My Almost March Finish

Finally, I have finished my new niece's quilt.  This was supposed to be my March WIP finish but the sewing machine packed it in while I was quilting.  The very wobbly quilting is done prior to our 2 day course with Lorraine Cocker.

I really enjoyed these 2 days.  Lorraine is an excellent teacher and our Apple Pieces Group are so much fun!  I was super chuffed that I learned how to stipple, and how to McTavish, and lots of other clever free motion designs too.  Unfortunately my machine played up so much that I had to use Lorraine's Pfaff Quilters Expression 4.0 on the Sunday - not good at all! It was like going from driving a clapped out old mini to a porsche and so now of course I REALLY want one!!!
My Janome has now been semi-fixed.  Enough to finish this quilt but the problem is still there and I have to keep stopping and re-positioning the bobbin case every so often.

Not great photos but hopefully you can see that my quilting is definitely on the improve and now I am HOOKED.  I have the next quilt pin basted and ready to go!

Cotton Washcloths

As part of my efforts to reduce my "stash" these are my new washclothes.  It is just a square knitted on the diagonal in my handspun cotton (which must seriously have been done about a decade ago because I can't remember the last time I spun cotton LOL) and then crocheted around with an odd ball of DK cotton that was also in my stash.  Wouldn't have been my first choice as an edging but I was trying to use what I had.  Because they are 100% cotton they are super soft and snuggly.  I love it when I can make something useful and it doesn't cost me anything!

The Rockpools

I've never been much of a beach person.  Give me a river anyday but I'm not much of a swimmer, and I'm not especially fond of sand...

Having a "beach house" in the family has been somewhat of a novelty and it has meant that I am having to get used to a lot more sand and surf than I am used to.  Despite the fact that Aldinga has a beautiful swimming beach, it is the rockpools that I am coming to love best.  The light down there on dusk, or mid morning, is just gorgeous and my children can run amok safely without me fretting about them drowning or being run over.  Dan likes to hunt for crabs.  Maddie runs after the sea gulls, calling to them in their own language "arka, arka, arka!!!"  Hannah explores among the rocks.  I hunt for shells.

Shells have always been one of my favourite things about the beach.
What about you?  Do you like the beach?

Simple Gift Bags

I recently did this quick and easy gift bag tutorial for my customers and thought I would share it here:

Quick and Easy Gift Bags:

Using the 12” Trimmer cut a rectangle 8” x 5 and a half”  Make one long edge fancy using the wavy/scallop/zigzag blade.

Change to the perforated or scoring blade.

Along the long edge score/perforate the paper at 1/2  inch, then 2 ½,  then 1 and a ¼, then 2 ½.

Turn the paper and along the long straight edge score/perforate in 1 inch.

Snip into the corners of this one inch strip so that your paper looks like this:

Place tape runner or double sided tape on the bottom edges and the ½ inch strip at the end. 

Now fold it up! Punch one or two holes through the top to tie ribbon and decorate as desired.  I have found these the perfect size to fill with lollies, or 2-3 snack bar sized chocolates.

I should also add that this is not my original idea.  It was modified from a friend's diecut stencil so that I could do it using our Creative Memories tools.

Happy crafting,

Nell

xxx

Autumn Harvest

Not bad for a few minutes in the garden - our own pumpkins, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes and beets (which were delish boiled then roasted with garlic and rosemary!)
Happy Autumn!

Mug Rug Love

I recently had a birthday.  While it was not quite a "big" birthday it was made very, very special in lots of ways.

One of those ways was by lots of technology.  Through the joys of texting and facebook I got messages from so many of my lovely friends, Creative Memories buddies and extended family (even 3 of my Aunts that I hadn't heard from for a while)  My hubby spoiled me with an ipod and a new smart phone (welcome to the 21st century Nell!!!) Now I just have to work out how to use the damn thing LOL!

Another of those ways was through relationships - last year I went the whole day at work without anyone knowing it was my birthday.  This year the girls were determined that EVERYONE would know so I was thoroughly spoilt by gorgeous children and parents and staff (including a special brown paper package tied with my fav red and white spots - thanks www.bananarunkin.blogspot.com ) I had lots of hugs from sweet kidlets.  My teaching buddy made my favourite lemon almond cake.  My own kids each made their own handmade cards and decorated a sponge cake with way too many marshmallows and spearmint leaves!  Then my baby brother rang and announced that my sweet new niece, Izabella Grace, had put in an appearance on my birthday!!!!  It doesn't get much better than that.

And then there was this little handmade bit of love.  A very thoughtful present from my clever friend Nic www.nicolewood.blogspot.com  I love the quilting on it.  I love that it is in my colours and custom made to match my Happy Place!  Most of all I love that someone took the time, and the care, and the thoughtfulness to make it just for me.  Handmade Love.

It makes me happy every time I see it!!!

What makes you happy?

p.s.  This weekend we are at a quilting course with Lorraine Cocker.  Today I finally mastered the art of stippling - watch this space!

family time

Not a lot of crafting happening here lately because we have been having family time.  First my sis and mum and gorgeous little China Doll of a niece down from Queensland for a few days and now James' brother visiting from the UK.  Lovely time.  Family time.  Makes me miss them all so much more.  Makes me so very, very grateful for all that I have.

And while we are talking gratitude.  Tonight I started work on my soon-to-be-born-niece's quilt only to find that my quilter's pins all got left behind at our last quilt gathering so I had to hand-baste.  You know, we modern day quilters, we've got it pretty good!!! Thank goodness it was only a cot quilt!!!