Kainga, where Roses bloom, life is lived at a gentler pace.Living Simply, doing all those good things like stitching, gardening, cooking and reading.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

"Playing with paper and cloth, and the Day lily is blooming."

Hello,

I haven't forgotten about the hexagon garden that I started in March. I have been chopping and changing my mind about this pattern. I have decided to go as I want to. Three times I cut out different houses, the first one had such tiny pieces my hands versus my mind just couldn't get it done. So I then cut out a more basic house and have since changed my mind. Hopefully my plan to do something completely different house wise to the pattern will eventuate.


 I have joined the bottom left hand side of the hexagons. I added single flowers every now and again to use up the leftover hexagons.  While making this, I was reminded of a gardening rule that yellow and red will show up in a garden. I can't quite get over that yellow flower centre. After the papers have been removed that may just get a little embroidery make over.


 I had a bit of fun again with Picasa and made the photo into "1960's style"


Adding my take to this pattern means that I am putting parts of Kainga into the pattern. Today I made the front pathway from scraps of cream fabrics. A veggie patch ,chook yard and clothesline are in the making.


Tough plants are a priority here at Kainga. I purchased this Day lily last year at the local markets and it has been flowering the past week. Rather pleased with the colour as I only had  Yellow ones in the garden.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Happy days.
Bev C

Friday, June 7, 2013

"Sunflower Fabric Basket."

Hello,

Tonight is Friday Night with Friends, kindly hosted by Cheryll. I decided to start sewing just afterLunch as I don't like sewing at night. I decided a fabric basket was going to be the project for the afternoon.


 I wanted to use the new Embroidery Cards I recently bought. I chose the one with lots of beautiful Sunflowers. I had this green fabric that suited the project perfectly. The design took about 45 minutes to stitch out.


 The green piece of fabric was 11 inches in height so I used this as my main measurement. I cut it 11 by 11. I chose a co-ordinating Sunflower fabric which I added some light weight pellon and some Calico. This piece was then quilted to add some stiffness to the project.


 I then pinned and sewed on the ribbons 2.5 inches in from each corner. The two pieces were then sewn right sides together leaving a gap for turning. I pinned the ribbons so they wouldn't be caught up in the sewing. The corners were trimmed and the gap was hand sewn. Press, then sew a row of top stitching around the edge.
Sunflower Fabric Basket.

 So there is my Sunflower Fabric Basket.


David returned from New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Sydney last weekend and he had a special delivery for me. Two bags of goodies from Lisa for me. Thanks Lisa, I delved into the bag with trims etc and used some of the ribbons for this project.

I hope everyone had a successful night/day of sewing.

Happy days.
Bev C

Monday, June 3, 2013

"Crochet Golliwog Tea Cosy Tutorial"

Hello,

Now you may have been wondering about the "Licorice cover I was going to make" in my last post. You see I was being a bit cheeky. Licorice is the name/colour of my Maxwell and Williams Teapot. I bought it because of the name Licorice plus it has the strainer for tea leaves. So it was time to make a Tea Cosy for Licorice.

Mr Golliwog the Tea Cosy.
Introducing Licorice and his new tea cosy Mr Golliwog.


 I used the pattern for the Tea Cosy from Leah's blog. After working out how many chains I would need for the base row the pattern was very easy to follow. The only change I would add to it is to leave a length of wool when you start as one side you need to do several chain stitches for the button loop. Instead of using a new piece of wool you could use this length of wool. Leah's pattern states the stitches are half double crochets. If you follow patterns like I do this is a half treble stitch. I used a size 4 mm hook.


 Then the fun part started with making this into a Golliwog Tea Cosy. I used a smaller size 3 mm hook and used 8 ply yarn as in the Tea Cosy.

For the Head which you need to make 2 the pattern is as follows;

Make 3 chain, and form into a ring.

1st round. 3 chain, 11 treble, slip stitch to top of 3 chain.

2nd round. 3 chain, 1 treble into same place, 2 treble into each treble in previous round, slip stitch to top of 3 chain.

3 rd round. 3 chain, 1 treble into same place, 1 treble into next treble, then *2 treble into next treble, 1 treble into next treble, repeat from * to end,slip stitch into top of 3 chain to join.

