Where was I?

For nearly two weeks I was away to help out when DGS was born. I was glad I went. I got to see him on the first day home, and I got to take care of DGD for a little while just us two. DGS was settled well into his routine. Let's just say I had good sleep at nights, but I couldn't say the same for his parents! 

I came home in the weekend, but I must have caught the flu somewhere on my travels. I'm now sick and house bound for the rest of the week per doctor's orders. 


While I was away, I started a couple of projects. You might remember I mentioned that I'm taking Jude's online workshop. The workshop started while I was away and even though I had access to the internet, I didn't have time to follow it. Jude mentioned that I could make a baby cloth and that is what I did and finished it as well. DIL said she would preferred it rather than a proper quilt which takes more storage. I think so too!

Here is the Baby Cloth I did, I used boro and weaving style quilting. All the materials were boro and re-purposed fabric. The quilt is all hand pieced and hand stitched. I can go on stitching this quilt forever. You might think that it doesn't look like a quilt for a baby boy! Baby grows up fast these days. I feel that DGS can take this quilt and hang it on a college dormitory wall  anywhere in the world!

Another project I worked on was this long neglected netting bag I started when I was more into basket weaving years ago. The technique is not weaving but it's a net, like fishing net. The first couple of inches on the top was made using cordyline leaf striped thinly and twined into string.  

When I finally found it again for the life of me I couldn't face doing that again. It was a lot of twining! In one of the Fibre Forum events I found a ready made twine to use for the rest of the bag. You can't tell the difference right? I thought I didn't have time in this life to make everything! Bought items are sometimes useful, don't you agree?

The original design had changed by this time. I couldn't remember what I was making then, just one of those things you like to learn how to do. With the boro fabric in my thoughts I thought I will Boro it. By the way, Boro means rag in Japanese. How cool, I can use the word Boro as a noun too.  I really like this bag. It's an original design by me. It has a long handle to go across my shoulders while I'm traveling. Did I mention that I booked the Silk Study Tour to Japan in May? 

I'm sure some of you play with these styrofoam balls at one time or other. I picked up a bag full of them at an op-shop while I was away.  DIL was trying to get some new ideas for the handmade market she and her friends sell at. So I made a couple to show her and gave one to DGD using owl fabric (forgot to take a photo of that one). 

Thanks to all well wishers when I posted about the arrival of DGS. Sorry I didn't get back to any of you. It's good to be back visiting blogs again. My life must have been very empty before I blogged. 

Please join me to wish everyone in north Queensland a safe 24 hours as they are about to be faced with yet another disaster -  a Category 5 cyclone yasi due to come ashore tonight. They are very well prepared according to what I saw in the news. Let's hope all are safe.