Carpe Quiltem

On holiday

2011-09-30T11:11:00.001+10:00

Paint swatch craft ideas

2011-09-19T09:15:00.002+10:00

My Redwork quilt is in slow progress... I have been doing it in a monthly class but am a little behind, so I feel like my kids when they go to school not having completed their homework! I have a week holiday coming up though, so I think I will have caught up for the October class at least. Phew.

I'm going to campaign for more hours in a day or one more day in the week or something. There just isn't time for all the things I want to do. Balancing all the essential things with the necessary things and the nice things.

Having discovered Pinterest probably didn't help matters! But I did find this little gem today.

I feel completely inspired and when I go to Bunnings to get some seedlings for the veggie patch, I may just visit their paint swatch aisle.......

Thoughtful Friday

2011-05-29T10:30:00.000+10:00

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness"

- Viktor Frankl

Thoughtful Friday

2011-05-08T01:56:00.000+10:00

"Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it."

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

still here...

2011-03-30T15:39:00.003+11:00

With the weather turning colder, my hands will be turning towards the quilts again, but for awhile there hasn't been much sewing... or photographing... mostly because I have a very fancy new camera that I am learning how to work =)

Life has been full of good moments though, I am happy to report.

When there are so many terrible disasters and events around the world I need to recognise and express my gratitude for our very blessed and peaceful existence.

Here are some of the things I have done since the last post:

Indulged in some of this food of the gods

Participated in the Warrior Dash

with this awesome group of people - Active Aussies!

back to school (don't they look excited....)

celebrated wedding anniversary by going to the Open Air Cinema in the Botanical Gardens with

this awesome backdrop

back to blogging and a raffle win

2011-01-28T21:19:00.000+11:00

I didn't manage to get an auction off and running in time before going on holiday, but I was happy to participate in Toni and Carli's fundraising for the flood relief. I bid on auctions and donated money have a go at the raffles. What an amazing result!

Big excitement! Emma from Ballarat Patchwork emailed me to let me know I had won the raffle on her scrapblog. WOO HOO!! Can't wait to receive my lovely fabrics. I am thinking that I should pay it forward by turning them into a quilt to auction off.

last minute handmade Christmas

2010-12-21T13:30:00.000+11:00

The Christmas songs are playing, the tree is up with presents starting to pile up under it. The kids are increasingly excited. Yes, Christmas is definitely on the way. My sewing machine is running warm at night with the last minute presents like this bag

Little Possum is getting a smaller version of this bag in some very special girly fabric...... can't pull it out to take a photo of it now though....

Midweek Meditation

2010-12-15T12:24:00.000+11:00

planning a getaway

2010-12-04T17:41:00.000+11:00

We thought we might go away for a camping trip to Jervis Bay between Christmas and New Year

(the joy of living in the southern hemisphere!)

I'd really like to stay here:

Paperbark Camp

Perfect for some al fresco quilting under the gum trees!

but

...

we're more likely to end up here:

I'll let you know! :)

more quilting humour

2010-11-16T11:09:00.000+11:00

Seeing stars

2010-11-15T17:14:00.000+11:00

Little Possum and I were both seeing stars before the weekend.....

albeit of different kinds.

Little Possum had a general anaesthetic on Friday

while she slept, I sewed my stars

I hadn't touched my Texas stars for a while, but it is the perfect portable project.

It's not going to be a finish for this year, but I'm enjoying my star journey even if it's one with many long pauses :)

Midweek Meditation

2010-11-10T17:59:00.000+11:00

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

Alexander Graham Bell

Handmade Christmas - part 1

2010-11-09T17:20:00.002+11:00

2010 is the year of the pillowcase, seriously!

The turtle pillowcase is for Turtle who just happens to love green. This pillowcase will compliment the jigsawpuzzle quilt I'm making for his bed in which the turtle fabric will feature prominently :)

The orange/red pillowcase is for a very colourful niece

The dr Seuss pillowcases I made just for fun, and I don't know where they'll be going yet.

These tube pillowcases are shockingly easy to make. I learned how from watching this tutorial.
Gotta love YouTube!

Here's a set of a small quilted reversible tablerunner/mat and coasters. Nothing fancy and very quick to make!

There's a scripture tote for a special little Possum with extra special sparkly embellishments which I have still to sew on when said little girl is in bed asleep.

Some wall art to go with a quilt that is still in production, but that will look something like this:

The pattern is called "Dandelion Windows" and was designed by the very clever Kate Conklin.

Handmade Christmas

2010-11-06T16:29:00.000+11:00

A couple of years ago I committed myself to a handmade Christmas and had such fun with it. Obviously I hope that all the recipients of my efforts were as excited about it as I was :)

Don't know what happened last year..... I think I just left it too late in the year to do anything about it. This year I feel that urge again, and the production has already started. Here's the dilemma.... how do I share it all here without spoiling the surprise.... ?

I might show some sneak peeks

but not today :)

Flutter by Butterfly

2010-10-25T11:50:00.003+11:00

It's been a long journey but this UFO is now a ... FO (?)

Leanne Beasley's "Butterfly Garden" had several of my favourite needlework elements in one,

embroidery, patchwork and applique:

Needs a second border (in pink) and a good press, but all in all

IT'S DONE!!!!!

...

sort of...

still needs quilting and binding :)

Sparkling Gemstones - part 3

2010-10-23T13:01:00.001+11:00

My baby is back!!!! I haven't bound it yet, but had to put it on the bed to try it out. For the binding I have in mind Kaffe Fassett's Paisley Jungle in green which happens to be sitting in my stash waiting patiently :)

Something odd happens to the perspective when I use my phone to take photos.... the bed looks like a single bed almost!

Here's a shot of the back where I used some yardage from my stash. Kaffe Fassett's Asha in the blue and the other fabric is a Philip Jacob print - Garden Party in jade.

