Moore Patchwork & Quilting

Natalie Ross

Another new pattern arrived on Friday (they seem to coming everyday now), this time from Natalie Ross.  It's called Friends from the Garden and includes 5 different pin keepers.

 

Aren't they lovely?  Wouldn't they make great Christmas gifts? The butterfly in the front has a wrist band which is really handy.  I find having a pincushion on my wrist really handy for sewing on the machine - as you come to a pin just take it out and stick it in the pincushion.  Helps prevent dropping them on the floor.

The pattern is available on my website.

Knitting...

I was in the newsagent the other day browsing the magazines when I came across the new Knit Issue 7 by Jo Sharp.  It's not really a magazine but more like a book and she brings out a new issue every season. I've always liked Jo Sharp yarns for quality, variety and colour. Her designs are very contemporary and although she is aiming for a 'younger' market, I can usually find at least one thing which is suitable for me.  In this issue there's a really nice vest made with two different yarns which I've got my eye on.  It's worked in a very big stitch so should be quick but first I will have to finish my socks.

 

I was making good progress until I went away the other week and haven't done any since.  I took it out last night but was too tired to knit so it's just sitting in my knitting bag again.  I'm pleased with this one because I only had to frog it once to get the pattern right (I think for the last pair I frogged about 3 times).  You can't really see the pattern in the photo but it's a combination of lace and cable.  I'm up to the heel so it's plain knitting after that.  This time I remembered to make more notes so the second sock won't be as difficult.  I think my next sock project will be arriving shortly so I must get a move on.

Until next time

Lyn

Hearts and Flowers

I finished the second drawstring bag of my  Hearts and Flowers design.  I used the same fabrics as the smaller bag except I used a floral for the lining simply because I had run out of the stripe.

 

This bag has a sqaure bottom and a pocket on the side. I appliqued the stitcheries onto the pocket to give the illusion of tags hanging from the top.  I also used 2 different colours for the twisted cord again.  I really like the way it turned out.  I have a bag like this on my dressing table and use it to store those bits and pieces that don't seem to belong anywhere else.  It's very handy.

I'm still stitching the table runner but hope to finish it this weekend.  In the meantime, I have a bit of the Paris Cats fabric left so I thought I might make a small quilt to go with it as well.  So far I've made some four patch blocks.

 

I've laid them out on the table with the plain white blocks in between but still haven't decided if that's what I want to do with them. 

Flossie must have thought I needed a bit of help arranging the colours because this  morning I found a few of them out of place.  I know it was her because she seems to find my sewing table a fascinating place to visit - lots of bits and pieces just the right size for a cat to play with.

I read a story this morning about a lady who was absolutely devasted when her cat was hit by a car and died.  Her neighbour couldn't understand why she was so upset because after all 'it's just a cat'. I know how the cat owner felt because Flossie and Boots are not 'just cats' to me. They are not only really good company (maybe I should say entertainment) but they give me something/someone to be responsible for which keeps me from becoming selfish. Besides that I love the way they get really excited when we get home!

Until next time

Lyn

Leanne Beasley, Cinderberry Stitches, Janelle Wind, Melly & Me

More new patterns arrived in store today, this time from

Leanne Beasley...

A lovely wall quilt called Birds of Happiness.  I love the pink background fabric she's used.

 

Cinderberry Stitches...

Natalie has found time to make this little wallhanging even though she's just had a baby! The Heart of Christmas features some stitchery, applique and piecing.  Looks quick enough to finish for this Christmas.

 

Janelle Wind..

Janelle makes the nicest bags (remember Thelma's Day Out?) and her latest one For the Girls includes 2 versions - one with a heart and one with frills.

Melly & Me...

Melly & Me also make great bags.  This one - The Fat Quarters Bag - uses 4 fat quarters. Good way to use up that stash.

There's also a couple of new softies - Bonzer & Beaut (guess what they are?) and Pippin.

The new patterns are available on my website.

Clean out...

In my sewing room I have built-in cupboards along one wall and every now and then they become a bit crowded and I feel motivated to clean them out.  The last 2 days I've been doing just that.  Today I tackled my magazines.  Sometimes I keep whole magazines other times I rip out what I like only and keep that. They still seem to build up fairly quickly and I pulled out a big pile for the Salvos and some for the recycling. The strange thing about it is - despite taking a car load of stuff to the Salvos - the cupboard still looks packed to the rafters! I'm determined to downsize so will have another go tomorrow.

The other thing I did today was take the cats to the vet for their annual check up, etc. Poor Flossie, she's put on a bit of weight and the vet called her 'porker'.  How unkind is that! (I covered her ears.)  I have to put her on a diet. The problem is when she's finished her food she heads to Boots plate and finishes his off. Naughty Flossie.

Until next time

Lyn

Marg Low

Some new patterns from Marg Low arrived in store yesterday.  A couple of Christmas ones (it's not too late to stitch for Christmas) including Tis the Season.

