Posts by mopinwil:
job’s for the month
February 24th, 2010if weather permit’s you can make a start at clearing you veg patch and flower borders
don’t forget that all wast leaves etc should go on you compost heap if you havent got one then it’s a
good idea to start one there are many ways you can do this if your not sure then please just ask me it’s not a problem
Welcome to ‘green fingers’ our Gardening Editor
February 23rd, 2010I would like to introduce a new gardening Editor by the name of green fingers, who will be keeping us abreast of the new thinking behind gardening techniques now.
Take it away ‘green fingers’ and welcome to Jersey Island.
Mo
Adding audio
February 23rd, 2010I am playing around with adding audio to my some of my posts. Bear with me if things don’t go according to plan sometimes. Just sit and talk amongst yourselves for a while whilst I hash this out.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
An old machine with a New Life using a Felt-crafting Kit!
January 28th, 2010On Friday I ac
quired a very, very old singer sewing machine which was in perfectly good working order and which sits in its own table. I can fold the machine down into the table out of view and place the cover down and you would never know there was a sewing machine in there. Now this is an advantage when you have a small bungalow and very little space. The table is only about 36″ square and can fit under a window or in a corner somewhere.
I am not going to use this newly purchased machine for what it was originally designed to do. Some time ago I sent away to the United States for a conversion kit which made it possible to change an old sewing machine into a felt-crafting machine. If you are not familiar with felt-crafting: it is a method of embellishment where you use a fabric like wool and silk upon which you place small pieces of wool or silk of a different colour on top of a different colour or thickness and make a design which becomes incorporated into the fabric by the action of the burred needles moving up and down on the fabric whilst it is being moved underneath these burred needles. Some may be familiar with felt-crafting by hand already. I had heard that it was possible to felt-craft using some of the modern machines but was not prepared to continually put the bobbin mechanism in and out all the time in order to do this on a modern machine, plus the fact that I don’t think the action of felt-crafting on a new machine does it any good, so I decided to purchase and use this kit on an old machine instead.
Feltcraft Kit attached to the sewing machine shank. See the crudely-made finger guard.
The felt-crafting kit consists of a special attachment upon which there are six thin burred needles attached. I can change these needles if they break, using an alan key that is included with the package. I also purchased some additional needles as I don’t know how many I may break and I would hate to have to wait for the order to arrive from the United States.
Once I had this machine home one of the first things I did was to ask my husband, of many skills, if he could possibly take the bobbin attachments and machine workings out of the bobbin area and just leave the casing and stitchplate in place. This he did very efficiently, after having established that all the components of the machine were safe, but it did mean he had to do a bit of metal-work, as the spindle which fitted onto the drive-belt was attached to the bobbin housing, so he had the choice of bashing out the spindle, which might have rendered it useless as it could have become bent, but he decided to use an angle grinder and totally demolished the bobbin case bit leaving a very straight spindle that could be replaced within the drive belt area. It was fun watching how a workman decides upon next course of action. I frequently heard him mutter ‘worst case scenario’ now I have learned that this is the way you work out items of safety by trialling and tesing a piece in situ. How would the item work and act if it is in that position or this position or another position. Looking at things from every angle for reasons of safety. I must say I was impressed!
Once he had asserted that the way I wanted the kit to be assembled was safe for use he proceeded to cut an extra wide hole in the stitchplate, as the new assembly would need a space of approx one inch square. At this point the shank of the machine was stripped of all moveable objects and the burred needle attachment was attached by a screw and tested and all worked efficiently. All we had to do was to ensure that the burred needles did not go down into the bobbin area more than a quarter of an inch, as that is enough for the needles to work the filaments of man-made fibres, wool or silk into the fabric cloth below.
The former bobbin casing area is now filled with a special foam into which the burred needles penetrate and this foam also keeps the host fabric straight whilst going through the process of being embellished. There was just one other thing to do and that was to attach a safety guard to ensure busy fingers did not get injured in an over-enthusiastic attempt to get embellish! That problem was soon overcome by using the screw that holds the housing for the top side of the machine case. This screw was long enough to hold the sewing case in place as well as holding a piece of maleable rounded metal that was fashioned into a guard.
That done! All I have to do now is use it and produce some arty, farty embellishment on a suitable fabric. I intend to do some of this today on a practise piece of Moreno wool, left over from a former embroidery project, which was a childs hand-embroidered heirloom blanket. I intend to use the felt-crafting as a base for hand or machine embroidery. I am sure I will find a lot of other uses for this machine.
