Modern Meadow Quilt

I've had a collection of Modern meadow for quite a few months now.  I do love it.  I bought it because I loved them, not with a use in mind.  That's the nicest kinda fabric shopping don't you think?  Anyway it seems I'm not the only one who fancies it.  No.4 also thinks it is pretty and her thing.  Could I please have a quilt with this fabric she asked one day?  I really thought she was having me on as it's quite sophisticated fabric and not little girly at all.  She's only four after all.  Anyway I was thrilled to hear her say that and they have been labeled with her name since.

I've been searching for the perfect quilt design to use for her quilt.  And finally last night I found it - inside my own head!  Well actually it's pretty basic, just what I like, but with a twist.  You may remember that I was wanting to make a quilt out of doilies and traycloths?  Well this incorporates these with the collection of fabric as well.

So I got a cutting last night at 8.30.  Yep I cut every last piece of them and some linen/cotton as well.  I'm still a little shocked at the speed of cutting and the fact that I've actually cut through them!  Have I done the right thing?  Maybe squares are too yesterday?  Well if they are that's perfect because doilies are from the same era, right?  And old fashioned is what my little girl likes.  I do love that.  She and I delight in changing our dressing table mats, choosing which new one to have.

Are you seeing my vision?  Am I right in thinking it's going to be beautiful?  Or am I loosing the plot entirely? 

The whole quilt will be stitched together with larger squares of linen.  I will then sew the doilies and cloths over the top when the top is finished.  I'm thinking of handstitching some flowers and hearts onto some of the smaller linen squares for a nice handmade look.

And let's hope that they will NOT still be sitting in this container next year!!  I can be rather naughty like that sometimes.  I'm hoping that No.4 will be really bossy and nag at me to get moving on her quilt.

Now I must order some more of one fabric for the binding.  I'm thinking of using the circles one.  And now I really must run.  Have a super weekend everyone!!

A Little Vintage Christmas Time

I'm thinking it might be a lovely idea to show the girls what a vintage Christmas was like.  Not that I've actually experienced one myself of course!!!  So really I should say, to show all of us youngish people what it was like.  Perhaps some candle light, proper cloth napkins, table cloths, napkin rings, old toys, old fashioned sweets...  and on and on it goes.  I've prepped Great Gran to raid her drawers and cupboards this week for all things old and great.

Now I have been super annoyed with myself this past week.  Yes I truly have.  I was very cross that I had given away some very old lights that once adorned my grandparents Christmas tree.  Why is it that as soon as you've given away something that you realise how useful and wonderful it would have been?  I have learned that you really have to look outside the box and think of other ideas for using a product. 

Anyway the Gods must have been looking down on me today, because when hubby was tidying the garage he asked me what on earth was I going to do with all this electrical stuff?  I threw myself at him and then went off with a huge grin.  How absolutely fabulous!  Now do you want a look inside the boxes?  The boxes themselves are rather wonderful in their own right. 

These lights are so incredibly beautiful.  I'm thinking of making them into hanging decorations.  Or maybe napkin ornaments?  My Grandad was a great organised hoarder.  He had a drawer or a place for everything and never threw anything out.  Fabulous!

These ones are not quite as good, but I do still love those pinecone ones.  Look at the metallic blue one.

Maybe these pretty red lights would be nice as a garland?  Loving the reel too.

The perfect flowers are already in my garden.  Absolutely loving these purple and pink hydrangeas.  The fresh new green buds are a lovely addition to the bunch too.  You just can't beat hydrangeas for an old fashioned look.

These white ones are actually quite small and pompom like.  Perhaps an individual bunch at each place setting?  It's their first year of flowering and I'm very impressed with them. 

And to finish off, here's a rubbish photo of our Christmas tree.  Well it's so jolly hot and muggy here that the sun does get in the way.  Although I must admit it's done nothing but rain the last few days. 

I must come back soon and share a new revelation very soon.  I must also tell you that No.2 and 3 received certificates for fab work at their end of year prize givings.  Go them!!  And that No.3 is skipping a year at school because she's so super clever.   Clearly she's my child!  Ha ha, no really, hubby has the brains in the family.  So glad it's rubbing off on our girls.  Oh it's all so exciting!  Anyway the family need food once again so I must go and slice the bread.

