tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31569729502357384702012-02-17T14:35:04.673+11:00A gardening quilter living in country VictoriaPaddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.comBlogger2131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-41524372519918829022008-12-21T10:16:00.007+11:002009-07-12T15:06:11.788+10:00

Christmas is nearly upon us, and soon will be a memory again. A bit like this Blog which will soon fade into cyberspace as the transfer to Wordpress seems to be going well. There are things about the new host that I really like, but a few issues to yet sort out. Do come and have a look, I would hate to lose any of my regular readers, and you can subscribe to the new site at........http://

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-19171074245329507832008-12-16T19:01:00.003+11:002008-12-16T19:12:15.789+11:00

I have been extremely irritated and frustrated by Blogger in recent times, formatting of the written word is often tedious, needing several attempts to get it right. What looks good in the preview does not look the same when posted, so one has to do it again - and again. Photos upload in strange places and need further fiddling to get them in the correct spot in the text, and sometimes as in

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-64707480500289642502008-12-15T18:50:00.001+11:002008-12-15T18:51:06.791+11:00

Can you hear me screaming......??Stupid and irritating Blogger again!! This was supposed to come with the post below, but for some reason was left behind! These are the ones I was hoping would be forest green! I think the gremlins are watching me at the moment!

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-6902804008629926752008-12-15T18:40:00.000+11:002008-12-15T18:41:42.605+11:00

I did these a day or two ago, I was trying for bright reds and forest greens - not raspberry and yukky mustard brown! The blues are OK, in fact I really like the one with lines, it has some lovely effects on the bits you cannot see. I obviously need to do a bit more research on colour mixing. I think the problem may have been that the dyes I used were not pure ones, but premixed by the

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-85418350663184935062008-12-15T18:24:00.001+11:002008-12-15T18:27:45.063+11:00

This is an experiment to see if Blogger will let me post any photos. Have tried using Internet Explorer, and Firefox, but nothing happens. These are being uploaded directly from Picasa. If it work, they are shots of the centre of a lily, and an Oriental Poppy, with one of my girls on the way in to collect pollen.Hooray! It worked, but this is a cumbersome way of doing it. I shall to hope

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-17632879187655326992008-12-14T20:43:00.003+11:002008-12-15T06:49:36.272+11:00

I have been trying to post more photos today -close ups of flowers and bees, fabrics I have dyed, and TIF for November. All to no avail. Getting this blog to look good takes some time at the best of times, adding photos means heaps of fiddling and formatting the lines etc etc, and for some time I have been thinking about changing the host site. Today it will not let me upload any photos -

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-23139378213613702712008-12-13T16:49:00.006+11:002008-12-13T17:22:39.387+11:00

Yesterday I went to the Bendigo Art Gallery to see the current exhibition - The Golden Age of Couture which will run until March of next year. It would not be exaggerating to say that this is one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen. More than 100 garments by Dior, Balenciaga, de Givenchy, Balmain, Norman Hartnell, Hardy Aimes and many others, made between 1947 - 1957 with photographs and

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-585525986232917152008-12-08T16:11:00.012+11:002008-12-08T18:14:41.990+11:00

I have said it before and happily admit that I am a dreadful scrounge, and I love hunting and gathering stuff no one else wants. You may recall my good fortune in February when I found a dusty old bottle at the local tip, which turned out to be this Swedish glass decanter, for which I was charged only 20 cents. Yesterday I returned to our tip shop to find this grotty old cupboard, for which I

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-66934397866908375162008-12-07T20:33:00.007+11:002008-12-07T21:16:00.734+11:00

In 1981 no-one went anywhere on the night this amazing serial of Evelyn Waugh's classic novel was screened on ABC television for the first time. I remember it as being like nothing I had seen before, a captivating story set in the 1920's in the most wonderfully beautiful places, with actors of great reputation and no expense spared by Grenada who produced it. According to the reference above the

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-74210436930776228522008-12-05T15:35:00.012+11:002008-12-05T16:21:50.103+11:00

About a week ago Averyclaire tagged me for a Bookworm Award, where one has to nominate the book closest to you and quote from page 56, then pass the award on to five other people. While I thank her for thinking of me, I'm afraid I'm not going to play and pass it on, but am happy to mention one book I have been reading in recent times. The Surface Designer's Handbook - Dyeing, Printing, Painting

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-37618458261738118742008-12-04T19:56:00.005+11:002008-12-04T20:23:16.661+11:00

I've been an absent blogger for a while - no reason really, nothing much to say and certainly little in the way of stitching, quilting or sewing of note though I have not been totally idle. The garden continues to thrive, warm weather and rain is making everything, including the weeds grow at a great rate. Pictures from today are Poppies:-Papaver orientale, a perennial Oriental Poppy and its

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-68879744507139115282008-11-28T15:11:00.009+11:002008-11-28T16:07:16.350+11:00

The roses are just beginning to bloom - it is cooler here due to the higher altitude so the growing season begins later and ends earlier than in other places in Victoria. Many have been planted over the last few years, but not all have survived the winter frosts, those that have are spectacular. This is an old fashioned climbing hybrid tea rose called 'Meg' that has superb red hips in Autumn. I

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-10171750924369779782008-11-25T16:58:00.008+11:002008-11-25T17:59:34.148+11:00

My sitemeter tells me that there have been more than 50 visitors to this blog today - an all time record to be sure. I cannot say that fame for the standard of writing or my wonderful textile creations has been the attraction, but acknowledge that being the first in Sharon's list of Blogs beginning with the letter 'P' (despite not always being about stitching!) is far more likely to be the cause.

