Red in Oz

Pincushion Received

2011-05-09T00:12:00.001+10:00

Here is the pincushion I received from Rachal in the MMQG Pincushion Swap. A lovely little double sided number that came with some nice extra goodies :) Thanks swap partner. I already have pins in it!!!

MMQG Pincushion Swap – Sent

2011-05-02T13:25:00.001+10:00

This little mushroom is on it’s way to my swap partner Bek in the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild Pincushion swap arranged by Rachel.

It’s not so ‘modern’ quilting but, hey, I like it, and I’ve wanted to have a go at one for ages so fingers crossed it goes down OK at the other end.

Rainbow Cookies

2011-04-11T09:17:00.001+10:00

From here

To be quite honest, the cookies weren’t that good, some even got thrown away which is unheard of in this house, but the process was fabulous fun. We’ll make them again with a favourite cookie recipe next time, any basic cookie/biscuit dough would work. Sadly we also ran out of red so purple turned out more grey than purple.

Two Bouncing Bunnies

2011-04-11T09:10:00.001+10:00

Inspired by Becky’s post

Another quick Easter craft

Paint the whole world with a Rainbow

2011-04-09T06:04:00.001+10:00

Up above the trees and houses, rainbow climbing high…

So yesterday was declared rainbow day (by me obviously).

First we watched the glee version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow about 10 times.

We watched episodes of Rainbow with Zippy and Bungle and George and Geoffrey on youtube.

We tied our playcloths together into a big rainbow circle and spread them out in the park to run around.

We made rainbow fruit pops for morning tea.

We made a playdough rainbow.

And a smartie rainbow.

We decorated the inside of the playhouse with a rainbow roof and made some quick rainbow cushions with a piece of shiny rainbow fabric that I bought and didn’t know what to do with.

And we read Rainbow Fish.

We were going to make rainbow cookies but we were all rainbowed out. Maybe we’ll have to have rainbow day again next week.

The New Do

2011-03-29T18:24:00.001+11:00

Before

After

S.W.A.P.

2011-03-29T15:03:00.001+11:00

I am having a go at SWAP (Sewing with a Plan) this season, hoping to end up with a more co-ordinated wardrobe for my little people. The idea is to sew a number of items which can all be used as a collection, making choosing what to wear each morning an easy task.

I am aiming to do 5 items per child to co-ordinate with things that are already in their wardrobes.

Starting with Beth.

I picked a few items from her current wardrobe which I would like to use this winter.

MIP Cupcake Dress from the Make It Perfect Book and the gorgeous jumper Becky knitted in aid of the Queensland Flood appeal that I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder for, plus a pair of gap jeans for good measure.

Leggings and long sleeve T-shirt with cute denim dress that my mum sent (thanks mum for fitting in with our colour scheme so well :)).

Dortje trousers and Imke shirts that I made last year from Sewing Clothes Kids Love book

And I’m am hoping to make the following

1) Oliver and S Jump-Rope Dress, pretty floral lawn from Spotlight

2. Oliver and S Nature Walk Knit Pants in red velour (from an old pair of trousers)

3. Imke Shirt from Sewing Clothes Kids Love, Long sleeved version

4. Champion Cargos from Make It Perfect book – in sunshine yellow cord

5. Make It Perfect Sprout Dress in Anna Maria Horner Flannel with plain lining.

I will try and get the pictures together for Hannah’s set tomorrow.

A carrier for my baby’s baby

2011-03-29T11:35:00.001+11:00

Beth helped me to make a carrier for her baby, she helped with the cutting (don’t worry I made sure to keep her fingers out of the way of the rotary cutter), she helped sewing the straps, turning them, topstitching them, pinning all the layers together and sewing the whole thing together. Her job on the machine was to press the back button when we got to the end of a seam, and to feed the fabric in (with help). She was really pleased with the end result! And so was I. The doll, only known as ‘baby’ also seems pleased with the arrangement.

Christmas Cupcakes

2010-12-24T15:04:00.001+11:00

These are so pretty, and so easy to make, I use this recipe from Kootoyoo, which hasn’t failed me yet, I don’t like coconut so I substitute with half a cup of ground almonds instead, I also add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to the milk to increase the lemonyness*. Itti bitti cupcakes like this take 13-15 minutes in my oven (my oven is hot, I set it on 150 non fan) and bigger normal sized cupcakes take around 20 minutes. They are so delicious and cupcakey* without even having to beat the butter to a pulp before getting started, which is perfect because I don’t have an electric miximajig*.

To add a little festive Christmasyness* I divided the mixture in three and added red and green food colouring, then made up a butter icing to turn them into butterfly cakes, and they are about to hit the table for Christmas Eve afternoon tea, with ‘spiders’ (two crackers, sandwiched with peanut butter or cheese spread with pretzel sticks for legs and sultanas for eyes) and salmon and cucumber sandwiches (which probably won’t get eaten).

*This blog post is dedicated to all the magical made up words out there.

Happy Christmas to Me

2010-12-23T15:57:00.001+11:00

A Christmas Dress for ME, yes that’s ME! Based on the pattern from this blog, sewn with Sooz at her fantastic Tessuti class.

EB Secret Santa Received

2010-12-13T13:17:00.001+11:00

Here is what I received from Rose in the EB Newbie Quilters Secret Santa :)

Some sewing goodies (of course, it was a sewing swap)– FQ of Christmas Fabric, a big reel of neutral thread an unpicker (what are you trying to say Rose ;)) and a great big pack of quilting safety pins (exactly what I needed :)).A super cute mug filled with… some very popular choccies, sneaky little fingers, don’t think they’ll last long.

Thank you to all the ladies who took part in this Secret Santa, and of course, especially to Rose.

Secret Santa Sneak Peek…

2010-12-02T13:51:00.001+11:00

I am involved in the EB Newbie Quilters Secret Santa…

Here’s a sneak peek of what will be going into the post this afternoon. I hope my partner likes it.

I can’t believe Christmas is coming up so fast, with some major changes going on in our house and family arriving Christmas eve the list of things to do is getting longer and longer! I’m glad I can cross this one off.

Self Portrait

2010-10-13T19:32:00.001+11:00

Blogtober 13th

As mandated by Tinniegirl, blogtober the 13th is Self Portrait day.

Only half there today ;)

My Tinkerbell

2010-10-13T16:13:00.000+11:00

My mum always called me Tinkerbell as a child, and now I have my own.

We bought the Tinkerbell DVD set for Christmas but daddy misunderstood and gave it to her straight away… anyway, mitigating TV viewing with related craft (to ease my conscience) here we have a most beautiful pair of fairy wings.

Macroscopic

2010-10-11T16:58:00.000+11:00

I’ve been playing around with taking macro pictures with a reversed 50mm lens. Great fun, and I REALLY want a macro lens now :) OK, so the pictures aren’t great but as a proof of concept I was pretty happy with them.

