Jake's Spinning Castles Quilt completed

Wow... I can't believe I finally finished Jake's Spinning Castles quilt in time for his 7th birthday on the 7th April 2011.

I completed the gold stitching and wiping off pencil markings at 1.45am staying up late so that I could give it to Jake for birthday.

This quilt has been a long time in the making. I chose the pattern and material in September 2008 however didn't start sewing it until May 2009. As with all my other quilts, this is quilt is sewn all by hand as well as hand quilted with circles on each block. I embroidered Jake's name and the date I completed it in gold thread on one edge of the binding.

I loved sewing Jake's quilt and having him watch and check it's progress when he visited was extra special.

Having finished Jake's quilt and seeing his face when I gave it to him inspires me to get moving and finish the other quilts that I have on the go.

Charlie loves trying out quilts whenever I lay them out on the bed to photograph them. It's become a tradition for me now to take a photo of him on any quilts I am making.

Making clothes

I've been expanding my sewing the last few weeks and have now made a little dress for a friend's daughter Jade. It's a simple sundress and probably the easiest one you could sew! I have enough material to make 2 other dresses for Jade and 3 little sundresses for 2 other little girls from the left over material.

I also brought a pattern and material to make some little overalls for Rillian. I haven't had time to sew much the last week but hopefully I'll be able to do some this weekend.

The first day of a new year......1 January 2011

Today is the 1st January 2011 or as some people write 1/1/11.

Last night I thought about the year just past - it was full of personal challenges and ongoing health issues, happy & sad times, new and old things, work and holidays. In amongst everything I always had a craft project or two or three on the go.

Last night was also a time to think ahead to the new year. I have wishes, hopes and dreams for how I would like the year to be but I will take and embrace what comes to me as it happens - the good and the bad. I don't know what this year will hold for me but I do know that I will continue to work on my quilts and other craft projects.

I've started the year off by finishing a quilt and a needle felted beaver today. The beaver is the second one of an order I had from a guy who wanted a beaver on a key ring. I'm pleased with how it has turned out and hopefully it will suit it's purpose as a mascot for hiking through the Victorian Mountains.

I made my first ever quilt by machine! Yes - by machine!! I never thought I'd ever sew a quilt on a machine but this one is for some friends who I'd promised to make a quilt for their baby, Rillian when he was born.

Not only was Rillian's quilt sewn by machine I only used fabric from my stash and batting which was leftover from another quilt. I went through my boxes of fabric and took a big selection around to Rillian's parents and asked them to choose the colors that they liked. I wasn't sure how the quilt would look but am pleased with how it has turned out.

Charlie thinks the quilt isn't too bad either!

I really enjoyed making Rillian's quilt and feel inspired to make more quilts using up the fabric from my boxes. I might even make more by machine.

With Rillian's quilt and the beaver finished, my main priority for this year is to finish Jake's quilt and then the girls quilts. I am hoping to finish Sarah, Hannah and Olivia's quilts by the end of February so that I can take them up to Canberra after their baby sister is born.

Christmas 2010

This year has flown by so fast that I can't believe it's Christmas already. I celebrated Christmas last Saturday with some of my family and had Christmas lunch and afternoon with my Nephew Philip, his wife Melissa, my great nephew Jake, my mother and Melissa's family. I'm looking forward to a relaxed day today after the busyness of the last few weeks. I have spent far too many late nights cooking and sewing. Christmas eve I was up until 2am (yet again!) making mini Christmas puddings, mini mince pies and some special chocolate crackles.

I am also looking after a dog for some friends for a week. He's a big Labrador who is well behaved but just a lot bigger than my Charlie. I took them for a walk last night - they look like a mismatched pair sitting side by side at the curb.

This year I decided to make presents for some of my great nephews and my great nieces. It was a good in theory but something I should have thought about starting earlier in the year. I spent many a later night sewing rabbits, sheep and bags. I haven't made many toys or bags before but really enjoyed making these things.

I made these rabbits called 'Pocket and Floss' by Melly & Me. I gave one to a lady at work who had a little girl. I gave her 'Pocket'. I gave 'Floss' to my cleaner's little granddaughter for Christmas. She is looking after her grand daughter full time while her daughter is trying to get help for a drug addiction.

'Black sheep, White Sheep' also by Melly & Me are for Lachlan and Lucus. For some reason I had in my mind I was making cows.. well I guess at 2am it does get a bit hard to know what your making!

I saw a pattern for bags earlier in the year. I loved the bright colors so decided to make these for Sarah, Hannah and Olivia. The pattern is called 'for the girls.. Little Frilly Bag and Love your Heart Bag' by Janelle Wind.

