Quilting along (slowly!)

No posting recently as I have been up to my ears in cutting out stabilisers, fabrics, pinning and stitching. I really love this Joseph's Coat Quiltalong idea, but sheesh! I am a bit bamboozled by how much time it's taking to get going. The preparation involved is really something else. As a result I have only 2 blocks stitched, whereas I think by this time, if I was keeping up with the pace, I should have about 8 done. Anyway, here they are - I have to take some better pictures and admittedly these were taken before stitching them down. But they are stitched now, I promise!!

Time for an update!

Well it has been way too long since I last posted. Excuses are many and varied and I haven't been completely idle, in a crafting sense - really, I haven't! There are some things to show for my absence, but first things first - in a moment of madness I have signed up for a quilt-along being organised by the very talented Kellie from Don't Look Now. Is there anything this girl can't do? Apart from having the most amazing designs which are so in line with my own tastes it's kind of scary, she is also super-generous and has posted incredibly detailed instructions of what to do and how to do it so that your work might have even a very good chance of looking like hers! (I wish!!)

Anyway, so here is the lovely culprit that has been swimming in my mind for the last few weeks. I am eager to get going. Unfortunately I've just realised I don't have the right kind of needles - hopefully I'll be able to rectify that tomorrow and start stitching. In the meantime I have been busily cutting out stacks of lovely petals from the fusible web.

Now off to do some more cutting!!

Missing in action

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted. Kids' illnesses have set me back a bit but hopefully we can get back on track now that everyone is (mostly!) better.

Gret from the lovely little red ribbon has a giveaway on her blog at the moment - a sweet little coin purse handcrafted from linen and vintage embroidery. Head over here and leave a comment, and it could be yours!

One for the birds

Not only do I have a thing for trees at the moment... and anything red.... but also birds. Sometimes I like to combine all three. Right now I'm wearing a cord necklace with a red metal bird on a gate motif - found last week at the National Portrait Gallery shop (the BEST shop for gifts in Canberra, surely?). Made by Elk. Their jewellery is delicious. I could easily take it all home.
























Something else I've found - Indiefixx Feed Your Soul, a great art site with free downloadable pictures you can print out to your heart's content. Luckily for me there is an abundance of birds on board. Here are a couple of my favourites.


















And finally, a peek at the Helleborus-in-progress. Going well so far - I'd say I'm nearly at the halfway point, and it hasn't been too painful (despite Terhi's warning of death-by-boredom-scarf).

More art to love

Just found this sweet little picture on Etsy by a Canadian artist Tine Wiggens - this would be lovely in Elli's room! I'm ashamed to say that I have been a bit of a failure when it comes to decorating my kids' rooms, it all looks a bit half-hearted. I'm hoping to change this though - it's really just a matter of a few more pictures and some strategic tidying up and everything will be beautiful! All part of the territory when it comes to squeezing three kids into two bedrooms!

This caught my eye....

Being a total newbie to the blogging world, I find myself being amazed on a daily basis by all the clever people out there. And the things you find on a very circuitous route. I love reading A Little Red Ribbon (thanks Gret) - she always finds the most beautiful things (and makes some gorgeous vintage embroidery pouches). Today's find comes via there, through a wonderful site called Lovely Clusters, which takes all the hard work out of finding beautiful things - clever, huh? (A Little Red Ribbon is about to be featured there).

And there my attention was piqued by this gorgeous pink-leaved tree from A. T. Whim. A further peak at that site reveals an array of beautiful artwork - very tempted! A few of these grouped on a wall would be delightful. I really have a thing for trees at the moment!

Coming soon - boys' things from Hatched and Patched

I'm excited - one of my favourite designers, Anni Downes of Hatched and Patched, is close to releasing her next book full of things to make for little boys (and big ones too, I believe). On her blog today is this gorgeous photo which is tantalising - I think those robots are going to want a home here with my two little boys. Can't wait to see the book - hopefully we won't have to wait for too long!!

