QUILTYGAL

Favourite Things Friday

2012-02-17T21:08:00.002+10:30

This week I am going to be a bit self-indulgent with my Favourite thing

It is a picture I received from my daughter Whitney last week .....a scan photo in fact of my very first Grandchild...

Doesn't he look lovely ...ok I know that I am biased....my first reaction was how detailed the scans are nowadays...my second was how much he looks like Whitney when she was born...same nose & cheeks !! so I have included her first baby picture so you can see for yourselves....

Wonder if he will be born with his own mohawk !!

So once again thanks to Shay for hosting this FTF...head on over to her blog to check out everyones FTF posts....

Favourite Things Friday...

2012-02-03T20:10:00.002+10:30

Hi everyone I've made it back for this weeks fTF...was a close thing as the main modem decided that it had lived long enough this week & fell off the twig...

I decided this weeks theme (oh how posh) is Tradition & how to start one..
As most of you "oldie readers" will know my baby daughter is having her own baby ...for new readers its ok My "Baby" is 24 & amazingly enough for a radical thinking,metal listening,tattooist is ...*gasp shock horror* married ..LOL..so this week I got out the shawl that my mother knitted for me when I was pregnant with Whitney, it has washed up beautifully ...I packed it into a box along with her pram blanket that was also used for her sister & 4 of my mums Great grandchildren since & it is on it's way to the depths of Wales to wrap the latest generation in ...I am hoping that when it is finished being used for her children it will be packed away for her Grandchildren ...How lovely would that be ...Imagine the next 4 or 5 generations being wrapped in Nanny Joyces knitting it would make her so proud...

Also tucked in the box a little quilt for his cot ...retro colours for his retro loving mumma....it was hard to get a true colour pic as the yellow is really more of a mustard...

& lastly the latest member to arrive at my house a truely gorgeous birthday present from one of my Quilting Buddies, Lorraine..every year she does what she calls her "Footy Quilt" done whilst watching her various children (she has 4) doing their Football & Netball..this appliqued heart quilt was a surprise to us all when the blocks appeared at our Weekend Away ...Lorraine doesnt "do" blue ...but on my birthday she said "when I have finished quilting it, it's yours"....so it arrived with her today ..It went straight onto the bed

So that's my lot today I'm off to Mrs Pajamas site to check out all the other FTF participents blogs to see what they have picked ...go on over yourselves & check it out
Have a great week everyone Happy Stitching xxx

Favourite Things Friday

2012-01-27T11:21:00.007+10:30

So another week over & here we are again Friday!! Like the redoutable Mrs Pajamas I am still on holidays but back on monday for me ....I did manage to get 3 blocks of my Farmers Wife quilt done ...well you could say 5 'cos I had to completely redo blocks 1&2 as they were not the right size..lesson learned on how to not hold the pencil when drawing around the templates & yes a little bit out does make a difference over small pieces !!!.....but am very happy with them so far....as you can tell I started out with some of the easier blocks the next I am working on has teeny triangles !! so far so good....

Had a lovely Farmers Wife get-together with Mrs P & Granny Loz....so much yakking & eating & sewing that I forgot to take any pics!!

I had great plans of how much sewing I was going to get done but "best laid plans " etc etc...shoulder pain held me up a bit but I did manage to get the binding sewn down on the baby quilt from last fridays post also finished off a table topper but will keep that pic for next week incase I don't get anything done !!! (although if you look at the last pic you will get a sneaky preview )
I have throughly enjoyed the Tennis will be sad when it's over .....
..
Well I'mm off to enjoy what's left of my hols Hoping everyone has a great weekend 7 Happy stitching

Favourite things Friday

2012-01-20T22:19:00.004+10:30

After a whole year of looking at the lovely Shays weekly

"Favourite Things Friday"

posts I decided this year to jump on board

it will at least mean that I have to post once a week !!

So for my first FTF post for 2012

my favourite thing today is sewing binding on a baby quilt

whilst watching the Tennis.....

interestingly enough I wouldn't mind betting that next Fridays post

might just include a mention of Tennis too....

So thanks to Shay for hosting this fun activity

I have started my Farmers Wife Quilt 2 blocks sewn today.

I am now on holidays for a week plenty of Tennis & sewing to be done...

what more could you want

So the journey begins......

2012-01-18T18:33:00.003+10:30

Yes I have got caught up in the madness that is

The Farmers Wife Quilt

The first 4 blocks are cut ready to sew

Joining me on this journey are

Ausrose,

Granny Loz,,

Quilting in my pajamas

& a few other non blog ladies...

I am hand piecing most of this

madness or not ???

well we will see ......

SSCS

2011-12-30T13:13:00.003+10:30

Wow I was really spoilt by my SSCS partner the lovely Loulee of Manxgirl

Loulee & I are old friends having been blog friends & exchanging fabric etc quite a few times

Can you see that super cute bunting I'm wondering where the best place for that will be ..would love to hang it from the shelves in my new kitchen...what do you think...cute or what??
I'm going to use the journal to document my progress & fabric choices for my Farmers Wife Quilt that I am starting next year..

Just love the bag the strap is long enough for it to be worn across my body which is needed at the moment as with my sore sholders I can't hang a bag from them.

Love it all Loulee thankyou so much XXXXX

Wishing all my Blogfriends a Good New Years Eve & a Happy Healthy 20012...I'll be working so no partying for me but please feel free to have a drink & dance for me ...

SSCS

2011-12-12T20:08:00.009+10:30

Was so excited last week when I arrived home from work to find a parcel on the table......as soon as I saw the post mark - the Isle of Man - I knew that it was from Loulee...

I was allowed to open 2 of the parcels one had these 2 beautiful baubles and also this fantastic wall hanging

So the other parcels are waiting to go under the tree ( when I put it up) to be opened on Xmas day ....when I get back from work...yes working Xmas day I actually volunteered as we do nothing on that day ...Boxing day is our busy day and the other lady who was meant to be working wanted to spend the day with her granddaughter....

Things have been very busy here as I have finally had my new kitchen installed I have been waiting for years !! the pic below is what I have been living with...... it is the original kitchen from when the house was built in the early 70's and for the last 12 years I had only half of it..

In this pic you can see in the corner the wallpaper we "inherited" when we brought the house...yes it was stunning especially combined with the dark green cabinets and the mustard tops ....

So quite a few thousand dollars later we now have this .....

We blocked in both the windows which allowed me to move the fridge to the other wall & the oven/hob to the end wall which gave me all the bench space on the side wall ....
I love love love my new kitchen and am still surprised when I walk in the door and see it.....I don't even mind cleaning it LOL at least it looks clean not like the old one which never did no matter how much I tried...

3rd time lucky !!!

2011-11-17T19:48:00.010+10:30

Tried to post this earlier but blogger ate it!!
Also had pics from m y stitching weekend in Port Pirie with Gail Pan & Natalie Ross had a great time lovely to see Gail again & to meet Natalie...will try to post pics of that later will just be happy to get this one up ..

Spent last weekend looking at this view hard life isnt it

Val managed to finish a Hexagon swap quilt ....

Lorraine finished her "Seven sisters" quilt this is a twin to the one that I adopted not long ago as she didn't like the colours of it

Her "football quilt" each season she has a project she can hand sew at the matches & practice...

Her Log Cabin quilt

First Baby picture

2011-10-13T20:30:00.003+10:30

Just received this on e-mail from my daughter in Wales first picture of my grandchild ....12 weeks old ...

Managed to get some time in the sewing room ....I had brought a pattern from Lisa at U-Handbag & also some bag frames ...I call this my Mary Poppins bag :).....

Only 2 weeks now till Loz & I go on our road trip to Port Pirie for a stitching weekend with Gail Pan & Natalie Ross....looking forward to a weekend full of laughter & stitching ....

It's my 3 day weekend off although I have to go to a funeral with my daughter tomorrow ...a friend of hers died aged 29 of a heart attack after having indigestion for 3 weeks ....so sad for his wife & family ....

Having a new kitchen installed on Nov 21st so shopping on Saturday for some kitchen stuff including a new fridge as I found out after changing my layout that we can't change the door around !!...also looking for tiles etc etc...will certainly post before & after pics of that...

hoping to get some stitching done inbetween all this activity .....

Rugby on Sunday keeping all things crossed for The Wallabies against the All Blacks !!!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend
Hugs Claire

Its that time of year again....

2011-09-23T17:07:00.003+09:30

Yes....It's

Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap ...

I have been in this swap twice & always had fun

I missed it last year as I was busy overseas but this year I'm excited to be back in

I have been having a good look at my swappies blog going to be very interesting picking things for her...

This is a quilt made by one of my quilting group,Lorraine, (no blog) the pattern is Floribunda by Erin Russek of One Piece at a Time blog and was a free BOM she had last year .There is another free BOM this year a very generous blogger.

Some not very exciting HsT they are going to be turned into hourglass blocks for a Gail Pan pattern

A non-quilty pic ...we had a big family BBq recently & it was my job to take a Pav, this is a 12 egg white base with a Lemon Curd filling (home made)& cream decoration, it all disappeared in record time.

And now some progress on my Gail Pan Berries & Bluebirds.
All the blocks are preped & waiting for their applique.

News on the family front I am going to be a Nanna in April,Whitney & Nathan are expecting their first baby & everyone is very happy for them .

Well I am off to watch the Rugby then the Football & do some stitching.

Hope everyone has a great weekend xxx

Holiday news

2011-09-03T22:43:00.005+09:30

Had a really lovely family holiday on the Gold Coast.....
My niece her fiance & son are over from the UK.....
so we went up to Queensland & my nephew & his family drove down from Emerald....
there were 14 of us all up.....
stayed at a place in Southport called Treasure Island.....was great for the kids plenty for them to do on site we went to Sea World & also had a nice day on Surfers beach...
managed to do a bit of stitching on my Berries & Bluebirds applique..but generally was just a chilled out relaxed time...
hoping to get into my sewing room tomorrow I need some more B&B blocks sewn ready to applique....
On a very exciting note....went Kitchen shopping today looks as if it's getting a bit closer..:)

Etc etc etc ...