It was lovely to get this photo sent to me of the children with their presents.

Where to start.. so much happening and so many things on the go

I have returned to work after 10 weeks off with my foot. I had a large screw and a graft in an attempt to heal the fracture. The operation was 2 years and 6 days from the date of the accident. Unfortunately the last x-ray taken six weeks after the surgery didn't show any signs of the bone healing so it's looking like I'll need further surgery on it. I have another x- ray and see the doctor in December so will see how things are going then.

I found this operation and I think the build up to making the decision really took a toll on my body. It wasn't helped by the delay in getting back onto my arthritis injections which meant I had a flare up at the same time. I felt emotionally and physically drained so after talking to my surgeon I decided to get away for a while so was lucky enough to be able to go to Canberra for two weeks which was a fantastic break before returning to work. I loved staying with my niece Ruth and her family, Josh (husband) and the girls, Sarah, Hannah & Olivia. I felt very welcomed and with staying an extended time it meant I got to know everyone much better. It was also great to spend time with my nephew Jonathon and his wife Melanie and my great nephews, Lachlan and Lucas. I also loved meeting Lucas and had lots of cuddles.

I have been working on so many things recently. My time has been spilt between working on Jake's quilt - I only have 1 and a bit more blocks to quilt, Lachlan's quilt, my block of the month, needle felting animals & sewing doggy hats to sell, making a rabbit for a baby's present and preparing another quilt ready to sew by machine.

It's a bit overwhelming when I look at everything but I really do enjoy everything I make - it would be much better if I didn't have to work or do housework as well!

Here are a few snapshots of things I'm working on.

I'm hooked on needle felting

I'm hooked on needle felting. It's a great change from sewing although a dangerous craft as the needles are so sharp. My fingers have been jabbed quite a few times.

Yesterday I decided to buy a few more supplies which have made it much easier to felt. I brought a 'needle pen' which has three needles in it making it faster to felt. You can take needles out for finer work and use one or two needles. Instead of the foam I brought a brush as well. I also brought a book on Needle felting called 'Needle Felting Magic by Barbara Allan. I'm looking forward to it arriving so hat I can learn some more techniques to make other designs.

Last night I made a little dog with a ball and a beetle. I am please with the dog but the beetle needs a bit of work!

My needle felted 'Little bear'

I finished Little Bear tonight and am really pleased with how he has turned out. He may not be perfect or meet the high standard of bear makers but I really like him.

Little bear measures about 8cm sitting and is made by dry needle felting using a merino wool. I broke three needles making this little guy so will need to keep a supply if I am going to make more things.


I'm enjoying needle felting although it is hard on my hands so I can't do it for too long at a time. I'm now on the look out for my next project. I would love to do some lady bugs so will have to buy some red and black wool.

Quilting circles on Jake's quilt

I've been quilting the circles on Jake's quilt. When I first started the quilt I didn't think that I would be quilting the circles which were on the pattern - they seemed far too hard!



There are 4 whole circles and two partial circles on each block - all 4 cm apart. I've cut out templates which I use to help position the circles evenly.



I am really pleased that I decided to quilt the circles and love the way they are looking.

I've completed the circles on 2 blocks with another 7 to go.

Dry Needle felting

I had a chance to try dry needle felting last weekend and loved it.

I'd recently seen two people making an old man and a bear by dry needle felting and really wanted to give it a try. I was really excited when I had the opportunity to try it myself.

My first effort is this little angel which started out as a ball and grew as the afternoon went on.

Yesterday I went out and brought the needles and wool and started to make a little bear. I've made the head so far and am pleased that it does resemble a bear's head....

Some good news

Life has been racing by lately with lots happening but the biggest bit of news is that I finally have had an operation to put a pin and bone graft in my foot - 2 years and 6 days after the fracture happened!

Thankfully TAC accepted my claim which I am so grateful for as it has meant that I was able to have the operation done privately and a lot sooner than if I had to go through the public health system. I am now at home recuperating from the surgery. I wont know until I have another x-ray on the 7th October if the surgery has been a success but so far everything is going well. Unfortunately I have had to stop my injections of Humira for my arthritis as they make me more susceptible to infections so I have been in a lot of pain in my joints. Hopefully I will be able to start them again in a few weeks.

The second big bit of news is that I have finished all the subjects for my Advanced Diploma of Accounting. I started the course in 1998 so it is great to have finally finished after 12 years of study. A lot has happened in the 12 years since I started - many hospital admissions with asthma, subarachnoid haemorrhage, operations, moved house to name a few things, so I am really proud of myself for not giving up. I've applied for my certificate so should get that in a couple of months.