Disappointment

Just before the Easter long weekend Cyclone Cook made landfall in New Zealand - at almost the exact spot where we had beach accommodation booked.   Rather than brave the weather we delayed our departure by a day.   And so it seems did everyone else!  The roads were either blocked by large earth slips or gridlock.  The usual route being rendered impassable, I opted for the "long way round" and after  six and a half hours on the road and only travelling 175 kilometres the DBEM called it quits and we turned around and came home.  Lesson learned for me.   Staycations will be the way to go for the future - the DBEM hasn't been at all well since we came home :-(

But I have improved the shining hour and my sewing is up to date.   So much so that today I went and bought another length of fabric -  my favourite blue and grey/black combination for a winter dress.
I cleaned up up plastic box full of scraps and made this apron too.

And with the book finished (and highly recommended) I will be stitching tonight.   And back to work tomorrow :-)

Distractions

Before I take my sewing machine to the repair shop tomorrow I was anxious to sew up a top I had cut out so this morning off I went.   And voila.....

Then this afternoon, a quick scurry to The Ribbon Rose for a ball of Perle #8 in DMC3813 so I can finish off the Hardanger Table Runner.   But I got distracted by a new library book.   This is one of those "recent releases" which can be rented for the princely sum of $6 for 14 days to save waiting in the interminable queue.   And I am engrossed....

So a quick post tonight and I am back to my book.   Sorry to the DBEM as I won't be talking tonight:-)

My Faithful Friend

Fifty five years ago my father persuaded me to part with the huge sum of $300 to purchase a swanky new Elna SU.

Since then it has sewn me thousands if not millions of kilometres of beautiful even stitches and hundreds of buttonholes.  But today my friend failed me - the gearing on the buttonholer has seized up.  So I need to quickly get my next two projects finished before taking her off to her second ever mechanical overhaul.

Currently I have this fabric almost completed and when the final stitching is complete it should transform into this

And why have I had a day sewing?   We were planning to travel to Tauranga for a brief holiday over Easter but Cyclone Cook is disrupting plans and is currently making landfall just south of where we are booked to stay.   So we will travel tomorrow instead and I have made use of the time today.  See you when we get back:-)

First freesias

The first freesias have bloomed and are a beautiful scarlet.

Together with even more daffodils they are in a vase to remind me that Spring will come.   We currently have a polar blast coming up the country, dropping all its snow in the South and bringing only icy winds and low temperatures for us in the North.
The small stitched piece is the finally-completed piece from the class I went to in March.   The designer is strong on copyright, and I have already had a sharp reminder once,  so no close up shots I'm sorry.   This has been on my list for some time and I am pleased to have completed it but it will probably never be repeated.  
My trip book has its spine sewn in and tomorrow the back boards will be glued in place.  Then it is just the individual pages to sew in -  may be another week and it will be done.

But tomorrow I am going to sew.   A navy jacket with a lining in almost-William-Morris fabric.  I have the pieces cut and the lining pieces pinned so it will be a quick job indoors tomorrow when it will be far too cold to venture out.

Last day of holidays

Today is the last day of our public holidays.   Oh dear, back to work tomorrow.   

However on the bright side I did manage to cross all the items off my to-do list.

No stitching yet -today it was all sewing and my new dress is now complete.    Looking at this picture I think a black belt will be better.  

I'm off to do the dinner dishes and then finish stitching the base of the lining for My Favourite Things Sewing Basket.

2+2=1

Today,  two metres of fabric + two hours of labour = one happy HD3QBEM
And the proof? Look at this!

The colour suits her doesn't it.   QED

I'm going round circles

The HD3QBEM and I had a day out today -  she wanted clothes from her favourite shop and I wanted out of the City!   We went down to Hamilton, around an hour and a half drive south of here.   The weather was kind and we enjoyed our travels through the lush dairy farmland.  Spring is a great time of year  -  calves, lambs, a thousand shades of new green on the trees, flowering cherries and we saw splendid samples of all today.

This week has been busy.   I have been diligently working my way through the Spring Cleaning List (half done), the Sewing List (half done) and the Finishing List (half done).  But the car is washed and I even cleaned the inside,  so one job is fully complete.

Yes! Everything is only half done, even these infernal circles.
Ring O Roses needs 20 covered rings and 4 Dorset Buttons and I am only just half way.   So guess what I will be doing tonight?   On Thursday I went to the local quilting store to find lining for this project.   The two shop assistants were deep in conversation with each other ignoring all customers, so I carefully studied all the red fabrics, ummed and aahed and eventually chose this one.   As she was cutting off the piece I required, the assistant was congratulating herself on it being a wonderful match.   Not that she had anything to do with the choice!!

