here are some of the randomly sewn pieces I have yet to join on. This will be for the orphanage at Hope Homes International.  

This quilt has been sitting here for ages, all ready to quilt but a wee bit stuck on how to do it. So it got parked. Time to un-park it! 

I started this over two years ago. A quilt made from old pajamas. It was meant to be finished for the caravan for this season. But camping season is half way through and I have still not gotten it done. It is also sitting on the floor of my sewing room, so needs to be done and out of the way. 

I finished my first hat upcycled from linen shirts. I enthusiastically cut the next one out, but that is it. Again with summer half over it needs to be worn and used. 

Loving making a traditional quilt from new materials. But don't want it to become yet another parked project, so it is on the list.

These shirts are meant to be turned into a colour block shift dress. I have had them selected and sitting on my "to do" shelf for three years!!! Have drafted the pattern, need to sew.

Finally I have two quilted blocks I was going to make into zip purses. But the proportion is wrong. Need to fix it and get it done!!!

A bit of holiday magic

 Family Christmas Day 

New Years Eve with Friends 

Lots of riverbed walking to fantastic swimming holes 

Sleeping after swimming

Still have screens to play on when in the caravan. 

The boys always gravitate to the dogs 

Chickens wild at the river 

Another Christmas Day photo