Going Cross-eyed

This has been my view for most of yesterday and today ........ I cleared some of the 'rubble' for this piccy LOL!!!!I'm going a bit cross eyed glancing from the 'puter screen to the calculator while writing up the pattern for the panda quilt ... so I'm having a break and doing a bit of blogging!!

I'm just loving all the names I'm receiving for the quilt ... you guys have made it so much easier for me!! I have a couple of favourites from the names that have come through already so keep 'em coming ... this is a big help :o)!!! Click here to leave a comment for your chance to win a panda quilt pattern!!!!!! You don't have to suggest a name if you don't want to ... you can just leave a comment and you'll still be in the draw ;o)!!!

How lovely is Julie??!!! She sent this fabulous award to me a couple of days ago (while I was buried under all the pattern writing stuff) ..... Thank you so much Julie, you're such a sweety - you really put a smile on my face :o)!!!I've tried and tried but I can't single out 5 people to pass this award onto ... so if you're blog is on my sidebar, please consider yourself a recipient of this award because I love all of your blogs and you all deserve an award :o).

It hasn't been all computers, calculators and typing ... I did manage to get some stitching done last Wednesday when I met up with Valerie (no blog) and Lyn (also no blog!!) and we had a go at doing some cathedral windows. I think I really should have started with something a bit larger .... this turned out to be quite a fiddle .....The pin cushion is just 4" x 4 " so the little windows are only about 1 1/2" square ... still, it turned out ok so I'll be happy to let it sit with my growing collection :o).

Talk soon ...............

Yay!! A Pattern Giveaway!!!! And another WISP off the list!!!

I'm really pleased to tell you that I've finally finished my cot quilt - Yahoo!!!! I designed this quite a while ago and it's been sitting for weeks at a time while I hummed and hahhed over borders/fabrics/blocks etc ..... and now it's finally done, I love it :o). This is the first kids' quilt I've designed and I wanted to make something that would be good for either a boy or a girl and I think this one works. Only one problem ..... I don't have a name for it yet ... lol ..... usually when I'm working on a project I have a 'working' name, I tried "Panda Playtime" and "Night-Night Panda".............. .... but I'm just not sure. Any suggestions??

Of course ...... this just begs for a giveaway LOLOL ...... so I guess that's what will make it fun. Leave a comment with your suggestion for a name for this quilt and you could win the pattern!!! Although the winners will be drawn at random so don't worry if you can't think of anything - you'll still have just as much chance of winning :o)!!! Please be patient with me though, I haven't written up the pattern yet as that part is nowhere near as much fun as creating the quilt itself he he he. But I'm working on it and will try hard to have it done by the time this giveaway ends. So, to be a bit generous (timewise) to me LOL. I'll draw 3 random winners on Valentines Day.

If you'd like an extra chance to win a pattern you could mention this giveaway on your blog, and I'll put another entry in if you post a piccy of my quilt too - that's 3 entries instead of 1!!!

I can't wait to hear your ideas ...... :o)!!!

A Parcel for me!!!

I got the most wonderful surprise last Friday when the postie called at my house!! My parcel arrived from Sandi from Legacy of Stitches in US with the giveaway pressies I won on her blog in December. To say I was gobsmacked when I opened the box would be a HUGE understatement!!!The 'prize' was listed as this gorgeous Christmas stocking that Sandi made, filled with Christmas fat quarters. Well, with the name she had put on it I simply HAD to enter ... and when she received my comment Sandi even emailed me saying how funny it would be if I actually won it LOL!!! Here's the fat quarters that were packed inside .... can you believe she fitted them all in??? Well, she did :o)!!! But it didn't stop there .... Sandi also sent these, I guess because it's almost Valentines day - my 16 year old DD2 thought these were pretty spesh ;o)...... .... aren't they gorgeous??!! But there's more ...... I even got this pattern for a Penny Rug - designed by none other than Sandi herself :o) ... and .....Some wool felt so that I can make the bunny one straight away ..... I can't wait to try it, I've never worked with wool felt before!!! Last of all were these cute jingle bells to decorate my Christmas tree next December. Honestly, I felt truly spoilt ....... Sandi you're so generous and I thank you from the bottom of my heart :o).I'll be back again soon hopefully with piccies of my finished cot-quilt if all goes to plan .......

