Done at last....

At last at last the three quilt tops are put together! I'm so happy, I just have to figure out if I have to quilt them or beg Verina to do them.

Purchases...

This is for Aunty Jo for her birthday and Christmas (they are close together) I just need to get some quilter's muslin for the hearts to go on. Jo (if you are reading this) I hope you like these colours I thought they looked great!
Here's a cute alphabet quilt I want to make with these funky fabrics. We went to the Doll and Bear show and both Shenleigh and I had a bit of a spend up!!

I want this car....

it's so cute! I love it.

My child... the model!

Chrissy had the opportunity to do some modelling for UndercoverWear on the weekend. She looked fabulous. Someone straightened her hair beautifully and she just smiled and smiled and looked amazing!

I was so proud of her, i thought I would burst!!

A google knol!

Hi there, I'm trying out a new google thing called a knol (who knows why??) it seems to be basically a page that you can type anything and just put it out there. So I've put in a yummy recipe for a passionfruit cake here.

10 commandments for reducing stress

Here is a remind on ways of reducing stress....

1. Thou shalt not be perfect, nor even try to be
   
2. Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people
   
3. Thou shalt leave things undone that ought to be done
   
4. Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin
   
5. Thou shalt learn to say "No"
   
6. Thou shalt schedule time for thyself, and thy supportive network
   
7. Thou shalt switch off and do nothing regularly
   
8. Thou shalt be boring, untidy, inelegant and unattractive at times
   
9. Thou shalt not even feel guilty
   
10. Especially, thou shalt not be thine own worst enemy, but be thy best friend.
    

Thanks to Physical Sense, Physiotherapy, for these!

Quick post

It was cold and wet on Saturday, and i seemed to have drawn the straw for family taxi driver! Any way I did fit in some sewing this weekend, I quickly finished a bag that my neice Melissa had done the embroidery for. It was her birthday, so I spent Saturday afternoon and finished it. She's happy with it!

I'm still working on my three tops. They are all at the same stage....
Here's David and Chrissy trying out a new quilt at Coalgate....

Our A 2 Z Adventures...

David and I have a new blog. Working with our coach recently we were talking about how having weekly 'dates' can be quite lame and not really helping to connect with each other. Mike was encouraging us to have 'experiences' together, so we decided to take turns going through the alphabeth, choosing experiences! So far we have had A (A conversation) and B (Bus trip and coffee at Borders Bookshop). It's so much fun - it really makes you think outside the square and there's the element of competition just to add some spice! I have C (I know what I'm going to do) and David has D and so on.

We want to see how many people will join us. Time invested in your relationship is never wasted. If you are interested, leave a comment and we'll put your names on the blog.

We are having fun!

An award....

Look what I got from Amanda - my first ever award! Thanks so much Amanda - I'm thrilled to get it.

The rules are as follows:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog/
2. Link to the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

I would like to nominate....

Linda who has a busy interesting life that I enjoy reading about and is a beautiful quilter!

Helen who makes lots of lovely quilts. Thanks for sharing!

Candace who has such a beautiful looking blog and shares lots of bits and bobs!

Katie who is soooo funny, I enjoy reading her blog. She has an AMAZING garden!

Lucy in Holland who takes beautiful photos and makes inspirational mini quilts!

Merith in Australia. I wish I could see in her cupboards. The sheer quantity of things she achieves is mind-boggling!

Keryn also in Australia (sister of Merith). Those girls are incredible I don't know how they do it!

so many amazing blogs... such a shame I have a day job! Thanks everybody for all your great contributions!

Quilty progress...

Here's my wee helper! He is such a light sleeper than no matter how early and how quietly I get up he comes to join me!! The fabric on the right is my impulse purchase. I just loved them so much. The colours are actually much brighter than the photo shows.

Works in progress, the one on the left is the 'Kiwiana' (New Zealand) fabric and the one on the right is for my dad. I think he'll really like the colours.

This is the Christmas Story quilt. My friend Shenleigh and are are going to work on them together. Who knows we might finish them before Christmas (don't hold your breathe)!


And another work in progress!!

Sewing plans!

Another weekend hurray! I wish that I could just sew all weekend. I can't get used to working full time and not being able to squeeze in any sewing time! I've got three quilts I want to make before the end of August...

• One for my dad - I made him a wee one at Christmas, but he actually seems to like it so I'm going to make him a lovely one to snuggle under for his birthday!
• One for Eva - she's coming over in August.
• One for Mum to take to Korea out of New Zealand fabrics.

I'm going to do them all quite a simple but effective design. Hopefully I can get one done this weekend. I had a bit back tooth pulled out yesterday and feel a bit poorly today, but it won't stop me from some sewing!

I also brought some gorgeous fabrics yesterday, I couldn't resist them. I'm going to do them as a hexagon project just to plod away at in the evenings. I love having a hand project on the go. I'll put a photo in here later.

Stitchers Angel

I've joined my first swap - see the pretty badge to the right! I've never joined a swap before because I didn't know if I'd meet the standard, but I know I can do stitchery!! I've been doing embroidery since I was 12 years old. Read Hugs from Helen to find out about it.

Work in progress for today....

My first attempt at foundation piecing!
Here is a quilt I'm so happy with its for our bed!! I embroidered around all the hearts at a sad time in my life and looking at the quilt makes my heart warm because so much has changed!

Best reason to get out of bed at 5am!

Yes the Tour started today. In a household of cycling mad boys, getting up early is compulsory. Its one of those things that once you start watching you get hooked!! Two years ago I came home from the hospital having just had my hip replaced. I lay on the sofa and David put on the cycling. The first few days I moaned and groaned but then... I was hooked! Now we look forward to it. Even James got up early. Yes he is lying under a quilt that doesn't have its binding yet!! I have to find the brown fabric to bind it and haven't had time to get it yet. Oh well, still warm and cosy....

Saturday Sewing...

Another top! I was trying out this pattern from Alycia with some fairly poxy fabric that I had. It was so fast, I cut it out last weekend and sewed it up in one afternoon. The contrast was not strong enough but it still an ok top. I think I'll call it "Candyfloss"! I think I'll try and find some flannelette to put on the back and then it can be one for the kids to slob around under!! I've got some lovely fabric cut out to make one for someone I love (can't say who!!) and I think this pattern will be just right. The bag is for a quilt I made but haven't given away yet. I'd lost the letters I made in the abomination that is called my sewing room (gosh what a mess in there) so I can sew them on now.

Junior South Island Cycling Champs...

This is my little champion in the grey looking at the camera!
A determined look on the final straight!
This is Justin ready to go. These boys are so tough, it was freezing cold, raining and slowing, oh my goodness! The wind was blowing a gale - nasty!! James did good though, its his first time and he's really getting into it. He is doing heaps better since we started treating his asthma (oops won't win any parenting prizes there seeing as we didn't pick it up for ages!!!!) and as he is hitting puberty, he will start to develop some serious muscle which will make him happy! Its just so great to have teenagers who are keen on sport. Bring it on!

It's snowing at home...

This is cold cold cold cold!!!!


The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

Henry Miller