Playing Catch Up & Little Pirates

I have been madly sewing and cutting my strips to catch up with the Postage Stamp Quilt along... now to construct my blocks. 48 of them...

The fabric is Look and Learn by American Jane Quilts. I love the primary colours and the vintage prints. This will be a quilt for Gus.

I think he will enjoy the I Spy cuteness of this quilt. And I am definitely loving the mish mash of colours together.

Here's my Gus as a wee Pirate yesterday at daycare.

Oliver had a fairytale dress up day and he went as Captain Hook. Gus went along as one of his 'mates'.

And here is Oliver - as Captain Hook.

The DH is a groomsman today as his best friends wedding. My Little Pirates are staying with their cousins and aunty and uncle! 4 boys in one house 3 and under. Should be a fun night ;)

I best be off to get myself organised and presentable :) Hoping to turn some of those strips into blocks tomorrow afternoon! Have a wonderful weekend.

Recess Quilt

 A wee while ago Georgia sent me a gorgeous parcel (thank you again Georgia!) which included some American Jane charm packs in Recess, Wee Play and Snippets... Let's just say that was the beginning of a very expensive love affair ;) Anyway, friends are expecting their first little baby in May - so over the past week when I've had enough hexagons, I've been piecing this wee quilt.

I absolutely love the colours - perfect for a nursery. Now to find some backing fabric and get this quilt complete!

The hexagon quilt continues to grow... I am halfway! I would have completed this today, but I decided to use my Look and Learn Jelly Rolls for the postage stamp quilt along so I started sewing my strips together today. I will share a picture shortly... meanwhile here's the hexagons... definitely on track to be completed before Gus turns two!

Expensive Post Day

I am sure the lady at the Post Office was a little sorry that she ended up with me! A mixture of Bee Blocks (finally!) and the UFO's! On their way from me to you!

I had fun packaging these all up knowing that someone will be finishing them :)

A parcel arrived yesterday for me - again! And there is still another to arrive. This one contained 1 Jelly Roll of Central Park - it's delicious, 1 Jelly Roll of Punctuation - I adore the colour palette, and yardage of Punctuation (for the back of the ABC quilt) and Dr Seuss (birthday present for my nephew Shaun). I've still got a little more fabric to arrive as well as Camille Roskelley's book Simplify. And then I am done. Promise. (Except for maybe a little bit more yardage of Central Park to use as binding...)

What makes you buy fabric? Do you buy fabric you like? Or do you have to have a plan of something to make before you buy? Just curious. Generally I like to plan something first, and then buy the fabric... then I usually post it note the fabric with what I am planning to make so I don't forget. The fabric I impulse buy tends to be the fabric that remains unused because it never had a purpose. I try not to do that anymore! What I do plan to do this year though is make more quilts for us - so I've been buying fabric I truly love and know will suit our home. 

Happy sewing everyone!

Hexagon Quilt - A Work In Progress

In just a couple of months my baby boy is turning 2! Last week we transitioned him to a big boys bed. I sold the cot online, so we needed to put him into his new bed. He's been amazing - and apart from early starts he mostly stays in bed all night. So, I am in the process of making him a new quilt for his big boys bed using a jelly roll of American Jane's Wee Play and Look and Learn. I am really loving how it's coming together - but I definitely have a lot more hexagons to make...

What are you working on at the moment? Do you stick to just one project at a time or do you work on many? I am curious. I like to work on a few projects at a time. That way I've always got something on the go which will suit my mood. Sometimes I like to sew straight lines. Other times I like to cut. Sometimes I like to piece more detailed blocks. And then sometimes I like to just look at my fabric and write lists. Of things to make. So what do you do?

Indecisive

I've been thinking about joining Rachel's Postage Stamp quilt along since she first posted it a few weeks ago... But I am not sure what to do.

I could use two Look and Learn jelly rolls (1 in place of the solid).

I quite like the idea of using the light and dark prints together to create a complete patched little colourful quilt...

Or I could use just one jelly roll and partner it with an off white solid like Rachel's pattern?

Or I could use my Punctuation jelly roll when it arrives with the off white solid?

Hmmm.... For the meantime I think I will just keep sewing the hexagon quilt until I can decide what to do. Your thoughts and opinions are welcome! I think my wee Gus is going to end up with a bunch of AJ quilts for his room. Ironically his initials are AJ too... So it's only fitting! For those of you with enquiring minds Gus is short for Augustus. Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Oliver. You crack me up...