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-85149095206509435572008-11-22T15:39:00.003+11:002008-11-22T15:45:53.591+11:00

Summer officially begins in Australia on December 1st. Today in this area there has been torrential rain, hail, sleet and the temperature has not yet reached 5 degrees Celsius ( about 40 degrees Fahrenheit). The unsealed road outside my gate is once more like red porridge, the car has mud up to the door handles, the huge rainwater tank is again overflowing, the chickens look very soggy and

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-38044313261142002582008-11-21T16:59:00.005+11:002008-11-21T17:19:41.063+11:00

I was lucky enough to borrow these two DVDs from the Embroiderer's Guild Library on Wednesday and have now watched them for a second time, I shall probably view them again before I return them and take some notes, particularly of how Jean Littlejohn works with soluble fabrics. If you are interested in their take on contemporary textile work, then they are well worth tracking down to see how they

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-40112054007577733002008-11-20T12:08:00.011+11:002008-11-20T12:48:28.364+11:00

This is my 200th Blog posting - and while some bloggers celebrate such milestones by a give-away of sorts, I hope you are not disappointed when I say it is not going to happen here - perhaps I will do something when it reaches a really remarkable number! I had thought to mark the occasion by changing the way my blog looks, with a new header, a belated Spring clean and generally sorting, however

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-9454778101390369642008-11-14T01:10:00.005+11:002008-11-14T01:25:47.672+11:00

It is 1 am on Friday morning. There has been the most tremendous rain and thunder for the last three hours - through which sleep was impossible.....particularly as one small dog tried to sit on my head as she shivered and shook in fear. I have given up until it all passes over, so here I am again, checking mail and printing out the latest Studio Journal's lesson in the early hours of the morning!

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-23209212466813424472008-11-13T17:42:00.006+11:002008-11-13T18:21:45.890+11:00

It seems a long time since I blogged, and it reminds me how much time I usually spend at this computer if there is nothing much to distract me - probably too much if the truth be told........I see I have a second follower as itemised by Blogger - hello and thank you to the two Carols! I know there are other regular readers, so greetings to you as well, and thanks for the comments and

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-42768546488956831582008-11-09T14:05:00.003+11:002008-11-09T14:23:00.126+11:00

Rule #1 - Never pass an op shop without checking what is inside....Rule #2 - Use your imagination when assessing potential treasure....What can it be used for? Can it be fixed? What would it be worth if.......?Do I need it? Not really but it is too good to leave behind. Rule #3 - Patience and perseverance pays dividends.......(not much else does at the moment!)Two hours of television watching,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-69600618705345904272008-11-04T10:51:00.006+11:002008-11-04T18:13:58.375+11:00

Purple Purple is the name for a range of shades between red and blue, and is made by mixing these primary colours. Although there are many different names for the various shades, such as mauve, liliac, puce, amethyst, mulberry, and heliotrope, on the colour wheel purple is situated between, magenta and violet which are considered colours in their own right. It is a colour often associated with

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-42060459859658611312008-11-03T17:40:00.001+11:002008-11-03T17:43:13.111+11:00

There is a mouse in here somewhere............

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-75275033526104672342008-11-03T09:42:00.006+11:002008-11-03T10:30:18.908+11:00

Thank you to those who left comments for Ma's Birthday, they were very much appreciated.Time for another TIF. I can hardly believe that the year is nearly over and there are only two more challenges left. What is more surprising is a sense of satisfaction at having something for every month so far, and not falling by the wayside during the year. As said by Sharon:-"This month the challenge is to

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-26685127558298956812008-11-01T15:20:00.008+11:002008-11-01T15:51:59.370+11:00

Had my dear Ma still been alive, today would have been her 91st Birthday. She died in 2000, but never a day goes by that I do not think of her in some way. She was a very creative person, a sewer, potter, basket maker and gardener and I have her to thank for teaching me my early sewing skills and fostering a lifelong interest in things textile and growing. So today, I’m posting a couple of things

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-81088289072370945772008-10-31T07:20:00.004+11:002008-10-31T08:54:35.114+11:00

Living Down Under means one is slightly out of step with what is happening on the other side of the world - time wise. The fifteen hour difference in time means that while I am typing this post, it is still yesterday in New York, the home of Joggles who are releasing the lessons online for Sharon's course every Thursday for the next few weeks. Last week I waited very impatiently on Thursday (here

