I COME IN YELLOW DOTS TOO

For anyone that is interested, head on over to my Madeit store by clicking the button on the right hand side of this blog.

Don't forget to comment on my last post for a chance to win one of these pouches.
xxxSue

COME AND JOIN THE SEWN PARTY

"COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU"

Here's something about Sewn.....
"SEWN is new and innovative online quilting and sewing community for all lovers of fabric crafts. We have Tips and Innovative Tools to help with your projects, an Advice Centre for all your sewing questions, online forums and chats, and information on your local shops, sewing groups, quilt groups and classes."
For more information and to see the list of other blog party givaways go here
So, to help launch this fantastic new Aussie site they are having a blog party and I will be doing my bit and offering one of my phone/ipod pouch with my artwork on it up for grabs. You might get a pink one or a yellow one so I hope you like both :)

All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post before June 8 and I will randomly pick a winner.
Come and join in on the fun, we're having a party.
Please make sure I can contact you should you win, or check back on the 9th of June.

JUST PLAYING AROUND

REMEMBER THIS CANVAS?

I've transferred it onto fabric and am making useful items such as journals and phone/ipod holders.
I will be using the same technique on my other artwork to sell in my Madeit shop and at an upcoming market.




The handle has a clip to attach it to your bag or even your jeans.
The gorgeous fabrics are from Amy Butler.
This idea came from the Moda Bake Shop.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
xxxSue

IT'S DONE

"Memories Of Bright" is made from fabrics bought in Bright, Victoria while on our family holiday in the snow last year.
I loved putting together this quilt although all of the frustration with my machine while quilting it was not so enjoyable. Yesterday after more cursing and re-threading my machine finally allowed me to finish stipple quilting.



I have always loved quilting my own quilts, but sadly there are so many people out there who won't even attempt it. I have students who are beginners and have just completed their first quilt top and don't even want to try and quilt, this is very common and "each to their own" I guess, they would rather send it off to be professionally quilted. I get a lot of pleasure in completing the whole process not just part of it. As a teacher I encourage the quilting, but there is only so much you can do.

That's my whinge for today, what are your thoughts on this quilt? I would love to know.

TAKING A BREATH

Thank you to Aga for this award, I am supposed to reveal 7 things that I love, but am feeling exhausted and my brain has shut down for the night.
Aga is an amazing Aussie artist, check out her blog here

What Are You Waiting For has been updated, click here to have a look.

GOING DOTTY!!!!

I'm seeing a theme here.

What started as a week long effort to get some of Amy Butler's cherry dot fabric sitting on top, turned into a bit of a spending spree to get the other colours also. This hugely popular line has been discontinued and pretty much impossible to get so it seems. Thanks to two etsy shops in the US I managed to get all of this yummy fabric to keep me satisfied for a while I hope :)

2 MORE CJS

Only 2 more to go to be done before the end of the month.
This one is for Julie, her theme "The Secret"
It reads: What is art? Shhh it's a secret"

This is Lisa Mitch's, her theme, "What I Wish I Could Remember"
It reads: I wish I could remember how it felt to be so carefree.

NEEDLE FELTING AND OTHER STUFF

My yummy basket of hand-dyed wool is just begging for me to start doing some needle felting again. It's been a while but the inspiration has struck and once the kids are in bed tonight, out will come my felting needle.

I bought these books on felting to get some new ideas, they are gorgeous and I am definately inspired.

I also bought these books on special (I couldn't help myself), I was looking at one of them for mother's day, but managed to get them as a pack of 2 for an amazing price. The quilts are stunning, very fresh and modern, I've already picked out 10 to do, I just don't know which one to start with.

A couple of you have commented on where I will be putting my boxes, well I'll show you, don't worry I didn't just cover them without a plan. These shelves are used as our bookshelf and I think they look right at home in them.

