That was fun!

Last Sunday's treadle demonstration and ukulele gig went well and was fun, but oh my....it was a busy day.  By the time we arrived home, unloaded the car, put the machine back together and sat down with a cuppa I was done for the day, so no blogging.

This is the base - doesn't it put you in mind of a skeleton!

It looks a bit naked without the cabinet and machine, doesn't it?  The cabinet screws into four holes at the top of the base.

The green bag was started and finished during the demonstration and the red bag would have been finished too, had it not been for the machine having conniptions with its tension.

See the tension wheel on the front left?  Part of the tension assembly includes a fine wire spring which had slipped out of place and moved, allowing the thread to wrap itself around the next guide, pull taut and snap.  Fortunately Gina (a choir friend who knows old machines inside out and backwards) was at hand to help, we fixed it and had it going again.

The ticking fabric was given to me by a former boss who, with her husband, had a side business restoring old furniture.  They did the wood finishing themselves but had an upholsterer do the seats, backs and pillows who didn't stint on quality fabrics......I know because she gave me some bags of leftovers; this sturdy ticking was included.  There were two long pillow forms already sewn along the sides and ends with openings left for stuffing; cut across the middle they make good sized bags, with strips cut off for handles.  The backing on the straps matches the lining fabrics from my stash, so they are colourful as well as being strong.

Our ukulele songs were well received, people said nice things to us and about us and the young children who danced around to our music had a great time, so much so that we have been booked for the next Spring Fair - in two years' time!

The big news item in recent times has, of course, been the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  While I sympathise with her family losing a loved mother and grandmother I really don't understand the outpouring of grief from those who would never have moved in the same circles.  She (and various other family members) visited Australia several times, but I have never seen the attraction of being squashed in a crowd just to see a hand waving out a car window.  I would, however, love to put dibs on all the emeralds....she had some beautiful emeralds, I am quite fond of green and emerald is my birthstone.....she often wore a beautiful Golden Wattle brooch which my country gave her on her first tour and which I covet mightily.  There is also a gorgeous diamond and sapphire brooch which was a gift from Canada which I really like, but will leave for my Canadian friends to fight over.  There are some very pretty jewels and trinkets in the royal vaults, I do like a nice trinket....and these are very nice indeed.

Some quilting has been done on the Canadian quilt border, yay!  Hopefully some more can be done later today.  More stitches have been knitted, more diamonds have been joined.  Words have been read, notes have been plinked.  Hunting and gathering has been done, and so passes another week with more of the same to come.

Much great excitement here on Friday, after very heavy rain the previous night we had a flood with two of the three river crossings in town being closed.  The river has gone down for now but more rain is expected later in the week, goodness knows where it will go as the ground is so wet already.  Those Who Know have assured us that another flood is possible.  Meanwhile, smaller towns downstream are currently seeing major floods with the prospect of being cut off from the outside world for several days, so I don't suppose they will need more water.

It hasn't been the weather for a barefoot frolic in a flouncy summer frock.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"When balls are given, if the weather is bad, an awning should be provided for the protection of those passing from their carriages to the house.  In all cases, a broad piece of carpet should be spread from the door to the carriage steps."

Such an awning would have been needed here on Thursday evening.  Fortunately the building in which our choir practices are held has such an awning going from the door nearly to the street, so one didn't have to sprint through the raindrops for too long before arriving at one's (self-drive) carriage.

Enjoy your days!

When I'm 64

I was once, you know....

The diamonds have been joined, and joined, and this morning I thought it would be interesting to see how many have been made.  They were duly retrieved from the Box of Finished Blocks, laid out, counted and photographed.....and there are 64, although they didn't all get in the pic.

The Cunning Plan is to make lots and lots then join them into - I don't know, threes perhaps? fours? sixes?  Or perhaps just join them into rows, then join the rows together.  Watch this space.

These are some of the pieces from my tumbler quilt - perhaps they are related?

The same, but different.

