Choosing Threads

I have had a quilt design drawn up for a very long time.  It's a 9 block quilt and is stitchery and applique.  The printed drawings have been sitting on my desk for some time.  I lost my design mojo for quite a long while.  I let LIFE get the better of me and lost the passion.  

When I had a big destash recently I came across the fabrics I had put aside for this project and decided it was time to stitch it.  

I spent quite some time choosing threads from my collection to go with the fabrics.

Then I placed them all on my little thread holder ruler ready to use.  Aren't they pretty ?

Then I began stitching.  I am so glad I did.  It is bringing me a lot of joy making my drawings come to life.

I'm not sure what I will do with the design yet - I will have to have a think about that.  I have my 3rd block traced up and ready to stitch.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs,

Fee xx

This week

Since we had the new carpet put down we have slowly been putting the house back together.  It's a work in progress as I tire fairly easily and have to get others to "do" things for me but it is coming together.

I managed to cook a batch of date scones yesterday.  I popped half in the freezer for times when I do not feel like baking.  They are so lovely hot out of the oven.

Hattie and Harry have been keeping me company.  Hattie follows me everywhere, I've been thinking of renaming her SHADOW.  Harry just loves her and pats her on the nose and kisses her.  Not bad for a greyhound who only finished racing a few months ago.  

I have been spending a bit of time out of bed and in the recliner which is good.  I pack my body with heat packs and am able to stitch much better in that position.  One of the perks of having a wonderful stitchery designer as one of my closest friends is getting to stitch her beautiful designs before the rest of the world.  So I traced some of the beautiful Stitcheries in Jenny's Stitchery Club Pack for December and I am making myself something for my home.

I am really enjoying stitching again.

It took me some time to choose fabric to go with it but I am happy with it now.  Hopefully I will have a finish really soon.

Hugs,

Fee xx

Little Bits and Pieces

It's very easy to feel overwhelmed these days.  It seems we always have something to worry about health, family, financial or just the daily trials of life in general.

My ability to do the things I used to do last month, last year or even in the past few weeks is diminishing, some days a bit and some days a lot but I have resorted to doing little things that make me happy and bring a smile to my day.

Before my spine became too bad I used to enjoy gardening...... a lot ....... we have over 1 acre of it but I can do no more than pull a handful of weeds on a really good day.  So now I am doing what I call tea cup gardening.

I have a lovely collection of little tea cups, containers and vases.  So I have been taking succulent cuttings that I inherited from my grandmother last year and I am making them in to little mini pot plants.

I've been having lots of fun getting them established and enjoy checking on their progress.  My dream is to end up with a beautiful indoor garden in our breeze through so that I can enjoy looking at it all without the work.  One little tea cup at a time for now ........

This tiny little jug is just over 2" High.  Isn't it sweet ?

One day soon I hope to have enough energy and pain levels bearable so I can visit a couple of my local op shops and find some more sweet little containers.

Bye for now.

Hugs,

Fee xx

Zippy Pouch

Want to make my Zippy Pouch ?  Hurry the pattern is only FREE for a short time.

GO HERE to my Craftsy store to download your copy.

Hugs - Fee x

Swapping + That Christmas Tree

I had a bit of a break from swapping in the past few years and only participated in a few but I find it's a great way to get me motivated and to get me sewing.  I sent off 3 swap gifts this week.  This one was for an online group I am in on facebook called 52 Handmade - A Year of Creativity.  These are the gifts that I made and sent to my partner Deb.  A linen cushion, a fridge calendar, tissue pack, key chain (retractable) and a hand painted little card.  

This is what I received from my partner Chrissy (It was a down the line swap) A needle book, pin cushion and chocolates (which I have hidden )

I had to take Amy into the city yesterday and just happened to park very close to my favourite store - Bed, Bath & Table .........  So whilst waiting for Miss Amy I hobbled around the store looking at all of the Christmas goodies.  It is just magical to see them all.  If only I had a lovely big fat bank balance.  This particular tree did win my heart though.  It instantly makes me think of red robins.  I'm not sure why.  It has little twinkle lights built into the ends of the twigs and is covered in snow.

They are currently out of stock in my local store but have some coming in this week and they have a 30% off sale.  I am seriously thinking of popping one on layby.  Everyone keeps asking me what I want for Christmas, maybe this is the answer ?  

I haven't had a traditional tree for a few years now - I wanted something different and I really think that this is it.

I spent the rest of the day in bed but it was worth it to get out for a change and be in the "real" world.

I'll be back tomorrow with a gift for you.

I'm giving you a FREE tutorial to make this gorgeous Zippy Pouch.  But hurry as it will only be available FREE for a limited time.

So check back in tomorrow to download.

Hugs,

Fee xx

From this day forward .....

I know that I said I would be back before this but things happened, I had a bad fall and my fatigue levels have been ridiculous !

Anyway I am back now.  My house is in disarray BIG TIME as the new carpet to replace the flood damaged carpet will be installed tomorrow.  

I have a team of helpers coming this afternoon to move all of the furniture.  Times like this I feel so useless.  When I do give in to the voice in my head and try to do anything physical, I pay for it by spending too many spoons and then spending way too much time resting because of it.  So in the end it's not worth it so I have to watch from afar as they move my precious treasures !  I may have to chicken out and actually go to bed so I can't see any of the process.

But the upside is that we will have some lovely new wool carpet installed in the colour of my choosing and then I can have the house put back together in a different configuration.  Our house guests (my daughter, SIL and 3 children) who have been staying with us since March have a new home and moved out over the weekend so it's a great opportunity to change things up a bit.