To all the Aussies, have a truly fabulous Australia Day tomorrow ... we'll be having a barbie with friends ... even if it rains (which is forecast he he) we'll just hide under the pergola :o)!!!

Until then .....

P.S ....... go and check out this fabulous giveaway at http://bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/ ... simply gorgeous prizes to be won!!!!!

Hugs,

Joy :o)

Cot Quilt coming along nicely :o)

Do you like my pretty quick-unpick in the front of the picture??? I've been very productive over the past couple of days with not too much need for my quick-unpicker [phew] ;o). My new pattern for a cot quilt has been sitting in the cupboard waiting for some attention for a while, and is now coming along very nicely and hopefully I'll have some better piccies to share with you in the coming days :o). No, there's no particular reason for me to be doing a baby's quilt LOL ... believe me, when there is I'll be shouting it from the rooftops :o)!!!!

I got a lovely email from Satu the other day telling me that she had made one of my little toiletries bags so of course I went to her blog straight away to check it out. I get so excited when I see anything made from one of my patterns and Satu's bag turned out so pretty, I love the colours. Pop over and have a look :o)!! Don't forget, if you make one too please let me know cos I'd love to see it.

Before I go ... I got this in an email from one of my friends from my quilting group and I thought you might enjoy it too ..........

Only a Quilter … Tom and Madge Powis, June 2003
We've all heard the classic line that only a quilter would take
Yards and yards of material, cut it into little pieces and then sew
Them back together again. While this statement is true and a little
Funny to think about, it doesn't even scratch the surface of the
Things that only a quilter would do.

Only a Quilter would spend more hours sewing several hundreds of
Buttons on a quilt to embellish it, but wouldn't take five minutes
To replace a button on a pair of pants.
Only a Quilter would give the gift of a wedding quilt two months
After the birth of the couple's second child.
Only a Quilter would put hundreds of dollars worth of fabric into
Her fabric stash because she might find a use for it sometime, but
Wouldn't replace a 50-cent needle on her sewing machine.
Only a Quilter would let three later-arriving patients go ahead of
Her at the doctor's office because she is on the verge of completing
A block.
Only a Quilter would rush to finish a gift quilt. Not so it's done
In time for the recipient's birthday, but so it's done in time for
Show and Tell.
Only a Quilter would make a special quilt to give to her son, who
Would then have to attend quilt shows just to see it.
Only a Quilter would use freezer paper in the production of
Something to keep someone warm.
Only a Quilter has a welcome mat at the door to her home and
An "Enter at Your Own Risk" sign on the door of her sewing room.
Only a Quilter invites everyone to see her sewing room, then
Says, "Don't look at the mess."
Only a Quilter says, "I really don't need another project," then
Offers to make a quilt for a friend.
Only a Quilter will buy more than she'll ever need of one fabric for
Her stash, but slightly less than is needed of another fabric to
Complete a project.
Only a Quilter would give a quilt book to the guild auction then bid
On it to get it back.
Only a Quilter would drive 40 miles in a hurricane to attend a quilt
Show, but call out to have her dinner delivered because it is
Drizzling.
Only a Quilter's family would put up with, understand and love a
Quilter.

Hexy Project and New Books!!!!

You know how it is when you go to these fabulous craft shows, there's so often someone doing a demonstration and making it look soooo easy!??! Well, that's what happened to me a year or so ago. I was hooked and I just had to give this new thing a try :o). So I bought everything I needed and came home delighted with my spoils and ready to have a play.I even got the Clover Iron cos it made the job soooo much easier :o) ... I studied the book which was very well illustrated, even if the text was in Japanese, no problem, the pictures pretty much told the story (I really love this book)!!! You weave strips of fabric and end up with wonderful patterns - beautiful stuff :o)!!Now I bet you're thinking I'm gonna tell you I wasted my money and it was impossible to replicate what the demonstrator was showing me .... well you're wrong. I laid it all out and I studied the book and I actually made something with this fabulous bundle. Not a waste of money after all.

