Design Wall Monday

Thanks for the good wishes last week on finding the missing row. Turned out I hadn't sewn them together as I discovered three blocks with the fourth nowhere to be found. I went back to the photo on the blog and pulled the fabrics to make a replacement. Just as I was about to cut I saw something out of the corner of the eye and you guessed it - the missing block. I think one of the cats had taken a liking to it and had moved it to where she could enjoy sleeping on it - going by the cat hair attached. Still a brush and good as new. So rows sewn together and finally attached to the quilt top. Here's the progress so far.



Needs borders but that will have to wait.

I have been playing however.



Tumbler quilts are going to feature here next year as I try to use some of my stash. I haven't used 30's fabrics in ages so am enjoying something different.

Head over to Judy's to see what others have been doing.

Design Wall Monday

Well the silly season is well and truly upon us and that has left very little time for sewing.

i wasn't going to post this week but Judy says show what you've got even if it hasn't changed.

So what have I accomplished this week. The bottom row from last week is now sewn on. There is a slight problem however. Going back through this blog I confirmed my suspicion that there are another two rows. This weeks mission is to find them!



I have also appliqued the little star from a few weeks ago to it's background. Three more like this to do. In a couple of weeks there may be enough progress to show you the start of this quilt.



Merry Xmas to everyone. Thanks for stopping by.

Design Wall Monday

Monday's do come around quickly don't they. On my design wall is something I was working on earlier this year. It just needs the bottom row sewn on and some borders added. I can't for the life of me figure out why it went away - except as you are all beginning to find out , I have the attention span of a gnat.



Finished top next week.

Hop over to Judy's to see what others have been doing this week.

Baby steps on my jouney to becoming a domestic goddess.

Right it's Sunday so time to cook. Well that was the plan but work intervened for a time.

I had decided I was going to make the cupcakes from last week and a quiche for our dinner. Ambitious I know.

By the time I finally arrived home the plan was for the quiche only. Now remember I can't cook so I was not planning another too stupid like making my own pastry.

So full steam ahead with salmon, red onion and zucchini quiche.

Getting the ingredients did not pose a problem this week. I of course still had last weeks eggs so decision made. On the subject of eggs it has been really interesting to hear every one's thoughts this past week. I'm still confused as it seems there is no right or wrong. The only thing most people agreed on was that they needed to be free range or organic. That part was easy for me as I'm already a convert.

The first step required cooking onion, garlic and zucchini until golden. There was no way this was ever going to become golden so I just had to live with that.



The next part of the instructions had one of my favourite instructions - not - salt and pepper to taste. Who in the world knows what raw eggs, sour cream and cheese should taste like! However I soldiered on like a true domestic goddess.

I won't bore you with step by step photos.

Here is what it was supposed to look like



and here it was it actually looked like.



Wasn't too far off the mark but definitely room for improvement. Looking at the pictures a decided difference really but hey I need to dream a little. Pastry was not great. I don't think I cooked it in the initial baking for long enough. Having said that it went down OK and I'm having left overs for lunch tomorrow.

So what did I learn this week. I don't think my oven is hot enough. Everything took longer than suggested. When I make this again I'm going to try turning the oven up a bit and see if that makes a difference.

Will there be cupcakes next week. We'll all have to wait and see.

Design Wall Monday

Well all that fabric buying last week certainly didn't lead to massive amounts of sewing. I did make the binding and backing for last weeks disappearing 9 patch and have sent that off for quilting.

The only progress - if you can call it that - that I have to show is this little star ready to be pressed and appliquéd.



Head on over to Judy's to see what others have been up to.

Baby steps on my journey to becoming a domestic goddess

Ok lets just state the facts straight away. I am 47 years old and can't cook. I can make some really simple things that all go into the same pan but my repertoire is limited to about five things. I don't know why but I have decided that is going to change and I will share my progress here.

When I first moved into this place I didn't have a reason to turn the oven on for over two years. The first time I did it blew up! Mine had come from a bad batch and the real estate had wondered why I hadn't had the same problems as everyone else.

