A stitch here, a stitch there...

A stitch here, a stitch there, slowly some progress is made on my current projects.
Last weekend I was fortunate to spend some time with friends including the always clever Marg and delightful Jean.


Some progress has been made on my vase of flowers, elements are still changing, but I am finding a place I am happy with. It really is a great leap of faith to create this way. No pattern, just a starting point and the ability to find the confidence to make my own choices and make something that is a reflection of me at this time in my life.


It would be lovely if someone could look at this quilt ( see, I am actually planning a finish at some stage!) and "see" me.....hopefully they will not think I needed medicating at this time!


My recent foray into the world of clamshells has resulted in my DD requesting a queen sized clamshell quilt...eek! At present I am going to do a bit of a prototype block, make sure my technique is right before I attempt the Giant Clam!


She has requested blues, greys, whites. I have never been a big blue fan, so I am looking forward to stretching my boundaries with this. There are going to be a lot of six inch clams....here are some, there will end up being every shade imaginable!


What colour do you find you avoid?
Cardygirl xx


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By special request!

For the last few days I have been hearing from my DH..."Put on a post".

Well, never wanting to disappoint him, here I go.

Last weekend I headed off with some stitching friends to beautiful Camyr Allyn in the Hunter Valley for a weekend of chatting and stitching. 

This weekend was long planned, and sadly clashed with Chookyblue's Shedversary...but I was in the Chookshed in spirit.

My companions included Janette, Trish, Olga, Cathie, Cristie, Di, Chris and Debbie. We did have a lovely time...our weekend was hosted by Janet in her beautiful old home...our meals are cooked and all we have to do is enjoy ourselves...tough, but we managed! Janette has posted some pics, I was a bit naughty and didn't take many pics...oops!

A challenge was set last year with teeny tiny hexies...and MOST participated. It is great to see what everyone came up with! 

Cristie made us all a little framed hexie flower...mine is the sweet green one!

And Cathie stunned us all with this mini quilt...her hubby even made it a little stand. Clever pair!

 Some time was spent with my TAW project...hand stitching is easiest at present.

I plugged away on my projects from the MSG workshop I attended earlier in the year. Some progress has been made...I am enjoying my slow progress.

I even made a "jelly" snake! Well, it looks like one!

And I just had to share my PJ pants...perfect for a sewing retreat!

After that, it turned into birthday week in Cardy-land.

Our sweet DD celebrated first, with a crocheted rug from her dear Nan...and I was a bit fearful that she had thoughts of pilfering one of my clamshell cushions!

And then today DH has his special day...

not with us today, but a belated celebration will soon occur!

Cardygirl xx

Like a goldfish in a bowl...

The final few stitches have been sewn and now I have two new cushions for the sofa. There are a few sewing buddies that, mistakenly, believed I had gone into the clamshell cushion business and are expecting theirs to be soon under construction, BUT, they are very wrong! Done and dusted, with beautiful concealed zips, I am now looking for something new to do....in other words, I am ALL clammed out! Here they will stay!


There are a few infant projects wanting my attention, most notable is my MSG project. But like any goldfish in a bowl, I have been distracted and forgotten what I was doing (also cue in those evil temptresses, Jean & Lizzie) and have embarked on the Trip Around the a World quilt along inspired by the clever Brigitte Giblin...have a look for it on FB.


My effort so far was beautifully described by a friend as "exuberant". I was thinking loud, even boisterous, so I did appreciate her lovely twist to my colourful interpretation of this traditional pattern. Try as I might, my volume switch is stuck on loud...I think it is reflective of my present pace of life. Oh well, it is nice to know that what I am stitching is a true reflection of me!


Yes, it is actually good ( yes, positive self talk- a sign of my mania!) as the TAW quilt along has given me a no fuss hand stitching project that I can keep in my bag when I am out on the road with work...who knows when a girl will get a quiet moment for a stitch? Don't you love justifying your addictions? I am sure there are worse things I could do. I always feel happier knowing my security stitching is nestled in my handbag.
Do you carry security stitching....just in case?
Cardygirl xx

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Paper+fabric=fun!

