15/365 followed me home

1301 15/365 followed me home
Originally uploaded by rooruu

These two hanks of Rowan Colourscape yarn followed me home. Amazing. Lovely.

It's going to become a self stripe scarf in the Noro striped scarf style like this: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com.au/2007/04/noro-scarf.html
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/noro-striped-scarf

I will practise doing a long tail cast on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9cNEozOLc
And am so happy that YouTube makes it easy to find out how to do such knitting things as long tail cast ons and i-cords.

14/365 Bar Beach, Newcastle in wild, windy weather

1301 14/365 Bar Beach, Newcastle in wild, windy weather
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The wind was so strong! Some gusts enough to nearly knock you off your feet. But it was neither hot nor cold, but salty-sandy, exhilarating, blowing all sorts of cobwebs away.

On Nobbys, there were flags out but no one swimming. At Bar Beach, from this lookout, it seemed like only a red ?warning flag.

We stopped at several lookouts on the coast road. Each one windy, the waves whitecaps of energy.

At the Ocean Baths, a bridegroom, his attendants, celebrants and guests awaited the bride. I hope they weren't blown away! (A picturesque wedding location for sure, but the Victorian wedding cake bandstand in the park a couple of kilometres down the coast might have been easier...!)

13/365 weathered door

1301 13/365 weathered door, Morpeth
Originally uploaded by rooruu

My second 'old door' photo in thiteen days. I suspect not my last of the 365. They engage respect and invite imagination about the lives which have crossed each portal. Going out. Coming home. Visiting. Enquiring. Kept in. Shut out.

This one, weathered grey, looks so sturdy with its ironwork hinges and the thick timber supporting beam/lintel, and the large blocks of sandstone.

12/365 Key Lime Pie

1301 12/365 Key Lime Pie
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Sweet and tangy with melt in the mouth pastry. An excellent morning tea.

I've known of key lime pie from American books and magazines but hadn't actually tasted it till today. It won't be the last time.

11/365 Victorian tea set

1301 11/365 Victorian tea set
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Pretty tea set. More gilded than I might be expected to like, but I do like the colours and stripes and pattern.

Another spotted-but-not-purchased item in a vintage/old wares/antique shop. (But a couple of other things did follow me home...).

10/365 blossom rosy hat

1301 10/365 blossom rosy hat
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Seen in a vintage wares shop. What a mad, pink, leafy, blossom rosy (?50s) hat!

9/365 cool drink

1301 9/365 cool drink
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Not as hot a day as yesterday's 43degC, but warm enough to enjoy an icy cool drink with lunch. Lots of patterns in ice and condensation and reflections.

And then back to today's To Do list. Which isn't short and may be ambitious...

8/365 scraps into gold

1301 8/365 Scraps into gold
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Something I will certainly take away from making Easy Street and thus reading Bonnie Hunter's blog is the idea of consistently having leaders/ enders while piecing. (Starting and ending each run of chain piecing with scraps, which build into blocks, slowly but surely).

In this blog entry she shows another quilter's leader/ender project, 1 1/2 in squares.
quiltville.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/time-zones.html

I am not as methodical; I've been using the cutting scraps in the size they are. After all, when cutting for a quilt you often have similar size cuts, 2 inch or whatever. I began by piecing pairs with one side the same size, and built from there (sometimes skimping on the 1/4in seam so I could use a piece). I built each assemblage until it was slightly bigger than 4 1/2in square, then trimmed it to 4 1/2in square. I've pieced these into nine patch blocks.

There are four of the ninepatch blocks in the photo, 36 of my little leader/ender scraps-into-gold blocks. I like 'em!

7/365 gingerbread men

1301 7/365 gingerbread men
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Made by a friend. I like the different expressions. The jar was rather emptier by the end of our morning's work of organisation and imagination

6/365 duck

1301 duck 6/365
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Yes, there were the regulation three in graduated sizes. They will be flying away with the friends who own them, to live in the country.

5/365 craft & conversation

1301 5/365 craft & conversation
Originally uploaded by rooruu

At these gatherings, I overestimate how much craft I'll get done (at present, the Poems crochet blanket) because I underestimate how many engaging and engrossing conversations I'll get involved in. Am I bothered? Not in the slightest.

4/365 velvet cushion

1301 4/365 velvet cushion
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Cotton velvet, not synthetic, and a face that is interesting and wise and sort-of instant ancestor.

FJÄLLTÅG from Ikea.
www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/10249444/
Limited edition, Ikea says. A mere $7.99, which is an excellent price for the cushion (complete with inner).