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-1003237197291400302008-10-29T17:59:00.014+11:002008-10-30T05:29:12.706+11:00

There has been a lot of chat on another list about leaders and enders, and the great way one can piece a quilt without trying too hard. Not knowing too much about idea, I checked out the site mentioned - Quiltville- and decided to give it a go. I have cut up a zillion two and a half inch squares and am busy leading and ending my piecing for my other quilt with a pair of them. It seems very easy,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-72946935168644657212008-10-27T18:30:00.004+11:002008-10-27T18:51:14.346+11:00

A quiet day spent piecing some more blocks for the current quilt shown several posts back.....my mind churning over with ideas for about future projects, wondering what this week's journal exercises will be, listening to some music, the news and occasionally checking my email.....then I saw this on the ABC news site, in bright colours of red, orange and green, against a classic black background.

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-58837352866153962182008-10-26T14:24:00.007+11:002008-10-26T14:54:05.346+11:00

Thanks for the comments and emails, good to know your thoughts on this thorny question, which has now been dealt with. I have been working on some of the exercises for Sharon's course, and having a ball doing stuff I have not done since my children were young. The task was to try what I used to think of as brass rubbing - where one places paper over a textured image and gently rubs with a pencil,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-63473611199801167962008-10-25T15:06:00.004+11:002008-10-25T15:13:52.893+11:00

A few people have commented (thanks for that) about the tidiness of my sewing room. I think they must have failed to notice that I mentioned it was only tidy because I had finished one project and had not started another! Generally the mess made when working on something leaves it look like the Augean stables and a major clean up is required before starting again.....However, it may stay tidy

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-43691492556429649452008-10-23T08:48:00.004+11:002008-10-23T09:26:53.051+11:00

A week or so ago I was tagged by Embellisher for a meme, to which I duly responded - here. The rules are outlined on that post, and I now I need to pass it on to seven other people. Today I decided to nominate the last seven people who have kindly left comments on my blog. I hope you don’t mind, are happy to play along and pass it on to seven more. I have actually added an eighth person just in

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-42781591419453391752008-10-22T17:14:00.005+11:002008-10-22T17:34:37.188+11:00

The topic for this month was to think about our workspaces, how we feel about them and what part they play in our lives.Theoretically my workspace is what would otherwise be a bedroom – it measures about three metres square, is carpeted and the three door hanging cupboard now sports sturdy shelves for storage of my stash and other necessary items. I have a work table with my Bernina on it, an

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-86056813573796013052008-10-21T16:20:00.007+11:002008-10-22T07:31:24.256+11:00

The topic for September’s TIF was Lists. Let me admit that I am a list maker from way back, I love them. I’m a fairly organised person, and in fact seem to remember that the tendency to make lists is one of the characteristics of a Myers Briggs ISTJ personality – and I’m one of those! Lists help me keep track of so many things – what I need to do, to buy, to make, to fix, people to ring or see

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-19304251097761167762008-10-21T13:04:00.006+11:002008-10-21T13:41:38.083+11:00

A two and a half hour bus trip on Sunday with a local horticultural group took me almost 200 kilometres away, to the Strathbogie Ranges in northern Victoria, to visit three very different but beautiful gardens. Two of them were on working farms, the first was the creation of one woman over the fifty years she has lived there, and the other developed by a couple from an empty paddock during the

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-47147084844534222402008-10-19T06:45:00.005+11:002008-10-19T06:55:35.049+11:00

What a difference a day makes - the small dog had a long overdue haircut in preparation for warmer weather. I prefer the scruffy hairy yak look, much nicer to cuddle. I see that I only need a few more visitors and I have had 5000 hits on the blog - how good is that? Thanks to all who visit and leave a comment, it is much appreciated!

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-63799546547422837912008-10-18T16:41:00.006+11:002008-10-18T16:58:18.745+11:00

These are for Kate, who gave me this young Magnolia tree, to show the first gorgeous creamy yellow flowers......The tree is about a metre tall, but there are eight or nine flowers or buds. And this one is for Ian to show my working girls.......

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-4672266812292216272008-10-16T17:28:00.013+11:002008-10-16T18:28:05.523+11:00

When I got home today from a long day of helping organise and hang more than 70 quilts for our show, I found this little bouquet on my doorstep with a note. I had happily demonstrated the many capabilities of an embellisher machine to a lady who has boutique in this town. She designs and makes wonderfully individual garments but did not know about embellisher machines, but was very taken with

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-20742478052132034862008-10-15T18:57:00.005+11:002008-10-15T19:13:00.680+11:00

Tomorrow I journey to Castlemaine to help with the cleaning of a large church hall, and then the hanging of the quilts for the Goldfield's Quilters Exhibition. As mentioned previously there will be a few of mine on show, only one is relatively new as my creative stitching is fast going in another direction. One of those now in its bag in a friend's home, waiting for tomorrow, usually hangs in my

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-19127298516516605542008-10-14T22:28:00.004+11:002008-10-14T22:53:33.503+11:00

I have not blogged for more than a week – where have those days gone, and what do I have to show for it? Not a lot really. There have been things I needed to do that did not involve sewing, visitors and a house guest over the weekend, a visit to Melbourne, time spent with my kids on the way, and when the weather is good, lots to do in the garden. It is always a choice as to how my time is spent –

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-9455409402384625102008-10-06T17:12:00.009+11:002008-10-06T18:39:07.116+11:00

The quilt guild to which I belong is holding its biennial exhibition from 17th to 19th of October, and today has been spent getting my quilts ready to show, and completing the small one made for the challenge. This needed to be based on one traditional pieced block, which could be repeated more than once, distorted or made in different sizes as long as the original block remains recognisable.

