New Start

I know I should have finished something else

before a new start but...

sometimes a girl just has to

throw caution to the wind.

Right?

Well this little gem had me at first glance.

I think it is so sweet,

not to mention how gorgeous it will be in the new house.

So I got prepping.

I decided to needle turn my edges.

I've been in a hand stitching mood of late.

I was going to blanket stitch them on the machine

as the pattern suggested...

But decided I was going for a 'cleaner' finish.

(More work for me really)

The pattern is 3 x 3 flowers

on 12 1/2 inch squares.

I'm making mine 4 x 4.

Like I said...

more work for me.

It's time...

to bring the yarns out again.

Funny how a few cooler nights has me longing for winter.

I am ready for the cooler temperatures, 

that cold sting that slaps your face as you step outside.

Nights snuggled under quilts, thick pj's

and soups.  Mmmm soup.

Enough of that.

This week saw me dig out my crochet hook and begin

(yes I know) another project.

It's OK - school holidays are a week away and 

I promise I will finish one older UFO in that break.

I'm making a blanket and it needs 36

of the circles.  34 to go.

On a different note, overalls have arrived.

Sorry for the shonky photo but the man-child

holding them was being less than co-operative.

He is still in training but they get all the right gear

and he was pretty chuffed yesterday when I got home.

Simple creature...

Couldn't help it.

I have tried to resist.

Honest.

I did really well all of last year.

I only looked...

often.

Then in a moment of weakness I caved.

I signed up for both.

yep, 2013 and 2014.

It was the price tag in the end.

$30 US dollars which turns out to be just over $34 AUD.

Money well spent because I can do it all int my own time.

Oh and I get to keep the patterns - gotta love a good PDF.

Now, to pick fabrics...

Noodlehead Road Trip Case

I bought the pattern ages ago and had to wait for the

'right' fabric because this wasn't for me.

I found the fabric at Miss Milly's
(my local fabric/soap/bits of everything shop).

I hopped to it and got reading, cutting and sorting.

Pinning,stitching and ironing.

It came together quickly but it was a little fiddly in places.

For me the worst part was the binding.

I had tried to stitch it on in one go - as in both sides together,

but it just didn't look right.

in the end I opted to do it like a quilt binding.

Stitch to the front and hand stitch to the inside.

BIG MISTAKE

Should have stitched to the inside and hand sewn to the outside.

That plastic is not very nice to push a little needle through.

Mental not to self for next time...

think outside the square

(and break a few quilter's rules!).

Best laid plans...

Bummer!

Had this all prepped and ready to go.

Then life happened.

You know - those things called kids.

No sewing here sadly.

But the kids are great and happy too.

Modern Bee

I have joined hive 4 on Instagram 

for the makings of a modern bee.

We all bought the book and selected our quilt.

Each month we have a partner and we make her a block for her quilt.

This month I was partnered up to Leanne

and this is the block I made for her.

I hope she likes it.

Friday Night

I was supposed to sew,

come hell or high water.

Well there was neither hell nor high water but there was...

Stairs.

Yep, after months and months of waiting the stairs are in.

The husband knew they were in and took 

me to have a look after school.

So we spent a bit of time looking in the windows

(this is pretty tricky as they are still covered in blue plastic and very dirty).

We are having a proper walk through on Tuesday.

After that we went home and it was time for dinner.

I had bought home some corrections so hit them.

I was tempted to hit the machine but Essendon was playing.

This means the husband yells at the television.

Funny how this season he seems to love Paul Chapman...

he didn't have very nice things to say when he played for my beloved Cats!

So I sat in another room and quietly did this.

I was given this to read for work.

Was thinking I should start it...

Maybe this week?

Hope your Friday night was more successful than mine.

New Favorites

Do you read blogs like I do?

You are reading away and you come to a link.

Do you click on that link?

Do you ignore it?

I click and I'm not afraid to admit it.

I clicked on a link yesterday...

it may have led to some pattern buying.

Georgetown Turnaround

Galaxy

Both are designs from Trish Harper and I

shamelessly borrowed the pictures from

Broderie - the linked site that I purchased from.

I think it was the colours that seduced me.

I'm a sucked for pretty colours.

Just hope these 2 are not too far outside on my comfort zone.

Guess time will tell.

