Keeping an eye on progress

The chooks are keeping their eyes on me, literally. They have taken to flying onto the kitchen window sill and talking to me. When they can't see me, they call out madly, even waking Master 7 at times! I may have posted these pics before - it's been a while since I posted anything at all.

I have had a dear friend help me cleanse the fabric stash. I had been getting out of control. There was just too much - yes it IS possible! Projects I wanted to undertake were being drowned out by the mountains of fabric I had acquired.

As a result of the big purge, 2 garbage bags of fabric sit in the boot of my car. I will get around to taking them to Salvos, I will. Eventually.

I have spent the last week making a quilt top for our bed, with some gorgeous fabric of the Provence variety. No Kate, not Shabby Shite, bright reds, blues, yellows. Sounds hideous? To many perhaps. I love it, and in 8 weeks time when I get it back from the quilter, I will photograph it and post. I backed it with a double bed doona cover I collected from an Op Shop over Summer for $2. This makes up for the $110 for wadding and fabric, and $117 for quilting. Bloody expensive habit!

Also on the cards is a dress for me, using Burda 7671. I have been wanting a wrap dress for a while that covers more than a size 18, and this looks to be it. I'm making it out of a jersey with a slight pattern, so should be quite forgiving. Will let you know how it goes.

Lovely to be back to blogging - feel ready to slide back into it and get back into creativity at the same time.

Hope all is well with you.

J

Quilt Number 1 nearly finished

A while ago (so long ago I am embarrassed to link), I started I-Spy quilts for each of the kids. I sewed the tops and was procrastinating (moi?) until this weekend, when the sad cow-eyes of Master 6 guilted me into almost-completing the quilt. Just need to do the binding, and it will be done!

Miss 2 was not impressed - she wants hers done now!

My muse for the weekend - this stunning bunch of poppies, which kept me going. Flowers are so uplifting - poppies some of the best for me.

And unrelated, a painting from the minimalist Miss 2 - mysterious!

j

Going, going, gone!

The moved happened, the phone is yet to go on, the computer is still in a box (maybe befriending the as yet unseen mobile phone charger...?!). We are hoping that the internet gets connected this week, and I am missing my technology!

At least the knitting made it in one piece though!

This weekend is the Craft and Quilt expo in Canberra. I am VERY excited. Very.

Will you be there?

The competition is still going for the giveaway, so keep going! It's been so entertaining! Have a read and a chuckle. Lots of INXS fans, lots of Julia fans, lots of confessions! Loving it.

Hopefully some photos soon - it's been a while! I will show you the giveaway goodies too!

J

For the baby

I went to school with a Most Lovely Gal who introduced me to the delights of Williamstown, and miss her very much now we don't live in Melbourne.

She is about to become Mum for a second time, and I am very thrilled to be making some little lovelies for the baby.

She has always loved kids' books, and so I want to make singlets for the baby based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (Click for cool links for kids' craft).

I am working on 'On Tuesday he ate through two pears' in embroidery and with applique. I love it! Maybe every birthday and Christmas I can do the next page in the book in the appropriate size!?

Photos to come when it's finished.

I'm also finishing this quilt for the baby, my first proper attempt at quilting (photo from a previous post). It's just going to be a pram one or a floor quilt as I was using fabrics in the stash:


I have to read some tutorials and discover how to bind it... Maybe I can be Beki when I grow up! Her quilting makes it all seem so easy... And maybe I'll finally use the Clover Bias Tape Maker Curlypops inspired me to buy!!


x

A stitch in time saves nine...

How was your weekend?

Mine saw work, an enjoyable afternoon of knitting a Debbie Bliss hat for wee Miss Tilly (more when completed), lots of mending, and getting moving on WIPs (should be WsIP - works in progress!)

BTW, an op-shopping find which thrilled me. The picnic basket is circa 1974 - the year I was born. Aw. $1. Perfect for pressie for Miss 2. She actually turns 2 this week, and after telling all and sundry she will be FOUR, we have just stopped talking about it!!


Mending is a funny thing. I tend to wait until I have a few things to do rather than do things as they need. As such, at least an hour was spent doing little bits and pieces. Nothing to show for it, but glad it's done!

Other sewing attempted:

A bib which was ordered for an expectant couple with a motorcycle obsession... Not my thing but happy to make to order -



My apron for the sassy apron swap - my first ruffle, and I'm quite happy with it! The swap theme is Summer, and I had a hula-thing going... Have a look what it's all about here. I saw a tutorial on how to make a jeans-leg apron, and loved the idea. Mine is not as nice as hers, but I am pleased with the result. Next time, the frill will be shorter, as I ran out of fabric to do a matching waistband. That's what comes from not planning things first. They tend to just grow as I work on them usually.



Also a bag in progress for me, actually started using a commercial pattern (rare for me!!!), and after swearing at it and chucking it in the corner, have adapted it to my own needs... Gotta stop buying patterns that have crap instructions...



Started a quilt for a friend's baby due July,




And laying out an I-Spy quilt for Master 6 (he says I never make him anything!)


What did you do??!

Off to prepare for Mum coming up for a visit tomorrow - I can't wait. Flailing at the moment.


x

Gorgeous Quilt

This is a gorgeous quilt that happens to be the give-away quilt of the year. Nearly 800 bloggers have commented on this to try and win it.

Stunning Dana. You are super-clever.

Be in it to win it!