AJ's Antics

My 5 Babies!

2012-01-25T18:41:00.001+10:00

How lucky was I to have all my nieces and nephew and son playing together last Sunday!

Ok 3 was easy (sort of) lets see all 5....

Leaha - 9 months

Annaleisa - 3 years 10 months

Aden - 2 years 5 months

Milla - 5 months

Bailey - 1 year 8 months

Oh well Thanks for trying Mum! They did all play together nicely though and I loved seeing them all at once!

PS. All 5 of them have blue eyes how special is that!

WIP progress...slow progress

2012-01-24T10:45:00.000+10:00

I think this is the oldest WIP in my list...and the one I need finished first! The blocks have been sitting complet for a very long time and I even trimmed them ready to sash....that took a very short amount of time yesterday and then I sandwiached it and have moved onto the quilting. So far I have just ditched inside the white on each block...now I need to decide how to quilt the white around each things....hummm suggestions??

I'll do a post on the last day of each month with links to all the other finished WIP's for that month....only 8 days left to finish something in January!

EB Bee Quilt Design

2012-01-21T07:40:00.000+10:00

I've changed my mind a few times but I think I like this one...

The 12 inch blocks I was originally making will make this quilt too big so I've scaled them down to 9 inch blocks. So 54 x 63 + I will most likey add a border.
The stars will be the Liberated Pieced Maverick Stars from this post still, with a 9-patch block in mixed prints for the alternative blocks.

I made these up last night for the bottom purple corner. I wasn't going to have purple originally but need it to be a bit bigger, then when I had a 5 x 6 block design. A touch of purple in a boys quilt won't hurt will it?

The pieces work out to be 3.5 inches (for a 9 inch block)

And DON"T do what I did and chop all 5 into triangles!! I then had to make another one to keep WHOLE for the centre SQUARE!!

My block works out a smidgen under the 9.5 inch (unfinished) that I was hoping for....but then so is the 9-patch I made so I can live with it and just use very scant seam allowences when I join the blocks...so Bee Ladies don't worry if yours turn out a litte small too! But please don't trim it I will do that at home.

And beacuse I always worry about what the back of my blog looks like when I send them back to the quilt maker (I always think that they will be able to inspect all the little fudging I had to do on the seams to get the block to the right size, as opposed to sending a finished quilt where they can't see the back just the neat blocks on the front....make sense?)
I'm going to show you the back of my block so that the other block makers don't panic about how 'messy' the back looks, mine is by far the worst! So STOP worrying Kylie!!

Here's what it looks like with the 9-patch beside it...

The one to the left is acutally sewn while the one above is just placed there (in case you can't tell!) I think I am really going to love this quilt!

EB Sewing Bee Block!

2012-01-17T16:10:00.000+10:00

I'm first up with the first block for this years sewing bee with the EB quilters and I have picked a maverick star block....not just any old maverick star but a 'Pieced Liberated Maverick Star'....otherwise know as wonky!

I'm not very good at wonky blocks so I thought I'd give them a try...and then make the other do them for me!

I've penciled in a plan of the quilt and I'm hoping with a rainbow of scraps (minus pink and purple as I'm hoping this will be quilted and finished by December for a certain little boys birthday) and some white tone-on-tone stars for the background, it will all work out perfectly.

Using Andie Johnson's tutorial I have made a 12.5" (un-finished) block. Here are my instructions....

Piece some tone-on-tone scraps together until they are big enough for a 4.5" square

The tutorial will help with the seam allowance and trimming if you've never make 'scraps' into a block before
Square them off to 4.5"

You will need to make 5 of these, 1 for the centre and 4 for the star points

Take 4 of them and cut on the diagonal, leave 1 uncut for the centre

Cut 8 x 4.5" squares of white background fabric

Join a HQT to one side, with the right sides together (check the white it can be hard to tell!)

Iron, trim off the excess background fabric, 1/4 inch seams

Iron it open and flat

Attach a second triangle (it doesn't have to be the other matching half, better if it isn't!) to the other side, trim away the excess background like before

Iron it open and flat, using the white background as guide trim back to the original 4.5" square

Make 3 more and trim them back to 4.5"

Lay out the finished squares, with the white background squares to make a maverick star

Join the squares into rows and then join the rows together....

TA DA!!

A Pieced Liberated Maverick Star block!

I've left this untrimmed for now til I get them all back and then I will square them up all together!

Notes for the bee block makers....

* check the white background fabric is the right way out

* try not to make the points too skinny, I want lots of colour

* try really hard to get the final 9-patch block to match at the seams

* feel free to add any colour coordinating tone-on-tone fabric to your blocks

* 1 block would be great but if you have time I'd love you to make 2!

* leave the final block untrimmed so that I can square them all up together

Any questions just ask!

Squishy Mail!

2012-01-17T08:56:00.001+10:00

Lisa had a giveaway on her blog recently and I won these beautiful FQ's from the Kate Spain Terrain range! Thanks Lisa!

Now I know I am supossed to be stash busting and WIPing but I think some more of this range will need to be found...after all a few FQ's is not enough for a cuddle quilt is it!

Progress!

2012-01-16T18:04:00.000+10:00

Sadly none of it is mine though!

Car

I'm loving how quickly you ladies have taken to my WIP challenge...there are already a number of entries for finished projects in January! Do you want me to keep a tally of the tickets on the side of my blog??

Abbe

Leah

And Abbe has sent in these lovely bits to add to the prize at the end of the year

Matching PJ's

2012-01-08T08:46:00.000+10:00

This is what these Christmas PJ's look like on 3 little bodies!! I miss my Milla and Bailey!

First WIP finish goes to.....

2012-01-07T18:32:00.002+10:00

Milly! You can see her daughters new bedroom and the bunting and pillow case she made to match at her blog Tin Whistle

Congratulations Milly...and it is only the 7th of the month...looks like she has a head start to next month now!

Here are 3 more lovely ladies joining us on the challenge...

Kayscha

Ange

A Mummy

I've added a list of participants to the side of my blog if you's like to see the progress everyone is making!

Pretend WIP's

2012-01-07T07:06:00.002+10:00

While I do have 22 'real' WIP's I also have lots of planned quilts too...these have been plans for over 12 months now so if I get any of these finished they will count toward my 12 WIP's in 2012 as well.

1. Bright Jungle Quilt - Small 'panels' of animals with backing fabric and some matching sashings or borders from the same range

2. Some bright Chook Panels I'll do something with

3. Nest Jelly Roll and some matching yardage....I also have 2 matching pillow case 'kits'

4. Maypole Jelly Roll and a pattern book to make...something....

5. Don't Look Now Little Monster Quilt for Bailey - I have gathered a box of bright fabrics, bought the white background fabric, and the backing fabric....now I just have to make a start on it! I want to make the pillow too

6. Purple and Aqua play quilt for Milla, as her Mum won't let her play on this quilt, 'it's too good'. So a smaller quilt with no white is on order!

7. Central Park fabrics for a sew-a-long that will happen this year!

8. SL Jungle Fabric and coordinates to make a play quilt for Ronan, I've picked out Rachel's pattern to try!

So there you have it.....30 projects in all! 12 is the aim so lets see how I go!

How many WIP's is too many??

