Onwards.....

Thanks for the great tips regarding 1/4" black binding....

I thought I'd share a few of them with you.... just in case you are thinking of making some too!

from Chris

 did a thick satin stitch with my machine, using black cotton. It was so much faster and easier!   I have done several wall hangings this way now and I'm never unhappy with the result.

from Sharon

As for the binding, just grab a clover tool but one where you can add the visofix as up pull it through. I had trouble buying the thin vlisofox for the Clover thingie so just cut it myself, much cheaper too.

from Jennifer

Several years ago I did a bias applique workshop and we cut our own fusible stuff using a rotary cutter......not the new blade though. The teacher said she keeps an older blade which only gets used for cutting those strips. Ironing them on took no time at all.

from Katherine

I'd definitely get one of those binding tools ...... are so easy to use. I also use 'crisp' spray starch too. Just watch the steam setting on the iron as I steam burned a finger once. Not a very pleasant experience.

from Marilyn

I have used both bought and "made myself" binding - it is not too difficult to make and definitely cheaper. I used the 1/4 inch steam a seam. I have also cut 1/4 inch wide vliesofix for smaller amounts of binding. 

I found a roll of 1/4" vliesofix in my cupboard so I used that... it was just too big to fit into the clover tool but with some gentle persuasion we ironed on happily... I will also need to cut a bit myself as there wasn't enough

I'm leaving this project for a bit now... until I can get to my next lesson - very inconvenient but my tutor has a real job too!

I had a chat with Mr Random this weekend regarding the mug rugs..... he has selected these ladies .... and luckily they had all chosen a different mat... so no fighting ... not that quilters fight.... I knew that....

here we go.....

For Larissa

For Elyte

For Sheri

For Bev

I am really happy when someone wants something I make... so thanks ladies and let me know your snail mail addresses and I'll send these out to you....

It is very hard to visit a quilt shop and not buy anything extra...

I was given a charm pack of "Puttin' on the Ritz" and a couple of weeks found out that I am to be a GREAT AUNT... for the first time.. and it is going to be a girl

so I bought some pretty pink for sashing and pretty spot for binding

... will get to it.... baby is due in July so I have time???

Lastly but definitely not leastly I got some fun mail this week....

Look what Shez sent me as a birthday gift..... I love her towels - they are so useful when they hang on the handle and don't fall off all the time.  Also were included some little boxes to make... for my little handmade soaps and lotions... great idea and thanks so much Shez.....

I am going to join in with the mini swap for Mothers Day later this year - Cheryll had some lovely labels she made up and sent me one to go on the back of the mini... such a cute idea...

If you are interested in joining the mini swap... a small item and such fun having different ones to display... pop along HERE and have a read ....

Thanks Cheryll..... thinking hat is on for some ideas on what to make

Righto, Gotto Go.... finishing off pincushions .....

New things.....

The little bags for give-away are going to these homes....

# 26 Anthea... for her 5 year old niece

# 18 Helen.... for her 2 girls Beautiful Bridget and Sweatheart Chloe (I'll send 2 to you Helen... )

# 28 Nicky ... for her littlest girl....

Please send me your snail mail addresses ladies and I'll get them in the post...

Thanks for the compliments ..... as always I wish I could send to everyone.... but remember the link is HERE... and you can make your own... only needs little pieces... in no time you can make 5 and do a give-away too!!  I really do get a thrill when people want the thingies I make....

Last week my iron deceased on me... so a new one was got.... 

Hubz said I could have a nice new sturdy ironing board too.... (I don't know how I put up with the rickety one before!!) 

3 years ago Mum-in-lay came and stayed and mentioned about my ironing board and cover..... it was bad then!!!! 

Then my mop fell to pieces.... so this is also new and better than before ... don't you love that fluro green????

Today my kettle has a hissy fit and spat sparks at me.....

.... okay, okay... that's 3 things... no more!!

(the non electrical mop is the most expensive item.... it should wipe on it's own!)

As much as I love new things.... I'd rather be shopping for fabric... or an icecream maker....

Righto, Gotto Go... off to town we go....

I'm in love.....

... with the postman.... (don't tell Hubz)

Firstly my cushion from the cushion swap hosted by Sue arrived....

I'm sure some people heard me SQUEEEEEALLLLLLL

Jan sent to me this awesome pillow in pink and green.... 

I just love these petal and button details on it....

... and such a clever way to close the cushion.... another lovely detail...

It's just lovely and I am so pleased with it.... so pretty .... it was originally planned to be for a spare bedroom but I have decided to keep it in my sewing/computer room ... it's for me you see...