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-56174722995171019972008-10-05T18:16:00.003+11:002008-10-05T18:28:53.010+11:00

This little basket was made last night with the giant ball of carpet wool that was mentioned a few posts back. It is about six inches in diameter and four inches tall, a useful size for keeping things in........ I hoped that it would be stiff and strong, but despite being washed in very hot water and dried in the clothes dryer, it did not shrink or stiffen up - if anything it stretched a bit and

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-31625299637476934212008-10-04T13:42:00.005+10:002008-10-04T17:58:41.475+10:00

A brief walk in the garden during a break from sewing reveals new growth on Japanese Maples, the last of my daffodil varieties to bloom and the first blossoms on an ornamental cherry. I love this time of year when everything is clothed in fresh new greens, and all the leaves are perfect. My neighbour is out there on his mower, and I should probably be doing the same thing but I'm running out of

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-50964693225176228722008-10-01T10:43:00.005+10:002008-10-01T11:48:09.081+10:00

Emails of strange origin or suspect in some way are rarely opened on this computer. I feel the same way about those supposedly funny ones that are forwarded with good intention, but with everyone's email addresses still attached for all to see, they usually end up being deleted and I probably miss out on a giggle or two. A friend recently sent me what I though was a business type email, but

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-13430321549268720602008-09-29T17:03:00.002+10:002008-09-29T17:18:59.785+10:00

Despite having said in the last post that I may not be making many more traditional quilts as I have cupboards full of them and want to try different textile things, today I am once more thinking along traditional lines. These were made when I was away with a great group of quilting friends for a weekend recently, and when complete, the quilt will eventually hang on a wall in my very large

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-22796287228504985502008-09-27T18:04:00.001+10:002008-09-27T18:42:36.346+10:00

An absolutely wonderful day spent travelling, with other members of the Embroidery Guild, by bus to Geelong Grammar School, where the TAFTA Fibre Forum held an Open Day for visitors to view the various works completed in a wide range of classes during the previous week. The work was inspirational, and I rarely use that word as a descriptor, but I came away with many ideas rumbling round my brain,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-80134901435059823562008-09-26T15:41:00.011+10:002008-09-26T17:10:32.339+10:00

On my way home from Castlemaine earlier this week I visited all the Op shops, but it was a little disappointing in terms of what I found. I think Op shops are moving to another level somehow, two of them in a local town are now looking very up-market - one has moved to another shop with more space and is very neat and tidy, while the other has everything colour co-ordinated, as if a window

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-11248203081301842812008-09-18T21:46:00.002+10:002008-09-18T21:48:33.666+10:00

When I made my tree-change move three years ago from Melbourne, to this little country town, I thought I was in for a quiet life with my dog and my huge garden, endless quilt making punctuated with occasional visits from family, and if I was lucky enough to make some friends nearby then that would be a bonus. I have done so much better than that – I have found a place with a group of wonderful

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-13360008755995974262008-09-16T19:41:00.006+10:002008-09-16T19:54:57.013+10:00

Because it suited most of us, my children, their partners and three extra dogs gathered at my place over the weekend for a family celebration - my birthday, which actually happens later this month. It was just great to have them all here and we had a wonderful time doing not very much at all – certainly no sewing or gardening. My son did most of the cooking; we had Atlantic salmon for dinner on

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-33044427191845419032008-09-12T12:29:00.002+10:002008-09-12T12:35:57.515+10:00

Three more daffodils, unfortunately the labels carefully written with their variety when they were planted are now blank, details washed off by the rain I guess. No sewing today, too nice outside and visitors coming for the weekend. Have a good one yourselves. This came from seeds given to me by a friend, and he called it Red Broccoli, gorgeous but looks more like a Cauliflower to me! I

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-30637257569230371342008-09-11T15:43:00.009+10:002008-09-11T16:27:44.669+10:00

I preface this posting by saying that I admire the workmanship and traditions of vintage crazy quilts, and certainly the skills with which contemporary ones are made, but I have never been tempted to try it myself, as it is a bit too fussy for my taste. However, I do love what is happening when people disregard the rules and try their own thing in a very original way, and some of the work being

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-87141053312104965182008-09-09T17:11:00.003+10:002008-09-09T17:26:40.485+10:00

