The Pickledish Patch

An old special sewing machine.

2012-03-04T20:17:00.001+11:00

This is the cabinet the sewing machine comes in. It’s a treadle sewing machine. Sorry but the pic is a bit blurry.

I showed you special things I was lucky enough to receive from my Dear Old Aunt in the previous post and now I want to show you the sewing machine I was lucky enough to receive as well. Isn’t the design on it special?

This is so beautiful. It’s made in Germany which was amazing.

Another thing that amazed me was the bobbin holder and bobbin. I have never seen one like this before. The bobbin is a long skinny thing. After looking on the internet I found quite a few like it, so its not a rare thing. But mind you they aren't cheap either. EBay were selling them for around $20.00 each!

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I have been playing with all my scraps too. Thanks to Joy who showed us her blocks she was making from this fabulous tutorial, by Quiltville’s® Bonnie K Hunter, I just loved the blocks and had to use up my scraps. I am really pleased with the end result.

It’s big enough for my table and that is a good thing.

I even had fun with machine quilting it with a big all over ‘swoopy, squiggly’ design.

I now have two less tubs in my sewing area as these are now empty of scraps. Gotta love that! :)

Well…..it’s now 4 sleeps before I hop in the plane and jet my way down south to Tasmania for our Stitchers weekend.

I am really looking forward to meeting some new ladies who I have been chatting to via blogs and Facebook and emails. Plus I get to spend time with 3 gorgeous ladies who are very dear to me :) I can hardly wait…..I have my pj’s packed!! Ok ok….its a start at least :)

I don’t know if I will do a blog post before I go to Tassie and so I will catch up with you all when I come back.

Hugs to all…..

Love my Dear Old Aunt

2012-02-25T16:37:00.001+11:00

There comes a time in your life when ‘things’ are just not wanted or needed anymore.

I was thinking that all the things I treasure from what were my Mum’s and my other special people in my life will all be just ‘things’ once I am gone. They are very special to me but to anyone else they are just ‘things’. Too sad.

My Dear Old Aunt of 96 years young is now in a nursing home because that is where her immediate family decided its best for her. She can hardly move and forgets a lot. Her house needed to be cleaned out and I was asked if I wanted anything of hers.

I went to her house with a heavy heart because I know all the ‘things’ in there were treasured by my Dear Old Aunt. They aren’t anything valuable but they are lovely and as none of the other immediate family wanted these items I grabbed them.

I fell in love with these Pink and White Polka Dotted Salt and Pepper shakers and these little white ones as well.

My Dear Old Aunt treasured these little bowls because they were in the glass front cupboard that she had in her lounge to house all her things she loved and thought were special.

I love this little apple bowl and when I have people over for scones and jam, I will put jam in it for them to have jam from.

and this delightful capsicum bowl will be great to have my Tomato Relish that I made last month.

They aren’t valuable things but to me they remind me of my Dear Old Aunt.

She had several vintage sheets packed away too and after seeing people in blog land at how proud they were to find some in the op-shops, I knew I had to bring them home too.

I love them and might make a quilt from them one day…..might just leave them stacked up and just look at them too.

Thanks dear Auntie…..I love you and miss seeing you at your house.

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It would have been my son Dylan’s birthday tomorrow…..he would have been 36 years old.

Happy Birthday Dylan….I love you and miss you lots.

Hugs to all……

I have been MIA but busy…..

2012-02-13T17:46:00.001+11:00

I have been busy just I haven't been blogging much and haven’t posted for over a week!! My goodness how time flies. That seems to be all what I say lately….How time flies!!

Anyway, I have been sewing a few things and writing up patterns ……..

and I have started to pack my case as its not long now until the Stitching weekend in Tassie is here.

This is a bit of what I have been sewing…..I can’t show you proper pictures as these are for Stitching in Tassie.

and these

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I have been poking my nose into the Op-shops a bit lately too….Love old doily's and these ones I am going to cut up and sew into my Framed Hexagons that I am doing all white.

I have more but haven't taken any photos of them yet. I have just finished washing and ironing them. Next step is to cut them up to fit the Hexagon shape. As you can see by the ones above that there are some old stains on them and cutting around these will solve the problem of not having to soak them.

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Vignette Magazine Issue #6 by Leanne Beasley is due out the first week of March…..

You can pre-order it HERE.

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It’s back to the packing and cutting of fabric for the kits that I am having for the Stitching in Tassie weekend.

Busy busy busy……but all good.

Hugs to all…….

Not long until the Stitching weekend.

2012-02-01T08:48:00.001+11:00

To say we are excited is the understatement. We are all a bit beside ourselves.

Do you feel like you need a little break? Why not join us for our wonderful weekend in March in Tasmania. It is just 37 sleeps until it begins.

Bookings will close on 14th February to allow for our final preparations.

You can see what we are doing over HERE and download the booking forms.

We have lots of fun and games planned as well as a few outings and maybe even a few surprise stops along the way......

Our Sunday Sewing Day will include "Live" demonstrations on quilting and stitching techniques from 6 Designers and of course some retail therapy.

Plus lots of laughs and chatting and of course munching on yummy food.

Not long now till all the fun begins.

Hope to see you there.

Hugs to all…..

Gee whizzz…..time sure does fly lately….

2012-01-24T17:38:00.001+11:00

I have been in my cave writing up a pattern. I can’t believe how long it took.

But it is all done! Yay!! Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

Wanna see a little bit? I know you love sneak peeks…

Just thought I would show you a bit of a sneak peak at the new design. It’s going on a plane trip soon…in March…..down south….soon….not long now :)

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I have also been busy putting the bindings on 4 of my quilts that I got them back from being quilted by Natalie of The Quilting Bug

I was very pleased with the quilting that Nat did on all these quilts for me and here are the backs of two of the quilts so you can see the quilting.

This backing fabric is in my store and is lovely.

Can’t show you the fronts yet because they are being published soon.

I love seeing quilts rolled up too….I did this before with some other quilts. What is it about a quilt rolled up?

All new designs and one for the man in your life, that’s the one on the bottom right hand corner.

The one in the left hand corner Mr T designed it from Batik fabrics from my store and I made it and Nat quilted it. Wow….three people worked on a quilt.

Top left has 9 gorgeous stitcheries and also pieced blocks which are all on point. The top right hand one is great with Batiks and a fab design which is quick and fun to do.

The Batiks you can get these from my store

The Pickledish Patch.

Now it’s on to writing up the patterns for these and that part is the boring part. Might have to get the whip out to myself! I still have to put the binding on one more quilt too….but that one is a Thimbleberries design. I forgot how huge it was and I let Nat go for it with the quilting design. She had lots of fun and it has turned out really lovely. Once I bind it I will show you :)

Hope you are getting lots of sewing done too

Hugs to all…..

Free Motion Quilting sample

2012-01-12T19:07:00.001+11:00

I really like machine quilting on most of my quilts and table runners and even my bags. I have done heaps of Stitch in the Ditch, stippling, rows and meanderings of machine quilting and felt the need to explore a bit more. I have done a few with swirls and found these to be a bit different to do but wanted something more. There is a challenge by SewCalGal and I have signed up for it.

The first month is with Frances Moore and she shows how to do a flowing leaf design. This is on Utube and it was great to watch and I really found it easy and enjoyable to do and did it all over a table runner I wanted to quilt.

You can see it if you squint your eyes….lol.

I have put the FMQ Challenge button on the side of my blog and it takes you to the challenge. I look forward to the next one :)

Hugs to all…….

My first project for 2012.

2012-01-01T16:41:00.002+11:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2012 is here and it came with a rush too.

I have been wanting to sew a cover for my Food Mixer ever since I got it in July last year.

I got some of Rosalie Quinlans laminated Grandmother's Flowers Garden fabric and set to and made a cover. It will be great as when splashes occur it can just be wiped with a damp cloth.

I hope this means things are going to be very productive for the year.

Hugs to All...

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-31T08:47:00.001+11:00

Well it’s out with the old and in with the new. Wow….2011 went so fast and I hope 2012 slows down a bit.

I couldn’t resist that frog and mushrooms and snail..some of my favourite things.

I have had a fabulous 2011 with a couple of trips and one being to Queensland in March where I met up with Dawn, Joy, Fee and a few lovely bloggers.

That was a really fabulous trip and then the opening of my online shop The Pickledish Patch

In June Mr T and I got our baby…our little Bella who brings us lots of joy and delight with her intelligence and little tricks.

Then in October I met my new grandson Jasper who is just gorgeous! Love him to bits!! and of course was able to give lots of hugs and cuddles to my kids and two other gorgeous grandsons.

I broke a bone in my foot…all healed up now thank goodness!

Also I was able to get my Craft Forum up and running which is a great place to escape to as its like a group of ladies meeting up every day to chat about what ever takes our fancy. Thanks heaps everyone for being there for me and sharing my days. Love you all!!

Another exciting event was starting up the blog Janiac’s Unite which is going along great with lots showing their Dear Jane blocks.

