2014 Goals

I have seen this list floating around various social media sites in the past week or so, and when I sat down to think about my 2014 goals it kept coming back to my mind, especially the simplicity of it.

It sums up how I would like my 2014 to be!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May it be your best year yet!

A Birthday Quilt for Master S

I have known Master S since he was 6 weeks old when his mum and I met at Mothers Group. He is the son of the friend I made the quilt for in my previous post. He claimed his mum's quilt for his own room a number of times before finally asking me if I would make him a quilt for his birthday. How could I say no? His birthday was yesterday, 29th December, so I had it finished in plenty of time for catching up with him for his 9th birthday in a couple of days.

You can read a bit about Emma quilting it here
Of course, his sister Miss Z couldn't be left out so the Butterfly Quilt is going to her in early February, I still need to bind that one!

A Birthday Quilt for a Special Friend

I have a lovely friend whom I met in Mothers Group. Our families are close, the kids go to school together, we have had holidays together and we all get on very well. She is one of my best friends so I knew when her 40th birthday rolled around I had to make her quilt. So I chose fabrics that were happy and bright, just like her and I love this. Although she didn't receive it until closer to her 41st birthday she absolutely loved it!

Some Unintentional but Much Needed Quiet Time

We had alot of fun this festive season. Family have been here visiting from New York and Dublin, so there was alot of family get togethers, sight seeing and catching up. Christmas swung around before we knew it.

We have a Christmas Eve that is the same every year. I guess it has unintentionally become a tradition for us, but we love it. Always hanging out at home together, an early dinner, Mass, driving around all the fabulous local Christmas lights, home, kids to bed, red wine poured, the last of the Christmas presents out to be wrapped, the Melbourne Myer Bowl Christmas Carols on tele and then we watch Love Actually. We never tire of it. We always laugh about it. We love it though. Our in laws are here this year, so it was nice to do it with them as well.

An early start on Christmas Day - 3.45am. WHAT??!! It was back to bed for that young lady, with them both finally waking at a much more decent hour of 7.30am. Oh, the excitement of Santa's visit and receiving much anticipated and hoped for gifts. Santa didn't fail to deliver this year!

A busy morning prepping and finishing organising Christmas lunch - 13 adults and 6 kids this year. A very fun day - food, laughs, drinks, karaoke, cleaning up, more drinks, exhaustion. A very fun day spent with family.

Then Boxing Day rolls around - another unintentional tradition - any friends who are in Sydney come in to say hello, swim, eat, share a bevvie and a few laughs and it is always a fantastic day spent with great people.

Towards the end of the day though I started to feel really off. Mum had a bit of a bug on Christmas Day and spent most of the day upstairs in bed. I thought I was getting her bug. I felt dreadful and had a fairly early night. 5am the next morning it was clear that Miss Z had caught Nanny's bug, and she spent the next 24 hours vomitting. Poor little poppet. Miss C seemed fine. As for me, I couldn't drag myself out of bed. I don't think I have ever felt so unwell. So off I went to the doctor yesterday and it turns out it is a flu virus and an ear infection - who knew!? The rest of yesterday I spent snoozing on the lounge. Today I am feeling brighter but still achey and lethargic. I have manged to indulge in (much needed) quiet time and do a few things I enjoy most...

Gotta love the Ashes! Listening to the English supporters is almost worth watching it for that alone.

Some mindless colouring

And I finished a fantastic book, set in a beautiful coastal village I know so well.

Hopeful that tomorrow I will feel up to getting up and doing alot more. Everyone is getting cabin fever here in a huge way.

Wishing you a happy new year and all the very best for 2014.

WIP challenge 2014

My challenge to myself for 2014 is to get the incomplete projects done and moved on or in use in our home! I have challenged myself with this before and it really does make a difference to my "productivity".

So, what needs to leave the sewing room in 2014?

Samuels Quilt - needs binding
Zara's Quilt - needs binding
Zoe's Quilt - need to buy border and backing backing fabrics, otherwise piecing finished
Sew in ends of Zoe's granny square blanket
Sew in ends of Ciára's ripple blanket
Window seat quilt - basic charm quare quilt, part way through being pieced
Liberty quilt for our bed - fabric cut
Finish Pies and Tarts Quilt
Start Handstitched Quilt
Do 20 blocks of Dear Jane (to get it back on the radar!)


