My treasures

I know I'm biased, being their Mum, but I'm ever so proud of my girls, but also amazed at how quickly they are growing. Ruth is going into Grade 4 next year and Grace starts Prep. I know we all say it, but, 'Where does the time go?'

This year I decided I'd do my own Christmas photo, and just love how they turned out. Thanks goes to my Mum for having the tree ready to go, and also to the girls for their patience, just to get the right shot.

Another milestone this year was Bruce turning 50. I had intentions of making him a lovely quilt. It's still more like a table runner LOL. Maybe it will be finished for his 60th. Oh well, it is my favourite take along project.

Well what is a girl to do if one present doesn't go to plan - buy the next best thing - yep, I bought him a 1949 FX Holden, and today we spent a lovely day in the Yarra ranges having a quiet picnic with the girls. Perfect weather - I'm now a little tired and sore, as I'd had surgery earlier this week, and will now need to rest some more, had thought the fresh air and sunshine might help.

Well I hope I can blog again before Christmas, if not please have a safe and happy Christmas, sneak a little sewing in and I will catch up in the New Year.

Happy in sewing, Jennifer

Spring has Sprung

Well haven't we had a lovely few days - the weather has certainly turned spring. Though they say rain on the weekend.

My garden has some beautiful flowers in bloom and the orange tree is laden with yummy fruit - it's a good crop this year.

 

Ruth has also been busy on her Show Quilt - here she is being watched over by Zoe the cat, who has taken a liking to sitting/sleeping on the sewing machine - a bit frustrating when she switches on the bobbin winder. 

Also has a tendency to fall off, if you get a speed up - so you have to take it carefully. Funny though when it happens.

Sewing together the borders

The finished quilt, requiring quilting

Spring must have arrived, a picnic in the garden and my girls are enjoying an icy pole - now there's a sign, though icy poles can happen in the middle of winter with children too.

 

Only problem with nice weather is that you feel like you should be out in it - I'd rather be sewing.

Cheers Jennifer

Hint taken...it's been a while

Yes I have been EXTREMELY slack - spending more time lurking and enjoying everyone else's creativity and putting no time at all into my own blog.

Though of late I have been busy - more on that later - hopefully.

First of all and most importantly - A HUGE thankyou to Maddy of "Woomba Woomba". It was fantastic to catch up last week at the annual NOTYQ Guild Retreat and spend four days with you.

The girl's think you are Number 1 - we have been playing snakes and ladders all week - we are all in on the act, trying to beat Grace. She is canny though - moves up the rows instead of across, got to watch her.

The quilt is fantastic Maddy - the following image is stolen from your site, just to show others how talented you are. It's a great idea and we are all having a lot of fun out of it.

I actually managed to finish two quilt tops and a scarf over the weekend, but I'll post about those later - not as late as this has been, promise.

 Thanks Maddy also for the knitted slippers - the girls tried to get them too, but I've been wearing them, even at night so they haven't had a chance.

Will get a photo of those too and put them up here - they are great.

It was lovely to see you Maddy and look forward to your next visit.

Cheers Jennifer

Every 8 months - achievements and gifts

My posting is becoming almost yearly - apologies to those that drop by to see what's going on here. Lots of things are happening, it just seems that the daily job "which pays for the crafting" is getting in the way, LOL.

Anyway - here's an achievement - I've finished the first row of Bruce's quilt - I'm quite pleased with the effect, and enjoying the process immensely - there is something very calming about hand piecing.

However with just a little over 12 months before the big birthday, I'm getting a little worried that it may not be finished in time. Time will tell.

Huge hugs and thanks to Maddy of "Woomba Woomba" for making these beautiful gifts for Grace and Ruth. Two beautiful pillowcases, two treasure bags - now with all sorts of things in them and the beautiful journal cover which Ruth is writing all her "secrets" in. They were absolutely delighted in receiving a parcel in the post, just for them. Two happy girls.

Also one happy Mum - thankyou for the lovely scarf, it has been commented on by all at work - and keeps my neck nice and warm on the bus trip in. Thankyou, and I'm sure all the NOTYQ girls agree, that we missed you at Retreat - hopefully you can visit next year.

