A Woman's Look..............

Wow, Vicki has really raised the bar this year when she took on the job of running the 2009 challenge for my embroidery group.


We were gobsmacked as she handed out visual art books for journals and proceeded to tell us that we would be endeavouring to create an original piece of embroidered artwork based on the theme " A Woman's Look".


There we sat, speechless and in awe as we discovered that we would be creating a textile book of at least 5 pages plus a cover using the elements and principles of design. (line, shape, colour, size, pattern, value/tone, movement - balance, gradation, contrast, repetition, harmony, domiance, unity and rhythm)


Holy toledo.............talk about overwhelmed!!!!!!!...I'm only a beginner!!!!!!!................


We have before us a list of challenge stages to which we endeavour to have completed by December 2009.

A Journal Cover

Page 1 -Line

Page 2 - Texture

Page 3 - Shape

Page 4 - Colour

Page 5 - Self Portrait

Textile Book Cover

There I sat dumbstruck as we received our kits - a blank journal and a dress form silhouette printed on fabric.......our first task -


to make a journal cover using the dress form silhouette......to start collecting ideas for the textile book and to start experimenting with possible backgrounds.







..............................and now that my mind has stopped screaming help me, I think the project is really going to be kinda fun. This is the start -

A scrap of black velvet, black and white striped cotton, black homespun, white ribbon and black ricrac. As you can see there will be just a touch of red when the flower on the dress form is embroidered with satin stitch.

(hmmmm thinking I might call the textile book - "Iam woman see me raw" - a line courtesy of the Kath & Kim TV comedy show)

Pressies from embroidery

Mums Quilt

This is the quilt Im making for my mother. It has been in the pipeline for at least 18months now and I am really quite excited to have all the blocks finished and laid out. The border is blue and will be about 10inches wide. We are still wondering if it might need a thin border first say in red just to frame the pieced section, but will consider that when the blocks are sown together.

Mum has blinds in her bedroom the same colour as the blues in the quilt so this will look very nice I think.

One More

The local embroidery guild has been studying individual stitches as a part of their yearly challenge which is to make an Artists Trading Card to swap with each of the members of the group. I have one more swap to go and thought it might be fun to do a sampler of some of the stitches studied this year using a few of the wonderful threads acquired in June at the Quilt and Craft Fair in Sydney. I hope my swap partner likes it.

Looking Out

Me and PeggySue, surveying the landscape from the front verandah after yesterdays soaking rain. .........hmmmmmmmmmmmm perhaps I should have mowed the lawn before it rained.....
oh well, sewing was much more fun

A Finisher or a Journier?

Are you a finisher or a journey quilter? Do you have the need to get a project finished, not because of a deadline, but because you have this inner voice whispering "finish, finish, finish? Or are you someone that enjoys the journey to the end of a quilt.



It seems that quilters come in two types. There are those who are driven to finish what they start without a break from that project. I call these quilters "Finishers". They worry over projects unfinished, often not starting another until the first is completed. They are unable to focus on other activities until the first is completed, stress when things go wrong and finish with a huge sense of euphoria.

The other type I call the Journiers. For Journiers quilting is about the process, the end will come eventually and how long it takes to get there is of little consequence. They move fluidly from one project to another, doing a little here and a bit there. They have many works in progress and like it that way. They will conform to a deadline if the need arises but feel no pressure to complete a project that has no specific use by date. For Journiers the joy of quilting is in the time taken to enjoy the fabric, the colours, the ideas, the company, the new technique - no stress attached.

Of course the sense of euphoria when a project is completed must be, I think, the same for all quilters.

I am a Journier. What type are you?

A WIP completed. A Monogrammed Cushion.

The project started as a 1 hour workshop at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair this June.

A-Z Series

Does anyone look at the Inspirations Magazine.

A wonderful publication that comes out quarterly. It covers mostly embroidery projects with some lovely articles about works from all over the world. The projects can be sourced from Country Bumpkin in South Australia. They have an online business where you can sign up for newsletters and the like.

Anyway, Country Bumpkin are currently having a sale on their A - Z Series books , buy 5 at once and get them at a reduced price..................how can you resist!!!!!!!!



My purchases showed up in the mail this week.

With just one more ATC due next week, guess where the inspiration will be coming from

Felting

Embroidery last Thursday. I really enjoy our local embroidery group...they are a great group of ladies and incredibly active with their craft. At the moment they are busily into felting, dyeing and felting.

Last Thursday we had a follow-up session on a felting workshop that was held at the previous meeting. (I unfortunately had to work that day and couldnt make it).

On Thursday, however, one of the members brought some wool tops for us to share and dye...which we did. Great fun. I haven't dyed anything before and cant believe how easy it is. We then took some pieces of previously dyed wool, threads or whatever we could find and proceeded to felt them onto a piece of quilters wadding. So simple it is amazing.

This is my playground. Ok, so it looks a bit "hows your uncle" but it is my first go and the idea (I think) is to make a background. So, I am thinking, if I put some beads and embroider some fancy threads it might just look like a piece of artwork and I could use it as my next ATC giveaway....hmmmmmmmm

ATCs

Have you ever been involved with ATCs....artists trading cards? My local embroidery group have been swapping ATCs as the group challenge for this year.

Take a look at what I have been lucky enough to receive......

Selvedges

The other day......way back in June as you will see the date on the photos .............I was playing with the selvedges off fabric being used for the Borderlicious Challenge Quilt....

This is the result.........

