Memory Quilt - Finished

I'm so proud of this one.
Thank you very much to Mel and Jessica for giving me the oportunity to make this for them and thier family.

Mel supplied me with photos which were scanned in. The images were digitally sepia toned in Photoshop and printed onto fabric. Each photo was placed as the centre of a crazy log cabin block.Lace was caught into the seams as the block were constructed.

After the quilt was sandwiched and quilted the dress was hand appliqued into the centre of the quilt and lace motifs were hand appliqued.

The back features a printed label, a hanging sleeve and a spare block which was made into a pocket on the back of the quilt for keeping specials items.

The binding is straight edge and put down by hand.

Artistic Snobber is alive and kicking

A good read can be found here:
what is Art? What is an Artist?

Textiles were seen very much as a craft until recently.

Where is the difference between art and craft?
Is a life well lived an art in itself?

Is the soap wrapped in a facewasher any less a creation of an artist than the work of a well known painter.
Has the creator of each piece taken pride and creative satisfaction from creating these pieces. Has thought and problem solving skills been used for both? Is each a unique piece created by a unique person?

I sat in a committee meeting where selection of "craft" was discussed for a local craft fair. Many of the committee members where unhappy to include the facewasher wrapped soap. These "crafters" sat in judgement of their fellow "crafters". It reminded me of the hens in my chook pen. They were establishing the peeking order of "craft" and those that didn't measure up where peeked to death.

Artistic snobbery is just as offensive as any other form of snobbery. It is used to exclude and demoralise.

To my shame I didn't stand up for the soap wrappers! It shows my lack of understanding of what art and craft really is.

Handdyed wool My first Attempt

And here it is crocheted up :)

New Soakers for Miss Lilly

I bought the Dandelion Dreamers Crochet Soakers pattern. With the Skooter Skort.
It was very quick to crochet up. The directions were very clear and easy to follow. I changed the waistband by adding an extra row. I think next time I make them I'll use a smaller hook in the soaker body as I like a tighter stitch.

Mad Hatter

I've had some real fun creating these hats.
No patterns used, just crochet in circles until I get the right size.
I've been using some of the the beautiful hand dyed wools I bought from Angel Blossom and Suzanne's House of wool. Both are on Ozebaby.
Two of the hats are on the Ozebaby store and one in the Desert Rose Designs store.

Red Carrots

We picked our first carrots today. They are going into a chicken and veg stirfry for dinner. Yummy.

Weight loss so far

I put half a kilo on this week and was feeling a little glum about it. So I searched through my photo library to find my "before" photo and my latest photo. Neither of them are good photos but they do show me how much I have lost. The first was taken on 1st March 2005 and the next 19th February 2007. I'm getting there :) It's just sooo sloooow. I do need to start to increase my exercise.

Tomato Sauce

Tomato Sauce

Makes approx 1.5 lts of sauce.

3 kilos Tomatos
250 grams Apples
250 grams Onions.
1 clove of garlic
2 chillis
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup sugar

Wash and chop tomatos. Don't bother peeling them as the mixture gets pushed through a seive.
Put into a large heavy based pan.
Peel and chop onions, garlic, chilli and apples add to pan
Add curry powder, cloves, vinegar and sugar.

Bring to boil and simmer for 2 hours.
Press tomato mix through a strainer into another pan. I use a metal spoon to help mush the larger stuff through.

Boil the tomato sauce to reduce to the desired thickness.

Pour in to bottles and seal.

What plant is this?

This grew in my veggie patch and we have no idea what it is. Does anyone know? The flowers are beautiful but don't smell very nice. The fruit is prickly and close to the main stem.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY

My big boy turned 8! How did that happen so quickly.

Friendship Quilt

My dear friend Sue sent me a picture of a friendship quilt I participated in a few years ago. It was great to see it finished. Seeing it brought back many happy memories of our little group which met each Wednesday night in the Craft Rooms of Territory Craft in Tennant Creek. Many of the creators of the quilt have moved from Tennant Creek and I've lost contact with some. But I'll always cherish the memories of the laughter and fun we shared. Especially the sleep over we had one night!

