The weekend..full of glorious sunshine..


And what do you do when the rain comes??


Find a cosy spot...like my friend Louie... (previously known as Lucy , after the other famous redhead, until an embarassing discussion with the vet..)

Or pull out these flannels and get working(in case you're wondering I'm still contemplating those 1930's blocks..)
Hope you're enjoying your day..whatever you're up to!

Time for a happy dance!

Firstly, I finally found those blocks I had been looking for that are the beginnings of my nieces quilt.
I vaguely remember putting these away as they were a bit fiddly..they don't look fiddly but that's my memory! And I vaguely remember that I had to make a few more , well I have 16 and here's the pattern.. It really seems like I need to make a lot more!

My second reason for a happy dance is that I won a book from Janelle Wind! It arrived today and it's a gorgeous book, filled with lots of lovelies. I'm looking forward to sitting down tonight and having a good look through this when the munchkins are asleep.

Hope you're having a good week too!

Time to finally finish...

I have been thinking, in the midst of doing the laundry, making food and chasing children, that I really must get to and finish the quilt I started for my niece a couple of years ago.

My poor nieces - neither have ever received a quilt, even though there was one started for both of them - whilst all my nephews (bar the latest little one) have received theirs.

Here are the 'nephew quilts"..sorry that the photos are a little dodgy..it's hard to take a photo and yell at kids to stand still at the same time...and most of these are from when my lot were a lot littler.

This is B's - been thinking I need to make him another as he's 8 now and a bit old for eyespy's I'm guessing!

This is Sam's..I madly sewed those applique rockets whilst waiting to hear if he was going to be OK. He was born with cystic fibrosis which resulted in a blocked bowel before he was even born and had a rocky start to life. Making this let me feel like I was actually doing something for him, as being 7 hours away, I couldn't physically do anything to help. It's a pattern from The Red Boot Quilt Company I'm not sure if Toni still sells this pattern but I'm guessing if you wrote her a really nice email...

And this is A's.. more eyespys..had to use up those fabrics!

Looking back on these it looks like I go for bright fabrics for boy quilts, but I'll have to show you my boy's quilts sometime..much more subdued countryish colours.

Now off to find those long-forgotten blocks, for my niece..must be buried here somewhere...

Giveaway winner!

Just quickly drew the winner (out of Gorgeous Girl's rainbow beanie of all things..nothing like a bit of improvisation) and the winner is Alexandra!
Will pop it in the post ASAP!!
Happy stitching!

It's July Holidays..

and, there's little time to sew. Too busy enjoying some winter sunshine...



And too busy enjoying spending some time with these munchkins....


Four kids, four glowsticks, hours of fun....

Giveaway!

Whilst sorting through some things I came across this kit for the Christmas doily on this pattern. It's called Sweet Christmas Dreams from Leanne's House Patterns. It comes with fabric, ric rac and two DMC threads to get you started.

It's a nice kit, but realistically I'm never going to get around to making it, so if you would like it, just leave me a comment and I will draw a winner about this time next week.
Have a great week!

A bit of creativity..

At least someone is getting some creative time in this household!! Gorgeous Girl and her buddy, Miss C, spent a rainy morning raiding the fabric cupboard(s)and with a little encouragement, completed these little cushions.

Pretty great, hey?!

My daughter was then inspired to keep foraging in the cupboard (lucky she didn't get lost!) and came out with lots of blue charm squares.
So she laid them out...

Sewed the squares into lines and nearly got the centre finished.
Her favourite print is the little blue fish and coral print.

A pincushion...

This is the pincushion I recently finished. If I was a good blogger I would tell you about where I found the tutorial online - but it was so long ago, I'm afraid I'm not sure! It is one BIG pincushion...in the following photo it is next to one of my treadle sewing machines...

Sure is going to hold some pins, isn't it?? :-)
And when I say 'one' of my treadle sewing machines, I only have two. One is the one that I received as a lovely surprise from my hubby and kids for Mother's Day many moons ago. Another is one that I 'accidentally' bought on ebay - I was watching an auction and thought that it was going for too cheap..so I put in a bid on it..to help out the seller..yes, I know that doesn't make sense and it's easier for all if I don't try to explain it! Well, of course I won it..then we had to try and figure out how to get it back from Sydney!
So picture this, two small kids, a pregnant woman, one patient husband, an antique sewing machine,assorted kid paraphenalia and all the luggage in one station wagon. I have this feeling I was nearly in the lotus position as lots of our 'stuff' had to be under my feet (the only space left), but do you think I dared to complain once... :-)
So I have two beautiful Bebarfald Bluebird sewing machines, that are currently tucked away, never opened. Too many little sticky destructive fingers at the moment!