A swap is just making something for myself...right?

The conversation went something like this:

MaTH: " that looks nice"

quilary: "it's a bag I'm making"

MaTh: "for you?"

quilary: "...er...no...it's for a swap..."

MaTH looks at me with raised eyebrow.

Hastily I add, "I get one in return...so technically it IS for me..." *cheesy smile*

 I'm currently in a basket swap ,run by the Quilting Gallery.  I've used up left over material from a quilt I recently made, so I know that the colours work together. I can do the pattern. The bag is turning out to be bright and fun. There's no waste and I get to play with a new toy...

the quilting bar that sits in the back of the walking foot

er...two new toys actually...pinmoors in action...

 Talk about win-win scenarios...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

The Hexagon MugRug...

Now that the mug rug has reached it's destination I can show it to you.
It was made for Cheryl...

I used a 5" hexagon of the background fabric and a 3 1/2" hexagon of the main fabric, sandwiched with the same sized piece of wadding.

Fold the edge of the larger piece in to meet the edge of the inner piece, then fold again so it sits on top of the inner piece, and stitch down. Repeat for all 6 sides. Stitch the hexagons together in the layout you choose.

For the half hexagons, I cut the inner piece exactly in half. For the backing piece, I ruled a line at the half way mark and then another line 1/2" below that, which became the cutting line. (Sorry the picture is cut off in the lower corner, and looks a bit wonky.)

Fold the sides the same way, but trim the corners carefully on the sides to reduce some of the bulk.

I'm pretty happy with it J

You can see all the mug rugs that were made in the swap here and there is another one starting on May 1st.

Check out Leona's blog for the details...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

A Country Break...

 A quick school holiday trip to the Southern Highlands with Minky, Miss Bee and the MaTH.

We found ourselves at the Twin Falls cabins hidden in the bush near Fitzroy Falls.

They were basic but warm and comfortable, Miss Bee made herself at home…

(the ripple has grown by another 7 rows since Tuesday!)

I took my camera and am a bit pleased with some of the photos I took too.

Nothing like a bit of scenery…

…and greenery to help you relax and unwind.

I can tell Autumn has set in with the colours of the leaves

Although, I thought the wattle seemed to think otherwise…

 ...however as on all nature walks, I actually learned a thing or two - did you know that this wattle (Acacia terminalis) flowers in spring and again in autumn? - no, I had no idea either! 

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

How do I love term breaks, let me count the ways#...

What I've been working on ....

cleaning the windows,

*

vacuuming

*

...oh hang on that's the stuff I've been avoiding!

I've finished and sent off a mug rug...can't show you it all because it's still on it's way to W.A.

front

back

Received mine....oh I LOVE paisley so much.

front

back

I already mentioned I <3 paisley yes?

Cheryl has made something that is so perfect for me...I'm beyond delighted. Thanks Cheryl and thanks to Leona for organising the swap.

The weather is cold enough so the mammoth, ripple crochet blanket has been getting a row or two done each evening...and keeping my toes warm in the process.

And lastly....

This is the quilt top I started at Sew It Together, top is finished and I'm thinking that I'll back it with a fleece or flannelette and use it as a throw in the family room...

...how easy on the eye is that paisley?...

*illustrations from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

# apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Giveaways Galore...

Giveaway the first...

Leona has just made the move from her home in Florida to West Pennsylvania. A huge move for family reasons. You should head on over to her blog for this fabulous giveaway.
As always, Leona has a load of lovely goodies that could arrive in your letterbox (although mine would be preferable), including the fabric bundle shown in the picture (which I lifted from Leona's blog!).

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Giveaway the second...

I have been admiring the style of these gorgeous patterns and the brilliant quilting that makes the applique stand out so well.

photo from don't look now blog

Now there's the chance to win a pattern from Kellie. Go here to find out how to enter (and don't let the "intestines" put you off!).

My postcard was an attempt to capture the gorgeousness of this technique...alas I have a long way to go...but who knows, winning a pattern could change my world...