I suppose I can't claim complete stashbusting success since I ended up buying as many fabrics as I used..... but I'll award myself a 10/10 for good intention and a 8/10 for effort :)

quilty humour

2010-10-17T14:52:00.000+11:00

Thoughtful Friday

2010-10-15T17:08:00.000+11:00

"If you become a bird and fly away from me", said mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to".

"The Runaway Bunny"

- Margaret Wise Brown

a special kind of feeling

2010-10-14T18:00:00.000+11:00

that feeling that comes from finding the absolute perfect fabric? That special fabric that will finish off the quilt and make it just perfect? That happened to me today as I went to the mothership to find some backing and binding for my puzzle quilt. I really like a stripey binding, and I chanced upon a stripe that had all the shades of blue and green that were in my quilt.. Love it.

a bit of a sew and tell...

2010-10-10T15:16:00.001+11:00

Playing around with a design I saw in a tutorial at the Make it a wonderful life blog. It's a very simple idea, 5" square background and a circle cut using a CD as a template. Just need to quilt it now, and so it joins this queue:

4 quilts to quilt.
The bottom three are being handquilted. Slowly. I am having too much fun starting new projects

- like this one:

Kate Conklin's "Dandelion Windows" using Saffron Craig's "Fields" range of fabrics.

And then on top of the shelves are my PIG's - projects all bundled and ready to go. Handmade Christmas coming up!

So much fabric, so little time!

a daytrip

2010-10-08T21:22:00.000+11:00

A little daytrip to Barrenjoey lighthouse...

puzzle solved - a new bedspread

2010-10-07T10:27:00.000+11:00

yikes, has it been 2 weeks already? I have been busy at work with this quilt top (the angle of the photo makes it look elongated). A few years ago I stumbled across a pattern online called Jig Swatches Puzzle and I finally had the opportunity to make it. It was good fun to make and I got to perfect a technique for applique that I haven't used much before - freezerpaper and starch.

Looking at my finished quilts I can see an evolution of applique techniques. I started with Vliesofix and blanket stitch before I learned a method of tacking fabric onto a cardboard template and pressing into shape. Freezer paper entered my life and I learned needleturn using the freezer paper ironed onto the right side of the fabric. And now the freezerpaper has moved onto the reverse side of the fabric. It's so much fun always learning something new!

fluttering madly

2010-09-16T23:38:00.001+10:00

........ and this is no 7.........

I have been stitching madly trying to complete the Butterfly Garden quilt. Partly I am so excited to be almost finished with it, and I can't wait to see what it will look like completed.

However....

Mostly it is because I am excited about my next applique project which I will not allow myself to start until I have Butterfly Garden. Self-discipline, see? (it's not a dominant trait in me as far as quilting is concerned, but I can always pretend)

Redwork quilt by Tita Leach

I have fabrics (red/ecru prints and ecru osnaberg) as well as embellishments ready to go.

My friend Adri and I will be stitching together on this one. Always good for motivation!

Imagine our surprise when in the pattern pack was discovered an extra border not in the photo (or on the original quilt displayed at the Craft Depot!).

By popular demand Tita added another border consisting of houses and trees made up of suffolk puffs - 320 in total. No, that is not a typo..... 320!

Good thing I'm such a dab hand with them after finishing Tita's Christmas Quilt.

check out this giveaway!!

2010-09-13T08:14:00.000+10:00

Becky Johnson of Chasing Cottons has done it again and the "Rolling Meadows" pattern is now ready for purchase through her website. To celebrate, Becky is doing a giveaway - check out this bundle!!!!! A free copy of the pattern,a whole yard of the tree fabric (Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow) and assorted strips of other fabric.

All you have to do is visit her blog and leave a comment. For an added chance, follow her blog (which you'd want to do anyway, so that you can find out what this talented new quilter is up to!). For a third go at the prize, put Becky's blog in your sidebar or blog about it.

room to let

2010-09-05T14:22:00.001+10:00

Looking for a new home?
A great opportunity has come up in this brand new single dwelling development.

We are offering a spacious 34 ltr modern home tastefully decorated with white, fine grain gravel flooring throughout. Decorations include a replica shipwreck.
Environmental issues have been addressed and we can guarantee a comfortable, stable room temperature and excellent ventilation.

Landscaping artists will be starting work on the planting of greenery later this week.

Services include food delivered regularly straight to your door.

Premises are suitable for a couple or a family. House share welcome. Premises are also suitable for a school.

Applications to Little Possum.

and the winners are.....

2010-09-05T10:00:00.001+10:00

The quilt goes to Caroline of The Simple Things for $70. Thank you!!

The highest bid for the pencil roll was by Fiona who bid a very generous $100, but didn't leave contact details. Thank you for your bid!!

Can both winners please email me with your details - mari.viertel@gmail.com

Thank you to those who bid, it was very generous of you, and I am happy to be able to use this money to contribute to a very worthy cause.

I will be starting another silent auction again in the next week, so watch this space!

presenting...... Gemstones!

2010-09-03T14:10:00.001+10:00

The quilt top is now complete in all its glory. The original pattern is from "Jelly roll quilts" by Nicky Lintott.

The picture in the book also featured Kaffe Fassett prints and the fabrics were pieced in a random/scrappy way. This looked fun and cheerful, but as I started piecing my rectangles, I decided that I would make my gemstones by organising the prints by colour, and here is the result:

For the backing I had originally intended on using white homespun with a strip of leftover rectangles pieced into it. However, when I went to buy the homespun, I must've had a brainblip, and I miscalculated the amount I needed and I was short by 20 cm.

I considered my options - going back for more homespun, or going on to plan B,

a pieced backing.

Plan B feels very satisfying in a stashbusting way since I used KF yardages from my shelves.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to Adri I go :)

the table is set

2010-09-02T13:32:00.000+10:00

Finished all the placemats. I made 8 in total.