Apart from cutting a few more diamonds the sewing room hasn't been on my agenda this week, sadly.  Treadle practice is coming along, we have even progressed to sewing with real thread on real fabric, yay!  Between that and ukulele practice for the sewing/ukulele gig next Sunday, some hunting and gathering and an appointment or two, that's another week gone.

A few days ago I was writing out some information to have with me while treadling next weekend.  Going by the last time I did this people will ask questions, so an online search told me that it's a 66K machine made in Kilbowie, Scotland, hence the K in the model number.  The serial number indicates that it was made after 26th May, 1925; it is nigh on impossible to find out the exact birth date of an old Singer machine, but it is possible to find out when the serial number was released.  A batch of 35,000 numbers was released on that date and the number on mine is only a few hundred from the first number, so perhaps it was soon afterward.

This machine was free - the best price! - I already owned my maternal grandmother's Singer treadle when one day 20 or so years ago my brother rang to say his neighbour had "an old machine like Nanna's" that was being thrown out, so if I wanted it to get there quickly.  We duly did, and while the neighbour had taken it apart the screws were in a plastic bag along with several of the fancy feet, the manual, even a key to the drawers, which is a real treasure indeed.  The cabinet case is in better condition than Nanna's thanks to that one being stored on a verandah by my mother before she gave it to me, so it is the one I use for demonstrations.

The museum will have a blacksmith working in his forge and a shearer showing how sheep are/were shorn and some other older skills being demonstrated, so a treadle sewing machine fits right in.  The museum collection includes a Wilcox & Gibbs treadle machine, and a hand-crank.

It will be fun.

This week has brought rain, and cold winds, and warm sunshine.  The coming week looks to be more of the same, as we tip over from winter to spring.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Ladies leaving a ball or party should not allow gentlemen to see them to their carriages, unless overcoats and hats are on for departure."

Perhaps this was to make sure that no hanky-panky took place in a carriage, unless both parties were suitably clad against the cool night air?  I must confess it has me a little puzzled.

Enjoy your days!

Plans are one thing, reality is another

There I was stitching away on the first line of the border quilting on my Canadian quilt when I thought to myself, I thought, "that doesn't look like one and a half inches from the white border, does it" I thought.....so I measured it.....and sure enough, it wasn't.  It was one inch.  I had set the seam guide incorrectly.  Bugger.

The seam guide is now set at 1-1/4 inches, which will be the spacing for the second row of stitching.  The last line will be 1-1/2 in from the second row.  It's either that, or lots of unpicking.....

It will progress slowly, because it's hard work and I have other Stuff needing to be done.  The treadle machine is oiled and my brain remembers how to treadle, yay!  So - some practice time between now and the spring fair display, and I will be good to go.  Also need to practice the songs for the ukulele group, who are playing at the same function.  What a busy day that will be, for sure.....but it will be fun.

No pics have been taken this week, so we are diggin in the photo vault.  These shots were taken last time we visited the coast.

A peaceful boardwalk along the river.

Angourie is a very sleepy little place, but I am told that board riders love it.

There are coast people, and there are inland/mountain people.  I'm definitely an inland person; the occasional dose of coastal humidity is enough to remind me why I prefer life inland.  

Some diamonds have been joined, more have been cut.  Stitches have been knitted; it is too late for this year, but I will have a nice new jumper for next winter.  Words have been read.  The usual hunting and gathering, and ukulele playing and choir singing, and a day at quilt group yesterday, and that's another week of my life gone while I watched it flash by.

I know I am an Olde Pharte so perhaps my thoughts are out of step with the rest of the world, but honestly - what's with the nose ring?  It makes the wearer look as they have a drippy nose that needs wiping, and that's not a good look.  Your body is your body, you can do whatever you like with it, within reason, of course; I have pierced ears, just one hole in each ear lobe, although it did take me until I was 30YO and had already given birth to pluck up the courage to have it done.  Piercings anywhere else....I don't think so, ditto for tattoos.  I am as decorated as I wish to be, thank you, even if some folk might (indeed, probably do) consider me boring.