2012-01-06T10:41:00.001+10:00

Following up on my 12 WIP's in 2012 I have cleaned and sorted out the sewing room (again!!) and found and photographed ALL my WIP's...I'm slightly embarrassed to be posting them all....
So how many WIP's do you think is too many???

1. Disappearing 9-Patch that is going to be made into a 'Quillow' for the boot of my mum's car....if I ever work out how to do the pillow part

2. Rainbow Log Cabin #1 - from and EB fabric swap - quilt top finished

3. Rainbow Log Cabin #2 - different layout to above - quilt top complete

4. Rainbow Log Cabin #3 - Leftover blocks that I'm going to turn into a mini quilt..... to give to Daycare for the dolls maybe

5. Baby girl Quilt - from a cheap SL 'Jelly Roll' - some strips already joined - I don't really like this fabric at all.....Daycare doll blankets perhaps?

6. Rail Fence - pieces cut

7. Red and White blocks....not sure what to do with these...

8. Pink Charm squares from a swap...with some white sashings already cut...leftovers from this quilt

9. Stacked Coin Quilt (with pink sashings) top completed, backing made, binding ready to go....just have to put it all together

10. Stacked Coin Quilt (with white sashings) part of the top done, backing and binding waiting...

11. Stack and Whack Blocks - what is with the orange and pink...must have liked it at some stage!

12. Don't Look Now - class project

13. 2011 Flickr Quilting Bee Blocks - A few more blocks to make yet

14. Roadworks BOM - all blacks made, just need to make the top, backing and binding are waiting....

15. Christmas Place mats with matching Table Runner....would have liked it finished for the Christmas just gone...fingers crossed it will be right for the next one!

16. Christmas Table Runner

17. Prints Charming Play Quilt - playing with leftovers from this quilt - started out as just plain blocks and then I started unpicking some....not sure where it will go next!

18. Hand-sewn Hexagons (aka 'The Football Quilt') - I don't think this will be finished this year...but I'd love to do some more work on it

19. Pooh Bear Panel Quilt - top made, backing ready

20. Bright Cats Wall hanging - almost quilted - not sure what to do with it...not sure I like it any more

21. Baby Play Quilt - the last of 4 tops I made together - the sister quilts are here, here and here and the leftovers made these two Doll Quilts

22. Blue and White Table Runner - still needs borders when I find the right fabric

So there is my list of 'geniune' WIP's...the 'planned and fabric bought pretend' WIP's will be coming later

2012 WIP Challenge

2012-01-01T17:44:00.008+10:00

So excited about the interest in my '12 WIP's in 2012' Challenge...there has been a lot of chat amongst my blogging and quilting friends on FaceBook....so I thought I'd answer the questions they have raised on here for everyone to see.

Don't forget you need to sign up on the original blog post here to be in the draw and it is also where you will find more infomation.

Q#1 - What is classified as a WIP, only quilts or quilted items, eg wallhangings, table runners and cushions or can Clothes, Crotchet & Knitting be included.

Answer - This WIP challenge is for quilted items. I can knit and I do make clothes (I can't crotchet but I should get my Nana to teach me one day) and I do have project ideas for both knitting and garmet making but no WIPs to really speak of....so I set this challenge up to help me (and my friends!) FINISH my quilted WIPs. So I'm going to stick to those to get tickets for the raffled fabric prize in January 2013. But it shouldn't stop you from working on your own WIP's sewing, knitting or otherwise!

Q#2 - Can finished BOM blocks (say 2 finished for one entry) be counted, given that some BOM blocks can take as long as a basic quilt top to complete.

Answer - No. A 'finish' for this challenge is something that is ready to gift or use. If I counted BOM blocks, then sewing blocks into a quilt top would also have to count as a finish and there are the things (quilt tops) are the ones I'm specifically trying to get finished!

Q#3 - There is no min number of WIP needed to be completed to enter is there, just you only get one entry for each month that you complete something, eg only complete two Wip only two entries, but there is a max of 13 entries (12 mths plus blogging bonus)

Answer - No. No minimum is needed to join in. 1 finish = one ticket. 2 finishes (in different months) = 2 tickets into the Fabric prize (I'm going to use an actual ticket book!!) So yes 12 entries + blogging bonuses (There will be extra bonus entries throughout the year too!)

Q#4 - As long a quilt needs some work on it before finishing, eg unbound quilt, it counts as a WIP correct?

Answer - Yes! If it isn't ready for gifting or using it counts as a WIP. If it only needs the binding hand-stitched on the back and it was started before today (1st January 2012) then it counts

Here are some of my blogging friends earning themselves an extra ticket!

Humming Cat
Becky
Milly
Anna
Ninny & Maude
Car
Bec
Nic
Abbe
Leah
Kirsty
Nellie
Bacoon

12 WIP's in 2012

2011-12-29T16:06:00.001+10:00

Have you got a quilt top that needs backing and binding? A pile of half-finished blocks? A Table Runner that needs quilting? Some Quilting Bee blocks that require putting together? A husband that thinks you have too many projects on the go at once?

Got a pile of WIP’s you’d like to see finished?

I say YES to all of the above and if you do too why not join me on a 12 WIP’s in 2012 challenge!

Starting in January you can challenge yourself to finish 1 WIP a month.

Here are the rules:

1. At least 6 of the projects must be projects already started (genuine Works-in-progress) ie blocks that need to be made into a quilt, or a cushion that needs backing and a zip, or a table runner that needs quilting, or a quilt top that needs batting/backing/binding

2. The other 6 projects can be using fabrics that you bought for a specific purpose or a pattern that you bought but have never used yet or even ideas or a pattern that you have drawn up yourself but not yet started (so essentially ‘old’ projects that you just haven’t had time to start yet)

3. Project finishes must be blogged within the calendar month to count for that months finish

4. Max of 1 entry per month to go into the draw (but you can finish more than 1 project…just depends on how big your WIP list is!)

So what is this ‘draw’ I’m talking about…well it is always nice to be rewarded for your efforts and so I have decided to make a fabric prize pack to be raffled off at the end of the year. Each WIP project that you finish in a calendar month gives you 1 ticket in the draw.

Now I am not rich, I don’t own a fabric shop and I don’t have (nor do I want) sponsors for my blog so if you would like to be part of the challenge and have your name go into the draw for the end of the year you will need to send me 1 FQ (sort-of like a fee to enter a show I guess)

Now remember you could win this prize pack back so the FQ needs to be a quality piece of Quilters cotton in a standard FQ size. Throughout the year I will be adding to the prize pack from my own stash and will also happily accept any other donations.

You can join in the challenge at any time, all you need to do is send me (comment on this post –with ‘reply’ active – and I’ll send you my address) a FQ of one of your favourite fabrics. If I haven’t got your fabric by the 1^st of December then you’ll be removed from the draw.

I’ll also give you an extra ticket this month (December or January) if you blog about the challenge on your blog – Leave the link in the comments on this post.

So that’s it…here is a quick recap

make a list of all the WIP’s you have stashed around your sewing room (blogging about your list will earn you an extra ticket!)
You can have more than 12 WIP’s on the list and you can choose to do them in any order you like….you don’t even have to have a list but remember there must be at least 6 genuine WIP’s
Sign up for the challenge on this post
Send me 1 Fat Quarter of quality quilters cotton by the 1^st of December 2012 to have your name added to the draw
Complete at least 1 WIP each month and blog about it to earn a ticket.