The sad thing about not blogging regularly is that you really struggle to get back to it. What to say?
Well I think we mostly love to hear about what we are all stitching, so here goes!
I am still plugging away on my second clamshell cushion cover...


It is almost ready to start quilting, and I am loving it!


I quilted the first with black perle cotton and loved that, I think I may do that for the second...or should I play with some yellow, orange or turquoise...or a little of each?


I was a little concerned that they might be a little "loud" , but I am hopeful that on my pale grey leather sofa they will add a nice "pop" to the room. Once I assemble them I think they might look better!


BUT, I think, at least for the moment, they will just be for "show"...do you do that?
Hand work, particularly EPP, seems to be the easiest thing to do at present... I am loving snipping pieces from my stash, and then watching them come to life along side fabrics I would never have putting together at one time.


Loving the happy scrappiness! And my new GIANT teacup!
Cardygirl xx


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It is all about the journey apparently.

The last week has been good in my sewing world. I have actually been creative, and I have really enjoyed it!
Clamshells have been an easy and fun project, using lots from my stash....and not even a dent in it. Sewing machine time is still not happening, which is fine, but I am powering on with some relaxing hand work. New cushions would look fabulous on my lounge, so scrappy clamshells were my thought. I got a bit excited today, the clamshells are complete and so I thought, some quick machine quilting and I will have one cushion done...great!


But then I had a talk with my sewing conscience who said, "don't rush it, it is about the enjoyment of the journey, not a rush to the finish", or something like that! Okay, I know some perle hand quilting would look better, so that is what I will do....black or multi colours?


My big hexie bag is complete...it is made from 2" hexies, so will be able to carry as much sewing as I might aspire to do,


And I have been playing with some 1/2" hexies too. The most annoying part of this is that one rosette seems to have now disappeared, I am probably walking around looking for it, and all the time it is most likely stuck on my butt! No, hang on...not there!


Bitterly cold here today, by our standards at least, nice to stay inside in the warmth!
Hope you are somewhere cosy!
Cardygirl xx


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My blog....a contemplation.

My blog has been quiet lately. I haven't had a lot to say or show, I have struggled to find my blogging mojo. And I have noticed that this is not peculiar to me, a lot of my fellow bloggers are quiet, not having a lot to say. Why is that?
Well, I can only give my personal version. Once more, my work position is about to change...back to full time, but a position that will stretch my brain, give me more clinical time (which I love) and provide a challenge. It seems to leave little time for sewing, and blogging. Who really wants to hear that someone is busy, after all, we all are with our own lives!
So, to address my own lack of creative time, I have decided that organisation is the key! Hand sewing time is easiest, so if I can get prepped on the weekend, then I should have time to stitch in the evenings...good plan???


At our recent MSG workshop, those clever girls from south of the border (Melbourne!), had lovely hexie bags. Well, I did have a touch of hexie envy, so I decided to make my own. Many years ago I had created one for my mum from a pattern purchased in Mittagong, designer unknown. So I set about making it bucket sized so I could carry all the things I imagine I might sew, but may not actually do!


It is nearly done...just need to add some drawstrings. A bit of fiddling in making the lining fit, but I am happy with it.there are a few versions of it about.


Then I set about making a clamshell cushion to brighten up my lounge. Watch this space!


One nice part of this past week was giving a quilt to dear friends....lovely to see it in a happy home! There are so many quilts in my home, I have decided to gift some to those I love. It felt good. What do we all do with the mountain of quilts we make?


My blog will stay active, it is a good personal journal, how do you find time to do all your busy life entails?


Hope you had a Happy Easter...love from Molly and me!
Cardygirl xxx


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Happy Dizzy-ness!

Once more I find it astounding that time is flying by.