Oliver with his Incredibles mask

Phil recently came home with The Incredibles (a Disney DVD about a superhero family). Ever since then, he's been Dash and I've been Elastigirl. I was putting him to bed one night and this is the conversation we had:

Oliver: "We're missing one"
Me: "Missing one what?"
Oliver: "We need another one"
Me: "Another what Ollie?"
Oliver: "A baby. A girl. We need a Violet. Daddy is Mr Incredible. You is Elastigirl. Gus is Jack Jack and I am Dash. We need a Violet."
Me: "Oh well I don't know about that Oliver - you and Jack Jack are quite enough for me. Besides, what if we had another little brother? Then who would he be?"
Oliver (quite thoughtfully): "Oh. Oh man. Luci (friend from daycare) can be Violet then. But her hair is too short."

It's conversations like that one that I want to remember for forever. I'd also like to slow down the growing process.

Obsessions...

Another arrival this week! The cutest quilt kit ever... This will be for Gus' room. The problem with buying fabric though, is that it makes me want more fabric. Like a crazy woman. Seeing Punctuation in life meant I wanted more. So just between you - I did order some more and I might have also added some Central Park and some Dr Seuss to my cart too. Just don't tell my husband.

These are the fabrics... cute!

And these also arrived... some more Look and Learn Jelly Rolls, some FQ's and some yardage. Told you I was obsessed. I won't be ordering any more fabric for a long time though. We've had our lending approved so we're in the market to buy a house... and I don't quite think there will be a lot of $ left to sneak fabric in... Fortunately I have quite a healthy supply to keep me busy for the next year. Or two.

What have you been buying? Or obsessing over?

Totally addicted...

In December last year I ordered some soaps and a sugar scrub from Dana over at the Old Red Barn Co. I am oficially totally addicted to her lovely soaps and especially her sugar scrubs. Seriously my skin has never felt better and they smell absolutely delicious. And Gus' skin is better too. He's usually got quite bad eczema - but over the past month the redness has improved significantly!

You can order some here. I love the blackberry sage... and the bulgarian lavendar... and the cinnamon apple peach... they make lovely gifts too! Here's this month supply! Go order some now too... you will not be disappointed and prepare to be addicted to ok? Just warning you.

Dana also sent me these yummy Munki Munki charms. We did a swap over on Flickr. This pile is huge so I definitely will be sharing... don't you worry ;) It's been a good delivery week! I'll post some more photos of what's arrived this week shortly. In the meantime, happy sewing everyone!

UFO's Giveaway

Thanks so much for playing along. Everyone seemed to love the Odyssea quilt :) I've popped the results below and will email you all for your addresses. As there was only a few comments - there is something for everyone. If it's not what you'd like though and you feel I'd just be adding to your UFO list, I won't be offended!

Sarah - from Red Gingham

Our Busy Little Bunch

Janet

Lis (this has the fabric for the backing and binding too!)

Dee (I'll include some more prints so you can make it bigger!)

Congratulations everyone. Thanks for having such generous hearts to complete these and donate. You are all wonderful. Thank you.

Pay it Forward

I am a terrible terrible person. A while ago I signed up to Pay it Forward... The rules said that you had to send your gifts within 365 days... well that time is up! I've pretty much finished the handmade part of the gift... just want to get a few little additions to send. I've given myself a deadline of next Saturday to have the packages ready to go.

I'm still waiting for my little gift but I know it will arrive when I least expect it! Hopefully before we move though! I am for the first time looking forward to Monday! We are hoping to hear the happy news that our lending application has been approved by the bank and that we can buy our first home! Exciting! Wish me luck!

I'll be posting shortly about the UFO giveaway... check back shorlty :)

Preserved Lemons & Lemon Curd

This afternoon I got busy with my Make. Bake. Craft. Create gifting theme. It's the MIL's birthay on Monday followed by a SIL's birthday on Tuesday.

I made preserved lemons and lemon curd to give to my MIL. I've hand written some little recipes out too... The SIL just wants cash for to buy a new TV so we'll put in towards that.

Tonight's dinner was a bit of a culinary disaster though... Do you ever make things for the first time and then wonder why you bothered? I made a spin on Beef Stroganoff tonight and it was terrible. Oliver even said so! Oliver "I'm so disappointed Mum." Me "Why?" Oliver "Because this dinner is horrible" Me too Ollie. Me too. The recipe made a huge quantity - enough for another night but I don't think I can bring myself to use it!

I should collect my machine this Tuesday. I can not wait! I am so desperate to get sewing again. I am very motivated to finish Gus' new hexagon quilt - especially as I bought him a new big boys bed this week! And I bought Oliver bunk beds! An expensive but exciting delivery week. I am in the process of selling Gus' cot. My little boy really is growing up!

Don't you love it when they get their own little sense of humour? Gus came running out of Oliver's room the other morning with his pants on his head. He thought it was extremely funny. So did we.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Check back tomorrow for details of the giveaway :)

UFO's Giveaway!