If you have any questions please ask and I’ll edit this post to answer them for everyone.

Have fun!

PS I've made a blog button if you'd like to 'grab' it for your blog!

Hanging of the quilts

2011-12-23T18:10:00.001+10:00

There are a thousand other things on today's 'to do' list but I just had to hang these.

There is a nice little space to the left of the photo for another wall hanging....yes?? Any sugesstions?

This special quilt went up in my sewing room too! I won't show you the whole room as that was on the list today....and well....must get done tonight or my sister will have nowhere to sleep over Christmas if it doesn't!

Looks perfect next to last years quilt.

And above my local art from Tassie that I brought back from when we visited earlier in the year.

I just couldn't resist this little canvas from a local artist which I found in the Huon Valley Apple and Heritage Museum. Hubby wasn't to happy carrying it around with us (as I found on our second day) but it isn't very big and it travelled well and I knew it would look great in my sewing room.

The trees down the bottom are made of paper and I just love the textures in the work...and the memories it brings of our family holiday.

Holiday Sewing...

2011-12-22T21:43:00.002+10:00

There has been a little bit of holiday sewing here...just some simple stuff to start with but hoping to get heaps more done before the days run out!

There were 2 pairs of these....

Shark Shorts! Much loved and requested everyday this week...lucky there were 2 pairs to keep up with demand! Perfect for watering the plants...

or Mummy whatever you hit first!

And don't ask Aden to water the strawberries....he lines up the little almost ready to eat fruit and gives it a healthy ~~dose~~ blast of water....no wonder there are none to pick!

Milla's Santa Sack

2011-12-19T21:11:00.000+10:00

Last year Bailey and Aden both had their 'Santa Sacks' filled as they were both such good boys!
Milla has joined them this year on the 'good' list so needed one too!

I've been totally slack in finishing it off and hopefully it will arrive at her house before Santa does!

I'm not totally happy with it....I wanted something more 'cute' and 'girly' but I guess she wont be a little girl for ever.....and this was the best I could find in my Christmas magazines. I hope her Mum likes it!

I do like her gold thread halo and wings....although it was a PITA to stitch!

Christmas PJ's

2011-12-19T11:52:00.000+10:00

Last year I started a new tradition for Aden and his cousin....macthing Christmas PJ's! Here they are from 2010...I cheat and only make the shorts and buy matching shirts.

This year Bailey has a little sister so I made some for her too.

And here is my cheeky little elf modelling them!

SO CUTE!

Dinosaur Roaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!

2011-12-19T11:03:00.000+10:00

Thanks Helen! Aden and I both love the little dinosaur that arrived in the mail last week! We have picked the perfect spot for it to hang in his room above his draws.

Before I could hang it, Aden gave it a little trial as a blanket for Baby Taxi!

The yellow on his face is left over face paint! He made the cutest tiger ever! Photo soon....after I get them off Nana!

Doll Quilt Delivered!

2011-12-16T07:57:00.000+10:00

Unfornuatley Car had to wait a little bit longer for her doll quilt. I was planning on visiting a friend who lives near her and thought it would be fun to just pop in and hand deliver it....but alas the best laid plans often go wrong and so when the 2nd attempt at visiting was again postponed I had to pop it in the mail. Well Done to Australia Post who took less that 24hrs door-to-door!

It was very quick to finish once I had an idea in my head. That part took a long time! Car likes whimiscle things like fairies and mushrooms...they are usually not my cup of tea, but by the time this little quilt was finished it had grown on me quite a bit and it was hard to let go.

I'm very please with my stitching and I hope Car will enjoy having it on her wall. And one day I might just still pop in for a look.

Done!

2011-12-16T07:45:00.000+10:00

I can find things again!
Thanks for checking on me Sammyjo

Organising...

2011-12-15T09:53:00.000+10:00

I didn't realise how many blogs out there are all about organising your home/kitchen/junk/clutter! I stumbled onto this site showing 52 weeks of organising and stupidly showed my husband! He thinks it is great and to please him and to stop the 'stuff' invading my house, I'm going to give it a go.

It is hard to know where to start when you are a horder, love 'keepsakes' can't bear to part with anything Aden has created, and have a dozen 'hobbies'.

I'm going to start in the pantry. I few weeks ago I bought over $1000 of Tupperware. It has all been washed and dried and is ready to go.

Here is what my pantry looked like a few weeks ago when I decided something must be done about it.

We've been super lazy on the cooking front and I think this mess has something to do with it....can't find anything!

I'll show you in a few hours what my pantry now looks like....when I finish it....come looking for me if I don't make it back.....

WIP Wednesday

2011-12-14T14:06:00.000+10:00

Well really I did and I'm very pleased with it! I've finally been into the sewing room again. Yeah me!

Aden loves to play with his Matchbox cars...takes them to the shops, driving in the car, Nana's house and even to bed! He also likes to (like most little kids) put things in things and carry them around.

So I've added this to his Christmas presents...... a car bag for all those cars!

I'm soooo tempted to give it to him now as I know how much he will love it!
Cousin Bailey will get one too and it was so super easy to make I think I'll make one for the 'Little People Navitiy' to live in too....when not being played with of course!

The fantastic tutorial for this big is found here on In Color Order. My new favourite blog I think!

I can see endless uses for a drawstring bag of this size....what would be put in it?

2011-12-13T17:29:00.002+10:00

Now...

and then.....

2009

EB Doll Quilt Swap #5

2011-12-07T20:38:00.001+10:00

OMG!! How fantastic is this cute little quilt that Nicole made me!
I love the symmetry of the fabrics. I love the simplicity. I love the white 'space'. I love the yellow square for the sun. I love the blue 'sky' and the green 'grass'. I love the blue bird. I love the orange flags. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Thanks Nicole!

Sorry about the wrinkles....I couldn't wait to get it photographed and show you all how stunning it is!

Santa Photo

2011-12-05T20:22:00.000+10:00

"I would like a Fire Truck please Santa"

Trimming the tree....

2011-12-01T21:30:00.000+10:00

Christmas will be so much fun this year!

Sneak Peek....counting down!

2011-11-28T22:27:00.001+10:00

Only a few days left before the posting date for the 5th Annual EB Doll Quilt Swap.....can't wait to see what everyone has created!

Jester

2011-11-24T18:21:00.000+10:00

The poor neglected member of our family....

Milla's Quilt

2011-11-20T18:16:00.000+10:00

This is why it has taken so long to get anything done around here....end of Semester reports....but they are done now and this quilt is on it's way to my beautiful niece and we are counting down to Christmas!

{thirty} Steam Train Sunday

2011-10-30T21:11:00.022+10:00

What a great way to spend a Sunday with a train crazy boy! We took a 'Steamy' ride this morning. We got to sit in the 'first class' sleeper carriage built in 1912, that was later convereted to a seating carriage in 1947. Lots of lovely timber and windows you can stick your head out of!

Sooty hands!

Feeling the wind in his hair!!

{twenty-nine} photographer

2011-10-29T10:58:00.000+10:00

Aden always tries to take my camera now when I'm taking photos, so I got out our old digital camera and let him go for it. There are quite a few finger shots but he is doing well. See for yourself!

Last nights effort....

and this morning...

And here is Aden the photographer!

