Monday, January 30, 2012

Summer Semester End


Today I submitted my final assignment for Summer Semester.  I did two units over the Summer break which worked well.  I now have three weeks off before lectures begin again and I have plans for this time: knitting, quilts finished and freezers filled.

I am looking forward to study this year, the help of a scholarship will make things a bit easier too.  this year I am also a uni mentor which will be an added challenge, but one I am looking forward too.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

{Australia Day} Warrabah National Park

The kids love hiking in National Parks.  They are old enough now that unless the terrain is rough they manage to walk unaided which is great for me.  There is enough stuff to cart without having to carry children as well!



We went back to Warrabah National Park today to explore a new spot.  It is a nice drive, and quiet too as it is off the beaten track.



All photos from Billy's Hole

We packed a picnic and went for a swim, the kids want to do more of the same tomorrow, but I don't like their chances, we have a large list of jobs to do about the place instead.  This was a nice way to spend Australia Day, relaxing with family.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Swoon

Like nearly everyone else I know, I am participating in the swoon quilt-along .  I already had all the fabric as I have been buying every collection Denyse Schmidt has made lately.  The fact I already had the fabric means this quilt also counts towards the 12 WIP's in 2012 challenge too.  Double bonus!

dodgy flash photo, it was raining when I took this.

I have only made one block so far, but it is a giant at 24 inches square.  No wonder the whole quilt is only 9 blocks big! I don't think I will get this one finished in a great hurry, but that is ok, there is no deadline on this one.  It will be fun pairing different fabrics for each block.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Triangles - ATB


There has been some progress on Possum's triangle themed quilt from the bee Around the Block round 2.  When you ask Possum which block is her favourite she replies with 'all of them', Blue replies with 'the triangle one'.  I am not sure which one he means!

I made three blocks on the bottom row.  Mine are the half square triangles, not the super clever triangle block 3rd from the left.  I think I have about 8 more blocks needed to get it to size but I wanted this off my design wall so I pieced what I had so far.

To see who made each block, click through to Flickr here.

I do like this quilt for a little girls room.

Monday, January 23, 2012

'We Care'...

....obviously.



Stamped with:
RECIEVED WITHOUT CONTENTS AT WPC (AMF) LOS ANGELES, CA


My poor fabric. Lost!

And it was only yesterday I blogged the quilt top progress and hoped my fabric would be here soon.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Tango

I am really wanting to start the Tangerine Tango Challenge, but I am still waiting on the second fabric order to arrive.  It's been a month already!


Thankfully I do have some fabric to play with to let me make a start and have a little play on the design wall.  I  am allowed one other colour to go with the tangerine and I opted for green (in case you hadn't noticed!).


I decided this layout was the way to go with lots of white space to show off the bright colour.

Simple, but fun.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Hurrah, Around The Block 1 finished!

Many moons ago I joined an excellent quilting bee full of clever people. More moons past and I pieced the top and tagged each block with the name of the person who made it.  You would think it would then be a simple matter to finish the quilt off so that the small boy could use it on his bed, but still more moons past.


I did indeed finally finish it, last night in fact.  The small boy seems very happy with it.


I backed it in a grey homespun and used some Kei honeycomb for the binding.  Perhaps I should have used a solid as it is a pretty busy quilt.  Oh well!

I quilted straight lines around each block and then I did a straight line geometric kind of fill in.   It was hard to know what to do given this was a wonky log cabin block so there was not much to line up with.


If you want to see the quilt top in full follow the link above.  It was too sunny here to get a good full shot so I didn't worry with one.

This is also the first WIP I have finished as part of the 12 in 12 challenge!  
Hurrah!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Holiday End


The Mr is back at work but that is ok.  We are still finding time for fun stuff, like feeding the fruit from the orchard to the pigs and swimming in the creek.

I have one more assignment due before I am finished Summer Semester, but that is ok too.  I still feel relaxed and happy and am smiling about the good stuff and ignoring the bad stuff; the broken washing machine*, the sore tooth, needing a new ram.  That stuff will sort itself out and will be forgotten, unlike the memories we are making here for the children and ourselves.


* Washing machine is fixed just one day after I put in the service call.  
Things are looking up again already!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Bullseye Progress


My values/bullseye quilt has been pieced and this evening when little feet are all in bed I hope to get it sandwiched.  If I am true to form, quilting won't happen for awhile yet so I thought I would show it off now.


