Woo Hoo the wait is finally over

I'm in print.  Here is my pattern that is in this months Homespun.  I have been making a few more different versions over the last few days.  I have about another 1/2 doz cut out and just got some more boy fabric today to make some more.  I  have heaps of fabric in the stash for girls of all colours but the boy stuff is hard.   Hopefully the latest crop will come up to my son's expectation of being boyish enough even for him.

Must say this is the best post day ever, also got another stash of fabric for skirts which look yummy enough to eat.  As it is going to be extra hot today and tomorrow I think I will be cranking up the aircon and sewing sewing sewing. ..... but first a coffee and a flick through the rest of the magazine not just Page 74.

Leftovers

Christmas Day was spent at our place this year.  It was fairly warm so the kids were able to have a dip in the pool in the afternoon.  It also means we have leftovers and I will be looking at my copy of Delicious Christmas for interesting things to do with the Ham, Turkey and all the rest of the bits of pieces I have in the fridge to make do over the next couple of days.   I couldn't resist the  Recipe App for my iphone either.

I also have leftovers in the sewing room, half made items for the stall that were left, mainly because I had to change thread colours or had had enough of doing the same thing over and over so I have just left them so this weekend I am going to finish all the half finished items and put them in the done and dusted pile.

Wishing you all A Merry Christmas

We did the rounds of the lights this week.  Just those around the neighborhood.  One street had there own carolers, it was a dead end street so it was jammed packed we decided to park at the beginning and walk instead of braving the traffic jam which was a good decision.

Yesterday I made my 5th batch of chocolate coconut balls for this Christmas, don't ask me where batches 1 - 4 have gone ... it must have been Santa's Elves.

I wrapped the last of the pressies last night.  We got caught out last year when my son couldn't go to sleep on Christmas Eve and we were starting to wrap at midnight.

Let me take this opportunity to wish every one

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sparkly Christmas

Last night was the annual Christmas Din Dins with the Sparkle Girls (my little group of quilty friends).   Its a great way to celebrate the end of the year and of course there are presents involved.  The end of year gifts are always lovely to exchange, we each think long and hard before getting down to business and we are never disappointed.   As you can see they are always beautifully presented and there is usually food of the chocolate variety, a bit of handmade (always gorgeous), some sewing notions, fabric and other nice bits and pieces.  I know these are the best presents I get every year because I didn't have to buy them myself lol.

Big Thank You Girls.....Helen, Kay, Silvia and Sue.

Glad to have my feet firmly on the ground

I have finished my whirlwind tour of Melbourne.  Every year I get flown to Melbourne for Xmas lunch, hard life I know but someone has to do it.  Each year my stop over gets better.  The first year I had to leave on the 6pm flight (the day of the lunch) and that was when everyone was just getting happy and relaxed and the plane flight was not good after having a few drinks at lunch.  Last year we got a 9am flight the next morning, lets just say not good after a long afternoon/night of christmas cheer.  This year  my flight was in the afternoon so I got to do some morning shopping and walk around Melbourne... well a couple of blocks of Melbourne.   

You come to realise how small Adelaide is when you go to Melbourne, because lets face it, Adelaide has one main street and your can see the sky in Adelaide Streets, all the buildings are big in Melbourne and the traffic is OMG don't think I will be taking my car to Melbourne any time soon. 

Now I am sure I would be braver if I wasn't on my own but I decided to walk to Southern Cross Station to purchase a Skybus ticket.  Had  my trustee NOT iphone which got me lost ... where was Lee (GPS) telling me I was going the wrong way....  What was supposed to take 15min walk took 45 but I did get my ticket to the airport and by the time I returned to Bourke Street some of the shops were open.  Turns out I could have just jumped on a tram out the front of the hotel but I couldn't find how much the tram costs and the website was no help to find out where to get a ticket for a short trip.  On my many miles of walking I found a human inhabited info booth and was able to ask more questions.  

Found a cute little Arcade off Bourke Street where I managed to find something for my MIL for Christmas and the cutest Lolly shop SUGA for the best hand made lollies.  And the Babuska shop above I took this photo for Mrs P.  