This week has gone from freezy frosty chilly to fairly warm and sunny, but the weather folk have promised (threatened?) some cooler weather later in the week, after the forecast rain.  We're heading into the time of year when making the decision on what to wear can be tricky.  It's warm enough for some folk to let their bare arms and legs hang out, but not quite the time for the barefoot frolic - for me, anyway.  Layers, layers...

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Young ladies must be careful how they refuse to dance, for unless a good reason is given, a gentleman is apt to take it as evidence of personal dislike.  After a lady refuses, the gentleman should not urge her to dance, nor should the lady accept another invitation for the same dance.  The members of the household should see that those guests who wish to dance are provided with partners."

What if the young lady does indeed dislike the gentleman?  Politeness is everything, it seems.

Enjoy your days!

Progress is....progressing

Quilting the border on my Canadian quilt has been started.

To help decide on the spacing of the lines, earlier in the week I made a mock-up on paper by measuring out the finished width (4-1/2 inches) then ruling lines 1-1/2 in apart.  The paper was then flipped over and the exercise repeated, this time with lines one inch apart.  The one inch spacing didn't work because of the half inch left on one side, so 1-1/2 in spacing it is.

If I have learned something during the making of this quilt - and, believe me, I have learned a lot - it's to never ever never again make a quilt with so much fusible applique.  It is very stiff, inflexible and heavy to work with, especially with the whole quilt to wiggle under the needle.

But......and yes, I know one should never start a sentence with but, but I did.....it looks so good!

Our wattle bush is blooming its little heart out and looking gorgeous in the process.  The leaves look sharp and spikey, but the pointed tips are actually quite soft.  Not all the blooms have blossomed, as you can see, but they will.

We planted it several years ago, and when it was very young something - we know not what - nibbled nearly all of those tiny tender leaves.  There were just three little leaves left, and Kevin was going to pull it out....don't you dare, I said to him, it's not dead yet, it has green leaves.....so he left it, we just trimmed off the obviously dead stems, and it eventually grew.  And grew.  Now it is glorious, and we can smell it whenever we go outside.

The past week has been busy with ukulele on two days, sewing group, a monthly volunteer day, etc.  Truly, I don't know how I ever found the time to work.  One of my treadle machines has also been raised in its cabinet and practice on it will start this week, as I'm demonstrating at a historical museum in a few weeks and I haven't treadled for some time.

The first sleeve on my jumper is finished, and the second one started.  It's a good mindless in-front-of-TV project - as is joining diamonds to make hexagons, more of which have been made.  Words have also been read, some more interesting than others.

Thoughts need to be thought for when the front of the jumper is knitted.  I am using a basic pattern raglan-sleeved pattern and have found an interesting cable design that I want to use on the front.  I'm not sure whether to do one repeat up the centre front, or one repeat on one side of the front.  Two repeats - maybe, but not spaced to make it look as though I'm wearing braces to hold my pants up.  Perhaps I could even push the boat out, and have three repeats marching up the centre front.

However, that's a decision which doesn't have to made for a while yet.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"In leaving a ball-room before the music has ceased, if no members of the family are in sight, it is not necessary to find them before taking your departure.  If, however, the invitation is a first one, endeavour not to make your exit until you have thanked your hostess for the entertainment.  You can speak of the pleasure it has afforded you, but it not necessary that you should say "it has been a grand success"."

In other words, don't go overboard with the effusive thanks.  

Enjoy your days!

Moving onto Plan B....

....because Plan A is not going to work.  Yesterday I started the free motion quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt and made a complete hash of it, so it was unpicked.  I do not recommend having to unpick free motion quilting as a fun activity, but it can be done while completely sober without too many naughty words.  

Plan B is straight line quilting to match that already done in the sashing and inner border.  The quilt is quite stiff due to the fusible appliqué, so straight lines will make it easier to control under the needle.

