A Lovely Weekend

Well I think this says it all, the maximum temperature reached 42C on Sunday after a hot Saturday so we stayed indoors with the air conditioner just set on 'dry' and 24C which is very comfortable. I watered the garden and filled up the bird bath early in the day.

This pretty candle holder from the op-shop reflects the blazing sun...

For Christmas I made bunting with thread and dry gum leaves, if I'd had more time it would have been nice to write a wee note on each one...

while watering I spotted this big pod on my Bower Vine...friends have advised to put a paper bag over it to collect the seeds when the pod bursts as it will eject them far and wide...

I finished my first socks using the Not Just Socks yarn from Spotlight...the pattern is on the ball band and it uses one ball per pair of socks...normally sells for $13 so I watch out for it coming on sale and buy a few at a time...it's quite fascinating both watching the colours develop and also the intricate construction of shaping the sock...

On Sunday I also made this 'back pack' from a curtain remnant and some cord...I needed help from Marie at the DTE page as I couldn't visualize how the cord worked...this pattern is similar if you want to have a go, they would make useful gifts too...

filled with a cushion...I would prefer to use this than a shoulder bag while walking around town...

I made a yummy lamb curry and rice for Joe and I but Dad needs something mild and soft so I made him a quick seafood meal, wild caught salmon and prawns, a potato cake and some soft broccoli...this is a bread plate as he needs to eat small meals now...he loves his seafood and would happily eat fish and chips for every meal!

That's my round-up of recent happenings here, today I am going to see Elizabeth and the boys and get the paperwork started for C to start secondary school next month. Just the cost of the uniform is mind boggling and I have no idea how many families can afford it at all. At this new school there is a Student Support set-up where you are sent if you turn up out of uniform. They will lend you a complete uniform until the end of the day when you go and change back into your own clothes...the humiliation of that makes me cringe.

Bye bye for now
xxx

Easy Burp Cloths/Bathmats etc

With grandchild #7 on the way I want to help ease the costs for his parents ... in the olden days we would throw an unfolded terry nappy/diaper over our shoulders to catch any milky burps...now they sell burp cloths which looked cheap and nasty to me so I got cracking on these. I bought 2 brightly coloured thin bath towels and cut off the hemmed edges, then I cut each towel into 6 even pieces.

I had lots of oddments of fabric here and bought a few cheery fat quarters, washed and ironed them and placed them right sides together on the towelling squares



Then I stitched around the edges leaving a hand sized gap...I trimmed off the excess fabric and corners, turned the piece back out so that the right sides were showing, stitched that opening closed and then stitched a quarter inch around the edge. Before long I had a dozen individual cloths which will serve a myriad of uses.





I think they measured about 18 x 14 inches and they cost me $17.50 for the whole dozen!

This technique is also how I make bathmats and pet bedding...just bigger sizes and you can use old towels and clothing to save even more money.

Hope all is well, we're muddling along and had a big family get together on Saturday from which I am still recovering! Will get posting again soon as I have a million old family photos I need to add...here's a wee taste thanks to Dad's cousin Marion...my Grandad Gardner with 5 of his 6 siblings, they were photographed by the local paper in response to their call for the oldest group of living siblings, Uncle Fred was too far away to come for the photo but here are Annie, John, Betty, Margaret, Jim and Herbert(grandad)

This is a character reference written for Grandad in 1926 by a local businessman, Mr Carr. The writing around the reference is Uncle Alan's explanation and mention of meeting Mr Carr fifteen years later

Big hugs xxx

Val Laird's Free Christmas Patterns

Val Laird lives in Queensland and has a lovely blog filled with her beautifully worked stitching. Chel shared this link at the Down To Earth Forums recently and I just loved the doves...I am going to re-do the wing line on the higher dove as it is too dark. I worked the flowers etc in 3 strands of thread but only used 1 strand of a metallic gold thread to do the blanket stitch joining the two pieces together...I also lightly stuffed mine too...