2011-08-10T21:42:00.005+09:30

So I have been a really good girl no sewing taking things easy here at home

( due to Bursitis in my right sholder)

no major housework (thanks hubby)

so sad about that !!......

& after 8 weeks the result is ........

da da

Drumroll please

Bursitis in my left sholder as well as my right !!!!

So I am now sewing again only in short bursts

but this is medically necessary

( to stop me going stark raving mad !!)....

& I have just booked to go to

A weekend in creative company

with Gail Pan & Natalie Ross

at Country HArt in Port Pirie ....

I am going with the gorgeous & funny Granny Loz....

should be a real hoot.....

so no pics Im afraid ....

hopefully next time as I have sewed my Dresden plates together

& would of had the borders on if I could count !!

So I will leave you with a couple of random pics

First, my eldest daughter has a "Family leg"

It has a heart on it & a pair of scissors with a ribbon which is for me

her latest is for her Dad

their connection has always been with music

(she gets his music collection in the will)

so she had a spare moment the other day

& decided to tattoo this on her leg for him

Not everyones idea of a childs appreciation

but thats her thing after all :)

(lyrics from a Faith No More song)

This is my one :)

Next up is Youngest daughter

on her first day at her new job

she was working with me in the kitchen at the Hospital

but thanks to a couple of really nasty people her time there was not the happiest

But she has had the last laugh & got herself a receptionist
job which she loves ,so a much happier person all around...

Edited: yet again blogger is deciding on its own spacing !! Sorry about that....

BIG SIGH....

2011-07-13T19:25:00.003+09:30

So on Saturday it will be a month since I have touched my machine & I have been able to do very little hand sewing (only 4 leaves on my B&B Applique)....

The cause of this is a nasty case of Bursitis in my right sholder & a possible tendon problem ...I'm not complaining .... in the scheme of things it's not a lot to deal with but it is VERY frustrating !! I have spent a lot of time tidying up my sewing room, having a bit of a clean out so when I am able to sew all will be ready....

So no pics of my projects but I can show you something very special

I have adopted an unwanted Quilt Top....

Can you believe that after all this work my lovely friend Lorraine (no blog) didn't like it !!! it was going in the cupboard!!...
She is currently making another one same design different material ...I have offered to adopt that one as well if it's also un-wanted as it's being made with Kansas Troubles my fav of all time ...
So I'm off to Blog hop saving up ideas for when I can sew ....Hopefully very soon...

Have a lovely weekend & Happy sewing...

Giveaway result

2011-07-09T17:02:00.003+09:30

The Giveaway was won by Khris
I am deciding what to make for her lurking on her blog to try & get an idea :)
Had some interesting ideas for the sashing from OS so think I will be incorporating some into the finished quilt.....
Might be a couple of weeks as I have a bad sholder & have been banned from sewing !! YES thats right haven't touched my machine for 3 weeks now !!! really bad withdrawal symptoms here....hence no nice pics for this post ....Hope to have some soon
Have a great weekend everyone...
Happy Stitching
(for some :( ....)

Give Away Time......

2011-06-26T14:20:00.006+09:30

Well its been a while yet again !! & I just realised that I have passed 200 posts by 6 so I will have a give away.... I have NO idea what as I just thought about it!! but I will think of something yummy plus this way I can tailor it to the winner :)

So the Dresden plates are all finished & ready to put together so comments please on your choice of setting
"To Sash or Not to Sash... that is the question"

This might not be the final choice for the sashing material.... I have a few different ones that I can use...

Or without ...I also have quarter blocks that I will use in the corners

Here is my latest finish
"Cherries & Chocolate'
I first saw this pattern on MayBritts blog...I think the pattern is called Bread & Butter & was a free one on the net...my layout is a bit different as I didnt read all the instructions before I started putting it together !! but I am still very happy with it ...the material is "More Pink & Chocolate"...

My lovely longarmer " House of Valerie" did her usual beautiful work on it.... a vine of heart shaped leaves most appropriate as it has gone to the Uk to live with my beautiful cousin Tonya who is fighting Ovarian cancer for the second time...I know that Val quilted many good wishes & love into it & did it VERY quickly for me so it could be sent off...

I have a fair bit of this material left ..it was a fat quarter bundle so am planning to make a quilt for me with the leftovers...

So get your comments in with your choice of sashing for teh Dresden plates & I'll draw it in a weeks time

Have a happy stitching week....

Back again...

2011-05-28T20:21:00.003+09:30

So apologies for tardiness of blog posts

but sometimes I don't have anything to say!!....
I know that those who know me are now rolling on the floor laughing

but it does happen..
So kicking off todays missive

we have the wonderful news

the Dresden plates are all finished & ready to put together

I haven't any pics yet I'll save them for the next post.
So I now need another machine sewing project,

after a visit to the lovely Granny Loz

& a look at her Civil War quilt

I fell in love

(with the quilt not Loz although she is lovely )

so after a lot of drooling by me Loz loaned me the book.
I must admit that if I hadn't seen Loz's quilt

the pic on the front would not of inspired me to make it.

When we went to Carrickalinga for our girly stitchery weekend
I managed to find the material for it.
The first three were brought at Tricia's (no website)

for SA quilters/ Adelaide people she is opposite Castle Plaza South road.

We then called in at Patch-work online

which is at McLaren Flat & met the lovely Nicole.

This is mainly an on-line business
but if you let Nicole know when you are going past you can go visit.
I had looked on the website & picked out a Layer cake

of Barbara Brackmans Civil War fabric

but when I got to see it in person I wasn't too keen

on some of the colours

the blue in *real life* was more of a teal

so I ended up with some

Blackbird design Antique Fair much more to my taste.

A while ago I saw this book on the lovely

Leannes blog .

It instantly became a *must have*

This is my favourite bag in the book.

My BFF ausrose

is having a giveaway on her blog

so hop on over & leave a comment

Val is hosting a fund raiser for a programme she works for

It's to raise funds for a programme

which offers exercise & information

for women with Breast Cancer

so for Sa girls come along if you can

Shop, Sit, Sew and Soup Day
Location: Salisbury East Neighbourhood Ctr,

28 Smith Road, Salisbury East,

S Australia
Time: ‎10:00AM Saturday, June 25th

So back soon with some Dresden Plate love .

I am really happy with how these have turned out

but I will be wanting some input to the next stage....

Not sure why blogger is spacing this all different but it won't talk to me tonight :(

I'm Back

2011-05-05T16:51:00.004+09:30

Well again life got in the way

but I have at least got some stitching done over the last few weeks..

I had a lovely Easter break
I was meant to work the weekend

but decided to take it off
Ausrose & I went to the Barossa Valley on the Sat morning

to visit with the lovely

Granny Loz & her beautiful sidekick Rose...

We had a trip out to a local Craft Fair

I managed to find a lady selling fabric

& she had some Kansas Troubles

so a few fat quarters came home to live with their relatives

in my KT basket where they have fitted in so well

& are quite at home awaiting my next KT project...

After returning to Chez Loz

we got down to some serious stitching

We went to a show in the evening at a local winery great show good company

Before taking off for the weekend

I made an Easter present for my Great Niece

we take it easy on the chocolate

so I made a paper mache nest with a couple of birds

They were sitting on some little chokky eggs

I have also finally finished my "Gathering Garden" by Kim Diehl
It's now waiting to be sandwiched & quilted..

Plus 3 Dresden plates are now appliqued with 6 to go...

Ausrose & I are off for a stitching day tomorrow with the very talented

Tazzie

It will be our first "real life" get together

Funny how you can "know" someone when you have never ever met them !!

I can't wait
I am sure we are going to have a great time

Hope everyone has a good weekend

I'll be working but hoping to get some stitching done.....

2011-04-22T11:42:00.003+09:30

Happy Easter to everyone in Blogland

hope you all have a lovely,safe time

Cant believe this happened.....

2011-04-16T23:36:00.002+09:30

...well maybe more like don't like to think it could....

The lovely talented

Nicole

was at AQC promoting her

new book

when this bag was stolen

We are flooding the internet with the picture

hoping to either find the bag

or worry the hell out of the person who took it

to maybe send it back to Nicole......

Go to Nicoles blog to read further about this

& how it has affected her....

Basically it stinks....

Sad but needed

2011-04-12T14:55:00.004+09:30

Today I made these little pouches for the Birthing Unit at work.....

They are for the early losses that unfortunately occur.....

I had been looking for a while for a suitable pattern

but they were all a bit "Funereal" for my taste....

Then I saw a post on just what I wanted by the very talented Jacquie

Jacquie had been asked to make some and this is her pattern

which she kindly shared with me....

A close up of some of the material I used

I also cut out the rest of the leaves for my "Gathering Garden"....

Back to work tomorrow

Hope you are having a good week

Quick update...

2011-04-08T13:39:00.003+09:30

Been a bit sick here so not much been happening here this week...

Finished the middle of the

"Gathering Gardens"

then decided that it needed an Appliqued border

so back to the drawing board or rather

Kim's books picked out a flower and voila!!

And so far three plates have been completed

loving how these are coming along I've picked the block material

but not sure what to use for the centre circle...

Will wait till they are all finished before that decision is made...

I love it when.....

2011-03-27T20:30:00.003+10:30

.....it gets a bit chilly & the quilt comes out

Even better when you get to bury your nose in it's warmth...

Love the Autumn

Update......

2011-03-25T20:41:00.003+10:30

On the

Dresden Plate

Cut & sewed the blades this morning....

Turned & pressed them this afternoon....

Loving this already....

A new quilt..

2011-03-23T21:02:00.002+10:30

Yes I know !!!...

I need a new start like a hole in the head but there you go ....

I have had a hankering lately

(well for some time actually)

to do a Dresden Plate .....

I knew that I wanted the pointed blades not rounded

so have been keeping an eye out for a pattern ...
I finally found one from the very talented

Elizabeth Hartman from the

Oh,Fransson! blog

I did a trial block first used up some of my scrap stash ...

I know ....

it's nothing like I would normally make

but I will probably make a small quilt for the

Special Care Nursery at work with it....

It works out at a large 16 inches ...

