the wheelbarrow

Hey!! Jen here is the dearest freakin' wheelbarrow in town.

Michael helping pop with the wood a few years ago

Grandson on the Dingo

Back again

Hi all it has been awhile since I blogged, I have been a bit slack lately, I have finished a few projects, but forgot to take pics of the knitting that I took to the craft shop the other day,  i finished the cream cardie that I had mentioned in a previous post, plus a an aran beanie. Below are a few cards that I made lately.

This months ATC's are on their way to you Pauly, I think I got it right this month, last month I confess that I didn't read the instructions properly, but when I got my set I wasn't the only one LOL

 Dunno what happened, stuffed up here, PMSL the same pic twice & can't work out how to get rid of it, it won't delete for some reason

Last but not least an embroidered wall hanger, dropped it off at the shop, maybe someone will like it enough to buy it. I'm happy with how it turned out.

Well winter is here, last week it was here with a vengence, before autumn was even finished, it was so cold & miserable, today is the 2nd day of winter officially & it's not too bad a day, we had rain yesterday & overnight, but snow is forecast in the next few days for the mountains down to 1100 mts, which is too close for comfort, we have plenty of wood split & stacked in the woodshed so bring it on, on the subject of wood I had better finish up go put some in the heater now, I can hear the man of the house out there with the dearest wheelbarrow in the district getting the nights wood,

just braggin'

Hi wonders never cease 3 posts in a couple of weeks, but I just gotta have a little crow. first up, an ATC, it's finished & on it's way to you Pauly, very poor quality photo, it is actually gold background, brown matting & gold die cuts, looks purple in the pic.

Next is the scarf i knitted for Karen, it is shades of mauve to purple, but my coat is actually black woollen fabric that looks grey in the pic

Now for my bit of a brag. Ta Da, check out below, my first Champion ribbon in 63 yrs

My three jumpers all took out prizes

two of my bears, where winners, I don't know why my Panda wasn't good enough, because I thought, it was better constructed than the small one, but I'm only the bear maker not the judge.

My patchwork wasn't good enough, there was some stiff competition in that section, so next year I had better try harder, LOL. Can't show you any pics as once again I forgot to take my camera. The other girls were snapping pics so maybe i can get hold of a few of them to show you. We had a crap day weather wise it was cold as & a few showers throughout the day, but all in all there were plenty of people about & plenty to see & do, it was a successful show despite the rotten weather.

Well I have raved on enough, better go and have some lunch, then go check the mail & live in hope that there are no bills only cheques, cos I reckon we have had our quota of bills for this month. Bye for now, Helen

A couple more

Two posts in one week, not often that happens. Like I had nothing to do & all day to do it in, pics below are how I amused myself today, instead of doing housework, surprise, surprise, I had no visitors, usually thats when they come, when the place is a mess. (which is most of the time, lol) I coloured the design, with coloured pencils then painted it with fabric medium & then embroidered the outline, (I think the technique is called colourique or something like that, spelling ?) a few months ago. wasted about an hour poring through patchwork mags looking for inspiration, then ended up making it up as I went. looks alright from a distance, don't know how it will go under close scrutiny by the judges on Friday, had a good run today, didn't have to do any reverse sewing for a change. The photography's not the best, but the best I could do with the flash & those damn energy saving light globes, they not much better than candle light.

Next pic is one of my older bears, I dressed it in a baby frock, bonnet & nappy, it's 20cm tall or 8 inches That's enough rambling from me for one night, I better finish up here on the 'puter & go finish the sleeve of my cardi so I can get it sewn up & the neckband done by Friday morning, I am a bugger for leaving things til the last minute, too old to change now LOL

So til next time be good, if u can't be good be careful. Helen

A long post

I thought it about time I updated my blog, it's been quite a while. Not much happens around here, haven't done much in the way of scrapping or card making, but i did manage to construct the 3 bears pictured below thanks to Jenny B she wanted a bear for the Handicraft day, of course as i hadn't made one in a couple of years i had no fresh ones, so of course i had to make one, I had the black & white alpaca for the panda on hand, and in my bear making hoard I found the 2 small bears cut out & ready to go, finished them then get on the net to Gerry's & order more mohair, gold this time. like a couple of hundred bears aren't enough. (Mum's big suitcase full are relegated to the garden shed cos there isn't enough room in the house for them.) LOL

The next pic is a work in progress, that is the second sleeve of my cardigan, that I was hoping to have finished to enter in the show next week, maybe I will get it done, we'll see.