No more naked

2010-10-10T17:45:00.000+11:00

Blogtober 10th

New clothes for baby, reversible elastic waisted skirt (spotty dotty on the other side), and a rather dodgy t-shirt with matching applique.

B trying to get them off already…

I’ll have to have another go at the t-shirt, the neckline is baggy, and it’s a couple of sizes too small, but it only took about 5 minutes as Miss B was losing interest by then (didn’t hem the neckline/sleeves or bottom).She helped cut the fabrics and sat on my knee while I sewed and was very happy with the result.

I’ve been meaning to make baby some clothes for ages, there will be more I promise – maybe in time for Christmas?

Getting my supplies together…

2010-10-09T15:35:00.000+11:00

Blogtober 9th

Supplies for making some felted soaps like these.

from www.colourstreams.com.au so unbelievably soft. (well probably not if you know about that sort of thing but it seems that way to me).

Hopefully there will be a finished product to show off soon.

Row Row Row your boat…

2010-10-08T17:07:00.002+11:00

Blogtober 6 (late)

The end of the internet?

2010-10-08T15:30:00.001+11:00

Blogtober 8th

Oh wow, I really must get off the computer and get on with real life.

* I’ve been introduced to google readers ‘next’ function (by kirsty who got it from bec who got it from… well you know how it goes… if you use google reader and you haven’t tried it yet go here for a good run down on how it works.

Remoulded Crayons

2010-10-05T20:35:00.001+11:00

Blogtober 5th

Break up old crayons in cupcake wrappers, pop in the oven, and hey presto, new crayons, even the littlest person in the house can make her mark with these pretty cupcakes.

Build them up…

and knock them down

Another Imke (or two)

2010-10-04T23:32:00.000+11:00

Blogtober 4th

An Imke (from Sewing Clothes Kids Love) is apparently the perfect top for jumping on your sister’s bed in. Two hoodless versions, red with long green sleeves and stripy cap oversleeves, and a t-shirt version in stripy pink knit underneath.

“Oh Beehave” Block for Gina, Sneak Peak

2010-10-03T23:24:00.000+11:00

Blogtober 3rd

I’ll put it in the post next week Gina! Hope it’s OK. This was such a fun block to do, I miscut slightly so there’s a couple of extra seams in one of the borders, but I think it adds to the slight wonkiness quite well. Hope it fits the brief correctly.

Nappies

2010-10-02T20:19:00.001+10:00

Just the pictures of some Nappies I am selling through EB trading boards.

1. Woolly Butts Frilly Capris and matching Butterfly t-shirt (Bonds size 00), waist unstretched 43cm approx, length 34cm, rise 46cm. EUC, only worn a couple of times as wool and me just didn’t get on, washed but needs lanolising.

2) Possum Pouches/Possum Knits Colours of Australia Soaker Waist unstretched 48cm, Length 27cm, Rise 53cm

3) CGR Medium with matching singlet, Good used condition, lightly used for around 6 months as part of a large rotation.

4) EUC Woolly Butts Z is for Zebra Shorties and T-shirt (Bonds size 0) set. Waist 40cm, Length 34cm, Rise 50cm. Never actually used as a nappy cover, just occasionally for daywear.

5) EUC Jaybee mermaid print with two set of boosters. I don’t think these are made any more, but they have a snap in inner and a booster that sits inside the inner, the theory is that you use the outer twice (like you would a cover) as it comes with with two different inner/booster sets. It’s a really beautifully made nappy and a cute print.

6) EUC CK Auriel size 2, Fleece is a little pilled, but would improve with a bit of a brush.

7) EUC Wild Child Cloth Addict, MCN Anonymous Special Co-op nappy, only used 3 or 4 times, just never fit well :(. Size M/L

“Oh Beehave”

2010-10-02T00:03:00.001+10:00

Oh Beehave is the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild’s first Quilting Bee. My month has kicked off the Bee and I asked for these square blocks with a 6inch central square made up of geometric shapes such as triangles, squares and rectangles, and two borders. I provided 6 5 inch charm squares, a strip of brown fabric, and a scrappy border strip and asked everyone to choose the width of their two borders themselves.

The first three blocks I pieced to give examples of what I was hoping to receive.

And I have received 3 more back so far, and there’s still 2 weeks until the deadline :)

From Gina

From Jotsmum

From Frogdancer

Apart from the brown solid and the kei honeycomb dots all the fabrics came from my scrap pile.

Blogtoberfest Day 1

2010-10-01T13:03:00.001+10:00

Today is the first day of Blogtober, a months long blogging festival hosted by Tinniegirl.

I’m not committing to blogging everyday, but I’ll do my best.

This is the most delicious bread I have ever eaten. Mmmmm.

The girl and I were making dough shortly before 7 this morning, after our early morning walk! And what a beautiful 5.30am it was this morning, fresh but not cold, sun rising and sparkling on the calm waters of the bay and a little person to chat with on the way, “where is the moon mummy, what’s that noise mummy, I see the boat mummy, is it moving mummy, it’s moving, it’s moving (no it’s not) where is the moon, there it is (excited voice), moon’s gone (behind a building), what’s that in the sky (hot air balloon), I see a dog…, I like birds, what’s that noise (parrots), I don’t like parrots, where are the parrots, me see, me see, where is the moon, moon is awake, grandma sleeping (I told her when the moon disappears it is at grandma’s house in the UK)” and so on and so forth, we shared a very pleasurable 40 minutes.

Anyway back to the bread, recipe from here, inspiration from here. I understand why people buy bread, although there isn’t much time involved, you really do have to set aside the whole morning to allow for rising and cooking, but having eaten this (I’ve only made Pizza dough and focaccia before) I can also understand why people do make their own bread.

My/her first IMKE

2010-09-22T16:28:00.001+10:00

The IMKE shirt, from the Sewing Clothes Kids Love book.

The first but certainly not the last. There are 5 more cut out/part sewn in the sewing room.
Sewn as part of Kids Clothes Week

This little bunny likes a lie in

2010-08-22T15:56:00.000+10:00

We bought this toddler sleep clock to try and get Beth to stop waking before 5am every morning… At night the sleeping bunny is lit up, and in the morning, the walking bunny comes on.

and it’s going really well, we’ve had it a week and she’s gone from waking at 4.45, to this morning 6.05 :) only problem is the blinkin’ bunny seems to like a lie in, there’s something funny going on with the clock and the bunny seems to wake up about 5 minutes later each day, which is great, but I’d like to know when the bunny is going to get up… ahahha, I think it will have to go back to the shop but I don’t want to send it away because it seems to be helping (fingers crossed).

