Monday 31 August 2009

Ok, I give in!!

There has been a LOT of chatter lately on Stashbusters about the "Shakespeare in the Park quilt" - and I have been resisting (after all it didn't really appeal to me) UNTIL I saw this quilt.

I gave in, I joined the SITP group and am looking for the book in Australia so I can make one too!

Then I need to hunt through my stash to find some white/off white and bright fabric/s to make it!!

Sunday 30 August 2009

Here it is...


Here is the quilt (wall hanging) I was working on yesterday, it took me about 30mins to machine sew the binding on this morning...

The pattern was from a magazine, "Patchwork and Stitching" volume 7 number 5 (publisher: Express Publications Pty Ltd)

And here is the label, another salvaged doily that has now been put to good use















And this is the pen that I use to write on the fabric/doily.
It is a LOVELY pen and is just like writing with a regular ball-point pen (not at all like those horrible thick laundry markers) BUT is a fabric pen!! And they are less than AU$3 each

Saturday 29 August 2009

I've been sewing

Today I've been working on a gift... no photos just yet as I need to add the binding. Will post photos tomorrow.

It's been raining on-and-off for most of the day, so it has been perfect weather to sit inside and sew while I watch the rain fall.

Thursday 27 August 2009

Yum, Yum!!

I made one of my favorite recipes for dinner tonight. It was something that my Mum made when I was a child. It is quick, easy and yummy - which is why I think my Mum used to make it regularly!! We would have it for dinner one night and Mum would send the leftovers in my lunch box for school the next day.

COUNTRY PIE (makes 18 mini pies)
2 sheets frozen ready-rolled shortcrust pastry (you can use the low-fat version if you like)
3 cups diced mixed veggies (e.g. corn, peas, carrot, beans, zucchini)
1 finely diced onion
1tbsp butter
1 cup grated cheese
3 eggs
a pinch or 2 of your favorite herbs (I like to use a mix of oregano, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary and sage)
pepper and salt to taste

- place pastry on the bench to defrost (cover with a tea towel to prevent it drying out)
- melt butter, add onion and cook until it has softened
- add veggies and fry gently (allow them to get a little color - this will add to the flavor)
- allow the veggies to cool
- cut each sheet of pastry into 9 squares
- use these small squares to line non-stick cupcake/muffin molds
- mix eggs, cheese, herbs together in a bowl, add the cooled veggies and mix well
- spoon the filling into prepared pastry moulds
- OPTIONAL... top with a little grated cheese and a slice of tomato
- bake at 200 deg.C for 25-30 mins
- serve them either warm or cooled with a dash of tomato sauce

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Labelling made easy

Here is a GREAT idea that another quilter shared with me (sorry, I don't remember who it was)... use old doilys for your quilt labels. They look beautiful and can often be picked up cheaply at thrift stores. Here is a photo of one I did a little while ago...


Monday 24 August 2009

I need a smack on the hand


After a full day of work and 2 meetings today (1 during my lunch break and one this evening), I am sad to say that my string block will NOT be getting done tonight... maybe I will have better luck tomorrow!

P.S. if you REALLY want this bag, you can get one here! wonder what the girls at work would say??

P.P.S. don't ever do a search of Google Images for "bad girl", some interesting images come up!

Friday 21 August 2009

It's nearly the weekend...

Sadly Friday isn't the end of my working week, I still have Saturday to go. Then I am helping a friend move house - I'm not complaining though as she is moving closer to me! I should be able to spend more time with her and the kids, something I have missed while she has been living out of town. It has been a cold/wet day here today and I am hoping that it will fine up by tomorrow - nothin worse than trying to move house in the rain!

So, another week has almost gone by and sadly not much sewing has been done - other than my efforts on Monday mornings.

I find it hard to get motivated to work on my projects through the week, I know I could get a lot more done if I didn't just wait for the weekend. So that is my aim for this week - to do a bit of sewing every night this coming week, it may not be alot, but even 15mins would be nice! I have some strings, backing fabric and batting cut all ready to make a raggy string quilt... maybe a block every night??

Monday 17 August 2009

Mystery Quilt is finished

Well, the top is!!

I had this done before I left for work today but I didn't have time to take a photo.

The colors in the photo are a little off because this was taken using the flash (it was dark outside by the time I got home).

I am really happy with how this quilt has turned out.

BUT, I am debating whether I should leave it this size or make it bigger. If I decide to make it larger I will have to use slightly different fabrics, I would make some new blocks to go down one side and across the bottom, kind of like an off center border!

Sunday 16 August 2009

I've been sewing...

I spent this morning helping to move Mum and Dad's potted plants from their old house to the new one - it was rainy, muddy and wet, so I was VERY glad when we had finished moving the 2 trailer loads (yes TWO small trailer loads of pot plants!)

Once I was home I sat down to join in the mystery quilt at FabricaholicsAnonymous. It feels like ages since I have had a big sewing session.

