Some Crafting, and some Scrapping, and some more baby Gazing!

Well although I have still not finished Maddie's quilt I did get the chance to do a bit of sewing, and even to teach a bit of sewing to my very keen friend Karen (thanks for a lovely day Karen!)  While Karen was learning the basics with her new sewing machine I made up this apron for Hannah's friend (given as a birthday present with a kids cook book and wooden spoon)  I dipped into my 6 metres of opshop gingham for this project and like it so much that Hannah might score a matching apron someday soon!

Then on the weekend I began an Easter project (more details soon) and quickly whipped up this pencil roll for the kids - the wool is a felted cream blanket that I dyed and cut up to use for smaller projects.
I've also been busy scrapping:

So you see, it was quite a productive week!

And just in case you were wondering, we've also spent a bit of time baby gazing and waiting for news from 3 expectant mothers.  Maddie can roll over now - she has done it a few times but frequently forgets that she can and wails for help!
Have a great week,
Keep smiling,
Nell

Autumn goodness and bits and pieces

First up some Autumn goodness: fresh roses picked this morning in one of my special blue jugs, and a zucchini left a little too long in the garden - so far it has made zucchini slice, pasta with zucchini, spag bol, grilled zucchini slices and several boring steamed dinner portions LOL  At least the dog doesn't like zucchinis - he is in disgrace after eating several of my heritage tomatoes and the first cucumber for the season :(

Second is a whinge about this small boy. Doesn't he look like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth?  A right little cherub?  My friend Nic took these photos when Maddie was about a week old and I just love them... but....this little boy is turning into a tyrant.  His sister was the Queen Of Tantrums - the full exorcist, head-spinning, screaming, speaking in tongues variety.  Hannah is (thankfully) outgrowing them and now Daniel has decided it is his turn.  Daniel is more the passive resistant type.  He doesn't do arm-flaying or screaming.  He prefers to let his limbs go slack, slide to the ground and begin a low keening wail that is akin to what I imagine a meat saw slicing your brain might sound like.  He can do this for hours and he gets the most mileage out of it in public places.  Which is why I am home blogging now and not at Spinners and Weavers.  There are lots of lovely older ladies at Spinners and Weavers and I'm sure some of them NEVER had children that threw temper tantrums.  He can't be trusted in public at the moment so today I am captive in my own home and might have to resort to fabric therapy, real coffee and chocolate to get me through the day. Hoping this is a short lived phase because when he is not being a little stinker this boy really is dreamy and divine.

Last, just to prove that I have been doing a wee bit of craft; some recent cropping with the new "Simply Beautiful" paper range:   

I've also been playing with hexagons - my first paper piecing attempts on some bright teatowels;and a while ago now I finished this mock log cabin cushion to go with Maddie's quilt (still not finished - but hopefully this weekend!)I was a bit excited that I put a zip into this cushion with minimal tears thanks to Sara and her excellent teaching with the Mystery Indulgence cushion we made at The Patchwork Apple last year!

Nic has requested my 8 minute biscuit recipe but it will have to wait until next time as I ate the last biscuit this morning (before photographing it!)  These biscuits don't last long in our house LOL

Hope you are having a wonderful, tantrum free week!
Keep smiling,

Nell

xxxx

A very Soule Mama kind of day!

I have just returned from a wonderful weekend cropping with the gorgeous girls in my Creative Memories team. We managed over 300 pages between the 12 of us (I only contributed 32 but at least I got my mojo back!) We stayed at the beautiful Glenbarr Homestead at Strath and my friend Meredith finally took a belly shot for me (the first for this pregnancy which is disgusting given that we only have 7 weeks to go!) Shame that the shadow makes me look even huger than I really am!!!

Being away from home for a few days does have its positives. The children have been positively angelic today and I have had a very "Soule Mama" kind of day (check out her blog on my list - I have both of her books with lovely things to do with and around small children) Anyway, the kids were happily creating christmas baubles and playing with my magnetic pin picker upper on one side of the table while I played with fabric on the other. I had already cut out the skull and crossbones fabric for a bag for my crazy friend Lindy Lou before discovering a bag tutorial on Ric Ric's blog (Jodie does amazing things!) so I kind of modified Lou's bag to be a slightly smaller version of Jodie's. This bag really is the simplest pattern ever and before I had even finished I knew I would make another with this "vintage"/retro fabric that I got off the trading table at Spinners and Weavers last week. For the extraordinary sum of $2.00 I had two pieces of the floral just the right size, quite a bit of very bright orange linen and three craft magazines - bargain!!! My straps are a little shorter than Jodie's because of the length of the orange linen but I was thrilled to end up with a totally thrifted very "hip" bag in under an hour! Even the buttons came off an old cardigan from James' Aunt! Now I know I really should use it as a Christmas gift but I just like it too much! I can definitely see me making several more of these as quick gifts!

While you are blog hopping to check out Ric Rac's bag pattern, why not go to gardenmama.typepad.com as well? She is having a very Steiner inspired toy giveaway.
And thinking of all things natural and lovely; couldn't resist photographing the lilac at Glenbarr. I love the smell of lilac, and the daintiness of the flowers, and the fact that it is so reminiscent of Springtime (my favourite time of year!)

Wherever you are this week, take the time to stop and smell the Spring blossoms!
Keep smiling,

Nell

New projects and some scrapping

Do you remember this photo of Hannah's first rainbow dyeing attempt? Well we've finally finished the scarf and hat (actually it has been pretty well finished for ages but just needed the ends sewn in!) I've also finished a grey beanie for my friend's husband and a pair of acrylic socks for my MIL but neither were exciting enough to warrant a photo! I'm finally getting to the end of my homespun stash which means now I can legitimately spend more time spinning yummy fibres to replenish it!

I've also made a start on the baby's quilt stitcheries - two down and about four to go. This will be the third of my Bronwyn Hayes/Moda Sweet quilts (and probably my last as I really should move onto some other techniques LOL!) Found a lovely cot quilt pattern at a little Patchwork Shop in Robe last weekend - and I've thought of the perfect fabric for it but just have to get up the nerve to order it online (Pokey Little Puppy fabric from the US)

Have also been having a play with Creative Memories new Black and White Power Palette - yummy! Makes me want to go and print out some more photos and get back into some serious cropping!

We had a very exciting week - family getaway to Robe, then Auntie Kaz (my delightful sister) arrived Wednesday night, three birthday parties and a kindy disco before putting sis back on the plane last night. With all of that I had expected the kids to give me a hard time today but instead they have been totally angelic (we cleaned up then made playdough and played outside and now they are happily engrossed in a spot of couch potato t.v. viewing!) I'm off to finish my stitchery.

Keep smiling,

Nell