The Dolls in the Doll House

2010-08-21T15:33:00.000+10:00

Enter the dolls,

I bought these little guys from Mothercare last weekend for Beth and it was decided that they needed somewhere to live.
So she and daddy built this:

one bedroomone bathroom (complete with bath, toilet and sink)cupboard under the stairs kitchen cabinetsand a kitchen table and chairs decorated with scrapbooking paper (Nic you might recognise some of the bundle you sent me in there) and furnished from our craft supplies this beauty was made entirely from things we already had, well, unless you count the pram that the conveniently doll house sized box came wrapped around. I think we’ll leave this one to develop over the next month or two.

Play Space Revised

2010-08-20T14:58:00.000+10:00

Beth’s (and not Hannah’s) toys have been overflowing their boxes for a while now. She has so many and to be truthful, many have been stuck at the bottom of the box for quite some time now, so I had a tidy up…
Inspired by a blog post that I now can’t find, sorry, we (well mainly me, but she did help a bit) sorted her books. Don’t they look pretty, but really, I think we need more purple books.

Chose just a small number of toys (soft toys in the basket, always her favourite things, balls, dolls, beanbags and an assortment of shakers) and EVERYTHING ELSE except the street scene on the table and the dolls house (coming later) has gone downstairs. I’ve also moved the table and chairs away from in front of the TV, where we keep using it as a coffee table and dinner table, back into her play area. (Art supplies are of course still around, I couldn’t send them away…just looking for a new way to store them at the moment).
So I’m looking forward to seeing how this affects how we play over the next week or so and then we will switch for some other toys instead.

We Play – Childhood 101

2010-08-18T18:36:00.001+10:00

I’ve been wanting some playsilks, but wanted a wide range of colours, so decided to opt for the non-silk variety for cost reasons. 1 metre of red, yellow, pink, green, orange, purple, blue and brown in different weights (chiffon, silk effect chiffon, satin backed crepe, satin etc. ), a quick rolled hem on the overlocker. The blue has been particularly useful as a swimming pool, sky, sea, pond etc., I think I’ll go and get a few more shades of blue.

Anyway, yesterday we did the ‘sing a rainbow’ song while stepping on each colour, great fun!

Childhood 101 we play link up :)

Half Square Triangles are Finished

2010-08-18T12:17:00.000+10:00

Well, here it is at last. It’s so soft and snuggly, more Anna Maria Horner, this time her Folksy Flannels (I'm after the Voiles next). Quilted in straight lines 1/4 inch either side of each diagonal, I wouldn’t do it this way again as it was impossible to keep the line straight where all the points meet, especially with the flannel being so much thicker than quilters cotton. It let to a certain degree of wonkiness, most of which came out in the wash luckily… Anyway, it’s keeping us all snuggly and warm on the sofa in the mornings.
Here it is in action. Sorry the colour is so yellow, there was something funny going on with my camera but I’ve fixed it now (user error as always). And yes, the big one is often to be found sitting ON the little one…

EB Round Robin Quilt Completed

2010-08-14T12:06:00.000+10:00

Ta da!
My feature fabrics are all from the Good Folks range by Anna Maria Horner, paired with Homespun solids from Spotlight
Blocks by:
Kirsty
Kayscha
Car
Ruth
Becky
Louise
Rose
Khris
Alissa
Anna
Dani
Me
From the EB Newbie Quilters Group
Backing is more Anna Maria Horner Good Folks paired with a mustardy yellow homespun (as suggested by the good ladies of the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild). And the binding is pieced from a little piece of each fabric from every block I made, plus a little piece of all the fabrics in my quilt.
Quilted all over in random flowers, my first attempt at this kind of quilting, I reckon the more random the better, that way you can just pretend it’s meant to be that way :).

Rights of the Reader

2010-08-13T09:21:00.001+10:00

I’ve been reading a lot of blogs about reading to children and teaching children to read in the last few weeks. And it has made me think of this.

Rights of the Reader

From Daniel Pennac’s essay Comme un Roman. This version is illustrated by Quentin Blake who illustrated all the Roald Dahl books so his style will be easily recognisable to many.

I’m going to print this up and put it up above the girls book shelves.

The original is in French, and as is usual with translations, the original reads better, so if you read French then here is the annotated version on Wikipedia.

2010 list update

2010-08-12T16:12:00.000+10:00

Just a superquick update on the 2010 list.

STILL IN PROGRESS
- Hungry Caterpillar for Beth - UNPICKING QUILTING - EEK
- Rainbow Quilts x 2
- Baby Dear Jane
- Trousers for me
- 3 Quilts for Gifts (one pattern purchased, nothing else so far) PATTERNS SELECTED, 1 lot of fabrics almost cut out.

- Quilt for Hannah - couple of fabric options - thinking yellows, blues and pinks.
ADDED TO THE LIST
- 2x Elephants for Christmas (Ricrac)
- Charm Square Quilt
- MMQG Block Swap Quilt
- Christmas Table Runner for Nana

COMPLETED
- Picnic Quilt (Vintage FQ swap fabrics) DONE
- Aunt Bec's Nine Patch for Beth's Bed (Pinks and Greens) DONE
- Purple Quilt (Possible Hand Quilting Project) - DONE
- Flannel Quilts for winter snuggling on the sofa x 2 (Anna Maria Horner Fabrics) DONE
- EB Newbie Quilters Round Robin to piece and complete (Fabrics all ready to go) DONE
- MIP Uptown Girl jacket for Beth DONE
- New walls for the cubby house DONE
ALSO COMPLETED
- Dortje Trousers for Beth DONE
- 2x Ice Cream Dresses for Christmas DONE
- 1 Turtle - collaborative project with toddler (still to blog)

We Play – Childhood 101

2010-08-12T14:40:00.001+10:00

I recently discovered the childhood 101 blog, full of fun ideas and activities and serious thoughts on bringing up children put together in such a fun and accessible way. Today I’m joining in with their ‘we play’ section for the first time.

Christie talks about invitations to play, that is setting up enough of an activity for your child(ren) to inspire a play activity. Here was my ‘invitation’ for yesterday.
I find this is something I do frequently, but I am always wondering how much direction to give, and how much to leave to Beth who is 27 months, she is really starting to enjoy imaginative play, but still seems to need a little prompting. My littlest however, is happy as long as she can chew on the odd cow, or car, or whatever she can reach.
I got one of the cars and one of the people out which prompted Beth to head off and find more. Then the cars had to be joined together to parade down the road, and grandpa had to go for a swim in the pond.
You can also see in the corner a small collection of pebbles, seed pods and leaves which we collected a couple of days ago and I added to the scene. She was very excited about the ‘stones’.
The basis for this play was a small play mat I put together, I’ve been wanting one of those big rugs with roads and rivers and houses on in, but not wanting to bring anything else into a space that is already overloaded with toys and ‘things’ decided to make a table sized one. A large piece of grey/silver cardboard, some green felt and some sparkly blue for water, a pair of scissors and a bit of spray glue and here it is. I hope it will offer the basis for some good play activity over the next few weeks and if so I will work on making it more permanent. It fits into a large Ikea storage box so can be stored away with all the creatures in tact.

