Revisiting Raw Edge Applique

I started off not caring what it looked like - It was only a Quick Sample.

The Idea was to see how "My Istanbul" (that I made back in 2016) would fair being washed. 
Better to ruin a Sample than an Award Winning Quilt!

But, before long my Father's words rang in my ears "If a job is worth doing - It is worth doing well" -So it has taken a little longer than I initially planned.

I found left over pieces of the Applique in my Scrap Stash and decided to make something 'Useful' in the process.

A design emerged and I was on my way - revisiting the past. 

It was amazing how I went from 'Not Caring' to "Where did that stray stitch come from?' so easily.

Eventually the Last Stitch was done and with the help of photographs, Border fabrics were found.

Now, I am in the process of (fighting with my machine while) trying to learn FMQing - a skill that eludes me! 

The Original Quilt was professionally quilted.

Once that is done, I can then throw this project in the washing machine and see what happens!

31 Years Later . .

Once upon a Time when I was a lot younger and had newborn Twins we embarked on an extension - renovation to our home.  

One Friday, the builders decided that they were done, and just threw together 2 days worth of work in an afternoon.  

It was a rushed job and it showed.

2 Weeks ago, I opened the Linen/Coat Cupboard and "Lost it".  
I had had enough! 

 

Why oh Why did they leave it like this?  
And Why haven't we done something about fixing it?

In houses built when ours was, the Frame was built into the floor joists before the Timber Floorboards (in our case Tasmanian Oak) were attached.

When you remove walls there is a 90 mm gap between the rooms.

A Good Tradesman would source similar floorboards and repair the gap properly.

We Clicked and Collected some Carpet to go inside the cupboard and cover the unsightly board.  BUT the door wouldn't close.  

More work was required.

The scrap of Structaflor they used was basically thrown onto the bearers and only screwed down because it didn't lay flat. It was noticeably higher at one end and the door barely cleared it without the carpet.

I discovered it also wasn't glued down - which made getting it out an (almost) simple procedure.

Which apparently involved drilling a LOT of holes, and then hitting it with a hammer.

(OK - Point of  no return!)

When that was removed we discovered WHY it didn't lay flat.  

One Joist was over a 1/4" higher than the others.  And attached to that - was an electrical Junction box.

What would have been a 2 minute job for a Chippie with a sharp chisel took DH Half an Hour to fix. 

Mainly because he couldn't find his Sharp Chisel and the need to be careful around that junction box.

We did have pieces of Tasmanian Oak Floorboards (doesn't everyone keep offcut timber in the roof?). 

And DH was able to sand 50 years of Dust off them before he broke not one but THREE of his tools in the process.

We deliberately decided to not fix the boards down and leave the junction box accessible.. 

And when we are out of lockdown I will line those linen shelves.

Now FINALLY the inside of the Cupboard is presentable and I found somewhere to keep the Step Ladder!

Birthdays Lockdown Style.

Yesterday we were given a bit more "Freedom".  

Our 5 km restriction was stretched to 10 km.  (Although I am starting to feel like a Puppy on a Retractable Leash, I understand why we have to do this.)

As a Kid, Try as I might I just could not understand Venn Diagrams.  

Today I happily drew one - 10 km from Us and 10 km from DD.

Somewhere in the middle they Overlapped.  

And we were able to see her for her Birthday!

Now, we ARE allowed a Picnic (with conditions) BUT I am sure the wind was straight off the Antarctic.  

So Picnic in the Car it was!

[And Bessie has a Great Cubby in the Back ;) ]

And while the Grown-ups were sorting Whose Coffee was Whose...

In swooped 'The Strawberry Thief"

For a Little One that has only just turned One - She did a very good impression of the Seagull that Stole my Sandwich!

There wasn't much left of the Birthday Cake Decoration by the time Miss A had finished - 

This Girl LOVES her fruit and devoured every single piece she took.

So Happy Birthday to MY DD.  

It may not have been the Celebration we would have liked but a precious memory anyway. 

Hope the next one can be celebrated in Style!