Do you hear that?

It's silence. And it's not even 7pm! Both the boys were exhausted today after daycare and have gone down early! It always makes me nervous that they are coming down with something... I hope not. I am off to Auckland tomorrow for work for three days! I am excited and nervous at the same time. It's my first time away from Gus.

I took all my goodies off to the long arm quilter today after my Warm & White batting arrived from the States from here. It was very efficient service.  I had a mammoth Monday finishing up all my Christmas gifts last night and sorting out what backing/binding fabric etc so that I could bundle them all up and drop them off this afternoon. I was worried I'd missed the cut off. Luckily Sue of Sue B's Quilting Service is very lovely and accommodating :)

I must confess to being very lazy as I am having the Simple Abundance table topper, the Figgy Pudding table runners (x2) and lap quilt all quilted proffesionally as well as the boys Bot Camp quilts. I figured it would help reduce the stress load. And the table runners will cost about $15 each to quilt and I can live with that! It also means that the Christmas themed gifts will have appropriate Christmassy quilting. All I can do is straight line stitching. And it's not really that straight.

Oliver has been invited to his wee 'girlfriend's' second birthday party. I think I might make her one of these crayon rolls or maybe a wee apron like this one but I saw one on Deb's blog and I am interested to hear how she does it...  Hmmm! I think it'll have to come down to what fabric I have on hand.

Shari sent me these gorgeous girly FQ's as part of the fabric swap! Over and beyond the details of the swap! Perhaps I'll use these for a crayon roll for Luci!

FMF Giveaway & the joy of the envelope

I know I am supposed to encourage you all (if you haven't already done so) to click on that wee FMF button over there on the sidebar for the chance to win an amazing giveway... but the truth is, if I am really honest, I don't really want you to! hehe

See, the more people that enter, the less likely I am to win! hehe. It's that same logic behind buying lotto tickets. Anyway... the giveaway is truly amazing! Some very generous people have kindly given up a huge bundle of FMF FQs as well as some other lovely prizes.

I never managed to secure my own stash of FMF. I have two very coveted scraps sent as part of the 'little help from my friends' scrap swap that Susan organised over on Flickr. We are all making a quilt like this one. The whole swap has definitely bought back the joy of the envelope! So far I have received 5 special packages - each containing pure scrappy goodness!  It's the small things :)

Right - please standby for some quilting goodness to come. I have really been working hard! Promise! Hope you all have a truly lovely weekend and remember to take some time just for you! And if you feel so inclined, leave me a comment telling me what you do with all your scraps?? Make gifts? Are they still sitting in a bag? Or how do you store them? I'd love to know!

Lara

Sew n Tell Friday - almost done

Although I still have about 40" of binding to stitch done, I am calling these one pretty much done :)

This quilt was made using the tutorial for the first quilt along of the Old Red Barn Co quilt along on Flickr. It is for my sister in law for Christmas. It's my second completed quilt that I have made. I didn't quilt this one myself though. I had it quilted by a long arm quilter in Island Bay here in Wellington with an all over leafy pattern.

Wonderland by Momo for Moda 48" x 48"

I asked for input on the Old Red Barn Co Flickr group for advice on what to bind this quilt in... The brown scissor fabric was definitely the favourite to use as the binding and I am very happy with the way it has framed the quilt. I just hope my sister in law will love it!

Hope everyone has had a great week! I am just so grateful it's Friday!

Lara

Monday Madness

After reading Amy from Park City Girl and Lesly from Pickle Dish's Mondays - I'd thought I'd let you in on the madness that is my daily routine.

It's always interesting reading how others spend their days. 24 hours doesn't seem long enough at the moment. I wish I could find an extra few hours in the day... This is how my Monday went:

5.52am - Wake up to the sound of Gus grizzling. Roll over, hope he goes back to sleep...

6.00am - Realise that Gus is not going back to sleep. Get up and go see my morning darling. He's always very pleased to see you in the morning.