He had such fun lining up all the cars under the draws! He is such a boy!

{twenty-six} pink milk

2011-10-26T21:28:00.001+10:00

Aden (and I) have gotten into the habbit of getting a 'pink' milk or chocolate milk everytime we go to the shop, petrol station, cafe, etc. They aren't very good for him and I'm trying really hard to break the habbit. So I decided to make our own at home.
A handful of frozen strawberries (hulled and frozen when I was able to get them really cheap in-season), half a banana, a couple of tablespoons of strawberry yoghurt, a teaspoon of honey and a dash of milk.

I think he likes it!

{Twenty-three} Cars

2011-10-23T20:12:00.000+10:00

More photos from our wekend. Aden is a huge fan of the movie 'Cars' and was excited to see 'Mack' and 'Lightening McQueen' at the track too.

Aden liked the blue cars the best and picked this one as his favourite. We are actually 'Team Red' and I taught him to say ' Go Holden' which he did.....

with a vicious wave of his new favourite play things....flags! They were giving away international flags to support the international drivers in the race. Aden had Brazil and Scotland.

And he was very keen to show his support from the balcony.

We had a great weekend! Thanks Pa for organising it for us!

{twenty-two} Gold Coast

2011-10-22T21:57:00.001+10:00

I'm not a big race car fan but my family are and Aden loves anything on wheels so it was great to spend some time with the family at the Gold Coast this weekend.

Our view from the 19th floor of the track was great. The cars were still very loud and everytime you heard them comming Aden would call out 'Racing cars' and go running out on to the balcony.

Of course it was a big day and the small boy needed a quick recharge...in front of the telly with the racing of course.

The appartment pool complex was directly below us and the track ran along the edge of it.

We had a great view of the beach.

I was a bit worried about the height of the balcony and Aden getting over excited and dropping things over the edge or worse, trying to climb the railings but he was very good at not going out there without an adult. He loved sitting on Pa's lap, while the cars raced past below us.

{sixteen} birthday

2011-10-16T20:31:00.017+10:00

Today is my birthday. I had a great day on the coast with my family. Pa took Aden and Annaleisa to Underwater World they loved watching the seal show and looking at all the fish. Annaleisa was a bit scared of the sharks at first but she bravley followed her younger cousin and was soon loving them too. This was followed by a BBQ in the park and a swim for the kids at the appartment. I love being able to share these days with my husband, son and family.

None of these blog posts have very many words in them...I think the pictures speak for themselves.

{eleven} outside

2011-10-11T19:56:00.011+10:00

Today was a lovely day for mowing the lawn...

especially when you get to sit back and take photos and not actually do any of the mowing!

It was getting a bit warm so I added some water to the clam shell

the splashing quickly turned into this

And this is what you get if you supervise to closely!

The other supervisor...

{ten} dentist

2011-10-10T13:22:00.002+10:00

Nobody really likes going to the dentist do they......Aden did! After his turn was finished, a quick look in his mouth and a ride on the chair, he wanted to know when he could go back again! We told him when he was 3.....I think he is looking forward to it!

{nine} chub

2011-10-09T13:48:00.001+10:00

Milla at 6 weeks 5 days....5.3 kgs...what a lot of breast-fed baby chub! I love it!

{eight} cousins

2011-10-08T20:29:00.001+10:00

After a late night road trip, 7 long hrs after a full days work, we finally got to meet my newest niece. She was fast asleep though and I got threatened with death not to wake her! Aden and I only got a quick kiss before we went to bed ourselves, but this morning it was cuddles galore!

We left the little boys with the big boys and went shopping. They chased pigs, fed chooks and rode tractors.
I just got lots and lots and lots of cuddles!

When we got back there were more cuddles!

Luckily she doesn't seen to mind.....too much

{four} splash

2011-10-04T14:42:00.001+10:00

{three}remember

2011-10-03T20:21:00.001+10:00

Sorting through baby clothes brings back all sorts of memories....

Remember how tiny he was...

{two} Family

2011-10-02T16:43:00.001+10:00

There are 18 Great-grandchildren on my Dad's side... and today we managed to get 14 of them in the same place at the same time. There are 3 others within 6-weeks of Aden and it was great seeing them play ~~together~~ near each other as most 2-year-olds do. Their little personalities are really starting to emerge.

Here is Granny with the youngest great-grandchild, 7 week-old Alyssa.

{one} Blogtoberfest

2011-10-01T16:39:00.002+10:00

Hosted by TinnieGirl
This will be my 3rd year of joining in Blogtoberfest

My post count needs a major boost....lets see how I do!

Milla's Quilt Backing....

2011-09-13T22:51:00.003+10:00

It almost took the same amount of time to make the backing as it did the front...not really what I was hoping it would look like....I think the pieces are too big...but with limited time and fabrics....this will do just fine!

Boy # 4

2011-09-13T17:18:00.000+10:00

My beautiful friend had boy number 4 yesterday afternoon. Welcome little Sebastian Bede! They are such a wonderful family. I have already started his quilt and I have 6 weeks left to finish it. All 3 of his brothers were given quilts at 6 weeks and this sweetheart will definitely have his then too!

Around the Block 2

2011-09-06T12:26:00.004+10:00

It is probably bad manners to leave the organisers blocks til last, but it wasn't intentional. I had all the enveloped stacked up and just worked through the pile as I found an hour here or there.

(Sorry about the photo quailty - these were taken quickly this morning before posting as we were running late for swimming lessons!)

Sheridan's blocks are on their way home now. I had it in my head that I had til September to finish these blocks. I did! The 1st of September not the end as I had thought. So I'm posting them off 6 days late...but not too bad as I have finished all the blocks and am 6th (out of 11) to finish.

I have only received 5 of my blocks back so far....which is a little disappointing to see....maybe my block was too hard??
I liked the thought of trying something new in things like this and I'm sure I wouldn't have even attempted most of these blocks had I not done it in this bee.

They were all fun to make though and I like playing with all of the different fabric combos that the others decided to use.

I've Linked back to Quiltstory for Fabric Tuesday

Around the Block 2

2011-09-05T23:55:00.002+10:00

After playing with the pinwheels for Milla's quilt I decided to make them again for this block quilting bee.

The bold prints spots and stripes will make a great quilt for Louise's little boy Harry. She asked for 'spinning' 'sparkling' blocks....hope these fit the bill!

And how cute are those little cars!

1 more blocks to show you...tomorrow...

Happy Father's Day!

2011-09-04T15:58:00.001+10:00

Daddy and Aden spent the morning playing trains!

Thanks for being a great daddy!

We love you!

Beach time!

2011-09-03T20:53:00.001+10:00

This boy loves the beach....pity we don't live a bit closer to it. It was overcast and very windy and much too cold for swimming but he loved playing kick and building sandcastles....so he could jump on them!

He did get in trouble for kicking the sand but the photo was too good not to share...!

Pinwheel Progress

2011-08-28T20:41:00.012+10:00

These came together really quickly. I'm gald I stuck with the 2nd light purple 'castles'. After looking at the photo's I'd taken on the blog I was worried that they didn't have enough 'pop' but I didn't want to unpick my lovely points so stayed with the more matchy 2 light purples....and they look great! Even if I do say so myself!

(Blogger turned my photo...how do I turn it back??)
I've decided to twist the pinwheels around to give the blocks more movement and add some green 'linen' looking quilting fabric for the sashings.

