Kick the Bucket and Julie and Julia

You could be forgiven for thinking I dropped off the end of the planet.  In actual fact life has just been crazy busy with kindy and that has left little time for crafting or blogging.  I did, in fact, finish 3 big projects in 3 months, as well as a host of other little crafty projects tucked into an hour of knitting at karate, or a few moments stolen while waiting on appointments/kids/etc.  My amazing quilty friends organised a whole weekend of sewing at Port Elliot - it was bliss!  I got soooo much done! So this is the world's ugliest quilt finished:

This will become an 80th birthday present for my Nanny who has Alzheimers and won't even know what day it is :(

Then there was this wall hanging which was started at Jane's Christmas in July Gathering when I was pregnant with Maddie!  I love how this one turned out, especially as I am not a fan of satin stitch.  This is a Leanne Beasley pattern.

The last quilt is Lena's but I do have a small bit of finishing to do on it this morning before I show it off. There was also this little cardigan for baby Mike, the pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's "More Last Minute Knitted Gifts"

 I sent it up to him with a little woodland knitted hat and then this photo showed up on facebook - how cute is he!?!?

 There was also lots of rav pattern knitting - 2 pairs of calypso mitts

 and a Merrit for my friend's birthday:

All three projects were handspun - quick and fulfilling.  I also finished James' Jedd socks for Father's Day.  Then there was some test knitting for this cowl, Cloud 9.  I really like this one and think that both the girls will probably get their own smaller versions for Christmas.  The lace repeat is only about 17 stitches wide and every second row is purl so it is kind of a cheat's lace.   I also have a bit of a think for moss stitch and double moss stitch so that was a win win too!

Next on the to do list are a couple of bigger projects for me (Paris Cardi and a green cardi) and a couple of hats for Nessie's girls.  Next up for quilting is a Dr Seuss baby quilt for Lou and a bed sized version for Dan.  Luckily, holidays are just around the corner!

Kick the Bucket and Julie and Julia

So I promised to show you my Kick the Bucket for March (which was Maddie's quilt)  My Kick the Bucket for May was Amelia's finished "Olinda" cardigan.

I can totally recommend any Tikki Knits as Georgie's patterns are a delight from the very first stitch (and I am usually not good with lace but this one was predictable!) 

And although I have been slack documenting my Julie and Julia projects I have done a few pairs of these (which look adorable packaged in little gift boxes made on the cricut)

 And there has also been this little guy out of some cheap super soft chenille from my local Spotlight:

And look what arrived in my mailbox today!

 I love Molly Wizenberg's first book so much (one of my all time favourite feel good reads) so I am really hoping this one is just as good.  Thankfully I will have some quiet time over the weekend to get stuck into it too!
Whoever you are, where ever you are, happy Friday to you!

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!

February WIP

So if you only had 24 hours to quilt this in, how would you quilt it?  I am thinking in the ditch for the horizontal and vertical lines with a free motion outline around the butterfly and leaf and caterpillar?

Who am I kidding though?  This is not going to get finished in February.  Perhaps it could be my first WIP finish for March?  I will have to go back and read AJ's rules about the 12 projects in 12 months challenge - not sure what happens if you miss a month?  Still determined to get more than 12 WIPS done this year (but I did 3 in January so I figure I have a few already up my sleeve!)

Despite not meeting deadline I am feeling better about this quilt now that the top is finally done!  This quilt will also be the last quilt that I do before our Apple Piecers Quilting course with Lorraine Cocker so hopefully all quilts from here on in will be a bit more exciting than stitch in the ditch?

I feel like February has been an emotionally exhausting month - all the dramas of getting the kids settled back at school and establishing a new routine with the thought hanging over me that it will all change next term anyhow!!!

As of next term I will be back at work 3 days a week.  In many respects it is my dream job at my dream kindy and I will be working the way I love to work, with a set group of children over 2 consecutive days, but it does mean lots of BIG changes - lots of rethinking how we thought our lives would be for the next few years (I had not anticipated going back to work until Maddie started school)  Thankfully, I have a super supportive boss, and the love and support of my inlaws, great childcare, and kids that are pretty easy going and flexible.  I just know that I will need to be way more organised than I am naturally inclined to be and I will also have to overcome the "Mummy Guilt" of not being home with Maddie.  Please don't think I am judging anyone who has had to go back to work while their bubbies were little - I am grateful that I haven't had to before now.  I am also grateful that this is a conscious choice I am making to return to my pre-kids career more for the love of it, and the opportunity, than for the money but I am still grappling a little with the idea of not being around so much for my little Maddie!  Enough rambling - I have a quilt to finish!!!