As I turn 58 years of age today I've had to change the "About Me" here on my blog from mid-50s to late-50s but truthfully I don't feel a bit different :D Here I am yesterday in Perth with a very, very cheeky Father Christmas...

I'd better get on and do some housework I suppose...be back later
xxx

Breakfast Casserole

One of the great things about the internet is to be able to read recipes from all over the world. The term breakfast casserole keeps cropping up on American sites but they look far too rich for my simple breakfast tastes and they often use frozen potato gems or hash browns(bleurke lol).

Joe sleeps late and enjoys a cooked breakfast so I thought I'd have a go at this recipe which will make a nice lunch for me too.
Serves 4...
4 eggs
1/2 cup of milk(I used oat milk) whisked together

4 strips of lean bacon, chopped...I used hot salami today
up to 2 cups of chopped vegs such as onion, capsicum, zucchini, kale, (I used 1/2 cup of corn and peas too)
2 crushed garlic cloves
Sauted together and set aside to cool

4 cooked potatoes, chopped

Mix it all together, season well and place in a greased 8x8 inch tin or casserole dish, top with a cup full of grated cheese.
Now you can leave this covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before you cook it...how's that for convenience?
Bake at 180C for about 40 minutes or until set in the middle, eat and enjoy.

As I was preparing my 'casserole' it became obvious that I was making what I call an oven omelette or even a baked frittata......it was delicious no matter what it's name!

My other project yesterday was to cut and hem a sweet tablecloth from the op-shop to make a kitchen curtain. I tried it for size...you can see my reflection in the window!

I really didn't want to cut it but realised overnight that I would have to...it looks better now, a new curtain for $3 and I used the off-cut to make a pelmet/fringe for our open plan wardrobe...

It looks so European...one of these days Joe is going to put my Eiffel Tower metal print on the wall...that was $5 at BigW. Bargain!

Sleeping Beauty is very well...another blurry photo I'm afraid...

Bye bye for now,
Love from Sue

New Cushion Covers

I love all things roses and couldn't resist this gorgeous Paris fabric in Spotlight last week I thought it would be nice to replace the dark cushion covers in the lounge room with something more summery but I wanted a quick fix this time. Instead of the usual buttons on the back I wondered if a simple over-lapping cover would work and it does! I cut 1.5 metres of fabric into 4 wide sections, hemmed each end and then sewed up the sides with a 3-4 inch over-lap...

I don't have an over-locker so I zig-zagged the edges to prevent them from fraying

and my beautiful Peace rose keeps on flowering

Have a great weekend where-ever you are,
Sue
xx

Christmas Decoration Swap

This year we held our 4th Down To Earth Christmas Decoration swap. Interested members put their names down and the original idea was to create a decoration for tree or ornament for under $5 and post it off to your partner. The emphasis is still on hand-made and frugal and the quality of the decorations is just wonderful. Members can use any medium they're comfortable with such as paper/card/fabric/yarn/beads and glued, knit, crocheted and sewn gifts are the result.

Marnie (Noonee Wilga) was my swap partner this year, she likes to recycle fabrics and papers and came up with these delightful ornaments...I couldn't stop smiling when my package arrived. Marnie also shared the link to the knitted stocking and to some very cute knitted mini jumpers for the tree.

I got busy with my felt scraps and embroidery threads and came up with these to send to her...I forgot to take a photo so have used the one Marnie posted at the forum...I popped washcloth and some soap in too as an extra treat ;)

The owl is from a free pattern available at Juicy Bits Blog  and I drew the other three on paper and made my own pattern after seeing similar items on line. Wee Folk Art are very inspiring.

Tomorrow it will be five week until Christmas, are you making hand-made gifts, cards, tableware?
We're going to really get busy sharing our Christmas ideas at the forum starting today. The mods have come up with some brilliant ideas to share so if you still haven't joined and are looking for inspiration for a calmer, greener and thriftier Christmas you can click on the DTE badge on the right of this page. It's free and the members are truly lovely.

