Sunday, May 5, 2013

Some finishes and some progress ......

There are times I love the internet.....and then there are the times I don't! I just finished writing a post and the internet connection had dropped out and it didn't save....grrrrrrrr
......so take two:

This weekend I was going to sew all weekend.....Bahahahahahaha...oh the best laid plans etc etc......my stitching day with the girls was cancelled due to some absences and the ill health of the hostess for the day so I thought I would tackle the housework and THEN get into some sewing.....hmmmm.......the recent garden makeover has resulted in a fabulous garden.....and Rose on her return home decided that she loved the new mulch out the back so much that some (lots) of it should come inside too......so she set about bringing it in on her shaggy (overdue for grooming) paws.....then when it rained....we had mud! Oh yay!! After vacuuming the loose stuff up I tackled the stained grout in the tiles on the laundry floor...out came the scrubbing brush and some good old fashioned elbow grease....while the perpetrator snored on the lounge! Then I decided the bathroom floors could do with the same treatment....well...you know how it goes......so by dinner time last night I was the one who needed to snore on the lounge!

Here are a couple of pics of the garden out the front:

Before:


After:

I love the screen I had made to "hide" the bins....or at least make them not so visible.....



I am very happy with the result! 

The back still needs some work....I need to do a general tidy up, clean the pavers and take some rubbish to the tip.....the trees that have been planted look like sticks at this stage so don't lend much to the garden as yet....I plan to plant some flowers in pots and in the main garden bed for colour but for now this is it:


You can see the lovely mulch on the garden bed that Rose loves so much.......a work in progress but way better than it was!

Speaking of works in progress........I did do some stitching last night.....slowly but surely getting near the end of the Bonnie Sullivan table runner started at the Quilted Crow in Hobart a few weeks ago.......I must say now that I didn't read the pattern properly and went ahead with the embroidered border before stitching the zig-zag border on ...hence no straight edge to follow which has left me with a bit of a wavy border....oops!! I stitched three sides of the zig-zag border last night and got the fourth side pinned ....hopefully a finish for tonight!


During the week I finished this Gail Pan pattern she designed for Cottage Garden threads...and I seem to be collecting a few of those so thought I should make something to put them in.......

 

....and just to make a change from the table runner project I started making a few of these little six pointed stars for another project.....busy hands and all that....


Oh and Rose has had a birthday..she was three on May 1st....she was born the day I moved into this house.  Seems like just yesterday! 

'Til next time.................................Lorraine

20 comments:

DAWNIE said...

Love the garden and "bin hider" looks great. Lovely stitchery for your threads great idea, also the binni sulliavan piece. I too was going to sew this weekend but havent even picked up the needle

Susan said...

What a difference the new garden makes, the front of the house looks so much brighter and lighter. Great bin hidey hole too. Love your thread holder, don't the CG threads look great in it. Happy Birthday Rose.

Anonymous said...

Loz i love the look of your new outside areas and love your bin idea.Boy you have done some beautiful sewing,well done my friend and have a good week.xx

Karen said...

You are a lady of many talents :) - your garden is looking great and the bin idea is a great way to hide those bins. Your sewing is wonderful as well - your getting lots done and deserve a little rest on the couch. Happy Birthday to Rose - wow 3 already.
Hugs - Karen

AnnieO said...

The garden looks wonderful! Love all the big boulders and that pop of bright green lawn. The backyard is better too--hope you'll enjoy many peaceful hours out there.

Scrubbing grout, not my favorite job but it does make such a difference.

Your stitching looks terrific as always, Lorraine! Glad you're getting lots of time with needle and thread.

Michelle said...

The garden looks great and I love all your other projects, especially the table runner and thread holder! You have been busy with those hands!
Michelle

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

Your garden make over looks great and you have been very busy in the stitching department. hugs

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

makeover looks fantastic...an all your projects are amazing....wow...

Kris said...

Wow! So many wow's in this post! Love the garden, love the bin fence, love your finishes and your almost finishes, and WOW! Three years? It does seem like yesterday. (And then I think of everything that has transpired since then and it seems like FOREVER. That wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff happens in real life too, not just Doctor Who.)

Jeni said...

A new garden always makes you feel happy.............

Sew Surprising said...

Your garden is looking lovely, and once everything comes into bloom it will look even more amazing. Just adore your hand sewing :)

Cardygirl said...

The garden looks absolutely fabulous! Rose just wanted the inside as glam as the outside!

Katie said...

Your garden looks fabulous. The stitching does too! :-)

Sue SA said...

Garden looks great, hope we get some more autumn rain and few sunny days to help establish it before the cool weather starts. I love your thread pockets/book, what a great idea for skeins. Especially love the stars, as I am big into six pointed stars at present also.

Shay said...

The gardens look fabulous. Almost makes me want to run out and do something with mine (Note I said almost)

And you've been a busy bee with all that stitching too!

Lynda said...

Your garden is lovely and the trees will grow soon enough. Everything you are making looks great - all the colours match.

Tazzie said...

Your garden is looking fabulous Loz, a wonderful transformation. Missed you today, looking forward to seeing you at the next gathering. Hope you're having a great time!
*hugs*
Taz
:-)

Suzanne said...

Happy Birthday beautiful Rosie! And your home is looking great too!

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