Easy Street block A, rooruu version

1301 Easy Street block A, rooruu version
Originally uploaded by rooruu

I tweaked this block in a couple of ways, to make it more effective in my quilt. So it's not identical to Bonnie's original. My fabrics are busier, less tone on tone (my eye doesn't get much drawn to tone on tone fabrics, it's patterns that I love best) and so my tweaks aim to focus/strengthen the design to accommodate this.

Easy Street layout

1301 Easy Street layout
Originally uploaded by rooruu

A test run to see how it looks.

I'm happy!

(More blocks to make before I can assemble it).

3/365 red dahlia

1302 3/365 red dahlia
Originally uploaded by rooruu

There's the lifecycle of the flower bloom in this, from the faded petals on the edge to the vibrant red in the centre. Not the prettiest flower I saw today, but the most interesting.

2/365 green door

1301 2/365 green door
Originally uploaded by rooruu

I've seen this door plenty of times, on an old stone building that's been a craft shop, sold vintage bric-a-brac and is, in its current incarnation, a cafe. But project 365 prompted me to photograph it. Good. Love that worn paint.

Easy Street step 8 block B

1301 Easy Street step 8 block B
Originally uploaded by rooruu

There's a block A, this block B and the final layout has been revealed. Still working on my blocks: I might change the centre of block A (which is why I started with B. Yes, that does make sense!).

More tomorrow, or at least in the next couple of days. Because now I want to get the top finished.

1/365 Changing calendars

1301 1/365 Changing calendars
Originally uploaded by rooruu

From Typo's dreamlike pastel images to Floranova's striking flowers.

Time to try a photo a day again. It's a good way to pay closer attention to the world around. I'll see how I go. No pressure...

Easy Street step 7

1301 Easy Street step 7
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Two sets of pieced triangles for step 7 of the mystery quilt. One step to go, it seems.

How to spend a hot day, 39 degC outside (around 102 degF) and with the fan going steadily while I pieced and pressed.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com.au/p/easy-street-mystery.html is the main page for this mystery quilt.

Easy Street steps1-6

1212 Easy Street steps1-6
Originally uploaded by rooruu

This is steps 1-6 plus the extra bits such as the green QST.

On my practice run step 3, I goofed on the colours ( as I'm changing them from BKH's originals). Above is the correct version - orange HST, grey square.

Next step is revealed on New Year's Day, US east coast time.

I'm still liking my colours....

Easy Street steps 4 & 5

1212 Easy Street steps 4 & 5
Originally uploaded by rooruu

This isn't how I think the block will go, just a combo layout of steps 4 and 5. There's lots of lime that hasn't yet been used. But I'm happy with my colour choices and how they're looking together.

Easy Street step 5

1212 Easy Street step 5
Originally uploaded by rooruu

It's all looking happy so far.

Easy Street step 4

1212 Easy Street step 4
Originally uploaded by rooruu

I like the orange and grey together.

Comments & word verification

Recently a commenter asked me to get rid of the word verification on comments, and I have given this a go.  Unfortunately, the resulting tide of spam comments (which the word verification had prevented) has caused me to add it back in.  I'm sorry if it is a hassle for you - I'm used to it on so many sites I don't worry about it -  but I can't bear the botheration of that spam tide. Hope you understand. 
Thanks!

Now to get back to normal transmission, or what passes for it.  KLM to catch up on.  Bonnie's Easy Street mystery quilt.  A table runner to make before tomorrow... oh, and the usual weekend chores.  I'm off!

Easy Street mystery quilt, step 3

1212 Easy Street mystery quilt, step 3
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Grey, orange and that lovely white and aqua background. Looking good!

J is for Just Beautiful

1212 J is for Just beautiful
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The scent of these gardenias is just beautiful. A summer scent, heavy in the air around the hedge of gardenias from which I was given a bunch.

#amonthof

I is for Interior Decoration

1212 I is for Interior Decoration
Originally uploaded by rooruu

This doesn't match other things in the room; but it works with it all. And makes me happy. Which is really the point of interior decoration and making a home.

H is for Honeysuckle

1212 H is for Honeysuckle
Originally uploaded by rooruu

It's a weed in the garden. I admire its persistence, for persistent it is. And the flowers do smell sweetly pretty. But it will still get cut back again.

#amonthof

G is for Gorgeous

1212 G is for Gorgeous
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Gorgeous boots. Leather and suede and that printed/embossed suede too. I love red leather boots. It may not be quite the weather for them right now, but they'll keep (and were on special, ha!)

(Naot Claudia is the brand/model info).

#amonthof

F is for Favourite

1212 F is for Favourite
Originally uploaded by rooruu

My favourite colour in nasturtium flowers is this unusual rich burgundy, rather than the more usual yellow/orange/red ones. Love the dark rich pop of its colour against the leaves' green. I like the stylized roundness of the leaves too. I can see why Clarice Cliff used them.

