My blog has moved!

After a bit of deliberation, I’ve decided to move my blog to a new address . . .

So if you visit from time to time

Or have my blog bookmarked

Or have my blog in your sidebar

Or just want to know where I’ve gone . . .

 

The new URL you need to use is

http://insuesworld.blogspot.com/

 

I look forward to staying in touch in my new location. Why don’t you check it out???

Music to make you happy

I’ve been listening to Mindy Gledhill on my iPod and loving it! I got her album “Anchor” and it’s great.

If you get a chance . . . and you want to hear music to make your ears happy . . . then check out the link to her video.

Enjoy.

Re-purposed Applique

I’ve read how a few ladies like to applique or stitch with a cushion on their lap for a bit of support or to raise their work so they don’t end up with neck strain. Well I use a Stable Table – a little lap table with a bean bag base. It’s really handy, especially as it has a trough around the outside so things don’t roll off. It’s also slightly non-slip on the surface, so that helps keep things in place too.

Now while I find this table very useful, I wasn’t really all that in love with the coffee beans image that was on the top. So I decided to do something about it.

I had made a start on some of the blocks in the Homespun Magazine “Breast Of Friends” quilt, but I lost motivation after about 3 1/2 of them (there are 12 in all, I think). The first one I had made was this one – it’s a Leanne Beasley design and I really love the filled in backstitch swirls on this block.

So, rather than have the block sit in a bag and go to waste I thought I would re-purpose it. (If you’re interested in more ideas on “re-purposing”, check out NotJustNat – she’s a wizz at taking something old and making it new again!) I covered the original coffee bean picture with my block, slipped it back under the surface . . .

and voilà . . .

One updated stable table that should see me through many more stitching hours to come!

How have you re-purposed your orphan blocks?

Stitchery and Bags

I started out to make a bag so that I could applique this little stitchery on to it. The stitchery is from a retreat with Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley held in Nowra (hosted by Jukejema Quilting Barn) and was a practice in satin stitch.

So I had the fabric for the bag, chosen to match the variegated threads (Cosmo Seasons) used in the stitchery.

But then procrastination set it!

And stayed for a while!

And then a while longer!

To cut a long period of procrastination short, I ended up using the applique on the front of a journal cover. There’s something quite decadent about a notebook covered in fabric, don’t you think?

So this journal cover did not use any of the original fabrics (although it did use fabrics from my stash, so that counts for something). I’m loving these muddied/muted colours at the moment.

Well, then there was still the issue of the fabric for a bag!

So I stitched the bag outer.

And the bag lining.

And then I decided that I really, really liked the bag lining and that it should be a bag of its own.

And it is!

I’ve put a casing and drawstring on it, so I can fill it up or give it a little shape if it’s not so full. I really love the fabrics in this bag.

But then, what to do with the original bag outer?

Well, make another lining, of course.

So this one also used fabric from my stash (it feels good to use from the stash).

I left the lining sitting up a little at the top to give the look of piping, and then top stitched to keep it in place. I quite like the look of this one.

Both bags have been put into service and it’s lovely using fabric instead of plastic when I’m out and about!

What project of yours has evolved into something entirely different?

Apple Blossom Time

This is our Pink Lady Apple tree – very new, but hopefully one day very full of fruit. The blossom is just beautiful, so here’s hoping the fruit is just as good!

This picture reminds me of when our son was in pre-school. His class learned this song . . . which is indelibly etched in our memories – he practised it over and over (although when his father and I sing it to tease him – he hates it when we reminisce – he feigns ignorance and no memory while groaning with disgust and embarrassment that he’s related to us) . . .

I’LL BE WITH YOU IN APPLE BLOSSOM TIME
(Neville Fleeson / Albert Von Tilzer)

I’ll be with you in apple blossom time,
I’ll be with you to change your name to mine.
One day in May
I’ll come and say:
“Happy the bride the sun shines on today!”

What a wonderful wedding there will be,
What a wonderful day for you and me!
Church bells will chime
You will be mine
In apple blossom time.

What’s making you reminisce today?

Shake your tail feathers!

I do believe I really like working with felt! It’s a pretty forgiving medium, it looks good and it’s pretty adaptable to so many projects. So what’s not to like?

This little felt bird is one of the projects on offer at the Stitching On The Lake Day hosted by the lovely Sylvia and Fiona.

We had a bag  full of goodies, including kits for 6 stitching projects. I chose to start with this bird and although I didn’t get it finished on the day, I did come home and keep stitching ’till it was done. And I’m glad that I did! His tail feathers are pretty cute and I really enjoyed the stitching and beading on the wings. I found that part of the day very relaxing and almost meditative. I think I can feel a bit of embroidery coming on!

I think it he’ll look pretty good hanging on the christmas tree.  And who knows, maybe there will be a whole flock of them one day soon . . .

Done! 1 Crocheted Cushion Front

Finally . . . I’ve finished 1 cushion front! I know that doesn’t technically count as “done”, but it’s “done” enough for me. This has taken me a fair bit longer than I thought it would. I wanted a fairly solid effect (not too open like granny squares).

Finished crocheted cushion cover front

I’m pretty happy with the result, but my plan for 4 cushions (front and back crocheted) may need to be slightly modified. Perhaps a different back . . . perhaps not all of them complete this year . . .

Can a girl have too much bling?

My daughter doesn’t think so!!!

Bling Bling

Party Shoes

Love you Kell xoxo

Catalicious BOM Progress

I’ve been stitching away on Block 5

Catalicious Block 5

and Block 6

Catalicious Block 6

of Bronwyn Hayes‘ Catalicious BOM and I think I’m almost done!

My plan was to make a throw for the end of the bed, where our cat spends most of her time . . .

Catalicious BOM Blocks - Bed Runner

I’ve pieced the blocks and now the top is done. I just need to quilt and bind it . . . and that will be about the first thing actually finished this year!

Many thanks to Bronwyn for putting up a block each month – there are still another 6 to go, but for me I’ve done what I set out to achieve. I’ve enjoyed the quiet stitching on these blocks and I’m sure that the cat will take up residence pretty quickly!

Loving what I see from my window

Sometimes it looks like this . . .

But at the moment it looks like this . . .

I love both – one view calls to me and says “come out and enjoy the day” . . .
the other says “light the fire, grab a needle and thread and snuggle in”.

What does the view from your window say to you?