Now to get it all together with a final border and then to think about quilting....I have 2 weeks left to finish it!

Those massive piles of books in the background is the real work I'm supossed to be doing....quilting is much more fun wouldn't you agree?

Pinwheels!

2011-08-27T21:06:00.000+10:00

A beautiful new niece needs a beautiful new quilt!

Here is what I have so far

I decided it was unbalanced with only the 1 lighter purple so swapped it out (even though I had already cut all the triangles...I'm sure I will find a use for them!)

Better?? or worse??

I hope you think it is is better because I'm loving how well all the points turned out!

Aden's Quilt

2011-08-26T20:22:00.002+10:00

Adding the binding...

( Photo taken 18/08/2011)
Aden kept asking "I have quilt Mum?'

Yes my sweet boy you may have your quilt now! He has been sleeping under it the past week and loves been tucked up under it!

Is there anything better than a little boy reading books in bed under a handmade quilt??

Whole quilt photo when the sun comes out again...maybe Monday!

Aylssa Grace

2011-08-23T20:35:00.000+10:00

Our family is truly blessed to have this little one in our lives. Alyssa is 11 days old and soooooo tiny!! We had the sweetest newborn cuddles and Aden sneaked in a kiss too! So looking forward to seeing this little girl grow and play with her big sister.

Better get started on her quilt(s)!!

She is here!

2011-08-22T14:31:00.001+10:00

My brand new baby niece arrived safely into the world this morning.

Milla Grace was born at 6:32 am. I've only seen one photo so far and she is beautiful.

Now to plan a driving holiday to visit her and get my newborn cuddles!

Quilting...at last!

2011-08-16T22:18:00.006+10:00

Ignoring the piles of folding all over the table...I'm quilting! Only 15 days left of Winter and I want this quilt on Aden's bed before Spring arrives!

Such a good helper....NOT!

Mr Independent!

2011-08-16T15:22:00.001+10:00

I came in from hanging the clothes out and unpacking the car from swimming to hear a little voice say "I got yogurt Mummy'

The fridge door was hanging open, the cutlery draw also open and Aden was in the lounge room with his open* yogurt helping himself.
Then he takes me into the kitchen where he had put the jam and butter on the bench....'Sandwich please Mummy'

We had been talking about having lunch when we got home. I guess he couldn't wait!

* the lid was in the bin!!

Cheese!!

2011-08-14T20:58:00.003+10:00

How cute are these Pj's for my train-loving son! Baby Gap! Super cute if you ask me...and made all the better with a cheesy smile!

He is also getting super clever at building towers....over and over and over again! His look of concentration is just precious to watch!

He seems quite please with himself doesn't he!

Pink Roses

2011-08-13T15:25:00.002+10:00

MIL is off to wait the arrival of her 3rd grandchild. A little niece for me and a new cousin for Aden. Not sure whoes idea it was hers or hubby's (although he is taking all the credit!), not to let these beautiful rose stay in her garden with no-one to appreciated them, so I got them. They are massive and they smell divine and you get a big whiff every time you walk past! Just beautiful!

Thanks Hubby! (or MIL!)

P.S. Hurry up little girl we are all waiting to meet you!!

Swimming lessons!

2011-08-02T11:28:00.000+10:00

Aden loves swimming and I was very proud today to watch from the dry and warm edge today. He didn't seem to mind the cold and did a great job of listen to the teacher and waiting his turn.

We need to work on not throwing all the toys around and out of reach of the other kids.
He did some great paddles and kicks on the board and loves using the mat and jumping from the edge.

Well Done Aden. I am very proud of you today.

Happy 2nd Birthday my beautiful boy!

2011-08-01T14:28:00.005+10:00

Dear Aden,
Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet boy. It has been such a pleasure being your Mummy for the last 2 years!
You are a joy to be around and you make me smile everyday. I am constantly surprised at the things you have achieved and the new things you learn. Your ability to speak and form independent sentences amazes me. You love to chat and will talk to almost anybody.

I love the way to introduce yourself to strangers in the shops or people who come to the door. 'Hello, I Adie' while you point your finger to your chest. This is usually followed by a useful piece of information like 'I'm wearing my new pajamas'* (even if they are not new) or 'This is my Mummy'
I love the way you are singing Happy Birthday to yourself while you eat your breakfast, and randomly start singing the Alphabet or Wheels on the Bus when we are driving in the car.
We are not loving so much the 'What you doing?', 'Why?' but I love the curiosity you show towards new things and how intensely you stare at the pages of a book or watch so closely while we cook, clean or write and then want to have a go yourself.

Other favourite things you like to say are;
'I need that too' - said for anything that we have in our hands that you think you'd like
'That's mine!- you are 2 after all
'Rice bubbles please Mummy' - said for breakfast, lunch and dinner
'I'm reading' - you love books (you always have) - you also can 'read' a few of your favourite books from memory and you love to tell the story from the pictures.
'Come with me, I show you' - he doesn't take 'in a minute' or 'hang on buddy I'm busy' very well
'Watching me' - he loves to show you what he can do!
"Ah Ha! I found it!" - when you ask him to pick something up
" Oh No! What happened here" - this one makes me laugh as he sounds just like I do!

You are very much a 'Mummy's boy' and ask for 'baby cuddles' after every bath. So I wrap you in a towel and cuddle you into my shoulder, where you pat my back and sigh contentedly. You love to splash and 'swim' in the bath. You are getting more confident at floating on your back so you can 'look at the roof' you tell me. You sit between my feet when we shower in the mornings and if I move you move too. There are more 'baby cuddles' when we get out and it is often the only way I can get you out of the shower is to offer a cuddle. You are learning to wash and dry yourself 'I can do it Mummy' you tell me when I try to help.

The only issue I have with you is food...Dinner to be specific...you eat 2-3 bowls of rice bubbles for breakfast, you love fruit and yogurt for morning tea and you are most content with a jam or peanut butter sandwich for lunch, but the only thing you will eat for dinner is sausages....and only when you feel like it. I'm hoping you will grow out of it one day and until then we will just keep putting up with the 'Noooooooo' that we get when we try to get you to eat something (anything) for dinner.

Aden, you play so nicely with your toys, anything with wheels being your favourite...trains especially! You love Thomas, Lightening McQueen, Mack and Roary. You love balls and are getting good at kicking, throwing and catching. You love jumping onto and off anything. Your latest trick is the 'firemans pole' at Day Care where you give the carers a heart attack by just leaning out and grabbing the pole to slide down. You love the slides and the rope ladder, the swings not so much. You love to play with anyone who will play with you...only if they don't try and take what you are playing with at that moment...or something you might want to play with next...or something that you just finished playing with....you are 2!

You love swimming lessons and will have your first one on your own tomorrow without Mummy in the water...I think you will be fine...if you don't try and jump off the step when it is not your turn! You can paddle and kick and have learnt to propell yourself through the water using a noodle without any help. You love jumping in from the edge and can 'monkey' very fast to get back to the steps.