I plan on getting this project completed in the coming week.   Meanwhile I ponder what project to start next.   My only current piece is the English Hexagon Runner and the top of that is done and I am putting off the next stage as I don't really know how I should quilt this.   My sewing machine doesn't do quilting so it will have to be a "by hand" job and I am not sure I am ready for that. Any suggestions?

I have three projects to take with me when we go on holiday on the 18th.  One is a new name tag for Guild meetings.   My current one is plain - very plain.   My name in capitals stitched in blue floss on white linen.   Other Guild members have beautiful tags with flowers, specialty stitches etc.   As I was tidying out my bookshelves I came across a Name Tag chart in one of the files and promptly selected flosses and fabric.  Such a small project shouldn't take too much time??

Yesterday I sewed a silk top for the coming summer.  (This photo is for Little Sister -  and yes I will remember to take the tacking threads out of the hems)  Style Arc patterns are made in Australia (I think) and it was the first time I had ever used one.   The instructions are minimal but the pattern drafting is wonderful and I only had to adjust for my "dowagers hump", otherwise it was perfect straight from the packet.   All that remains is the bias binding around the neck and a button at the top on the back.   I am super pleased with this one.   I really like the overlay front which makes it less like a T Shirt and ever so slightly designer??  I am hoping for some "Where did you buy that?" or even "Did you make that?" comments :-)
And I'm off to make the dinner.

And what are you going to do, she asked

Today I'm still on holiday so the HD3QBEM and I went out to ..... where else but the LNS!   Well, we went to two LNS actually -  one north and one south.   What did I buy you ask?   A length of 40 count fabric for a future (far in the future) project, a new pair of hardanger scissors and some EPP hexagons.
Then in the afternoon while the HD3QBEM slept I ventured out to the dress fabric store .... two of them actually - one east and one west.
At the first I bought nothing but scrounged a couple of samples, which having brought home and thought about, I will go back and purchase tomorrow.   Lining for the Naxos Necessaire -  a splendid exact match red gingham check silk.   Perfect!   The other is a navy and ivory check in a silk viscose mix which will make a gorgeous pair of soft trousers.
At the second shop I inspected every single roll of fabric and finally I found what I was looking for.   Also it was here that I found the title for this blog post.  The helpful shop assistant asked me "what are you going to do with it?" and when I replied, "make a nightgown" she swallowed, then said "the last lady who bought this was going to make her wedding dress"!!!   It was ....guess... silk!   But summer sales are so useful and silk nightgowns are gorgeous to wear.   I currently wear silk nightgowns I purchased 17 years ago so I consider that quality lasts!   Anyway here's a shot of the fabric.

Now I promised Jo some photos of my planned projects.   Not all of them are in a state to photograph but I have two or three that are
First   the Acorn Sewing Roll.   Stitching is complete and I plan to buy a suitable lining fabric and complete this over the remainder of the month.   I unpicked the acorn in the bottom diamond and substituted an M which suits me better.

Second  Ring O Roses   I am stitching on 32 count linen from stash which is Belfast Dirty Linen I think and using the Threadworx floss shown.   This will be my Guild piece for the year so I won't be working on it any more than once a month on Guild days.

Third is this Christmas Tree.   Currently still not completed, this really only requires one evening of disciplined effort and it will be done.   This was a kit purchased from a local quilting shop as an impulse and it languished in my cupboard for a couple of years.   With 2014 being my year of steely resolve, this is now all but finished.

 And Jo, just so you won't worry too much I also have the following on the ever growing list
My Favourite Things Sewing Basket
Mermaid's Sea Chest
One more Altoid Tin Topper
5 Christmas Ornaments
C A Wells Cottage Etui
French House Etui
Merry Bee Notebook cover

I think that should keep me out of mischief for a few months and if I am honest I should add that I am going to do a Casalguidi course at my Embroiderers' Guild in March.  Three Saturdays a couple of weeks apart as there is apparently a lot of homework to do.   I'm expecting that hardanger and cross stitch will get put to one side while this course is on.

Today I harvested yet more beans from my garden.   Each day I pick enough to freeze for future meals and I try to ensure that no pickable bean is left on the vines.   I look up, look down, look in, look around.   Two, three, four and sometimes even five times.  Why? Because I know that if I miss a bean it will grow and grow and grow and be unusable!   Like this one.

