Pretty Baskets

In between making quilts I like to make little things, these baskets were such fun to make and so easy.

I had these left over fat quarters of Delilah fabric as the print on them was a bit big to put in a quilt so I saved them for a future project not having a clue at the time what I would use them for.

Then when I wanted to make the baskets I knew the fabric would be perfect.

This pink basket is so pretty. Having 4 males in our house I like a bit of pink just for me.

The blue basket is the biggest and I have all my threads stored in there for my stitchery project. (more on that later)

I plan to get a bit of sewing done today as well as baking for the boys lunch boxes, what do you have planned for today? I hope it involves some sewing to. Have a great day.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day, this year my husband gave me something a bit different to the usual roses and chocolates. I got a new watering can.

I did tell him I wanted one so I'm happy with that.

Now I can water all the beautiful roses in our garden and pick flowers whenever I want.

I hope you all had a lovely day.

Scrap jar quilt

The internet and other blogs are so full of inspiration that I could spend all day just going from page to page and getting so many ideas. When I found this block tutorial over at Amber's blog... A little bit biased, I wanted to start it straight away. Well it wasn't long before I had one row complete. Then after lots and lots of hours sewing I finally finished the quilt top.

I'm so pleased with the end result and even more excited that Amber has posted about my quilt on her blog. Thank you Amber you really have made my day.

My zinnias look so pretty in my garden right now I just had to include them in a photo.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

A new quilt

My first new quilt for 2012, made by me for my youngest son. The fabric is called Children at play and it is so sweet.

I made a simple row of sqaures with sashing in between, these quilts are quick to put together.

Look at these little boys, so cute...

And these ones, they remind me of my 3 boys when they were little. Except there would have been some arguing thrown in there somewhere. Probably over who could hold the rocket.

I found this binding fabric at spot light in the clearance bin for $2 a metre, it works beautifully around the quilt.

I was having some fun this morning taking my photos and thought the quilt would sit nicely in the flower pot stand.

I love photos of quilts all rolled up. Today I hope to finish my Scrap Jars quilt, just the borders to go. I can't wait to show you all.

Have a wonderful day and I hope you find some sewing time.

What I've been stitching and growing.

These holidays I was busy stitching some new blocks for a new block of the month by Natalie Bird. The fabric hasnt arrived at the shop yet so I can't put it together but I can't wait as the fabric we'll be using is from Fig Tree quilts called Californai Girl. Its so pretty and cheerful.

If you would like to join our new block of the month go to the web site at Esmes to find out more.

This summer I grew Zinnias for the first time and I'm so pleased with them all. They really add a bit of colour to the garden.

Our roses are still very pretty and growing well.

And of course the dahlias are just delightful.

Have a great day, hope you find some sewing time.
Try these coupons for Home Depot.

Australia Day Sewing

I am enjoying making this quilt so much, I'm trying to work on it whenever I can. As I don't have a sewing room I have to set up at the kitchen table so at 9am this morning I started sewing and didn't stop until it was time to start dinner.

I first discovered this block on Jodi's blog over at Pleasant Home and immediately I knew I wanted to make it. There is a tutorial by Amber from A little bit Biased and its fantastic. You should check it out of you love scrappy sewing. Amber has made a mini quilt in red, white and blue, its so cute.

I still have 5 blocks to make for the bottom row then I'll have to think about a border. I have quite a few 3 1/2" squares left so I want to use them in a border of some kind.

So Australia Day was a good sewing day for me while the boys watched cricket.

A Day at the Beach

It was so hot here today we decided to head to the beach for a bit of relaxation. It was good family time.

The boys played on their boogie boards,

and played down ball.

While I sat and sewed some hexagons,

It was such a nice way to spend the day.

What did you do today?

A challenging scrap project

Last week I joined in Jodi's sew scraps challenge, I have had such good fun going through my stash and finding suitable fabrics to use. Its as scrappy as I can make it. I really struggle with the scrappy look as I like my fabrics to compliment each other, but I think its all coming together nicely.

The 9 patch block in the middle is fun to do and its adds that little bit of interest.

I love doing the stars and deciding which fabric goes where .I try to not repeat the same fabric in the one block. Thats how scrappy works isn't it??

So here we have the first 2 rows of 5. I want to do a scrappy border so I'll have to think about that for awhile. I can't wait to work on it some more.

Our eldest son Daniel is 16 today, sorry I have no photo of him to share, he doesn't like to be on my blog very often. Teenagers like to be difficult.

So Happy Birthday Big boy.

A little bit of painting

Do you remember last year when I painted my really old crystal cabinet?I liked the colour so much that I wanted to paint a couple of other pieces of furniture.

So last weekend hubby and I repainted this cupboard that lives in our bathroom, it was a pine colour before. Paul started painting while I was at work so I didn't get a before shot. I love the way it turned out. It makes the bathroom look so much softer.

Living with 4 males I have to keep it fairly neutral as we all share the bathroom but every now and again I'll add something pretty.

I made this fabric basket during the week to hold soaps and lotions, I must get the inside of the binding sewn down. I got a bit excited and put on the shelf for some photos.

I had these cute little fabric hearts in the drawer so I took them out to have on display. They look nice on the blue hand towel.

We also have an 0ld writing desk which you may remember quite awhile back I painted black ( that was in my primitive look phase) I loved it but it didn't really fit in with all the other furniture so we painted that to and it looks great in the lounge in the corner opposite my crystal cabinet.

One more week of holidays to sew, paint and have fun with the boys before I go back to work. Its going to be great.

Have a wonderful day.


If you're looking to buy some painting supplies for your older furniture tryout these Harbor Freight discounts.

Some new fabrics

When we went to Hobart on Monday the boys went to look at boy things so I went to look at fabric shops. I went to the Needlewoman first. Its a beautiful shop with such lovely fittings and the fabrics are so pretty. I bought just a few fat quarters, these pretties by Lecien .

And these ones by Kate Spain, I think its called Fandango.

Then I popped in to Spotlight to buy some much wanted Denise Schmidt fabric. I was very excited to learn that Spotlight had these fabrics. I have a plan for these beauties.

Look at all that yumminess. I can't wait to cut into these.

I also found some pretty tea cups, they matched some of my flower sugar fabrics so I just had to have those to.

It was a great day shopping for me.

Camping at Swansea was fun, the boys caught over 50 fish, they had such a good time. Poor Daniel cut his finger though at 10pm on the first night there so we took him to the medical centre where he had 5 stitches.

Next week we are planning a bush walk at The Great Lakes. I'm looking foreward to that.

Today I plan to do a bit of sewing. I hope you do to.