FNSI, a framed cross stitch, a bag and a thread holder

Friday night was a sewing night with FNSI. Please do not laugh at what I managed to do--- in other words, not much at all!

Strips made with "PerfectStems"

 

I had good intentions to do a lot of sewing. Got a phone call and ended up chatting on the phone instead of sewing. Had to come up with some finish-- and I needed these folded strips for a project and these "Perfect Stems" certainly make them easier to make. I can now continue with the project.

 

 

 



I had bought the pattern, All About Anna, from Stephanie, of Rummage ages ago.(www.stephaniedunphy.blogspot.com).  Late last year, I   decided that I would make the bag --- I used corduroy for the navy part of the bag, and cotton fabrics for the rest. I  enjoyed making it as the instructions were clearly set out and  very easy to follow. I gave the bag away as a Christmas gift, and I have decided to make another for myself.

 

 

My version of All About Anna 

 

 

 

I had finished this cross stitch before Christmas-- and took it to the framers on Christmas eve. I have finally got it back and am very pleased with the way it has turned out. The blue wren is my favourite little bird and the flannel flower is a flower I love to look out for in spring when I go for a bush walk.

 

Framed Blue wren and flannel flower in cross stitch

 

 

Ages ago, a fellow blogger had said to me that she would love to have  a thread holder. She had a special birthday coming up, and I was racking my brain for what I could give her. I decided that I would get a thread holder cut out and paint it for her. I was so excited about it-- that I wrapped the present and posted it without taking a photo. I then had to ask her to take a photo for me to keep in my photo album. Needless to say, she presented it beautifully.

The painted Thread holder

 

 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

 

Cheers,

Yvonne

A Day at The Grounds of Alexandria

I have heard  a lot about The Grounds of Alexandria, but had not been there. Alexandria is an inner city suburb of Sydney.Some friends suggested we have a day out and go there. I was not sure what to expect-- but was pleasantly surprised.
I gather that it was the site of some flour mills years ago, and it has been done up to house a restaurant/café, and an outdoor eating area, some outside stalls, and they have a few pet animals as well. Nearby was a providore called Cheese, Meat and Salt.
Here are some photos  of the Grounds of Alexandria.

Cover of the menu in the restaurant

 

 

The Doughnut cart

 

 

The lemonade cart

 

 

The Florist

 

 

Coloured roses

 

Beautiful white roses

 

The meats at Meat, Cheese and Salt

 

Bread

 

Yummy cakes

 

 

Lovely old door

 

A resident Macaw

Kevin Bacon, the pet pig, asleep in his house

 

Kevin Bacon with the other resident animals

 

We had lunch there and walked back through Sydney Park to the station and home. It was an enjoyable day out.