New Year, new beginnings.

Wow, what happened to the nearly month since I blogged....the time slips away so quickly. It has not been from a lack of anything happening- more likely too much.

By the time I packed up the quilt & samples & posted them off to the magazine it was well & truly Christmas time & I hadn't done any shopping or any of my usual sewing-with less than 3 weeks to go.
Running around like a headless chook I managed to order a couple of gifts online-coming up with the brilliant idea of a touch screen monitor for the MOTH- who is a gadget kinda guy- that was a great choice, he loves it, but at this stage is still having trouble with the touch bit of it.....guess he'll figure it out.

I went through my handy stash of items purchased through the year & bundled them up with hastily embroidered tea towels & ran up a few very neat looking aprons & managed with cash in envelopes make a gift for everyone!!

I even wrapped up 2 of the pieced, but unquilted, quilts & gave them as gifts with the promise I would quilt them & to beat me with a stick if I didn't deliver in a timely manner!

Pass a large Bailey's please.... I deserved it.

Our No1 Grandson & his Mum arrived the Tuesday before Christmas & No 1 son arrived Xmas Eve- to complete the gathering my friend, Marge, from Wagga Wagga arrived on Boxing day & that filled the house.

There is something about having a small child in the house for Christmas- it made it all that more exciting-even if I had to work the 4 day weekend of Xmas-everyone was here when I got home.
The visitors are gone, the house is quiet, back to the Old Fart & Me & life continues on much the same as it did before.

Managed to knit a dishcloth for my DIL while she was here- who'd have thought everyone would like them so much & want more of them, have downloaded 4 patterns to try, to start another stash of them for Xmas this year!

Knitting for the expected grand-daughter continues-a little hat & a romper that seems to have taken a back seat since Xmas as well.

Today I put a quilt on the largely un-used quilting frame down in the garage. MOTH had broken one of the rods & then told me he 'fixed' it- well it worked for a little while then broke again- didn't like any tension on it!. MOTH is no handyman that's for sure. I had planned on doing a quilt a day for the next 4 days that I'm off- guess that's not going to happen now. The one I did finish looks quite good as long as no quilt police come looking at it! they'll get rotary cutters at the front door if they approach!

MOTH finally got his way yesterday when we went to look at new flooring for the lounge/ dining room-he ordered a new TV- all the bells & whistles- mind there is nothing wrong with the TV in the bedroom other than its not digital- that's what he wanted- I don't care he paid for it!
Looks like after 3 or is 4 years of haggling we have finally agreed on a floor covering-now lets hope the limited stock is enough to do the 2 rooms-timber flooring we've gone for-fingers & toes crossed that it eventuates this time. I'm sure carpet would be warmer- but one thing is for sure timber floors are easy to keep clean.

Nearly time to pack away the Christmas decorations for another year....seems like only yesterday I finally got them up.

A New year begins & so do my projects- hopefully I'll manage to do lots more this year!

Happy Crafting
Oz- Tralien

Doing the Happy Dance.

Today I let out a big sigh of relief & did the "happy dance". My latest magazine article is written,samples sewn, pictures taken, article edited & changed & now it's finally ready for submission, right on the due date. Will have to plead with MOTH to brave the crowds at the PO to send it off through the week, he complained bitterly about waiting in line to buy postage stamps the other day!

Today I made 2 burp cloths. I purchased a design for an 'in the hoop project' from here. I do like the zig zag trim-I can see dresses done with this....but I'm way ahead of myself on this.

I have never been a user of the burp cloth, when my children were babies I used bibs or grabbed a cloth nappy if they were big spitters & caught spills with that. On thinking about the advent of the burp cloth I guess its come about because you can't really hold a disposable nappy up under a kid's chin to catch the spit!

The first one I made looked too small to me.If dad was holding it his hands could well be larger than the cloth-not a nice feel to have a handful of baby spit-up in your hand, even if you do own the kid!

The second one I lengthened the design to fit in my 360mm x 200mm hoop- I did widen the design but not as much as I lengthened it- this is a way better size, something to get your hand around & for catching those more serious spills! I played around with my shapes & made a love bug of sorts by using a heart shape turned upside down & adding a musical note I morphed slightly in edit for the antennae, hopefully it looks something like a bug should. I am sure I'll be making a few more of these, in the larger size.