To see how others are playing this week visit childhood 101.

Ice Cream Social

2010-08-12T07:28:00.001+10:00

I decided to take part in the 'ice cream social’ to make two of the Oliver + S Ice Cream dresses for my girls to wear for Christmas this year.

First up there was a giveaway involved and I was lucky enough to win these beautiful fabrics from one of the organisers, Kate of One Flew Over, a pretty floral Liberty fabric and some grey on white Kei dots. Thanks so much Kate for a gorgeous giveaway. I am contemplating an Insa skirt from my new favourite book Sewing Clothes Kids Love

And here is what I made, two ice cream dresses, one in 12-18months and one in size 3T which should hopefully fit the girls by the time Christmas comes around.

I loved the pattern, easy to follow, and easy to adapt to your own methods as well, and the help and tips from all the sewists involved in the flickr group made it so much easier and more fun. It took me a little longer than the allocated two weeks but not much. Thanks for the motivation! It’s already inspired some further garment making, next off the production line, Dortje Pants (from the book mentioned above).

HST’s all joined together

2010-06-10T15:35:00.001+10:00

225 half square triangles in 25 rows of 21…

I think it’s just about the prettiest thing I’ve ever made.

Only trouble is how to iron it, I hate ironing!

Making Progress on the RR

2010-05-30T08:55:00.001+10:00

A quick trip to Amitie yesterday morning for a more suitable sashing for the Round Robin quilt top and a couple of hours sewing and here it is! Much much better.

I had a fantasy moment on Friday that I could finish 3 quilts this weekend (moderated later on to 1 quilt and 2 quilt tops). So on Friday night I sat down at the machine for a couple of hours and made two wetbags and a skirt for B. Erm… no, not the way to go to finish quilts. Anyway, Saturday saw this top finished and the flannel squares laid out on the floor in my sewing room, first row sewn together, only another 25 rows to go. I hope to make more progress on that this afternoon after a trip to Mathilda’s market.

Round Robin Quilt – Work in Progress

2010-05-27T21:40:00.001+10:00

I’ve put a skinny cream border on my Round Robin blocks, and am ready to put the sashing on, but not happy with the dusky pink I chose. I think it needs a stronger colour. Off to the shops again for me, what a shame…

Half Square Triangle Quilt - Work in Progress

2010-05-27T21:23:00.001+10:00

Heaps of yummy Anna Maria Horner Folksy Flannels, matched with a white Robert Kaufman flannel…

From this…

to this

Auditioning layouts

1. 2.3. 4.

Number 4 is the favourite tonight. Hoping to have time to start piecing tomorrow.

MMQG, 1st Meeting of...

2010-05-22T21:08:00.001+10:00

Today was the first meeting of the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild. I'm not feeling words right now so you'll have to make do with some pictures.

A rainbow of 5 inch charm squares for a swapHelene, organiser extraordinaire…, ably abetted by Adele :)Beautiful quilting people Some of the crafty goings on.

Telling Stories

2010-05-13T14:19:00.001+10:00

Here are some of the completed pages from the Tell your Story Art Journal Class, in random order…

Monkey Cakes

2010-05-11T12:35:00.001+10:00

We made monkey cup cakes for Beth’s birthday this year. Very cute!

except she insisted that they were tigers… and then bears…

Two years old

2010-05-11T09:30:00.001+10:00

I can hardly believe that our gorgeous girl is two years old already.

She loves to cook, to sing and dance, to run (fast), to bounce, to cuddle, she enjoys drawing and painting, swimming, going to the zoo, school (daycare), playing with her sister, she’s not too keen on eating or sleeping, they just seem to get in the way of having fun. Stay happy and healthy my big girl.

Patchwork Curtains

2010-04-30T21:05:00.001+10:00

We have crazily long windows so buying readymade curtains is tricky, but when I priced up fabric for the full curtains it was starting to get expensive, so I picked up a couple of clearance curtains and made a patchwork panel to extend them from matching fabrics in my stash.

ta da, pretty curtains. Shame the pictures aren’t so great.

Tell Your Story – Day 1 – A New Season

2010-04-27T14:23:00.001+10:00

Not quite an ANZAC

2010-04-25T09:35:00.001+10:00

This might be the last time I can officially make my ‘Not Quite and Anzac’ Biscuits, so here they are for all to see.

ANZAC day is the Australian “Remembrance Sunday” remembering those who served their country during wars past, and honouring the work done by ‘our’ current servicemen and women.

On the 3rd of May Sam and I will attend our citizenship ceremony and become Australian Citizens. We will finally have the same citizenship status as our two daughters who were both born in Australia since we moved here almost 5 years ago.

The biscuits are based on a Marie Claire recipe but I don’t like desiccated coconut so I substituted ground almonds, and then added chocolate chips in to the mix just for fun. (Sometimes we add nuts as well, toasted walnuts work well, or maybe macadamias – Australian grown of course!.)

Flour 125g
Sugar 225g
Ground Almonds 90g
Oats 100g (I didn’t have enough oats so used some oatmeal as well)
Butter 125g
3tbs Golden Syrup
Bi-carb of Soda (1tsp dissolved in 2tbs warm water)
(Optional) 1 Cup of Choc chips, nuts, raisins etc, whatever combo takes your fancy.

Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl, for cooking with toddlers the pre-measuring it all into cups method works well!

She knows the drill Melt the butter and golden syrup in a small pan,Add the bi-carb/water mix to the butter, it will froth up dramatically like thisadd this to the dry mix and stir well. Spoon teaspoons of mixture onto a baking tray and bake in the oven. Now the book suggests 15 minutes on 180 but my oven is apparently all powerful and mighty and 8 minutes on 160 is just perfect.

This mixture makes about 2 dozen (or more) biscuits so if I’m being disciplined then I cook a dozen and then roll the rest of the mixture into a log, slice it and freeze the rest in a plastic container half a dozen at a time between greaseproof paper. That way I can have hot fresh cookies in 10 minutes straight from the freezer.

What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

Tell Your Story

2010-04-20T14:44:00.001+10:00

I have completed my first page for the Tell Your Story online workshop.

I’ve never done anything like it before but really enjoyed it. I still have to do a ‘right now’ page before the workshop starts for real next week.

