Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas to each & all


....and here's to a lovely 2011....may we all appreciate the little things.


Monday, December 20, 2010

Running in Circles!



Yes I should be getting ready for Christmas!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Belinda


Belinda, originally uploaded by badskirt - amy.

from Amy.

Ain't she clever?

Friday, November 19, 2010

Winner's are Grinners!!!

Truly lovely to win a blog giveaway just around my birthday recently.  Gave my partner another reason to avoid buying a present (kind of joking!).
Yay for amitie girl !!!


Actually I have scored a present this year from my better half.  Front row seats to see Neil Finn this week.  That's exciting.
edit:  It was amazing - he is an incredibly talented musician- & from Split Enz to Crowded House to the Finn Brothers his music takes me through my life. 

I think that after all this winning that there should be a giveaway on this blog soon.  Hint: it may well involve fabric.  Stay tuned....

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Lucky last in the Beehive!

Well it was not me...still working on handquilting the Rockets.

Karlyn has been very patient & waited a whole year for her turn in the Beehive quilt block swap.
Here is my contribution to the future quilt she is making for her daughter...


She sent so many fantastic scraps I thought I should make 2.  The first one was more successful.  The second one is a bit strange but makes up for it coz it has lots of flea market fancy & heather ross!!!
See more of Karlyn's blocks here.

I really cannot wait to see this quilt made up. 


Thursday, October 21, 2010

Back to the sticks

Not one to be deterred by previous knitting misadventures,  I've cast on a new project.


A little "Lucky" from my very dog-eared copy of Pipsqueaks for a little baby I know.  Its in all seasons cotton so it can't shrink/felt.

And a cute (if blurry) photo of Willa in the knitted denim dress (Erika Knight pattern).

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Woeful Tale

Sometimes one does stupid thoughtless things.  Unfortunately last Friday arvo I did.



I was handwashing some woollen stuff & being lazy thought I would pop them into the washing machine for a rinse & a spin.  At the last minute I added Bronte's stunning pear tree cardi (since she had worn it pretty much the whole holiday!)

Alas you can imagine the rest.  Clutching at straws, I googled unfelting & came up with something about boiling & vinegar.  It doesn't work....


Perhaps I should have tried the fabric softener or hair conditioner...  
Moral of the story- never let another handknitted anything near a front loader machine!


Has anyone else a tragic tale of brain failure & wool shrinkage?  It is heartbreaking - all that time, expense & effort...gone in a spin!
At least I can knit another- actually Bronte has ordered 2 more...which I guess is wise...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Fabric stashes


suzuko koseki, originally uploaded by beeware70.
I'm a tad jealous of all the people I know who have been recently or are going soon to Japan.
It must be amazing.

Mind you I'm very appreciative of the special fabric that has come to me via these people!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sophie Madeleine - The Knitting Song



Been away...lots of driving & some knitting...thus the song!  Enjoying Sophie's beautiful voice.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Tiny tea leaves

In amongst the business of the last month (crazy school fundraisers , gala concerts, catching up with friends to discuss fabric finds and more) I sought a bit of refuge in knitting.  Knitting is such a perfect activity to do anywhere...even when walking along the streets of Redfern. The first step was finding some irresistable pear tree wool at A Coffee and a Yarn Newtown. 



Next was deciding the pattern....tiny tea leaves leapt out at me from many places so that wasn't a hard choice!  And then knitting here there & everywhere..in the car, at school, walking to work, on the train, at choir, in bed (but not advised in the shower!)  And here is the result.



I love it!  Right down to the 3 old green buttons Bronte chose for the front.  And so much so I have started the next one!  This time with some pinkish purplish yarn I must have come across when Bronte was younger...just as well I have another younger pink -loving child!


 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The circle game....


block 1: circle game, originally uploaded by beeware70.
Here is the first block in Amitie's BOM "The Circle Game". I admit I haven't finished the Green Tea one & probably shouldn't be starting any more new projects especially quilts but... those Amitie quilts are irresistable!!
The handpiecing is fun too. I am way behind on the applique blocks in the green tea one- the Circle Game has lots of curved handpiecing which I rather enjoy.
I just need more time!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Happiness...