If I get these out the door, or onto beds/lounges in our house plus some art journaling and zentangling - then I will be a very happy crafter come the end of 2014!

I have a craft room...

We bought our house 7 years ago. A great location, great bones and a very blank canvas. We had a plan. Live in it for 5 years then renovate. 2 years in the nearly 100 year old roof, in original condition, couldn't take any more patching up and needed replacing. We knew the time had come, albeit earlier than anticipated, to go into design mode and get it all happening. Our plan was to extend out the back and to add a second level. My head went into over drive with all the possibilities.

One thing that was high on my wish list was my very own space, a craft room. And I scored the best room in the house for it, our old bedroom.

Now 18 months down the track, the decorating of the whole house is almost complete and with only a few more jobs to do, we are in love with our gorgeous home and the expense and, at times heartache, was totally worth it. I have a beautiful space that I can call my very own, lots of light, lots of room, a desk, shelving for some of my favourite bits and bobs, a sofa bed for "overflow guests" (we have a spare room with a queen size bed but we often need more sleeping space!) that is really comfy to lie on to read a book, the exercise bike is in here and all my weights as well, so I guess it almost doubles as a home gym ;) - and hugely important for any crafter - lots of storage space! I love it. I am hopeful that 2014 is much quieter than this year has been and that I will be able to get in here to actually enjoy the space and get some crafting/study/fun stuff happening!

Every Day I'm Rippling..

I am sure any blogger who crochets who has done a ripple has had "Every day I'm rippling" in high rotation in their head!

My youngest daughter has a mermaid themed bedroom, so a ripple seemed quit apt - you know, the waves and all....

I had a couple of abandoned attempts at a ripple with some of the girls in my quilt group when we were away, and oh the frustration when I just couldn't work out where I was going wrong. It was frogged, and crocheted, and frogged and crocheted and frogged again, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I put it to one side and forgot about it for a while.

When visiting one of my all time favourite crafty stores - Calico and Ivy, which has sadly closed down now I came across "200 ripple stitch patterns" by Jan Eaton (to knit and crochet)and grabbed it... I came across a basic pattern and knew that with my limited crocheting skill that I could actually produce a ripple for my little mermaid. So back in March, I took a visit to Spotlight and picked up some great colours that co-ordinate with her room and set to it.

Finally after many nights in front of the TV, and a few chilly days wrapped up under it, I finished it last week. Ta da! Miss Nearly 7 is delighted, and so am I. It has given me the confidence to get a little more adventurous with crochet.

It is a tad hot to sit under it to sew the ends in, so it has been put to one side again, until the weather turn cooler and I will have it ready for winter for her!

My poor little neglected blog

There has been craft, really there has. 2013 I kind of fell off the planet a bit. But I am back on again and my blog will be back in action come January 2014!! No, really, it will!

Princess J's Quilt

I have finished my niece's quilt in time for her Naming Day on Sunday. Feels good to be getting some of projects and WIP's finished and gifted. I am definitely getting these quilts finished and out the door to their new owners as I am having them actually quilted for me! And I have to say I love that - as I could never have them looking as fabulous with machine quilting as Emma does! She ALWAYS does a beautiful job, and she is a quilting machine! This quilt has been done with the open feathers that I love those much. The fluffiness the quilt gets after it has been tumbled dried is just lovely from the feathering! I do have plans to get some hand quilting done this year, but they may not end up on the 2013 Completed Quilts List!

Also an update on the Pies and Tarts quilt, the quilt that will never end is what it feels like, I am delighted to say that I have completed 50 blocks and sewn them up as well as 50 of the little tarts that will be appliqued onto it at the end. I just love this quilt!!! Right now onto the next WIP, or should I actually start Handstitched???

Princess D's quilt is ready to gift!

Last September ,we welcomed two little princesses to our family - my sister welcomed Princess J to the world, and my brother in law and his wife welcomed Princess D.

As all good quilty aunty's do, I decided to make them both a quilt. As this quilty aunty does, I am way behind schedule on them both!

