Summer nights in Sydney..

Nothing beats the Opera Bar with a glass of bubbles and good friends! Top it off with a fabulous meal at Guillaume and a wonderful night was had....

Some day soon there will be a post about sewing, and no-one will believe it!

Secret Santa Stash

I received this lovely gift from Kirsty from EB Newbie Quilters for my SS gift. I just love it all, especially the divinely smelling soaps, thanks Kirsty xxx

The Birthday Party Girl

Yesterday we celebrated Zoe's 5th Birthday...it is not her birthday until 31st December but decided to have the party and then have a quiet family celebration on the day. I actually baked her cake...not even with a packet mix!! Just call me Martha Stewart - LOL! It was delicious and I got loads of compliments so I was delighted! We also had our favourite entertainer Fairy Fun, come along to look after the kidlets - they all had a ball!

Meet Vespa

The carwash we use is fantastic, not only do they do a great job washing the cars, they have a fantastic cafe with a kids area. Meet Vespa - he lives at the car wash. So many times we have been lucky enough to meet and pat him but today I actually had the camera with me. Zoe, as with everything was very cautious and admired him from a distance. Ciára however went in with her usual gusto for a close up hello and a pat!

Christmas Tree Tradition

We have a little tree from when we lived in a unit, this is the 3rd Christmas in our house and still we haven't bought a huge big new tree like we always planned, must be too attached to this one.

Our tree is very eclectic...and daggy! We have collected ornaments over the years on our travels so it tells a bit of a story for our family. This year the girls made 12 new baubles - we had so much fun doing it!

My mum joins us when we can to put the tree up and decorate it. It seems to have become a bit of a tradition over the past 4-5 years that she actually puts it up and decorates it, first it was just with Zoe and now with both the girls!
Here we are with the finished result last Sunday afternoon!
And here's Zoe + Ciára with some of their handiwork last week, making the new baubles.

Hoping to get some sewing posts in here over the next few weeks, time seems to be scarce at the moment and I haven't touched anything quilty for a week or two now! So Sad!

Isn't it Summer time Now?

So it was the first day of Summer yesterday. I love Summer but was a little disappointed when it was cool and showery all day. Well now it is Day 2 and we are all wrapped up in our dressing gowns and the girls are complaining of feeling cold. Now, I am not a fan of 35 + degree days, but surely 25+ is not too much to ask for? The view from the front of our house this morning, there was rain and wind for most of the night....

Unofficial Advent Blog Along

The lovely Car has organised an Advent Blog Along - I don't think that enough really happens in my life to blog every single day for the next 24 days but I will give it an unofficial whirl!

This morning my darling little two and a half year old had her Chrismtas concert at daycare. It was adorable!

Here she is in "Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star" mode. Cute huh!

And with her our family friend, best little mates who also goes to the same daycare..

Opinions please...

Now this will determine how many readers I really have ...ha ha ha....

This is Siobhans's Quilt, coming together slowly but surely when I get a chance here and there. I am really hoping that I will find the time to finish the top this weekend and get it sandwiched and the hand quilting started...So my question to you, which perle thread should I use - the red or the pink??? (please excuse the pile of pink thread...miss 2 1/2 got her hands on it).

Thanks for your help!

Cut It Out!!!

I am way behind on getting a quilt done for my gorgeous little neice, Siobhan, who was 1 in October. I decided that I am just going to do a very basic quilt of 4 inch squares and then handquilt in a raspberry red all over it, probably just diagonally. I love this fabric, and the colours. This is as far as I have gotten....but I am working on it when I can. I have made 3 "Antique Tile" blocks in this fabric, and will make those as a bed runner...I love the fabric so much I might just keep it for myself to go with aqua european pillow cases + white doona cover...

I really need to get game and try out some FMQ but I am very nervous about! Would love to do Deborah Louie's machine quilting class, she comes to my LQS...perhaps 2010 is the year?

