New Bag

I have surprised myself. Last week, I went with friends to a sale day at The Patchwork Tree. First surprise - I only bought one piece of fabric (and it was not on sale, unfortunately). Second surprise - I used it to make a bag for my upcoming holiday. Started yesterday and finished tonight. That has got to be a record for me!!!!!!
The pattern is 'Romantic Rose Bag' by QH Textiles (Studio Mio). It nearly looks like the photo on the pattern. To anyone making it, I would recommend a jeans needle. It helped when the going got thick.
Catch you later,
Kayly

Catch Up!

Well, it has been awhile since I last blogged!

I have a new laptop. While I have been transferring files and programmes from the old one to my new baby, I have been cleaning up and deleting a lot of accumulated rubbish. It is a baby compared to the old one in both size and weight.


This last month saw my father turn 80. We gathered up in Gympie so the brand new baby was not travelling on the highway. Dad didn't want a big family gathering, just his immediate lot. This photo show our mob plus a couple of ring-ins. We had a pleasant day and a delicious lunch at Gunabul Homestead.
The trip north meant I could deliver the little quilt I made for Miss S.
Another finish is this little bag - 'Precious Things' by Leanne Beasley. It has been a WISP, for along time. In 2009, Heavens to Bettsy and I went to Melbourne for a Girls Day Out at Glenharrow with Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan. It was a wonderful day- lovely company, fabulous and very 'atmospheric' location, good projects and scrumptious food. I finished the project I started on the day shortly after coming home. This one lingered, part done, ever since.

I have a new system now. Six projects of varying types, written up on cards and stuck on to my craft cupboard. I can work on any one of them. A new project or a WISP can only be added if one gets finished and its card taken off the cupboard. So far so good.

Now for the exception to the rule. Yes, it didn't take long before I broke my own rules. LOL.
Knitting and I don't get along - bung arm and too slow. But I can crochet. I have always wanted to make a cardigan or similar. Crochet patterns for garments are not common. The lovely ladies at Yarn Over put me on to some American magazines.


I made this! I'm rather proud of myself as it didn't end up a UFO and was done in fairly quick time. The pattern is from 'Crochet Today'.

I have replaced the small bag's card with GDITC Nundle's wall hanging. I have told myself I cannot go on another Girls Day Out or similar until I have completed all the projects I have accumulated from the 3 I have been on. Let's see how long that resolution last!

Catch you all later,
Kayly

Productive Sunday.

I had lovely relaxed crafty Sunday. I made this small bag - another Mother's Day stall offering. It's a bit silly really when you compare the time it took with the price they'll probably charge the kids. I must remember it's the thought that counts.
See Bec, I used some of your 'scraps'.
For the zipper pull I used 2 small yo yos and a piece of saved ribbon. I wear a lot of Regatta clothes. They tie their labels on this thin brown ribbon. I think it's a sturdy gros grain (may have misspelt that) with a little extra decoration going down the middle. Too good to just throw out. I saved a few now. Knew I'd find a use one day! What's that new word? 'Repurposing', I think.
Zippers and I are still trying to get to know one another, but I am getting better with them.
We had an easy tea last night. I'm not the greatest cook. I'm always surprised when things turn out. I'm getting good a these 'use up what's left over' omelets.

Have a good week everyone.
Take care,
Kayly

Second 'New Beginnings' Bag

Just a quick post to show the second bag I made for the 'New Beginnings' appeal.
I used the rest of the strata I made for the first one and made this one a drawstring closure. I have added a crochet hook holder and hooks. So I'll put a note in with this one to ask for it to go to a stitcher/crocheter.
Madly working on quilting my Gardener's Journal quilt.
Take care everyone,
Kayly

Have a look at this....

Yes, I know it looks like 2 empty containers. More importantly though, they are 2 EMPTY ironing containers! After a very busy start to the year in my little job, life is beginning to return to normal. The ironing was the first thing on my 'to-do' list. Towards the end, DH asked me to stop as he was running out of drawer space! He now has clothes he had forgotten about.