Quite pleased with the result, especially when I added the candlestick made by my grandfather. He also made the mirror on the wall.

Just need some food to serve up now :)

84 down, 0 to go!

2010-08-31T15:05:00.000+10:00

84 leaves, 84 yo-yo berries later and I can say a big

Ta-Daaaah:

Yes...... the quilt top for "Twelve Days of Christmas" (designed by Tita Leach) is finally finished!

It's only 5 years ago that I started it.........

It's off to Adri tomorrow to be basted and then I will quilt and embellish. Joy!

quiet day

2010-08-30T11:24:00.000+10:00

It's Monday. Dash-around-quickly-do-housework-then-quilt-day. Normally I would be alone today, but I have Doodlebug company today. He has been unwell since Friday, rallied himself to help out his teammates for the Soccer Gala Day on Saturday (which wiped him completely since they made it through 3 games to go to the final) before collapsing in a little heap yesterday. This morning I was trying to get him moving with not much luck. I found him sleeping in a little beanbag nest by the window, curled up in the morning sun like a cat.

Silent Auction for Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders

2010-08-27T11:19:00.003+10:00

I know that you are all aware of the humanitarian disaster in Pakistan at the moment.

The sheer scale of it is hard to comprehend. The number of people made homeless is now estimated to be 4 million

- the equivalent to the entire population of Norway or of New Zealand.

I want to make a contribution to MSF towards their efforts in Pakistan. These courageous aidworkers are helping to provide safe drinking water and healthcare to the flood victims.

This will be a drop in the bucket, but I hope to raise a little cash by auctioning of the following items:

A baby quilt, inexpertly pieced, lovingly appliqued and quilted by me.

Cotton fabrics, polycotton batting

Bids starting at $60 AUD

Pencil roll made from The Hungry Caterpillar prints. Pencils included.

Bids starting at $10 AUD

How to bid:

Submit your bid in a comment with your first and last name (or a nickname -- something you will know!). If you are the first bid, your bid must be higher than the minimum bid, and if you are not first, your bid must be higher than the previous commenter.

If you have a blog, please link to this post in order to spread the word!

Auction ends Friday 3rd September at 8pm AEST

Payment to be organised through PayPal

Also consider making a donation through other agencies such as

The Red Cross

Unicef

World Vision

Caritas

as well as a generous fast offering!

THIS AUCTION IS NOW ENDED!

Can you say a-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n ?

2010-08-25T17:21:00.002+10:00

My name is Mari and I'm a serial quilter :)

(click image to go to Cafepress for great quilting gifts)

I know I'm in good company out here in the quilt-blogging world when I stand up and confess my addiction to fabrics :) Not just the fabrics themselves, but planning what to turn them into, and then of course the work itself. /happy sigh/

These are the bundles that somehow found their way into my house in the last week:

A lovely layer cake full of cheerfulness

Saffron Craig's "Fields" range with some extra homespuns to keep them company

This 'Fat Roll' from Wyndham Fabrics' Fiona range.

Fat rolls are new to me ( the fabric ones at least!) but this was an eBay bargain I couldn't let pass me by.

And when I didn't buy any bundles, I have grouped some of my stash into bundles for some planned projects:

These lovelies are for a redwork quilt I will be doing after a pattern by Tita Leach. I have to have something to satisfy my need for needleturn now that Butterfly Garden is coming to an end.

And last but not least this bundle that I am gathering for Doodlebug's bedspread:

These are the sketches I have been playing with. (I really want EQ 7..)

Jigsaw puzzle quilt (currently Doodlebug's favourite)

or "Garden Spikes" from here

Accuquilt Giveaway!

2010-08-23T09:18:00.000+10:00

Have you seen one of these advertised? Have you wanted one? Badly?

Here is your chance of getting one for free!!! The amazing Paulette of SweetP is hosting a Giveaway for the Accuquilt GO. All you have to do is leave comment, and for an extra chance, blog about the giveaway. How easy is that? I've had my go..... why don't you go try your luck as well.
As a bonus, there is also a tutorial showing how easy the machine is to use, and demonstrating how quickly you can turn your scraps and remnants into blocks once the cutting time is down.

diversional therapy

2010-08-21T22:29:00.001+10:00

Today I needed some diversional therapy for a couple of reasons. I suspect I have a dental abscess, and the pain in my jaw is making me feel very bear'ish indeed. Time to retreat to my happy place :)

So I decided to play with my new Marti Mitchell "Strippers" templates and a Moda 'Fandango' jelly roll.

First I made this runner:

Instead of batting, I used a medium weight fusible interfacing. I backed it with a plain seeded homespun.

There was still plenty of homespun and I didn't use the whole jelly roll, so I thought I would make some placemats. There will be 8 in total, but I only managed to finish off 3 before I had to go make dinner.

well - I have to save some fun for later :)

controlled chaos

2010-08-14T13:19:00.000+10:00

The Gemstones assembly line....

No finishes this week, just the same WIP's going on. It'll be like the no 9 bus - wait forever for one and then three come along at once....

Does a mini design board count as a finish, though? I did make one of those as you can see behind the sewing machine. I love my staple gun.

gathering gemstones, a new toy and a Kaffe Fassett overload

2010-08-11T14:56:00.001+10:00

I have decided that a design wall would make putting the blocks in place so much easier. Being able to stand back and look at the blocks from a distance must make creating a pleasing pattern easier.

In looking at the photo I took, I can see a couple of blocks I will be picking apart and reassembling as well.!!

My new toy arrived this week! A 60 degree ruler... Doesn't take much to make me happy :)

Having cut rectangles for my stashbusting Gemstones quilt using the Kaffe Fassett prints left over from making this quilt plus my other KF stash, there is still a good amount of KF prints left.

This might possibly be because of the extra fabric I bought to help balance the colours/values etc.

Funny how that goes......

I have a whole lot of strips now which were perfect for these blocks. I can see another KF prints quilt. How far can I take this? Possibly a scrap quilt as well?