My knitting is progressing well. I've completed a pretty pink jacket & a gorgeous cream one. The pink one was a design called "Puss" from a very old Patons knitting book for babies. I changed the pattern & knitted it from the neck down- I'm finding this a quick & easy way to knit baby jackets. Next on the needles was a merino yarn I bought in KL last month- Gedifra Merino De Luxe. This yarn is spectacular to knit with- the finished article looks spectacular- not because of my knitting but the yarn- I'd love to get my hands on more of this. This jacket is Elizabeth Zimmermann's February sweater from her Knitters Almanac.Tonight I'll start on a cherry red top in a larger size- this baby is going to be well dressed that's for sure.

Christmas is just around the corner & I'm not at all organised. the tree is not up, there isn't a decoration to be seen in the house-at least the cards have been done & posted. I just can't seem to get the motivation to get to & do the rest.

Good news in that our No. 1 son & his family are coming up for Christmas- took some persuading so they'll arrive, with the cat from hell in tow as well.

Koshka is not a friendly cat- she made the trip out from the UK when they moved & many a time over the years has she bitten or scratched me for no good reason- not your cuddly type of cat at all! When GS was little he even had to learn that the cat would win every time he got close to her & he bore the scratch marks many a time to prove it!

No quilts on the quilting frame, no presents made....nothing......need to get a move on & do something before the big day arrives I guess....will anyone notice if I don't?

Happy Crafting,
Oz-tralien

Silly Season

OMG- has it been hot this weekend-today was the hottest November day in 17 years! We are supposed to be getting a storm later on this evening, so far, absolutely nothing-just heat.

MOTH has a 'thing' about using the air conditioner-he turns it off as fast as I turn it on-he maintains its cold-I personally feel its just right & so we continue with the on/off regime!

This morning, while it was still relatively cool I managed to clean out some cupboards & drawers-3 large bags full of things to take to the charity bin & one smaller one full of shoes & handbags-I sometimes wonder how I amass so much!

In true MOTH form he rummaged through the bags & kept on saying "why are you throwing this out... and THIS?"- I told him in no uncertain terms to get out of the bags & just take them up to the bin! Honestly he is the only man I know that will run after the garbage truck in case I have thrown out something he may want/need! sheesh- it wasn't as if I went through HIS things- it was all my stuff!

While cleaning/tidying up the linen cupboard I was able to take stock of my towel stash, which has grown considerably in the past few weeks- there were some 25 towels all tucked away for gifts when I embroider on them- along with face cloths, hand towels,bathmats & miscellaneous sundries in the bags as well!

My sewing room got a good going over as well-now its so tidy I won't feel like sewing & messing it up again. Hopefully now its all sorted out I will be able to sit & write the magazine article this week-its due in the following week! Yikes!!!

The Christmas cards are all written-another tick off my to do list. This year I've handed MOTH all his friends to write the cards for, I think its only fair that he write some of them. I have suggested that he write them all, that met with a death stare & you have to be joking!

Finished a baby jacket this week & started another one. Decided to knit this one from the neck down as well. The pattern is a very old Patons one- the book is falling apart, but I'm sure it will hold up until I sort out what I'm doing with the pattern. The pattern is called "Puss"- I am always intrigued how they came up with some of the names they gave these patterns.

Guess the next thing will be to do some Christmas shopping-I'm not that enthused about that, but its something I can't really escape!

Until next time,
Happy Crafting,
Oz-Tralien

On being Productive.

My weekend was most productive- just the way I like it!
There was an order for 13 bath towels to have names embroidered on them- all done- one LARGE tick on my TO DO list for that one.....I caught up on my ironing....how does it mount up so fast? I'm sure I didn't wear ALL those clothes! Another tick!

Did the usual household chores, it seems MOTH is incapable of doing any of these off his own bat through the week, which leaves me to run around & get them all done when I'm home. Are all MOTHs like this- or just mine?

Played around with some red work designs-these are to fit in the Aida insert on tea towels- there are absolutely no designs suitable out there (if there is please email me & let me know where!)- there is a market out there for some clever digitizer to produce designs in this size.

The wedding in Kuala Lumpar was lovely- the bride looked gorgeous- the groom was sporting a fractured clavicle- the dog (a rottie) knocked him over the night before-he had a matching arm sling to his tuxedo at least!

I spent my week getting over the 2 flights in quick succession & the jet lag from doing a red eye flight.....I'm disliking the flights more & more these days, but love visiting when I get there.

