Spoilt!

I've had a lovely day ..... even if it did start out with the usual Monday housework!

My lovely friend Trish drove over today and together with her Miss (almost) 1, took me out to lunch for my birthday, which was a little over a week ago now.
And to top off a lovely lunch, she gave me this gorgeous Charm pack of Vine Creek fabric by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda...... this pic only shows some of the squares!

I also received these lovely fat quarters from my Mum & Dad to add to my stash.... the whole buying fat quarters things is new to Mum but i think she did very well. I just love the two purple ones on the top..... will have to find a special project for them:

I also received lots of other beautiful things including jewellery! Gotta love jewellery! Spoilt, Spoilt, Spoilt!

Until next time

Two down!

I've finally managed to finish the Christmas present I started for my little 3yo niece...... I know it's only been a week but it feels like this one has taken forever! Maybe because I didn't have a pattern spelling everything out for me.... I actually had to think a little to work out my measurements.... fancy having to think!

So here it is.........

And laying out flat so you can read it...........

And the back..........

I've found a couple of lovely books to pop inside too..... I know she loves her books!

Until next time

Stashbuilding!

Just when i'm about to throw my hands in the air and scream "I GIVE UP"..... look what arrives in the mail to put the smile back on my face!

It's been a very hectic week in our household and i'm glad that my paid work is now over for the week.... it really does interfere with my creative flow!

I just couldn't resist these lovely fabrics from Honeysuckle Cottage and I'm looking forward to making myself the Leanne's House Couch Companion, but it will have to wait until after Christmas as I have too many Christmas projects that need completing first.

Until next time

Oooooh..... how lovely!

No time for sewing today..... but I did come across this gorgeous giveaway over at Retro Mummy. Corrie is very generously giving away 12 fat quarters of Grandmothers Flower Garden by Rosalie Quinlin to one lucky reader, so pop over and take a look!

Until next time

Christmas gift number 2!

Today's project has been to start a Christmas pressie for my little 3yo niece..... it's going to be a draw-string library bag, which I'm hoping to get finished later this week! The back will be much the same as the front only without the writing, just as soon as I get some more vliesofix!

The applique block was made using the "Summer Daze" pattern from Hatched and Patched and I've used Poety Collection scraps that I had left over from the quilt I made for Shannon's 1st birthday.......

I couldn't find a pattern that grabbed me for the quilt, so I used the Hatched and Patched "Boys Toys" pattern.... but as you can see I made a lot of changes, including making it much bigger!
Shannon loves it!

One down.....

Today I managed to get Tully's Christmas pressie completed.

I must say I was very pleased for the excuse to stay indoors under the air conditioning today..... as it was way too hot to do anything else!

So here it is:

Unfortunately, Tully will be completely oblivious to it's arrival..... given that he's only about 6 months old (At least I think that's about right.... bad Aunty!).
Hope you like it!

Happy Stitching!

A little bit of stitching...

Here's a sneak peak at my current project..... which should develop into a Christmas stocking for my newest nephew by the end of the week!

I've previously made them for both his siblings so can't have Tully missing out.

This is the one I made for Tobias a couple of years ago ..... unfortunately, I don't have a piccy of Hannah's! I'm using Hooley Dooley Artworks pattern "Santa's Christmas Stockings"

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Off to the Quilter

It was an exciting week last week to get three quilts off to the quilter all at once..... i haven't had a chance to post about them sooner as i've been in Sydney for a concert all weekend and only just got home!

The first was my Angels Story quilt that i've already posted about, along with my friend Jess' first quilt which has had the borders put on it on Friday and Miss 10's (aka Little Miss Thimbles) very first quilt, which she's very pleased with!

Miss 10's gorgeous "stacked coin quilt" she made using the Moda bake shop tutorial and the lovely Soiree' fabric.

Jess' first quilt with it's completed borders made using Annie's "Town of Plenty" pattern and Winchester by Andover Fabrics. Unfortunately the photo's didn't turn out so well for this one but i can't re-take them now until it returns from the quilters.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Shhhh!

Thought i'd share a sneak peak of the quilt Miss 10 (aka Little Miss Thimble) is making!
It's her first attempt at a quilt, so she's started with a jelly roll of Moda's Soiree' fabric.... which is just gorgeous! The jelly roll has been great as it's been easy for Miss 10 to handle and cut without any help.
The pattern she's using is the "stacked coins baby quilt" from Moda bake shop, with a little bit of adjustment to make it bigger.

Miss 10 is very keen to get it finished now that she can see it all coming together......Hope I don't get in trouble for blogging about it first..... who's more excited????

Until next time
Happy Stitching

Ta-da...... take 2!

Here are some better pics of my completed Angel Story quilt as promised....... definately always turn out better when taken outside!

Cheers!

Ta-da!

At long last my Angel's story quilt top is complete!

Now all that is left to do is to find some nice backing fabric this week sometime..... then it will be off to the quilter next week.......Woo hoo! I will take some better pics outside tomorrow, but I couldn't wait to brag.... I mean blog about it so these ones will have to do until then..... hope you like it!

While I was sewing this together today, Miss 10 (aka Little Miss Thimble) was also putting together her very first quilt..... so i might show you some pics of that one tomorrow too.

Until tomorrow
Happy Stitching!

Mmmm..... Relish!

We're off to a surprise birthday party tonight for our friend Matt.

As soon as we got the invite I knew what I had to make for his Birthday pressie............ Matt just loves my tomato relish and has been known to eat it straight from the jar with a spoon, lol!

So..... I got busy and made him a nice batch of relish and some rocky-road to go with it......another of his favourites! I forgot to photograph the rocky-road, so will save that recipe for another time.

The Relish recipe is an old one given to me by my Mother-in-law:

Ingredients:

• 6lb (2.7kg) Tomatoes
• 4lb (1.8kg) Onions
• 1.5 pts (900ml) Brown Vinegar
• 1tbsp Curry Powder
• 1.5 tsp Mustard Powder
• 1.5 lb (680g) Sugar
• Pinch Cayene Pepper
• Salt (about half a cup)
• 1 tbsp Flour (I use cornflour to thicken instead and i use more than 1 tbsp as i don't like my relish too runny)

Method:

• Cut tomatoes and onions and place in a large stainless steel boiler, cover with salt and let stand over night.
• Drain tomato and onion then rinse and return to boiler with all other ingredients except flour.
• Cook until onion is transparent then thicken with flour to your liking.
• Pour into sterilised jars and seal while still hot.

NB: I find it's tastier after it's been bottled for a week or so!

Enjoy!

Angels Story Continued.......

I've finally managed to get all my hand stitching done and have just finished putting the borders on the blocks......... not long to go now *happy dance*!

Miss 10 (aka Little Miss Thimble) is also getting very excited now, as this quilt is to go on her bed once finished.

I just love all their little faces...... they've really got personality: The hair on Angela reminds me of Miss 10's....lol

Until next time,
Happy Stitching

Jess' First Quilt..... Day 2

A second day of sewing with Jess....... and her quilt top is almost done!
Now we just have to wait for a little more fabric to arrive so we can put the borders on.


I think her Mum is going to be delighted with it.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!