Plans for 2008

As 2007 is rushing to a close, plans are well underway for 2008 projects. I've been enjoying Take A Stitch Tuesday this year with Sharon B. (see sidebar for link) even though I've not stitched as many as I would have liked. I'm hoping to try out a few more stitches over the Christmas period. Recently Sharon asked all her readers what they would like to do in 2008 and she is proposing a "Take it Further" challenge, see the details at
http://sharonb.wordpress.com/take-it-further-challenge/
This looks like a great challenge, the brief is very flexible really, so it should suit lots of people.
I can heartily recommend Sharon B.'s blog, her committment to stitching and her stitch dictionary is just so easy to use with great explanation pictures.

This photo is the result of the Inchies challenge, and is the finished project by Sara, see more on the blog at
http://artsquaresswap.blogspot.com/
What a wonderful imaginative use of a small one inch deorated square textile !!

Counted Thread Band Round Robin progress

Well, this project was started earlier in the year, and here it is at the moment. 8 people from 3 countries will work on this band, not counting the 3rd section which was worked by a lady who has withdrawn from the group and was not able to complete her round. When the band comes back to me I will have to decide how to complete it.

I'm very pleased that Margaret decided to use some orange tones on the piece, and I think there is still some scope for some more. It's moving around a little slower than originally planned - not sure about everyone else but I've found 2007 to be a particularly difficult year for many reasons. Let's hope 2008 will be kinder to us all.

Making a feather bed.

Over at Hambledon Cottage at Parramatta I'm directing a group of volunteers to rehang the 1840's 4 poster Payten bed, and as part of that we decided to make a feather mattress. So yesterday was "feather day" and equipped with dust masks, gloves, 44 kg of duck feathers and a mattress casing Margaret sewed up, we made our way onto the front verandah at Hambledon to start. It was a sligthly overcast and breezy day, but not TOO many feathers escaped. Then we stitched up the opening in the casing and 3 people heaved the "matress" onto the stripped bed. The navy and white ticking cover needs to be made next so I needed to measure the feather bed in situ. It was so BIG that Margaret volunteered to jump on the top to push out all the air. The dust this created was incredible, so we all donned the masks again. We opened the windows, all ran out side for a breath of fresh air then remade the bed and put the famous c. 1860's Wood Quilt, see previous posts, back in place. I'm SO pleased with the resulting profile of the bed. The mattress is meant to come up to the fancy vasings on the posts, and it certainly does that. This bed will not be used in bed-making demonstrations like some of the other beds in Parramatta historic houses, but it will mean that Guides can lift the corner of the bedclothes to allow visitors to peek underneath to see what gives the bed it's height. There was already a small wool mattress on the bed which we will probably cover in ticking as well, to give the correct look. Sheets, a blanket which is being edged in red blanket stitch, and a Marcella cover will complete the bed clothes, and then the new curtains, tester and valances will all be added soon after. An overdue "facelift" for a lovely old 4 poster bed.

Why I blog.

Sharon B. (see link on my sidebar) has been asking some very thought provoking questions in the last few days. Sharon wants to know about if and why we leave comments on other people's blogs, and why we blog in the first place.

I belong to the TAST Challenge webring so I can easily manouvre around the blogs of those people who were taking part in the TAST in 2007. I also belong to about 12 Yahoo Groups (forum style groups with special interest focus) as well as a couple of online only groups, such as Australian Costumers' Guild and Southern Cross Quilters. Then there are my forum discussion groups such as LiveJournal, Truly Victorian patterns and Sewing Academy where people also put their blogs in their signture line. I usually click on these fairly regularly, you just never know what kind of valuable information you are going to find at the end of that link. For instance, one of this morning's posts in my 19th Century Women's group linked to the British Museum costume prints and I found this lovely print of two ladies sewing in the 1830's. Isn't it exquisite? Well it is to a costume nut like myself anyway.

So I tend to comment on blogs where I have something relevant to say about the post. I like to say a bit more than "well done" or "I like your work" without re-writing "War and Peace". I don't mind it when people post a short comment on my blogs, at least it tells me that someone is reading my blog, and since I put a Visitor's Map on the blogs I can see where people visit from, and that is very gratifying. I've never really kept a written diary, although I was writing a semi-biographical short novel in an exercise book once while a teenager. So I see my blog as a form of diary or journal I suppose, and since being encouraged by my friend Jenny B. (see link on sidebar) to start a blog, I have gone a bit overboard ! I guess I've always been a "communicator" but before blogs and forums I used to spend a lot of time on the phone when the kids were little, talking to girlfriends and relatives, because as a non-driver personal visits were difficult.