There is no service in economy anymore. Throw your meals at you & disappear, if you can call them meals- breakfast for me was 2 dry rice cakes- I handed them back. I dislike eating polystyrene even when it has something on it- but naked- no thank you! Even the orange juice- the only choice- was that powdered stuff you add water to. Talk about cost cutting. I've said to MOTH its time we moved up into premium economy on these longer flights, if only to have a little more leg room.I doubt the service would be any better.

I did buy myself a 'little something' while we were away, I'd been hankering after a Sony Vaio for a couple of years now & MOTH always buys me Acers. I have nothing against the Acers-I love my Acer.....but....I really wanted a Vaio....its just a mid size one for travelling. My friend, Carol ,suggested I call it Goldilocks-not only is it gold, but its 'just the right' size as well.
Ah.... then there was the new flash ring for the camera-hopefully to give me better illumination of my macro shots.

Not done much on the knitting scene- the baby jacket is progressing ever so slowly-guess at some point I will finish the body of it. Oh, & I did buy some lovely yarns in KL as well. Italian pure wool. This will be one well dressed baby, if I manage to get anything finished for it.

Back to work tomorrow- there are days I'd love to be retired, but then I doubt if I'd get much more done than I do now- when you only have 2 days off. you know you have to get things done! That's what my retired friends all say!
Until next time, Happy Crafting,
Oz-Tralien.

Embroidered Sheet Set

Finally I can show off the matching sheet set that I made back in March-have been eagerly awaiting the publishing date.
The pic is courtesy of Australian Machine Embroidery Mag published in edition 16/3.
I'm not sure who will be the recipient of these- I just love them & think I'll keep them to use for my lady guests, men just don't appreciate embroidered bed linen.
This week is a muddily week- have had 3 days off work on sick leave- day one was the prep day- I started it 2 hours earlier & was still running to the loo an hour before I was going to the endoscopy unit! Day 2 was the day, and day 3 to recover- my head has been giddy for most of the day, so no driving.
I was wanting to go to the Sheridan Factory Outlet sale-this is where I buy most of my sheets & towels-when they are on sale,hopefully I'll get time to nick in there tomorrow after I finish rounds-I'll just make time!
This weekend I'm working, then I fly off to Kuala Lumpar next Thursday to attend a friend's wedding-just a quick stay, be back on Tuesday,ready to go to work on Wednesday.
I'm eyeing off a new laptop to bring home on this trip-I've been coveting a Sony Viao for some time & I think its now time to get it. MOTH bought me a new laptop last time he was there but its useless to travel with- it weighs a ton & is hardly portable.
Now with a 2 bag limit on cabin luggage, including laptops everything has got to fit in my carry on bag & this big laptop certainly wont!
I can see the time in the not too distant future where we'll be charged excessively to take any luggage with us on a plane besides a carry-on weighing 3 kg! regardless of how far we are flying.
Lucky I can pack light.
Have been busy making bright luggage labels for the suitcases- hopefully they will be more noticeable on the carousel- thing is you tie it on one end & that's always the end that's hidden under all the other bags!
Happy crafting,
Oz-Tralien

This & That & a Little of Nothing Much

Today it has rained. After the rain is a wonderful opportunity to go & take pictures in the garden-especially when MOTH has left his macro lens with the converter right where I can see it & I can play around while he is out- otherwise he grabs the best lenses & then follows me around, always saying he has taken the better pictures-he probably has, but he needed remind me of the fact!

I seem to have done a lot of fart-arsing about this weekend. When I look at what I did get done- it doesn't seem all that much, although I have been far from idle.

Firstly I finished the little kimono jacket I downloaded from Ravelry-I knitted this in a cotton/bamboo blend- it knitted up really quickly & I'm sure it'll wash like a rag & be very easy care.

The Christmas pudding was next- that was early Saturday morning's job-I can't believe it's already that time of the year again where I have to think about making it & as we have a few hectic weeks ahead this was the only weekend before December that I knew I was free to get it done. It is hanging under the stairs, aging until Christmas Day, complete with 25 old sixpences & one three penny bit!

Multi- tasking, I made fabric postcards while I refilled the pot every hour as it boiled away for 6 hours. These are for a swap, & one extra for my GS who loves to get his own mail (what kid doesn't!?),now just waiting to be posted.

In between this I managed to buy a few embroidery design sets online. (Its great that our $ is so strong, but I'm managing to spend way too much as a consequence!)- that's where the pfaffing about occurred- looking at & playing with the designs- it wastes so much time!