Future Project Colours

2010-04-19T17:31:00.001+10:00

Slow progress on the caterpillar quilt

2010-04-17T13:49:00.001+10:00

So I started working on Beth’s hungry caterpillar quilt a long time ago. I’ve worked on it in fits and starts doing some freestyle quilting on the butterfly and the caterpillar first which I loved

Then I attended Kellie’s class and started practicing swirls to fill in – see just below the caterpillar.

Then (a few months later) I started quilting around the dots in the panel borders like this – which I was really pleased with

And then a month or so later… I did this… aaaaarrrgh, spot the mistake time.

And I’ve finally got around to starting the unpicking, fingers crossed for more progress soon.

So I like the quilting, but I hate unpicking, oh well, such is life.

Storm at Sea

2010-04-12T14:00:00.001+10:00

Pattern from this book

I bought a jelly roll of purple fabrics from last year’s AQC.

I went to a hand quilting class at Amitie so I have been hand quilting in the white stars which I really enjoyed.

Backing is a Kaffe Fasset print, binding is a plain purple homespun.

Uptown Girl

2010-04-11T15:56:00.001+10:00

Another off the list, Beth’s Uptown Girl Jacket from Make it Perfect bought here.

Just perfect for a baby rock star. Cute owl finewale cord lined with white (what was I thinking) minky. Great pattern, easy to follow, just enough detailing to make it look good, but not fussy. It’s been cut out for about 6 weeks but only took 3 hours to put together, all it needs now is a button.

Had a great morning at the first 2 year old birthday party of the season, one more next week and then not long until Beth’s turn!

2010 Project List Updated

2010-04-08T15:09:00.001+10:00

Thought it was time for an end of Q1 update to my 2010 list! Still trying to work through last years WIPs before starting anything new.

1. 4 Pieced and Sandwiched Quilts ready for Quilting.
- Picnic Quilt (Vintage FQ swap fabrics) DONE
- Aunt Bec's Nine Patch for Beth's Bed (Pinks and Greens) DONE
- Hungry Caterpillar for Beth Quilting still in progress… large patch of unpicking to do.
- Purple Quilt – Handquilted all the stars, handsewing binding to be done, maybe some more handquilting??.
2. New Quilts Planned
- Rainbow Quilts x 2 NO PROGRESS
- Baby Dear Jane – first block completed, journal pages printed
- Flannel Quilts for winter snuggling on the sofa x 2 (Anna Maria Horner Fabrics)NO PROGRESS
- 34 Quilts for Gifts (patterns chosen, fabrics for one chosen, nothing else so far)
- EB Newbie Quilters Round Robin to piece and complete (Fabrics all ready to go) NO PROGRESS
- Quilt for Hannah - couple of fabric options - thinking yellows, blues and pinks. NO PROGRESS
3. Other Sewing
- MIP Uptown Girl jacket for Beth – Cut out
- New walls for the cubby house NO PROGRESS
- Trousers for me NO PROGRESS
- NEW skirt for me from this book Pattern drawn up.
- Easter Bunting – DONE

A few finishes but not much sewing been going on in the last few months, but hoping it will pick up soon.

Aunt Bec’s 9 Patch

2010-04-07T20:17:00.001+10:00

Pattern from Amitie, fabrics from my trip to Material Obsession in Sydney last year with Kayscha

Finally Finished and ready to go in Beth’s big girl room.

She seems to like it

The colours are just perfect

Some quilting detail

The Back, there were not many leftovers!

The Girls

2010-04-02T15:25:00.001+11:00

23 months, 10 weeks, gorgeousness.

Toddler Craft

2010-04-02T15:24:00.001+11:00

Potato print Easter cards

Fabric Shopping

2010-02-19T10:42:00.000+11:00

A bit of fabric shopping I did recently... from fabricworm.

Anna Maria Horner Voiles for little girls dresses, super soft, I wish I'd bought a bigger piece for me. I would love to make a supersoft quilt from these as well.

Kei dots in red, aqua and yellow, plus some more Anna Maria Horner for a secret project.

Alexander Henry Owls, this is a decorating weight fabric that I'm going to use to recover the laundry basket in Beth's room.

This will be the last lot of fabric I buy for a while. Need to do some saving and stash busting so any purchases will be for specific, in progress projects.

Picnic Time

2010-02-18T15:19:00.000+11:00

OK we need to find an excuse to go for a picnic, I've finally finished the picnic blanket.

Made from a combination of old and new fabrics and layered with a piece of heavyweight fleece which I hope will keep out the damp should we picnic on damp grass. Quilted simply in the ditch and on the diagonal across each block.

I pillowcase turned the blanket rather than binding, that's not something I will be doing again as it was impossible to quilt without it bunching up and creasing but hey, it's onlt going to be laid on damp ground and have food rubbed into it so I'm going to relax about that. Anyway with the combination of fabrics it's bound to wash up wonky anyway.

Here it is. I'll try and get back with some pictures of it in use soon.

and all tied up for storing and travel

Twenty-Ten, 2010, New Year, New List

2010-02-16T12:32:00.000+11:00

I actually started writing this post on December 31st, oops. These are the projects I would like to finish this year - eek. A couple are hangovers from last year, but many are new, and for a change this year, many are for ME.

1. 4 Pieced and Sandwiched Quilts ready for Quilting.
- Picnic Quilt (Vintage FQ swap fabrics) DONE
- Aunt Bec's Nine Patch for Beth's Bed (Pinks and Greens)
- Hungry Caterpillar for Beth ON THE MACHINE NOW
- Purple Quilt (Possible Hand Quilting Project)
2. New Quilts Planned
- Rainbow Quilts x 2
- Baby Dear Jane
- Flannel Quilts for winter snuggling on the sofa x 2 (Anna Maria Horner Fabrics)
- 3 Quilts for Gifts (one pattern purchased, nothing else so far)
- EB Newbie Quilters Round Robin to piece and complete (Fabrics all ready to go)
- Quilt for Hannah - couple of fabric options - thinking yellows, blues and pinks.
3. Other Sewing
- MIP Uptown Girl jacket for Beth
- New walls for the cubby house
- Trousers for me

Our little Hannah

2010-02-14T07:45:00.000+11:00

Hannah Olive arrived in a hurry on the 16th of January, the last 4 weeks have passed so quickly with family visits and spending time with both of my beautiful girls that I haven't posted for far too long!

Here she is with her big sister:

She's fitting into the family beautifully, sleeping lots and much loved by all, included her big sister who keeps asking for more cuddles and has been very gentle. Luckily she's been well entertained by grandparents for the last few weeks! But life without Hannah is becoming a distant memory for all of us already.

p.s. Hannah arrived just 7 minutes after the new baby elephant at Melbourne Zoo who we went to see yesterday.

Snuggly Quilt

2010-02-13T19:35:00.000+11:00

I made this snuggly quilt which incorporates bits of minky and chenille fabric for extra softness. It was supposed to be for snuggling on the sofa when it gets cooler but B has decided that she will sleep with it now!