Of course I got a fair bit of sewing done and have increased my stash. Tee hee.

Happy New Year

to you all and I hope that 2012 is the best for everyone and we all have a creative stitching time. Stay healthy everyone and stay safe.

Hugs to all……

A special 2011 Christmas and Beautiful friends!

2011-12-29T11:30:00.001+11:00

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and spent special happy times with your family and loved ones.

My husband and his parents and I had a lovely quiet Christmas and of course we ate way too much. Roast turkey, pork and delicious ham with lovely salads and stuffing from the turkey. Pavlova was delicious too and we all enjoyed feasting on all these lovelies.

First in the morning we had the ritual of opening the presents. Of course I was delighted with all I got and was spoilt from my husband and parents in law.

My kids spoilt me also and I am truly blessed.

I was also spoilt from some of my special friends who are a special part of my life…

I will treasure this Diary and cover, soap and hand cream from Joy …Joy also gave me some delicious chocolates…but they didn’t make the photo session. *grin* Thank you so much dear Joy and I love them all.

Fee sent me this gorgeous little wall hanger which hangs above where I sew so I can see it always.

Plus a cute little note book and spoon rest.

Thank you sweet Fee.

From my long time online friend Barb I was delighted to be given a cushion in my favourite colours. Barb knows me well.. Thank you so much Barb…I love my soft cushion which sits on my lounge chair.

I have been wanting to make a little pin cushion for some time so that it fitted in my little sewing bag I grab on the way out the door for when I sit at the doctors or where ever while I wait for my husband while he is having his appointments and Ondrea must have tapped into my thoughts. She gave me this adorable little pin cushion with this fabulous thread catcher made from hexagons. Thanks Ondrea…I now have a pin cushion for my second sewing bag I grab on my way out the door. Ondrea is another long time online friend.

I love nice smelly soaps and this lavender one from Dawn is so beautifully scented.

Dawn made me a gorgeous little bag with the cutest of buttons

and the choccies are gone now and they were delicious! Thanks Dawn for these lovely gifts.

Thanks everyone for making my Christmas a special one.

We won’t be going to any New Years Eve party but will have a couple of quiet drinks with my husbands parents. Probably be hitting the pillow at our usual time of 11pm.

Did I tell you that Bella (my darling pup) comes and stands and looks at me intently as if to say….Well ….its bed time now…. She does this at 11pm every night. She is amazing and every day shows me how intelligent she is.

I have never had such a dog as her.

We spoilt her for her Christmas too…she got some new toys and she loves them.

Hugs to all…..

Just plodding along ….waiting for the big day.

2011-12-21T20:56:00.001+11:00

I have been doing some sewing and have made a couple of quilts ….one was designed by Mr. T and he did that on my EQ7 and the funny thing is that I had my one all designed and then he did his and I had to put mine aside and sew his up. Hmmm!…. Anyway it’s all done and so is my quilt and the next stage is the quilting.

In between the quilts I have been keeping up with the quiltalong we are having on Our Craft Forum

So here is Block 4 for A Sentimental Journey BoM.

Plus also doing some hand sewing and making these

Framed Hexagons and sent them to Kimba4, Patchworkdownunder and Suzzie

and Linda, Suzzie and Kimba4 have sent me some gorgeous Framed Hexagons in the swap.

It’s 5 more sleeps now until its Christmas Day…..how exciting!! I have some parcels under our tree that I have squeezed and shook and gently felt…..so looking forward to opening them ….makes me feel like a kid again lol. I have sent the presents for my kids and little grandkids and I so wish I could be there to see them open them. Although number 3 grandson is a bit little to open presents yet….he is now 2 1/2 months old…how time flies eh? He is growing like a mushroom too.

I don’t know if I will get to post again and so I wish you all a Very Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

If you are travelling please drive safely and come back home.

Hugs to all……

Christmas Specials…Jingle Bells…Jingle Bells…

2011-12-08T06:30:00.000+11:00

Specials in store now…..

Just click on the pictures and it will link you to the specials.

All in store Charm Packs by Moda……..17% OFF……

Fabric Off The Bolt by Moda…A HUGE 50% OFF..

Candy Bars……8% OFF……..

and Athill Range Layer Cakes … 6% OFF…

I have to make way for new fabric arriving very soon……

So hop on in to my store The Pickledish Patch and grab yourself a bargain.

Some exciting new things are going to happen in store and I think you all will like them. So stay tuned, also I am setting up things so you can sign up to my newsletter……I am going to have a big giveaway very soon too. Exciting times ahead!!

Hugs to all……

New fabric for The Pickledish Patch store.

2011-11-30T16:35:00.001+11:00

New Layer Cakes and Charm Squares available from my store The Pickledish Patch.

Click on the pictures and it will take you straight to the product.

Athill Range by Cabbage & Roses for Moda Layer Cakes are so pretty.

Also available are California Girl by Fig Tree & Co for Moda Charm squares

Gorgeous fabrics!

and Ten Little Things by Jenn Ski for Moda Charm squares

and also

Farmers Market by Brannock and Patek Charm Packs

and Hello Luscious by Basicgrey Charm packs – Love this one!

Lots of yumminess to play with.

Get rid of all your scraps of fabric and save money with

”With Scraps of Time” by Zoe Clifton which is fabulous for you to make several different quilts with all your scraps of leftover fabric…

Zoe has 15 beautiful quilts for you to make using your scraps of fabric.

Hugs to all…

Fabric and things………

2011-11-21T13:12:00.001+11:00

I couldn’t help myself.

I just loved these fabrics when I saw them and for some reason they just jumped into my trolley. I am thinking I will make a new bag out of them. Since then I have got some purple homespun for the lining and of course some green fabric found its way into my trolley too. Funny that.

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I have finished my newest BOM and am waiting for it to go to the quilters to have it quilted.

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I bought myself some new shoes to help me with my feet. These ones are Orthaheels and so far they seem to be helping. Of course Bella had to make sure I took a good picture. LOL.

When I sew on my sewing machine, I am behind the two recliners we sit in to watch television. Sometimes Bella watches me from these and I finally was able to get a picture of her…..sooo cute.

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I have completed number 3 block for the Sentimental Journey BOM ….am loving this BOM.

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Now is the time to Pre-Order your copy of Leanne Beasley’s Vignette Issue #5 from The Pickledish Patch store. Just go HERE to put your order in. It’s due to be delivered on the 1st December.

Have a great day and Hugs to all…..

All for baby Jasper.

2011-11-14T23:01:00.001+11:00

I can finally show you all the very special name plaque I was able to send to my son and his wife for their new son.

It has been lovingly made up by Angela of My Little Details and working with her to make sure all the details were correct was a very enjoyable experience. Thanks heaps Angela for making it possible for me to be able to give this fabulous name plaque to my son and daughter-in-law.

They are very pleased with it and it goes very nicely in the Nursery….matches the colour scheme really well.

So thank you Angela for a fabulous name plaque and if you would like Angela to make one for your new baby just go here to her website and pick which one you would like.

Before Jasper was born I made a raggy quilt for him.

Then I didn't know wether baby was a boy or girl so I made the quilt in all soft pastel colours. This was the first time I made a raggy quilt and it went together really well and because I bought way too much fabric and didn't want it sitting around here I decided to make another quilt for bub. So he got two quilts.

This one was a disappearing 9 patch method. I loved doing this and then just machine quilted a meandering pattern all over it.

Jasper’s Mummy had to have a bag to carry all his things around in when she went shopping or for walks or visiting so I made up a bag for her from Bronwyn Hayes’ Three Bears Toy Bag. I had the magazine it was in but you can download the pattern from Bronwyn’s blog.

Jasper’s Mummy loves the bag and takes it with her all the time when she goes out. Of course I had to make it in the colours that are her favourite…purple!

All good fun to sew and even more fun to give them to my son and his wife. They loved them all.

have a great week……

hugs to all…..

Finally I am able to draw a winner for the Go! Baby

2011-11-07T00:36:00.000+11:00

Yes thats right....A winner has been drawn by Mr Random.org.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to leave your comments and I wish I could give a Go! Baby to each and every one of you but alas that cant happen.

But there is one lucky gal who is the winner of a Go! Baby and three dies of her choice.

Okay.....the winner......

Number 99 was drawn by Mr.Random.org

and that number belongs to

Fiona!!!

Fiona I know you will love it as much as I love mine and can you email me and let me know your postal address and full name and which three dies you want and I will email Accuquilt to let them know that you are the winner and they will then send you the Go! Baby and your three dies that you would like also.

Thanks again everyone for entering and you can click on the button on the left hand side of my blog and get 22 Free Patterns from Accuquilt which are great to use even if you dont have a Go! Baby.

Hugs to all........

Finished another quilt …I am on a roll…

2011-11-03T11:48:00.001+11:00

I made these blocks with Rachel Griffith from ps i quilt when she did her Pin Wheel Sampler quilt-along and she has the blocks available still if you want to do them also..just look under her Tutorial section.

