The Last ...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 31

At last...
I have made it to

I need a rest.
Thank you to CurlyPops for organising the funfest.

...and if you just think that you could do this all over again,
well then this may just be for you
National Blog Posting Month
No...I'm not joining,
I'm not a masochist.

Normal programming will return shortly ie intermittent, but possibly more interesting than perhaps the last few posts.
There should even be some finished projects making their appearance as I revisit some promises I made to myself earlier in the year.
Good night for now...


thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Flower rainbow... Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 30

You don't need to see me vacuum, dust, wash and clean.

It's such a lovely, warm and sunny day,

Here is something much prettier...

Red

 Orange

Yellow

Blue

Green

Purple

Purple too!

A rainbow of colour from my place to yours...

Have a happy, sunny weekend...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Problem to be solved ...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 29

So here is the problem.
I made the rocking horse pattern from this 1983 magazine.

How is it possible to follow these directions and turn the rocking horse inside out?

Is there some softie makers insight that I am missing?

I left the opening in the belly underneath like the pattern showed, and I opened the patchwork seam down the rocker. Even Houdini couldn't have made that horse do anything but become totally knotted and twisted and definitely not turned right sides out!


My clever fellow quilter, Marisew, kept opening seams until she got hers turned nicely. She sewed them up, stuffed the toy, added a mane and tail. Done.

Me? Well this was how I solved the problem:

Yep that's right - I cheated! Sewed it wrong sides together, left the opening under the belly for stuffing, then sewed it together, pinked the edges, and called it "Finished" (despite the distinct lack of mane and tail!)

Anybody got any clues?

Here's the link for some more rockin' blogtoberfest2010 bloggers

 thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

My Creative Space... Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 28

The start of a little something for

Last chance to sign up is Friday 29 October (UK time)

More Creative space goodness.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Running out of steam... Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 27

Posting  every day for 31 days is a test of staying power...

image from ioffer.com

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Will I make it to the end, or will I...

image from www.bookdepository.co.uk

go off the rails...?

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Cross...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 25

Tonight I was going to start a cross-stitch bookmark for a nephew.

I even took a before photo to document my progress.

But I burnt my thumb cooking dinner - why didn't I just ignore the hungry hordes?

Now it's just that little bit too painful to have aida cloth and thread rubbing over it.

I'm cross - No stitching for me this evening.

Anyway it's given me time to think about the colour scheme - is it ok to make a First Communion bookmark in Parramatta colours for a fanatic 10yr old Eels fan?

Have you been to visit other Blogtoberfest2010 bloggers? You will find them all here at tinniegirl.

And there are some great giveaways over here at curlypops.

If I can't stitch, I'll just go visiting...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

What's Mine's Yours? ...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 25

...or is it?

Have you seen this website - Needlework Copyright Information?

Picture from here.

The statements in the picture are actual comments made by people who have uploaded designs.

I went back over some of my posts to check the pictures I've put up. Most of them are so low res they can't be read and I've generally given book title/author information. Phew!

A little bit of binding:

Some binding has been done.

Not exactly a quilt,

but much needed maintenance on a well used and loved cutting SUPERBOARD board.

 a pretty neat mitred corner

There, that should last another t-*mumble*-ty years now shouldn't it!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 24

Campbelltown Spring Dance Festival was where I was today.

Spring?...13 degree temperatures? Cold wind?

Spring??...rain

Spring???...yeah right!

As you can tell, I have run out of sensible things to post.

I can show you more of my hoarding.

 a project from 1987

each sleeve has multiple projects 'filed' away. 

I still intend to make every single one of these projects.

You'll recognise me, I'll be the little old lady with the time machine.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Obsession... Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 23

I got part of the way through the clean up and found all the evidence of my previous craft obsessions.

 Yep...the obsessions came and went, either because the classes I went to folded (cottage crafts, embroidery including,ribbon & crewel), I left (folk art) or I had another baby and just didn't have the time.
Often I bought the books because "one day" I would have the time to make my own covered boxes, do 'handicrafts' till whenever, make the cutest soft toys for my children...(oh the sad delusion of it all).

Then there are the ones I really made good use of:  these two books helped a poor uni student, living out of home, to have something new to wear. I loved the quirky 'english' and the brilliant diagrams, it made me less reliant on the 'western' sewing patterns (though in their defence - they actually teach you about putting patterns together!)

 I wonder what Japanese quilting books are like...?

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Leona's giveaway...

I am doing my best to avoid tidying up* my messy sewing room and am convincing myself that helping fellow bloggers find giveaways, is an appropriate use of my time.

After all, wouldn't it make you really happy to get a lovely little surprise in your virtual and real mailboxes?

So in the interest of a world full of happy bloggers, here is another giveaway to check out.

Leona of Leona's Quilting Adventure has a generous 'get ready for Christmas' giveaway going on over here. She also has a page listing the links to the blogs with links to the latest giveaways around - clever cookie!

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*I deleted lots of old emails and reduced my inbox to one page - does that count as doing some useful tidying up? Please say yes, otherwise I will I have had a fail of a day!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Do (you) feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?

Just in case you do feel lucky, have a shot at some of these giveaways.


PINS AND NEEDLES has a Brighton themed giveaway here - you've got till 1 November.  Pins and Needles is a fellow "blogtoberfest-er".

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THE CLIP CAFE

- another "blogtoberfest-er" - is giving away a whole yard of fabric. Click here to enter.
This clever blogger also has a sidebar full of listed giveaways...with the close-by dates... in the immortal words of Maxwell Smart..."Good thinking 99"

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Self Cleaning Quilting? ...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 22

I have to do something about this...

...various piles of quilting paraphernalia scattered around the lounge and dining room. I don't know how, but it just happened while *drum roll*...

this was being finished YAY! Hip Hip HOORAY!

However, in order to put that stuff away where it belongs, I will have to do something about this...

And for heavens sake don't say anything to anyone about the bedroom.

If there is no blog post tomorrow, please send out a search party.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

My Creative Space

Is that a light I see at the end of the tunnel?

For more bright creative spaces, visit Kootoyoo

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

It's Baaaack...Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 21

Look what's back again

Go here to sign up...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

I think I can...Blogtoberfest2010 - Day 20

Sometimes what I think I can so is miles ahead of what I can actually do.

The I think I can part...

Here is Cameo Rose.
She's from Australian Homespun issue no 32 (vol 6.6)

I'd vowed NEVER to make a bear - after all there are plenty of other very good bear makers out there.

Cameo Rose, however, got under my skin.

Here is Rosy

She kind of looks like her namesake.

The I can't part...

I gave up trying to make her nose...

I was almost defeated by the moveable arms and legs (they are in,  but quite floppy), 

I failed at stuffing, 

I stuffed up attaching her neck

She has a hunchback (but I promised her I wouldn't show you that)...

but she's pretty cute anyway...

(and just so you don't think I whipped her up just for Blogtober, she's been sitting on Miss Bee's bed for nearly 2 years!)

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...