How Many of You Can Say...

your jeans match your bed covers?  Is that taking clothes co-ordination a little too far do you think?  Perhaps, but when you have lots of heavenly scraps leftover, well why not?  Oh yes, and a doily!

Lots of leftovers also made this rather groovy pillow case just now.  It's fresh off the press.  Quilted just like the quilt will be so it should be snugly warm at night.

No 4's quilt top is also finished which is a huge relief.  Don't you just love it when you sew the last seam in a quilt?  Now I just need a wee trip to Spotlight for some backing fabric.  Not sure what I'll use yet.  I should use the linen fabric that I've used in the quilt, but it might add up to a little too much money if you know what I mean.  It's not like you really get to see the back of the quilt anyway.  Anyway we'll see.

I have been a busy beaver these holidays I can tell you!  My quilt for Gran's 90th birthday is warming her knees three weeks before her big day.  Well I didn't see the point in waiting when it's cold already.  Although still not that cold.  No heater on this morning and it's really quite warm out there today.

I used some scraps for the back piecing.  I was very, very impressed that all the seams on the back matched up with the quilting lines from the top quilting.  It's the little things that make me happy.

I'm feeling very good about finishing off these projects.  I do hate to have quilts sitting around and not finished. 

Now I really must go out with the girls.  I hope you lovelies are all well and perhaps enjoying the holidays too.  See you next time!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Well the garden sure has been super busy and so confused.  Strawberries in NZ in June???  OK it's a small one, but still.  Spring bulbs flowering?? 

Autumn leaves still changing?  Very late, but then the temps have been so warm and so NOT mid June.  It was 20 degrees on Saturday!!!  T-shirt weather I tell you! The high temps in Auckland are anything from 15 degrees to 20 at the moment.  They should be below 10!

Never mind we are not complaining at all.  No we are not.  And we sure are having our share of wet weather today. 

Now do you remember ages ago that I said I was too busy to blog because of a project I had been working on?  Well I can now tell you what that big thing was...

HOMESCHOOLING!!!!!

Oh yes, I may well have completely lost the plot this time around, but you know what?  I LOVE it!!  No.1 loves it too.  Yep it's just her and I at the moment (with No.4 pottering around) but we have two other younger sisters keen to join in sometime soonish.  So our days are busy now with work, outings, crafting, drawing, lots of learning in a fun way.

My mother celebrated her birthday the weekend before we started on our new venture. I decorated her cake.  Her sister baked the cake.  Just how I like it to be, no cooking.

This was her present from us...

I started this quilt about two years ago!!!  Finally finished and being loved.  I do love how it turned out.

A fancy little addition to the back and another doily label.

And last but not least.  I tested the linen with the cotton fabrics in the wash by making a cushion and guess what?  It was a success!  So now I can safely finish the quilt, sometime!  In the meantime No.4 can enjoy her new cushion on her bed.

And now my dears, we are off to the swimming pool.  And no I won't be going in.  Perhaps next time when I've sorted out the forests growing on my legs!!  How embarrassing!  The little ones have started lessons too and they are doing fabulously.  So sweet.  But for now it's No.1's turn to have fun.  See you next time xxx

Little Fish for Someone Special

A while back my dear bloggy friend Lara sent me a quilt top, two matching fabrics and another matching charm pack.  She was having a clear out and getting rid of things that made her feel guilty.  Oh you know the feeling do you?  Yes, me too.  I told her I would finish the quilt and donate it to a charity.   Well surprise, surprise Lara, it's finally done!!!

And it's so cute too!  I love the Moda Odyssey range of fabrics.  I think a little boy in Christchurch is going to love snuggling up in his new quilt, don't you?

It's not that big, but big enough for a little lad and his teddy.  I'm sure it would look wonderful on a wooden cot too.

I went for wavy quilting lines as I thought it looked suitably sea-like for the little fishes.  A bit of a breakaway from my usual stippling.  Way quicker too, especially as I didn't measure the distance between each line.  It's fairly even I think.

A little label was made on my fab little machine...

and then stitched onto the dotty quilt back.  I really love the backing fabric.  It's just a cheapy from Spotlight but it goes well.  And next week when I meet up with Cat I will pass it onto her, to accompany her to Christchurch. 

Thank you Lara for helping me make this quilt for someone special.  xxx

First Finish for the New Year!

Breaking news... We have our third chicken pox victim!  Yes the littlest one is currently turning into a chicken.  She was feeling a little bit sick this morning so we did wonder.  So that's three down, one to go.  Will No.1 get it as well?  We'll wait and see.

I am VERY impressed with myself today.  Yes indeed I am.  Do you know, on this fourth day of the new year, I have completed a quilt?  And it was quite a big one too.  Probably a king single but it's for a queen bed sort of.  Well I don't think my machine could cope with anything bigger, or me for that matter, so it will be just placed on her bed and used for snuggling up to in the winter months on the sofa. 

It was No.1's design and I think it's turned out beautifully.  Pretty aqua and red fabrics.  It took me two days to quilt and about four hours to hand stitch the binding on.  I have to say I did enjoy that part so I won't be converting to machine stitched binding any time soon.  The finish is just so much nicer and neater.