PS - Add "The Big Bang Theory" on DVD and some Toblerone chocolate and it all made for a very happy scenario!

all puffed up

2010-08-08T13:22:00.003+10:00

Only about another 60 or so hollyberry-suffolk puffs left to make. I find it curiously satisfying to make them, although I was so tempted to substitute them with buttons. I also find that I am getting the hang of making them and they are getting neater. Woohoo.

Split personality

2010-08-07T16:42:00.004+10:00

For some time I have pondered my blog and its mixed bag of posts. Those of you who visit my blog regularly can be divided fairly clearly into 2 categories - friends/family and quilters. There is possibly a 3rd category - those who accidentally stumbled across my blog (Hello! I welcome you!)

With this in mind, I have decided to split my blog, or rather start a new one - over here . So, now you can choose where to visit - "Carpe Quiltem" for my quilting life or "Infinity and Beyond" for my family life. I can't promise there won't be a little cross-posting though!

Works in Progress

2010-07-31T16:24:00.005+10:00

Some months there are finishes, but this is not one of those months..... Doesn't mean I haven't been busy :)

I have started hand quilting Little Possum's Fairytale quilt:

Started the applique of holly leaves on the Christmas quilt. Still undecided whether I want to make 100 or so small suffolk puffs for the berries, or to just use buttons

I have finished cutting rectangles and white strips for the "Sparkling gemstones" quilt:

Observed that despite some stashbusting this past week, there is still a lot of stash left. Must get better at the Low-Fabric diet and use twice as much as I buy...

And on the subject of diets, here is what I have tried not to devour this week - the fund-raising chocolates...... Am I the only one who can hear their voices? "eat me, eat me".

Mmmmmm -

postbox delights

2010-07-26T14:45:00.006+10:00

I'm breaking out in song today:

"I went to the postbox and what did I see? Lots and lots of fabrics just for me"

My eBay purchases came through with the fabrics I bought to make my stash-busting Kaffe Fassett quilt.... (yes, the irony of buying something for a stashbuster is not lost on me.. )

Sadly the flash made the colours look a little less bright and luscious than they are in real life.

next up is .... "Sand Castles" !

2010-07-22T14:32:00.004+10:00

I am feeling incredibly productive these days, finishing off UFO's and WIP's at a good pace. There are butterflies fluttering all over my "Butterfly Garden" and there are holly leaves and berries "growing" on my Christmas quilt. I have booked my Japanese print quilt in for quilting with my friend Adri. She does amazing work, and offered to baste the rest of it for me ready for my handquilting while she was at it. On the assembly line by the sewing machine I have 626 rectangles waiting to be assembled into blocks for my "Sparkling Gemstones".... Woo hoo, I'm on fire!

Little Possum has moved to a new bed and wants a new quilt, one that properly represents her status as more "growed up" - (almost 8). We both fell in love with "Sand Castles" created by Becky. Becky is relatively new to quilting, but obviously has a great talent for it. Go visit her blog now, she is doing a great Giveaway.

Sparkling gemstones

2010-07-20T09:42:00.007+10:00

398 down, 226 to go..........

It all started with this post on Kate Conklin's blog. I spotted the quilt made by Leanne of Mount Vincent Quilts and I immediately thought of all my Kaffe Fassett remnants. The name of the pattern is "Sparkling Gemstones" by Pam and Nicky Lintott and is found in their book "Jelly Roll Quilts"

Thankfully for me, because I am an impatient soul and couldn't wait until I buy the book, I found the pattern online.
Edit: Unfortunately the link to the online pattern no longer works (presumably because it has been published) and so I have removed it.

One thing that fascinates me about quilt patterns is how a different choice of fabrics - a change of prints or colourways, however subtle, will make a quilt of a completely different feel. While searching online for the pattern, I stumbled onto these blogposts featuring the Sparkling Gemstones quilt.

Gail of "Miss Nance's Life" made hers with a black sashing and it turned out very striking.

Karen of "Bunk's Blog" created a capuccino vision, very warm.
Which brings me back to my fabrics. As most of my remnants were of odd sizes and because I also wanted to fussy cut the bigger prints, I am going the long route in making this quilt.... I will be cutting a total of 624 rectangles for a queensized quilt.
As usual I have discovered a slight imbalance in my colours and will have to supplement my stash and scraps. Gotta love eBay........

Nine Ladies Dancing make 12

2010-07-19T16:27:00.006+10:00

My longest standing UFO is the 12 Days of Christmas quilt designed by Tita Leach. I started it gulp> 5 years ago now. It has lingered for 2 years waiting for the dancing shoes. Last week I grabbed the ~~bull by the horns~~ the shoes by their ribbons, picked my fabrics and got stitching.

Now all the blocks are mostly done and I assembled them

There are still the embellishments to be done - beads and buttons. But..... I seem to have misplaced the ones I bought 5 years ago. There also the small matter of a border to be appliqued with holly leaves and (what seems like) a million suffolk puff holly berries. I am really not a fan of making suffolk puffs, but that's another story.

Anyway - Christmas is coming!

warm and fuzzy moment

2010-07-16T10:10:00.004+10:00

The downside to working an evening shift is missing bedtime snuggles, but I tell my children that I always go in to kiss them good night when I get home.

This is what I found hanging on my Little Possum's bed:

No further comment necessary.. :)

"Gathered in"

2010-07-14T17:32:00.009+10:00

Some time ago I bought a layer cake of Japanese prints. I have always loved Japanese prints for the crispness of the indigo, and for the fun patterns. Especially the owls. Love the owls.

Having purchased the layer cake, it then sat on my shelf for a long time while I was trying to find the right kind of pattern. You know the one? The one that inspires you and shouts "YES!!!" in your mind. I know you know what I'm talking about.

