Lights, Labour and Laughter

When I went off to the Tip shop a few weeks ago to find my birdcage to make THIS I also found some of those old fashioned glass light fittings - you know those ones everyone throws out when they do a bit of renovation......

Don't they make lovely tea-light protectors - we love to sit outdoors but it does get a bit windy so I needed some! I think I'll go back there and get a few more............

When we moved to our house 5 years ago EVERYTHING was pink - now I have no problem with pink - in fact I quite like pink - but not EVERYWHERE....

(Can you see those stains in the top left hand picture?)

I diligently painted all the walls and doors but neglected the skirting boards. We have finally decided to replace the flooring with floating floor and new carpets in the bedrooms - so the last couple of weeks I I have been grovelling on my knees changing these:-

 

into these:-

As you can see I haven't been too careful - those carpets are GOING, GOING.......

I need a break and some therapy so ....... I'm off with a couple of girlfriends for a 2 hour road trip to BrisVegas to go to this ............

Strict budget but I am easily led astray .......

...$$$$$$...

Tuesday Treasure & FRIENDS Swap

Thanks to Clare for challenging us to find little treasures in our homes......

I remember playing with my treasure this week at my Granny's house..... I don't have any idea where it originated but it is a lovely sturdy little basket......

and it holds BUTTONS........

I just have some big one's in at the moment as Widget is only little and this is one of the first things he goes for when he comes to visit - actually I see there are all sorts of other little clippy thingies in there...... mmmmm I wonder what else he may have hidden in there?

This year I took part in my first swap - I have to admit it was with a bit of trepidation - would my partner like what I made? would it get lost in the post?- is my work good enough to give away? etc etc

Well - Carol did like what I sent.....

F - Fat Quarter of Fabric

R - Ribbons

I - Itty Bitty Bug Pincushion

E - Elephant Mat

N - Notelets

D - Delicious things to eat and make (chocolate and pattern)

S - Soap in a Bag

And yesterday when I came home this was at the front door.....

  With not one but TWO parcels...........

  The beautiful blue daisy paper had a secret bag in it..........

which was just overflowing with all these goodies......

I wonder how Carol knew I needed a needlecase (I have been using a piece of fabric!)

- there is needlework scissors, a pincushion, needlecase, tape-measure and sewing bag - all matching in black and white with a notebook and pen, 5 fat eighths (all in colours that I just love), beautiful threads, erasors and my favourite Lindt chocs.

Just lovely

Carol put in this extra parcel for the new grandie we are expecting next year - such a sweet thought.  The parents to be are visiting us from the UK at Christmas so these will be placed in a safe place waiting for them.....

Thank you so much Carol - I love it all...

FRIENDS Swap was hosted by Khristina - what a fun idea and thanks Khris. You were so good to send us gentle reminders and encourage us with this.

Carol and I are joining Marina and Lorraine in Stitching Around the Block hosted by Helen - we all sew a bit and send it on to the next person..... this will be fun too and a great way to make new friends.  We have been given our design and I need to get on and do some stitching.....

Have a great week everyone......

Breast Cancer Bags

Jody Anderson publishes a free On-line Quilt Magazine which I subscribe to.  There is a lovely Australian Eucalyptus design given to any new subscribers!  There are always lots of tips, guest writers, patterns and ideas in it.

In the Spring Issue an appeal for Breast Cancer Bags was made.  These are for patients to be provided with something more attractive than a pillow case to hold drainage bottles in when they left hospital to go home. I made up a few - some in florals for the ladies and some checks for the blokes.....

They really aren't difficult and the instructions are clear. I found some heavier fabric (the floral is lined with plastic) and I'd like to invite other bloggers to do the same.

There is a postal address in NSW for them to be sent to, and Jodi is happy for people over seas to make them for their local breast clinics.

You can read more about it and download the pattern from this link...
http://www.quiltblockofthemonthclub.com/download.php?file=breast-cancer-bag-appeal-pattern.pdf

Bags are already being sent to different hospitals and there are pictures of bags that have been made here

http://www.quiltblockofthemonthclub.com/download.php?file=bc-bag-update-240910.pdf

I know bloggers are generous and hope some of you can get in touch with Jodi.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone........

Signatures & Stitches

I couldn't help but feel quite awed and emotional watching the Chilean miners be brought up to the top after 10 weeks - it is so good to have a good news story.....

Have you noticed my new 'signature' at the bottom of my blog posts?  Took me a while but I got it done - with help............