Love Nest ...

finished and on the Love Nest!!!

Sasha's quilt...done!!

Rainbow Jane - Let The Journey Begin....

Stay tuned for progress....

Sasha's Quilt

This morning Zoe had her swimming lesson, then both the girls spent some time playing in the water....on the way back home I declared that the rest of the day would be an "At Home Day"...I really need to get Sasha's quilt finished!!!

So, all the inner square stitching is done and I have 6 more of the outer squares to do, that should get knocked over tonight...the ironing can wait! Seeing Sasha tomorrow afternoon but the girls have swimming again tomorrow morning so I just don't think I am going to get it finished in time for 4pm......will give it a whirl otherwise it is a great excuse to catch up with her lovely mummy for a coffee next week sometime!

Bananas Galore...

Twice weekly we do a fruit and vege order through here. Last week Dave was unpacking the box and yelled out, "Have we adopted a gorilla?". In a momentary lapse of sanity I ordered 6 KILOS of bananas, rather than the usual 6 bananas. So...some were given away, others were hastily munched down, put on breakfast cereal and frozen. Zoe decided she wanted to bake a cake this morning..."excellent idea" says mummy, "let's make a banana cake". A quick search on my fave site for recipes, Taste, came up with this yummy sounding cake recipe . This is the result of some fun in the kitchen with my angels...

Afternoon tea for a last minute playdate. And because there is little ones who will be munching on it we decided to leave off the dessicated coconut!

We still have about 10 bananas in the freezer. Nest week will be a banana bread or two, I think!

What's a Girl To Do...

...When she is child free and it is a dull and dreary day outside? Finish her RR blocks of course.

None of my blocks claim to be perfect, nor the spot on exact size or to have wonderful points...but I did my very best and have really enjoyed putting them together so far. Only two to go...can't wait to get all of mine back and put them all together.

RR blocks - I feel like some R & R now

We have finally gotten back in sync with life after our trip away. My house is still a bit of a mess but we are getting there. Miss C was sick on Tuesday and home from day care so whilst she was vegeing out on the lounge I got a whole lot of catching up on my RR blocks done.

I know what movie I won't be going to see....

This morning, I have just finished reading My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. Talk about pulling at the heart strings. What a story. There is no way i would be able to sit through the recently released film and not come out looking like a bull frog!!!

This is the story of a 13 year old Anna who sues her parents for medical emancipation when she is expected to donate a kidney to her sister Kate who is dying from leukemia. It is told from all of the characters point of view and takes an unexpected twist at the end.

I sobbed a number of times through it but enjoyed it all the same!

We are leaving Ireland early on Wednesday morning, I have started to pack up all our bits and pieces! Leaving is always so bittersweet, I am desperate to get home, back into routine, see my dog and back to normal life but it is so sad leaving all our friends and family here in Ireland. I am sure there will be sobbing then too!!!

So, my book is ready for the flight - Barack Obama's Dreams of My Father - but I am starting to think that 50 books in 2009 is a little ambitious, specially with my newly acquired TO DO list below! Let's see how we go though.

My VERY Long To Do List....for the next 10 Years...

Yesterday in Dublin it was dull and dreary, raining, windy and cold. With very little to do but while away the day indoors, I grabbed a pen and paper and mentally went through all my WIP's, BOM's, kits and quilts I want to make, I am sure there is something I have forgotten.

Phwoar, what a list.

I am very good at purchasing fabrics etc with great intentions but spend much too little time actually sewing. After I made my to do list, I sat and penned a new Time Management Schedule to incoporate sewing time rather than just doing it willy nilly when I get a chance. Tuesday is MY day to sew, and I will also do a double lesson every 3-4 weeks at my local quilt shop.

When jotting down my list, I took into account the fact that I want to get started on my Dear Jane quilt. I am going to work my way through this list and will not deviate from it at all!!! Stay tuned for the next 10 years, this will be a slow and steady process, but I will get there....and no more fabric buying unless needed for a WIP on the list, until I am at least half way through this list.

