Christmas Eve doesn't always involve Ho Ho Ho...

p.s. i quilt

Ok so after a few challenges we are off on a new adventure!

Christmas is always a big ordeal for my family...and this year was no different. Well except for the myriad of new babies and all of us FINALLY being in the same country...OK so it was a little different.

   ...Pre-Eve Back Story...

Trystan my sister was the host of the hour setting up and organizing everyone so we all knew what to do, when to do it and most importantly what to bring. I was the lucky winner of the Trifle...which was great because it is supposedly easy to make. However, this master kitchen disaster had never made Trifle, and come to think of it I don't even like it.

Nevertheless, a trifle it was to be. So me being as organized as a hamster and left everything to the night before. Except of course for the jelly which was something I prepared earlier (pictures being on a cooking show). So I've gotten home late for work and had to make my own custard and finally with some help from Miranda finished and showed just in time to be in bed by 11.30 :S

   ...Eve Arrives...

So the day of the big event arrives, I kiss my sweet 6 month old princess goodbye and I'm off to work by 6.30. I'm now at work...well pretending to work while trying desperately to focus. But that's pretty pointless since all I can think about is parting with my family.

Work finally grinds to a halt...well end really and I catch the train home, get ready and am off to my sisters with my Trifle in toe! After 45 minutes of driving in the rain...(which is an event in itself considering this is Brisbane, Australia) I arrive at my sisters.

I don't often get to see my sister so we left the kids to the husbands and went down the back to talk about quilting. We often speak on the phone of wonderful ideas that often never come to fruition because of a 'lack of means'. BUT this could never dampen our spirits. 

'The Sisterhood' as we call it will as always conquer.

So while punch was being made, makeup was being applied and gossip was being swapped...I was watching Goofey's Christmas with the Kids and the men :D

Food was eaten, bonbons popped (with help from Kaleb my nephew who felt he need to be involved in each POP...hehehe), bad jokes swapped and crowns arranged in such a way as to not 'wreck' the hair. After which we called one of my other sisters who lives in Perth and couldn't be with us and prepared for the mayhem of Secret Santa. Wrapping paper few, children laughed we all had to yell to be heard, babies cried, tears were shed and after all of that we laughed and I marveled at the wonder that is my family. 

We then ate some more and eventually rolled ourselves out the door to go home and nurse our full stomachs...as I flopped into bed.

The moral of the story being, no matter how confusing, absurd and/or dysfunctional my family seems to be and believe you me that is a marvel in and of itself, I can't help but think how much I love them, however many allowances I give them and however many chances we they give me.

This story is proudly brought to you by Brie Henri, for p.s. i quilt and Fat Quarter Shop.

1st Christmas

Ok so this year will be my beautiful babies first Christmas...how exciting! So aside from the usual toys and all around general spoiling I decided to make a special outfit for her.

Which at the time seemed like a good idea...I soon found out just how hard it actually would be. I decided on a Pillowcase Dress which 'looks' easy HA. But thanks to some help from my wonderful mum and a few trial and error runs at making Bias Tape we did it!

The binding around the arrms was the hardest...only because I had to figure out how to make it.

January Block Swap

For all those interested there are only 2 people doing this swap...my sister Trystand and I. LOL. So Trystan choose the theme for January and has decided 'Beach' colours are blue and yellow, size 12x12 (finished), due date is Feb 1st.

If anyone else would like to get involved let me know!

Some examples are this quilt square from Fresh Lemons Quilts

This one from Three Crafty Ladies is beautiful...I don't think I will be doing anything like this but's is still an option.

If you need anymore ideas just goole Beach quilt blocks there are heaps of great ideas out there!

Block Swap

Morning Ladies (and Gents if there are any)

I have an idea. I am intersted in starting a Block Swap...so here's what you do. We pick colous, theme etc and then all involved create one block for each other person involved (usually 12 x 12, but we can pick the size) and send it. The aim is to have a block from each person participating that you can make a quilt out of.

There are two ways to do it:

Centralized Quilting Swaps

In a centralized swap, items are sent directly to a hostess, who sorts them and forwards a package on to all swappers.

Centralized Pros
•Postage is usually a bit less, since you send one package and pay for the return of one package.
•You'll receive all of your goodies at the same time.
•If another swapper doesn't complete the swap, you receive your own item back.
•If a swapper does not send appropriate items, those items are generally sent back to the swapper--not to you.
Centralized Cons
•Centralized swaps aren't as personal, since the hostess sorts items and sends them on to other swappers.
•If a hostess doesn't follow through you could lose all of your items. The hostesses who volunteer on About Quilting have been participants for awhile and have an excellent reputation. However, things happen in life and I would never tell you that problems don't occur.