Made 2 tags-one for my bag & one for a friend (she was part of the reason I was pfaffing about as I was going to make her something for her birthday & couldn't decide what, in the end I have made her the recipient of the pale green edged & embroidered towels I have pictured in a previous post). I know she'll love them.

This morning MOTH decides it would be nice to go for breakfast-so up to our favourite eating place-there goes another few hours & the rest of the day saw me do nothing much at all- embroidered 4 names on 4 towels that were an order & made my friend an embroidered birthday card, using a pic I had put through Kaleidoscope.

The sum of my day-not really that productive at all, in the scheme of things-although not completely wasted either.

This afternoon I made some pikelets for afternoon tea- had them with strawberry jam & cream- oh, what memories of my dear departed mother making these on a Sunday afternoon, or, having them at the school fete when they served afternoon tea. Shame I had no one to share them with, MOTH too engrossed in a movie to want to come join me!

The weekend is coming to a close- I can't believe it has gone so fast-let's hope I can get some sewing done on Tuesday, as I'm home to start the prep for my colonoscopy on Wednesday-I don't know anyone that enjoys the prep for this procedure, there is something really off when you get to the stage of 'peeing' out your bum!

Then that leads to Thursday which I have off as well, because, no driving post anaesthetic-so I'm hoping to get a little something done then. That's the plus side of all of this-the extra day off!

Until next time

happy crafting,

Oz-Tralien

Throwing in the Towel-or All Wiped Up.

There are many 'rules' for sewing monograms on towels- 3 inches up, 4 whiskers to the side & his before hers & don't forget to hold your tongue in the right position while you sew it!

For me- rules are meant to be broken-push the envelope I say & experiment- who says they have to be in a certain place anyway?

Gone are the days when to buy a mongramed towel the name was sewn diagonally across the corner-please- no more of that!, there are many more creative ways of embroidering on a towel.
Towels are the perfect gift for all ages. One size will work for anybody- it doesn't have to 'fit'-white or cream & it will go in any bathroom & lets face it-unless you live on the street - everyone uses them- from a newborn to a 100 year old. It's the perfect gift when you don't know the recipient all that well & perfect if you do.



I'm always putting names on towels-mostly for gifts & I think I've come up with some novel ways of doing just that, without it being all boring & definitely no names on the diagonal in the corner.

Most people opt for centering the name on the towel above the header. Consider if the towel will be hung up open, or folded- not everyone has the room to have the towels at their full width on a rail.

What about putting the names on the side-just above the header in a nice clean font (like the art deco one shown)- or below the header if the lower part of the towel is wide enough-this is perfect for the males in your life- they don't want all flourishes & flowers, well mine don't, that's for sure!

The fashion for towels at present is a wider towel end before the header- this lends itself to being embroidered quite easily & is a nice change from above the header. (the header is the fancy band on a towel, that on cheaper towels always shrinks & makes the towel go all out of shape, after the first wash!)
Can you incorporate something in the name -mice, flowers, small animals poking out of 'A's, Os's or Y's', all work well-or a small lion's head as with the Rory towel?

One request I had was just for the first initial of each family member in the corner-they didn't like the idea of anyone being able to see the children's names (or theirs) on the line-but wanted to make sure everyone used their own towels.
I've put frogs on baby's towels for a frog themed nursery, a monkey for jungle themes & everything else in between- a favourite of mine is Amazing Designs Bathtime alphabet-takes a bit of editing to do a whole name in it, but looks great when its finished.

For those pre-teens & young girls- you can't go past a curlz font- use a large single, applique letter behind & the full name in front of it- don't forget to change your settings in your software so it doesn't take out the overlap.
Boys towels can have a sport or an interest incorporated into their name-soccer balls, foot balls, sail boats, baseball bats-they will all go through a letter, at the end or beginning of a name, or sit behind the name.

For couples I use classic fonts- a large first letter & a more simple font for the rest of their names, I repeat the first initial on the hand towels & face washers.
One of my favourite towels is using a fairy & then sew out the design in variegated threads- the one shown is a licensed design so can only be given as a gift- Amazing Designs has a fairy that will work just as well & you can then use it on items that you wish to sell.
There's been names on musical scores for the musical ones, Chinese symbols for my Chinese friends, names that twist & turn-I've only shown a small sample of all the names I've done over the years & no one has not liked what I've come up with-they all get used.

Sew, have some fun, put the names in different spots- & sometimes it's fun to incorporate a little surprise, like the single bee at the other end of a towel for a friend who wanted bees, please!



HappyCrafting,
Oz-Tralien