Oh La La

I won this pattern at Sew It Together and even though hats don't really suit me I decided to make it up.

I used a lovely soft denim I got from Peta that originally came from Kelani. I lined it with some Denyse Schmidt. I love how it turned out and it was super quick. I started at 6pm and was interrupted by putting kids to bed, having dinner, watching Brothers & Sisters and Grand Designs and finished it at 10.15 so super quick.

And my iPad 2 finally arrived. I don't know how I've been typing on my touch all this time, I'm in love!


It's very hard to take a photo of yourself in a hat.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Is there such a thing as too much cholocate?

Yesterday I took the girls to a chocolate workshop at the Shangri La. I'm blaming Peta for telling me about this but it was great. It's often hard to find workshops that both the girls can do, usually Lucy is too young.
We all had a great time making chocolate decorations, learning about different techniques, decorating cupcakes, rolling truffles and having a turn at spraying this huge Harbour Bridge cake with chocolate.

I'm not sure we need the Easter bunny to visit now though.

A Lovey Gift

How lucky am I? Look at this gorgeous table runner Helen gave me when she stayed at my place for Sew It Together. When she made it I commented how much I loved it and she kept it for me. The colours are very me and I've currently got it running along the kitchen island and the kids have been sitting there eating breakfast now and hopefully it is keeping the bench tidy.

A New Bag

I bought this pattern ages ago and cut it out at Sew It Together. I have been slowly putting it together and finally finished it on the weekend. It's another of Nikki's great patterns, with easy to follow instructions.

I used some Melody Miller fabric on the outside and some Kei dots on the inside and I thought that would be heavy enough for what I was after but I should have interfaced it as well as it's a little floppier than I wanted. I also wanted to make the strap adjustable but I didn't have enough fabric.

I used it on my walk today though and it's great for those times when I need to take my wallet and pick up a few things at the shops.

I can't wait to get my hands on Nikki's book to see what great surprises she has inside.

The Hunt Is On

Can you help in the hunt for the lowdown, dirty, stinking theiving person who stole this bag today from Nicole Mallalieu's stand at the Australian Quilt Convention in Melbourne.

Apart from being a show-stopping piece from her new book it has a huge amount of sentimental value as the button used on the bag belonged to Nikki's late Grandmother.

People who create hand made items and run small businesses that service the craft industry work incredibly hard to make their living, and do it from a sense of love for creating, sharing and teaching which Nikki does so well.

To blatantly steal like this is shameful, and I only hope that this gorgeous bag brings whoever did it, nothing but bad karma.

If you see it in the street, stop them, or cry 'thief!' - it's one of a kind - they didn't buy it.

Feel free to repost this - or link to it - or link to Nikki's post and let's see if we can get this bag back.

**Please not this post is copied directly from Karen's blog. She said it so well and I didn't think she would mind.

Not to be outdone

Not to be outdone by Ingrid and Charlotte my Charlotte has started a blog too. You can it here


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Chip Heart

I'll be missing the girls this week while they enjoy a few days with their great aunt.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Sew It Together Part 2

At Sew It Together this year we got an awesome goodie bag, had the chance to win fantastic prizes and lots of people also participated in the sample swap.

I won an awesome Polly Pratt dress (this one), I've worn it twice now and I love it but I don't have a picture of me in it yet.

All these patterns were either in the goodie bag or I won them. I think the Red Thread birdie cushion is going to be my new go-to present item.

This photo is a mix of things I bought, fabric from the goodie bag and items from the swap. The kids snagged lots of swap goodies though so not everything is there, sorry.

A big thanks to all the sponsors, there is a huge list here

Thanks also to everyone who participated in the sample swap especially those girls in my groups
Sara
Karen
Helen
Anna
Donna

Lara
Claire
Belinda
Becky
Bronwyn

Sarah
Kylie
Peta
Sheridan
Marina

Sew It Together 2011

Sew It Together is over for another year and once again it was a fanastic weekend. It started on Friday with a quick dash over to the Remnant Warehouse then off to the airport to pick up Helen and drop her back to the fabric shopping bus. Helen stayed the night and then we were off early Saturday morning with Sara to the Menzies for a fun day of chatting and crafting (although I didn't do much crafting).

There were cakes for morning tea

Lots of prizes. I was very lucky to win a dress from Polly Pratt, it's absolutely gorgeous and I wore it on Saturday night so there may be some picture lurking around somewhere. I also won a lucky door prize, here's Gilly drawing it out.

Lots of fun catching up with old friends and new. Thanks to everyone who participated in the swap it was great fun.

Dinner on Saturday night was fantastic and culminated in a new Sew It Together tradition (if you are on FB and went to SIT you can see the video there).

Once again a big thanks to Sheridan (and her helpers) for organising a wonderful event and I can't wait until next year.

I'll do another post with my swap goodies.

Sew It Together Sample Swap Items

These are the things I made for the Sew It Together Sample Swap. To make up the numbers I've done 4 things which has really tested me but will be worth it when I am in 4 groups as there are so many great things being made.

