Hair

For the last forty years I have had long hair; very long red hair. Last October I decided to get it cut. I have avoided it for years because I have very curly hair and the length makes it manageable. I was able to sit on it; it was that long. My natural hair colour was a dark auburn and over the years the grey has taken over.

I found a picture of a style I liked and armed with it went to the hairdresser. They all decided I should change the hair colour to suit the grey growth and added 25 foils also!! He didn't give me a chance to change my mind he just cut it off at my shoulders then proceeded to style it.

Anyway, I loved it and so did everyone else. Since then I have gone back to have it recoloured and cut at least 8 times - funny how you never go to a hairdresser and now I am there all the time!


The other thing is each time I get a different cut and style. At the moment it is pretty short and very spikey. The first cut was shaved into my neck and a mass of curls on top. I just love the fact I can have a new style every couple of months.

I know my mother would be pleased - she always wanted me to get my hair cut - she felt it was too long.

I still love long hair and I do miss not having it but I feel younger with it short and all my family likes it and that's all that matters.

Appliqued roses

I have been working on the next block for the online BOM.

Last month was appliqued and this month continues the theme. I designs a small wreath with flowers (sorry the photos not crash hot) that is a bit more involved than last month's design.

I also wanted to give some of the girls who would be interested a bit of a challenge so design this rose block. It needs a bit of thinking when assembling the pieces and you could use as many shades for the flowers as you like to get it more life like.

I did a little free motion embroidery on the leaves for veins and to give the 'picture' a little texture.

I am happy with the result and hope the girls like it too.

Embroidery machine

Well I have a new toy!!

I bought myself an embroidery only machine - Janome 300E.

I was really happy - the shop where I buy my fabric had a great deal and as well as getting $450 off the cost I got over $800 of freebies with it!!

Have been having a little play with it and love how easy it is to use. It just burbles away in the background while I am doing something else and I only have to change the cotton colour every now and again.

I have a lot of different ideas for quilt using embroidery blocks; I also want to make one using soft coffee colours as a hierloom type quilt. Of course this means I will have to live to 250 now to finish all the new projects I have in mind.........

Bearded Irises

My favourite flowers are Violets and Bearded Iris. I decided to make a quilt using Bearded Irises and in 4 blocks. Each block was made using a different technique - reverse applique, raw edged applique, hand painted and finally quilted.

This first block was fiddly to do but I was pleased with the result.

The second block was easier to do because I like raw edged applique and have done a lot of it.. This is the final 'picture' on a sheet of teflon before I ironed it onto the background.

The third block was hand painted and for the final block I drew the image lightly onto the background fabric and then quilted it.

I put the blocks together with black sashing between them and added a border of the background fabric then a final border of black to frame the whole 4 blocks. I quilted it in the ditch.

I am happy with the end result - there are a few things I would do different but overall it is pleasing.

Still have a little more quilting to do on it and then have to bind it (in black). It is a nice size to hang on the wall so now have to think about where to put it once it is finished.

Treadle Sewing Machine

I bought an old Singer Treadle Machine on Ebay recently. I did some research and also contacted Singer to find out when it was made and discovered it was made in 1926 at Clydebank in Scotland.

I have spent a few weeks restoring it. I only have the drawers and the inside top wood work to finish. Also have to clean up the bobbin winder; it is a bit tight and doesn't wind the bobbins very well at the moment. I am really pleased with it; it is looking really good, almost like new except for the lovely aged wear. The decals are in pretty good shape for its age.

I have got the tension working perfectly and it sews very well. I would like to make some quilt blocks with it and see how it goes. That will be another project for me once I finish with the restoration work.

Coffee making

Recently I won a coffee machine on the radio station I listen too. I am a fan of a show on Foxtel called "Coffee" and have been watching it for a few months so it was great to win a machine that I could play with.

I have been experimenting with grinds and tamps and having fun. My husband is loving it because he likes his coffee. Think I make a mean Latte now and want to try some Latte artworks.... will post a pic if I ever get one to work.

Still not happy with the amount of Crema I am getting but I guess that comes with lots of practice at getting the grind and tamps right.

My kitchen looks like a coffe shop; I have several containers with different beans; a grinder; tamper; thermometer; SS jug for milk frothing; SS cups and latte glasses. Got all the gear - just need to learn to make the perfect cup......

Books to read and shows to watch.

Just finishing the latest Jeffrey Deaver book - Cold Moon. I love his Lincoln Rhyme series, even loved the movie adaptation of the Bone Collector (probably because of Denzil Washington). I have my next book to read waiting patiently - Kathy Reich's latest -Break No Bones.

I have seen an ad on the TV that this week start a series called Bones based on her books so it will be interesting to see how it translates onto the screen.

Last night I watched the premier of Criminal Minds and really enjoyed it. It is on again tonight so will see how it goes. I don't watch much TV - usually just a few favourite shows - LOST (which finishes this week); Spicks and Specks, Coffee, Simply Quilts, Dr Who and Rosemary and Thyme. Will have to add Criminal Minds and Bones to my list now.

I have another book ready to read - Terry Goodkind's Phantom - it is the penultimate book in his Sword of Truth series - it will be hard to say goodbye to this series after 10 books. I love fantasy books when they are done well. Of course Tolkien leads the list but I love Terry Book's Shannara series; David Eddings; Raymond E Feist, Anne McCaffrey and J K Rowling. And of course who can dismiss Terry Pratchett's wonderful Discworld books, they are a warped as I am.

My friend Alison in New Zealand has told me that her husband suggests I give Nelson de Mille's books a try - he think I should enjoy them so I will keep my eye out for them when I go to the library next.