Sigh of relief, now that the decision is made.  Now just need to find the time....the coming week has several things already happening, next weekend is looking possible.....

My quilt group was issued with a challenge earlier this year but I can't raise the enthusiasm for it, so I might let it pass.  I already have enough projects on the go that I would rather expend my time and energy on.  Since joining the group I haven't always participated in the annual challenge because some just haven't appealed to me....and after all, it's my time and energy, isn't it?  So I get to decide how it's allotted.

We need pics.  None were taken this week, so we'll dig into the picture vault.

On a hill behind our town we have a grandly-named Botanic Garden, and one day we went for a stroll to enjoy the flowers......this is a Grevillea with spiky leaves.

Hardenbergia, with its purple pea flowers.

A view looking over the town from under the awning of the open-air Bush Chapel, where marriages and other celebrations are held.

A peaceful corner with its little waterfall.

It's a pleasant place, but we won't go there today because it's going to rain - again - we've had a bit lately, but memories of the drought are still fresh so we are thankful for any rain that falls.

Some diamonds have been cut, and some have been joined.  Stitches have been knitted - the first sleeve is nearly finished.  Words have been read.  Time has drifted on.

The gig during the week went well, my jacket garnered several compliments, and my songs were enjoyed to judge by the comments I received afterward.  I already knew several of the women present so we enjoyed catching up; it was a fun evening.

I am trying to work out how to change some of the things on my blog, font colours and things like that....I used to know, but over the years Blogger has made several changes and now I can't find out where to do it.  Perhaps my brain is getting old....

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"The sooner that we recover from the effects of the Puritanical idea that the clergyman should never be seen at balls, the better for all those who attend them.  Where it is wrong for a clergyman to go, it is wrong for any member of his church to be seen."

Well, yes.  This is true.  A clergyman should be able to kick up his (or in these enlightened times, her) heels in a ball-room without being censured for it.

Enjoy your days!

Woe is me, shame and scandal in the family......

Anyone else remember that old song?  It was around when I was a Sweet Young Thing, and never failed to raise a chuckle.  I was reminded of it earlier in the week while watching one of those genealogical programs, which - even if we don't know of the person concerned - are usually interesting.  

My maternal grandmother Edith married twice, we grew up knowing that our mother and uncle had a much older step-sister.  Given that it was the early 1920s we always assumed - even my mother assumed - that Edith's first husband Albert had died, but no.  Edith took their daughter and left, and Albert sued for divorce on the grounds of desertion.  The decree nisi was granted in March 1923; I have a copy of the court proceedings (and very interesting reading it is too) which states bluntly "If you marry again before this decree is absolute you will be committing bigamy".  The decree absolute period was five years, probably standard for the time, which would mean that Edith and Albert were free to marry again in 1928.  Albert remarried in 1930 but - Edith and my grandfather Frank were married in September 1923, possibly because my mother was on the way.  I have long wondered if it was really a legal marriage so recently joined a social media genealogy group and asked the question.  The general opinion was, no, it was a bigamous marriage.  That would have made my mother and her brother illegitimate, something which would have cause great mortification and embarrassment to my mother had she known.  Finding out in her 60s that she was born just six months after her parents' marriage was bad enough for her.

It was nigh on 100 years ago and these days it doesn't matter, but it's still interesting to know, isn't it?  These are my grandparents Edith and Frank - Francis David - with my mother Mavis in 1924.  It's behind glass, hence the flash.

It's time for the annual wattle pic!  Our wattle is starting to bloom, we love its glorious golden gorgeousness.

Some shopping was done and a suitable top purchased for next week's gig, bought new on sale ($55 reduced to $20, not bad eh?) to be worn under this jacket.  The appliqué reminds me of the lotus design on my Singer treadle machines, both from the mid-1920s, which is very apt as the evening has a 'Roaring Twenties' theme.