I also used some of the blocks from the Mystery Sampler BOM from the Craft Forum back in 2010. I decided to add them together in one quilt as I had plenty of the fabrics that I used. Its turned out to be a very long quilt and will be great for snuggling up under or using on a single bed.

I used a gorgeous pink wide back for the backing which suited it perfectly.

I love a quilt rolled up ….it just looks so comfy.

I machine quilted it by doing all over meandering.

Today I am going to make another block for the Sentimental BOM that I am doing also and another little block from a Charm Square BOM from the Craft Forum

This will be the last block for this fabulous BOM and then I can put it together.

What are you sewing today?

Have a great week

hugs to all……

A new quilt, wall hanger and other things ….

2011-10-31T14:14:00.001+11:00

This quilt was a Monthly Sampler BOM that I was in on my craft forum. There were nine of us who were in it and we all sent in a pattern for a block to use and we all made up the blocks each month. We sewed our own blocks so didn't really swap but was still lots of fun. I really enjoyed sewing these blocks and I got brave and machine quilted it as well. Just an all over meandering stipple.

It was fun.

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This wall hanger is finished and this time I machine quilted swirls all over and being a small quilt it was easy enough. Plus I put the legs and eyes on the birds….so at least they can see where they are going to now *grin* I made this from the Go! Baby that I love!

There is still time for you to enter the giveaway over here for a chance to win a Go! Baby all of your own. You will love it *big grin*

If there is enough interest I will do up this wall hanger into a pattern and have it available to download. Let me know if you would like it.

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This little guy just sits on my fridge grinning at us each time we go to the fridge. I painted him quite a few years back but being a purple frog I thought you might like to see him

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This fabulous purple note and pen holder was what the gorgeous Naomi gave me for guessing the little competition she had going a while ago. Thanks Naomi……I love it *smiles*

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I was in the shop the other day struggling to walk along with my big “CAM” boot on (I have to wear this for 6 weeks because I fractured a bone in the top of my foot….the day before I went to WA to see my new grandson!)

and…..I spied this sitting on the shelf……now as its purple and would match my cutting mat, I just had to have it…..plus my other one is a bit old now.

Its a really nice iron to use to iron my patchwork and sewing things…..I don't use it for ironing clothes!!

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So its no fun having a fracture in the foot and I can hardly wait for it to be healed. At least it’s my left foot and the car is automatic and so don't need to use that foot. But it is still hard to get in and out of the car tho. No joy at the moment! So a few things to show and tell and let me know if you would like the pattern for the Birds Wall hanger to be available and I will do the pattern up and have it as a freebie.

Hugs to all…….

Just a few things….

2011-10-29T10:57:00.001+11:00

Pop on over and explore my The Pickledish Patch store for all these yummy goodies Here….

Buttons

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Gorgeous Buttons …..just right for that Christmas project. Here….. From $5.50

FQ Bundles

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

FQ Bundles …..Here. From $31.50.

Charm Packs and Candy Bars

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Charm Packs and Candy Bars …..Here. From $14.00

Jelly Rolls and Fabric Off the Bolt

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Jelly Rolls and Fabric Off the Bolt….Here.

Jelly Rolls are all $35.00 and Fabric Off the Bolt from…$15.00 per metre.

Also Grandmother’s Flower Garden fabric Off The Bolt …. Here. From $15.00 per metre.

Grandmother's Flower Garden

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

The new Leanne Beasley Sew Laugh Love Kits and Patterns… Here.

Patterns

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Sew Laugh Love Kits…$27.00 and pattern only $16.50

Vignette Magazines $17.00.

Lots of yummy goodness!

Have a great weekend….

Hugs to all…..

A Winner for the EQ7!!!!!!!!

2011-10-28T08:58:00.001+11:00

Thank you everyone for entering to try to win the EQ7 program I was so very fortunate to have to giveaway from

The Electric Quilt Company

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments and love all your thoughts on EQ7.

I wish I could have had one for all of you as I know you all would benefit from this wonderful program. I know I do and I love using mine.

Without further ado…..the winner of the EQ7 program is……..

random.org picked out the winner and…..

Number 109 is………

Suzie from Millikins.

Congratulations Suzie!!! and I am so excited that you won it and I look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations that you do with the program.

Look for an email Suzie *smiles*

Thanks everyone and have a wonderful day

hugs to all….

Go! Baby Giveaway…wooo hoooo!

2011-10-24T12:43:00.002+11:00

I have been given the GO! ahead to give away one Go! Baby Fabric Cutter and three dies.

Are you excited about that? I am!!

You all saw how I had so much fun with mine and shared a tutorial HERE on using the Rickrack, Birds and 2 1/2 inch strip dies on this blog post.

I made this cute wall hanging and I really did have a lot of fun using these dies.

Now you can have a chance to win your very own Go! Baby Fabric Cutter and 3 dies of your choice.

I will give you a few chances to be in the draw to hopefully win your very own Go! Baby Fabric Cutter.

Here’s all you have to do……….

1 entry - Leave a comment telling me why you would like to own your very own Go! Baby Fabric Cutter and 3 dies.

2 entries - Become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment telling me you are or have become a follower

3 entries – Visit Accuquilt and see which dies you would like and come back and tell me.

4 entries – Blog about it on your blog and come back and tell me you done this.

Please don’t leave any comments on Accuquilt’s Facebook page for my giveaway. I have been asked to tell you this by Accuquilt.

That's all…easy peasy! Of course you don't have to do all four but of course you want to have as many chances as you can right?

Ok…this giveaway will go from now until Sunday 6th November 2011. AEST and I will announce the winner on the 7th November 2011 , you need to make sure I can contact you via email.

Also check out the Get 22 Free Patterns Button on the left side of my blog, all you have to do is sign up with your email and you can download 22 free patterns. Awesome patterns too!

Fingers crossed that you win!

Go! Baby Go!

hugs to all…….

A winner has been drawn and this giveaway is now closed.

Do you Dear Jane? Are you a Janiac?

2011-10-23T10:32:00.001+11:00

I have been doing Dear Jane blocks to make up the quilt for a couple of years now and haven't got very far. I have done 23 blocks all up. Well over a period of two years that's pretty slow!! Pretty pathetic really.

Well Dawn and I were talking about doing these blocks on a regular basis…a bit like one a month (at least).

We needed something to keep track of how many we have done and also to be able to encourage each other on.

Then we thought …well there has to be others that would like to get together each month and talk, show and encourage about the blocks too.

So Janiac’s Unite was created.

Now ….Janiac’s you ask? You have heard of maniacs haven't you? Well those who are keen on doing the Dear Jane blocks tend to be rather a bit too keen….. hence Janiacs. So getting together on this Janiac’s Unite blog is a great way for us all to do these blocks.

Go on over HERE and leave a comment if you would like to join in on the blog to show, talk and encourage each other with sewing these fabulous blocks. Either Dawn or I will then add you to the blog and you will be able to put up a picture of your block/s you do each month as well as tell us your progress and encouragement too.

We have a Janiac’s Unite button you can add to your blog and link it to Janiac’s Unite.

Just right click and save it to your computer and put it on your blogs sidebar and link it with this web address http://janiacsunite.blogspot.com/

Of course we expect you to post once a month on the blog and if you miss two months you will be dropped off the blog to make way for someone new who will post monthly with their block/s. By being strict like this enables the blog to have a constant turnover of posts and of course lots of encouragement.

We can take another 98 Janiacs.

We want to get these quilts made!! lol.

Dawn and I hope you will join us on this fabulous venture of sewing these awesome blocks and we look forward to seeing your blocks too.

So hop on over and join us and tell your friends and fellow Janiacs.

Hugs to all……

Hear ye…..Hear ye!! EQ7 Giveaway

2011-10-20T14:12:00.001+11:00

I really love using my EQ7 full program to design my quilts and different table runners and patterns. From designing these in EQ7 I am able to get exact measurements and know how much fabric I am going to need too.

I designed the Springtime quilt that Fresh Hope now has

- This is what I had in EQ7 done up and this is the finished quilt….

All the girls stitched their blocks and Dawn put the quilt together and the pattern was written up from EQ7 and is now available to purchase thru Fresh Hope. But of course you know all this.

A few other patterns that I have had published were designed in EQ7 and I really got to say ….I love this program!!

My Around The Christmas Tree pattern was designed in EQ7 too….

and I find that when I need to work out borders and blocks I put the design into EQ7 and let it work it out for me. So much easier than trying to figure out the maths. Never was any good at that in school. Now if someone had said…..Vicki, you need to learn maths and geometry because later on you will need to use it for patchwork then I might have enjoyed doing it way back then in school.

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Would you like to have an EQ7 full program too?

The Electric Quilt Company has so very generously given me an EQ7 program to give away.

Wow!! How awesome is that? Valued at $189.95 US you just got to agree with me on that.

Ok….here’s what you need to do to hopefully win your very own EQ7 program. This giveaway is open to all over the world.

Each one of these gives you an entry to hopefully win…..

