Shabby Roses Giveaway

Don't delay . . . click here straight away . . . to visit Elefantz . . . for her beautiful GIVEAWAY!

Friday Finishes

Yipee! The end of the week and I have some finishes to share.
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These little constructions are my Happy Houses, now on their way to Lurline's. Once I was able to knuckled down they were quite simple to sew and most enjoyable.

Now I just wait and see who's cute houses I get in return. Then have fun playing with them and deciding on one bigger quilt or two wall hangings. Oh excitement!

Another finish after a long way from the start is my block one of Esther's 'Red Delicious'.

And here's block 2 all ironed on ready for blanket stitching. Maybe by the time the last block is released, I'll have caught up?

I'm pleased to report that I've probably done about 3/4's of the stitching on this now and hope to get block 3 ready over the weekend, fingers crossed.

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Yes, another finish. These three strips are January, February and March of my Calendar Quilt Challenge. Click on the link on my side bar to read more and see how creative everyone else is.

While you're travelling around blogland, head on over and visit Blushing Rose. She has a super basket full of goodies for Mothers Day.

Happy Sewing

How Does One Slow Down?

A very quick post to say thankyou to those who have left such lovely comments recently. I will get back to you when things slow down a bit.
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Easter has come and gone, I don't think I over endulged in chocolate.
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We have our local agricultural show this Saturday, a busy but enjoyable day.
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Made it to patchwork group today for most of the day and spent the day in town yesterday.
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My next two days will be dedicated to GST (Tax). Yuck!
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I hope to have some finishes to share next post so do come back. It's so wonderful to be able to make so many friends no matter the distance or time difference.
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Happy Sewing

30 ~ 30 Giveaway

In honour of her DD's 30th birthday, Pigtails & Quilts is giving away 30 fat 1/4's. That's right, 30.
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If you haven't already entered, then head on over and say I sent you.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter and Reveals

First of all, Happy Easter to one and all. May your Easter break be spent with loved ones.
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Now I can reveal the Easter Basket in my header. It's a Bronwyn Hayes (Red Brolly) pattern that I purchased while on our shopping trip in January.
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Thankyou to the lovely Julie who organized this Easter Swap at the end of last year. I thought that this little basket with an easter theme would make a lovely gift for Lurline. I also added a few other goodies . . . choc eggs of course . . . a little flower tape measure and a wrist pincushion which I found the instructions for here. You'll need to scroll down to Sunday Sept 14.

I hope I wasn't too cheeky displaying it as my header pic before it found it's new home.
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Meanwhile, these lovely tweets . . . treats . . . arrived in my mailbox all the way from Mel.

The cute chicken is my dining table centre piece, the ribbon is stashed and those Debbie Mumm garden gloves and way to pretty to dirty in the garden. I'll be showing those off while I'm machine quilting at our next patchwork day.

Also, wrapped very carefully was this fancy bird feeder. Thanks Mel, and happy easter.

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Last but not least, I can now reveal my monochromatic quilt for the 4SQS5. A special treat for me as the recipient was my good friend Kerry. I was a bit naughty by pointing out to her, other lovely quilts on various blogs, suggesting that this one or that one could be making their way to her. All the while secretly making this one for her. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it for you.

I must thank Margaret for her patience as illness had me running behind the deadline. However I was able to hand deliver so that saved some time not relying on mailing.

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I have also been able to complete the first block of Red Delicious and have the second block ready for hand sewing at night. Pictures next post. I'm off to crank up the vacuum cleaner for some long overdue housework.

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Happy Sewing

Birthdays and Belated Christmas

Just having a break from sewing and thought I'd finish off my Birthday goodness pics.
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My beautiful DD sent these fat 1/4's to add to my stash . . .

. . . and my best friend Kerry included a cute cat sculpture with her gift of fat 1/4's. Sorry it's not a good shot of the cat but he is there.

This exquisite table runner is my belated Christmas Gift. As we were both snowed under, we agreed that there was no deadline, and believe me, good things do come to those who wait.

