What I've learn't

We're never too old to learn but I do wonder why I am so slow sometimes.  After sewing umpteen hands onto my bag (first time applique) I figured to get around the tips of the fingers and the curves in between you just set your blanket stitch width smaller and then you get left with any gaps on the curves... DERRRRR

And last night after fussing with the bag handles, plastic tablemats in strips etc etc I suddenly thought of boning and hey presto, at $2.30 a metre it holds the handles upright perfectly. 

Tonights progress . the childrens hands are all finished, the bag handles are now ready to have the hands sewn on. 

I've decided to put a 2" border around the top of the bag which I'll just strengthn with heavy interfacing.  I need to sew half a dozen buttons on the bag tomorrow night and then sew the hands on where the handles meet the bag.  Join all four sides and lining together, seams facing out.  And put the binding on.  I've got some hand sewing to take to work tomorrow... whdy to we chuck some junk out.. I need same buttons to cover now and I threw them out... Will hav eto use other buttons and cover them with batting first. 

Any;eay, I'm afraid this might be all of me until Friday night or Saturday night.. Least on Saturday I can show you the whole bag, the club meeting is on Saturday afternoon so from then on I can show it off.  Fingers crossed everyone.l

PS My daughter was on Close Up tonight.  She told the truth and for that I am proud of her, it really is sad when people can't put their phone down to have a conversation or spend tiime with their families.  Her language was a tad norty and I'm sure there'll be complaints but I have never heard it talk in that language before so I'm hoping she was just nervous.    I ope some others realise they have a proglem too because life is tooo shallow if you spend all day on your mobile and it is not a good way of texting improtant messages.

My grandson cam is a sweetheart.  He's so gorgoues I love him to bitts, as all my grandchildren, and my other two chilend, a son Ken in PN and Haylee in Napier.

More photos

I tried to download these last night but it didn't work. Sorry the label photo didn't come out too good but thats how the whole challenge begun.  It says Hand of Friendship hence my idea of making a HAND bag.  And on that note, I need to leave the cyber world and get cracking on finishing it before Saturday afternoon...

So then I can start the Christmas presents!!

I figured it out.. all by myself!!

Oh wicked .. at last I've figured out what was wrong with downloading images.. I needed to update!  I saw this today and thought it was wicked.  My daughter has gone 2 weeks today without her mobile phone.  She's finding it really hard as it was a huge part of her day.. texts, calls, emails for work, etc etc but she's realised what a difference it had made to her relationships with people and her family.  I love it now, I can ring her and have a conversation OFTEN! 

Back to my sewing.  MIght post a couple of photos later.  I just have to be a bit careful as I'm not sure if any of the local quilters have found my blog Yet!!  Meeting is Saturday then I can show the whole thing.  Till later

TODAY's list

I've made myself a list today of things I have to do.

Washing .. ready to hang out DONE
Vacumning.. kitchen and lounge, rest can wait, I'm sewing! DONE
Bag
Sew my friend Myra's hands on DONE
Sew a couple more buttons on here and there
Sew the pockets onto the lining DONE
Cover the rope for the handles
Stuff my grandchildrens hands slightly 9.30 DONE
Make a bracelet for Olivia's hand
Cover the plastic baseboard DONE
Cut the binding
Sew the little hands onto the handle and embellish
Sew the bag together and binding on


I'll be back later with progress report. No interruptions today. So it's Catherine Cookson, Me and my Bernina. Have a lovely Sunday everyone and PLEASE SUN PLEASE COME BACK TO WELLINGTON!

4PM some things done (since when can't you edit in colour??)
I've also been procrastinating about the handles, been to supermarket, had lunch at 2.30pm and now back in the sewing room for more progress. Ignored the phone this avo. Oh, and I've had ants to visit ... grr thought I'd left them in PN.


9.30 PM I've done a few off my list today though I have strayed... but I feel confident I'll make it before next Saturday's deadline.

I still have to

Sew a couple more buttons on the bag and also on the grandkids hands (will take some to bed and do them now.
I have made the handle structure (I wanted it to stand up so have put strips off a plastic place mat between the padding) but I still need to cover it.. won't take long.

Then I need to sew the little hands to the bag handle and sew the handle to the bag.

I think once that's done I Just need to put the lining inside the bag, sew it all together at the top of each piece and then sew down the sides (facing outwards) then sew the binding on.

I've run out of the fabric but will get some tomorrow. Otherwise everything I have is here ao will update progress tomorrow with photos. Hopefully it'll work tomorrow. Night all.

Happy Birthday to my Mum today

I still can't see photos when I'm writing a new post so will have to do one at a time. My Mum is 78 today and look no grey hair! I've been trying to ring her since 8am but she's engaged. Since Dad passed away Mum is never at home or always on the phone. She dines out often with friends, goes on bus trips, looks after the neighbours cat (while they're at work he stays at Mum's - lucky cat) and she helps out at the Op Shop three times a week and she's happy. I hope I'm that busy when I'm 78.

I'll just have to keep trying to get through. It's raining and blowing here in the Hutt today so I'm happy. I CAN stay in my sewing room and not feel guilty. Haha. I have picked up several DVD's from the Library to keep me entertained including 4 Catherine Cookson movies. Tonight I'm off to Kelvin Cruickshank off Sensing Murder. I've been before and he's wonderful. It's so healing for everyone just knowing that the ones you've loved and lost are happy and well. Maybe he'll choose me tonight and tell me that I'm not insane when there's funny things have happened when I've been thinking of my Dad. ???!!!!

PS what a wasted day for sewing but a lovely one. I managed to find the phone no for the radio station Mum listens to and they played a song especially for her. Yeah, well she didn't want them to know but I've never done as I'm told!! Then a friend from work arrived unexpectedly which was neat. Her first time to my house and she's lovely. Before she left another colleague arrived and so at 4 pm I started sewing and at 5.30 I had to leave to meet up with my ride to KC tonight. He is absolutely amazing. None of my 'spirits' came through but the whole experience is so healing that everyone in the audience gains comfort from it I'm sure.

Whats up with my blog

Eek something is wrong with my blog. I downloaded these photos but it's all in script.. what have I done?? I can't see the photos on Edit Posts?? I must have done something when I changed my profile ????? I am techno phobic... eeekkk... Can anyone suggest something??
These photos are of my grandson George who is 14 years old this weekend. Of course the photo is an old one but it was his birthday then too and he is so cute. To think he could be learning to drive in a year... oh I feel ancient now!!
Another photo is a piece I've decided to complete for a friends farewell present.. I'm not sure what to do with it now. Whether to cut it up and frame small squares on a dark background or frame it as it is.. ANY IDEAS PLease!! The other two photos are of my garden which is between the house and the driveway. My lovely lovely neighbours have been tidying up their garden and replanting. So they've recycled and given me most of these plants. It looks gorgeous... I am so lucky to have these people next door. They want me to stay here forever .... but wait till I have a party one day... oh yeah right!!

My HAND bag so far

Just a sneak peek at my bag for the local club challenge. This is one side with my hand in blue, and two of my friends and this is the inside of the bag. Yes, it's square. I've got a pocket for a 12" ruler, a pocket for a magazine and a pocket for anything else. They're still to be sewn on but I've got a few little buttons to sew on the hands first. I then have to make straps and I'm hoping to work out how to sew two more hands on them so that'll make them HANDles!!

Another giveaway with lots of yummy pressies to choose from.. Go and visit

http://dyecandy.blogspot.com/ to win some gorgeous hand dyed fabrics or other goodies.