Busy Relaxing...

Day 5 of the school holidays...

BUSY: little visitors, kiddie boot camp, washing, feeding the masses, trips to Spotlight - you get the picture, nothing really stops in the holidays - except work - and that's replaced by holiday activities!

RELAXING:
I joined in with a Block of the Month at Canton Village Quiltworks. The first block came out on September 25th - OMG it's already DONE!!!

I've cut out a bag pattern - Monica Poole and Saffron Craig - a match surely made in heaven!

Putting together a paper pieced project for the MRSA#3...

I can hand sew this at night in front of the tv - I dont' miss much of the story line and there is always someone else sitting there to roll their eyes and fill me in on what I miss...

The plan for today is to finish that bag...start your stopwatch...now...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Motto #2

What's another hour on top of the 2 already wasted.

I may be able to salvage some of this afternoon with sewing...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

My new motto...

 Edit: Well there seems to be a problem with the KeepCalm poster generation

 and I don't know where I saved the one I made....

soooo...I introduce my own version...

Many thanks to Michelle, for helping me get my priorities right!
You too can (may be able, if the site connects,) get yours here

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...


I know, I know, if I'd spent 2hrs quilting instead of making this...

Heaven on Earth...

I imagine Heaven will have any rows and rows of sewing machines, lots of huge cutting tables, fabric everywhere and like-minded sewing and quilting angels all around me.
I had a little taste of Heaven on Earth, nearly a month ago, when I was able to help Corrie (retromummy) and her sewing angels, sew together many of the quilt blocks that were sent for Quilts for Queensland.

Recently I have been wishing for a few more "Corrie Sundays"  - days when I can forget about my real life and lose myself in some more Sewing Heaven.

This would be finished in a flash...

...this would already be in the hands of Ms Pi...

...and I would never notice any of this...

What's your version of "Corrie Sunday"?

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Bunting?...

I know it looks like I've been making rectangular bunting...

but no...lots and lots of squares for Minky's quilt.

I have made quilts for 4 of my girls. This is the last girl quilt to be made.
The daisy print in the foreground is the main border fabric and the stripe is for a narrow inner border. We picked out colours from the main print to use in the squares and threw in orange to pick up the colour in the stripe. I love the way it is coming together - so does she!
I am getting it done so much quicker since I decided to give up housework...

I still have to come up with the right idea for a quilt for the BaTH (Boy about The House)...I like to keep the most challenging till the very end! He was going to get one for his 18th birthday - but that was in 2010...I really should have given up housework sooner.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Origami Bag for Miss Bee...

A cute little purse with fabric that was a pretty close match for the material in her new dress

Finished with a press stud closure and  bronze chain shoulder strap.

Taken on two recent outings: Confirmation on Friday 2 September and Mary Poppins musical on Friday 9 September. Satisfying!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Happy Father's Day...

Here's a little something we prepared for you!

Enjoy your day. XXX

Fabric Hoarding

10 Good Reasons To Buy Fabric
(found in the lateset On Line Quilt Magazine - which by the way is great free magazine by some Aussie quilters!)

1. It insulates the cupboard where it is kept.
2. It keeps the "economy" moving, it is my duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and fabric shops.
3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.
4. It's a contest - the one who dies with the most fabric wins.
5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, you'll never have to feed it, change it, wipe it's nose or walk it.
6. Like dust, it's good for "protecting" previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, laundry basket, the dining room table etc.
7. It's not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes me feel good.
8. Because it's on "SALE."
9. Because I'm worth it.
10. And buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions!

Which brings me to my problem...a serious fabric buying problem...
it's probably not a psychological problem...yet...but I think I am going rather overboard...

It's not that I don't have enough to last me a lifetime already (and it's not like I can sew 24/7 either). I've even got some beautiful winnings to deal with. Some I've packaged...like this...(the vintage sheets are paired with some perfect solids), to be made, one day, sometime in the future, at a later date, into a sofa throw.

The latest...er...saga...revolves around the travel wallet I made. I realised that I'll need to make myself one for the 25th Wedding Anniversary trip. Cue a virtual shopping trip...
So I need this black and white travel fabric...

Oh but then it might not be colourful enough...

These were a really, really good price...

and of course Christmas is coming ...

and I'll need a pattern to go with that...

and I've found the perfect print to go with the Bella Solids "Rust" that I won from here

and something quirky and eyecatching that says "leave me at your own peril - you will want me when I'm gone!"

I have a partner in crime too.

Marisew and I have been buying to share the postage....

When the parcels arrive at her place "she bought them on her account for me".

When the parcels arrive at my place "I bought them on my account for her".

This is the third lot of orders that arrived in August. I'm hoping this confession will either stop me because of public embarrassment...or better still...

unearth someone else's even more atrocious buying habits that will make me feel good about my restraint!

Oh...and one other little tip: don't haul your fabric out to photograph when the MaTh is likely to walk past!!! oopsies

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

September 1 1956...

That was the year my parents married.

In a beautiful little church in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

http://www.katoomba-nsw.com/KatChurches.html

Each year there are dates that stand out in my mind.
Birthdays - 24 September and 29 October. They would be turning 79 and 83.
Sad days - June 13, August 20
Sometimes I just want to pick up the phone. Tell them about the things the children have been up to...about things I've been making...the sewing days I go to...the funny things people say that I know would make them laugh too...even the sad news about a good friends father, just to hear their words of sympathy...
Of course I can't...that's just life...but it's hard to break that habit of just reaching for the phone...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...