I've "met" a lot of very nice folk through forums and blogging, and I intend to keep doing it for a very long time. Have you checked out Olive Riley's blog (see sidebar link) Olive is 108 and blogging (well helper Mike does type her words) How wonderful to share Olive's world through her blog, and I guess that is also my reason to blog. Welcome to my world!!

The Wood Quilt

On Saturday I was the guest speaker at the Sydney Quilt Study Group meeting at Burwood in Sydney. A small but enthusiastic group of quilt lovers brought along some interesting old quilts for advice, and I spoke about my grandmothers' bed coverings and the Wood Quilt from Hambledon Cottage at Parramatta. I have posted about the Wood Quilt previously, but I thought you'd like to see another couple of photos.
In the first photo 2 of our volunteers are analysing and charting the quilt block by block, noting damage and possible repairs needed.
The second photo shows a highly decorated appliqued block typical of the 56 blocks in this unique old quilt. The final photo shows a mystery block. This one is situated on the top left of the quilt on the border. The same tailors' suiting samples form the backing to the block, but the appliqued fabrics are different while the stitching and the composition are definately different than anywhere else on the quilt. Was the quilt made over many years and the odd block added before the border fringeing was applied? Was the border added much later than the centre? Did a different person make the odd block? Unfortunately we will probably never know the answers to these questions. We Know a Mrs Wood made the quilt as one of her relatives inherited it and donated it to the Parramatta and District Historical Society. Mr Wood was reportedly a tailor in Queen Victoria's court. The quilt was used as a door curtain in 1927 when the donor visited her uncle Edgar Wood in London and admired it. This oral history is all we know, and the date of 1865 is also negotiable due to the odd block being "discovered" recently while analysing it for the conservation. A very interesting project, and the talk at the Quilt Group was well received.

"Springtime for Hitler" costumes

This production number from the Producers by Mel Brooks is featuring in the Performing Arts Studio end of year show in early December. I should have started 4 showgirls by now, but events have taken over my life at the moment. Hubby is having surgery on a chronic back problem on Friday and he may be in hospital for up to 7 days depending on how extensive the surgery is. So I'll be juggling hospital visits, sourcing fabric, designing and patternmaking and making the Beer Stein lady, Weiner lady, Pretzel lady and Valkyrie lady. Thankfully the Studio has provided the basic sequined showgirl leotard. I'm making the skirts and draperies and headpieces. The teachers are wearing these, so I can go a bit crazy (no rude comments thankyou!!!) so long as they are easily transportable. Really looking forward to making these ones, just have to get through this difficult weekend first. So The Schedule looks something like this:
Friday - accompany DH to hospital, send him to theatre, read book, stitch, see him in recovery, go home for sleep (yeah, right!)
Saturday - visit DH in morning, go to Burwood in afternoon with antique quilt to give talk on conservation of same, take quilt back to historic house, go to hospital.
Sunday - Open House at Linnwood (see sidebar link) start 9 am finishing at 5.30 after clean up, go to hospital.
Monday - Book ME into hospital for a rest!!!

Here's hoping surgery will be more successful on the 3rd attempt and that a fusion is not required. Recovery will take longer and be more painful if this happens, so crossed fingers and toes, laminectomy will be sufficient. Nursing is not my forte.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVE !!

Today is Olive Riley's 108th Birthday. Ollie is probably the world's oldest blogger, thanks to her friend Mike who types it for her as she tells it. Ollie lives in Woy Woy, New South Wales in an aged facility, you can read her blog here
http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/ I'd like to wish Olive MANY HAPPY RETURNS and a big hug from me and my family. I hope I can be as bright and witty as Ollie well into my own senior years. The generation who lived through the world wars and the Great Depression certainly have an inner strength that I don't think we will ever truly understand. Olive was on the news this week, and had a lovely party with local children singing to her and helping her with her gifts. I found this elegant late Victorian lady with a large hat and thought it rather appropriate for Olive. I hope she likes it.

Embroiderers' Guild NSW 50th Anniversary Exhibition

These photos show the work on display from my 2 year old local Group. Most of the members are returning to embroidery after many years absence, or have never stitched before. I think they did rather well.

