Plans

At the end of 2012, I realised that I had bought more fabric in that year, than ever before.

I justified these purchases by the number of swap groups I was in, some pretty good deals that were floating around and a vague feeling of “wanting”

I intend to keep joining swaps….after all I think that if it weren't for the deadline of swaps, I wouldn't have even made it to the sewing machine as much as I did last year.

However, I now have a huge stash, lots of books, patterns and bookmarked projects, and it’s about time I committed to using what I have.
The sewing room is tidy.

The stash is neat.

The UFO’s are all in one handy to get at spot.

My mantra for 2013 is going to be:

"No more fabric
No more books
Use what I have"

In the interests of full disclosure, here is the last of the 2012 purchases (um...except there are 2 “reserved” precuts that will ship sometime this year, which might help with the whole withdrawal symptoms bit!)

A glorious FQ bundle of ‘Type’…

A whopping pile of Joel Dewberry…

and some pretty smart reds to fill the hole in my red stash (yes that is exactly how I justified it!)

...finally, a wee case of crafting books that I felt compelled to buy because they look cute and I might one day want to learn bead embroidery, or sashiko, or felting, or...!

I've been slowly adding my computer bookmarks to pinterest…all of my boards are here, and there are a few quilt-a-longs that I'm joining in with, which hopefully will all make a big dent in the fabric hoarding.

I’m looking forward to a very productive 2013.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence…

Reading...sewing...

The best thing about holiday: loads of sewing time...
The second best thing about holidays: loads of reading time...
Put them together...we're heading into Nirvana...

Our 6 children gave the Math and me a Kindle each for Christmas...I knew there was a reason we had so many...

...so I did a bit of sewing....

Some recycled denim and a hunt in the scrap bin...

The Math wanted his to sit to one side with a velcro closure...

(this was the prototype and is a little short to wrap around well)

 I wanted to have mine in the middle and a button close...

The finished items

(Warning: DO NOT look too closely at the fmq on mine...not a pretty sight!)

 I really like these and they cost me nothing just a few hours of time (lovingly spent!)

My friends and family know me pretty well...
a selection of reading material I received for Christmas and birthday...

If you can't find me for a while, you'll know why!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

post # 296

Obsession... Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 23

I got part of the way through the clean up and found all the evidence of my previous craft obsessions.

 Yep...the obsessions came and went, either because the classes I went to folded (cottage crafts, embroidery including,ribbon & crewel), I left (folk art) or I had another baby and just didn't have the time.
Often I bought the books because "one day" I would have the time to make my own covered boxes, do 'handicrafts' till whenever, make the cutest soft toys for my children...(oh the sad delusion of it all).

Then there are the ones I really made good use of:  these two books helped a poor uni student, living out of home, to have something new to wear. I loved the quirky 'english' and the brilliant diagrams, it made me less reliant on the 'western' sewing patterns (though in their defence - they actually teach you about putting patterns together!)

 I wonder what Japanese quilting books are like...?

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Blogtoberfest 2010 - Day 1

Here goes post number one for Blogtoberfest.

I was too new last year to even begin to think about joining in - but I was intrigued and stumbled on a lot of blogs to read, something that may have taken a whole lot longer, if not for the Blogtoberfest Blog Bonanza of 2009.

What better way to start than to show some of the goodies that have arrived in the mailbox just recently:

A little bit of the rainbow from Chalky's World , with some delicious fabric and lovely Christmas cutouts.

 This is Toby who arrived from Clare's Craftroom, and he brought a chocolate profiterole recipe with him - he has his feet crossed that I will make them for him!






This is from my newest, favourite-est place in nearly all the world...The Book Depository...one of you bloggers is responsible for showing me this site - if I could remember who I would come and shake your hand  -  although my credit card has yet to recover!
(I do have another to show you, but it really deserves a post all of it's own)

This will be a mad month - Will I ever get to the end of my reader and do justice to all the great reads that will be around?

Will I continue to think daily blogging is achievable?

Will I run out of coherent, sensible things to say?

Will I still think it's fun by the end...in 31 days time?

Only one way to find out...

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

My Place & Yours - What I'm reading

Yippee 'My place and yours' is back. I do like a good peek at what others are doing - and of course you're always invited to take a peek over this fence!
Summer holidays are at an end. I went back to work and Princess and Miss Bee returned to Yr 11 and Yr 5. Minky doesn't start Yr 8 till tomorrow. MATH (man about the house) will have the place to himself and BATH (boy about the house) is off to enrol in uni. Oh wait. I have Friday off too! Maybe I'll just finish the chapter...
The best thing about holidays is the uninterrupted read read  reading that I finally get to do, so this MP&Y's is perfectly timed.
What was I reading? Left over quilt magazines that got ignored through the year. Christmas presents from last, last year. Books belonging to the kids. My own indulgences ( the new Jasper Fforde cost $32.00 *gasp* that's nearly 1.5 metres of fabric!).

Arty b&w photo because of the book and because I can!
Hop on over to Punky & Me to find some other great reads.


Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...