Last OPAM for 2010!

Hi all,

I have finished off one last thing for the year! It is actually a UFO that I started when I was pregnant with BW, that was nearly 3 years ago!

I am ashamed to say that the binding was half sewn on when it got put away and forgotten. That is sooo bad, it only took me half an hour to finish! And then I had to wash it because it smelt dusty!

It is made with flannels and has a white ribbon flange around the centre blocks. The backing is a heavy cotton fabric, the idea was to use it as a play mat on the floor. BW is now 2/12 so he doesn’t really need a play mat anymore! Maybe I should find someone to give it too, otherwise it will end up in the cupboard which seems a waste really.

OPAM stats for 2010
84 finishes
0 bed/big size quilts
4 small quilts
6 bags
a lot of smaller repetitive items for the kindy fete and teachers presents
2 baby presents

Goals for 2011
I would like to try for 10 quilts, with at least half being bigger quilts.
Use my stash as much as possible.
And definitely less small repetitive sewing, I actually dislike it! I don’t think many people enjoy sewing the same thing over and over!

Red alert! It’s a giveaway!

Hi all,

Just a quick one to let you know about this great giveaway over at Retro Mummy!

It will be drawn on New years eve!

Be happy,
Jess

Playing catch up!

Hi all,

This week has been crazy busy! But I got a few things done….this may have contributed to the crazy part!

 
Another apron, the same as the others just in green this time!

I got tired of making aprons so I made some flower brooches for the assistants and a new teacher who has only been there a month.

I have started quilting my Bracelets quilt…..

  
I have been playing with Emma’s fabric (January’s Bee in Oz block). I have finished it but will wait to show you until Emma has it!

 
I keep an eye on ebay for bargains, and couldn’t resist this layer cake!

Be happy,
Jess

Another apron done and a couple of lessons learned!

Hi all,

I finished apron no. 2 this afternoon…..

(Excuse the flabby arms, need to do something about that!)

This one has golden yellow cut-out kids. So cute against the navy! I have another apron ready to sew together, but I just don’t know if I want to make 3 more…what do you think? Do you have any suggestions on gifts for the assistants?

(Showing off the lining!) 

Lesson 1 – Get a new chair! If you are sewing with a dining chair, like I was, chances are you are sitting too low. I have been in pain after sewing for only an hour, but I picked up an office chair with adjustable everything this morning and let me just say “Soooo much better!” why did I take the pain for so long!

Lesson 2 – Never sew tired. No I didn’t run over a finger but I did sloppy work. Fortunately you can’t see it in the photos, but I know they are there!

Lesson 3, this is more like a tip – When  sewing the ends of anything narrow, the cotton webbing in this case, throw a piece of paper underneath and the machine will have no trouble pulling it through! Do you know what I mean?

When sewing the ends of the ties, my feed dogs didn’t want to pull the webbing in under the foot, so I put a piece of paper underneath the tie and then sewed the end onto the paper. Channel foundation piecing, the paper rips away and you are left with a really neat line of stitching. Yahoo!

(I remembered to put a label on this one!)

I also posted off my hexie to my swap partner. I love how it turned out, I hope she likes it too!

The colour requirement was “pastel”. I also threw in a little something extra!

Be happy,
Jess

WIP wednesday, amongst other things!

Hi all,

I thought I would start WIP wednesdays to keep me regular – at blogging that is! But I didn’t intend for it to be the only post I do each week….

This week I have been working on my gifts for TP’s kindy teachers, yes that is plural, if I include assistants I need to make 5! Well, I have made 1, so we can adjust that to 4!

When the fete was getting organised I heard one of the teachers say that they used to wear aprons at the last kindy she worked in. So that is what they are getting, home or kindy it doesn’t matter what they wear them for. I’m not making one for all the staff, unless they want to pay for them…cheeky or what?

TP is modelling for me so it was hard getting a full shot. I will get hubby to take a picture with me wearing the next one.

  
I even lined them! Aren’t the teachers lucky this year!! LOL

The apron tutorial comes from here. So I have 4 more of these babies to make in the next couple of weeks!

GOOD NEWS ALERT! I have my sewing machine back, yipee! I picked her up this morning after a 2 month stay at the mechanics.

I have also made my hexie flower for my swap partner, which I will be posting off soon, so pictures are on there way!

Be Happy,
Jess

WIP Wednesday…..a day late!

Hi all,

I have had a couple of computer problems which had hubby up til 1.30am last night! They are fixed now, YAY, so I am back!

You can read about why Lee started WIP Wednesday over on her blog Freshly Pieced. I am just doing a quick post this week, not a great start but the misbehaving computer played a big role in my being late.

I really wanted to show you this quilt that I have been working on, which is why I am doing my WIP post late rather than waiting until next week!

This is my Charm Bracelets quilt, pattern by Kate Conklin, just basted!  Sorry about the poor quality photos, I used my mobile phone, but actually they look better than I expected!

I basted this baby at my mums, also where I work, because she has a huge table that we use for cutting out mass quantities of work related stuff but it is also great for basting large quilts.

