I have a Map.

It's not an "Normal Map" - One of paper that never quite goes back into its creases.  
This One is Fabric and is actually an Embroidery Wall-hanging 

With the Awesome title of "MAP MY LAP" (That's my Lap around Australia!)

It has all the Major Roadhouses, Station Stays, Roads & Outback Tracks. 

As well as the  Indian Pacific and Ghan Train Lines. 

(They haven't caught up with The Overland or Great Southern - But I have added those routes in as well.)

It is getting a bit congested around Adelaide as the Great Trains are Based at  Adelaide's Keswick Station.

I have also added Our Great South Australian Adventure of 2008 (Teal with Gold Beads for where we stayed each night.)

Red for the Ghan runs through the Heart of the Country while the Blue of Indian Pacific goes Perth to Sydney

The Great Southern - Brisbane to Adelaide via Melbourne is Orange
And The Overland (also Blue) travels from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Our travels around Victoria are still to be done but I am thinking I will just add some Seed Beads in the places we have stayed, especially when you retrace your steps.

And we haven't forgotten Tasmania!

Our latest Adventure is already Mapped In.

I couldn't resist adding these Iron On Train Patches to my Order.

I just have to work our WHERE I want to put them 

And when it is time to take my Embroidery On the Road - 

It came with a very well thought out Organic Cotton Tote Bag with room for my Threads and Scissors

So Where To Next?  And do I pack it or enjoy reliving the trip when we get back?

* * *

If anyone's interested you can get them from Ecoluxe Travel Decor.  

They specialise in making comfy bedding for Caravans & Campers.

Inside the Carriage

This section introduced me to "Adding Brass Accents".

Sticking flimsy bits of adhesive Metal sheeting to the pieces that make up the Carriage Interior.

And constructing the Bench Seats, that are covered in adhesive Vinyl that didn't quite stick in places.

And no Train Carriage would be complete without Luggage Racks and Luggage. 

Stowaway Frog was more than happy to show that the Suitcases were Frog Size!

The Walls were decorated with Framed Paintings and Sconce Wall Lamps.

I chose to add Photos of All the Trains we have travelled on.

Next was to assemble the Carriage - This had a Curved Rear Wall/Ceiling with overhead lights and Window.

A "Deck Style" floor and (although you can't see it) Ventilation Grill at the back of the carriage.  

Now the fun begins - Adding the Lighting and Connecting the Motor ....

And it is here we meet the "Train Wreck"

Not one but 3 of my wires broke as well as the Motor Seizing.

I can get free replacement parts but can only do this ONCE so I have to pull most of the Gear assembly apart so I can order everything that may break in the process.

I have put it away until I can work out if it is worth pursuing considering it may never actually be turned on. It is a pity considering how much it cost (I actually subsidised the gift as it was out of DS#1's budget.)

And a fun project that was only supposed to take a few days to make has become something else I have to fix.

Book Nooks - Another New Hobby ?

DS#2 gave me a Train for Christmas.

Well, actually he gave me a 1940's Train Carriage - that I have to build!

I haven't been able to get around to making it so decided my Birthday was a Good Day to start.

It has a moving panorama that rolls across a back window so the first thing to make is the mechanism to house a Motor.

And I learned very early in the process that it wasn't going to be as relaxing as I had thought!

Basically the entire projects is made from Wood and Rubber bands!

The Motor sits in a cradle that attaches to the top of the Gear Mechanism.

More Gears and leavers are added.

(And I start to think of better ways to photograph each section - to make a more interesting Post...)

The First Section is finished.

This sits behind the Carriage Window so you can "Watch the Scenery roll past"

Time to Take a Break and Study the next section - 

INSIDE the Carriage.

Old Chair - New Chair

Another lifetime ago MY Little Girl was given a small Arm Chair by her Grandmother.

It saw a Lot of use in those early years and the other day I brought it out of storage with the intention of reupholstering it.  

Before I was able to get started - Little Miss A visited unexpectedly and saw the Chair.

"Do you like this?" asked Grandpa.  

Pointing to the tear on the arm she casually replied - "No!"

She changed her mind when we showed her the upholstery fabric.

* * *

We carefully dismantled it - Taking photos of each step and making notes on the frame as to which way was up.

I found a few lost items in the process - The standard Lolly wrappers, A Tasmanian Devil Tazzo (circa 1990) and The missing Blue Knitting Needle that belonged to my Grandmother.... or what was left of it.

We decided that the webbing was still tight enough for this makeover, so new Foam and Padding was all that we needed. 

I cut out the new Fabric using the old as a pattern giving myself a generous allowance in case the foam was too thick.  Just as well as I needed every inch!

My Father had a saying and that was - 'Get the Tool for the Job'.  So taking his advice I bought a Ryobi Cordless Staple Gun. 

It made things SO much easier than the last upholstery project I did!

Just for fun. 

I added a piece of the original Brown Vinyl upholstery fabric and a note as to when it was originally bought and when it was reupholstered.

With interruptions - It took about 2 weeks to do and looks SO much better now 

... and ready for a whole new generation (and one very spoilt Cat) to enjoy.  

Life in Lockdown ?

Still waiting for  all that "Spare Time" to materialise.

I must admit to quipping that "We are waiting for the Weeds to grow - so we can pull them out!" 

Although, there are plenty at DD's to keep us occupied and still keep within the Physical Distance rules.

(There's a Gate here somewhere....)

Back at home I have been getting on with some projects

 that were not on "The List"

We recovered the small Ironing board - padding out with some reflective batting - I will see how that goes before tackling the larger 1800 x 600 Quilt board.

I also dusted off the Over-locker and got it Working.
(I can't remember the last time I used it!)