Miss D was christened in Dublin in December so I wanted to have her quilt done for their return, I am only a couple of weeks late. It is a cute little pram/cot quilt and I just love the colours in this - a little different from the usual baby girl colours. Emma quilted it and I asked for an all over open pattern. The usual story, she did a fabulous job. I do love the open feathers, as once the quilt has been washed and tumbled dried it has such a lovely cuddly crinkly look and feel to it!

Now to get back to Princess J's quilt - her naming day is on the 24th March and I would like to gift it to her then!

Still Swooning...

Possibly my favourite quilt ever to come out of this sewing room! I love the swoon block, and once the fabric is cut, it comes together very easily. Amy Butler FQ's from the stash teamed with a kona solid and some fairy frost along with custom quilting from the ever amazing Emma and I am delighted with the finished result! I love it so much I will be keeping this one!

Pies and Tarts progress

Can it be finished quilts?

I wasn't sitting on my hands when I was neglecting my blog late last year. I did manage to get some crafting done. I have been plodding along with my pies and tarts, I have now done 34 of 100 of each! (will I ever get it finished??? Lots of focus on it in 2013!) As well as a couple of quilt finishes. The lovely Emma of Sampaguita Quilts quilted these for me. (I plan on sending Emma any quilt tops I get done this year, and then back to hand quilting in 2014!) The first one was for my in laws for the their 40th wedding anniversary gift. I had been working on this one for some time. It eventually made it to them in December, hand delivered by my brother in law and his wife when they went for a visit to Dublin.

The next one was for Miss 5's Mermaid bedroom. I asked Emma to custome quilt it, and what an AMAZING job she did. Little Miss Mermaid was delighted to wake up on Christmas morning and find this quilt on her bed. Have a closer look at Emma's quilting here. I love the Swoon blocks in this quilt. I have a gorgeous smaller 4 block swoon with Emma at the moment being quilted...but more on that one on it's return.

Now to finish off a friends quilt and a baby quilt that are started and get them sent off for quilting. I also enrolled in the Handstitched class over at Stitched in Colour so I can do the Modern Medallion Quilt. I am IN LOVE with the fabrics I have chosen for this, waiting on Kona solids to arrive from Fabric Shack so I can get stuck in! Have a fabulous day!

Back to Blogging

Happy New Year! Blogging fell totally off the radar in the last months of 2012.

2013 I plan to blog regularly about my crafty adventures, and book reading escapades!

On the bedside table at the moment is the first book in a trilogy by Sharon K Penman, "Here be Dragons". Give me a book set in medieval or war time, and I am happy(not to say they are the only genres I enjoy of course.)

This book is set in medieval Wales and England.In fact I read this trilogy waaaaaay back in the early 90's and really enjoyed it, and then promptly moved on to the next read forgetting all about them - as I often did back then.

Over the years I have tried to recall the author or book title, only remembering snippets of the story. When in Queensland for Quilt Camp in November I was talking about these books and saying how much I enjoyed them but couldn't remember the author/title and the gorgeous Kylie instantly knew what I was talking about!

I was straight onto Book Depository to order them. I was delighted! As soon as the books arrived my world stopped as often as possible so that I could get stuck into them. I was a little concerned that I had all this hype in my head and that 20 years on they would be not a great as I remembered. No need for disappointment though!

The kids are about to jump in the pool so I might grab the book now, sit outside with them and head off to medieval Wales for a bit!

Wonderful weekend

I just spent a lovely weekend with 6 of my crafty friends coming to visit from all over the place - Victoria, Queensland and northern NSW along with another Sydney sider!

We had so much fun - chatting, laughing, crafting, dancing, drinking. We even left the house and went to visit Calico and Ivy, had lunch on the water at Drummoyne and stopped in at Material Obsession.

In between all the chat, I worked on my Pies and Tarts, cut the rest of the Swoon blocks and did actually finish an embroidery from the Prints Charming embroidery workshop that I did. The kit was intended as a cushion but I have decided to make it in a wall hanging for my sewing room. Love the Prints Charming panels I have to say....

Not going great guns with the 12 WIPS in 2012, but it has certainly gotten quilting back on my radar!!

Archer's Quilt

Another quilt that was a long time in the making...but here it is. Once again Emma excelled herself with the machine quilting. See some pics here.

We can learn alot from trees...

