A finish!

Finished these 6 place mats for my round table! Its a bright turquiose and orange print. The fabric is from Da Gama Textiles. Just love the vibrant colors of their fabrics. Truly South African!

Daily life!

We have some lovely rainy weather. The birds aren't hiding, just happily chatting outside. I love this kind of weather! Just fidgeting around with cutting some placemats and knitting prem socks. Using what l have and will continue later stitching them together! Also cut some batting for a continental pillow cover. Now to get enough black for the top, won't put backing on it.  I have an idea to make it so that both sides can be used! Just keeping busy. I want to make a little doll quilt with my leftover shweshwe fabric using hexi's. Using up small pieces of fabric means no waste! 

Busy keeping sane!!!!!

This is the lantern crochet pattern that I tried 

using a lot of left over wool

Once again the lovely Coral Trees are in flower and just love

their bright colors

Completed this last week for my daughter.

Also completed during lock down Neils quilt.

 

So busy!!!!

Life is always busy here, and just loving every minute of it!!!
Still quilting away at Neil's quilt. The first half is already done and now starting on the other half then I will be quilting the final blocks around the edge of the quilt. Can't wait to get it done. Have so many ufo's to get done this year.
Also loving the cool weather although it does get very humid. But not that
exhausting heat that we had in Clanwilliam.
Have been very sentimental these last weeks and wow!!!! Sometimes I wonder how I got through all these years making some huge stupid mistakes and also how on earth I have learned from them. Wish I can stop my kids and grandkids from making some mistakes too. I have these mass of quilting magazines and don't seem to have time to just relax and enjoy them these days. I am trying to get all those other items done. My days seem to get shorter by the day. hehehehe
Now we also have the virus on its way and having to cope with that and also the government wanting to use our hard earned pension monies is causing a lot of stress for us pensioners here. We have been saving as much as possible but somehow seems to never be enough but we will survive. The world is really going mad these days. Nobody ever thinks of taking life slowly and enjoying the simple things in life, maybe its Mother Earth getting us to slow down and enjoy and appreciate life and family.
Well thats enough for deep thoughts and may you all keep healthy and enjoy the family and life. Huge hugs to all!!!

Neil's Quilt!

I have now done the center of the blocks. Moving on and quilting on the one side. Its looking great and the white cotton just makes it wow!  I will be doing the quilting on the navy only, so that it shows. That is why l love big stitch quilting, My quilting shows. One puts a lot of work into quilting the quilt, so why not make it stand out too. Choosing fabric and pattern takes time and when quilting it should also add to this quilt!

Neil's Quilt!!!!

Well now I have started the quilting of Neil's quilt and am going on what it says to me to do and just going on my feelings with this so will see where it goes now!!!!

Daily life!!!!!!

A gnome that I crocheted and just needs a bell added to his hat!!!

We have had some lovely rain!!

These are the empty 2 liter milk holders that I stapled together to hold my shoes in my cupboard, just need to pretty it up a bit.

Grandpa joined the boys in the tree!!!!

A foggy Saturday morning walk with Neil and the dogs

I have the quilt sandwiched and now going to start with the big stitch quilting.

Went for a nice long walk this morning with the dogs. They have adjusted well and are now enjoying playing in the breaking waves.

First few days of 2020!!!

First of all, 'A wonderful blessed 2020 for all of you!!

Went for another walk on the beach, lots of visitors walking!

My first pavlova a great success

Have had a few nice rainy days but not enough

to refill our towns empty dam!!

Sitting on the front stoep and having a nice coffee with the rain falling.

A misty moon night!

A refreshing light shower

Got this old rusted watering can from a friend,

who thought of me before throwing it out!!!

A few days later,

Very windy day on the beach with all the visitors gone

My scissors needed some sharpening and I simply do it myself. 

Don't know if I am doing it the right way but it works for me.

Just life!!!!

Went for a walk on the East Beach yesterday (6th Dec) morning.

The dunes are always moving! we had some strong wind last night and here you

can see how the wind blew sharp edges. Lovely patterns running along the beach. Lucky is always having a race against Coco to get to me! 

I have now tried to do paper piecing on my sewing machine and it is much faster than doing it by hand. I finished the next 8 blocks very quick and now need to get the pieces cut for the next 28 blocks.

Making Jam slowly!!!!

I just love to do things in my own time, so making jam the old way cooking it on the stove.

 I am not a fan of the microwave to cook. 

Homemade apricot jam is just so tasty, I dont eat shop jams, not tasty at all.

 Anyway this is 5kg apricots that has been bottled now and ready to eat. 

Neils Quilt'!!!!!!!

This is the first block of the next row in Neil's quilt. All done by paper piecing and hand stitching. 

I have another 20 of these to make. Well this is the last huge quilt I am making for a while.

I found this lovely block on the Quilters Cache website and it is for free!!!!