Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sewing in the garden and my birthday.

 I am so pleased with how much sewing I have got done in the last 2 days, I was lucky enough to have a day off work on Friday and gee I had a lovely time. Hubby at work, boys at scool. I had the whole day to myself. I did all the house work first then headed straight to my sewing room where i worked on my 2013 fat quarter shop block of the month., I had all blocks done, just had to get it altogether.
 It took hours, making sashing strips and lots of little 9 patch blocks, then there are 3 outer borders, the patterns calls for a navy border of flying geese but I knew I wouldn't  be doing that, so a straight border it is and I'm very happy with it.
 Now to hand it over to my fabulous quilter so  she make the quilt even more beautiful,
 You may remember me telling you back in March that I was planting over 400 new bulbs to my garden, well now I'm starting to reap the rewards, my garden is looking so pretty, with lots of colour. I had to include a few sewing projects amongst all my pretty flowers.


 This is a new table runner I have made. Last night I sewed the binding to it  so now its ready for some night time stitching while I  sew the binding down.
 I used all my Bonnie and Camille fabrics.
 This little crocus is so cute, they are such a delicate little flower.
Tomorrow is my birthday and the first day of Spring, My lovely friend Steph from Belgium sent me a lovely package. I got a Greengate tea towel which is way to pretty to use, so that will go on display I reckon. And lots of other goodies, thankyou Steph. I love everything you made me,


I hope you all have a great day. As tomorrow is a work day I'm planning on celebrating my birthday this afternoon by locking myself in my sewing room and playing with some pretty fabrics.


Have a great day.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

A day by the sea side.

 Its been another exciting time for me seeing my latest design  in print and on the pages of the latest Patchwork and stitching magazine. 
 This big table runner is called A day at the sea side, inspired by our trips to the beach in summer. I'm not much of a swimmer so imagine me sitting in the deck chair with my stitching on my lap, watching my boys swim and play beach cricket.
 It was such a fun project and I loved sewing with the blue and aqua fabric fabrics, I think the range is called Seascape by Deb Strain.  It was beautifully quilted by my lovely friend Sarah from Patchworks plus. She's a clever girl.  Sarah also has a new web site, its set out so nice. Go and check it out, Sarah has some beautiful stock, including lots of Bonnie and Camille fabrics for all you Miss Kate lovers out there.
 As always the magazine do a beautiful job of photographing my designs,
 I was a very happy girl thats for sure.
 Another busy week ahead, back to work and the every day routine like most of us. I did stop today and pick some pretty snowbells from my garden, they are so sweet with their little green dots on each petal. They don't have much of a scent but I do like just admiring them.


Do you like my new header, my dear friend Tracee designed it for me, Gee I  have some clever friends don't I. Thankyou Tracee I love it.


Have a wonderful week and I hope you find some sewing time. Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Something different

 Well another week has come and gone, soon Spring will be here and I for one can't wait. Its been a long cold winter and after such a beautiful sunny day today I  have had a taste of whats to come. I have been sewing like crazy all weekend trying to get a magazine project ready to send off  but I can't share it just yet, sorry. Soon though!!!  I have had a fun time changing things around in my sewing room, I thought I would bring a bit of early Spring to my shelf and share it with my prettiest tilda doll.
 Working with such pretty fabrics always makes me smile and I added a new zipper pull to a new project. I love the tiny log cabin.  Such a clever design.
 I also changed and added a few new things to my kitchen, I had all red stuff on here but now I have added a bit of aqua I love it  even more. Its funny how just adding  a few things can  change to the whole look.
 My pretty Cath Kidston cup, I wish I bought more when I saw this in a shop last year.
 Yesterday I was in K Mart and found this gorgeous jug for only $12, I liked it so much I bought 2. I put one in the bathroom for decoration. Also the little tin, I thought that was just so cute and for $5 I mean really could I leave it behind. These goodies are on my kitchen hutch and I love looking at them.
I also changed my Greengate shelf around, these cups are my most favourite. Such beautiful colours and shapes. I do use them occasionally, whats the point in having nice things if you can't use them. My grandmother used to say that when I was young and we would go to visit. She would serve tea in pretty china cups and I was always worried I'd drop it.

I have roast chicken in the oven  and it smells delicious so I had better get my vegies ready, wishing you all a wonderful week and thankyou for stopping by.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Sewing, magazines, baking and gardening.

 What a week its been, lots of fun and exciting things happening. First off I can't wait to tell you that I have a quilt published in Homespun magazine. I don't think this issue is in the shops yet but it won't be far away. I got my issue in the mail and I couldn't wait to open it up and see my design.
 Do you like it?   All made in my favourite Kansas Troubles fabrics.
 The photography is so nice, even a photo of me and my profile is included.

 I have been sewing like a mad woman all week, working on secret projects for magazines and writing patterns til the early hours of the morning. Finally I think I'm on top of it all. Oh its hard being a designer. lol and  I am loving every minute.
 I have been doing some sewing for myself to which  is fun. I made a mini pouch to hold my ipod so I can find it in my gym bag but its so cute I  might have to use it  for sewing instead and make a new one.
 All my photos are out of order today, blogger is being silly and I don;t know how to fix it so its all a bit jumbled. This morning I have done my traditional Sunday Lunchbox baking. Made choc chips cookies and an oat slice and right now I have an apple slice in the oven, it smells so good.
 My garden is showing signs of Spring (At last) I'm so sick of winter. I have a few bulbs in flower.
 My mother in law sent me a box of cute little quilt block decals, I'm not really sure what they are called, they are made from metal and had a little jump ring on them so I made use of one and used it as a zipper pull. They are adorable and I think they make the zipper look so lovely.
So thats my week and all my news, I hope you have a wonderful week, enjoy your Sunday and I hope you find some sewing time.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

I did it again...

 I am very excited to tell you that I have had another design published in Patchwork & Stitching magazine. There it is sitting on my bed looking pretty with all the others I have made.
 Pretty stitchery with flower sugar hexagons, I loved making this cushion. Watching my drawings come to life with thread is such a good feeling.
 There it is on the front cover. Thats an exciting moment when you get your magazine from the letter box and see the cover with your design on it. Doing the Happy dance on the foot path makes for some interesting curtain movement from the neighbours thats for sure. I'm sure they think I'm crazy.
 Such beautiful photography makes my project really shine.

Stitchery of course is my favourite thing to do, most of my designs have stitchery on them somewhere.

Its been such a wet and stormy week in Launceston and much of the state. Luckily we had no damage to  our property but I watched the wind carry my neighbours  trampoline almost over the back fence. It got caught on some bushes.
Right now its -2 degrees and so frosty outside. I'm sitting by the fire  debating to have another hot cuppa or do some baking. Which would you choose?

Have a wonderful day.

The big 5 0

 Well its been a very fun week for me. Last Saturday I turned 50. It was a fun day of celebrations followed by a wonderful dinner with 30 ...