Not bad for a pile of scraps!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Rootin' Tootin'


Rooton' Tootin' Cowboy and Rootin' Tootin' Cowgirl in action.  I suspect the kids picked that up from Toy Story, wherever it came from, it is pretty cute.

Nan gave these promotional hats to the kids around this time last year, they fit better now so I have pulled them out to wear around the farm.  So cute!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Happy Snap


Walking in town the other day I spotted this door and thought 'photo op'; the light was good,  I had my camera in my bag; I asked the kids to stand still for two minutes.  They wore play clothes and didn't exactly smile, but I kind of like this photo anyway, and everyday moments are just as important as capturing that perfect photo, or so I tell myself !


They are a cute pair, and I love the look Blue is giving me in this shot. 
Cheeky boy!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Scrappy


Today while Mary Poppins played on a gifted VHS I have been working on one of my WIP's for the 12 in 12 challenge.  An added bonus, in mentioning this quilt to Amy, I am now also taking part in the scrap attack quilt-along.  Another added bonus is that I also now know this is called a values quilt.

These scraps have been building up for awhile.  Left over projects, goody bags from Sew it Together (thanks Hawthorne Threads and Posie Patchwork).  There are also bits from charm square swaps and even the odd FQ in the mix.  I think it looks pretty good at this point, tossed on the design wall as is with each few blocks that come off the machine.

I have about 488 triangles that will end up in this quilt, more scraps than I thought I had, and there are still more!

Since taking this photo I have changed the centre bullseye fabrics so they are all navy and more of a focal point.  I have also filled the design wall and still have a pile of triangles so I need to start piecing!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Linen Cupboards

One day I will have a whole wall of built in linen cupboards.  I even have a suitable wall, but given the floor needs re-doing first I bought these wardrobes cheaply to fill the void.  It was actually a three piece set, two double door cupboards (one of which is not in this photo) and a narrower cupboard with draws.  The makers mark tells me they were made in 1964 in Maitland, I forget the company and will pass on pulling one out to double check.


Neither bigger cupboard had any shelves so the Mr very carefully put some in for me so I could use them for linens.  He also added some magnetic closures so I didn't have to key lock them closed each time.  All three cupboards are neat and organised and I now have all the linen out of the second pantry which gives me a lot more space for pantry stockers.

Don't you love the old suitcases and hat boxes?  I do!  They were gifted from the Mr's parents and they are being used as storage too.  I have others throughout the house, I love them all a lot.  You might also notice the lack of cornice and bare plasterboard.  We are slow renovators at best on this house.  I love that there is no rush to finish this one.

One day, when my linen cupboard goes in, I plan on using these for fabric and yarn storage; there is plenty of room for patterns and bibs and bobs too.  I can't wait!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Our Spa


I admit it is not your traditional spa, but on a hot day, this cascade is where you will find me.
There are more creek and swimming related photos here.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Baby K


In the Christmas holiday we had Baby K drop in for a quick visit.  I snaffled him for a quick couple of photos before my two children dived in to play with him.  He has very cute blue eyes!


I don't miss the baby stage, until I get to play with a cute baby, then, just a little, I do.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

12 WIP's in 2012 ~ The Master List

Aj over at Aj's Antics is hosting a challenge to clear 12 WIP's in 2012.  
One a month.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  

You have to have 6 of the projects as actual works in progress, the other 6 can be projects that you are yet to start, but that you have the fabric for, I have a few of those type of projects too.
For every project you finish each month you get an entry into a prize draw at the end of 2012, it sounds fun!  You have to donate a FQ to be eligible for a prize draw, but who doesn't have one or two (or a lot) of FQ laying about the sewing room?


WIP: 
Possums triangle quilt: half blocks made
Medallion quilt: needs quilting     edit: done! 8-4-12
Vintage fabric baby quilt: needs quilting
Ravelry Block Swap: needs piecing and quilting    edit: done! 31-5-12
Blue's wonky log quilt: needs quilting     edit: done! 20-1-12
Scrap values/target quilt: scraps cut      edit: done! 2-2-12

Projects Purchased and Pending:
Tangerine Tango quilt         edit: done 1-3-12!
Dick and Jane quilt (I own the kit)
DS Swoon quilt (I own the fabric)
DS Made in Cherry quilt (I own the fabric) top now pieced
Half Square Triangle BOM (I owned the fabric)

Other WIP, not a part of the challenge:
FQS Mystery Designer BOM
Handstitched Quilt

I am sure I have more to list, I will have to add to the list as I find them in the cupboard.