Those who know me know that I get very motion sick at times, the reason I drive everywhere and my husband sits in the passenger seat.  Usually I have these wrist bands that seem to work pretty good to stop it but I completely forgot this year.  So I was pretty green when I got of the flight in Melbourne and worse when I finally got home again in Adelaide. I don't think I will be forgetting them again next year.

It is official now and we have a bit of a blurb on the Grange Twilight Market site so go and check it out. We hope to see a few blogging friends down by the sea.  And if you are on Facebook we have a Page that you might like to LIKE. 

SHHH I have a secret to tell

We got the news on Monday that we have our Market Stall at the Grange Twilight Market.  Leanne and I are going to be very busy over the next 6 weeks or so.   We have decided to jump in the deep end for our first ever market as this one is run over 3 weeks, so we won't be sewing for 1 stall we will be sewing for 3. It is a good job we had made a start is all I can say and I am going to have really schedule my sewing time and make sure I stick to it.

And we have a facebook page Leanne & Amanda Handmade so if you Facebook go ahead and LIKE US, to get all the information about what we have come up with for the stall.

Yesterday I did a bit of a photo shoot with squid to show off my products, I didn't have my big camera, flat battery, so I used the squid's new one that just arrived the day before (her old one, about 3 months old, died and had to be returned for a warrantee repair we ended up getting a new one as it was irreparable) and I didn't have any idea how to use the thing, mind you she seems to have worked it out.  I was trying for some action shots but that didn't quite work out.

I get the feeling blogging is going to be a bit hit and miss over the next few weeks, but I will drop in from time to time... probably to download a stress attack.  But tomorrow I am off to Melbourne for Xmas Lunch for work with some time for shopping.....woo hoo.

I've Been Busy Again

I have been having trouble sleeping the last few weeks.  I've ended up getting up in the wee small hours and putting in an hour or two of sewing just to stop the tossing and turning.  I have been working on some little girls skirts and have a few more to finish but they are at the waist band stage so they shouldn't take too long to put together.  

Here are the first few finished articles and I have sold one and have another order for a size 7-8 so I think they will sell either at the market stall (if we get there) or on my Etsy & Made It Shops.

Next week I am heading to Melbourne for work, I have managed to score a free morning in Melbourne if anyone can suggest any shops that I should visit please do so.     

Favourite Things Friday

This weekend past we put up the Xmas trees.  I get a bit funny about my trees and I just have to have my own because that way I get to decorate my own tree my own way.... yes I know it is sad but.  I get very cranky when the kids want to help.... there was lots of crankyness this year as I had far to much help.

The kids have there own tree where they can put all their crap sorry lovely craft that they make at school on their tree without cluttering my trees.

My trees have the special ornaments that we have been collecting over the years and the hand made ornies that I received over the years from the Passion 4 Primitive swaps that I use to be involved in.  Some of the ingenuity of those women were amazing they really thought outside the box when it came to ornie swaps.  I know the prim stuff is not everyone's cup of tea but I really love bringing them out because they were all made with so much care and I remember how much fun it was to receive my parcel at the end of the swap with all these amazing things carefully wrapped and received from all over Australia.

For more FTF fun visit Mrs P 

Creative Space

I wasn't going to but as it is the last one for the year I thought I had better.  This weeks at sewing I cut out 17 wrap skirts to put in the market stash.  They are in little girl sizes 3-4, 5-6, 7-8.  I have already sold one so I had better get on with it this weekend and this afternoon.  I went for colours that I don't usually buy but I thought would still appeal to young girls.  I think I might make more because at least if I don't sell them they will be great for the Squid... she needs more clothes.

I use french seams when I sew them.... mainly because I can't thread my overlocker but I also like the finished look so here they all are with the first seams all done.  I haven't decided on the contrast tie yet but I think I will do that this afternoon.

Don't forget to check out all the creative spaces here you probably have a few weeks to do it.

What The

As you will know I have been making a few bags lately and I have been bemoaning the fact that I don't have a pressing ham which one of the patterns called for.  I looked into buying one on the internet and decided that I didn't want to do that and have been making do with a rolled up piece of wadding (with limited success) and thinking I must get to DK to check and see if they had one.  

