Week 4 journal - Sophie and Rua

Meet Sophie and Rua, Morepork chicks thrown out of the nest by their parents because recent warm weather has made it tough work to care for them. When I saw this story and the accompanying photo in our morning paper it immediately spoke to me for a journal quilt. The two chicks featured are being cared for by Department of Conservation staff who are taking them home at night time to keep up the demanding feeding schedule. They had been named Sophie and Rua.

Christmas progress

Yesterday was the 25th and I didn't get a chance to post on my first months progress with making Christmas things. I got caught up moving furniture between rooms last night. We have decided to swap our lounge and bedroom around and had to do yesterday because the TV company come to recable today.

My big finish for the Christmas stash this month has been these lavender bags using some op-shop linen. These turned out really pretty, and and the gift drawer smells lovely too.

My other Christmas project is these little stitcheries. Such cute patterns, and I've a had a lovely time sitting in front of the TV stitching these. The will become... something larger but I'll post about that later on.


I've made a stocking for a swap too but I can't show that until it has been swapped.

Week 3 journal - making faces

This week I wanted to try stitching a face in the style of Terri Stegmiller. You can see her beautiful journals and other amazing work on flickr here. I sketched on paper first, so that I had an idea of what I wanted to stitch and then tried to translate it with free motion stitching. While the sketch helped with the overall size and general idea of the image, the two aren't exactly alike.

I learned not to stitch to many lines. This image is to heavily stitched, and that happened really quickly. I also learned that once the eyes are wonky it's kind of hard to fix!! I had fun making this and finding the pretty fabrics for the askew borders. I think I'll try this again sometime. Thanks for the inspiration Terri.

Week 2 journal

I've been tidying up over the last couple of days. I can shut the cupboard door now which is real progress. This journal quilt was made with scraps that I found during that process. I used a basic collage process so there are lots of raw edges. I'm not sure I like it - it didn't turn out as I had planned, though I am pleased with the effect of the ribbon binding.

One of these things is not like the other

A Christmas stitchery


A couple of diary covers, from bits and pieces found in my journal quilt box.


Bag holders made from old flour sacks... these were lovely to work with.

I've been stitching

Vicki at 3 Creative Studios is running a Journal Quilt Challenge. It sounds like so much fun I thought I'd have a play tonight and see how I got on.

I love this format because it allows me to play with all the colours I love, without having to live with a giant quilt made from them.

Happy New Year

And so in the blink of an eye we have rolled into 2011. The New Year is always a time to reflect back on the year that has been, to celebrate its passing, and all you’ve accomplished, and to look forward to what you want to achieve in the coming year.

I am one of those odd people who feels more Christmassy after Christmas Day. I suspect this is because I am on holiday. So combining my New Year refections with my festive feelings, I have decided I will be organised with my Christmas gift giving this year, and in particular I will be organised with my Christmas gift making.



To kick this off I made lavender bags yesterday. I found a great tutorial online and did some trial runs. We visited a lavender farm on Friday when we were out for a picnic and bought lavender. It was such a beautiful sight, the bushes in full bloom in the late afternoon soon. The owner was telling me that they stay open until 9pm at this time of year because people love to come and see the lavender at sunset.

I enjoyed my Christmas swaps*** so much in 2010 that I have joined a Christmas Stocking Swap through Southern Cross Quilters... this one is going to be so much fun because you make your partner a stocking, and then each month you send gifts to put in the stocking until Christmas. Isn't that cute?

***I found the blog of Carol, the recipient of my Christmas parcel. She has a picture of her present - I forgot to take one - here.

I have also found Allie's Blog and she is organising Christmas Through The Year, a series of monthly projects to get everyone stitching present early for Christmas. Check it out and join in.