Teen Dreams

What do you get when you combine a funky Jelly Roll, some gorgeous raspberry fat quarters, the old dependable white homespun and some input from Maddi (the most inspirational teenage I know!!!!!).......my new design, Teen Dreams:

This is a quilt and cushion combination and there is only a minimal leftover from the Jelly Roll, which makes me very happy!! Not only is this fun to make but Maddi is happy and its a great size for her to snuggle under to read, study and write that next great novel!!

Lots of simple piecing and applique make this a quick quilt to create and yehhh I have stippled it all over, I just love the effect!! The bindings are made from the left over Jelly Roll strips and they finish it off well.

Included in the pattern are two cushion options, because Maddi just loves cushions!!! I think you could probably make 3 cushions if you really wanted too!

This is my last design for 2009, Im taking the next few weeks to get ready for Xmas and to finish off a few quilt tops from my own personal collection.........so stay tuned, some of your favorites may become quilts very soon and Im also looking forward to starting Bonnies new mystery quilt! Anne Ida is doing this one with me and I know she has already pulled her gorgeous fabrics, Ill just wing it as I go!!! Should be heaps of fun!

So I have 2 copies of the new Teen Dreams pattern up for grabs!! Leave a comment on this post to enter. Good luck and stay tuned for the winners draw next week!!

Catching Up-Word Heavy Post!!!!

I have finally found some time to draw my Gingerbread giveaway. Thanks to all who entered and I have really enjoyed reading your Family Traditions. Its precious that no matter how old our kids get they still enjoy those special things and hopefully will one day pass them onto their own children. I read a quote the other day which I think sums it up beautifully:

"When we recall Xmas past, we usually find that the simple things- not the great occasions- give off the greatest glow of happiness" Bob Hope.

Ill announce the winners at the end of this post, after I show some peeks of what Ive been working on:

Firstly another magazine commission. This is for a Mothers Day edition and I loved working on this. Usually a design has a name before I put pen to paper but this one was a little tougher. After a few emails to Anne Ida for ideas, her mother suggested the name "Elida" which was Anne Idas grandmothers name. Its perfect and a lovely way to honour a woman who inspired others with her love of craft! The stitchery is redwork and beads (I love using beads) and the fabrics are "Cottage Charm" from Helen Mulder Peterson......the red is just stunning!!

Ive also got a new quilt and cushion set almost ready for release. I wanted to design something that left little waste from a Jelly Roll, a few fat quarters and some homespun. Maddi will eventually have these samples in her room but they are off on a little trip for something exciting that is happening next year. These are the Chez Moi fabrics, Swanky.

Im also working on a Mix and Match theme for a tablerunner design. I love piecing and I often find myself looking at block books for hours!! This one may just be a prototype for now until I can achieve the look Im aiming for!

Of course it hasnt all been about playing with fabrics, this time of year is always busy getting ready for Xmas and school events:

Yesterday was Cohens Athletics Carnival and the weather was glorious. I love watching the kids enjoying themselves but this year I really noticed how competitive the parents are.....of course that happens but these kids are so precious and its meant to be about having fun, right??

Maddi is getting ready for a school production of Romeo and Juilet and although they are modernising it, I cant wait to see it. It actually got her interested in reading Shakespeare (which is good) so she has been devoring my old copy of his Complete Works. She is also nominated for SRC (Student Representitive Council) for 2010 and again for Career Leader so its been all about application letters, speeches etc......whatever happens hun, we wish you all the success!!

Now for the winners of the giveaway.......congratulations to Adelphesmum and Sweet Pea. Could you both please email me your snail mail address and I will pop them in the post for you. Thanks for entering and I hope you enjoy the patterns and your Family Xmas

Gingerbread Giveaway!!

Its hard to believe that Xmas is fast approaching......where has this year gone?? My new Xmas designs may be a little late but they are quick and easy projects to stitch whilst listening to the Carols as we wait for Santa!!!

I love this little cushion "Xmas At My House". Every year I always plan on making the kids a Gingerbread House and I have the kit with templates and icing nozzles, but I never seem to find the time! This way Ill have a house which I can bring out at Xmas for the family to enjoy!!

The other pattern, "A Family Xmas" is a sweet little wallhanging. I knew I would use those Gingerbread cookie cutters I brought, eventually.....they made great templates to draw around (can you tell Im full of good intentions?? lol).

I find it challenging to work with Xmas fabrics but I think the red/white/blue colour combinations on both designs give them that festive feel!

So I have 2 sets of patterns (1 of each pattern, per set) up for grabs!! If you would like to squeeze in some stitching before Santa arrives, leave a comment on this post and to make it fun......share with me one of your Xmas family traditions. Ill draw the 2 winners next week!

