August TIF

I've made it but only just.
After being sick for 2 weeks I have finally managed to finish my August TIF challenge Crazy Quilt block.
I must say that my heart wasn't really into it this time- maybe because I wasn't well or maybe it was the colours or a culmination of both.
I have had a hard time getting a good photo because it is miserable outside-raining and quite bleak but hey we really do need the rain so what you see is what you get.
I'm not sure if you can see the lovely detail on the Mother of Pearl button in the bottom left section- it is so beautiful and was a gift from a friend at the Embroiderers Guild.

September the 1st tomorrow--the first day of spring here in Australia --another Workshop on the Web is due and the September TIF challenge will be announced and the next Calendar Girls postcard is due as well.

Yikes it is all happening isn't it.

Who's a brown belt now

Today--Saturday Ebony went for her first grading in her Martial Arts group and we are very happy and proud to announce that she passed with flying colours.
She wasn't nervous and performed her requirements with a great amount of skill for someone who has only had 12 lessons.
Her instructor was extremely happy with her performance and so were her Daddy-Nanny and Poppy.
The first photo is of Ebony and the Sensei who was the examiner of all the children's movements (there were 36 white belts being tested today) and don't you think she looks proud of herself?




The second photo is of her receiving her brown belt and certificate from the Sensai.

Well done Ebony we are so proud of you.

Calendar Girls August postcard

Here is the postcard that I have made for Sandy for the Calendar Girls challenge.
I have not been well and have struggled with ideas for this month challenge but while I was at our local patchwork shop I noticed the lovely wool felt that they had and it came in beautiful colours so the ideas started to form in my head.
I cut all the pieces out and arranged them on the background but then I couldn't decide whether to hand sew them on or to use the machine.
Finally I took the easy way out and used the embellisher.
The gold flower centre is made from a scrap that I had left over from the workshop that I did last month.
The flower pot is made from a used teabag

I hope you like it Sandy

ATC's

I received this ATC from Gunnel in a one on one swap that we had.
It is beautifully collaged and I love it Gunnel.





This is the one that I sent to her in return----

This ATC was sent to Jenny in Tasmania as part of the Embellish Stitch and Enrich swap--

The base is hand felted and the lace is held on by using the embellisher.

I hand stitched the bead flowers on.

I don't think Jenny has a blog.

This is the ATC that I received from Jean in the Embellish Stitch Enrich swap and it is made on the embellisher with foil added and beads as well.

Thanks to Gunnel and Jean for their ATC's.

The reason why I'm feeling better--------

Well I am on the mend but I really improved in a hurry today when Stephen came home with this----------------


It's not my birthday for another 3 weeks but he decided to buy it today and give it to me to cheer me up and it worked except that I am terrified to touch it.
I'm not one for reading manuals but I will have to read this one because it does everything but wash up and that doesn't matter because Stephen does that anyway.
It took me 20 minutes to figure out how to lift the top up so in 3 weeks time I should be able to plug it in and do something--anything--!!!
Oh well it's back to bed for me now and some heavy reading :0))

Sniff Sniff Cough Cough

Just a quick message to say I won't be around for a few days as I have come down with the dreaded lurgy---I sound like I have a chain saw in my throat--I am coughing and barking like a dog-and to put it simply I feel like crap.

So I'm off to bed until I feel better.

Wild Woman Swaps

Today I received my ladies for the Thread Studio Wild Woman Swap.
The one on the left is from Jenni Kirkham from Perth - Western Australia--the middle one is from Pauline Tonkin also from Western Australia and the one on the right is from Delys Brady who is another Perth lady as well.
They are all so different and I love them---thanks ladies.

If you would like to see the ones I made you can see them here

Postcard from Val and more

Today I received my Calendar Girls August postcard from Val and it is so beautiful.
The two orange tulips are made from fabric made on the embellisher.
Val has borrowed an embellisher from her friend so that she can do Dale's second
workshop and these flowers are made from the first piece of fabric that she has made---and the lessons haven't even started yet.




