It’s been a month and what have I done?

Yes, the title says it all.

My last post was a month ago. It isn’t because I haven’t done anything but my motivation is lacking. I have been reading posts but not doing any myself. So her is a long overview of what I have been up to. There might be some more posts about a few things if I feel up to it.

First up back in July I went down to Melbourne and caught up with some friends to see the stage show 9-5. It was great but the the sound wasn’t quite right.

Over the next 2 days I attended the Melbourne Quilt & Craft fair. It was wonderful and I did a bit of cash damage.

 

It was good to see this Sashiko quilt because it is the one I did a class on a quilting cruise with Jane MacDonald. I have not done much of it but I think it is time to get this of the shelf. I think I have most of the hexies done.

A little while later, when hubby returned from his around Australia trip, we headed back to the Macedon Ranges for a weeks break together. We caught up with a great friend and enjoyed the day together. We had lunch at The Top of the Range Cafe, a very special place for us, did the tourist walk through Kyneton and did a drive by of the filming and building sites in Gisborne for the the tv show THE BLOCK.

The main reason for the break was for me to attend the Kilmore Kwilters 25th Anniversary luncheon. I was part of this group for many years before I moved away. It was fantastic to see them all again.

I then spent a sewing day with the Gisborne group but forgot to get a photo. I do miss those Mondays. The week had come to an end and the locals came out by our cabin to say good bye. They were very happy grazing in the morning while we packed up our car and headed home.

On the sewing front I have done very little. I have been working on placemats for charity. We make them for Sun Assist to give to meals on wheels recipients at Christmas time. We have now made about 60 but would like another 100 by end of November. I am not sure we will end up with that many though. The girls are getting a bit burnt out. I haven’t got a photo of them all but here are some in progress.

Then I tried to crochet a little beanie. It didn’t take long but the yarn isn’t very soft.

Next I knitted 2 little snuggle bunnies. I am yet to fill the head and embroider the faces. My concentration span hasn’t been great of late.

I have now found a great ginger biscuit that my hubby likes so I have to make a batch every weekend. They are full of spice and real ginger chunks. I bake them a little longer as he likes the darker colour and them being hard. Better to have with coffee. The batch makes about 36 small biscuits.

Ingredients

• 200 g plain flour
• 2 tablespoon dry ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb)
• 115 g Butter
• 115 g castor sugar
• 30 g golden syrup
• 250 g uncrystallised ginger diced

Preparation steps

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg
2. Place 200 g plain flour, 2 tablespoon dry ginger and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb) in bowl and mix 
3. Set aside.
4. Cream together 115 g castor sugar & 115 g Butter then add 30 g golden syrup and mix. 
5. Add 150g - 250g uncrystallised ginger diced (to your liking)
6. Add flour mix. Beat until mixed.
7. Roll teaspoon of mix into a ball and flatten with your hand. Bake in 170' preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. I check mine from about 14 minutes so they don’t burn and they turn out hard and crunchy.    Cookies will harden on cooling.

We also love these Parmesan crisps and as my brother was coming for a visit I made some for our snack.

I sent him on his trip with a batch too.

So that’s about it. Yesterday at my sewing group I actually got out a ufo which is about 8 years old and worked on it. When I unpack that bag I will take some photos and do a post. Today I am going to do some hand hexie work. ( these are nearly finished too).

Have a great week every one.

HELP PLEASE …… Temperature Quilt help….. ALL SORTED

 Our group might be deciding to make some temperature quilts but I need help.

If you have made one or are making one could you please comment and add a link to the pattern of block/quilt you are making.

I think I have an idea for myself but would like to see what others have done….

EDITED…….Thanks everyone for your help. Janet sent through this link at Canuck Quilter blog. https://www.canuckquilter.com/search?q=temperature+quilt

Joanne has a great post about her temperature quilt, how to go about starting and explains the whole procedure of making one. She also has a free pattern for anyone who wants to make their own. So go have a look see and enjoy reading about other projects she makes.

2 Panel swap quilt bindings are done.

 Here are another 2 bindings done. These panels are beautiful. They are to go on my single beds in the spare room for when the grandsons stay. A while back I made some panel tops and sent them off to the USA for a swap or two. I had them quilted and now the bindings are done.. Look how wonderful they are.

This one was from Candis

Look here to read about the swap.

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2021/05/my-panel-has-arrived-from-candis.html

And this was from Sheila.

And here is the story about this one.

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2020/12/panel-swap-with-usa.html

Thank you QATW panel swappers

Wine glass coaster workshop

We had a quick little tutorial night at our patchwork group.

