Goodies

This week I've had lots of fun receiving and making Goodies!

First I received my Down Under Doll Quilt from the Swap.



Isn't it great? When I got handed the package I couldn't work out what it could be. I didn't recognize the sender. When I opened it up I had this rush of excitement and then got a bit teary. I was so overwhelmed that someone I didn't know had made me something so great. I think I could become addicted to swaps.

She even made me a cute mug rug. Shame I'm trying to lose my baby weight gain and can't eat those choccies!
Bek is so talented I love her blog

Then in yesterdays mail were these gorgeous hand knitted socks from the so talented Evenlyn of Stitch by Stitch. We did a little private swap - socks for PJ pants. Good swap.

I still haven't tried them on yet. I just love the feel of them while they are still new. I don't want to stretch them!

And I've been working on my Doll quilt. It isn't perfect, I pulled it apart so many times trying to get it to line up. I couldn't, and I don't know why. Oh well, it looks good and I love the colours and want to make a big quilt out of the same fabrics now.

Hope my partner likes it.

I rode my horse for the first time in 2 years yesterday. That was so good to do. I was pretty scared getting on. He is big and I am riding UNfit and a bit nervous now after 2 kids. But he was so good and I wasn't too bad. I'm hoping we can be competing at the end of the year - hoping.

Green at Last!

It is finally green here on the farm. We didn't have rain for something like 85 days. Everything was dry and brown and depressing.
But now it is green and we have had rain! Green is so much better to look at.



Happy horses with green grass (note new feed bin with big truck tyre? I've been asking Ben to make me these for 3 years. I now have one. I need another 20!)

Vegie garden in need of attention. Big piles of cow poo waiting to be spread out and dug in.


Green paddocks (and sandy dam in front)


Seeing as it has been raining there wasn't much else to do but sew! First I made this sweet baby wrap for my lovely friend Bex and her new baby Issy. Of course it is made of lusious AMH Folksy Flannel and Innocent Crush Voile. I want to keep the wrap, I love it so much. Might make Samuel another one.


Then I made these...


and these

Could you see that I added pockets?
They are part of an order, there are two more pairs I still have to make but my new Janome Horizon is leaking electricity through the metal bits. I thought that my hands were playing tricks on me when I touched it coz I could feel little pin pricks. My sparky brother in law put his tester thingy on it and sure enough 150w are leaking out. I now have to make the trip to get it fixed or replaced.

Home

Well we are back from our little holiday. Dad loved his golf shoe bag! It was really great to catch up with old friends.
My good friend Bex had a baby girl on the Friday morning as drove to the airport for Victoria so that was great that I got to meet little Issy! Another little girl to sew for seeing as I only have boys. Unfortunately she has been in and out of hospital with her with jaundice and they are worried as she hasn't gained any weight yet. I find it a bit crazy as she is only allowed to feed her every 3 hours. Hopefully it will all settle soon and they can keep her home.
I miss my friends over there. It's hard not really being part of their everyday lives anymore and I don't like missing out on what's going on with them.
I was a bit emotional as we landed back at Perth and walked into the airport. I'm not sure if it was happiness at being back or sadness that I really do live far away from the people that mean the most to me.
I'm looking forward to getting back in front of my sewing machine and sewing up a storm. I have a couple of baby blankets to make, some tummy time mats, a heap of Pyjamas and I really have to get cracking on my Down Under Doll Quilt Swap Quilt. All the fabric I ordered has arrived while I was away so I'm all set!
I hope it is a good Easter for everyone and that you all have a great time with your families.

Signs

Do you believe in Signs? I do sometimes.
Like when I met my husband and new that he was 'The One'. I met him at a horse sale and we had trade stands next to each other. On that first day we met he went to get a coffee, and brought me one back too, with out even asking if I wanted one. So thoughtful.
It was my sign.
Well, this morning I was looking for some Katie Jump Rope fabric on Etsy. I found what I wanted, but it was REALLY expensive.
I ummed and ahhed for a while then thought what the heck I'll get it.
Well, the first lot wouldn't accept with Paypal (first sign), so I looked further and found another lot cheaper! I was pretty excited this time!
Went to pay with Paypal.... doesn't accept Paypal either.
It was a sign.
I closed Etsy and went and had breakfast.