1 entry - Leave a comment telling me why you would like to own your very own EQ7 program

2 entries - Become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment telling me you are or have become a follower

3 entries - Share on your Facebook page, then come back here afterwards and leave another comment

4 entries – If you put up a link to my The Pickledish Patch store on your blog (If you have this already just say in a comment on this blog post) - use this link….. http://www.thepickledishpatch.com/store

5 entries - Put my Giveaway button on your blog and let your readers know about my giveaway. Come back here and leave another comment on this blog post telling me you have done it.

Use this button…. Just right click and save to your computer.

(I will check your blogs so please do this or your comment won’t count. )

So you have 5 chances of winning this fabulous program.

This giveaway will run from today until 27th October. AEST

So good luck everyone and I hope that you win it.

Hugs to all……

A tutorial using my new Go! Baby Fabric cutting machine.

2011-10-10T19:49:00.001+11:00

I had a design in my head and I needed to get it out….Once I got my new Go! Baby Fabric Cutting machine I could start!!

I got 3 dies with my Go! Baby….they are

The 2 1/2 inch strip cutter, The Rick Rack, and the Go! Birds. I have put links into the pictures which will take you to the web pages that they are on at Accuquilt.

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First up I cut two lots of strips of the green fabric and then two strips of the pink fabric and then sewed these together along the length of the strips.

Then I laid these strips on to the strip die cutter and cut several pieces for the 4 patch squares.

Then I cut 4 squares of the pink fabric to make the centre part of the wall hanger.

The centre pink lengths and outer borders were cut on the 2 1/2 inch strip die cutter too. I love how easy it does this for me. There is minimal wastage too.

After this I cut the Rick Rack using my Rick Rack die cutter on my Go! Baby fabric cutting machine.

I love my Go! Baby fabric cutting machine…..

I put the thinner Rick Racks on the corners and blanket stitched these down. You can either do this by hand or machine…I did mine by machine.

Then folding the larger Rick Rack in half and pressing them, I then trimmed one side of the humpy bits and then blanket stitched these onto the front of the wall hanger.

To get this.

Then it was time to cut out the birds.

I didn’t cut mine with vlisoflex ironed onto the back but you can do this if you want to. I lightly glued the birds onto the wall hanger and then blanket stitched around them. I have yet to stitch some legs for them and do the quilting but I will do that. I just wanted to show you how much fun I had.

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Then I cut more strips for a quilt I am doing and these were folded to get the width of the fabric lengths. I will use these for the bindings on the quilt.

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I am flying over to Western Australia on Wednesday to see my new grandchild. He/she will be born tomorrow by C-section and I am so excited and of course the proud parents are too.

This will be Nick and Tara’s first child and it nearly was born on their wedding anniversary but won’t and it will be on the 11th October 2011. So 11-10-11…..how special is that?

I can hardly wait to have cuddles of my new grandchild and to see my kids and get cuddles from them and my two gorgeous grandsons as well. Ohhh…lots of cuddles for me soon. It’s been a while. The last time was when my son got married last October.

Getting a little bit emotional here now. Squish squish. lol…..remember that show Absolutely Fabulous when the mother was supposed to be all sad and cry and she couldn't so she would just say squish squish darling! Loved that show.

I will be taking my laptop with me so will be able to keep track of all the goings on in blog land etc. and will be able to show off my new grandchild too …… I am coming home next Monday, so not going for long this time.

Take care everyone and hugs to all

My Memories Winner!

2011-10-09T07:28:00.001+11:00

A winner has been drawn for the MyMemories digital scrapbooking software.

Thank you to all of you who commented and Mr. Random.org picked out the winner who is.....

No. 8 who is creativedawn

So Pam soon in your email I will send you a code so that you can have your own copy of My Memories.

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If anyone would like a My Memories digital scrapbooking software package then My Memories is giving my readers a $10 discount off the full price of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software, together with a $10 coupon for the My Memories Suite (MyMemories.com) store - $20 value all up. At checkout copy and paste this code: STMMMS62153 into the checkout section to receive these discounts. This offer will be available anytime now.

Hugs to all.........

Much excitement !!

2011-10-05T10:57:00.001+11:00

I have started a new BOM which I got from Block Central and

with a few other ladies from my Craft Forum we are going to sew these blocks together …you can read about it here too… It’s called A Sentimental Journey.

Anyway the instructions were for all the blocks but not the finishing instructions so as I have EQ7 to help me design blocks and quilts and just about anything I can do, I put the blocks into EQ7’s program and then added borders with the corner blocks like it is in the picture.

I have also made the quilt to the size of what Block Central said it is.

I also wanted to see what my choice of fabrics would look like in the quilt,

and so I loaded them up into EQ7 after I downloaded them from the Moda website and the ones that weren't listed there on Moda, I scanned and imported them into my fabric library.

I came up with this…

I am happy with the fabrics and really happy that I can do this with EQ7 as for me to sit down and colour in a graph paper with it all on just bores me to bits.

I will have some exciting news to tell you all soon…but for now its a secret. But you will love it.

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Another fabulous bit of news is that the delivery man came to my door yesterday and gave me a huge parcel.

I was so excited to get this parcel and couldn’t wait to get it inside so I could open it. But first I had to take a piccie of it.

When I opened it I was even more excited as my very own Go! Baby and 3 die sets with their cutting mats were inside!

I got three fabulous dies and I am blown away by these as they are just the biggest dies that I could imagine them to be. I will be playing with these later today and have an idea already…all I could think about when I woke up this morning was what I would make with them.

So Go! Baby…I love you already and cant wait to play with you.

Stay tuned for a tutorial and then more excitement! I can’t wait!!

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Have you been and commented to hopefully win the My Memories Scrapbooking software from my post here?

Its a great program and makes the daggiest pictures look great. Mmm…might have to do a few of me with it.

hugs to all ……..

Naming my blog......

2011-10-04T20:10:00.001+11:00

Dawn is having a fun little link up and she has asked us how we got our blog names.

A few have asked me how I came up with the name of The Pickledish Patch.

I really loved a shop somewhere in the world that I came across called The Pickled Mouse. I loved it and would have loved to have called my blog that name but you can't call your blog by someone else's name. So what to call mine...It was Tozz's Corner as most of you know who have been following me since way back when and it was time to move away from Tozz.

Trying to think what I wanted to call my blog was really quite hard and Pickle kept coming into my head.

One day I was looking at different quilting blocks and a block came to me that was called a Pickledish block....Aha....perfect! Now to connect it to quilting and sewing etc and so The Pickledish Patch came about. The patch bit is because this is my little patch of the world. *grin* Of course I have my store with the same name too.

So how did you decide on a name for your blog? Go over to Dawn's blog and link up with her linky thingy and who knows....you might even win a charm pack as she is giving one away for having fun. How awesome is Dawn? Tell her how awesome she is too while you are there :)

hugs to all......

My Memories and a giveaway.

2011-10-01T13:46:00.001+10:00

When I was contacted by MyMemories to review their My Memories digital scrapbooking software I was very excited as I love making my digital photos look great and be more interesting.

My Memories Suite version 2 software is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer. Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

I love how My Memories Suite will help you build beautiful pages from the digital scrapbooking software and make all your creations look great!

This one is my Out Of The Box BOM.

Or to make a Album using one of the many professionally-designed scrapbook templates provided within the scrapbook software.

I wanted a template to show one of my designs I had published and this one was just perfect for what I wanted.

I was able to include a journal to describe the design and a few pictures to show too.

I had to do a page with my Bella on it….too cute!!

A large collection of papers and embellishments are available at your fingertips to help you make each page uniquely your own.

Check out this Utube video of My Memories Suite.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyMemoriesSuite

Would you like to have your own copy of My Memories?

I am thrilled to be able to give one lucky winner a My Memories Suite all of their own. This is available to anyone in the world.

Now are you excited?

If you would like to win a copy of this fabulous My Memories Suite Scrapbook software -

Go to MyMemories and come back and tell me your favourite digital paper pack or layout and leave me a comment here on my blog.

So that’s it…Mr. Random.org will pick a winner in one weeks time….so on the 8th October 2011(Australia time) the winner will be announced and that lucky person will have their very own My Memories digital scrapbooking software just like me.

If you can’t wait until next 8th October 2011 to see if you have won, My Memories is giving my readers a $10 discount off the full price of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software, together with a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value all up. At checkout copy and paste this code: STMMMS62153 into the checkout section to receive these discounts. This offer will be available after the draw so don’t worry if you didn’t win you can still get a great bargain.

Have fun and hugs to all…..

Finishing Instructions for Out Of The Box BOM

2011-09-27T19:37:00.001+10:00

I am so excited to finally give you all the Finishing Instructions for my Out Of The Box BOM, and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone’s blocks come together.

They all look great and quite a few of you have put your blocks up in the Flickr group for all to see.

I love how you all have done your blocks and mixed and matched them to suit you.

That was the whole idea of this BOM from Dawn and myself plus to use up all those embellishments that are put away in the drawer or box.

Anyway…..here is mine all done – Drum roll!!! Ta Daaaaa!

