Good mail from over the sea

A few weeks ago I did a little swap with my new blogger friend LuAnn, I love the fact I have made so many new friends world wide since I started my blog. Here are the goodies LuAnn sent me, they arrived yesterday. Beautiful Fig tree quilts fabrics, rotary blades, patterns and my 2 favourite magazines. Thanks so much LuAnn. I will enjoy everything you sent me.

I also recevied my beautiful Cath Kidston fabric, I have 3 fat quarters so its a good start. Its so pretty.

My friend Jan sent me this cute tumbler kit for my birthday, it is full of reproduction fabrics and muslin so I will enjoy putting this beauty together.

And last but not least I got some more flower sugar fabrics. I found these on e-bay UK. They are my favourite fabrics right now. So fresh and pretty.

I'll be back over the weekend to share a new project I have been working on.

Happy sewing.

Tassie bloggers Hagely retreat for 2011

Hello everyone, I have a message from Cathy for all who are going to our Hagley retreat in November. Cathy can't get her blog to work so I'm posting her message here....... Its going to be a great weekend, I hope you can come.


Ok Tasmanian ladies, dont die of shock!!!
I am in the process of organising our November Long weekend at Hagley Farm.
See I havent totally deserted you, it just seems like it!! I have even started stitching again!!!
At this stage I have booked Friday the 4th, Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of November...so in 4th and home the 7th.
We did discuss at one point having an excursion to the Deloraine Craft fair on one of those days?
We can do the shared catering thing again!
If you are interested and wish to come for 1, 2 or 3 of these nights please let me know. if you have a friend who is not in Blogland can you pass on the message.
An email to catherine.purdon@education.tas.gov.au is the best way of contacting me!
I look forward to hearing from you,
Cathyxx

I love my flower sugar

I love the quilt making process, from finding the perfect pattern that goes with that perfect fabric. I got very excited when I found flower sugar fabrics by lecien, they are so pretty, cheerful and bright. Of course I bought them on a whim not having the slightest idea what I would make with them. Then one day flicking through a magazine that perfect pattern hit me and I knew I would use my flower sugar fabrics for this quilt. Adding the binding is always such fun, probably because I know my new quilt is almost finished and I get to hold it a bit longer while I hand sew down the binding.

When I make a quilt I always make a page for my quilt journal, this one was such fun. I used fabric scraps to make my bunting. The stickers were the perfect colour to match the fabric. Inside the page I add a few pieces of fabric and I write about the quilt and include a few photos. Its always fun to look back on.

Now my quilt is finished except for the label, I decided to stitch one and add a few flowers so as soon as thats done I can sew it on the back and show you.

I love this quilt, now its time to move on and start thinking about my next project.

What is your favourite part of the quilt making process? I'd love to hear about it.

Exciting mail from America

When I have time, I love to sit and look at other blogs, it was recently I discovered Cath Kidston through blogland and immediately I liked what I saw and I had to have some of her products for myself. I bought these products from Amazon, first is Cath's book SEW. Its full of beautiful projects and I even got some fabric with the book to make the bag on the front cover, how cool is that!!!

This recipe organiser is just so sweet, the pages are beautiful. I can't wait to write my favourite recipes inside.

Beautiful writing paper, I love writing letters.

A booklet full of cards, they are just gorgeous, I don't think I can bear to part with them.

A folder full of mini cards, these are perfect little gift cards.

So cute are all of Cath Kidston products. I have some fabric coming my way very soon, (thanks Karen) I can't wait for it to arrive, then I can start on my very own Cath Kidston quilt.

What products are out there that you love? I'd love to hear about them.

Girls Day Out

Yesterday I went on a shop hop with my lovely blogger friends Sarah, Christine, Vicki and Vicki's friend Chris. We had a great day out. Sarah and I went to Fresh Fabrics at Deloraine, it was a nice shop, very bright and cheerful. This was a very special purchase from that store, It Kokka fabric in Flower sugar, its quite thick like a canvas. It will make a beautiful bag. At $35 a meter I only could afford to buy one.

Here we all are at The cherry shed for afternoon tea. It was delicious.

We went to a shop called Wells,I hadn't been there before. I got these christmas fabrics to make my christmas ornaments using the Theodora Cleave buttons.

I also found some Riley Blake Sugar and Spice fabric from Picture patchwork. I had used some of it before to make my stitching folder so I bought a few extra fat quarters to make something else.

Here is my stitching folder, I also made a matching lap top cover a little while ago.

TodaY I have 3 bindings to sew on my quilts so I will be pleased to get that done. I hope you find some sewing time today.

Special gifts for me

My wonderful friend Stephany sent me these beautiful hand made gifts for my birthday, they came all the way from Belgium so to me they are extra special. Look at this adorable hexagon key ring, you can see just how small it is in my hand.

And this apple core tag is padded and so cute.

I just love the bags Steph has made with labels on them, she even included the contents.

The pin cushion is so sweet with tiny tumbler blocks, its almost to cute to use.

Thankyou Steph, and you said you couldn't make things, well I think you have done an amazing job.

Some beautiful daffodils from my garden, they are so cheerful and bright, much like my friend Kathy who has a new blog, you should pop over and check it out. Sew happy house is full of great tips, product reviews and much more.

I was a bit excited today when I found some Cath Kidston fat quarters on e-bay in the UK. They are so hard to come by, I thought I would start collecting then when I have enough I can start on a very special quilt.

I hope you found some sewing time today.

Ta da

For me August was a busy making month, now September is going to be my finishing month. May I introduce you to my new Swoon quilt. I just love this quilt.

Here is the top on Sunday before I put the final borders on, the layout is perfect, all my fabrics balanced nicely.

Yesterday morning I quilted it, the pattern is called Country Garden, its my favourite pattern. I think its elegant. I have used it on a few of my quilts.

The pictures aren't great as the weather has been miserable, so here it is on my bed. Now I'm going to make some new pillow cases to match.

You may notice that my swoon quilt isn't the only quilt I have made using Flower sugar fabrics, here is one I made a few months ago and it ties in nicely with the theme, Now I just need to get the binding on.

I hope you find some sewing time.

A special day

Today is my birthday, its been a lovely day. As we live far from family I always get lots of special phone calls which is always nice. My mum made me these beautiful christmas goodie bags and a knitted scarf.

My mother in law sent me these beautiful fabrics, I'm sure they will be put to good use.

My 11 year old son made me the most beautiful card and included a cherry ripe bar he bought with his own pocket money, I thought that was so special. My other 2 boys are a bit tight with their money so a happy birthday hug was just as good.

From my on line stitching group I recieved this lovely Rosalie Quinlan table runner made by Maree, I love it Maree, thankyou.

When I got to work today Lillian surprised me with the most exquisite flower, its just beautiful. Thankyou.

Tonight is a quiet night in with Paul and the boys, nothing different really but its just the way I like it.