Have a wonderful week, the last week before Christmas!!!  Heck!  Off to see all the pretty lights tonight.  It's not dark until nearly 9pm so it'll be a late one.

Oh and our new bedroom is practically finished!!!  Double yee ha!  Right I'm really off now.  See you!

Swinging Old Time

Last night I had the most fun I've had in ages with my sewing!!  I found this lovely blog idea from Comfort Stitching a few days ago and showed No.2.  She really needed, yes needed, a wall hanging of her own and loved it as much and I did.   So we went through the pink scraps and patch worked the background.  Every thing is stuck on using that fusible stuff and then stitched into place.

And last night I sat down to start the sewing.  Free motion quilting isn't something I've done before really.  Well I've done some roses but that was super easy.  But actually making a drawing with the sewing machine was something else.  It was recommended that I practice lots first.  Well it's just not me!  No I prefer to just rip into these things and hope it turns out OK.  I have to say it went perfectly.  I was quite shocked how easy it was, and oh soooo much fun. 

It was so different from the usual type of perfect sewing that I'm used to.  No lines ruled here.  Everything was just spur of the moment kinda stuff.  Yep even the frame, which actually turned out fairly squared some how.  And I'd say this fits pretty well into the Pleasant Home Sew Scraps Along Challenge I'm participating in.  Got to love using up scraps!

I think I'll have to make another mini quilt using my own design next time.  Hate doing the binding though.  Too fiddly and annoying.  But I don't like using others designs, it just doesn't feel honest even when I am given permission.  Mind you I didn't use the patterns provided so it's all my drawing I guess. 

Now moving on.  Last week my dearest friend Liz sent me a surprise package.  Don't you love those?  I had no idea what it could be.  You can imagine my excitement when I peeled back layers of tissue to discover five pretty doilies for my bed cover.  Gosh Liz you are such a little love!!  Thank you so very much, they are just perfect.  One of the best parts of this bed cover will be remembering where each doily was found or who it was gifted from.  I really can't wait to begin it.  But first I must find an old white table cloth to attach them to.  I'm thinking this will suit best.  Keeping with the old theme.

These two doilies are my favourites.  Liz assures my that they are hand worked.  But just look at the one on the right.  Imagine having the patience to do something so intricate?  Not for me I'm afraid.  I prefer instant satisfaction.  I do love the little stand out flowers on some of them.  Does the one on the left remind you of a snowflake too?  So sweet and pretty.

Well that's all from me today.  The sun is just coming out for the day so I'm guessing you'll find me in the veggie garden later on.  The weeds are just well, growing like weeds!  Funny that.  The veggies are doing very well too luckily.  Catch you all later!

A Little Doily Love

I love to keep my doilies for my future bed cover project in a nice pile.  That way I can peek at them and play with them whenever I want.

These are my newest ones...

Isn't this fine lacy one so pretty?  I love the little flowers around the edge.

This one is equally beautiful.  The edging is so pretty and the embroidery exquisite.  It's bigger than most of my mats and must have looked wonderful on a dresser once.

And I just couldn't leave this pretty blue one behind.  I LOVE the colour.  It's not very flat but after a wash and a press I'm hoping it will sort itself out. 

I hadn't bought any in this particular antique store before and I paid more than usual.  But they are rather lovely and still worth the extra few dollars.  I don't have enough doilies for the bed cover just yet.  I still need to find a suitable backing fabric to sew them to.  I'm thinking an old tablecloth in white cotton or linen.  It's a nice project to have on the go.  This is the best part to me.

Jam and Doilies

Today's lunch.  Freshly made strawberry jam on freshly made bread.  I found the bargain of the year last week.  1kg bags of frozen strawberries for only $4!!  I'm off to buy some more next week.  Seven lovely jars are sitting in my storage cupboard now.  Delish!

And look what arrived in my letter box today...

I won a special prize last week at Ted and Bunny's blog.  How exciting is that?  I need lots of these little doilies and mats for a bed cover I'm planning to make for our bed.  I have quite a growing pile of them now.  They are looking very pretty on our buffet in the meantime. 

Just look at the beautiful work(wo)manship.  These surely must have taken ages to make.  My grandmother and great grandmother used to make such things too.  I am quite sure I would not have the patience to be a doily maker.

This one has a cloth backing and would look lovely on a dresser.

