Back to work

Last week I went back to work after a long relaxing break, it was good to be back in the shop with Lillian and all the lovely customers. While I was away Lillian changed the shop around, it looks great, so much bigger, There are lovely displays all around the shop.
Below is a new block of the month we are running, its called Remember when by Libby Richardson, I have done the first block which is very pretty. Look at the that pram isn't it just so sweet.

Rounneries fabrics by French General are so popular, we have sold alot already, The fabrics look so good together in a display. Lillian has made several projects with these yummy fabrics. Speaking of fabrics I'm off to do some sewing, have a nice weekend.

We've been to the beach

We had a wonderful break away, each day was busy at the beach watching the boys swim and ride the waves on their boogie boards. They had a ball. The weather was perfect, not too hot during the day and cool enough to sleep comfortable at night. I even found time or should I say made the time to do some sewing, I sewed the binding down on a few quilts that I had finished then did a bit of hand sewing on other projects. I was never bored thats for sure. Below is the beautiful view from where we stayed. Here is Nicky ready to catch a wave or two,

Nicky decided to bury Daniel in the sand, they had a good time.

Now we are home and back to our normal routine, only 3 weeks left of school holidays for the boys.

Here are 2 mini Laura Legacy quilts I finished while we were away, they are so sweet, they are about table runner size. I love reproduction fabrics so I really enjoyed making these. Have a nice weekend.

New projects

I am having so much fun being on holidays. Today I sewed the binding on 3 minature quilts and a big one. I'm going to the beach for 5 days on Saturday so I can sew these bindings down while away. I'm sure my husband will frown when he sees me quilting on our holidays, he said why don't I have a break from sewing, I just laughed at him. (I'llonly sew at night when we are tired from a fun packed day I promise honey). Anyway today I received this beautiful table runner from my friend Jody in America. It was really funny because I have been working with almost the exact same fabrics as she used in my gift. Beautiful pinks and brown reproductions.On the weekend I started another tumbler quilt, I have quite a few reproduction fat quarters in my stash waiting for a project so I thought its about time I used them, I still have 3 rows to put on then its done. They are so quick and fun to make,

With my scraps I had left from my pink and brown quilt I made in my previous post I made these cute little pin cushions, they look so sweet sitting on my old sewing machine. What do you make with your scraps? Happy sewing everyone.

My first finish for 2010

Its been another productive week in my sewing room, well actually my sewing space is the kitchen table but we make do with what we have don't we. I'm so pleased with this quilt, I used reproduction fabrics called Charleston. This quilt was in a magazine last year and I always wanted to make it, I just need to sew my binding down, I sewed it on today. I also cut out another tumbler quilt to start tomorrow, its going to be lovely. Happy sewing to you all,

Liffey falls day out

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of Tasmania, yesterday we took our 3 boys to Liffey Falls which is only about a 45 minute drive from home, We had such a good day, here is Jacob standing in part of the waterfall, it was so pretty and the water was freezing. Of course I had to get in on the act and have my picture taken with such a pretty back ground.

I thought this scene was beautiful, I don't take a bad photo after all,

Here is Daniel and Nicky having a paddle, Daniel was trying to catch a fish, they were funny to watch, Daniel didn't realize how fast fish can swim. Today I'm catching up on a few things around the house then its back to the good stuff and doing some sewing. I'm loving being on holidays.

More Christmas presents

I got some lovely things for christmas, here a couple more. This is a beautiful quilting caddy I guess you could call it, it was from my secret santa from my Friends in Stitching group, This is the inside, the embroidery is so delicate.

These goodies were given to me by Lillian, a beautiful lunch bag, a fabric postcard book and a book by April Cornall. I was spoilt wasn't I. Have a good day everyone.

Christmas gifts

We have had a wonderful christmas, the boys were up at 5am to open presents as my husband had to go to work so we didn't want him to miss out on present time. Bleary eyed I sat there and took photos of each of them opening their presents, it was good fun. I also got some beautiful gifts this year, below are some of my advent gifts I received on the days leading up to christmas, Sylvia was my partner for this swap and she sent me some lovely things. Sylvia made me this bag to open on christmas day, its so sweet and the stitching is perfect, thankyou Sylvia. xx

These lovely gifts I recieved from another christmas swap I was in, (yes i know I love my swaps) Chooky blue organised this secret santa swap and my gifts came from Melinda in the USA, I received this great bag made from pretty batik fabrics.

And these lovely goodies, the pin cushion is made from selvages, how cool it is, Thankyou Melinda. xx I'll be back tomorrow with more christmas pics.

Its almost christmas

We are on the countdown until christmas morning now, my boys are very excited and I must admit so am I. I love watching their faces when they open their presents. Yesterday I received my secret santa gifts from my Friends in stitching group, One gift I was allowed to open And it was this great banner, it really makes my loungroom so christmassey. (Is that a word)

Today I gave this gorgeous cushion made by me to my dear friend Cathy for christmas, she was thrilled when she opened it. I really enjoyed making this, its a Lynette Anderson design. Well I hope you all have a wonderful christmas and a safe and happy new year.