For ages I have been trying to get a close up shot of one of the five Kookaburras that are living in my garden, but they will not let me get close enough or fly off before I can even try. Each morning when I open my curtains there they are sitting in various trees, very still with eyes peeled, watching the grass below, and then suddenly swooping down to pluck some grub or worm from below,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-31059062890655205132008-09-08T15:24:00.001+10:002008-09-08T15:28:48.448+10:00

A few more photos from Banongill

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-53777990474534391802008-09-07T13:29:00.008+10:002008-09-07T19:41:39.031+10:00

Yesterday as part of the Open Garden Scheme, with friends, I visited Banongill Station near Skipton in the Western District of Victoria, 120 kms from where I live. It was spectacular and well worth the hour and a half's drive to see such a place and enjoy its history. Banongill Station which was first settled in 1853, where the original bluestone cottage is now part of the homestead kitchen, has

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-79725778217646977222008-09-05T13:21:00.003+10:002008-09-05T13:47:37.527+10:00

I posted a better photo of this little bulb last year (here) - It is called Chionodoza sardensis and is a tiny relative of the Bluebell family. I think the snails have been munching as it popped trough the leaf litter, but it is still gorgeous.This is a new shrub recently planted in the ongoing development of my garden. It is called Mahonia aquifolia and I found it at my local town's monthly

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-66979201252892522172008-09-04T16:54:00.002+10:002008-09-04T17:18:29.472+10:00

I decided that I need to be at home for a while - too many things happening that take me elsewhere - computer class, walking group, Embroidery Guild activities, Quilting Group, local community committee, appointments in the big smoke, meetings with friends........you see what I mean? It is great to be busy, I cannot imagine being bored but one needs to stop and take a break sometimes, and that

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-47802190475814422102008-09-02T19:27:00.004+10:002008-09-02T19:36:53.882+10:00

How on earth does one choose just a few blogs to nominate for an award? My blog roll is a bit out of date as I now subscribe to almost 60 blogs via Bloglines. They are all different, all interesting, all written by clever creative people willing to share ideas, techniques, their lives and their art. However, I need to select just seven of them, so these are they – in no particular order,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-16448342655461490962008-09-01T17:20:00.002+10:002008-09-01T17:24:51.779+10:00

Yesterday was my good friend’s 60th birthday, which was to be celebrated in grand style at a well known and rather upmarket restaurant. Friends had helped by designing beautiful witty invitations, name tags, place labels and by doing the floral arrangements that graced each table and the dining room. My small job was to collect her birthday cake on Saturday morning as she was at a conference,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-76798319067440581062008-08-31T22:34:00.003+10:002008-08-31T22:40:58.237+10:00

I’m delighted to report that two good things happened yesterday after I had found the feather pile, that made my day a whole lot better. Both were blog related.Firstly my blog has received this award from AveryclaireI have not had a blog award before so this was a very pleasant surprise and much appreciated. The rules of this award are as follows:-1. The winner can put the logo on the blog2. Put

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-23102575523819087452008-08-30T17:04:00.004+10:002008-08-30T17:11:04.754+10:00

This is why I prefer dogs to cats......I found this pathetic pile of feathers near my chook shed this morning. It could have been a fox, but far more likely it was one of my neighbours three cats that have a history of stalking birds on my property.Once this sad and sorry pile of gorgeous red and blue feathers was one of these....A Scarlet Rosella, and as they mate for life, I guess there is one

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-30998518052141493032008-08-29T12:57:00.006+10:002008-08-29T13:21:39.176+10:00

Firstly this is a lovely little ATC recieved in the mail this morning from Sylvia as part of a swap arranged through EmbellishStitchEnrich Ning which was set up after the first embellisher course by Dale Rollinson finished. Isn't it cute?I had a day in Melbourne yesterday, and met up with my Daughter who played hookey from work for the afternoon. Amongst other things, we visited a favourite Op

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-82293608367072815352008-08-26T21:31:00.007+10:002008-08-27T16:03:44.707+10:00

A very good friend is soon to have a 60th birthday which will be celebrated on Sunday at a well known local restaurant where I have not yet been. The invitation asked for no gifts, but that does not seem right for someone as generous and helpful as she is. My friend is partly responsible for me choosing this area in which to live as I first thought seriously about the possibility after talking to

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-64313529726594449292008-08-26T13:59:00.006+10:002008-08-26T14:23:09.479+10:00

Another little journal quilt, this time for the Aust/NZ Art Quilt group. The theme for June was Fire so this is mine - better late than never as they say......It measures 11 x 8.5 inches, and is machine applique with metallic foils and machine quilted. Having to deal with a bushfire is my greatest fear about living where I do. My property is very clost to the Wombat State Forest which has not

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-13244600781102606772008-08-22T10:44:00.001+10:002008-08-22T10:47:58.467+10:00

And one of the beautiful Maggie - just because....

