The Paris Quilt

This one has been a long time coming (let's face it, most of them are!!) but it has been well worth the wait. We all love it, especially the nearly 10 year old who it was made for! Emma from Sampaguita Quilts has totally outdone herself with the quilting of it. Take a look at her post here about it.

Next Quilty Project

This is a very basic charm square quilt that I am putting together to use as a throw on the window seat off our kitchen. This is such a lovely spot to grab some reading time...not that it happens nearly as much as I would like it to!

But when I laid it out on the guest room bed, I actually really like it in here!!!

Who knows where it will end up! Now to get it done!

The Paris Quilt

Finally the Paris quilt top is done and off in the mail to be custom quilted by Emma. I have a very excited, and slightly impatient, 9 year old who can't wait for this quilt to actually be finished and on her bed. Quite frankly, I can't wait either.

I forgot to take some proper pics before I bundled it up into the package to be sent off, so I will take some upon its return and pop them up.

Right then, off to finish the charm square throws for our window seat and lounge in the family room!

ART Journalling

I am the least arty person on the planet. But I love it anyway. I am not going to win any awards with what I do, but I don't care - it fulfills some creative need within me, and gets stuff out of my head!

Sometime ago, years - maybe 4, I joined up here to follow along on their art journal course. As with most things I do, I get over excited and don't take real life into consideration and whatever my latest "fetish" is falls by the wayside, usually for a long period of time. I really must learn to stop trying to do so much all the time! "Stop the glorification of busy" comes to mind!

Anyway, to cut a 4 year story short, I pulled out the old journal that I had started, and put it into my new journal, keeping the old and the new side by side. The aim is to sit down for a couple of hours every fortnight or so and move through the class/course- trying different techniques, getting things onto paper and having some fun me time along the way!

Non-Crafty To Do List

Since the reno I have had a long list of "things to get to". I have been plodding away on it, and now all the "blah" jobs are left.

Things like sorting photos, cleaning up the desktops and starting to work from my PC rather than PC, laptop and ipod so needing to bring everything together. More mundane tasks like copying all the CDs to
i-tunes so we can ditch the CD's, sorting out i-tunes, upgrading all
i-devices and making them work under the same cloud, making annual photo books so we can downsize the number of albums we have and free up some cupboard space. Sorting out the garage, a DVD and Wii game inventory. An inventory of house contents to increase the insurance.

See, all the BLAH jobs.

Today after receiving some sad news from Ireland about my husbands uncle passing away, and then too much phone chit chat I decided to hit the CD cupboard.

Well, that was one job that I needn't have put off for so long.
I-tunes whizzes through them. I got a pile done today whilst I procrastinated about studying and putting washing away. Those jobs can keep, I have cupboards to clear. Sometimes just geting in and doing things, can be so good for you, and spur you on to do more! Yay me!

Slogging away on Pies and Tarts. We had a busy week last week and I hardly picked them up, then a weekend away to see Bruce Springsteen in the Hunter Valley ensured that they didn't get a look in for a couple more days - aiming to get 3 lots done this week.

How Does This Even Happen...

The 9 year olds Ipod Touch has been confiscated for the past 2 weeks. She earnt it back and plugged it in to charge last night in readiness for a school excursion today, to take photos! It literally has not been used for 2 weeks, battery died and then this...Quite funny really!

After 2 calls to Apple support last night it is still not fixed (thank goodness for husbands spare iphone he uses when in Singapore for her to take on the excursion) I am now about to head into the local Apple store to waste spend time having it fixed.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Book Love

It is indeed a fabulous Friday when there is book worm goodness awaiting me at the post office.

In no particular order 4 of my very favourite things were rolled into these parcels - books, my thermomix/healthy food, quilting and interiors.

Now to flip a coin - to iron or to flick!!??

Year of The Pies and Tarts!

I hereby name 2014 the Year of the Pies and Tarts!

I started this quilt way back in December 2010 when on a trip to Dublin for my brother in laws wedding. Over the past few years I have pottered away on them but I now have a bee in my bonnet about them and they have been hanging around for FAR TOO LONG!!

My goal for 2014 is to finish the top - I have 39 pies and tarts to go, out of 100 of each. Once the top is together I need to applique the tarts onto it. This is where I want it to be by year end. I just need to double my yearly average to get all the piecing done and then get the applique done, and I will meet my goal! With my track record, not sure if I like my chances but I am going to give it one helluva shot!

Then 2015 will be calling for it to be sandwiched, stitched in the ditch and then the hand quilting that I oh-so-love will begin...but I think I am getting a little bit ahead of myself there.

The funny thing about this quilt is that it really does not go with our house, so I have no idea where I will put it once it is done. One thing is for sure, I will be keeping it after all the blood, sweat and tears of putting it all together!

A Random Snippet

I am a self confessed find-a-word geek!

