Mock Cathedral Window Workshop

 

What a way to spend Mothers’ Day…..I awoke with a cup of piping hot plunger coffee followed by a beautiful breakfast of Atlantic salmon, asparagus, grilled tomato and eggs, and I didn’t even have to get out of my jammies!!!!!   mmmmmm   my hubby spoils me!!!

He did cook perfect eggs but I broke them before I thought to take a photo….not being used to eating fish for breakfast, (I’m generally a high fibre cereal or porridge kinda gal) I turned my nose up at first, but wow……it was a delicious flavour combination and hubby did it juuuuuust right!   I knew I married him for a reason!!!! LOL

The weekend was spent at a workshop put on by one of our many talented members of our Guild.  She led the way through a wonderful quilt-as-you-go project called “Mock Cathedral Windows”.  Not having tried the other ‘Cathedral Window’ block but having it on my ever-increasing ‘to-do’ list, I was pretty excited about getting stuck into it.  Consequently, I had my fabric, pellon and templates all cut and ready to go for Saturday.

I discovered I had no template plastic left for the circles so I raided my xray drawer and dug out the oldest one (see my spine???….no, I’m not spineless now!!!! hehehe) and used it…it did the trick too!

The fabric caught my eye at Spotlight….a blue on cream toile and a blue tone on tone paisley….reminded me of the Willow China we had when I was a child, so I just had to buy it.

Well, you know what workshops are like, coffee, sewing, chatting, morning tea, coffee, chatting, checking out everyone else’s work, more sewing, chatting, lunch, coffee, sewing, chatting, seeing where everyone else is up to,  chatting, a little more sewing, chatting, more coffee some sewing, pack up, home.  By day one on Saturday, we all had at least a 4-patch placemat done and enough enthusiasm to come back for more on Sunday!

		Mock Cathedral Windows Workshop 8-9 May 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Aren’t they all gorgeous????   I love them all and couldn’t pick any favourites!  I’ve planned to make mine into a tablecloth to protect our timber dining table and I nearly have four rows done….

…but you know what happens when finishing time is looming…….I had to do the inevitable ‘reverse stitching’ (or more commonly referred to as ‘unpicking’!!!) and then  repeat that process 3 times, hence the pins still in rows three and four!  I will still have to join the two sets of rows and then the petals/windows will appear between them.  I love the fact that once the rows are done….they’re done…this quilt-as-you-go was so much easier than I’d thought!

I will have to do about 6 more rows, so another few days of solid stitching ahead of me, but gee it’s been nice to get reacquainted with my machine again!

Hope you got to spend Mothers Day doing some of what you love best!

sugary hugs

Wendy :0)

Mothers’ Day Magic

  The first Sunday in May is traditionally Mothers’ Day in Australia….a day where we take the time to honour, treasure and recognise the most special people in our lives. As you know, my mum is no longer with us in body (and twenty-one years certainly has passed in a heartbeat), but is definitely here in spirit and I’m looking forward to buying a lovely bunch of flowers in remembrance, to celebrate her ‘special day’. This year, with all this time on my hands (LOL), I’ve been thinking about how my Mum worked her magic in our family…..dishes just seemed to get ‘done’, the house was kept tidy ‘effortlessly’, delicious dinners were always (well mostly!!) ready on the table for a hungry hoard, and food just magically appeared in the cupboard/fridge/ pantry…we just opened the door and there it was!  Mum never complained about her ‘job’ as Mum to 3 sons and a daughter, despite holding down a full time job and running a family business with my father.   She was always there to cuddle and wipe away tears, provide that magic ‘spray’ that got rid of those nasty monsters that hid under our beds, she was always there with a kind word, support and love at the drop of the hat…..and there’s sooooo much more!   Now, with all that going on in my head, I just had to design something to celebrate her, and all other mums around the world that mean just as much to their families.  So, I have designed this little stitchery for you to make into whatever you’d like for your mum…..maybe a notebook cover, a bag, tea towel, cushion….the list is endless.  You’ll notice I’ve used back stitch for the wand, and wording, satin stitch for the bursts of ‘magic’ hearts and blanket stitch for the inner heart on the wand, but you can let your creativity go wild! If you click HERE you can download the free PDF file which gives you the line drawing.  Make sure you  click on the blue download button, then follow the instructions.  Remember to wait the 20 seconds or so downloading time before the magic appears! I can’t wait to see what you make with yours.  Mine is destined for a sewing machine cover for ME so that it will remind me of Mum every time I sit down at the machine.  I’ve used DMC threads to pick up the colours in my Moda “Vienna Nights” by 3 Sisters charm squares, which I’ve had sitting around for a long time waiting for just the right project.  But I’ll tell you more about that soon! Enjoy! Sugary hugs Wendy :0)

Mothers’ Day Magic

 

The first Sunday in May is traditionally Mothers’ Day in Australia….a day where we take the time to honour, treasure and recognise the most special people in our lives.

