Saturday 9 August 2008

All Aboard!!

After a little break from stitching, I'm back into it! I finished the stitching for the latest block of Lynette Anderson's Noah's Ark BOM (see cute ark button/link in sidebar!!) and this morning I braved the sewing ice-box and put the borders on. Drum roll please ... I'm pleased to introduce Mr and Mrs G. Raff ...


Ta da!! (Sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy - the other one I took came out too dark.) Now, you know I couldn't resist adding my own little flourishes to an already cute block so ... I gave Mr Raff a stripey neck tie and Mrs Raff a very fashionable dotty scarf and a pretty red flower behind her ear. And because I'm really lousy at satin stitch unless it's a bear's nose, I did the outline of the giraffes' blotches in backstitch then filled them in with French knots - which made for a LOT of French knots!!! But, I'm pleased with how it's come up. Here is the "Noah's Ark story thus far ..." shot ...


Hmmm ... when I see that photo I suddenly realise I haven't been quite as slack this year as I thought I had been. What a nice discovery to make! Now if only I could cross a few more things off my "To Do" list!!! Ah well, baby steps!!!

The other photos I thought I'd show you today are in response to some posted by Jo Jo at Home Sweet Home. If you haven't met Jo Jo yet, pop over to her blog for a visit - it's well worth while, with lots of fun photos and some groovy layout elements (I looooove her banner!!) - share some Bear Hugs with her and tell her I said "Hi!" Now, where was I ??? I yes, Jo Jo posted some photos of a GORGEOUS antique pram she had discovered on a recent shopping adventure and after confessing my "pram envy", I told her I have a vintage rocking cradle full of bears in the spare room. She said she'd love to see photos ... so ... here we go! Now, these may all look a bit alike, but I couldn't decide which one showed the cradle off best, so thought I'd pop them all on and you can decide. And I'm not quite as advanced as Jo Jo, Chookyblue and Stina with my photo layouts, so they're just one after the other. (Hmmm should suggest photo layouts to Chookyblue as a subject for one of her 'how to blog' tutorials!!)








I love this cradle for a number of reasons. The first is that I just love vintage cots, cradles, prams, trikes etc. The second is that, despite being a 'non-collector', my Mum bought this for me for my birthday a few years ago. The third reason is the cradle's history. You see, a friend of Mum's bought the cradle at auction when the old Mundubbera hospital and lots of associated equipment, was being sold off to make way for the new health care facility. When none of her three daughters were interested in restoring the cradle, this lady sold it to Mum for my birthday present. This lady passed away suddenly a couple of years ago, so this is a nice link to her and her friendship with Mum. And it's also special, because my little bro was actually born in the old Mundubbera hospital building in 1973 and Mum said he slept in a cradle like this one - perhaps it was this very one!! Or not!! But you can see why it has a lot of semi-mental value for me. Plus, it's a really cool place for some of my bearbies to snooze the days away! Tee! Hee! Hee! So, there you go, Jo Jo - photos of one of my vintage cradles! There's a timber one in our bedroom, but it's yet to be restored, so I'll save that for some future date.

The other thing I did this morning (I was on a roll!!) was to make a start on the bag I need to make for Linda's Bag/Bucket Swap. Since it's a secret squirrel swap, all I can tell you is ... I traced a stitchery!!! Tee! Hee! Hee! So I'm now off to curl up in front of a DVD and stitch. No ... not the Olympic broadcast, a DVD! Granny Loz and I are starting the "Non-Olympic Watchers Anonymous" support group, for all those of us who are more worried about losing the viewing of some of our fave TV shows to the Olympic coverage! Tee! Hee! Hee! I know lots of you have been looking forward to this event, and don't get me wrong, I'm a patriotic Aussie who can "Oi, Oi, Oi!!" with the best of them ... I just don't enjoy the way the coverage is done. Plus, I have to confess I'd rather watch a good 'whodunnit' than a sporting event!! But, I hope those of you who are Olympic fans enjoy yourselves - just don't stay up too late watching, or you'll be too tired to stitch!!