DSC_0050, originally uploaded by Fiesta Cruise.

...or is it craziness!

Friday, August 27, 2010

August meets Books

August in our family always has 2 aspects.
1.  Sickness...I don't know what it is..end of winter & all that..overused immune systems etc etc. 
2. Book week parade
Hopefully the 2 do not coincide.  This year it was a close call.

Meet Harry Potter & Pippi Longstocking.

Not original ideas but fun!


Saturday, August 7, 2010

Beehive Update

...having dragged the chain on Andi's July blocks,  I did double duty today & made Andi's and Sheridan's!

First up Andi's
She has decided to use her plentiful & beautiful scraps to made a string quilt.  It will be stunning!  Used this tutorial by Film in the Fridge.  I found the most difficult part was to make the green strips sit exactly in the middle of the square- I suspect they don't.



Sheridan's quilt blocks were somewhat more straightforward to sew.  Still a pleasure to sew these beautiful fabrics- looking forward to see all 64 blocks in the king size quilt.

So up to date now!!
I can go back to knitting with a clear conscience....

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Knitting fever

Had a bit of a knitting time lately.
Here are my finished projects- haven't yet perfected the art of taking photos of myself so excuse the poor photography.
Scroll lace scarf- details here



denim pinafore details here
I need to wash this so it can be used ...at 60 degrees...washing in hot water is not something I do.  Have to bite the bullet- hope it doesn't shrink too much!


a quick knit for a friend ...she did give me the mohair to knit up a while back..so glad it's finally been tackled!


detail of the mohair pattern

Now I'd better to get sewing.  Bit behind in the Beehive.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Optimism & the (un)finished project

I am one of those people who likes to have about 100 projects in progress at the same time.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming & I feel like nothing ever gets finished!!  Other times especially in the school holidays I optimistically think of all that can be achieved....
Case in point:
On our recent short holiday I took perhaps 4 projects plus a couple of books (for inspiration for new projects..) with the optimistic view that they would get completed or at least partially completed.  And all that was done (because really holidays are pretty busy with 3 kids and things to do!) was one quilt block.   Oh well...we did have a good holiday.

Once back home I did finally finish something that has been languishing at the end of the bed.
although the button does need to be sewn on.

And just to keep the holidays real I did start a new project which will hopefully be donated for the school fundraiser, a Scroll Lace scarf from Ysolda Teague made of some Debbie Bliss alpaca silk which has also been languishing at the end of the bed.


I'm now stuck at a point of 28 lace repeats because am not sure which is the right or wrong side.  But I hope to work it out because I see a finished project in my sights.

And also must start that ice cream dress!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Perfect timing..

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win a yard of lovely Little Folks voile from Andi in her blog giveaway.  Thank you Andi- it is beautiful, so silky and soft. 
Then at the craft show I bought a little bit more ...the red one...whilst having a great time fabric perusing with Sheridan and Amy.

Then a couple of weeks later Amy decided to run the the Ice Cream Social .  It just seems a perfect time to use the voile...


..so a pattern was bought.  Now to aim for the perfect fit!!

The ice cream dress sew along kicks off on the 18th of July.  Check out the flickr group for more info and inspiration.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Catching up..


In May Julie sent out beautiful Kaffe shot cottons and prints for log cabin/ squares blocks with interesting details in the Beehive block swap.  I loved the colour mix I received - different greens and a touch of orange.



She wanted lots of white space too.   I hope these fit the bill.


Speaking of the Beehive, Isak's quilt is progressing.  Here tis quilt top completed.



And this is the boy..mad about planes!




Monday, June 7, 2010

Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair


Friday fabric shopping SIT, originally uploaded by beeware70.
June...the weather is cold (certainly today it is). Must be time to think about craft (well I do all year but anyway....) and yes the craft and quilt fair is coming to Darling Harbour next week. I do love the craft fair & seeing all the quilts on display.  I also love checking out the shops new and old.  The fabrics above come from Amitie and Patchwork on Central Park, favourite shops from Melbourne who both come to the show.

