A Sewing Doll & A Collection of Vintage Saws

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Thank You all for your sweet kind comments regarding Pippi sleeping in my "greens" fabric basket in my last post - there have been "some developments" when I realised that Blackie had decided it looked a rather comfy spot to sleep in too & took it over.

This morning at 2.30 am I heard a crash & upon investigation ...... a basket of green fabrics upturned on the floor & two cats looking at me with big innocent expressions 😉

I have removed the basket & there is an empty shelf there now 😑

Earlier this year I had a huge craft magazine cull.  While sorting through them I came across this VeRy Old Australian Country Craft magazine & rather liked the  primitive Sewing doll pattern inside.  I had a very dear friend celebrating a special birthday this month so I put the magazine aside & thought I might make the doll for her.

I made mine much Less primitive than the doll in the magazine but I was thrilled with how she came out.  

 The pattern is called "Stitching Clarabelle" by Lynette Gunning of Lynette's Country Treasures.  I think it was the small stitchery sewed to the doll's hand which appealed to me so much, as the friend I was making this for is a professional Quilter.

I purchased a 4 inch hoop which fitted the stitchery perfectly.

I made her a button & cotton reel necklace as the pattern suggested which turned out really sweet

& I also stitched some sewing themed charms to her Pinny.  The hair is hand dyed mohair from my stash.

The fabrics are from a Lynette Anderson range which had a sewing theme & were perfect for the doll.

And Yes dear friends ... I had the usual help & assistance from Miss Pippi as she pressed & ironed the doll for me !! 😉😕

This small collection of old wood saws & saw blades had been sitting in my sleepout for a couple of years.  Last weekend when our weather was atrocious I decided to paint them on old sheets in front of my fire.  I knew I wanted to put transfers on them but wasn't sure what colour to paint the saws ... in the end I used up some old black chalk paint that was going hard in a pot.

The "Befores" on the left & Part way through on the right

Two coats each on both sides was enough to cover them well - I left the handles original.

I was excited about adding the transfers  -   Yep there she is again right there in the midst of everything !!!

I absolutely LoVe how these have turned out.  I gave them all two coats of a matt finish spray varnish as I knew I wanted them to go outdoors & was hoping this might seal them a bit & prevent moisture getting under the transfers.

I wish I'd sat my squirrel on a branch now but too late ........

I think these look wonderful hanging under my covered-in deck area & the black goes well with my vintage Mangle.  Another upcycle ticked off the list ❤

If you have not already entered my Giveaway dear friends - there is still two days left to do so.  Go to this post * here  & enter in the comments section.  I will be drawing this on Wednesday 30th June & remember I will post anywhere in the world!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead - be kind to yourselves & to each other,

Thank You as always for your visits here today,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x0

A 2nd Prize Package, A Ginger Cat, & A Rabbit ..............................................

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Longtime readers of my blog will know that from time to time The Mr sends little "funnies" which just randomly arrive in my inbox.  This one below greeted me this morning ............

I have had such a wonderful response to my Giveaway last week - thank you to all of you who are taking part - that I have decided to add in a (slightly smaller) 2nd Prize Draw as it seemed unfair to just gift one package away.  I have absolutely LoVed reading all your comments & hearing about your favorite season & why.  I have so enjoyed each & every single comment - those that had trouble commenting have emailed me & I have been able to copy/paste your entries.  I have not replied to comments on the blog post as I plan to give each comment a number & then The Mr will draw the number out.  The comments are coming through to my inbox but everyone is coming in as a "no-reply blogger" so I can only reply to the ones whose emails I currently have.  So please - I am not ignoring you - I just need to sort this issue out with blogger. (& goodness knows how long that will take!!)

For the 2nd Prize Package I have embellished another waffle weave tea towel with beautiful Tilda fabric in "ginger rabbits & roses" - one of my faves.  I have included more Harney teas & a gorgeous handmade (but not by me) Rose & Geranium soap.  

Also I have made another Soy Candle in this miniature stoneware crock - the fragrance is Sweet Mandarin & Lime - honestly friends, my spare bedroom smells so fresh with this beautiful fragrance wafting around.