I am waiting on some new threads to arrive so I can start quilting it. Hopefully I will have it done in a couple of weeks! Ha Ha, I wouldn’t hold my breath but I can be hopeful!

You may also notice a few changes on my blog – new header (I designed it on EQ7) and matching colours. There are also a couple of new buttons – click on them to see where they lead! The WIP wednesday button, the Inchy Flower Swap button – a swap I have joined where we swap hexie flowers, and Bee in Oz button (I also designed this one in EQ7) – a virtual quilting bee I have joined through Flickr. Next year is starting to look busy! You can also sign up for Another Little Quilt Swap 5 anytime before the due date for the pics, check it out, this is another fun swap!

Whew, I am outta breath!

Be happy,
Jess

Cake decorating!?

I know, I know, cake decorating is not sewing. But I have wanted to try this out ever since I stumbled across it about 6 months ago….yes, it has taken that long!

 
Does it look yummy yet? Let me tell you – I think I have a sugar hang-over today, honestly I feel terrible, but that is neither here nor there. The boys loved it, all that bowl and mixer licking! I’m surprised they aren’t sick!

 
This is my first ever attempt at decorating a cake, and this method is super easy. I made a chocolate cake, from a new recipe which I don’t recommend as I wasn’t 100% happy with the cake, so use a recipe you have made before!

I even made chocolate ganache, which was pretty easy and super yummy!

And then I followed the tutorial over at Texas Monkey for the dressing up part, I used M&M’s and Corinthians wafer sticks. You really need to check this blog out – the cakes are gorgeous!

So, Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!

Be happy,
Jess

Over-due finish!

Hi all,

I say over-due because this really should have been finished way back in April or something.

 
This is the cushion that was made during the workshop Kellie of Don’t Look Now fame did at Patchwork Angel early in the year.

I am keeping this for me, as a reminder not to leave things half quilted for a very long time. I can see in the middle the quilting is tight and very beginnerish, whereas the edges are more loose and relaxed but I still need a lot of practise!

Anyway, chalk it up to a OPAM finish for November!

Be happy,
Jess

A great giveaway!

No not mine…. but check it out -

 
Over at Retro Mummy!

Wouldn’t you love to get your sticky fingers on some of this gorgeous fabric!

Be happy,
Jess

Opposites challenge quilt

Hi all,

I delivered my quilt to Sew This and That today, there is no going back now. It feels weird to put myself out there with my own design, do you get what I mean?

 
It is called “Opposites in my backyard”. The tags for each opposing pair are removable so it is really an interactive quilt made with children in mind.

There are ‘high/low’ owls, ‘tall/short’ flowers and ‘in/out’ chickens. One of my favourite parts of the quilt is the chicken wire (not really little finger friendly).

One of the requirements of the challenge was that the fabric had to come from their shop.  I used a fat quarter each of 2 coordinating Amy Butler prints for the border and put them in opposing corners.

Stats – size. 50cm x 65cm
techniques. fabric colouring, basic hand embroidery, piecing and quilting
fabrics. assorted cotton prints from Sew This and That

Be happy,
Jess

Reverse sewing….

Hi all,

Just letting you know I am still around! I have been franticly working on my entry for the Sew This and That Quilt Challenge….

 
But don’t you hate it when this happens? Luckily I hadn’t quilted too much before I noticed – otherwise Vreni might have heard me saying naughty words all the way over in Singapore!

So out came the ‘reverse sewer’! Anyway, it is nearly finished so hopefully I can reveal all very soon!

Another major thing happening right now is our renovation. The kitchen is in, but because we are trying to do most of it ourselves it is taking time…

Here is a sneaky peek of the kitchen for you! I love the recipe book holder, it is a anniversary present from my folks, we have just passed the 10 year mark!

Have a great week and be happy,
Jess 

Ps. If anyone is waiting for updates on our little goslings – unfortunately silly mama goose built her nest too low and it got flooded in all the rain we had a few weeks ago. So there will be no goslings just yet. Never mind, nature taking its course and all that, apparently she should lay more eggs early next year so we live in hope.

Weekend report!

Hi all,

We had a great weekend walking on the beach and catching up with friends.

 
The weather was fabulous, so we could enjoy the beach to the max! The boys loved racing the waves.

 
This is the view from our cabin – right on the beach (at Elliott Heads near Bundaberg)! I might get a bit worried staying here in a big storm but this weekend it was glorious.

This is a lonely hexie flower that I actually put together while pondering the lovely view and while no.2 was asleep! Yay!

If you are travelling through Childers (in Queensland) I highly recommend a fantastic shop called Patchwork Avenue they have a great range, plus an interesting historical location! 
I picked up a couple of nice things here – a piece of heavenly Kaffe fabric and some boy fabric and a Pure charm pack! Sorry I haven’t taken pics yet.

I am working on a couple of things which I am eager to share as soon as they are finished! Teaser? No this is more for me – to keep me motivated. haha

Be Happy,
Jess

Last minute

Hi all,

It seems the tables have turned. You see it used to be hubby who would spend the day before a trip setting up his radio gear instead of helping me pack.

