"The Craft Group" plus...

The Craft Group is starting again soon for a new year of crafting and friendship. (13th Feb for Enrolment Morning for local ladies). So everyone is thinking about what projects to finish, continue with, start or share. Fabric addicts, prepare yourselves. Do you prewash your quilting fabrics or not? Years ago it was a definite "Yes, of course!" You don't want your fabric to shrink or the colour to run after your project is finished! But now, with improvements to dyes and the preshrinking of new fabrics, there is a strong argument not to prewash. A small amount of shrinking after a quilt has been made can give it that lovely, slightly puckered vintage look.  Also, using the fabric unwashed is a bit easier to cut and sew as it is a little stiffer than after you have washed it. I found a good explanation of the whole debate HERE  on the Craftsy blog. There you can read more points for and against pre-washing and some helpful tips if you are going to wash. There is

These are so cute and easy. All you need is a 4 pronged fork, some yarn and little sharp scissors. I want to make a heap and make a garland. A good holiday project. Check it out HERE  at a blog called "Small good things" She makes cute wreaths and garlands with her pom poms of all sizes.

Happy New Year to you! Summer holidays are nearly over for me :( This week is just lovely. I am home alone throughout the day. (3 are away and 2 are away for work from about 6am til 6pm). You have to be running a household of 6 people to understand how blissful this is. This week is my favourite weather. Sunny, hot and 27 to 30 degrees c. This is my ideal temperature for holidays at home. I do a few things (mainly sorting paperwork… what's new!) then decide I'm a bit hot so I go for a swim in our pool. The water is a pleasant 28 degrees c, so no heart attack as I hit the cold water. So nice. 4 days of this. Ahhh! A few weeks ago our family went again on an SUFM team, running family activities at a caravan park on the south coast. One event we ran is a women's pampering afternoon where we give foot scrubs and massages. About 80 ladies came. If your feet are looking a bit too 'summery' (i.e. dried and cracked), make some of this Pumpkin Spice Scrub .