So with those thoughts in mind I decided today was the day to begin my journey. Baking from scratch has always scared me so I decided to start out with something simple - a packet cupcake mix.

As I stood in the aisle of the supermarket I again remembered why I always decide this is just too hard and go and buy what I want instead. The packet mix called for eggs, butter and milk to be added. How hard could that be I thought, then I saw the amount of choices I had for these three simple ingredients. Didn't have my camera with me to show you how daunting choosing was - but something tells me your not shocked by the huge variety to choose from.

So after about 20 minutes, choices made and home they came.



Took the lovely new pan I bought last week out of its wrapping and why I don't know, put it in the oven. Well actually I didn't put it in the oven - it was too big! This is why I don't cook - it's all too hard.



Everything is nicely put away for now. I'll buy a new pan during the week and try again next weekend.

I may have shopped a little this week.....Part 3

Ok as I said in the previous post I had forgotten some of my purchases this week. Don't know why as the first lot especially are just lovely.

I have been doing classes for years at Patchwork Plus Miranda - no website. I say doing classes with tongue firmly in cheek as I do so little sewing these days outsiders would wonder why I go. Those in the know would understand that for me it's my chance to escape the real world for a time, catch up with friends and shop. So what did I buy this week:-



Just gorgeous.

The final piece of fabric that found its way here this week was bought at the Finders Keepers markets yesterday. It's from Saffron Craig's newest range. This will be my starting point for a quilt for a three year old who loves fairies.

I may have shopped a little this week.....Part 2

Next stop Quiltsmith. A little bit of Brandon,



some from Phillip,



lots from Kaffe and




a bundle of Kaffe's new range of liberty inspired prints.



Just so my friends don't think I have gone completely mad this also came home with me. Yes I still love my reproductions.




I've just realised I shopped at two more places but photos will need to wait till later.

I may have shopped a little this week.....

I've just had a week off and put it to good use by going fabric shopping. Given how much I bought perhaps it is just as well I only had one week off!

First stop Material Obsession. I have wanted one of these dolls for ages so this beauty came home with me.



Some bits and pieces for the stash.



Reese Scanell shot cottons which was what I had gone to buy in the first place. Sorry about the photos but I didn't want to take them out of the packets as they look so nice.






Next to arrive was the absolutely gorgeous new fabrics Hope Valley from Denyse Smichdt. I bought mine from here. My favourite range for 2009. Just a stack to show you for now as I'm just loving looking at it. I will buy more of this.

Design Wall Monday

First day of summer tomorrow and I'm sitting here with a heater on and the rain is pelting down. Still I can't complain too much as November was much hotter than usual.

Returning to form something different again this week. I have finally put the borders on my disappearing nine patch. Still not in love with it but I am liking it a little more. Please excuse the photo - light was dreadful and lots of wind.



Pop over to Judy's to see what others have been up to this week.

A new book

For those that know me well this post will come as a bit of surprise. I purchased during the week what I have to say is the best book I have bought in ages.



I know it's a cookbook! For those not in the know I really don't cook much. This book is so much more. Lovely stories, great drawings and photographs and most importantly things I think I can make. Watch this space for evidence of cooking.

Design Wall Monday

Nothing new on the wall this week. I am however pondering what to do with these Xmas fabrics. Here in Australia not too many Xmas fabrics land so when I fell in love with theseI just had to have some. I have shared half the bounty with Chookyblue. Stop back next week to see the start of another UFO lol.



Head on over to Judy's to see what others have been doing this week.

Two Birthdays

Two of the girls at work turned 21 this week. Rosie made them leis from gardenias. I had never seen or more importantly smelt a fresh flower lei. Absolutely gorgeous.



Ask a 21 year old what they want for lunch and we weren't surprised by the answer of pizza and salad. Topped off with a magnificent cake.

Don't talk about the weather

I knew I shouldn't have been so excited about the weather getting warmer. I have just turned on my electric blanket and am sitting here with a heater. Sure hope the weather man is right with predictions of 33 and 39 degrees Celsius for the next two days.

