"ONLY" one sixteenth of an inch ....

You would not think that one sixteenth of an inch would make all that much difference.  It is in many cases just the thickness of a (blunt) pencil.

Yet in quilting it makes a HUGE difference!

This photo shows TWO one inch square reference blocks -
I would have said that they are both the same size, yet the square on the left is just ever so slightly out.



I didn't realise anything was wrong, I measured the block drawing, it was only a little bit out so I concluded it "was not to scale"...





I made up my first block and fussed over the fact it did not sit right. No matter what I did it would not go together!

I blamed everything from my own lack of talent to the 'dodgy' 1/4" seam of my machine -
I re-measured the reference block, I checked my computer - it was set to print at 100% - so what was wrong?

What I didn't know was, when we unplugged the Printer for a day recently it reset the custom settings to "Fit to Page" when it was turned back on.
Apparently it didn't matter what my laptop was programmed to do - the printer ALSO had to be set to 100%.

Here in the pieces that make up the block you can see the subtle difference.
On each piece it is only a 'bees whisker' on the side seams - But the REAL issue was that One Sixteenth of an Inch at the bottom of the fan shaped piece on the right hand side.


Mystery solved and now my pieced 6 1/2 inch blocks are going together like a dream!

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.....

You know it is hot when ....

.... you go OUTSIDE just to work out if the Air-con is actually working!

It is a neat little trick and always makes me feel cooler.

But then I noticed the Christmas Candle that was left outside 

Yup - it was a little hot....

So - what was the temperature?

(That's 111 deg F)

And now the 'cool change' is on the way bringing winds strong enough

 to break the *Spirit's moorings 

and a big dust storm as well.

That's my Melbourne!

*Spirit of Tasmania crashes into pier at Port Melbourne

2015 - The Year that was ...

January

Bali Wedding Star Quilt is finished

- well the top anyway and SO happy to hand it over to Desley 

to turn into a masterpiece!

February

Not content to just make ONE Judy Niemeyer Quilt,

I continued to send myself batty working on the large Mariner's Compass

 for my DS#2 

March

I got sidetracked and started Esther Aliu's 2015 BOM "Oma's Blues"

but true to form I could resist tweaking the pattern and promptly renamed it

"Esther's Oma lives in Leesa's Dutch Cottage"

(a reference to the 2 Melbourne based designers -

Pattern by Esther Aliu and Fabric by Leesa Chandler)

April

White Glove Duty at the Australian Quilt Convention

in the most beautiful venue ever -

The Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton

May

Looking back May was busy... 

Cake Decorating meetings, finishing some UFO's

 handing over the DD's Wedding Quilt, 

and the much anticipated arrival of Tamsin Harvey's book

'Constantinople Quilts'

NOW I can start DS#1's Wedding Quilt!

June

I dusted off my Brother Scan 'n Cut and started preparing the applique for 

DS#1's Quilt 'Istanbul'

and hoping to have it finished by their next Wedding Anniversary...

July

Mariner's Compass is finally finished and entered in Quilt Showcase.

White Glove duty gave me the opportunity to talk to some top quilters about the issues I was having with my 'Istanbul' Applique Quilt - their advice was invaluable!

August

 Road trips were the order of the day for August 

with trips to the Yarra Valley and Phillip Island

September

Not much happened as my MOJO went missing 

in the search for the perfect shade of Green

October

Finally able to make a start on 'Istanbul' for DS & DDIL

and some serious gardening at the DD's place

November

Poppies for Remembrance at the Whittlesea Show,

More Applique on Istanbul 

and

Getting up close with with 'The Girls'

an awesome experience helping with DD's first Honey harvest.

December

I can't credit that I haven't posted anything this December, 

I am sure I must have been busy seeing it was Christmas

So here is my December post!

December was Hot - Very Hot

(Today's top 40c - that's 104F)

I had to wait for a cool change so I could bake the Mince Pies

-Trying a new recipe -

Made some Lactose Free Coffee Ice cream

Then of course there was Christmas with family and friends ...