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-1493470945457969882008-08-21T16:04:00.006+10:002008-08-21T16:32:21.249+10:00

Sharon's question for August was in response to her admiration for people who are able to maintain balance in their lives. We were asked to define our own meaning of balance, say if we maintain a balanced life and show how we balance aspects in our day to day existence.I thought about this for a few weeks trying to work out what I would do, and being fairly literal was stuck with images of scales

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-66754241628145550732008-08-20T20:52:00.004+10:002008-08-20T21:20:17.459+10:00

A day at the Embroiderer's Guild today where I am now on the Committee, and have an official role.......that of organising excursions and speakers for the group - so I have justification at last for spending more time on the computer ''researching" interesting places to visit, exhibitions to see, and clever people to invite to speak to us. What fun - but I guess it will also mean negotiating with

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-78634648201358393862008-08-19T14:46:00.006+10:002008-08-19T15:23:45.758+10:00

Those that know me understand that I am very fond of my chickens which often feature in my day to day ramblings about life in the country. I have five, all individually named, with specific places in the pecking order of the hen run, and with characteristics and colours that make each easy to identify. They are all laying at the moment but have gone for months during the heat of the summer when

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-53256313438648113752008-08-18T09:32:00.006+10:002008-08-18T10:20:03.434+10:00

Home a week now, and this is all I have to show for it! A single ATC to be swapped with an online friend in the UK who did the Embellisher course with me - I don't think she reads my blog so it is probably OK to post a photo and not spoil her surprise. It is made from silk tops, throwsters waste and snips of silk caught between two layers of scrim and embellished from front and back, then

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-44825236979140204472008-08-13T17:36:00.011+10:002008-08-13T18:55:34.702+10:00

After more than a week away in South Australia, I'm glad to be home again. I had a great time with family and friends, got to know my brother's grand-children a bit more, did a little shopping at a couple of quilt shops, and went to the wonderful Country Bumpkin needlework shop which is also the home of Inspirations magazine. I enjoyed several meals or coffees in interesting restaurants, a visit

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-70885227973537393972008-08-03T19:45:00.005+10:002008-08-03T22:27:24.685+10:00

Several days since a post, and little to show for it as my time has been spent outside instead of in the sewing room, and getting organised to go away. In fact today I took my two beloved dogs to the kennel, and my house is very empty without them. The look Maggie the collie gave me as I left her in the tender care of the kennel girl was so sad and disapproving. I'm sure it must have brought back

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-84363513420415599782008-07-29T21:10:00.003+10:002008-07-29T21:43:14.403+10:00

One really should not try to write something of significance when one has been out to see friends and had a wine or two.......one ends up posting an empty entry! This is the second attempt...Just back from being part of a group helping a friend design invitations for her 60th birthday party in a few weeks. It began with a common quotation from said friend..."It's my turn to cook, so........let's

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-23075628980803385062008-07-27T10:08:00.005+10:002008-07-27T10:34:09.252+10:00

In the days when I lived in Melbourne, I subscribed to the MSO concert series, and regularly sat up in the Gods to listen to watch and listen to the wonderful music being performed on the stage below. Sometimes my eyes would wander around the 1982 Concert Hall looking at the amazing acoustic baffles on the walls and ceiling with the idea of one day copying the repeating squares and rectangles

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-3197490903746785842008-07-22T16:51:00.002+10:002008-07-22T16:59:15.441+10:00

This fellow came to visit again this afternoon - here he is in the big Eucalypt tree about four metres from my house! While they may be a bit cumbersome on the ground he climbed this very quickly, and is now sitting right at the top almost out of sight. I have not seen it since the photo a week or so ago, but hope his second sighting means that he might be living on my property somewhere.

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-78223825170464472752008-07-20T10:24:00.002+10:002008-07-20T10:33:57.577+10:00

A big vote of thanks to two anonymous technical assist people from Dell, somewhere in Malaysia. Yesterday while working with this three month old machine, it crashed and I could not make it do anything it was supposed to. I rang tech support, and the first man patiently talked this computer illiterate through the process to run the necessary diagnostic programs, at least half an hour's worth of

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-1657778432522598162008-07-18T16:23:00.002+10:002008-07-18T16:39:42.046+10:00

Four of us had a wonderful day today at the Bendigo Wool Show - got there early, parked directly across the road, the sun shone, it was not too cold, bumped into some Embroiderer's Guild friends, there were no crowds, bought a yummy treasure trove of wool, silk and alpaca fibres, prefelt bats, and hand dyed embroidery wools. Chatted with these cute alpacas, had great lunch in a previously unknown

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-11733048675163001122008-07-17T13:08:00.006+10:002008-07-17T13:49:33.721+10:00

I have been following the creation of the floral quilt by Allison Aller, and recently admired the photos she posted of her lovely garden that is her inspiration. This morning I went to have a look around mine, hoping to find something to bring into the house, but in the depth of winter there are few flowers and little colour in the garden. The promise of Spring is not far away, but there is

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-68151363001830135442008-07-16T18:46:00.003+10:002008-07-16T19:28:21.901+10:00

