Checking in earlier ...

I managed to get to the computer at a much more reasonable hour today, I'm not feeling droopy eyed :-) It's not that I plan to go to bed late, it's just that there's so much I want to achieve in a day, and I keep going ... and going ... until I can't reasonably stay up any longer. Of course, none of this would be necessary if I were a morning person, but I'm just not.

The placemats were very happily received by Janet & John when I dropped Cameron off this morning. They just loved them, and there were hugs all round. Cam had a great time with them while I was at the quilt store, they went to an airplane museum. Super fun! And I had a great time at the quilt store too, so a great day all around.

And here is a picture of some fabric that arrived on my doorstep on Tuesday. I wanted to share yesterday ... but you know ... late etc ... I purchased it from Z & S Fabrics. I really needed the fabrics for a few of the projects I have in the planning stages, so it wasn't frivolous fabric purchasing. I just love Z&S, I've talked about them before, they're just wonderful. This is only my second order with them, and I'm sure it won't be my last.

This item is an Ebay purchase from earlier this week. It's a football guernsey for Cameron. He started Auskick three weeks ago. It's an early learning programme for Aussie rules football. He's just loving it, and my mother has cultivated a love of one of our local football clubs in him. She's worked hard at it, and it's sure rubbing off. The Adelaide Crows are his favourite - with my Mum working it, he didn't have a chance of supporting anyone else. Because he's still quite little, I didn't really want to spend $80.00 at the AFL store, and managed to pick it up for $26.00 on Ebay. It's a size 6, and should last him a year.

On another quilty note - something fun happened at the quilt store yesterday. One of the lovely ladies that regularly comes to my classes is turning 70 in August. We stumbled on this information, and because we all love Maureen so, I stealthily organised for a bunch of girls to make up some quilt blocks, and we're going to make up a quilt for her big day. Luckily for me her computer isn't working right now, and she doesn't read my blog, or the surprise would be a bust. I'm really excited about the project, and I know the girls are too. I'll show you pictures of the blocks as they come in. I thought we could use the tree blocks from the table runner I showed last month. It'll be super fun!

Lastly ... yesterday my laptop showed me this message "the system has recovered from a fatal error" which sure didn't sound good. When I opened my mail, every item in my inbox was gone. Ooops. I can't imagine what happened, but I've had wonderful technical hubby give it the once and twice over, and all seems to be well now. But if you were expecing a response to an email from me, it's unlikely to happen now. Fortunately nothing was lost that can't be replaced, but it's a timely reminder to me to backup ... and often! This is the second time my laptop has 'burped' in the last few months.

Ohhh, this is really the last paragraph ... I'm thinking about an etsy shop ... maybe with some coasters and placemats ... is that something anyone would be interested in?? Have a great day everyone!

Mats make great gifts!

Cam's wonderful day care lady is on holidays this week. We just love Christine, and hope she's having a wonderful time away.

So that I have been able to work my few hours at the quilt store this week, our 'sort of' relatives John and Janet looked after Cameron this morning and will look after him again tomorrow morning.

I wanted to make them a little something to say thank you, so last night I started putting together some placemats for them. I already had a strip of prairie braid put together from the other two sets of placemats I made, so they were fast to assemble. I didn't have the perfect thread to quilt them, so I got that at the quilt store today. I just finished the binding a few minutes ago, and thought I'd share them with you.

The main fabric in the mats is a Thimbleberries Club fabric from 2004. It's from the bag project which I never got to making. I don't really love the bag, so I'm giving myself permission not to make the projects I don't like so much, and use the fabrics in things I do like. It's was really quite a weight lifted from me when I made that decision. I made seven of the projects that year, and I think there is only one more of them that I will make - the December project.

The back of the fabric was from my stash, and I pieced the batt from leftovers, so the mats really were another stashbusting project! I'm loving getting thru the stash!

Well, I should run, as it's almost midnight here - I do have more I want to tell you all, but I'm just too tired right now, it's been a big day. Have a great day! x o x

Still Starstruck

Here is where I'm at with my star blocks. I know it doesn't look all that different to last time - sorry about that. There just doesn't seem to be so much stitching time here right now. I know it's not forever, so I can enjoy some seriously quilty days in the not too distant future.

I'm thinking that this quilt will have 'Starstruck' somewhere in it's name, so I've been calling them my Starstruck blocks. I still have five more red reproduction fabrics to introduce to the mix, and at least one more 'star' fabric. It's looking very vintage, and I'm really happy that it looks like I'll have enough of the background fabric to finish it. I was sort of worried that I wouldn't quite have enough. However I shouldn't get too confident, just in case I run out with a tiny bit to go.

And here we have Holly helping out in the garden. Marty did a whole lot of gardening on Sunday, and Holly was completely into everything he was working on. She's growing up so fast, and we're slowly letting her have a little more outside time, but not too much. She's really an indoor girl, we've noticed she kind of tiptoes on grass, like she doesn't like the sensation underfoot. Too funny!