The next one is finished, after our local show it is heading off to the CWA Handicraft Day & then into the craft shop for sale, I actually started making it for myself but as usual I put it on looked in the mirror, decided it made my boobs look big, so it's for sale.

The patchwork below is no longer a WIP cos I got busy & quilted & bound it the other day. I got inspired by a tutorial I found while blog hopping the other day, I'm sorry I can't give the lady the credit as I can't remember her name or the name of the blog spot

I reckon I have rambled on for long enough, & I have to go & do some veg's, the aroma of the lamb roasting in the kitchen is making my mouth water. So bye for now, til next time Helen

A long post

(This b--- photo is supposed to be further down the page, but can't seem to be able to put it where I want it for some reason)

Hi all, been a while since I have popped in to say hello, I lead such an exciting life, as I go nowhere or do much that is worth writing about, just drift along from day today. been on a bit of a roll creatively lately, below is a glimpse of my messy craft room, one cannot create in a tidy room, that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

A friend asked me to make her a golliwog for her granddaughter for Christmas so what did I do last night instead of going to bed, stayed up til 2.30am making Golly, got up early this morning, cut the old fella's lunch, had a brekky & a shower & then made his clothes this morning & dressed him. I grabbed what I thought was black homespun last night by the light of those stupid energy saving light globes, which aren't much better than candle light,( maybe Santa will bring me one of those Ott lamps that I been wanting, but I doubt it) then this morning in the natural light it was actually very dark blue, so he is nearly black, it looks black in the photo too.

Next pics are of the Chrissy wall hangings I have been making, hopefully to sell if anyone wants to buy them, I took a few down to the craft shop in Tumut last week without taking a photo of them and put a few of these ones below to the Bakery here in Batlow along with a few cards that I made, to see how I go. I think I might give some of the smaller hangings as a reuse able card that the recipient can hang every year if they like

these are a few flowers i made, don't know when I am ever going to do any scrap booking again to use them maybe there are some scrappers out there that would like them

Well that is about all for tonight, too much rambling on as usual. I probably won't be on again before Christmas so I hope you all have a Magical Christmas, & I wish you all Health, Wealth & Happiness for '2012'

Another one done

I thought maybe it was about time to update. been pretty slack, very slack LOL, it's been 6 weeks since my last update. not a lot happens round here.
Pauly I have finished another months ATC's, for the family & friends swap, they are on there way to you.

My quilt is well under way, a pic below of progress, a lot happier with it now, since taking this pic I have put the border on it, but haven't taken a photo yet, I'll get some when the sun shines again. if ever. Don't know what happened to that lovely spring weather we were having, winter is back, it's cold wet & miserable again, a few more days of it is forecast.

The next pic is the original design that i didn't like, so you can see how awful it looked before all that unpicking & remaking, not to mention having to buy more fabric, even the yellow centres of the stars look a different colour when removed from that awful purple, but they are the squares that i unpicked from the 9 patch blocks & used in the Ohio star blocks

Had a good day in Albury last Sunday, most of the family met in Albury, sadly Vic's crew couldn't make it this time, we met at the the park by the river, hung out there for a while, then went & had lunch at the cafe at Peards Nursery, I think everyone had a good feed, the desserts looked so yummy, but most of us couldn't fit it in after the main course. It was great seeing them all, we don't see nearly enough of the family these days. Those gorgeous great grand babies of mine are growing so fast. So are the grand babies, all towering over me, & got their licenses or learners permits, they make me feel short & old. LOL. I forgot my camera as usual. Pauly don't forget to send me some of the photos you took, PLZ

I guess I better stop rambling on & go to bed it should have warmed up by now, thought i was finished with the electric blanket for this year, I live in Batlow so I should know better.