So I've booked my day off & I plan to be there on Wednesday- let me know if you'll be there too and we can say hello whilst gazing at fabrics!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

March Beehive block in May


March block in May, originally uploaded by beeware70.
I had a real block about doing this block. Ho ho. I'm not sure why- the fabrics were a bit delayed in the post but they arrived some time ago & they are beautiful. I think I thought that it would take longer than it did to do this block! And would involve lots of packing up & unpacking etc etc to fit it into my sewing time!
Anyway ...to cut a long story short (& let my impatient 10 yo take over this machine!) it was a joy & only took me one sewing sitting!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Blogger's quilt festival



I love the idea of this...checking out a wide variety of lovely quilts on the web....so I thought it would be good to join the fun :)

http://www.amyscreativeside.com/2010/05/bloggers-quilt-festival-spring-2010.html



This quilt evolved out of new found love of vintage chenille when I was pregnant with my third child in 2006.  I had a strong inkling that it was a girl.  I sewed the chenille squares (from Jodie of vintage ric rac) to some remnant English children's print that was in my cupboard.  There it sat...eventually it was finished ?early 2008 when some perfect Prints Charming backing was found at Fabric Remnant Warehouse.  My mum quilted it and it now lives happily with my nearly 4 year old




It is a bright sight on a dull rainy day!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Sewing Delights of Melbourne






It was positively wonderful to attend Sew it Together last weekend in Melbourne.  Sheridan did a stupendously tremendous job of organising this event and she deserves many thanks (very likely) & a big rest (maybe not so likely after seeing the photo of her mostly sweet one year old!).
Being a not very good blogger my photos are few & far between.  Just this...Jodie's toys above and the blocks I finished for Tanya.  Tanya is one of the Beehive quilters and it was lovely to meet her IRL!



More talking than sewing I think!! Here is the other block I did for her (not at SIT!)



If you would like to see more photos of SIT check out retromummy's blog (see sidebar for link)  Scroll back a bit cos she blogs a lot more than me!  If you look hard you will see me balancing too many bolts of fabric at Amitie..eek.

Melbourne was a lovely place & a great weekend.  A highlight was the drinks at Nikki's studio-big thanks to Nikki for that.  She has lots of great photos in her blog too.

I did get to enjoy some other great spots in Melbourne too including the Skirt & Shirt Markets, a fairtrade market at Victoria Markets, and last but never least a very comfortable part of West Brunswick (!).

Stay tuned for Sew it Together 2011

Friday, May 7, 2010

Life...in a blur!

It's been more than a month since my last post.  (Goodness this is sounding like a confession!)  Time flies and all that.
My excuses:
1. School holidays- always a little relaxing and a bit busy at the same time.  Very pleasant to absorb the  change in routine at these times I think.  It was during this time that I received the cutest treat in my letterbox.


The sweetest little nametag for Sew it Together made by Two Cheese Please.  I love it.  (I hear a rumour she is at the Melbourne Stitches & Craft as we speak).  Speaking of SIT, it is rapidly approaching.  Yay!  How lucky am I- a long weekend in Melbourne without kids!!

2. Last minute trips to Canberra to check out some art and catch up with some old friends.
The kids room at this exhibition was a winner.  Fantastic- all 3 of my children really got a lot from this.

3. First double digit birthday of my oldest daughter.


Accompanying this was some special scary excitement.

I think these are about all my excuses although there was a bit of singing in a cave last weekend & a shocking case of inability to move after yoga (now resolved but wondering about tomorrow!!)

Various small amounts of stitching have been done but not much completed in any 'complete' way.  I did finish a circle square (finally) for the Beehive just yesterday and I will post a photo later....
Perhaps I had better go & count my number of ongoing projects...on reflection perhaps not...probably would lose count!

Happy Friday!
And this weekend is the Finders Keepers market in Sydney which I hope to go to tomorrow.  (I have to admit some jealousy about those going to the S&C in Melbourne but 2 weekends in a row would be really pushing my luck!)


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Sew it Together

There are lots of interesting nametags popping up for Sew it Together .  I managed to get mine done sort of on deadline. 

One of the reasons it was sort of on deadline was the first one turned out too big (bit of random planning here!) so my swaperee will get a bonus personalised coaster too!