A new project in the making...

I got up at 6am this morning, went for a walk, came home, had breaky and started my house hold chores. By 8.30 I was ready to sew, whoo hoo. I had all intentions of working on a few christmas projects today . I went to the cupboard to get my sewing and got distracted by some blocks I had cut out a couple of weeks ago, They are so pretty so I thought, I'll just spend an hour working on a few more blocks, they are easy after all. Then I'll get going with my christmas sewing.

So I made more blocks then I thought I'd lay them out in rows to see how they looked. Well of course I had to sew the row together.

Well that row led to another row and then another, can you see where I"m going with this. By lunch time I had 7 rows together. The quilt was looking beautiful, so I then started making more blocks for the last 3 rows. I got NO christmas sewing done at all but it doesn't matter there's always next weekend.

Do things like this ever happen to you? I must learn to concentrate on one project at a time but I doubt that will ever happen.

Tonight I might try and work on my christmas ornament at least then I can say I did a tiny bit of christmas sewing.

I hope you all had a creative weekend.

Weekend sewing

What a weekend, I have had such a good sewing time. I got lots done including this christmas table topper which I just love, All it needed was the binding sewn down, so last night I did that little job.

Yesterday I made all the shoo fly blocks for the top row of my Vignette quilt, this took practically all day. I made 22 of them. They do look so pretty don't you think.

Today I sewed the 2 sides together and did the tracing for one side. I haven't actually done much stitching but I will get stuck into that when I go on my quilt camp in 2 weeks. ( can't wait )

I'm using flower sugar fabrics which are my absolute favourite right now, do you go through stages of just loving a range of fabric? I have noticed my fabric tastes have changed alot since I first started quilting 5 years ago.

So bright and cheery.


I also did alot of christmas sewing which I can't share yet, I'm slowly getting them done. Its a good feeling to cross some off the list.

How was your weekend? I hope you found some sewing time.

Remember when ....

.... I started this quilt? It was over 18 months ago and finally its FINISHED. Hooray.This quilt is called Remember when by Libby Richardson. It was a lovely project to work on, the fabrics are soft and pretty.

This is my favourite block, I love the buttons in the jar.

I also enjoyed this one. I thought the school bus was so cute.

So now I can concentrate on Down in the garden which I have been working on for ages to. I'll share my progress with that one soon,

Have a great day.

A new quilt

I love my new quilt, its so warm and snuggly, I made this quilt from 3 charm packs and just added some sashing and a border. The end result is beautiful.

I quilted a pattern all over called Country garden,I thought it was a bit French looking which went well with the French General fabric which by the way is called Pom Pom de Paris. Its very pretty.

This afternoon I picked some lilacs from our garden the scent is beautiful.

I plan on a big sewing day tomorrow. I am working on a few christmas gifts which are looking great but I can't share them just yet.

I hope you are having a good weekend.

A nice day off

Today we all had the day off from school and work, unfortunately my husband didn't but that can't be helped so this morning the boys and I set off for a walk through Cataract Gorge which is a hop, skip and a jump away from home. They weren't keen to go at first but when I mentioned I'd buy morning tea afterwards that changed their mind.

It was a hard walk but gee it felt good, I love to try and challenge myself and see what I can achieve.

We did stop for a few photos, I think Daniel left his smile at home, either that or he was sick of me taking photos.

We had morning tea with the peacocks, they were beautiful and very friendly.

This afternoon I thought I would get my hexagons from the back of the cupboard and actually make some more, I got 2 together and they are so cute, I cut out heaps more so tonight I'll do a few more.

Why does a day off go so quickly, its been fun. I hope you had a lovely day today.

A stitching Sunday

Today was such a beautiful day, after lunch I sat out in the garden with my stitching and enjoyed the sunshine. I was also entertained by 2 of my boys who decided to have a water balloon fight.It was funny watching them run around the yard chasing each other, trying not to be the one who got wet.

I worked on my Vignette stitching. I decided I didn't really like the fabrics I had chosen to do the first block so I started again using flower sugar. Luckily I hadn't done a real lot. I have to say I'm much happier now with it all.

This morning I sewed the top row and part of the side.

This is part of the top row, it looks so pretty, the photo doesn't really do it justice.

I just had to share some pretty daisies from our garden, they really do cheer me up.

I hope you found some sewing time today.

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.