Sunday 21 February 2010

Attention Aussies...

Do you have an ugly???
(an ugly fat-quarter!)

Fiona at Mother's Cupboard is hosting a swap and it sounds like fun! I'm going to sort through my stash to find just the right (or is that wrong? lol) fabric for the swap!

I've also signed up for the new postcard swap at Stashbusters, the theme is "flowers" and I already have a couple of ideas and I am looking forward to playing around with postcards again.

And I've decided to join in with the "Spring" swap of cat themed blocks over at PrettyKittyBlockSwappers, no ideas for this one yet but I am sure that if I look through my folder of kitty blocks I can find one that will suit.

There's been more painting at my place today (are you sick of hearing about it yet?)...
- a second coat on the house, and it looks like we will need to do a third coat to cover the new boards :-(
- the first coat on the eaves (one more coat to go!)
- the first coat on the verandah (one more coat to go!)
- a coat of paint on the face of the window frames

With every swish of the brush the house looks nicer, we get closer to finished and I just keep thinking how NICE my house is looking!

Thursday 18 February 2010

Saint Patrick's Day has arrived early

Look what the postie delivered to me today (and what a lovely post bag it was - look at those cute penguins!)


Look at the goodies that were hiding in there:

And a better photo of the table mat (backing fabric is the same as the border fabric) and lovely handmade card:


THANK YOU SHARON!!

Sunday 14 February 2010

The Simple Woman's Day Book (3)

Outside My Window...
A dark, cold, windy night

I am thinking...
About what I need to get done at work this week and how I really want to do some stitching this week (oh, and maybe finish the book I am STILL reading!)

I am thankful for...
A warm, dry house

From the kitchen...
Some yummy chocolate cupcakes and a roast lunch

I am wearing...
Grey skirt, pink t-shirt, slippers and a cozy warm shawl

I am creating...
A memory quilt for my friend (at the stitchery stage - this could take me a while!)

I am going...
To sit into the lounge room and do some hand stitching on my current project (see above)

I am reading...
"Queen of Swords" by Sara Donati - still! I am nearing the end and I cant decide if I am excited or sad that I will be finished reading it soon

I am hoping...
To spend more time "living in the moment" this week, to take some deep breaths and be fully present where I am this week

I am hearing...
A silly infomercial on TV while I wait for "The Good Wife" to come back on and my dog snoring softly

Around the house...
The lights are dimmed and my new curtains are closed to keep the cold night out

One of my favorite things...
Yellow roses that smell like Summer

I remember...
Listening to my Dad tell the story of how his mother painted the inside of their house with a paintbrush (OMG - I am thoroughly impressed!), while her kids watched on. How she worked as an assistant manager at a retail store because she was bored with only being at home. How she saved for months so that she could buy some venetian blinds for their home. How independent she was after her husband passed. I come from a family of strong women

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Sew, read and relax a bit before next weekend

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Someone forgot to tell my cat that this bed was made for dolls not for him! lol



Painting the days away

My house is looking all shiny and new...
Well, sort of....

Saturday was a perfect day for painting and we got the first coat of paint on the outside of the house. It is already looking better than it was before, even though the walls need another coat and we haven't even started on the eaves, fascia, base boards or window trim.

We were hoping for another perfect day on Sunday BUT it has been misty and miserable all day.

Hopefully next weekend will be better!

So,I should have been sewing...
but I was playing around on the computer...
and I baked some yummy cupcakes...
just vegging out...
what a relaxing Sunday!

Sunday 7 February 2010

I wonder who this is for.....


I made this little table topper (it's 15inches square) this afternoon and it will be in the mail on Tuesday, I just need to get a few little goodies to send with it.

I hope the recipient likes it - I think it is pretty cute, but I am a bit biased!

In rememberance

It is a strange day today - one year on from those devastating fires last year.

Was it really a year ago? For me it seems like just yesterday, but it also feels like it's been forever since it happened.

I know I was in a state of shock at the time - I had a friend injured in the fires (they are recovering slowly but surely) and I was struggling to comprehend the sheer size of the area that was affected, the homes that were destroyed and the lives that were lost.

BUT I was also incredibly proud of how the people of Australia responded to the crisis, I am still incredibly PROUD of our country and how we all pulled together to do what we could.

Monday 1 February 2010

A postcard with a bookmark!

This arrived in my mail box a couple of weeks ago...