I really like the large middle circle

So I then cut up some old shirts as I had seen a quilt on Flikr

made with op-shop shirts but changed my mind tonight...

I went to my Kansas Troubles layer cake

I had 26 left so I folded them in half & drew around the template for the blade....

using my (admittedly awful) math skills I worked out I can get 8 blades from each square

so should be able to make 10 blocks...

So hopefully I can get them cut tomorrow & some at least sewn this week....

I haven't decided what to use for the background yet...

might make some plates up first to see if it needs a cream or darker....

So that's my week so far

Hope yours is a good one....

I've been a bit slack.......!!!!

2011-03-08T15:20:00.003+10:30

The blog has been ignored a bit this past month..

But I have been busy

I had a friend from England visit so we were out & about ...

It was quite interesting as I have lived here 31 yrs

but it took someone from another country staying with me

to get me to some places near here

that I have never been before....

Places that I will certainly go back to again

But there has been some crafty stuff happening..

The latest baby quilt waiting for its super stripey binding

I used a fancy stitch from my machine to quilt this one & it was so easy ...

I really like the wavy look as well....

Next is my hand work project at the moment

Gathering Garden by Kim Diehl...

as frequent readers will know

I LOVE LOVE LOVE !! Kim's designs

this is one which was in the Homespun Yearbook no:92

I think it's still available I brought it in January

7 & a half leaves to go then heaps of berries

...not sure what border I will do on this

as the one in the pattern will make it too big

to fit where I want to hang it..

I also recieved a veru exciting parcel last month...
The Oz Material Girls shop held a Facebook auction

to raise money for the Queensland Premiers Flood fund...

I bid on Gail Pan's new BOM set "Berries & Bluebirds"
It's absolutly gorgeous &

when I finish the Gathering Gardens applique this will be next...

Gail also very kindly sent me the little bag

I shall keep the applique blocks in this..

I also recieved this quilt back from my

Longarm Quilter

I am so happy with the work on this
Val has taken some of the applique designs

& used them as patterns for the quilting

& last but not least another Kim Diehl design

"Country Whig Rose"

from her book

"Simple Blessings"

I hand quilted this in a half cross hatch design

So thats about all the news from this place ..
Well I am off to make more binding & get some of these works finished...
Have a great week everyone & Happy stitching !!

Announcement...

2011-02-08T21:27:00.007+10:30

Kayla

( the youngest)

has moved out of the house ....

But only into the back garden where we have a granny flat

so I was very courageous & ventured into the

"Bat cave"

as we have affectionately called it for the past 10 yrs...

it has seen 2 teenagers go through their heavy metal time

so at one point the whole of the room was covered in posters

& I do mean

ALL OF IT !!!

ceiling as well

So I spent 2 days scraping bluetack sellotape & un-identified sticky patches off of the walls & paintwork..

Husband then spent 3 days painting (after work of course)

So I give you the transformation!!!

I would of taken before pics but I was too embarrassed

My First Finish for 2011...

2011-01-30T18:24:00.002+10:30

Wasn't what I expected...

Baby Quilt for a Grantham FAmily who have lost everything in the floods including their youngest child and are expecting a new baby in a few weeks...

I cannot imagine for one moment how they must be feeling . I hope this Quilt can bring a small smile to their faces...

Close Up

The back is an Alexander Henry material that I have been hanging onto for a few years I thought that it was perfect for this...

Interesting evening

2011-01-26T08:52:00.004+10:30

Kayla came home yesterday saying Ive hurt my hand ,I fell over & hit it on a concrete windowsill so being the concerned mum I am I said oh yes & started talking about something else!! now I'm not really callous but if like me you have lived with this child for 21 years with all her bumps & bruises you get a bit immune !! so anyway after watching her try to peel her prawns with one hand & her elbow!! I had a closer look at it & said I think we need to go see about this

So theres an hour spent waiting to see a doctor at the medical clinic, now I hate to sound racist in any way but boy for just once I would like to have a doctor who you can understand when they talk to you, I didnt go in with her , I mean she is 21!! when she came out she was not happy he only said a couple of sentances to her which she couldnt understand plus he mumbled!! After twisting it about which killed her, then asked her when her last period was !!! he says dont know whats wrong doesnt look bruised to me ...ok....off to the Hospital where the triage nurse says oh that looks nasty here have some pain killers 30 mins later one daughter with wrist in plaster!!!.....Will certainly let the clinic know that outcome....doc at the hospital was not impressed when we related the first part of the story basically he could of done more harm than good by twisting it ...plus even I could see that it didnt "look right" & I have no medical experiance at all .. so shes in a trauma cast till next week when we go to the fracture clinic for more xrays but its looks as if it may be 6 weeks in plaster....she was so disappointed that she didnt get a bright pink one last night!!

Queensland Flood....

2011-01-13T09:54:00.002+10:30

What can you say about the awful floods ripping through Queensland & New South Wales....

the news coverage is heart breaking....

Aussies have always been extremly generous with donations to overseas disasters lets hope that we get some of the Karma back...

To put the affected area in some perspective for my OS bloggers it has now covered an area bigger than France & Germany combined...

I know there are always a lot of people collecting at this time but I think with the news of scams that are coming up the safest is to donate direct to this link...

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

If any of you feel so inclined I know it will be greatly recieved

Thankyou

PhD update.....

2011-01-12T22:14:00.003+10:30

My first update in the

PhD Challenge....
Kansas Troubles blocks sewn together...

I went for the on pointe setting as I really liked it on the Churn Dash quilt...

borders added....

made a couple of 3inch blocks for the corners

next going to add some Applique.....

........

PHD post

2011-01-08T19:57:00.004+10:30

So if you have been paying attention you will have noticed a new button on my side bar ...

go on ...

go have a look

Ok

so yes I have joined Myra's PhD Challenge

I have 6 months to finish off my chosen projects

PhD=Projects half done

So as I have to post my progress here

(when any happens !!)

I thought I'd better post the pics of my chosen challenge items

so you all know what I'm talking about when any progress happens !!

First up:
A Wall hanging....

must search out the pattern so I can get the name....
yes it's been that long since I started it I can't even remember what it's called!!

4 blocks completed & sewn together

another 2 blocks finished....

just need some flying geese borders,sewn to the other 4 & quilted

Next:
Some blocks I made up using my stash of Kansas Troubles material....

Have no idea what these are going to become....
I am very much a design/make it up as I go kind of sewer...

Thirdly:
A Scrap Star quilt

as it's name suggests all made from my scraps & stash ....

again not sure what else to do with it ....

probably needs a border...

Last but not least:
My Bread & Butter quilt made using my More Pink & Chocolate fabric...

again needs a border ...

seems to be a theme with me

tops done,sits for ages needing a border.....

So now when some progress happens

you will know what the hell I'm blathering on about....

Have a great week everyone...

Two Days Off....

2010-12-31T13:39:00.005+10:30

....and I achieved a great deal......

Check it out

Before....

And after.....

The desk & wire drawers are going to the op-shop

& the wardrobe has to be broken up & will go in the next bin

with the pergola wood & bricks...

And you thought this post was going to be about sewing something !!!

HO HO HO HO HO & all that stuff..........

2010-12-25T06:29:00.003+10:30

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope everyone has a lovely day with whoever they choose to spend it with

as for me .....

well I'm off to work.......

Someone has to feed the poor patients still stuck in hospital.....

HO HO HO HO HO

A PhD....

2010-12-16T20:49:00.002+10:30

...no not a uni one ...

I have joined up to Myras Phd challenge for 2011 ....

PhD = partly done projects....I have committed to finish 4 over 6 months ...although I haven't yet decided which 4 exactly I want finished !!

looking at what others have posted it seems to be mostly getting blocks sewn together /tops finished ready for quilting ....

but I want to get tops already done finished off so lots of quilting in the next 6 months .....

If I manage to get any bonus tops finished then that will be great I have linked to the blog with the button on my side bar so go check it out & see all the tops waiting to be turned into beautiful quilts.....

Whats been happening in my world....

2010-12-13T20:03:00.008+10:30

well a bit of a hiatus here as work took over for a bit ....but I had a three day weekend and boy was it busy but lovely

Friday was our quilty get together so a whole day of sewing and chatting and eating what more could you want

Saturday we had a small bloggers get together with Kris, Shay & Valerie at my house again a lovely day of sewing (except Kris who supervised LOL) chatting and eating....in fact we were so busy doing all of this that no one took any pics to use maybe next time....

Sunday was our quilty Xmas lunch we went to a local garden centre that has a super resturant so a good time was had by all....

Sunday before I left I decided that as the Kim Diehl that I'm quilting is nearly finished I would start something else....

regular readers here will know that I love Kansas Troubles material...

I have collected it for quite a few years ....

I had a jelly roll of Wildflower Serenade I used the green/brown strips in a log cabin quilt and was left with the blue/black ones....

so I married them up with some neutral yardage that I cut some strips from

and broke out the Thangles.....

Love my Thangles....
I managed to do one trial block before I left to eat and sewed some more when I got home

Today was my half day so when I got home (after getting tea on and washing ) I sat at the machine and managed to get some more done

Love the way these are working out thinking of putting them on pointe but will see what happens when they are done

So is everyone ready for Christmas??

I am not ....I'm working Christmas day but have the Eve off

and also my birthday on the 26th

so hoping for a quiet time with some stitchy stuff happening

I have just ordered my birthday present from hubby LOL

he's buying me another Kim Diehl book Simple Graces....

So hope you all have a great week with lots of crafting

Till next time

Happy Stitching

One finish down

2010-11-22T20:15:00.004+10:30

Well I made good on my idea to finish off my UFO's before I start other projects..

I was going to hand quilt this but decided that I needed it finished before 2020!!

So I handquilted around the baskets & machined a vine & leaves in the big border

The pattern is "Spring Baskets" by Gail Pan....

I love it as soon as I hung it up I loved it more...

it has pride of place in my dining room & really fits in well

So next up is a Kim Diehl pattern

which I am handquilting at the moment

but I will probably do the same thing & machine the borders ...

best of both worlds....