I love to travel

Tonight I have returned from Europe. Travelling with my husband, child free and it was fabulous...but it felt like it was longer than 2 weeks. I was fine for a week but then really started to miss the kids. My wonderful family (a mix of mum, sister and brother in law and step mum - but mostly my step mum) had the girls. We are forever grateful for the long stretches they have the girls once a year - not to mention the baby sitting and weekends throughout the years as well. They just move in and it is more of a disruption to their lives than it is ours and we are so appreciative for their support! Usually I am only away for 10 days, this week was 14 days and the girls and I all felt it. We told the girls I would arrive home later than I actually was going to be, so they expected to see me when they woke up in the morning. Nana let them have a treat of watching a DVD lying on our bed, so I was able to tiptoe up the stairs and suprise them. It was priceless and it was so exciting for the 3 of us (Dave not home until Tuesday night!) and there were lots of hugs and kisses!

So...I love to travel, even though Australia is so far away. Dave loves to travel. We always have something booked, even if it is a weekend away. The rest of 2012 is booked up with a week on the Gold Coast, a weekend in Melbourne, a week in Fiji and of course my quilt camp in Queensland in November. That should keep the itchy feet at bay for a while!

Back to this trip though...

3 days in London - I lived there in the late 90's and have been back 4-5 times since then. I always feel right at home. The weather was amazing - bright blue sky and 27 degrees. We caught up with friends, we shopped we drank, exercised, we ate. We enjoyed each others company uninterrupted. I adore my kids, but with all of Dave's travel we don't get a whole lot of quality one on one time in length together!

We flew to Malta for a week. 3 1/2 days at our leisure and then a 3 1/2 day event for Dave's company. An annual recognition event - it was very social and busy but lots and lots of fun. Malta has a fascinating history and we loved exploring the island and learning about it. Event dinners, clubbing, catching up by the pool - all great but has my jeans feeling a little (ok, alot) too tight!

Then onto Dublin for 3 quick days. Felt like I touched down, and took off again. Always lovely to see Dave's family and friends. The weather was abysmal given it is their summer but I wasn't there long enough for it to bother me.

I have flown back and forth from Ireland, UK and Europe many many times - it is always a reminder how far we are away from that part of the world every single time. Though 22 hours of uninterrupted movie watching and book reading makes it alot more enjoyable. Champagne and a flat bed helps too!

Pics to follow once I have unpacked the camera. Fow now I am going to go to bed and hope I make it through until the morning.

A crafty post too. Another resolution has been made - more craft time for me. I am so much happier when I do!

April finishes

Yay me! I have my mojo back for consistent crafting, add that to exercise and the house being in order and I am feeling pretty darn content! The Very Hungry Caterpillar is done and dusted and about to be sent to one of my dear friends daughters, Abby. Emma quilted this for me and as usual did a sensational job. Emma always takes much better pics of her quilting than I do, so for a close up look, check it out here.

Also my Round Robin quilt has grown on me since I put the black polka dot binding on. I wasn't overly happy with the cream homespun background I chose, but at the time it is was in the stash and I thought it would be ok. I did this with a group of friends back in 2009. We all supplied fabric, and a bundle got sent off to each participant. We then made the same block for each person. The blocks are all amazing and there are some stunning quilts that have been made up. I am happy to say that I am not the last one to finish my quilt! Again, Emma quilted this for me, see here. It is currently sitting on the lounge and the girls snuggle under it when watching tv.It needs a bit of a soak as there is a mark on it (an age spot perhaps) that is being a little stubborn in coming out!

Aside from this I have been crocheting, have made a Swoon block (more about that next post!) as well as an appliqued pie and a tart. Like I said, I am feeling very content!

Archer's Quilt

The top and backing is finished ready to be sent off to Emma on Tuesday for quilting!

Another Book Finished

This morning I lay on the lounge and finished "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver.

Hard going at times, and there was more than one ocassion when I had to consult the dictionary. I can't say I enjoyed the book but it had me hooked and I often fell asleep reading it as I just could not put it down and would read late into the night (well late for me anyway!)I could not relate to the mother at all. I could not relate to the family at all. I did like the way it was written from the mothers point of view to the father in the forms of letters, this was original and gave the book a different feel than it would have if written any other way. I am not good at writing reviews at all, so I think it is best to post one from Amazon.