Human Rights
January 26th, 2010I attended the Jersey Human Rights Group meeting last evening and found it most interesting. They now have a website that holds some quite useful information.
The above site includes a .pdf of the Jersey HUMAN RIGHTS (JERSEY) LAW 2000 and a
Study Guide – second edition – Human Rights Act 1998 which applies to the UK Act.
Human Rights seems to have had a bad press over recent years in the UK because of one or two high profile court cases that dealt with the defence of one’s own home and family from an intruder – about the amount of force one is allowed to use to defend one’s home without falling foul of the law. The problems arose when the defence was carried out as the burglar or intruder was running away and out on the public highway. If the intruder remains in the home you can use reasonable force to deter them. It is deemed incorrect to carry on and to chase and beat or threaten the intruder or burglar once they have left your property and is out on the public thoroughfare.
Human Rights is a far more wide-ranging subject than the defence of one’s own home. It is well worth looking at the articles and protocols at the following website and to find out which of them our Island Government subscribes to. Does anyone know which treaties have been signed up to apart from the UN and EHRC? It is also hard to find out which Articles and Protocols have been fully ratified or only partly ratified. Currently this seems to be the most important issue because until we, as a group, now which have been signed up to we cannot advertise the facts fully.
It is important to advertise the existence of the Human Rights Treaties as they were designed to make sure that people had certain basic right to life, free speech and freedoms and also to ensure that indignities and atrocities of war are a thing of the past!
One of the best methods of getting the message is to hand out leaflets explaining the treaties and educating people so that they become aware. I will be investigating how we can get the necessary information in the public domain particularly with regard to the disabled.
Quilting Workshop: Garden Trellis + chatty bytes
January 18th, 2010
Royal Jelly available from Vitamins Direct
Had a busy week! The fibromyalgia is behaving, maybe the royal jelly I have been using is making a difference, so I could get on and do some more unpacking – I had to store a lot of my hobby things away whilst we did some building works – and found some old friends hidden away in boxes I forgot I even had.
The new sewing room is coming on a treat but I must really stitch those curtains which are currently pinned up but hanging at the window, waiting for me to attend to them. So I think I will get on with that today, although I have a hundred and one other things to do, like finish this weeks Workshop Quilt that I prepared for during the last week for a Workshop on Friday. The quilt is called Garden Trellis.
Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam Lintott & Nicky Lintott
I decided to do this quilt with very little reference to the book, just as well as it did not arrive in time, and just work on the hand-out at class and the list of supplies we were handed when I signed up for the workshop. The Class was given by Sue Bone, who is a very able tutor and a good friend – who was sponsored by Caesarea Quilters, a local quilting club with over 60 members. My only small regret is not pondering on the title a little longer, as the reference to the garden would have given me an extra clue as to the design of fabric I needed. This is not to say I am unhappy with my fabric choice – Moda Vine Creek – as I like the way the quilt looks but it does not look much like a garden trellis – well! Maybe a winter flowering garden. My choice of colour was not my usual with regard to hues and shades, as I normally go for brights. This time I went for more somber blacks, blues, browns and greens with a splash of creams and reds.
This is the 'Garden Trellis' quilt top minus the border
I managed to get most of the blocks assembled at the workshop on Friday and when I came home I made a meal for the family and rested awhile, I then carried on stitching and managed to get the blocks assembled into strips for further assembly yesterday (Sunday). I managed to finish assembling the blocks. I still have the border to add but I have to order that fabric from www.fatquartershop.com as I was not sure which of the fabrics I had used within the blocks that I wanted to use as a border. Sometimes it is wise to wait until the blocks are assembled and the quilt speaks to you and you know immediately the colour and design to use to finish it off.whenI will be attending a meeting of the Caesarea Quilters tonight at one of the local parish halls and my latest quilt top, although not finished yet, will be displayed with others work from othes who attended the class, to show members who could not attend what we have been doing. It is at this stage I get a bit concerned and inspect my work closely to see if the points have been placed correctly. Well no doubt someone will find a point here and there that have been cut off in their prime. I am learning to take care of the points now, it does take time and patience but well worth it for a nice crisp design. If a job is worth doing it is worth doing correctly! I will make that my mantra for the week I think.
Ohio Star
I have also finished the Caesarea Quilt Challenge Block of the Month and this months rendition is the Ohio Star. This is the Third block in the series and we where instructed at the November meeting by Sue a club member who is also a Tutor. The next in the series is being demonstrated tonight and the technique is ‘reverse applique.