Oh no, not at all LOL ......... I made THIS :o) ..................He he he ..... aren't you proud of me LOL??? I have my very own drink coaster ... and I use it all the time!!!!! It's not a new finish, I made it ages ago so it's not going on my "finished projects" list on the sidebar ;o), I just thought you might like to see it. It's a massive 3 1/2" wide and pretty much the only thing I've made so far from all this loverly stuff. But I love it - I just wish I could find the time to make more, it really is fun once you get the hang of it :o).

I got 2 more books in the mail from the Book depository today, I'd been watching for the parcel lady everyday last week and today was my lucky day!!! Look what I got!!!! and my very bestest favourite .........I love this Tilda book A LOT!!! There's loads of things I want to make in it .... aren't these ladies just adorable??!!!? ........ in the book they're called 'witches', but I think they're much too pretty!!! ... And knowing how I love chickens, these are DEFINITELY on the "to do" list!!!! They are so cute :o)!!!!

Take care .....

I love my featherweight!!!! :o)

Today my friend Valerie came over to sew with me. We decided to make the cute little fabric baskets from Pink Penguins incredibly popular tutorial. I was getting tired of lugging my big machine around (even if it was just from one room to another lol) so I decided to give this gorgeous little darling a try. That's my friend Valerie (No Blog) in the background doing some serious stitching.It's a Featherweight 221k and I bought her off eBay ages ago for a pretty good price and I've hardly used her. I got a 1/4" foot for her, also from eBay, a couple of months ago so she was ready to go.

Wow!!! She's a dream to use!!! I know I'll be getting this little dynamo out of hiding much, much, more in the future. Not only is she beautiful, but she sews quietly and soooo neatly, even at 58 years old!! I still have the original receipt, and on 1st September 1951 she was bought for the princely sum of 43 pounds 8 shillings and 9pence!!

Hey, do you think the warranty is still good he he he??? Here's the box she came in with some more feet and a spare bobbin .....

and this came with her too ..... it's a buttonhole maker, complete with instructions, but there's no zig-zag on this model so I think it might be for another machine (???). LOL it's HUGE ... It's as big as my hand!!! I'm going to have to come up with a name for this lady ......... any ideas?????

Take care......

P.S I'd love to hear from any other Featherweight 221k owners :o)

PIF and a Finish!!!!!

First of all I'm totally excited ..... I've joined up with Cheryl's PIF, it's my first and I've got loads of ideas already of all the lovely things I'd like to make for the 3 ladies who choose to be in mine. It's really simple ... all you have to do is comment on my blog and let me know that you'd like to join up for my PIF!!! Of course, you're welcome to comment anyway without any obligation to join - I just love to hear from any readers :o).

The rules are pretty simple .... I send a gift to each of the first 3 people who leave a comment saying they would like to join me in this PIF and then you in return must "Pay it Forward" and send a gift to 3 ladies who would join you on your own PIF. The best part is you have a whole year to send your gift!!! Have I made that as clear as mud for you LOL????? Don't worry, if you have any questions I'm only an email away :o)!!!
I have no problem with sending overseas ... so anyone with a blog is free to join up with me ... please make sure I can reply to you though ... I'll need your email address, and I promise to read your blogs and find out lots about you so that I can send you lovely gifties that I can be sure you will enjoy :o)!!!


Now, the next bit I'm quite excited about too!!! Fanfare ..... drumroll ..... I've had a "finish"!!!! Yep, I have :o). There I was feeling quite inadequate and more than a little bit worried that I wouldn't be able to fulfil my promise as a "One Project A Month-er" ... and here I am mid-month no less ... with a finish!! Woohoo!!! I'm going to add this to my list on my sidebar and email Kris and May Britt to let them know :o). Ok, so it's only a little toiletries bag ... but it's still a finish :o). I made it for Jess cos one of the birthday gifts she got from her Aunty and Uncle and cousins was a 'spa set' (loofah, massager etc) and she needed to keep them in something ... so we went into my sewing room, picked out some teenagery type fabric (well, as close as I could find) and I made it up for her last night :o). I was quite chuffed with the result .... and I think she was pleased with it too.Don't forget my PIF ... I need 3 lovely ladies to send my pressies to :o)
Edit:- I have three lovely stitchers signed up ..... thanks ladies!!!!! :o)
Take care .....

