Inspired...

You could be forgiven for thinking that I've been starting a lot of new fabric projects lately...the piles of fabrics are starting to overtake my desk, to be quite honest :) Nothing quite as fun as starting something new though, is there?

Last year I took part in a Stitch-a-long, organised by the very persuasive Chookyblue. I had so much fun stitching my Gardeners Journal quilt, but wasn't convinced I would take part in the new one...the colours weren't really me (and I wasn't inspired by the traditional Christmas colours), the pattern isn't by one of my favourite designers, and I have a fair bit happening on the crafting scene this year.

Then one afternoon I opened a book...

...and knew immediately that I had to stitch "Tis the Season" in pink and red! I searched everywhere for just the right shades, and the last of my fabrics arrived today...

I'm basing it mainly on the colours of Rosalie Quinlan's Sweet Broderie fabric collection...cotton candy pink and red...yummmmm!

Each time I think of these colours together I smile...as a child I was told that pink and red were never to be placed next to each other, and blue and green were "never to be seen". How times have changed!

The stitch-a-long begins tomorrow...let the fun begin (again!)

TTFN xxx

Tick tock...

tick tock...time is running out for me to cross off that to-do list this month! With only a single day left in February, it's looking sadly...incomplete :) Ah well, you get months like that!

Surprisingly, my cards are done. If your birthday is coming up...look away now :)


I probably need to challenge myself to use a different colour scheme...red, teal, pink and green are just so easy for me to work with right now!

And polkadots...I love them!

But I guess you probably knew that already :)

Have a great week

TTFN xxx

Project Birthday Bag...with a twist!

The February project from the Sweetwater Label Crew is a gorgeous birthday bag, complete with cute pattern and personalised labels...as usual :) Did I mention how much I'm loving Sweetwater lately?

Anyhow, I stalked the postie for a couple of weeks, waiting very patiently for my labels to arrive, knowing that both Tracey and Linda already had theirs, and that we were getting together last night to make the project...but to no avail. It seems that mine may have gone astray for now :(

So I had to get creative...

With no birthday labels...and no idea what colour they were anyway...I raided my label stash for some Christmas ones!

I had a couple of squares of Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas leftover from the tablerunner that we made last year, and found the cute polkadot fabrics at Spotlight...and voila! I have a cute little Christmas bag ready for gift giving in December. How cool would it be to have a whole stash of handmade pressies ready for Christmas this year? Just thinkin' :)

Hope you are managing to stay cool...Perth is in the middle of a heat wave!

TTFN xxx

Little things.

It's the little things that keep it alive...

...like the playlist I found on his ipod titled "Susan". The play button revealed a huge list of songs...some of my old favourites, significant songs from our courtship all those years ago, songs that remind him of me.

It reminded me of the "mix tapes" tapes I used to make (years and years ago) by taping favourite songs off the radio...did you ever do that?

A bit of love and nostalgia for my Friday :)

Have a great weekend

TTFN xxx

It's a start....

Some cards have been made today...right here, in this very house :)

It's the start of many on my cardmaking to-do list...February marks the beginning of birthday season around here.
They are simple. They are basic. They are DONE. And that's the way I like it :)

I used some felt flowers to make the tree foliage, which I thought looked a bit cute.

What are you up to today? Getting anything crossed off your to-do list?

TTFN xxx

A Whole Stack of Happy :)

Nothing says "happiness" to me quite like a stack of beautiful new fabric....

...the smell, the feel, the possibilities :) I've been searching far and wide for a range of fabric to start a brand new project in....a range with small prints, great colours, and lots of variety. Today, I found just what I was looking for...

...and this is what it's for...

Tracey, Linda and I have decided to take on a big project this year...in addition to our monthly Sweetwater Label Crew project, that is. We are making what we lovingly refer to as "the caravan quilt", more commonly known as A Family Gathering by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched. We have a plan of attack, we have our fabrics, we have a start date...let the fun begin!

Happiness today also came with spending the day with the lovely Lisa and Janelle, doing what we do best...chatting, laughing, shopping, and continuing our search for Perth's best patisserie :)
Lots of wonderful discoveries made on our journey today.... some gorgeous fabrics, our new favourite shop, scrumptuous lemon meringue pies, and this...

...which had my name written all over it!

Happy happy happy :)

TTFN xxx

Sweetwater Lovin'...again :)

So...those of you who've been reading my blog for a while know that I have a "thing" for Sweetwater. The love affair started with their paper products, moved on to fabric, and has now grown to include fabric labels!

I joined their Label Crew late last year...each month I receive a delicious brown paper envelope containing a sheet of new labels, a matching personalised label, and instructions to create a project using the labels. You might remember my Christmas giftcard holders and 2011 journal that I made using the December and January labels? One look at my brown paper envelope, and my friends Linda and Tracey decided to join up too!