Bushfires in The Otway Ranges - 

Where the Mountains meet the Sea are keeping our CFA Firefighters busy..

and as the headlines predicted...

Finally, there is one thing that was NOT on the 'to do' list...

The Family "Christmas Curse" has struck again!

This time it was my turn with a serious steam scald on my wrist.

So that is it for December 2015

but I'll just leave you with a photo of something

 I 'snapped' in the Supermarket today...

Yes - I kid you not

Hot Cross Buns!

* * *

Thanks for visiting my corner of the World

See you in 2016

WOW - That was AMAZING . . .

It was hot and a little uncomfortable, my outfit didn't fit and I had a buzzing sound in my ears but I would not have missed this for anything!

I got to visit "The Girls" up close and very personal!

* * * * *

In fact I was helping my DD inspect her Bee Hive.

A task that has to be done regularly to ensure the health of the hive and the Bees.


(Not totally sure about her choice of footwear - maybe they are "Special" socks!)

This time it was different as it was a Full inspection - right down into the bottom brood box

Checking the frames one by one
I got a lesson on what each part of the hive was..

I commented to her as I was taking these photographs that it was amazing what you can do when you trust your equipment

Fully encased in the SIL's Bee Suit,
I wasn't nervous at all.







Some of the racks were REALLY heavy ...

And full of beautiful golden HONEY.

They say there is nothing like the taste of your first honey harvest

Ohhhhh YUM -

How can I describe it?

Delicate, yet with a Strong Red Gum flavour and a massive kick of Lemon.

or just simply AMAZING!

You know you're in trouble when ....

The Quilt Police says "Take a Break" ....

... and if you don't

I'll just sit here and look cute until you do!

The odd thing about this is - Spike just doesn't jump up on the benches or tables - so sitting on my ironing board/work bench is VERY unusual!

Maybe I should take that break!

* * *

Before I was interrupted I was about to place the 4th applique spray onto my Istanbul Quilt centre.

It looks good sitting on the applique mat

But transferring all those  pieces which are so delicately held together isn't easy

And I have decided not to mark the quilt fabric with anything but some tacked in registration lines (see previous post).

A simple way around this is, with the template underneath, mark some key points through the fabric with pins ..

Then just position the flowers up against the corresponding pins and press!

And now I am ready to keep stitching...

(Interruptions permitting!)

Whittlesea Show 2015

Founded in 1859, The Whittlesea Show is said to be the oldest and largest 2 day Agricultural show in Victoria. Each year the Cake Decorators Association of Victoria (Diamond Valley Branch) comes along to demonstrate to the children.. and interested 'grown-ups'.



Hmm... it seemed that our audience was distracted by the roving Balloon Artist -
- who was making his own kind of flowers!



Each year the show has a theme.  This year was the commemoration of the ANZAC Centenary. So we chose to make Poppies.


Poppies take a lot of time and concentration to make, something you just don't have on a day like this...

(If you'd like to have a go, you can find tutorials online. I am looking forward to trying this one!)

...so how DO you make a Poppy in less than 3 minutes flat?

You start with some very simple tools and ingredients:


Rollout some Red Fondant and cut a simple flower


Flute the edges with a 'frilling tool' - or as I told the audience- a Japanese chopstick, Knitting needle, toothpick anything with a tapered end will do.

And of course we had to have something to stick the Poppies on, something that was quick, inexpensive and yummy - so what was The Essential Ingredient?

Lollypops!

A little water painted onto the Lollypop is all you need to get an instant 'glue'.
Then a ball of Chocolate Brown fondant for the flower centre.
A couple of pokes and a little humour .....

And in no time at all you have a "Lolly-Poppy".

The kids loved them and were reminded of the significance of the little flower with each one that was *handed out - all 700 of them!

Lest we forget!

*Footnote:  All ingredients and time were donated and the Lollypops were given freely (on the proviso that the child watched the demonstration) ...  we were VERY tired by the end of the Show but have all 'signed up' for next year!