a wonderful week

We simply can’t believe a week has flown by in a flurry of fabric, fun and frivolity…



We enjoyed a weekend away at the beach house sewing, creating and being a wee bit silly. Katherine was working on a number of beautiful projects, a quilt for her eldest boy, with gorgeous “Haul it” fabric by Michael Miller, a fabulous star quilt with Sandi Henderson’s Farmer’s Market, plus a quilt to bind, a Moda Charisma by Chez Moi quilt to finish (oops no photo, it was truly stunning).







Katherine and I worked on a hexagon quilt with our Michael Miller “Andalucia” fabric by Patty Young, that we received from Janelle last June, I think they worked out great, mine still needs a white border and Katherine added a striped boarder to hers.




Janelle, packed her Rosalie Quinlan “I Remember” block of the month quilt to piece together.  She did a wonderful job of piecing together her blocks ready to appliqué the pieces onto them.  This turned out to be a challenge, substituting some of the fabrics from those sent with her kit!

 

A lesson in needle turn appliqué, saw Janelle concentrating her way to a beautiful first complete block, it all looks so delicious!




I worked on a few purses, and covered notebooks, finished my Mum’s quilt finally, she will be pleased.



Monday we went to the Zoo and saw Mali the baby elephant. Tuesday saw us at Miss Marples in Sassafras eating scones, Hand Me Downs for some bargains, Geppetto’s for some special gifts, Savers in Greensborough for some more bargains, Katherine’s for chai and raspberry muffins.  Katherine opened that big brown box that came over from Perth with Janelle and we all oooohed and aaaaahed, I will let her tell you all about it.  We’ve just got back from a lovely dinner out together and are feeling sad that they’ll be heading home tomorrow :(  However we presented Janellybelly with a money box to save up for a trip back in September for the Spring Stitch-In, hosted by Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley.  She has started her fabric diet, keep filling that box Janelle :)

Well until next time, I’ll be waiting by my front door for a big brown box to be delivered to me!!!!

Happy stitching, love

Friends are Forever

Whoo Hoo, our wonderful friends from Perth have arrived.  Only having to wait 4 weeks from announced holiday to arrival made for a very exciting time!  The kids have been excited because the whole family are here and that means sharing a bedroom and lot’s of crazy fun :)

We’ve already managed to fit in some sewing, Janellybelly has already finished making Melly and Me’s Sherbert bag, she’s a stitching machine, and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s another beautiful Janelle creation.

This trip is especially exciting as Janelly has managed to visit over a sewing weekend at the beach house, so the sewing sisters, ALL THREE of us, are off tomorrow morning for a fun filled weekend of sewing and chatting and eating and sewing and….  we’ll update you on Sunday night with photo’s and a rundown of the weekends pursuits

We’ll be leaving the Dad’s and eight children home to fend for themselves, eat take away, go to see the doggies play the magpies, and generally let things slide into disarray until we arrive home Sunday night.  Thank you precious husbands of ours.

Here’s a photo of my finished zig zag quilt that we all started back in June when Katherine and I went to visit Janelle in W.A.  It look’s delicious on the wee princess’ bed and now I really should make a few matching pillows to finish off the look!

Today we met up with two beautiful bloggy friends Bronwyn and Jan at Handorfs chocolate shop for lunch, a chat, chocolate and coffee, yummo!  Thank you so much for taking a bite out of your busy days to catch up with us, it was lovely. Then we topped it off with a quick trip to Brandsmart outlet factory for a spot of shopping, new shoes, clothes, trinkets and other delights :)

Well, must be off, there’s fabric on the table ready to be cut up and packing to be done for the weekend (projects, not clothes, we wear our PJ’s all weekend anyway!) see you on Sunday…

Love and hugs

Friends, fabric and food.

I spent St Patrick’s day with 2 special bloggy friends, Lisa & Susan, traipsing around the West coastal suburbs of Perth in pursuit of yummy fabric and food – we were not disappointed! After starting our day at Lisa’s with a cup of tea and a nectarine cupcake (Mmmm), we headed off to Calico and Ivy in Mosman Park. I made my way to the specials cot (a vintage wrought iron cot, just gorgeous) and found some bargains.

These fabrics are from Sandi Henderson’s (Portabellopixie) first range called ‘Ginger Blossom’. She has a book coming out in May called

Sewing Bits and Pieces!

 

Lisa and Susan managed to drag me away from the bargains to look at the rest of the store. There was gorgeous stationary, lots of creative books, luscious wool & yarn and plenty of yummy fabric. We all walked out with a brown paper bag, mine also included these.

Some cute Kokka Babushka fabric – of course!