Another SQUEEAAAALLLL when a parcel arrived from Jane in the UK where I had won a play mat in a give away .....

isn't it so fun.... quite a big one and perfect for when I have little visitors...

Hubz is going to organise some discs and a dice for us

I wanted to show you the detail... this is all cross stitch on a canvas... isn't it amazing?

Both of these are lovely handmade additions to my home... thanks Jan and Jane.....

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend......

I'm doing a bit of this

.... and this.....

... and this.....

Righto, Gotto Go.... coffee, coffeeee, cofffffeeeeee

New things....

The winners of the  thread catchers are ....

# 47 - Jindi's Cottage  (Vic)

# 8 - Wendy - (New Zealand)

# 22 - Jennifer (NSW) 

(Thanks to Mr Random as I would find it just toooooo hard to choose)

please send me your snail mail addresses..... and I'll get these dinky little baskets off to you...

I had some strips of the same fabric so I made up this mat for my sewing machine......

.... same thing as a table runner really....

...... but it is for my sewing machine .....

... and matches my thread catcher ...

Now I think I mentioned that I wanted to start some new projects.....  there is a few of us sewing this just the cutest Christmas quilt together..... I just llllloooooooovvvvveeee it...

I'm starting with Santa's house..... oh my goodness there are a lot of tiny pieces....

This is the first block I have prepared... it is going to be sooooo much fun

what about joining us... just pop along to Val's place HERE and have a look at what the plan is

I am also taking part in a Traditional 9 patch swap in Reproduction prints and this is my selection of fabrics....

since the lights weren't that light I did this B & W exposure to check on there would be enough difference (the value of the fabric??).... I like the way it shows up lighter and darker this way....  

what new thing are you starting? .... I hope I'm not alone!

Righto, Gotto Go... new things to make.... UFO's to finish off .....

Patchwork Village Stars and some WINNERS ..

I managed to do a bit of machine piecing over our long weekend.....

The stars surrounding the houses in the village are all done

(Little Patchwork Village by Rosalie Quinlan)

I'm not sure what I will do about the borders.... I will have to think a bit longer .... I would like to pick out the pale sage green in the fabric.... and the red..... but I'd also like to have some more of the light.....

....... decisions... ..... decisions.....

but something I didn't have to make a decision about (thanks to Mr Random) was the winners of needlecases....

I always want to give out to everyone who comments... but Mr Random is very strict....

First up we have:

# 21 Maree from On My Veranda  .... who said

Fiona they are all Gorgeous I love all those designs...But if I had to Choose one right now it would be the Basket... Thanks xx

and next we have:

# 31 Annette from Jindi's Cottage ... who said 

Quilt as you go/self-bound hexies...my favourite...they have so many applications...love them as needlecases...and pincushions, now there's an idea I hadn't entertained, you've got the wheels turning...

They are all gorgeous but I like the top row ones best...the bottom row hearts and bunnies are cute too but just not as much "me"...

Enjoy making your pincushions...I'm sure that banana muffin is but a distant memory now!...

and then Mr Random thought he would be Mr Smarty Pants and decided one should really go international... so he drew another number......

# 12 Linda from Living the Dream .... who said 

Oh my goodness get my name in the hat!! They are gorgeous, and such a good idea! I like them all so would leave the choice to you. Hugs x

Excellent... these will be in the post next week.....  I'm so glad there was no duplicate favourite... and I'm sorry I couldn't send one to all of you

Oh... and did you know I am quite famous now?

My wool/chenille quilt made from Toni's design in Australian Homespun was selected as a readers entry winner....
well... great magazine, great designer, great prize - it's a win, win, win... for me that is!

Righto... Gotta Go... decisions to be made....

Commenting ..........

I do love that blogger is free for us to use ... aren't we so lucky?

I have seen several blog posts about the double word verification..... it is a bit tricky sometimes - I can do it ...... eventually... but it has doubled my time at the computer... which means halved my time at stitching!!!!  I don't mind if it eats into my housework time.... but not the STITCHING!!!!

Anyways I thought I would let you know that I have had my Word Verification off for some time - no problems... I promise..... 

I love it when a rainbow is in the perfect place.... those bushes in the front are just a few metres from my front door - the little yellow lantern flowers are just loved by little birds - the bush vibrates with them

So the pot of gold at the rainbow is that Blogger does have a spam filter - Allie tells you about it in THIS POST (she explains much better than I do) but because of that we can turn off the word verification and then go to the Comments and delete spam before it comes to the email....

How to do it....

