Stitching Angel

I have finished my projects for the Stitching Angel swap that Helen has organised. Again I used the Swell fabric range, I have learnt that a FQ bundle can go a long way! I haven't used any of this for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap, from what I have seen this wouldn't be a usual choice for my swap partner. The bag is May Britt's design and is a free pattern available on her blog and also on Hugs'n'kisses blog. I stitched the flowers in as I didn't have any flower buttons.

The little sewing/project purse has wool felt inside the flap for pins/needles. This was fun to make and is a pattern, 'Pretty Purses', by Jennifer Knol Designs. I bought the pattern from Mrs Martins Quilt Shop.

The needlecase I made Anni Down's 'An Angel's Story' book; thought the use of angels was appropriate! Instead of stitching the angel out in the colours in the book I opted for a varigated red thread - I have a thing about redwork at present and like the tonal variation in these threads. Inside the needlecase are two little pockets to keep needle packets in and woollen felt to pin your needles into.

I also made a pincushion, love the colours in this!

Speaking of colours, I love pretty much all colours. Some days I prefer pastels, other days batliks and another day bright modern. Sometimes I will dislike a fabric when it comes out (or a range) and often in time I will grow to love it. *grin* Sometimes this happens all of a sudden, yesterday I didn't like it much but today I HAVE to have it! I like so much that I don't stick to one thing when it comes to colours and patterns.

Tell me about your colour preferences and how you choose your fabrics. I would love to know!

Bag Swap Arrived

OH MY!

Until the past few days I have given little thought to the recieving side of the bag swap. I have been focused on preparing my bag and goodies to send and hoping that my swap partner likes them. Anyway, thinking about someone else making something for me is...just... well... UNREAL! Wonderful. and Amazing.

My parcel was in the mailbox yesterday from Pat in the US http://pat-bitsandpieces.blogspot.com/ and IT BLEW ME AWAY. She took so much time, care and trouble to make me this gorgeous bag AND pincushion (hehehe now I have two pincushions!). She also went to the trouble to buy me a journal and notepad, Mary Englebreit mind you - so they are gorgeous! What is it Leanne Beasley says..... PS Don't forget the chocolate. Well Pat didn't foret the chocolate either. Hershey's mmmm, and not just the one bar you see in the photo but SIX bars! I have been very good and sharing with dh and the children. By the way, the children are thrilled to bits with mum's parcel; though I suspect that ds8, ds3 and ds1 are only thinking of their stomachs! Ds7 and ds5 love the other goodies too, and had big wide eyes eyeing them off!

Aren't the fabrics just divine???? I have been admiring this range, In The Pink 2 by Buggy Barn, for a while now. Just made my day!

THANKYOU PAT! I also emailed Pat and Linda yesterday.

I didn't get around to posting the pictures last night because I was busy getting things ready for a visit today. dd5 does preschool through distance education and the teacher and the director came for a home visit today. It was fabulous! They played games and did activities with dd5 for almost two hours and the older two children drew and did puzzles. The little ones were with me mostly, helping to prepare keich for lunch but they also spent some time playing with the fabulous toys and games. I got alot of reassurance and encouragement out of today, in all manner of things - lifestyle, child raising, schooling etc etc.

The director loves patchwork and has done some. I showed both MissM and MrsG some of my quilts (finished and partially finished) and they both loved them. MissM's favourite was the Strawberry Lemonade quilt and MrsG's favourite was the Sweet Bliss one. I have given MrsG a does of enthusiasm she said, so I am hoping to have some emails of lovely quilts from her soon!

We have had a great day, thankyou MissM and MrsG so much for your visit.

Bec xxx

Bag Swap

This is the bag I made for Linda's bag swap.

I have used fabrics from the Swell range by Moda. The pattern is Nellie's Bag by Rosalie Quinlan.

I hope my swap partner likes it and is able to use it. I really enjoyed making it, it was very straight forward to make and I was able to make it in a good time frame.
Great pockets inside! Also sent with the bag I put in a pincushion, small project/thread and needle purse, three fat quarters and two skeins of DMC varigated threads.

