Well, I have been quite busy - although not busy in a crafting kind of way :(  I have family coming from N.Z. for 3 weeks and have turned the granny flat into some real accommodation....that was a task and a half - but a good task!  Unfortunately my quite organised sewing cupboard is no longer - have stuffed fabric (and other bits and pieces) in there everywhere - hopefully they won't open the doors to have a peek at whats inside...or maybe I'll just fess up when I show them their bedroom - that may save them from being buried alive in the avalanche that is bound to happen if the wardrobe door is not opened in a very specific, careful manner.

I have been checking out all of the OPAM ladies blogs with my 'night night' cup of tea the last couple of evenings - a very pleasant way to end the day.  Sooooo many clever ladies out there.

I did last week get myself a very special little pressie........

Some really yummy fabrics from Whimsicals called Tangled Threads.  The fabric in the foreground is actually a really pretty kinda muddy green, but not really muddy.........

And its still not the right colour in this one either.......drat, stupid phone camera.  It's absolutely gorgeous fabric - a lovely bundle of fat 1/8th's, 2 metres of the blue for border, the lovely red and green (yes, it truly is green) is for inner borders and the fabric right at the back (which in real life looks like it's been aged in patches with parisienne) is for some stitchery. 

It has lovely little sewing machines over some of the pieces (this photo is the green fabric also grrrrrr), lovely quilting words and primitive looking buttons.......Just love it!
Only one problem now.......I have to find just the right project for it.  Thats OK though, because at the moment I still get immense please from picking it up, turning it over, running my fingers over it and playing the 'touchy feely' game with it.  Such simple pleasures.

I've also surprised myself and found another range of pretty fabrics that again the colourway's aren't what I would necessarily gravitate towards.....must be old age - but Blackbird Designs Beach House, or Lake House or something Watery House is fairly yummy........I think I can feel another treat in store - or the mailbox :)

So on that note, I'll now go boil the kettle for my evening cuppa, check out a couple more blogs and mosey off to bed.  Hugs Everyone xoxoxox

Day Off Monday :)

It's 'Day Off Monday' and a chilly one at that.  Kids are at school, husband at work and the house is soooooo peaceful.  Unfortunately I do need to go out this morning, but the positive of that will be having lunch with my Shaz after the morning is out of the way.

Have accomplished quite a bit this weekend - cleaned, baked, washed, ironed etc and also found some time to do some stitching.  Here is a photo of what this looked like last week.........tadaaaaaaa......

And this is what it looks like now.........

Hmmmm, thats not the way it was facing when I took the piccy :).  Still need to sew the binding on the needle case and of course finish the large stitchery and make the bag.......not long now though :

Also managed to begin....wait for it........and finish........ two tiny projects for our Material Girls birthday gal's.......can't upload piccys of those until next week though in case they just happen to peek.....Yes Christine and Vicki....they would be you:)

So on that note I should hop off the computer and get a wriggle on as its 9:20 and I have to be where I am going at 10:00am....ooops.

To all those that read.....have a lovely day/week......until next time xoxoxoxox

Craft Deprived

Wow, what a busy couple of weeks.  Last week was getting back to the routine of lunch boxes, packing school bags and 3 sleepy Little Me's not appreciating the rude awakening at 6.30am for school.....I was late for work by a few minutes only once, so quite an achievement.  Then of course at the end of the day it's homework, reading, listening to the days events and trying to get the 3 Little Me's into bed early enough for them not to be so sleepy the next day......roll on end of Term One!!!

Stitching has been a little neglected these last few days - enjoyed our first Material Girls of the year last Monday night and it was lovely to catch up with those who were able to attend.....missed the girls and their pretty projects.  The only thing I have managed is to drop a few stitches into a small piece of fabric when I've been able to grab a few minutes from the craziness of return to school and the long stretch of my three week roster.  Worked this weekend, so next weekend is my three day luxury...and the blessing in all of that - on the Monday the 3 Little Me's are at school - finally a day to myself....woooohoooooo :)

Next post will definately have a photo or two of some projects - finished or not.  Hope all who read this are happy and well.

xoxoxoxox

One More Day

Well it's Thursday evening and only one more day until........the weekend!  Wooooohoooooo!  Have had an incredibly 'slack' week thus far.....traced off a stitchery pattern which still yet to is to have it's first stitch stitched - (spending waaaaaaay too much time on the net exploring Blogland).  My excuse is .........wait for it........it is only my 2nd week back at work and a tad too brain strained ......add to that, 3 Little Me's to organise for back to school next week.  Does that reasoning have any credibility?  :)  It has been way more enjoyable cruising the world wide web in a vegetated mode looking at other ladies absolutely awesome creations.  I've been viewing the most beautiful blogs, clicking on 'buttons' (adding them to mine) and finding some amazingly talented and generous ladies out there!  Can't wait to get back in front of my little Janome this weekend (in between haircuts, surf lessons, uniform hemming (super ugh), groceries, baking, chores and whatever else my 3 Little Me's need).  Next blog......photo of WIP or WIP's .....unfortunately fairly confident it won't be a Finish......but then again, one never knows.  In the meantime have a luuuuuverllllly weekend everyone xoxox

