She'll Be Apples

I'm delighted to say that the cushion cover I made for Vic's cushion swap made it across the ditch to it's new home with Miriam of makeitgiveit.

This is what the front and the envelope back look like.

It's loved...I'm happy

...and here is the MAGNIFICENT cushion cover I received from Tanya ...

as soon as I took it out and saw this...I just hugged tight.

I almost didn't even want to unwrap it.

I did

Just look at it!

Exquisitely made...sewn...quilted...

a GENUINE TREASURE.

Even the quilary offspring were so aware of the specialness of this that one said it shouldn't go on the lounge in case someone put their feet on it!

Tanya has a picture of it all plump and squishy on her blog.

(If I wait to take my own photo, I'll never get this posted)

Thank you Tanya for sharing your apple fabric 

and making somthing that is perfect!

Thank you Vic for bringing 

the enjoyment of making and giving to the real world!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Cushion Swap 2011

One swap ticked off the list.
Another one due to start

I can't help it.

I think I'm addicted.
Here's the sneaky peeky of the cushion that I made

It's being posted tomorrow, even though I finished it on Friday...I'm finding it hard to put it in the mail.

I sorta kinda like it too much. I hope that's a good thing for the person receiving it.
It's made with upholstery samples and stash fabrics.

The person it's going to has a philosophy of wanting to use less, make do with what they've got, be a bit 'green'...sound like you?
I'm pretty sure this cushion cover is going to a home that will love it as much as I do.
I made an envelope back, and added a bit of extra fabric detail.

There's a whole lotta cushion makin' going on around the world...here are some of the finished ones:

Cushion Swap Show Off

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

My Creative Space...Wooly Thinking

This is how I plan to spend the next four Wednesday evenings...

doing a 4 week wool embroidery class at Oatley Cottage.

Tracing the design on water soluble interfacing...

Mine may look like this at the end of the classes:

I'm going along with a friend and she is stitching this little guy:

Look at that cute face! Isn't he just ducky?

So remind me why I am starting something new? A bit of wooly thinking perhaps?

I should be doing some of my homework before I forget how to do 'fly stitch'. Gotta have all those leaves done by next week!

Linking up to the new home of Our Creative Spaces

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Leona's Accuquilt Go Baby giveaway...

Leona has outdone herself with this giveaway.

Head on over to this post and enter.

Of course you could always stay here and read my blog post

  - then you might forget all about entering

which will give me a better chance...

but that would be selfish...

here's the link again

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

I wonder why…?

Sometimes I wonder why I don’t get as much time to make things, as I would like. I even made a plan

Saturday’s Sewing Schedule:

8.45 quilary takes Minky to Netball Umpiring at Clemton Park– home by 9.00am
9.20 quilary takes Miss Bee to her game – waits for Minky and friend until...
9.52 quilary drives Minky and Friend to their Netball game at Rockdale, drops them off and returns home by 10.25am…put on a load of washing, put on dishwasher, wash up what doesn’t fit in, clear breakfast stuff, clean off benchtops (knowing that sleeping older teens will undo all work by noon!)
(meanwhile the MaTH is at the Clemton park game and brings Miss Bee home by 11.05).
11.15 quilary takes Miss Bee to swimming class* – crochet 1 and a bit rounds of this:

12.15 return home.
(meanwhile MaTH heads to Rockdale with BaTH to pick up Minky, and then drives to Sydney University to take BaTH to Rugby game – home by 12.45)
12.40 quilary takes Princess to her netball game at…you guessed it…Rockdale – arrives back 1.10pm
Do some housework.
Eat something.
Yell - at older ones to clean up after themselves.
More washing.
More yelling - at younger ones to tidy rooms and put away clothes.
Drink something (only tea!!! though by this time something stronger was definitely in order).
2.30 MaTh drives quilary & Miss Bee to…aagggh I can’t type the “R” word without coming over all faint…you-know-where, to pick up Princess from her game, and drive into the city for fitting of pointe shoes at Bloch’s. Spend a forturne on 2 pairs of pointe shoes, two sets of ribbons, “ouch pouches”, jazz booties, leotard, crop top. Have to beg for change from Princess to buy train tickets home. (note to self – should rename “Princess” – “Priceless” works for me). Get home by 5.15pm.
Think about dinner - something easy for tonights 'concert goers'. No shopping has been done - reheat leftovers. Find "missing" stockings for one of the concert goers. Force feed daughters before they go.
5.45 MaTH leaves with Minky and Princess - the 'concert goers' - to collect up 5 other girls to drive them to the Katy Perry concert in the city.

