Candlesticks

Katherine from SewMeSomethingGood asked for a photo of the finished candlesticks which were made from the table leg off cuts ~ so here they are! For those who have forgotten my last post ( and you could easily have done so for it was 11 days ago !) I had off cuts from the bottom of old turned table legs. They are about 5 inches tall and were in disgraceful condition. I have painted them (ie. meaning slapped on paint) and added a nail to the top of each. Of course I had to flex my muscles first and cut of the top of the nail so that the candles could slip on easily. And that is all for today.
Cheerio!

Thrifted bedside table

I've only got a tiny gap on one side of my bed - a mere 17 cms or not quite 7 inches - not enough to fit any furniture. I have been racking my brain for the past ten months trying to think of what I could do, short of attaching a shelf to the wall, to give myself a side table here.

Finally, I found an old round table unceremoniously dumped on it's back on the curb ready for the garbage truck. I saw it as as I drove past but it took considerable courage and bravado to go up and wrench the legs off. Yesterday I located my trusty hacksaw (don't know where the jack saw is and broke my last jigsaw blade cutting down a lemon tree!) and cut the lower section off so that the legs are just below the height of the bed. It was nice and easy to cut using an indentation as a guide.These little extra bits will get painted and should make nice candle stick holders.
Here they are dry in the kitchen sink drainer - where else does a girl do her woodwork but in the kitchen - much cosier than a cold, smelly shed!

To start with, I expected to use all four legs but hadn't realised that the top of the legs have been cut at an angle to make the original table sturdy. Anyway, when the first two were attached towards the front corners, I discovered that if leaned against a firm surface such as a wall the whole contraption stands firmly. I think it looks like a miniauture fire surround and mantel. A pity only the very top will show!

It fits just perfectly and will help no end with sorting out all my bedside reading and study material.

Cherrio!

Getting out of hand!

I can't believe it! My sewing is getting out of control. I've finished three small projects in the last five days and one was even on my list of to dos.What a feeling of accomplishment. Of course it helped that DD2 had work experience this week and I had complete freedom during the day. I whipped up (took a good two hours of blood,sweat and tears to get the sides to stand up without using expensive padding) this little dolly basket with blanket and pillow in response to a post by Boutique Nutmeg. I just used a nother couple of pieces of backed curtain fabric from the stash. It will go in the garage sale to hopefully sell this doll who needs a new home.

The little afghan in the background was picked up at the op shop yesterday along with a few other gorgeous pieces of fabric.

A tangle around my foot

(two pictures for the price of one! eek!)

Do you ever forget to straighten out your bag handles before you top stitch a bag. I occasionally do but today was the worst, possible because I was also trying to do a decorative stitch as well.

It started out not too,too difficult but by the time was near my starting point it was nigh on to impossible.

This bag has been a bugbear all along because I don't really know the lassie who asked for it and so working on a colour/decoration scheme was trying. At last a friend allowed me to use a piece of material I bought for her a couple of years ago. That was great and went well with the pink/purple scheme as requested. The only trouble is that everyone wants an applique on their bag and in this case nothing would work.

My final solution was to sew wide ribbon over the join and use a yoyo with a button for the decoration.

As usual, there are plenty of pocket options.

I think that this bag has not been fun to make but will still bring joy (hopefully!) to it's new owner.

Red and white "green bags"

I wanted to make something for a lovely friend who is sadly losing her house due to no fault of her own. It appears that builders have to take the fall for other peoples greed and thoughtlessness and in her husbands case this has led to selling the family home to keep out of bankruptcy. They have both always been so generous and I wish that I could help. All I can do though is make her a little something to show that I care.

These teatowels, from K-mart have long reminded me of this lass so when I found them on sale I decided to convert them into green bags. All I have really done is fold the towels inside out and stitch the sides together, then reinforced these with an extra row of stitching. The handles were eked out of a tiny curtain sample from my stash and sewn with reinforcing onto the the top hems. Because they are towels they should be easy to wash and keep clean.

Finally, dear Polo is turning his back on us tomorrow. His mistress returns and he is to go home. I will miss his gorgeous eyes but the dogs will be happy.

Picnik

From this:

to this:

with Picnik. Thanks to Corry from Dutch Blue.

Is this poetry?

Thanks to simple sparrow for this theme. I don't normally participate in these but it tickled my fancy that poetry could be found in uncontrived scenes in our messy (or tidy?) kitchens.

This is an unplanned mess I snapped a few months ago. My daughters new painting has not been put away and neither have the veges. I may post some more during this week that simple sparrow has set aside for this theme.

It's a dog's life around here!

Poor Polo has taken to hiding under DD2's bed because the house is currently overwhelmed with dogs. Only for 2 nights though.

The dogs arent worried by the extra company. They just stick together in their own family groups and spend most of the day doing what I would love to do - sleeping.

Or asking for attention!

And getting it!

Poor Polo.

Amazing,must enter, giveaway !!!

See Katie Sew is having an amazing giveaway. She is going to fill a flat rate box with all it will hold. The only reason I am sharing this incredible thought with you, dear readers, is that I will get five extra chances for doing so. LOL

But really you must take a look because we can all do with the inspiration gained from someone elses choice of fabric. O, by the way her address is http://seekatiesew.blogspot.com/

I've also found another blog whose address is http://todreamtostitch.blogspot.com/ who makes inspirational textile work. Well worth the look!

Geraniums and a little visitor

I love my geraniums. They are such happy plants and will grow anywhere that I put them which is great for me because I then feel like a successful gardener.


And they come in such a great variety of colours, petals and leaves. These are just two of all the varieties growing on our balconies.

A friend has gone away and entrusted us with her beautiful cat. I am a bit worried that Polo will return to his home which is only a few blocks away so he is being kept inside for a few days. He is not keen on this idea and keeps trying to get out through the windows.

I even found him in the laundry sink.

Normally he lives with an older lady and her wee dog called Marco - thus the ladies pets are Marco Polo!

What a gorgeous, hugable little face!