Coasters, Spiderwebs and Taggies

It has been a while since I posted anything. I've been in the land of writing reports and have barely opened my little laptop to see what is happening in the world of making. Reports are now done and the school term is almost over. I am enjoying my class this year. It is at about this time that I feel I really have an idea of who they are and where I want them to go. They have such funny personalities and each one has something to offer. 

I have been sewing and knitting and have actually put together quite a few items but most are not finished. I am planning to buy a huge quantity of wadding because I have 4 or 5 quilts waiting for a back. The staff room will be empty and I will use our lovely big tables to stretch and pin.

It's really cold in Melbourne (by Australian standards) and the weather is perfect for staying indoors and hand stitching in front of the TV. I discovered that I had forgotten to finish a quilt from way back. I had put the binding on but not quilted all the blocks. There are lots more blocks to go and I am enjoying the quiet therapy of stitching.

It was a friend's birthday in May so I cut into my beautiful new fabric that I bought at L'uccello and made a set of coasters with linen backs and a different featured stitch on each one. My friend loved them and was planning to use them as a centrepiece on her dinning table with skinny vases on each one. I liked that idea.

I really wanted to make a few more taggies and had the perfect excuse to do so when one of the teachers at school became a grandmother for the first time and my niece had her 4th child.

Her baby blanket is started but in the meantime I thought a taggie would help fill the waiting time.

 The last 2 weekends have been all about the spiderweb quilt. I am no longer so enchanted by it! Too much grey and too much of the same fabric have dulled my enthusiasm but I will finish it all the same.

School Chair Bags

What can you do with old towels?
Do you remember when you move out of home and your mother kindly gives you some of her off cast bath towels which you gratefully accept and enjoy until you discover the bliss of bath sheets?
These towels, too good for the rag pile, after 20 odd years have finally found a new use.

I have turned them into chair bags for my kids at school. There are about 5 students in my class who came to school without their chair bag from last year and their stuff is strewn all over the tables. My classroom is so tiny that the mess is driving me nuts. I've converted 2 towels into chair bags. If they fit, I am going to free up some space in my linen cupboard.