Leanne text me this afternoon and asked if I was home and turned up on my doorstep with one that she had made.  She found the pattern on the internet and it is just the ticket and is better than one I would have bought I am sure .... Market sweat shop here we come.  

Favourite Things Friday

I confessed to Mrs P that I probably wouldn't have time tonight to join the fun but as it pans out one of my jobs for tonight has been palmed off so I have time.

When I got home this afternoon there was a couple of parcels at the door and these are my favourite things because what was contained in the parcels were a big pile of fabric.

I know that it is very important to support your local quilt shop and I make sure that I share my fabric love with them as much as I can.  But with the possibility of a Market stall I wanted some bargain fabric to make some of the bigger items to help keep my overheads down so I did a bit of web shopping the other week and got these fabrics.  Another shop was offering Grab Bags in various colour and although I have been stung by Grab Bags before (finding that I hate every piece in them) seeing that this shop is full of funky fabric I thought that there was probably a good possibility that I would like most of it.  

Grab Bags are traditionally sold by weight and are usually remnants of fabric.  Some of the pieces are quite big and there was a great variety in the 3 that I got so I am happy and they are going to be great for making smaller bags for the stall.

So my Favourite Things Friday is FABRIC.

Want to see more FTF check out Mrs P.

Creative Space

I'm not playing this week, have done bits and pieces all of which I can't show you as most of it is for people who read my blog.

Last night went to drive in my driveway and I saw a frog jumping across my way it was too late to stop, so I expected a pancake frog when I got out of the car but it wasn't he must of jump out of the way just in the nick of time.  I have been hearing frogs on and off for a month or two and the rain must have bought him out.  It amazes me how they find our house because we are a good 3 blocks away from the local creek, but we have found them in our pool from time to time and last night this guy was jumping around in our garden, from the amount of slugs, snails and millepedes around not to mention the fly's at the moment there is probably plenty of food to eat.  We had a cool change yesterday and lots of rain so they must have bought him out from his hiding place.

Looked for him this morning but he wasn't anywhere to be found.
So if you want to find more creative places than mine check out kirsty My Creative Space

New Toy

Got up early this morning and as it was nice and warm it didn't take a 20 minute debate with myself to get out of bed and go for a walk.  My ear seems to have settled down a bit so it wasn't such a dangerous mission as it was last week when I found myself tripping up and having to really concentrate to keep walking in a straight line.  

On the weekend I swapped my phone for a new iphone which has taken a bit of getting use to, but gradually I am working things out.  Have downloaded an essential quilting application... just because I could and a couple of other things.  Have failed to send a picture to Leanne she keeps getting blank messages with just pxt in it.  If anyone knows what I have done wrong can you tell me.  I can receive pictures fine and email stuff with pictures in it.  I have worked out how to increase the volume on the phone now.  

This week I made a start on Market stuff and have finished 5 bags and worked on some jewellery last night.  So I am very happy with what I have achieved though I know if we get the stall I will have to ramp up production.  Next week I will be starting another set of things (which I can't show you because it is my project from Homespun which was on their stall at Australian Quilt Market ... very exciting) and working on Christmas pressies for girls just waiting on a delivery from the postie. 

Favourite Things Friday

I know it kinda looks a bit like Slack Tea Thursday, but this is actually breakfast and it is my FFF for this week.  

I usually have a poached egg on vegemite toast for breakfast.  For any northerners reading this Vegemite is a Yeast Extract that lots of aussies love (probably just as many don't).  As you can see by the lumpy bits I love Vegemite.    

And why is this FFF it is because that poached egg is perfect.  Many a morning has been spoiled because the egg is not perfect and it is a bit hit and miss.  At the moment I put the egg in the rapidly boiling water take the slotted spoon and make sure I losen it from the bottom of the saucepan then leave it to cook just enough, runny yoke is key.  This system seems to be working most of the time.  I hate it when the yoke breaks as I am trying to drain it and I have to east soggy toast and only white of the egg.

The eggs themselves are organic eggs from the Organic Market once a fortnight.  The yokes are BRIGHT YELLOW and they are the best eggs you are ever likely to taste.        