I love this book, and it is not the first one I have owned. I carry it a lot! I use it in waiting rooms, sit in the car gate queue with it, take it when I am travelling, grab 10 minutes here and there at home, or sometimes I take an hour or two. Sometimes the kids help me, sometimes they don't.

I love looking for the words, I love the time it gives me to myself, I love the random and sometimes bizarre subject matter. I love that sometimes the subject matter can trigger a memory or set off a completely different thought pattern!

Here are just a few I have done in this book. I am very methodical and work through the book - no jumping around here and there! And the one tonight, I started whilst dinner was on the stove top, one daughter was revising her time tables and the other one was playing the piano transported me back in time to the 80's. Bananarama - yeah baby!!

The Butterfly Birthday Quilt

Remember those posts about the quilts for my friend from Mothers Group and her son, Master S? This quilt was for Miss Z, also a member of that beautiful family.

I love this "Butterfly Fling" fabric and started this quilt what feels like many moons ago. I wasn't really sure who it was going to be for, but when the time came to choose something for Miss Z then I knew that this would be perfect for her - bright and bold - just like her!

Quilted by Emma and gratefully received, I am happy to tick another quilt off my WIP list!

A Painting and A Piano

Two years ago on Tuesday, my husband turned 40. The big 4-0! Being the man that he is, he really couldn't care less. We had a wonderful lunch harbour side with friends as well as a small family occasion and it was such a lovely way to celebrate this milestone. I really wanted to do something special for him but being mid renovation, my head couldn't think of anything nor could I really justify any great expense.

Fast forward two years and I thought perhaps for this birthday I should make up for it a little!

Our neighbours had an incredible painting done when they first rebuilt their house and I always admired it, their home is completely different to ours, super contemporary albeit lovely, where ours is more of a French Provincial style with our own eclectic taste thrown in for good measure.

The artist, Georgina Hart, has her studio alongside our favourite cake store Kiss Me Cake and when I went to organise Zoe's First holy Communion cake back in October, it dawned on me that we could commission a painting by the wonderful Georgina.

Today the girls and I went and indulged in cake and coffee (well they had water!) in amongst all of Georgina's wonderful work and collected our painting "Wish Upon a Sunset" ready to gift on Tuesday. (That is it in the bubble wrap with the big red bow!) The girls are so excited to give this to their dad, an artwork based on them!! They are equally excited about the i-phone cover and the back scratcher, so that was good news!

One of my To Do's for 2014 was to begin the path of learning to play the piano! So Ciára and I started last week (Zoe will do flute with school). We have hired an electric piano and we are loving the lessons and the practice. I dream of a baby grand in that room, but for now, this fab piano will get us through!

Getting back on track in 2014

I fell off my own wagon over the past couple of years, and made every excuse under the sun why I shouldn't get back on. But enough is enough. It is time for me for get my act together again.

2014 is the year of me.

Recreating habits that I have dropped and getting back on track.

Setting goals and achieving them.

This page kept coming up in my FB feed so after reading the Leonie Dawson website I decided to invest in the Life Edition Workbook and Planner

Such a great way to help me get back on track.

Watching "We're the Millers" and the tennis tonight I did some colouring of a few pages I have already completed.

I love that Leonie prompts you to reflect on the year that was 2013 - differents aspects and in depth. This has helped me reach "closure" on some parts that I wasn't entirely happy with! And pat myself on the back for the things that I did achieve! I am able to move into 2014 with a fresh start and a clear and focussed mind.

Ready for 2014? Indeed I am, bring it on!

Pizza Boxes in the Mail

A year or so ago, I joined up to the Lime Tart Copic Club.

I bought the first 3 or 4 packs and didn't spend nearly as much time playing as I should have, so I decided to sit on those for awhile before I ordered the rest of the packs.

BUT then a few weeks ago I received an email from Lime Tart saying they had decided to close down. ARGH no.

I bit the bullet and ordered the remaining packs, a bit of a Christmas present to myself really.

Due to all the bargains in their online store I decided to get a few stamps, inks, paper stocks for my stash. I can justify all purchase of course, as my girls are going to start art journalling with me this year ;)

I went to the PO Box today to check the mail and was delighted to have these 2 pizza style boxes handed over the counter to me!

What crafty goodness lies within? i couldn't remember a couple of things I ordered and was so excited to open them up to check out my purchases. I also received some gifts from Lime Tart for the stash so feeling very appreciative of that!

Head over to Lime Tart to grab yourself some bargains before they close for good at the end of January.

We have been having lots of holiday fun here.

Last Friday we headed into town to visit Exxopolis - Architects of Air in the Sydney Opera House forecourt. What a fun afternoon. Something very different and cool to do!

It is really quite fabulous and on until 27th January. If you are a Sydneysider, or visiting Sydney, we all loved it and it is well worth the visit!

The Sydney Modern Quilt Guild

Today I went along to my first meeting of the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild, also the first meeting for 2014. You can read more about the group here.

