Special delivery

And not from the stork either...

Think I would cry if there was to be one of those deliveries at my age and stage...

A very happy delivery though!

I have only bought from Craftsy once before and it was  s.l.o.w.

I knew this was a gamble...

I was surprised at how quick it was,

just under 2 weeks.

Things are improving.

I have a thing for both rainbows and graded fabric at the moment.

This is my reward to myself for the end of year.

Any excuse, right?

Plus it was on sale AND I have the perfect wall for it to hang on...

Who is going to deny me this lot?

So, anyone know of a fast and reasonably price long arm quilter out there

who might be interested in a load of quilts in desperate need of attention?

Free

I got some free fabric!

Isn't it just the most beautiful fabric?

A couple of weeks ago Southern Fabric had a special.

Buy a fat quarter bundle and receive the Joel Dewberry

lilac selection of Aviary 2 for free.

I find that Southern Fabric frequently have great deals and giveaways.

Shipping seems to be fairly quick too.

This just my opinion and from my experience with this business.

I am not being paid in any way for this review.

Sailing away

It has arrived - well partly anyway.

Bonnie and Camille's new line for Moda

"Daysail"

Don't you just love the message!

I refuse to tell just what else I ordered.

I may or may not share photos when it does get here.

Recently...

I found myself with a whole lot of apples,

so I tested the new oven and made a pie. 

It was rather nice and filled beyond belief.

The minute it was cut, the filling began to spill out.

The family didn't care.

I've also seen messages like this a little bit.

I'm trying hard to move more and eat less.

Some days are better than others.

I like these messages from my Fitbit,

they do encourage me to keep going.

Task avoidance

I was suffering form task avoidance and so...

I made 2 of Vand Co's new Honeycomb Zipper Pouches.

I think they are adorable.

I see more of these in my future.

I played around with the sizes of the pleats on the purple one.

The green on is the original pattern.

A close up of the pleats.

I had to wash both bags because my iron 'pooped' 

on them...anybody else have an iron like that?

Oh and I still haven't completed the task I was avoiding!

More presents

This birthday just hasn't finished

as I keep getting more wonderful gifts!

How lucky am I?

This group that I'm in on Instagram are just the kindest ladies -

look how spoiled I am.

These gifts from

@sewforshoes @lana_sunhaze @sippingteaquilts

are just perfect.

Thank you ladies!

This kid...

Sneaks into my bed sometimes to sleep when his Dad is on night-shift.

This kid has a lot of little toys and things.

That sometimes get stood on or sucked up into the vacuum.

He says it's because he has nowhere to put them.

I decided to fix that!

I made him a draw-string bag to put them in.

 It was super easy!

I followed the instructions from the blog

'in color order'.

In no time at all I had a finish.

I can now hang things on my stairs to take photos.

 I love my stairs for that reason!

 I gave it to the little monster.

I then found him here again that night.

Lucky he is so cute to look at when he is sleeping...

For Helen

I can now share what I made for Helen as part of the F.H.F.S.

The theme was dots or spots.

First I made this bag organiser.  I can never find anything in the bottom

of my bag - I really ought to make myself one.

It has so many 'spots' to hold things - it is a very clever design.

Next up i made Helen a hoop that has pockets for her 

to hang in her sewing space to help her again

organise and have things at easy reach.

I then decided to use my new pattern that I received

 from my friend Debra.  She's very clever!

The pattern was quick and easy.  it wasn't a lined bag,

but I decided to put a lining in.

I think it is a good size for shopping and throwing in those little extras you buy.

 Even better, it's soft and small enough to live at the bottom of your everyday

handbag for when you do need a shopping bag.

I really enjoyed making for Helen in this swap.

Thanks Helen for letting me use your photos of the

2 organisers because as usual,

I forgot!

Shabby Cottage Swap

This was another swap I joined on Instagram

You made 9 houses and sent them off 

and got 9 houses in return.

Aren't these just the cutest little things ever?

Now to decide if i want to make some more to make it bigger

or just sash and frame it as it is...

Decisions, decisions...

September

Oh September you've been good...

a birthday

loads of presents

some sewing (not as much as I would like)

2 colds - gross (where does all that snot come from???)

a clean up and tidy of my sewing room plus some new shelves

the arrival of some patterns and fabric - but only a little

fog

new lights

little houses

and the best reaction ever to a note my friend Maria sent me - it was a classic prank with a $100 note,

that really was a note and not money at all...that little face, priceless!

Presents

How lucky am I?

Some more gifts have arrived from my Instagram birthday swap.

From the very talented:

@verydebra

@good_starter

@shequiltsalot

@kitcschy_honeybees

@curlyquesue

If you are on Instagram I urge you to go have a look at their feeds.

These ladies do amazing things.

Thanks ladies - you have made me feel so very special!

Aussie handmade birthday club

My friend Tara (@sewsforshoes) on Instagram is running a handmade birthday club.

I joined...2 parties.

These are the gifts I have received so far

these are all such wonderful gifts and the people that have made them,

well they are just the nicest people.

Although I think I have to question Annabel on this one!

She's far too cute to be a pincushion...

love her thinking though!

Sharon

Just can't help herself.

She went and made me a bag for my birthday.

Look at all the Bonnie and Camille fabrics!

It is currently hanging in my sewing room.

I smile every time I look at it.

I know that it was made with love...

I'm a lucky girl, for sure.

Thank you so much Sharon.

Birthday Club 2014

My friend Cheryll is running a birthday club this year.

These are the wonderful gifts I received for my birthday.

As you can see, I was truly spoilt.

Thank you ladies, I feel very blessed.

A little birdie...

has told everybody...

It's no secret really.

Today is my birthday.

I doubt there will be cake as I'm off to take

the husband to have a procedure on his shoulder.

Fingers crossed it works!

Fitbit

I bought a Fitbit at the start on May.

I was curious to see how much I moved.

Well I have moved a bit since then.

A thousand kilometers to be precise.

I love that my Fitbit gives me messages,

badges and vibrations.

It certainly has encouraged me to move a bit more.

It has even motivated a few more people at work

to buy them and get moving.

Amazing how a little device can encourage a bunch of adults to move!

Sometimes

Life is just better when there is cake.

He had the cake, I had the coffee.

Love this kid and his view on the world.

Friday night

I've had a cold all week, so when the bell rang at 3:20 pm

I gave a sigh of relief.

Then fell in a heap.

All I managed was to glue down a few more

hexies for my long term project

"Hex on the Beach"

It will be beautiful when it's finished...

one day.

For Debra

Finally a reveal I can share.

The birthday gal has it in her hot little hands.

I did so want to keep this one.

This is perfect on so many levels.

I even used one of my new labels!

Think I see a few more of these in my future.

Happy birthday Debra!