Design Wall Monday

Summer has hit Sydney this week so no pictures of flowers as the ones I bought on Saturday are already wilted. Not so me - it's like I have come out of hibernation - summer is my season. I shouldn't get too excited though as experience tells me there is till some cold weather to come.

What have I been working on this week? It's back to the tessellation blocks. Here's the next one cut out and all ready to go.


I have also heard a whisper that Material Obsession may be offering this as a block of the month next year with the fabrics picked by the designer Brigitte Giblin.

Head on over to Judy's to see what others have been up to.

A little bit of crochet

Sarah is doing a Xmas crochet mystery. Of course I had to join in. I have changed the white to pink here's hoping it will work.

Design Wall Monday

WOW - a record I think. Three weeks in a row and I'm still plugging away on the same quilt. Regular readers would know about my short attention span so I'm a happy camper tonight.

Having said that the photo is less than inspiring. Progress this week was a whole lot of tubes ready for cutting.

Head on over to Judy's to see what others are up to.

I need a pretty photo so here are the tulips I'm enjoying this week. Evey week I think that they will have ended but so far we're still getting them.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Xmas.....

Every year at work we decorate the office. Someone selects a theme and our work areas should somehow reflect it. This years theme is JOY and it gives everyone a lot of scope.

I saw these lovely decorations yesterday so they had to come home with me. I'm thinking of putting them in a glass bowl on my desk.

I think I'm obsessed!

I am so in love with my peony. This is how it looked this morning.



Hope it's still going when I get home from Brisbane Friday

Design Wall Monday

Not a lot happening here in the last week - the sunshine has been too alluring - but some more strips cut for my wonky coin quilt. Head over to Judy's to see what others have been up to.



Speaking of sunshine and warmth, I think the peony loves it as much as I do.



What a difference a day makes.

Spring is in the Air

Finally I think I can dare to hope that the weather is about to get warmer. We've had some false starts but the nights have always chilled down. Here it is 10:45pm and I'm warm. Woo hoo - bring it on. You may have guessed I don't like the cold.

Must have known it was around the corner. I always go blonde for summer and as of yesterday I am a blonde again.

Have the most gorgeous peony's at the moment. They are just starting to open and I love to see the transformation into the gorgeous blossom they always become.

I'm away for three days this week but hopefully they will still be blooming when I get home Friday night.

Design Wall Monday

Looking back over my Monday posts I think I see a pattern emerging. I have the attention span of a gnat so lots of photos of works in progress and finishes few and far between. I do go back to things but there is often a substantial gap of time. It doesn't worry me though so I guess that's how I'll always be.

This week I'm working on what I'm calling the wonky coin quilt. It will have six columns and finish at about 70" square. The good news is that while I bought the background fabric the other pieces so far have come from the stash. Tula Pink however calls it spiked punch.

The photo is washed out. Colours are much more vibrant but Sydney has gone back to winter today and the light was awful.

Head on over to Judy's to see what others have been doing this week.

A post about the Stash

At the beginning of the year I decided to join a group who post over at Judy's blog who document their fabric purchases and use. I have way too much fabric and thought it might be a useful way to start to reduce the stash to more manageable proportions. I stopped posting my totals in August for no other reason than laziness.

Then an interesting phenomenon occurred. I actually started to use more fabric than I bought. I've been pondering this for a while now to try and work out why.

I think counting was taking away my enjoyment of things as I'm not really a details person. When I stopped counting I starting organizing my fabric and while I still have a long way to go to get it how I want it, I've been surprised how many times I could find just what I wanted when I needed it. Weird in a good way.

That's not to say I didn't get anything out of accounting for my purchases. My fabric purchases have changed. I love to buy a range but lets face facts rarely do I love everything that comes in the range. So I've started being more selective in what I buy. Exhibit No 1 is the picture below. Six months ago I would have purchased the entire range as fat quarters. This time I didn't. I have bought the pieces that I love in the quantities that I think will work for me.



Watch this space to see if I ever get organised.