Tilda

I stumbled across a new Tilda kit recently 

and fell in love *sigh*.

I just had to have it.

It arrived yesterday while I was at work.

I have a few of her books although

I've never used a Tilda kit before.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Now if only the school holidays would hurry up and get here...

And then there was 3...

Over the weekend the big goober was at Scoutorama

helping lead activities as he is a Venturer now.

The husbeast was gone too.

He went on a weekend away to a resort.

Ok it was Fiskville (the CFA's training facility at Ballan)

(so it was me and the 2 little bears home alone for the weekend...)

He has begun his fire investigator course to further his qualifications.

He has wanted to do this course for a long time.

He has returned from the weekend as a

Fire investigator trainee.

In about 6 months his training should be complete.

He bought home a pen.

And kept it for himself.

He didn't even stop at Mill Rose and buy me a present.

Stinker.

Weekend

I started this a long time ago and then it got put into a 

draw in my sewing cabinet and well...

forgotten.

I got it out last weekend and finished the last 2 rows,

still loving the fabric from a long time ago.

This weekend I quilted simple straight lines and put 

a very plain binding on it.

It is going to school to be raffled off to raise funds for

Caritas.

I had also started this quilt last weekend and

just needed to quilt it and bind it.

This is also going to be raffled off for Caritas.

Caritas has been raising funds for missions for 50 years in Australia.

At my school, we support Project Compassion every Lent.

Our goal is to raise $2000.

Hopefully these 2 items will go a little way towards reaching our target.

On the inside...

of the boxes from the postie were these lovelies.

Firstly there was the box from Marmalade Fabrics.

That Tammy is so smart - she always emails me when the monthly

Around the Colour Wheel is ready to ship - to see if I need anything else.

Well hello!  Of course I need more fabric (who doesn't, right?)

I'm loving this little section of the colour wheel.

 

Then there is the low volume fabrics - I just had to have.

I mean, who wouldn't - look at them they're gorgeous!

A re-stock of 3 of my favorites because someone promised

Sharon they would make her a Traveler Tote and these were

the colours she wanted.  I think she might just be a little enabler...

Then there was the box from the Fat Quarter Shop.

I had a coupon for 20% off so I did - take it off.

I started collecting for my Lucy Boston.

Sometimes the pictures on the Internet look way different to real life.

I bought 3 bundles for Lucy.  The first and the 3 I really like.

The second I'm not so sure.

She might just be the ugly step sister.

One day when I get around to it and actually play with the fabrics

I will have a better idea.

Then I had this little bundle made up -

so happy, sigh.

And finally some showers - April that is.

So there you have it - all that was in those 2 boxes.

And the husband didn't say a word.

He's well trained.

Postage

Seriously, I don't understand it...

not one little bit.

I keep hearing reports in the media about how

Australia Post is running at a loss and they are thinking

of making people pay to have their mail delivered (isn't that why we buy stamps?),

or that mail will only be delivered every other day.

Sorry but I don't get it.

I mean I have enough mail delivered here to sink a small ship

(mind you a very small ship) and I see

on social media what others have delivered/receive in the mail.

The quilting community is certainly doing their bit for the world economy.

These 4 gems arrived this week alone.

Oh wait a minute - maybe it's my promise to not buy any 

books this term that's had an impact!

Well, I think Australia Post have got it all wrong.

They should be counting the amount of joy they bring with

each and every letter or parcel they deliver.

(Apart from bills - who wants them?)

I know for sure that my happy meter skyrockets

when a parcel arrives, so if they would flip it and look

at the happy factor - they're doing alright.

Just in case you're wondering - the fabric inside the

2 boxes is just delicious!

Oh dear...

What have I done?

I bought her a pattern and some fabric.

She's made her first pair of pj pants.

Yep, that's great!

Now she wants to make a bag...

What have I started?

Travel Essentials Pattern

I recently bought some new patterns and one of them was the 

Travel Essentials by Annie.

I really wanted to make the travel pouch for my hair straightener.

It always seems to never quite fit anywhere when I

pack to go away.

Not any more!

It was a quick and fairly easy pattern to follow.

Although in true 'lefty' fashion I have made mine

backwards!

Oh well, it's an original.

Goodbye February

Thanks February - you've been great but with the hot weather,

fires and sleepless nights I'm ready for March.

Bring on the cooler days...