The Needles Excellency

Saint Bede Studio

2008-07-25T14:49:00.001+10:00

This one is a bit of a plug for a friend mine. Michael makes the most gorgeous vestments and is particularly inspired by medieval designs. I've done a bit of "consulting" with him in regard to embroidery history and techniques. Anyway, turns out he made the vestments used by the Pope on his recent visit to Australia for World Youth Day. So take a wander over to his blog, Saint Bede Studio and have a look at his work.

Sea of Serenity

2008-07-24T11:31:00.001+10:00

Sea of Serenity, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Sea of Ferility

2008-07-23T09:08:00.001+10:00

Sea of Ferility, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Block 6. Only a few leaves onto the 1930's quilt as Cleo was very cuddly.

Sea of Rains

2008-07-22T09:45:00.001+10:00

Sea of Rains, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is Block 5. Did a few more leaves last night on the 1930's quilt.

Sea of Tranquility

2008-07-21T12:56:00.002+10:00

Sea of Tranquility, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is Block 4.

Went shopping at Spotlight before going to weekly gathering. I wanted to pick up some knitting needles. I've got this great 1950's hat booklet I want to make a hat from. The pattern I like has a hole at the top, I thought it would make a nice headband. The only problem is that the yarn and needles are pattern specific so I had to get a range of needle to get the right size and gauge. Luckily, they were on special for $2 a pair. So I stocked up and got 6 pairs. But I forgot to buy the 12 ply yarn!!

Sea of Moisture

2008-07-20T12:53:00.000+10:00

Sea of Moisture, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is Block 2 of the BOM.

Did another corner of the leaves on the 1930's quilt. I should have all of them done by next weekend. That leaves only the birds and the flowers to applique. After that, just the half square triangle border and the top is done.

Sea of Nectar

2008-07-19T12:52:00.001+10:00

Sea of Nectar, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I finished Block 10 today. But somehow I didn't get a photo of it when I took the shots of all the rest of the blocks! So it might be a couple of days before I post a shot of it.

I finished starching all the leaves for the 1930's quilt today. I started sewing them onto the top. Got one corner (1/4 of pattern) done.

Best Laid Plans

2008-07-18T14:34:00.002+10:00

I planned on posting more images of my Moonglow blocks. But when I opened the folder I'd grabbed on the way out the door this morning, I realised that the completed blocks aren't in the folder! On the bright side, I also found that I needed to add the border to Block 10 and that Block 11 was still in pieces. So I will be working on those this weekend with the view to getting them finished asap. Filler blocks will be on hold.

Moonglow - Alternate Block Round 1

2008-07-17T10:38:00.002+10:00

Moonglow - Alternate Block Round 1, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I have completed all the individual blocks for the Moonglow BOM quilt that I've been working on for the last few years. This is the only BOM I've ever done as I usually like to design my own quilts. But I love the colours in this one. This is the first "round" of the alternate block a.

I had the day off work yesterday and starched all the leaves, flowers and birds for my 1930's quilt. So with a bit of luck I can get them on the quilt ready for sewing on the weekend. I really want the top for this one done by winter. I'd love to have the quilt ready for summer but I don't think that will happen.

Completed Banner - Tavern

2008-07-16T10:20:00.000+10:00

Completed Banner - Tavern, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Another almost complete banner.

Completed Banner - Bath

2008-07-15T09:01:00.001+10:00

Completed Banner - Bath, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This banner is totally complete.

Completed Banner - Book

2008-07-14T09:57:00.001+10:00

Completed Banner - Book, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is one of the completed banners. Well, almost complete. I have to do the design on the border and put the writing on the book. But other than that it's done. I was really pleased with how they came out.

Banners and Toile

2008-07-13T09:55:00.001+10:00

Completed Banners in Hall, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Luce was kind enough to offer to help me fit a proper toile. We used the method on the Cotte Simple website. I will probably use the toile for a Gothic Fitted Gown but I can use it as a basis for just about anything else as well. It's a good process but you really need another person to do it properly. I want something simple and plain to wear but with more shape than my Anglo-Saxon, otherwise known as a potato sack!

