Some small finishes.

In my last posting I showed off a blue advent calendar that I had started. I mentioned that it was already bound, but needed a little bling!

I added some ribbons and bells and popped a hanging sleeve onto the back.

 Tada!!

All done, I'm very happy with this one. 

It will be for sale at a Christmas craft market in a few weeks time.

 One of my colleagues had seen this calendar which I made for Floki, as I had shared it on facebook. She asked if I would make two for her. So I went shopping and found two more panels and got busy again.

 This one has bling too! The reindeer have bells and you can just see, I found some snowflake buttons to add over the printed snow flakes.

 The second panel is still waiting for a few ribbons to be added to the gifts.

 I already sewed holographic sequin stars over each of the printed stars.

Both have their hanging sleeves made of the same fabric I used to bind them. 

Isn't this green and red candy cane stripe beautiful? I love it.

You can't really see it on any of these images, but I have added a gold coloured D ring at the centre top of each of these calendars so that they can be hung on a hook, without a quilt hanger. I will slip a piece of wooden dowel into the sleeves in order to help the top corners behave and play nicely and not become all droopy shouldered!

I'll be handing these over next week with any luck.

I have one more panel to complete and  if the weather forecast is to be believed, I'll get that done this weekend. Then it will join the blue one on the sale table at the craft market.

In other news....

No crochet and very little knitting has been achieved.

Facebook has over the last three days, shown me three finishes from this time last year. All three are quilt tops, and only one of them has been quilted!! The other two are hanging in the cupboard awaiting their turn.......

Though they have been whispering to me recently.

I didn't realise it had been quite so long.

Aaaaand,

I have a new job!

I'll be working my last shift in the supermarket next Monday and moving into an Admin position for another firm. I have enjoyed working at the supermarket and have made some new pals, with whom I'll keep in touch, but I am very much looking forward to my new job. I'll tell you more another day.

I gotta dash, lots to do today. 

Accomplishments and Disappointments....

I've been having fun with my sewing machine again. I spent most of Tuesday busy with the blue advent panel I showed last time.

I folded up the pockets and stitched across the tops.

Then layered and pinned all three layers.

 Before lots of straight line quilting, with the odd kink, because I forgot to put the walking foot on for the first lot! LOL

I had some fun with the star, but opted to leave the other baubles alone.

I will however be adding some 3D bling in the shape of pretty ribbons.

 Despite what you see in this picture, it is now bound and awaiting a hanging sleeve.

And I achieved all of that in one day!!!

I didn't sew on Wednesday, but I did go out with Debs. We visited a couple of needlework stores. Our first stop was at The Pintin in Geraldine, where we were both disappointed. Previous visits to that store have been very inspirational, and unplanned purchases were often made, but this time the place felt half empty, stands that are usually dripping with kits and samples along with suitable precuts were stood almost bare! Shelves that used to be bursting with colour coordinated fabrics had empty spaces and some bore only samples made from fabrics no longer available. Debbie bought nothing and I came away with only two fat quarters.

The second store was better, we came back into town and visited The Timaru Sewing Centre. It is more of a dress makers store than a patchworkers, but I was able to find what I was after.

I now have enough blue fabrics for another large project. (More about that on another day). I also purchased a ruler work foot. Remember I said that I had purchased the advent panels online as the local store didn't have any? Well the online store sent me a catalogue, in it were quilting rulers, in the blurb for said rulers it suggested that I look at a this youtube page.....

Inspired!! 

 I want to try that....

I do have two small quilts awaiting their turn on the frame.

But I didn't purchase any rulers yet.

*

Have you noticed how there are not so many crafting magazines around these days? Inspired by flicking through the pages the catalogue I had received  I went looking for some magazines last week, I thought that if I can't get on a do what I want because of my arm, then maybe I could read about it.....

After three different shops I did manage to find one British quilting magazine, for which I paid a HUGE sum and a knitting magazine too. The quilting mag came with a log cabin ruler, something I have not previously seen, and a wee booklet on how to use it. I have made log cabins before but I would actually like to try out the ruler. So I'm telling myself it was worth the extra money as the magazine itself was rather disappointing. 

The knitting mag was little better. It also had freebies, in the shape of two pattern leaflets, but like the quilting magazine it was also disappointing. I guess it is a sign of the time, with everything so readily available on the internet, magazines are finding it hard to compete. I do love to flick through the pages though, it's somehow more satisfying than scrolling through pinterest and Ravelry.

On the knitting front...

 I am still managing to knit a row or four now and again. I dare do no more than four at a time though as that hurts.

I'm trying again to show the variegated yarn, but it is so subtle I just can't get a photo of it.

yes, there are also tiny rainbow flecks of colour in there too, but not all the way through the yarn, only here and there, like another dimension in the variegation. I have a couple of hours before I have to go to work, I might go play in my ribbon jar....

A little sewing.

So my arm is still sore! Knitting and crochet are still on hold. I tried cross stitch and it became uncomfortable after a short time.....

Sew, back into my room I went, looking for something to occupy me. 

I used an advent panel to make up this advent calendar. I added ribbons to the gifts and buttons as tree embellishments. 

I had to take my time, even feeding the fabric into the sewing machine became uncomfortable toward the end.So I made and quilted it on one day and bound it another day, closing it by hand. Then on a third day I hand stitched on the ribbons and buttons. 

I still have to add a hanging sleeve, something for a forth day!!

All of the discomfort aside, I did enjoy making it and wanted to make some more. The girls and I will be attending a Christmas craft fair soon and I thought/hope these might sell. 

I shopped on the internet as my local store didn't have anything available.

 This blue one caught my eye.

 And another one with Santa on.

I ordered them yesterday, and they were delivered today. 

WOW!!

That was quick.

I'm not going to sew today, I'm going to rest my arm and will make a start on them next week.

My Doctor says my wrist may take quite some time to mend, even if I do managed to rest completely.......

I'll try to rest it, but there are so many things I want to do.

You know how it is right?

Will I ever learn?

Well, maybe one day, but not just yet.

My sore wrist was slowly improving as you know. I had discovered that I could do a little crochet and that was ok. But you know how it is, when you want to do something, you just do it and crochet is very addictive and hard to put down.......

My wrist got sore again and screamed at me to stop. So I put it away, in another room. Out of sight out of mind, I hoped.

But I'm no good at sitting and doing nothing.

So I thought, I would give knitting a try.....

 I have this lovely grey yarn that I bought, to knit myself a sweater.

You can't really see it, but there is a very subtle variegation in the yarn. It's ever so soft and lovely to knit with. I could do a couple of rows without my wrist complaining.

I got this far before it screamed at me to stop....

So I've put that away too.

But I'm no good at sitting doing nothing.

 So, I've pulled out my cross stitch. It's not so easy to do in the evenings while watching TV. I have to concentrate a little more on what I'm doing.

Wish me luck, because if this doesn't work I'm not sure what I'll do.

I'm not very good at sitting and doing nothing......

Lets end things on a higher and happier note. 

In an effort to cheer me up, Tony bought me these beautiful flowers at the weekend.

Isn't he a love?