Decentralized Quilting Swaps

If you join a decentralized swap, you will send a packet to each swap member in your group and each person will send one to you.

Decentralized Pros
•It's more personal. You can send a specific block or other item to a specific person--for instance, something made from a fabric you know that person will love.
•Some swappers prefer to get a succession of squishies (quilt packages) in the mail on a regular basis. It's kind of like a daily birthday until the swap is over.
Decentralized Cons
•If another swapper doesn't follow through, you'll receive less items than you send.
•If someone's cutting or stitching abilities are poor, there's no hostess to take care of quality control.
•Postage will likely be a little higher. You only pay for postage one way, but it's to multiple recipients.


I would like to know how many of you would be interested in having a bit of fun doing this? It doesn't matter how good/bad your skills are it's about diversity and sharing your talents.

Prize

Ok so if I was to run a competition what would you want for a prize?

Has to be homemade and not totally ridiculous.

Remember if you don't comment I will not be able to do any fun stuff!

The Practical Guide to Patchwork

I just got a new book written by Elizabeth Hartman:

It a brilliantly written book with so much useful information, including everything you need to get started...except it's not in metric. SO if anyone is looking to start quilting or needs a quilting book this is definitely the one to get! (it also comes with 12 quilting patterns) 

However, I am looking for a good quilting book that has the conversions to metric. If any one knows of a book or guide for this PLEASE PLEASE let me know.

Create!

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul...no matter the education, background or abilities we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before"

President Dieter F. Uchdorf
Mormon Messages - Create

Dream Sewing Room

How beautiful is this room...it's Heather Bailey's

One day I will have a room like this...something to inspire and excite me!

Aprons

One of my other sisters Miranda (the tempest) made me a beautiful apron. I don't want to post pictures till she is back from Melbourne and we can take them together...she made herself a matching one (just using other colours). 

So don't let me forget to post them!

PRESENTS!!!

This isn't one of my creations but I have to share it with you because it's beautiful! My wonderful sister Trystan made this for my birthday.

My favourite colour at the moment is purple so she made this using as much purple as possible! I love you Trisby...thank you so much.

New Project

TO all my faithful readers out there (if there are any) thank you for being so patient while I get myself in order. It has been a while but I have started something new! Thanks to my mother in law for supplying a beautiful Jelly Roll by Bunny Hill Designs which I totally love!

I am making a Magic Baby Quilt and this is the beginning. I haven't ironed anything and my stitching is not straight BUT it's a work in progress AND my the first quilt I've made on my own.

So once again I LOVE THIS FABRIC! I will keep you updated.

My first mothers day.

I know it hasn't even happened yet but I've already got my present and I LOVE it. A friend of mine Kim Field made it for me. It is beautiful and best part of all is I can get new bands made if ever I feel like a bit of a change. I'm so thrilled.




But I can't go without mentioning my wonderful hubby who bought it for me. I don't think it would ever be possible for me to say he doesn't spoil me more then I deserve.

A stitch in the right direction.

So aside from the pin cushions which will hopefully look something like this...(according to the pattern anyway)


I've started a cross stitch ^_^ my mum actually found it, but I claimed it because it was so cute.

This is all I've done so far...even though I've had it since Easter. I can admit I get easily distracted, but I will have it done before she is born.

Makeover

So I've been trying to get into the 'girly' spirit in preparation for our baby girl...and I've been having some trouble. Mainly because there is so much cool boy stuff and because all of the girl stuff is WAY to girly. BUT I've come up with a bit of a solution. I found this cute little brown bear at the op-shop and decided to give it a makeover to make it a little more girly.

This is the result...


A little brown bear with a pink bow and a pink button ^_^ my kind of girly.

I also got at new pattern in the mail today for some pin cushions that I am going to make as toys. I will keep you updated on the progress and put some pictures up as soon as I have them ^_^

OWLS

OK so I have a little bit of a problem...I love Owls. I don't know what it is but I just can't get enough of them.

This little guy in on the front of my bag...the bag isn't finished yet...because I'm not even sure how too finish it, I guess that will happen when you go off an idea instead of a pattern.

I'm thinking of putting some felt on front to make it look like trees and putting red buttons in them so it will look like apples...but I guess we'll see.

I'll post more as I get more done ^_^

Preparing for a baby...shower

I've been home in OZ for only a few days and my sister and I have already started working on the invites etc for the baby shower.

This is what we have so far...