Getting exciting!
Have a wonderful week

Noonee Wilga is Marnie's business name, she is a very busy and talented lady

Revamped Garden Chair

Hallo there!
I got my white spray paint and some basil plants, another plastic garden chair for the front garden (I need to sit on one to weed the lawn otherwise I can't get up again!!) and a nifty outdoor thermometer from Bunnings on Friday morning. The paint is a matt finish and very quick drying so I sprayed the whole can ($9.45) over the cane and then came inside to make a new cushion cover...Mum bought me the fabric in Malaysia several years ago and I've eked it out very sparingly...now all I need is a Singapore Sling! I also saved this elegant old chair from ending up in landfill and that's always a good thing.

The thermometer also shows the humidity and I think we'll be seeing some hot days in the near future so watch this space for more photos!

More cactus flowers...just love 'em...

On Saturday morning I went to watch Jess and Liv play tee-ball, Jessica looks like Darth Vader as she waits for her team to join her. The girls scored 3 home runs each and won their game for the 3rd week running. My highlight was seeing Jess on 3rd base, waiting to run home and concentrating hard when the little girl(with very short hair) who was fielding next to her stretched out her hand and very gently stroked Jessie's beautiful pony tail!

Players were needed for the following game so of course Jessie volunteered for that! Olivia and I went off to buy some potting mix and have a look in the Salvos Op-Shop. We found a beautiful Piping Hot sun dress and a Smarties ice-cream for Liv and fresh, cold orange juice and some beads for Jessie and went back to watch the rest of Jessie's game.

Livvie sitting in the shade after batting...it's thirsty work you know!

Today is shopping day and I will post off my Christmas Decoration parcel to Marnie in NSW, the DTE forum swap is already going well as every-one has excitedly messaged their partners and exchanged addresses. When we receive our gifts we take a photo and post it on the forum for every-one to enjoy.

Mum is having her stitches out from behind her ear today and finding out the result of the biopsy so fingers crossed it is all out and benign too.

That's all for now,
Have a marvellous Monday,
Love, Sue
xxx

A New Sewing Machine Cover

Last Friday I showed you Elizabeth's painted roses that she's given to me to make something with. My daughter paints on fabric using acrylic paints and is self-taught. She also gave me a piece of this fabric to help me along and yesterday it suddenly occurred to me that a new sewing machine cover would be ideal...it would show off the beautiful painting and rarely need washing. I've used this easy tutorial several times, always without the lining to save fabric. Sew Mama Sew have heaps of  free tutorials and ideas...have a look!

I needed to add a little extra fabric to make the painted panel wide enough for my machine and I think this pink roses on a yellow background really carries the theme along.

Now it's the first thing I see when I open the door and it really delights me. Thank you Elizabeth! xx

our breadmaker cover

Thank you to Claire for your good wishes for Joe yesterday...today we see the rheumatologist  in Fremantle, Joe's GP thinks it's something like Tennis Elbow(highly unlikely it's sports related lol) but whatever it is the pain is very severe :*(

Hope you have a Wonderful Wednesday wherever you are
Love from Sue
xxx

Fabric Treats

Two weeks ago I posted a short message about a Giveaway at another blog. My beautiful fabrics arrived last week and I was so delighted by the generosity of the two lovely ladies at Beach Vintage Blog. Thank you Simone and Jody. They had been making sweet Christmas napkins last week and I do hope they will stretch this to making re-usable gift bags too ;) I did that last year and won't need to buy any wrapping paper this year.

Aren't they gorgeous? Now the hardest part will be deciding how to use these fat quarters to the best...I don't even want to cut them! These fabrics and many more are available for sale at their new 'shop' and they have some great 'specials' too.

