Sew it Together - Saturday

I've been mulling over what to write about the whole Sew It Together experience and in particular the Saturday crafting session. This post definitely doesn't sum up everything I am feeling even though it is 3 days later, I just can't seem to put it into words.
I never imagined when Sheridan floated the idea way back here what a wonderful time I would have - catching up with old friends, meeting other old friends for the first time, putting faces to those behind some of my favourite blogs and meeting new bloggers.

Sheridan did the most fantastic job and I feel very lucky to count her as a friend and she was well assisted by Donna (those are her hands by the way).

There have been lots of posts doing the rounds and pretty much everyone is saying the same thing "fantastic weekend bring on next year" and I for one can't wait.

Melbourne and Sew It Together

What a weekend! It was absolutely fantastic and so jam packed I think I'll have to break it in to a couple of posts. First up was Friday. I don't have any photos but I met up with this wonderful blogger and it was wonderful to finally meet her.

These pretty much sum up the rest of the day.

The day ended with a few (too many) drinks at Nikki's studio and meeting some old friends and new.

Exhusted

Fantastic weekend at Sew It Together. More to come but a big thanks to Sheridan for organising it. Off to bed now.

Proud Mum Moment

Indulge me for a moment please....

Last week Charlotte was Student of the Week and then last night I was ready the newsletter and under Junior Artist of the Week I see my big girls' name. I won't be there on Friday for assembly, I'll be here but her dad will be there to clap loudly when she goes up to collect her certificate.Here she is with her torn paper portrait taken hastily this morning

Well done Charlotte

Sew it Together

Not long now until Sew It Together. I'm pretty excited not only will I be getting to meet and catch up with some great bloggers but I get a couple of kid-free days as well.

Here's a sneak peek of a little Thank You gift I have put together for my Sample Swappers.

Also go over here and check out this swap, it's quite similar to the sample one and looks like a lot of fun.

Happy Mothers Day

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Mathildas Market

As I'm no longer a stall holder at Mathildas I popped in yesterday to have a leisurely peruse.

I managed to pick up this lovey top for Lucy on sale. It's made by Ivy Designs.

Sorry about the photo my computer is playing up and I'm just glad I've finally been able to upload.

Of course I couldn't go home without something for Charlotte so I picked up this bracelet from Melei which Charlotte is in love with.

Swap Goodies

I finished my items for the Sew It Together sample swap I organised. As I only needed to make 6 things I decided to do a bag. I love them all and hope the other swappers love them too.


Not long until Sew It Together so I need make myself a new bag and get some things cut out to take. I'm using a pattern from Fat Quarterly to make a quilt. For those that have the mag I'm making the hex panel but using them for a quilt instead.

And a big thanks to this lovely lady who kindly sent me a camera she had upgraded from. I'm still getting the hang of it so excuse the photos. I can't wait to finally meet her when I am in Melbourne.

Do Yourself a Favour

I bought a copy of this great new e-zine last night. Do yourself a favour and get yours now. I've already got my first project planned.

Ernst

Another beautiful autumn day

Enjoying the Sydney sun

Disclaimer: never assume you know more than the person who wrote the pattern especially if it is Jodie

Sew it Together Name Tag

I've been lost since my camera was broken and so I have been very slack in showing off my Sew It Together Name Tage.

It was made by the lovely Suzie from Yarnplanner. I love it as it is very me. I especially love the button with the two little bunnies on it, perfect to make me think of my two little bunnies at home while I'm having a fun weekend.

Thanks so much Susie

Canberra

We had a fantastic time in the nation's capital. We visited Questacon - loved the rollarcoaster simulator and Jeff and I were both be-headed, old and new Parliment House, National Musuem, The Mint, The War Memorial, Cockington Green and the Australian Institute of Sport, who knew I could jump so high and I proved my prowess with the Aussie Rules kicking.

Not too many photos because Charlotte dropped my camera in the Great Hall in Parliment House and it is now stuffed. The rest of the pics are on Jeff's iphone luckily.

