Working with Wood Show, Sydney

This was the show we intended going to last week but someone got the date wrong! Good news for me 'cause we ended up at the Stitches & Craft show instead. Even though I'm not a Woodworker (although I did work for the 'Australian Woodworking magazine for 6 years!) we all had a great day out and saw some really interesting stuff. Enjoy the pics.

This cute little cottage makes you want to take up carving!

This was an interesting display on Country Chairmaking - demonstrating the use of a handmade lathe. Beautiful chairs; an ordinary item that we take for granted becomes an art form when it's been handcrafted by a skilled craftsperson. Less is definately more...

Now for something really special. There was a fascinating bloke by the name of Ray Faull, who has created this miniature woodworking shed. He encouraged folks to pick up the tiny tools and even try them out - each one was an exact replica and actually worked! The attention to detail was incredible; and the entire project was an exact replica of his father's own woodworking shop. The following pics are all of Ray's masterpiece.

It was all you could do to stand and stare in awe...

The show is on every year at Moore Park (near Fox studio's) around mid-June.

Easy Bag Tutorial

This little bag is quick and easy to put together, and you can have alot of fun with fabric and trims. First of all, you need to draw up the pattern. Ruler, pencil and paper is all that's required. It's worth spending a bit of time to get it accurate as this will then be your template for every bag you make - you can then transfer the template to cardboard or template plastic. (Click on link below; right click and select 'save image as'. Save to desktop and/or print it out).

PATTERN.

You need;- 20 cm fabric for straps and bottom front of bag. 25cm fabric for back of bag (I use same as bottom front/straps). 10cm fabric for top front of bag. 25cm (cheaper) fabric for lining. 30cm Lightweight iron on interfacing. 10cm Ribbon for loop. 30cm Trim for front of bag. 1 Button.
1cm seam allowance has been included in pattern pieces. Use matching thread for a much better finish. Remember golden rule - RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER before sewing anything.

Using pattern, cut out interfacing, lining and fabrics. Iron the interfacing to the fabric pieces. With right sides facing, sew the top & bottom fronts together. Sew the trim over seam on front.

With right sides facing, sew bottom & side seams together.

To form the base of the bag - match the side and bottom seams - sew straight down this line. It will look like the photo below. Trim the seam.

Repeat with the other corner - your bag should now stand up by itself. Do exactly the same with the lining - sew side and bottom seams. Then match side & bottom seams and form base - only this time leave a 15cm opening in the bottom seam so that you can turn the bag through later.

Fold the straps lengthways, right sides facing and sew together across one end and along the side. Turn right side out and press.

The quickest & easiest way to do this is to use a tube, which you push into your strap (or arm/leg if making a doll) and push a stick into the fabric from the closed end. The stick pushes into the tube and turns the fabric tube right side out in one easy step. You can buy these online very cheaply if you can't find them around the home - it's money well spent.

Topstitch your straps to add a nice decorative touch. It's all these little steps that give a more professional finish (OK, my stitching's a bit wobbly; guess I like the homespun look more)!

Measure 7cm along front and back of bag from side seams and place pin. Use this as a guide and pin handles in place.

At back of bag at the top find the centre and pin the ends of the ribbon in place to form a loop for the button. Sew the loop and straps in place. Your bag should now look like this.



With right sides together and matching the side seams, place the bag inside the lining and sew around the top of the lining/bag sandwiching the loops and straps inside.
Trim the seam allowance around the top of the bag.

Turn the bag through to right side and hand stitch the opening in lining closed.

Your bag is almost finished. Give it a good iron now before topstitching around the top edge, and sewing the button in place.

And of course, the best part - wrapping it up and giving it to someone special...

Once you've got the hang of this easy bag, it's time to start making up a few more in different styles; you can't have too many bags!

MORE PATTERNS

Craft Friday's

Well - I've decided Friday's are all mine to work on my craft projects. Not quite as priveleged a life as Beatrice and Dorothea but it ain't half bad. I started with a nice easy project - a vintage bear made from a lovely piece of old chenille that I got off ebay a while ago; and vintage lace and buttons from my collection - aged beautifully with my special brew of tea and a few other things (top secret...)!...

....and complete with her own little patchwork quilt. She's packing her bags ready for a trip overseas as she's being adopted by a very special person who put a request in quite a while ago!!

And just to get inspired, I love going through my lovely old collection of sewing stuff.
There's bits of old lace and vintage gloves (were there hands really that small?)...

Lots of old cotton reels and wooden bobbins...

and buttons, needles, hooks & eyes etc.

- did I mention buttons.... I LOVVE buttons - you can't have too many!

Roll on next Friday....

Sunburnt Country Embroidery Project

If you love the poem by Dorothea McKellar, it's worth getting hold of the current issue of 'Australian Homespun' Magazine. There's a fabulous design of the poem to embroider and frame, by Fiona Tully.

I couldn't resist it - especially with the lovely native plant borders. It'll be the first sewing project I've tackled in quite a while. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy sitting down and doing a bit of sewing... just needed some new inspiration!

I've transferred the design to calico; picked out some threads and found a little tin to keep all my bits & pieces in, and I'm ready to go. It may take a while - but I'll post the finished pic one day soon.

It's fascinating to read the story about Dorothea Mackellar. Not unlike Beatrice Potter in alot of ways - quite a privileged life but a great deal of heartbreak and sadness too.