Determined to use (rather than just collect LOL) the labels, we made a commitment...a monthly get-together to create the Label Crew project... and work on a big quilt project together (more about that later).

Our first project was "mug mats" for Valentines Day...a cute little variation on a coaster set using love-themed labels. They took a bit longer to complete than anticipated, but that's what "homework" is for, right girls? I plan to use mine for afternoon tea with the kids each day...we love our after-school catch-up :)

Just thinking about the fun nights we have planned for the rest of the year makes me giddy :)

TTFN xxx

Wishing you....

...a Happy Valentines Day!


Hope it is filled with special moments and lots of love :)

TTFN xxx

P.S. photo source

Polkadots and Sunday deliveries :)

Happiness is....a lazy Sunday spent playing with fabric...and an unexpected visit from the postie!?!

My only finish so far (amongst a huge pile of works-in-progress) is this...

... a case for Lydia's recorder! She loves polkadots almost as much as her mother :) Again, I just cut and sewed and made it up as I went along...and Lydia thinks it's perfect (which it most definitely isn't, but we won't tell her that!)

And while I was stitching, there came a knock at my front door. Now either I am very confused, or my postie is working overtime...but I'm not complaining either way because he brought me these....

You could be forgiven for thinking that I'm collecting these packs from Echo Park...I have quite a few on hand, all in mint condition :) Here's hoping they will inspire me to create a scrapbook page or two!

TTFN xxx

Something old, something new...

Sometimes the urge to create becomes an overwhelming need.

After a busy week of work, school, after school activities, and late night TV (all my favourite shows are back on...YIPPPEEEEE), I gave myself permission to take the day off housework today, and have a play with some fabrics...it's good for the soul, you know!

I started off with some walking foot quilting on my Farmers Daughter quilt....the one in my February To-Do List ;)

A word about Farmers Daughter :) I started this quilt about 7 years ago, when we lived in New South Wales. I used mainly scraps from Riley's "Matilda Station" quilt (now retired to the quilt basket), which was a block -of-the-month by The Chook Shed Pattern Company (now closed for business). I completed the top at least 6 years ago, and it has lived, complete with safety pins holding the top, wadding and backing together, in my to-do basket ever since....oops! Seeing these fabrics is like a trip down Memory Lane...there's even some fabric from Riley's nappy bag in there LOL!

I completed all the walking foot work, and felt brave enough to attempt the free-motion quilting of the background....which is why it has been a UFO for so long :) And you know what? It's sorta fun.

I've let go of the notion of perfection, and am going with the flow...and it's gooooooood...but a little hard on the arms.

So I took a break, and started cutting..



Yes, my beloved Bliss jelly roll has finally met my rotary cutter. This fabric makes me so happy, and the colours make my heart sing! Watch this space :)

Thank you ever so much for all of your lovely comments on Lydia's stitchery... her beautiful eyes twinkle just that little bit brighter each time I read one to her. Thank you thank you thank you!

TTFN xxx

Too much of a good thing....

...is, of course, wonderful!

Such a clever little stitcher is my Lydia. After spying these adorable cake buttons in my stash, she was busting to use them on something...anything!

While browsing an old library issue of Homespun magazine, I came across a pattern by Giggle Buttons that used the exact buttons that I had...and Lydia's next project was begun.

She amazes me with her patience and her perfect stitches :)

We've spent the last couple of weekends redecorating her bedroom, and no doubt this stitchery will take pride of place in her revamped space...she is so proud of it (and so is her Mummy!).

Hope you had a great start to a new week...it's Monday!

TTFN xxx

Olivia...in fabric!

You may (or may not LOL) have noticed that I've updated the To-Do List in my sidebar...because it's February (and has been for a few days now!)

Listing the projects that I'd like to complete here on the blog has been a great motivator for me so far. It's a constant reminder of what I hope to achieve, and has really helped me focus and get organised...things I struggle with at times!

February's list is quite ambitious, but I've made a start already...i just love ticking things off that list :) This is Merryn's library bag...

I made up the design as I went along...a snip here, an unpick there...and basically just worked with the fabric print. Olivia is the cutest little pig... Merryn loves to watch her on ABCKids, and we have a couple of books too. I knew she'd love the fabric :)

I lined the library bag with some sturdy red fabric, which was an offcut from a tablecloth that I'd hemmed to fit our dining table... repurposing is good!

What's next on that list?

TTFN xxx

Fingers crossed!

I'm back in the computer world again...and fingers crossed all my technical issues are sorted :)

I've done a little more scrapping...

...which has been therapeutic amongst the chaos and emotion of the last week or two. With my oldest heading off to High School last Wednesday, it has been lovely to take a moment to reflect on his first few days in the world.

I've used the last of my stash of Creative Imaginations Baby Boy collection from Tomorrows Memories, along with some flowers from Making Memories, ribbon and twill from TMs, and the stamp around the outside is Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday.

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful friend Tracey...hope your day is as special as you are :)

TTFN xxx