This time inspiration came from Kate Conklin whose blog I was led to by my friend and quilting buddy Lisa. Kate's pattern has since been published, and her quilt adorned the front page of the most recent issue of "Quilts Down Under"

The pattern is a 'stack and slash' which I had never tried before, but which I found fun and easy to do.

(Quilters must be the only people who can talk calmly about stacking and slashing without sounding slightly psychopathic)

I am quite pleased with the final result. The photo is a little too dark, and doesn't show up the variety of the prints, but you get the idea.

I'm trying to decide whether or no to add a border to the outside of it - possibly a narrow white one - which would make the quilt bedspread size. Or I could just quilt and bind it the way it is. It will be mostly handquilted with a sashiko thread either in a dark blue to match the indigo, or in a red to bring in the reds in some of the prints.... haven't decided.

woolly update

2010-07-14T10:47:00.003+10:00

2 scarves and 4 beanies......

I had so much fun knitting it all but it was so quick to make, the fun didn't last nearly long enough. Might have to unravel and knit again. Or.... I could just go back to the shop and buy some more. Yep. That's what I'll do.

relaxation and decluttering - must be holiday time!

2010-07-05T17:45:00.008+10:00

Little Possum spent all day in her jammies and the beanie I made her.

I found her playing with this road track. As soon as it became known that I am selling it on eBay it was immediately elevated to "Favourite toy in the whole world" ("how could you think of selling it?!").

It has seen more action today than in the last 2 years :) .

I'm still selling it....

I wonder if gg grandmother Brit had this much fun?

2010-06-30T18:13:00.007+10:00

I love wool. It's possibly hereditary since I come from a line of sheep farmers on my dad's side.

I particularly love the hand-dyed variety. Hence, I found this display in a local haberdashery irresistible. I had to go inside and get a good look at those luscious colours and to enjoy the feel of the wool. It was a very tactile experience and it felt almost illicit :)

particularly when I made my purchases (how could I not....) and my wool was handed to me in a big brown paper bag.

When I came home I had to get gg grandmother Brit's wool basket so that it could hold my precious loot.

I bet Brit's wool didn't look anywhere near as colourful, but she spun it herself.

Her wheel came in handy for turning skeins into more manageable balls.

I thought about Brit then, and I wonder if she had fun with the wool, or whether it was just a means to an end - making garments to stay warm. What would she say if she could sit and knit with me now when knitting is just for fun and enjoyment. I think she'd enjoy this colourful wool, guiltily, considering her puritanical Lutheran background.

I hope she'd like this hat:

Her ggg grandson Doodlebug does.

Back again!!

2010-06-28T20:16:00.004+10:00

The butterflies are fluttering! I am now up to block 5 of the Butterfly Garden

new water sport

2010-01-05T16:29:00.003+11:00

Garden surfing!

This is what Little Possum got up to on a hot afternoon. The garden hose was wedged in the branches of the camellia tree and LP had a "surf" in the spray while watering the grass.

Goggles - great idea! (and such a good look.....)

Little Possum's "holiday"

2009-11-18T10:45:00.008+11:00

Well...... not so much a holiday, I suppose, as we were there for LP's wet dressings.....

but as far as hospital stays go, this was a good one. All credit to the Royal North Shore Hospital children's ward!

There was nothing wrong with LP's energy levels, and the hospital corridors were perfect for cartwheels and handstands

The children's ward has a school room and teaching staff who made sure that LP and the other children had plenty of things to keep them occupied. LP's noticeboard quickly filled up with her excellent artwork.

Outside the children's ward there was a beautiful haven - a fairy garden. Full of plants, things to explore, ambient noise (bird twitter coming from speakers on the wall....)

One of many windchimes....

Can't beat the clown doctors for entertainment value...

On our second day there, dr P.Brain and dr Colourful came for a visit. They entertained with jokes, songs and bubble blowing.

The bandages were changed 3 times pr day, and LP was very patient with it all..... even when it meant having her hands bandaged. It's amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it !!

We're happy to be home. The bandages were a success and LP's skin is soft and non-itchy again.

Thoughtful Friday

2009-11-13T17:13:00.003+11:00

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon"

- Winnie the Pooh

(A.A. Milne)

rainy day........

2009-10-28T13:13:00.005+11:00

Here's where I found Little Possum on a rainy day...... Looking very comfortable with her snack table and blanket

I had a closer look to see what had attracted her to the front door..

turns out it was a mini weather station, measuring rainfall.

Thankfully Little Possum is very happy with her own "BlackBerry" still... but I suspect it won't be long until she like many of her peers will want to gadget up.

school holiday fun - easel art

2009-10-16T22:29:00.003+11:00

some time back I bought a job lot of these mini canvas/easels on eBay (gotta love eBay!) and Little Possum has been putting them to good use in the school holidays. I think I know what we're doing for Christmas presents this year!

our freecycle treasure

2009-10-15T09:33:00.005+11:00

Found among the gumtrees in our garden:

It doesn't look very flash. A little weather-worn, the green/white stripes not as bright as they once were. This is one of our Freecycle finds. We thought we were getting just a straight -forward hammock, but we got so much more! It may look like a hammock.... but it's actually a lava-boat, where the kids float around on a dangerous sea of lava, swaying precariously trying to avoid accidentally falling in.

Covered with blankets it makes a fantastic base for the Turtle/Possum club:

And then the blankets are put on top of the hammock, and it becomes a spaceship, a boat for exploring, or simply a place to relax and have a little snooze on a pleasant school holiday afternoon:

And then the blankets are all taken away and it takes on its disguise as a hammock again. Until next time... who knows what it'll become then?

Lazy Days skirt sew-along

2009-10-12T10:13:00.011+11:00

One Crafty Mumma is hosting the "Lazy Days skirt sew-along" this week, and I thought I would join in.

The Lazy Days skirt pattern comes from the very clever people at oliver and s and it was very quick and easy to make. I was even able to do a bit of stashbusting, using part of a jelly roll and also some yardage. The only purchase I made was for ribbon.