Advent gifts

Its such good fun opening a gift every day for my advent swap, Sylvia from Italy has sent me some beautiful things, here a few things I received last week, The fabrics are beautiful and the star pincushion is so sweet, it even has pins in each point. Yesterday I quilted my tumbler quilt, I'll show you a full picture tomorrow, it turned out so well, I think I'd like to make another one. My boys have finished school for the year now and I'm on holidays which will be wonderful, I'm planning on doing lots of sewing. My youngest son is unwell right now with conjunctivitis I took him to the doctors tonight and he said it was the worst case he has seen in 20 years. I just hope he will be better for christmas. Ok, thats all for today, happy sewing and christmas shopping everyone.

Table runners and painting

Its been another busy day, I have been sewing up a storm and doing a bit of painting. I have repainted my old writing desk, I chose black as i want the primitive look, then when the paint was dry I sanded back the edges to give it a worn look, what do you think? I just need a few primitive pictures for the wall and I think that space will look great,

I also made these table runners a couple of weeks ago and took them to work to quilt, I made the big one first and I didn't want to throw away the scraps as the fabric is my favourite ( Its Vine creek from Kansas troubles) so I made a smaller one. They look really lovely on my side board and kitchen table. I'll be back tomorrow to show you a few more of my advent calendar gifts, they are lovely.

Happy sewing.

Busy Days

Its been such a busy week with the lead up to Christmas, the boys are on the count down until school finishes for the year, they have 4 days to go. I'm counting to as then I won't have to rush around in the morning getting everyone ready. Earlier in the week my secret santa gifts arrived all the way from USA. Can you see the chicken ornament in the box, isn't he cute. I was allowed to open that gift now the rest are under our christmas tree.

I have also been having alot of fun every morning opening up a gift from my advent calendar swap, my gifts have come from Italy so its been very exciting. These are some of the beautiful things I have received so far,Thankyou Sylvia. I'm looking foreward to trying the wisper thread, I've never used that before.

And last but not least I found some sewing time, well ok, I always make time for sewing. I have started making this tumbler block quilt, I found a tutorial on Moda bake shop and then I saw a quilt made up on Christines blog so I had to join in the fun, I want to make it 18 rows long. I have only done 7 so far. I used all my navy and light reproduction fabrics. Its good fun. Well now its time to get my washing off the line so I'll say goodbye, have a good week everyone.

A Dresden day...

I have had the best day of sewing, I'm in a Dresden kind of mood so after many hours of sewing today here is what I have accomplished so far. I started out using a charm pack called Folklorique from Fig tree quilts, then I decided to try some Rounneries fabric I had. This is such a beautiful range. I have seen many designers using these fabrics. These fabrics are my favourite, I think I will make something for my antique dressing table with these.

I think I will make a table runner from these ones, I found a fantastic tutorial on Moda bake shop,

Well I have to pack up the sewing machine and start on dinner, talk to you all soon. Happy sewing.

Lots of mail

The postman and I are becoming good friends, he has been at my house delivering lots of exciting mail, yesterday I received my advent calendar gifts, look at the box full of surprises ready for me to start opening on the 1st Decenber, my partner for this swap is Sylvia and she lives in Italy so it will be exciting so have some gifts from her country.

Sylvia made me a present to open straight away and it was this beautiful sun bonnet Sue cushion, isn't she sweet.

Today I received my stitchers angel gifts all the way from Argentina. They are beautiful, Thankyou so much Lavinia.

Look at this cute little toy, he is a Japanese toy that has been knitted. He is quite unique. Thankyou for sending him to me.

Hooray its finished....

Working in a quilt shop there is always lots of things to tempt me to try, having sold many self covering buttons I thought I'd buy some and have a go. This is what I did, I bought a fabric I could fussy cut and I made these 2 buttons, maybe I can use them on a bag. They were fun and easy to make so I think I'll do some more.

I have been working on this quilt for some time, its called Living the Dream by Leanne Beasley. Today before work I quilted it and it looks so good. I changed a few of the stitcheries and wrote my childrens name just to personalise it a little bit, What so you think? Happy sewing everyone.

Stitching angel gifts

Here are the things I made for my partner for the stitchers angel swap, they went all the way to Norway. I enjoyed making these gifts. My partner Oddbjorg loved them so that made me happy.
Its always a worry when you make things for others.
I've been so busy making gifts for the swaps i have joined that I haven't done much sewing for myself lately, I like to get the important sewing out of the way first then I can relax and work on my projects.
Happy sewing to you all.

More of Campania

I took so many photos at Campanina on Saturday I thought I would share them a few at a time, as saturday was also Halloween the hall was decorated beautifully with quilts and halloween decorations, here are some of them...

This quilt is a design of Deidre's, it was in a Homespun magazine last year, it was great to see it close up.

And the day wouldn't have been complete without a few real life decorations, don't they look great. Tomorrow I'll show you Rosalie's projects, they are gorgeous.