6.00pm Ms Diva asks, with “puppy dog” eyes, for lift to a 21st party in Concord - only a 15 minute trip- (she forgets to add “if you have a helicopter”). Argument ensues.
“you took everyone else where they needed to go today” “how will Jess and I get there”, “you’re not going out now you can take us”, “it’s not fair” “but it’s a 21st I want to have a drink”, “blah, blah, etc”
“they are 11, 14 and 17”, “you are old enough to organise your own way to places”, “you’ve known for a week we can’t take you”, “I’m not doing another round trip of an hour to get you to a party” “you can take the car and drive Jess too”, “blah, blah etc”.
With a very stern NO! and accusations of unfairness ringing in my ears, I sit down to eat my dinner and read the days paper. Read article in the Good Weekend about a Palestinian father who loses 3 daughters to Israel missile hitting his home. He is not bitter or angry.  He only wishes for peace and understanding between the two countries.  I can't imagine the horror of his loss.

I realise I should to take my daughter to her party and tell her I’ve changed my mind. Cue tears of happiness and love…I told her why and I think we both learned something valuable. (Not long after, because this generation always make arrangements at the last possible minute, it turned out the other girl didn't want to drink and decided that she’d drive and pick Ms Diva up on the way!!!!).
Wash up, clear away, tidy kitchen after dinner...
7.00pm the BaTh, who fortunately got a lift home from Rugby, comes and ask with '”puppy dog” eyes for a lift to Oatley…with resigned droop of the head I weakly mumble “yes honey”. I muster up the authority to say "I will take you no later than 7.30" (because I don’t think I can actually stay awake any later than that…)
7.45pm (authority completely undermined) quilary drives the BaTH – back home by 8.10pm...sigh!
8.10 sit on the lounge with Miss Bee and the MaTH to watch Dr Who - try to crochet. Can't keep count properly and give up.
Can you spot what is missing from my sewing schedule?

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

*just so you know we are not completely mental  - that was Miss Bee’s last swimming lesson - at least till Netball season is over!

Happiness is...

...a contented 11 yr old

Take one bunk bed that the 17 yr old no longer wanted.

Give it to the 11yr old

Easy!

...a grateful 18 yr old (quite rare species!)
Mend the 18yr old brand new brand name big bucks jacket (if I can back stitch as seam why can't they???)

Easy!

...breakfast in bed followed by...
...sewing without interruption:
sneak peek of the cushion cover...

...a gorgeous bag handle..

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

The Busy Postman...

Time for me to mind my manners and thank some great people

for things that have arrived in the last 5 months...MAY already???...eeeek

This lovely pack came from Leona's first Mug Rug Adventure swap.

(Signups for the second one began on 1 May - here).

How about these?

No I didn't get 4 jelly rolls, I just had to try and show you the colours in the Swiss Chocolate range. This is from a giveaway at Amanda Murphy designs back in February.  I can't possibly make anything I just unroll and re-roll it to look at the colours. Never fear, it's not going to waste.

I just have to make up my mind...do I turn it into this scrumptious quilt?...

 

or maybe this one...

(both images from Amanda Murphys Blog)

Then there is this roll of Oasis - it's just full of such pretty soft colours...

that came from the very talented Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road (check out her Bella Solids giveaway - on all this month!).

Linda from Living the dream sent me these cute little gifts - a thimble and a magnet from her town in France.

 ...the lovely carved wood thimble has made itself right at home with my tiny...but expanding...collection of thimbles

I promised not to buy any more material until I'd made a dent in the existing stock...

...and the existing projects...

...umm...so we won't worry about that stash of material that arrived last week...

(there's a sneak peek of sewing machine fabric in one of the photos!)

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...