Oh, and if you are reading this, and you are just lurking and I haven't heard from you for a while why not leave a comment, just so I know you are still there?
Happy Tuesday,
Keep smiling,
Nell

A bit of this and that...

Well since I last blogged there has been a fair bit of kindy work, and a fair bit of Creative Memories "work" (if you can call training at a 5 star resort "work" LOL) but there has also been a bit of cropping using Chris Lothian's fabulous "Fast Formulas".

There has been a bit of spinning (more "Ivy" and some "Happy" from Kathy's fibres)  I think I am addicted to Navaho plying!!!

There has also been some more knitting for charity.  The pink one with the heart is going to a friend's new baby girl.  The heart is a bit crooked but I am hoping that is part of the handmade charm!  This wool is so delicious and soft to work with that I am dreaming of a Baby Surprise Jacket (Toddler version) in lime and watermelon stripes for Miss Maddie.

Amongst other things there has been a slow and tentative start on my February WIP - all I can say is thank God for leap years because I am going to need the extra day this month if I am to get it finished LOL

Happy friday,
Nell

WIP Challenge and 3 scraplifted pages

So it appears that others are also needing to finish WIP so AJ has a Project Challenge going over on her blog ajsantics.blogspot.com.
The idea is to finish a quilty project each month.

I know I have already written a UFO post but I actually need to add to it.  Some of these projects also have to have an end date so I am including that in brackets.

January - Nessie's baby quilt, Hannah's first quilt project, already finished the Katie Jean "ticker" dolls quilt
February- Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt
March (or before) Owl panel
March/April - Rabbit stitchery/wallhanging

Patchwork Apple BOM (started first 2 blocks)
Dr Seuss Quilt
Needleturn Applique Quilt (just needs borders)
Emmie Lou's Braids (started)
Bliss Quilt
Momo Charm Pack Quilt
Patchwork Apple Cot Quilt
Patchwork Apple Single Bed Quilt Kit
Lill and Will/Moda Bakeshop Quilt
French General Quilt
Jelly Roll in case quilt
Leanne's House BOM
Merry and Bright Stitchery Wallhanging (3/4 done)
Reindeer panel
Rosalie Quinlan Rebekah Amy quilt (started a very long time ago!)
A4 string piecing experiment (almost finished)
Bugs and Blossoms - do I just throw this out?
1 inch log cabins - ongoing project to use up scraps

Not quilts but still needing to be finished:
Union Jack table runner
Socks #1
Socks #2
Maddie's cardigan
Cait's cardigan
Smocked dress
Suzanne's scarf
Hannah's school scarf
Crocheted motif blanket

Whew! It looks scary like that!  I guess the challenge is to NOT BUY ANYTHING ELSE until I get these WIP under control!!!

Only 3 pages to show today and 2 of them have been "scraplifted".  I think it is okay to scraplift if you are feeling a bit blah/lacking motivation but you do need to acknowledge your original inspiration!
The first one comes straight from the cover of our Creative Memories Scraps Magazine.

This one is from an old Scrapbooking Memories Magazine by Belinda Venables (who incidently is also a fellow South Australian) and then the third one is using the leftovers from the above page.

Now I'm off to put binding on Nessie's quilt so that I can take it for our Apple Piecers Get together this weekend!
Oh, and today I am grateful for good red wine (Scarpantoni School Block - one of my favourites) and the cooler weather!
Keep smiling,
Nell

Finishing Stuff!

Inspired by this (the Patchwork Apple's Civil War and Repros exhibition) I went home and found the BOM medallion quilt that I started about 6 years ago.  I just could not for the life of me get the centre square to work.  I tried so many times and it just never fitted so I threw the whole lot in a cupboard and forgot about it.  At the exhibition Jane had the original quilt on display and I still loved it (funny how some of the quilts I loved 6 years ago are now ho hum and others stand the test of time)  Anyway, I came home and hunted for the pieces.  Not an easy task amongst the mess. That is when I discovered that some parts from the first block were missing in action so I had to find similar fabric.  After lots of hunting and searching I was about to press the replacement fabric when what should I find on the floor next to the ironing board... the pieces all ready to go in a zip lock bag - sometimes I seriously think the Big Guy Upstairs just loves to teach me a lesson and I guess that this time it was a lesson about keeping things a bit tidier and being a bit more organised!  Anyway, to cut a long waffle short.  I pieced this:

To give you a bit of an idea, the little red and cream half square triangles measure one inch across.  I know it is not perfect but I am so proud of this block and so glad that 6 years later I can move on!!!