And this square one is absolutely wonderful.  I love the dots scattered around it.  It reminds me of a butterfly.

Thank you so very much Mrs Ted and Bunny!  I will enjoy using these precious doilies in my bed cover.  Still not sure how I'm going to do it, but do it I shall.

Flowers Galore

You may remember I bought this fabulous piece of fabric some time ago.  Unfortunately it found itself a nice shelf and refused to budge until last night.  Now it's a pretty cool dress for No.4 and she outside right now with it on, running through puddles and admiring the rainbow in the sky.  I wonder if she'll come in when the rain starts?  She's a bit wicked sometimes!

We can show you the new dress sideways too if you like.  The stripy legs are quite neat with it.  The more patterns the better when you're three.  I'd love a pretty crochet edge on the hem of the dress but I wouldn't have a clue how to do that.  We may have to settle for some cotton lace.  I'll add that to the list.

I couldn't resist adding a doily to one of the flowers!  I really do love them these days.  Isn't it funny how things catch on?  I had never enjoyed doilies before blogging.  Come to think of it there are many things I hadn't even tried before my blogging days.  Yes we may spend too long searching through the many blogs some days, but I know that I have certainly gained many new skills from reading them. 

My little poppet picked out her own buttons.  She has quite an opinion about things these days, but her favourite clothes are those that she has seen being made for her.  You don't get to make special choices when you go out and buy a ready made garment do you?  It's nice to pick out buttons, laces, fabrics and other cute bits and pieces when you are little, and big too.

Over the weekend our house started to become a home once again.  Finally!  I was completely over the mess and having piles of stuff everywhere on Friday.  But now the two little girls are in their new rooms.  And boy do they look fabulous.  Hubby has done himself proud yet again.  The finishing is perfect as usual.  I just hope the little girls are careful for at least a couple of months. 

So far I've managed to get hubby to hang one picture up on the perfect walls.  I'll work on him next week for another wee hole.  After all my little girl and tree wall hangings, garland, raggy heart, and other bits and pieces I've made for their new rooms, need a home too.

Today the littlest poppet and I have sorted out all the buttons into their correct jars, made a dress, rewashed all the soaking washing from the line, done a puzzle, had morning tea and are now about to have lunch.  Then it's back to the Grannies for me.  They are coming along splendidly.  I am doing the last two rounds of the white and am managing to get about six done each day.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now for sure!  I can't believe I am actually going to have a crochet blanket that I've made.  Just incredible.

Anyway I'll catch up with your blogs later on today.  Thanks for going to the trouble of posting about your aprons again.  I've enjoyed seeing a few that slipped me by.  They are all so beautiful and lovingly made. 

A Very Lovely Afternoon in the Sun

Well goodness me, did it rain the other day?!  This was the back yard...

And this was the front, which is much worst than the photo I showed the other day isn't it?  We were lucky, others had floods in their houses and the South Island didn't fare too well at all with some farms completely under water.

But after the rain we have had the most beautiful days.  It's really quite warm again which is absolutely heavenly.  The washing will dry on the line too which I love.  So on Wednesday, after kindy drop off, I took myself for a nice walk around the village and went into shops that aren't too suitable for taking children into.  And it was so lovely.

Here are some photos the Anglican church, which is quite a landmark in the village.  It's a very pretty church, this being the small old one and not the new one.  The archway is beautiful as well,

and the picket fence, and the gardens,

even the headstones too.

And while I was wandering around I stepped into the Antique Shop.  There I spent a good part of half an hour sifting through baskets of doilies and other linen.  What fun that was.

Here are a few little treasured cloths I found.  After a good soak and an iron they have come up a treat.  I'm so pleased with them I'll have to go back for more.

The idea was to cut them up and make a garland for little Sophie's bedroom.  But now they look so much nicer I just can't cut them, well most of them anyway. 

This is a hanky but perfect for a garland I think.

And this one Lululiz won't let me go near with a pair of shears!!  I couldn't anyway.  It came with a huge brown stain on one corner but that's mostly gone now.   This mat was the most expensive at $4.  What a bargain!  The others were only $1 each.  Think I can afford a few more. 

But why are they so worthless?  So much work goes into them and they sell for pittance.  I'd have more fun with these than a metre of $12 fabric.