For more FFF head on over to Mrs P

Creative Space

This week's creative space sees me in a mess again lol.  What else is new? I hear you ask.  Well there has been a bit happening on the creative front.  I have delved into the stash and pulled out a few treasures to make some bags to go into the possible market stall stash.

Do you see that fabric on top it is from a range called Florentine which was a Christmas range about 5 years ago (actually it is probably older than that).  Lots of sparkly gold bits through it and some of the prints had beautiful angels on them.  Haven't found those ones yet, but I think this little snip will be all that I can spare for the stall but I did cut another one out for myself.

And when you are making lots of stuff you need supplies so I also got some lovely soft wool felt pieces from Craftumi and a fantastic stash of zips.   It think the felt will be used for embellishing some of the bags.  

This week also sees me battling an inner ear infection, which if you have ever had one you will know makes life interesting to say the least.  The tablets that the Dr have given me seem to be working most of the time but yesterday I was so disorientated I had to come home early from work and get my hubby to drive me.  Dr has told me 1 - 6 weeks for it to get better I am hoping for the 1 but somehow I don't think that looks likely as when the tablets wear off in the words of Kylie "I'm Spinning Around".

Now back to marking my pattern pieces.

and I forgot again so for more check out kirsty My Creative Space

Possibilities

I made this on the weekend.  I was thinking of something that was easy and for a child that I thought might be good for a market stall.  So of course I did it in a size that would fit Squid just in case but I did it in a colour that she doesn't usually go for.  Of course she had to wear it and has claimed it for her own.   It needs one minor modification which I will do and it will be perfect this one is a 5-6, I will be doing a 3-4 and 7-8 so let me know what you think.  

Leanne and I headed to the Lollipop Market on Sunday.  It was pumping prams everywhere.  I guess as it was a child and baby market that was going to happen but it was really nuts.  Which is a good thing as I think Adelaide has a bit of a reputation for being a bit slack on the buying front when it comes to these things.  But the difference between this market and quilt show the other week is that it appeals to a younger demographic and it was FREE entry and FREE parking and the people came and they obviously spent up big.  So Hand Craft isn't dead after all which I am really excited about.  

Christmas Pageant

It's that time of year again.  The last few years have been megga hot, we didn't go last year as the forecast was for 40 degree and I didn't fancy walking through the city with two hot and bothered kids.   This year is was a cool 17 yesterday with chance of rain, so we packed our spray jackets and headed off to the train.  As our train is an offshoot of a bigger line we get the dregs so there was only a train every hour on our line and they only sent 2 carriages.   We got on at early at our stop and took the next stop to down to Grange which was a good thing as the train filled up completely at the Grange stop.  So with a gazzilion kids and prams, and scooters, and deck chairs all loaded we made our sardine packed way to the city.  As we got on early we were able to take the booth next to the drivers access which meant that we were very comfortable as 4 prams (not to mention the folded out deck chair that one parent let their kid sit on in the standing area as well as their folded out scooters.... some people are idiots) stopped anyone else coming up to join us.

Once we got to the city we headed with the thousands to my husbands work and again we had our vantage point to ourselves.  With the overcast conditions at least this time this time it was comfortable and we didn't have the sun in our eyes.

As you can see we have a pretty good view and if the kids want to see something up close we just go down the lifts and walk out onto the street.  

Here is either Nipper or Nimble can't remember which but every little girl in Adelaide, would love the chance to ride the pageant on either of these two horses.

A new cupcake float which was pretty cool.  

And of course this heralds the arrival of the big fella himself.  

And it is all over for another year.

The Train station on the way back was a bit of a nightmare with our lines being swapped at the last minute meaning we had to run from one side of the train station to the other to get the only train for an hour.  And as we got home the rain started down... fantastic timing.

Favourite Things Friday

First a finish, I decided to tackle this little number last night, it is a pattern by the wonderful Nicole Mallalieu.  I can't recommend her patterns enough they are a class in a pack.  All her instructions are very clear and easy to work out (maybe not at 11pm which is where I came unstuck last night) I stopped when I found I skipped a page but it only took about 10 minutes to finish this afternoon.  

And now for my favourite thing Friday.