As you know, my mum is no longer with us in body (and twenty-one years certainly has passed in a heartbeat), but is definitely here in spirit and I’m looking forward to buying a lovely bunch of flowers in remembrance, to celebrate her ‘special day’.

This year, with all this time on my hands (LOL), I’ve been thinking about how my Mum worked her magic in our family…..dishes just seemed to get ‘done’, the house was kept tidy ‘effortlessly’, delicious dinners were always (well mostly!!) ready on the table for a hungry hoard, and food just magically appeared in the cupboard/fridge/ pantry…we just opened the door and there it was!  Mum never complained about her ‘job’ as Mum to 3 sons and a daughter, despite holding down a full time job and running a family business with my father.   She was always there to cuddle and wipe away tears, provide that magic ‘spray’ that got rid of those nasty monsters that hid under our beds, she was always there with a kind word, support and love at the drop of the hat…..and there’s sooooo much more!  

Now, with all that going on in my head, I just had to design something to celebrate her, and all other mums around the world that mean just as much to their families.  So, I have designed this little stitchery for you to make into whatever you’d like for your mum…..maybe a notebook cover, a bag, tea towel, cushion….the list is endless.  You’ll notice I’ve used back stitch for the wand, and wording, satin stitch for the bursts of ‘magic’ hearts and blanket stitch for the inner heart on the wand, but you can let your creativity go wild!

If you click HERE you can download the free PDF file which gives you the line drawing.  Make sure you  click on the blue download button, then follow the instructions.  Remember to wait the 20 seconds or so downloading time before the magic appears!

I can’t wait to see what you make with yours.  Mine is destined for a sewing machine cover for ME so that it will remind me of Mum every time I sit down at the machine.  I’ve used DMC threads to pick up the colours in my Moda “Vienna Nights” by 3 Sisters charm squares, which I’ve had sitting around for a long time waiting for just the right project.  But I’ll tell you more about that soon!

Enjoy!

Sugary hugs

Wendy :0)

Finally…..a post-op post!

  I was sooooo naive thinking I’d be back and with you soon after my knee replacement!  (sorry…not the best photo…but was taken the afternoon after my surgery so please excuse the bad hair, bloated toad and dazed look….I’m blaming the drugs!!!! LOL)   Having had a couple of reconstructions and numerous (too many to remember) arthroscopies over the past 30 years, I thought this would be a cinch!!!! Needless to say, nine days in hospital gave me plenty of time for sewing sewing and more sewing, and eating, eating and more eating….and my goodness, hospital food IS really good!!!!!……. A further three weeks or so at home where I have been VERY limited…..mainly sitting in my recliner (thank goodness for recliners!!!) with my leg elevated and iced up almost 24/7, and I am just starting to find my feet (hehehe) and become more mobile!   I have tried getting online and keeping in touch but having my leg down for even ten minutes did my head in, but I’m now at nearly the five week mark and my confidence is growing day by day……I can now even stand on one leg, and doing squats, which brought intense pain prior to the op, is now pretty easy!!!!  Woo hoooooo!  But unfortunately my lovely, supportive hubby has to go back to work today and I have to begin to attempt all the housework on my own again!!!! *eek*  (although I’m so thankful to be able to get about again now, I’m beginning to look forward to it….but don’t tell hubby!!!! LOL) Thank you to all who commented and sent emails prior to my surgery…..I know I haven’t yet responded and I apologise profusely…..but please know that every single one has comforted me and made me feel much more at ease.  I promise to get back to you this week!!!! I have been very busy…..on my recliner…….sewing…….lots of hand stitching.   I have sooooo missed my sewing machine, and on the way to the bathroom, often popped in to stroke it fondly and play with some much loved fabric and peruse some magazines for future ideas (however I really SHOULD be getting to those UFO’s shouldn’t I, girls????!!!!!) I now have all my blocks stitched for Kaaren’s Raggedy Friend’s quilt….now I just have to put them together.   I’ve also done a stitchery that Lynette gave to me.  It’s a Bronwyn Hayes one called “Herb Garden”….just not sure what to make it into yet!  Any ideas?   And I’ve been trying to get my Scattered Tiles quilt blocks done.  I started this one at a workshop with Robyn Ginn, a talented Aussie designer, at our Guild last year….it was also featured in the Patchwork and Quilting  Applique Special Vol 18 No 1. This break has given me the perfect opportunity to get it done as it’s lots of hand applique  which I never liked much before Vicki introduced it to me, but this is a different strategy again, and I’m loving the simplicity of it.   Just think…..if I get the Raggedy Friends and the Scattered Tiles finished, that will be two UFO’s off my list for the Sew It’s Finished blog……it’s been such a long time since anything of mine’s been finished!!!   Yay!!!! I am back with a vengeance and have even designed a special something for you to stitch up for Mothers’ Day which I’ll blog about in the next couple of days. Look forward to catching up with everyone really soon! sugary hugs Wendy  :0)  

Finally…..a post-op post!