Are you ready for my craziness....

1. Finish Round Robin blocks for the EB RR Quilt Swap
2. Make all labels on computer for quilts completed
3. Sasha's Quilt - finish hand quilting, bind + label
4. Siobhan's Quilt - finish blocks (5 to go), sandwich, quilt + bind
5. Mel's Quilt - sandwich, quilt, bind
6. Emma's Quilt - applique top, sandwich + quilt
7. June's Table Runner - top, sandwich + quilt
8. Lynam's Bubba Quilt
9. Ciára's Monster Quilt
10. Bind + Label above quilts
11. Dear Jane x 4 blocks
12. Material Obsession Dolly Quilt Kit
13. Ciára's Butterfly Fling Single Bed Quilt
14. Put RR Quilt Together
15. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
16. Complete M'Lady's Passion BOM
17. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
18. Al + Koy's Wedding Quilt
19. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
20. Mum's 60th Birthday Quilt
21. Red Patchwork Lap Quilt for Mai
22. Original Quilt Blocks put together as a Lap Quilt
23. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
24. John + Sinead's Wedding Quilt
25. Prints Charming Red + Tan Linen Quilt Kit
26. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
27. Fiona's Frolic Quilt Kit
28. Rocket Man Quilt
29. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
30. Finn's Funky Monkey Quilt
31. Leicester Square Quilt Kit
32. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
33. Truly Scrumptious Block 1
34. Strawberry Lemonade Raggedy Edge Quilt
35. Dear Jane Block x 1
36. Butterfly Fling Raggedy Edge Quilt
37. Truly Scrumptious Block 2
38. Pindot Pinwheel Quilt
39. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
40. Owl Quilt
41. Truly Scrumptious Block 3
42. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
43. Kaffe Fassett Kit
44. Truly Scrumptious Block 4
45. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
46. Pies + Tarts Block 1
47. Truly Scrumptious Blocks 5-8
48. Pies + Tarts Blocks 2-5
49. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
50. Truly Scrumptious 9 + 10, Complete Quilt
51. Pies + Tarts Blocks 6-8
52. Christmas Red work Stitchery Bock 1
53. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
54. Christmas Table Runner
55. Pies + Tarts Blocks 9 + 10, Complete Quilt
56. Christmas Red Work Stitchery Block 2-4
57. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
58. Christmas Red Work Stitchery Blocks 5-6
59. Scarves - kits from Prints Charming
60. Christmas Red Work Stitchery Blocks 7-10 , Complete Quilt
61. Jacob's Ladder Quilt Kit
62. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
63. Noah's Ark Quilt
64. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
65. Spring Daze Quilt
66. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
67. Coin Quilt with jelly roll
68. Dear Jane Blocks x 2
69. Oh Frannson Quilt Along
70. Dear Jane Blocks x 2

See, told you I am crazy....

Books, Books, Beautiful Books

I am always complaining that I don't get enough time to read. I am now on my 7th trip to Dublin so I am "sight-see'd" out in this lovely city, so when at home at my inlaws I like to crack a few good books!

So far, I have read whilst here;

Knit Two - Kate Jacobs
Comfort Food - Kate Jacobs

Both fabulous reading, very enjoyable. I look forward to Kate's next story, and hope it will be more about Walker and Daughter in the Knit series, and would love to hear where Gus Simpson and her family head to in another installemnt about Comfort Food!

I also read "Dying to Survive" by Rachael Keogh. A true story of the journey of a Dublin girl who gets addicted to heroin and finally comes clean after many years of hell. A harrowing read at times for a sheltered girl like myself but very inspriring to make better of a situation. If Rachael can do it, anyone can!

TIME to reduce my WIP pile...

My WIP's are starting to be ridiculous and with so many kits and ideas in my head I really can't add to it! So I am going to work my way through this list before I start anything else!