Teatowels

Little purses

Moleskin Notebook with fabric pieces sewn on and pencils wrapped in vintage books and pattern instructions

Lavendar Rice Bags

Chicken Pot Sticker Dumplings

Just made these for dinner, "absolutely delicious" from the kids. I got the recipe from here. This is batch number 2.
Sorry about the photo but it's dark and rainy here and I had to snap this before they all went.

Sew It Together Name Tag

My name tage arrived today for Sew It Together. Made by Michelle from Buttontree Lane she even embroidered a very cute snail on it. Can't wait to wear it in 2 weeks - eek better get moving on my swap items

Sew it Together Name Badge

Sew it Together Name Badge, originally uploaded by Snailblazer.

This is my name badge for Sew It Together. I really hope my partner likes it. I decided to make it multi-functional so when she is finished using it as a name badge she can use it as a little purse.

I did this original post from flickr yesterday and I haven't quite mastered blogging from there yet and so I forgot to mention that making this would not have been possible without Cam's wonderful assistance. I had been thinking about this idea for a while but thought a top zip wouldn't look right and then I saw this. I bugged cam enough that she wrote me out some instructions, so thanks heaps Cam there would have been a lot of swearing without you and that's not good in front of the kiddies.

Modern Blythe Swap

Hi this is Charlotte, I've taken over mum's blog to let you know about the fantastic stuff I got in the Modern Blythe Swap from Emily. Emily did a great job and I lvoe everything I got.

I got this great quilt that Emily and her mum made together. It might be my favourite thing and Amy loves it too, great to snuggle under.

I also got this awesome dress and matching headband and this really cool beanie. You can get a dress too over at the Stitched Bluebird

I had a great time in this swap and a big thanks to Amy and Jenn who organised it.

Bye from Charlotte

PS - Cass here, I've played around with my blog. I've been meaning to do it for ages but then I was inspired by Ingrid's changes

Blythe

Some ear muffs arrived for Charlotte's Blythe Amy today so she decided to take some photos which she then insisted I put on here.

I was also very lucky to win this gorgeous cushion in the Flood Relief Auctions. It's from Jenni from Made by Jenni and it is so lovely and beautifully made.
Unfortunately my mum went in to hospital on Saturday with what we thought was dehydration but turned out to be extremely low sodium, so low the doctor has never seen it in someone still alive. This has also caused some disorientation which the doctor is hoping will disappear so it's been a hectic few days with work, school and hospital visits.

Another Year

First day of the school year. Charlotte in Year 3 and Lucy in her second year of pre-school.

Funk

funk
Originally uploaded by firestarter photography

I'm feeling in a bit of a funk at the moment. I have no motivation to do anything, I haven't sewn for ages and every night I think I should I just can't be bothered. I need to get organised for the SIT sampl swap so hopefully that will get me in to gear.

I'm hating work and really want to spend this year looking for something new as it makes me feel sick every day.

I'm over doing everything at home too, I will never again say Jeff doesn't do anything because I have lived through hi not being able to do anything.

Sorry for the pity party but that's why I haven't blogged, just can't be bothered.

It's My Party

I'm another year older and wiser (well maybe not wiser). We've just had a quiet day at home, Charlotte has had an ear infection this week and I think the antibiotics have finally kicked in and she is back to her old self again.

The girls made me some lovely drawings and a cake, which they did all by themselves. Jeff's promised me an iPad but now I'm waiting to see if a new one comes out soon.

I whipped up these cinnamon scrolls from this recipe.

Charlotte got this book for her birthday and she is really looking forward to making some things out of it. It looks like a great book for a beginner/intermediate crafting kid.

Presents

Charlotte got some larger furniture for her dolls house for her birthday. Unfortunately it's pink and plasticy but we are going to spruce it up a bit, especially the bed with a lovely handmade quilt. It is the perfect size for Blythe though which is great. We still need a ktichen though so I think there will be some Re-ment purchases soon.

I also made the girls these pencil cases with their names on them using Toni's tutorial. They loved them and can't wait to load them up for school.

They also made up some of Cam's flower brooches that Cam sent me ages ago. These are a great craft project for young girls. The girls did it all themselves, traced the pattern, cut it out and sewed them up. We had some felt here so they did an extra one for Lucy too (no photo of that one, sorry).

8

It was Charlotte's 8th birthday today, it's hard to believe she is 8. She is bright, funny and beautiful. A little bit cheeky and sometimes a little bit shy. She loves sport, especially soccer and swimming, she has great friends and loves school.

It's a busy year this year - Year 3 which means NAPLAN and 1st Communion and first year in the band (can't say I'm looking forward to trumpet practice).

We had to postpone Charlotte's party because of Jeff's foot (he's still getting around in the wheelchair) so I organised a surprise with her best friend Sophie. I sent Sophie a letter, which she was very excited to receive, telling her what time to arrive at our place. She rang the doorbell yesterday amid much excitment and stayed for a sleepover. They had pancakes with icecream for breakfast, birthday cake for morning tea,

present opening, a swim and then we finished the day off with a surprise trip to see Disney Live at the Entertainment Centre.

Apparently the best birthday ever.

Happy Birthday to my darling girl who is very much loved by everyone especially Jeff, Lucy and I.