6.10am - Plonk on the couch with Gus and his bottle and check my emails/blog updates/Flickr and the news. A lot can happen while you are sleeping! Enjoy my first coffee for the day

6.30am - Change Gus and dress him for the day. Make sure the boys bag is packed for daycare and Oliver has sufficient changes of clothing. On average day he'll go through about 4 t shirts, 3 pairs of pants and 2 jerseys. He loves water play.
Get breakfast for Ollie ready. Make another coffee. Put dinner in the slow cooker.

At this point of the day I was feeling really successful! I was feeling completely in control! It all went downhill pretty quickly after that...

7.50am - two children - check; two laptops - check; homemade lunch - check; bags - check; wallet - nope... made dash back inside. Back in the car - antibiotics for Ollie - oops - back in the house while DP backs out the driveway...

7.55am - Set off for work...

8.03am - "Daddy - got no shoes on" - Little voice from Ollie in the backseat. Sure enough we forgot his shoes. Duoh. I figure there will be a spare pair at daycare... Until I realise that in all the madness I didn't turn the slow cooker on. Idiot. Turn around. Return home.

9.30am - Boys at daycare. Logged in at work... Reviewed and actioned important emails - check calendar/schedule meetings as necessary and work, Work, WORK.

4.45pm - Collect two happy tired babies from daycare. Return home to a cooked dinner! Yummy! Feed the family. Bath the boys. Tidy the kitchen. Fold the washing. Put another load on...

7.05pm - try to get the boys to bed. Gus goes down like a dream. DP goes to read stories to Ollie. My time to have a wee bit of R n R... Review blogs/Flickr/emails.

7.16pm - Oliver arrives in lounge looking rather pleased. "Where's Dad?" I ask... "Daddy sleeping in Ollie's bed" little voice replies. LOL.

7.55pm - After returning Ollie to bed a few times (9) finally can commence sewing :)

11.02pm - put the folded washing away... pack boys bag for daycare. Get out ingredients for dinner tomorrow...

11.10pm - Flop exhausted into bed.

Another day another dollar. Hope to be a bit more organised tomorrow!

What would you do?

I asked my DP this question last night - he was rather unhelpful... so I am putting the question to you?

1" of red, then 2.5" white bound in red? Or...

2.5" of white bound in red?

This is just a wee lap quilt made of Figgy Pudding charms for my dear MIL to go with a disappearing 9 patch table runner of the same fabric for Christmas.

Opinions and other suggestions welcomed :)

Thanking you in advance,

Lara

Hoop Up! Stich & Send Swap

John from Quilt Dad is organising 'a collaborative embroidery and stitching swap' on Flickr... I am hoping to join the group! How amazing would it be to have a very special item stitched by new friends from around the world?! Go check it out if you think you'd like to be a part of this too!



I love hand stitching for two reasons - 1) it's easy and soothing to do while watching tv and can be taken anywhere and 2) I have an obsession with DMC threads and it gives me an opportunity to use them...




the above represents not even half of my collection of DMC threads - definitely need a worthwhile cause (hint hint John) to use these all up!

Wanted: Motivation

This is my first full week of being back at work full time. Settling into our new groove sure is taking it's toll and I am afraid to report that no meaningful sewing has been done! Just getting dinner done and staying on top of the washing has been my main daily focus :)

But... I am hoping that things will start to jell a bit more over the next couple of days and that tomorrow night will bring a productive night at the sewing machine!

So standby! Good things to come I promise! I need to get on with completing these Christmas presents!

Hope everyone else is having a good week! If you want to - leave me a little comment telling me what you've been up to this week, and what you do to keep yourself motivated when the going gets a little tough! I'd love to know!

It's a Sweet win...

And the winner of my little giveaway is...

Result:
4
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Rafael's Mum said

Oooh Lara, you are too kind! I just LOVE Sweet and have a little bit in my stash as I am planning a 30's-50's feedsack, sorta thing, quilt and this would SO go with that!!

Congratulations on your win on the ORBC! Paganelli another favourite of mine... I also just LOVE wonderland (by momo, have the fabric, have the pattern, not had the time) and Arcadia (have the fabric... found a pattern but not enough fabric! and also no time yet...). Of the new ranges I really like Jessica Levitt's Timber for Wyndham and Tula Pink's new Plume.

That's enough to be getting on with I think.. as I love so many lines!