This was bought a very long time ago at a quilt show in Canberra, the flowers are cut from a stripe while the foliage is an irridescent olive green, and the machine appliqué is exquisitely done.  The lining is a very deep dark olive green, the main fabric a black cotton blend.  It was a little pricey but I liked it, it was different and unique, beautifully made.....and twenty years later I still wear it, so it was money well spent.  Some sparkly jewellery, a flower for my hair, and I will be good to go.  

The quilting between the white and outer leafy print border on my Canadian quilt has been completed, now I am waiting for a decent block of time to free motion quilt the outer border.  Later in the week is looking hopeful, fingers crossed......diamonds have been pieced, more diamonds have been cut.  Stitches have been knitted, words have been read.  Shopping has been shopped.  Food has been cooked.  General running around has been run.  All the things that make the daily grind exciting, in other words, have been done.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Though not customary for a married couple to dance together in society, those men who wish to show their wives the compliment of such unusual attention, if they possess any independence, will not be deterred from doing so by their fear of any comments from Mrs. Grundy."

'Mrs Grundy' was not a real person, but concern about offending her seems to have been strong in past times.  Many years ago Reg Grundy was a TV entrepeneur, and his name is now used as an Aussie rhyming term for underwear.....'Reg Grundies' for 'undies'.  I don't know what Mrs Grundy would have thought about that.

Enjoy your days!

Finally getting around to it

More quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt has been done.  The black inner border is now finished; it was quilted with two parallel rows to match the quilting in the black sashing between the blocks, then a row in the ditch between the black and white borders.  (Occasionally the needle jumped out of the ditch, which is why I am not a great fan of stitching in the ditch.....but it passes the ten feet away rule, so that's all right.)

You can see the black and white borders here.  Next will be a row of stitching - once more into the ditch, dear friends, once more, to paraphrase William Shakespeare - on the edge between the white border and the outer red and black leaf print border.  Although it's only straight stitching it's quite a physical workout because the quilt is heavy and stiff, as there are three or four layers of fusible appliqué in some pictures.

And - I now have my own round tuit!  So there is no excuse for procrastination, is there?  I can no longer say "when I get around to it".

A surprise package from a friend in the Big Smoke - thank you, Sandra! - with a 'round tuit', and a wombat coaster made from Silky Oak, both shown on the red back of my Canadian quilt.

Silky Oak - Grevillea Robusta - is not an oak tree at all, but its sleek grain resembles that of European oak.  It makes beautiful furniture, and I remember a building in the Big Smoke whose entrance hall was lined with wall display cases made from Silky Oak.  Way back before my memory starts our town made the decision to plant Silky Oaks as street trees - many still survive; they are now quite large and provide good summer shade but woe betide anyone who parks underneath when they flowering, as the flowers drip their sticky sap onto cars.

The house is quiet without a cat......but we suspect we will be finding white cat hairs on clothing and furniture for some time yet, and a few were even spotted earlier while quilting.

Yesterday the ukulele group's gig went well, people said nice things to us and about us.  There is another gig coming up soon but - guess what! - this time I have been asked to do it solo on my own by myself, how about that?  The theme is 'Roaring Twenties'; I can do the songs easily enough, but clothes.....not so much.  Perhaps I need to hit the op shops and see what's available.  A sparkly or lacy top could be The Very Thing, something I do not currently own as I really don't do sparkly or lacy clothes.  Plain black pants will be the bottom.

As usual, this week some stitches have been knitted, some diamonds have been pieced, words have been read.  The first sleeve on my whatever-it-becomes (either a jumper [probably] or a cardigan [possibly]) is proceeding along well, the armhole decrease is well under way so the further along it is the quicker it goes.  

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Never be seen without gloves in a ball-room, or with those of any other color than white, unless they are of the most delicate hue."

For women gloves would probably also be long, as the rule 'the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove' applied.  Gentlemen also wore gloves to a ball so as not to leave oily marks on their partners' skin or clothing while dancing.  Indeed, some folk in these times of plague might wish the custom of wearing gloves would return, and not just for wearing at balls.

Enjoy your days!