For a brief history lesson in Australian literature when you have the time; here it is. Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar was born on 1 July 1885, at her family's home that stands on Point Piper, overlooking Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour. The third of four children, Dorothea was the only daughter born to renowned physician and Parliamentarian, Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar and his wife, Marion (nee Buckland). The young Dorothea received private tutoring in painting, fencing and languages and later attended lectures at the Sydney University though she never formally enrolled as a student. She spoke French, German, Italian and Spanish fluently. When the family travelled overseas, Dorothea acted as an interpreter for her father.

Dorothea had a lively personality with a keen sense of humour, which is reflected in her diary entries of the early 1900's. Hers was a privileged life that was divided between the busy sophistication of the city and the simplicity of the country.

The Mackellar family owned several properties in the Gunnedah area, including "Kurrumbede" and "The Rampadells" on the Blue Vale Road near Gunnedah. The late Mrs Maude Broun lived on the adjoining property, "Coulston", with her husband, the son of Sir Charles Broun. In a taped interview after Dorothea's death, Mrs Broun recalled the Mackellar's regular visits with Dorothea, Eric and Malcolm (her two remaining brothers, Keith having been killed in the Boer War at age 19), to their Gunnedah country residences.

Sir Charles handed these properties over to his sons whom many still remember as well respected and generous members of our local community. Over the years Dorothea often visited the area, staying with her brothers and maintaining her skills as an ardent horsewoman. Dorothea was very proud of the fact that she could ride side-saddle so well, even in the bush.

The first draft of what was to become Australia's most quoted and best loved poem, "My Country", was written in England at a time when Dorothea was feeling homesick. Never quite content with the verses, she wrote and re-wrote the poem several times after returning to Australia and living in the apartments above her father's consulting rooms in Buckland Chambers, Liverpool Street, Sydney, opposite the ANZAC Memorial. It is fitting that Dorothea's Memorial should now grace ANZAC Park in Gunnedah, depicting her as the young woman who wrote "My Country", and gazing in the direction of her beloved "Kurrumbede".

Dorothea never married though, at 28 years of age, whilst living in London, she fell in love with an English poet named Patrick Chalmers. When she returned to Australia just before the start of World War I, she wrote to Patrick to let him know her parents approved of their decision to wed. Unfortunately, the letter was lost and Patrick married someone else. Dorothea was heartbroken, her poetry after this experience becoming more serious with sometimes tragic undertones. ("Sorrow")

Dorothea continued to write and travel during the Twenties and early Thirties, her work appearing in journals of high repute such as the London "Spectator", American "Harper's Magazine" and the Sydney "Bulletin" among others. During these years, four volumes of verse were published, "The Closed Door", "The Witchmaid", "Dreamharbour" and "Fancy Dress".

The Australian countryside continued to be a source of inspiration to Dorothea. Two poems that particularly reflect her special relationship with our district are; "Dawn" (At the dawning of the day; On the road to Gunnedah...), and "Burning Off" (They're burning off at the Rampadells; The tawny flames uprise...).

Later in life Dorothea suffered increasing ill health and ceased to write. In the 1968 New Year Honours list her contribution to Australian literature was formally recognised and she was made an Officer of the British Empire. Sadly, only two weeks later on the 14 January, Dorothea Mackellar died in her sleep in the Scottish Hospital, Paddington. The funeral service was held in St Mark's Church at Darling Point where reportedly Dorothea's favourite poem, "Colour" was read. She was once recorded saying about the poem, "You know, I think that was as close as I ever came to writing poetry." She was laid to rest in the family vault at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.

Dorothea's brothers predeceased her, leaving no heirs, therefore Dorothea was the last of that branch of the Mackellars. (Information from http://www.infogunnedah.com.au/tourism/dorothea.php)

Learning New Stuff

Had a burst of inspiration recently (!) Doesn't happen too often now so thought I'd make the most of it. Decided to learn 2 new things - one is crochet. Got this great discounted book when I was at the bookshop the other day. I've seen these natural cotton dishclothes & faceclothes around, and thought they'd be great to make for the home and to give as gifts with home-made soap. It's very relaxing to sit and do - I learnt the basics in one evening; this is 'seed stitch' but they're all just variations of the basic stitches. Really wished I'd paid attention now when Auntie Brenda was trying to teach me crochet many years ago....
The other thing I'm going to try and learn next year is to play the guitar. (Great relief from my family - the violin episode was very painful for them apparently!)

Hand-made Pictures

Some little pictures I made from calico and applique scraps for Bec's room. I bought some cheap pine frames, painted and 'stressed' them, and aged the pictures with a tea-dye.

Kids Quilts

I really wanted to make the kids a unique quilt each. This is Zac's - he helped to design it by drawing lots of monsters, which I then appliqued onto black squares using lots of bright fabrics.
Dan was in the air force cadets when I made his - so I pieced lots of airoplanes together and used the ADF colours for his. Machine-quilted it in a stipple effect which worked really well on the background, and finished off with a tartan border. The little red propellors are embroidered on.

Yes, hi Bec!! I haven't forgotten you... this is Bec's 'handbag' quilt in lots of bright colours. Two of the bags (somewhere) can have secret stuff stored in them, as the flap lifts up to reveal a hidden pocket! Looks great on her bedroom wall - alot of work though!