After all the excitement and anticipation, and all the hard work put in by all the organisers from each Group and the Committee, the 5 day Exhibition is finished, taken down and the work returned to the owners all over New South Wales. How can I describe it? I'll do my best to paint a few "word pictures" because we were only allowed to photograph our own work, or if the owner was present and gave permission for a photograph to be taken.
- Fabulous stumpwork examples, including butterflies and moths and traditional fruit and flower arrangements under glass in subtle frames
- Exquisite hardanger mats and runners, and fabulous tablecloths, some in coloured linen
- Banners made by nearly every Group and Newcastle Branch, the requested size of 40 cm wide by 150 cm long, but with so many different techniques used it was hard to pick a favourite. Must mention a special interpretation though, made for a major exhibition in Gunndedah, a triptych of scenes from the (rural) district with stumpwork trees crossing the joins between the panels. Exquisite details !
- Stunning needlelace collar and antique parasol re-covered with needlelace worked panels, both won prizes for their well known maker
- Patchwork, cross stitch, gold work, creative embroidery, 3D objects, thread painted pictures, clothing, every technique imagineable using a needle and thread
- Postcard challenge by members, some 300 sent in, displayed on mini washing lines attached to large frames scattered around the venue
- Workshops and lectures by visiting international tutors, as well as our own tutors, well attended and appreciated by all
- Young Textile and Fibre Group work from children 5 - 18 years (including my kids' group)
- And lets not forget the Gift Boutique and the outside traders who enticed us with their embroidery "goodies" for sale.

I'm hoping we will get some "official" photos up on the Guild website (see my sidebar) in the future, but I think we'll have to wait till we all catch our breath, this was our BIGGEST exhibition so far I think, definately befitting a Golden Anniversary celebration.

Finger Knitting Part 2

Childrens' class went exceptionally well today, the finger knitting was a HUGE success. I only had 4 students as it was the middle weekend of 2 weeks of school holidays, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were so enthusiastic that they all made several pieces, which included belts, necklaces, head bands, bracelets and scarves. Sorry about the blank faces on the photos, but I forgot to get written permission to post the photos on the web, so thought it wiser to blank them out. Their ages range from 6 to 11 years old, and only one has been stitching for more than 12 months. Didn't they do well?

Finger Knitting

This week Sharon B. linked to a video tutorial by Jess on YouTube (see sidebar for link to Sharon B.'s blog) featuring finger knitting. I had intended to teach scrumbling to my YTFG children's class tomorrow, but think I'd like to give a few basic lessons on crochet first. Finger knitting seems like a great alternative and Jess's tutorial was very helpful, so here are the results. The first picture shows the hand position with the yarn wound around the fingers and the end held down by the thumb, the second the work in progress, and then the finished items. The neck scarf uses 2 novelty yarns, one very hairy and the other "eyelash" style worked together. The necklace uses a metalic tubular crochet yarn and closes with a metal hook and thread loop. The bracelet is another novelty yarn and closes with a button and loop. I'm sure the kids will enjoy this one, it's quite liberating producing this with only your fingers and no other introduced tools. Thanks so much Jess and Sharon.

Roses from the Heart Bonnet Project

I've promised to make and embroider 2 bonnets for Christina Henri for the Roses from the Heart Project. I don't have any convict ancestors, so I "adopted" 2 convicts who died while in custody, since they will have no descendants to commemorate them. Christina needs 25,000 ( yes, twenty five thousand! ) colonial style bonnets for her project, click on the sidebar link for more details. It's not too late to offer to make a bonnet, the main display is in March 2008. Here is the first little bit of embroidery on my first bonnet, nothing like leaving everything till the last minute, is there? Now I've gotten started, I'm itching to complete them. Of course, they will have to wait till after the long weekend we have coming up, and the dreaded welt pockets on the vests, see post below.

TAST Week 39 Reversed Buttonhole Bar

I can't believe I've managed to post TAST stitches 3 in a row! Must be some kind of record for me. Of course, regular readers will know that I hold a Black Belt in Procrastination. I should be making some clothing for a client, but I have to face some welt pockets. The sewers here will recognise that they can be a bit tricky, and that you don't want to start them when you're not completely ready, in case you ruin the garment. So instead I explored the TAST stitch on Sharon B.'s blog (see sidebar for link) and had a bit of fun. I'll face the welts tomorrow! I've used Perle 5 and 8 threads, on evenweave linen. I quite like the serpentine line, and I can see that the little multi-coloured "Aztec" style wheel might be great fun for kids to try. Couldn't resist stitching a French knot in the centre though.

Secret Santa stocking

My Embroiderers' Guild group made a Secret Santa bag last year, so we decided to continue the tradition and celebrate Christmas and our friendship within the group. I found this sweet little stocking designed by Michelle Ridgway in the latest issue of Handmade magazine V. 24 no. 12. I changed it a little as ours is to be used differently than the decoration she designed. It's only little, about 9 inches long, the perfect size for a small gift. We'll all put our own names on them, and then draw one secretly from a container. The idea then is to think of something suitable for that person, usually worth no more than $10. Of course people can make something (preferred) or buy a treat or small gift. It's fun seeing how well we really know each other, but I'm easy! Chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates. Or a little piece of yummy fabric, or some scrumptious threads.

TAST Week 37 catch up.

