My poor neglected blog!

 How is it that retirement makes one busier than ever?

I've been helping out in the garden....

Can you see the little bird there?

The bottlebrush bushes need pruning after they have 

finished flowering, and we have about ten of these in 

the garden!

I knitted a cushion cover in some of that rust-coloured wool.... 

  

I had left over from my jumper.

I sewed some felt Christmas decorations....

for my son and grandsons.

And decorated a gingerbread house with Eli and Aston.

Next year we may do one from scratch, not just a kit?

Eli stayed for a few days before Christmas and was keen to sew...

       

      This is what he made.  It is a small mat for display.

He did all the sewing himself, and I did the cutting and binding!

I've been keen to extend my artistic skills and did 

some water colouring.

There was a short free five-day course by Este McCleod   

that gave me the incentive to while away a few hours.

Finally, my sister needed some assistance 

re-upholstering her favourite occasional chair.

We are very happy with the result!

So as the sun begins to set on another year,

I will see you in 2023!

Happy New Year!

SUZ

Where does the time go?

 My Carisbrook quilt, made with the Wensleydale 

pattern.....

 is waiting to be put together!

I have moved a couple of blocks around since checking 

it out as a black and white photo.

I am always looking to get fabric out of my stash 

cupboard and into my wardrobe.

This fabric was a remnant purchased for $8 last year 

from Darn Cheap.

The pattern is the Harvest top, free, from Peppermint 

magazine.

Now it is hanging in my wardrobe, 

I was surprised to find I have no other yellow garments 

there!

And I treated myself to a quilting kit, something I rarely 

do!

But I can picture this hanging in the entrance way of my 

new home.

 I can't wait to get started!

Happy days!

SUZ

Some random finishes

 Just need to record these finishes while I remember!

A cosy knit, made from mostly op shopped wool.

The Dogs in Sweaters block has become...

 a pillowcase.

And a Christmas Mug Rug!

I think my grandsons will love this!

Have you started your Christmas sewing yet?

Happy days!

SUZ

Starlit Sky- a finish!

 While my new home has a washing line, it is a bit tight 

on basting space! 

I do have a lovely 'reading' room, 

formerly called the Chandelier room for the the out-of-

place lighting choice....

The chandelier is now gone, the ceiling rose is a little harder to get rid of

But as I spray baste, I have been wary of getting all 

that goo on the carpet!

Anyway, I bit the bullet and carefully basted my Starlit 

Sky flimsy last weekend....

And got quilting, on Tuesday, a grey, cold and wet 

Melbourne Cup Day!

I chose a simple diagonal grid for a quick finish!

 

And bound it in the same blue background fabric.

I do like the uninterrupted look it gives to the front and 

how it frames the back.

the back!

And chose the washing line and backyard for the 

photoshoot!

The dreary weather has finally passed... 

and we are enjoying blue skies and sunshine!

Happy days!

Quilt #5 for 2022

No. 146 Lifetime quilts

SUZ

From 15 to 30....

 Wensleydale blocks that is!

The last time I shared these, I was still living in 

Brighton.

The yellow may be a little bright?

We have been in our new home six weeks now and 

loving it!

The move was not without its trials but once we were 

in, the unpacking progressed quickly!

20 blocks

I love my new sewing room- its only small but the light 

is fabulous. 

24 blocks 

I think I may have enough fabric for at least 42 blocks.

I keep going through my stash and unearthing little 

gems that just might work!

Pieces cut out...

Maybe next time you see this it will be a complete quilt 

top.

Jen Kingwell, the designer of this pattern, 

tends to name many of her designs for the towns 

around her home.

And 30!

I have done that with a few.

"New Brighton Gardens" was named after the street and 

suburb we lived in for eight months.

New Brighton Gardens

So following that fine tradition, 

I am naming this quilt Carisbrook!

Happy sewing....

SUZ

Dogs In Sweaters

I purchased the "Dogs in Sweaters" pattern from 

Facebook Marketplace a little while ago.....

I had fabric set aside so decided to get going on one 

block!

The poor pup doesn't have his bottom constructed 

properly here...

And he looks far more distinguished with his spectacles.

I've begun quilting it, to make it into a cushion...

and I am loving how it looks!

This photo (above) better shows the blue of the linen 

background.

When I purchased the pattern, along with a couple of 

Elizabeth Hartman patterns,

the lady kindly gave me two 'half' size blocks she had 

no use for!

I'm in awe of her piecing skills...

These blocks are only 9" by 6", with some teeny tiny 

piecing there!

 

    I thought they would make great drawstring bags....

I made my own drawstrings from some leftover binding 

strips.

Happy sewing!

SUZ