Another Mixed Bag

Hello again my faithful followers, and thank you so much for all your lovely comments which are always brimful with enthusiasm and encouragement - they cheer me on my way, no end!

I have a few bits and pieces to share with you today and first off is the little hexagonal travel sewing pouch/purse. I have to say that although this is a pretty little thing and will be most useful, I do feel that the work and time spent on it does not reflect in the finished product. 

36 x 3/4 inch (2cm) paper templates to cut out and then cover in fabrics before sewing together, and then to have to cut a fair bit of them away in order to have straight edges to bind - well, I ought to have thought a bit longer about it before I jumped into this particular pattern! Anyway, another lesson learned! Do have a look at it and let me know what you think!

There is also a second table runner, very similar to that of the previous week, but just slightly longer and narrower - well, when one has scraps of fabrics that are rather pretty, it is a nice, and economical, thing to use them up. I must admit to having cut out too many squares to accommodate the little heart quilt so somewhere down the line there will be yet another appearance of these pretty fabrics but no decision yet as to what!

And the back …..

Really, these runners are so quick and easy to make and I've thoroughly enjoyed putting them together and seeing fast results.

Last weekend saw me having a quick gander at a few fabrics which were on sale at Textile Traders - I hadn't been in there for quite some time so it was very nice to spend a bit of time browsing and actually finding a few bits and pieces to add to the very slowly growing (because I keep using it) stash. Just when I had almost decided to order online up come a few attractive, and I think, coordinating pieces, at a good price that couldn't be refused! Pick it up when you see it girls, you never know when it might come in handy …..

Oh and I've also been doing a bit on my granny square blanket after being inspired by the lovely 

Forgetmenotsblue - and you can see from the pics that I really am attracted to aqua …..

…and how about those cute elephants - the fabric is called Elephant Walk.

 Just as an aside - the cotton yarn I'm crocheting into a blanket has had so many trial runs on various patterns as a cardigan - I've never before had such trouble finding a pattern I really like or have the patience to take my time to work on. Anyway, I have loads of this yarn so there will be a successful cardi come out of it sometime ….. down the line somewhere ….. watch this space. In the meantime I'm finding the blanket so very relaxing to pick up and work on a little bit at a time, especially after concentrating on matching and fixing those blocks in the 'disappearing four-block quilt' - yes, I'm still working at it and it's showing good progress so I'll give you an update next time.

Do you remember me showing you the Lillypilly trees with berries last season? Well here are a couple of pics to date, such a good load of fruit on it again; and also one solitary hibiscus flower which is also adding a nice bright touch to the garden at the moment. 

We are very thankful to have had a few showers of rain during last weekend - nothing like enough, but a little bit for the gardens is very acceptable. The good thing is that it fell very gently and that enabled the dry earth to take it in, rather than it coming down in torrents, which it will sooner or later. I had never seen rain come down so hard as in Australia - it was a total shock to us when we first experienced it here!

I'm very happy to be seeing signs of beautiful spring in a lot of your blogs and it must be such a relief after all the rain and snow of winter - I wish for lots of happy, light, sunny times for you over there - make the most of it while you have it!

Have a wonderful week and thanks again for being here with me!

With my love,

❤Joy xoxo