I have put little Prairie Points on some of the sashes

…..I do love Prairie Points. Of course you don't have to put these on yours and you can put your blocks together how you want, I have put instructions in the pattern so you will be able to put them on yours if you wish.

Go HERE for the pdf of the Finishing Instructions for my Out Of The Box BOM and also pop on over to Dawn’s blog for her Finishing Instructions, hers is gorgeous too.

Thank you each and every one of you for following along with Dawn and me in doing this BOM *smile*. Also I would love to see your completed OOTB wall hanger so load them up on the Flickr group for me and everyone else to see.

Next month all these blocks and finishing instructions will be available to purchase from me and I will put up a PayPal button on my side wall. So if you are missing some then you will be able to get them all in one pattern.

Hugs to all…..

Mushrooms and other things….

2011-09-20T15:42:00.001+10:00

I bought a box of dirt the other week…on it there was a promise of mushrooms that would grow…I bought it and watered it and misted it like it said and finally after about a month ..~~I was ready to chuck it out onto the garden..~~ look at what are showing their little heads!!! Soooo cute and exciting!

Yeah….I know….its only mushrooms….but these ones I am going to be able to pick and eat and more will pop up and let me pick to eat…Yummmm! I love mushrooms cooked on toast. Steak and mushroom pie! Mmmmm…..

I remember going out to the farmer’s paddocks looking for mushrooms growing wild….many years ago now. It was so much fun running around with my bucket and knife looking for a mushroom to cut and put in the bucket.

Bring them home …clean them up and cook them…..nothing better than freshly picked field mushrooms cooked and also just sliced and mixed in to a nice salad too …well there are other yummyness but for now its mushrooms *grin*

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I have been a little bit busy with putting these blocks together and doing some hand stitching as well.

Sorry couldn’t show you too much as this is my new BOM that is going to be released very soon.

Hope you like piecing blocks and stitcheries? *grin*

Polka dots are just lovely. I used red fabric with white dots on my Simple Things quilt

and have used dot fabric in my Out Of The Box BOM too.

Love polka dots. Haha…I could go dotty over them lol.

Plus in the borders there are dots! Oh and Prairie Points too…..

At the end of this week I will have the instructions for putting it all together ready for you all to download for my Out Of The Box BOM and I hope you all have fun sewing it and putting it together. This will be my version and Dawn will have hers for you also.

We are getting some nice rain here today and it’s just as well I went and took those photos the other day as all the blossom is gone from that beautiful tree now.

Have a great week

hugs to all……

Ahhhh I so love Spring!

2011-09-18T12:18:00.001+10:00

I love the flowers that God gives us to love and admire and smell. It totally warms my heart to go outside after being indoors for the most of the winter months and to see all these beautiful blooms waving to me and saying ‘Hello….Look at me!”

Around the corner from our house is a one of these truly amazing trees in blossom. I just had to go for a walk with my camera and take some shots of it, it was so thick with the blossom….truly beautiful.

Love the bees….they were so busy….it was quite hard to get a shot of one……..and a few other flowers around the street.

We are having a few nice sunny days here and my little Bella just loves it outside and its a good opportunity for me to sit out side also and soak up some natural Vitamin D.

Hope you are able to get some sunshine and enjoy the flowers.

Hugs to all……

It has only taken 3 years! ......Plus a secret to tell.

2011-09-14T11:24:00.000+10:00

That’s not long is it? 3 years?

YES!!!!!

Well I was in a Row by Row swap on the Craft Forum back in 2008 and got all the completed rows from those who were in the swap and I sent off rows to those in exchange. It was such a thrill getting the rows in the mail and now I have finally put them all together with sashing in between the rows and a border all the way around.

The next step is to quilt it and then of course bind it. I am really pleased with it and my darling hubby loves it! So I am going to surprise him with it as his very own quilt. He doesn't read my blog so it will stay a surprise. *grin*

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My secret……..Have you been excited lately?

I hope you have and well I have…I was contacted by Accuquilt this morning to tell me they are giving me a Go! Baby Fabric Cutter and it’s now on its way to my doorstep for me to play with!! Soooo excited about this *big toothy smile* and I can hardly wait for it to get here to play with it and soon after I will have one to give away too.

Stay tuned for this as I know you would love to win one.

I am doing the happy dance here!

Thank you Accuquilt…can hardly wait to play.

Have a great day everyone

Hugs to all……

Covering a tin….

2011-09-11T10:41:00.001+10:00

I had these tins waiting very

patiently for me to cover them.

This adventure meant I had to find my hot glue gun so I could use it.

Then I had to sort out two different fabrics for each tin.

I picked two different reds for one and two different greens for the other.

Measure the circumference of the tin and add an inch by the height of the tin plus 5 inches.

So my tins fabric worked out to be a 13 1/2 x 9 inch rectangle.

The top is 13 1/2 x 3 inch rectangle.

Fold back one end by 1/4 inch and press. Wrong sides together and the shorter end.

Place dots of glue up the tin and place tin on the fabric on the end that hasn't been turned back. (Wrong side of fabric on to tin). Roll the tin over the fabric so to encase the tin. Put some dots of glue on to the bottom of the tin and fold back the fabric so that it sits flat and smooth.

Dot some glue around the inside top of tin and fold back the fabric in to the tin, making sure it is smooth.

Next…

Fold over 1/4 inch on both long lengths onto wrong side of fabrics of Top rectangle and press. Fold over one end (wrong sides together) and press.

Place around the top of tin and making sure it is evenly placed around. Lift the corner of the end that isn't folded back and dot a glue under and then secure this end. Randomly place dots of glue under the strip to secure and making sure the ends are aligned dot with glue and secure the folded end in to place.

Decorate with buttons or bows or what ever takes your fancy and use the tins for storing pencils or your bits and pieces.

When I was doing Folk Art and Decorative Painting any tin that took my fancy would be painted.

I did these quite a few years ago and my daughter Zoei has them all now as she loved the bees on them. It was an Annie Lang design.

These ones I painted for a friends daughter.

I have done quite a few different designs on tins over the years I was painting but haven't painted much at all lately and now its fabric covered tins and the hot glue gun and burnt fingers!

Hugs to all…….

Digital magazine and muffin recipe.

2011-09-09T21:28:00.003+10:00

Homespun magazine is now available in digital format. Now that's great news for all the overseas readers. Go HERE to subscribe and I wonder if it would be able to be viewed on one of those new Kindles?

Been thinking about these lately….wondering if I should get myself one.

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A little while ago I posted about some yummy muffins I made….they were Zucchini and Apple Muffins.

I said I would give you the recipe for them and so here it is.

I got it out of the Australian Better Homes and Gardens magazine September 2011 issue.

Zucchini and Apple Muffins

Preparation Time: 15 mins

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Makes 12

Ingredients:

2 cups self-raising flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¾ cup brown sugar

1 zucchini, grated

1 red apple, skin on, grated

1 cup buttermilk

90grams unsalted butter, melted

2 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Icing sugar, to serve

1- Preheat oven to 180˚C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Sift flour and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add brown sugar, zucchini and apple and stir to combine.

2 - Put buttermilk, butter, eggs and vanilla in a jug and whisk to combine, Make a well in centre of flour mixture. Add buttermilk mixture and stir with a fork until just combined.

3 - Spoon mixture into cases until each is 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until well risen, golden and firm to touch.

Dust with icing sugar to serve.

They are yummy and very easy to make.

Edit - My first lot was a disaster so before I put the next lot in to the oven I added some extra flour in to the mixture until it wasnt runny but stiff. I think my zucchini and apple were too big and I think who ever made the recipe used small ones. I am going to try the recipe with smaller ones and see how that goes. They are supposed to be moist but like normal muffins inside.

This afternoon I made a batch of Cinnamon Scrolls….

Ohhhh they were so delish!!

Will have to make some more of them too. It was great too because I got to use the dough hook on my Food Mixer. It did a great job of mixing the dough too.

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Hugs to all……..

A New Bag.

2011-09-07T12:31:00.001+10:00

I really liked this bag after going thru my many patterns of bags.

I probably spent a couple of weeks trying to decide which bag to make.

Well ……..

I found this bag HERE at All People Quilt and after downloading the pattern and sorting out what fabric I wanted to use… I made my own bag. I used linen fabric to make it stronger.

This is quite a big bag and I am still deciding wether to use it for my everyday shopping bag or keep it for when I go away for a weekend for putting all the things I need to take with me for a sewing day with friends. Its a nice sturdy bag and has pockets on the inside for your mobile phone or pen or notepad etc.

If you decide to make it then have fun and show me yours…..I would love to see it in your choice of fabrics.

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Just had to show you what my little Bella does when I sit and have a biscuit or piece of cake….

She sits there on my shoulder and watches every mouthful I take….lol. She is spoilt! and so cute!

Hugs to all…..

A new quilt BOM-along.

2011-09-04T16:38:00.001+10:00

A few of the ladies from the craft forum and I are doing a BOM-along.