You are a great sleeper, having between 1 and 2 hrs during the day and into bed at around 7 every night. With cuddles, a few 'I love yous' and a story or 2, you are easy to get to bed and you settle well, putting yourself to sleep with the help of your bedside light (which you turn on after we leave the room- naughty boy!) and musical fish tank, half a dozen books and whatever toy takes your fancy just before bed. If you hear us up early in the morning you get up too, to say bye to Daddy before he goes to work. If we don't have to get up early you wander into our room not long after 6am and snuggle in bed with us for 10 mins before demanding 'breakfsss please Mummy, I hungry'

You have beautiful manners, without needing too much prompting. You say 'bless you' when someone sneezes, and 'sscue me' to people in the shops in your way. You call out 'drive safely' whenever we go anywhere in the car and you always check we have our seat belts on.

You are a beautiful soul Aden Henry and I love you very much. I feel so blessed to have you in my life. I will continue to enjoy watching you grow from a baby into a little boy over the next 12 months.
Thank you for being a wonderful son.

Love Mummy
xxxooo

*said to the gardener who showed up at 7am, we do not wear Pj's to the shops!

$20 Mobile Phone Charger Stand...

2011-07-24T19:59:00.001+10:00

What do you think? Saw this on the side of the road yesterday near the local shop. So I bought it....much to my husbands dismay...

Only place to fit it is in our room for now till I re-sort a few things...he is calling it my $20 mobile phone changer stand (the phone usually sits on the floor)

Jumping in Puddles...

2011-07-17T10:17:00.002+10:00

Aden had his first 'puddle jumping' experience...just as it was getting dark yesterday. He didn't seem to mind the sprinkling rain and in fact it was hard to get him inside! When I opened the garage door this morning the first thing he said was 'more jumping puddles rain Mum' Unfortunately he only had socks on, fortunately there were no puddle left!

Kellie's Class

2011-07-08T15:26:00.058+10:00

WOW It is hard to know where to start telling you about my weekend. I had been booked into Kellie's class for some months and then it snuck up on me rather quick!
DH was working all day Saturday and Aunty Bee offered to have Aden for the night so I could have the whole weekend free.
Kellie from 'Don't Look Now' was super easy to listen to. She was full of great advice and tips and tricks that helped a lot.

It was sad that Rose couldn't make it to sew with me and I was worried that I would have no one to talk to but luckily I sat next to Gillian who was lovely to chat to (Hi Gillian if you found my blog!)

We had a bit of a sharing circle and Kellie shared her 'getting started' story then it was time to really get started.

Choosing fabrics was hard (and to be honest I don't really like the ones I have chosen especially for the green leaves). Kellie kept reminding us that it wasn't about the fabrics so much in this piece but the techniques that we will learn doing it. So I picked some and moved on (that makes it sound like it was a fast process...it wasn't!) Lucky there was a whole quilting shop to choose from and 30% off fabrics and also Kellie was able to help me too. Then there was tracing, cutting, ironing and more cutting. Kellie helped cut out most of the leaves (She was super generous with her time and really helped everyone)
All the shapes were laid out on the background fabric and ironed down.

There is 2 layers of wadding on the back to help the shapes 'pop' later on and so us amateurs don't cut through the top layer of background fabric when trimming away the batting!

I've never done raw-edge applique before and it looks very cool and oh so neat when you look at Kellie's work. And then you watch her sew and that is even better!

It was quite time consuming swapping threads and bobbins for every new fabric, but the better the match is the harder it is too see all the mistakes! (Well that is the theory anyway I can see every one of my mistakes!)

We were supposed to finish the applique for homework and that is where I ran into disaster! I broke my spring-loaded-open-toed-applique foot on the first try at home! I was stuck I couldn't do any more! It made me very cranky and I knew it would put me out of the game when I went back on Sunday.
Thanks goodness the shop girls came to my rescue and found another foot for me to borrow. So I was only waaaaayyyyy behind. (We then did find a foot in my own collection of feet the does the exact same job so I am able to continue free-motion quilting at home.)

Most of Sunday was spent watching, drawing, learning and practising (and watching some more) the background quilting. It is quite dense and is really what makes the fabric shapes pop. I was TERRIBLE and was getting slightly annoyed that I was finding it so hard and that it looked so 'messy'.

That was until I went around the table and had a little sticky at what everyone else was doing. Now some of these ladies have been quilting/sewing for over 30 years and I was pleased to note that mine wasn't that bad in comparison (slightly better than some in my biased opinion)
Then Kellie showed us the 'tear drop'

Ahhhhh finally found something I was half decent at....Yeah!!

I've still got some work to finish on mine ( alot in fact!!) but this will NOT become a WIP I am determine to finish it....even if it then does sit in a cupboard somewhere...as it is pretty dodgy!

Class photo

More photos of Kellie beautiful work that was on display....One of the best bits I think...getting to see, touch and experience the quilts first hand!

I am sooo making this tree! Actually I could say that about nearly all of the quilts I saw!

The 'Dream Machine' for free-motion quilting (according to Kellie)....dream is right!

The last three photos are some animals in the latest pattern from Kellie....Animal Alphabet.

Around the Block 2 - Spiders Web

2011-06-29T15:32:00.001+10:00

Truth be told this block scared me when I first saw it. And now I feel guilty cause it was soooo easy and fun! Mine will be the last one to return home.

Thanks to Amy for providing a great tutorial link and some wonderful fabrics to work with. This is not my colour pallet or usual fabric prints at all but I enjoyed working with them....so much so that I am planning my own quilt using this block....one day....
I only just had enough fabric so Amy won't be getting any scraps back...but she can have a nice photo of the (lovely) mess on my floor!

Butterflies for Rachel

2011-06-29T15:15:00.000+10:00

Rachel is making a quilt for her littlest monkey.
Pretty sweet butterflies for Maya. They will all be home soon and I'm looking forward to seeing them all together.

My butterflies are missing their antennae, Rachel said she wouldn't mind adding them when the get back....I am yet to master a french knot!

Around the Block 2

2011-06-29T12:06:00.001+10:00

2 Blocks for Kate.
I'm really enjoying all the different blocks I get to tackle for this.

The colours are just lovely in these moasic blocks. They would look lovely in just about any colour I think. Hope Kate likes them!

Men don't quilt

2011-06-28T17:46:00.000+10:00

This is what my husband says...here is proof they can!

Aden had all the right actions!

PS. There is NO blade in that cutter. Aden kept wanting (and taking) my new cutter so I took the blade out of the old one and let him play to his hearts content!

Mess Making

2011-06-24T23:51:00.000+10:00

This is what I have been doing tonight...

making a mess!

How about you?

Day Care Photo 2011

2011-06-22T19:47:00.000+10:00

How beautiful is my boy!

Star Light Start Bright

2011-06-20T12:13:00.000+10:00

I started these blocks in December 2007...I thought it was only like 2 years ago and I'm slightly embarassed to see that it is actually 3.5 years! Yikes!

It makes sense though....the little boy this quilt is for will be turning 4 in September. I wonder if Nicholas' mum would still like it for his bed??

It has and all-over medium stipple with random 5-point stars. I had major issues with the top and bottom threads being different colours and this was th main delay in getting it quilting...I continued to get too frustrated at it and would but it away again.

I'm gald I persisted and it looks great!

Hubby helped choose the binding fabric...I wanted to use red but the one I had left in my stash wasn't an exact match and it have bee noticable. I quite like the blue though...makes the blues on the front 'pop' a bit more.

What's next in the 'to finish' pile??