Bye for now, til next time Helen

I'm back & it's only been a couple of weeks since my last post, been keeping myself busy doing a bit of handicraft, still working on that quilt from my last post, I am still buying fabric a couple of fat qtrs at a time (Margaret must be getting sick of me, LOL) & it is evolving, I really don't like those purple & yellow nine patches, so I am reverse sewing (unpicking) them & making them into ohio stars with a beigey colour background, wasting a lot of time & a bit of fabric but am happier with the result, the purple looks blue in the pic below

Another ATC done, Pauly I kept my promise & did better this month, it is only the 18th day of the month, (instead of the 5th of the following month) & they are finished or almost, just have to stick the info that I just printed onto the backs & then I can post them off tomorrow. I think maybe I got last months theme, "sew it" mixed up with this months LOL, I traced the elephant pic onto homespun, embroidered it, coloured it with inks & it looked a bit flat, so then I cut out the elephant shape in thin wadding & quilted it onto some tulle to give it some dimension.

Brilliant photography, I don't think.

I will have to get those knitting needles mobile, four of my aran jumpers, some hats & two of my mohair bears sold in the craft shop in the last couple of months, that means I only have two jumpers & the cardi left there, but i am cashed up enough to buy some more wool, like i haven't got a big plastic tub full already LOL, but Bendigo woollen mills keep sending me sample cards of new yarn in delicious colours and I just can't help myself.

Anyways I better stop rambling on & go to bed. Bye for now Helen

Late again

Just to show that I haven't been idle the last few weeks, a bit of patchwork & applique, not sure I like it, too much purple, i have made a few Ohio star blocks in more muted colours to tone it down a bit, forgot to take a pic of them, it will all come together & look OK I hope

Went to Wagga last week to the Patchwork Group block swap, had a good day, got inspired looking at the show & tells, was lucky (or unlucky) enough to win another bundle of nine blocks, didn't mind winning this time, these blocks were hand applique daisies, I'll post a pic later when I make the quilt.

I have finally done the ATC'S for May, thanks to Margaret for the loan of her Stampin' Up stamps & Vicki for the gentle shove today & the help with the cutting out we did this afternoon.
Pauly they will be in tomorrows mail, you should have them on Weds, I will do better this month , I promise

I had trouble getting a decent photo, ended up propping them up against the fruit bowl on the table, see the mandy & the pear in the background.

Not much going on around here, we had few nice days, frosty mornings, sunny days, but they were too good to last, it's raining now, started a couple of hours ago & the forecast is for rain on & off all week.

I guess I better stop rambling on & go chase some zzz's, it will be time to get up before I know it. So you know the drill, be good etc, Bye for now Helen

Nothing to do

You would think i had nothing to do & all day to do it in, wouldn't you? the housework will wait, the faeries don't visit here very often. LOL
Look what i finished off this morning, the face is a bit lopsided, but that adds character, now i have to make a smaller one for Emma, the pattern was for 6mts size, it looks like it would fit a 6yr old to me.

Next pic, hooray i finished my cardi at last, except for buttons, I have a couple that suit but Murphy's Law, not enough of either one, the joys of living in a small town without many shops, I have to wait til I go somewhere to shop, there's always ebay but I can't touch, feel & compare.

Next pic is of the frost out of my kitchen window, (u can see the curtains reflected in it, that's yellow tulips in bottom left corner, not grot. LOL) it was too darn cold to go out im my jammies to take it, it was one morning last week, can't remember which day, but take your pick, because most days last week started out that way, check out my garden ornaments, not many urban back yards have unique ones like me LOL, caravans yes, tractors & slashers maybe, but D6 dozers? it was sitting there for a few days, waiting for the float to pick it up & take it to the next job. Any wonder i gave up trying to have flower gardens. LOL

Next pic is from the week before last, when we woke up to a winter wonderland, snow fell through the night, didn't have time to take any pics in the yard before we left for work, so this one is the only decent one I got, MOTH reckons I am mad, I wound the window down & was snapping away as we drove up the Tumba road, of the snow over the town, most of the pics were a blur of bushes as we went past them, I aimed one shot at Vics house, but missed it altogether.

last pic is the atc i did for the F & F swap, the theme is birds, done & posted on time for a change. Hope the next theme is an easy one too.

