Saturday, October 27, 2012

walking my way back home...

 
Spring has sprung here in Tasmania!!
 
 
After I take Denver to the school bus in the morning I go for my river walk.  You can just see the path in the middle of the photo. (and remember if you want to see a larger version of any of the pictures...just click on them)
 

Unfortunately the blossom trees have all finished flowering and are in leaf now, but some of the flowers (I think they are bluebells?) are still out.  And the roses are on the way... 




Some of the swampy river land...
 
 
and some more...



and some more....


Looking through the willows...


and mowed grass areas...



Across to the other side...


Towards the road bridge...


Looking to the footbridge...



Looking from the footbridge to the train bridge...

 

A closer view of the footbridge (which sways when you walk across it)...
 
 
 
And two of my favourite houses and gardens I walk past.  This one...
 


And this one...


Home now...time for a cup of tea :o)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Making pincushions

Jules asked me in a comment awhile back how I make my pinchshions, so finally...here is what I do (I hope the explanations are clear)....
 
 
Cut out two 7" (18cm) circles.  Sew right sides together leaving a gap for turning through.  Clip/snip edges (not sure why I do this, but I seem to remember you are supposed to)....
 



Turn through to right side and stuff firmly with fibrefill or similar....




Hand stitch the gap closed (I use an overstitch)....




Using a longish needle and double thread with a knot in the end I then sew from top to bottom (or bottom to top) pulling the thread tight to indent the centre....



Then using the same thread I attach a button on both sides (top and bottom) and secure the thread by winding it around the button a few times before cutting thread.....


Using embroidery thread I knot it under the button....



Then wind it around the buttons going from top to bottom I segment it into 8 sections....


I knot the two ends of the embroidery thread under the button when finished and using a needle I then pull the excess end through the pinchushion and bring it out somewhere on one of the edges and cut it off (this is just to leave some thread inside the pinchushion rather than cutting it off close to where I've tied it and risk it coming undone.  And there you have it...a pinchusion....





Then you can make some more....