Surprise!

Bantam and chicks, a photo by The Witch on the Barn on Flickr.

This Bantam has been missing for weeks. We thought a hawk or fox had taken her so It was quite a surprise when I opened the henhouse yesterday morning to find her back with three tiny chicks. We don't know where she was hiding or how she got back. Bantams usually make very good mothers and they are in a separate cage now so the others don't harm them.

Pin Oaks

Pin Oaks, a photo by The Witch on the Barn on Flickr.

I am enjoying the Autumn colour in the garden and on the farm. Last week was very mild but now the weather has turned cold and wet.

If you like coffee

Coffee Candles, a photo by The Witch on the Barn on Flickr.

Here is a nice idea if you like coffee. Nestle some tea lights in coffee beans in a suitable container, I used Depression Glass jam dishes. As the candle heats up the aroma of the coffee is released.

To Boston With Love

I was very pleased to see my Flag for Boston had arrived on "During Quiet Time" Amy Friend is one of the organisers and receiving the flags. They have a beautiful and impressive venue for the exhibition.




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Vintage Sheet Project, A Little Dress.

It has been a long time since I have done any clothes sewing for a little girl, my own daughter is a thirtysomething Mum herself now. I have seen so many pretty dresses and skirts on the internet using Vintage Sheets I decided to cobble together a pattern and try one out. I used a bodice tutorial from here which gathers the skirt using fishing line. My dress opens at the back and uses press studs to fasten it. It should fit a two year old and the sheet I used is 100% cotton.

Tell the Face 'cos the Hand WONT Listen!

I know I have enough fabric supplies to last at least two lifetimes. I know I definitely did not need to bid on a moving house sale lot of 3-4 bin bags of "patchwork fabric, vintage sheets and much more!'. But my fingers went tappity tap and I was the highest bidder. Vintage sheets are so popular now and difficult to find so I was sure there would be a sniper about for this auction.  I sat on my hands as the last minute counted down, but the lot was mine.

It was a local pick up and and when I corresponded with the seller she said she may have underestimated the quantity a little.

There were 16 bags in the end and I thought my boot would explode on the way home. My daughter very kindly relieved me of a couple of bags of the fabric that she liked and a couple more have gone to the op shop. I have been sorting and washing and ironing and starting to cut out squares for a doona cover. I have already made a few bibs, I am up to hemming 4 skirts and experimenting with a dress for a little girl.

It is just as well I am planning new storage cupboards for my workroom.

May Finish.

 I made this little Amish study Quilt top last year using homespun scraps and quilted the centre "in the ditch'. The colours and designs of Amish Quilts has always appealed to me ever since the exhibition that was held at the National Gallery of Victoria quite a few years ago. 

Crosstich Sampler Find

I found this in one of our local Op Shops and is beautiful work, but it looks not quite finished. I really admire crosstitch and have done a little, but my eyesight hasn't been good enough for quite a long time. This would be lovely framed and I am trying to work out a way of charting the climbing roses pattern to complete the project. I wonder what the story behind this is and how it ended up in the Op Shop?

http://vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca/blog/2013/04/to-boston-with-love/

My flag for Boston

Finish for April

This month is an Alice in Wonderland bracelet I had started last year and the collection of charms came from Etsy. As you can see from the background I am avoiding my quarterly bookwork. When the bookwork is done I usually celebrate with some sewing, so perhaps I can manage another finish. Life has been rather busy lately!

March Finish

We were away for a couple of weeks during March and then had a busy Easter, so I allowed myself a little extra time to complete last month's project. [There may be a penalty for this, the one that makes the rules up as she goes along hasn't decided yet!] This little quilt was started last year using  fabrics I had in my supplies and I bought nothing new to finish it. The tumbler blocks were all diecut on my machine and the top was completed quickly.  I have developed the excellent habit of trimming threads and pressing as I go and now find putting the quilt together a lot less tedious.