WARNING -High calorie post ... proceed with caution!!!

He he ... looks good enough to eat doncha think!!??!

I've been baking all morning because my in-laws are coming over this afternoon for Jess' Birthday and I've made afternoon tea for us all. I'm sure you've spotted my favourite "Lemon Fudge Cake" there on the right ... and the cup cakes are actually the birthday cake, I've got some cute candles to put on them later ... and the other plate has "Raspberry and Almond Muffins" ....... YUMMM. For all of you lovely bloggy ladies doing Sharon's diet challenge ... don't linger on this blog too long cos, I'm not absolutely sure, but I think the calories might be downloading as you read. Nothing here is safe or even remotely weight watcher friendly ....... sorry!!!!

Onto stitchy things ...... Very pleased to have finished the first border for my hexy quilt ..... YAY ... (insert Kris' happy dance here he he!!). Phew ... one down, three to go :o). It's actually not taking as long as I thought it would so maybe I'll meet my deadline after all :o)!!!!!

Mail for me!!!

Yay, it's here!!! I ordered this book off The Book Depository in UK just after Christmas and it's here already!!!Oh, I love it ......... I can't wait til I can sit down and have a good read. I've flicked through the beautiful pages, but so far that's all I've had a chance to do. Maybe that's just as well, just looking at the cover I can see there are soooo many beautiful items I'd love to make ... good thing I joined up with this challenge LOL. I fell in love with Tone Finnangers designs when Laila, (my stitcher's Angel in Helens Swap) sent me a couple of her gorgeous stitcheries - which I have now stitched :o) .......... (thanks Laila :o)!!!). I'm still not sure what I will make with them yet.

I've also been working on a BOM that my friend Valerie (no blog) and I bought a few years ago. She was living in Kuala Lumpur at the time so we decided to make it together when she came home. Well, she's been home a while and we still haven't finished it!!! It's definitely on my WISPs list to finish for the challenge!!!! Here's one of the blocks that I'm in the middle of quilting......

We're going to put it together "quilt-as-you-go" as it's a rather large quilt with loads of applique', yo-yos, a few beads etc and I think it will be easier that way. I'll keep you posted on the progress ;o).

Take care ......

Hugs,

Joy :o)

Happy Birthday to Tahlia!!!

Today is my beautiful daughter Tahlia's birthday!!! She's all the way across the sea in London so I can't hug her, but I'll be phoning her which is the next best thing right now :o). Can't wait to see her when she and her boyfriend Luke come home for a holiday in February!!! So excited!!!

But for now ...... Happy Birthday darling girl ..... love you to bits :o)!!!!

Not quite a picnic in the park!!

DH and I decided last week that come what may we would venture up to Maleny this weekend. We got a new picnic basket as a Christmas pressie from SIL and BIL and thought it was the perfect opportunity to christen it. Hmmmm. Perhaps not. Unfortunately it really wasn't the weather for a picnic, but we were optomistic, we thought it would get better. So after checking out the latest Endeavour Prize home (gorgeous by the way ... wouldn't mind moving if we won that one!!!) we headed to the shops for a bit of a wander. DH found the perfect Welcome sign for our home ....I love it .... but this is the other side ...... he he, perfect for when you want to be alone!!!Do you love his "scary" face???? LOL, he looks tough doesn't he!!?!!?! Nah, I didn't think so either ;o). So we did a little browsing, and a little shopping ... and this is what we drove through to find our "perfect picnic spot" ......You can't really tell by the piccy cos the wipers were on but it was absolutely tipping down!! So here's where we ended up having our picnic ......Not quite what we had in mind.....but hey ... it was warm and dry :o).......... cute picnic basket doncha think?? It reminds me of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo - maybe we should call it our 'pickanick basket' instead LOL.

As for stitching, I've been getting a bit more done on my Hexagon quilt ... the border is growing ... I took this pic a couple of days ago and I've done some more since then. I'm really happy with how it's coming along :o).I'm off to put the kettle on now ... I baked this cake this afternoon and I can hear it beckoning to me ....... yummmmm .... Lemon Fudge cake :o)Hope your weekend was a good one ...

Take care ...