Friendship Star
Two earlier blocks were an appliqued heart which I cannot show because I have mislaid it. I am sure it is somewhere close but I will be sorely worried if I have mislaid my heart. An earlier block, I think it was the October one was the ‘Friendship Star’ which Angela, another club member demonstrated to us.
Should be a good week! Hope all augurs well for you this week too!
Mo’s Homecrafts
January 11th, 2010I have decided I should separate my personal blog from the main items in this website as all the various contributions and news is being lumped together and may become hard to follow. I sought my ‘web gurus’ and friend’s advice this week so you see we have an addition on the Categories Menu where you can see what I have been doing, or not doing, as the case may be on the home front, regarding needlework, knitting/crochet, cooking, gardening and computing.
Flyn Watching Life (birds) Go By
All the above will be done in the company of my two elderly cats Tay and Flynn a mother and son duo that have been in my life for the past 15 years. Tay, the queen of her domain, is getting a little frail these days and leads a very sedentary life for a 15 yr old but Flynn, her son who is six months younger than his Mum, has fared better and still goes out on the odd hunting expedition in between regular cat naps in the conservatory.
Flynn is very smart and vociferous, if he feels something is not quite right he proudly marches up to my partner or myself and meows indignantly and loudly until we take notice. The loudest and most insistent meows are heard when he is hungry. Then there are the requests to be inspected for those pesky mites and parasites and I have to don the rubber gloves and get the special tick tweezers to remove these horrid things from clinging to his skin. Now Tay is not bothered by ticks so I can only assume there is something in Flynn’s makeup that appeals to these blood-sucking creatures. The quicker they can be removed the better for the cat as they harbour disease and infections. I have tried many things to deter them from seeking accommodation on Flynn by using special medication like Frontline from the vet and also using a recipe of vodka with a few drops of Tea Tree oil wiped on his lovely silky coat of fur.
Finally today, I am so pleased that the Nature and Wildlife category is taking such good shape. I know that Yogi Bear has a lot of knowledge about the island’s natural science and the shoreline and beaches.
Its a Mystery – Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Well it is all a mystery to me! I am a crazy quilter. I enjoy it because it gives me quiet but structured time and it makes me think. Today I have decided to take part in a Mystery Quilt. There is a lady in New York who has designed a quilt for us to make and she is giving us clues every hour, by email, as to how we are to construct this mystery!
7 Clues over seven hours sent by email. The quilt top which has yet to have a border was completed at 11.55pm NYE
Australia has already celebrated their New Year as I have had an email from one of the Mystery Quilt participants to let me know. So the fireworks have gone off on Sydney Harbour Bridge! Won’t be long now and I will have my Mystery Quilt finished and we will be celebrating New Year in the Western Hemisphere.
Mystery Quilting is a bit like politics really isn’t it! You gets snippets of information (Flyers, canvassing notes at election time), you piece together the patchwork of theories and ideologies and then wait, and trust – wait and trust – that the quality of the fabric (people you have collectively elected) are up to standard and will work in harmony.
It does not always happen, as in mystery and any other kind of quilting the combinations you decide to put together can be disastrous, even make you feel ill. The network (threads) may be weak!
I think what I am trying to say is – be it in life or in politics – choose well and take time choosing because you are stuck with the results for a very long time. At least a mystery quilt can be given away and even if it is a disastrous colour it is still useful to keep warm. I don’t think the same applies to a failed government.
Have a Happy Time celebrating the New Year ‘IN’ and above all keep safe!
Time for Reflection!
December 28th, 2009“Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing
human rights problems. No country is immune from this
scourge. Eliminating discrimination is a duty of the
highest order.”
Navi Pillay
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Please forgive me if I get a little serious today. Traditionally, during the period between Christmas and New Year, it is quite expected that we reflect upon the past year. I have a lot of reflections – but one in particular is very important to me and that is my newly found political awareness!
I have had the pleasure of making friendships and aquaintances within this new political world of mine and I am still finding my feet and wondering which side of the fence I belong to politically. I hope I don’t get too many splinters whilst sitting on the fence as I ascertain the position I like best. What I do know is that I have very strong views about Human Rights and the Protocols of the Council of Europe and the Articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights .
The quote I use above is from The United Nations Human Rights website. Discrimination of all kinds is abhorant but it is common in every country. Of course the Human Rights issues are different depending upon the region of the world in which we live but every issue is dear the to the person who is fighting for Human Rights. The needs of a young lady in Dafur in the Sudan are not the same as the needs of someone who may be old and infirm and living in Britain.
The two areas I have cause for concern within our island currently are Children’s Rights and Disabled Rights. I hope to spend some time researching these matters and finding out which Protocols and Articles our local Government have agreed to and duly ratified.