4th round. 3 chain, 1 treble into same place, 1 treble into each of the next 2 treble, * 2 treble into next treble, 1 treble into each of the next 2 treble, repeat from * to end, slip stitch to join.

5th round. 3 chain, 1 treble into same place, 1 treble into each of the next 3 treble, * 2 treble into next treble, 1 treble into each of the next 3 treble, repeat from * to end, slip stitch to join. Fasten off.

Bow Strap.

With the blue wool, work 9 chain.

Next row: Miss 1 chain, 8 double crochet, 1 chain, turn.
Work as many rows of 8 double crochet using the 1 chain as you turn as you want to make the size you like for the bow.

Bow Strap.

With the Blue wool, work 3 chain.
Next row. Miss 1 chain, 2 double crochet, 1 chain, turn.
Work 11 rows of 2 double crochet, turning with 1 chain.
Sew the 2 short ends of the Bow together. Fold with the join at the back centre. Place strap around the Bow at the centre and join at the back

You then need to stuff the head lightly with toy full and join together with matching black wool. You can see in the photo I left a tail on the wool. I used this to then sew it onto the Tea Cosy. First though you need to give Golly some hair. I used a book marker that was 2 inches wide and wound the Black wool around this and cut along one side. I then used two pieces of wool at a time to make the hair. The crochet hook is perfect to pull this through, you then knot the hair. If the hair needs a cut this is the time to give him a trim. You then add his facial features. I used some buttons and as I didn't have any red felt I used the red wool to chain stitch his mouth. I followed the line of double crochets. Then you join him to the Tea Cosy with the left over black thread. I sewed along the half treble line again at the front and from the back as well for added support. His Bow Tie and Buttons were then sewn on.



Here is a photo of Mr Golliwog and his friend Jo the Golliwog which belongs to David. I also have crocheted a facecloth in blue 4 ply knitting yard which Mr Golliwog is sitting on.

Now I must have a cup of tea and introduce Mr Golliwog to the delights of  Afternoon Tea.

Happy days.
Bev C

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

"What happens when you build too many house blocks."

Hello,

Now sometimes I can get carried away with things. Melody  had a link to a table runner that had some little house blocks which remind me of those little huts on the beaches in some countries. I can't remember how many house blocks you needed for the runner but I went overboard.


 I raided the blue fabric box with a few other colours thrown in for good luck and contrast.


 As you can see I didn't make the table runner, it may have been a quilt for a while but then I decided I have enough of them.

 So now I have 9 place mats. Why nine not the usual amount for a set of place mats but you see I had thought if I did make the quilt 3 big blocks by 3 would make a good lap size quilt. Besides I will always have a clean place mat now. They measure 12.5 wide by 13.5 high.
This block was a good way to use up some of the fabric stash. For the backing I used a lovely pale blue gingham that I had purchased for the lovely sum of one dollar at Good Sammy's. There was nearly two metres of fabric in the length. So thank you to whoever donated that. Sometimes I can't believe how I find fabric for "later on" that is brand new and it fits in perfectly for the project I am working on. The binding fabric was some that a neighbour from our previous home gave to me. She used to own a patchwork shop so was the perfect neighbour to have.

"Gertrude Jekyll Rose"

 I picked this rose "Gertrude Jekyll' the other week,  a David Austin rose. Her long stem dictated she be in the vase by herself. It was a cloudy day so I took the photo out the front.


Today I had a play around on Picasa and used the Posterise setting to come up with this. Gosh you can have some fun with these types of Photo settings.

Would you believe that my next project will be a cover for a licorice. More will be revealed when I work out the pattern and get the supplies.

Happy days.
Bev C

Thursday, May 23, 2013

"Crow Cross Stitch/Patchwork Cushion."

Hello,

I have had one finish for this week. I found the crow cross stitch on the net and have added some fabric to make another cushion for the lounge.


 This cushion matches the Sunflower cushion I made previously.


 This week I have spent a lot of time in the garden. Here are some of the roses I picked yesterday.


On Monday I was thinking how smoothly things were going here. I had no idea that later that day we would need the Emergency Services. We had a Firetruck and 4 Volunteer Firefighters helping us out. Thanks guys.

I am hoping to get lots of sewing done tomorrow. I have made some house blocks and want to turn them into some place mats.

Happy days.
Bev C