Schools back!

Hello to all my blogger friends. I have been a little busy preparing for the return to school finally. Unlike the rest of Australia Tasmania still only has 3 school terms which means we have the long 8 week summer break. So although all of our mainland friends and family have been back at school for a good two weeks, we just started today. So, yesterday was spent taking hems up, letting hems down, replacing buttons, replacing worn out names, stitching up holes in seams, polishing shoes (well actually I noticed as Miss M got out of the car this morning that this little job was forgotten) but we should have polished shoes! and last but not least replacing the placket and collar of a worn out rugby jumper... ugghhh! I cant believe I made hundreds of these years ago with another clothing business I used to have..... actually, I must have 'dumped' the knowledge as it took me 20 mins to work out how to do it again.... anyway #2 Tess was happy with the end result and happily went off to school this morning with a jumper which looked brand new! yes I know its the middle of summer, but it is also Hobart! - for non-Australian friends Hobart has a reputation of being cold at the best of times...

anyway, whilst looking for some tape for the placket I found this little treasure which I was only thinking about a week or so ago when discussing school sewing projects with a friend

This was the very first project we had to make in Sewing in year 7, our first year at high school. It was a little sewing caddy, see the pockets? Thread, needles and my very first pair of 'good' fabric scissors went into the pockets then the caddy was rolled up and tied to secure. There are even a few of the original threads deep in the depths of the pockets. And my name tags. Mum obviously gave me her 'less than best' threads to have for school. I wonder where my scissors have gone?

This little treasure was my first attempt at silk ribbon embroidery. After leaving school I joined the Army and was later posted back to Adelaide in my first position. I took my first class at Country Bumpkin in silk ribbon embroidery..... and look where that lead me to.... It is still the most beautiful store with the most beautiful books and magazines and I can say that it started me on the path to where I am at today - I dont think I can attribute that to the sewing caddy experience above but I guess that had some influence also:)

So enough of my reminiscing for one day. If you are doing the Nice People Nice Things Block of the week project I have just put up an extensive tutorial over on the blog to help you out with my back to front quilt as you go method. If you are not doing it you may be interested to see how it works anyway..

hugs for today - my first almost child free day in 8 weeks - poor little Tilly is really missing her big sisters....

Helen

Island Threads Spectacular 2008!

Yes, I am getting in early this year. Our class project began this week with Class 4/5 Swift at Lenah Valley Primary School. We are going to be working with the class of 28 students each Wednesday for an hour. The theme of this years quilt is 'Images of our youth' and I began this week by talking about complimentary colours - each child has to choose two complimentary colours to work with, shape - we are working in circles only so we spoke about different circular objects we could work with to draw circles and to embellish with.... And then I took photos of every child 'making a funny face' ready to begin next week. Ms Swift tells me she wont be much help but I have seen her classroom artwork and I am sure she will be fine. I also have another guild member and (new) Grandma helping out. I know it is a challenge - 28 at once, but we will see how we go....

I will keep you up to date with a picture diary of how we are going. Tess has made her block as a tester but I wont show you yet.

Here is Tess's pic for her block

Matilda assisted with the photography and then decided it was her turn. This is what she observed as being a 'funny face' obviously..... certainly made me laugh when the pose was struck!! Never ceases to amaze me what they take into their little brains....

so, now she is part of the school quilt!

hugs

Helen

Tess' sewing kit

I think I promised a few days ago some pics of Tess's sewing things we made together for her sewing kit at school. The School has a 'craft' teacher who occasionally does things with the classes and she had them make a bag to hold things in, it was actually really well done... however, then she wanted something to put her needle in (each child has their own needle) and then something for her thread (they each had to take a reel of thread) and then one of those 'puffy things' to stick pins into...... get the picture.... and Tess being Tess, had to have them all matching (good girl, she does watch mum sometimes) so we set out to make the following three items from co-ordinating fabrics. Problem is now the original bag she made at school doesnt match....

They have a lovely teacher who tells me she cannot sew but at least she is including this almost long lost skill in her classroom. Another wonderful thing they do is Soup Day. Every Wednesday the children have to take a chopped up vegetable, a mug and spoon. They tip the vegies into a pan of boiling stock which simmers in the classroom until lunch when they all get to share it.. and it smells so good.... some of the children have never seen some of these vegies...let alone tasted them.... can you imagine this lovely warm soup to fill their stomachs on a cold winters day....

hugs, Helen