Little Possum has been a willing recipient of my sewing efforts and was happy to road-test the lazy days skirt:

garden play and exploration - Pass!

trampoline-bouncing - Pass!

while I was at it, I made a head band with leftover strips of fabric and elastic. Reversible to match either skirt. "Once you pop, you can't stop"...... and so it is with "headband-mode"... I quickly whipped up a couple of headbands to go with the school summer uniform.

I think I have made some good efforts towards the October challenge here!

has it been 9 years already?!

2009-10-11T01:28:00.002+11:00

I wish you

the strength to face challenges with confidence...

along with the wisdom to choose your battles carefully...

I wish you

adventure on your journey and

may you always stop to help someone along the way...

Listen to your heart and take risks carefully....

Remember how much you are loved...

I am so proud of you!!!

Happy Birthday, Turtle!!!

Thoughtful Friday

2009-10-09T17:50:00.002+11:00

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together"

- Vincent Van Gogh

gymnastics and poetry

2009-09-30T11:26:00.002+10:00

"Handstand"

There isn't anything that's not important.
Your toes must be pointed, knees locked, buttocks clenched to the edge of pain.
Ribs arch, torso elongates to an elegance impossible elsewhere.
Shoulders extended, you glare at your hands.
So much for the easy part, and truly, it is easy;
you need only get there and freeze the parts into place,
then a corner of your brain will keep them cold while you turn inward, to the challenge.
No one but another gymnast would guess that it lies in the pressure from ten whorled pads, in the hinge between hand and forearm.
Adjusting by microns, fingertip, wrist, you play as a child,
gravity the most beautiful of toys.
You could stay up forever,
the world inverted but in such perfect balance that coming down is like a small deaththe line breaks,
your feet touch the mat, your spine reclaims its ordinary curves;
you are dull and mortal as before.

Linda Sue Park
(first published in Atlanta Review, Spring/Summer 2000)

2009-09-28T09:56:00.001+10:00

Crime Scene Investigation

2009-09-26T11:27:00.014+10:00

Saturday morning and there is something mysterious going on at our house. Time to investigate...

Trail of evidence:

The scene of the crime...... the culprit caught ~~red~~ mud-handed

The punishment....

Thoughtful Friday

2009-09-24T21:43:00.001+10:00

"In the depths of winter,

I finally learned that

there was in me an invincible summer"

- Albert Camus

not a day for hanging the washing out...

2009-09-23T09:05:00.001+10:00

There is a dust storm in Sydney today. When we woke up this morning, the sky was red. As the sun came up and a little light started breaking thourgh the colour has settled to a more warm glow. It looks eerie and smells/tastes very dusty...

Thoughtful Tuesday

2009-09-22T18:38:00.003+10:00

I know I usually do a Thoughtful Friday, but when I saw this clip that Hanne had posted on her facebook page I decided to share it here as well. This was one of my favourite talks from last year. Enjoy.

my crafty husband

2009-09-16T15:59:00.001+10:00

I must admit I was a little curious last night when MOTH came out of "the cave" (aka the study) in search of cardstock. We opened the craft cupboard and found some foil-lined card (unused lids for foil trays) after which he asked if I had a scalpel. He seemed pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I have an exacto knife, but also a handy-dandy cutting board.

Here is what he brought me some time later...... a stand for the iPhone.

(template)

It has a convenient slit to accommodate the charger cable,

and it is suitable for vertical and horizontal positioning (for watching movies...)

Will I now have one extra "customer" for my craft-cupboard? Has his appetite for craft been awakened? Will he take up scrapbooking? Watch this space.

streaky windows and parenting

2009-09-13T09:18:00.002+10:00

Little Possum loves to clean windows, in the house or in the car. This is something we should encourage and hope will last for a long time :)
The windows may not sparkle completely, there'll be streaks and demarkation lines where she couldn't reach any higher.... but she has such a great time. She'll have a serious look on her face, occasionally she sticks her tongue out in concentration and she always looks really proud when she's done. So who am I to spoil that with a "Oh, but it's a bit streaky" or "You missed a bit". So I don't. I just enjoy watching her and hugging her afterwards.

Doodlebug photography

2009-09-12T11:26:00.002+10:00

Doodlebug's Nintendo DSI has an image editor.... no further comment..... :)

Thoughtful Friday

2009-09-11T18:58:00.002+10:00

"There are two ways to live: You can live as if nothing is a miracle;

you can live as if everything is a miracle"

- Albert Einstein

Fancy Nancy party time!

2009-09-06T18:56:00.004+10:00

The party on Friday was a blast! The girls dressed up in their finery, including feather boas and sunglasses (I bought a really cheap joblot on eBay. Gotta love eBay) and bead necklaces. They all looked very fancy.

There was dancing, of course there was dancing! But we also did some craft. I had bought paper cutout girls for them to decorate and they set to work armed with scrapbooking paper, bed trim, ribbons, sequins and textas.

"Serena's School of Extrememly Fancy Manners" had a session where Madame Serena taught the girls proper curtsying and walking tall with a book on the head. They were "presented" to the queen (birthday girl). Very fancy.

The table was decked out ready for the guests.... there was enough sugar to cover the RDA of a small nation :) Just the way a birthday party should be....

I was wondering how the boys would cope with the extreme "pink-ness" of the party, but they seemed to have a blast. If the attention lavished on them by the girls now is anything to go by, we're in for a fun time when they hit the teens!!! I'm bracing myself already!

It was a great day....though there was sadly not much photo coverage since my camera (phone) was also busy being the source of party music. The wonders of modern technology...

A portrait

2009-09-05T11:13:00.000+10:00

This particular artist is a favourite of mine. I love her style, her interpretation, her use of different textures and media. I love my Little Possum...