Guess I better go and finish vacuuming etc, before someone about my size trips over it in the hallway, It's a wet & miserable day here today, a good day for crafting or sitting by the heater, knitting or crocheting.

So bye for now. Be good til next time. Helen

Back again it has only been a week this time LOL, I thought I would show & tell my bit of creativity for this week, the 1st pic is the applique block I did for me cos I liked it, might use it on a bag, I think

The pic below is the one I did for the block swap, weren't supposed to embellish it so I left the birds off it, as I didn't get to Gundagai on Weds, ( the MOTH stuffed up my plans as usual) so I don't know who were the lucky ones that won the sets of nine blocks, the trouble is if you win , you then have to make them up into a quilt, so it is really a booby prize LOL

I had a bake up this morning and made a couple of batches of "muffins", started out the first batch was going to be pumpkin & sultana scones, & as I never measure my ingredients the mixture was way too wet, if I add more flour that would make them heavy, so I grabbed the muffin pans & filled them, still had more pumpkin left so I mixed up another batch, this time used orange juice, instead of milk, so I guess they're orange & pumpkin.

And of course I had to have a taste test, the last pic is of the muffin scones with my homemade prize winning blackberry jam, it won a 1st at the local show, & no, it wasn't the only one in the section, that would have been a hollow victory LOL

Anyway must go and check the mail, get another handful of bills out of the box, as it is early in the month that's all there will be, maybe as it is Mothers Day on Sunday there might be a couple of M D cards for me LOL. So bye for now. Helen

Back again

Hi folks it's been a while since I blogged, I'm still around, don't know what I been doing the last five months, but been busy doing it. I finished the jumper that I started last winter & delivered it to the craft shop before Easter. I found it a real chore, don't usually take orders, but it is one of my old favorite patterns, so i made an exception, same as the one in the pic below, she wanted it in a larger size, well it's done now, haven't collected the cash yet, should have charged double. LOL. Went back to finish the cardi for myself, which I put on hold, to do that one, it's all knittted up & just waiting to be sewn together. Not been very creative on the papercraft front either, sent off (very late) my School themed Family & Friends ATC's without taking a photo of them. below is a pic of the April ATC, Showtime theme, how goods your memory Pauly? that pic of the carousel pony is the applique cot quilt that I made for Shaz when she was a baby,(she now has 3 babies of her own) which I scanned then reduced down to fit, then printed on card, stuck PP on, cut it out & paper peiced, spent half the night & most of the day on them.

Better stop rambling on, get stuck into my homework for the patchwork block swap, left that til the last minit too, got to hand applique a birdhouse onto cream homespun, we meet in Gundagai on Weds.

So til next time, you no the drill, if you can't be good
Cheers Helen

Another ATC done

Hi this old slacko decided it was time she updated her blog, haven't got much creativity to show for the last couple of months, my mojo has been AWOL lately, need a kick start to get me going again. I shouted myself a Sizzix Big Shot for my birthday, that was on the Oct 24, i only started to use it in the last couple of weeks, it has been sitting there on the sewing cabinet, gathering dust, screaming use me lol
Below is my finished ATC for the F & F swap, a bit late you have probably all got them by now.
One more to go for the year, bought a new die that I planned to use on it, but it is back to the drawing board now, I can't use it on it, cos it's too big.

Next pic is the Christmas wall hanging that I did for the surrounding craft group block swap, seeing as it was last one for the year, Tumut the host group said instead of a patchwork block, we make a handmade item to take along, the items were numbered on arrival, & we were given a number, the gift with the corresponding number was your gift, there were some nice gifts & as you can imagine some very ordinary ones, but luck was with me that day for a change & I scored a very nice crhistmas decoration


this one is a just becauseone I made cos I was on a roll, & felt like it, I'll have to lash out & buy some proper quilt hangers

Pauly, you will be pleased to note that I have used my birthday pressie at last, I got motivated & did some painting with my sparkling H2O's, there are a couple of samples below, I also painted some bears but the photos of them were even crappier than these 2, so I ditched them.

more flutterbys

I better stop rambling & go think about cooking something for tea.

Til next time, you know the drill, if can't be good, be careful