Sunday Stash No. 3

Putting up photos of my first quilt has made me search through this stash to find some of my favourites - this whole collection is called '26 Letters' by 'Chloe's Closet' by Moda. This was my first collection of fat quarters (I bought them from Fat Quarter Shop many moons ago) and was my first big expense for a very large number of fat quarters.  I still have quite a bit left over and will have to re-investigate it further - let's call it the  'ooh, forgot I had that!' syndrome!

I Love Ice-cream

Back of quilt - Alphabet quilt

Back of quilt - Alphabet quilt
Originally uploaded by Whippet Good

This is the back! Click to see all the wonderful pictures!
This quilt was made in 2004.

How cool is blogging from Flickr?

Except - I seem to only be able to do one photo at a time!

Alphabet quilt for nephew and niece

Alphabet quilt for nephew and niece
Originally uploaded by Whippet Good

This is another quilt - my first truly duly ruly quilt - for my niece and nephew. Made with Chloe's Closet fabric - so super cute I love the soft blues, reds, pinks, polkadots and I just had to have the alphabet panel on the back.

Retro pictures are just lovely

I think I liked this quilt more that the recipients did - kinda lukewarm reception by young and old, but still, I really liked it. Looking back, my piecing Was Atrocious! I think I have improved since then!

Maybe some people just don't like handmade stuff - how weird is that?

Bunny cot quilt

Bunny cot quilt
Originally uploaded by Whippet Good

I didn't realise this was not on my blog! My hubbie's cousin's first baby; Lucinda May - this is for you! Actually made 2006, but it is never too late to post!

DQS5

DQS5
Originally uploaded by Pink Trees

Lounge pants no. 2

Don't you just like something old recycled into something new?

One of my favourite vintage sheet patterns - turned into what else but lounge pants  - I think my family are getting a set for Christmas (whether they like it or not!)  

Not my best work - think humongous buttonholes, back piece too short, not so straight sewing,.....but......I got the hem just right (actually the sheet was already hemmed!)

This one is going places...for a blonde o.s.

I just liked this view today......

Blog Action Day 08

Blog Action Day -08 POVERTY



Heavy topic - but so important!

What does a middle-class girl from the suburbs know about poverty? Not much I can tell you that - I grew up in a family which didn't have everything easy - Dad had a professional job, which he seem to hate, but stayed there until retirement; Mum did shift work at a yucky factory, just so they could put us kids through private school education. We never had take-away meals, we never went on holidays, we always had crappy cars. Did I know poverty? Nup.

Now, money is easier to come by and my children's lifestyle is quite different to what I remember mine being. Presents are lavished on them by all relatives, their bedrooms are full of 'stuff', they have drama lessons, music lessons, ballet and jazz lessons, Girl Guides - do they want to do something, try something new; sure why not? Do they want sushi for dinner; a trampoline in the backyard, a new pair of glasses; sure, we can do that!

Don't get me wrong - 'No' is a word often said in my house. I emphasise that because I don't want anyone to think that my kids are overindulged, maybe spoilt, winging, have everything just because I can, kinda kids - OH NO.

BUT - we DO have so much - we as a household, as a street, as a suburb, even as a city, have SO much.

A person said on TV today that there are 1 Million people below the poverty line in Australia - ie earning less that aprox. $270 a week for a single, $670 per week for a family of four.

Is this you? Can you imagine?

That is aprox. 5% of Australians are living in poverty; including 400,000 children.

Australia - the lucky country, beautiful, wealthy, opportunites galore, The place to bring up children can still have such problems.

There are far far worse situations in other countries; but Australia is what I know.

Education and support - are the two best ideas from me to help minimise poverty. Will it ever be 'eradicated'; I doubt it, but give people the opportunity and I believe most will take it.

We give money to charities like everyone else does I'm sure - but do we give our mind and our heart and our actions? Not enough; that I'm sure of too.

Sunday Stash 2

Looking for a piece of stash that was a bit out of the ordinary and grabbed this one:

'Spirit Place' designed by Bernadette Wallace for M&S Textiles Australia (as so reads the selvedge)

Would love a whole quilt of this and just handquilt around the circles. The colours are so pretty -earthy but gently so.

Don't know if I could ever cut into it - it feels too special. I have always wanted some Aboriginal art for the walls - maybe a wall quilt could be the answer - not authentic but pretty close!

Doll Quilt Swap No. 5

Okay - be warned - this post is so messy I just want to close my eyes and make it go away - but I need to get some lunch so: first para. of underlined stuff is not meant to be and then every photo is on some neck-crunching angle! AAAAArg - but do read on if you must.


I'm in and I have my partner!

This is a quick turnaround - but I have a good idea of what I am going to do - I have always loved the pattern 'Lady of the Lake'

Inspired by this -
and using some stash I hope to produce something Very different to my usual - I don't often do scrap quilts but I really like them - I think it is the stress of putting strange colours and patterns together and hoping they work out.

The pattern instructions can be seen here - but I want it 'on point' with darks on the bottom as the lake - I think the effect is so much better. If I do two large triangles across and two down hopefully it won't be too big for a doll quilt - I shall think of it as more of a wall hanging and definitely do the hanging points on the back. (which now I can't find my link to that piece of essential knowledge!)




I love this pattern


from here:




I bought this book:
I love this one too:

New and old swaps

Vintage Sheet Swap goodies arrived and these are my favourites - plenty of brights to make a easy throw rug for down at the beach - I love the idea of the 'rock pockets' to hold it down - being mainly polycotton - it won't crinkle like a cotton one - and make me feel guilty for not ironing it - which of course I don't do when on holidays!


Thanks to Anne for being our Swap Mama! Great job!


Our furry friend has gone back home - Gemma was a delight; hard-work I must say but the 5 weeks we had her went quick!

As a thankyou (and to make sure we handed her back, I think)- her parents gave us some very gorgeous delf plaques for the wall - I told them I didn't like blue (tongue firmly planted in cheek!) - No - I have always love delfware and even the packaging is something special (far left) - please ignore 'sunspot' on tile - just the camera getting its own way.