Continuous or NOT Bias binding

I try to make this continuous binding every so often. Always get confused. So here I go again.

Got my square of fabric cut diagonal. Repositioned and the first stitching line ready to go.

Look at my messy work space.
Me working hard trying to work out which pen works best. I've tried a frixion pen, pencil and now I'm using a chalk wheel. Good choice.

I found using these chalks worked really well. Easy to draw against a ruler.

Folded to match the lines ready to stitch.

Stitched, lines drawn, folded..... NOW.....

All set and ready to cut. Oops, I think I made a mistake...

Well I ended up with heaps of circles of binding. Not continuous like I hoped. Oh well, better luck next time. At least these still could be used. They were just the perfect length for the bibs...

UNDARA Volcanic Tube Caves

These are caves made by the lava that has erupted from volcanoes. 

They were amazing the way it was formed.

These caves were so big. You can just see a person in the photo above. It gives you an idea of the size.

It is an amazing place to visit.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undara_Volcanic_National_Park

Towelling BIBS & gift sets...

I have made these great towelling bibs for gifts for many years.. I first made some for myself when my children were little. Then my friends wanted them. These are now a must make for any baby gift.

Here I am sewing on the Bias binding. It need to be cut on the diagonal to make it g around the curved corners better.

6 lovely made towelling bibs. They are wonderful as you just pull them over baby/toddlers head.

All I used was 1 standard bath towel for $3:00 from BigW..

Cut 12"*16". Cut out a 4 1/2" circle out. Use a strip of 2" * 12" of ribbing, add the binding. I cut mine at 2 1/2".. Very easy.

I also use 2 of the towelling circles and one after towelling to add some colour. 3 layers overlocked around the edges. You have just made a nursing pad. You could also use flannelette with the towel.

I now have a few lovely sets.

1 bib and a snuggle bunny -- 3 towelling bibs

1 bib, a bandana bibs, a pee pee tent and I later added some nursing pads --

1 towelling bib, a bandana bib and 2 pee pee Tents.

All very useful gifts.

I have bundled these up for little gifts to have on hand.

Chillagoe Marble Caves

Headed for CHILLAGOE
Here is our Bus driver/tour guide and host for the evening. Caroline is also a wildlife carer. Look at this very young kangaroo being feed. Ever so cute.

CHILLAGOE CAVES, QLD

Heading off for a tour underground in the caves. The Aboriginals never went in the caves as they thought there were deaths in there so we're scared to enter.... or so we were told .

There were a lot of large spiders, cock roaches, bats and other life in these caves. It was so black without our torches. I wouldn't want to be in there alone.

Here we are inside the cave. You can make many carvings/pictures out of the mites. Here we are about to be gobbled up by a skull.

Love my boots too. I had to wear them on the uneven ground to protect my ankle. I didn't want to risk another break.. I'm so glad I went for safety rather than fashion..

This was a marble mine that was being worked on.. Then they hit a natural spring which caused problems. It never drained and dried so they couldn't get their machinery in to extract the marble so it is just left there.
Most of our marble is sold overseas to China.. A funny story about our government. When they were refurbishing Parliament House they bought all the Marble in from China.. So we, Australian Government sold marble to China then bought it back again for their building.
What a waste of money, time and handling. Lucky China... 

Look at these amazing stalectites and stalecmites.. This cave was amazing.

This is a sweet little town...

Baby Boy Bandanas

I wanted to make some bibs to add to my Pepe pee tee pee gifts...

I used the pattern from. simplysmallwonders.com but it is now no longer available. It is such a great
pattern. So THANKYOU for making it easier to make my gifts...

I managed to get 5 cut out of the stip of fabric that I had.
Now to sew them right sides together..

I ironed on some interfacing so give the clasps a little more strength.

I clipped the curve before I turned them right side out..

Here are my 5 sewn, now to work out the finishing clasps...

I tried using these great pressstuds. I used to use them on my children's clothes when they were little. BUT.... The flannelette & towelling was too thick for it to work.

Unfortunately I banged my finger itch the hammer.

Instantly my nail was black... boy it hurt...

So I decided to use standard sew on press studs.

These were out of my bag of goodies from my mums stash.

When we cleaned out her home I couldn't throw anything out because I knew one day I would use them. Here we are 3 1/2 years later they are getting used...

Look at the old price on them. We stopped putting price tickets on stock about 25years ago... 43cents... Amazing..

Here they are finished after I sewed the press studs on.

Green towelling one side and boy flannelette..

I got 5 made out of a strip that was 30cm wide by 1 metre...

Stops along the way

A beautiful view of the falls. In a few days we will be going over these falls in the Skyrail Rainforest Cablecar in Cairns... This is just a different view.

The train stopped at Barron Falls for a photo shoot. It was a lovely view.

Mareeba memorial

We stopped at Mareeba for a coffee break. We had a walk up and down the Main Street.

Einasleigh Hotel......

Another lunch stop

It was rare to see the waterfalls in the dry season. They are so pretty. Imagine what it would look like during the wet season where there was so much more water.

It was lovely to sit back and enjoy the view...

PEE PEE TENTS....

After spending a day cleaning my sewing room I actually managed to do something this weekend. I haven't sewn on the machine in about 8 weeks....

Something easy to start with I think.

A colleague of mine is having a little boy and leaving work in 3 weeks. She wanted these TEE PEE TENTS made. I had never heard of them so I searched Pinterest. Oh, now I get it..

They looked simple enough. So off shopping I went.

Flannelette dinosaur print and a soft mint green towelling.

I traced around a salad bowl that was about 6 1/2" diameter.

I then cut it out, folded it in half 3 times and cut out 3 sections leaving 5/8s of a circle...

Cut out 1 piece in flannelette and towelling. Stitch them together...

These are very quick to make.

I used a 20cm strip * 1 m wide of flannelette and towelling.

I managed to get 8. You can't really see that it is a shape like a witches hat but they should be ok.

I think maybe I should have got a photo from a different angle. 

I got the idea after looking at many sites on Pinterest but this is the one I followed.

http://4domesticdivas.blogspot.com/2008/04/pee-pee-tee-pees.html

Savannahlander to ALMADEN

The Almaden Station..

Our lunch time stop.

The view of the town known as COW TOWN.

That's about all that is here.

The one and only pub

The sign on the station.

ALMADEN, QLD

The SAVANNAHLANDER

Thank you everyone for visiting my blog. I have been absent this past week and really haven't done any blog reading or answering many emails. We have just got back from a 2nd family funeral in 7 weeks. I am emotionally drained. Instead of feeling refreshed after a months holiday I am now wanting another one. I will slowly get back to the blogs and sewing after I have settled into my new position at work. Yes, I have had a small promotion and side step in the company. I have something new to explore and keep me busy.
Anyway, thanks to my readers for your support and patience.

Now back to a holiday post.

On board the SAVANNAHLANDER for a 4 day trip to the outback of QUEENSLAND.

The SAVANNAHLANDER

We are headed for FORSAYTH

BULLOCK CREEK

Our morning tea stop.

We were let off the train so we could get an action shot of the train going over the bridge.

The train was even held up/robbed by the Ned Kelly gang... Hahaha.

These kids do this weekly and it gives them some spending money for their holidays. If you want to donate to this home schooled family it is appreciated. No one was forced to give anything.

You could donate cash, lollies, books, pencils or whatever you had.

I'm not sure it's teaching them the right thing and I hope they don't do it for real when they are older.