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