Hope to have the quilt top together tonight - I have just finished step 14 (of 17)... the finish line is in sight and I am LOVING how the quilt is going so far! I had to unpick one step 'cause I reversed the layout of the block, it is all fixed now and hopefully no more stitch ripping for me.

Will be back with photos when the top is together.

Hmmm already thinking about how I will quilt this - maybe tie it with buttons OR use the stitch on the sewing machine that is used to sew buttons on with.

UPDATE:
10.47pm and I will be off to bed soon, I have all of the blocks together (just finished step 16) and will do the final step in the morning... I cant wait to see the top. At the moment it is looking a little busy BUT I bet that once I can stand back a little it will look great!

Saturday 15 August 2009

Dog Tired...


I've been helping my parents move house today and I feel a bit like doing this...

My Mum is a bit of a collector and my Dad hurt his shoulder recently so today it was up to my cousin and me to move the last of my parent's stuff and clean the house.

Ack, collecting/hoarding/clutter runs in our family and I have been reminded why I don't like clutter in my house!

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Done, Done and Done!

Biscuits are made. I saw this recipe in a Sunday magazine and just HAD to make them. I was pleasantly surprised with how quick and easy they were to make, and they taste YUM!




I also got the quilt binding done, don't you just love seeing a pile of binding just waiting to be used

And here is the quilt top that it is for... it was made using the "Warm Wishes" pattern.

Gotta love...

The new TV show that was on last night, "Drop Dead Diva" I spotted a review for this show and decided to watch it BUT I was worried that it might be tacky/corny - I couldn't have been more wrong! It was funny, sensitive and honest.... this show is going on my must-watch list!!

Another fav TV show of mine was back on air again last night, "Dexter" I was longing for this show while it was off air and am now doing the snoopy-dance in celebration (I would love to have embedded the dance here BUT I haven't worked out how yet!)

After a long day at work yesterday, I rushed home to eat some tea then was out to a work meeting - hence the need to veg out with some TV when I finally got home.

My internal alarm (the ever faithful body clock) woke me up at 7.30am this morning so I now have plenty of time to bake some biscuits, make binding for a quilt and (hopefully) go into work a little early so I can get a bit extra done today.... wish me luck!

Sunday 9 August 2009

Another weekend bites the dust

Well most of Saturday was spent at work, then home and spent some time on those little jobs that dont get done through the week.

I was going to prune some roses on Sunday, BUT then I remembered that my pruners were with my Dad getting sharpened.... what a shame!

So I dug into my pile of quilt magazines and ripped, ripped, ripped. What started off as a rather generous pile of magazines turned into a neat stack of patterns which I are now filed in binders. Some magazines didn't have anything that I wanted to keep - so they are in a pile which will be taken to my next quilt group meeting, in the hope that they can find homes with other quilters.

I am not rostered on to work on Tuesday morning, so I hope to get some binding made (fabric is already set aside) for a quilt that will be donated to the bushfire survivors. The top is made and I have selected some backing fabric (just need to check that it is big enough lol). The top/backing/binding will be sent off to Jan Mac, she is doing a WONDERFUL job of getting quilts out to the people who survived the tragic fires in Victoria earlier this year.

Saturday 8 August 2009

My cat likes to sleep in strange places.....



Meet my cat Bailey - he was a bit young w
hen he was abandoned by his mum, so when he arrived at my place one of my dogs Cherokee (Cherry) took over as "mum" (by the way, the dog is male!)

And yes, the cat is "sucking" on Cherry's foot and he
never complained!

I am never quite sure where I will find Bailey sleeping when I get home...










And like all ginger cats that I have ever met, he is a chatterbox!

I am not sure that Bailey knows he is a cat, he will follow the dogs around, follow simple commands and "calls"if he cannot find me.

Where are some of the strange and unusual places you have found your pet/s sleeping?

Friday 7 August 2009

This is me....

I am a "Sunday quilter"... I am pretty busy with work through the week (and some Saturdays) so a little while ago i decided that Sunday was MY day.

I do not make commitments to other people on a Sunday, although I will make occasional exceptions - like my god-son's christening. But mostly Sunday is MINE, ALL MINE; my sanity day to hide out from the world
, relax and stitch (or do what ever I want), to take a leaf out of my cat's book....


I want to m
otivate myself to get more done, and if I want to have an interesting blog I will NEED to get things done!

A little about me:
* I live in a rural town in Victoria, Australia.
* I don't have any children of my own (I am only 32 so there is still time for me to change that!) but I spend 3 days a week looking after other people's children. I also work in retail. I love both jobs and the variety that they bring into my life
* I have 2 dogs and 2 cats - you will probably see quite a few photos of these guys as we go along!
* I have been doing patchwork since 2002 and I now teach patchwork to beginners at a local community organisation. I dabble in doll making and sew the occasional bag too! BUT I have absolutely NO talent or patience for making clothing lol