Happy sewing, and I hope it won't be another 8 months before I blog again
Jennifer

Busy, busy, busy - but time for pasta

As quickly as you make it - the girls fronted up with their bowls. Also there to help roll the pasta through the machine - here was what was left to dry and use another day. Not a very glamorous picture of me but it does show that I do spend some time in the kitchen covered in flour. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Then when I have proven to the family that I can do some domestics, I couldn't help but layout a bali pop I'd just purchased - just to see the gorgeous range of colours - beautiful and to start imagining what I can do with them. My friend Christine did a lovely green quilt lately with a 60 degree ruler - just loved the affect, take a look at this on her blog. So I got to and started sewing in groups of three...
Then late into the night - cut, cut, cut and of course then the girls helped me with the design

 The girls had a ball playing, it is interesting to see where their talents lead, Ruth definitely has an eye for colour and pattern - Grace just enjoyed the amazing array of shapes and colour to play with.

It was an enjoyable session, and in fact Ruth designed the centre and assisted with the colour placement throughout - I feel so proud of her, I hope she keeps up this interest/talent for patterns and colour.

Here is the final layout - now all I need to do is sew it all together, and get my dining room table back. It's been a long time since I've been able to have the machine out, and not be fiddled with - having more issues with Zoe the cat - wanting to attack the thread or sleep just behind the needle... The quilt will be a double bed size "square" - next will be how to quilt this..

Happy sewing

Jennifer

Getting ahead for Christmas

Red Robins for Christmas by Gail Pan

Or am I just late....LOL

I found this gorgeous stitchery pattern "Red Robins for Christmas 2011" on Gail Pan's blog site "Gail Pan Designs" before New Year.

I just can't believe I've actually completed it. As my quilting friends know, I have a slight love for Cottage Garden Threads - so used  No 502 - Hippeastrum to do this stitchery, it felt christmasy, I think I'll do a red on white or white on red would be lovely too.

I now just need to decide whether it should be a wall hanging, front of a bag or journal cover. Any thoughts?

Now I'm ahead for Christmas pressies - hopefully I can keep up with something a month.

Happy Sewing
Jennifer

Idea - NOTYQ Sit n Sew day with the kids

I happily mentioned at the last NOTYQ Guild meeting that we should have a "bring along a child day - one of your own, at least one you know" hee, hee. The idea was to take advantage of our extra sewing day in March.

This idea has been brewing for a few years, and personally I'd like to take the opportunity of some more time with Ruth and the sewing machine.


The concept is to prepare a project, based on the child's level of skill - and only you would know this. 

Image courtesy of  Stumbles and Stitches Blog

I personally will be aiming to do the following project with Ruth - while there is a bit of top stitching involved, it is relatively straight forward, and obviously I am there to assist her. It is a reversible roll-up tote bag.



I also think it is achieveable in the day, if cutting out is done before hand.

I'd love feedback on this tutorial that I found on the Internet - Jenny from "Stumbles and Stitches" has some wonderful patterns, and this one caught my eye. Ruth is only 7, but I think it's a good starter, she has done some sewing - a bag made from a tea towel - see an earlier post from when she was 5.

I'm hoping there is enough interest from the group - if not I'm happy to do it with Ruth, in March, anyway.

Are there other patterns you could recommend? Especially if you feel I'm overextending Ruth's abilities with this one - I don't want to turn her off sewing ;-)

Happy sewing,

Jennifer

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to everyone. Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

It was obviously a good Christmas day here...

Nigh Nigh

A lovely quilted mat for Chloe



Chloe's quilt - click image for bigger view



A dear friend had a little girl, late August. Once I knew she was expecting, I got to and designed what I thought was going to be another cot quilt for the year.

Well fellow quilters, the best laid plans turn to other ideas as they develop and so here is the result. A little square mat for Chloe to lay on, roll on and eventually crawl on. Hopefully one day it will be a small lap quilt to snuggle under in front of the TV.

It started as a small drawing in my sketch book, which was then blown up on the photocopier. My darling daughter then coloured in the mane on the lion - thus the multicoloured mane was born. I machine appliqued the pieces on to batting with lovely Aurifil threads, then used monofilament to machine it down on to the green background.

Thanks to the ladies at NOTYQ Guild for their guidance with the colours around the border, matching the threads and special thanks to Claire for helping me incorporate Chloe's name on the corner. Made it so easy to quilt.

I hope it get's lots of use and love.

Happy Sewing

Jennifer

Cot quilt for my daughter's 2nd birthday

My daughter is now 2 1/2 but I thought I'd show the quilt I made her for her 2nd birthday - while she can still use it in her cot.

I used a lovely jelly roll - this fabric I also used to make a skirt for my number one daughter.

I then used some pre-shaped butterflies, all I had to do was iron them on to some lovely fabric and on to the quilt top.

I used a pre-printed quilt fabric, so all I had to do was follow the lines, lots of fun and less stress.

I enjoyed the whole process of this small quilt - I hope she loves it as much as I do.

Happy Sewing
Jennifer