I had taken Cam to a birthday party on Sunday morning, and on Sunday afternoon I had a bit of a Nanna Nap. My bestie's 40th birthday party was on Saturday night, and we had a huge time, so I was feeling a little low the next day. We've had a big run of parties lately, and there are still a number to go. It's such fun being social butterflies :-)

I have to confess that I'm really behind with my blog reading right now. I promise I'll catch up with what you're all up to, and please forgive me if I comment more sparsely than usual - just know that I've stopped by and enjoyed visiting with you! x o x

Wide brown land & Starstruck blocks

On Wednesday, Marty decided to take Cam for a mini-break to Yalpara Station. It's in the mid-north of our state, I guess around a three to four hour drive from our home. Here's Cam collecting rocks, in the subsequent pictures he was throwing the rocks down the hill. There is a darker stripe in the picture just before the hills in the distance. That is where the homestead is. It's a huge property, quite historic, and owned by family members.

Marty has to go back to work on Monday after having five weeks of his long service leave, so this was some time out for him before it's back to the grind.

And here is what I've been working on. I have made only eight of the blocks I need, and only four of the half blocks. I still have seventeen full blocks, more half blocks and some quarter blocks to make. You're only seeing two of the colour combinations here, but there will be a lot more red prints and star prints. I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes along.

Linda may find this quilt familiar ... and Donna and Karen too! :-)

I haven't actually had much quilting time in the last few days, in fact not much free time at all, hence the couple of days between posts. Cam and Amy have been super busy and I've been doing the Mum's Taxi routine. Cam has two birthday parties this weekend, we have a 40th tonight, as well as Auskick, and two netball games, my time is not my own!

I better get back to doing some chores, there is laundry screaming for attention ... have a great weekend everyone!

Big day at the quilt store.

Today was a busy day at the quilt store, and the afternoon flew by so fast I couldn't believe it. It's just Amy and I at home right now so we're spending some time veging, and shortly I'm going to head into the sewing room.

I promised yesterday that I'd share the pattern source for the watermelon hat. Here it is. I actually used beads rather than sew on the 'seeds'. You will need to string them all onto the yarn before you begin the pink colour. Thank you to Atet for reminding me of the address :-)

Lastly, I've done a little fabric shopping just recently - not exactly good for my fabric diet, but I've been good for such a long time, and I do need the stuff for the quilt I'm currently working on. I ordered some lovely reproductions from Z&S Fabrics. I just love this store! My friend Linda recommended them to me, and I love everything about them. They present their parcels so beautifully too!

Marty has taken the d-camera with him, and I've no new pictures to share today - I will hopefully have some wonderful fabric creation to share with you tomorrow *lol* Have a great day everyone!

Lemon meringue pie :-)

Just a quick post today - I only have 15 mins before I need to go and get the kids.

First up, here is the first item in the 'lemon use' program. Lemon meringue pie. Yum! This is the first time I've ever made one of these pies, and I love it! It didn't even last 24 hours. Just delicious. The next item I'm going to tackle is lemon bars. They sound delicious too!

And here is the progress on the new project. There are four star blocks with the red tri's attached, and three blocks without red tri's. And there are four half size blocks.

You can just see at the side there the picture I drew up on the computer. It would have been so much easier for you to understand had the printer not run out of red ink in the middle, but it'll make sense as I make more blocks.

I had a couple of people ask for the pattern for the watermelon hat - I haven't forgotten you. It's at the Yarn Harlot's site - I'll have a looky for it later on and post the link for you tomorrow. I promise! Have a great day everyone!

New Project

Last night I really should have been working on the directions for the scrap quilt, but being me, I didn't. Are you surprised? I'm certainly not :-)

I was drawn into the sewing room by some kind of magnetic pull ... completely helpless - I had to go with it :-)

And here is what I started working on. Well, you can't really see from the picture, but I have a cute selection of reproductions there - pretty much all civil war prints, and I'm putting together a quilt I drew up recently.

Instead of this project, I could have kept going with some of the other scrap projects I have on the go, but no ... I needed to play with some 'fresh' blocks. I'll put some more together if I have the chance today, and then I really must get to working on the directions. It seems I always create artificial deadline pressure by leaving things to the last minute. Am I the only one who does this??

Deb's Quilt

My friend Deb popped in the other day - she's a quilter too - surprise surprise! She's been working on a Dresden Plate quilt, and wondered if I'd be able to give her a hand. She was all done, but for the quilting in the final border. Deb is nervous about freemotion quilting, and I'm always happy to give her a hand.

Isn't this quilt lovely and bright. I love that she's matched up the floral fabrics with the yellow gingham, it's sooo cute.

Here is a close up of the actual block, I love the fabrics she's used. They're not fabrics I probably would buy if I was in the quilt store, and yet I love the way it looks. I always find it funny that I'm 99% of the time hooked in by reproduction fabrics, but I love bright quilts too.

I'll probably tackle the quilting over the weekend, inbetween kid appointments. We've already been to Amy's netball, and Cameron's football. This afternoon one of Amy's friends is coming over for a sleepover, and tomorrow morning I'll take both the girls to a birthday party. I'll have an hour to myself, and then Cam has a birthday party. Marty is away for the weekend with his mates, so the kids and I can chill when we're at home, and we can eat toast for dinner if we like! How fun!