 

A table runner (34.5" x 16.5") featuring some quick stitcheries and a nine patch block.

Also, Christmas- A Time for Giving which would make great gifts for your friends.

 

Pattern includes a gift bag (9.5" x 7"), a gift pillow (4" x 6") and a gift tag (5" x 2.5") all with Marg's cute stitcheries.

The other patterns of Marg's are Vintage Stitches Sampler and Springtime Lark.

 

Isn't this great? Vintage Stitches Sampler has 2  versions of a bag and a needle & thread roll - one with stitchery and one with crazy patchwork. 

 

Springtime Lark has a tablerunner with applique (30" x 12.5") and a table throw (26.5").

The patterns are available on my website.

Secret Life of a Knitter...

I found this book Yarn Harlot - Secret Life of a Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee in my cupboard. I had bought it some time ago but for some reason it got lost in the clutter and after reading it I'm sorry that it took me so  long to find it.  It's a collection of essays about Stephanie's (aka Yarn Harlot) knitting career.  Just like her new book Free Range Knitter they are all very well written and varied in their themes.  Some are funny (like her knitting disasters - I could relate to that), and some are sad (like knitting for a mother who lost her baby), but they are all satisfying to read.  There was one really sad one about her friend who developed arthritis and was no longer able to knit. This made me think about my own life and the enjoyment I derive from my 'craft'. What would I do if I couldn't 'craft' any more? Made me realise that I have to appreciate what I have while I have it because you don't know what's around the corner.

Until next time

Lyn

Hearts and Flowers

I've finally made some progress on my new design Hearts and Flowers.  I say 'finally' because it's been a lot of stop-start with the stitcheries.  I was happy enough with the design but couldn't seem to get the colours right. I started one set of stitcheries, then pulled them out.  I did them again but still wasn't happy so I traced another set and started again.  Finally, third time lucky and I was happy. 

I've finished stitching the designs for the 2 bags. (I'm making a runner and 2 small bags - my idea is to use them for a dressing table.)

 

The fabrics I chose for the bags, are the pink, green and the stripe. The threads are for the twisted cord.

 

I finished the smaller drawstring bag yesterday. Finished size is 8" x 7".  I used the pink for the main colour, the stripe for the lining and the green for the binding.

 

I had to add some ric-rac braid.  See how nice the twisted cord looks by using 2 different colours?

Anyway, am pleased with it and have made good progress on the second bag today.  Should have it finished next time.

Winter's here...

I can't believe it, but yesterday and today have been cold again.  I had turned our heating off for the year (or at least I thought so) and yesterday it was so cold I had to turn it on again.  There's actually snow on the hills and I had to dig out a jumper again. Very unseasonal. Queensland is drowning after severe storms, but fortunately Mum and Dad weren't affected.  If you're from Queensland, hope you are safe.

Until next time

Lyn

Small Pleasures

While I was away I managed to finish another row of my Small Pleasures quilt.  I had started it the week before and took this one away with me because it has a lot of blanket stitch on it.

This is the first half of the row

 

and this is the second half of the row -

 

You can see why it took so long with the flowers and the vine.  I realised too that it's actually row 6 and I still haven't completed rows 4 and 5 so I can't sew it together.  I'm not sure how I got out of order (not that it really matters) and now I'm on row 5. Must read the pattern cover more carefully.

It's looking really good though and now I'm making real progress and it's growing quickly.

Half Time....

I like to read but don't seem to find the time except on planes.  I think maybe it's because I can't get distracted by all those other things that need doing. Anyway, while flying last week I finished a book by Bob Buford called Half Time.  It's probably the best book I've read for a long time.

It's about reassessing your life in what he calls 'the second half of your life' - the part which can be the most rewarding half of your life when you no longer have the pressures of raising a family, building a career, a mortgage, etc. He uses his own life as an example and how circumstances including tragedy helped him to figure out exactly what he wanted to do with the rest of his life and moving from striving for success to true significance.

As someone in the second half, I found the book both challenging and encouraging. It challenged me to take seriously the desire to 'make a difference' and not settle for the mundane by evaluating the gifts that God has given me, thinking about what it is I like to do, and what's important to me. It then encouraged me to step out and act on those things. The Bible says that 'we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' It doesn't say that these things are to be done when we're young - as long as we're alive there are 'things' to do. By changing focus the second half can be the best half. That's what I want.

Until next time

Lyn

Holiday Purchases

When I was away I didn't quite manage to tick off all of the things on my to-do list but I did manage to:

1. Visit Threads and More.  I didn't buy any yarn but had a great time feeling all the beautiful yarns on display.  I bought a book by Debbie Abrahams called Blankets and Throws to Knit.  I had this brain-wave that I could knit an afghan with the leftover yarn from my projects.  The aim would be to do it over a long period of time (unspecified!) and this book had some beautiful examples of different blocks to knit.