Weeks work

2010-11-05T17:11:00.006+10:30

Some little quilts made for the

Special Care Nursery at work
Made from left over blocks of baby quilts made this year

(Please excuse my husbands arms !!)

Some prep work for some hand stitching

to do while on my Girls Quilting weekend

Carrickalinga on Nov 11th

I completely forgot last post to tell you about my

UK bloggy meet up with the

lovely Lesley aka moogsmum...

she very kindly picked Kayla & I up from Gosport & took us to Lee-on-solent for a fabric/wool shop visit & some coffee & cake...

she twisted my arm really hard in the wool shop

& forced me to buy a jelly roll & matching layer cake

it was Blackbird designs "At Waters Edge"

I tried to resist but she held Kayla hostage so what else could I do???

I had to give in...

Lesley brought some felting wool

which she assures me is as I speak being turned into a bag ...

we will await pics....

but seriously thanks once again Lesley

it was lovely to meet you even if it was freezing cold!!

& a shame that the lovely Trash was to poorley to attend

Next time for sure

Back to work tomorrow
so the holiday is really over now ....

2010-11-02T20:32:00.004+10:30

So as mentioned in the previous post I have decided that I must finish up some of my UFO's before adding to the pile !!
So with that in mind I sorted out all I could find hidden away in my sewing room...
I found 4 small quilts that only needed the bindings done and today I cut & sewed binding on 3 of them so once I get the back sewed down thats 3 on the finished pile...

I then found 13 quilt tops waiting to be sandwiched & quilted

I am going to sort out which I want to do by hand & which will be sent off to Ausrose

so she can work her magic with her longarm especially as she will be computerised very soon !! ...

Next up is the sandwiched waiting to be quilted/half quilted pile

there are 9 of those

I machine quilted 2 small ones today & added them to the binding pile

hoping to get that sewed on tomorrow

This s my handquilting project at the moment...

Gail Pans "Spring Baskets" only 3 baskets left to quilt around

then the borders that will be my Carrickalinga hand project..

I am going back to work 2 days early

so will have to get the machine working overtime in the next couple of days..

Happy Stitching xx

I'm back!!!

2010-11-01T21:24:00.004+10:30

Sorry for the big break

but I had no internet for the last week in the UK

& I slept most of the first week back

then when I tried to post I had trouble even getting into blogger

my computer needed something done with its cookies??

It was only tonight when the lightbulb went on ( takes me a while !)

"why not try posting on my notebook then??!!"

and voila!! here I am...
So the last 2 weeks away were spent visiting with family

I visited my last remaining Aunt ( my mums sister)

the last of 14 children!!

Here we all are with two of my cousins

My Cousins Elaine

and Tonya

Tonyas husband Brian made us chillie for dinner Sat night

when we had a get together with their children

a great boozy night had by all

(except me as I dont drink)

We then went down South again

& stayed with my niece Sally & her partner Keith & son Luke

they made us soooo welcome

& are planning a trip here next year

which I find most amazing that Keith would take that on

after being invaded by All the Aussie rellies one after another...

& Kayla is going back there for Lukes birthday on Nov 12th !!!

he must be a sucker for punishment !!

While away I went to see this stage show

If any of you like the music of Queen in any way at
& you get a chance to see this then go...
I went twice ...
once with Ben the first time we were in London
& once with Kayla the second time we went...
I would of made it 3 times if they were playing it on sundays
as I would of taken Whitney after visiting the rellies
but alas I suppose they have to have one day off...
Ben & I have already decided that if it comes anywhere in Aus we will be going
as I don't suppose it would get to Adelaide!!
So anyway enough of my chatting now
just wanted to check in & show my face
I am still on holiday back to work next monday
so this week is sewing time
I have decided that I have to finish some UFOs before I start anything else
So will be back soon with some fabric pics
& I'll tell you all about my meet with a fellow blogger??
till then
Happy sewing & I'm glad to be back

Well Im amazed...

2010-10-07T00:54:00.002+10:30

Blogger hasnt been letting me upload any pics for a while ....I just thought that I'd give it another try!!

So in no particular order ( in case I loose them all again like last time)

Me & Freddie at Madame Tussauds London

Yes I went to Libertys...didn't buy any material but did get some Rowan wool

The next three are from Barcelona
Kayla at the Beachside bar we went to in the evenings
Then both of us at the Resturant we went to for dinner had a lovely waiter guy from El Salvador spoke good English always a bonus!!

A Day In Paris

2010-09-30T04:51:00.002+09:30

Well we are here .....Gay Pareee...ummmm I came here years ago when I was about 12 & I didnt like it I thought it was dirty & guess what?? it still is!!!
Metro smells like a mans urinal!!

So anyway we went to the Notre Dame this afternoon which was stunning....then went & had dinner in a little resturant overlooking the Seine..Tomorrow will be the Eiffel Tower & The Louvre...these are all Kaylas choices as this trip is for her...seeing as she has been trotting around friends & rellies for a week...

Heres Kayla & my best friend from school Carol...we stayed with her for a week which was lovely..this was taken at my School Reunion...had a great night was good fun...

Carol & I on the Isle of Wight Ferry we went for a night & 2 days to visit Carols 2 sons who live there

This was the main reason for the visit...
Baby Willow..with her proud parents Andrew & Lindsey, Andrew is Carols oldest son & my Godson...who I hadnt seen since he was 6mths old...

Finally my oldest brother Jim & me had a lovely 2 days with him & my other brother Peter..

Also had a long lunch with 2 girls that I used to work with so great to catch up

So just booked 3 nights in Barcelona leaving from here on Friday..
the Internet is a wonderful thing!!!

Next step....

2010-09-29T14:17:00.001+09:30

PARIS

Update on trip...

2010-09-24T07:37:00.003+09:30

Well I am now down in Gosport where I grew up staying with my best friend from school,Carol.

This is the bungalow where I grew up ....I spent the years from 2-19 here

At the beach at Lee-on-Solent..our local beach....

Ice creams with Carol & her partner Mike

On the car ferry going over to the Isle of Wight

Leaving the Harbour

Had a great time here ...having a get together tomorrow night with a few old school friends
Kayla & I going to see a travel agent here tomorrow (Carols Dau-in-law)to see about a few days in Europe Kayla wants to see Paris so we will start there & see how we go..
The time is disappearing fast....only 3 weeks to go ....

Last Day in Wales

2010-09-19T04:10:00.003+09:30

Ben flies home tomorrow & I go to England so for our last day we went for a drive around & found a little jem tucked away up a windy rd ( well track really)a family owned Wool mill thats still in production nothing touristy about it boxes everywhere but fascinating

Castles....Castles....Castles

2010-09-13T16:39:00.003+09:30

Visited two yesterday... so my husband is a very happy chappy...We went to Pembroke Castle first..absolutly stunning... earliest remaining parts from the mid 12th century through to the 17th century...

We had beautiful weather..almost too warm in parts!!

The Great Tower

The Gatehouse inside Castle view

We then went to Carew Castle where the earliest remains found dated to before 1100 when it was the site of a Celtic Fort...

Ben & I outside Carew

The Lesser Hall ....the picture here doesnt do it justice it was breathtaking to see it in person & imagine how it would of looked in the day

The Gatehouse

A quiet day today getting ready for London tomorrow....

See you there

The Wedding

2010-09-12T00:39:00.005+09:30

We had a lovely day it was wet but didnt rain on us while we were getting in & out of the car etc so it didnt bother us although we couldnt get any pics outside.

Introducing Mr & Mrs Gardner

Nathan had his hair down for the wedding as he cant fit in the car with it up so when we got to the reception It was hairspray away...

Then of course we had the Aussie Mohawks

The bride with her proud Dad

The Happy couple....

Day 3

2010-09-09T14:30:00.004+09:30

We had a fairly quiet day yesterday spent the morning at the B&B did some washing & went for a walk then had the kids over for lunch...after lunch we got very adventurous & went out on our own!! & we didn't get lost !!!
Its 6am here Dawn just breaking over the hills ...no sign of rain yet!! so hopefully none as we are out today a bit of sight seeing & last minute wedding shopping .
My sister & B-in L, niece & grt niece arrived yesterday afternoon so we are all together here at Pant-Teg which is lovely.
Blogger not loading up pics today sorry Ive loaded a lot onto my Facebook library for those of you with access Ill try again later for here
Well daylight is here just been out to feed the horses in the field below our cottage apple today although I told them id get carrotts today!!
Off for some sightseeing & last minute wedding stuff today

2010-09-08T06:17:00.006+09:30

Ok so I've managed to load these pics up back to front but I'm not going to change them as its the 3rd time of trying!!
Anyway we have arrived safely after a long flight it was so lovely to see Whitney & Nathan again.
Our B&B is lovely its miles away from anywhere so its so quiet they have a couple of pygmy goats,2 cats & horses in the front field
The weather was very wet & windy for the first day but today we got some sun so had a good day castle visiting...

Day 2 visited Kilwelly Castle beautiful plenty of it left standing walked along the ramparts

Our first day visited Aberystwyth did some shopping & had a walk along the seafront

Outside our B&B

Kayla & I at Amsterdam airport

We are having a quiet day tomorrow having Whitney & Nathan up for lunch then waiting for my sister & family to arrive in the afternoon they are staying at the same B&B for the wedding...so if I get time I'll load up some more pics

Hi Ho

2010-09-04T10:14:00.001+09:30

Hi Ho

its off to Wales we go.....

lalalala lalalala

Hi ho Hi hooooo

Three Sleeps

2010-09-01T22:17:00.002+09:30

Yep thats right THREE SLEEPS....

Think I might have to stay up till saturday to get everything done !!

oh well I can sleep on the plane!!

