15 Minute Challenge with Kate

I had promised myself that I would post more this week so far it hasn't happened.  I am back at work so back to routine.  I have been trying desperately to source some Jane Sassaman fabric so I am hoping for more sewing inspiration soon.  Have an idea that I might try on Thursday for another quick quilt for my Etsy shop so next week I should be on top of the challenge again.

There was a couple of days of no sewing this week, but I had a stitching day on Sunday so that made up for it I think.

Wednesday - nothing birthday tea with the girls
Thursday - nothing because I was playing with my Mixed Media Kit
Friday - stitched my cross stitch
Saturday - nothing
Sunday - crochet, applique cutting out yuck, and cross stitch
Monday - finished cross stitch
Tuesday - finished cutting out applique shapes finally and made cross stitch into cushion.

Hope your 15 minute challenge has been successful, head on over to Kate's to see who else met the challenge.

p.s. I apologise for the picture it is so dark here this morning, who would have thought it is the last day of summer.

Favourite Things Friday

Today I did one of my favourite things and that is have a pamper day.  Today was my second mini break "holiday" from my usual work day and I decided it was time for a new colour/hair cut and of course the nails were due to be done.  So I headed to the Nail Girl who is now my Hair Girl.

Its long story but I wish she had been cutting my hair since my old hair dresser changed careers, but out of desperation I made a mistake and went to the hair dresser who owned the salon where I got my nails done and I hated it but because I have my nails done there every 3 weeks I was stuck.  The hair dresser decided to work from home so I decided it was too far to go to her for a rushed hair cut/colour and blow dry if she felt like it.   So now my nail girl does my hair, I get a better cut, don't get sandwiched in between 2 other people who she is doing at the same time and I get what I want every time.  Now when I head out of the salon I feel like I've had the works instead of being rushed out the door to blow dry my own hair when I get home.  I nearly died the first time it happened.

So here is the new DO as you can see I hate having my photo taken ... even when I am taking it myself, this is as good as you are going to get and I have chopped off the million chins and fat neck.   And the nails are the magnet thing again this time in a more appealing colour which is more me and called Velvet.

The day went like this: I left the house this morning at 8.45 dropped the kids of at school, headed to the Bernina shop for a new foot, my god they are expensive but I had to have it.  Then headed to Hetties, but first as it was hot I thought I would have an ice coffee from the local coffee shop which turned out to be an expensive let down.  So into Hetties for fabric shopping and then down the road to have the works.  Got home at 2.30 in plenty of time to have some lunch and pick the kids up.  




This post will probably tempt anonymous to make a comment because today was ALL ABOUT ME and anonymous doesn't like that.

But you have gotta love a Pamper Day and I am sure Mrs P will agree so head on over to FTF central at Mrs P's 

My Creative Day

Today I opened my Mixed Media Kit that I got from Blue Bazaar.  It is a Kit of the Month arrangement and each month you get a selection of items to try out and a couple of projects to follow on the web.  Of course I didn't strictly follow instructions but I am happy with the results.  My plan is to bind the finished pages to make a book at the end of the year.















Here  are today's effort, the 3rd project is about a 1/2 way complete, I'll try and finish that on the weekend I think.

 

Last night was my mate Helen and my birthday tea with the girls.  Here is the photo of my loot.  I must say as usual we were very spoiled by our wonderful friends.  I got 3 bags, a sewing kit, some japanese linen (divine), a scarf also divine, a book, note paper, a bangle (gorgeous), a voucher for shopping at Hetties and some chocolates.... which didn't last long its amazing how much chocolate you need when you are painting.

Catch you tomorrow for FTF.

15 Minute Challenge with Kate

I have been very slack on the sewing front this week.  I have spent a great deal of time preparing patterns for posting so though I won't count that as sewing it was sewing related.  

Wednesday - Preparing appliqué shapes for project

Thursday - No sewing

Friday - No sewing

Saturday - No sewing

Sunday - No Sewing

Monday - X - stitch sampler

Tuesday - More appliqué shapes prepared (what was I thinking it still isn't finished) + x stitch

The last couple of weeks I have been saying I am doing a secret sewing project, here it is.  I am going to dinner and handing over the pressie to Helen tonight so I have scheduled this post to come after she should have left for the restaurant.  Fingers crossed it works.  

The pattern is from Blackbird Designs and is part of their Loose Feather's pattern series and when I showed Helen the pattern leaflet she said that she loved the design.  

Head on over to kate's to see some more productive people.  

StockistS

I have been contacted by interstate shops that have asked to run my BOM.  I can't tell you how exciting this is for my little business and I think they found it through the wonderful Ad that Sarah had in the latest Homespun.  

The shops that will be running the BOM:

Quilters Harvest in Warracknabeal Victoria and 

Julie's Sewing Shed in Finley NSW 

as well as Quilt Fabric Delight's where the kits have already started shipping but there are still places. 

Favourite Things Friday

Following on from last Friday's Post as this FTF was a present that I bought for myself.  

picture from Apple site

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you will know that I am a closet geek and love having the latest technology and I am a big apple convert after working with PC's for most of my working life.  I don't know how I managed not to get one before now but I am now the proud owner of an iPad.. and yes I know the iPad 3 is just on the horizon but for what I want it to do iPad 2 is enough for now.

The one draw back is that the kids won't leave it alone think I may have to put a password on it for a while lol.  

Over the week I have subscribe to Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors, downloaded any number of books ready to read and worked out how to read PDF's on this little baby.  