In this gripping novel of motherhood gone awry, Lionel Shriver approaches the tragedy of a high-school massacre from the point of view of the killer's mother.In letters written to the boy's father, mother Eva probes the upbringing of this more-than-difficult child and reveals herself to have been the reluctant mother of an unsavory son. As the schisms in her family unfold, we draw closer to an unexpected climax that holds breathtaking surprises and its own hard-won redemption. In Eva, Shriver has created a narrator who is touching, sad, funny, and reflective. A spellbinding read, We Need to Talk About Kevin is as original as it is timely.

I do recommend this book, as it is interesting and different. I would really like to see the movie now, and I think Tilda Swinton will play the part of the mother, Eva, brilliantly!

I Had An Urge

So the machine came out and I sewed...just a little...Binding onto VHC. Emma quilted it and you can read about that here. She is so talented and the turn around is so quick and so beautifully done that unless I want to hand quilt off it goes to Emma.


I also finally sent off my RR quilt to Emma for quilting, see here for a closer look at the fabulous quilting. I think we did this about 3 years ago, with some of my quilty friends, I love the blocks. Sadly I think I was having a moment when I chose my fabrics, I wish I loved it more. Next step is to bind it but what I had in mind from my stash is too red....so need to make a purchase!


I also started putting together the "Bless You" blocks. This was going to go to my sister and her new hubby but I don't think it is going to suit them, so instead it will go to my brother in law and his wife - it will go better with their things. So....need to pull out all stops to make something for my sister now! I have sewn 24 blocks of 64 for Bless You. Planning on getting as many done as possible this Easter long weekend.

And some crochet for good measure!


Please excuse terrible pics - DSLR is dead and the little point and shoot ain't so good!

Rainy Day Fun

Today I am having the PERFECT day! Exercise and craft!!!

It started with an unintentional sleep in, which resulted in a mad rush to get out the door to school on time. this is not like our family at all ;) however I am usually up early and organised!

Home to do an hour of chores then a PT session, my first workout since THE WALK. All upper body and I am a little concerned about the state of me come Saturday now. I am flying to Melbourne tomorrow for our annual jaunt to Flemington however between hobbling in heels and trying to drink champers after this mornings workout, I think it will be an interesting look for me!

THEN some crochet. I now have this little pile of grany squares for Zoe - she wanted the granny squares and I chose the colours. Have to say, loving it!


Also some time on the machine. My step sister had a new bubba boy, Archer, very early last Sunday morning so this quilt will be for him. Planning on more time on this afternoon! Who cares if the rains has stopped, any time is perfect for quilty time, right!?

Coastrek 2012 - a 100km test of my strength and endurance!

