Knitting weather in Melbourne

I started this scarf last winter, from some wool picked up at the Canberra Markets, in June 2010.  Doesn't it look fiery and warm?   A simple garter stitch shows up the beauty of the variegated colours. There's probably only another 10 cm to go to finish it....  so that will be my project this weekend.

Fire Scarf

We are definitely feeling Wintry blasts here in Victoria, during the final week of Autumn.  I've got the beginnings of a head-cold to prove it! However, despite the wind and the rain lashing the windows, it's lovely to snuggle under a cosy, warm, hand-made quilt and settle in for the evening, with my honey, and Misty, the cat.  Autumn, with it's coppery colours and crisp days, is my favourite season of the year!

Autumn Glory

My latest project.... first stage.  "Autumn Glory", designed by Carole McLellan, Maggie Robertson Design, Traralgon. 

I can't wait to start on the next Sawtooth border.

The colours are even more vibrant in real life.

The wondrous Mt Beauty and Kiewa Valley in Autumn!

Plenty of sewing and sunshine

A champagne chill in the air, sunny blue skies, red and golden foliage...

 A weekend in the High Country, with friends, warm hospitality, lots of laughs, sparkling wine and chocolate!

Now, I've finally finished the Robe Harbour Quilt (apart from some hand-quilting).

Fabrics and pattern (Give and Take), from quilt and fabric shop "The Secret Drawer", Robe, South Australia  - slightly modified by me.  Thanks to Sandra Ludwig, for helping with the fabric choice. (February 2011)

Inspiration for colours was from the gorgeous aqua, turquoise & sea-green water, and clear blue skies, of the Robe Harbour, the yellow sand and majestic dark green pine trees along the foreshore.

Doesn't it look stunning, draped across the railing against the majestic backdrop of mountains and sky!

Applique Pillow Case

About 6 months ago in late Summer, my  artistic step-son (14), asked me to make him a patchwork pillow-case.

He drew a design, and coloured it in. Off we went on a shopping trip, to choose the fabrics. A cuddly flanellette in his favourite (Lime-green) formed the backing, then he chose  co-ordinating colours.

Don't you love the frogs and turtles? The green/blue spot fabric was ironed onto a square of Vliesofix. We used the Laser Cutter to cut out the letters evenly (see the left-overs, below), then ironed each letter onto the yellow fabric.

He even machine-stitched some of the border seams himself! Then, I hand-stitched the appliqued letters with blanket stitch (using DMC Perle 8) - that took longer than expected.  Next, I made an envelope backing, and sewed it to the front. He was so excited when it was finished!  (Well, in a really cool way, he tells me!)

Acrylic Perspex Templates

Laser-cut 3mm Acrylic Perspex Templates - Custom-made to Order - from your Pattern

The Laser-Cutter has been running hot lately, busily cutting lots of 3mm Acrylic (Perspex) templates for orders and samples.

We are getting lots of terrific feedback from customers, who have ordered acrylic templates for different uses:  Patchwork, Quilting, Applique, Scrapbooking, Paper Piecing (for tracing), and even sewing projects - like pocket shapes for machine embroidery. 

We use Auto-Cad to convert  the scanned or emailed shapes into the computer, then program this into the Laser-Cutter.  It's so fast! My friends at the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild had been trialling these templates for me earlier this year, with great results, and it's rewarding to receive repeat orders from satisfied customers.   

6 Translucent colours: Orange, Yellow, Fluro Pink, Fluro Green, Pale Blue & Clear

Would you like to make better use of your sewing and crafting time? 

• speed up the rotary-cutting process of multiple pieces?  
• avoid re-making cardboard or templastic templates as they wear out?   
• stop searching for impossible-to-find commercial templates to fit the exact measurements & shapes you need?
• design your own templates? 
• or re-scale a block pattern to a different size?