Marg wanted to do this quilt

and Cheryl said she wanted to do it too and so of course I had to as well….so we shared it with the ladies on the craft forum and a few of them are joining in with us to do it as a block a month.

It’s called Sentimental Journey and is a free pattern from Block Central. 12 blocks all up….so will be fun encouraging each other along on our journey.

We decided that the first block was to start in September and then a block each month there after.

I love the blocks and was quite eager to get started.

So while I was waiting for September to get here I picked out my fabrics …(Park Avenue and Luna Knott. Love ‘em!)

and downloaded the pdf’s with the instructions for the blocks.

Today I couldn’t wait any longer and made the first block.

It was such fun and lots of preciseness …..if that is a word.

I am very happy with how the fabrics are working together and the dark fabric is actually the one that looks brown in the top picture but actually it is a dark green. To see where the fabrics looked good in what part of the blocks I put the blocks in to EQ7 and rearranged the fabrics until I was happy with them. Love EQ7 too!

Prior to making the Sentimental Journey block I made this block……

for the Mystery BOM that I am doing with a few of the ladies from the craft forum.

Also a Framed Hexagon had to be made for Joma as she was the one I was sending to this month. She wanted anything to do with the garden as her theme, so I hope she likes this one.

So already a bit of sewing happening for the month and I should receive Issue #4 of Leanne Beasley's Vignette magazine either tomorrow or Tuesday so will be able to post your issue off to you if you have pre-ordered one. It looks good! I ordered in extra issues so if you didn’t pre-order one, you can still get them from HERE.

Hugs to all……

More little dresses and show and tell.

2011-09-03T07:46:00.001+10:00

Sewing always gives me pleasure and for some reason it calms me and makes me think the world is a wonderful place.

Stroking and stashing fabric is another thing that gives me pleasure. I love looking at the beautiful designs on the fabrics and the lovely colours too.

When I used to sew dresses etc. for my daughter, Zoei, when she was little, there wasn't a lot of different prints, so adding lace, smocking, ribbon or pin tucks was a way to make the little outfits more pretty.

This dress I did pin tucks across the top yoke and along the bottom of the dress. I added ribbon to the ruffled capped sleeves and a bow on the front. The ribbon in the pic below looks black but it is red and the bow has long gone.

There is little apple buttons on the back….

She had pretty red ribbons in her hair and red sandals to match. She won the best dressed competition that was running at an event in the town we lived in way back then. Plus she won the competition of the Beautiful 2 year olds. I was so proud of my little girl *big grin* I am still proud of her today *more grins*

Another dress with smocking was made by my auntie and she is also my Godmother. She used to sew professionally many years ago and didn't need a pattern….just cut the fabric out and away she went…so clever!! She does that with knitting too.

Zoei was about 2 1/2 years old there

Close up of the dress…..

Zoei doesn't wear many dresses today…..I wonder if she is like her Mum and loves wearing jeans, pants, track pants or shorts the most. Now and again I will wear a dress or skirt….but only on very special occasions.

What’s your favourite thing you like to wear?

Have a great weekend and

Hugs to all…….

Some almost vintage teddy's.

2011-09-02T12:52:00.001+10:00

Remember how I said I would take some pictures of the things I got out of the storage box in this post? Well I have finally taken them.

My son’s wife is due to have their first baby next month and Nick (my son) knew I had his teddy from when he was a baby packed away and asked if I could send it to him as he wanted to show his wife (Tara).

So that prompted me to dig around and find it amongst all the other baby things I had packed away. Nick is 37 and so this teddy isn't young and almost a vintage one….I think something has to be 40 years old to be classed as vintage. Anyway along with this darling teddy was this very much played with teddy.

He is missing his eyes and was rather shabby and I wasn't game enough to wash him like I did the blue one, so will leave him ‘as is’. Although I think he should have new eyes tho.

I washed the little dresses I sewed for my daughter Zoei, that I had packed away too. I kept a few of the clothes my baby's wore as mementos.

These ones I sewed ‘smocking’ on them and I taught myself how to sew clothes and smocking from books, so I was pretty proud to have done these for my baby girl. Zoei is now 30 so these little dresses are not new either.

So that is a couple of the dresses I did and will show you more another time.

I sewed quite a lot back then and even sewed some clothes for a friend who had a daughter two weeks after I had Zoei.

Loved it then and love it now …..nothing much has changed hehehe.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and it’s Father’s Day here in Australia on Sunday. So hugs to all the Dads!

Hugs to all……

Out Of The Box BOM Block 9…last one.

2011-09-01T11:45:00.001+10:00

Yay its Spring!!!!!!….I so love Spring with all the trees and flowers that spring up and shoot out their new buds. Love it!!

Here we go……the last of the

Out Of The Box BOM blocks.

I hope you have enjoyed this journey with Dawn and I as much as we have enjoyed it. We were so excited to have given you these blocks and even more excited to see yours done. Looking forward to seeing everyone's completed and put together.

So put them up in the Flickr group.

In a couple of weeks Dawn and I will have our instructions available for putting the blocks together and our big reveal of the completed BOMs. I love how they both have turned out….and I am sure you will too.

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I went visiting a local Op-Shop the other day and found these darling doily's…..I just had to have them.

Doily's

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

I do love doily's and I have started my collection of them to make these fabulous hexies! You will have to go to Roz’ blog and have a look.

http://rozhearts.blogspot.com/2011/06/another-post.html

I just love it to bits! It is so like the Framed Hexagons I have been swapping on the forum but different and so now I will be going thru the Op-Shops to find more to make these Framed Hexagons.

Have a great Spring day

hugs to all……

What are these?

2011-08-30T22:07:00.001+10:00

I was so excited to be finally making a batch of zucchini and apple muffins that when these came out of the oven I was so disappointed. *Very glum look*

I said…..”What the heck are these???”

The mixture was a bit too thin and so before I put the next lot in I mixed in some more flour.

Ahhhh that’s better….now these I will definitely call muffins.

These are very yummy too. I have not ever had zucchini and apple muffins before and I will be making more in the future too.

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The other morning we had a foggy morning and on the clothes line the spider webs had dew all on them. I was amazed at how this tiny little spider had made such a big web. And so perfect too. You can see the spider on the top yellow line at the centre.

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My little Bella is growing bigger and graduated with a certificate from Puppy School. She can ‘Sit’, ‘Beg’, ‘Drop’, ‘Roll Over’, and a couple of other tricks too. She is so cheeky at times and makes me laugh often with her antics.

I have yet to take her out for walks and I want to do this soon now that nicer weather is here.

Here she found a twig!

So where are the other things I was going to show you? I got to iron them….so they are coming. Promise. *Grin*

Hope you all are having a fab week…..

hugs to all…..

Finally a finish!

2011-08-29T22:04:00.001+10:00

It was such fun sewing all the fabric covered buttons for my Simple Things quilt. It’s finally finished!! YAY!!!

I do love this quilt and the border is special too….I think that is what got me keen to do it in the first place.

I even excelled myself and machine quilted it with a big swirly pattern all over it.

You would have read in my previous post where I was stitching the little flowers in the squares. Several of you have emailed me and thanked me for the little design of the Daisy flower and as I said it was my pleasure to be able to give it to you. It makes me happy to hear of anyone using my free designs for themselves, but it saddens me when they are used in designs that are not for personal use. Copyright still applies to free designs.

I am saying this as I have noticed that this little flower has been used by someone else in a new design that they are going to have published.

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Just thought I would show you this as I was going thru a box of things that I have had packed away….It is me when I was about 6 years old.

I have always been intrigued with Silhouettes. This was done in Adelaide and I wonder if the fella who did it is still doing them…..Mmm somehow I think not. Too long ago now lol.

I have pulled out a few other things from the box and will take pictures of them to show you in another post.

Hope you all are having a great week

hugs to all…..

Several things to show.

2011-08-20T08:55:00.002+10:00

I’ve been sewing this foundation pieced table runner. I am happy with how it turned out and really enjoy foundation piecing. It creates a challenge.

It’s a free pattern and I found it HERE.

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I have been also stitching these little flowers in the 2” squares of my Simple Things quilt that I did with Kelly from Charming Chatter. I have alternated them with blue and red. Only about 5 to go and then I can quilt the top and bind it. Yay!

Kelly did ‘words’ in her 2” squares but I wanted to have little flowers….I do love flowers.

I thought perhaps you would like to have the little flower to stitch too in something. Just right click the picture and save to your computer. It should fit into a 2” square. Please only use it for personal use ….thanks.

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I was invited to join in an online swap that Maree organised and my partner was Alison….and Toni was to send to me.

This was so exciting and I had the parcel a couple of days prior to opening day so I put it in a place where I couldn't see it or I would have opened it early.

Inside the parcel was lots of goodies and don't you just love the denim Christmas Stocking Toni made for me.

Thanks Toni and of course I love all the goodies that were inside the stocking.

I have eaten all the choccies and lollies …very yummy!

Have a great weekend everyone

Hugs to all……

Vignette Issue #4 available to Pre-Order Now.

