Yo-yo Demonstration!

It has been quite a non-productive week! I really don't know where time has gone and here we are, it is the weekend again. I have made and sewn together quite a few yo-yos for a cushion I am making! You will need to buy a large Clover Yo-yo Maker and the included instructions are very explicit and written in English, French, Spanish and Dutch. They cost around the $10 here in Australia, so it is not really an expensive little gadget. Very worthwhile!

The translucent yellow plastic is the plate and the bright yellow the disk. I have used some charm squares, but scraps approximately 5 inches square will do nicely!

The wrong side of the fabric is placed behind the disk and the the disk is inserted into the plate. plate. There are little markers showing you where to align the plate and the disk.

The fabric is then trimmed back approx 3/16" from the edge of the plate.

Oopsy! A storm was brewing while I was trying to take pics, so I had to step outside to get a nice clear picture.

This is a little difficult to explain in pics, but I will try! I use fine quilting thread for this step. See the little slots on the back of the plate - the needle is inserted from the other side and carried in and out around the plate through these slots.

When one has finished stitching right around the plate, the plate is then removed and this is what you will see. Look closely and you will see the little stitches. Perhaps I should have used a dark, contrasting thread - never mind! - as I said, you will get great instructions if you decide this is for you.

Now, by drawing up this thread, and with a little bit of manipulating, you will have a beautifully formed yo-yo with a diameter of 1-5/8" approximately! I think 8 x 8 = 64 will give me a nice 14" cushion!

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This little demo is to illustrate just how easy it is to make lovely, neat yo-yos very quickly. It is a nice portable project, good for times when you are at a sewing gathering - quite mindless, allowing quality time to chit-chat, LOL! It is intended to give you an insight into this method should you wish to have a little play!

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Happy weekend!

The Race That Stops a Nation!

Hello Melbourne! It is your day! Today the Melbourne Cup will be run - this is Australia's richest horserace - so I hope all you punters out there will go home rich! Have fun at your luncheons and parties!

Flemington Racecourse will be stunning with the display of roses and I have picked a few little buds from my garden - the yellow ones are for you Miriam !

' The small rocking horse quilt you've posted appears in the book, "Wisconsin Quilts: History in the Stitches," written by Ellen Kort. It appears on page 166. It dates back to 1935-1940 and was part of a WPA Handicraft Project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Maribeth Schmitin historic Cedarburg, WisconsinNQA Certified Quilt Judge'

I received the above email this morning - it came Anonymous, but I guess it was written by Maribeth - a nice little bit of information to have, thanks!

My Stitcher's Angel parcel is jetting its way to Sweden and we've had a SSCS reminder from Chookyblue today about our SSCS - I'm almost there with posting later this month!
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I still have PIF's to do and of course, friends pressies! Oh, maybe I should get to that sewing machine today! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Happy Halloween!

Here in Australia, the younger folks are starting to celebrate Halloween - I have some treats ready for the little ones who come knocking this evening - they are usually accompanied by an adult - a lot of fun for them!

My Bird of Paradise is finished - I'm sure he will make a grand addition to my Civil War Bride Quilt - he took quite a bit of time to come to fruition but it has been worthwhile!

Five blocks completed - I haven't decided how big the quilt will be. Perhaps The Bride will be my next venture!

Siggie squares all ready to be posted to Melissa in the USA - this has been a fun swap and I am so looking forward to the return 74 squares - it will be the first Signature Quilt I have owned!

My Stitcher's Angel gift must be posted today, too - I think I have shown you this little potholder before - since then I have been able to find grommets/eyelets, so more are on my must-do list as stocking fillers!

Another weekend on our doorstep - hope yours is filled with nice things to do!

PS - Oopsy! One day early!

A Bird, Horses & Soldier!

I've been busy in the past week with obligations and some fun, social days - so not a lot of stitching to show!
Here is The Bird of Paradise block from The Civil War Bride Quilt - in progress, that is, but it shouldn't take a lot to complete now! Wow - what a tail - and as you can see, I am playing with the upper part of the bird, altering it to a Kim McLean look-alike bird!

Congratulations to Christine of Once Upon a Quilt ... - Christine won 2nd Prize in her section at the Queensland Quilt Show for her quilt 'Sleep Baby Sleep'! Christine is a very talented and enterprising quilter as many of you know and this quilt is very special to me.

Many years ago, I drew up this applique design and started to make the quilt, but was never happy with my fabric choice, so passed it over to Christine.

This quilt is beautifully appliqued and hand-quilted and certainly is a winner! With more reproduction fabrics being available nowadays, I have ordered the red and blue shown and am madly looking forward to starting another quilt!

To find out more about it's history, pop over and visit Christine! Maybe she will release a pattern soon!

Just look at this pre-loved hand-knitted toy soldier - Danielle found him at a market yesterday
and will put him aside for Byron for Christmas! She is thrilled with the find as their twins were conceived in England and she feels very sentimental about this and has quite a lot of collectibles for them!

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It's the start of a new week, so lots of happy stitching everyone!

Yo-yos & Hexagons!

Just popping by to say Hello! This has been such a busy week and it is not over yet!

I haven't achieved a great deal stitchery-wise, but here is a little of what I've been up to in the evenings! See below - I'm using the large Yo-yo Maker by Clover and sort of having success towards making a little cushion top - cute, and fun!

I have finished one of October's blocks for Green Tea & Sweet Beans, again substituting several fabrics from Nanette at Freda's Hive! Nanette has brought out a new pattern - teapots and houses - really cute and worth checking out!

Notice another new rosebud - this one is Seduction - well, the name seems inappropriate to me - more like Innocence, I would think, LOL!

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Wishing you all a happy day - and hoping I get a little more time to Comment and Reply!

Drawstring Tote!

Girlfriend! Robin and I had a lot of fun playing over the weekend and look what I made!

We trialled Texture Magic - a fun product to use! For those of you who don't know, it gives the appearance of shirring! It is a bit of a hoot to watch it shrinking before your eyes, 30% they say! For this effect, I first used a pencil to grid the product at 1 1/4" apart, then pinned it to the fabric, then stitched on the gridded lines, then held a steam iron just slightly above the Texture Magic and Voila!

I bought the product through Julie Woods, a Superior Threads rep living in Goulburn, NSW. I must say how efficient and helpful, Julie is - I ordered last Monday and it was here Wednesday, from one side of the country to the other - now how good is that!

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When and if I make another, I will make a couple of modifications/additions to the pattern. All in all, it was a very productive weekend for me. Today I might take a 40 minute trip to our closest big shopping centre and have a little look at the spring/summer fashions, as we had two lovely warm days over the weekend!

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Hope yours was a happy one!

Spring Fever!

Finally Spring is here - sunshine and warm days - just wonderful!

I stitched this quilt top yesterday from a jelly roll - aptly named Spring Fever! I intend donating it to our local patchwork group as second prize for an exhibition they are holding in January. Hope they like it!

My new roses are coming along nicely - every time I see yellow roses now I think of Miriam of Yellow Roses - I was fortunate to meet Miriam briefly on my last trip to Melbourne for the show! This one is called Friesia and the fragrance is absolutely delightful!

Angel Face - now isn't she so pretty - lightly perfumed, too!

For our guild Christmas Party next month it has been suggested we wear aprons. Some Girlfriends! are going to make and wear this little pinny! For me probably tights or black cropped pants and a black tee under this apron and I'll choose a lovely, modern fabric - for after use, I'll be the best-dressed gardener , in town and okay to pop to the local shop, too, LOL!

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Happy weekend everyone - I have a sewing date today and we are going to test Texture Magic - should be lots of fun!