31 March 2020

Things you keep.

I was Looking for Something Else
And Found This Instead.


I bought this Little Plaque
  45 years ago

Matthew 19:26


28 March 2020

COVID Clean Out

For Me, There is nothing 'new' about staying at home.
Between the Kids, Their Friends and my Hobbies
It has been a case of "Housework Whenever"

"Whenever" just caught up with me



I have spent the last two weeks Cleaning and Tidying and making the house as Calm as possible so that  everyone can function during this time of Close Living.


Starting with the Pantry.

I thought we had a fair bit of Tea but, I think I can safely not buy any Tea for a Good Six to Twelve Months and still have some left over!




I have pulled out dust covered bottles and Boxes of long forgotten Laundry Products - tried, rejected and relegated to the back of the cupboard.

Today I bought a small basket and started putting all those little Soaps that People Give you and those you bring home from Hotels.

I should have bought a Bigger Basket!


Granted, Some just need to be thrown out -

When did I go to Michigan?
July 2013.

Yep - They can GO!

And then there are the ones we souvenired on our Last Trip

Beautiful Aussie Native Bush Scents.

(Maybe I can have a 'Virtual Holiday' instead of being sad about the cancellation of our next adventure.)




And I found
TWO precious bottles of
 Hand Sanitizer!




I wonder just HOW MUCH STUFF we all have lurking in drawers and cupboards that can be used instead of going to buy more?







21 March 2020

In a Bind

I cleared the decks and pulled out a quilt that has been patiently sitting on the chair waiting for it's binding. 

This is a Winter Quilt and it is for me, so there has been no hurry to get it finished.

Somewhere somehow, between the last Quilt I bound and this one I have managed to forget how to do turn corners on the binding.

Time to (find a computer that is not being used) and hit U-Tube to refresh my memory.

Then somehow I miscut the strips I needed. 
My calculations said I needed 9 strips and I duly cut 3 from one scrap and 4 from another 3+4=9 that is right! - No? - Oh!
Fortunately I have more fabric.

Then the ONE THING you don't want is to end up with a join on a corner........

Pull it out - cut some off -
join in more - sew again
don't forget
add the extra 2 strips


THIS is what happens when people are home when they should be at Work!

Praying for a Cure!





18 March 2020

Self Isolation - Or Quarantine

Which ever way it goes, it seems that we will all be spending some "Quality Time" at home.
My Family has already been affected by this with DD, DS#1, #2 and DIL working in Education. SIL and DIL2B are studying at University. 



We are fortunate here, to already have the necessary equipment to record Tutorial sessions from home, while the University works out what to do next.


As far as I am concerned, it is 
"Don't Panic - Keep Sewing"

I have UFOs and plenty of fabric


[and if the DH with OCD tendencies 
runs out of Cryptic Crosswords 
he can always sort my stash]




I have many
long abandoned Hobbies to finish
or to re-connect with...



I have a Garden to tend

I am now replacing the Summer Flowers with Winter Veggies
(Just in case)





and a Home to keep running...




And IF we get too Bored - 

then there is always DS#2s 
great Wall of Board Games 
to work through






Maybe we could start with THIS One?





13 March 2020

I think I need help.


1. Needles

You know you need to go visit the Optometrist  when you need to resort to using a Macro Lens on your phone to see what size needle you are using!

2.  Leaders and Enders

They were a good idea at the time, but does anyone have any idea as to what to do with these?

Or do I just keep making them until eventually they take over the sewing room?




8 March 2020

International Women's Day

I spent today with my wonderful DD
Did we dress up and go to High Tea?



Um - No
She had a Garden to find.
To say the weeds have gotten on top of her is an understatement



We found the Lemon Tree!

and it was still alive
A cause for celebration indeed




We found the Herb Garden
complete with pre-seasoned Escargot.

Apparently Snails like Garlic Chives

And eventually we found the rest of the Veggie Patch

We have to tame the Raspberries 
onto and over a trellis
Top up the Garden Beds with fresh soil...


Then do it all again for her other TWO Gardens!

Then - and only Then maybe,
 we can sit and have High Tea.





* * * * * 

"If I have to I can do anything - 
I am Strong - I am Invincible - I am Woman"
Helen Reddy

Happy International Women's Day





5 March 2020

Finding Enough Fabric

And I thought I had seen the last of Teal for a while ...
Just as well I like the colour!

The Quilt is showing just how mild our Winter was last year with 66 days in the 11-15℃ High temperature range as well as 51 in the low meaning lots more teal needed to be cut.

We had 92 days where the minimum temperature was between 6-8℃ so lots of Dark Blue and also Green 16-20℃

So all my temperature pieces are now cut and ready to blitz the rest of the quilt

Time to focus on the "Atmospheric" component pieces.
I knew I had enough fabric for my Rainy Days which was good because, being a directional fabric I have a lot of left overs all  going the wrong way -

Unfortunately I can't say the same for my Dry Day Fabric.

If I keep going the way I have been I will only be able to cut 91 pieces from my fabric and although I did find a scrap square I am still going to be 3 days short.

Fortunately I haven't cut the strips for these pieces so I created a pattern and marked up a cutting plan.

If I cut the strips 6" instead of 3" I can cut 97 pieces from the fabric and the 4 from the scrap piece I have the 101 that I need.

WHEW!




Linking to:cleverchameleon