2. Visit Patches of Indooroopilly and the Quilters Store at Salisbury.  I didn't make it to Thread and Ginger or Quilters Angel - they were both a bit too far away to visit in the time I had. Patches had a really nice variety of fabrics and I found this pack of Aunt Grace fabrics which I think will be perfect for a dolly quilt.

 

They also had a nice selection of 'country' fabric and I bought a few pieces for my stash.

Quilters Store is absolutely huge! It's like a huge warehouse full of fabric.  When I first walked in I was a bit overwhelmed but I rose to the challenge and had a good look through the fabric.  I bought some reproductions - a selection of purples that I always seem to be lacking.  They also had some packs of reds, greens, blues, pinks and browns. I also bought some hand-dyed ric-rac braid in bright summery colours.

3. I went to the beach and had a surf.  It's been a while since I've been to the beach and the surf was a bit rough so I sat on the beach for about 10 minutes until I felt confident enough to go in but once in I was okay and had a really god time.  It was quite sunny so I had to rush off and buy a new pair of sunglasses (it was so bright that my eyes were watering) and a hat. I really enjoyed myself even though I was 'dumped' a number of times.

4. I didn't go on the river cat because the weather was not very nice in Brisbane while we were there.  Will keep that for next time.

I also managed to do a bit of stitching and reading.  Will show you next time.

Until then

Lyn

Gail Pan and Willow Valley Store

It's a funny thing about being away - no one does your work for you and when you come back you have to play catch-up!  That's what I've been doing today - all the things I would have been doing if I was here.

While I was away some new patterns arrived including this lovely framed stitchery from Gail Pan called Gentle Dreams.

 

Aren't the floral fabrics pretty? Finished size is 11" x 15".

Willow Valley Store...

Also, newly arrived are 2 patterns from Willow Valley Store. Afternoon Rose is a handy cup bag, pincushion and needlecase. The stitchery is enhanced with colouring-in and I love the ric-rac braid trim.

 

The second one is another in Cathy's framed stitchery series called Rose Maison.

 

Both patterns come with iron-on transfers.

Lynette Anderson....

I almost forgot this one from Lynette Anderson called Nora's Hens which features applique and stitchery.

 

The patterns are available on my website.

Marked down prices...

Another thing I did today was go through the 'Quilt' section on my website and mark down a lot of the prices.  Check them out.

I don't know where today went.  I still haven't done everything I wanted to do and time is running out.  Will have to add it to my list for tomorrow.

Until next time

Lyn

The Winner is..

I had a great time in Brisbane.  Didn't manage to do everything on my list but did do some 'different' things.  Will give you an update later but for now ...

Thanks for sharing about your favourite season. It seems that Sue and I are the only ones who like summer and the majority of people prefer either spring or autumn. I have to admit that both those seasons are kind of special.

Aaron drew the winners names for me and they are -

Chris Anthony

Annette

Tina Dillon

Congratulations! Please email me with your choice of any 2 of my patterns (check the album on the left hand side for a list) and your postal address.  I will then post your parcel immediately.

As soon as I've caught up with all my bits and pieces I will tell you about my trip.

Until next time

Lyn

Going away and giving away

I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow (Wednesday) for a few days (to Sunday) and am really looking forward to warmer weather.  I've made a mental list of all the things I want to do including -

1. Swimming at the beach (as opposed to a pool).  I love the surf and always take my pink body board with me.  Mum and Dad live at the beach so I can usually have at least one swim.

2. Visit Threads and More (my favourite yarn shop) at Sherwood. They have all of their yarns on shelves out of their plastic bags so you can feel them. So nice!

3. Visit Thread and Ginger (Natalie Bird's beautiful shop) at Victoria Point. I went their on my last visit in May and was very impressed by her range of fabrics. She has all those yummy Mrs March that I love so much. Can't wait to see what's new.

4. Visit Quilter's Angel near Toowoomba.  Never been there but heard it's worth a visit.

5. Sit in the sun. Must remember my sunscreen - am a winter white!

6. Go for a ride on the River Cat. Best way to get to the city.

I was sharing my list with someone on the weekend and she looked at me and said "How long did you say you were going for?" I know it's a tad ambitious but believe in aiming high.

Favourite Season..

As you've probably guessed by now, my favourite season is summer.  I love the long lazy days and the warm nights.  I love eating salads (so easy to prepare). I love sitting outdoors. I love talking to my neighbours (we all hibernate in winter).

What's your favourite season?

Giveaway while I'm away...

I haven't had a giveaway for months so I thought that this was a perfect opportunity. Just write a comment about your favourite season and you will go in the draw to win 2 of my patterns (your choice).  I will draw the winner on Sunday 16 November when I return.

Remember what I always say about Queensland - Beautiful one day, perfect the next.

Until next time

Lyn