Thoughtful Friday

2009-09-04T20:23:00.002+10:00

"I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life"

- Maya Angelou

the perfect bike

2009-09-02T14:11:00.000+10:00

We were in the bikeshop today picking up Little Possum's new bike (birthday present...... shhhhhhh!) and I saw this beauty. I love the retro style, the hippie colours, and of course the name. Make: Felt, model: Patchwork!!!

challenge progress

2009-08-22T13:58:00.004+10:00

It's been a slow couple of months on the finishing side of the crafts around here..... but there has been much activity all the same!

It's that time of year again - Little Possum's birthday! Last year we did the Fairy party and this year's theme is "Fancy Nancy". We made handbag shaped invitations embellished with rhinestones and glitterglue. All of my finishes this month are bound to be party related:

felt flowers glued on to elastic hairbands and felt party bags decorated with ribbon and individualised with fabric paint (fantastic stuff!!)

On the quilting front there has been activity as well. I have been working on my Butterfly Garden blocks - here are block 1 and 2 in progress:

cubs

2009-08-21T22:41:00.003+10:00

Tonight Turtle and Doodlebug were invested as cubscouts..... it was a great occasion and they were very excited. Almost as excited as MOTH who went to the same pack as a cub, scout, venturer, rover and, now, cub leader. I think that my new role will be to sew on all the badges.... :)

2009-07-30T17:56:00.000+10:00

one of my favourite songs.....

2009-07-26T17:04:00.001+10:00

School holiday fun - card houses

2009-07-20T14:05:00.003+10:00

week 2 of the school holiday and we're having an "at home" day today. In church yesterday Turtle busied himself building structures out of hymnbooks, and I thought that I would introduce him to card houses... The boys have been working hard at it for an hour now, trying to build 3 tiers. I am impressed with their patience and concentration. Every time their structures collapse, they start up again, tweaking the design slightly to make it more balanced and sturdy.

that's my girl

2009-07-15T13:59:00.005+10:00

Here's Little Possum clutching a bunch of clovers. She said they are "lady-clovers". When I asked her why, she said "because they are pretty". Makes perfect sense.

Little Possum has very strong opinions on what to wear which occasionally leads to some eclectic ensembles. Sometimes I am tempted to interfere if the outfit is a little hard on the eyes, but I made a decision a long time ago that I would let her pick her own clothes as long as she is dressed appropriately for the weather and not attempting to go rock-climbing in a fairy dress. To give her credit, she usually does pretty good. Today she was very colourful. Matches her personality!

Kitchen chemistry experiment

2009-07-14T11:45:00.007+10:00

Turtle had a science project for school which required demonstrating a reaction using kitchen "chemicals". We figured there'd be quite a few vinegar/bicarb soda volcanoes, so we thought we'd try something different. We settled on making a "Acid or Base?" demonstration:

First we needed a reliable indicator - the water from boiling red cabbage is perfect:

Our test substances:

Vinegar turned the indicator pink=acid Bicarb soda: blue/green = base

I, at least, was happy to see that our washing up liquid was neutral... must be better for my hands :)

lemon - no surprises there.... beautiful, pink colour.

Turtle documented the experiment, took photos and later repeated it in front of his class.

Rowan of Rin - a Doodlebug book review

2009-07-13T10:57:00.004+10:00

"Rowan of Rin is an excellent fantasy book. It is a compulsory asset to any magic or fantasy lover's bookshelf.

Rowan of Rin is the first of five books, each with its own unique twist. Rowan of Rin (the first book) is when the water for the bukshah (half cow half sheep creatures) stops flowing from the mountain which causes a huge argument. Should a party be sent to investigate or should the town wait to die?

Anyone who enjoyed reading Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or even Eragon will love this book. I highly recommend this book for book lovers.

Unpredictable, shocking, non-stop! If you like this you must read Rowan of Rin"

(this was Doodlebug's entry in the UNSW competition in writing this year.... I'm a proud momma)

wrapped in my love

2009-07-12T17:37:00.005+10:00

found late one evening as I was heading off to bed: One Turtle asleep on my office chair wrapped in the quilt I made him. As the middle child, he treasures all the occasions where he's special. He was the first of the children to receive a "grown up" quilt of his own and when I gave it to him his eyes lit up in a way that I will remember and treasure. Turtle - know that I love you and my quilt represents all the hugs I have in my heart for you!

Thoughtful Friday

2009-06-12T08:05:00.002+10:00

"Once upon a time, there was a very busy girl. She lived with a tired yet hopeful soul. Then, one day, her soul asked her to stop... and just breathe. And so she did. And the girl and her soul lived happily ever after."

May Finish

2009-06-01T15:20:00.003+10:00

Turtle's new bedspread is complete.... just a few more safety pins and stray threads to remove.

starts, progress and almost finishes......

2009-05-29T18:29:00.005+10:00

The camera battery is on charge, so I will have to add photos later.. I'm working away on the challenge of completing a project every month. I failed miserably last month, but will just scrape in with a quilt this month, I just have to complete the binding.

My Texas stars are progressing - almost 7 rows now. Handpiecing is slow but satisfying.
I finally have all the packs for Butterfly Garden. I did the first block but then waited until I have all the packets so that I can proceed. Today I have pieced together 3 of the blocks ready for applique. Did I mention that I have starte the 4th block of "Once upon a time"?. Oh yes. /contented sigh/

I have started a few more projects.... because (and I have justification down to a fine art!) I will need to have projects to finish for later in the year! without a start there'll be no finish.
My local quiltshop (which happens to be a very well stocked establishment) is having its annual sale. Dangerous times. Today I went in for some Vliesofix and came out 45 min later with the said Vliesofix and then some. Surely not an unfamiliar story amongst those out there who are similarly afflicted quiltaholics?