Can it be Monday again?

Not a lot happening this week but I did get another tessellation block cut out. To answer some questions it from last week it it English paper pieced and there is a connector block to come to make it all go together. I'm re inspired so think you might see a few more in coming weeks.



Pop over to Judy's to see what others have been up to.

Design Wall Monday

Here it is Monday again. On my design wall are my five finished tessellation blocks. I'm loving how they look but am I really going to make 25?

Design Wall Monday

A finish during the week with the binding sewn on to Levis quilt. He should have it sometime this week.

I thought it only fitting that his brother Ryan have a quilt as well so the start of it is what's on my design wall this week.



Head over to Judy's to see what others have been up to.

What's on my design wall?

As you have discovered from my previous posts I am part of a yearly challenge with 17 other woman. Being the queen of the last minute I usually start one week before we have to show our quilts.

This year I have decided it's going to be different. While there is something on my design wall I can't show you till next August. However for the doubters in my group proof, fabric cut!



Will I finish it with plenty of time or will I still be madly sewing the week before. Only time will tell.

What I did with that Charm pack.

Saturday was revelation day for the kambrachallenge. I did have my top finished. Please don't notice that it needs a border - that will be rectified this weekend.

It's a disappearing nine patch and I don't think the transition from the centre to the next round of blocks works as well as I would have liked. Still it's done.



I struggled with the fabrics - not my style at all. But like all good challenges I learned some things.

Firstly I don't like sewing with batiks. Their texture does not do it for me. I will be interested to see what they are like after quilting and a wash.

Secondly I used steam for pressing. I don't know why I haven't done it before but think I will be a convert. Seams sit very nicely.

Third and final thing. To reduce the stash do a cull when you have finished and get rid of what you will never use again. For me that was everything left. One of my friends loves batiks so she can have first choice and then anything left will go to charity.

Pop over here to see what the rest of the group came up with and here to see what others have on their design wall today.

BTW I moved my design wall to the great outdoors this weekend to try to get better picture.

I love an obsession

My friend Pennie asked if anyone was going to be near Central railway Station as there was a poster for a new DVD and her DH David featured. Luckily I was in the city today and offered to get a picture. For some reason I had thought it was a huge poster but after much searching I found it and it was only A4 size. I couldn't get a great photo as it was behind glass. My new best friend Bill who manages the store that sells the DVD was however able to give me my very own poster that I will gift to Pennie on the weekend.

And what's David's grand obsession - restoring buses. It's always a popular day out for the men as they can disappear into David's shed for hours and share memories of when these beauties first ran.

Design Wall monday

Today's post shows the start of what has to become a quilt by Saturday. Only a top mind. Some overachievers in the group apparently have finished quilts LOL.

For the last 9 or so years a group of about 20 has done an annual challenge. Each year someone picks what we all be making. Often a fabric pack is the starting point. You can make whatever you want and whatever size.We have at least 12 months. Each year I have grand plans to start early but inevitably begin the weekend before. Sometimes I finish, sometimes I don't.

So here's the charm pack for this year. Every fabric needs to be used at least once and you can add to it or not. Stop back next Monday to see what I came up with.



Pop over here to see what others having been doing this week.

A weekend away

Just had a lovely three days away in Melbourne with a friend and her two daughters. After the chaos that is work at the moment it was just the pick me up I needed.

Some wool shopping on Friday and fabric on Saturday. No photos as my stash of both is getting out of control.

Saturday afternoon - we saw this show and I loved it. I knew nothing about it but WOW.



Sunday afternoon was high tea here. Morgan who is 15 thought she had died and gone to heaven.

Design Wall Monday

Well I hope regular readers are sitting down as this week we have a finished top! Now let's be nice and fail to notice it is just a panel with some strips added. Levi the recipient is three and is battling leukemia and I'm certain he won't mind as he loves Thomas.



It has been so long since I sewed that I forgot how much Ally loved the ironing board and helping. Here she is sulking because I won't let her on it.



Have a look over at Judy's blog to see what others have been doing this week.