Casserole Carrier

I’m in a group called Southern Cross Quilters which is a Yahoo group for quilters living in Australia/New Zealand or those from there who live elsewhere in the world.  Usually all postings should be quilting related, but  over the Christmas break, it’s a free for all!  Someone posted a link to a You Tube tutorial on making a casserole carrier.  Seeing I seemed to have misplaced mine, I decided to make one.  Here’s the link to the tutorial here:

It’s by The Craft Gemini and she has other tutorials on You Tube as well.

Emily’s “uber” nappy bag and change mat

I decided that I had to make something for Emily – my soon-to-be-born first grandchild.  In the Christmas break, I bought some fabric to make a matching nappy bag and change mat.  The nappy bag has pockets inside and a mobile phone pocket on the outside.  Now the “uber” part comes from the purchasing of the fabric.  When I looked at the pattern, it required metres and metres of fabric – so it ended up costing $82 just for fabric!  My daughter in law was horrified that I’d spent so much on it, but what the hey!  Here’s the result!

Change Mat

Nappy bag and change mat

What a Great Quilt Show!

 

After working many long and tiring hours getting all the 2009 taxation returns finished (yeah, I know it’s almost time for the 2010 ones to hit!), I had the whole long weekend to play – and play I did! 

On Saturday, the Milton Quilters had the biennial quilt exhibition called Fantastic Threads at the Ulladulla Civic Centre

 

.  Sooooo, in to town for breakfast at 9.00am and then straight onto the exhibition.  It was only a small affair, but there was so much to look at, so many friends to talk to and so much to buy that I was there for well over 3 hours. 

 

To start with, I didn’t even get inside the doors before I found the most delightful array of hand-made woodwork pieces made by the local woodworkers society.  Absolutely beautiful pieces at the most unbelievably low prices!  I purchased four items for only $47 and here are the photos!

 

Plant Stand ($15) Cotton Reel Holder $10 Quick Unpick $12 Sewing Caddy $10 Next, I moved onto the Embroiderers' Guild table. I always love everything that's displayed or for sale on this table. I bought some lovely handmade pieces here:Brooch $10

Embroidered Brooch $10

Brooch $10

Necklace $30

Necklace $30

Scissor fob with scissors $10

 

Moving on to the Wabi-Sabi Designs stall.  Wow!  What a gorgeous lot of Japanese fabrics AND they had kimono and haori (short kimono jackets) half price as well!  Here’s what I got there:

Sewing Bag $30

Haori $47.50Tassels ($10)More Tassels ($10)Vintage Japanese fabric bundles ($20)

Haori $30

The Peace Quilt Pattern by Margaret Rolfe $18

 

By the way, I’m not displaying the prices so that you can add up exactly how much I spent!  Just marvel at the low price and forget it please!

Lucky last was a stall from the new quilting shop at South Nowra.  I don’t know the name of the shop, but it’s at 158 Princes Highway, Nowra South.  She had 1/2 metre cuts of William Morris and Moda fabrics for $5 and fat quarters for $2.  These are her normal prices apparently.  She didn’t discount them for the show at all.  So, here is my last little attempt at boosting the local economy (and didn’t I do a good job)!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric! $40

Quilt Kit $40

My Retreat Fund Tin $6

 

Needless to say, I came home a very happy bunny with all my purchases in hand.   I had a lovely browse of all the quilts on display, but forgot to take my camera to photograph them (derrr!).  Next time!

My Library

I was reading someone’s blog the other day(I don’t remember whose, so forgive me) and saw that they had a listing of all their books on there.  I thought that was a great idea, so have decided to start listing all of mine.  I’ve decided to do a minimum of 12 per day, so I should be able to finish it before I die and so, it begins on my pages.  Click on the link “My Library” at the top of the page to take a look-see.

It Takes Two

Well, I’ve started yet another project, but it was one I couldn’t resist (same old story!).  One of the girls on my busy fingers chat group decided she didn’t have enough time to do a block of the month project she’d purchased from Patchwork with Busy Fingers and put it up for sale at a discount.  It’s called It Takes Two and is beautiful.  Jayne had cut all the petals for the first four blocks and basted many of them onto the cardboard so I had a running start!  Here is a photo of the quilt – isn’t it gorgeous.  The fabrics that came with it are all really lovely too. 

Yet another WIP

This Goes With That

Here are the first six blocks of my This Goes with That quilt. I have several more cut out ready to go and two more blocks have been published on Sue’s EPP blog. Rather enjoying doing these!

Working, working, working

I feel like that is all I’ve been doing this past week.  Hence, no posts at all.   Bad, bad girl!  This morning however, we flew to the Gold Coast to visit two clients:  one new and one existing.  Of course, that will take us a maximum of 1/2 day’s work, so the rest of the 3 days and nights will be purely pleasure – shopping, shopping and more shopping.  Then back to work to pay for it all!

I have, however, found time to get some pieces ready to EPP (English Paper Piecing for the uninitiated – and therefore sane!).  I must say that they bug has bitten me yet again.  I prepared a stack of them to sew while we’re away and I started first thing at the airport, then on the plane.  The lady next to me was very interested in what I was doing so I gave her a mini lesson and Sue Daley’s contact details. I hope she becomes another convert!

I also bought my papers for the insanity quilt and will do those if I run out of This Goes With That papers. What great fun!

Time Flies

Well, here it is Friday again.  Time just seems to pass by these days in the blink of an eye.  Although when you look back, it seems that we pack an awful lot into our lives.  Maybe that’s why it flies!  How profound I am this morning.  Must still be half asleep.

Today, I’m expecting a package from Sue Daley with my hexagon papers, thread and needles in it for the This Goes With That EPP quilt.  Yep, TWO EPP quilts at once, not to mention the Baltimore Barndance I mentioned in an earlier post!  Dawn and Allison from my Wednesday group are both going great guns with their Barndance quilts – they’ve nearly finished the first block.  I, on the other hand, have still just the one stem finished.  Someone steals several hours from me each day, I’m sure.

On Wednesday, I made 3 cards with my Kaszazz buddies.  That was a bit different from sewing – so many crafts, so little time.  My friend Gloria in France www.gloriamilesblog.blogspot.com has a butterfly on the front page of her blog and says it represents her life “flitting from one project to another”.  I’m sure quite a few of us could relate to that – I know I can!

Last night I set up my new Cricut Expression and had a little play with it.  HUGE fun.  Used the Heritage cartridge and cut out some silhouettes, clocks, trees, birds, lamposts, coaches etc. etc.  It has some great features.  I’ve only used the flip button so far, but will look at the CD in my “spare” time to see what else it can do.

Well, I suppose I’d better stop “faffing” around and get stuck into some work to pay for my champagne taste in all things craft.  I’m off today to see the specialist again to receive only good news I hope.  I’ll take my knitting with me to fill in the waiting hours.

Ebay

To try to offset my extravagant spending habits (yeah right!) I have started selling a few things on Ebay.  I really can’t give a category, because I’m selling all sorts of things.  A lot of cardmaking/scrapbooking accessories, plus various odds and sods.  Have a look at Crumebum Cottage and see if I can tempt you with anything!

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/Crumebum-Cottage

In the months to come, I hope to add more patchwork and quilting items, giftware, craft books and whatever else takes my fancy!

Mario’s birthday

Today is my gorgeous man’s birthday!

Mario's birthday present.