You know it's been a while when...

your blog doesn't even come up as a recently visited link in your browser's history! 

So another few weeks have zoomed by, and I am slowly getting used to working from home, rather than going into the shop each day.  It is actually rather gratifying to feel like I am keeping up with the laundry pile!  Whether this domestic bliss lasts, is another thing!

I have been making so many labels, and sewing kids hats for a lovely new wholesale account, but tonight I couldn't sleep and felt the urge to sew something for myself.  A half-opened jelly roll of French General fabrics (Lumiere de Noel) was calling my name, so I got out of bed and starting cutting it into 6.5" strips, and sewing them together.  I am quite pleased with the results so far, but owing to it being nearly midnight, there are no photos to show... so I will just leave you with a photo of the FG jelly roll that I have used... aren't the colours gorgeous?

My Creative Space - Classic reds

I am half way through making a sweet little play dress for Naomi, from a pattern by the talented Toni at Make It Perfect.  I should be finishing it off ... but as Naomi is having a nap (something which is becoming more and more rare for our 'big' 4 year old girl), I have tucked it to one side and pulled out some patchwork piecing that has been in the work basket for months.

I don't really have a firm plan for these classic red and white polka dots, other than that I am doing a courthouse steps style log cabin piecing, alternating with the reds and whites.  Using such wide strips (2.5"), means the blocks will grow very quickly, so after a couple of rounds I will probably stop and see if I can piece them into something that I like.... who knows!  But I figured crisp reds and whites, and simple polka dots, how far wrong can it go??

For more creative spaces, go and see the lovely Kirsty at kootoyoo

First Steps - a baby quilt

I showed you the pretty girly fabrics in this quilt a couple of weeks ago. 

I had a go at quilting it myself.  Total disaster.  It is ages since I did any quilting, and couldn't even find my walking foot.  So, instead, I asked the very talented Tonia at Malanda Quilting to quilt it for me.  This was the first time I have had a quilt professionally 'styled' and I am so happy with the results!

All these swirls have been done by freehand on Tonia's long-arm quilter.

If you have fallen in love with it, the First Steps quilt is available for sale here!

Moving house...

Well, the last few weeks have been crazy.  Much more family, than crafting...

We finally decided that we are paying far too much rent for the house that we were in, looked around and realised that the market has changed an awful lot since we moved 18 months ago.  We are now happily renting a different house in our town, and saving $150 per week!  The compromise is that it is smaller, and a bit more basic, but still has a great yard that the kids are going to love.

Which all means that this weekend is going to be spent moving boxes of 'stuff' from old house to new house.  How is it that we acquire so much stuff??  I thought I was ruthless last time we moved - I sent loads to the tip, to the charity bins and to friends. 

But somehow, in 18 months it has all crept back in - I again have 8 large garbage bags full of kids' clothes to give to charity, not to mention toys toys toys toys toys...... heavens above, I think the stuffed toys have been multiplying in the toy box!

We made the emotional decision to sell the cot, high chair and baby rockers.  Our little family feels complete... and if by chance a Number 3 comes along, we will just have to sort out what we need then.

AND the reason there are no pictures of the First Steps baby quilt that is now finished, and beautifully quilted by the very clever Tonia at Malanda Quilting is that the batteries in my camera are flat ... what craziness made me buy a camera that needs constant replacing of 4 AA batteries?!?!  But I promise there will be photos very soon - I am so happy with the first quilt I have pieced in absolutely ages....

Creative Space - Birdies and a quilt

It is a long time since I pieced a quilt top.  Time, space, circumstances... they have all made me lean towards smaller, more managable projects that come together quickly.  But I have some sweet little 'Honey Buns' (from the Moda pre-cut range), that are a set of pre-cut 1.5" strips -  they are in the shop, and I get quite a few queries about 'what can you do with these?'.

So, it was time to make a quick and easy strippy quilt, both for my own peace of mind - I haven't forgotten how! - and to showcase the beautiful fabrics from the Birdie range, by Me and My Sister.

I was inspired by this beautiful quilt by Red Pepper Quilts, so yesterday I started sewing strips together, planning the cross-cutting, and thinking about borders.... here is what has happened so far. 

I reckon that all up, it has been around 3 hours sewing so far - this has just confirmed my thoughts that pre-cut strips are "quilting made quick & easy!"

For more lovely creative spaces, visit kootooyoo !