Sunday Afternoon

Well, clearly by the title of today's blog it is Sunday afternoon.....and a very hot one to boot!  I'm guessing this time next Sunday afternoon I'll be frantically hemming Naomi's school dress (what did I read the other day.....'asking a quilter to mend is like asking Picasso to paint the exterior of a house'), ensuring Jordan actually has 5 pairs of matching socks (even though they've never been worn) and double checking that Alanna actually does have everything she needs in her school bag....not to mention mourning that, although I have worked most of the holiday's, I also have had a lovely little break from getting up that extra 45 mins earlier to pack lunch boxes, serve up breakfast etc before walking out the door. 

So now onto my achievements this week with my craft.............ummmmm, errrrrrrrr...  Just tricking......do need to admit that I have not actually stitched a lot (have pieced most of a small quilt for Jordan - really basic - 2 fabrics, 6 inch squares (blue) and 5 inch squares (red with an inch of black border) to join alternating in rows with a 6 inch border.....rows completed, border to add.  It's a bit tricky to find novelty fabric that is suitable for an 11 year old.....these are just pirates skulls that he liked.  The Queensland quilts set him off on an "I want a quilt Mum" tangent. Bless him!

I also joined the OPAM group (One Project a Month) which is really good because now I have accountability to others for the challenge I have laid myself on my blog.  I am also very excited at the prospect of meeting online ladies from other parts of the world who share the same interest and peeking at their projects also.  Cannot wait to be up and running.

Have also begun to gather a wish list for this year.....several small projects (just to make sure I can upload at least one completion a month), three long time UFO's and I would love to make a stitchery quilt....nothing too complicated.....am looking for a nice pattern on the net of an evening.  I'm thinking I will also tackle a couple of dolls this year, so got myself organised this week and soaked a couple of metres of calico in parisienne which is now tucked away for when the time is right. Such organisation is scarey for me. :)

On that note, I really should depart and attack some chores I have neglected to start this weekend.  Have a lovely week Ladies and remember "Live Well, Laugh Often and Love Much" xxxxxxx

My Little Bow Bag

Well, I am feeling rather proud of myself today....have finally finished my "Little Bow Bag" - it's so cute.  The pictures aren't that wonderful as the only camera that lives in the house (since mine met an untimely death) is currently at Camp with Miss Middle Child.

The pattern is a Whistlepig Creek pattern which came from Christine's shop.  It has a really cute bow (which is elastic threaded through a casing and the fabric gathered on the end). 

The little bit you sew across the corners to make a base is actually turned up on the outside of this bag with a cute little button feature.  Mmmmmm, buttons - I have never had a button collection, but I think I may need to start one :)

I always follow the pattern instructions (not quite confident enough to try my own way yet), but because it has a cute little pocket on the front and the back I decided to save time (just in case I began to procrastinate) and not put any on the inside......of course, now that it's complete I wish I had. 

So now I have 2 great accomplishments (actually 3) today. 

         1.     Completing my pretty little bag.

         2.     I've uploaded pictures and managed to write in between.....it's actually quite easy isn't it?

         3.     I also managed to begin a 2011 Finishes list on my blog (quite an achievement for an IT        illiterate) which now has 2 entries underneath.

Feeling pretty chuffed :)

Well, its the eve of my return to work after having a lovely 3 weeks off with the kids and a few days with my hubby......am so chilled out!!!!  Weather has been a little inclement but that has probably worked to my quilting advantage.  My friend Kathy and I got together and made 4 kids quilts to send to Qld (took a few days to get the binding on them all) and I myself have completed 2 small UFO's and almost finished a little bag for myself.  Have been considering ways to train myself to dream (ok, procrastinate) less and accomplish more......I am going to take a leaf out of Christine's book and do a little hand stitching each evening (in between kids, housework and organising the family) and use my machine only on my days off - in theory that will work quite well.  I am so inspired by the Material Girl's ladies and what beautiful items they create, my challenge to me this year is at the end of each month upload a photo to my blog of one item I have begun and finished.....another challenge will be to figure out how to actually get a photo on here :)  So, stay tuned ladies......there should be a picture of my beautiful little bag online within the next week........................now to start thinking about what I should be making next month............