OK, really going to stitch now!! Have a fantasmagorical weekend, no matter what you're up to! Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi hon, that's a groovy pair of giraffes! Well done. and it looks great all together.

Remember that flu i thort was going away? WRONG. On ABs again, and still flushing hot and cold, and feeling more wretched than I thort was possible. Just want to die and get it over with. Scott got any vacancies next week? Want the Yellow coffin please...

Worst part is, Josh and Phil are slowly succumbing as well. oh dear.

julia said...

Hi Kris,
always just love the alterations you do on your Noah's Ark! ...Wish I had these ideas...
It's so nice to have furniture with stories! I have a chair where my PapaBear sits and watches over me {in one of my first posts ever I showed a pic}. It was found in an old barn, misused by chicken to sit on {including that what roosted chicken}, my uncle restored it and on the seat he included a cross stitch my great-grandmother did...
Enjoy your weekend without the olympics!{me too!}
Hugs, Julia
p.s.perhaps you'd like to visit me {even if you don't like pink..hehe}...there is a giveaway...

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Your blocks look fantastic...nice neck ties....love all the photos, so cute....have a fantastic weekend, I'm off to watch a bit more of the Olympics and stitch....LOL...

Lilly said...

Hello Kris..
Thank you for the visit to my blog. So nice to get a kind word from some one as talented as you. You have a great blog. I have enjoyed my visit here. I love the Noah's ark blocks you have made. They really are fun to do. I am doing all the stitcheries before I decide how to put them together. Will be back to check your progress. TTFN... Lilly

Judy S. said...

Fun neck ties, Kris! I've been procrastinating the satin stitch giraffes so loved your solution; however, I thought the beard had lots of French knots! I also like the way you've double-bordered the stitcheries. How much did that enlarge the block? That was a great idea and looks really nice! I'm waiting till the end (procrastinating, maybe?) to do mine because I like stitching on a larger piece of cloth.

Carin said...

Your giraffes are wonderful! Great job! I love the cradle with your cute friends.

Unknown said...

The cradle is gorgeous Kris. I love it and by the looks of things so do your bears! I wonder how many babes slept in that over the years? I love all things old and with history...very cool! Thanks for posting a pic...Oh and is that a spinning wheel in the background?
Jo
x

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Hi Kris,
Gosh you are a busy little bear.... must be the cold weather. I on the other hand am thinking about hibernation - do you think it is too late in the season?
Warm winter hugs,
Kerryanne

Anonymous said...

Oh I am with you on the Olympic thingy..I hate all sport on TV...like you I get excited with the results show and so proud when they play the national Anthem but I simply can't sit and listen to the commentary all day..well night and have been acccused of being unpatriotic....excuse me!! Glad to see we are not alone, have a wonderful and chilly day, bet it is cold in Toowoomba today!! Kiss noises Linda Lilly Cottage.

Teddlywinks said...

Hi Kris! The cot is gorgeous! What a lovely place for teddies to snooze! You've given me a few ideas for "Teddy Bear Storage"!!!!!
Liz (Teddlywinks)

Lorraine said...

I have to confess....I have fallen off the wagon and have been watching the Olympics!! couldn't help it ... I think the coverage this year is better and SBS also have some of the events.....but I have been stitching.....getting lots done on Viv's Sampler from Loxton....!

Cheryl said...

Hi Kris... My name is Cheryl and I'm an olympics addict....
ha ha ha, I love the olympics and everything that goes with it. I swim with the swimmers and row with the rowers. Not too sure about the boxing tho! I agree, sometimes the commentary and coverage is a bit dreary. But for two weeks every four years, I'm an olympian.
I simply LOVE the little cradle and the story that goes with it, lucky you!
happy stitchin in the sun,

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