After we'd finished that (which took about 2 hrs) I crashed and collapsed in front of the tellie. I was able to do some guilt free sewing. I haven't done much cause every spare minute was spent on the banners.

Above is an image of the banners as they looked on the weekend.

Tocal 2008

2008-07-12T09:44:00.000+10:00

I had an early start for Tocal, got up and packed the car. I tried to be minimalist this year. Usually I take way too much stuff! So this year there was a conscious effort to keep the unnecessary stuff to a minimum. Got there at about 10am. Only two other people there, so I got stuff out of the car and moved it close to where the rooms were. We unpacked their car, they had most of the food. When we got keys for the room, I put my stuff away and got changed. I decided to go Anglo-Saxon this year. It's more comfy and warmer. It was a good call. It was the coldest Tocal we've had in ages.

Food as usual was good and copius. There were problems with the oven, which meant a couple of dishes weren't done properly and the chicken didn't make it out at all, which was a shame, cause Almond Stuff Chicken sounded tasty!

Court was good and after the food was done everyone just wandered around chatting and catching up.

I left at 7am, so I missed out on clean up. But all the cooking crew had to leave early as well so we'd cleaned up all the kitchen stuff the night before. I got home by 8.30am. Then spent the next 4 hours cleaning up the house!!

Tocal 2008 - Opening Melee Video

2008-07-12T09:36:00.001+10:00

Weather

2008-07-10T15:54:00.002+10:00

I'm glad I'm not going to Dad's this weekend. As I was driving to work this morning they said that the were thinking about reopening the Scone-Gloucester Road. I assume it's been closed due to snow/ice. That makes it pretty cold, doesn't usually snow near them.

Completed Cushion

2008-07-08T12:42:00.001+10:00

Completed Cushion, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the completed cushion, I am quite happy with it.

Away for the Weekend

2008-07-05T12:49:00.001+10:00

I will be going away for the weekend for Sheila's 60th birthday. I hope that Bubba is OK.

Banner Progress

2008-06-24T01:00:00.000+10:00

Banner, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I managed to get a few hours in on another two banners. I got the flowers done on two banners and the figures done in one more. This is the banner hanging in the doorway. This one is a bit shorter than the others.

Cushion Pieces

2008-06-23T14:41:00.000+10:00

Cushion Pieces, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the three parts of the cushion ready for blocking and pressing. I had a little problem with the buttonhole but it worked out pretty well.

Cushion - Blocked Ready For Pressing

2008-06-23T14:40:00.000+10:00

Cushion - Blocked Ready For Pressing, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the front panel of the cushion, from the back. It's been blocked with pins ready to be pressed. Luckily, I have plenty of wool blankets to make a pressing pad.

Knitting - Blocked and Pressed

2008-06-23T14:38:00.001+10:00

Knitting - Blocked and Pressed, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the front panel after it's been pressed. The colour is a bit dodgy as it was dark and I had to use a flash. I forgot to get a cushion pad when I was at Spotlight yesterday.

Close Up of Cushion

2008-06-23T14:37:00.002+10:00

Close Up of Cushion, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Close up of the pattern after it's been blocked and pressed.

1943 Maribyrnong Munition Factory Fire Brigade

2008-06-22T15:09:00.002+10:00

margaret_whitley_grenade_sec_maribyrnong_munition_fac_fire_brigade_team_1943, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is a photo of my Nan, Margaret May Watson (nee Whitley) when she was on the Grenade Section Fire Brigadge Championship Team of 1943. She worked at the Maribyrnong Munition Factory during the war. She is second from the right, second row.

Margaret May Whitley

2008-06-21T14:46:00.002+10:00

margaret_whitley_aunt_rose_whitley_fathers_brothers_wife_london_c1928_1929, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is a photo of my grandmother, Margaret May Whitley. She is the little girl on the window sill with the dog. This was taken in about 1928/1929 in London, just before she moved to Australia with her family.

The formidable lady in the photo is her Aunt Rose, her fathers brothers wife. Her father was John Whitley. I'm not sure which of his brothers was this ladies husband. The possibilies are Robert Whitley and Walter Whitley.