Oh, I really am having trouble positioning these photos. There has to be gremlins in my computer, all the weird things it's been doing lately. Above is a close up of the quilting which is all over the fabric, bringing the blooms to life. (I've also worked out how to crop pictures with my photo program, now just need to get rid of the white backgrounds.)

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Thankyou dear friend.

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Now time for a cuppa and back to the sewing machine, or maybe the washing is dry enough to come in before the next downpour. Suppose I should start thinking about dinner tonight too.

Hope you've found some sewing time.

More Birthday Delights

Pleased to say that I am feeling much better today. Yesterday was the first day of feeling back to normal, whatever normal is.
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So here are some more photos of the lovely fabric I was lucky enough to received from Marc, Maree and Cathy for my Birthday Fat 1/4 Swap. Thankyou ladies.

I'm busting to start using them in a strippy quilt for ME, but I need to be restrained and finish off some UFO's and other important projects first. It isn't easy!

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I've just finished another week of work and am looking forward to a sewing weekend. Of course there will need to be the usual quick lick over the housework, washing etc first or during.

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I also have some more mail goodies to share but will leave them for the next post.

Happy Sewing and to anyone who is feeling under the weather, hope you're feeling better soon.

What a Week!

This week just past would have to be the most unproductive week I have ever spent. Why?
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Ask the nasty little bug that decided to take residence and take every last ounce of energy giving me the whole exploding head experience. Thankfully it's passing and today is the first day since last Sunday that I have regained some energy. I've even been in the kitchen cooking to get ahead on lunches for this week.


I did manage a little hand sewing in front of the telly with the tissue box close by. Here's my postcard for March which I posted away on Friday. The theme was 'A Miniature Quilt' so I went with my take on Log Cabin.



And this is the sweet Miniature Quilt Postcard I received in Wednesday's mail.





This week I also celebrated my birthday . . . did I say 'celebrate'? Maybe next year now.
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There were some little rays of sunshine brought to me via the mailman from the lovely ladies in my Birthday Fat 1/4 Swap group.
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Thankyou to the lovely Maree who organized everything and thankyou ladies for your kind wishes.
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Here are a couple of photos of the lovely fabrics that I look forward to creating with from
Jeni, Maree W and Jenny .

More photos another day, I need to go check on the last cake in the oven.

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Happy Sewing

PS: All cakes are now cooked and one left to ice. Time to put my feet up for a bit, I really need to get to the sewing machine today as well.

Cats Rule!

Do cats rule at your house? They certainly do at mine. I only left these pants on the ironing board for 2 minutes and when I came back . . .

Jayne thought they'd make a comfy spot to soak up some morning sun.


Fleur is still soaking up the morning sun in her spot under the ironing board.



Jane also shares her home and blog with a very spoilt moggie. Please pay them a visit and while you're there, enter her giveaway for a chance to win a lovely bag.

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Thankyou ladies for your lovely comments on my log cabin. I thought I'd try and take a close up of the light fabric as it looks white in the photo.

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While you're here, you may have noticed that my PIF on my side bar is still looking for two more names. If you've been thinking about it then now's the time to join. Leave your comment here but click back here for the rules. If I'm still short then that's OK, I'll choose someone who I'd like to make a little something for and surprise them.

Happy Sewing

Back with Photos

Everything is back to normal, in the computer department anyway. All it needed was a good clean on the insides apparently so hope it's all good from here on.

So now I can upload pics from the camera again, here is the lovely Autumn Wall Hanging I received from Janey.

In her parcel she included some sweet fabrics . . .

some sweet chickens - marshmellow, yummm . . .

a sweet kitty notepad and a copy of American Patchwork & Quilting. Of course I've already picked out a couple of patterns from the magazine to add to my to do list.

Thankyou Janey for a wonderful treat and thankyou to Margaret for once again organizing an excellent swap.

And here is a finish from me. This log cabin quilt was finished last Saturday but between sick computers and a hectic lifestyle at the moment, I've only now got the time to show it off.

Now off to the sewing machine while I have a spare moment.

Happy Sewing