RANDOM STUFF

Well we are back from holidays, actually we got back last week after being blown around in our tent and had to make the decision to leave early.
We had 4 days of sun and great beach weather, so the kids weren't too disappointed about coming home.

Sorry I haven't been around here but I wanted to spend all of my time with the kids before they started school today for the year.

I'm not feeling that great today, missing my babies and the fact that Daniel started high school today hasn't helped. He looked so small and lost walking into the school this morning, I know he will find his bearings and will love being there especially since he got into the cricket program. I really think this is harder on me than him.

This afternoon I decided to do a spot of sewing, remember this quilt?

I also made a promise to the ladies I teach that I would have it finished by Christmas, I didn't say what Christmas now did I? I'm half way there. When I started this quilt about 10 months ago I was just starting to change my taste in fabrics, this quilt was nothing like I had ever made before yet something drew me to the boldness of the colours. It's been slow going, very time consuming and now I love it, it is so me.

I am keeping a week to week journal of my garden this year

I picked up this gorgeous notebook from Robe last year and it has been waiting for something special to fill it. I started by just journaling in it, then decided it needed to be an art journal of sorts, so here are a few pages I've been working on.

I'M OFF CAMPING

See you after the 25th.
Have a good week, I know we will.
xxxSue

HOW TO BE A SNOW ANGEL

LOOK WHERE I'M GOING

I am so excited even if it isn't until May.
2 days of fabric shopping, crafting and meeting heaps of cool crafty bloggers.
Darren will be travelling with me over to Melbourne and then he probably won't see me again until we are ready to come home. LOL

TRANSPORT CRAZY

I made up 1 of these blocks mid way through last year and put it aside to do other things of course. I love, love, love the David Walker fabrics and have some zoo animal fabrics also to make another quilt out of.
This quilt turned out so cute, too bad I don't have anyone to give it to, so in the shop it will go once quilting is finished.
If you are interested in this quilt, please email me and I'll give you the details.

IT'S HOT

and I really don't function well in the heat so there has been no sewing or creating of any sort going on this week.
I am slowly getting my recipe books in order, they are basically made up from recipes I have printed from the net or cut out of magazines, I've even written a few in that were on scraps of paper floating around. They have a scrappy look to them, I just have to finish the covers then I will show you.

It is supposed to rain tomorrow, I really hope so anyway. We don't have airconditioning as we just don't have enough hot weather to warrant it. Next week is our annual holiday to Robe. We camp for 6 nights this year and can not wait for our holiday to begin.

Stay cool or warm depending on where you are in the world.

QUILTS ON SHOW

This first quilt was originally going to be finished well before Christmas, so I'm a little bit late.
please click on the photos for a closer look.

Close up of the quilting.
I really enjoyed quilting this one.

This quilt was made yesterday and I quilting it last night. I will hopefully get the binding on tonight.

Once again I had heaps of fun quilting this using pebble, straight line and stipple stitches.

Both quilts should be on their way to their international destinations tomorrow and hopefully received in the next few weeks.
Thanks for coming and looking.
xxxSue

GROCERY TOTE

This is a tutorial orginally uploaded at Down To Earth.
I have shown this bag pattern made up in a previous post and decided it was time for a tutorial.

This tote was inspired by Amanda Soule (Soulemamma)
Level of expertise: Beginner

There are lots of free tutorials for bags in all shapes and sizes, I wanted to show you one that I love and use all of the time when I visit the markets or am doing a small shop at the grocery store.
This tote is perfect to sling over your shoulder or use messenger style (as I do). I usually sling a couple of totes full of fruit and veg from the markets over my kids heads and we all walk around with them.

Lets begin....
You will need:
24" of a heavy weight cotton with a width of 42". You can use recycle a tablecloth for this. I have been very fortunate in being given a heap of fabric sample off-cuts from an interior designer that he was going to throw out.
General sewing supplies
Sewing machine.
A 1/4" seam is used for this project.

Cut fabric:
(1) 14" x 3 1/2" piece for bottom panel
(2) 15" x 15" pieces for bag panels
(1) 34" x 8" piece for strap

Place the two 15" x 15" panel pieces right sides together. Pin the pieces down opposite sides.
Stitch together.
Take your bottom panel and fold in half

With scissors, cut a semi-circle on the raw ends opposite the fold.

Open out the fabric. Line up the middle of one curve to a seam of the main bag panels. Pin in place.

Line up the other curve and seam, pin, then pin all the way around the piece. It looks like over-kill but believe me it's easier to do this way.

Turn your bag the right way out then fold down the top raw edge 1/4" then fold again 1/2", press and pin.

Sew along the folded edge.

Now onto the strap
fold the 34" x 8" fabric in half lengthwise. Press with fingers to create a crease and open.
Fold lengthwise again bringing the outer edge to the centre crease.
Now bring the other outer edge in also and finger press both creases.
Leave folded.

Fold lengthwise again on the original centre crease.

Sew down both long sides with a 1/4" seam.

Fold the short ends of the strap in 1/4" to encase the raw edge, place the strap evenly across one of the inside seams of the bag and pin.
Do the same to the other end of the strap, make sure it is not twisted.

Sew into place with a rectangle to hold it more securely.

Well done, you're all finished. A perfect size for you or your kids to carry your goodies home in.

TUTORIAL

Is anyone interested in reducing their use of those little plastic fruit and veg bags you get at the grocery store?
I know I certainly am so I have made a tutorial for Down To Earth and also available over at What Are You Waiting For? Please take a look, make a few and tread a little more lightly on this earth.

WELCOME 2010

Here is the finished cover of my study journal for a weekly herb study I'm undertaking over at Down To Earth (link is over to the right)

and here's how we spent the first day of 2010








Have a lovely New Year's Day everyone.