Two of my favourite shops sell this pattern. Kim at HoneysuckleCottage has the pattern and kits for it, and Kerry from Cottage on the Hill also has patterns and kits. http://www.honeysucklecottage.com.au/ and http://www.cottageonthehill.com.au/

EDITED: I should have also said you can also iew the pattern on Rosalie's blog http://www.rosalieqinlandesigns.typepad.com

I have to tell you about a new blogger who has been getting lonely, blogging by herself and having no comments. Kate has some fabulous quilts on her new blog and I am looking forward to seeing more. http://kates-in-stitches.blogspot.com/

Monkey Business

Today, um TONIGHT I cut out and made Magoo by Melly and Me for ds's 3rd birthday tomorrow. I have been going to make the monkey all week but it just hasn't happened. Then today I put dinner on early and made a cake, hoping to spend an hour working on the monkey before dinner was ready. Boy was I dreaming! It was 8pm when I got to start and I have just now finished stitching his eyes on. Done. All ready for tomorrow.

Stitcheries

This past week has seen me catching up from being sick for a week. It is amazing how quickly the house can go downhill... and how fast the dirty dishes and washing piles up! I am still catching up on emails, so if you are waiting to hear from me it won't be long!


In between working on the bag swap, stitching angel swap and birthday dolls I have been doing little bits on my angels. I can't say that Ihave completely finished one block though! I do have 1/3 of the blocks partially stitched, the remaining blocks are ready to be vliesofixed on (actually I use another brand now - bond something???), I have all the little squares and block borders cut ready to stitch. I even have the main border and binding cut ready to go! Just need to get on with the stitching of the angels......
I get in a bit of a tizz sometimes and worry about what I have taken on then I recall what Peg wrote to me 'Have fun with the angels, they are fun to do' (I hope I have quoted you correctly???). Then I relax and smile as I look at the angels. When the quilt is finished I am going to have good happy memories of working on it. Thanks Peg!

I have been tagged by QGB and have recieved an award from Sarah. I will post about these tomorrow.

It is spring here in Australia now and on the first day of spring the children and I finished weeding our vege patch and planted it with vege seedlings. It is now full with seedlings and the veges that we are harvesting. Currently eating silverbeet, a few carrots, some brocoli and waiting to try the cauli's!
Well we have had a fast intro to the upcoming summer. Our little jackrussell dogs found a brown snake near the house yard yesterday. By the time I was able to get there the awful thing was gone. Now I am going to be constantly worrying about the children, especially the little ones. The almost 3 yr old is obsessed with collecting eggs and often goes to check without me knowing. The snake was spotted between the house and the chookyards......
I have some snake oil that I will put out int he next few days. It is made up of natural oils and is meant to deter them from hanging around. It won't stop them coming but it's putting out. Last summer we had a black snake hanging around the house for a few weeks and we stopped seeing it after I sprayed some of the oil around the house. Our kitchen has rather large open gaps to under the house - I always appraoch the kitchen with trepidation, worrying that I will sight something I don't want to!
My eldest son is a diehard Steve Irwin fan, and while I do agree with him that snakes can be amazing creatures, I just don't want them too close to us; especially beacuse it takes a few years for little children to understand not to touch or go near some animals.


These are stitcheries I have done in the past few days for the Stitching Angel swap. The first one is from Anni Downs 'An Angel Story' book and will be made into a needlecase.



The second stitchery is May Britt's and was the free pattern Monday night on Hugs'n'Kisses blog (see side bar for Stitching Angel badge). I had to put a smile on the angels face, but have yet to find some flower buttons, might have to stitch these in.....



This is dd's nurse doll that I made her for her 7th birthday on the weekend. I also made her a frilly pink skirt with cupcakes on it. She also recieved two little sewing boxes, one a Mary Englebreight tin for children, both with lots of little sewing bits for her as she loves to use the sewing machine. My mum croqueted a beautiful set for her - handbag hat and scarf - I will post a picture of this tomorrow.



These are partially made cushion covers, of my own design. The striped fabric will be flanged (is that the right word???) and I will be quilting in the ditch around the centre block and the middle border.
I would appreciate any thoughts on these.... is this something you would like in your home? colours? patterns? design? Thanks!



This is another sneak peek at the bag I have made for the bag swap. It is ready to post, and I will post on Saturday when I, or hubby, go to town. It's gorgeous and I wish I were keeping it!