Catherine, I also love Pop Garden. My ORBC quilt was totally Pop Garden and Bijoux. Unfortunately nothing left there.... but happy with my quilt!

Rafael's Mum - if number 4 wasn't your lucky number, it is now! CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy you won and can't wait to see your 30's - 50's quilt! I have a feeling it's going to be beautiful!!

Thank you everyone for stopping at my little blog to comment on my giveaway... I had so much fun reading your comments and googling your favourites! I've managed to add a few new favourites to my list now... like Heather Bailey! I can see why everyone LOVES her!

Happy sewing everyone!

Lara

Finally Friday...

and finally finished! Just in time for Sew n Tell Friday too! It's the first week I've actually managed to complete something in time! What can I say? I am a tortoise. With good intentions.



This little cot quilt has been sitting in my WIP pile for quite a while now. I started this little quilt back in February when I was expecting my little Gus. I always intended to have it finished and waiting for him. But it didn't quite work out that way.



I purchased the Dick and Jane fabric in 2007 when I was expecting Oliver. That was when I fell in love with Michael Miller. I bought 5 yards of the Dick and Jane J is for Jump (white) print... and I still have some left over just in case. I love that both the boys have similar but different quilts.

Oliver's quilt is framed in a solid red and bound in a red and white stripe. Oliver still snuggles into his each day.



Gus' is framed in yellow and bound with a blue, green and yellow stripe.




It feels great to have this one knocked off the list... 7 months late... but who is really counting? hehe

Happy sewing everyone!

I am a winner! And a giveaway!

It's been a while since I've been able to say that! I am a winner! I am the very lucky winner of the Jennifer Paganelli Dance with Me FQ's on the Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along on Flickr! I am usually not a lucky person - so to win this giveaway was very exciting!

So... in honour of my win I thought I'd host a wee giveaway too! What's up for grabs? One Sweet by Urban Chicks Charm Pack and a 1/2 yard of Bubblegum Candy Stripe. I'll also include a few extra little surprises for the lucky winner!

 

As you can see I am no photographer - sorry for the blurry pic!

How to enter? Leave a comment with your all time fabric range and what you've made with it (or if it's still in your stash). I'll draw a winner on Sunday 8th November!

The Great Recipe Swap: Part 1 - Mum's Lazy Lasagne

Amy from Park City Girl has organised a recipe swap... Here is what's cooking at our place tonight! I am looking forward to adding to my recipe book with everyone else's lovely kitchen creations!

This is an adapted Alison Holst recipe. There's no precooking which means little work and reduced dishes :) Everyone seems to love this recipe - kidlets and parents.

500g minced beef
2 gloves fresh chopped garlic
1 tsp each of basil and oregano
1 packet of tomato soup mix (about 45g)
1 can tomato puree
2 tsp instant beef stock
1 1/2 cups of hot (not boiling) water
1 pack of instant lasagne sheets
1 1/2 cups of grated cheese
1 pottle of cottage cheese with chives

1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C

2. Measure the first 7 ingredients into a bowl and mix. Add hot water and mix with a potato masher.

3. Spray lasagne dish with non stick spray.

4. Spread 1/3 of meat mixture evenly, sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese, then layer lasagne sheets. Repeat.

5. Spread remaining 1/3 of meat, following by layer of cottage cheese with chives. Sprinkle remaining cheese.

6. Bake uncovered for 1 hour. Leave to stand for 15 - 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Serve with a fresh salad and garlic bread or steamed vege's and enjoy :)

Seven

This post is bought to you by the number seven... Seven months ago today my little man Gus made an early arrival becoming our very own little April fool. Seven days later we took him home from the Neo Natal unit...

Seven is the number of projects I need to finish before Christmas. And seven is also the number of new projects I am fighting the urge not start!

It's also the number of hours sleep I got in a row last night! Yay! And before you think my sleepless nights are because of my little Gus... they're not! He's the perfect one! Ollie is my disasterous sleeper. 25 months later and I am still waiting for a night when he sleeps 7pm - 7am too...



Aahh well. What can I say?! Perhaps I'll have to wait until he's seven... come seventeen there'll be no doubting I'll be posting about struggling to get him outta bed! Not keep him in it!