On Friday morning at 3.30am my alarm went off. It was bucketing rain, and blowing a gale. I made myself a coffee, did a final bag check, woke my husband to drive us to Palm Beach and convinced myself I was doing a good thing. We collected Lisa and headed up the Northern Beaches to Palmy. We met the other 2 team members - Donna and Alison, registered, Dave hugged me farewell and our adventure had begun. 4 mums who had trained for weeks not knowing if we had a confirmed spot in the trek. We were drenched before we began the 10 second countdown to the start. The hooter sounded and off we headed. For 12 hours we walked up and over headlands, along beaches, marvelled at houses that would have cost the earth, all in pouring rain and blowing a gale. We knew if it didn't stop that we were going to struggle. But still we smiled. My friend Deb called me and at that stage my phone was still turned on. She wanted to help. She is a legend. Walking up the beach to us in driving rain with a tray of hot coffees that were appreciated more than she will ever know. We had to cross Dee Why Lagoon, we took our shoes off, that felt good. Our poor feet were soaked by then anyway. We got to the southern end of Dee Why Beach and attempted to dry our feet - in the rain. Fresh socks made us feel better for a wee while. We kept walking, it rained on and off, it was windy on and off - along paths, along trails, always with water in view. Eventually we made it to The Spit at Mosman, where Ben was waiting for us with fresh clothes and food. We stretched, we changed, we ate, we whinged a little and we headed off again. Darkness fell. We made it to Balmoral - the half way mark - the 50km mark. We kept trudging. The Harbour Bridge became a beacon in the darkness. With time, it got closer. Grant met us on the side of the road in Neutral Bay somewhere - more fresh clothes, warm soup, tough love. Off we set again. Checkpoint after checkpoint went by. Rain fell on and off. We marched along the foreshore. The lights of the Harbour Bridge and the city almost tormenting us, but keeping us going. We were heckled in Kirribilli, we had a laugh. And then we were on the Harbour Bridge, past midnight, feeling weary. But we had made it and we were off the Northern Side and heading South East. Another stop as we came off the Bridge and sat in the Rocks. Words of admiration and encouragement from a drunken English backpacker. We were doing ok. 3am Rushcutters Bay - the blisters were murdering our feet. Dave came bringing with him chicken noodle and vege soup - warming our hearts and lifting our spirits. I couldn't stop yawning. So tired, still so far to go. And then we were at Rose Bay - a manned checkpoint. We had made it so far - we were at the 75km mark. Surely we would get a spring in our step? No, my idea of hell was just beginning - trails along the foreshore from Rosebay to Neilsens Park, Vaucluse. We were all so quiet. I was 2nd in our conga line - my memory of that is my head torch like a spot light watching Donnas's feet in front of me - watching her every step - did her foot submerge into mud or water or was that step a dry spot. It felt like hours. A toilet stop at Neilsens Park - the others sat. I think Lisa had a three minute snooze, I had to keep walking or it would have been the end of me. The sun rising was like a gift from God - the difference it made, the boost it gave. We kept walking, more checkpoints. All four of us in a world of pain. My husband and my babies in my minds eye at all times, knowing they were going to be at the finish line kept me going, got me a little emotional at times. My phone was off alot of the distance but each time I turned it on, beautiful messages, texts, emails and facebook messages, encouraging me, pushing me to keep going. Such wonderful people in my life. My knee started to play up, I was having trouble bending it on some of the stairs. Donn'as ITB was giving her all sorts of grief. We side stepped down every set of stairs - were pretty good going up stairs. All of us quiet - just dreaming of getting to Coogee. Then down the hill into Bondi. In agony, so close - only 6.5k to go, still so far away. Blisters in places I've never had them on my feet, my knee was hammering with pain, the voltaren had worn off. Joggers, walkers - so kind - words of encouragement, not far to go now. I rounded Clovelly and there was Wylies Baths in the distance. One would think a spring in my step would miraculously appear, I was too tired. One foot in front of the other. Donna and I had slowed right down. Our legs were killing us. Alison and Lisa up ahead, stopped to wait - we were walking that last little bit together, as a team of 4. And then walking up the last hill I spy Sophie, Lisa's daughter running down to her, and here comes my Zoe - I was welling up - almost overcome with emotion. We had done it. We marched up that hill together. The rest of our families waiting. A sight for sore and tired eyes. Nicola and Anne - gorgeous friends waiting for me, taking pics as the 4 of us crossed the finish line together, poles in the air, smiles on our faces, absolutely buggered. 29 hours and 7 minutes. We hurt like hell. We had walked 100 kilometres, without sleep and in dreadful conditions. I flopped on the ground. I had to get my shoes off my feet. Hugs with my babies, kisses from my husband. I had done it.

Homr, radox bath, 2 hours sleep, thai takeaway, 2 glass champagne, still hurting, 12 hours sleep. A little stiff the next day. So tired still.

The pain is still too much a couple of days on, I don't quite appreciate this achievement just yet. I am sore, I am weary. But hour by hour I am feeling better. I know that I am stronger than I think I am, I know that I can do anything I can set my mind to. I learned alot about myself, about what it is to be a part of a team in an event like that, about how important it is to do these types of events to raise money for others less fortunate than myself.

We raised over $6,500 for the Fred Hollows Foundation. We were one team of only 10 that finished with all 4 team members, we smiled through the pain and we finished. I have good thoughts and bad of the whole experience. I need some distance to look back and appreciate it. I am glad I did it, but don't think I will go that distance again (never say never though!). To have my families arms wrapped around me at the end and tell me how proud they are was one of the best feelings ever. Nothing cane beat that, ever!

100 Things

I have just finished reading the book 100 Things by Sebastian Terry, an autobiography by an Aussie bloke who wrote a list of things he wanted to do and then set out to achieve them. A funny and inspiring story, it got me thinking about my own "bucket" list. It will take some time to put it all together but I am going to start and come back to this list to update as I think of new things I want to achieve in my life!

