Holidays must come to an end....

School Holidays are so good sometimes, that I wonder why we need to go back to work/school/job/life at all.........we have been away at the beach and we have had such a good time - just plain old good family time together!

But you are not interested in that!! No - show me some fabric!!!

These two shots are for the Colorbrick Quiltalong - hosted by Stitched in Color - this will be my last School Auction Quilt - maybe be my favourite yet!!

I had so much fun playing with my stash to find bright, interesting fabrics - loving my echidnas and chickens and apples ohyeah!

My Red & Aqua Block Swap was held last night at my place - it was a good turnout - with friends coming along for the first time and lots and lots of loud discussion about what to do with our next swap starting 2011.
My family chuckled about how noisy a bunch of women could be discussing sewing!!

But - what to do with my little blocks?
This was an idea....

and this was an idea.....

But, I like this!!

and then maybe this?? (dont ask me about the white sheet (actually) my design wall..huh?)

Some much wanted blocks for Australasian Bee member - Jen of Cheeky Child - she requested a 16 inch block made with her Michael Miller Fairy range of fabric and for us to embellish any way we like.

I found some lovely lace, stamped ribbon and made a lace flower:

Some extra blocks made for a friend's daughter: pink was requested for the borders and I love my Laurel Birch fabrics - I have had them for a very long time now and they should be used and enjoyed!

Here are the fam at Sorrento back beach or surf beach (if you dare!)

Some pink and white heath - our state floral emblem:

Love this picture of hubbie:

This one is for the Auntie - your wacky nieces!!

My Giveaway with SEWN

Did the last post get the hungers going? Thought I had better get some sort of giveaway eye-candy for you guys.

This sweet little package is going to go to someone on Monday 8th June - the launch date for SEWN -(see last post)


Let me see now, there are:

5 fat quarters of vintage fabric
(actually some are much larger than that, but that just means it's your lucky day)

1 m of very pretty trim

1 quilt pattern 'Pinata' by The Quilt Branch - quilt measures 47" square

Would love to hear from you if you'd like them: just comment to your heart's content - I shall read them all!

Edit: Giveaway now closed!! Good luck to everyone!

things I got for a song

Thanks so much to Tamara for picking my name for her Ella and Kate giveaway - lovely pure white ribbon bow - my girls will die when they come home from school -'Sharing please'- will be my mantra - or maybe I just need to get one more - should have ordered one at the time!!! D'oh!

Another big score - this time at Amitie - 50% off on a few selected bolts - I bought the whole bolt on this one......a Kokka gauze....maybe a skirt?


....Anna Maria Horner $10 / m - had to get the rest of the bolt too! Look at what Ashley did with her large print....could me do that too?


....some lovely Kaffe i didn't have....just some squares
....some super lovely AB Temple Flowers - big piece had lots of holes fussy cut out of it $5!!

I felt and surely looked like a bag-lady by scrounging around in a big cardboard box of scraps - pulling out this and that - even large lengths of fabric - "how much is this?" - $20 a metre - well, I thought, surely fabric in a scrap box is reduced?? No?? NO. Okay - that goes back and that.

don't put it in the SCRAP box if it's not a SCRAP - okay rant over.


Remiss of me to neglect talking about another thing I won - A Luckie from Tinniegirl


Lots of papery bits and pieces for collaging and scrapbooking and general ooh and aahing - I would love for Cathy to show some ideas for our Luckies - I'm not a naturally gifted paper ideas girl.


This caught my eye - I am a bit of a romantic:



Here is Ruby - our foster greyhound - we have her for 3 weeks, teaching her how to be a good citizen of suburbia and general household living - ie - what are stairs? Do I go through the glass door or around it? Do I chew the door or your shoes?

It has been interesting to say the least - she was tested at the GAP kennels as being "good around cats" - well, Not in this house -she would love a little bit of Cat Dinner, so, very strict rules about keeping our cat and the dog separated At. All. Times.

She is a lovely dog who just needs a bit more time spent on her with house rules ie please don't wee again on the carpet, please don't bully your way through the door, please don't eat the guinea pigs, please don't wee Again on the carpet.....oh dear...I'm not painting a very good picture of her.....she needs love and more love...we love to love her....but she will be going back.


Edit: i think she is looking at this pile as 'snack time' - found an eaten LIBRARY book - can't fudge that one at work!!

Japanese Sweeties in Oz

Reading Lottielulu's recent post, I was directed to an online business called Retro Mummy, who sell Japanese fabrics, linens and tapes, here in Australia! Yay Yay Yay I Say. I know many of you are very loyal to Superbuzzy and that is fine, but when we Aussies order a piece of deliciousness from them, our children do not eat for 15 days (I kid you not!), due to the lack of funds in the bank, once postage has been paid for, in order for the japanese fabric addiction to be satiated.

Now, my children can eat, as Retro Mummy has a small but I 'm sure growing list of very very cute fairy tale fabrics, linens of lambsies, hedgehogs (or maybe echidnas?), mushrooms and frogs. Tapes of owls, cats in Paris, strawberries galore!

Happy elephants and cake with tears

SOOO Slack!!!
I have been busy as a bee, finishing my cookies quilt to donate to our school fair silent auction - decided my funky monkey could wait til next year (one less pressure!), lots of aprons big and small, easter baskets, patchwork cushions, yo-yo crazy!!!!
Photos soon!

Check out these gorgeous prints - trains for my nephew who is train obsessed (so why not foster some more obsession, I say ) maybe for a library bag for b/day/christmas/just because, and weally cute elefants!! Orange is not my thing, but I couldn't resist. What I really love is the elephant buttons (with red and blue shoes, yeah!) All of these treats and ribbons etc are from superbuzzy
By the time postage and conversion rate occurs, I've had to take out a second mortgage to pay for these (not really), but I still love them. Love love love the horse/rider/dancer and joy, joy!, dog sniffing flower could be my theme pooch.

Elephant buttons just won't stay out of the shot - I think they know they are ubercute.


Had to add one more shot of the horse and rider and the ballerina - two things I really love.
Daughter No. 1 and I visited local dance shop 'Valentines Dance Wear', Malvern for some new ballet shoes and the stunning tutus hanging up are always lovely to admire - neck ache from looking up at them is common. 'Can I have one for my birthday?' comes the dreaded question - 'Well, yes, let me think about it' - okay, I know I probably can't afford a $200 plus tutu, to dance around the house in, so what about making one? Hmmmmmm! Maybe. Then we could choose our own materials - saw great sparklies at Carmels Fabrics, Mentone, Hmmmmmm! Okay - pattern, searched ebay and found The Classical Collection
Should I or shouldn't I - I do love the idea of making a real tutu, with lots of layers of stiff netting so that it stands out sideways and really beautiful bodice work, beading or applique or something. Still thinking on it. Birthday in November - plenty of time!!! Of course, make one for Daughter No. 2 is a given!!

The smell in my house at the moment is delicious - banana cake cooling in the kitchen, and the aroma goes all the way up the stairs to my study/craft room - yummy, but bitter sweet. This cake is for my neighbours, a young couple who have just had a tragedy in their lives - maybe eating a piece of banana cake with marscapone cream might take their minds off their sadness, just for a minute, maybe not.