Dear Jane is go - Uncle Homer DONE!!!

Yay!!!

Siobhan's Quilt - CHECK!!

One more quilt from my big long list completed, and only 18 months after she was born....whoops. Following are front and back shots.



Now, I am moving onto start my Dear Jane quilt finally. Just the first block, so don't get too excited! I hope to get it cut out today, and sewn tomorrow. We'll see!

And then this, Ciára's Monster Snuggle Quilt - the equivalent of Zoe's Dora Snuggle Quilt recently finished! The girls each chose their own panels so it goes to show how different my girls are! The monsters are fun though, and makes for a nice change from Dora, Barbie or Disney Princesses that seem to be all the rage in this house at the moment!

D-D-D-D-Dora!!

Just so you know I am not a complete NQ fraud - and even though it almost doesn't qualify as a home made quilt here is the final product. Zoe is delighted and despite the humidity of an evening insists on wrapping herself up in it of a night.

And also the progress report on the handquilting of Siobhan's quilt...it is slowly getting there! This quilt is so simple but I really love it!

Big school is go!

Today my precious first born, Zoe, started school!! My darling I am so proud of you and how you handled your first day! I was delighted by how excited you were about this next stage in your life. I was in awe of how composed you were and just how happy you were to be there. I love you Zoe Pops xxx

Nanny's Quilt - first completed quilt in 2010 - or is it?

This quilt has been a long time in the finishing. I did the quilt top in January last year for my lovely Nanny. It was finished in a hurry to give to her sometime later in the year, with no handquilting done and a dodgy binding. When we were out there before Christmas (she lives 3 1/2 hours away from us) I took it back and have redone the binding and handquilted the 30-something blocks on it. So even though it was finished in 2009, it was REALLY completed in 2010, so do I count it as my first 2010 quilt??? Anyway, Here is the finished result straight out of the dryer - i love how the dryer just crinkles everything up on a quilt, makes em so more loveable! I really must spend some time working out photoshop so my photos are not so dark and dreary looking!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy, Successful + Creative 2010.

I plan to spend a whole lot more time being creative this year...and to get to 50 books in 2010.

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.