So start to off with here is a few that I have always had in my head;

1. Hike to Mt Everest Base Camp
2. Some kind of endurance event (I think the 100km walk I am setting out on tomorrow will cover this off)
3. Half Marathon
4. Cycle around France
5. Hike through Tuscany

Some of the things I have always wanted to do have been done and dusted. Some of these include;

Skydiving
Hike the Coast to Coast of the UK
Walk up Mount Kosciuszko
Sleep in a desert (did this in Egypt)
Learn to scuba dive

This will be a great addition to my life journey!

WIP # 1 - Finito

OK, so I may be a month behind but I did get this finished, washed and fluffed up in drier last night. Hand pieced and hand quilted except for attaching the binding, I like it more than I thought I would. This past week I also got my RR blocks sewn together and the VHC top and backing sent off to be quilted. Quilting aside, I also got some granny squares done for Zoe's bedroom, just 4 of them but it is a start right? Amazing what can happen when you utilise a few spare hours effectively!

This WIP challenge has me thinking about what I need to get done and what I haven't even started yet, and making me very eager to get quilty again. I am determined to make a dent in my WIP's in 2012, even if I don't conquer them all!

Today I have the 7 year old home after a huge scooter stack yesterday so I plan on getting the machine out once the chores are done and she is set up in front of a movie!

Suffering in Silence

The littlest person started school, I am in training for a 100km walk which is next Friday (yikes!) and I have started unpacking all the boxes now that we are in the new section of the house. This only means one thing, I have no free time for crafty goodness, and it is driving me mad! I have managed to crochet 3 granny squares whislt watching tv over the past few nights. I also have my 1st WIP from the challenge ready to bind. I have some serious catching up to do on that challenge!

For today, I am unpacking my tubs of craft stuff into the girls old bedroom, which is going to be my sewing room. Admittedly their bunks are still in there and they are still sleeping in there as I haven't done anything about window coverings in their new rooms yet, but the wardrobe is free for me to fill up with all my bits and pieces.

At least now it is all accessible and soon my Horn cabinet and machine will be in there too. Can't wait for that day. Meanwhile I will suffer in silence whilst I carry on with my other chores and responsibilities and dream of the day when I can craft away!

Decorating - Ballet Style

So, with the building and fit out almost complete, the time has come to seriously think about the decorating aspect of the renovation. First off the mark are the girls bedrooms.

You may recall the youngest Miss of the house desperately wanted a mermaid room, complete with blue walls "as the mermaids live under the sea Mum!". The older Miss really wanted a ballerina room. "How fun!" thinks the Mum picturing a fun, bright ballet themed room, "but where on earth will I find mermaid fabric?". Turns out that the mermaid themed room was VERY easy, ballet themed room, not so much. You see all the ballet fabric is light pinks, not a lot that screams bright around at all. Older Miss really wanted hot pink walls - we let her have one feature wall only as the colour was REALLY bright. I eventually found quite a funky lamp that was quite literally a hot pink tutu with bright tulle in lime, purple and aqua. We already had a bright coloured chandelier (read about that and the mermaid fabric here) but no fabric. I was resigning myself to a quilt that had all the colours in it but was not ballet themed as such. After all the fun I had picking the mermaid fabric, colours, lamp and even having a painting done for the youngest Miss, I was very disappointed I was not going to be able to do the same for older Miss.

Today was one of those holiday days where we all felt like lazing around and doing a whole lot of not much. The painters and their oil based paints put those plans to rest when the fumes became a little too much for us all.

Right! I think, I need to choose a light for the girls bathroom and I need backing and binding for the current WIP I am focusing on! First up to the village for sushi as a sweetener and then after promising a play in the park with friends at the end of the afternoon we headed off to Calico and Ivy, thinking we would then go to my favourite lighting and hardware shop. Who can go into Calico and Ivy and come out with only what was on the list? And I did have a little list (the backing and binding fabrics, a couple of crochet hooks and perle thread). I thought I might as well choose a few little fabrics that tie in with the colours in Zoe's room and add that to my list of WIP's for this year as it really does need to be done sooner rather than later. 5 or 6 fabulous fabrics sitting on the counter, still looking looking for what I could add and I mention to the lovely lady who works there, Donna, about not being able to find ballet fabrics that will achieve the look I want. General chit chat, a couple more bolts of fabrics on the counter and suddenly Donna spies some new fabric that happened to be absolutely fabulous and totally irresistable, and perfectly ballet. I am in love! Not very bright but I am an adaptable type of person and all I had to do was convince Miss 7 and have a total, and quick, rethink of the ballet themed room. Oh wow, this fabric is divine! Check this bundle of gorgeousness out!