E is for Exquisite Embroidery

1212 E is for Exquisite Embroidery
Originally uploaded by rooruu

I bought this online a while ago, from the UK. The fineness of the blackwork embroidery is amazing/beautiful. I've never made anything like it, and don't know if I would have the patience. I'd certainly need a magnifying light.

D is for Drink

1212 D is for Drink
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Diet Coke is the most popular tipple around here. Don't notice the missing caffeine.

C is for Crochet

1212 C is for Crochet
Originally uploaded by rooruu

A vintage crochet granny blanket, found at an op shop for a mere $5. In places the wool (and I'm pretty sure it is wool) needed repIr where it had worn away. I think it's 5 ply rather than eight ply Lovely vintage muted colours - the outer border is midcentury kitchen green. You know that colour? I'm sure you do.
#amonthof

B is for browsing

1212 B is for browsing
Originally uploaded by rooruu

...at Reverse Garbage, with their most creative Christmas tree. And finding some super stuff for school.
#amonthof

Easy Street - a few more fabrics

Easy Street - a few more fabrics
Originally uploaded by rooruu

I wasn't sure if I was a tad light on orange/tangerine fabrics, so I popped into a quilt shop on my travels yesterday. And bought more greens than oranges. Ahem. Cough. Ah well. I like 'em all. And the shop was closing ten minutes after I got there. (They had a 20% off sale on, too).

I do love how so many more 'modern' quilt fabrics are available now.

Decision: will I make my greens Bonnie's lime, or switch things around and make my greens her aqua, and my oranges her lime? Not sure... they're both about equal in value, in my fabrics, and similar in quantity specified. Dunno. I'll see what the next step brings. Won't know till the mystery ends if I've made the right call, anyhoo.

I saw several versions of an earlier Bonnie Hunter mystery, Double Delight, at a quilty gathering yesterday, and they were all lovely.  So I'm not madly worried.  I like all my fabrics, and I'm sure I'll like the quilt (and it's a big 'un, so I sure as eggs won't be making a second one if I'm stupid enough to think I made the wrong call on which fabric where - nope, I'll have cut my cloth.  Literally).

A is for Agapanthus

1112 agapanthus 1
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Playing with A Month of Creativity A-Z in December seems like a nice way to be out and about noticing things and taking photos.

So A is for Agapanthus. Admission: I took this photo last year. But the agapanthii are just as lovely this year, right now.

Read more about this month of at Just B by Pip Lincolne:
http://justbaustralia.com.au/be-creative/creative-join-a-month-of-a-to-z-23243/

Easy Street mystery quilt: step 2

Easy Street mystery quilt step 2
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Step 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt. 128 flying geese with the background fabric and greys (BKH used purple). Not all made so far, but all cut out.

More sewing later this weekend, when this heatwave (over 40degC, around 105deg Fahrenheit!) will be past. I hope!

I planned to use the specialist rulers, but the store let me down, so I've made them as stitch and flip.

You can find my other Easy Street blog entries by clicking on the Easy Street label below.

Cheers

Ruth

Easy Street quilt : step 1

1211 Easy Street: step 1
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The steps go up each Friday for the next 6-8 weeks. Friends have made super quilts with Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt patterns, and the weekly format suits me right now. So here's step 1: 192 four patch blocks using the lighter background fabric and the cheerful 'constant' fabric.

When was the last time I made a quilt that wasn't my own design? Years? Years and years! It's kinda peaceful, just following instructions .... For now, when all else is so busy.

I do like both these fabrics. Happy happy.

You can find my other Easy Street blog entries by clicking on the Easy Street label below.

Cheers

Ruth

PS. I linked to this blog entry at Quiltville's first linky for Easy Street.  See my previous blog entry for my fabric choices.

PPS. The lighter fabric is Darls by Tanya Whelan/Grand Revival for Free Spirit.  The turquoise blue cherries fabric is from Denyse Schmidt, Daisy Mae collection (2011).  I like tossing modern-coloured Victorian flourishes against funky retro forties/fifties style! - it's working!

PPPS. Thanks for the kind comments! - very much appreciated.

Easy Street quilt fabrics

1211 Easy Street fabrics
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's 2012 mystery quilt, Easy Street.

My colour choices are pale aqua/white background, turquoise pattern 'constant' (BH grey), green (BH lime), orange (BH aqua), grey (BH purple).

My greys look a tad cobalt/purply in that top left corner, but they're grey/muted blue grey (Hipstamatic was having some fun, I guess, muddling colours a bit).

