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!

Overcoming Laziness

This week I had to dig deep to overcome laziness. What I really wanted was to find a sheet or duvet cover which perfectly matched the colours in the boys Bot Camp quilts so that I could avoid piecing the backs... Unfortunately (or fortunately) despite going to a number of different stores, I didn't manage to find anything that would work. Don't ya just hate it when that happens?

So... I pulled myself together and decided to set myself the challenge of using every single bit of fabric. My first pieced backing is below. I am rather happy with it... it means the quilts will be reversible. Although I don't quite know how long the white will stay crisp like that...



Here's a closer shot of the centre piece...



I am in the middle of piecing the second and have decided to make matching pillow cases and possibly a cushion or two if there is enough fabric left over. I don't have enough sprockets to border the second, so I'll be using the blue check.

The wonderful Amy over at Park City Girl is thinking about setting up a recipe swap... I think this is a fabulous idea! Coming up with meal ideas is my least favourite part of the day! Pop on over and leave her a comment if you think it would be a good idea too!!!

By the way - does anyone know how to add a button to your blog? I wanted this to be my Sew n Tell Friday but I don't know how to add the button? Thanks in advance!

Lara

Stippling

It ought to come with the following warning: "Extreme patience and perseverance required. Do not attempt when tired."

I took a stippling class tonight. I need practice. A lot of practice!

A few more pictures from the quilt show...

Housework.

It doesn't do itself (unfortunately!)!! It's how I spent my afternoon... but earlier today I visited the Wellington Quilt Show and Sale. Lots of ideas and inspiration to be found. A few favourites below...





Check back tomorrow for a few more :) Right now my sewing machine beckons.

Lara