RR blocks
Binding on Lovenest
Binding on Zoe's Dora Quilt
Sasha's quilt - hand quilting and binding
Siobhan's quilt - 2 block made, 7 to go
Mels quilt (the love knot one) - to be sandwiched, handquilted and bound
Emma's quilt - add border + applique, sandwiched, handquilted and bound
Make labels for all quilts and attach
Cross stitch that is so close to being finished yet so far!!!

After that I need to;

Make Ciára's monster quilt (equivalent of Zoe's Dora quilt)
Junes table runner
Ciára's Butterfly Quilt that I started at my lesson last week

I wonder if i can get this all done by the end of the year given we are going in 3 weeks and will be gone for 6 weeks....I will give it a whirl...

Another Book To Add To My List...

Dave and I had a fabulous weekend away staying here. Child free and relaxed I started...and finished "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs.

What a fabulous read. I don't even knit but it is a story of personal growth, of friendship and kinship, I loved it. I cried, like everyone else I know who has read it, and today I have ordered the sequel, and it won't get here quickly enough!!

Get it and read it, you won't regret it!

Progress Report for this week...

One of my really good friends had a bubba girl last August, I promised a quilt...needless to say they are still waiting for it. I was determined to give it to her for her first birthday. The party is next weekend. Tonight I have finished the top. I love the darker colours with the crisp white and found my inspiration for it here. I saw this quilt and fell in love with it, saved it as a favourite determined to do something similar at some stage...so now I have. By next Saturday I need to sandwich and hand quilt it. I have bought chocolate and a strong pink perle for the quilting and I am really looking forward to the finished result!

With Dave away on a 2 week trip at the moment and lots of sickness in this house, time to quilt and be creative has been short. Tonight I feel like I have achieved something!



Ciára is mad about monsters at the moment, so here are my girls impersonating the monsters in a book borrowed from the library this morning.

The Saddest Book I Have Ever Read...

Damaged by Cathy Glass.

Cathy Glass is a pseudonym for a foster carer in the UK, she has wrtten a couple of books about children she has worked with. I have also read another called "Hidden" some time ago.

This book is the story of Jodie. I started it yesterday morning and have been drawn back to it over the past 24 hours and each time I did I cried. I have just finished it now and it has made me so down that anyone can treat children so horrifically. The upside to this story is the amazing author, a foster carer who through kindness and patience puts a little light back into these childrens lives.

"A Deeply moving story of how one foster carer's profound patience and love unlocked a little girl's darkest and most painful secrets"

If you dare, make sure you have the tissues and a few prayers with you.

Sneaky Peeky...

I did another trial run of my block tonight. It is the 3rd choice of block and 2nd trial run of my final choice! I was very concerned as the first blocks I just couldn't get them to 12 1/2" even though I was working from a pattern. I checked everything so I really do not know where it all went wrong.

Anyhoo, finally I am happy. It takes a little bit of pull to get it to 12 1/2" but I have done a dummy run and sewn it to other pieces of fabric and it comes out at 12" when sewn all together. PHEW!! Now to unpick it all and send it back to the lovely Kirsty who has organised the RR for us EB Newbie Quilters.

I now feel confident enough to start cutting into other people fabrics! I might wait until tomorrow though when I am not feeling so tired!

So, here it is ... a sneaky peek of my block in my fabric for the round robin.

This One Gives A Whole New Meaning...

to being a "boring" housewife.

This morning I have just finished reading "The Bride Stripped Bare" by Nikki Gemmell.

The jury is still out on how I really feel about this one. I can not relate to it at all, and wonder how many women I know really would. I remember it getting alot of hype 5 or 6 years ago....borrow it, buy it, have a read and let me know when you think!!!

Books Schmooks...

If I am going to make it to 50 books in 2009, I must stop choosing 1000 page books, even if they are fabulous and I can't put them down!!