A giant bean, over 30 centimetres in length but far too mature and woody to be useful.   How on earth could I have missed that?

Now I am off to a cool shower and another hot night.

Dress Number 3

Today I started early and now have only the hem to do on dress number three.   I took this photograph so that Little Sister could see!   I'm particularly pleased to be able to reuse the belt from a dress I bought 22 years ago!   As I am not a hoarder of any great repute it was amazing to me that I had a belt which suited this dress.   Most items unused for any length of time find their way to the charity shop.

The pattern for this came all the way from London and along with the tissue pattern and instruction booklet had this cute little label.   A great finishing touch.  Apologies for the fuzzy shot.

Tonight I spent ages stitching an acorn onto the point of the sewing roll and thought it would look OK.   It doesn't.   So tomorrow I will spend ages taking it out (silk couched with gold kreinik - oh dear) and then go through my books and charts to find an 'M' to fit the space.   Note to self -  do not attempt to design you are no good at it!

Now I am off to bed, perchance to sleep.   We are promised another tropical night of 19 ⁰C  heat.

An almost finish, an almost started and a part way done!

Today was an almost day.   New Zealand almost won the Americas Cup yachting race, wasting a couple of hours of my precious time in the process and starting my day off in the way it was to continue ;-)
This afternoon was Embroiderers Guild and I started this small Christmas Ornament.   Our speaker was so interesting my attention was diverted and this is only an 'almost finish' which I plan on completing tonight.   It will become a triangular ornament for the Christmas Tree.

I have decided to up-cycle a skirt which I bought for my nephews wedding eight years ago and have only worn twice.  The wedding was in my pre-digital camera days so I have no photo to show you.  

But the skirt is now far too big and as I like the colours, the questionable ruched bottom was removed.  The elasticated waste unpicked.  Now I have fabric to cut a pencil skirt and make it to fit.

In a couple of weeks I should have the knitting you see to the side complete -  a cotton cardigan to wear with the skirt.   Success is almost guaranteed.   (Is this how the New Zealand yachting team feel?)  So this is my 'almost started'

My conscience is screaming at me to finish my UK Trip book which is neither an 'almost start' nor an 'almost finish' but rather a boring old 'part way done'!!   Here is the current state.   Aren't those two houses cute?   Hopefully tonight I will get the tall crane? adit? completed.   Give me a week and I plan on having this project move to the 'almost finish' state.  

And next?   Yes I have that sorted and here is a shot of the materials and a hint of the project!

Have a good evening.

Well what do you think?

I have only the finishing -  lining and hems -  to go.    A smile, a string of pearls, some high heels and a joyous heart and I should be well prepared for Nephew's Wedding?!

This "selfie" was taken sans tripod, sans remote in my bedroom mirror so I could gauge my satisfaction.   What do you think?
Hope you have all had a good weekend.

A Birthday lunch and ...

The dreaded desire to start something new has struck badly.   But I have too many things currently in the basket
Three remaining Christmas ornaments for finish-finish
The WALES band of the UK Trip book
A blackwork page for the NMMSAL.
Some knitting on the needles (must be done by summer) and
The Dress (must be sewn-finished by the end of October)
and a thousand and one other plans in my head so I will be well occupied until Christmas.   At least the ornaments in preparation for that are all done thanks to Stitching Lotus and her Ornament Stitch-A-Long  
I have prepared the grid for the blackwork page and plan to do a chequer board sampler

Oh yes, and there is a Christmas Tree wall hanging of Suffolk Puffs I need to do in order to fulfil a promise to a friend.   Oops - I have perhaps bitten off more than I can chew?

Today the HD3QBEM and I went out for sushi as her birthday celebration.   We had a happy time celebrating -  she's looking well don't you think?

And on the way home I called at the fabric store for two dress lengths.   One is a navy and white Japanese cotton and the other a black and white cotton sateen.   Both will be great to wear to work.  It feels like Spring is in the air so I need to get sewing!
Tonight while watching TV I shall finish-finish the canvas work purse and perhaps the remaining three Christmas ornaments?

From this to this

I have been up since 6am this morning in order to get at least three things crossed off my To-Do list.
So baking done -  Hokey pokey chocolate chip biscuits; Coffee Date Slice; Spiced Fruit Loaf.   That should keep the HD3QBEM happy for morning and afternoon tea this week.

