Creative update....

I thought I might have a creative update....

I have been working on a bag out of Homespun mag. It has a cute stitchery on the front and is made using a honey bun. I haven't done much embroidery before but I'm finding this pretty easy... other than the french knots. As a lefty it takes me a bit longer to work these things out!

There is meant to be french knots around the edge of the circle. I wasn't happy with my first attempt and have cut them off, but I will try again.

Above is what started out as a bag pattern but I turned it into a block folder. I thought it would make a way too big bag for my use so I made the front and back panels into the folder. Mum made the bag too and it fits her machine embroidery case in it perfectly. Do you think it needs more embellishment?
And this is my progress on my DLN Quilt along blocks. I haven't done many as you can see, 4 are sewn down and there are 2 ready to stitch. So I still have a long way to go.

Now I had better get back to it ;-)
Bye for now,
Jess

Budding photographer!

This seems to have turned out to be a weekly affair! I try to post a couple times a week, but time just slips away.
A least the weather might cool off a bit over the next few days. Today it rained a bit - just to add humidity to the mix...ughhhh.
After the rain I thought I might take some photos while everything was wet and sparkly. Guess what I heard when I stepped outside?

We often hear koalas grunting at this time of year but we have so many trees it is hard to spot them. This one I caught on the move, he was grunting really loudly as he started up the tree and as you can see they blend in so I was lucky to see his movement as I looked around. I feel privileged that he posed for me!

Then I handed the camera over to a budding photographer.....

He actually took a few good photos concidering he was flashing the camera around and not giving it time to focus. It is interesting seeing what a 4 year old deems photo worthy.....

A bucket in the bush.....

Our dog Jed......

Rubbish on the deck - the broom waiting in anticipation..........

The view from our deck............

He is quite a creative young soul. I will post again in the next day or so as I have some other photos to share. For now I am off the catch some zzzzz's!

Goodnight all. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!
Jess ;-)

Bright side of the week!

Thinking back on this week....
We have all been sick with the flu. First the boys and then hubby and me. It is not a nice flu, if there is such a thing, bad sinus headaches and feeling weak and tired. The boys are pretty well over it now, us oldies though are still suffering a bit!
Anywho....gotta look on the bright side of life!
I have actually done a few things!


I was on this blog called Freebies for crafters and came across this gift idea.
They are called Molten Chocolate Cake Mugs from Atkinson Designs blog.


They are super easy to put together. The only sewing is for the bag. I even made a cake in a mug to taste test the recipe... very easy and quick to make, you do need cream or ice-cream with it as it is very rich. But very yummy!
So, I made 2 for TP's kindy teacher and assistant. I hope they like them!


I have also sewn up a dress. A very simple Newlook pattern. Made with stretch knit fabric - it wasn't my first choice in pattern but Spotlight had sold out of the other 5 I had picked. It came together okay. I'm not sure though if it looks nice enough to wear out, it looks a bit like a house dress, which is fine because after a hot summer day all I want to do is have a shower and put on a loose, floaty dress!

To finish on a pretty note...don't you just love this panel! I know I do!
It is Primavera by Michael Miller Fabrics, who also have a great range of free quilt patterns on their website!

Take care and stay cool!
Jess ;-)

PS. I got my pic on the Don't Look Now Flickr page. Check it out, heaps are getting added all the time and it is great to see the different colour combinations!

Anniversary cushion!

After trying for a few weeks to decide what to make for my parents 34th (I think) Anniversary, this is what I finally came up with.....


Ha Ha, I am a tease! Just wanted to give you a close up of my screen printing efforts.
Here is a full picture....


It is a cushion! Sorry if the photo isn't very good, it was a bit dark when I took it.
The purple and aqua/teal fabrics are hand dyed by my sister in-law, who I have mentioned before. The strips are made from a fabric I have had in my stash for quite a while, it is good when you don't have to buy material for every project.

So, Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!

Now I had better go and wave my house-cleaning wand while my littlest fellow is asleep!

Bye for now, Jess

JC Quilt Along block 2 finished....