If you have already entered then you don't need to enter again - you will just have two chances at two Winter Care Packages instead of one.  If you have not entered then you have until June 30th to do so but go back to my original Giveaway Post Here to leave your comment.  Again - I will post anywhere in the world.

Just comment telling me your favorite season & why.  I must tell you dear friends - Autumn is out in front by a VeRy long way 😉 

The dish cloth knitting continues & though I am slow, I really enjoy it.  This was a new pattern I came across that I thought I would try.  It is called Chinese Waves Dishcloth & is a free download * here * at Maggies Rags.

Miss Pippi hates my Tuesdays-with-Sid.  Every Tuesday morning when she sees me bring out the dinosaur toys & the matchbox cars she gets her sour face on real good.  Although Sid takes no notice of her, she acts like she's traumatised all day long & does some really naughty things.  Last week I found her in my fabric basket up high on my sewing shelves.  I told her she was in the wrong colour basket & sorry there was no "ginger basket" for her.

Click on the photo to enlarge & get a better look at the little Madam's face !!

I watched her consider the "reds" basket, have a bit of a think & then decide that the window view from the "greens" basket suited her better.  When she moves on from this latest place I shall have to gently wash all the top fabrics in my "greens" basket to remove the ginger hairs 😐

Just yesterday I finished this sweet little Tilda Rabbit for a friend's daughter.  She is made using some of my treasured Tilda Woodland fabric & I have knitted the wee jersey in some leftover dishcloth cotton called "blush". 

I found this dainty little rabbit charm in my stash so I threaded it around her neck.

                             There is just one small teeny tiny problem with this Order ...............

Now that she is finished ...... I can't actually bear to part with her 😟  Look how perfect she looks sitting beside the Tilda Angel from my dear friend Claire. 💕

I may have to make another one ....................

The Rabbit Pattern is a free download from The Tilda Website

 

Wishing you all a most wonderful weekend dear friends,

It's a wet grey Waikato day here today & I am very thankful for more firewood delivered yesterday.

Thank You so much, as always, for your visits here today,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

A "Winter Care Package" Giveaway ❤

Greetings lovely friends & readers 

I have wanted to have a Giveaway for awhile now but just never quite got around to it.  I really really enjoy my blog, the friends I have made through it, & the interactions with likeminded folk.  As June is my birthday month, & also mid-winter here at the bottom of the world, it seemed like a good time to host a Giveaway - & so I have put together this little "Winter Care Package" as my way of saying Thank You to all of you that follow along with me here & take the time to leave me your wonderful comments.

My Giveaway is Open to Anyone - I will post to Anywhere in the World.

All you need to do is leave me a comment telling me Which is your favourite season & Why ?😊

My Giveaway consists of all the goodies pictured above & will come beautifully gift wrapped & tied up with a Tilda tag.

I have embellished a waffle weave Teatowel with this gorgeous Vintage Tilda fabric & added a hanging loop.

I have made this Patchwork Tilda Mug Rug from * this * Craft With Fee Video Tutorial

I have included a selection of wonderful Harney Teas in some winter warming flavours, & a stylish new tea infuser.

And lastly I have added in a handmade Soy Candle in a crystal jug - the fragrance is French Pear.  Let's not forget the delectable Lindt Lindor choccies to also enjoy.

I have been having several issues with blogger & my comments Not coming to my email.  If you have left me a comment & I have not replied, this is the reason. I have tried ticking the box at the end to receive all follow-up comments but these all come in as "no-reply bloggers" so unless I already have your email address then I have to reply in the comments section & I am aware that not everyone goes back to old posts & checks.  I am trying to sort this issue out. If you would like to leave me a comment to enter this but are having trouble then please just email me & I can copy & paste your comment.  My email is stitchedbyjulie@hotmail.com

I hope you will enter my Giveaway - I have decided I will draw the winner on the last day of the month - June 30th.

Last weekend was a long weekend for us here being Queen's Birthday weekend.  I managed to finish getting a rather large pile of mulch onto my gardens.