And stitching done.   The UK Trip book has three bands finished

My "do-not-really-enjoy-this" canvas work has gotten this far

Oops a daisy.   The canvas is transparent enough to show the table runner underneath.   Bad photography Margaret!
And The Dress has gone from this cheap muslin toile to

to this

Sleeves, a side zipper, silk-cotton lining and hem are necessary before I will model this.   Suffice it to say I am much pleased.   Even more so now I am confident that this will be finished before the wedding at the end of October.And the bonus???    A skirt for the summer (when it comes)

Cotton pique and very simple but will be great in the hot office during the summer.   A very profitable day resulting in not only satisfaction but renewed confidence in my ability to make clothes that do fit!

Scotland is conquered and I'm off to Ireland!

A mountain covered in heather and Douglas Fir later, I have completed the Scotland portion of the Trip Book cover.   Wasn't it amazing that the Anchor blue ombre thread so kindly formed a cloud for me ?!   This has been fun to do - even though my eyes are rather tired and I may have developed a semi permanent squint!  And so I need to go back to Ireland and finish their castles!

I have made an appointment to visit the optometrist next month and will get new "ordinary" spectacles as well as new "embroidery" spectacles.   From past experience I know this will be fraught with all sorts of difficulties - how can I choose frames well when I haven't got my spectacles on to see them?  Then there is the wait!   My lenses are made by Zweiss in Germany and take forever a long time to arrive back here in New Zealand, by which time I have forgotten what the chosen frames look like and there is always a moment of dismay when I try the completed spectacles on and think "did I choose these?"

My canvas work is progressing but I am no more in love with it now than I was at the beginning.   However in saying that I am pleased I have made the effort to try this technique - even if I never repeat it.  Working with wool and with a stiff canvas is proving hard on my fingers and thumbs so I am not able to speed along on this one.   I tried out a different colour in the top left corner but I don't like it so out it will come.

While prodding plodding along on the canvas work, I had an inspiration on what to do with the "two sides" I had made of Judy O'Dells Jewellery Box.   Judy decided midway to call a halt on this project, so I was left with two pieces and no inspiration till now.   But I only need a zipper, some doctors flannel, some suitable lining fabric and some time and voila this will be another finish.  Watch this space.

In the weekend I have promised to take the HD3QBEM shopping but hope to find time to do some sewing as well.  The bottom half of 'The Dress' needs to be done and I have two lengths of fabric to make into skirts. Ah -  so many projects so little time!  The floral piece will be a basic skirt to wear with a cotton T shirt but I am undecided on how to treat the striped silk.   I bought this fabric in Adelaide 8 or 9 years ago and have never been able to decide on what to wear with it. Perhaps this time I have the solution as am knitting a lacy cotton top in the turquoise/aqua but am keeping my eyes open for a duponi silk to match the wine/plum stripe.  If you see me lurking in fabric shops with a scrap of silk you'll know why!
And as I have a good book to read, I am off to soak my aching muscles and curl up in bed.   Good night all.

Sewing

My weekend has been spent sewing.   A start has been made on 'the dress' - well on the calico mock up to check for fit.   Measure, cut,  stitch, try on and then get the HD3QBEM to pin and mark where adjustments need to be made.   Whatever was I thinking of??   However,we managed and although calico #1 had to be unpicked and remade into calico #2 we hit the jackpot then and I have the sizing right now for the bodice.   I plan on making up a calico for the skirt this week and then it should be onwards and upwards to the finish line.   My "dowager hump" created problems in fitting the upper back and I have decided to place the zip in the side seam and eliminate the ups and downs from the rigidity of that in a centre back seam.   Here's a shot - wrinkles and all.

Last night I worked some more on the canvas work.   The rhythm and counting are great but having to choose colours and fit them into a coherent blend is not my forte at all.   Here's a progress shot.   There's another two shades of blue to go in which should help temper the mauve/wine dominance.

And the Scotland band of the UK Trip Book is coming along.   This week I plan on getting the left half filled -  a loch and a forest of Douglas Fir trees.   Such fun this sampler, although it doesn't stifle the "hardanger-itis" which is consuming me!

I want to make a small hardanger clutch purse.   Which of my many patterns shall I choose.  Can you guess that for many years I have wanted to do hardanger and that almost all patterns/charts become necessities?  Well they did until common sense prevailed and I decided that I already had enough!   Linen will be no problem as I have that in abundance too :-)

And so another busy week starts.