3 Winners

I have 3 winners for my new pattern "Butterflies and Blooms" Sewing Machine Cover. Thanks to all who entered and for the amazing comments, including the ones regarding Maria. She is a really anti-social cat but loves to snuggle up on my knee at night to supervise what Im working on.


To quickly answer a couple of questions from the comments......NO, Maria was not part of the giveaway (although if I find that she has attacked my curtains again, it could be a possibility lol) and secondly, if you are not a winner and would like the pattern, grab a cuppa and head over to Fiona's beautiful online shop. She has copies and will be happy to help you out!!

Ok so the 3 winners are:

Lissa Jane

Irene

Deb Sews Quilts

An email is on its way to all of you, for your postal address, so we can get them in the mail.

Last week was busy with some health problems with the older members of the family so I spent as much time as I could stitching on the new BOM:

Had to be a cat in there right?? This project is almost at an end and Ive enjoyed working on it and cant wait to share it and the inspiration behind it with you.

This week Im starting work on a magazine project. I have been brainstorming with a very good friend of mine, who wishes to remain nameless and creditless (dont worry Jules, your secret is safe with me, I wont tell a soul lol) on a summer tablecloth. Im excited about this and cant wait to get it all together!

Hope you have a great week!!

A Reveal and a Giveaway!!

My studio is part of the garage and at night when the temperatures drop, it gets cold in there. I always cover Princess (my Pffaf) with the hard cover and then throw an old beach towel over it, to prevent the moisture getting in. It was time for a change, a sewing machine cover.

So this is my new design Butterflies and Blooms. The fabrics I used are April Cornells Natures Chorus, which are just beautiful and with some pretty applique, ric rac, old buttons and lace it makes a wonderful addition to the studio.


Defintely a lot prettier than the old beach towel and more practical Im sure.


The top, back and side panels are all pieced and quilted as well. I have 3 copies of this new pattern up for grabs, so if you would like to win one, leave a comment on this blog post and I will draw 3 winners next week. (Please remember to leave an email address if you are a no reply commentor).

Maria kept a close eye on the binding process and she seems to approve, must be the butterflies. She agrees its a cover fit for.....the Princess!!

Psssst!....wanna sneak peek?

This week I have been finishing up a magazine project which is due for release in October. I can only give a sneak peek for now.


I used a stitchery that I designed quite some time ago and paired it with some lovely Civil War Crossing fabrics, using my favorite borders, Pioneer Braid:


I love the colours, so warm!!! It all worked well together, cant wait to see it in the magazine now!! With the pattern almost written and ready for posting, I should be able to get back to this new design:


What could it be?? Hopefully it wont take me long to finish it up! (Thats if I can continue to keep this yucky flu at bay!!!)

I ♥ Sydney!!!

What a gorgeous place Sydney is! Ive just been going through my 100's of photos and I really cant wait to go back, with the family and explore some more.

Jules and I stayed with the lovely Sue (on the left) and her amazing family. They made us feel so welcome and pampered, it was really hard to leave. Thats Sues sister Jenny on the right with her 3 month old son Declan, who was just adorable!!! We were also joined by Kathy from Rockhampton and we had a fabulous time!!

Jules and I became the typical tourists, snapping photos of everything and soaking in the Sydney lifestyle. It was great to eat a "grown up" lunch at a restuarant (no MacDonalds for us!!) and to be able to just take our time wandering around Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.

There was so much to look at and so much to explore and we didnt see half as much as we would have liked! But we managed to cram a lot into our little holiday!!

We were so proud of ourselves......we mastered the trains and the ferries and although we had to stop and ask for directions a few times, we didnt get lost!!!


Before we went to the Craft Fair, Sue took us to this remnant shop in Alexandria. It was a great place to look around and lots of bargains. All the Moda precuts and fabrics were very reasonable, so if your in Sydney pay them a visit or visit their website here.

The Craft Fair was great!! Lots to look at and lots to inspire. It was great to catch up with Chrissie from Blue Willow Cottage and to meet Sue Daley.....her work is amazing!!

We visited the Sydney Aquarium and I think my favorites were the penguins.....

.....and the Dugongs. We spent so much time watching them swim so gracefully. It was difficult to get good pics but they are beautiful to see!!

So what did I buy on our holiday? A few things for the kids and......

.....a few things for me. A Honey Bun of Hello Betty, a few fat quarters, ric rac, needles and of course buttons!!! Oh and a tape measure that is 120" long, which should make life a little easier.

Jules thanks so much for a wonderful girls holiday! I had so much fun and I cant wait for our next one. Where we going???

Top Almost Complete

My Philadelphia Pavement quilt top is almost complete, I just need to add a couple of plain borders and its ready for quilting!

(I apologise for the photos but it is dark and wet here and its so big I just threw it on the bed). I think the colours work well together, even though they are different to the original quilt made by Barbara Snyder Stoner in 1895.

I love the centre diamond, this is a really lovely layout and it has been fun to do but I must say that Im pleased to have this part of it complete!!

It is huge already so I am debating on the borders but Ive got a few days to think about it......Jules and I are off to Sydney for 4 days, for some "girl" fun!! Cant wait, you packed yet Jules?? Ill tackle the borders when I get back next week!

Wet Weather Activities

The first week of the school holidays has been cold and wet but we havent minded, keeping busy with inside projects. Theres been lots of reading, games to play, some cooking and of course, some sewing.

I decided to work on my Philadelphia Pavement quilt over the holidays. Its just over half way there now and watching the pattern emerge has been great!! Its going to be quite large when its finished, around 98" and although I have no plans for it (I just had to make it), Maddi has claimed it for her room........didnt I just make her a new one?? lol

Lots of tiny 1 3/4" squares ......cant wait to quilt this one! I plan to just crosshatch the squares but Im not sure what I'll do in the borders yet! My goal is to finish the top over the holidays but we will see how we go!!

Ive also finished my token winter knitting project for the year so I can pack the needles away! I really need to learn to knit something other than a scarf!!! I couldnt resist this wool though when I went shopping with my mum a few weeks ago. Its lovely and soft and the colour is gorgeous!!

I also wanted to share a lovely gift that Jules made for me for quilting her quilt.........which turned out lovely and was well received by her mum!!

We had been talking about storing ribbons in a straw container, so Jules made me one complete with a pincushion on the top, some gorgeous ribbons inside and if you look closely the bottom is filled with pretty buttons. I love it, clever girl she is!!

Back to the sewing, cant wait to see how it will look when its finished......that is after a couple of games of "Go Fish" with the kids, we got a tournament happening here lol

Jule's Quilt!!

This week I have had the absolute pleasure of helping Jules with the final stages of her first pieced quilt!! Apart from a slight problem with the backing (my fault) its all gone smoothly. She calls this her "ugly" quilt but I think its gorgeous......makes u wanna snuggle underneath it with a good book and a cup of chamomile tea.


I want to share her lovely piecing, even though she will be crabby at me, cause I know when its finished she will photograph it so far away that you wont be able to see it lol!!


She has pieced the blocks all by herself and I think she has done a wonderful job!! Her seams all lay lovely and flat and its been a pleasure to quilt.


I wont show the full quilt......Ill let her reveal that on her blog sometime next week!!


Im hoping that this will encourage her to try another (actually I'll badger her too lol). She has done a wonderful job and Im so proud of her!! Well done sweetie!!



The recipient of this quilt is just going to love it but Im guessing that after its finally finished, Jules might have a hard time giving it up!!