I think she likes it :)

I cut the pieces so that they would fit together to make 6 inch squares, then sewed together strips of 6 inch squares and then sewed the strips together, no pattern, just laid everything out on the floor and I think it worked pretty well.

The quilting isn't great, I used boy and girl templates bought from Amitie, most of the print fabric came from Amber at Fresh Fabrics, the minky and chenille from Gail B's and the backing and binding from Amitie.

Wordless Weekend - Best Friends

2009-12-13T13:19:00.000+11:00

EB Newbie Quilters RR Swap, last sneak peek...

2009-12-08T13:12:00.000+11:00

Journal Cover

2009-12-07T13:04:00.001+11:00

And one more handmade project completed

A diary cover from this tutorial for another Christmas Gift.

Christmas Table Runners

2009-12-07T13:00:00.000+11:00

Following on from the blocks I posted earlier, here are the finished Table Runners, both to go in the post today! I really want to keep the red one, simple suits me well, will have to make myself one one day.

Sorry the pictures are a bit dark but the flashed ones just look totally washed out.

Wordless Weekend

2009-11-29T08:43:00.001+11:00

For more Wordless Weekend snaps see Novy's Blog

2009-11-29T08:34:00.000+11:00

There's a Blog A Long running at Car's blog in the run up to Christmas! Still haven't decided if I'm going to commit but thought I would put it out there incase anyone who hasn't already signed up is interested. Share the love around people! December starts too soon!

EB Newbie Quilters Block Swap Blocks

2009-11-17T22:36:00.000+11:00

I've been slack in posting my sneak peaks, although my blocks have been back at Kirsty's for a while now but here are some more...

Sorry it's taken so long for me to post them, I know how exciting it is when others post pictures with your fabrics in them...

Just two more blocks to go and then we are getting the whole lot back in December to put together in time for Christmas, and this one is for me, it's mine, all mine... :)

Christmas Table Runner - Work in Progress

2009-11-15T21:57:00.000+11:00

I decided to make some blocks using this tutorial from Elizabeth at Oh Fransson.

So far I have made 6 blocks in the red (ironed on to the interfacing) and 2 in the green (completed), so planning one all read an done red and green table runner. I love the red ones especially. Might have to make more of them.

I made a couple of changes to the technique in the tutorial, I used spray baste to stick them down before ironing, rather than touching with the iron as suggested. Mainly because my cutting space and my ironing space are in different rooms... but I think it was helpful. I also ironed my seams to one side which is much quicker that ironing them open, I did try one block with the seams ironed open and it is a little flatter, but takes ages to do, and once it's all quilted I don't think it will make enough difference to be worth it.

Here are the next batch of fabrics ready to be cut,

Anyway, at least I am doing (and blogging) something!

Beth's Big Girl Room

2009-11-14T21:40:00.000+11:00

Beth's room is nearly finished, just one more picture to find (for the frame on the bottom right) but I know which one I am after.

So here's some pictures

The Name Letters - Wooden Letters from Spotlight, Heather Bailey Scrapbooking Paper glued on with quilt basting spray.

The Cupboard - Ikea Expedit, the top has been covered with patchwork squares of the same paper as the Name Letters and glued down with multiple coats of ModPodge (Tip, don't butt your squares up too close as they expand when wet...)
The Tree is a gorgeous wall decal that we put up a couple of months ago.

The Pictures

1. Butterfly mirrors in three sizes from Spotlight, Paper Heather Bailey Scrapbooking Paper

2. A Pretty Card

3. Wooden Butterfly Cutouts (Spotlight) covered in same paper as above

4.Belle and Boo birthday card that my parents sent me

5. Little Red Birds to match the Owl Headboard.

I'm pleased with how it's turned out and hope she will enjoy it.

EB Doll Quilt Swap 2009 - Sent

2009-11-13T21:28:00.000+11:00

OK, and here are some pictures of the quilt I sent to Tina (Can't find your blog Tina? which is a shame because your pictures are better than mine!)

It was a fun one to make and has gone to a good home.

The Big List

2009-11-12T22:12:00.000+11:00

Well, really this isn't the big list, it's the 'things to finish before Christmas/baby's arrival' list. The big list would have lots more long term projects and dream projects on it.

1. 3 Quilts to be quilted and bound (Purple Quilt, Aunt Bec's 9-Patch, Hungry Caterpillar)

2. Beth's cuddly quilt to be pieced (cut out and waiting for me to start sewing)

3. Table Runners x3 for Christmas Presents (Done)

4. 2x Rainbow lap quilts (pics of the fabrics to follow).

5. Applique some t-shirts for B (Done)

6. Dress from pre-shirred fabric for B (if I leave it until next Summer the fabric won't be big enough)
(update 15.11.09 - Done)

7. MIP Hats for B and for Me (the last one I made was too small :()

8. Picnic Blanket from vintage FQ's
(Done)

9. Ring Sling
(Done)

10. PIF's

11. Curtains for the Lounge (need extending)

(Done)

12. Put together EB Newbie Quilters Round Robin Block Swap Quilt

EB Doll Quilt Swap 2009 Received

2009-11-12T21:19:00.000+11:00

Just look at the gorgeous quilt Bethan and I received from Nic in the EB Doll Quilt Swap this year.

I sent a couple of pictures of Beth's room (more to come in another post) and she has got the the colours and the style just perfect.

The pictures show it up on her wall so that you can see how well it goes in her room, but I think it will be used for dolls, I mean that's what they are really for isn't it!

Thankyou so much Nic, we love it. Check out Nic's blog for more pictures including a picture of the back and the gorgeous label she made which I forgot to take a picture of because I had put it on the wall.

I will post my sent quilt later...

New Headboard for the Big Bed

2009-10-08T09:30:00.000+11:00

I made up a new headboard for B's big girl bed over the weekend, pleased with the results, but not pleased with my pictures!

The little owl appliques match the owls in the tree decal on the opposite wall.

Straight line quilting on alternate columns.

The Baby Quilt

2009-08-16T20:35:00.000+10:00

Here's a couple of pictures of what I've been working on for the last couple of months. A quilt for my first niece Charlotte who arrived, eventually, 2 weeks ago today.

Happy 2 week birthday Charlotte.

The quilt is a pattern by Sandy Klop and made largely with her 'American Jane' range of fabrics, with a few extra spots and stripes etc. thrown in.

RR Sneak Peaks, Sets 1 and 2

2009-08-15T21:36:00.000+10:00

Block Swap Fabrics

2009-07-11T14:43:00.000+10:00

here are my fabrics for the EB Newbie Quilters Block Swap...