But not this time….

It was me doing last minute sewing. Making up hair brained schemes to keep the kids occupied in the back seat. Will it work? Probably not, but it stops me worrying about how I will cope with 4 hours of screaming, arguing or whining children. We are going to Bundaberg for a couple of nights, relaxing (I can only hope) and visiting friends (for sure)!

This is my take on the pencil roll, which there are so many tutorials for it is not funny! Kellie from Don’t Look Now actually has done one in the latest Homespun mag.

It is a clip board buddy. I made 2 and they hold 10 pencils and 2 matchbox cars. I used 2 straps of button-hole elastic and buttons at the top, so hopefully because it is adjustable it can be used on many occasions. (Don’t you love the beginner handwriting? So cute!)

Now I need to print out some colouring pages.

Have a good weekend and remember - Be happy,
Jess

Circular Flying Geese

Hi all,

I LOVE this pattern, seriously! As soon as I first saw it I knew I had to make it.

 
I made this for a super generous fellow blogger, who gave me some of Melly and Me’s new fabric range. I used the ‘Where the wind blows’ fabric for the geese and solid purple for the background.

But I shrank the block pattern down! A lot!

I wasn’t sure if making it so small would work. So I made a slightly bigger version at the same time, I haven’t finished that one off yet. The small one is roughly 4 1/4 inches, the perfect size for a mug rug.

I wasn’t sure what to make because this person is so talented and creative, but I knew I wanted to use some of the fabric that she gave me. Then I thought that it didn’t really look like much on its own so I made a postage stamp size mug tag. I fussy cut a little hot air balloon and used her signature ric rac! Ha Ha there’s a clue for you!

Be happy,
Jess

What’s that in my mail box? Part 2

Hi all,

I have a few more lovely things to show you that have landed in my mail box recently!

First up, you may remember Vreni and I had a little swap going, well here is my little present…..

It is the most gorgeous sewing box, I love the russian dolls on the lid with their hand drawn faces! And check out the inside….

Some handy little items – scissors with their cute little keeper, a marking pencil, a little house brooch and stick on thimbles! So cool – thank you Vreni, I love it!

While the Aussie dollar is good I thought I might treat myself to some sweetness from the US of A!

This is the Make Life range of fabric from Sweetwater.

  
Doesn’t it look great all stacked up? I might leave it like this for a little while!

Do you see that book underneath? I was inspired to get this book after seeing the quilts here.

Now I need to feed my love of charm packs! You really need 2 packs to make any of the patterns in the book, unfortunately when buying packs in the past I have only bought singles so I will have to remedy that, some how.

I also got some Kona cotton solids, what beautiful fabric, which I have already cut up! So you should see them soon!

Be happy,
Jess

What’s that in my mail box?

Hi all,

My darling baby (aka sewing machine) is still at the doctors, but there has been some good come from all this, the manufacturer has come to the party and is supplying the parts needed so that my machine can be fixed! So, hopefully it won’t be too much longer before I have her back again!

In the meantime, my mum has generously lent me one of her machines, she could see I was having major withdrawals! So I have been able to get a couple of things done….

A while ago my MIL bought TP some 3 piece winter pyjamas that were on special. Since he really needed summer pj’s I decided to make 1 set into 2 sets! So I made very easy cotton shorts to go with the t-shirts. I put a button on the front waistband so that he knows which way is front.

I have also had some great things turn up in the mail box lately….

I won this tea towel over at Yardage Design,  Nic does great designs go and check out her newest tea towel!

I also came across a sweet package of fabric, Melly and Me’s new gorgeous range “Where the wind blows” and a couple of the cutest patterns by Ric-rac! Jodie also spins a great story, her latest is about a chap named Baxter!

Be happy,
Jess

Birdcage sew-in….

Hi all,

As some of you may already now the Birdcage Sew-in was last weekend. I had every intention of rolling my sleeves up and getting stuck in but due to unforseen events I wasn’t able to do what I wanted.

You may remember the raspberry ripple bag I made – well my darling baby (aka sewing machine) decided to kick the bucket, I really thought if I tried to keep going she was going to blow up. Fortunately it happened during the sewing class, so they leant me a machine to finish the bag and I left my darling baby there to go to the doctors….well the doc called today and she is sick,sick,sick. And it is going to cost a fortune, as she has just turned 2 we rang the maker and complained so we shall see what happens next. It is quite the saga!

So, I decided to tackle a stitchery I designed for the local sewing shops Opposites Quilt Challenge for this year, it is due in november.

I hope this classifies me as participating in the sew-in, each panel has birds….

Can you see what is opposite about it?

This one didn’t get finished, but I’m getting there. They do need a good press too! I am making little tabs that can be put on and off, it is more a hands on interactive quilt, rather than a pretty, display only one!

Sorry for being so long winded! I’ll leave you with a unusual grevillea flower that I really love, I saved the tree from getting dug up when our driveway got done.

Be happy,
Jess