Currently Melbourne water storages are at 29.9%, and stage 3a water restrictions are in place until November at least. Restrictions in other country areas are much more severe, and water conservation has become a way of life for most of us. I guess in view of this it is almost blasphemous to complain about having too much rain - but sorry, personally I am sick of it. In this town there are no

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-26054844875104156142008-07-14T09:41:00.008+10:002008-07-14T10:11:03.467+10:00

I would hate to perpetuate the myth that Australia is over-run with wildlife, and that kangaroos are to be found hopping down the main street........however where I live in Central Victoria there are various animals that co-exist with us and are seen occasionally. I have heaps of kangaroos that visit the garden, but these? Not so often.My two dogs bark when there are visitors, kangaroos on the

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-34021013588891303632008-07-13T10:02:00.005+10:002008-07-13T10:22:53.359+10:00

Spurred on by my daughter's garden creature below, yesterday I made this floppy eared bunny for a young man called Jack who is about to travel to the US, where his clever Dad has been appointed to a very important position with a well known multi-national company. Today there is a farewell luncheon for the family, and as I had purchased a tiny bunny rattle for his yet to be delivered sibling, I

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-22218698960519698322008-07-11T20:29:00.003+10:002008-07-11T20:33:33.165+10:00

Nothing new from me today despite the fact I have been at my sewing machine all day - just this lovely beast made by my very clever daughter as a gift for a friend's baby. Don't know how she could bear to consign him to Australia Post and a distant destination in the US - I would have kept him close to home.

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-73941091602071267002008-07-09T17:37:00.003+10:002008-07-09T17:43:26.999+10:00

This little piece is the one started on Monday, and finished today. It measures only 4 x 3.25 inches. Woven on top of even thread linen, with wools, silk and cotton threads and some specialty yarns. A few knots added for more texture. Now - what will I do with it?

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-48596852265878829672008-07-08T10:48:00.006+10:002008-07-08T10:58:55.745+10:00

This is the first snow of any significance this year, about an inch so far - just enough to cover the grass and make everything look lovely. It has lasted a few hours, but looks like it is now warming a little so is very slushy, and we may not get a lot more today. The locals are chattering about it, and the kids in the park are throwing snowballs - there is a special delight in the quiet beauty

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-72041140907572209622008-07-07T16:55:00.005+10:002008-07-07T17:21:49.417+10:00

A miserable cold and wet day today was spent warmly inside with a group from the Embroiderer's Guild learning how to work small woven images on fabric, following the ideas of English textile artist Hilary Hollingsworth who has been featured several times in Stitch magazine. It is a fairly simple technique, time consuming but gives great results. No pictures yet as my little landscape has not been

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-69023531809303688772008-07-06T15:44:00.004+10:002008-07-06T16:10:31.808+10:00

I have not been very productive with my stitching recently, there seem to have been other things that demanded my attention and time, but hopefully creative sewing will start again soon. I spent almost two days sorting and tidying my working spaces, as I seem to have spread everywhere in the house, with every possible surface covered with fibres and fabric used in working the lesson samples for

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-77402125741855461612008-07-04T18:54:00.004+10:002008-07-04T19:11:05.633+10:00

Most people know that the Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States, a national holiday that marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4th 1776. Some people may know that it is also the birthday of Queen Sonja of Norway or that the Henley Regatta takes place in England at this time. Another bit of trivia for you to store away is that in 1997

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-89894963712760697122008-06-30T09:11:00.005+10:002008-06-30T09:35:57.240+10:00

This morning there were seven or eight kangaroos in my garden feeding quietly in the grey dawn. I think they are the same small family group that grazes the area around the few houses where I live during the night, and often spend the day lazing in a nearby paddock. They will not let you get close, but despite the ruckus that my dogs made, these stayed around for a couple of hours. I managed to

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-31572274054169455692008-06-24T16:26:00.005+10:002008-06-24T16:48:16.841+10:00

If I were still working, I could retire....... according to the nine emails received today at the address for this blog, I have won many millions of dollars, euros and pounds sterling, as there are emails from the National Lottery, the Canadian Award Department, the UK Lottery Board, BMW awards and the National Liverwood Lottery asking that I make contact to claim my prize. I wish. I am also

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-91287554953760961512008-06-21T18:39:00.003+10:002008-06-21T18:44:22.666+10:00

I read with interest that 30,000 people gathered at Stonehenge this morning to watch the sun rise at 4.58 am, in celebration of the longest day, or Summer Solstice, also referred to as Midsummer Day.In Australia we have our shortest day, the Winter Solstice, and that means we are halfway towards Spring and warmer climes even though July is likely to be the coldest month of the year where I live,

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-14268169213969428442008-06-20T16:31:00.008+10:002008-06-21T12:07:27.188+10:00

Cold, wet and soggy underfoot where I live today, so I was very glad to stay inside in the warmth, stitching. I have been trying to follow this week's Embellish Stitch and Enrich lesson, and spent most of the morning creating a small piece using a photograph as inspiration. I found a colourful shot taken at the National Rhododendron Gardens some time back and used that - but the result was truly