As I sorted through the mess I also found a little dress that I had started for Maddie.  Knowing my reputation for not finishing things in a timely manner I had cut it as a size 4.  I really wish I had known how ridiculously easy this pattern is!  It is "Miss Madeline" by Samantha Coffey thehandmadedress.blogspot.com 

The fabric was picked up on the trading table at Spinners and Weavers for next to nothing.  Now I just have to wait a few years for Maddie to fit into it.

Oh, and just in case you needed a laugh.  Guess what happens when you leave your sewing machine AND scrapbooking supplies unattended?  This was taken post-event when the culprit was made to clean it up and as she scrubbed she kept saying "No! No! No! Ahh, pretty!" and shaking her head and then nodding!!!  She certainly is our little clown and I think at least 3 times as cheeky as her siblings!

Happy Monday!

Keep smiling,

Nell

p.s. Creative Memories Pens are archival quality and won't run, bleed or fade. They are totally waterproof.  My sewing machine is destined to be "Ahh Pretty" for a very long time!

New Inspiration

I've just discovered this new blog treefalldesign.typepad.com and have enjoyed a pleasant half hour of oohing and ahhing over her beautiful children's clothes - I think it is mostly the colour combinations and patterns that I love, and that real sense of yesteryear simplicity.  Whatever it is, Manda McGrory makes making children's clothes look effortless and between her and Toni Coward they have me itching to clean off the scrapping table and get busy sewing for my girls.  WATCH THIS SPACE.

Oh, and I found it interesting that even someone that talented feels funny when they wear clothes they have made themself.  I can totally relate to that (which is one reason why I hardly ever sew for my self!)

I am happily stitching at a farmyard quilt from Alicia Paulson's book (destined for my bestie's 2nd baby) and tonight while I read craft mags in the bath I found the perfect pattern to use my stash of Dr Seuss fabric.  Now the big question is really what to work on next LOL

Tomorrow is The Patchwork Apple's Civil War Exhibition (at the Woodside Institute Hall)  I have seen several of these quilts and they are STUNNING.  Cannot wait to go and drool (and Jane will have the shop set up there too so if she happened to have the new Moda 3 Sisters Etchings in a Jelly Roll it might just have to come home with me)  Oh the possibilities!

Happy weekend!

Scrappin and Quiltin and enjoying the weekend

It's been a long time since I shared any scrapping on here.  This is the beautiful new "Rugged" Power Palette that was released for May.

Yesterday my friend Nic and I went for coffee and a play at the playground with Emma from http://www.sampaguitaquilts.blogspot.com/ (we had 7 kids under 7 between us hence the playground once they were all sugared up!)  Emma did such a beautiful job quilting Caitie's quilt.  Today I sorted out the binding for it and hopefully will get it finished over the next week.  Emma has put some great photos of Caitie's quilt up on her blog and I can totally recommend her if you want your quilt professionally quilted (well-priced, very quick turnaround and BEAUTIFUL stitching)

I have also been putting sashings on the Quilts For Queensland project I have been working on.  Unfortunately I have a problem with this quilt.  It once again has red spotty fabric (I know - you would think I had outgrown the addiction by now?!?) and it looks sooooo good draped over our couch (in fact I'm thinking that with the same aqua blue fabric I used to border Caitie's quilt it could be pretty near perfect as our lounge quilt) You can see where I am going with this can't you?  Now I will need to make ANOTHER quilt for Queensland and this quilt might have to live here?  And all this time poor Darling Daughter is patiently waiting for her quilt to be finished too!

Anyway, along with the quilting and the scrapping and the outing with Nic, add in a birthday tea (lasagne and the special occasions chocolate cherry cheesecake) a sleep in, and the fact that our pergola is up and nearly finished and it has been a lovely weekend!
Keep smiling,
Nell

Selena's presents (Sneak Peak)

I am an Auntie again.  My darling new niece, Selena Willow Rosenveld, was born this morning.  I am sad that I can't be in Queensland to give her new baby cuddles.  Newborns are so special.  It has actually been a lovely thing to share in my sister's first pregnancy.