I have to admit that I always feel encouraged when I read about other quilters who have the same compulsive urge to start projects but only complete a small percentage of them! It's kind of reassuring that I am not alone.

That being said, I have quite a few unfinished projects that I keep thinking I really *should* finish before I start anything else... but I can not find the motivation to complete them!

So... I thought I might just see if anyone might be interested in finishing them instead? That way I can feel less guilty and I will know that they have gone to a good home! I'll include the extra fabric I'd bought to go with them and if you feel so compelled, perhaps you could make a donation to the Red Cross to help out those affected by the Queensland flooding. Just a suggestion.

The flooding is beyond devasting. We Kiwi's really do love our big brother across the ditch. We love them most when we win at sports - it goes without saying... It's sibling rivalry :) Click on the button to the right to learn about how you can support those in need. If I had a finished quilt I would definitely be auctioning it right now! But I don't... So I will giveaway some unfinished projects instead with the hope that people may make a donation.

First up - a wee Odyssea Charm Pack Quilt

Complete with fabric for backing and binding

A bunch of reproduction windmills

Figgy Pudding - these were meant to be hexagons but I didn't realise I'd bought the wrong ruler! I'll include the ruler too!

This was destined to be this... a cute wee table runner - or whatever you want it to be!

Windmills

If you see anything you like, leave me a comment telling me! I'll close this on Sunday and pick names. Please make sure I can contact you to arrange shipping!

Happy sewing everyone!

All Buttoned Up!

I spent an evening last week sewing buttons to a bunch of jerseys for the boys. This bunch should definitely keep them cosy this winter! Patterns from this book. And this book. And this book. Highly recommended if you need some cute knits! Before you ask, they're not knitted by me - done by some very clever special people.

I also finally recovered our dining room chairs. I am too embarrassed to show you what they looked like before... in fact I was in such a hurry to bin the old fabric I didn't take a photo! Armed with a staple gun, new cushion padding and some fabric from Spotlight, the DP and I "crafted" together... technically he took the old covers off, and I put the new covers on but it was a lot of fun and very rewarding! Like most things in our home, the table and chairs are second hand (in fact I think we may be the third or fourth owners)... But I love them. A lot more now that they are recovered!

One more week until I collect my machine. I can not wait! All this non sewing has resulted in some fabric purchases (eek!)! Happy sewing everyone!

Make. Bake. Craft. Create.

Make. Bake. Craft. Create. That's my gift giving theme for 2011. With the new year upon us, I decided to review our bank statements and add up how much annually we spend to help us provision for 2011. Once I got past $3000 on gift giving, I stopped. I have to say I was also shocked at the amount we spend on groceries! So now I know where I can refine my shopping habits :) Especially since we have two pretty big goals this year - 1) buy our first home and 2) go on our honeymoon.

So... this weekend you will find me making raspberry cordial, preserving lemons and making lemon curd. I am also planning to bottle tomato pasta sauce, tomato soup and tomato sauce over the coming month too. I am in the process of hunting down some second hand preserving jars.

I've also been through my fabric stash and planned some things to make. More on that later. Without my machine there is very little sewing to be had. It meant I have managed to mend some items though, and last night I spent the night sewing 22 buttons onto a variety of newly knitted garments.

I hope you are all enjoying the start of the new year. If you have any plans or themes for this year, please share! Happy sewing everyone.

New Year. New Beginnings.

Goodbye 2010! Hello 2011! For the first time since I was a teen, I welcomed the new year in AWAKE with friends and family. We had a BBQ at our place followed by a couple of rounds of boys vs girls cranium... very entertaining. Girls 1. Boys 1. Draw.

 All over blogger photo mosaics are popping up. It's been so fun looking through everyones blog posts and seeing what they created in 2010 - some people sure are busy and creative! It got me thinking about my own year of sewing. I had more finishes than I realised! 8 finished cot quilts, a doll quilt, bee blocks, a table runner... and a number of started but yet to be finished projects!  Looking back through our photo gallery, I realised that I started out the year on a high, hibernated for the winter and finished the year with a few Christmas gifts. Here's a few of my sewing highlights for the year...

Wonderland jelly roll

Asher's quilt

Hushabye doll quilt

Hexagon swap

Gus' winter I Spy quilt

Easter quilt

Wee Play quilt

So what will 2011 bring? A new city - we're moving to Auckland next month! Hopefully our first home, definitely more sewing and a lot of loving these two...

Christmas day

Oliver aka Buzz LightYear



Gus - our little Sheriff with Woody

Apologies for image overload!! Happy new year everyone.