Something Fishy

2009-04-28T12:47:00.000+10:00

My Quilt Recieved in the DQS6 didn't have to travel as far as my quilt sent, and it arrived this morning.

In fact these little fishies have only travelled about 10 miles up the road, such a small world...

What you can't see on the picture is that the fish fins are little flaps and their eyes are little beads, and Beth is loving playing with them.

Thank you so much Cylie, we are very happy with our quilt.

Here you can see a some of the beautiful swirling waves in the quilting. Sorry for my terrible photos but the light isn't great here this morning.

DQS6 Sent to the U S of A

2009-04-28T12:11:00.000+10:00

My Doll Quilt Swap 6 is in the post, a little late so I hope it gets to my swap partner on time - 3-10 working days according to the post office.

And here it is.

I was really pleased with it, I found a couple of frog blocks online and designed the centre block based on them, it's the first serious piecing I've done and I enjoyed it, it wasn't as scary as I thought (I usually do applique or just squares...). And I love the brightness of it. It's going to someone who has boys so I hope that they will find it appropriate. I thought the Save our Planet fabric fitted nicely as it seemed a green and environmental kind of theme.

Nature Walk

2009-04-28T07:42:00.000+10:00

Yesterday we went on a nature walk, we're lucky that our appartment block has such lovely gardens, just enough to explore.

Mmm, wonder what this bark tastes like...

This is pretty

Serious leaf carrying business.

Easter

2009-04-27T16:21:00.001+10:00

IMGP7858, originally uploaded by red in oz.

Beth eating her easter egg - testing flickr

Skirt and Shirt Market

2009-04-20T16:29:00.000+10:00

On Sunday we went over to Abbotsford Convent to check out the markets there and make the most of the day to make a trip to the Collingwood Children's Farm while we were there.

Lucky for me Beth slept in the car for an hour after we arrived to I got to scope out the markets on my own - hurray - much more conducive to a bit of shopping.

There were two markets on, the Makers Market and the Skirt and Shirt Market. They are both regular markets held on the 3rd Sunday of each month and both worth checking out. Lots of clothes (women's and childrens apart from a few mens t-shirts), jewellery, accessories, toys and many more crafty delights.

I bought this cute dress for Beth from Retrobub, haven't managed to try it on her yet but I know it will be just perfect.

And I bought this skirt for me from Sancana and I love it. I have promised to wear it, get into wearing skirts and go back wearing it next month ;) Don't you love small businesses who actually care what happens to their goods. I know it's a terrible photo, it was the best I could get out of Sam who was determinedly watching nothing on TV... The jacket I bought as well, from Saffron it's a gift for my mum but I thought I would try it on for the photo.

Afterwards we went to the farm and saw lots of animals, and had a very nice brunch.

4SDQS5 - Received

2009-03-20T19:18:00.000+11:00

I received this beautiful doll quilt from Trish in the 4 seasons doll quilt swap 5 monochrome challenge.

I think it's just beautiful, and as you can see, someone else agrees.

This is the one I sent and it has been well received by Rachel

(I promise I'll come in tomorrow and add all the links in).

Kids Clothes Swap

2009-03-20T18:53:00.001+11:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the cute outfit that the talented Natalie sent for Beth in the EB Sewing group Kids' Clothes Swap.

here is Beth in her new outfit demonstrating her new 'up' trick

and here's a pic showing the matching hair clip

Thankyou Natalie for all the hard work you have put into this outfit for us, and thankyou for Ingrid for organising the swap.

4SDQS5 MONO Sneak Peek

2009-03-08T19:20:00.000+11:00

Finally a sneak peek of my Dolls Quilt for the 4 Seasons Doll Quilt Swap 5 Monochrome Challenge.

It's on it's way over the seas at the moment, should be there soon...

It's been great fun and I will post more pictures once I know it has been received.

Irises

2009-02-18T17:43:00.001+11:00

I have been in reciept of a blogland random act of kindness (RAK). Although I entered for a couple of the giveaways in the Great International Stash Busting Giveaway I didn't actually win any, but I recieved an email from Sherry saying that she had more of the Irises that she had included in her giveaway and was I interested... as I had said in my comment that I am collecting iris fabrics to make a quilt for my daughter (who's middle name is Iris).

So here they are, t hree big stacks of charm squares,they are just fab, and the colours are so much better in real life than in the pictures. I can't wait to get working with them.

Thank you so much Sherry.

Habedashery Swap

2009-02-16T13:52:00.000+11:00

I took part in the EB Habedashery Swap and opening day was Saturday.

Here are the pictures of the goodies that I recieved from Becca.

I had put in my preferences that I needed buttons and I was hoping to make some more softies so she sent me lots of appropriate goodies for that.

And have a look at these - geniune vintage women's weekly - how cool are they. I am going to make the kangaroo first.

My big girl

2009-02-01T17:33:00.000+11:00

I was going to cut her a slice of nectarine, but she didn't think much of that idea and swiped the whole thing...

She's changing every day, this weekend she has crawled for the first time, managed to get herself from lying (on her front) to sitting, and learnt to clap.

The big bed quilt

2009-02-01T17:16:00.000+11:00

Here it is, with a cute model showing it off.

I just quilted straight lines as it was tooooo biiiig to do anything else with. The room looks very busy now but I kinda like it.

Aglow!

2009-01-30T08:13:00.001+11:00

Look what I got, I was so excited when I saw the return address on the package.

I was 10,000th visitor to Emma's blog and she sent me this to mark the occasion, thankyou so much Emma, it's beautiful, and you were right, red really is my favourite colour.

I'm sorry my pictures don't do it justice but it really is fabulous and so appropriate for the weather today. See more pics on Emma's blog.

Anyone who hasn't seem Emma's blog before, you must check it out, her work is so clever. Not only is she a wonderful quilter - a quilt artist indeed, but she is so helpful and supportive of other quilters, not least beginners like me.

Thank you Emma for all your support and for this lovely quilt.

51 Books

2009-01-28T23:04:00.000+11:00

Well, I pulled together my pile of books, stacked them up, and lo, 51 books, which one should I NOT read this year lol!

Uni Books

More Uni Books

Books for pleasure

Don't think I need to say any more...

What are you reading?

2009-01-28T21:47:00.000+11:00

I've decided I'm going to join in with the 50 books challenge that Ruth kicked off on her blog at the start of the new year, many (some 'sheepishly' Car lol) others have followed, so I think it's almost an official challenge now.

50 books for 2009, I have about a thousand I should be reading for Uni, so better get started.

I'll do up a list in another post, but I just thought I would throw this out there (you obviously don't have to be participating in the 'challenge' to answer.