This beautiful quilt....

...is being given away by the incredibly talented Kellie of Don't Look Now. I don't normally gush, but I have to say of all the artisans out there in the big wide world of quilt-land, she is surely the pinnacle. One lucky person is going to win this quilt, and it would be great if it were me! Whoever wins will be the envy of many.

I am so in love with the bird and tree combination, as well as the selection of colours. Before I started lurking around the blogworld, I had various designs based on birds and trees floating around in my head. Little did I know that others before me had also stumbled upon this wonderful concept - who would have thought?? Anyway, such a simple concept really, but Kellie takes it to a whole new level. Her work is simply beautiful and it would be a privilege to own one of her quilts. Maybe one day I'll have the confidence to try one of her patterns....

The competition closes on 2 September - good luck!

Getting my knitting groove back

I am on a bit of a roll with knitting at the moment, having finally completed a little cardigan for little miss E a week or so ago (OK so I still haven't sewn on the buttons, but she's been wearing it, and it really doesn't need the buttons..........). Pleased with that accomplishment (yes, it had been on the go, on and off, since before she was born - 10 months ago) I decided to pop out a quick hat for the biggest little boy. It is a paper-bag style hat, knitted in a rectangle, very cute!

Sorry about the sideways shot - still getting the hang of this! I really love this wool, which is lucky, because there is still a lot of it left. More on that some other time.

Then I decided I would knit a scarf for my sister. Weird that I have been knitting for years and years but never actually knitted a scarf. Isn't that just what everyone starts to knit when they learn how to knit, before getting completely bored and moving onto more interesting garments? Anyway, a scarf it will be, but in between times I unfortunately had to abandon the first attempt due to the dreaded stockinette curl syndrome. A pity, because the chevron lacy pattern was going really well and it would make a fantastic scarf, but sorry, that was way too curly. It had to go.

Luckily I found the perfect replacement designed by the very clever Terhi here - the picture below shows her original, mine will not be as wide, and given that it is in a darker wool, the pattern will not show up as well as this, but after having done about ten rows, and seeing the pattern start to emerge, I am really loving it. Thanks Terhi.

More tomorrow on another exciting knit-fest!

A work-in-progress #1

As is no doubt the case with everyone who likes to indulge in a little craftiness here and there, I have of course numerous works-in-progress. I am trying, however, to finish some of these off - admittedly, this is to some extent driven by a desire to start something new (and who doesn't have a list as long as their arm of things they want to start working on!?)

To get the ball rolling, I'm sharing with you today a quilt I've been making for my little man #2 - it was (you guessed it) supposed to be his baby quilt... and yes, he's turning 3 in just a couple of months, scarily enough. And yes, I have had another child since.... (and I haven't started her quilt yet!) Anyway, it is what it is - and I still love it, though I have to admit that I have moved on somewhat since I started this, and I would choose something totally different if I were starting something for him today.

The pattern is from Barri of Bare Roots who just makes the most adorable quilts and other bits and pieces. I have altered the pattern slightly (but not too much). The top is just about done - all the pieces are hand appliqued using the fusible web and blanket stitch technique (though in one section I have used backstitch for a different effect which I'm really pleased with). Just a few more circles to go around the border and then on to the sandwiching. I'm thinking of hand-quilting this, despite the fact that I know it will take me forever. If it's finished by the time little man turns 4 I'll be amazed!

As an aside, I actually started this quilt when I was 27 weeks pregnant with #2 - little did I know that only days later he was to arrive amidst much drama (at 28 weeks). Who knows if I might have actually got it finished in time if he'd gone full term??

Starting out

Hello out there! This is my first real go at this blogging business. In this little space I'd like to share my favourite bits and pieces - things to make, things I've made (when I actually get to do that!), things others have made, in the realm of crafty, home-y, baking things.

Testing

Hello this is my first post