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-2728594181046261172008-06-18T20:41:00.002+10:002008-06-18T20:55:42.642+10:00

This is just a note of appreciation to all of those who take the time to read my Blog and to leave comments about my various pieces of work or photos or whatever. It is very much appreciated, even if I am not able acknowledge it at the time. One has the best of intentions to blog regularly, about things of interest, show photos of successful projects, respond to comments and generally keep it

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-44532527335106449892008-06-15T15:57:00.007+10:002008-06-15T16:32:44.701+10:00

Usually on Saturday mornings members of local community groups in this small town sit outside the Newsagent's shop at a card table, selling raffle tickets to raise funds for their club's activities. Depending on the season it can be very cold and windy, but it can also be a pleasant way to spend a morning, catching up with locals or visitors and engaging in friendly banter as you encourage them

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-31528402395969851122008-06-12T14:24:00.005+10:002008-06-12T14:45:38.905+10:00

Busy busy busy with lesson 2 from Embellish, Stitch and Enrich, my only problem being that there are no more spare needles for the embellisher, I've broken several so far and that means I must be careful until I get some more. Nothing finished yet, but this lesson is fun - embellishing, using foils, burning back and embroidery to make a sumptuous surface - I hope. There was news this morning of a

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-21787065049113989512008-06-10T19:01:00.003+10:002008-06-10T19:35:01.422+10:00

Nine more hits on my blog will make it 3000 - a milestone of sorts seeing I have not yet been blogging for a year, and often wonder about who reads what I write. One of my earliest wishes when I began was to find this blog listed on the blog roll of someone else as a favourite; I can report that this happened some time back, and that I was delighted at the time - a bit pathetic really, but I

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As my beloved Bernina is still in the repair shop, this cold and damp weekend has been spent playing with the Pfaff embellisher and working on last Wednesday's first lesson from Dale Rollerson. The first one is my answer to her challenge to make something using the first techniques we learnt. It is made from felt embellished with silk and woollen tops, then cut and woven together and stitched

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-28905810230423552592008-06-06T11:29:00.005+10:002008-06-06T13:23:58.083+10:00

The dogs were given big bones this morning, and I just had to post these shots of Bella, she obviously had a wonderful and grubby time with it before burying hers for later on....

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I have just completed my smallish bag, using the piece of felt made a week or so ago, so this is how it turned out.Now that I know more about how this sort of prefelted batt works, if I were doing the same again, I would have taken more care about a surface design and its placement, as well as how it would be embroidered/embellished before I started; about getting the edges straight while the

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This morning I downloaded the first lesson from Dale Rollerson's Embellish Stitch Enrich online workshop which will run over the next six weeks. This will focus on learning how to use an embellishing machine to get the most from it, and various ways in which it, and different fibres can be used in textile arts with a pleasing result. There are several names on the list of participants that I

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Sharon's concept for TIF this month relates to one's stash of textile materials, fabrics, threads or whatever, purchased or scavenged - they can tell a story, they can be used to tell different story, or they can be used to make something new and thus take on a different meaning. Now, I really am not sure what to make of this or how best to tackle the challenge..........sure, my stash has a

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Today I attended a workshop run by the Embroiderer's Guild and learnt a method of making felt using Felbi wool batts to make the design, and then wet felting it. The result was so much better that anything I have tried before, it was hard work rolling the fibres, and then thumping them around to felt it, but a lot of fun and a pleasing outcome. This will be a small folded bag and will have some

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I was given a tightly closed bunch of lovely tulips at the weekend by a charming young man who came to stay. Little did he know they are among my favourite flowers and were very much appreciated. When I looked at them this morning, they had mostly opened and started to go a bit all over the place as tulips are wont to do. I was reminded of the many tulip quilt blocks that exist, particularly

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A very pleasant weekend was spent with visitors from Melbourne who came to attend the inaugural Spud Fest – a local celebration for the International Year of the Potato, because this area was once famous for growing them. There were displays of more than 20 varieties of potatoes, old photographs showing farming with horse drawn ploughs, vintage machinery, cooking competitions and potato themed

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This is what I have done for this month's TIF. If you recall, the question was "What do you call yourself?" My thoughts about this were blogged at the beginning of the May, and my decision was that I am most comfortable describing myself as a Needlewoman and certainly not as an Artist. This then is my piece. It is the usual journal size and depicts a needle and two thimbles. I have a favourite

Paddy's Daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12618287196212691694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3156972950235738470.post-30089075673633871892008-05-21T16:46:00.004+10:002008-05-21T17:25:50.382+10:00

I'm home again from the SCQ Retreat in Perth, a lovely city in a beautiful spot, where the weather Gods were kind to us providing sunshine and blue skies for our stay. It was good - to meet old friends, make some new ones, do a little stitching, eat too much, drink a little wine, laugh a lot, watch some demonstrations, learn some techniques, be inspired by other's work, ride a train, see some

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