For my Dad

It's my Dads 60th birthday on Saturday. We are flying to Melbourne specially for it. I wanted for it to be a surprise but my Mum blabbed! Oh well!
I wanted to make him something, and spent a couple of weeks thinking about it. I know 60 is a big one, but he doesn't want a fuss, so I made these...


A golf shoe bag, coz he's a mad keen golfer. And a little zipper bag for balls or whatever he wants to use it for. I had originally meant for it to be a toiletry bag, but it's a bit small I think so he can use it for anything he likes!

I'm actually pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was my first ever attempt at a zipper. Needs a little tweaking but looks OK.


And first attempt at a lined bag. I found a pattern on somewhere on google but changed the top bit with the cords to make 2 cords to do it up, and added the lining. It's a pretty hideous colour combo but Dads love anything their kids make!!

Plus I figured it was only going to get muddy from golf shoes anyway!

Finished the Pips

Yay! After almost a week of hand quilting I finally finished!
This little quilt is going to the daughter of a friend of my husbands. She had a terrible accident involving a horse and is in ICU in Melbourne. I really hope it helps cheer up that awful place. I remember it perfectly from having my sister in there for a month after a car crash.

I used one and a half charm packs of the super cute Sherbert Pips. I thought it would be perfect for a little girl in need of some special healing powers.



For the back I used a red dotted fabric from my stash. I'm not sure what it was called anymore (I'm hopeless with that!)

The same with the binding! Normally I make the binding 2.5inches, but this time I went 3 inches and I love the way the fatter binding sits on the edge.


I thought to make it extra special I would had quilt it. Well I didn't realise how long it would take! But I'm glad I did it (even though my finger isn't!)


I love the way it all feels when it is folded up. I really hope that it's receiver and her family will love it too. Quilts are so special and really do have a special healing power I reckon!

Please Spread The Word

Beware of the photos you upload onto your blogs.

Today I decided to check where my readers were coming from on my blog. I found a link on there to a 'Boy Lovers' website. When I clicked on it it went to a page with my sons photo on it. When I looked further there were many many photos of young boys. Some in provocative barely dressed poses.
I am still feeling sick about it as the photo was one of William in his swimming pool, something that I naively thought was an innocent photo of him having fun.
I am now worried for all those bloggers etc out there who innocently upload photos of their kids.
I have emailed the website builder about the photo to see if it can be removed, and have also emailed the relevant Government body to see if there is anything that can be done.
So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be careful of the photos you upload. I certainly wont be putting anymore photos of my kids on here, which is a shame as they are cute kids and I want to share them with you. BUT, I don't want to share them with the perverts too.

A sneak peak

Ok, so I guess the suspense is killing you right? Well, I'll give you a little sneak peak of what I've been working on.

This one, I started about a month before Samuel was born. I wanted a yellow cot quilt for in the yellow baby room, but didn't get it finished. I'm finishing it now. Not sure if I'll keep it now, maybe I'll make something just for him.


This is Patrick's quilt that is waiting for me to put binding on it. And yes that is some hand quilting you spy there!


This is James' quilt top waiting to be put together and finished.


And this is an 'emergency' quilt I started on Saturday. A family Ben knows has their two year old daughter in ICU in Melbourne in a coma after she had a horrific accident with a horse on their property. He found out on Saturday but it happened a few weeks ago. Apparently it was on the news over there.
Ben wanted to send something over so I thought I would quickly sew together a couple of charm packs I had and whip up a cute quilt. It is only now I am about to finish it as I have been hand quilting it for the last three days. I was possibly a bit over zealous in my idea as it took longer than I thought, but it looks really good and I'm glad I did it. You can see it when it is finished.
I've given you a little hint as to what the fabric line is...

I hope it will bring some good old fashioned quilt comfort to her.

And then there is this.... To step outside my comfort zone!

Lots...

I have lots to show you but not yet!