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thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Shruti has very kindly awarded me a Stylish Blogger award. It's lovley to think that someone believes my blog deserves an award.
I get to tell you 7 things about myself then pass it on to 6 other bloggers.
So here's the seven:

1. I was born on Christmas Day, but my birth wasn't registered until 12 years after I was born. For most people the informants are their parents, mine says "This registration is made in pursuance of an order on  ...May 19.. by a Judge of a District Court". In those days the hospitals registered births...Mum thought mine got forgotten because of the Staff Christmas Party!!!.
2. I stopped biting my nails when my 4th child was born.
3. I grew up at North Curl Curl. I wished I still live there, especially because I want to write that as my address! North Curl Curl. North Curl Curl. North Curl Curl...
4. I once abseiled down a cliff in the Blue Mountains. Now I get nervous at lookouts.
5. My first car was a Hillman SuperMinx - says it all!!!!
6. My second child was born at home because I didn't make it to hospital - she is still in a rush...
7. I was in rough surf at Terrigal, many, many decades ago...lets just say my cossie top couldn't deal with the roughness of the water...

So now you know some funny, interesting and embarrassing things about me.

Another thing is that I am a bit of a "party pooper" when it comes to passing on chain letters, emails, virus hoaxes, etc. I don't do it to be mean, but I do it to save clogging up bandwith, or save people thinking they will cause themselves/their family/ friends to have bad luck/die/or worse, or to prevent the passing on of fake "virus warning", "hypo in the cinema seat" "axe murderer"," free microsoft gift certificate" "email tracking" hoax stuff. I'm the one that sends back the email with the link to hoax busters or snopes.

So in all conscience I can't pass this on and ask 6 people to do something that I don't do.

Thank you Shruti - it's cool that you thought of me. And I will go and check out the other bloggers that you have recommended. It's nice to meet new people.

Please do go and have a look at the bloggers on my side bar.

I think they are all fabulous and clever and witty and talented...

and if you're not there,

you're probably in my reader

but if you want

drop me a line and I'll add you...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Making a Fabric Postcard...

Wrapping up the GBSPS #3

I've already posted a picture of the postcard I made for the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap #3, but I wanted to babble on a bit with how I made it. - you know, just in case someone else might like to make something similar.
The theme was "LOVE" and let's just say I needed to avoid hearts and pink* - I'd already done something 'valentine-y' and knew it had to be something different.

The first bit of inspiration came from Cath of Chunkychooky - she gave me the idea of the lined notepaper. Have a look at her cool cushions.

The second bolt of inspiration came via Anorina of Samelias Mum - she gave me the idea of the garden and her great little tutorial helped along the way.
Then I just had to find a verse/song. (it's taken weeks for The Captain and Tennille's Love will Keep us Together to go out of my head...oops...damn...). Anyway the John Lennon song is great and  fitted pretty well with where I was heading.
Want some steps to follow?

Write/Scribble the lyrics onto some lined paper.

A little bit of inkjet fabric printing for the front...

and the back of the postcard.

A little bit of applique and embroidery

Layer together with iron-on interfacing and vliesofix, stitch all around to finish the edges...

and there you have it!

Diana told me she loved it!

Thanks again to Beth for organising another great swap.
*ok I just had to put a little one in there!

Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

The Girl With the Easter Hat...

Piece of cardboard.
Green craft paper.
Plastic lace.
Flowers made of pipe cleaners, coloured paper and pompoms.
Eggs from coloured paper - stuffed  with thread and fabric scraps!
Paddle pop sticks to hold up the bunny.
Pink ribbon (Easter Hat girl even cut the tails of the ribbon like "you do Mum".)
Everything came out of the "useful box" (when the kids were younger, one of my favourite things *read inexpensive retail therapy* was having on hand a great collection of useful goodies for kids crafting - it's getting depleted and I will be sad when I no longer have need for the useful box!)
Bunnies and basket printed and coloured in by the Easter Hat girl.

She won first prize in her Grade and came home with enough chocolate to sink a ship!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

not a lot...

...has been happening here - well unless you want to hear about my sore foot.
Or the Easter Hat that was being made for the parade at school (I'm Easter Hat Consultant -  I had to sit at the table and NOT go anywhere, cut out what i was instructed to cut out, but otherwise just SIT and WATCH ).
Or theYr 9 textiles project that took priority over my attempts to use the sewing machine (not that I was GOING away from the Easter Hat Project or anything...).
Or the Yr 12 HSC mid-year exam melt downs...

I did manage to skim read a few blog posts and found this:

Raggedy Station opened a new shop and is giving away a fat quarter bundle to celebrate.

Quilty Giveaways will direct you to lots more...

...shhhh... dont' tell the Easter Hat girl that I was in here...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...