Just dropping in

2010-08-30T09:59:00.002+09:30

Hi
No pictures today havent had time to sew much & what I have done is secret so will have to wait !!...
Been really busy here mainly shopping...so NOT my favourite thing...
Had to have my own personal shopper in the guise of Ausrose, basically I stood in the changing room while she brought me clothes ,I tried tham on & she said yes or no !!
But it worked as I actually have clothes to wear on my trip ...plus we managed to find me something for the Wedding...spent more on one item than I usually spend in a year....mind you thats not hard as I very rarely buy clothes...
Apart from that its been all those stupid little things that need doing before we go.
Having a family dinner tonight for all those who want to catch up with Kayla before she heads off especially as she is having her 21st over there!!
So today is taken up with cleaning & having my hair done...
Tomorrow dentist & back guy appt,taking up 5 pairs of trousers spring clean bedroom for the person who is coming to dog sit.
Wednesday Kayla dentist & getting a passport card for her more washing
Thursday oh legs waxed ( don't know who I think will be seeing them but it saves shaving for 6 weeks!!) pack & last minute washing
Friday QUILTING DAY yes I'm going I'll need to relax by then
Saturday Pick up at 12:00 for Airport so hopefully a quiet morning
Then we're off...
So if I make it to the end of the week sane it will be a bonus
Oh yes in between I have to find time to sew binding on a baby quilt & make 2 notebook covers !! Might go for a lay down I'm feeling a bit tired

2010-08-21T18:22:00.000+09:30

Someone tweeted this today......

"Just voted

there was no malitia & no suicide bombers

just a sausage sizzle & a cake stall

Voting in Australia is awesome"

Kind of puts "boring campaign"in perspective doesn't it ??

Happy Dance.....

2010-08-20T21:08:00.003+09:30

....I have as most of you know been saving hard this past 2 years for our trip overseas to see Whitney & Nathan married

so when I had my tax done this year I was quite pleased with the result

got back more than I expected

after doing my sums I decided that I could treat myself to a little something

&
it arrived today

I just keep opening it & looking !!

This is what I will be using to post while I am away travelling

It matches my luggage

&
my ipod !!

Off to make it a pretty bag to keep it clean

scratch free

Might have to sleep with it tonight

Happy sighs

I'm still here......

2010-08-16T18:52:00.001+09:30

and I actually have some thing to show....
This little quilt is going to a new arrival in Wales

Welcome to the World
Tegan...

my daughter picked the owl material & I got the green stripe from my stash

but I had to buy the watermelon colour material as I had nothing else to match...

Here is a close up of the gorgeous Owl material...

if you can zoom in on the yellow head owl he looks really peed off with something!!

Here is the next one to be finished off its all ready to go
I think I will do some straight line quilting on this....

I have a bit of a problem with my meandering ....

it looks alright from a distance...

but i"m not real happy with it close up!!

the recipient of this was born last week so

Welcome to the World
Willow...

I think thats all the arrivals for now !!

well I hope so might get some quilting done for me now...:)

The Count Down........

2010-08-05T21:33:00.003+09:30

is on..... 4 weeks now till we jet off to the Uk...still heaps left to do but I'll get there !!

No pictures at the moment although I did get another baby quilt top & 5 little quilts,for the Special Care Nursery at work, made this week.

I'll save the pics till they are quilted & bound.

Its been very cold here recently
so there has been a lot of this happening in the evenings

ummmm toasty feet :)

A Pleasant Day

2010-07-25T14:28:00.006+09:30

Spent in my sewing room ...

after the usual boring stuff like washing floors etc

I've managed to have 4 hrs sewing....

I made some blocks last week for another baby quilt

So got them sewed together

this one is coming to the UK with me for a little girl due any day now...

I made 10 blocks

so I put some extra rows on the leftover one....

quilted it & will get some binding on it next week

& give it to the Birthing Unit a work...

....along with this one that I made last week

from some left over jelly roll strips that a friend gave me

it made a 24 inch quilt once I added a border...

how cute are these fabrics ...

sorry I have no idea what they are!!

A close up of the backing material...

I mean seriously how dam cute is that??...

So the rest of the afternoon will be spent in front of the fire & tele

watching the Crows win the Showdown (hehe)

( for you overseas people our 2 local Australian rules football teams play each other today)

while I finish sewing down the binding on the Churn Dash Quilt......

..... & then some hooking action

Hope you all have a good week & happy stitching

QUILTYGAL

Just dropping in ...

2010-07-09T17:27:00.004+09:30

Not much to report here...

been working hard so not much sewing happening...

been indulging in some hooky happiness!!

Pattern is Lucys Ripple Blanket

great instructions, easy to follow, even if I had three false starts!!

I'm just using up my scraps on this one

but I have wool to make a colour coordinated one later....

I got my Sisters Choice quilt back from my lovely longarmer this week...

I am so happy with it

I am hoping to get time this weekend to get the binding on it..

Its a lovely rose pattern absolutly beautiful..

Well I had Thursday off (which replaced tuesday)

& today which was quilting get together

(even though the phone went at 6 this morning asking if I wanted to work,,)...

I also have the weekend off

so heres hoping for some good sewing time..

taking that phone off the hook !!

Have a great weekend everyone

This weeks effort....

2010-06-18T20:33:00.002+09:30

...I had some sewing time this week so I got on with my Sisters Choice Stars....

I didn't want a large quilt so only used 9 of them...

plus not all the nine patches turned out the same size !!! so I had to be selective..

then after I made the stars they weren't all the same size either !!

so I just put a border around them & squared them up to 10.5 inches...

I used the same material as the Churn Dash

for the plain squares & setting triangles

thats all just about gone now...

so "The Stash" is being reduced by leaps & bounds...
I think that this one will certainly have a border
Will have to dive into the stash & see what I have...

I also managed to put together some Basket blocks.....

but they need a couple of borders....

so I will save a picture of that till later...

So hope everyone has a good weekend...

with plenty of sewing time....

A Couple of Tops.....

2010-06-12T22:36:00.006+09:30

Managed to get some sewing time this week so I put together some

Churn Dash blocks that I made last year!!

as I am still on my no buy diet* ( cough cough!!)

I had to use what I had so the joining blocks were some end of bolt bargains brought in the Spotlight sale last year at $1 a metre as backing!!....

I wasn't too sure when I made the blocks and even while I was sewing them together

but now it's finished I love it...

if I could of brought material it would of been a lot more "safer"

& lets face it probably a lot more boring !!

Next up is a lap size Snowball

made with some

Kansas Troubles Charm Squares

Lastly a table runner just made from stash....

not sure if it needs a border...

what do you think???

This star is my next project ...

Sisters Choice

this was a trial block....

I obviously need to measure the nine patch

before making the star points!!!!.....

Well its a long weekend here....

I worked this morning & I'm working tomorrow evening & Monday....

so it looks as if I'll have to grab some sewing time tomorrow ....

might have to see if I can get that Sisters Choice block right...

Have a great weekend everyone & Happy Sewing

* I broke the no buy rule today

when I was at Spotlight & saw Jo Morten on sale

got it for $10 a metre

Whats a girl to do??

Special News

2010-06-03T20:09:00.003+09:30

I had fantastic news from Wales this week .......

I am a Nana !!!
I know that this is a shock to everyone

I haven't mentioned this momentous event

well thats 'cos I didn't know.......

till I got this photo from Whitney

Isn't she gorgeous ??

her name is Pip

After looking at the pictures from Whitney

I looked through some I had from when Jack was a pup & found this one

I think the similarities are amazing

Especially these last two

What do you think??

Its time.....

2010-05-29T21:18:00.005+09:30

To tame my strip stash

I had an enforced day off last sunday after hurting my back at work...

I was most comfortable standing so I turned on the iron & stood & pressed all the strips in my stash drawers

I was amazed at what I found..I think I have enough for quite a few quilts

I also found some strips already sewn together so they have been cut into 2 patches & will be made into 4 patches in a leader & Ender project...( thanks Bonnie :))

plus some larger pieces that have been cut into 2.5 inch strips...

(pssst see under the desk that basket is next !!)

I have also got my "Bread & Butter" blocks put together thay are just awaiting a chocolate brown border....

I am really pleased with it...

even though I put them together wrong so the border will be different from the pattern...!!

Thursday night saw Ausrose & I at Spotlight for their Quilters Market night....

We took a Quilt each & Ausrose won for her fantastic Hexagon quilt..

Theres a lovely story behind this quilt...

Valeries mum passed away in Feb & Valerie took all her mums purple stash & made this quilt with it...

she quilted it with the pattern which arrived a few days after her death, a flowery design called Florence which was her mums name...

it was a pattern club Valerie is in which comes once a month but she has no idea what is arriving so this was very symbolic.

I'm sure you will agree that this is a beautiful quilt & a wonderful memorial to her mum it is hand pieced & machine quilted ....

oh & by the way her Dad cut out all the paper Hexagons for her!!

Please go over to Ausroses blog & congratulate her...

A Stitchy weekend

2010-05-17T13:02:00.004+09:30

We had our twice yearly weekend away at Carrickalinga ....although this time we were down to only three of us but this meant that I could take my machine so I decided to take my "More Pink & Chocolate" collection & make as many blocks as I could

Making the first cut ...was so hard ..Ive been looking at this material since January when I got it but kept putting off using it ...quite silly really...

I decided to make the quilt

"Bread & Butter'

its a free pattern from Red rooster fabrics...

I first saw it on MayBritts blog ....

Quilt blocks laid out this was Friday & Saturdays lot

...I made 14 all up

Spot the mistake...

cut the material for one block wrong

but didnt realise till Id sewn it

so I will either put this in the middle

or make a cushion with it..

Mind you I didnt read all the instructions before I started

so I sewed the large tri-angles onto the blocks

instead of sewing them together as a block!!

so that makes doing the border a bit hard...

I think Ive decided to lay them out differently

so today I cut out four more

so I can have a Layout of 4x4

This is a picture of Vals Christmas table cloth

which she finished off on Saturday

And this a her MASSIVE quilt which she is hand quilting

Close up of one of the blocks

it is all hand appliqued by needleturn

Its actually the second one she has quilted of this as she made it with a friend who got sick & could not finish it

she put hers all together,hand quilted it

& gave it to the ladies daughter after she passed away

So now we are back to reality

washing,housework & a new hot water system installed today

I am now off to the shops to get some food in !!

Might get some sewing in later this afternoon...

back to work tomorrow...

Oh & I have quite a bit of the material left over

not much lights but plenty of medium & dark

so I have decided to do a sisters choice pattern

with some plain cream as the background

so thats the next one on the drawing board!!