And whats our family tradition?? Every Xmas Eve, we sprinkle reindeer food on the front lawn (oatmeal and glitter) and then we drive around the city looking at the Xmas lights, eating ice cream! Just before bed, we read the kids "A Rugrats Night Before Xmas"(which is just a fun rendition of the original) and then its lights out!!

All He Wants For Xmas!!

Can you guess what Cohen wants for Xmas???

4 front teeth gone to make way for the 2 new "BIG ones"!!

Doesnt that lisp make you melt?? The spittle, not so much lol

Tooth Fairy has been here quite frequently lately, even after the one he swallowed!!!

Dont you love being 7??

Reasons To Smile

This morning I was smiling when I received my copy of Creating Country Threads. Its a Stitchery Special with so many wonderful projects and in it you will find my little wallhanging "Find The Joy".

I had actually designed and worked the stitchery quite some time ago with a completley different project in mind, but I cut them too small (due to the fact my math is so bad lol) and they had been sitting in the cupboard till the editor was looking for something that could be sent to them within a week!

So I dug out those Civil War fabrics and turned it into a wallhanging, all within the deadline which was great!!! (Sometimes it does pay to have a UFO or two!). I love how they have presented it, they always do such an amazing job with everyones projects and it is always such a thrill to see your work in print. Ive got a few more projects coming up soon so I cant wait to see what they have done with them!

Another reason to smile today, Maddi is coming home after a fantastic 6 days in Queensland on a school trip. Here a pic of her at the airport Saturday morning:

We cant wait to see her, its feels as if the whole dynamics of the family have been thrown off cause she wasnt here. I thought I would fret much more than I have but she is such a great kid and she works so hard, so she deserved this wonderful experience....as did her friends (who are all great kids too btw!!) I know she has missed us, her phone bill will be massive this month lol

Still, Im counting down the hours till we go to the airport to pick her up and for the next few days Im sure she will be resting and filling us in on "every single detail" of the whole trip. Cant wait!!.

One more reason to smile, go check out Paulines version of Family Values. She has done a wonderful job and I just love it!! The colours are gorgeous!!!

Next post Ill have some quick and easy redwork Xmas designs to share!

In Pops Garden- The Finale

Yeh, I can finally show the full quilt of the new BOM In Pops Garden........thanks for following the installments and for being so patient.
I love these colours, these are my colours and they also remind me of the colours Pop used throughout his house. I did keep the borders quite simple with just a small row of triangles to add some interest and frame the blocks but of course if you didnt want to include these, you could always put in a plain sashing!


I didnt want to over quilt this one and some may like a little more quilting but I was looking for that "puffy/snuggly look" (professional term there lol). To me its like a big hug from Pop and he gave the greatest hugs!


I am actually really proud of me, I did stitch a label (normally I find a spot in a corner and scribble it on with a Zig pen!!). Notice the hat, it also appears in the pattern cover photo on the chair! I have also included a couple of label ideas for you to stitch in the final pattern of the set.

So on to a winner!! I promised a full set of patterns to one person as a thank you for letting me share my Pop and the winner is................Vickie!! An email is on its way to you shortly!

For those of you interested in this quilt, please contact either here or here and they will so kindly help you out.

I feel so lucky to be able to use a skill taught to me by my Nan (stitching) to make a tribute to my Pop. He indeed touched my life and those who knew him, deeply. Miss you Pop!!!

In Pops Garden- Part 5

It was a little premature saying that life had gone back to normal after Mums op, but today is the start of a new week.....so lets try again!!!

Block 8 is Pops chicken shed. Chickens are one of my favorites and we would spend all day running back and forth to see if the hens had layed. There was a long concrete path from the chicken shed to the back door, so sometimes not all the eggs made it safely inside in our eagerness to share what eggs we had found!!

Of course nothing tastes better than free range eggs straight from the nest. Pop could cook them up anyway you wanted and I think my personal favorite were the poached eggs.....I just cant cook them as good as he used too. Nans cakes would be lovely and yellow and her meringues, well they were special!!!!

There were 6 meals a day at Pops house.......the three main meals, then morning and afternoon tea and finally supper. It was usually biscuits for morning tea but Pop always enjoyed a cuppa and a piece of fruit cake in the afternoons. He seemed to have an endless supply of fruit cake and although he ate and drank from mix matched crockery, he always layed out his finest for his guests.

Pop was a collector of Royal Albert and Royal Doulton dinner sets. His favorite was the Old Country Rose and the Silver Birch and he used them regularly, even for takeaway Fish and Chips!!!

His hat appears in Block 9 again, discarded after a long afternoon in the garden. It also appears in 2 more places Ive yet to share with this design..........all will be revealed next post!!

Thanks so much for allowing me to share my Pop with you. The comments have been so touching to read. Be sure to stay tuned for the final installment of this quilt and if you have left a comment on this or any of the other parts of In Pops Garden you will be entered in a giveaway for a full set of patterns as a thank you from me!