My name is Mari and I'm an addict.....

monday meditation

2009-05-25T17:55:00.002+10:00

Another poem Doodlebug picked for his poetry anthology:

‘may my heart always’

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
even if it’s sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there’s never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

e.e. cummings

Thoughtful Friday

2009-05-22T21:33:00.004+10:00

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap"

- Barbara Jordan

Turtle-faced

2009-05-21T19:46:00.006+10:00

Turtle likes using my camera for self-portraits and pulling faces. I decided that they deserve a wider audience, so here you are........ enjoy! :)

buddy numbers make number buddies!

2009-05-20T17:28:00.005+10:00

Here is what Little Possum and I get up to make learning maths a little more fun. One pack of cards is all we need.

Here we are learning buddy numbers, adding up to 10. Remove all facecards and 10's. We put the cards in rows like solitaire. LP has to find the buddy number pairs from the top row and then we see how many pairs we can make. (for the more advanced maths brains in the household we keep the facecards, raise the goal number and encourage using combinations of several cards to add up to the goal number).

Variations on snap.... if you can add up the values of the cards you get to keep the pair. There is also the basic "war" card game where you each put down a card and whoever has the highetst value wins the pair. Good way to learn number values for the beginner maths brain (like myself)

to my quilt virgin friends!

2009-05-19T08:31:00.002+10:00

If you have always wanted to learn how to quilt, but didn't know where to start, I suggest visiting the Old Red Barn Co blog where Dana is doing an on-line tutorial from scratch. Dana makes gorgeous quilts, so you'll be in good hands! Just click on the button or the link above.

in case of flu....

2009-05-18T21:34:00.000+10:00

progress

2009-05-17T16:54:00.003+10:00

"Once Upon a Time" is 1/3 on the way now - so much fun to do!

This will be a bedspread for Turtle's bed. I started quilting it with cotton perle last night, but I'm feeling a little uncertain about the effect. It's possible that using the ecru colour was too contrasting. I'm wondering whether to unpick it and start again with a quilting cotton.

poetry

2009-05-16T17:04:00.002+10:00

Homework time can be a painful event in our house with 2 boys who would rather do pretty much anything else than sit down for yet more writing and maths after a day at school. But every term there is a project that is a little more exciting. This term Doodlebug has to compile a poetry anthology of 14 different poems - 2 of which he has to write himself. The poems should represent a wide variety of styles and he needs to illustrate them.

This has been enjoyable - at least for me! Doodlebug needs a little encouragement to sit down and type the poems out, but we've had some fun selecting poems. I knew all those poetry books I had on the shelf would come in handy one day! My job was to help Doodlbug find some poems, I'd read some out and we'd discuss their meaning and he would pick his favourites. Doodlebug surprised me with his understanding and insight into meanings.
I'm not much of a poetry expert when it comes to the different styles, so Doodlebug and I have been learning together.

I thought I'd share some of the poems he's picked here. The first one is a sonnet. It was hard to find one that wasn't a "mushy lovey one", but we managed:

Sonnet XCIV

They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
They rightly do inherit Heaven’s graces,
And husband nature’s riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer’s flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds:
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

William Shakespeare

Spotted in the top bunk this evening.......

2009-04-29T23:33:00.002+10:00

I came home from my shift this evening and found this bundle of boys, blankets, doonas, pillows and cuddly toys in the top bunk. Times like this I wish that time would stand still. No...not just because they are asleep and therefore not up to their usual mischief (but that's a good reason too!). They still have a bit of "little boys" left in them..... and much as I look forward to a little maturity (oh, how I look forward to that!), I know I will miss this stage of their life.

Thoughtful Friday

2009-04-17T15:48:00.001+10:00

"From there to here and here to there,

funny things are everywhere"

- dr Seuss

Once Upon a Time

2009-04-04T14:57:00.002+11:00

Here's the first block of "Once Upon a Time", a BOM by Melly & Me. This is the Hansel and Gretel block completed and I am now working on Jack and the beanstalk. I love the candy colours and the combination of patchwork and embroidery... I get 2 fixes in one project!

I am getting the blocks from Under the Mulberry Tree this time and they are far more reliable than The Other Online Shop I have been getting Butterly Garden from.

Thoughtful Friday

2009-04-03T14:15:00.003+11:00

"If nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart.

And though there may be times when your hands are empty,

your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that"

- Frances Hodgson Burnett

nighttime reading

2009-04-02T21:23:00.002+11:00

Doodlebug has discovered the joy of reading by torchlight in bed. Last week for a evening bushwalk with the cubscouts, he was given this headlamp and it's perfect.... both hands are left free to hold the book, turn pages etc.

March Finishes

2009-04-01T13:05:00.011+11:00

March was a busy month with work, and the urge or energy to blog was not there..... however, the creative drive was, and quilting was done. Here are my March finishes:

Kaffe Fassett's Garden Rainbow quilt is now complete and it makes me feel cheerful just to look at it. This is the first time I have sent a quilt off to be done professionally quilted, and Adri with her long arm quilter did a fantastic job on it. The original pattern recommended quilting in the ditch with crosshatching of the squares, but I think this pattern of big swirls/curls worked beautifully.

The backing fabric was fun to choose..... although it would have been cheaper to get a backing fabric, I thought that something this vibrant on the front deserved something more to complement it even if that backing will be largely unseen..

The other finish was this cushion to go with the I Spy quilt finished last month. I am feeling incredibly guilty for still not organising the Silent Auction I have planned. Of course, as "luck" would have it, the quilt had something spilled on it while sitting around waiting to be auctioned off..... I'll have to see if the little splodge of red comes off before I decide what to do. But..... the pencil rolls will be up for sale/auctioning by the end of this week. Still interested?

After all, the bushfire appeal is still needing funds and the rebuilding will be going on for a long time!

Thoughtful Friday

2009-03-27T09:49:00.001+11:00

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all"

- Maya Angelou

Thoughtful Friday

2009-03-06T15:51:00.002+11:00

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass,

it’s about learning to dance in the rain"