Knitting a jumper and making roman blinds

I know, I know, I know!!! I have more than enough projects on the go but I guess there's always a little time do do a few more.

A while ago Andrew had asked me to knit him a jumper and we'd seen some wool and pattern that we both liked but it was going to be quiet expensive and as I already have enough projects on the go we decided to leave it for now. Well.... on one of my regular shopping trips to Spotlight I saw that wool was on special so I decided to have a look. At 40% off I couldn't resist that kind of sale and brought the wool and pattern. I haven't knitted for a while and am enjoying picking up the needles again. So far I've knitted the back and part of the front. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of winter but that is going to be a big ask even for me!

My other new project is making Roman blinds for Andrew's house. I've never made them before so this will be a big challenge and hopefully one I wont mess up!
Somehow this pile of material is going to turn into 5 Roman Blinds!

A catchup on my life so far this year

More than half of 2011 year has gone already and as usual life has been busy with day to day things, special events and for me there is now a new man in my life.
March
My fourth beautiful great niece was born on the 12th February 2011 to my niece Ruth and her husband Josh.

I went to Canberra Jessica's dedication in March. It was lovely staying with Ruth, Josh, Sarah, Hannah, Olivia and Jessica. While there I also spent some time with my nephew Jonathon and his family, Melanie, Lachlan and Lucas.
April

I finished Jake's quilt just in time for his birthday on the 7th April. A few late nights getting it finished but it was worth it.

Easter 2011 is one I will never forget. On Friday (Good Friday) 22nd April at 3.25pm I received an email from a man. That email was the first of a few which were followed by phone calls and then meeting and having the most wonderful days together firstly at Healesville Sanctuary then Marysville. Lunch at Mary's cafe was followed by wonderful lunch at CloudeHill on the Friday.

I never thought than an email would have led to this wonderful man becoming part of my life..... life's so good.

June

Well... June 12th I turned 50! I decided that I wanted to celebrate my birthday this year as I had so much to be thankful for - being alive when really I should not have survived after my asthma attacks and the subarchnoid hemorrhage. I'd completed my Advanced Diploma after over 10 years of study, I have a wonderful circle of family and friends, a wonderful church & craft group and more recently I met my wonderful man.

My niece made me the most beautiful cake with a patchwork design which everyone loved and people are still talking about!
I had a party with 40 friends in the coffee shop at TLC.

It is a beautiful rustic place built of mud brick with wonderful hand made wooden tables and chairs. It was lovely being able to celebrate my birthday and my life with my family and friends together and seeing everyone chat and enjoying each other was really nice.

Butterflies

With friends having babies I decided to make them a butterfly each.

I used a pattern called 'Blossom' by Melly & Me. I love their bright and colorful patterns and most are very easy to sew.
The hardest part of making the butterflies was turning the antennas inside out and then stuffing them.
These are my very bright colorful creatures.

The best part of making gifts like this is seeing them with the baby.

Here's baby Imogen with her butterfly.

Quilting lessons

This year I have started quilting lessons for the first time since I was 16 years old. Through a 'Bear & Craft' Sewing group that I go to I've had the opportunity to have lessons which I attend once a month on a Saturday.
We are making a quilt simply called a 'Sample Quilt'. Each time we make a block using different methods. I am enjoying the classes and have learnt so much. Even sewing quilts on a machine doesn't scare me as much as it used to.

Block 1. Pinwheel Block.
This is a four-patch block that introduces the use of templates and accurate hand piecing.

Block 2. Double Monkey Wrench

This block included half square triangles and machine piecing (scary as!!)

Block 3. Attic Windows

This is a hand-pieced block teaching mitred corners and raw edge applique

Block 4. Log Cabin Block

This block showed us a classic and versatile machine pieced block.

Charlie thought it was time to give his approval of my block.

More Post Cards from Paris blocks

Over the past few months I have been remiss in updating my blog but I have been working away on my Postcards from Paris blocks.
Here are the latest three blocks that I have completed.

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.