Finishings

Hello, hello!  Wow what an auction!  The wall hanging went to a lovely lady named Sarah.  How funny is that?  And no I didn't buy my own wall hanging!  Sarah very kindly donated $265 to her fellow Australians who I'm quite sure will benefit hugely from this. 

The auction was a wonderful experience and it was run extremely well by Toni and her helpers.  Well done ladies!!  And now you are going to be super duper proud of me.  This afternoon I sent it off to it's new home.  I know, how amazing is that??  I'm getting there, I'm getting so organised.

Now I can safely show you what was in the present from Sunday's post.  A dolls quilt and matching pillow.  The recipient was rather more interested in unwrapping her gifts than what was in them, well you know, four is a bit like that!  But her mother was thrilled with it and assured me that her daughter will love playing with it. 

I stippled the quilt and it has that nice and bubbly feeling.  I do love stippling.  Our girls do too so I mostly quilt this way.  I must do some straight lines soon. 

And I finally got the New Beginnings sewing kits finished.  The needle books are my favourites.  I cut up an old doily, now please don't be cross with me, it wasn't a very useful one as it was a cross shape.  And I haven't wasted any of it.  And biggest excuse of all, it is going to some lovely ladies who I'm sure won't mind a bit.

Here is the inside of the book.  I have included a packet of embroidery needles in each kit.

And those jolly scissors cases were made in the car on the way to the party and back.  Yes the party was quite a wee way away!  I actually thought they weren't to bad to make in the end.  Of course a yoyo always makes things look a little smarter don't you think?  And I do like the little scissors in them.  Very sharp indeed.

And here is the full monty.  You can have it this way with everything on the outside... (which seems a bit dilly)

or this way so you can access things easier.  I could probably do with one myself.  Perhaps that's what I could keep myself busy with tonight.

And another big shock for you all.  I sent them off today as well!!  Woo hoo!  I've got plenty to tick off today.  I'm not sure what's come over me.

Time to start something new now.  Maybe I'll have a bit of a play with some new wall hanging ideas?    It feels good to have these projects finished with completely.  I hope they make a few ladies a bit happier to know that we are thinking of them 'over the ditch' and sending our love. 

Weekend At Our Place

It's rained non-stop here since yesterday afternoon.  Luckily it remembered to stop a wee while ago.  Now the girls are all out there having a fabulous time.  It's so muggy the windows are fogging up.  There are long worms in the puddles too - yuck!

Mr Red Gingham went out to try and save his bark garden from floating away.  He gave up.  The levels are all uneven in the wrong places and the drain refuses to work.  It was a good laugh watching him try though!

It's been a busy weekend on the sewing front.  Making presents and finishing up projects.  This is one that I thought would be a big pain to make.  I can't believe how quick and easy it is.  I do love yoyos and these ones look sweet in a heart shape.  It's a present for the girls Godmother who shares a birthday with our No.2.

My baby girl quilt has had to come to a stand still.  It appears that the suppliers are not supplying some stock anymore to Spotlight due to the recession.  I think the manufacturing company may have gone under.  So sad.  It certainly pays to make sure you have everything you need to complete a quilt before starting!!  I'm sure I'll be able to get some more white cotton from a quilting shop, at twice the price.

I remembered I still hadn't shown you my new recipe book cover.  Remember I bought this neat retro fabric from a quilting show a while back?  I do love my revamped book.  I even made new dividers for it.

The kits are nearly ready for the New Beginnings project.  I spent a good while collecting all the bits for it.  Loving the colours.  Hope the new owners do too.  I'm working on the scissor holders at the moment.  I'm not enjoying them at all.  They are making me cross!  The needle books are finished and looking very sweet, forgot to photograph them sorry.

No.2 is trying desperately to get me more organised this year.  We have meal planners, shopping lists, and now a birthday card book.  You will be please to know that I did send my Christmas cards out last week.  We'll try for an earlier time this Christmas.

And here is a sneaky peek at our new ensuite.  The tiles just went down and they are looking very flash.  Terrible photo sorry, but it's quite dark today.  The wind is getting strong too which is scary.

Later today we are off to a 4th birthday party.  I'll show you the present next week as her mum is rather sneaky at times!!  I ended up making the present as I lost the one I bought before Christmas!  I told you I need to be more organised.  Really I'm very good at hiding things.  I think I need a box to put presents in that's easy to get to.

And that's about it from me.  My auction is now up to $190 which is fabulous.  There is still time to donate.  The auctions finish on Monday night our time.  So for you lovelies on the other side of the world that would be Monday morning I think.  We are ahead of you so I think that makes sense? 

I know that lots of you aren't connected to the Queensland Floods and won't participate, and that's just fine.  Australia and New Zealand are sister countries and we help each other out when necessary.  They aren't a poor country but lots of people didn't have flood insurance so need an enormous amount of help.  I just can't imagine having waters up to our roof. 

Flood Appeal Auction

Hello my dear ladies, and gentlemen (if any are looking), last night and today I spent many an hour on a little project.  My regulars may recognise this wall hanging from a while back.  But this new one is still unique with new fabrics used and other slight variations.  

I would like to auction this mini quilt wall hanging with all proceeds going to the Flood Relief Appeal to help out with the huge task of getting Brisbane back in order. 

We spent a few days in Brisbane, about the time the rain began actually, back in October when my brother was getting married.  It's very sad to see the places we visited now completely under water.  It was such a beautiful city and the river really did make it very special.  My brother's new family are experiencing huge damage to their own homes as well with metres of water entering their houses.  

Would you like to have this unique piece of art on your wall?  It's handmade using a raw edge applique technique and freemotion stitching.  Oh and apparently this little girl is also named Sophie, yes just like the other wall hanging.  No.4 insisted!  And may the skies of Brisbane look as blue as the ones in the wall hanging in the coming weeks.

Measurement of quilt 17" x 20",  100% cotton fabrics, batting and backing.  Can be cold water machine washed and line or tumble dried.

How this auction works:

1. Bidding will start at $40 (Australian).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.

3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.

4. This auction is open to everyone.

5. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm (NZ time) on Monday 24th    January 2011.

6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received I will post your wall hanging to you.  Postage will be paid for by me.

7. Thank you for participating and happy bidding!  Your donation will make a big difference to someone.

 
Please note the time change for this auction.  Now 9pm not 9am.