1) What are you reading now?
2) What book do you think EVERYONE should read at some point in their lives?
3) What is your favourite book? (Might be the same as No. 2)
4) What book would you recommend to a friend who needs a bit of cheering up?
5) Who is your favourite author (and why)?
6) What is your favourite non-fiction book?
7) What is your favourite genre/type of books?
8) What is your favourite era in literature?
9) What book do you REALLY want to finish this year (even if you don't manage another 49)?
10) What is the most disappointing book you have read (i.e. you expected it to be really great, or it had a disappointing ending).
11) What BIG book do you have sitting on your shelf that you would love to have time to read?
12) What are you reading next?

I think that's enough, I considered aiming for 50 questions, but thought that might be a bit much...

So, my answers...

1) What are you reading now? Juliet Nicolson, The Perfect Summer: Dancing into Shadow in 1911 (non-fiction about the build up to the first world war as seen by the British aristocracy - this was a Christmas present and I'm really enjoying it)
2) What book do you think EVERYONE should read at some point in their lives? Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children
3) What is your favourite book? (Might be the same as No. 2) Hanif Kureshi, The Black Album
4) What book would you recommend to a friend who needs a bit of cheering up? Roddy Doyle, The Woman who Walked into Doors - not cheery but then you'd realise your life isn't so bad after all, or Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran which is engaging enough to take your mind off things, but not hard to read.
5) Who is your favourite author? Hanif Kureshi, or Adaf Soueif (Map of Love).
6) What is your favourite non-fiction book? Well, can't go past anything by Nigella Lawson, I reckon her recipes read like fiction, I have been known to read her books from cover to cover... Study wise Nancy Etoff's Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty.
7) What is your favourite genre/type of books? I love books on the Middle East and India, even though they are places I have never been to, books about the characters' everyday life, and I'm not immune to a bit of crime drama (a la Dan Brown) for a forget-all-about-the-real-world type read.
8) What is your favourite era in literature? Early 20th Century, through to 2nd world war, although I have really enjoyed Phillipa Gregory's historical novels as well.
9) What book do you REALLY want to finish this year (even if you don't manage another 49)? Germaine Greer, Shakespeare's Wife, and lots of Uni reading.
10) What is the most disappointing book you have read (i.e. you expected it to be really great, or it had a disappointing ending). Yann Martel, Life of Pi, I could never shake the feeling all the way through that he was a patient in a mental insititue, and I promise I didn't read the ending first, so I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to buy the story; Arthur Golden, Memoirs of Geisha, I believed it, all the way through, and then it turned out it wasn't real, just a story. I was gutted.
11) What BIG book do you have sitting on your shelf that you would love to have time to read? Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy (and Ulysses, and Anna Karenina)
12) What are you reading next? For pleasure - Germaine Greer, Shakespeare's Wife, for Study - Dana Heller (ed.) Makeover Television: Realities Remodelled... and many more.

wall of progress...

2009-01-22T13:27:00.000+11:00

This first pic shows my sewing space (rather messy today) and my new 'wall of progress' I have attached hooks to the walls and using trouser hangers I can now hang up my works in progress so that I can have a good look at them and not hide them away in a cupboard. Only problem is there is only room for three quilts ;) You can also see my two other ongoing projects in the picture, 4sdqs5 on the table and big bed quilt (black and white with red backing) hanging over the chair.

This is the first of the projects I pieced on the weekend, it was sandwiched and quilted last night so is just waiting for binding. It's about a metre square and will be a play quilt for B. I'll blog more pics once it is bound and washed.

And I also pieced the hungry caterpillar kit that I bought last year, I wanted to use the scraps for another project this week, so thought the best way to know what would be left over would be to piece the top. It's not likely to progress much for a while as it's intended for B's single bed, and she's a way off that yet.

So good progress has been made this week. If only every week could be as productive.

Eye Spy... Something I want to try in 2009

2009-01-15T09:00:00.000+11:00

My first meme.

I have decided to join in with the Eye Spy... meme hosted by BugandPop. This weeks theme, my first, comes from Red Chocolate.

Now I'm not going to list hundreds of things or else I won't get around to them but I would like to try...

hand quilting and needleturn applique.

That's it, short and sweet. Have a good one folks.

Mini Messenger Bag

2009-01-05T14:19:00.000+11:00

Quite pleased with this one,

I needed a little bag to put purse/phone etc. is as I keep losing them in the nappy bag so I made up this one from some leftover denim and some cookie fabric.

Introducing Miss Scarlet

2008-12-24T11:04:00.000+11:00

Inspired by the gorgeous Misses Buttons that Novy has been making recently, I had to go straight out (well onto the net) and buy a copy of the pattern.

This is Miss Scarlet Buttons she is now wrapped warmly in the butterfly doll quilt I made earlier in the year (a doll has to have a quilt!) and inside the santa sack that I made last week, ready for the big day.

Miss Scarlet buttons loves singing and playing and would really like to learn to play the guitar, her favourite colour it, you guessed it, RED! She is looking forward to having a real little girl to play with. Despite her name, this particular Miss Buttons is buttonless. Maybe once B is older we can add a button.

She is leaning against the now rather full Santa sack that I made. We haven't even wrapped the present from us yet!

Scrapping scraps

2008-12-10T09:59:00.000+11:00

I used these foam letters to make my daughter's name (twice) but I have no further use for them. I think you can see what letters are remaining, if not please ask me. The small letters (e.g e, a, x etc.) are 2.5cm and the taller ones and the numbers are 3.5cm high.
If you would like them let me know. First in best dressed.

Bags of fun

2008-12-09T11:23:00.000+11:00

These really are great little bags to make from the Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts book, they don't take more than an hour to make (well, not counting settling the baby, waiting for her to go to sleep, cooking dinner etc. etc.).

I ended up making three, I loved the contrast of the dark denim against the prints, so I cut as many as I could out of my piece (which was $5 in the bargin bin with a second piece of fabric at Spotlight) and made them up with different prints.

I was very happy with the result, two will be gifts, and the third one (not decided which one I want to keep yet) might even be for me!!!

Santa came early...

2008-12-08T11:19:00.001+11:00

I opened my gift from my 'secret' santa from the EB Newbie Quilters swap a couple of days ago, I was spoilt by Meika with some yummy body goodies, some really cute fat quarters and a dinky little mobile phone cosy (how cute).

I sent a package to Kirsty, but I forgot to take pictures (oops).

It was a great fun swap to be involved in to finish of a lovely year of virtual quilting, chatting and general support. Thanks Ladies.

Free Motion Sleeping Bag

2008-12-06T08:54:00.000+11:00

Been practicing my Free Motion Quilting, on a sleeping bag for B.

It turned out a funny shape for some reason, probably because I just borrowed on off someone else and drew round it. But it works well and I know what I need to change for the next one (like remembering to add seam allowances, and making the neck lower at the front.

Not sure how much you can see but I did some little stars and some funky type of flowers and things, just playing about really.