Home among the gumtrees!

It is always a joy to return from holidays. I have recently unpacked the last of the clothes boxes and  finished the holiday washing. It’s now that I realise that I need another holiday – or my family to leave me and my sewing machine alone for a few days to recover. We did have a lovely time of making memories.

The frozen bananas covered in chocolate at the Big Banana, Coffs Harbour were amazing, but very cold! Wasn’t the Big Banana bigger than that?!?

 

 

Currumbin Sanctuary was a great day out and the lorikeets amazing!

Last week school was back and I went to pick up two quilts that have been off being quilted. I am always interested to see how they have changed. I have just finished binding this one…

I’ve decided to hang a quilt by my front door and each season I will change it accordingly. The plan was to finish this one for Autumn, good thing the seasons are a cycle and next autumn will be here before we know it. Just three more quilts to go…

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Lisa and I met up at to the Made on the Left markets at the Hyde Park Hotel this afternoon. We saw some fantastic WA designers and their creations. Go take a peak at Little Mo and Friends stationary and gifts, Hurrah Handmade toys and gifts, and Pretty in Purple beautiful handmade homewares (when she puts her stock back in her etsy shop!). I bought this gorgeous Kokeshi button badge by Alison from Mo and Me. Afterwards Lisa and I went to Le Papillion French patisserie for some lunch where I had my 1st taste of ‘Key Lime Tart’ – delicious in presentation & taste! 

                     

I made another AMH ‘Taxi Tote’ as a sample for work, I used iron on interfacing for this one but it didn’t turn out as nice as the denim ones we made earlier (I think I might try flannelette as my stabilizer next time). The fabric I used is "you got the notions!" by Robert Kaufman.

It’s almost our Ist Blogiversary (tomorrow I think!), I can’t believe we’ve been doing this for a whole year. We are going to do a combined celebration of this milestone when we reach 100 blog posts.

With Love

Janelle xx

Happy Birthday Boys!

It just so happens that all our DH’s share their birthdays very close together. Katherine’s hubby Bruce had his birthday yesterday (19th July), and Kylie’s hubby Darren & my hubby Andy share their birthday TODAY – 20th July. Happy Birthday guys, we love ya heaps.

We really appreciate the way they encourage our creativity, allow us to add to our fabric stashes, and look after the kids when we go away on sewing weekends (and put up with interstate visitors!).

With Love

Janelle, Kylie and Katherine xxx

We have a warbling winner

Well it’s Friday, time to draw the winner of the giveaway….



We have 7 friendly Magpies who live in our front yard, the kids have started feeding them and now they come and knock on the front door to be fed.  They are actually very cute and I love when they all break into song and warble along together, it always sounds so happy.  I call it singing for their supper.



So when I had to pick a winner today I thought I would call on my maggie friends to chose one, now what do they say about not working with children and animals….



Don’t worry, nobody slipped down the cracks!  The one I call “braveheart” was happy to help out and pecked out a winner

Congratulations to
Tammy James from Girls Wear Blue Too 

You are our lucky winner.

Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway, it’s such a lovely thing to be apart of this crafty community, this is one way we can share the love.



One last photo for my boy, I think we have a budding photographer on our hands, he’s always wanting to use the camera.  Here’s one he took of the wee princess and I last week. Thanks James, my nearly 10 year old!!

Happy Stitchin

Fabulous Birthday Fat 1/4’s

This year I signed up for the Quilting Bloggers Birthday Fat 1/4 Swap 2009, hosted by the lovely Maree from On My Verandah. We were given the Names/DOB and details of 6 other crafty gals - who we would post 2 Fat 1/4’s to on their birthdays throughout this year. I have just finished receiving my parcels of goodies.

I am taking this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to Julie D, Rebecca, Kerri, Julie S, Sylvia & June (& Maree, of course). I just love the fabrics & pressies you have sent me.

Are there any Phoenix Trading card fans out there? Look at the new design that’s just come out – I bought 5 already :)

It’s called Russian Dolls (code WS130, in case you want to order some)

A friend told me there was some treasure to be found at the Balcatta Salvo’s 2nd hand store, look what I bought for $1.50 - bargain.

You have 1 day left to enter the Purse Giveaway, leave a comment on the previous blog post to enter (click on the pink link above or the giveaway picture on the sidebar) – Good Luck.

With Love

Janelle xx

Lazy Days and Giveaways!

Well the holidays are almost over, I was going to do so many things…..in the end I just put my feet up and read my book.

I purchased this purse kit by Nicole Mallalieu some time ago and it has sat patiently waiting on the sewing table while other projects came and went.  As I tossed and turned the other night desperately trying to sleep, this little project popped into my head…..that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow I thought.

And so I did.  It was nice to do something a little different and it all came together beautifully. Nicole’s instructions are great.  I’ve just placed an order for more frames so it’s time for a Giveaway!

Leave a comment on this post and I’ll put your name into the draw for your very own purse, mention the giveaway on your own blog and get 5 more entries, you can choose the fabric from my stash and I’ll whip one up for you!

This African Violet sits on my kitchen bench and makes me smile :)

Good Luck!

PS: I’ll draw the winner some time on Friday (c:

Bloggy Catch Up No. 3

It’s always lovely to be able to meet the person behind the blog, well on Wednesday I got to meet 2 more fabulous & creative women for the first time (as well as catching up with one I’d met before).

Me, Jenni, Susan & Linda

There was delicious food (thanks to Linda, Bec and Susan), LOTS of crafty talk – fabric, thread, paper, books & samples, and even a demonstration of Artisan Bread that I really want to try in our home. Linda even made us a gorgeous crocheted dishcloth (Rachel says it’s to pretty to use!). Thanks for the pressie & for hosting lunch Linda :)

More news on books, I should make a note here that I probably love reading as much as I love all things creative. I borrowed this book from the library and devoured it rather quickly.

It’s absolutely full of gorgeous, colourful & unique quilts. I am thinking of buying this one for my own collection (as well as the last one). I also received a lovely surprise in the post today.

It’s the Pre-Publication limited edition booklet of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. It has excerpts from the book (which will be published in September this year) and a letter from Diana. Kylie & I are huge fans of the Outlander Series, I’m sure there are more of you out there too! Thank you Taraneh for sending me this, you’re a star.

With Love

Janelle xx

Celebrate Good Times

We have had a huge week of celebrations in our house this week, it started last Tuesday with James’ 9th Birthday.

We had cake with family on the previous weekend, this year James chose this…

(Please tell me that is sort of resembles a rocket! Anyway, the birthday boy loved it & it disappeared rather rapidly).

Then on Saturday I blew out some candles too – I turned 21 (+15). I went out for Breakfast to Hillary's Boat Harbour with my Mum & some precious friends.

DH also made me dinner, Beef Bourguignon – from scratch!

I got very spoilt & received some lovely pressies, here are a few.

I borrowed ‘The Bronze Horseman’ series by Paullina Simons from the library earlier this year and just loved it – so I asked for my own copy of the books – Yay! The ‘Into The Wilderness’ book (by Sara Donati) was given to me by Kylie – thanks sweetie!. It was recommended to us by some very special ladies. I also officially received my Kaleidoscope book too.

DH & I also celebrated our 13th Wedding anniversary on Monday (6th July) – Love ya heaps babe :)

I’d better go, I’m off to a bloggy catch up today, I will post about it later on.

With Love

Janelle xx