This little jumper finally got finished and sewn up on the weekend.....it's from this free pattern...obviously altered some-what and the bottom needs pressing a little....the roll is meant to be much more even than that.

I'm really looking forward to getting back sewing after a frantic few days of having to go out...I much prefer days of pottering around home lol

and you? What plans do you have for the coming week?

 Have you started your Christmas preparations yet? There's a great thread running at the Down To Earth Forums where members have been sharing how they are getting ready for this special time of the year.

Bye bye for now,
Love from Sue
xxx

Some Pretty Fabrics

On Saturday morning I drove over to Spotlight for a look-see! Spotlight is an enormous warehouse-type super-store that sells fabric, yarn, household linens and all things crafty and is one of my favourite places to go as nowhere else in our area sells knitting supplies.

They were late opening but the wait was worth it. I bought 2 metres of these beauties based on fabric at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They have an Art Nouveau look about them, sorry about the second photo. As they are coloured and styled to go together I will work on something mysterious for a gift ;) Reduced to $4 a metre from $13. Saving of $36 here.

Then I wondered around looking for flannelette fabric(brushed cotton) which is always much cheaper at the end of winter. I found this sweet one for $2 per metre and asked for 5 metres...it then scanned at 99cents a metre....ooooo I thought...

and then decided to ask for 10metres of this; striking while the iron was hot so to speak...15m @ 99c instead of $6.99pm...savings here $90 so I saved $126 altogether on the original prices.

As I am making most of my Christmas presents again this year I can't tell you what my plans are yet but will take photos for a post Christmas blog! I also bought some eyelet thingies...the sort you punch into fabric with a hammer to make a strong hole to thread cord through so that will be something new for me to try.

Hope you are well and looking forward to a new week,
Love from Sue
xx

Friday On My Mind...

...when we simply share our own photo and caption, visit others who are playing along and leave the link back to our blog.

After an amusing but inexpensive "muck-up" at the sewing table yesterday I redeemed myself by recovering the cushion of my favourite outdoor reading chair. I cut a large circle with a seam allowance, then a long rectangle several inches wider than the side of the cushion. I sewed a wide hem to insert elastic into and stitched it to my circle. Added the elastic which now holds the cover on tightly and allows it to be removed for washing!

The chair cost $10 at the Salvation Army Shop and the back cushion has long since disintegrated but it's still very comfy!

What's on your mind today? Whatever it is and wherever you are I hope you have a beautiful day.

xx 

Some Crafty Blogs

I thought I'd simply share a few of my favourite craft blogs this morning, perhaps you'll find some Christmas gift inspiration here.

The first is Pink Penguin's Fabric Baskets...she is a dainty Japanese lady married to an American man and now living in Tokyo, her sewing is always witty and very appealing. I've made several of these little baskets, some for gifts and there are 3 of them dotted around the house containing my craft supplies and specs! I leave off the handles and often use denim for the base.

Roses

Japanese Prints

Yesterday I followed a link from the Homespun Living Blog and came across these delights...http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com/VictorianaQuilters/Handwork/main.htm

Another tutorial I have used several times is for these appliance covers, it's simply an upside-down bag really with a nicely made square bottom....I've cheated again here by making them with just one layer so they're not reversible but still very useful. I have one on the breadmaker, toaster, monitor and sewing machine! With the vast range of fabrics available these days you could really 'go to town'!

This is my monitor

breadmaker

toaster

These Stationery Folders are easy to make and very useful...I keep birthday cards, stamps and envelopes in mine and have given them as gifts with a selection of $1 greeting cards inside them...you could add some stamps too if your budget permits. They use little oddments of fabric so are great stash-busters and Melissa is a forum member too...she has lots of other lovely goodies to share.

Inside the folder

It has a handy pocket on the front too.

Now after looking at these delicious goodies I am itching to sew something sweet!

Do you have plans for the weekend or are you just going to go with the flow like me? Have fun whatever you decide to do.

Bye bye for now,
Sue
xxx