Fig and Apple Jam - Yummy

Here's my recipe for Fig and Apple Jam

1.3kg of figs
200 g of apples
1.5kg of sugar
2 lemons
200mls?? water

Wash the fruit really well including the lemons.
Chop the stalks from the figs and chop them up.
Peel and core the apples and slice
Cut the lemons in half.

Put the figs, apples and water into a heavy based pan.
Squeeze the four halves of the lemons into the pan and put the lemons in too.
Boil the fruit until the figs and apples are soft. Add the sugar and keep stiring as the mixture comes to the boil.
Boil until the mixture reaches "set".

To check for set put a teaspoon of jam on a cold plate and see if it "crinkles"
Switch the heat off and allow jam to cool for a few minutes.
Remove the four lemon halves.
Pour into sterile jars and seal.

To sterilise my jars I boil them in water for 10 minutes and to seal I use Fowler's Varcola's Kleer View Transparent Preserve covers.

Tickle Turdle wool wraps.

I've just become licensed to crochet Tickle Turdles wool wraps. They are so good!
A free pattern for personal use is here Tickle Turdle website or you could have me make you one and save you the time.

Happy valentines everyone :)

Look what I woke up to this morning :) Spoilt or what? After 10 years together he can still be so romantic. I'm such a lucky woman.

Soakers

Knitted from a vintage pattern from HERE Called "Fancy Pants"

I have changed the pattern slightly.
This pair is knitted in the round and grafted.
Short rows have been knitted into the back to give extra nappy room.
Embroidered with daisy's on the rear.


Knitted in Bendigo Woollen Mills Wool 8ply Classic in Musk.

Measurements are waist 37cms - 50cm
rise 48cm
leg opening 20cm - 25 cm

12 X 12 x 12 Challenge - February

With everything going on in my life right now I didn't think I would get this done on time.
Once again I kept it simple. A clique of a sunburnt evening sky. I used raw edge applique and thread painted in the smaller trees to give a feeling of depth to the work.
Click on the link in the title above to have a look at what the clever quilters of Quilt Studio have produced this month.

Soaker with a frill

I've been busy over the last month experimenting with soakers. Here is a soaker with a frill. Miss Lilly loves this one. The wool came from Bendigo Woollen Mills. I knitted an i-cord for this pair and crochet a pair of flowers to the ends.

Skirt + Soaker = Skoaker

Here is Miss Lilly in her new Skoaker. The wool came from Dyelicious. and is hand dyed lambs wool.

Miss Lilly's Singlet

I've reworked the singlet and it now fits Miss Lilly :)

ATC are here!

Swap Bot

I'm so excited I got the most wonderful ATC's from the Valentine swap on Swap bot.
Thank you Christine and Debbie :)

Thank you God......

My dear Friend Sue emailed this to me.
Thank you Sue for being such a wonderful friend :)
I really value your support.


Thank you, God.......

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MANY E-MAIL'S BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

_________________________________________________________________

Knitted Singlet/tanktop

I'm experimenting with knitting singlets.
This one is done in 4ply cotton, knitted in the round and features a drawstring neckband for a better fit on little bubs.
I like the drawstring as it allows the singlet to be pulled on over a toddlers larger head and then adjust the neckline so that it sits nice and doesn't fall off the shoulders.
The ribbing gives a better fit to the body as the singlet should be a fitted garment.
I haven't got Lilly modelling this one as the length isn't right and her potbelly pushes the singlet up. I'll rework the pattern adding length and narrowing the armholes. When I get it right I'll be putting the singlets onto the Ozebaby store.

In the Garden

I so love my garden! When I feel stressed with the kids a walk in the garden will always calm me. It's where I feel closest to God. With no roof over my head I like to believe he can hear me a little better ;)
Today has been so hot the pumpkins are all wilting and the silverbeet is flat to the ground. I'm not sure if we have lost it or it may bounce back in the cool of the evening with a good watering.
Here in South Australia we are in the midst of a drought. We are on level 3 water restrictions. So all watering of the garden has to be done between 8pm and 8am.

I've gone cloth crazy :)

I've been knitting and crocheting coths for the last week. I love doing them. So quick to finish and I get to experiment with different stiches. The blue ones are done in 4ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills. The Pink ones are also 4ply, I lost the band so have no idea which brand.

These cloths are so soft and would be great for cleaning a baby's bottom especially with the texture for grabbing the sticky bits.