2011-08-16T17:37:00.002+10:00

Available to pre-order is the Vignette magazine Issue #4. By Leanne Beasley.

Go HERE and pre-Order your copy now. These will be delivered from 5th to 9th September.

In this issue there are Blocks eight and twelve for the Vignette In Stitches BOM and hand quilting and binding the Hexagon Quilt.

Plus of course more gorgeous designs for you to delight in stitching.

$17.00 plus postage for this and the other issues.

Back issues #1, 2 & 3 are available too.

Ooh..I can’t wait to get it….doesn't the cover look great?!

Hugs to all……

New Patterns listed.

2011-08-14T15:05:00.002+10:00

I am excited to let you know that new patterns have been listed in The Pickledish Patch

by Daisy Quilts.

These are lovely patterns and all are supplied with easy to follow instructions. Robyn has been designing for some time now and has also had her lovely patterns published in magazines.

If you click on the picture it will take you straight to the page in The Pickledish Patch.

Chris Bag……..

'Daisy Wheel table runner'

'Embroidery Scissors Companion'

'Hoot the Owl'

Hugs to all…..

Show and Tell……

2011-08-12T16:40:00.002+10:00

Debra has been stitching up a storm with the blocks

from the ‘Springtime’ design that the Among the Gum Tree girls designed last year and she has completed my block which is called ‘In A Twirl"’.

I was very excited to see Debra’s block and can’t wait to see her completed quilt. She has promised to show me when its all done.

Debra won these patterns from Vikki in January in support of the Qld Floods. She was the highest bidder and was so excited to have won them and Vikki included a quilt label that she put together of all the ‘Nutters’ signatures. How special is that?

If you are interested in making your own of this lovely quilt the pattern for "Springtime" are still available through Fresh Hope HERE.

Thanks for showing me your lovely block Debra.

Hugs to all ……..

Hugs to you all….

2011-08-07T08:42:00.001+10:00

Just wanted to give all of you a big hug and to say thank you for being there for me.

Hugs to all…..

Happy Birthday to a special friend!

2011-08-04T07:30:00.000+10:00

Today is a special day as its my lovely and gorgeous friend Dawn’s birthday!! Yay!!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday sweet Dawnie

Happy Birthday to you!!

May you have the best birthday and get thoroughly spoilt Dawn (((hugs))))

Dawn doesn't know I have blogged about this being her special day so go and visit her and wish her a Happy Birthday…big surprise.

I pinched a cake from the internet so it will be a virtual cake that will last all day. Make a wish when you cut it Dawn and I hope your wish comes true.

Love and hugs to you sweet friend and have a wonderful day!

hugs to all….

Winner from Flickr Group for Out Of The Box BOM

2011-08-02T18:51:00.002+10:00

Dawn has drawn a winner and was on time doing it ….Me…well….I am a bit late. So Sorry and I don't have a piccie yet to show you what you won as I still haven't got a few things together to give the winner.

Oh you want to know who won my giveaway?

Well its Domac2.

Domac2 has her beautiful blocks loaded up in the Flickr group for Out Of The Box BOM blocks and they look great!

Everyone's look really really good and I am thrilled at how you all are switching them around and putting your lovely embellishments on your blocks too ….makes them look exquisite.

Congratulations Domac2 and I will be bundling up some goodies and send them to you very very soon.

In fact I am off now to do just that right now as I want to watch On The Block and then my DH and I will be watching The Tudors.

I bought all 4 seasons of it the other day on Blue Ray.

Hugs to all……

Block 8 for Out Of The Box BOM

2011-08-01T09:11:00.001+10:00

It’s the 1st of the month again!

Here is Block 8 for Out Of The Box BOM for you all and I hope you enjoy sewing it as much as I did.

I was a very lucky lady to have received a gorgeous little sewn angel from Dawn for Christmas last year and I just love it!

So I decided to stitch it in this block. Isn’t she lovely?

And we have to have our tea…so a teapot is there keeping the freshly brewed tea lovely and hot for us. I had some fine ribbon in my box of embellishments and teamed it with beads for the apricot flower.

I love apricot colour and delight in how gentle the shades of apricot can be. I love apricots to eat too….Mm yumm!

I read somewhere that this person really hated the colour of apricot.. that confused me as its such a lovely colour.

With the ribbon in between the little blocks I machine sewed over with one of the fancy stitches my machine can do.

Enjoy sewing your block and later tonight I will be picking one lucky winner from the Out Of The Box Flickr group and surprising you with a little giveaway and so will Dawn.

So you have until tonight to still get your piccies of your blocks in to the Flickr group.

You can download Block 8 HERE. Don’ forget to go to Dawn’s blog and get her lovely block 8 too.

We are off to see the exhibition of King Tutankhamen today at the Melbourne Museum.

I am looking forward to it as a lot of original pieces will be there to see and this is the last time they are going to be on tour.

What are you doing today? What ever it is I hope its a good day for you all.

Hugs to all…..

A few things to show you

2011-07-30T14:53:00.001+10:00

It was off to the Craft Fair in Melbourne yesterday for me as Fee and Jo organised to have a few blogging buddies meet up at lunch time. It was so good to see Fee again and give her big hugs and also so good to meet Jo. Jo is everything I thought she would be….truly lovely! and she is 3/4 of an inch shorter than me lol. I thought I was the only tall blogger out there.

Also met up with Kerri who is lovely too. Finally got to meet up with Miriam…we have been chatting in emails for a while now and it was great to put a face to each other.

Was also great to meet up with Gail again too.

I only got the one photo so you all will have to wait until Jo and Fee and the others put their piccies up.

Here is Kerri, me, Jo and Fee

I got a few things…not much really but had lots of fun looking at all the yumminess at the fair.

Some gorgeous lace and linen and big ric rac. I love lace but hardly wear it so have decided to make something to wear out of some of this lace. I think I was living in the Victorian era in a previous life and had it on my dresses then.

I had a bit of a spend up a little while ago and my order finally arrived ….Mmmm yummm. My little brain is working overtime thinking of what to do with all this lot.

And I have finished block 4 of the Vignette Stitchery BOM.

Yay!!

I am using the fabric ‘Swell’ by Urban Chicks‘ and I am not sure but I think I might run out…..so is there anyone out there who has a Jelly Roll or a couple of Charm Packs of this fabric they would like to sell? I have searched fabric stores and no one has it. Please email me at tozzie1 at Gmail dot com. Thanks so much.

And finally…….

I fell in love with this darling table cloth at the Op Shop and so I had to have it…it was only $2.00….Bargain as there isn't anything wrong with it. Now I can bring out my favourite cups and saucers and have ‘High Tea’ when visitors arrive.

I hope that you had a wonderful time at the Craft Fair in Melbourne too if you went or are going as its on until tomorrow too. Wear comfy shoes because your feet will be very sore from walking up and down all the isles ….but we don't worry about that while we are having this fun.

hugs to all ……

Watching movies.

2011-07-22T08:51:00.001+10:00

My DH and I want to go to the cinemas to watch the latest Harry Potter movie that's out now. We have watched them all up until the last two

so yesterday we had to go and buy these from the local store that sells DVD’s and such. We got home and about an hour later we got a text message on my DH’s mobile saying to ring the bank immediately!!

So he did and blow me down some low life had booked up just over $1600 worth of things on his credit card!!!

The bank didn't know where they got access of his number from and so they immediately stopped these payments and his card had to be cancelled and a new one with a different number on it has to be sent out now. Blimey!!! Thank goodness the bank checks things out like that. It was a scary thing and I just can’t believe that people are so low to do things like that.

Anyway we ended up watching both movies and we are now ready to go and watch the latest one at the cinemas. We thought we would watch it in 3D.

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I have been watching my finger go a bit crazy…ever since I broke my wrist nearly 2 yrs ago, it started to turn outwards.

Most strange and if I bump it the pain is unbearable. Of course I am right handed and so far its not hindering my sewing but to do fine things its a bit difficult.

I can see I am going to have to end up going to the doctors and seeing what can be done about it as 2 fingers on my other hand are doing the same, I am pretty sure it’s arthritis in it. The knuckle is swollen heaps too and can be so painful. I have a 94 year old auntie who has arthritis in her hips and lower back and she can hardly walk. It’s a horrid thing. I am off to visit her this morning to do her hair for her and her grocery shopping and of course

have a cup of tea with her after I have done the shopping.

Hugs to all………

Finally done!

2011-07-17T16:58:00.001+10:00

My quilt top is done! I love this little quilt and I am now going to do little stitcheries in the white blank squares that Kelly did them in but I am going to do little flowers. I have really enjoyed this Simple Things quilt along with Kelly of Charming Chatter, and thank you very much for all your work and effort that you put in to have this quilt along happening Kelly Ooh….a big smiley face…..heheh I didn't know I could do them.

Thank you so much and I just love the effect of the little blocks and the red just gives it that oomph Love it!!

Apart from that I have been doing some blocks for the swaps on the forum.

