UFO

Sorry, no cottage block today. I decided to show you a cuddle quilt I'm working on. It needs two more borders. I'm planning a bright orange and then a multi-coloured print.

Hope you all have a great day! I'm having breakfast at McDonald's with my H before I drop her at work at Subway. She is the best sandwich artist you have ever seen!

Merry Christmas!

Shari

Fruit Cake

Americans love to make jokes about fruit cake, but I have to tell you that it's not that bad!

Fruit Cake is very popular here in Australia. My mother in law makes a really good one, quite light. She soaks fruit in brandy overnight before adding it to the mix and then the cake is slow baked. While it is still warm she sprinkles more brandy. If it is to be stored for a while then brandy is sprinkled on now and then. (Sometimes people use whisky) For people who refuse to use alcohol the fruit is soaked in orange or apple juice.

Many wedding cakes are fruitcake that is covered with a smooth marzipan icing and wonderfully decorated. Fruit cake is meant to be eaten in a very small piece, like a rectangle 1" by 2" or something. MIL no longer bakes a big one. She bakes little ones in tuna tins so we end up with a mini cake about the size of a large muffin. Fruit cake is a Christmas tradition, although you can buy supermarket ones year round.

What traditional food does your family have?

I really like this plate

so thought I'd show you.

Merry Christmas!!

Shari

PS I didn't build a house yesterday,

it being Sunday and all.

Maybe today...

Coffee Break

In between resting and playing on the computer I've been cutting some Christmas fabrics to make some cottage blocks. When I take my morning coffee break this is what I treat myself to. I love the Nestle sachets and I have this little whizzy thing that my beautiful Hannah gave me to stir it. (It runs on a battery)

Before...

After...

I have these lovely flowers from family and friends to speed my recuperation. I'll share them with you so your day can be brightened a little too!

Merry Christmas!

Shari

Christmas Cottage Block and that Quarter Inch

I followed Nannette's tutorial and made a Christmas Cottage block which I donated to the guild's Christmas block raffle. In the process I discovered my 1/4 inch foot gives me a full 1/4 inch and the needle position button on my Pfaff is not working so I can't skitch it over a little to accommodate. And this close to Christmas I won't get it looked at quick and I can't possibly be without my machine and it still does all the stitches like zigzag and buttonhole etc so there's nothing actually wrong with the needle movement per se. It appears that one little button is not working. So I've pulled out a pad of sticky notes and I've been experimenting to get a scant 1/4 inch. With a lot of my sewing it's not as critical because I usually aim for consistency and generally it's pretty good. However, in following someone else's pattern accuracy is vital as I don't like easing in 1/8's all the time. So this is what I think about when I'm working hard at doing nothing. And that's hard work. I need a coffee.

Lovely Stephanie is giving me a flannal pillowcase (from her blog giveaway). Pop over and check out her adorable snow people collection. Her snowman quilt is my favourite.

Merry Christmas!

Shari

Lovely Old Treasures

So what can one do while recovering from surgery when books and tv are not really interesting? I re-discovered some items that were sent to me after my mother's death in 2000. At the time I thought they were old fashioned and not that interesting. Now I am a lot older and a little wiser I am looking at them with fresh eyes.

This first group date from around 1987 to 1992. It appears from the address labels that both my grandmother and my mother subscribed.

How's this for all you apron lovers? Is the ruffle big enough for you? On the other page there are quilt blocks made with strips of ribbon instead of fabric (made by Jean Wells).

And Pepper Cory's designs are as fresh today as they were then. Perfect for stash busting!

How's this for all you Halloween lovers?

And don't forget the height of fashion! Actually I wouldn't mind a wearable quilt. Will have to think about that one.

Classic Amish designs.

:)

This was a few pages in a plastic bag.

:>)

Then there were these...

And these...




And this looks interesting.

:-)

And this little project is very timely...

:>)

I'm not sure which book these are meant to go with. Will have to look through my library and find my mother's books.

All of the above I can date to around 1982 to 1992. There is no date on the book below, but once again full of classic designs.

:)

:-)

This one looks interesting.

As does this one.



How wonderful to get fresh inspiration (and perspective) from these lovely old treasures.

I'm off to have a cup of Mocha coffee (don't you just love Nestle sachets?) and a good look through. Hopefully after a little rest I can actually play with some fabric for a little while.

Merry Christmas!!

Shari

What Little Tree is This?

What little tree is this? It seems so far from home.

I can't see the ocean at all.

No starry skies or angels?

Stars of the sea and the angels of the sea...

Do I see a little mermaid?

Are these her noble steeds to take her through the seas?

Are these her little friends to sing her songs of wonder?

This must surely be the choirmaster?

And Peace on Earth and Good Will To All.




Merry Christmas!

Shari

PS Beadwork and origami by Corbie

Christmas Card Box

I'm learning how to use both my camera and this blog so thought I would practise with a little lesson on making boxes out of greeting cards. I'm sure you've all seen this before.

You will need a greeting card (last year's Christmas cards work well), ruler, pencil, paper scissors, eraser and tape.

Cut the front of the card from the back on the centre fold. Then trim a scant quarter inch from one short side and one long side of the back of the card. The front of the card becomes the top of the box and the back becomes the bottom. As the bottom has to fit into the top, the bottom of the box needs to be slightly smaller.

With the ruler line up the diagonal and mark a short line in the centre of the card. Repeat with the other diagonal.

Where the two lines intersect is the centre of the card.

Fold each short side to the centre, lining up the edges to keep the fold square.

Do the same for the long sides.


In this photo I have drawn a line along the fold to indicate where to cut the card. I don't normally draw these in but just follow the fold.

Cut along the fold, stopping when you reach the perpendicular fold. (These are my husband's hands in this photo.)

At this point you can choose to erase the pencil mark, or not, as you prefer.


Fold the long sides up and overlap the little flaps as shown.

Fold down the short flap over the side of the box. This flap can be secured with tape if desired.

Repeat the process with the back of the card to make the bottom of the box.

Box is finished.

Here are a few that I have made. One year I made 120 boxes and filled them with lollies, stickers and little treats. I was a volunteer Scripture teacher and I made one for each of my students. A friend of mine once did a Christmas present swap with her family and the present had to fit in the box this size. I have a few around the place for special buttons etc. Cards with a centered design work really well.

I hope the instructions and photos are clear enough for you to make your own if you didn't already know how.

Cheers

Shari