Yippee, I have finished block 2! Only a million to go!
Does that sound sarcastic? Sorry, I'm a bit cranky with Yahoo at the moment. I wanted to quickly set up an account so I could post a picture on Flicka and I accidently put the year wrong on my birthdate, so now it won't let me put pics up because I'm not 13 (I wish, LOL). Anyway so now I have to fix that, I don't know how but I will get there!

Now that I've had my rant, here is the pic I will be putting on the JC Flicka page soon....


The block on the left has been pinned ready to sew. So it is full steam ahead! I think I'll do two blocks at a time, it just seems a tiny bit quicker to me.

Okay, problems to sort out so I'll talk more later,
Jess ;-)

JC Quilt Along on the Square?.....

Sorry I forgot to tell that story!
After many emails back and forth with Kellie, and after looking closely at her blocks and the other blocks on flicka, I have decided that my block is probably a bit crooked.
Kellie didn't understand what I was getting at so it mustn't have been an issue for her, plus although I can't clearly see the edge of her block I don't think she has worried about it too much.
But I will try and have my blocks a bit straighter from now on! Fingers crossed!

I hope everyone fared okay in tonights storms, Jessica.

Screen printed cars quilt

So I have finally put together the quilt top that has been hogging my design wall for the last couple of months. Has it really been that long?!? I'd say so...


The little cars are designed and screen printed by my sister-in-law Debbie, who is starting up her own business doing screen printing and dyeing. The outside border is also her dyed fabric.
The cars are so cute, really happy looking!


This was achieved despite the heat today, 36'C, with no air-con in my house, I was really working in my own little sweat-shop!

Now to the next thing on my list - a present for my folks anniversary! I only have about a week, plus I desperately need to do some work on my JC Quilt-along blocks.

Stay cool, Jessica!

Clucky and her babes

I have finished Clucky and her chicks. Oh, except for the chicks eyes. Anyway, she is my first softy and I think she came together okay. I love Melly and Me patterns, I also have Magoo, who I have been meaning to make for my boys. It is on the ever growing list!


I have also made a start on my first block for the Don't Look Now quilt-along.

I have asked Kellie if the petals need to be square on the background block. The answer is probably going to be yes, which will make this block become a cushion! Either way I will let you know in my next post.
I have challenged my hubby to finish his project before I finish this Josephs Coat quilt. He is building some radios. So we shall see who wins!
I am just starting a two week break, as the boss is going away, whoopy! So I am looking forward to getting some sewing done, and then some housework! In that order! Ha Ha

When clouds are in the sky,
Its time for sewing needles to fly!
Jess

Crazy times and all that stuff....

This week has been kinda crazy! Racing here and there, working, sewing, the heat!

Anyway, I have managed to get the first bit of the Don't Look Now Quilt Along done. I had to buy a decent compass and then do a few trys to get the circles to cross over perfectly. I am waiting for my local patchwork shop to get my roll of Stitch and Wash in, so I am kind of on hold....

This is some lovely wool felt that I bought this week from Bumble Bee Boutique. I think it will last me a life time. I have used tiny bits of it for Clucky (a Melly and Me creation). Who I will post pics of when I finish her chickies. She looks very cute, if I may say so myself!


Here is a Lily that is in my garden. It is close up for a reason. Believe me, the garden is a work in progress. The sand-pit is being made at the moment, we are painting it blue to match the swings, the boys will love it!


Until next time! Which won't be as long as last time, I promise!
Hugs, Jess

Collecting fabric for Quilt-along and what else I'm working on...

Okay, I've decided to use purple as my colour for the Quilt-along, on a white background.
This is all the scraps and some big pieces that I have found in my collection. Considering that purple is my favourite colour I thought there would have been more. Anyhow, we will see how we go!

I am also working on a Mariners Compass Quilt. This is in a class. My colours are completely different to the original, which has been published in a magazine. The bulk of the foundation piecing has been done, now there is loads of needleturn applique to do. But I am nearly 1/4 of the way through it!

Don't Look Now Quilt-along

Although I've been thinking about doing this blogging thing for a while now, I've finally bitten the bullet.
I am taking part in a quilt-along being run by Kellie at Don't Look Now. It is a Joseph's Coat or Orange Peel Quilt. All hand applique and sounding very time consuming.
So check in every now and then as I will post pictures as I progress.