Tuesday, January 31, 2012

And that was January

Phew. January's been busy.
It's gone fast and slow if that makes sense.
And I've loved every visitor, every swim, and every market Saturday.


There's a funny end of Summer feeling about town this week.
It seems everyone's thoughts have turned to kids going back to school, and all the beginning of the working year things that need to get done.
The carnival's packed up and gone from the foreshore, there was nobody on the beach walking this morning, and getting a park in the main street is a case of choose your spot for the first time in a month!
It's a little bit melancholy.


But I know soon enough we'll have the February travellers here to enjoy what's usually the nicest weather of the year on the coast. 
To lift my spirits today, two big fat parcels of new fabric arrived in my post office box.
Beautiful soft corduroy, in gorgeous Autumny colours.....skirts!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Addicted


I couldn't stop at one.
I'm dreaming brightly coloured and patterned linens and cottons!
Someone should have warned me.
This one's surplus to requirements, but by golly, I'm loving making them.
You can find this one in the shop!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Smitten!


What, you may ask, am I doing inside on this most ridiculously perfect Summer day?
I couldn't keep my fingers off my little tea towel project, that's what!


I used some Ink & Spindle fabric I had plenty of for the backing.
I decided not to quilt, but just to topstitch the two layers of fabric.
I'm so pleased about that, the weight and thickness is perfect.


I found this sensational set of instructions on how to bind quilts (and look at those corners!).


I did find a wee little hole in one piece, now covered with an unusually placed label.


And here it is in it's new home.
I love it, and I think I understand now why they say patchworking is addictive....!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Having a crack!



Ok, so I realise I've been on a tea towel bender.
It's the time of year when I'm making lots of cushions and bags for the weekly market.


Using so many of them lately has meant lots of offcuts to add to my stash of tea towel pieces left over.


I always keep the ones that appeal to me, even if they're an odd small size.
So, last week when I was obsessing over some patchwork, I thought there's something I could use those pieces for! 


After all, the colours and images I love.


And, I had them there already....


And here's the result so far!
This is destined for a corner of my sofa that sits right up under a west facing window. It's suffering in the afternoon sun from a bit of fade, and I think this might do the trick for a little protection.
There are some corners in that bottom row that definitely don't stand up to close scrutiny!
But, I'm feeling pretty pleased with this little arrangement for a first go.
I need to decide now if I just want a cloth throw with a backing and some topstitching, or do I go the whole hog and try the full quilting thing?

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A birthday, a bag, and more tea towels


In the heat of yesterday afternoon, it was a pleasure to go downstairs to my cool workroom and get to work sewing some more tea towel bags.
This bag was actually destined to be a birthday present for one of my local gal pals. Sal's a total sweetie, a maker of some lovely resin jewellry and bowls, and a market/coffee/drinks buddy, who along with another girl, has really helped a city girl transplanted to the coast to settle in to life down here.
After some texting and being vain enough to read the reply without my reading glasses, I ended up making a bag with the wrong year on it! Ooops.
Ah well, it was kind of funny at the time, and I'm on a promise to make another with the right year on it (1974).
Who needs a friend like me who can add a year to a girl's age so carelessly?
Everything has a happy ending today with this bag and 2 others newly listed in the shop this afternoon.
I'm sure it'll find a good home!

Friday, January 13, 2012

The disappearing week


I realise it's only been three days since I was here last, but this week seems to have vanished on me.
I've left all my market preparations until the last minute this week.


It's mostly been more cushions again, including a very enjoyable custom job revamping a sweet little op shop cushion that really was in need of a nearly total makeover to make it suitable for a little girl's birthday present. 
I also found myself very short of some styles of t-shirts, so they've been topped up too.


Still revelling in the amazing colours and images of some gorgeous vintage tea towels.


But, if I'm to be completely honest, I am getting a little bit over sewing on the buttons.
(my goodness, I am going to treat myself to a manicure at the end of this month)


I've also found myself patchwork spotting.
I'm always hugely inspired by Wendy and her gorgeous work.


This beautiful image is from my fave magazine Australian Country Style, and is the work of Maggie and Sparrow.
Delicious.
I'm yearning to quilt, but I'm a bit daunted by how to work with all that fabric on such a large scale.
One day I'm going to overcome my fears and give it a go.
That sounds like a new year's resolution doesn't it? And I didn't think I had any to make this year.
In other things that need attending to around here, number one on my list is a slightly overdue letter to my Aunty. I know she pops in here from time to time for a visit, so if you're reading, my dearest and favourite Aunt, you won't have to wait long, I promise!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

January so far


It's hard to believe that today is only the 10th of the month.
January's been full of so many good things so far.
Beach weather, friends to stay, happy market mornings, acting like a tourist in our own town, fish and chips for dinner...
I managed to squeak in a visit to our fantastic Apollo Bay Art Show before it closed last Sunday.
This show punches above it's weight every year with so many great pieces all for sale. It was great to see so many red dots on so many works.
And after a walk around the hall, this little painting caught my eye, and now it's hanging happily where I can get a glimpse of it everyday.
We're guestless again today, and I'm looking forward to a little quiet time this week, hopefully another swim or two, another market morning on Saturday, and maybe a little catch up sewing too!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The gap


I'm just about to put a little bit of effort in and get the house ready for our next lot of visitors who are due down around lunchtime today.
Thank goodnesss it's a little bit cooler, although I can't believe I've just said that.
The beach has been delicious.


A little gap day was very welcome. Sometimes you just need to have a night of mindless television and not actually talking to anyone!
I managed a few more cushions for market on Saturday.


There's a little bit of a local flavour in these ones. 
I didn't really realise until just now.


And, it seems they're all a little bit blue as well.
See you in a little while!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Distractions


I've been off air for a bit.
Busy and distracted! But in a good way.
Too busy and distracted to take my camera anywhere this week, so I'm recycling my beach feet photo from the year before last....that's ok isn't it?
You get the drift!
What's been happening in your new year? 
We've had friends to stay, and other friends who are staying in Apollo Bay. Which means there's been dinners, and drinks, and walks, and cards, and days of lazing about drinking coffee and eating panforte, and all manner of fantastic holiday stuff.
The weather's been amazing too, so we've even been swimming. Which is more than we did in the miserable wet Summer of last year.
I'm loving January.
I'm looking forward to a little gap in the visitors this week so I can get some sewing done. The cushions walked away from my market stall last Saturday, all off to new couches and chairs and holiday houses.
I have no resolutions to make and break, but perhaps I can find something a little more interesting to show and tell in the next week!
Happy New Year!