Next to Elbow its way to the top of the List is our
"Well who says we can't have fun while having a takeaway Coffee in the Car" project.

Basically it is a very narrow Table Cloth,
Or an exceptionally Long Serviette...

Either way it is an effective Crumb Catcher for Brekkie on the Go.

Today was the first "Let's have Breakfast Out" day in a month - Yes folks it has ONLY been a month!

Finally I have been able to finish a Project that was in danger of becoming a UFO.

A Ballet Bag for my Great Niece who turns 5 on May 4.

Now all I have to do is work out How to get it to Her!

As I was about to finish this Post, DH presented me with this.

The Rose does not know what is happening in the World other than the Air is clearer and the Rain sweeter and so it continues to bring Joy and Pleasure with its delicate fragrance.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Stay Safe.

Let's Try Again ...

Moving on from Monday.

Choosing not to go off shopping for a new Iron (Just yet) I opted to unpack "The Beast" that has been lurking in the corner of my Bedroom.
I have no idea where I bought this monster only that it "Must have been on Sale" also "It Smells Odd" (which is why it was still in it's box!).

It is a perfectly good Iron and after an initial test run I decided that no crease would dare stand in it's way.  So, I may be more inclined to pre-wash more of my stash from now on.
That being settled it was on to the mending pile.

I didn't set out with the intention of doing ALL of it -
It just happened. 
A button here, Half a trouser hem there. And before I knew it -
It was ALL DONE.
Eight pair of Trousers, Two Camisoles and Two Cardigans - Now I wonder if they STILL FIT?

Never a dull moment

Is it ONLY Wednesday?
It seems like it should be much much more!

Since my last blog post my Father had a tumble and broke his wrist landing him in hospital.

Sitting in 'Emergency' was not my idea of a fun Friday night - but I did get a bit of knitting done!


The last few days have been taken up with trips back and forth with my Mother for visits and appointments with the associated medical and Aged Care assistants.

I am REALLY glad I have a simple pattern and a very big ball of wool.

* * *

I did manage to also fit in some sewing.
This time I am trying my hand at making a Jinny Beyer pattern for her Medallion Table Runner.

I came across the age old dilemma of having a "Great Wall of Fabric" and nothing that I could use!

DH walked in and said ...
"This one, this one and ...this - no, THIS one!"
Infuriating isn't it?
But on the bright side - if it doesn't work
It's HIS fault!

Unravelling a 10 year mystery...

As UFOs go - I do not have a lot of the Quilted variety.

I have only been quilting for around 11 years and (to keep DH happy) - I try and finish them.
Before that I did a lot of 'tinkering' with other crafts - I made toys and lingerie and tried my hand at embroidery, needlepoint, latch-pull, house and garden renovation and... I knitted.

On the 5th August 2005 I began knitting an Aaron style cardigan.
(I had made one once before and finished it in 2 months.)

It must have been picked up and put away sporadically over the next couple of years when, somewhere in 2009,  I suspect the dreaded "Muuuuummmmmm!" must have stopped me in my tracks -
Why else would I have put my knitting down with only 15 stitches to finish a row?

For the past 2 weeks I have been ill (thanks for sharing DS & DH), and have once again picked up my knitting basket, as it meant I could potter without getting up too much.
Yesterday I found my cardigan - which of course will no longer fit me (a win for DD) - and taking the afternoon to work out where I was... picked up and finished the back.

11 years after I cast those first stitches on - because I had the wool - I have decided it is time to finish this UFO!

Picking up my needles

A while ago I was tiding my sewing/craft/store room when I came across my Grandmother's collection of knitting needles. Wow, did they bring back memories!

It has been quite a while since I picked up any needles - but there is SO much beautiful wool around now that it is VERY tempting indeed.

So tempting that I found myself wandering around free knitting sites until I found something that sparked my interest.

Of course, I would choose something that had more to it than 'just plain stocking stitch".

I admit I did enjoy the challenge...
(and my Nan would have been pleased to see her needles being used.)

Now to find something for that beautiful Silver Grey Alpaca and Silk.....

My Christmas UFO

This is possibly my longest UFO,
42 inches long actually!
and I have taken a long time to make it as well.

It is called "The Cat's Meow" by Concord Fabrics, I am fairly certain it predates any other Quilt fabric in my stash.

I have no idea when I started this ...

I have 3 of them and each one is in various stages of being beaded, sequined, and embroidered
(ok, maybe not embroidered).

But they have been quilted - of sorts...
What concerns me is the wadding I have used ... is ... foam - and it looks like it has been recycled from something else.

So much work and it still isn't finished.

New Tripod - No Bag

Apparently, there are as many different styles and choices for Tripod Bags as there are Tripods to put in them, and my new lightweight Manfrotto did not come with one, (I was informed it is an optional extra), so I set about making my own.

How to make a Carry Bag for a Small Camera Tripod or Music Stand.

First off it really helped that I had a bag from another tripod, that the Manfrotto fitted in so I was able to take measurements from that.

The next helpful thing was, that DH had a Promotional Document Wallet - the kind they give out at conventions that you never know what to do with once you get home.

This wallet was particularly suitable with a good quality zip.
All I had to do was unpick the stitching.

Which included trying to unpick as much of the logo that was necessary - no need to unpick it all.

Cut out the pieces incorporating any of the features that may be useful.

In this case I have used the zip and the clear nameplate window.

All that was left was to sew it up using the sample as a reference. (Sorry, I got so engrossed with the construction that I forgot to take photos of this stage.)

Attach an adjustable strap from an old computer bag.

Then add a couple of Iron On Souvenir patches - to personalise it  - and there you have it ....

one new Tripod


and one new Tripod Case.


All ready for an adventure! ......