My second show and tell is this embroidery. It is from a kit I got at a Girls' Day Out at Glenharrow in 2009 with Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan. It has been completed, all but the satin stitch, for quite some time. This particular stitch is not my favourite, but I've been practising. So the center of the big flowers are diamond shaped not circles, I can live with that. The rest turned out acceptable, so I should not let this stitch defeat me.


So many wonderful people around Australia and, indeed the world, have been making sewing kits and quilts for those affected by the floods in Queensland and Victoria and by Cyclone Yasi.
As a Queenslander I would like to thank you all for your care and generosity.
My family was lucky not to be affected physically, but one cannot help but be affected by the photographs and stories in the newspapers and on the television.
I thought I had better do my bit as well. I made this sewing kit and I'm also making a crocheter's kit. I used a 'Spring Magic' honey bun and some yardage. I had fun as usual (not) with the zipper. I even made the tassel.
At 'Sisters of Stitch', a group that gathers at the local library fortnightly, we are collecting specific items as they are needed. This fortnight it is pillowcases, hand cream and containers for paperwork. Pillows have been issued to people in emergency accommodation but no pillowcases. The hand cream is to help after a day's cleaning. Paperwork holders are needed because of the huge amount of forms the affected have acquired. One of our group has good contacts in the Lockyer Valley and we giving our collections directly to them.
See you later.
Take care everyone.
Kayly

A New Bag.

Now this is bordering on a miracle for me! I saw this bag at the Patchwork Tree in Alderley awhile ago. It was made in lovely bright colours. Unfortunately they had run out of the pattern.
Last Friday a friend and I had a very enjoyable day out at the Redlands Quilt Show and a visit to to Bayside Stitchcraft. They had the pattern. The black and white material and the lining (which is the same pattern but in reverse - white and black) came from stash.

Saturday saw most of it sewn. I only stopped because my old eyes were giving out on the black material. I finished it Sunday morning!

Finally a pattern bought and used and finished in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And not added to the pile of patterns I have collected over the years.

This bag is going in my suitcase, because I'm off on holidays at the end of the week.

This afternoon was spent toe tapping my way through Mamma Mia - the stage show at QPAC.
I saw the show when it came through Brisbane last time and thoroughly enjoyed it. This new production is wonderful. Incredible singing, costumes and clever set design. It is a very good musical.

Off to watch Junior Materchef.

Take care everyone,
Kayly

(Make) A Bag Sew Along.

I joined the (Make) a bag sew along some time ago. I started off really well, then fell by the wayside. But tonight... ta dah! I finished the tote bag and the essentials pouch. Sorry about the dud photography, but I wanted to post about it asap.
The fabric is Maypole by Moda. It is really a lot brighter in real life.
Meeting up with patchwork friends tomorrow, so I'll be able to sit and stitch some more Gardener's Journal.
Take care everyone,
Kayly

A Finished Bag

This is a great bag to make. It is called 'Six Pack Stack Reversible Fat Quarter Tote' by Whistlepig Creek Productions. It has pockets inside and out and is very roomy. I wanted this one to be a bit subtle so I only used 2 fabrics.
I made the one below a couple of years ago using the 6 FQ as suggested in the pattern. It certainly stood out.



This is my attempt to show the inside.
Only the quilt label to go then I have finished my farewell/retirement presents for our Judy.

Take care everyone,
Kayly
PS I still haven't found those keys!!!!

Weekend's Efforts

This is me getting stuck into the quilting on the quilt I'm doing as a farewell present for 'J'. Not long now before it has to be finished. I've been collecting signatures on the label and thinking of the quilt's name. I've used the 'Patience' block. It reminds me of well stacked boxes which is how our school's bookshop looks. The retiring convenor 'J' has to get a lot into a small space. She is very good at creative packing.
These 2 photos are as far as I've got on the bag for the 'em ay kay ee - make' sew-along.
I'm going to have to be organised this week if anything is to get done. I'm filling in for the Prep teacher's aide all week. That'll give me some exercise!!!
Take care everyone.
Kayly