Just pop by at Robyn's place HERE.... her instructions are so clear....

Done... easy at that....

Don't forget to empty out your Spam box every now and then .... I forgot for a while and there were 42 in there this morning.... so it does work as these didn't appear on my blog or come to my mailbox - but they do need deleting!  

Just thought I would let you know... in case you want to make it easier for us old biddies!!

I really love the interactive side of blogging so I hope I can keep up

It is wonderful to have blog friends from all over the world and lucky me was sent a lovely parcel from Sammie from Bears at Home - over in Alabama - I have been reading Sammie's blog for some time and I love her stories and journal entries.... it is quite special when we have that insight into people's lives - and she has the cutest bear family

It was such a box full of pretty allsorts... can you see the scarf... it just drapes so beautifully.. and there is pretty paper plates with matching napkins, Christmas socks (I have NEVER had special Christmas socks! - oh what fun!!), scented candles, home made washcloths in such fun variegated yarn - I love them - and a book to make great cards ... and lollies (but shhhh... I didn't share with Hubz)

Thanks Sami..... such fun

Righto... Gotta Go..... Blogs to read....

Daisy button winners and some felt issues .......

Thank you to all of you who said you would like some daisy button kits - it's always so lovely to hear when someone likes the stuff I make - I wish I was able to send you all one

Mr Random showed his usual impartiality and the first 5 names picked with 'Daisy' in the comment were ...

#25 - Nola from Just Ramblin'
#21 - Narelle from Pins and Whiskers
#26 - Lyn from Stitches from the Mainland
#18 - Teresa from Quilting, Stitchin' and Sew On
#19 - Patricia from Too many eggs in one basket
(can you believe that grouping in the numbers - I think Mr Random was up to something!)

we should see a few more of these soon

Congrats ladies... please make sure I have your postal addresses

If you are a regular reader you will know I enjoy thrifting and reusing fabrics to make new things... and I have managed to find an assortment which I have given hot washes and shrunk to make wool felt

... blankets and also some wool fabric and some clothing items....

Well... blankets yield a lot of felt!!!!!!

this is a small selection of what I have.....

I am wondering if anyone wants some.... but I have a catch this time... do you want to trade?

The only reason I am doing this is because I really can't manage to send out postage for nothing... a pack of 500g felt costs $6.60 (Australia) 

500g would cover about 10 by 10inch squares (though it depends as some is thicker than others)

 I honestly don't feel it is worth it for overseas .... but I don't want to count you out....
over $17 (USA)  and approx $21.25 (UK) for postage

The wool is recycled products.. blankets and clothing and there is a variation in thickness and texture and some have the 'square' design on ... so it is not the lovely fine wool felt you find in the shops.....

Let me know if you are interested.... I would trade for some fabric and only with people I 'know' - unfortunately I will need to be careful about postage to 'strangers' since I am wanting something in return. 

I am not expecting anything for the wool... just something to cover the postage.

Very cheeky maybe..

I've been stitching a few of these...

Christmas sentiments for faraway families

folded up as a card... ready for posting....

they are a lovely design from Jenny of Elefantz

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Are you looking for some last minute Christmas inspiration?

Kerryanne does a lovely blog and at this time of year there are so many wonderful ideas - there is baking, making, decorating, linky parties, guest posts

well, Fee did a guest post - a monogrammed lavender sachet... so cute
(I have lavender drying as we speak!)
- she also had a give away for a voucher for a book -
you guessed it
I won
so I ordered my book and look what arrived in the post last week

I have had Sarah's book on my wish list for a while... I am so going to enjoy this.. she does lovely little projects to practice a new technique before starting a large quilt - I love that idea

there was a bit of voucher left so I topped it up and got this little book too

Fee's blog is wonderful too... full of ideas, personal insights and prettiness - it is a lovely place to visit

Thank-you Kerryanne and Fee for a lovely prize - this will be hours of pleasure to me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to my SIL Mandy for this bit of Christmas Cheer

 MY NEW BOYFRIENDS !!!

  

I am seeing 5 gentlemen (give or take) every day!. 

As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed.

Then I go to see John. 

Then Arthur Ritis shows up & stays the rest of the day. 
He doesn't like to stay in one place very long so he takes me from joint to joint.

After such a busy day, I'm really tired & very glad to go to bed with Earl Grey. 

What a life! 
Oh, yes, I'm also flirting with Al Zymer; 
or whatever his name is. I forget ! 

and I'm thinking of calling JACK DANIELS, Captain Morgan or JOHNNY WALKER to come over and keep me company.