We are so different, my sister and I.  As children we were not all that close.  As teenagers we were downright hateful, and hurtful, to each other.  As we "matured" we have grown closer and I can honestly say that I now know just how special it is to have a sister.  I see my two girls together, how smitten they are with each other, and I hope that they will always know the special bond of sisterhood.

Today I am not focussed on much at all, just thinking about my sis and her gorgeous newborn.


I hope to have pictures to share, but until I do here are a few of Selena's first presents from us (KAZ LOOK AWAY NOW!!!)

Selena shares a birthday with my dear friend Naomi (which is why Dan has chocolate all over his face - he was licking the bowl from the birthday cake we are taking to Mum's group!)  No pastel baby pinks for my sister.  She has decorated Selena's room in a jungle theme.This is the little dress made from the "stained glass" sock yarn (wool/silk mix) that I got through kathysfibres.com  The pattern is from Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders.  It was just a dream project to knit (thoroughly enjoyable and so quick - I relished every stitch!)  Can't wait to see little Selena in this!

I'm off to help Hannah's class make Easter cards (bunnies from my Creative Memories punches)

Happy Tuesday (and welcome to the world Selena sweetie!)

Keep smiling,

Nell

Happy Australia Day!

I hope you celebrated in whatever way works for you.  We had a lovely BBQ brekkie with one of my dearest friends and her gorgeous little daughter.  They have been staying for a few days.  It has been so great to catch up again.  I feel so blessed to have friends like that in my life!  We were talking today about friends coming into your life for "a reason, a season, or a lifetime"  I am incredibly grateful for the amount of "lifetime" friends I have.  I still struggle with letting go of "seasonal" friends and even years later wonder what happened to them and where they are now.  One of the joys of blogland has been finding friends "lurking" LOL!

Congratulations to Esther Pollard who was the successful bidder in our auction for Queensland Flood Relief.


How awesome is that!  Pretty amazing for a group of crafty chicks!  I like to think that my little bit helped (and I know that I certainly ran a few bids up higher as there were so many yummy things up for auction LOL!)

Despite being quite busy I have actually had a bit of productive sewing time lately.

This, for my niece's birthday out of the beautiful Hoot range, and this which has been a very long time UFO.  Nothing like having your local and very favourite patchwork shop closing to make you rush projects through to completion!  I've also been making some blocks for the Quilts for Queensland appeal and I notice that Pip over at meetmeatmikes has found a lady collecting granny squares to help too so if you can crochet maybe you could get involved.  I love to see so many people helping in so many ways!  Makes you feel good about humanity hey!

Anyway, I am off to bed!  Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

Keep smiling,

Nell

xxxx

Finally some finishes!!!

Finally I have some finished projects to show.   This is the Gail Pan Free Christmas Block of the Month Quilt.  She has lots of these in her gallery and I am amazed by how different they all look just by using different fabrics and different finishing techniques.  It looks kind of ordinary in this photo but it is really quite pretty in real life and I am just so glad to finally be finished something!

Next up is Dan's strippy quilt - a kit from TPA with my own little applique twist.  This means that I am only one quilt away from achieving my long term goal of a handmade quilt on every bed!

I've also been "spinning my wheel" lots lately - the minute Winter hits I find an irresistable urge to spin and knit.  My nephew was in need of a new beanie and his mum requested blue and brown so Kathy from http://www.kathysfibres.com/ made up some beautiful dyed merino for me - she has even called it "Heath" after my nephew!  When I knitted the first beanie from it Dan claimed it so I have had to knit another and then request more wool so he can have a scarf to match.  I used my new wooden circular needles to knit these - lovely to work with!  Next up is a purple crocheted beanie for Hannah - my kids so need more hats like a hole in the head but they've both turned into little fibre junkies and when they see something they like they casually suggest another hat!  In this case it kind of feels good to be taken for granted - I love that they don't see it as unusual that Mum can spin and knit and make stuff and I find my spun projects just so satisfying - a real "something from nothing" kind of experience.

Anyway, enough blathering, I'm off to hang washing and clean mushed banana off the wee one's face; starting solids is so much fun!
Happy Tuesday,
Keep smiling,
Nell

p.s. guess which very excited boy starts kindy tomorrow?