Our next stop was inspired by an episode of Poh's Kitchen (10th March) on ABC. My DH and I watched pastry chef Emmanuel Mollois make Chocolate Éclairs. I researched Emmanuel to see where his patisserie was located, thinking it would be in the Eastern States, and to my surprise found it was in Swanborne! We headed to the Choux Cafe for lunch and enjoyed a delicious meal – my taste buds were having a party. I even brought DH a chocolate éclair home.

If you would like to see my DH’s attempt at Chocolate Éclairs (and have a good giggle), check out his new blog called ‘The Parsons Nose’.

After the lovely comments about my fabric stash, I have decided to do a De-Stash and share the fabric love around. I sent my friend Jennywren, and her daughter Amy, home with a bag full of fabric to create with. I will also share some as a bloggy giveaway when I get back from Melbourne – 6 more sleeps!

Much Love

Butterfly Kisses

I love all things creative (though my first love is fabric), & I enjoy the opportunity to dabble in a wee bit of papercraft too. Yesterday I went to Tomorrow's Memories for a ‘Card Makers Tea Party’ with Suzitee. The cards had a butterfly theme and featured Bo Bunny’s Flutter Butter papers.

Susan was a very patient and encouraging teacher, she even included some sewing on one of the cards! The class included a Devonshire morning tea, I did have half a scone with jam and lovely cup of tea in a sweet china tea set. Thanks for letting me borrow some of your tools Susan.

We had a rent inspection this week, I thought I’d take a photo of my craft room to show you that it can look tidyish – approximately 4 times a year!

See that brown box on the floor, it’s not mine! It’s a little extra luggage coming to Melbourne with us :) I’ll let the new owner explain themselves (11 sleeps to go).

With Love

A new baby

Have you seen this little baby yet? We went and joined the queue’s at Melbourne zoo a little while ago and spent some time oohing and ahhing over this amazing little creature:

  

What a cutie! It is amazing watching a playful elephant – much like a playful puppy only much, much bigger! This is one of the sights Janelle and her family will have to see when they come over. Only 2 weeks from tomorrow! Here’s a close up – a slightly blurry one!

 

Any sewing going on? I’ve just finished another batch of school dresses for our school – I am so over gingham!

Kylie and I have committed to doing a Dear Jane quilt. Do you remember Kylie starting hers last year, well she needed some motivation to keep at it… I volunteered. I have a bit of catching up to do, but with  some reproduction fabrics (I’m going traditional this time). I’ve almost quit a couple of times this week and I’m only on block 7!! I thought I was starting on the easy ones too. Seven down, 218 to go!

Now to something a little brighter for the rest of the month. I must finish binding my zig zag quilt… will take a photo when it’s done.

 

Happy Stitching!

Krafty KJ

Hello Kitty

I’d like to introduce you to Kitty, my new KitchenAid mixer – lucky, lucky me. My Nanna’s 23 year old Kenwood Chef (which was on permanent loan from Mum) started smoking when DH last made bread. DH was most apologetic and offered to buy me one of these baby’s. My friend Traceylea (TJ) bought a pink one before she left the USA & I’ve wanted one ever since I laid eyes on it. You’ll be happy to know that Kenny the Kenwood has gone off the be repaired and will take up residence back at Mums house.

I received some lovely mail yesterday, my PIF prezzies arrived from Maree at Farmyard Crafts. Take a look at these precious goodies made by loving hands – I am truly blessed, thanks ever so much Maree.

My friend Jennywren rang me up yesterday for a chat and to ask “so, are you going there or are they coming here for the sewing weekend?” well, we are taking a family holiday to Melbourne over the last week of March & I can’t wait! Whilst the Sewing Sisters go to Port Arlington for our sewing weekend, the DH’s will be in charge of the cherubs. Don’t fret for them, they have already planned a trip to the footy for the first round of the season. We will also be doing some visits to our favourite places – Miss Marples in Sassafras, Savers at Greensborough (the Best Op Shop), Melbourne zoo etc.

My spirits are well and truly lifted now :)

With Love

A “Thank You” & a cute baby photo.

Many thanks for the words of encouragement on my last blog post. Tomorrow was a much brighter day, and has been since. I am blessed by bloggy friendships – local, national and worldwide. Now for that cute baby photo…

My cousin Marissa sent me a photo of Jackson on his new quilt – I think he looks quite pleased. I can’t wait to kiss those gorgeous cheeks later this year!

I did have some fantastic news the day after my last post which I’ll share with you next time – lets just say that the Sewing Sisters are going away on a sewing weekend at the end of March (ALL the Sewing Sisters).

With MUCH love