ORGANISATION PLUS

Take some archive boxes, double sided tape and some of your favourite fabric, put it together and this is what you get.
I don't have a lot of room in our humble little home and storage is at a premium, my fabric stash is spreading, as are the books loaded in the bookcase. I decided it was time to put some order to our shelves and these boxes are going to do just that. I still have 6 more to make, but they're worth it, I bought my favourite fabric on a huge sale at only $2 per metre, how cool is that! and if I ever get sick of it, I can just rip it off and attach a different fabric.

Off to cover some more boxes.
xxxSue

BABY BINKY BUNNY

Please welcome the newest addition to our family. Sophie has named her Pinky and she thinks Pinky is the most special baby ever.



This pattern was bought online fom Larissa at mmmcrafts on Etsy. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

SOME CJ'S ARE ON THEIR WAY

Here's Gloria's, not the easiest penguin to photograph I'm afraid. Gloria's theme was "acceptance" in the shape of a penguin.

and Manda's, her theme was "grow".

and Sue B's, her theme was "friendship, something about you".

and Pam's theme was "outside your window, past and present".

and lastly, Tammy's. Her theme was "I believe".

Thanks for looking :)
Lisa, Wendy, Julie and Lisa yours are nearly done, I promise.

What a lovely relaxing mother's day I had today. Okay, so the kids decided that 5:30am was a good time to start the day, but being the dutiful hubby Darren is, he was out of bed to look after them so I could sleep in.
The kids insisted I have brekkie in bed, not my favourite thing to do, I would rather be at the table but I didn't let on. They all sat with eager eyes waiting for compliments while I ate and then I got my lovely homemade cards, some lollies wrapped up, a lovely handmade bookmark and some chocolates and a rose. I feel very spoilt and the kids really put in a lot of effort.
They even tried to behave and not fight for my sake, I'm so proud of them.

Now, onto other news......
My little Janome has decided to co-operate after about 5 hours of trying to get it to free motion quilt, it's working, well sort of. If I use the same colour cotton for the top and bobbin I can get away with it, unfortunately trying to find a cotton that suited the top and back of this quilt proved to be a huge challenge, so this is the best I can do for now. Mind you, going down and seeing the price of my upgraded machine forced me to keep trying to get this one working.

So G-Inspired CJ girls, do you know what this next photo means? Yes that's right I'm nearly there girls, here are the tags, cj's are not far behind. Thank you for your patience.
Please excuse the messy workspace :)

WAHHHHHHH!!!

that's me crying, can you tell?

This is the finished quilt top of the blocks I showed you a couple of weeks ago, all pinned together ready to quilt. That's the way it is going to have to stay because my wonderful, faithful sewing machine has decided it doesn't like free motion quilting and refuses to co-operate.


I've been having trouble with the tension for a while now, I've had it serviced, I keep it clean but I think it's just age and wear and tear.

My baby has been a true work horse over the last 10 years or so and I have to admit that I've been secretly plotting to upgrade for about a year now, but now is not the right time to be able to consider an upgrade.

What do I do? Do I put up with dodgy stitching? Stop sewing? I'm sure something will come to me.

But until then, WAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

SOPHIE'S NEW LIBRARY BAG

I decided that Sophie needed a cute library bag for school so last night I whipped one up and she loves it. (I kinda love it too, she nearly didn't get it).

HERE'S 3 MORE

crop bootcamp #4

crop bootcamp #5

crop bootcamp #6

CROP BOOTCAMP

is on again over at Blue Bazaar.

My last effort consisted of only 1 layout out of 25. Pretty poor I know, but this time around I have focus to what I want to achieve so be prepared for a lot of pink because it's Sophie's first year album that I want to do the 25 layouts for.
I managed 3 this afternoon, simple as they are, it will be the only way I will be able to complete this challenge.
So if you want some sketches to go by, then visit BB and join in the fun.
Crop Bootcamp #1

Crop Bootcamp #2

Crop Bootcamp #3