Monday, April 8, 2013

Let's Get Cosy.......


Monday, Monday, hope your week is off to a good start girls.

I'm back into the teacosy making for a special order.
I've been wanting to sew a Foxglove design for some time, so today was the day.....
Let me tell ya......there was alot of snipping going on and it might look pretty straight forward and simple now that it's done but it took me hours!!

BUT, I'm thrilled with how it turned out and although I love using bright colours I'm also loving the softness of the pastel shades.....




Finding the right quote for the reverse side was the next step and I just couldn't go past Monet.
I think most gardeners would agree.....





A little Autumn inspiration has been stitched onto another 
'cosy in the making'.
 This 'new' blanket is such a gorgeous green,
  the photo just doesnt' do it justice.

Y'all know how much I love Autumn colours....





Talking about Autumn let's have a wander outside and see what's happening....

This Crabapple was looking a little sad after our hot Summer and No 1 was very worried that it was going to turn up it's toes.
Thankfully, it's come good and colouring up nicely with
lots of golden, coppery tones....






Beautiful new growth on the Leucadendron......




The Maples along the driveway are turning on the colour, not wanting to be out done.

Something weird has happened to the photo, hmm!



The bees are still buzzing away amongst the Zinnias which have been flowering for months now.
If any of you girls in the Northern Hemisphere are looking for something colourful and hardy to plant in your garden you really can't go past Zinnias.....♥♥......just sharing the love.



As well as some tea cosies I made a red version of my 
'knitting' stitchery......
Seems it's all about red today ♥♥♥






 Finally  a scene from Sunday evening, golden light shining through a smokey, stormy haze.....just beautiful.


The Janome is cranking this week, I'm having fun putting together designs for my cosies. 
It's been a little while since I made one and I have enjoyed the break.
The temp has climbed into the high 20's this week. It seems the warmer weather wants to hang around for a little bit longer and
recent rains have greened up the paddocks.
Gives me a chance to keep working on my granny square blanket before Winter arrives.....it's growing slowly.

So what's been happening with you girls?
Love to hear,thanks for popping by...

Have a great week.

Claire x


38 comments:

  1. Lovely fox gloves, makes me think of summer.

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    Replies
    1. Do you grow them Charlotte? I did this past Summer, hoping to have amn even
      better display next year......Cx

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    2. Certainly do, although our very wet summer depleted them a little last year. I just love the way bees go in and out of the bells, wiping their feet as they go.

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  2. Love the new fox gloves tea cozy and the red knitting wall hanging. YOu are so talented I love to see what you create.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Meredith, nice to get back into some of this stitching.
      Good to have a break sometimes to freshen things up a bit.
      have a great week.....Cx

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks Mezz, it was an enjoyable morning seeing it all come together.....Cx

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  4. I love your Foxglove tea cosy in the making, just gorgeous. Your work is so beautiful Claire. I can see Autumn starting to take it's hold in your garden. Love those misty mornings.
    Anne xx

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  5. The foxglove tea cozy is so pretty! I love how you can create a flower from a few scraps and some well-placed stitching and have it come out looking exactly like the flower you intended! I think if I tried that, the flowers would just look like blobs. A perfect phrase for the back of the cozy too :) I love the fall colours, but my heart is set in springtime at the moment. I'm going to try some zinnias this summer (I believe they're treated as an annual here), we've had them before, but not for a few years, and your photos make me want them in my garden again! Happy Monday Claire ... enjoy that 20' weather! Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Wendy, I started off sewing blobs!! It's just practice that improves your skills.
      Zinnias are annuals here too, but they last for up to 5 months. I can hardly bear to pull them
      out come May, they're still flowering. So glad to share the Zinnia love they are such bright, cheery
      blooms......Cx

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  6. Gorgeous cosies! Love the little wall hanging too!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Liz, lovely to hear from you.........Cx

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  7. Hi Claire. I love your cosies; so extra cosy given that they are made from warm, snuggly blankets! xx

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  8. Both of the new blanket cozies you are working on are so pretty. Love all the autumn color in your garden. And of course the zinnias are one of my favorites. I finally have some forsythia trying to bloom. Hooray!! Spring is here.

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  9. Love the tea cosies Claire. I am enjoying the cooler autumn weather and getting a little sewing and knitting into my evenings.

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  10. Such pretty designs for your cozies.
    Spring is having a difficult time getting here for us. Storms predicted for tomorrow night.

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  11. how colours change with the coming of a new season...amazing, eh?
    love your tea cozies!!!
    xxx Ale

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  12. We are having the strangest weather for this time of year, quite warm, even some of the overnight lows have been a bit too warm. It's tricking my sunflower seeds that have self sown and even one has just started flowering! The bees think it is very confusing too I'm sure. A very late Indian Summer so I predict that it will be a very frosty ANZAC Dawn Service.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Tanya, still very warm here as well......
      Couldn't believe it, I saw a Manchurian Pear in flower last week....what's that all about?
      Broad beans have been popping up in the garden too......