And look at all those yummy co-ordinating fabrics just begging to be made into a quilt for one gorgeous little girl! And with that very excited mummy who recently fell in love with crochet, what little girl can be without a co-ordinating throw rug for the end of her bed?

So...with bags in hand, we jump into the car and we head to the lighting shop. All the while I am thinking how can I make this work with the lamp and light fitting I have. Yikes, it won't! But this fabric is just too divine, the bedroom with the charcoal carpet, hot pink walls and gorgeous antique brass bed will look just amazing with the fabric thrown in. I KNOW! I will sell the lamp and light fitting and choose something new. Knowing full well the man of the house would not be overly impressed with this idea I chose the bathroom light first...and chose the cheaper option of the 2 I liked and decided Zoe had to have a clear glass chandelier with some pink crystals on it. Hmm, a lamp I think to myself as I walk out of the store - across the road from my favourite lighting and hardware store is No Chintz - woo hoo, Brilliant they can make a lamp shade from the gorgoeus new fabric and I will pop it onto the old off white lamp base sitting in the cupboard from Ikea. Successful, brilliant and expensive afternoon...but my won't that Miss 7's room look sensational when it is done. As I sign off to go and start the crochet rug and think about the quilt design I will just push to the back of my head the fact that I now have to put a coloured chandelier and tutu lamp on ebay and that I will probably lose money on it....But won't that bedroom look great!

Christmas Crochet

Back in November, I did a Christmas Crochet class at my new favourite store, Calico and Ivy. These were my first 2 attempts. I made them as Chistmas gifts and for our own little tree we had this year - crocheted about 20 of them all up.

I am really enjoying crochet and plan on getting more practice this year in between my quilting!

WIP's to tackle in 2012

1. Block quilt

2. Nikki's 40th birthday quilt - a quilt I started for one of my best friends that never quite got finished for her 40th last month!

3. Abby's quilt - top done. For another dear friends little one - she was one last September! Cent decide whether to send it off to be quilted or to give it a go myself...

4. Mai and Micks 40th wedding anniversary quilt - for the inlaws! I know she'll love it but these aren't fabrics that particulaly appeal to me so I get sidetracked easily when working on it! This one will definitely be sent off to be quilted!

5. The Butterfly Quilt - I had visions of a pretty litle butterfly bedroom for Ciara - though that was not to be as she was determined to have a mermaid room. I think I will gift this single bed quilt to a special little family friend of ours for Christmas this year, Zara. That also means that I need to make her brother a quilt which leads me to...

6. The Rocket Quilt - I bought this fabric to make a quilt for my step sisters little man but she wanted different colours.....so I will put this together and add some fabrics to make it a single bed quilt and give it to Samuel for Christmas.

7. This Sarah Fielke kit "Bless You" will be for my sister and her partner. I have a feeling there might be a special celebration this year so want to be ready for it!

8. The Owl Kit - bought from my LQS and I love it. Doesn't go with a thing in my house so I think I will use it as a picnic rug as it goes perfectly with our picnic set. Any hints on what makes a good inner and backing for a picnic rug?

9. Whoopsy Daisy kit - gorgeous Prints Charming kit that I bought from the quilt show in Sydney a few years back. Not quite right for our bedroom but I love it so much I don't care!!!!! This will be our Christmas gift!

10. Christmas Table Topper - yessiree I am the kit queen! This one from The Fat Quarter Shop and I initially bought it to take to Ireland as a gift but that never quite happened! So not sure where this will end up but it is calling out to me to be put together!
11. And one extra for luck. Ciára's Mermaid Quilt - must get that finished for her for this year for her very blue mermaid room!

So there you have it. Still on my teensy tiny little brother machine, hoping that he will be upgraded when I turn 40...and I should have my sewing room sometime next month ... No excuses not to power my way through this list!! Good intentions and all that hey!