My postie, my friend...

I've been shopping again, oops!

Firstly I bought this BEAUTIFUL hand made crochet bunny rug from Naomi over at Crafty Owl Naomi, she does beautiful work and it was a pleasure to buy from her. My photo doesn't do it justice, but I just had to share: And this cool parcel arrived from Fishpond. It looks a bit like cardboard shrink wrapping for books! It is the best mailing packaging that I have seen and I just had to share a photo with you...
The cardboard is waxed on the inside (protection from the wet) and there isn't any addition padding other than the cardboard BUT it is nice and stiff and protected my books beautifully.

I wish all retailers would think about how they pack items for posting and the environmental impacts that unnecessary packaging creates

There's a giveaway at Clare's Place

Clare is having a giveaway for a gorgeous elephant canvas.

Be sure to head on over and put your name in the draw, entries close on 11th May

Mmmmm

Yummy rustic rosemary peasant bread with some homemade cannelloni and strawberry flummery for dessert.

Firstly, let me say that if you haven't tried flummery you really should give it a go - easy, light, fluffy and tasty!

This was my first attempt at bread making and the it was a very satisfying experience - from the fresh yeasty smell as the dough was rising to the slowly rising rounds of bread to the taste. It was a great bread recipe to start with and I think I can see me making bread again!

Ok, my pictures aren't great but the food is YUMMY (no photo of the cannelloni - I forgot to take one before I dished up my dinner! lol)

Nancy Rose mystery quilt top

I did finish the top yesterday but it was a bit dark last night to take a photo (I need all the help that I can get to take a nice photo!).

I made a couple of changes to the pattern - I didnt like the original layout of 3 blocks x 5 blocks so I made an extra block so I could have a square quilt (hmmm, I seem to have a liking for square quilts). Then to make the outside border of 4-patches fit I needed to add a narrow 1" inner border.

Its not my most "accurate" quilt as my favorite sewing machine was in for a service and I had to use one of my other sewing machines; its a good machine... its just not my favorite! And I'm not sure that I like sewing with these pre-cuts, those pinked edges make it a little difficult to get a nice 1/4" seam and trimming them down for the 4-patches was a little awkward. But, the top is done and it is CUTE!

Here it is...Oh and if you are interested; the charm squares that I used are from the "May Pole" range by April Cornell for Moda

Belated photo

I've been meaning to post this photo for a few days now, I almost have the mystery quilt top completed - just need to add the borders and it will be done.

Eye candy

Just look what you find when you spend WAY too much time surfing blogs after a long day...

I want one,

Just one,
All for me,
Maybe...

More sewing at my place

Aren't they CUTE!

This is clue 1 in a mystery quilt that was on Nancy-Roses' blog before she move to a new provider. Sadly the mystery isn't available anymore and I am VERY glad that I saved it!

I've got 2 matching charm packs, some tan scraps and a bit of calico set aside to finish this quilt. I know what the finished quilt looks like but I am still going to sew it in the same order as the mystery instructions.

Experimentation

This was a quilt inspired by a simple convergence quilt I saw online, my version didn't quite work out at planned but I think I still like it... it is a bit plain and I may feel the urge to jazz it up a bit before I quilt it, but in the mean time it can go in the "to be quilted" pile while I consider my optionsOh, and here is my crazy cat (again!) this highchair is folded up in my laundry room ready to go out to the shed (I'm not using it at the moment).

Over the back of the highchair is a Saint Patrick's Day wall quilt that needs to be packed up until next year (isn't the backing fabric beautiful?)

The Simple Woman's Day Book (5)

Outside My Window...
It is a pleasant Autumn evening. Dusk has settled in and it will soon be night.

I am thinking...
Where does time go? It's such a strange thing - here one minute, gone the next and never to return

I am thankful for...
The wonderful weather we have had this Easter weekend.

From the kitchen...
Leftover sweet and sour chicken with rice.

I am wearing...
Grey skirt and a black/white checked t-shirt

I am creating...
A new quilt. A bit of an experiment "convergence quilting"

I am going...
Back to work tomorrow, another weekend is almost over

I am reading...
"High Noon" by Nora Roberts (and it's a pretty good book so far)

I am hoping...
To get to bed early tonight, I have had a lot of late nights recently and I need to reset my body clock, especially with the end of daylight savings this weekend

I am hearing...
The sounds of "Grey's Anatomy" on TV, and the crickets have started their evening chorus

Around the house...
the windows are open and I am enjoying the cool autumn evening (AGAIN!)

One of my favorite things...
Relaxing and chatting with my parents while sipping a cuppa

I remember...
the friends I have made over the years and how happy I am that most of them are still in my life

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
A sleep-in tomorrow morning (maybe) and finish the quilt top that I started today

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Did Easter Bunny come to visit?

Ugly fat quarter swap - made by me

Fabric etc that Carol sent to me...
I created a sewing kit/folder for Carol to enjoy...

Ugly Fat Quarter Swap - made by Carol

I could barely contain my excitement when the postie rang my doorbell Thursday morning, I opened the box and found 2 beautifully wrapped gifts,Look what was inside (aren't I lucky!)....

A close up of the stitcheries...

Thank you Carol for making this swap a WONDERFUL experience!

Oh, and just in case you can't remember, this is what I sent to Carol...


p.s. when I get home from work I will post photos of what I sent to Carol

It's a tough life

It's hard work being a supervisor...

Mmmmm

Mmmm... fresh home made cottage pie, still hot and bubbly from the oven
(I took this photo last night, fully intending to post before I went to bed, but it just didn't happen!)
And 2 new postcards that I made last weekend for a swap that I am in. The flowers are 3d and I added some little black bead "seeds" in their centers