This is Julys block for the Monthly Mystery Sampler Block

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I am rather excited about the next lot of pictures that I want to show you

They are blocks from Out Of The Box that Dawn and I are doing each month.

Out Of The Box

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Pop on over to Catherine’s blog and have a look at what she has done with her blocks. Just fabulous!!

These are from a lady who doesn't have a blog….

More Out Of The Box

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

Of course several have put their pictures up on the Flickr and I am over-awed at all the beautiful blocks that everyone has done.

Love all the fabrics and colours and how everyone is mixing the blocks.

Don't forget that Dawn is going to give a little surprise to someone who has their blocks up in Flickr for July. So get them up everyone show us your very creative work.

Just to add a bit of excitement …I am going to give a little surprise too to someone from the Flickr group for July too. So get those blocks done and get them up in Flickr for two chances of winning a little something from both Dawn and I.

Happy sewing everyone and hope that you all are having a fabulous weekend. I am looking forward to watching Downton Abbey tonight….wish it wasn't the final for the season tho.

Hugs to all…..

More blocks for quilt-along and a splurge!

2011-07-10T11:33:00.001+10:00

I have done the border blocks for Kellys of Charming Chatter quilt-along The Simple Things and it took a while to trim them back to the 3 1/2inches square but will be worth it.

This coming week Kelly is going to show us how to put the quilt together…wooo hoooo…

I am so loving this quilt and its the first time I have used all white background. So you know who won’t be allowed near it don’t you?

Yes this little madam!

She has had a bath now and is lovely and white…she didn’t mind the bath and blow dry either lol.

She lies on the little pink rug especially for her and at times she even totally chills out….

Just had to show you that pic! Not a care in the world!!

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I went out and had a bit of a splurge the other day.

I saw this advertised in one of the big stores on special and decided that because I have never had a decent food mixer and only ever little hand held beaters that it was time I indulged. I am really happy with it as eventually I can get the attachments for it to replace the items in my kitchen and this will make room in my cupboards and free up bench space. Gotta love that!! The attachments that came with it were the different beaters and a splash guard and also a mincer for meat and vegies. I also can replace the kitchen whizz later on and the bread maker as a dough hook came with it. Plus I want to get a juicer and a blender and and and………

I am delighted also with this as now I can make a decent Pavlova!!! Dawn has a great recipe on her blog and I wasn't able to make it before as I only had a hand held whisk and there was no way I was going to whisk the egg whites by hand. So once I go shopping for more eggs guess what I am going to make? hehehe. I know Mr T will be thrilled as he loves Pavlovas.

Hope you all are having a great weekend

hugs to all…..

FQ bundles and Charm Packs and Tater Batting all at great prices.

2011-07-07T11:10:00.001+10:00

FQ bundles are available at a great price

FQ’s of Grandmother’s Flower Garden by Rosalie Quinlan for Lecien – 9 different FQ’s in the bundle for your quilting projects.

FQ bundles - HERE

FQ bundles of Chrysalis by Sanae for Moda Fabrics – HERE

These work out to just over $3.20 per FQ!

FQ bundles of Faith - Collection For A Cause by Howard Marcus Dunn for Moda Fabrics – HERE

These work out to be $2.85 per FQ! OMG!! That’s so cheap!

Charm Packs too - there are

many to choose from HERE

Also in store is Warm Tater batting packs. This is fabulous is you want quickly cooked potatoes which is done in the microwave. Also Re-heat bread, rolls so that they are nice and fresh. Enough batting to make 3 or 4 bags.

Great for Christmas presents.

Fabulous Price at just $16.00! – HERE

That's not all that's in store….pop on over and have a look at the gorgeous quick un picks and needle holders and tape measures too. These wont last as once they are gone they are gone. So be quick. You can find them HERE

Hugs to all…….

Charming Chatter Quilt- along blocks

2011-07-03T10:25:00.001+10:00

I have finished these cute little blocks and am waiting eagerly for the next lot of instructions from Kelly of Charming Chatter. I have left my centre parts bare as I am not sure what I want to put in there yet. Decisions, Decisions!!

I can’t leave a comment on Kelly’s blog but I would like to say thankyou Kelly very much for this really fabulous quilt pattern and quilt-along. I have really enjoyed it. I love Kelly’s new look blog too…It looks really fab Kelly.

So I just have to be patient and wait for the next lot of instructions.

Meanwhile I will continue with my Vignette Stitchery. It’s all good.

Hugs to all……

Some playing around and a new baby girl.

2011-07-01T08:41:00.001+10:00

I got some of that laminated fabric and decided to do some doily's with it. I didn't want just plain edged ones and felt the need to do some crocheting…so

I got some cottons and decided the dark pink one would look nice first. I will use the other colours soon.

Just a simple double crocheted edge after sewing blanket stitch all the way around.

I am pleased with it and have enough of the fabric to do more with the other colour cottons crocheted on. Something different and nice.

I have also made a few crocheted flowers. They are a bit loose and I need to use a smaller crochet hook to get a tighter tension. But they are easy to do and fun.

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At the moment I have snuggled up on my lap our new baby girl. I got her a couple of days ago and she has been to the vet for her immunisation needles and next trip there she will get her micro chip and more immunisation needles.

But isn't she gorgeous? Now you know why I couldn't resist. Her name is Bella and I think she is going to be a spoilt little girl. *grin* She is white all over except her ears which are a champagne colour. She is a Shiatsu/Maltese and so little.

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Plus its the 1st of June here so that means Block number 7 for my Out Of The Box BOM.

Download it HERE.

I love strawberries and snails have always intrigued me with how they carry their house on their backs. And little mice I love them too with their little ears sticking up and ladybugs are a favourite too. I put the strawberries there for them all to have a little munch on hehehe.

Don't forget Dawn has hers available to download too. I went thru all the ones on Flickr yesterday and was delighted to see everyone's and how you all done yours. They all look so good.

I tried to put blocks 6 on my sidebar but for some reason I can’t add to it. I will get it sorted out soon. Plus I put my blocks in the Flickr group and they aren't showing today. Oh well! All this techno problems.

I hope you enjoy sewing my Out Of The Box BOM and I look forward to seeing yours done. Have fun!

hugs to all………

More Quiltalong blocks are done.

2011-06-30T10:09:00.001+10:00

Kelly at Charming Chatter has given the instructions for the next lot of blocks and I have done mine and this time there was no Grrrrr moments. *grin* I am happy about that!!

So not long now and the next lots of instructions will be up on Kellys blog and if you are following Carols instructions then she will have more too.

Hugs to all…….

Some happy times and some grrrrr times.

2011-06-19T17:11:00.001+10:00

That’s what I had with these blocks.

I sewed them all up and the blocks at the top all turned out great. *Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy*.

BUT…the blocks with the cutest littlest stars didn't turn out. Oh yes actually they did but they were a half inch too big!!!! So I had to reverse sew allllll the bits and resew them at the right measurement. I don't know why the measurement was out but it was. Anyway they are done now and I am happy with them. So I am ready for the next part of the quiltalong with Kelly.

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I have also done blocks 2 and 3 of Vignette In Stitches.

This stitchery is so enjoyable to do and I am on to Vignette #3 block 4 now.

Of course there are plenty of Shoo Fly blocks to make and then it will be onto the next lot of blocks. I hope to have them done and be ready for when Vignette #4 comes out. Usually I am a real straggler but slowly I am keeping up and that makes me happy.

Hugs to all………

Quiltalong fabric all ready to go.

2011-06-16T11:35:00.001+10:00

Quiltalong fabric all cut and waiting to piece together with Kelly from Charming Chatter.

I kind of lost my mojo there for a while and wasn’t feeling much like sewing or even getting out of bed. When Kelly said about this quiltalong it boosted my mojo into gear and I am back to feeling excited about sewing and most other things.

I love the design of the quilt Kelly and Carol have designed and am really looking forward to making it. Thanks Kelly for helping my mojo return *smiles*

Hope everyone has their mojo in tact and special hugs to all the NSW people who are having a hard time with floods and bad weather and also to the people in NZ who once again have had more earthquakes.

Hugs to all……….

Simple Things Quilt Along

2011-06-10T22:19:00.001+10:00

How exciting!!!! Kelly of Charming Chatter and Carol of Brown Quilts have got together and come up with two beautiful quilts and are hosting a quilt along for anyone who wants to join in. I am and I love both quilts that they have designed and made and it really was a hard decision to come up with as to which one I would make.

This is Kelly’s

and this is Carol’s

In the end I decided to make Kelly’s design as it will be the perfect size for me at the moment. Later on I might make Carol’s and I know it will be a wonderful quilt to have and treasure for ever.

This is the fabric I have chosen to do mine with.

I am going to use Summer Breeze By Sentimental Studios and of course gorgeous white homespun and I have yet to get some Red Dot Fabric and will get that very soon as I want to start to cut this out as Kelly has put up the cutting instructions now.

I am going to be busy over the weekend cutting and measuring and having lots of fun. Thanks Kelly and Carol.

Hugs to all….