Leaha's Quilt

2011-06-18T18:07:00.001+10:00

Little Leaha is 2 months old today!

(These photos were taken a few weeks ago at my Dad's wedding. She was an angel through the whole thing!)

I had to wait til she was born to find out she was a girl and then I could start making her a quilt. I've had this Sorbet for 2 years and I finally got to use it. I finished the quilt top back in April and have been slowly quilting it when I get 5 minutes.

I used this 'Moda Bake Shop' Pattern called 'Awesome' Lap Quilt which sadly needed some tweaking to make it work. I had to trim the blocks to make them fit together and then adjust the lengths of the strips to make it right.
When I laid the 3 sections out together it was just to...pink? To much of something...and very overwhelming! It needed the plain cream to break up the colour a bit and then it looked odd with just the sashings so I added an outer border too.

I've quilted straight-in-the-ditch lines along each section and a small stipple in cream thread on the sashings and border.

A total 'stash' quilt! Yeah me!

More quilting to come!

Miserable

2011-06-01T16:52:00.001+10:00

My poor boy is struggling with ill health today. I had to go and pick him up early from Day Care...We had snuggles and Thomas all afternoon.

100+ Reading Challenge

2011-05-22T14:39:00.003+10:00

I'm getting there slowly....very slowly!

The lovely Car (it is her birthday this week, pop by and say hello!) sent me this book that I won from her blog. Thanks Car!

I enjoyed the story line. I love that it wraps up all the ends nicely and you finish reading knowing that all the characters are taken care of!
The 'quilt' part of the book it lovely too. I'm going to be on the look out for another one to read...any recommendations as to which one?

Play School

2011-05-16T21:09:00.012+10:00

We took Aden to his first 'live' concert today! And I'm really gald we did. It took him a few songs to warm up but he started dancing when they bought out Fegrus the frog for 'Ga-Loomp' and singing when Little Ted 'had a farm'....soo cute!
I loved watching Aden sing and dance!
This is Aden's 'I'm not too sure about this Mummy' face.

Emma with King Big Ted and Alex with Farmer Little Ted.
'Old Mother Hubard' and her 'dog'
'Woof Woof!!'
'Twinkle Twinkle little star'
'Like a daimond in the sky'

Around the Block 2

2011-05-02T14:42:00.009+10:00

I made this block for Becky ages ago

and half made this one....

Which was going to plan execpt that I had run out of white for the corner blocks...I was debating about sending it half finished and Becky didn't seem to mind when I asked her but it didn't seem right to be sending a half finished block.
Then the school hoildays arrived and I finally found time some time to sew so after re-reading Becky's instructions I saw that she wouldn't mind if we added some pink/green fabrics of our own so I found some pick and added the corner squares.

Looking good!

But then I laid it next to the other quilt block....uh oh...disaster!

Somehow my calculations are all out of whack... this is terrible..I'm so mad at myself!! So after wondering how the hell I'm going to fixed it and deciding that I can't...and with no fabric left to make another block I decided to make Possum a little pillow to go with her quilt when Becky gets all the blocks back. (it is a perfect size '14' Pillow insert from Spotlight)

I'm really sorry Becky and I hope this is OK with you and Possum as this was the best solution I could come up with.

Aden's quilt

2011-04-30T12:22:00.004+10:00

Embarrassingly my son is almost 2 and I haven't made him a quilt yet...Don't get me wrong he has 3 quilts(!) and loves them all but I haven't made one just for him. So when we got his new bed back in January I decided to make him a quilt for it!

The top was finished 10 days ago but I am finally getting around to blogging it.

I love it and it is perfect for Aden's room....now to quilt it. Hopefully before Winter is over!

100+ Reading Challenge...

2011-04-25T19:35:00.002+10:00

A long weekend is a great time to do nothing and read...with a small child that is near impossible...but I did manage to squeeze in this short but powerful read. Very appropraite on ANZAC day

In 1938, Edith and her family joined the many Jewish people forced to leave their homes to escape the Nazis. In a desperate bid for survival, Edith was entrusted to the care of a children's home in Moissac, France, where other Jewish children were hiding. All the people of the town promised to keep the children's identity a secret. Could they possibly succeed? Would Edith ever see her family again? A dramatic and moving account of one girl's experience during World War II. This is the true story of Edith Schwalb.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T19:41:00.009+10:00

Aden was old enough to indulge in a little more chocolate this year...but still too young to notice when Mummy ate it! He just liked unwrapping the foil!

NO! Mine!
Death of the chicken
More 'lil buba Leaha' cuddles for Aden!

Introducing Leaha Jayne

2011-04-20T21:27:00.004+10:00

7 pounds 2 oz of pure cuteness!
Aden was so good with her, being so gentle and wanted lots of cuddles and kisses.
He was quite besotted in fact....and do you blame him...she is beautiful!

It's a girl!!

2011-04-18T13:04:00.004+10:00

I have a brand new baby niece! Born just an hour ago...no name no weights no information yet. Just a healthy beautiful baby Girl!

100+ Reading Challenge...

2011-04-11T12:43:00.002+10:00

I'm doing very poorly but that is because I am time poor. A couple of quick 'teen fiction' reads

A predictable read but still enjoyable.

This one is actually quite engaging...had me reading til late to found out what happens to her father.

How are you going on your challenge?? Want some more book titles to try? C is for Chaos has some book reviews for you!

Happy 1st Birthday Bailey

2011-04-05T10:06:00.006+10:00

Cousin Baily turned one last weekend, so we flew to central Queensland to celebrate with him. Aden LOVED the plane ride and the bus we took from the parking place. He was very well behaved on both, but I now know why they make you pay for a seat on the plane when they turn two! Aden on my lap for 1 and a half hours in a very confined space is not fun!

These photos are from the plane flight home as it was very early morning and to dark on the flight up for decent photos.

Of course we also loved playing with Bailey....well I did...Aden just kept on telling him 'no that my train' when in fact they were all Bailey's....lucky he didn't seem to mind!

Bailey's mummy and I made him a train cake! It was yummy

I've been busy....

2011-03-30T19:36:00.008+10:00

but nothing in the sewing room unfortunatly! Sadly the sewing day I had planned for last Saturday got cancelled...my one day to sew in aaaaaaaaaaaaages!
Hopefully I can have another chance soon....school holidays are getting closer...of course that means more work for assessments and parent interviews and the like that goes with the end of (a long!!) term....I think I'll go nuts if I don't get some time out soon!

Anyway here is what we have been up to!

Aden's first go at helping to cook for real...he was very good until he lifted the wisk out of the mix and straight into the butter container...Hubby go some great video for those on Facebook!

We fight Aden EVERY night with dinner....he is starving when he gets home from Daycare and the snacks on fruit and cheese....crys if he doesn't get it (can have a real melt down!! and I hate to see him hungry) and then won't eat his dinner an hour later. I'm trying my best to have dinner ready but impossible when you have just walked in the door! He did enjoy these devil saugages the other night....maybe it's all in the name??Anyone offering tricks to get a toddler to eat something other than cheese???

There was also a smidgen of naked gardening...We now have a few more strawberry plants, more rosemary ( we cook with it faster than it can grow!) and a potted dwarf lemon...can't wait for this to grow some fruit!

There is lots of other boring household and work stuff going on too....so I have been busy!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Niece!