I had a great day today. It was International Talk Like A Pirate Day, so with pirate earring in place and a scorpion necklace at my throat, I waited for a ride from my daughter to Spotlight for some sewing supplies. Alas, she arrived during evening peak traffic hour on the roads, so we will go tomorrow morning instead. I should have been sewing up some bed linen for a client today, but Sharon B.'s blog (link at sidebar) was too tempting this morning so have stitched up my samples of 2 weeks of TAST instead. This one is called Square Boss Stitch and is a variation of Rice Stitch. My first sample is in the traditional style, while the second one is an exploration using sequin waste (love a bit of glitter, you know), blue metallic tubular ribbon, and perle thread. The arms on the crosses needed to be uneven to clear the holes in the sequin waste, but still looks quite interesting I think.

TAST Week 38 Knotted Buttonhole Band

Well, as promised on Sharon B.'s blog, here is a little exploration of this week's stitch. I spent several pleasant hours with this rhythmical stitch, I've really missed regular stitching. I've promised last week's stitch by the end of the week too, so will "reward" myself with some more stitching in a day or two if I get another overdue job finished.

The details : top motifs left to right. 2 rows Steff Francis silk "perle" yarn buttonhole on perle 8 ladder stitches, 2 rows Perle 5 stitches on contrasting Perle 8 ladder and the right hand one is 3 rows Perle 8 on Perle 8 ladder stitches. Below them is one row of a metallic crochet yarn on Perle 8 ladder stitches. Last but not least is a piece of Sinamay metallic ribbon used as the ladder stitches. Irregular single rows of knotted buttonhole band in metallic crochet yarn, Perle 8 and Perle 5. A bit tricky because the raw edge of the Sinamay kept catching on the thread.

HINT for next time, put a row of Scotch tape over the edge while stitching and remove carefully later to save catching threads.

What to make with "special fabric"

I mentioned in a previous post that I'd bought some more "must have" patchwork fabric at a recent craft show. I'm very reluctant to cut it up in smaller pieces for traditional patchwork as the allover design is just too wonderful. I thought a padfolio might be the answer, but searching for my bookmarked link I found a couple of alternative ideas. I think I may just have to subscribe to this "zine", I think I can find several ideas among the free projects, I wonder what else they have on offer for subscribers? No affils, etc. etc. just love finding really useful links.
Look at http://fibreandstitch.com/freebies.htm

The cockatoo tree.

This hollow tree was home to many different species of birds at "Linnwood", the local historic house where I spend a lot of volunteer hours. Unfortunately, a large truck picking up a full rubbish skip took a shortcut, knocking off the overhanging limb and tearing open the side of the tree. The birds have found alternative accomodation though, and continue to nest and raise their babies in our area. Aren't they sweet, they're real characters and have distinct personalities.

Spring is in the air.

Rainbow lorikeets and white cockatoos wake us up every morning, even more loudly than usual, so I know Spring has really sprung around here. The wild freesias in the garden are blooming, my Kangaroo Paws are ready to burst out and the deciduous trees are taking on a green fuzz with all the new leaf buds just starting to open. Can you tell I love Spring, I gave birth twice in this season and I've always loved seeing the renewal of Nature all around me. This of course leads to Spring Cleaning. I get quite strange (well, stranger than usual!) at this time of year. I feel the need to re-organise the house, pull out weeds, re-arrange furniture and sort through junk that has been accumulating over the year. The only problem is, I really don't have time at the moment, I should be catching up on projects postponed while I was ill. But the instinct is too strong, and so today I've tidied and sorted the sewing room to within an inch of its life, moved things around and even cleaned the floor. Of course, it could have something to do with the imminent arrival of my newest baby. No, I'm not in "the family way", I just mean my new Bernina 240 machine is being delivered on Wednesday and since I am having an introductory lesson at the same time, I needed to clean the sewing room to make room for 2 chairs at the cutting table.

Slight change of plans !

I added my photo to the sidebar beneath my profile recently, but have now removed it. I was a bit reluctant to reveal my face to the world, but if Sharon B. can put her lovely face on her blog, and Downunder Dale can, I thought I could too. Blogger wouldn't let me put a thumbnail in my profile, which is what I really wanted to do, and it was VERY much bigger than I really liked. So you'll just have to wait till I can get my act together with a smaller picture.

Yummy fabric

This gorgeous fabric "begged" me to buy it at the Craft Show, so how could I refuse its request, hee hee? There were several colourways, but this one just appealed the most, as well as a couple of pieces of complementary fabric. Not sure where I'll use it, I seem to have quite a stash of "must have" pieces just now, so I can see lots of hand bags and totes being made, where you don't have to cut the fabric into such small pieces. I've been admiring the "padfolios" popping up on other blogs, they look great, and goodness knows I could use some fancy folders to organise myself better. Must search my bookmarked blogs for the tutorial.... if I find it I'll post the link here.