A new year

It seems that at the beginning of a new year crafters' thoughts turn to UFOs and sorting. I can't claim to be very enthusiastic in this pursuit, however, during a half-hearted attempt to bring some order into the chaos that is my craft room, and possibly come up with some quick and easy projects to put in the gift shop at Wolston House, I found these unfinished projects which I think date back to the turn of the century.

The cross stitch part was finished quite a while back, they just needed making up. Can't think why I didn't do it at the time, it hardly took any time at all.

The design is a Tudor Rose and I bought the kits on my first trip to the UK. 

This is the back. Needle case and scissor keep...so nice that they are actually finished!

Oh dear..

...it can't be December already! Who stole November? I want them to return it as soon as possible because there aren't enough days left before Christmas to do the stuff I planned.

Ok.. I would need more time than November, maybe October too! These are the perils of procrastination, my chief talent these days. I need to take this advice..

One event I do remember from November was the craft fair held at Wolston House, and I'm pleased to say that the quilt featured in my last post was won by our newest (and youngest) volunteer who purchased her ticket before even viewing the quilt. She was very thrilled!

The weather held (it was very overcast on the day) and a lovely time was had by all. I spent some time demonstrating on our treadle sewing machine, but most of the time I swanned around in my 1912 outfit, twirling my parasol to great effect.

Don't you love the 1880s tricycle for two. We were lucky to have a whole lot of bicycles, tricycles and Penny Farthings on display, and their owners love to dress up too!

Here's hoping I manage one or two Christmas projects in the countdown, but let me tell you a little secret... I'm not holding my breath!

Sharing...

...finally! This is the quilt I have been working on to raffle this year for Wolston House.

In actual fact, it would be nowhere near finished if not for my sister, who pushed really hard and worked with me to get it done. It was a fun project because we did it together.

The block we used is a four-patch square in a square, and we sort of made up the rest as we went along! It was made from fabrics we already had, which is always satisfying. Here's hoping it raises a nice sum.

More baking.

I was asked recently by fellow blogger Penny from Violet White, if I had made any progress on the recipe book I had mentioned previously. The answer is yes, a bit, but not a lot.

These are Cockles, they are a bit a bit like Melting Moments, but with jam instead of icing in between.

And this is Marble Cake, or it could be a Marble (Bar) Cake. (A bit of a play on words for us Aussies; Marble Bar is a place in the Northern Territory).

I have been publishing the recipes on the Wolston Historic House Facebook page and they are always well received. 

Next post will show progress on the raffle quilt, my sister is a hard taskmaster!

Baking ... And taking

photos! I had a lovely time with my daughter yesterday, working on a special project. A while ago, at the historic house where I volunteer, an exercise book was discovered in a cupboard. It contains hand- written recipes, dating from WW 1 to the 1920s, along with some interesting 'household hints'.
I hope to put together a collection of recipes from the book and also photos of the finished products! My daughter is a great photographer, as well as an excellent baker, and we trialed two recipes.
First is a Victoria Sandwich...

...and next is coconut macaroons

These are my photos by the way, my daughter set up for the food photo-shoot and I piggybacked on her expertise. If we get to publishing, hers will be the ones we use.

And of course, after the photos... there was tasting! Yum!!

Playing around

After my retreat, I was concerned that I may have left the sewjo behind, so I am cautiously attempting to do a 'little' bit at a time and not push the issue. I have continued to play around with my scraps, cutting strips and squares and using up the fabric. I have always been a thrifty minx and I'm following the suggestions of Bonnie Hunter, who must be one of the craftiest quilters when it comes to using up a stash. Not that my stash comes anywhere near rivalling hers!!

I have started sorting into containers, but I have a long way to go.

I have also begun stitching squares into nine-patch blocks. Ultimately they will become a quilt to raffle for Wolston House. I think I like the Dancing Nine-Patch, which is a free pattern on Bonnie's blog.

Baby steps!

Sneak peek..

.. at some of the beautiful antique and vintage lace that will be on display at Wolston House for a few weeks, starting this Sunday.

 If you're in South-east Queensland for the next few Sundays, pop in for a visit!

Finished

I've been absent from the blogosphere for a while; no real reason, just laziness I guess. Some may wonder (although probably not) if I finished the quilt I was working on. Last week I posted pictures with my cat, Bella, 'helping' me to finish. And here it is...

... all set to go to a new home after it is raffled off on Sunday to raise funds for my favourite historic property, Wolston House. We are having our annual Christmas Craft Day, so I am also attempting to make some stuff for the craft stall. Attempt is the key word as I have become rather dithery about deciding what to make. So far I have made these fabric coasters and have half-started other things; but I keep changing my mind!

Crayon Box

I have finally decided on the quilt I am making as a fundraiser for Wolston House. I dithered about this for a while as I am hoping to get some of the other volunteers to participate and most are not experienced patch- workers. Even though they have sewing skills, they lack confidence. The pattern I chose (from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville free patterns) is Crayon Box and I think it will be perfect as it doesn't require precise seam matching.

It is a scrappy quilt (Bonnie's specialty) and I have started slicing and dicing fabric. Stay tuned for progress!

Hello again

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted on this blog. I have been caught up in a few heritage events and kind of lost my focus for a bit. Add in a flying visit to Perth for the National Trust and my regular volunteering commitments and... enough excuses!

I did however, finish the signature quilt I was working on. Deadlines are good and it needed to be ready for the event we ran to celebrate the 160th birthday of Wolston House. I'm fairly pleased with the outcome although this is not the best photo I've ever taken.

This is a close-up of the central section. The embroidery was done by one of the other volunteers.

A lot of the fabric came from my stash but I did have to buy backing. Isn't it cute!