I had sent Val some scrim and some silk fabric strips for her class and she offered to send me some of her antique lace pieces and when I opened the parcel I couldn't believe my eyes.
I was going to put them all in a pile and photograph them but I decided to show all of them to you so that you could at least appreciate just how lucky I am.
First there is this beautiful piece of fine black lace-----------

Next was this triangle in a soft green colour------

These pieces are amazing-----

So are these----

And this----

And this-----

This is sooooo beautiful------

Some more-----

Even more------

And lastly these----

I will use some of these pieces in my Crazy Quilt blocks and I am also in the process of making a fabric book that they will look wonderful in.

Thank you Val I am so moved by your generosity.

Craft Show Stuff

OK Val I give up this is what I got at the Craft show.
Some wool tops - 100 grams--I just love the colours----------




These metal hook thingies to make book marks--there is a tiny hole in the curved end where you can add beads etc ---and I loved this beaded dragonfly--had to have it.






Then there were these plastic flowers and glass leaves that I can add to my CQ blocks---I know- I know I said I would only use what I had in my stash but---------

I wanted some lace that I could dye and this looked just like what I wanted--I got a meter of each--and the buttons are hand made ceramic ones which cost me an arm and a leg but----

The contents of the last 3 photos fitted into a small brown paper bag like you get your sandwiches in at the take away shop.
The sum total of all the above was Aus.$55 which is about a fith of the amount that I usually spend at a craft show.

I think I was a good girl.

TIF August-- stitching added

While I have been sitting at the Embroiderers Guild table at the Craft show I have been stitching on my August TIF Crazy Quilt square.
It's amazing how much interest it created and I also had taken the other 6 blocks that I have finished for people to see.
One of our other Guild members is running a class at the Guild soon on Crazy Quilting and it was an opportunity to encourage people to try it.
I have all the seams stitched and now I have to add the extras--buttons-beads-sequins-silk ribbon and anything else that I can find.

Oh and you will all be pleased to hear that I did NOT come home with heaps of stuff that I didn't need-in fact I'm not even going to show you what I got because it is so boring.

A Bit of This and a Bit of That

Yesterday I received this postcard from Linda in WA (Aus) and isn't it fantastic.
Look at the beautiful stitching and the colours which happen to be the July TIF colours.
This is Linda's item that she made for the challenge and she put it up for grabs on her blog to the first person who asked for it and that just happened to be me.





Here is the one that I sent in return to Linda---another example of my embellishing---oh I love that machine.



Also yesterday I went to the craft show and as mentioned in the previous post I had lunch with Sharon B and Annie.
Well I couldn't have a lunch date without photos could I ---Annie on the left-Sharon on the right and me in the middle.
I only purchased 2 pieces of lace so the credit card was safe BUT I am going back today and tomorrow (because I have a 4 day pass) so you'll have to watch this space won't you.




I did do a workshop and made this tile---it was supposed to be a 1 hour class but it took me almost 3 hours--the lady let me stay and soldier on.
The trouble was people who knew me kept stopping to see what I was doing and have a chat--and the lady running the class was nice about it anyway.
I have made this for Ebony's mum for her birthday on Sunday.

August TIF Crazy Quilt block

I have finished piecing my block for the August TIF challenge and like I have been saying over the last few months this one was a real challenge--again.
This is the second block I made because I really didn't like the first one and when I had finished both of them I asked my husband which one he liked and he chose this one as well.
I do like to get his opinion because even though he knows very little about embroidery and all that stuff he is very honest with his opinions and I know that if he doesn't like something there is usually a very good reason.
All the colours have not photographed true---the 2 red looking pieces in the centre are really more burgundy in colour -for what reason this colour change happened I don't know because all the others look ok..
Embellishing this block will be very interesting. We have a big 4 day craft show here in Canberra starting on Thursday and I am rostered to work on the Embroiderers Guild stand on 2 of those days so I am going to take my CQ block to work on.
Oh and I am also going to have lunch with Sharon B and Annie W on Thursday which I am looking forward to.
Even though we live in the same city this will be our first official meeting.

August TIF Challenge

These are the colours for this month on the TIF challenge.
It seems to be getting more difficult each month but I suppose that is what a challenge is meant to be isn't it?
The concept this month is about balance --how we have balance in our lives---after last months hectic period I think maybe I should have a good think about it because I failed miserably in my own humbe opinion.
Back to the colours -it will be interesting to see what colours I can dig up out of the stash---watch this space--------