You have no idea how much this large flat pile of dirt excites me - I keep looking at it out the sewing room window 😉  I shall put some lime on it to sweeten, then sow it in grass seed.

              I also planted up some pots of pansies in the antique shades, one of my all-time favourites. 

A batch of soy candles was finished off in vintage glassware - these 10 were for an Order.

I also sprayed all my brick paths for moss, weeded my two raised veggie gardens & had a huge rubbish heap burn up - it was a productive weekend.

As I sit typing this on a grey cloudy day, the two furry ones are sound asleep in the banana box on my deck seating.

One of them has lots of room ...... & One of them is somewhat jammed into the corner 😉

Thank you as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

I do hope you will consider entering my Giveaway,

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead - be kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones, x0x0x0

Welcome to June (already)

Greetings lovely friends & readers 

Welcome to another bright shiny new month

 Gosh it's a bit scary to think we are mid way through the year already !!    Although June is officially the beginning of winter here at the bottom of the world, I realised I had not yet shared my Autumn tablescape with you.

I have a vintage Singer Sewing Table in a corner of my dining room & I like to change this out for some of the seasons (not all).  I did a "gourd & pumpkin theme" for autumn this year & displayed them in my very old scales.

I made a small size Tilda pumpkin from some scraps of fabrics - the pattern can be found in this book Here - Sewing by Heart

The display of lace pumpkins were made in * this post * last May during our Lockdown.

Although I had a very good strike rate with my gourd seedlings this year I neglected to harden them off enough before planting outside & I lost alot of them.  I'll know not to do that this year hopefully 😉

(The thread catcher pattern & kit were given to us during the Class we took)

Last night while waiting for The Mr to bring Pizza home for tea, I whipped up this little thread catcher to match the storage pod I made back at the Tilda Trunk Show class.  Some followers have asked if I have the pattern for the Storage Pod - I have managed to find it * Here * - it is a free download & such a simple-to-make project.

I have had the pattern book above for over 10 years a Very Long Time ... I have always wanted to make the Vintage Zinna Pillow featured on the cover - a pattern by Renee Nanneman of Need'l Love.

I decided to begin this project in early March & pulled out all my Tilda fabrics in pretty pastel shades. I would say I used 95% Tilda & added in some other pastels as well. This was made entirely from fabrics in my stash.

I must admit to feeling rather daunted when I made my first petal & then read in the pattern "repeat for 100 petals" 😕

Although they suggest the rows be covered with gathered seam binding when finished, I decided to use an applique/blanket stitch over each row as I went, to prevent any raw edges & am happy with this effect.

The whole process took ages ...... but it was okay because I had lots of unwanted help & assistance along the way!!

And when I didn't feel like ironing all my petals - Miss Pippi very kindly did it for me 😉😐

I backed it with a good quality prewashed calico, stuffed it tightly & then stitched the seam closed.

Finally .... (Yesterday) I finished my Vintage Zinnia Cushion - I adore it !!! 💗

I absolutely love the pastel combination of pinks, blues, reds & greys with a touch of other colours thrown into the mix. It has turned out quite large too - measuring 55 cms in diameter.

I would love to make a bigger unstuffed version as a mat to go in front of my pedestal handbasin but I think I need a bit of a lie down for now 😊

Today is wintery so I have made my first Fridge drawer Stew for the season & it is cooking in my crock pot (slow cooker) - I had some veggies going soft in the Fridge Drawer so I chopped them all up with some steak/kidney in the bottom & this will be heartening & warming for our tea tonight (& tomorrow night hopefully)

Thanks so much for your visits here today dear friends - I shall leave you with this photo of Blackie taken half an hour ago.  Tho' there is light drizzle falling outside, & there are Two banana boxes with soft blankets in on my deck area (as well as an assortment of cushions) - he would prefer to sleep out in the creeper growing in the old watering ram. 

Mind you, as The Mr pointed out to me - he Is wearing his winter coat - along with about 3 other winter coats as well I think 😉 !!

Have a wonderful week ahead dear friends,

With much love & friendship to You All,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x