Thank You (concept)
Invite

I don't know what it is but at the moment I'm really into Owls. Maybe they are just cute who knows.

Finally Finished!

I am happy to announce that this very afternoon I finished my first quilt!

My loving hubby was nice enough to hold it up for me while I used my bad photo skills to show you all how nice my bad quilting skills look...lol.

It's 36 x 36 (or there-abouts)

Close up

I ended up using a few different fabrics then I had planned on but it's all part of the process. The border is satin, and I used some fleece neutral fleece that I wasn't planning on but I personally think it looks AWESOME.

I also have an update on my next quilt. Once again the fantastic Renee is mentoring me through the process but this is what I have so far.

FrontBack

It's called a 'Quilt as you go' quilt. Once I have as many squares as I want for whatever it is I'm making I will trim them all up and sew them all together. Originally this square was 2 plain circles but once they are cut down the middle and stitched together they make this cool pattern. The circles on the front side is a combination of 2 of 3 different sized circles that will be made from different colours of materials.

I am thinking of doing 3 x 6 mat (9 1/2 x 9 1/2 squares) to use as a change pad or something, but I'm still undecided.

I have to mention that Renee gave me the material for this whole project and including some of her hand dyed fabrics to use for the circles (and they are so beautiful). I am so grateful for the time and effort she has given to teach me and the love I know has gone into these fabrics. So ultimately I will dedicate this quilting project to her.

Needless to say I'm really excited about this new project, because it gives you a lot of free rain (?) on the stitching and the fabric etc. When this one is done I would like to try it again with a different shape. Renee's quilt (my inspiration for this project) was made in Autumn colours and used 3 different leaf shapes. But like Renee says 'I will let the fabric inspire me' so lets hope I find something wicked cool before I finish this one so I have some time to work on my attack plan.

Rosalie

Today has not been what I had planned it to be. But that doesn't mean good things can't happen. So my good thing for the day was that I made our little girl's first scrap book page. I know the picture isn't that great but you should be able to see most of the important bits.

Quillow

"A quillow is a quilt with a pillow pouch attached. When folded, it looks like a pillow; when fully unfolded it is a quilt to keep you warm with a pouch for your feet.

I mentioned in my first post that my original inspiration for sewing was because of a Quillow that I was going to make with my Tante. Well after months of waiting I am actually going to post pictures of it.

Front

Back

Pillow Form

It was a tonne of fun to make and sewing machine malfunctions aside only took a day ^_^

I found some good instructions on the web (http://www.capitalquilts.com/freeproject/makeaquillow.pdf) should anyone out there like to give it a try ^_^ and don't worry if your not great with sewing just give it a go and see what happens!

Good dreams and better ideas.

Ok. So since I started quilting I've become a little obsessed...to say the least. I think we can classify dreaming about it obsessed. But it's not all bad, getting into this is helping me realize I can be more thrifty. So I've been trying to think up ideas of things I can make for my baby in progress. Here are some of my ideas so far let me know if you can think of any others...keeping in mind I'm new at this and don't even have real quilting/sewing supplies yet.

• Washcloths/Face Washers


• Burp-cloths


• Pincushions...that I was going to use as toys instead.

I also thought I would try my hand at those cool taggie blankets, the ones that cost a fortune in the stores. Here is my first attempt:

This side has the sweet Canadian print fabric that inspired me to do my quilt.

The other side has some cool waffle print fabric I had left over from my quilt. The ribbon I wrangled from my mother-in-laws scrap booking supplies ^_^

All very good ideas, however, when you are trying to be thrifty it can be very had to get any of them done. So I'm using the left over quilting material and a few old shirts.

There's a first for everything!

On a warm sunny afternoon here in Canada my mother-in-law and I took a trip to the fabric store. Officially I was there to find material for a Quillow my Tante and I were going to make together but as per usual I got a little sidetracked...

This was the result. I blame it on the people who make children's fabric too cute! Either way I decided that I needed to make a baby quilt. At the time I didn't know what I was having so we tried to make it gender neutral.

So now that I had material and I knew I wanted a baby quilt all I had to do is figure out how in the heck I was going to do that, considering I couldn't even sew in a straight line.

What to do...I called my RS President who happens to be my Visiting Teacher and is known in our ward for being a pro quilter with 30 odd years of experience. Jackpot...she agreed to teach me how to do it. I designed the pattern myself and began the long process.

It was a difficult process and I struggled a lot to try and sew in a straight line, but it's almost done! SO EXCITED!!! At the moment all that is left is the border...so when I finish next Monday I will make sure to add a picture.