Floriade

Thank goodness we went to Floriade the weekend before last! We had the most perfect weather and the flowers were looking beautiful. Since our visit we've had the dust storm, strong winds, heavy rain and freezing temps! I don't think the flowers would be faring too well with all that crazy weather.

More stashbuilding

So, not much sewing still, but more stashbuilding! I went to the Canberra Handmade Market a couple of weekends ago and discovered a new patchwork fabric supplier - Posie. She had a gorgeous range of FQs, half yards and full yards. I couldn't resist some of Saffron Craig's Owl range, the Parrots from her Fields range and the gorgeous Pet Deer fabric from Michael Miller.

I think cushions and things for the owl fabric, a skirt for Rom with the parrots print and maybe a top and/or pants for Tristan from the pet deer fabric - I only bought a half yard.

I also bought a gorgeous flower brooch made from a zip and a photography session, which is happening at our place this week. I thought it was about time I had some decent professional photos taken of the kids. They'll only be this gorgeous once!

I am supposed to be working on my next assignment, due today, but we've all been sick again, this time with a chest/head cold. Both kids have a disgusting wet cough and streaming noses and I'm feeling decidedly sick. Carl had it first so we can all blame him. My fab lecturer has given me an extension until Tuesday, so I have two days' grace. I'd best get working on it I suppose...

Plastic love

I know you shouldn't confess to loving inanimate objects, but I love my new Cupcake Courier! When Novy posted a photo of hers, I knew I had to have one too. Here's mine.The blue is just lovely. Even lovelier modelled by Tristan of course! I also bought a four-pack of the 'cup-a-cakes', which are individual cupcake containers - perfect for lunchboxes.

You can order yours here for Australians and here for international readers.

And the winner is...

...Nicolette!

I don't tell many people this, because it was sarcastic, but my nickname at primary school was 'Dictionary'. Because I knew so many words and because when I didn't understand a word I'd look it up to learn. The girl who started the nickname thought that knowing so many words was daggy, hence the nickname. I have never agreed - I don't think you can know enough words! So, Nicolette's entry for the Don't Look Now giveaway really appealed to me and also gave me a chuckle. Nicolette, congratulations and please email me your postal address and Kellie's pattern will be on its way.

The dictionary says: applique is a small addition to a standard circuit to enable it to perform additional functions or provide additional features... duh? They obviously never heard of fabric applique. To me it’s a wonderful way to make a quilt or cushion something completely your own, by taking objects from every day life or nature and translate them into applique shapes using the fabric you love the most. All you need then is some persistance and a well working sewingmachine!

We had a big dust storm roll through yesterday - it's now over the eastern seaboard. This is what it looked like from our place.
Fortunately, we'd already had our visit to Black Mountain a few days earlier, or the view wouldn't have been like this!

Don't look now - it's a giveaway!

I was stoked recently to win a Don't Look Now pattern during one of the very generous Kellie's giveaways. I'm really excited about using Kellie's pattern - her designs are based on raw edge applique and modern fabrics and they are absolutely beautiful. Her quilting is divine and I hope that one day I can do it half as well as her.

The giveaway I won was just before Kellie went on holidays. Somehow in her post-holiday catch-up she ended up sending me two copies of the pattern. I emailed her asking whether she was happy for me to do a giveaway and she was delighted.

So, leave a comment by midnight Sunday Australian Eastern Standard time to go into the running to win this gorgeous pattern. Instead of random number generator, this time the most creative entry on the theme of applique will win! I will be the judge and no further correspondence will be entered into!!!

In the meantime, if you want to know more about Kellie and her wonderful designs (and where to buy them), visit her blog.

Stashboosting

Well if a girl can't quilt, what's the next best thing? Buy more fabric of course :)
I ordered a 'charming jelly pack' of Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding range from the Fat Quarter Shop and was pleased when it arrived during the week. It took about two weeks to arrive from the US, but it was worth the wait. It's lovely Christmassy fabric in non-traditional Christmas colours. I have a couple of projects planned. They're on my ever-expanding 'to do' list :)

A friend asked me for some advice during the week on how to get started quilting. She wanted to do a butterfly quilt for her daughter. I went onto Etsy to see if I could find anything suitable for her and, in the course of my browsing, I came across a 'bits and pieces pack' from greenolive. I couldn't resist, and this gorgeous Flutterby fabric - screenprinted in Melbourne by hand - also arrived during the week.And, while not fabric, this also arrived during the week (I was popular at the post office!) - it's my win from a recent giveaway on Duyvken's blog. She was decluttering and had two boxes she didn't want any more.
My sister-in-law had these eggs up around her home at Easter time at I secretly coveted them - so when I won I was very happy indeed. Romily was over the moon as she just loves Easter. She, of course, wanted to put them up straight away and only being reminded that we have to have Christmas first could dissuade her! Thanks Amelia - your eggs have come to a great home!

I will be having a giveaway soon - I recently won a gorgeous pattern from Don't Look Now and Kellie somehow ended up sending me two. She has very kindly agreed that the second copy should go to a good home, so keep your eyes posted to this blog for your chance to win!

Mum's quilt

Mum finished the quilt I showed you a while back - a gorgeous log cabin quilt in beautifully muted modern fabrics. I just love how the deep red brings it all together. I still can't believe she made a queen size quilt for her first quilt - and how beautiful it is.Well done Mum! (And doesn't it look nice in my childhood bedroom?)

EBDQS3

Hello. It's been a bit quiet around here lately in terms of crafty goodness. I've been using other parts of my brain, I promise, but haven't had enough energy or time to put towards textile play. Something to help snap me out of my quilting/sewing slump is the EB Doll Quilt Swap III. We've just received details of our swap partners and I'm starting to come up with some ideas.

One of the cool things we're doing to help the person making a quilt for us is creating mosaics of some of our Flickr favourites. Here's mine.1. Experiment 1, 2 layers, 2. Experiment 1, circles, 3. ronduitrechtnicolette, 4. Paintbox Quilt on the Sofa, 5. Sarah's Tablecloth Quilt, 6. 4SQS 5 quilt inspired by Tulip Fields in Spring, 7. 4SQS Winter Quilt by Tami, 8. Drifting, 9. Front of quilt, 10. Hand printed scarf, 11. Birds and Stripe Reversable Dolls Bed Quilt & Pillow Set, 12. Table topper, 13. Show-Me Plain Spoken, 14. advent calendar, 15. wall-art, 16. Trick or Treat, 17. Trick or Treat, 18. Yokohama 2008, 19. Evening Indulgence, 20. butterfly quilt

You can easily make your own. All you need is a Flickr account and this web-based application. Have fun! It's easy and potentially addictive. You have been warned!

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In other news, I'm happy to report that I received 91% for my first uni paper this semester. Too bad it's only worth 10% of the overall mark, but it's pleasing to see I'm on track and at the far right of the bell curve!