2011-03-20T17:49:00.004+10:00

Published!!

2011-03-12T22:02:00.005+10:00

Ok so it is not a big interview or pattern or anything but I have one of my mini quilts in the lastest issue ( Vol 12 No.3) of Homespun! I was the featured in the 'Readers Show Case' (page 6) and received a prize too!

It was my 'Bye Bye Birdie' quilt I made for Helen!

I love the table runner in this issue...adding it to my list!

You will see Emma in this issue too!

The Birthdays

2011-03-10T08:22:00.003+10:00

It took me ages to read this book. Partly because I have been super busy but mostly because it was a hard book to read. I found it really hard to follow the story line. It jumped around with no flow.....this is just my opinion of course but not a book I will be reading a second time.

Around the block 2

2011-03-01T13:20:00.004+10:00

Abbe is busy preparing for the arrival of her first baby...this block will hopefully make it to her place before the baby does!

These 'stacked book' blocks were fun to make...I almost wish Abbe had given me some more green fabrics to work with...there is not a lot of green in my stash! I hope the one I did include 'goes' but I put it on the end so that if she doesn't like it it will be easy to unpick and change! I have 3 leftover 'books' to start another block so I sent those back to Abbe too!

Now that they are posted and in the mail I've thought of a better way to construct them....I was a bit worried they wouldn't be centred and square...I should have joined and then chopped off the ends to aquare up thje block....d'oh....sorry Abbe....send more fabric if you want me to re-make...(or make some more!!)

Around the block 2

2011-02-27T21:47:00.008+10:00

I've been so swamped with work lately...this working and mothering gig is hard work! I'm now slowing getting on top of things and that includes some blocks for my block swap. Picking a random envelope from the pile I have been working on Kate's blocks. Simple and fresh these blocks were fun to make. Hope you like them Kate.
10.5 inch finished
I had to unpick a bit and skimp a little on one seam to make it fit the 10.5" Hoping this is what Kate wanted...

8.5 inch unfinished
I wanted this one to be 10.5 too but The blue flower fabric just wouldn't allow for it unless I made the birds wider...and with Helen's gudiance decided to keep the birds the same and just trim the block! Thanks Helen!

Strawberry thief!

2011-02-26T21:32:00.005+10:00

I tried to get a photo of the few strawberries that were growing on my plants...but as soon as I lifted the leaves the Strawberry thief spotted them! So no photo...he did enjoy eating it though!
These are not the first berries on the bush but Aden got to them too! I have to take him away from the pot as he eats the white berries that are not ripe yet if you are not quick enough! I'm toying with the idea of planting a heap more bushes....anyone know when is the best time to plant strawberries??

I'm going to be an Aunty...again!

2011-02-22T07:52:00.008+10:00

This beautiful little boy will be a big brother by the end of August! Aden will have 2 new cousin this year! YEAH!!

Aden loved having Bailey visit this week and has not stopped talking about him since!
Bailey was soooo good for his first big sleepover. The boys will start Prep the same year so I am already planning school holiday sleepovers!

I think Nana liked having her boys together too!

Undie Dundies!

2011-02-16T21:03:00.003+10:00

Is this the end...??

2011-02-15T09:40:00.004+10:00

Most likely a little premature in saying that it is the end of nappies...but maybe the start of the end??

Aden has used the big toilet for the first time yesterday...not bad for 18.5 months! It is amazing what I find exciting now that I'm a Mummy!

Make that 2 days in a row! He went again this afternoon!!

Aden's Library....

2011-02-08T10:04:00.001+10:00

Toddle Waddle by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt.
Toddle along and laugh aloud! There's a hullabaloo at the seaside when a toddler takes his friends on a stroll to see the band at the end of the pier.

They wander happily along, following the leader, with a clip clop, hurry scurry, flip flop, toddle waddle, but where will they go and who else will they meet along the way?

The youngest child will love the jaunty rhymes and the bright, bold pictures in this simple, playful story.

The 'book bus' (ie Mobile Library) was outside Day Care when I picked Aden up on Friday. So we crossed the road and climbed the stairs...a great adventure for little legs!
Aden picked this book and a few others. It is a cute story that Aden is learning to 'read' himself. He points to the pictures and names things, says 'uack uack' for the ducks and 'ooff' for the dog. It is very cute to watch.

Quilt-y Words

2011-02-07T19:14:00.003+10:00

Helen bought this book and then got offered a free copy...so she sent them my name instead. Lucky Me!

Tonya of Lazy Gal Quilting has made 'wonky' easy. I've had a flick through the book and I'm already planning a project...after I finish one of my WIP's of course!

I think Lynne at the Patchery Menagerie posted it out super quick! Check out her blog for some quilt-y word inspiration.

Thanks Lynne and Helen!

KinderGym

2011-01-31T21:21:00.000+10:00

We took Aden to a trial of KinderGym at the local PCYC. He loved it! I'm not sure I can fit it in at the moment though. I need a day at home to get things done. I'm keen for him to go back in about 6-12 months time...we'll see how things are then.

Happy Australia Day!

2011-01-26T21:14:00.000+10:00

We sure are the lucky country! I love living in Australia and am very proud to be an Aussie! I am blessed to have family and friends so close, a stable job with a good income, quality childcare, free weekends and two beautiful men in my life who I love very much!

BBQ Breakfast! Yum!
Lamb for lunch??
Or crocodile perhaps??

More for the stash!

2011-01-25T07:28:00.003+10:00

I realised that I needed (really I did!) a few more fabrics for Aden's HST Diamond quilt. So while I was dropping my machine off for a service and Aunty was spoiling Aden next door at the toy shop, I found these!

Of course it now looks like there are too many of the darker prints. Guess I'll have to do some more shopping!

Outside fun!

2011-01-23T18:08:00.000+10:00

I've been stalking ebay for weeks to get Aden one of these...and finally I did. In great condition and at a good price...and just down the road so an easy pickup.

He loved helping Daddy put it together almost as much as he liked playing on it. We have to wait til late in the afternoon or early morning to play but he loved it!

My big boy!

2011-01-19T21:39:00.011+10:00

How beautiful is my big boy getting!!

This was last night

and this is tonight!

He was an angel going to bed! After I tucked him in an d turned out the light, he got out of bed and came to the door and called out, but didn't come out of his room. I went in and put him back in bed and stayed for a minute. He started to cry as I left the room and we could hear him come to the door again although this time he didn't open it. Still crying we could hear him move away from the door and then less than 30 seconds later the crying stopped. I thought I would go in to find him asleep on the floor or mattress we tucked under the edge of the bed in case he fell out... nope! Fast asleep, tucked back in bed cuddling his puppy (upside down!)
Photo taken in complete darkness as we had a blackout out for 20 mins, sever thunderstorm and still he slept!

I love my big boy!

Progress on Aden's quilt

2011-01-16T21:27:00.003+10:00

Aden's bed hasn't arrived because of the flood waters. I haven't even been able to contact the store.
Gives me some more time to work on this. I'm loving the colour and it is taking a huge chunk out of my stash!

Queensland Flood relief appeal.

2011-01-16T20:00:00.002+10:00

Toni is getting together the blogging community to help. Have a look on her blog to see all the great stuff out there for auction. With all monies going to the flood victims.

The master list is here...and it is huge!