More of the garden, Quilt show and summer PJ's

I finished the squabs and also did some cushion covers for the benches.

Also got my vegetable garden planted.  Still a few more to go in but most of it is done.  From back to front  lettuce spinach and spring onions, cucumber and courgette, 2 tomatoes and capsicum.

I have one final area that needs some work.  This is sheltered at the back of the house and doesn't get much sun. The soil is terrible and with the lack of sun, nothing really grows there.  The last few years I've attempted growing things in pots, but they never thrive and they don't really look very good.  I had in mind some sort of statue.  However so many statues are buddha themes, cutesy, cutesy or remind me of graveyards - you know angels with wings, cute girls.  I found these 2 metal pukekos and thought they would be perfect.  I'll get some bark or mulch to cover the yukky soil.

Last week I went to the quilt show.  These were my two favourite quilts.  The cat won best of show, quite rightly in my opinion.

I made some more Carolyn pyjamas from Closet Case Patterns.  These are made from a very fine cotton lawn that wrinkles horribly.  The fabric is so fine I'm hoping they don't rip when I turn over in bed!  These are for summer so I wanted a short sleeve.  I had enough fabric to make some pj shorts as well as long pants.  There wasn't quite enough, so I used some pink fabric for the cuffs. 

Before and after garden photos

My patio and side path are finished.  The only thing left to do is to cover some bench cushions in fabric to match my chairs.  The fabric is ordered and should arrive next week.

Before

After

Love this solar light

Beside the garage before:

And after

Beside the front door before:

:

And after:

Babylock coverseam BLCS2, garden update

I did it!  I bought the Babylock Coverseam BLCS2.  After months of waiting I had a text from my sewing machine shop on Thursday that the shipment had finally arrived.  Went to the shop yesterday (Saturday) had a demonstration and a bit play and bought it.

I'm loving it so far.  I have 3 jumpers that are completed but just needed hemming and neck band finishing.  Yesterday I played and played and finished 2 jumpers.  The only time I had a problem was when I must have had it threaded wrong, just the tiniest thing will throw it out.  But I changed the thread and rethreaded everything from scratch.  I had the thread lock on for both the loopers and the thread and it worked perfectly.  I've not had any of the dreaded skipped stitches, not even over seams. 

The garden is still a work in progress.  Here are a few more pics.

Plants have arrrived.  Camellias and bromeliads

Front path is being relaid.

The new circular garden is almost ready.  This was made from 2 semi circular beds that were on the patio.

The stain for the fence and trellis

Path is nearly in and garden bed being readied next to the fence.

 The fence has been stained.  Trellis still to be stained.

Pavers relaid.

Baby gifts and garden project

In around 6 weeks we will be welcoming a little baby girl into the family.  This meant I had the chance to make some cute baby gifts.

A hooded towel and a couple of baby bibs.  The machine embroidery designs are from Kreative Kiwi - Bathtime buddies.  I so enjoyed making these, fun to make something cute.

I also made a couple of  holders for the sewing room. One for my hoops and one for my rulers.

Again the design is a freebie from Kreative Kiwi.

I've started a fairly large landscaping project.  Had the team in last week and they'll be busy all this week and possibly into next week.  The main project is to update my patio.  The area is paved and over time they have buckled and sunk and it was looking very messy.  So the pavers are being relaid, putting in a garden by the fence, removing climbers from the trellis and replacing the trellis and painting the fence.  A L shaped garden bench is being made to order for by part of the trellis and the fence.

At the start of the work

 The pavers have been lifted. Roots from the climbers have gone all the way through the patio.  The men are having to remove all the roots.

 stuff to go under the pavers is delivered.

Climbers and trellis have been removed.

 

Pavers are being relaid

 New trellis has arrived

 Oh yes the gate has been taken off.  The latch needs to be fixed as it wouldn't close.

 New trellis put in place

Other trellis in place.  the fence has been stained, trellis still to be stained.

 This is where the garden bed will go, has a wooden border stained the same as the fence.