Over the past couple of weeks, I have driven my dear husband mad - everytime he looks me I have had my nose in a book BUT last night I finally finished the second one!

The 2 books, which I highly recommend as a great read are The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, both by Ken Follett.

The blurb on World Without End reads;

"Ken Folletts' masterful epic "The Pillars of the Earth" enchanted millions of readers with it's compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict, set around the building of a cathedral. Now "World Without End" takes readers back to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change".

Progress Report

Some time ago, Miss Zoe and I took a trip to Spotlight together. She spied this Dora panel and begged me to make a "snuggle quilt" for her. I tried to persuade her that we could make a different (and nicer!!) snuggle quilt for her, but she insisted. I sandwiched and did some stictch in the ditch quilting on it a while ago..and then got the guilts that I hadn't made it for her when it was a task that would take so little time! Over the past few nights I have done some hand quilting around it and last night I finished it! Ta da....awful huh!!

I also decided that as I am pretty close to completing this cross stitch that I just love that I may as well just get on with it and finish so it can be framed and hung on the wall...just three more words to go!

WIP's are go to be completed, I am sick if having them hanging around!

Crazy Love

Last night I completed my love knot quilt top, her name is "Crazy Love" - coz love can be like that sometimes.

Now I need to head to my LQS and pick up some backing fabric for it. I have quite a bit of the border fabric left over so might pick up a chocolate brown and use that with the yellow pattern.

I am not sure what will happen with this quilt and where she will end up, I really love it but I do have a wedding and engagement quilt to make as gifts so let's see how time goes for me!

A Successful Trip to the Quilt Fair

Just a note, the links aren't working at the moment, will be back tomorrow to fix!

On Thursday I decided to venture into the Quilt and Craft Fair at the Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour. I had never been so was quite excited. I was fortunate that my step mum was also going to be there with her buddy so I had some help with the girls. Thank goodness for Nana!

I went with one thing in my head to look for and thankfully the wonderful Prints Charming had it in kit form. I was so excited, and really had the best intentions of not buying anything else....however the temptations were too hard to resist and besides I needed to stock up on projects for when the house renovations starts and I can't (won't be allowed) to spend any money on quilty goodness!

This is the kit from Prints Charming. I saw the pattern in one of the quilting magazines a few months back and fell in love with it. It is linen and all hand printed. I can't wait to make this one up for ME!!

Also from Prints Charming 2 lovely scarf kits - they are meant to be for gifts but being a scarf lover they may just end up in my wardrobe!


From Patchwork on Central Park a couple of lengths of linen to make scarves. They had them on display and once you wash the linen in hot water and then tumble dry them they have a lovely soft crinkled finish.

I never got over how much I loved the Ava Rose fabric. I bought a FQ bundle of the blue from ThThe Fat Quarter Shope and always wished I had purchased the pink as well. So when I saw this kit at the Just Patchwork stall, I had to make it all mine!

Then a few patterns, a couple of cushion patterns from Hot Possum, A couple of FQ friendly patterns from Moonshine, a lovely pattern called Vintage Pinwheels from Rose Patchwork Cottage and a couple of FQs from Prints Charming to go with the Rocket panel and FQ's I purchased from them a few months back.

Last but not least a Cool Yule table runner kit from Hot Possum, I loved the colours and couldn't resist. It won't go with our decor now but when we do the house we plan to have lots of white and timber so it will make the perfect accessory to our table the first Christmas in our newly renovated home...also gives me a couple of years to get it made LOL!

I am not sure if I am allowed to post photos from the exhibiton so if you know that I am not allowed to please tell me. The talent was so amazing and so many fabulous quilts that I loved. Here is a selection of a few I particularly liked, with my little model Zoe - who asked me when she would be old enough to start to make quilts "coz they are so beautiful". Her pick was the Care Bears one as shown below!

And these were my 4 favourites, all quite different but just stunning all the same!