For a subject that I consider to be so vital for a New World Order, the whole concept is taking a very long time coming to fruition. I wonder why Governments are dragging their feet, particularly in the western world, over some of the issues! I also believe that education should be the primary aim of everyone who is interested in basic human rights and it is only by educating people that we can ever see things moving more quickly. Hence my serious ramblings today. :). I think Human Rights should be taught in schools. I am also aware that there are some unscrupulous people and organisations who may use and hijacked Human Rights issues and try to use them in a way they were never meant to be used. We should always be vigilant and protect the Human Rights issues from being misused.
(My grateful thanks to the sources I used for this article which can be found in the respective hyperlinks inserted from crisisgroup.org, the Council of Europe and the United Nations)
Two Boxing Days
December 27th, 2009Well Christmas day was fun, especially with all the excitement of having a 2 1/2 year old in the family now. Since my children have grown up we seemed to have more of a sedate time. Thankfully that is all over and we, once again, have Christmas wrapping paper strewn across the floor with enthusiasm to see what that lovely man, Father Christmas, has brought to the house for this little boy who has been bribed to be ever so good, just in case. The carrot was left for Rudolph and the mince pie and a drink of milk (we had to do the right thing – there was no way we could allow him to get caught drunk in charge of a turbo-sleigh now could we) was left to thank Father Christmas. So the scene is set for next year with a plan to send Santa a letter of thanks and a reminder that he will get another letter next year requesting some other goodies, with a promise that we will all be good.
Santa did himself proud. There was a selection of small toys all wrapped up in a Winnie the Pooh stocking. This stocking seemed to have an endless leg and we eventually reached the toe! It contained some neat little fridge magnets (Grandson is keeper of the fridge magnets – alphabet ones, number ones, sweet pussy cat ones, all sorts) but these magnets are a little different because they have clasps on them and when you push the clasp to hang a memo note or rubber gloves or whatever you wish to hang in them they give out a noise.
A fridge magnet that Baaaas!
A fridge magnet that ‘Baaas’, the cow ‘Moos’ and the pig ‘Oinks’, now what better idea could we have to encourage a little lad to hang things up out of the way and be tidy. Now will this ploy work. We can only wait and see.
Snowman, Santa and Rudolph finger puppets
The Finger Puppets caused a little sensation but were soon put away upon unwrapping a completely new set of wax crayons, and the two little magnetic pigs that always seemed to kiss. There are far too many little items to list completely and they were soon put aside when the really big parcels arrived. Oh boy! A Bob the Builder scooter which he could not wait to get a ride on. No matter what the weather was like we all had to troop out into the cold so Corey could try that one out. Corey always likes to play outside and he has to be convinced on a rainy day that it might be better to wait until it is a little less wet and to stay indoors.. The next parcel was just the thing for a rainy day -
The Red Knights Fort
The Red Knights Fort, complete with a set of Red and Blue Knights. Alas no dragon yet – but he did make an appearance as an imaginary dragon.
The Fort sits in the centre of a large mat which has pictures of a moat around it, a river passing by it, a site for jousting tents and a few grassy knolls to sit or fight upon. The first first imaginary game was an unexpected one though: Corey decided that after their first ride around the Fort the Knights had developed a tummy ache so he duly went to the Hospital Tent to get some medicine for his Knights, whom had deposited under blankets in the turrets of the fort to recover. Now I don’t know what these Knights had been up to but they may have enjoyed too much revelry on Christmas day – Who knows! :). Thankfully the Knights recovered fairly quickly and went back to their normal knightly duties.
Maybe that is one lesson learned – too much knightly revelry may cause tummy aches!
I didn’t post on Boxing Day I had a well-earned rest – well our Government did not recognise yesterday as Boxing Day because it fell on a Saturday so they moved the goal posts so that the official Boxing Day falls on Monday. I celebrated it yesterday like I always have done. I suppose the decision to change it was because some workers would not be getting a day off because they are administrators in the Finance Industry here but that meant that retail workers had to turn out to work on what would normally have been a bank holiday for them. You can’t please everyone all the time can you. The shops too would probably do more business and make more money because of this change of Bank Holiday. So the materialistic views of our Government are just too plain to see. I wish we had an all full-filling accredited media because then we could look forward to truthful appraisals on how business was doing, rather than a load of spin. According to our Press everything seems to be rosy in the garden – no nasty bugs or greenfly here! So hence the two Boxing Days. I wonder how many people have decided to celebrate yesterday like I did?