This is going to take quite some time as I will have to once again rely on other people to do things for me but the reward will be my home looking shabby, beautiful and feeling like "home" again,

I still haven't managed to embroider.  It's been weeks now but my fingers and wrists have been really bad and I can only manage what I call clumsy crafts like these shabby brooches made from upcycled textiles.  I had planned on having a market space with my handcrafts this weekend past but my health once again let me down from making any forward plans so I have shelved that idea !  The upside is that I have an abundance of Christmas gifts made.

Finally last week I got sick of looking at my dressing table without it's mirror and had a friend's son come over with his trusty drill and man hands to fit some chicken wire to the back of it for me.  I am so in love with it now.  It's perfect for hanging my treasured pieces of jewelry.

I haven't forgotten about the Christmas gift tutorials and will try my best to get some up in the next week or so.  Hopefully I can get on the blog a little more often too.

Love and Hugs,

Fee xx

Sadness

How did you go with the tutorial?  Have you downloaded it yet ?  A friend requested 30 rabbit themed calendars for her rabbit breeder friends.  I had so much fun making them.  I find the process very relaxing although I can't do it all in one sitting and have to keep going back to it as sitting for too long isn't good for my pain levels.

I finished them off sitting up in bed with the heat on my spine.  My bedroom is beginning to look a little like a hospital room these days.  I have an over the bed roller table just like the hospitals but it makes things much easier when I am confined to bed.  Here they all are packaged up and ready for collection along with some rabbit themed birthday cards I made a little while ago.

From next Friday 28th October I will be having a linky party every week for anyone that has made something using any of my tutorials.  There will be a little random prize every week for one of the bloggers that joins up their link to their make.

I have entitled this post "Sadness".  That is what I felt last week after my initial joy of discovering this gorgeous quilt at my local oppy for just $6.00

It is in perfect condition and the perfect size to throw over me on top of the bed.  And what's more it is in beautiful pastel colours which I love.

It saddens me to think that a quilter has lovingly made this quilt and sat at her machine for hours putting it together, had it professionally quilted and then most probably gifted it to a loved one, only for it to end up on the racks at a thrift shop.

But it is safe now and will stay with me forever and will be my constant daily companion.  I was going to make myself one that was big enough to cover my feet but not too wide and this special find fits the bill perfectly.

Now I need a little help from you.  I also purchased this item for 50c on the same day.  It is metal and measures 19cm from handle to handle.  I think it may be a butter slicer ?  But I'm not sure.

What are your thoughts?  What do you think it is ?

I'll be working on a new little idea today for a tutorial to be uploaded in a few days.  I'll catch you then.

Hugs,

Fee 

Magnetic Calendar Tutorial

Today I am sharing my tutorial to make these gorgeous little magnetic calendars.  They are perfect as gifts and are very useful on the refrigerator.

I have to admit to being quite addicted to making them !

I hope you enjoy the tutorial.  Don't forget to take some photographs of yours once you have made them.

You can download the tutorial HERE

Hugs,

Fee 

Free Frugal Gift Giving Tutorials

Over the past few months I have been making some little items for gifts.  Luckily I took photographs as I went (it's become a real habit since beginning blogging 8 years ago) So I already have lots to share with you and a big long list of items yet to be made.  Here is a little taster of what's to come.  

The photograph above is of some little post it note packs.  They are so handy and practical.  They could be made for men with a masculine theme such a fishing or golf.  

Shabby flower brooches or embellishments made from recycled textiles.  Keep your eye out on the $1 rack at your local opportunity shop.

One of my favourite recent makes is this fabric keepsake memory book.  I just love it and can't wait to show you just how easy it is.

Sweet little tissue holder packs made from scrap fabric and trim.  These would be great for work mate gifts or as a stocking filler.

Gorgeous little note books that would fit inside a card to be sent in the mail.  Just a nice touch and a thoughtful useful gift.

My Zippy Pouch Tutorial is another one of my favourites.  If you are afraid of zips then my easy tutorial will be wonderful for you.  You will fear them no more !

Super easy shabby christmas stocking made from lace from clothing and linen/calico and adorned with a handmade shabby flower.  I love these !

Paper Lavender sachets - Always a favourite for Aunts and Grandma's

My second calendar tutorial.  This one mounted on an art easel for an office desk.

I will also show you some different techniques to colour stamped or printed pictures.  They are so effective and allow you to make your very own embellishments for cards and paper projects without having to go to the expense of buying expensive pre-made ones.

Then I will show you some easy tricks to making them look fantastic and ready to be mounted on your project.

I've also got a quick and easy tutorial for making your very own gift bags.

And this beautiful fabric bag using a recycled doily.  It could be used for so many things, Jewellery, Make Up, Ipad ......  The list is endless.

So as you can see that not being able to do very much physically has led to an over abundance of time and thinking.  As I said yesterday it was really important to me to have lots to go on with at the beginning and then I can quietly work on some new ones whilst you are all busy making your favourite ones from some of the tutorials coming your way in the next few weeks.

Can I ask a favour of you though ?  Would you mind very much placing this logo on your side bar, linking it to my blog and sharing about the upcoming tutorials on your own blog ?  Simply right click on the logo, Choose Save Image As and then save to your computer.

 It would be great if we could reach as many people as possible.  The first tutorial will be the magnetic calendar and I will release it on Friday.  There are no hoops to jump through or no payment required just share with as many people as you can - That's all I ask.

Love and Hugs and happy frugal crafting to you all,

Fee xx