Works in Progress and Completed

Summer has gone, leaving behind the glorious cooler days of Autumn. Rain as yet hasn't fallen, perhaps in May?

With the onset of cooler days, and evenings, I find it is easier to knit, or sew, or dream of new projects.

One particular project that has been a work in progress [WIP does sound such a strange name ... work in progress gives a project that is taking longer than anticipated, for many reasons ranging from getting over involved in a new project, or a more painstaking methodology of creating, a reason for being slow] is a gum leaf quilt. In the magazine it was named "Gum leaves in the Pool, and worked in blues and browns. Blue hardly suits the place I have in mind for it, so ... I call this work "Gum leaves on the Ground".

Promising to knit a helmet and mittens for my little grandson in New Zealand, I have at last completed two sets, one blue and one white. A jacket that has been underway for more than two months is finally completed as well ... these will wing their way across the Tasman by the end of this week.

Today I really should be getting on with the Gum Leaves, as there are less than a dozen blocks to needle-turn appliqué, but ... isn't there always a but to keep the mind busy ... I have an idea of making two [at the moment] mug rugs, but this time in the shape of a hexagon. As well ... this project enveloped my thoughts just two days ago, [which does go to show that while my fingers might be a tad slow, at least the ideas are flowing], I really must attempt foundation piecing ... the fabric has been rinsed in anticipation of trying this method.

Thank goodness for cooler weather! Both mind and fingers function better when the blistering heat has departed.

On my list of must begin shortly is an apron for a dear friend back in New Zealand. I have an idea!

Priorities

Recently radio commentators suggest that making a list, prioritorising projects, is the way to go.

Dear oh dear! I have a list, but the priority of each project differs from day to day, depending on my mood. For instance; while in New Zealand visiting my new little grandson, and his parents, I promised to make winter sheets for his bed. The winter in South Otago can be cool! I purchased some blue, for a boy, flannelette and have hemmed one; the other in order of priority will be sewn this afternoon. Of course hemming sheets should be a simple task, but it is boring, which is why one still needs completing.

There is a reason for all my procrastinations ... usually the word boring features. While nosing around my favourite fabric/craft store I happened upon some knitting cotton. Also, while in New Zealand, I visited an old friend who was busily knitting dishcloths. It was great to discover such a mundane, once upon a time essential task, being undertaken as a project. She had several balls, and parts thereof, of colourful knitting cotton and the bundle of completed cloths was impressive. The pattern was simple, one that I memorised easily enough, so, the ball of cotton quickly morphed into a dishcloth. The deep blue of the dishcloth contrasts well against the cot sheet.

Recently we attended a garage sale. I blame my partner for this as he has introduced me to the fine art of garage sale shopping, though I must state here and now I do have more will-power than him in purchasing temptingly displayed items; other folks unwanteds. This particular sale held no interest for him at all; he took one quick look and retired to the vehicle. The garage was full of pieces of fabric done up in colour co-ordinated plastic bags. I wish we had attended a few moments earlier! Some women were carrying large cartons of supplies. I fossicked around finally choosing two packets, one of which held, amongst other delicious pieces, a large fat-quarter of an autumn toned floral fabric. It screamed out to be made into something! Our couch is a donkey brown ...just made for an autumn-toned cushion.

I blame that cushion for the delay in completing hemming the cot sheets. As for my priority list ... well it should have at the very top a gum-leaf quilt on which I am making excellent progress, and once The Farmer's Wife quilt book arrives I will make every endeavour to hand sew [which means I can pick it up whenever without needing to use the sewing machine] a few blocks every week.

But as I say ... these priorities may change ... as does the weather. Who needs to live by a list?

Remember these?

On the odd occasion a real treasure comes to light. Whilst visiting my cousin in New Zealand she decided some of the items saved for a rainy day were no longer relevant to her lifestyle ... in other words she had many articles that would forever remain UFO's; tapestries bought two decades ago, felt pieces left over from projects but which might come in handy one day. That day was not coming! A lovely length of tartan wool fabric lay at the bottom of a box and if tartan could speak it begged for a home. I rescued the tartan [at the moment it is winging its way across the Tasman as my suitcase overflowed seriously risking a 'Heavy load' sticker being slapped on its exterior], I also rescued a length of ribbon, the felt pieces along with a small item that sent me down memory lane.

When I attended Primary School, and that was not yesterday, many wool orientated crazes swept the playground. We made pom-poms utilising the cardboard milk bottle tops whose holes were the exact perfect size for pom-pom construction. We persuaded our fathers to bang four small nails into the tops of wooden cotton reels to enable us to 'knit' enormous lengths of narrow knitting which could be, if our mothers could be persuaded, fashioned into table mats. Oh yes, we should have spent the extra hour or two and sewn those multi-coloured lengths into table mats ourselves ... we didn't.

What did I rescue and bring home? Not a wooden cotton reel with four nails, though today wooden cotton reels are museum pieces with the advent of plastic, but a painted French Knitting utensil. She is rather beautiful, a little like a RussianMatryoshka maiden, apart from the four nails protruding from her head. Of course there is every chance this little maiden will spend much of her life reclining in my work box ... but ... perhaps one day I will need to use it. A table mat? Well, maybe not, but then again ...