The magazines are just amazing being able to zoom off to the various links (and do some shopping if I have to).  I am really going to enjoy using it to look at the instructions for my Mix Media Kit instead of printing it all off.  

And I have joined Pinterest which I have safely avoided until now but why did I do that beginning to love Pinterest.  

Want to see what everyone else's favourite is head on over to Mrs P. 

Smile Cushion

I have just added this item to my Etsy Shop find it here.  Would be great for a little/big girls room or just for yourself we all need to be reminded sometimes just to Smile.

15 Minute Challenge with Kate

Birthday Flowers

I have to really think this week about what I have done.  I have finished the secret stitching project so I must have done something.

The secret stitching project also involved some painting, sanding and glueing so I am including that as well.

Wednesday - secret stitching project

Thursday - secret stitching project + cushion for etsy shop + played with EQ and created templates for new quilt project

Friday - cushion for etsy shop

Saturday - secret stitching project finished

Sunday - finished putting secret stitching project together

Cushion Front 

Monday - No stitching

Tuesday - started tracing appliqué shapes for new design and cutting them out.

The big news of the week is, my BOM has been advertised in the latest Homespun Magazine.  The advert looks really good I hope it brings lots of sales for Sarah.

Head on over to Kate's to see who else met the challenge

Favourite Things Friday

Before I returned to work I use to do all the cooking, including a theme'd birthday cake for the kid birthdays.  There was the  the Jungle Cake, Tardis (I was told the kids had interesting toilet experiences after that one with dark blue icing going through their system),the tower of cupcakes, and the fairy extravaganza for Squid's 5th birthday which cost a small fortune because it had to have fairy statues and icing fairies and pretty flowers (which meant travelling all over town to find them) because Squid expects it to look just like the book.   The last couple of years my son has decided he only likes the store bought ice-cream cake (bonus) and Squid this year wanted the chocolate sponge  with the custard filling that the local bakery does (double bonus).  So the only cooking I had to do for squid's party was pancakes for breakfast.

But I like the planning and the designing the party favours etc.  The Dr Who themed birthday party was the best I think, though the monkey's hanging from the washing line for his 5th birthday were pretty good too.

My hubbies favourite party game is pin the tail or whatever on an object.  He gets a kick out of spinning the kids round and sending them in the wrong direction,  this year Maestro gave the game away so the kids were all trying to guess which direction he had put them in (he didn't do it this year) and that made for more fun.

Squid was all for Pin the Tail on the Mermaid this year, when she couldn't draw a Mermaid that she was happy with, she decided that my idea of Pin the Coconut's on the Palm Tree was quite OK.

So this week my FTF is  Birthdays and most of all because it's mine on Sunday.

Head on over to Mrs P's to check out everyone else's FTF.

15 Minute Challenge with Kate

grr blogger strikes again posted this yesterday

Actually did quite a bit this week.

Wednesday - binding on P is for Pink Quilt
Thursday - binding on P is for Pink Quilt + secret stitching project
Friday - binding on P is for Pink Quilt finished + secret stitching project
Saturday - secret stitching project + started new project for etsy shop
Sunday - secret stitching project
Monday - secret stitching project
Tuesday - secret stitching project + cut out 2 tops to sew for work

I am currently working on another 2 projects in my head at the moment.  I am hoping to get started on the templates tomorrow sometime.  I have to start them soon because I think I am going to burst if I don't with all this creative energy just have to find the time.  Also hope to finish secret stitching project and then will have to get out some tools to complete it.

Head on over to Kate's to see who else has met the challenge.

Just Added

P is for Pink is finished and loaded into my Etsy Shop.  

New Things

Last month I subscribed to a Mixed Media Kit of the month from Blue Bazaar.  I have just been notified that the first month's kit is on its way.  So by the end of the week I should have a lovely bundle of goodies to go through and try new things.  They provide a tutorial to do a couple of projects (I think online).    I have roped my mate Helen and I think Kay signed up as well so I will have to make a date for a come and play day.

My planned photo session down the beach hasn't eventuated it is pouring with rain today, Squid has decided to start on one of her birthday pressies, she got quite good ones that's for sure from all her friend lots of craft and drawing things.   Wonder how long she will stick with this painting by numbers, wonder if I can head out to the sewing room for a while and not be missed.

Favourite Things Friday

My favourite thing this week is simply the fact that it is Friday.

It has been one of those weeks.

It was made better by the fact that my charm arrived from here.  I love the packaging, Cathy has a style which is just so...

Maybe the week is getting better here is the first finish for 2012, it will be heading for my Etsy Store soon, might take it down the beach for a photo shoot tomorrow.

 

And I purchased a future FTF which be revealed in week or two.

Head on over the Mrs P to check out everyone's FTF.

15 Minute Challenge with Kate

Today everyone is back at work/school.  My hubby is easing into it with a half day today because I work a full day Wednesday and he comes home early to pick the kids up.

I just had one day off of sewing this week on Saturday for Squid's party.  I am working on a secret project that I can't show you for a couple of weeks as it is a gift.

I basted and quilted the pink quilt yesterday.  Just have to choose binding and take some photo's and it can head on to my Etsy Shop.  I think stripy binding will be good just have to see if I have something suitable in the stash... I am sure I have.   This has been a good quick project to do and I feel like I have some runs on the board for the year ahead.  

Head on over to Kate's to see who met the challenge this week.