Three finishes

2010-04-27T08:41:00.006+09:30

Not in a month

Not in a week

Yes

In ONE DAY !!!!!

Iknow...I Know...Its a bit much to cope with ...me who goes months without finishing anything...

But I had a couple of Late shifts at work..( well late is a bit of an odd saying as it means I start work at 9:30 am instead of an early which means starting at 6:00 am)

So I managed to get the binding for 3 quilts cut & ironed in the mornings before leaving...then yesterday when I was at home I sewed them on and in a marathon evenings TV watching sewed them down..

So completed are

My very first Pinapple Blossoms quilt...

and

a small table topper...

The latest baby quilt

(pic in last post)...

Also finished last week a cushion cover

with a free embroidery

pattern called

Vogel

from Nicole

and lastly a small wallhanging

called Harvest Heart

by Kim Diehl

from her book
Simple Traditions

I don't know why the binding looks "bulgy" on the side it's not doing that in real life??
Anyway I'm thrilled to have these finished at last

plans for this afternoon are to cut the borders

& sew them on

2 lapquilts & 1 wallhanging..

I like getting things finished...

Cleaning can work!!!!

2010-04-10T16:11:00.005+09:30

I had a day off on Wednesday so after all those necessary but VERY boring things that you have to do like washing & housework I decided to have a sortout/cleanup in my sewing room .....

When it was finished I then looked for something to do to mess it up again LOL......I resisted starting something new although those
"More Pink & Chocolate"
beauties are starting to call to me every time I walk past them !!!...
So I looked around ...I suppose I could do something with that pile of UFOs

I could also sandwich some of these Quilt tops....

But I decided to get the binding on this lap quilt ...

the little girl its destined for has been waiting very patiently

...so its now finished & on its way to her....

I have also put these blocks together for the latest baby to arrive at work...

(well not actually at work obviously!!... I work with mum)

...hoping this is the last baby quilt needed for a while its the 9th Ive done in 3 years just for workmates....

I have still got a small tray left of this material enough for a couple more

but I hope not for a while

must admit I'm getting a bit sick of these definitely need a change!!....

So tonight will find me sewing hexagons in front of some TV..

Work for me tomorrow...hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend...

What a weekend.......

2010-04-06T19:25:00.004+09:30

I came home over Easter to find I had been invaded.....

At least they had their own house...

I had no idea what I was going to do with them

Then I thought of a good home

One where they could spread out ......get a few hugs....

I think a family of Dotty Bunnies will fit right in there

Shes a bit of a dotty hipchick herself

A Birthday Present....

2010-03-30T21:02:00.003+10:30

Edited: just found this blog having a very special giveaway..http:/adventuresinaliceland.blogspot.com

Today is my eldest daughters birthday...so off to the wilds of Wales went another of Quiltygals bag creations...

I used a Japanese material for the body of the bag & the grey is a skirt I brought on sale at Big W for $5 last year because it had great buttons.....

I also ran up a tissue holder & makeup bag..not pictured is a phone case..

I also tried a concealed zip....first time I had done this ....wonder now why I waited so long as it was very simple to do ...

Had a phone call from Whitney tonight she loved it so I was very pleased

So as I probably wont be back before the weekend I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter hope it is a safe & happy one for all your families...& enjoy your eggs....

Two stash busters

2010-03-11T21:01:00.002+10:30

So my resolve was set this year.....

to have any chance of spending money for the

THIUK TRIP

I was going to have to avoid buying any material this year...

I have plenty under my bed to use up !!...

I have actually found this to be quite conducive to creating...

instead of just buying "safe" I have had to step out a bit ....

substitute instead of matching...

must say I am quite enjoying it..

once I got over the headache !!...

Anyway it was my Great Nieces 7th b'day ...

so what do you buy a 6/7 yr old that has everything..

I am not kidding..even her mum was stumped for present ideas

so off to the sewing room

.... I had made 4 string blocks.....

just to try it & see if I think I might do lots of them to use up my bits!!...

so I sewed them together & just went from there ..

I was really quite pleased with how it turned out & the bonus was ...

7 yr old absolutely loved it..

I told her it was to lay on while she reads ...

so that's what she did straight away...

The Baby Quilt was also a stash busting exercise ...I even pieced the batting..

It was delivered last week & is a hit with the parents to be

I don't actually know them (I work with Grandma to be)

But apparently they have painted the nursery in the same green as I used with a feature wall of the bright pink used in the border!! so it matches in really well

I also finished another quilt top I made a boy top & would you guess its going to be a girl!!

I am getting very short of the pink/purple girl stuff so will have to be inventive

So hoping for a bit of sewing tme this weekend got another b'day present to make...

then some tops to get quilted..

working on my UFO's next

BIG NEWS

2010-03-03T20:55:00.004+10:30

Its official

THIUK

(pronounced thick)

will commence on

September 4th

Thiuk

aka

The Hiltons invade UK

Sunday was a day off...

2010-02-23T20:20:00.003+10:30

So this is where I spent most of it ....I took things really easy ...to help my shoulders....I only quilted straight lines so the pressure was minimal:)

I did one line then took a break ...another line then a break....you get the picture......

Well the Rasta bag is finished ...it was really big but I am quite pleased with it...

I pleated the sides & only did one long sholder strap...it needs lining but I am quietly chuffed with it...

Well all of you bloggers overseas have probably heard that we have been having very hot days while you are freezing ....well my dog Jack loves the heat ....usually ....when I put the aircon on he goes under the quilt ...but the heat also got to him & it was too hot for that .....but he still likes his head covered

So when I went into the beadroom on a 42degree day this is what I found

Makes you wonder what goes through their little mind ??

A Busy Week.....

2010-02-04T21:46:00.003+10:30

Busy at work

But I still managed a bit of this

Which will turn into this

Also this...Happy Hookyness

Really loving this at the moment

Im hoping this will turn into a bag

LUCY

said it will

We will see....

I have my doubts

If not I have to find a Rasta with a whole heap of dreads

Late Xmas....

2010-01-29T18:49:00.003+10:30

We had a bit of a late Xmas get together here today when my nephew & his family called in

they live a fair way away from us & as he was working Xmas this is the first time they have been down so it was present time....

First up was Taylas present I made her a knitting needle roll. I also put some of her Great grandmas ( my mums) needles in there...

my mum was a fantastic knitter & I am not (nuff said!!) so my sister & I thought it was a good idea to give them to Tayla I also brought her an assortment of wool..

Tayla asked if I could cast on for her as she hasn't learnt that yet...her Nana showed her how to knit on a visit here last year & this year a lady at her after school care has been helping her....so I did (I can manage that!!) & by the time they left she had done quite a few rows.

Next up was Matthews I made him a boxy pouch ....a rather large one!!

He said as they were leaving "I like my bag... its real trendy"...phew...all the agonising over fabric choice paid off ...I had some lovely Kokka fabrics but decided against it as I thought it would be too babyish for him ..so went with denim...

Although he had to have some polka dots..

Next up was Connor who is 5 so I could use some of the Kokka fabric for him.....
Dinosaurs on black....with a dark green polka dot for the back & lining....
They all got some small pressies as well & of course lollies!!

I has a rather strange request from Kayla last week...well I didn't think it was strange as I live with her!!!

She was going to a dress up night at her favourite club it was 'TWILIGHT VERSUS some other vampire show that I cant remember!!' so 30 Min's before she left she asked can you make me a cape !!!

a piece of black homespun & some timetex later she flew off

She got a taxi as she didn't think she should go on the bus!!!!

So if you are still with me after all those pics !! :)

I was on a BLOG the other day where she showed a vintage machine her husband has brought her..... so I thought we should have a ....

"Show your Machines"

...post off so here I go with my first one a Jones hand crank brought for me by a friend at a Car swap meet for $14 aus the seller wanted $20 but he beat them down as it didn't have a case....

Well that's all for tonight ...Back to the Tennis & some Happy Hooking...of the woolen kind.....

Baby Quilt update....

2010-01-13T19:00:00.003+10:30

But First....

I promised in the last post to show my Xmas pressie to myself :)

How yummy is this and my pics just dont do it justice....

More Pink & Chocolate....by Nancy Gere for Windham Fabrics

Ordered from the Fat quarter Shop while they had 30% off postage so all in all it worked out costing me $90aus & thats 33 fat quarters there... very cheap

Ive already ear marked a couple of patterns for this ..ummm cant wait but I have a couple of things to finish before I let myself loose on it..

I also treated myself to this

I plan to teach myself a few more stitches this year....

So I did quite well over the weekend on the baby quilt ,this is where it was at this morning

not sure why it looks as if there are ants crawling all over it!!! they are actually flowers!!

I am now putting on the borders...so hope to have it finished tomorrow...

I was thinking of another pieced border but think I will let well alone...its a good size already and I quite like it as is....

on a more sombre note ....some prayers and good thoughts would be very much appreciated for Valerie (ausrose) and her family as they spend time with her very ill mother..at a time like this I know that any positive vibes will be very comforting....

A New Years Crafting.....

2010-01-10T09:11:00.002+10:30

Well here we are at the beginning of another year with all that crafting time stretching ahead of us.....when I looked back over 2009 I realised that I wasted a lot of time that I could of used sewing

I bet we all think like that??

So I sat down and looked at when I had some wasted time that I could put to better use & guess what

I found some!

in the job that I do I work a few different shifts

the basic one is 6:30am-3:30pm so with that by the time I get home & sort out washing tea etc there is not much left so these days the only sewing I get done is in front of the telly at night so this will be used for any stitchery projects & my hexagons....

the other one is 6:00-2:30 again only a half hour difference so same as above....

I also do a 9:30am-6:00pm shift & this is where I found some free space....

on thursday I got up with hubby when he left for work (5:30) & started as if I was going to work early

I had to take DD to wark at 6am but was back by 6:30

so by 7:am I was in the sewing room getting organised

I spent an hour cutting strips for the next baby quilt that I have to do

one of the other shifts that I do as a relief on the girls day off is only 5 hrs 6:30-11:30

this happened on Saturday so I spent Saturday afternoon in the sewing room which is right in front of the aircon :)

watching the tennis sewing these

They are sitting on the sewing machine awaiting the next step which will happen today again while watching the Tennis

So hopefully by tonight I will have the top finished!! & the baby isnt due till March so maybe this one will be done before the baby arrives!!