And I wouldn't be a lovely Mama if I didn't say yes to her having a turn stippling on her own quilt now would I?  Even with no practice too!  She reported to me that it wasn't as easy as it looked.  No darling it isn't!  Your mama is more clever that you first thought.  But my golly did I shake in my jandals while she was sewing!!

And here it is on her bed that I had to make as she just didn't want to do anything about tidying her own room.  She since has and was rewarded with a huge spider under her bed!  It's probably a good idea to clean one's room more often as you never know who you might be sharing it with!

And while I have been inside sewing, my dear boy has been slogging it outside in the humid heat building me a double compost bin.  Isn't he a sweetie? 

Don't you love to watch progress?

From the armchair inside!

And now I can hear the front pieces of timber being cut for the removable fronts.  Can you see it's already being used?  I can see it's going to take quite some time to fill which is a good thing.

Ah well I guess I should go and make a start on the dinner.  Sausages and salad on the menu today.  Sounds quite simple and light in the cooking dept.  I hope you are having yourselves a good day or evening.  Catch you later!  Sarah xx

Charming I'm Sure

What a busy few days I've had.  It began with a very lovely outing on Friday to a quilt show over the harbour bridge.  I took my mother with me and No.4 was invited as well.  The other three went off to school feeling rather left out.  Well actually No.3 would rather have had it that way, she's not the going out sort of girl. 

Now I must tell you that I met my second ever Bloggy friend at the show.  We had planned to meet and managed to eventually.  What a lovely lady Lisa from Lydias Treasures is, and I still have dreams of the very lovely bag she was carrying.  Yes she had made it, from fabric she had won no less.  It was so nice to meet up with you Lisa, we must do it again sometime.

Now I happened across a rather lovely Moda Bliss charm pack on our outing and made the appropriate purchase.  I'm quite pleased with it and have used quite a few charmettes already.  Might just have to get another pack or two! As you do!!

No.3 had been hinting rather bluntly lately about the lack of a sewing bag.  She has a perfectly lovely basket, but as her big sisters have a bag for their sewing kit she felt left out.  Well, since she loved the charmettes as much as I, I let her pinch nine of them, her own choice too I might add!  There was only one I would not allow her to use. 

And every new sewing bag needs a new matching pincushion does it not??  Again she chose all the bits for it.  Quite nicely chosen too I think.  Isn't this charmette just perfect for a circular pincushion?  I love it!

Here's the leaflet of the show we attended...

Not sure about the retro theme.  Didn't really notice anything much suiting that description, BUT I did happen to purchase the most fab bit of retro fabric that I've completely forgotten to photograph.  Shock horror!  I will show you another time though, it's worth it. 

Now what do you think of these next quilts?  I'll just leave you to look at them for a minute then I'll be right back to continue our session.

Lovely weren't they?  The truck one was my mother's and my favourite quilt so we voted for it.  No idea who made any of them.  Very nice all the same.  And here is a selection of fatties I purchased.  There were three others that were gifted upon the girls as they came home from school.  Yes I did let them have first pick!  Gosh sometimes I am sooo nice. 

And this morning I was going for the title 'Housewife of the Year.  I'm quite sure they will be gifts and ribbons bestowed upon me as the family return home.  Yes the whole lounge is sparkling clean and my sewing corner is looking proud.  I've added my new fabric storage containers and ribbon boxes to the arrangement and am feeling rather pleased with myself. 

And if you have a few spare mins or even hours, please have a seat in my sewing corner and we'll have a natter about upcoming projects.  I do love some new ideas and I have a few to share too if you have the time.  Hexie quilt made by my Gran years ago.  Clearly she has much more patience than I.

Until next time, have a happy time.  I'll be back with some lovely Christmas ideas next time.  Bye!!

Once Upon A Time...

...there was a little girl called Sophie.  Well that's what No.4 insists she's called.  She also thought I should write her name at the top of the quilt and hang it in her room!  And the little girl called Sophie should have a face too.

Can you tell I'm having a whale of a time with this new-to-me free motion quilting stuff?  My goodness it's fun drawing a picture and then seeing it come alive.  So fun that I'm going to have to make some more mini quilts I think.  I'm planning a Christmas one next.  Not too sure who is going to get this quilt, or even if I will sell it.  Who knows.

What I really love about this type of sewing, is that it's very random.  You just make it up as you go along.  No lines to follow, no rules.  Just going for it.  And when your little assistant bumps you once again, it's OK, bumps are character adding!

I thought you might like to see how I began this quilt.  Cutting up tiny bits of fabric and suitable colours.  Making little trees and window shutters.  Ever wanted a white picket fence?  Maybe one a little straighter than this one!!

The square background bits are now stitched on and the house is 'glued' into place.  This stage is so much fun because it takes you right back to when you used to make paper collages at kindy.  Completely fun and childish.

Oh and my favourite part, the binding, was a complete nightmare!!  I had quite a few joins in the binding and would you believe I ended up with a join in three corners!  Just the worst thing imaginable.  So an unpicking we went.  And now it's nicely hand stitched in place and looking nice and neat.  I do love a bit of hand stitching.