5 years ago I inherited some money when my grandfather died and I decided to spend a little on this.  I traded in my 2000 special quilters edition bernina to buy it (a decision I have regretted because one day the squid could have used it and also it was lighter and easier to take to classes) oh well I won't be selling this one if I ever want to upgrade.

It gets a fair workout.  I bought it for the BSR which I no longer use as I found that it doesn't like the peddle to metal speed that I tend to keep it at when I quilt.  But it is a workhorse and when it does start to play up I take it to Otto's and he fixes her just like a new one, gotta love a reliable machine mechanic.

Do you want to play along or check out a few other's FFF go to Mrs P's.

My Creative Space

As I write this I have just finished machine stitching the binding on Cherry Pops, hopefully the handstitching is done by now (I am posting this yesterday ready for this morning).  I am going to have to find a nice spot to take a photo for the pattern front, might do a Leanne and use the park across the road. This is it for me creatively this week, hopefully next week I will have more to show as I will have done heaps towards possible market stall.

For more creative spaces check out kootoyoo.

Deadlines

I was surfing on the net yesterday and went to the Madeit Blog site and there emblazoned with RED letters it says 6 Weeks till Christmas.   UGGGH.  So Cherry Pops is quilted and yesterday I tied off all the threads which had me wishing that I had done it while I was quilting it (which I did for Karen's don't look now quilt).  To tell the truth I am kind of feeling like I have lots of balls in the air and don't quite know where to start.

Yesterday Leanne and I put in an application to do a market stall.  We have been UMMMMing and RRRRing about pro's and con's and in the end decided that we might as well give it a go.  Who knows SA blog readers might come and buy some of our wares and with any luck we will cover our costs.   I was putting the application together and Leanne had all these wonderful pictures and I was thinking what have I put up 4 things, I had  better get my act into gear.   So last night I drafted a wrap skirt for my daughter, I put the pattern up to her just to make sure it would fit sitting it on her waist and she said no that isn't where it goes it goes here and she pulls it down on her hip.  Ok so tonight I will have to modify the pattern slightly.  Then I should be all set to sew up a storm.

My plan in between all the Christmas sewing is to make a start on possible Stall items so that I have an idea how long it is going to take to stock the stall.  We have a couple of weeks until we find out if we are in so hopefully I will have enough items in that time to have a good idea how we will go post Christmas rush.  And if we don't make it I have a good start on a Made It store which I signed up for last week.

The girls at sewing want to make some of my ornies so I have to prepare the pattern which is currently available as a download so that I can print it (lots of lovely photo's in the download though).  This has been thwarted by the fact that my new laser printer has run out of toner, so I will be heading to Office Works to print them off instead because the toner cartridge is nearly what I paid for the printer.  So I will just slot that in to the To Do list as well.

Cherry Pops

I think I might have to make a trip up to the quilt shop this morning to get backing fabric for this so I can quilt it this weekend and write up the pattern.  

Favourite Things Friday

Sorry you are only going to get an outside view of my room.  Inside it looks like the fabric monster threw up, I have too many projects on the go and there is stuff everywhere.  But this is my Favourite Thing for this week my sewing room or should I say Quilt Studio.  It is full to overflowing, but at least I can shut the door and not worry about the mess.  

When we bought the house my husband said this could be his shed, I said no way there is a carpet in there so it has to be my sewing room, I think he agreed because he thought that that would keep my "crap" as he likes to call it out of the house.  12+ years later he has given up on that hope.

My only wish is that it could be like the Tardis and be bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside but I suppose that isn't going to happen.  So I might have to have another clean out or maybe I just need to learn how to be less messy when I create or not start so many projects all at once.  Can't see that happening any time soon.

Check out Mrs P for more FTF.

My Creative Space

You may recognise the embroidery from previous Creative Spaces post.  I had pieced the top with a different focus fabric but then wasn't completely happy with the finish look and I was stumped with how to finish it off.  Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and start again.  So I unpicked and trimmed the original embroidered blocks down tried a new setting with different fabric.  I also wanted to make sure I would be able to sell the patterns locally so changing the fabric to something new in my LQS is hopefully a good move.  It will be a small wallhanging quilt but I am thinking of giving options to make the quilt bigger if they want to.  