 

I was sooooo naive thinking I’d be back and with you soon after my knee replacement! 

(sorry…not the best photo…but was taken the afternoon after my surgery so please excuse the bad hair, bloated toad and dazed look….I’m blaming the drugs!!!! LOL)

  Having had a couple of reconstructions and numerous (too many to remember) arthroscopies over the past 30 years, I thought this would be a cinch!!!!

Needless to say, nine days in hospital gave me plenty of time for sewing sewing and more sewing,

and eating, eating and more eating….and my goodness, hospital food IS really good!!!!!…….

A further three weeks or so at home where I have been VERY limited…..mainly sitting in my recliner (thank goodness for recliners!!!) with my leg elevated and iced up almost 24/7, and I am just starting to find my feet (hehehe) and become more mobile!   I have tried getting online and keeping in touch but having my leg down for even ten minutes did my head in, but I’m now at nearly the five week mark and my confidence is growing day by day……I can now even stand on one leg, and doing squats, which brought intense pain prior to the op, is now pretty easy!!!!  Woo hoooooo! 

But unfortunately my lovely, supportive hubby has to go back to work today and I have to begin to attempt all the housework on my own again!!!! *eek*  (although I’m so thankful to be able to get about again now, I’m beginning to look forward to it….but don’t tell hubby!!!! LOL)

Thank you to all who commented and sent emails prior to my surgery…..I know I haven’t yet responded and I apologise profusely…..but please know that every single one has comforted me and made me feel much more at ease.  I promise to get back to you this week!!!!

I have been very busy…..on my recliner…….sewing…….lots of hand stitching.   I have sooooo missed my sewing machine, and on the way to the bathroom, often popped in to stroke it fondly and play with some much loved fabric and peruse some magazines for future ideas (however I really SHOULD be getting to those UFO’s shouldn’t I, girls????!!!!!)

I now have all my blocks stitched for Kaaren’s Raggedy Friend’s quilt….now I just have to put them together.

 

I’ve also done a stitchery that Lynette gave to me.  It’s a Bronwyn Hayes one called “Herb Garden”….just not sure what to make it into yet!  Any ideas?

 

And I’ve been trying to get my Scattered Tiles quilt blocks done.  I started this one at a workshop with Robyn Ginn, a talented Aussie designer, at our Guild last year….it was also featured in the Patchwork and Quilting  Applique Special Vol 18 No 1.

This break has given me the perfect opportunity to get it done as it’s lots of hand applique  which I never liked much before Vicki introduced it to me, but this is a different strategy again, and I’m loving the simplicity of it.  

Just think…..if I get the Raggedy Friends and the Scattered Tiles finished, that will be two UFO’s off my list for the Sew It’s Finished blog……it’s been such a long time since anything of mine’s been finished!!!   Yay!!!!

I am back with a vengeance and have even designed a special something for you to stitch up for Mothers’ Day which I’ll blog about in the next couple of days.

Look forward to catching up with everyone really soon!

sugary hugs

Wendy  :0)

 

Pre…..

  Just a quickie….. I’m off to hospital today for my knee replacement surgery which happens early tomorrow morning……so here’s some befores of my “loverly'” knee….. (notice the ‘interesting’ angle in the first pic and no, only SOME of it is fat…..there is a lot of swelling!! LOL) and when I come back, I’ll post my ‘new’ one!!! So if you don’t hear from me for a couple of weeks….you’ll know why…..not disappearing….just being waited on hand and foot!!!!  LOL I must post a piccie I have of a gorgeous quilt Chris sent to a young family in Ingham as part of the Quilts for Flood And Cyclone victims, once I get it off my phone.  It is the most gorgeous quilt that Chris quilted and the couple were absolutely ‘stoked’ that others were thinking of them in their time of need!….Even so, they said there were more people in greater need……I happen to know they were without quite a lot for the past couple of months and have done it tough!   Go the good Aussie spirit!  Quilters are such wonderful people! Anyways, must go pack…..roads are flooding so have to get going!Please keep me in your prayers! sugary hugs…. Wendy :0)