One week is not enough

A little holiday down the coast - 

our own little beach, 

our own sand, 

our own waves, 

our own shells and jellyfish and sunshine and wind and rain and birds and dogs and crabs 

and family and love.

Oh the possibilities

Love this idea -you know when a range of designs come out and there are just far too many to choose your favourite??? Especially when you 'have' to buy 1/2 yards just to get it in the home?

 Well, what a great idea is this;  A Sampler of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern fabrics

 - ALL of them in fat 1/8's! 

Thats 38 delicious skinny pieces - all lovely, all interesting, all alluring...from Quilt Home

 (I have just clicked on the site - and this Sampler is gone! Not surprised!,,,But they have others

....mmmmmm Ginseng Mulberry looks yum.....)

  This is the pile after I rummaged through them with glee:

This is the pile once I calmed down and started to arrange and fold, and caress (the fabric is really divine to touch!)

First, I thought, easy peasy quilt - just sew the lengths together - too simple!  Maybe a post rail design - again, very easy and effective with so many coordinating colours (kind of like her new pattern)

Then, after looking at my stash of overflowing  quilt projects, I thought - layers for a skirt or two!

Then, after talking to Sharon re placemats (and the inspiration of her own fave Midwest Modern delights)  - Chrissie gifts of placemats and napkins.

Thing is - I could do all three!!  Because there are so many possiblities... how can I fit it all in?

Big Sigh!

She'll be apples

Remember I mentioned 'dogS' in my last post; well, this is our second bundle of joy (fur) for 5 weeks, as neighbours travel around the world (sending us cruel emails about french pastries)

Gemma

A great big bundle of soft black fur, power-walking -arm-dislocating, hungry-as-a-hippo, cat-staring, guinea-pig cage herding, hand-pushing-want-a-pat, lovely dog.

Her owners gave us 'happy' pills to give her for the first few days of home-sickness - I am happy to say that she is now a fully recovering addict and has stopped sighing and moping around the house.  Her funniest trick so far has been 'apple-bobbing'; a stray piece of dry dog food ends up in her water bowl and she 'bobs' to get it out! She snorts and coughs, but keeps at it, until Score! Classic!

Get a long bit of this.....

with a touch of that......

add some whimsy.......

and you get a ........

Very Simple Pressie for someone to sling across their back as they wander down the shops - love its vintage roots.  Hubbie thinks it's my best one yet.  I might just agree.

Swaps and sickness

I have been 'told' by hubbie that Google Chrome will be my saviour, replacing Firefox for all my internet needs, but I don't know - little things are starting to annoy me - like when I upload pictures into blogger, I can't cut and paste them!  ARRRgg! So, a little out of order (I wanted my Swap pressies first in the post, as they should be, but you guys get this instead....)

More pre-loved furniture (well, thrown out - we don't want you - you suck kind of furniture) -   Hard rubbish collection treasure hunting score - needs a bit of TLC (don't we all!)  Very cheaply put together, but a lick of paint will do it some good!

My DQS4 arrived!! Very cheery and fun little quilt made by Artsy Momma - Thanks Stefanie!! She mentioned that life is a bit hard at the moment, so to whip out a doll quilt for someone over the other side of the world would have been an effort -  It would easy to ignore such little things as swaps with people you are never going to meet or even have to speak to, so I appreciate your commitment and thought!

Great mags and fabric too!  I had never read American Quilting and Patchwork before - I have heard many Americans love our Aussie mags, but I really enjoyed this one! Not too many ads, interesting designs and interviews, simple speak - I like!  The Adorn mag was great too.

The back:

The 'sickness' thing is getting bad...........

IT IS I tell you - the malady of OOS (Obsessive Op-Shopping) - I felt the need yesterday, despite numerous other jobs I had to do in my precious 3 and a bit hours between school start time and work.  I hadn't been to Animal Liberation Op-shop (1355 Toorak Road ) in Burwood before; so off I trundle (said sorry to my dogs (we are 'dog-sitting' a neighbour's dog for 5 weeks, but that will be another post) walkies will be later, only to find that it opens 50 mins after I get there. Well, the need was still there and growing!

So, where to get my next 'hit' - RSPCA op-shops (yes TWO next to each other) in Burwood East (in the funny little quadrangle of shops opposite the RSPCA)  Drive like a mad woman, because time is running out - I'm only giving myself 45 mins - Guess What?  Everything Half Price!!! OMG - an op-shop at even less than ridiculous prices - it could not be true!

let me show you what I got..........

Some deliciousness for Vintage Sheet Swap

Couldn't resist this really interesting vase - in fabulous condition - does anyone know the label?

(the background is another sheet which is my favourite Spring tablecloth at the moment)

This Was my handbag for many a year (another op-shop score), but it is time for retirement - (my own take on handbag accroutements)

This is the new sportier model: more of a sling-over your shoulder, swan down the street, feeling fine kind of gal:

Great books for kiddleys over next school hols:

Mmmmmmmmmm - ice-cream - say no more:

Favourite pillowcase

How much you ask?.....All that... yes ALL THAT (plus a quilting hoop!!!) for 20 bucks!! that included a donation!!

The lady behind the counter was soooo lovely - what a joy to meet people who enjoy serving others - perhaps other (not so joyful) op-shop ladies could take note and smile once in a while?

Skinners is fun!

Williamstown  - over the bridge and into a very picturesque place - still great architecture, great views, great cakes, quirky ideas.....

Skinners Adventure Playground -(edit: in South Melbourne) - it's the best!! Unique, original, colourful, interesting, inspiring, encourages children and their adults......... to PLAY!

Some recycled ship containers....

This is how the site used to look......