      Hope you have a great weekend,

      Claire x

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  13. Just love your foxgloves...with all my spinning and weaving I'm starting to withdrawal symptoms from my stitching.....Hopefully my foxgloves might start growing in the garden soon and I can follow in your footsteps! I won't hold my breath though, its an awful spring here so far...well into April and the only thing trying to move is the daffodils and even they are struggling! :0( Envious of your autumn colour now! Keep up your lovely stitching and I love the way you add the little verses and messages. TTFN!!

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  14. And matching very well with "tea cosy", is my giveaway (also in pastel) of tea bags:
    http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be

    Le Thé Dachshund Grey est arrivé!
    Limited Edition.
    (what else?)

    At 101 followers the handmade tea bags in powder pastel fabrics Dachshund Grey Special Edition will be given away to a follower.

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  15. I love your craft work, Claire. You certainly have been churning out these beautiful pieces lately. I don't think I could ever master the machine-stitched freehand writing, I have enough trouble sewing around a curve! That pretty green blanket was a special find.
    How pretty your garden looks with its Autumn tones. My fav time of year. Here, down the hill from you, we seem to be weeks behind in the leaf-turn stakes.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Susan, thanks for visiting.........free motion embroidery is quite a simple technique and it's just a matter of practice once you get the hang of it.
      I'm sure the Autumn colour will arrive soon, it's really starting to kick in here. Stunning time of year isn't it but the continuing warm weather means the garden needs watering. Be nice to get a drop of rain, hopefully this coming week......

      Claire :}

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  16. Hi Claire, it's always nice to have a break from something and then revisit all fresh and new again. I'm in that break time and waiting for inspiration to hit!!!

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  17. Wow Claire, the foxglove is stunning. I can't imagine the work that went into making it so perfect. Love the shading too and the perfect little bee. :)

    I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it's Autumn for you there.... we are back in Winter for the time being. Spring is being very coy this year.

    Thanks for all the lovely photos (great bee shot on the zinnia!), and hope your weather stays pleasant. :)

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  18. I have just found your blog via Bunny Mummy and love it! I love your tea cosies - they are beautiful! I have a bit of a weakness for teapots and cosies I have to say:o) While you are welcoming in Autumn we are wishing dearly that spring would make her entrance! I will certainly be adding Zinnia's to my summer garden this year.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Shirley Ann, thanks for dropping by.....lovely to hear from you.
      You'll love Zinnias, they are such bright, cheery blooms and give you loads of flowers.
      Hope that Spring starts to kick in soon, enjoy your week,

      Claire :}

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  19. What an amazing foxglove! Lisa x

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  20. You are one of the winners of my giveaway Claire!!!!! Congratulations!!!!
    Look here :http://homemadeatmyplace.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-giveaway-winners-are.html#links !!!!
    Please send me your address via email :
    alessandra.poggia@gmail.com
    Have a happy day!!!
    xxxx Ale

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  21. What beautiful cosies Claire, and I love your red knitting wallhanging! Gorgeous!
    Angie x

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    Replies
    1. Hey Angie, thanks for visiting, great to hear from you....
      So pleased your like what I do,'cos I certainly had fun making them.

      Claire :}

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  22. Your work fascinates me! Thank you for all your inspiration and encouragement! I look forward to seeing what else is up your sleeve! ;)

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  23. Hi Claire. Sorry that I haven't visited for a while. It's been good catching up with you and strange to see you writing that autumn is well on it's way whilst we are struggling to get spring to approach!! I just love your tea cosies and the different flowers on them are lovely! I love all your pictures. Enjoy your autumn. I always feel that it's a wonderful time of year with all the beautiful colours!
    Joan

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  24. Hey Joan, lovely to hear from you , thanks so much for visiting........
    I hope Spring hurrys up and makes her appearance for you. You've had such a long, cold Winter.
    Autumn is very beautiful and today the temp has really plummeted with a very cold wind.
    Time to start thinking about rugging up. I can imagine how strange it seems reading about it when you are
    looking forward to the warmer weather....

    Claire :}

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  25. Claire, your tea cozy is GORGEOUS! I've been looking at crochet patterns, but after seeing your's, I want to break out my embroidery machine. Just lovely. :)

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    1. Hey Elizabeth, lovely to hear from you, thanks for the comment.
      All the best with your tea cosy making, have fun.

      Claire :}

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  26. I love foxgloves and you've certainly captured them well on your tea cosy.

    Dark skies and the sun shining is a favourite of mine too.

    I'm way behind with my blog reading and am just catching up!

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