Saturday, July 25, 2009

recycle, reuse, reduce

Last week I was browsing the Internet via Google images and found some cute hand made paper beads. I studied the instructions carefully and decided I could make some too. So today instead of sitting at the sewing machine like I had planned to, I started making paper beads. I am happy with how my first attempt turned out. I usually save all envelopes that come in via the mail box to use as scrap paper for shopping lists etc, but I decided to make some paper beads out of them. The inside of the security envelopes are perfect with their patterns and colours. I also used news paper, and tried out some saved used wrapping paper. The wrapping paper was not so successful as it is shiny and tends to slip and slide while you are wrapping it around the wood meat skewer. I also gave a couple of them a coat of craft paint just to see if that will be worth doing too. Once they are completely dry, the next step will be to spray them with a sealer or varnish. It was fun doing something different for a change. It just so happens that on Better Homes and Gardens last night, they had a segment on making paper beads too, so I whipped out this morning and bought the mag so I could have it on hand. I hope you are all having a good weekend so far, cheers and blessings, Julie





Friday, July 24, 2009

I LOVE the TAX man

I was lucky enough to receive a decent tax return this year, so I decided to buy myself(ish) something really neat. Since my health is not good and only getting worse, I decided I needed one of these great electric lift chairs. I went browsing through Harvey Norman earlier this week and found this La-Z-Boy on special. It was a saving of $700 as it was on sale. The delivery guys just dropped it off and I 'christened' it by relaxing with a cuppa and a quilting mag for an hour.

I hope you are all keeping well and still avoiding the flu this winter.

Cheers and blessings
Julie



Tuesday, July 14, 2009

1st Birthdays, Bohemian Bags and Scrappy Pencil Cases

I have been a bit quiet over the last couple of weeks due to ill health. However, I am back up and running again and I have some 1st Birthday photos to share of Miss Chelsea. She is my sons daughter and she found out that she just LOVES birthday cake on Sunday.




My last post showed photos of one of my quilts (blocks at least) in progress and some funky fabric I had made from it's scraps. I worked out what to make with it finally. I have made 2 of these groovy pencil/tool cases. One for me and one for my dear mother. We can fit all our tools in them for when we go to our quilting groups. I put velcro across the top to close it to stop even the pins from escaping. We had many comments about them on their first outing and I am actually planning to teach a small group how to put it all together.


Last, but by no means least, I have made this tote - hold it all type bag. I bought this wonderful fabric from Ikea for only $5 a metre and as it is nice and thick and firm, I just knew it had to be a bag of some type. I have called it my 'Bohemian Bag'. I have made my daughter one too that she uses for a nappy bag and it holds everything except the kitchen sink. I have orders for 5 more bags from family members too, so it seems I am not the only one that likes to carry everything in one place. I actually use mine to lug all the bits and pieces to quilt group or pack it with a jumper, my diary, water bottle, camera etc for outings and just leave it in the car as a type of hold all. I designed the bag myself and it uses around 1.5 meters of fabric outside and the same for the lining.

I hope you are all keeping well and have steared clean of the flu or worse.

Take care, cheers and blessings, Julie