Wine glass coasters.

These are made with 7 hexagons. 6 are folded in half and placed level around  each edge. One is kept flat for the base.

The other thing about this coaster is that you can put the base of the glass inside the coaster and when you pick up your glass the coaster comes with it. You will always know which glass is yours. It also will absorb the condensation and no mess on the table.

It was my friends birthday so I made her this cute little tag to go with her gift. I wrapped her gift with fabric and tied it up this tag.

I am trying to start the 52 weeks tag challenge. Every week you make a different tag.

I hope to use these for gifts and if I really like the design one week I might just make another. 

52 tag challenge

I saw the idea on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdoypP04MTFluM0RZPwQW77kFFiSIKw-u

My sewing space is a mess

I didn’t realise this was going to post live. I have been extremely busy and hadn’t got back to adding the text or editing this. So a quick edit it will be.  

As you know my hubby has been away. I cleaned up for some friends to come over to sew with me. It then became a huge mess again. Why does it get messy so quickly?

Anyway…….. Clean up, make a mess, clean up and make a mess again.

I spread out into the kitchen and dining room.

Now I can actually see my table

But not any more. Well it was like this for a short while but it is now back to normal with stuff everywhere.

I do have to get back to my flower border of my round robin.

Scrub Stitchin’ Sashiko Pin Cushion

 Our little gift from Scrub Stitchin’ was a beautiful wooden pin cushion base with all the kit to complete it. We had a design of Sashiko, the fabric, thread and filling. I did keep it in its packet for a while.

The time has come to make a start. I like this design

Print out the pattern

Trace it on to wash away.

Mark a 6.5” circle to show where the stitching has to go

Place it on the Open weave fabric and stitch away

I have rinsed the wash-away away and cut the circle out. I also wanted to make a bag for the crushed walnut shells for the centre of the pin cushion.

I have a large bag of finely ground walnut shell and a smaller amount of crushed shell to mix in.

The walnut shell has now been made and fully enclosed.

Now to fill the cushion with toy fill and pull up tight

Push it into the hole and it’s ready to use.

Thanks Chooky, I love it.

Chooky organises the Scrub Stitchin’ retreat and inspires us all to sew along with her

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/

Kit by Debbie Donegan

Everything Country Telegraph Point NSW

Go and have a look at what she gets up to over on Instagram

@everythingcountry___ (3 underscores) OR her brand new Website  www.everythingcountry.com.au  

…it is continually being loaded with new things everyday!!

Maple leaves in Autumn

  Years ago I did a great workshop in Heathcote with a group I was part of. Actually it was back in 2013. It was a Helen Godden class.

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2013/09/workshop-with-heathcote-quilters.html

I was also a part of https://quiltingblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com/search?q=Maple

And another swap I was involved in.

https://6inchblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com/search?q=Maple+

So being part of these swaps gave me a few blocks sitting in a container. So I just wanted to join them all together. 

Read about it here.https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2017/01/using-up-some-block-swap-blocks-and.html

This is the quilt now.

All quilted and bound.

The backing is just as beautiful.

It is lovely.

Another round on my Round Robin. 3d

 My thought process for this next border was it had to be a bit lighter too get away from the heavy braid. My choice was prairie points. I had seen on Pinterest a different way to do a 2 coloured prairie point. Now I had to make it fit. I did a practice piece but this was a bit small so I made it bigger. Drew out the measurements and plan.

And guessed 

Cut 2 different coloured strips 3” wide, and sewed them together lengthwise.

I marked the squares 3” apart. Alternating the top row with the bottom row and snipped up to the seam line. Then ironed all the points over.

Double prairie point tutorial.  Not in English but I followed the photos.

Now that the strips were made I had to get them to fit. I sewed plain white 3 1/2” borders all around then placed the points on top

I have taken over the dining room as an extra sewing space while my hubby has been away.

Positioned the points to match on all sides

 Now to work out the corners.

WOW, look at it now. I am so happy with

2Charity quilts are finished

  I made these quilts a while back. They are the size for AUSSIE HERO’S and are completed. 

I found 4 fat 1/4s in the red, white & blues. Sewed them together and cut the strips using my new stripology ruler. 

This was really easy to use and my strips were cut in no time. All joined in to one length and ironed in half. 

Got them all ironed

Rolled them up and started to sew.

The bindings are being attached 

This is one side of both of them..

But the reverse sides are different.

This one can be used either side.

Now I just need to wait for a suitable recipient.