A happiness butterfly

Long time no post!

A wee grandson was born in New Zealand, and because he was premature I have been busy knitting tiny clothes, and sewing small gowns. His expected arrival was towards the end of February, and knowing that usually March was a pleasant month I had made clothes for the colder winter. A premature baby needs to be kept cosy ... my fingers have been busy creating small articles of clothing for this little lad.

The result? Little time to post a blog.

As I am heading over to meet this new grandson I am attempting to get ahead of myself! Not that I have fallen over my own feet as yet, but the possibility is there. My row by row Round Robin partner for row 2 kindly forwarded her journal early, thus enabling me to make her row before I depart these shores, and not coming back until the closing time for this row. Usually an extended trip away from home means I don't feel like rushing into essentials for a few days ... better, to my way of thinking, to get ahead. Despite the fact that the kitchen looks as though a cyclone has raced through [pieces of fabric, ends of cotton, lying all over the place], I have managed to almost complete the 2nd row [photo of one of the blocks]. Four blocks are finished, and the final touches should be completed by the end of today. Whew! Light at the end of the tunnel!

Several weeks ago I entered a competition in Handmade. I hd forgotten all about it as the requirements were to send in a favourite quote. I love quotes, and one in particular I find uplifting for all manner of occasions. The judges must have liked it because recently a large envelope dropped into the mail box. I was curious. I hadn't ordered anything. Ripping open the end I discovered a set of six stitchery patterns ... my prize for the quotation. Hopefully, at some stage during the winter, inspiration will settle on me, like a butterfly, and I will make use of this wonderful prize.

Oh the quotation that won this gift? "Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne"

Small pleasures

As befits a New Year I am slowly catching up with small tasks that have accumulated ... many of which have nothing to do with stitching, and more to do with laziness and the hot weather.

As many folks seem to been bitten by the Mug Rug bug [say that fast!] the other day I made four, but already one is in the post as a birthday gift. The other three languish in the 'gift box' until I decide a suitable destination for them.

Last year I joined in a hexagon swap and today received another to add to my growing collection. This swap invites the imagination to a huge party ... where will the collection end, and more importantly, what will I construct from them all? 'Tis far too early to even consider what, or where!

My swap partner requested citrus for her colours ... lemons, limes and oranges? I hope these two hexis are what she is looking for.

A Small Triumph

On a day when a huge area of Australia is struggling with the massive amounts of water inundating property and taking lives, and when a small part of Western Australia is struggling with a bush fire that is believed to be a case of arson, I have a small triumph.

The first row ... completed

Last night I completed by 1st row of my Round Robin Row by Row. While it doesn't look difficult, in fact this length of fabric almost added another grey hair to my head. But ... I kept on plugging on; my friend the Quick Unpick gave valuable service, and the final result is OK.

A close-up of my row

Today I have had a day off!

Do I have to?

During last year I entered a Prim Swap and posted a cushion away to my swap partner. Unfortunately she has not been well, and it wasn't until recently that I received my swap from her. The wait was worthwhile!

A heavy parcel awaited me at the local Post Office upon my return from Christmas with family 'down south'. Not wishing to wait until I arrived home [a fifteen minute drive, but even that length of time would have aroused my curiosity beyond a reasonably level], I tore at the wrapping before leaving town. I felt a book ... and something soft.

The something soft was my swap ... a delightful hare dressed in a country style dress, heavily accented with felt flowers. Something in the back of my mind whispered, 'this is not a hare, this is a rabbit', but already the other part of my mind was whisking through the alphabet for a suitable name for this creature. For the life of my I couldn't think of even one suitable for a rabbit ... who has heard of Rebecca Rabbit, or Robina Rabbit, or Rachael Rabbit? Those names didn't begin to gel.

What about a hare name? Instantly Harriet sprung to mind. There and then, before she had even reached her new home, this creature had an identity ... she was a hare, and was henceforth named Harriet Hare.

The book included is proving invaluable at the moment. It has 501 quilt blocks! 501? Yes, 501! This year I have adventurously entered a row by row Round Robin. I hear you ask, what is a row by row Round Robin? Something to do with boats? Oh no! This swap will be carried out over the period of most of 2011. First I have to make a row of quilt blocks of my choice. [Please do not ask how I am managing! Two days ago were a major frustration as I strove almost in vain, to concoct a row of a block I had taken a fancy to that measured, when complete the compulstory 40½ inches. And no, it didn't. However, time was not wasted as I have the makings of a new cushion cover, and in the process learned a lot. I am making good progress now. But back to the book ... I chose a block from the gifted book.

As well the parcel had other goodies! Two candy canes [they didn't last long], a fat quarter of a rose pink rose fabric which I think would be shabby chic, and a little calendar ... all very welcome.

Harriet has a place of her own ... she reclines on our bed during the day and on the corner of the dressing table during the night. For the purposes of the photo she was forced to sit out in the sun in a rocking chair, much to her displeasure! Her expression shows how bored she was! I noticed her displeasure ... she is now back in her favourite place ... lounging on the bed, while I have another block to construct.