I am hoping to be off to the Quilt Fair today, but as I write this (last night) I feel absolutely dreadful and might end up spending the day in bed instead with some bug that my daughter bought home from school.  Fingers crossed I am able to sleep without coughing all night and am able to have a bit of a day out at the show and maybe do a bit of shopping.  

Forgot again. Duh.. check out more creative spaces here 

Ta Da All Finished

Got home from work today and put the finishing touches on this quilt.  Tonight I will burry the few remaining threads and then Karen can have her quilt back.  It looks pretty stunning in the flesh.  

Love Steampunk

My etsy email today was titled Victorian Tech, and I must say I am heavily drawn to Steampunk stuff.  Now if only I had an IPhone I think I would have to have one of these, I think it is the coolest case ever.  

Favourite Things Friday

From memory I think Mrs P said she would be late in putting up FTF post, but as I need to fill in a bit of time while the kids are playing WII (they have a pupil free day today), mind you I should be doing housework or working on karen's quilt but I am lacking energy today so that probably won't happen... Too much sports day yesterday I think, standing around in the heat (when we haven't had much yet) and wind and then too much sleep. Don't report us for child neglect but I then fell asleep on the lounge just after 8 (so did hubby). The kids woke me up at 8.45 after watching a shark eat a woman on CSI, put them to bed they were too tired to have nightmare's ... tonight might be different lol.

I digress.... my favourite things friday is Geralton Wax and this time of year is when it looks its best.

The reason I love them is they remind me of my childhood. My nana's next door neighbour had one in her garden.  The garden was always immaculate and well tended.  She had a formal flower garden in the centre  which was always perfect and then this beautiful ball of pink flowers to the right.  My mum always worked so we spent a lot of time at my nana's house, she had a lovely flower garden as well but the neighbours was always perfect, secretly I think Nan was always competing with her, but she was like the Martha Stewart of Gardens and Senior's Craft so there really was not competition.

I have 4 bushes but only two are worth photographing, the other 2 have just not done very well I don't think the soil is very ideal in that bit of the garden in fact I think it is pretty much just top soil on a big lot of builders rubble.  The bush above is always a winner, I think it is a fairly generic variety.  The one below is quite pretty but hasn't liked the drought over the last few years and isn't looking as good (hubby is threatening to dig it up), but it's flowers change shade from light pink to drk pink as they mature (or it might be the other way round) and I like the different shades on the one bush.

While I was taking snaps I found this guy, another favourite thing for me a dragonfly he was pretty spectacular.  I haven't seen one quite this small.  He had a fluro blue spot at the end of his tail and his main body was bright green, which is a bit lost on the photo... one day I will get that macro lense.

Did it again forgot the important bit.  

Check out Mrs P.'s Quilting in My Pajamas to see other Favorite Things. 

A Little Bird Told Me

That it is only 8 weeks till Christmas.  That means I have to make 3 teachers gifts, sort something for the quilting girls and think about and start on stocking my market stall.  Also throw into the mix the fact that I have designed a boy's quilt which is half cut out.  Have Karen's quilt on my machine (planning on a finish this weekend) and squid wants a sewing case made from one of the cases I got from Sarah.  I think those 8 weeks are going to be busy. I have teachers gifts sorted, I have a project coming up in Homespun and I think it will be perfect for them, but you won't be able to see photo's till after it is released.  As my daughter has a male teacher I am a bit at a loss so I think I can Man Up my Homespun project sufficiently.

It's sports day today so no creative space here I am afraid but you can check out some at kootoyoo.

This market was announced yesterday and I think I might dip my toe in and have a stall. It is set to be held on Sunday evenings 6th, 13th and 24th of February.  That time of year the only place to be is by the sea so if you are in Adelaide any of these weekends it might be worth a trip to the seaside.

Very Sketchy Daisy Cushion

Here is my latest tutorial for QFD, it is all worked in a single strand of thread on natural linen.  The size of the cushion is a little smaller than your usual bed pillow and I find it is great to lean on while I am sitting on the lounge as it supports my lower back while I stitch.  I hope you like it.  You can find the Tutorial here.