Plus I decided that 2010 will involve no impulse fabric buying

I am saving hard for our trip to Wales in september so dont want to buy anything unless it is necessary..wadding etc

so this was all pulled from my stash...

Friday was our fortnightly quilting get-together & was at my house... I worked on my Hexagons....

I also got my Gail Pan BOm put together
I was on my own for most of Dec 26th as hubby worked so sat in my sewing room and got stuck in
so it was really done for Xmas !!

This is destined as a pressie for overseas

I did receive some fabric this week

its ok I ordered it before Xmas as my pressie

I will post that next time

its absolutly yummy and I have already picked the pattern I will do with it

but you will have to wait to see it as I am off to brave the heat and get some food in

its Hubbys birthday today and he wants Garlic Prawns

plus I realised after my cutting session on Thursday that I need a new blade for my rotary cutter

so wish me luck I think its already 100 out there!!!

New Blogger

2010-01-06T22:55:00.003+10:30

There is a new blogger on the scene...my daughter Whitney ...lots of Snow pics at the moment as she is snowed in,in Wales (very interesting for all you Brits!!)

I shall go look at them over the next few days when we are expecting 36,41,41,41 (or if you like 92,102,102,102 !!!)

so please go visit her & make her welcome she will be posting pics of her art work & blogging about an Aussies life in rural Wales..

2009-12-31T21:44:00.008+10:30

May 2010 bring you

and your family

Good Health

Much Happiness

May all your dreams come true

May tolerance reign in the World

and may your headache not be bad or last too long !!!

2009-12-26T09:23:00.002+10:30

Hi Everyone hope you all had a great Christmas I did do a post Christmas night took me 2 hours to load pics and type my message then as I was ready to press post I dropped my mouse and lost the lot !!! so here is a more simplified one.....I opened my SSCS parcel it is all so lovely my swap partner was Oddbjorg from Norway

I did finally find some Christmas spirit and put up some decorations and the tree
.........

this is what I then found under it!!......

Jack doing his guard duty....he sits there and growls at anyone who tries to take a present away...he actually laid on one last year to stop me getting it!!.....I said that if we get broken into all the furniture will be gone but the presents will still be there !!.....

Not if he falls asleep on the job though.....

Well I have family and friends coming around later for my birthday so I am off to make a pav...Enjoy the rest of the festivities....roll on the New Year

LOVE THAT MAIL

2009-12-07T17:42:00.003+10:30

Had a LOVELY parcel in the mail last week .....my Secret Santa Swap parcel in fact....been hanging out for this as last year mine did not turn up

as you can see I got two this year !!

This year we had to include an ornament ....mine is a beautiful heart .....love,love,love it

It came all the way from NORWAY !!

But from whom I still do not know ....Will have to wait till Christmas Day I guess....

So if you are lurking around my SSS mate ...thankyou so much I will wait till I am meant to...but it will be hard.....

Managed to get a bit more done on the baby quilt ....baby arrived last week a bit early so I have decided to machine quilt it so there was a bit of this

and now a bit of this

do you love this backing...I know the baby was a boy but this is a op shop sheet and is soooo soft just the perfect piece......and anyway who says boys can not have flowers???

Weekend News....

2009-11-23T13:19:00.002+10:30

Well it was our Quilty weekend away at Carrickalinga ...I think we were all ready for a break.....we left Thursday morning about 10am & drove to Trishas at Castle plaza I was going to be good but she had some Kansas Troubles fabric which was cheap at $16 a metre....& as she is moving & had a sale I got 6 metres for the price of 4 .....I will add this to my collection I really need to think of a great project for this will have to go through my magazine/pattern collection and have a looksee...

we then went to an Irish pub for lunch before heading off to the house where pj's were donned and stitching commenced

I took a few projects with me & managed to complete all of them..I took my SSCS item to put the finishing touches to & this is now winging its way to its new home I was really pleased with it & all the girls liked it but you will have to wait till Xmas to see it..

I took a packet of paper hexagons with me & managed to cover all but 16 of them

I also took along a stitchery that has been waiting around for a while...
managed to do this in one day

and last but not least I did a little wall hanging its from a pattern by Kim Diehl......this worked up really quickly

So came back really relaxed but now its back to reality tomorrow as work is awaiting me.....sigh.....

Its been a wee............

2009-11-14T21:39:00.003+10:30

......bit

HOT

here lately hence no posting from me 'cos my air-con broke!!! & its been too hot to get to my computer...but an end is in sight we have brought another one which will be installed on monday.....so Ive done a lot of sitting in my "pool" ( actually my bath!!)with cold drinks while Hubby cooks tea outside :) for those of you overseas we are in the middle of 7 days of 98 degrees....

So anyway I can now post pics of my Stitchery Angel items that I made for Andrea

I was really pleased with how the bag turned out as I had no pattern I just winged it with the stitchery & how much material I had left..

So next week sees our quilt group take off to Carrickalinga for a few days I cant wait I think we all need this break to relax...

Also at this moment a member of my family needs all the prayers,good wishes,positive thinking she can get as she waits for test results on monday, they seem pretty positive that she has Ovarian cancer ,we wait to see just how bad...

Another beginning.......

2009-10-28T19:29:00.007+10:30

......another baby quilt.....went a bit different with this one I saw it on Katy's blog....she's on her second one now.....so I went to Michael Miller Fabrics it's a free download....

I machine appliqued the giraffe yesterday first time I have done that I used one of the stitches on my machine...very pleased with it ...can see a lot more in the future....

Well must rush now..... off to pick Kayla up from work then we are both off to see the Michael Jackson film....let you know what I think later..... from the bits I've seen looks great....

Edited: Just got back from the film ...seriously fantastic...if you have ever liked even one Michael Jackson song then go if the rehearsal was that good then the show would of been mindblowing......

A Finish.....

2009-10-20T21:51:00.002+10:30

At last after a minor disaster (which could of been major) the baby quilt is ready to go to its new home...

The minor disaster was that when I washed it the colour ran ....not from the material..from the embroidery thread ...it wasn't major 'cos I just sprayed the whole quilt with pre-wash & chucked it back into the machine...was so glad when it all came out didn't fancy making another one...but I was very glad that it happened when I washed it not the new mum !!

I used this very cute Ladybird material on the back .......

so after that I got a move on with my Stitchery Angel stuff...all 4 items now made ready to post off...heres a sneak pic

So now to get on with my SSCS item.......

Sunday Afternoon & I've been........

2009-10-18T16:16:00.002+10:30

...........

Starting to sew together the Stitchery Angel Items...

Now making Pizza for tea....

The suns shining...

Listening to Ziggy Marley...

Life can't get much better than this

At least for today.....

Big changes...& yumminess

2009-10-15T22:32:00.005+10:30

So this was youngest daughter Kayla on sept 14th her 20th birthday.....

and this is her now !!!

What a change..... she hasnt had short hair since she was 5......think she looks great

A while ago I brought this pattern on etsy....

I then found this material .....what a match
sorry for the blurry picture

made for each other ...Heather Ross'..Far far away line....brought from
Earthgirl Fabrics ordered sunday received wednesday....I shopped around online & Earthgirl was $4.oo a metre cheaper with ....wait for it....no postage so I saved about $8-10
so go visit nice stuff & good service always a plus....

I have just got............

2009-09-27T21:22:00.004+09:30

..........my Quilt back from the Longarm quilter....I have seen that statement on many blogs in the past and I have waited a long time to say that....so when my bestest friend decided to start up her own longarm business I was very pleased to offer up one of my u.f.os ....Pineapple Blossom a free pattern from Bonnie

I told Valerie to do what ever she wanted so as she had just brought a new template she tried that one out I am very pleased with it

This is my favourite bit I love the way that the two patterns intersect....

So until I can find the time to make the binding it is living on the arm on my sofa so I can just admire it...

This is what else has been done to the baby quilt....

The baby arrived on Thursday 4 weeks early...so I had better get on with this I am quite happy with the way it is going...looking very cute....

Bit of Pink.....

2009-09-18T19:14:00.003+09:30

Had an unexpected day off this week so took the chance to start the next baby quilt..so out came these

and they were cut & sewed to these....luv ma Thangles !!

Then the Thangles became these

Managed to get a bit more done to them today so its looking quite good ...I have no plan just adding as I go along ....so wish me luck....could be good or a disaster!!!

No doubt you"ll see which it is later

I'M IN LOVE...........

2009-09-10T21:53:00.003+09:30

I just could not resist this and I am so glad that I didn't....I love basket quilts and all the projects in this book are beautiful so do yourself a favour and get this especially if you have a thing for baskets....

it is by the lovely Gail Pan...she has produced a really lovely book.....

I am still making up my mind which project I will do from this

I love all of them .......

but what a great choice to have to make....

I got my copy from this shop it's the second time I have brought from them...I was really pleased with both the price & the service the book arrived within 3 days of ordering....I will certainly deal with them again

2009-09-06T16:12:00.005+09:30

Well I didn't realise it had been that long since I last posted guess I must of been busy!!.......had some lovely post last week first up was a book from the lovely Liene in Sweden I asked if she could track down a pattern that I saw on a blog & she brought it for me I didnt realise it was in a book thought it was just a pattern so I now owe her big time !!

This was the pattern I saw

Next up was a beautiful Japanese book & a bag from the lovely Mai ....I had sent her a couple of magazines this was my payment more than what was needed

some of the lovely bag patterns inside...

and last but certainly not least I ordered a copy of this.....

.....'cos the lovely Katy was featured inside....

Well I think thats all from me ...I managed to get some sewing done this week but most of it is secret stuff so no pics yet....

Its a year today since Whitney left...Fathers day will never be the same...:(

Look what........

2009-08-19T20:31:00.002+09:30

arrived at my house today

some gorgeous craftyness which lives within....