I really should be making real sized quilts, but I do love to do something really fun sometimes.  I am itching to get started on my doily quilt too.  Oh so much to do and so little time!  It seems to be a shame to be inside when the sun is blazing down too.  But it's meant to be fun, we should remember that more often.

OK ladies, I must be off now.  Places to go, people to see, school in particular where the big girls are having their athletics day.  Hope they have a fun day today.  Always something on!  I hope you are all well and enjoying your creativity today.

Swinging Old Time

Last night I had the most fun I've had in ages with my sewing!!  I found this lovely blog idea from Comfort Stitching a few days ago and showed No.2.  She really needed, yes needed, a wall hanging of her own and loved it as much and I did.   So we went through the pink scraps and patch worked the background.  Every thing is stuck on using that fusible stuff and then stitched into place.

And last night I sat down to start the sewing.  Free motion quilting isn't something I've done before really.  Well I've done some roses but that was super easy.  But actually making a drawing with the sewing machine was something else.  It was recommended that I practice lots first.  Well it's just not me!  No I prefer to just rip into these things and hope it turns out OK.  I have to say it went perfectly.  I was quite shocked how easy it was, and oh soooo much fun. 

It was so different from the usual type of perfect sewing that I'm used to.  No lines ruled here.  Everything was just spur of the moment kinda stuff.  Yep even the frame, which actually turned out fairly squared some how.  And I'd say this fits pretty well into the Pleasant Home Sew Scraps Along Challenge I'm participating in.  Got to love using up scraps!

I think I'll have to make another mini quilt using my own design next time.  Hate doing the binding though.  Too fiddly and annoying.  But I don't like using others designs, it just doesn't feel honest even when I am given permission.  Mind you I didn't use the patterns provided so it's all my drawing I guess. 

Now moving on.  Last week my dearest friend Liz sent me a surprise package.  Don't you love those?  I had no idea what it could be.  You can imagine my excitement when I peeled back layers of tissue to discover five pretty doilies for my bed cover.  Gosh Liz you are such a little love!!  Thank you so very much, they are just perfect.  One of the best parts of this bed cover will be remembering where each doily was found or who it was gifted from.  I really can't wait to begin it.  But first I must find an old white table cloth to attach them to.  I'm thinking this will suit best.  Keeping with the old theme.

These two doilies are my favourites.  Liz assures my that they are hand worked.  But just look at the one on the right.  Imagine having the patience to do something so intricate?  Not for me I'm afraid.  I prefer instant satisfaction.  I do love the little stand out flowers on some of them.  Does the one on the left remind you of a snowflake too?  So sweet and pretty.

Well that's all from me today.  The sun is just coming out for the day so I'm guessing you'll find me in the veggie garden later on.  The weeds are just well, growing like weeds!  Funny that.  The veggies are doing very well too luckily.  Catch you all later!

I Don't Neglect My Children... Honest!

This morning, before school (naughty, naughty!) I finished this little picture that I started last night.  I haven't played with felt much in recent years.  There's so much fun to be had with the little coloured fabrics.   It's the perfect fabric for beginners to sewing.  I found the idea for this stitching here.

When you have a little three year old helper standing by you side, you end up doing funny things - like turning your house into a person!  I drew the line at giving it arms.  But maybe that would be cute!

This pile of yummy fabrics...

turned into this...

 

which ended up as a finished quilt top overnight.  I sewed it in an evening and a bit during the day while No.4 was at kindy.  Hubby was quite stunned just how fast it all went together!  But really there isn't much to squares is there?  Now it's all ready for pinning.  I would have done it already, but I didn't realise just how much fabric I would use for the sashing and didn't have enough for the backing as well.  And I bought four metres of it!!

 

And finally we have a quote on the wall hanging.  I did it freehand which probably wasn't the best idea.  But I generally just go for it and hope for the best.  It could have been better, but it's OK.  Can you tell I left the second 't' out of stitched?!!  Too funny!

It was a bit of fun, nothing serious. 

 

And lookie lookie.  Look at what is finally finished!!  Last weekend I tackled my string quilt again and didn't stop until it was finished.  I do love it.  All that lovely rainbow colour.

 

It was ironed, really!  Why don't things stay looking nice and flat?

 

And yesterday when the girls were busy playing racing car driving on the PS3 with their Daddy, I played with the fabrics.  A bit of applique and stippling later, and we have a pretty cushion to go with the rainbow quilt. 

I found the stippling strange after the rose quilting.  It's all over the show instead of planned of course.  I think I'll do the quilt the same way.  It's not my favourite to stitch, but I do like the look of it. 

So I have had a very lovely, productive week, even though I had to sell chocolate bars in the rain on Saturday morning.  The things we mothers have to do for school fundraisers.  Still it's nice to meet the neighbours once a year.  Those that have electric gates are lucky people I've decided! 

So what did you do in the weekend?  Something nice I hope.  Hope you had nicer weather than us.  Oh I've joined up for a lovely Christmassy swap too.  Selina is hosting a stocking swap that sounds just fabulous.  If you want to join in, just click on the stocking button in my side bar.  Right, see you!  xx