We came back via my aunt's in Bowral and the girls have stayed for a few days, Lucy's first time away so Jeff and I are enjoying a couple of kid-free nights

Today

See you in a few days, we're off to Canberra.

Happy Easter

Wonderful bunnies made especially for my girls by Rachel

Have a happy and safe Easter.

Handmade News

I've been featured over at Handmade News today. A big thanks to Sara for asking me to be part of this great website, although I might have to kill her for her choice of photo. Pop over and check it out.

They recently featured one of my favourite bloggers.

Here's a pic of my latest new toy, it's only an Ipod Touch not an Iphone but I am loving it when I can prise it from the kids hands.

Sew it Together Name Tag

I've finished my name tag for Gypsy's Sew It Together Name Tag Swap. I had two ideas in my head but this was the one that seemed to be calling me.

I used some aqua barkcloth I've had in my drawer for ages for the front and back. I picked up this doily at the op shop, cut it to size and embroidered the name on. After reading Cam's suggestions to make the tag stiff I interfaced both pieces of barkcloth but then I realised they would be to stiff to turn right side out. So I had to blanket stitch around the edges. I figured it's not going to be washed so a little fraying will look ok.

I'm such a worrier that my partner won't like it so I might still go with my other idea. Maybe I'll see if they comment!

Apologies to my swap partner as my embroidery skills are not top notch.

A New Bag

I've had this idea for a new bag in my head for ages. I just drew it straight on to some interfacing and then cut the fabric out.
I used Wildwood with interfacing on the outside and it is lined with a dark grey wool flannel, which is also interfaced giving the bag a nice structure.

I'm happy with how it turned out but it isn't exactly how I envisaged it so I am going to sell it as a sample so if you are interested pop over here

Sample Swap

Hi fellow Sew It Together friends

Some of you may remember (and/or participated in) the 10 item swap I organised last year and I thought maybe I could organise something similar for Sew It Together.

How it works:

• Nominate to participate

• Once I have numbers I will let everyone know how many items they need to make (for example if there are 30 people we would probably divide it into 5 groups of 6 so you would make 5 items). MAXIMUM ITEMS WOULD BE 10, although even if everyone participated we could still do smaller groups if it would make it easier time-wise.
  

• Bring your items to the Saturday session

• Some time during the day those who participated could break away and then I would have everyone's name in a hat and we would start drawing. The first 6 names to come out would break away and swap their items and so on.

So let me know what you think, anyone interested? You can also leave any messages here

Cass

Big Brown Bear

Some very good friends recently gave birth to a beautiful little boy called Ryan.  Of course I had to make him something but had to wait until he was born before I could start.  I decided on a small quilt/play blanket using Big Brown Bear fabric and we gave him the book to go with it.

I just did a simple stitch in the ditch quilting and I did the binding in the stripe fabric. 

At 6 weeks old he seemed very happy with it!

Lead Pencils

Why can I never find any lead pencils in my house?

Why do lots of lead pencils come unsharpened?

I love writing with lead pencil,

Charlotte has to do her homework in lead pencil

I think The Borrowers are living here.

Testing

I was reading this blog yesterday and Michelle mentioned Windows Live so last night I downloaded it and thought I would have a go posting from the Live Writer feature.  So I don’t really have anything to say except maybe check it out and see what you think.

I can’t get the photo bit to work though so I need to investigate that more.

OK that’s cool I just went back in and can retrieve the post so now I’m going to try a photo

So I can add a photo from flickr but not from my computer.  I think I need to set some other thing up but as you can tell I am totally un-geeky!

Fabric

We had our monthly Hills Craft Room last night and Sheridan and Peta were talking about a sale at Hobby Sew. Now I get the mailouts from them but this time I didn't even open it and apparently there was Denyse Schmidt on sale. Now this lady had pretty much cleaned the shop out and after checking out what she got I thought I'd take a little trip this morning. So Lucy and I dashed out there between school drop off and playgroup and got all this:

Denise Schmydt

Anna Maria Horner, Jennifer Paganelli, Heather Ross

To top the morning off this was in the mailbox when we got home, just about to sit down with some lunch and have a read