I first made contact with them sometime early last year and then soon gave up when other commitments "got in the way" and I couldn't get to any of the meetings.

One of my 2014 goals was to take more time for me to indulge in the things I love, so joining up to this lovely little group was the perfect way to do it. All the dates for the year are set so they are now locked into our calendar and I am hopeful I will make the majority of the meetings.

I didn't take any pics today but Sel took some photos so hopefully she will post them and I will be able to link the pics up here once they are posted to the blog!

The shop where the meetings are held, Gretas Handcrafts at Lindfield has just downsized to a gorgeous little shop space. As there is only room for handcrafts I took along my notorious Pies and Tarts, which I am determined to get close to finishing this year. I did a Pie and a Tart as well as cutting another lot in the 3 hour meeting.

It was so nice to meet the girls and listen to their chin wagging of different fabrics and ranges and bloggers and patterns and plans. I felt so out of the loop of the quilty world, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the time.

The fun thing is that once every 2 months there will be a sew-in day at a new quilt shop at Castle Hill, which I believe to be fabulous! I am looking forward to heading out there for a nosy.

It was pretty hot in Sydney, so I spent the afternoon organising my 2014 schedule for when the girls are back at school and worked out the plan of attack for next week to finish up the holidays with lots of fun. We swam and hung out - so it was a great mix of family time and self indulgence today. A perfect mix for a lovely Saturday!

Heaven is a Place on Earth

My girls and I have just spent 5 glorious days with this view over Main Beach, on the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland.

We flew up to meet and stay with some friends who were up there. It is the 3rd time we have been up there in the past 18 months. We absolutely love it. We had a wonderful time though we missed Daddy!

Our days went something like this;

Mornings
Wake up
Breakfast
Coffee on the balcony
Put togs on and lather up on the sunscreen
Head to the beach until lunch time
Mosy back to apartment for lunch

Afternoons
Rest
Relax
Movie
I-something
Putt putt
Pool
Or whatever took our fancy

We headed down to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for a day.

We bought seafood and hot chips from the best fish market on the coast and ate it on the beach one night. With champagne, of course.

We had dinner with friends from Adelaide who were up there as well. Southport SLSC is a great place to eat out with kids.

I took this photo on the last night, it was so pretty!

It is always tough to finish a great holiday, but we were excited to get home to see Daddy and the dog. They missed us too!

We now have 2 weeks of holidays left. And then another school year will begin! Where does the time go?

Who Am I Kidding?

I was hoping to have the whole house done before we went away later in the week.

I am kidding myself.

It is stinking hot, the kids are exhausted and my 15 month old niece was here for the day today.

An at home day was declared and whilst the girls played all together, rested and hung out I cranked up the air con and got into more of the summer cleaning jobs. Argh. Fridge and freezer is spotless and shining, Christmas decorations are all wrapped and packed up, then I moved onto the dishwasher and the bins. All look brand spanking new now. Talk about elbow grease!

And that all took the best part of the day.

It is nearly 4pm and I still want to achieve a few things this afternoon/evening - washing folded and put away, pantry tidied and sorted and our bed changed. Downstairs straightened up. And if I have any energy left the cupboards under the book shelves (where the kids toys are) sorted and straightened up. That might be me being over ambitious though. I will see how I go.

I need a cuppa though, so it is time to sit in the sun with a green tea and read my new book for 1/2 hour so I feel like I have had some "me time"...and then I will get back into it.

I can not wait for the next series of Downton Abbey to be released!

Summer Cleaning

Part of my goals for 2014 is to recreate old positive habits that have gone astray in the past 12-24 months...lemon in warm water on rising, a green smoothie a day, an hour of exercise a day, following my schedule to keep on track. These benefit me more than words can say, and in turn my family is much happier because everything is running smoothly and I feel sane!

In the past, I have always used January as a type of spring cleaning month, though it being January, it really is Summer Cleaning. Room by room,
de-cluttering, clearing out, wiping out, wiping over, straightening up - you get the drift, right...?

The inlaws have been here for 6 weeks, some times it felt like it was flying by and other days it felt like they had been here for 6 months. Tonight they were flying out, home, back to Ireland. The whole family was here for the most of the day, emotions were running high. It is always so sad to say "see you soon" to them, especially seeing them farewell all the kids. I thought it was a good time to kick start my summer cleaning by escaping into my sewing room.

Until I started I thought it was all in fairly good order....but I decided to take it a step further - storage containers and labels. Works a treat, everything is in its very own home now, and when I slide open the wardrobe door it is all clearly there for me to see.

I do still need to sort that fabric out properly! And also go through the crafting magazines and books and be realistic/ruthless about what I really do need.

I can feel an ebay selling explosion coming on I have to say. Or is it gum tree these days?

So, other than a general straightening up now and the above couple of jobs, the sewing room summer clean is done. I can cross it off my list.

Now about the rest of the house and those other habits I need to re-ignite!!!