Rewards....

I seem to be one to justify starting a new project...... I did finish my Christmas quilt so a good reason for something new??????

I have had this pattern of Natalie Birds for some time so out it came..... 

.... as much as I love my home felted wool it is quite thick and I wanted some of the fine wool for this delicate project .... so I splashed out on some very pretty pure wool pieces....

... and one little side is sewn.....

....  also the little teddy by Libby Richardson is stitched and her little flowers and lace added.... I do like the 3D effect she has shown us for the flowers....

... and since grandiegirl is visiting later this year and I will be giving her the quilt I needed a label... this was an extra flower I had mistakenly traced out... so that is sewn on some plain fabric...

Trying to tidy out some of my started projects .... but I am seriously addicted and can't help myself starting something new.....

Righto, Gotto Go.. that pincushion has 4 sides to it.... 

Christmas Quilt

Had a happy time yesterday finishing off detail on my Christmas wallhanging

I've ironed on a toy soldier - to guard the winery 

... stitched on stars to brighten the way for Santa....

...sewn reindeer antlers and glued on the reins....

... liberally applied glitter glue snow....

... added a snowman...

 ... and a penguin....

.... decorated some trees with diamante's ...

.... here is the whole quilt.... the glitter looks smudgy (and it is) but it sparkles happily in the light

These are the blocks close up....

I'm really happy with this quilt... it's a bit shabby... and a bit quirky .... and lots of fun... 

Welcome to the North Pole pattern book is by  Piece O' Cake Designs - Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins

October Charming Stars

These stars are pretty fun to make...

Thanks Terry for hosting this charming star sewalong

...  so now we are 8....

The Pattern for this fun quilt is found HERE on the Moda site..

On the hand stitching front I have done this cute stitchery by Anni Downs... it's for a bookmark.... someone asked me when I was doing it "Why would you want to do so much work for a bookmark?"  "Good question..... because I can!"

Crafters are a bit crazy aren't we?  but it's so much fun

This is from the book Anthea and Jeneta gave me... I love it...

I went to the Brisbane Craft Show yesterday... the best part was travelling with lovely friends and then meeting up with other lovely friends, the next best part was seeing an amazing array of quilts (they were celebrating 30 years so had winning quilts from other years there too .... I was too busy chatting to take pics!!! sorry for that)

Righto, Gotto Go.... today I seem to be very busy and achieving nothing.... 

Summer Mini and FNWF

The latest mini swap I have done has a Summer theme .... and my lovely one arrived from Anorina 

Such a lovely modern and happy mini.... a lot of beautifully done work in it... the little stitched disk has been bound then attached to the beautifull pieced star ... and then quilted too... 

it even matches my lovely roses ...

Anorina is one of our young modern Australian designers and I love her work and thrilled to have a piece of her art in my home.

Included with the mini was some threads and needles... we never have enough of those do we

Thank you so much Anorina, I love my mini and that saying is one we often use in our family when we talk to each other so it is just perfect for me...

On the first Friday of each month Cheryll aka Dory hosts FNWF and I love sewing with other people.... this Friday I did something different and joined a group of ladies at The Quilters Angel for an evening sewing ..... Marion hosts this and we get a lovely glass of wine... or tea ... or water (I'm sure you will have no problem guessing what I had) and a range of eats... we can shop and sew and chat and later comes tea with ...... cake...

chocolate and mint and strawberry all in one... just delicious and on such lovely crockery.... it was very relaxing and fun and a lovely group of stitching women

... I worked on the buttonhole stitch applique for my teddy... I did shop... I needed some brown thread for her eyes....

Widget stayed at home to look after Hubz... they made burgers and read books and were fast asleep by the time I got home.

Great sewing with friends.. both in the flesh and cyberly

Righto, Gotto Go.... 'tis weekend enjoyment time

My New Bag....

I knew there was a 'spotty' themed gift due to arrive sometime and so I was excited when postie had me signing for a parcel this morning.... don't you love that spotty paper with spotty ribbon

I have seen other versions of Melody's sling bag given out as gifts.... I have to admit being a bit jealous about them getting them... they look so useful..... and I dared to hope that I might get one when I saw her name on the back of the envelope

Well......

that's one side of it.... oh I couldn't help but cry with joy....

... and this is the other..... 

.... now just look at all the detail Melody has added... isn't that a gorgeous quirky bird ...

... the bag is just incredible... those spots are amazing and did you see the lining is also spotty

I have met Melody just once as she is the most vivacious, bouncy and loveable of people and so I can just imagine her having such a lot of fun finding spotty goodies to go in the bag....

there is a juice can, magnets, stickers, windmills, birthday book, pencils, ribbon, ladybug chocolates ...everything spotty and such a lot of fun - and even eyes on the card that look like spots

I was on my way out to town so I quickly changed my handbag to take my new one with me... snapped a picture so you can see the bag is huge... hold loaaaaaddddsss of treasures

Righto, Gotto Go... widget is here and I think we should try and make some spotty windmills...

THANK YOU SO MUCH MELODY.... AWESOME AWESOME BAG.....

Holidays....

September is over...  and October has started with some lovely warm days....

I have been lucky enough to have a little widget visit and so lots of different things get done here...

This was rather a fun experiment.... the dish has just a shallow bit of milk in it and widget is dropping food colouring ... just a drop or two of different colours...

then a toothpick with a bit of dishwashing liquid on it and magical swirls all over...

.... a drop or two more of dishwasher and it loops around like crazy...

.... swirls up all by itself...

I found the idea HERE ..... you don't have to be a child to have fun with that!!!! (I did it again myself when he went home!!)

We carried on with the magic theme and made magic custard cake.... I cant find the recipe I used but mr google will find loads ... nice and easy and ends up with a base, a squishy middle and a cake top....

... as such my frilly princess dress has not made much progress....

but I did finish off this flat pincushion (Nicki Tervo from Brandy Gully design)

I had all the stitching done previously and just had to sew the bits together...

... Unusual idea for pins but rather pretty I thought....

Widget also planted up some vegetables for me.... watermelon (his choice!), beans, lettuce, basil and parsley (my choice)

... and dear Michelle drove up the range and we spent the day together ... first some sustenance 

... then  a lovely browse around the tea extravaganza....

... a couple of crazy bloggers find a mirror .... 

we also went to Twba Quilters Quilt show but I didn't take ANY pictures but if you pop over to Michelle's she has some -

Hubz and I went to one of the public gardens one evening.... 

I thought the colourful background to this Queensland bottle tree was pretty

... and some more magic ... these three (and their parents) have their tickets booked to come for Christmas....

... Righto, Gotto Go... lots to do, lots to enjoy, and lots to think about....