Cocoon

Okay, so I've been very slack lately with blogging.....actually, with doing anything crafty to have something to blog about! Morning sickness (why do they call it that when it goes all day and night??) had struck me down for a few months, but I've finally managed to complete something.

This is my first attempt at a cocoon. We don't know whether we are having boys, girls or one of each (yes, twins!!!), but I couldn't resist this wool and just had to try it. I love the way it has turned out. And it didn't use anywhere near as much wool as what I'd originally thought, so I have enough to do another one if not two. Now to find something boy'ish to make a few more...

Quilt-as-you-go

Our next project.....the quilt-as-you-go quilt. This is Sweet and Sassy, and although we've only cut some of it out and pieced these 5 blocks, I am LOVING it. A very different technique, which I am eager for the next lessons to see how it all comes together. Will keep you posted...

I-Spy

This one has been a long time in the making (started it months ago then it sat on the sidelines until I was ready to finish it). It is my first I-Spy attempt, and it has turned out okay. I hope the 2yo boy who's getting it for his birthday tomorrow will enjoy it!

Kiddies bags

So following my great bag adventure, I decided to mini the pattern and make a couple of kiddy sized bags for dolls to be carried around in etc. I love it how the pattern is so flexible.

My first bag

Our little quilters club went with a bag next. Can't believe how easy it was (from what I thought, anyway). I'm going to make a few as chrissie/b'day presents next. When I get around to it, that is!!

Zippered

Well, we developed quite a nice friendship from the quilting course, and we decided to continue on and do a monthly project. The first month was a zippered bag. At first I wasn't too sure what I could use it for, but when you have one and can make a few more, the possibilities are endless!

Quilt class finished

So this is the finished product. It was great that we learnt how to do different blocks, applique, sandwiching, quilting and binding. I feel like my quilts will look a whole lot better now.

Tinkerbell

I've never tried this block pattern before in a multi-sequence, and now realise what I've done wrong and how it didn't quite work out like in my head. I'm sure the 4yo to receive it won't notice though.

I reeeaaalllyyy think I need EQ6 or something similar now though, so I could've planned it a little better. Maybe for christmas??!?!?!?!??!?!

Mermaid

I've just finished this little doll's quilt for a 4yo birthday present. I was originally going to put 4 of these together to make a bigger quilt, but alas, ran out of mermaid fabric after my daughter got her hands on it!

You don't get much more tired than this!

The day of Madison's birthday was also the day of her party.....a Sunday. Both the kids wore themselves out so much, Lucas fell asleep on the kitchen floor and Madison fell asleep in the bath! I've been waiting for these elusive photo's ever since they were born!!!

Doll quilts

About 24 hours before my little girl turned 2, I decided that I needed to make her some doll quilts (to save my supply of wet ones that invariably get used as "blankets" for the dolls). So with very little time, I came up with these two very simple quilts. I think they turned out quite well, considering the rush they were put together in.

The finished product

It took a bit longer than I'd hoped, but I finally got to send my nanna's quilt to her. At least I got it to her before the end of winter.

My baby girl is 2!!!

My little girl has grown up waaaaay too quickly. Maddy turned 2 on Sunday, and we had a little party for her. She had a ball playing with all her little friends, and loved the mermaid cake I made her (thankfully!).













I just love Lucas' expression in the photo below.....luckily for him, Nanna and Grandad bought him a present too (after he'd already started opening Madison's when our back was turned!).

Don't know if other kids are like this, but Madison enjoys opening the cards more than the presents......

And my beautiful boy

We went to my aunty's farm a few weekends ago, and Lucas got his first ride on a motorbike. Suffice to say, he LOVED it. He didn't want to ever get off. I can see what we'll be buying for him in the future (god help our neighbours!!).

My adorable little girl

Had to share this cute photo of my little girl. She did this pretty much all by herself (I just straightened the blanket over her legs. Maddy's so cute to watch playing with her dolls. And knows them all by name (although we have quite a few named "Dolly")!!

Week 3

Week 3, and we finish off the 6 blocks required for our sampler quilt. We're not even half way through the course!!!

We did quarter square triangles:














And my first attempt at hand applique....easier than I thought, and perfect to do while travelling, camping, outside watching the kids play etc. So many opportunities to do this.....and unfortunately I LOVED it. Got so many things running through my head now....letters, numbers, trains etc.















A close-up of some of the applique.















Doing sashings and posts (I think that's what she called them) next week!

Week 2

So week 2 came and we stepped up the degree of difficulty.

Half square triangles...














Flying geese...

Week 1

Well, better late than never I suppose.... I started a quilting course 3 weeks ago at my local quilt shop with 7 other ladies (and surprisingly, most are around my age with small children!). And I am thoroughly enjoying it. I decided on some very bright colours for my sampler quilt. We did two blocks the first night. I was amazed at how quickly we did the blocks.














And the homework...

My dear Nanna

This is the fabric I've chosen to make a quilt for my nanna. I've got the pattern in my head, hopefully it turns out okay. Will be starting to cut it out tonight!!

Fight Club

I wonder where my darling son gets his cheeky stirring streak from..... There are just some things you don't mess with - Dora is one of them!!

Click click

So the introductory photography course I've been doing for the past 8 weeks finished up last night. Submitted our last assignment, which was on reflections. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will hopefully continue a 'topic a month' with the lovely gals I did the course with to keep up the skills and learn more and more.

Quick...

Okay, so we got an invitation to a birthday party for my cousin's girls. Only problem being, less than two weeks notice. Eeeek!!! Obviously couldn't do anything too complicated, so decided on a fairly simple design that was the same for both quilt, just reverse colours. This was my first go at anything other than squares or rectangles. Next job, keep stepping up the difficulty factor (which is still the beginner's beginner level mind you!). So I've now got all week to sandwich, quilt and bind them.

Presents

Okay, so I've gone a little crazy buying fabric lately (shhh, don't tell hubby!). I've decided that a lot of the kids friends will be getting quilts for their birthday's this year. Hopefully that's enough encouragement to get me sewing! I've got two girls birthday's in June/July (they're sisters), and have picked out the following materials for them. Now if I could only decide what to do with them! As you can probably tell, decision making is NOT my forte.

New stash addition

Well, I finally got my order of new material. I just love these colours, but am having trouble figuring out what pattern to use to turn them into a (or maybe a couple) of quilts!! I would love to try doing some stars, but don't know if these patterns are condusive to that idea. Might just have to buy some more, ha ha.

The start of things to come

Here are my first two quilts ever (well, just the quilt tops anyway). One for my darling son Lucas and one for my adorable girl Madison...

OMG....

I created a BLOG!!!! Do I know what I'm doing.....ummmmm, NO.