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

The winners have been drawn….

Hi all,

So this is how it happened,

little fingers did the random name drawing!

This gorgeous little assortment of things…..

Is going home to Creative Dawn!

And because I got over 50 comments I decided to do a second prize draw, so this little set…..

Is going home to Samelia’s Mum!

Congratulations you guys, I hope you enjoy them! Make sure you email me your addresses!

Be Happy,
Jess

My Raspberry Ripple bag!

Hi all,

I made this Melly & Me bag last friday in a class at Caboolture Sewing and I have been meaning to show you it but hadn’t managed to take a piccie until now…

Isn’t my little model cute?

I used a gorgeous Kaffe print as the feature fabric. Now that I’ve made it, I’d say it comes together really easily, you just need to concentrate! I love it and will be making it again, next time I will make the straps a few inches longer though. In the class we also put in a phone pouch and I added a clip for my keys.

I washed this quilt today, by hand too! It is a big queen size.

I made the bulk of the top 6 years ago but didn’t like the applique that was meant to be on it so it got put away. Then about 2 years ago I got the border fabric, which is a japanese style print, and decided to go with fans and ginko leaf applique.

  The pattern for this quilt is out of a magazine, I don’t remember which one, it was for a flannel country folksy style quilt. But as you can see I changed the look of it drastically! It now lives on my bed, maybe one day I’ll make another quilt so I can swap them around a bit.

Also, If you have made it this far! You might be interested in this quilting bee – Bee in Oz. It looks interesting and as I have never done a bee before thought it might be worth a try. The organiser is getting numbers together now so we can start in November. Check it out if you want to give it a go!

AND, DON’T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY ENDS TOMORROW!! Let your friends know, if I get to 50 comments I will do a second place draw!

Be happy,
Jess

It’s my Giving Some Back Giveaway!

Hi all,

I decided it is time…time for my giveaway! Yay!

Since I have won a few things recently I feel like I should give something away too. So here is it….

There are up for grabs – 2 fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett (I think) fabric, yummo! 2 skeins of Island Style Kathy Mom stranded thread by Lecien, and a pack of gorgeous purple flower buttons!

Can I enter my own giveaway? I love all these things and the colours – my favourite mauvey purples, I wouldn’t give it away if I didn’t want it myself!

So all you have to do is leave a comment! No jumping through hoops required LOL!

And if you are a follower (because I appreciate you all so much) leave a 2nd comment saying “I love love love you, of course I’d follow you to the ends of the earth!” only kidding! just leave comment saying you are a follower.

I’ll do the draw next Sunday, so leave your comment by midnight Saturday 25th September!

Feel free to spread the word about my giveaway too!

Be Happy,
Jess

Am I a Versatile Blogger?

Vreni has awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you so much Vreni, I feel quite flattered, really!

So, being curious, I wondered if I was really versatile – here is the definition…

ver·sa·tile
adjective
1. competent in many things; able to turn easily from one subject or occupation to another; many-sided
2. adaptable to many uses or functions

I suppose maybe in the crafting world I am slightly versatile. I can do basic hand embroidery, I can make clothes, softies, quilts, I can quilt (it may be dodgy to some LOL) on my domestic machine in straight lines and free motion! And I can do needle turn applique! Okay, enough bragging - I accept the award!

Now I have to tell you 7 things you may not know about me…

1. I hated sewing when it was a requirement in high school. Even the boys were better than me!
2. We have 2 pairs of geese, one is sitting on eggs at the moment so we might have goslings soon! I love the sound of their honking!
3. I love hand work and I really would love to try hand quilting.
4. I am a ham radio operator, my callsign is VK4FJAR. My hubby has been a ham forever, his call is VK4RV.
5. I grew up on a dairy farm, I miss all that fresh milk! It made awesome iced coffee!
6. I have lived in the same area my whole life. I have roots here, my mum and dad also grew up in this area!
7. I am getting a new kitchen on Monday YAY!, at the moment my sink is propped up on the dishwasher!

And now, I am recommending only a few of my favourite blogs, this was hard to narrow down to five…

Little Miss Shabby – check out her mini joes coat pincushion! It is fantastic!
Kate Conklin Designs -  I love Kate’s fresh designs!
Quiltsalott – Janet’s machine quilting and appliqué are stunning! Something for me to aspire too!
Sugarlane Quilts – Wendy is a fellow queenslander, who does fabulous work and is co-hosting the Birdcage sew-in, 25/26th September 2010!
Cut to Pieces – I have only recently come across Angela’s blog, she is so creative and fresh!

Check out the above blogs, you won’t regret it!
Be Happy,
Jess

My winnings…. and more

Hi all,

I hope you all had a great weekend! I have been receiving lovely things in the mail lately….

First is a set of 4 fat quarters that I won from Sam over at Missymack. I love these colours, purple is my fav!

  (Picture courtesy of Sam’s blog, I forgot to take a photo!)

Second is another set of 4 fat quarters that I won from Kati at From the Blue Chair. These are gorgeous and definitely fill some gaps in my stash!

And last but certainly not least, is a great book that I won over at Clare’s Craftroom. This book has so many cute ideas, I only got this today so I have many more hours of studying to do yet! And check out the card, it has the recipe on the back to make the delicious roll, yum!

Thank you guys soooo much!

I also have a finish for september to share…

I have made this notebook for a dear friend in South Australia. I haven’t posted it yet so I hope she doesn’t read this! I have used my favourite fabric for this, and the cutest button!

  
I love how this turned out, I think I will have to make a few more!

Be happy,
Jess

Vreni has her present! Yay!

Finally I can show you what I made for Vreni!

She received it today in the mail and says she likes it very much…

It is a pin cushion, just like the one I got from Dear Fii, except it isn’t a wrist style and I made it a bit bigger. It is also double sided!

The pin cushion looks a little lonely, don’t you think? So, I also made matching thread wallets…

I had been keeping my threads in a sandwich bag, but I think this is much neater!

It was super easy to make, if you would like a tute I can work one up. (Just add it to the ever growing pile – what about the checker board tute I was meant to do? It is half done on my design wall…should finish that.)

Be happy,
Jess

My new look

Hi guys,

Do you like my new look?
The only thing I am really unhappy with is the header, I can’t figure out how to get it centred…if you know how can you please fill me in? it is really giving me a headache.

I have been collecting things for my giveaway…coming soon I promise!

Be happy,
Jess