A needlebook....my very first!!!!!. The closure is ribbon purchased from Cottage on the Hill at the Girls Day Out in May.....such fun that weekend.

You may have guessed by now that I am kinda into colour.

The Dreaded Chickens

This is block one of a wall hanging I purchased some time ago not realising it is needleturn applique............just started block 2.......

The Finished Product

Here it is............one cushion

Foundation Piecing

When I first joined the local patchwork group back in 2002 I already owned some foundation piecing papers purchased at a Craft Fair from the Quilters Barn in Victoria.

Thinking what a great idea the papers were I embarked on my very first patchwork project. The intention being to make a quilt for the spare bed.

Unfortunately by the time I had started the 6th block I had discovered my total dislike of the process and discarded the project to the bottom of a cupboard.

Well there is nothing like a rainy day to get things moving along.....all two seams and tear away paper........so from bed cover to cushion, I am thinking these four blocks might just make a worthy item for the Royal Far West Charity Auction Dinner next March. Perhaps a lucky draw?

What do you think? Would you feel lucky to receive these four blocks dressed as a 40cm (15 1/2 inch) cushion after buying a ticket for the lucky draws?

Zuchini Pickles

Finally the recipe!!!!!! Please note this is actually a recipe for choko pickles with the chokos replaced by zuchini. It came out of an Australian Woman's Weekly Cookbook of some 25 years ago.


Zuchini Pickles

Ingredients

3lb or 1.5kg zuchini
750 gms onions
½ cup salt
Water
4 cups brown malt vinegar
1kg brown sugar
2 tspns turmeric
2 tspns dry mustard
2 tspns curry powder
¼ tspn ground ginger
1 cup plain flour

Method
1.Peel zuchini and onions and chop into small pieces. Place in large bowl, sprinkle with salt and cover with water. Cover bowl and stand overnight.

2.Drain veges and rinse in cold water.

3.Place 3 cups vinegar and the sugar into a large saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil.

4,Add vegetables (zuchini and onion) and return to boiling point.

5.Mix all dry ingredients to a paste with remaining 1 cup of vinegar. Gradually add to vegetable mixture.

6.Stir constantly until mixture boils and thickens.. Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes.

7.Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal. Makes approx. 3 L

Monograms

Finished. The first attempt at monogramming.... It will become a tiny pillow and it is very satisfying to finish the embroidery started at a one hour workshop at the Craft & Quilt Fair.

The Vege Patch.

Hi,

Its been a while since the last post........busy, busy, busy.......



The wet weather has been a godsend and now the yard is a mass of weeds and the summer veges need planting.....



Yesterday pulled out the last of the broccoli...it really has been terrific this year....but, alas, it went to seed before we could eat it all. The early cauliflower is very tasty. Amazing. I dont usually enjoy cauliflower. One should never underestimate the flavour of the home grown vege.



The first of the tomatoes went in yesterday ..... Super Prize....hoping they will fruit well. Looking around for some punnets of cherry tomatoes...we always enjoy the small ones. They seem to fruit earlier than the normal tomatoes.







The folks were over on the weekend. It is enormously satisfying to be able to pick from the vege patch and send them home with bags of goodies.....brussel sprouts, english spinach, snow peas, the last pick of the broccoli.....



Cheers



PS: I will post a recipe for the Zuchini Pickles shortly. Sorry to take so long but I have two recipes to hand and I need to find out which is the right one to use.



Cheers


PPS: Nearly finished the Monogram embroidery from the mini workshop ex the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair. Tried a couple of new stitches - raised stem stitch and padded satin stitch. Will post a pic when the embroidery is done....should be soon

WooHooo its wet!!!!!

Rain, Rain and more Rain.......had about 2 inches over the weekend. Woohoooooo!!!!!

Definitely worth bogging home in the high heels......traipsing around feeding stock in the mud and getting totally soaked........

A little disappointing the open garden day was postponed but dont believe for a minute they are concerned. The wet weather is worth it.


The rain has been perfect for the vege patch. I will be planting tomatoes by the weeks end.

Unfortunately it has rushed the last of the broccoli to seed so they will have to go......but still pulling snow peas, brussel sprouts and I cant believe the size of the cauliflowers.

Looking forward to the new season zuchini. Have always found it hard to keep up with picking the zuchini but this year I am going to try making pickles........
Cheers

What a Welcome...Thank you

Cant believe so many people have taken the time to say hi in just a few days......

Thank you so much for the warm welcome and thank you Chookyblue for the introduction.

This is starting to be great fun and I hope to reply to you all in time.


This weekend is a busy one with preparing cattle for market, a Debutante Ball to attend and the open garden day at Cryon..........might even get to meet in person if you are there too. Hope so. Cheers for now

Spring

What a glorious day it is today.........great sun, nice breeze, making pie and admiring the meagre efforts towards the borderlicious challenge........

Centre - Big Sister Little Sister Block, Border 1 - Stars.......

Only 5 more borders to go. Not really sure it was a good idea to use the quilt as you go method but too late now.

Next border is Flying Geese. This is going to be one busy quilt.

Gardenings the Hit List Today

Finally we are getting some fabulous gardening weather.........
Ok, so it is really bad weather for the farm.....need some serious rain - again
but it is lovely to get outside in the warm sun planting seeds and getting the spring vege patch happening.....

Dont you just love the colours of geraniums......the pic at the top was taken yesterday....gorgeous

The First Post

Well hello,

I have been encouraged to become a blogger and am now giving it a go......

Hope to find lots of friends to chat with, to enjoy the sharing of interests.