Jennifer from Bronze Wombat taught me.... go HERE if you'd like one too..... (you'll need to read the post before too..) and whilst you're there have a look around - there is lots of lovely things to see - I especially love all the different Wombats....

I have finished a few blocks with stitcheries this last week.....

Two blocks from an Ella and Skysie Pattern "Farmyard Animals"

My Daisy-Do block from Jenny of Elephants Block of the Month

A block from "A Sentimental Journey" by Michelle of The Raspberry Rabbits 

I'm still deciding on accessories to add on it?

  

and I'm working on the stitching for my "Penny Rug" following the electronic lessons of Elaine at Soggy Bottom Flats Quilting and Stitching 
(I want to know how Elaine came up with that name!)

Thanks to Joy from Joy's Quilts who hosts a Finishing Stitches challenge - I always function better with a goal to reach......  Go HERE if you'd like some motivation to finish off those blocks or UFO's that lurke in the back of cupboards...

Meanwhile the garden continues to grow.... this tree is only 2 years old .....

It is a Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum) and the flowers smell as sweet as they look

One day this beauty is going to provide shade to block the harsh summer sun from heating my bedroom in the afternoons.....

Tuesday Treasure

This weeks treasure is a knitting pattern written in my grannies handwriting....

It makes these lovely little shoes ...... my mum and aunt wore them, me and my siblings all wore them, my children wore them and now I make them for grandies.....

Just thought I'd show you a picture of these eggs, given to me by a friend with chooks - methinks these chickens are in pain!

Post, Preparation and Progress

Thank-you so much everyone for the congratulations on the beginnings of a new grandchild .... such excitement!

Melody from The House on the Hill knows I have been collecting up 'wool felt' and sent me some to add to my stash - such a lovely green colour and SO SOFT.... I just like stroking it!!

Melody is working on a felting BOM for next year which will be fun I'm sure - go have a visit HERE and see some of the lovely things she has made.....

Since the postie was bringing me parcels I sent off this one to Carol - my FRIENDS Swap partner.

FRIENDS is hosted by Khristina and we send a bunch of goodies with something that starts with each letter of FRIENDS..... Once Carol has opened hers I will show you the little treasures I sent....

....My first swap.....

Meanwhile I have determined myself to get on and work on some of the projects on my "Cut out the fabric but haven't started list".

These are blocks which I have drawn from designs by Michelle of Raspberry Rabbits.  I have done one of her blocks before and love her quotes and the prettiness of her designs. Raspberry Rabbits is a lovely peaceful place to visit.

Not a clear picture but if you go HERE you will see the proposed end.......

Back to working with wool ....... I had heard the term "Penny Rugs" and was always a bit intrigued about them.... Elaine from Soggy Bottom Flats has THIS to share about the history behind them and she is presently doing a 'stitch-a-long' tutorial for penny rugs....

Of course in my enthusiasm to work more with wool I had to join.....

I have been going to a small local craft group - and discovered they had a bunch of blocks that the ladies had stitched a couple of years back sitting in the cupboard -- they were just begging to be made into something so I brought them home.  Some donated fabric and sashing was made

It's really a pretty little quilt - and I'm glad the blocks are not hiding in the back of the cupboard anymore...

Every now and then I like to make some different things.  This week I made a bunch of home-made gift cards and knitted up a washcloth - little gifts

Alison at This Old Aunt Quilts (she's not really very old!!) made some lovely Chenille Washcloths - I just couldn't help myself I had to get some and make them up...... so lovely and soft....

Alison is working on a georgeous Back on the Farm quilt which I am enjoying watching the progress.

My row of roses is looking beautiful

Very windy today - methinks I will have rose confetti all over my garden by the end of the day - that's lovely too!

Damp and windy outside - Bathurst race inside..... time to get out the hand stitcheries and make a cuppa.....

Hugz

Littleness

These are a few pictures of quilts I have made for grandies over the last couple of years.  The two older boys were born before I got the 'bug' so they didn't get baby ones.....

It is always such fun planning and deciding what to make .... and I like to use the opportunity to try out new techniques and ideas.... 

I used to do a lot of knitting and recently I have been trying a range of Organic Cottons

lovely soft little baby shoes..

Such bliss.....

Hmmmmmm (big contented sigh)

Expected Date of Deliver 19 April 2011

First child for DES and DIL
Fifth grandie for this delighted Nana and Pops

I wonder what quilt I will make this time?

Hugz