The event was an Antiques & Collectables Day and of course I had to buy one or two little goodies. I have a "thing" about pretty plates and and just loved the little collections of vintage photos from France and Italy.

Next I am planning a scrappy quilt to raffle for Wolston House and hoping to get other volunteers to participate. Lots of patterns to choose from here.

A bit of fun

Hmmm... I should know better than to get a bit boastful about my crafty progress. Since my last post? very little progress on the crafting front.
However, I have been busy with my heritage-related activities.
At the moment we are in the middle of the National Trust's Heritage Festival for 2013 and of course we had an event at Wolston House last Sunday. Thankfully the weather behaved and it turned out to be a very successful day.

Kaleidoscope Dance group

Cars from The Model T Car Club

Since this year is the 50th anniversary of the National Trust in Queensland, there was a Gala Dinner held last week in the newly refurbished Brisbane City Hall. It was a lot of fun to 'frock up' and rub shoulders with the Governor and the Lord Mayor (only kidding about the shoulders- I was at least 20 feet away from the official table) in the beautiful auditorium. Yummy food and plenty of champers (forgot to take piccies- too busy eating!)

Looking up to the domed ceiling

Looking towards the stage

The sculptured relief above the stage looks as if has just been done and the pipes for the organ were all shiny and bright. Apparently they are still working on tuning the organ. I plan on going back to see the rest of the restoration soon.

Am I excused for not getting crafty?

Playing around..

... with some chintz furnishing samples.

I'll probably turn these into cushions to sell at Wolston House. Speaking of which, we are having our annual Christmas Craft Fair this coming Sunday from 11am to 4 pm. Hope the weather is kind to us.

Making a mark

I have been browsing the Internet looking for ideas for signature quilts. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the National Trust in Queensland, and the 160th birthday of the Trust property, Wolston House, where I regularly volunteer. I have been asked to make something for these celebrations on behalf of the volunteers, so I thought that a quilt incorporating all our names would be good.
I found a few ideas...

Image found here

Image found here

Image found here

... but I thought I would like to include a picture of the house or in some way make it not just about the names. I suppose it would end up as a wall hanging; we have about twenty-five regular volunteers.

 Has anyone made something like this and have some suggestions for me? I need to make a decision about the signature block at least before we finish for the year as our Christmas get together would be a good opportunity to gather signatures.

Sew beautiful

At Wolston House we are always getting people wanting to donate things to the house. Although some of the things are not appropriate or acceptable, occasionally we get offered beautiful items like this treadle sewing machine.

When it came it wasn't in working order and was also a bit on the shabby side. One of our volunteers had recently had her mother's treadle restored and gave us the name of the restorer. This is the result and I'm pleased to say that the lovely gentleman didn't charge us a cent. Some people are very generous aren't they!

Apparently this model was made in the early 1920s and I'm hoping to use it to demonstrate to our visitors (particularly the school children) how our mothers and grandmothers made things for their families and their homes. Shouldn't be too hard as I learned to sew on a very similar machine. 

A bit of a let down

It was a very wet day in South-east Queensland on Saturday. Even though it was fine yesterday, just a bit overcast, all the people who were to come to Wolston House as attractions/entertainment for our open day, decided to cancel. The vintage car owners must have thought they would get bogged or rained on, the dancers didn't want to get their costumes muddy and the damp is apparently not good for stringed instruments.
We were offered this lovely trio of musicians (as an alternative to the string orchestra) who entertained us with their recorders and they were very well received by our visitors.
Not as many of those as we would have liked but hey... we can't control the weather can we?

Heritage Festival

A beautiful Model T Ford at Wolston House

The National Trust Heritage Festival this year has been extended to a month of activities. At Wolston House we are having our event this coming Sunday. Let's hope the weather improves as we are having vintage cars, the Kaleidescope Colonial dancers and the Centenary State High School string orchestra, as well as our usual craft stalls, trash & treasure, sausage sizzle and Devonshire teas.
We are there from 11 am to 4 pm and admission is $4 for everyone. If you are interested in events in your area you will find them listed on the National Trust website. The festival is being celebrated in all states of Australia and this year's theme is "Innovation and Invention".

But where are the fairies?

Spotted these in a pot at Wolston House yesterday. Can you tell we have had a 'bit' of rain lately?

Craft day follow up

The Christmas Craft day we had at Wolston House last Sunday was a great success. Lots of people came and spent lots of money which will be used to improve and maintain the property.
Some photos taken on the day.

All of our home-baked goodies were sold.

Our Trash & Treasure stall is always full of bargains.

We have had these dancers a few times before and they are great to watch. I didn't envy them dressed like that when the temperature was around 33 degrees Celsius!

This is a group of re-enactors who set up a bushranger camp and entertained us with mock thefts as well as children playing colonial games and damper baking. I must hasten to add that the thieves were apprehended by the very diligent troopers, although, sadly, one person was "injured" in the cross-fire!

All in all a good day, in spite of the heat!

Craft day

I have been very busy today making goodies to sell at the Christmas Craft day at Wolston House tomorrow.
I'm sorry the photo is a bit blurry, that is how I'm feeling at the moment. I have made passion-fruit butter, date loaf, apricot balls (a bit like rum balls but with apricots), and Anzac biscuits. There is Banana chutney too, made a while back. Our Home Baking stall is always popular.
If you're in the neighbourhood tomorrow, drop in and say hello.

Day 20 - Blogtoberfest

Help!!! I've been browsing through all my Christmas related craft books, trying to get ideas for our Christmas craft fair at Wolston. I want to make things that aren't too difficult and that people will want to buy. All I've managed to do is confuse myself. 

I hate making decisions!