I am starting to sound like my mother, but can really see what she was talking about.

Life is full of lots of happenings...the face of our family is changing in so many lovely ways...children stepping into new phases of their lives, and we are adjusting to our changing roles too. 

Change is good...it makes us grow.

My head has been dizzy in so many ways!

 Last week I had the extremely good fortune to spend a weekend with the most DELIGHTFUL group of ladies...too many names to share here, but some new friendships were made, 

as well as some friends were met in person for the first time and those long distance friendships were well and truly validated.

 It was a diverse but happy group...

 such a clever and inspiring crowd...

it just made you want to create...

and create some more.

Why oh why does work have to intrude on my creative time?

Maybe my clients could form a sewing circle??? 

That could be interesting!

Under the gentle tutelage of the ever so kind MSG, I set to work on a new vision...

it will be a longer term project....but do I need to hurry? See, even I am growing and changing with what I am wanting to create!

For some fabulous photos of the weekend and our fabulous venue, Cottage Quiltworks, head over to the super fun Meredithe's blog...

she was a much better blogger than me and recorded all the action!

Thanks ladies...

let's do it all again!

Cardygirl xx

Whoops, winter is heading our way!

Beautiful rain is soaking the east coast of NSW, and farming friends are celebrating the saturation of their dry farms. The rain has both cleansed the dust from our homes and calmed anxious souls....at least we know it hasn't forgotten to rain. Thinking of those farming friends...hopefully your tanks are filling tonight.
It has been a busy couple of weeks here (so what else is new for any of us?),


there has been some sewing time making a quilt for my special birthday boy,


A visit to deliver his gift and celebrate a special day for him,


When did he grow up, as I am sure I don't look any older!


A circle game completed, I am glad I persevered!


A trip home with rain in sight,


And some sweet fabric play that has brightened my day!
This weekend, I head to Sydney to sew with friends, some of whom I have "blog-known" for a couple of years....it is super exciting to know that tomorrow I will meet these lovely ladies and spend an inspiring weekend with them. It is amazing to look at the friendships that are formed through our love of sewing, I treasure my "imaginary friends",


and look forward to lots of show and tell, chatting and laughter...watch this space!
Cardygirl xx



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Another working week is about to start, and the house is quiet, the sun is just peeping its head over the horizon. I love the stillness of this time of morning, the birds are waking up and I have some spare minutes before I dash out the door and the problems of work greet me. Quiet. It is also nice at present because there is that slight chill of autumn in the air which I love, it never gets super cold here, but I do love a change of season.
Last week was a busy one, with several evenings out....being social of course! One Wednesday a month, we gather at Janette's house to stitch and save the world. It is always fun and definitely inspiring. The very modest Chris always drags out a beauty...this stunner has been languishing for about ten years after the centre toile was given to her.


What can I say? Gorgeous!


Janette is making amazing progress with her Big Bang quilt which reminds me of a fiesta.


And there was some beautiful paper piecing ready to quilt.
Well, by this time I was exhausted from just admiring and aspiring! Phew!


Thursday night saw me surprising sweet Shez who had travelled from the Deep South on her way to Nundle. She was staying with the always lovely Cheryll, and I met two new friends, Jen and Sharyn...we had the loveliest evening!
The end of the week saw me at Novocastrian Quilters where I helped sort blocks for the churn dash swap...


catching up with friends for coffee and rearranging my living area furniture! All the classic signs of my chronic bindaphobia were there!


This beauty was quilted and in need of finishing as It was for delivery to my son as a part of his birthday! When did that little boy grow up.....the mothers lament! Despite my good intentions, there were some impediments to my progress....


But I soldiered on!


It is looking fabulous...and the binding is almost completely stitched on...even DH is impressed! It will be ready a whole three sleeps before delivery!!! I am pretty impressed with myself!
Will post a pic when the binding is COMPLETE and the fur is removed!

Cardygirl xx

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