Favourite Things Friday

This week my favourite things are these.  Freshly manicured and painted nails.  Every 3 weeks off I go and sit and have them done with the girl who has been doing them for over 10 years.  Sometimes they are pretty mangled by the end of the 3 weeks but when they are freshly done I am happy as long as I manage to get out of the shop without smudging them lol.

Check out Mrs P for more FTF.

My Creative Space

I wasn't going to join in this week but thought I might just blog about my new project that is buzzing around in my head at the moment.  I am going to design a boys quilt, not a little boys quilt but more a big boys quilt.   Here are the backgrounds, I am going to be drawing some applique soon but I have decided on these dark backgrounds, I didn't want to go for black but sort of wanted that impression so have gone for lots of dk greys with plenty of texture.  I will be doing raw edge applique and use a nice heavy black thread.  The applique will be in quite bright colours and I will probably be going for solids as I have seen some Day in the Country Solids that are bright but with a bit of subtleness to them which I think will work well with the grey.  I worked on a sketch last night and my son just said "SWEET" so I guess that means it passes the coolness gauge on a 10 year old going on 20 something.

Check out more creative spaces at kootoyoo.

A block finish

I have decided I am having a rest from My Creative Space this week, so I won't be posting anything tomorrow.  As you can see I have been kinda of busy on the creative front anyway and her is the first Flower Pots block all done.  If are interested in some of Kim's other designs check out the Glorious Applique blog you will find lots of eye candy there to get you inspired.  

Yesterday I picked up Amy Butler's Style Stitches from Hetties Patch and I think in a minute I am going to sit down with a coffee and further look through it.  There are a couple of projects that I think I might just have to try.  

Last week I blogged that I was hoping that this project would shock my creativity into action and it has I have an idea for a boy's quilt in my head which I think I might do a bit of shopping for tomorrow, spied some perfect Day in the Country Fabrics yesterday that I think will work with the design I am thinking up.  Now to get drawing.

The Passage

Last week I finished this book, it is a post apocalyptic fantasy.  It is fast and pacey and a real page turner.  The problem is it ends in a cliff hanger and the next installment is not due out till 2012.  It is an excellent read and one of the best new books I have read can't wait till the next one.

If you are looking for the book the Aussie version has a girl on the cover, but I haven't been able to find a picture on the web.

Favourite Things Friday

It is probably pretty obvious that I love quilting but I think it should be my favourite thing this Friday.  The two things about quilting that I love the most is Machine Quilting and Needle Turn Applique both of which I did yesterday which helped me calm down and lowered my stress levels.

Here is my block from yesterday, with still a heap of other bits and pieces to add but so far I am happy with the colour combo.  Have picked out a few more pieces of fabric that I just have to have to add to the quilt just waiting for pay day.

And I made inroads into the blank space in Karen's quilt.

So my favourite thing this week is my sanity keeper Quilting might head out to the sewing room once the kids are home from school.  Check out Mrs P for more FTF.

My Creative Space

When life keeps throwing you lemons it must be time to start a new project or go shopping.  I have tried the shopping bit and it wasn't working,  I have decided to start Kim Mclean's Flower Pots which  I wasn't going to start until the new year but my creative mojo has been lacking the last few weeks so I have decided to take on something big to shock myself out of it.  I have picked a yummy chocolate brown background so that it is totally different from the original quilt and I think there are going to be lots of orange, hot pink, lime green and whatever yummy brights I can find in the fabric stash.  I do confess to making a couple of purchases on Tuesday to start me off.  

Just to ease into it I am doing the two small blocks (Cut 2 x 20" Squares).  The patterns are full size and you can use them as overlays to position the pieces which is pretty handy.  As this quilt requires a bit more precision that I am use to in needle turn I have decided to tack the large pieces down through the freezer paper.  All the pieces are quite large so this will help keep the freezer paper attached while I stitch and it didn't really take that long to do.  These are only half the pieces of this block but I thought it would be good just to tackle a couple at a time.

And if you are wondering about the quilt from last week quilting was interrupted by 10th birthday celebration, however I did a bit more yesterday the centre tree is all quilted and I have started quilting the background and will be heading into the floral border soon.  I might find time to do a bit more today, shouldn't take too much longer to finish.

Check out more creative spaces at kootoyoo