There is really nothing else to say......*Deep sigh*.....

Alexander Henry Magic....

2009-08-12T19:51:00.004+09:30

Had a phone call this morning from Whitney in Wales who had received a parcel that I sent last Thursday!!

(I meanwhile am still waiting for a parcel from Vic that was sent monday!!)

anyhoooooo...I had made some cushion covers for the Tattoo Artist ...when I saw this material (think its called Inked) on a blog I knew that I had to get some ..so after tracking it down in America I brought 2 metres & Voila!! she was so pleased with them

This was the pic that sold me on the material as Whitney has a Koi on her thigh as well

Do you like the design on the back??? this came about as I cut the backing too small....twice!!.....and as I didn't have any more black had to improvise......as I always say

" There is no such thing as a mistake...it's just a design possibility!!"

Well I wasn't going to do any swaps this year but just had to do this one again...

plus there's another one in the works but I'm not allowed to post about it just yet...

One finish & a surprise pressie.....

2009-08-10T22:33:00.003+09:30

The baby quilt is finished and delivered to its new owner ...I am really pleased with it but it is so hard to get a good picture as it is very light...

Had a lovely surprise last week when I had this parcel arrive on my doorstop

inside was this very early Xmas pressie

What could it be.....

Inside was this VERY CUTE bag

Also these lovely goodies ....a beautiful needlecase pattern from Hatched N Patched
and some of this ladies beautiful cards

The reason for these generous gifts was that I missed out in last years Secret Santa Christmas swap run by chookyblue...so she made me these
Thankyou Donna very much they are beautiful it was so very good of you to do this for me .....

Forgive me bloggers........

2009-07-26T21:25:00.003+09:30

.......for it has been 23 days since my last confession...I mean post.....haven't got much of an excuse except work....it's been very busy ...I did 86hrs in 12 days...so when I have been home I've been sleeping!!...but today I only did 5hrs so after a quick trip to Spotlight where I managed to get some white homespun and a couple of other lovelies....

I came home and after some lunch I cut & sewed the binding for the baby quilt...I thought I had finished quilting it but on closer inspection I think it needs some in the border so will get that done this week......

then between cooking a roast for tea & watching two very good footy matches I made these cushion covers....

...

Just using some odd fat quarters that I had hanging around !!odd leftovers for the back & some thrifted zips....really enjoyed it didn't have to think much so it was very relaxing..

next up is a pouch for my sewing stuff ( embroidery squares etc) that I made a couple of weeks ago & a little bag (for the needles & thread )that came from the Japanese book that Mai sent me...

so all up a good day love it when I manage to get some sewing time in... have a great week everyone & happy sewing.....

2009-07-03T17:24:00.004+09:30

Well I said last post that I would show you the sewing I did last week .....

First up is my "Almost Baltimore"

Almost because the other members of my group all did 9 blocks 'cept me I did 5 mainly 'cos I wanted it done in this lifetime !!! plus the other blocks leave plenty of space for handquilting...:)

Next I put together some applique blocks that I completed in 2007
They are from Kim Diehls book " Simple Blessings ".....

Close up of one of the blocks..

When we went to Carrickalinga we went to Kirkbride Quilts in Strathalbyn...where I added to my stash of Kansas Troubles material...I have been collecting it over quite a few years I like the fact that each collection is a different pattern but the same colours so it all goes together I brought 2 charm packs of Vine Creek which I made into a disappearing nine-patch

I have meterage of Seeds of Time...Meadow Waltz...& Aunt Purdys Parlour..so will use one for a border

I also made myself a pinboard

Today was my day off...so I made the most of it ...I have sandwiched the baby quilt so I can get on with quilting it..

I tidied my shelves in the sewing room

and I lined a wicker basket so I can store my wool in it without it catching...plus it looks cute.

So tea is cooking...Dahl & rice....its raining & freezing outside so its pj's on ....heater on...stitching & tv tonight...hope you all have a great weekend

Happy Stitching

A BIT OF THIS....

2009-06-28T19:42:00.004+09:30

& A BIT OF THAT.....

So I arrived home earlier this week from work to find a parcel waiting for me on the table....inside was a lovely grovelly letter from the very talented & funny Trash...

There were three very pretty apology pictures featuring her Donkey

How cute is this

Awwww....

Inside was this BEAUTIFUL piece of material

Earlier this year Trash & I were teamed up in The International Womens Day Swap well Trash had just realised that we were to swap 4 fat quarters & that she had only sent me 3....not that I had noticed as she had also sent me some great trim ...so she had sent this to make it up to me....How nice was that....... I think I might frame the Donkeys & put them up on my wall then in years to come when she is famous (well more than she is now) I can sell them for an humungous amount of money....:)

My nephew Darren lives with his wife Nadine & their three children Tayla,Matthew & Connor in a place called Roxby Downs about 6hrs drive away...for non Aussies this is a large mining town... so we dont get to see them that often....they were down this week as Matthew has to see an Orthodontist... my sister Glenice has always encouraged Tayla with sewing,she has done some stitcheries, so this week while she had her for the day they made a block, my sister did the cutting & Tayla did all the sewing on the machine & will buttonhole the heart, I think she did an excellent job & as you can see she looks very proud

Tayla and her Nanny

Tayla with her block

Well I have a heap more pics but I'll save them for later ...I have actually done some sewing this week..!!!

Well it is official....

2009-06-22T12:51:00.003+09:30

....I am addicted...to these beauties...

I knew I shouldn't go and look at this blog....I knew that it would be the end....I had seen how others had got caught up in the spell....I thought that I could just look....but I was wrong

I am really enjoying crocheting these....thanks to Lucy I now have a wool stash !!!

I also made this little cutie....it was in the first issue of SEW-HIP magazine....

Sometimes when I sew a certain Jack Russel gets a bit cheesed off...

so as I was sewing something for Kayla she had to get the job of "dog sitting" :)

Kayla wasn't wearing these tee-shirts any more so we turned them into ......

these......

2009-06-10T19:29:00.005+09:30

I came home last week to a lovely surprise....Mai in Japan had sent me some lucious goodies.....I had sent her a copy of Sew Hip magazine as she was saying on her blog that she was in it but could not get one in Japan....well that was great except I didnt think that we here in Australia are a wee bit behind ...two issues as it turns out !! still I was still quite happy to send it to her & will also send her the proper issue :)....Mai makes the most gorgeous things and all by hand including clothing!! she is very prolific and always has something new to show she has just posted about the most fantastic bags with little people hanging from them go look for yourselves.....Anyway in the parcel was the most fantastic book ....I love Japanese craft books even if I dont always understand them !! this one is all patchwork which judging by the pics they all do by hand!!

Look at these gorgeous materials they are from Mais mother and are Kimono fabrics I cant wait to use these.....

and of course these bags took my eye straight away !!!

She also included a bead of a dog which is for good fortune...so Kayla made it into "Phone bling" for me.....

and this beautifully made pouch all hand sewn ...just for me....you should see the side seams the most beautiful neat hand stitching ( I think ladder stitch)and buttonhole all around the edges.....I am going to find something special to keep in this

There were also two REALLY SMALL origami boxes which I neglected to take a pic of so will rectify that later.....so MAI thankyou so much it is all so beautiful and now I am off to make one of the bags......

Weekend Away.......

2009-06-03T19:53:00.003+09:30

So we had a great weekend away good company and lots of this......

As you can tell comfort was the name of the game all weekend long.....

thare was also quite a bit of this going on......

and MUCH MORE of this.....

We took a couple of poor old souls out from the "old coots home" for a break....sad as it is I'm actually related to one of these!!!!

So its now back to normal life ...work....cooking....blah blah....still roll on November when we do it all again......I'll post later what I was working on and a fantastic parcel which arrived from Japan for me today :)

New shoes & bag.......

2009-05-28T00:05:00.006+09:30

What more could a girl want........

For all you red shoe people out there just had to show you my new additions.....

aren't they just sooo cute.....

and when I saw the blanket stitch well I just had to have them.......gotta love Rivers......

Last Thursday I received a lovely parcel from Linea in Sweden .....I had sent her some patterns and ricrac so she sent me this beautiful material....

it just sooooo had to turn into this.......

I used the same pattern as the bright pink and orange bag I made before......but this time I enlarged it 25% ...very happy with the size

It was finished just in time for me to take to Carrickalinga this weekend.....yes we are off again for our girls weekend away......so hope you all have as nice a weekend as I am sure I will have....stitching.....chocolate ......what more can you ask.......

2009-05-24T18:12:00.004+09:30

I've seen a few blog linked posts recently ....there has been
SUNDAY STASH.....
WHAT'S ON MY DESK....
MY CREATIVE SPACE....
you know the kind of thing ...everyone posts a pic of whatever topic it is

So anyway I thought that i'd like to start one of my own......

Apologies to any blogger if this has already been done I'm not pinching it just haven't seen it......

So Here it is
WHATS ON MY SEWING TABLE..........

'nuff said.......

New Bag

2009-05-16T22:47:00.005+09:30

Made a new bag this week bit different from my usual I actually used a "real proper' brought pattern that I got from here

I didn't want to waste any material that I liked trying out a new pattern so I used an old shirt from the opshop & the handles are metal rings that I got from Spotlight I think they should be used for macrame?? anyway the pattern worked out really well I will certainly use it again

So anyway Kayla was quite happy to "take it off my hands" she thought it was cute....
(see Kris a resident handbag model as well !!) .....

The instructions were very clear with pictures for each step and I would recommend them to anyone wanting to use a bag pattern, delivery was very quick and efficient
I will certainly use them again oh by the way the pattern was called Belle...

Spring Feeling

2009-05-09T22:54:00.005+09:30

Although the days have been quite nice here lately it's been getting cold in the evenings and it's certainly chilly in the mornings when I get up at 5:00 !!....so what better to make me feel summery than some pretty material....I am making this for a 3yr old......

I didn't have a pattern just cut squares & strips and went from there...
Thinking about adding some ric-rac...thinking it will be very yummy...

I also made another curly scarf (modeled by Kayla my resident scarf model)...this one is for a certain 6yr old.....