Saturday, December 16, 2017

ScrapHappy December

It's late and I was heading to bed when I remembered I hadn't done a post for Scraphappy Day.  It's been non-stop and full on all day, starting with making green Holi powder .... a messy and time consuming business.........for a fun day tomorrow, called the Other Big Wet........after the water fights the coloured powder will be thrown around....lots of fun for all and a gift to the community from a local mum to say thank you for all the help she received after she lost her house and all her belongings, and very nearly her own and her children's lives in the March floods.

I've not long farewelled friends who will be away at  Christmas, and so came for an early Christmas dinner.  We had good gourmet pizza, salads from my garden and delicious seasonal mangoes, cherries and peaches. It's been quite a hot day, so a blessing to sit by the river enjoying a lovely cool breeze, a pretty sunset and  good company.
                       
Mirrhi was very excited to find this snake skin hanging in a tree right by where we were sitting.  We were a little nervous then, wondering where the now larger owner might be. There was another skin in the tree as well, but it was getting dark and no-one was game to just stick their hand in to get it......I don't know if it's part of the same snake or another one that's shed......I'll find out tomorrow.  This one's about 65 cms (26 inches) long, and has beautiful markings which don't show up too well in the photo.  It feels nice but creepy! The cats all growled and hissed at it, with fur raised and tails all fat...despite being indoor cats all their lives, and never having seen a snake, they know!

So onto fabric scraps. In between making blocks for the quilt, I made this EPP Death Star from Star Wars Return of the Jedi.  I'm so pleased with how it turned out, there were so many tiny, tiny scraps involved.  I found the pattern here, hers turned out beautifully symmetrical, unlike mine which is a little bumpy around the edges. The actual piece is only 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter, so not very big at all.



In case you're not a Star wars fan, or don't remember, here's how it looked in the movie.


Here's a couple of blurry close-ups taken very early this morning.




And finally, I finished the little kantha stitched mini heart quilt that I posted about in October Scraphappy. 

After adding some stars to it and calling it finished, I blanket stitched a soft muslin backing to it, and added a hanging sleeve.


I called it 'Oh my Stars and Hearts'.......very original, I know.   I'll find a wall somewhere for it to hang.

Linking with Kate and Gun for ScrapHappy Day, pop along and check out what others are doing with their scraps this month and be inspired.

till next time.

Edit :  I was going to link my Death Star EPP  to Anthea of Hibiscus Stitches who has a twice monthly link up called Piece Yourself Together, but I just missed it for this time, but here's a link to her blog anyway, she does lots of lovely quilting and EPP and is well +worth a visit.

10 comments:

  1. Hmmm seeing that snake skin would make me nervous, Nanette. You have been very productive I must say. My son and I intend to go to a galaxy far far away this week :-)

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    1. Oh yes, I want to go to that galaxy too, I saw our local cinema is doing matinees this week. I think the snake lives in the roof, Mirrhi often goes from room to room, looking up and growling. They say every 2nd house here has a resident snake.just have to watch where you put your ffet and hands.

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  2. That is quite a snakeskin. I would not be at all happy to know its former owner was around somewhere!
    Love your Death Star and little Hearts & Stars pieces, both gorgeous scrappy projects. What patience to piece such small bits together :-)

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    1. I know they're around, this is the first time I've seen evidence, it's a carpet python so pretty harmless and not big enough yet to eat my chooks. Thanks, glad you like my scrappy pieces, the paper piecing was fiddly for sure.

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  3. Well fancy the cats getting angsty and never having seen a snake! lol love that. Mind you Id want to know where the skins' innards have gone too - you need a light saber not just the Death Star!
    Love both Death Stars! Inspired idea to make one in the first place but what a great block in a quilt it would make. Love those movies, the epic myth of good V bad = great film and following!

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    1. ha ha yes, a light saber is just what I need....or just use the Force on it to send it somewhere else. It would have to be a small quilt, or someone more patient and accurate than me to make it, that's why he's only getting a cushion!

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  4. I applaud your ambition in tackling that Death Star! Hope none of my Star Wars fan ever see the quilt/pattern 'cause I don't want to have to make one! Love the little kantha stitched quilt. A bit of snake history from our family: my MIL once killed and skinned a rattlesnake when she was on a camp out with a group of young women from our church. They even cooked and ate the meat. I don't remember what she had to say about how it tasted, which is a pity since she is no longer with us.

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    1. Definitely a one off Sue, to make that block. Wouldn't it would be good to know more of your MIL's story...how did she kill the snake to start with, I'd rather have my tree python roaming the garden than tackle a rattler.

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  5. Oh, I love your stars and hearts quilt, Nanette. Your stitching is just beautiful! I really want to learn so many more embroidery stitches and practice a lot more too in the coming year. Merry Christmas to you! Meg:)

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    1. Thankyou Meg, I really enjoy those little hand stitched projects. I look forward to seeing more of your stitching in the new year.

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