Find the quilt info here:
quiltville.blogspot.com.au/p/easy-street-mystery.html
(till June 2013).

You can find my other Easy Street blog entries by clicking on the Easy Street label below.

Cheers

Ruth

Current reading

1210 current reading
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Julia Spencer-Fleming's series is just as engrossing the second time through. So well, and intelligently, and cleverly and thoughtfully written. The audio books are excellent too (current listening).

Can't understand why they're hard to find here in Oz, and hardly known as a result. They're murder mysteries and character studies set in upstate New York. If you haven't read them...do.

Pink camellia

1210 pink camellia
Originally uploaded by rooruu

See?

It's nearly done for this year, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I haven't seen another quite like it, with that flurry of small petals in the centre.

Pink camellia bud

1210 pink camellia bud
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The best thing in the garden is this camellia bush. Flowers every year, beautifully and reliably.

'Moonlight' grevillea

1210 Moonlight grevillea
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The branches of this sway and spring back throughout the day with all the attention the cream-to-yellow blooms are getting from native birds.

Basket/texture

1209 basket/texture
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The Barbara's Storehouse shop at Mittagong had these large square baskets on their front verandah. Intended for firewood, I'd guess. Love that honest texture, the craft of the thick cane, the subtle colours, the feeling they already have of age and time and story. My kind of furnishing - rustic, real.

I remember many years ago in the 1980s when the original Barbara's House and Garden stores were a revelation in home furnishing, doing what other shops weren't - simple cane baskets, and plain white china, and striped cotton tea towels and so much more. They're all gone now; but those things are more available than they were then. (The chain apparently collapsed due to franchise problems).

I think the ones at Mittagong (mainly furniture) and Bowral (mainly china, kitchenware, cushions etc) are distant relations.

The Facebook page seems more active than the website, in terms of uploading examples of their stock.
 http://www.facebook.com/BarbarasStorehouse

Sydney Swans, AFL premiers 2012

1209 Sydney Swans, AFL premiers 2012
Originally uploaded by rooruu

One for my friend Erica
www.creativedabbling.blogspot.com.au
(I think it's the first time I've watched an Aussie Rules grand final).

Grey skies

1209 grey skies
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The forecast said afternoon storms.

The colours here remind me of one of my current crochet projects, muted greys and blues and greens.

So many colour possibilities there are to play with, in yarn or fabric or thread. Endless inspiration all around.

Blue curtains

1209 blue curtains
Originally uploaded by rooruu

New curtains. A dusty teal blue. It's interesting to see how these change the room. Their predecessors were pale linen, these are a more definite block of darker colour. They are beautiful*, and simple (eyelet curtains, installed in seconds!) and useful* (to keep heat out or in as the season requires).
*So they pass the William Morris test.

Tulip

1209 Tulip
Originally uploaded by rooruu

There were tulips today. Beds of dark purple ones edged with lower growing annuals (bellis perennis, I think), and barrels along the main street of Bowral planted with these beautiful blowsy variegated pink ones.

There were also chocolate brownies shared with favourite people, and good conversations, and several quite wonderful spring blossom trees.

Brownies

1209 Brownies
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Yesterday there were brownies. Triple chocolate brownies. Been trying recipes and mixes, and these are the best of all. Fudgy, chocolatey and yum.

Yesterday there was also good company, lively craft and quilting stores, fragrant and delicious Thai chicken & cashews for lunch and sone yarn that followed me home. A wonderful holiday day.

Colour me happy

1209 Colour me happy
Originally uploaded by rooruu

My friend said I made HER buy yarn. I dunno. I came home with yarn too. Doesn't it crochet up into a blanket nicely? It's wonderful mindless hand-busywork. With these yarns doing the work, as a run of one colour blends into a run of the next. Colour me happy.

Recycling

At least once a year, there is a local council cleanup collection around here. I am always very amused by what happens. People put out their unwanted stuff on the verge by the roadside, ready for the council workers to collect. But only a fraction of what goes out remains when the council truck comes by. In the meantime, utes and small trucks and vans (as well as cars) suddenly start driving slowly by, cruising, assessing and stopping. Piles reduce, 'treasures' are loaded up and taken away. The community 'recycling' means a lot less for landfill, which is good. However puzzling some of the choices made may be. Another nearby council area does pickup on request, which isn't the same as the smorgasbord of everyone's stuff at once. One person's trash.....

Legacy

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there." Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Landscape with crochet

1205 Landscape with crochet
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Vintage crochet granny blankets adding a handmade touch to make anywhere feel like home. Great colours! They're worn a bit and warm and soft and the woollen yarn has had time to mellow (well, except the gold lame, which remains as defiantly individual as you would expect!). A happy find, beautiful and useful.