The backing always throws me

 Bit of a break here, mainly due to Birthday Parties, Dance Concert Rehersals, Appendix Removal (not mine) and these are all in Capitals to emphasize the Importance of Each Event (Pooh would Approve)  - all these details to be expanded upon (once I get the photos out of hubbie's phone)

So....until then....I need some advice - my + and x Quilt needs a backing (don't you think) - really cant' just leave it as a top, all floppy and not quite right and laying about like a (beautiful) rag - But I find the backing of quilts to be a really hard thing to do!!!

Does anyone else have this problem - how much should it tie in with the front? (A bit...) How much effort do I really want to put into making it super duper interesting? (at this stage, not much!)

The front is super busy with colours going everywhere, but a subdued framing of greys - Grey on the back? Splashes of red to liven it up?

Some very lovely dogs and scarfs liven it up too....

I do love the basics of Sherbet Pips - really delightful - lovely handfeel too

 BUT I have a great big bundle of this little cutie - had it in the stash for A.Long.Time 

(Aunt Grace Scrap Bag 2005!!!)

Saving up for something special and maybe this is it!

This indecision is doing my head in....

One more top finished (kindov?)  - the 10min block tutorial on youtube by Suzanne McNeil

Hung over my bannister cos I'm way too lazy to pick it up to photo the whole thing for you, sorry!

I don't Love it - the 10min thing - well, it did take a bit longer that that...maybe 20min to get the middle piece all lined up nicely...25 fingers would be useful for this part of the sewing and not every block was exact, so a bit of chopping up here and there to get some kind of uniform block - really, I got to the end of it and I was pretty over  the crappy job I was doing with it, so I just pieced it together and stuff the misaligned seams - do we have to like what we are doing all the time?  Hope not - cos its not happening here people!

I do love the fabrics in it though - feature fabric in the middle is from Amitie - a lovely japanese print with random letters that look embroidered and added various reds, aquas, rich blues and white prints from Stash...now that's a good feeling!  This is a great block for large prints - why I chose some small ones, I don't know and they don't look as good, so again...not my best work.

Well - I can tick it off my "Quilts I want To Do cos My Head is Bursting" List - it almost did with this one

Clothing scares me

I think this photo scares me!  Camera head!

Some stretchy knit jersey stuff? (I have no idea what you call this fabric) that I picked up for 2 bucks at op-shop - for my muchly looking forward to.... 

Pattern Free Top Workshop

with

Ms Mallalieu

Big Big Step for me - I have no clue AT ALL when it comes to fitting some kind of fabric around my body and I am welcoming the thought of  just kindov winging a design

This rings bells for me - you know the kind that makes your heart stop and brain say Yes Please all at the same time.

Some nice person giving me instruction and signs of approval as I look up imploringly from my work  is what I am looking for and I think I will get it there - so I'm told! lol!

 My first pair of 'cowboy' boots!  I call them that, but don't really believe any authentic cowboy/girl would wear these little pretties!

And they are red!!!

Goes so so well with some looovely linen blend fabric called Jeneveve by Valori Wells - thinking of doing an A-line skirty thing from Sew What Skirts aka the Ubiquitous SIT skirt Sew Along

See that little bit with the leaves - 1/2 yard - what should I do with it?  

Yoke? - It may not be seen when I wear a top over it

Band at bottom? - Does this look like your legs are cut off?

Strip along one leg?  - Too weird or 'disruptive' to main pattern of skirt?

My lovely lovely 'roses' from my Australasian Bee girls - my idea was for lots of pink or green or a combo of both crazy-pieced blocks of all different sizes to make a bouquet of sorts of roses.

Haven't really got a clue how I am going to put them together - probably group some and piece some out and about in the quilt - like an arrangement in a vase???  I have loved getting (most) of my blocks back - though I'm not quibbling over some pieces of fabric that may or may not come back to me  - all the very best to them!

The Bee has now finished - Thank you to Jo of SparklyGreenKnickers for being the coordinator - the blocks and people have been varied and interesting (some stay involved and some very rarely) and I hope to keep up with at least a few of you  - may see you again in another Aussie/NZ bee - Hope So!!

19 years ago...

I married my darling boy, who owns my heart forever.

I could not resist putting this photo in too - it is my all time favourite....ahhhh!

I love to wash

Washing is my favourite job to do around the house and this has made it just so much better!!!!

It has a see through lid, so I can watch my washing swirl around    and     around - very mesmerising! 

Hubbie and I have been washing all weekend, just so we can stand around it and smile.

I need a Doctor....who?

Did that excellent Dalek sketch stick in your brain for many many minutes? Well here is the final result - the artist is v.v. proud of herself - I am too cos she is one to often knock her ability to draw and paint and won't try as a result.

This is by my 10 year old daughter who, for a very long time, would introduce herself to complete strangers, as David Tennant's WIFE!!  With a grin from ear to ear.

Major Crush Factor in our household.

 or do you like the newbie?

Colours and Places

Been working on my Whirly Gigs and HST 's for my R&A Swap - not tooo sure about the tulip fabric - just a smidgen of green shows up - is this against the R&A rules of etiquette? Love love my red egg fabric - got lots of this - makes me happy!

One more block for Joseph's Coat Quilt-along - not my best placement or sewing or maybe even fabric selection???

Hubbie & I were lucky enough to have 4 days in Wellington, NZ a little while ago. Very picturesque city with very friendly people!!

From the Botanical gardens, the views are delicious!!

Some of the great Welly architecture

A Fruit and Veg market in the city - my heart lept at the crate loads of feijoas - YUM! and the very very cheap tomatoes on vines (only the best)

We stayed at the fun and quirky Museum Hotel - Hippo cracks me up!

We hired a car on Saturday and drove about an hour north-east to Greytown, Martinborough and Carterton.

This shop was a collector's dream - I only had about 5 mins though, as they were closing!  I ran around like a mad woman, saying to hubbie - look, look, at this and this!!!

I was drooling over this most beautiful display cabinet - Antique French mahogany - couldn't you just see your fabric stash in those spaces, though at $7000, well, no.

If you look closely you can see the amazingly fragile mountain road safety barrier - do they seriously think sticks of wood tied together with wire will hold back a plunging vehicle??????

A rare photo of me

The pretty pretty lights along Oriental Bay, Wellington

What are you doing on a Sunday morn?

Well, I am going to the Camberwell Market to meet up with some crafty thrifty types

via Brown Owls

Do you want to come? Please do - I don't know anyone else whose going, but that is half the fun!


Now, What will I be hunting for?....maybe some chenille? maybe some buttons? maybe vintage trim?

I know I will be needing my new Tubeway Armies!!


These are just delightful - made by Gaye Abandon on Madeit - deliciously warm and practical recycled woollen jumpers and I just LOVE Cherry red!


Also got this pair, cos I just LOVE Charcoal grey! This is my 'Black'. No more frozen fingers at the puta or sewing machine!

Sorry Gaye, I did have to remove the name tag (and resew a hole in the seam)! Little disappointed with having to resew an item I paid a bit of money for, but there you go, life gets a bit holey sometimes!



Just so I don't get sued: Every single photo in this post is the property of GayeAbandon - I just nicked them cos I am too lazy to shoot my own!