Clearing Out!

It's a long weekend here and while it would have been lovely to spend some time away somewhere relaxing I have instead been hard at work cleaning out my house. It's long overdue and I can't believe what we have been living amongst. Some days I feel like I'm suffocating!

The catalyst for this hive of activity is a piano! Yes, I have been fortunate enough to be offered (cheap) a lovely old piano for the kids and it gave me all the motivation I needed to create some space. And it's tough I tell you - I'm allergic to dust and digging about in storage boxes and old stuff turns me into a eye streaming, sneezing mess. But it's all worth it - I have one whole room back AND we have cleaned out every cupboard to make more room.

I have also neatly boxed my excessive fabric stash into colours which kind of freaked me out - didn't know I had that much! At least I know where everything is now. I must say I'm very jealous of those with 'studios' or 'sewing rooms'. All that space to spread out..... sigh!

Of course there has also been time for a bit of sewing! I'm hand piecing my cushion/pillow front for the Pillow Talk swap.



My partner's inspiration mosaic indicated that she was quite fond of scrappy, pieced work and colourful blocks. I'm enjoying looking at some old style blocks and giving them a bit of a modern twist.



So far I quite like it and it's such a nice way to finish the day!

Swaps and stuff!

I think it's really time to get back to this old blog of mine. I miss blogging and I have so much to share which is what it was meant to be about after all! Life has been very different (and stressful) in the last 12 months but I feel like it's coming back to some kind of normal.

Lucky I have had my sewing! It's a great distraction and I have been consistently busy with swaps and some work for magazines and another book project (yay). A couple of patterns have also found the light of day with quite a few more coming - if only there were a few more hours in the day!

I love the swaps. I get to connect with such a great bunch of clever and funny people and I just love the challenge of making something for someone I don't know and coming up with something new. I'm a massive fan of the doll quilt swap which is just about to start again- 200 swappers this round so it's pretty popular. But recently I have done a few new ones.

The { Urban } HOME Goods - a modern swap was organised to make things we'd like for our homes. My partner Scootin' Annie had a few requests but one was irresistible to me.



She also revealed that she wanted a pouch for her DS. Done!



And you should see what I got from my partner Mari.



Isn't it all just fabulous!! That coffee cosy is just perfect!

A few posts ago I had a little giveaway to celebrate 100 posts and the very lovely and patient Jenny from ohjoh won. I finally finished her prize and was able to hand it over last week.



The design is very inspired by the amazing and beautiful work of Sue Spargo who came to Amitie last year. She is visiting again soon for any of those interested in doing one of her classes.

Jenny is a local so popped into Amitie while I was working. She has a pretty bad fabric addiction like me so it seemed ideal to meet there.



So I may be quiet here but I'm still making things. I promise to post more often and maybe I'll go back and do a retrospective to show you some of the things I have made over the past year. In the meantime I have a cushion to get onto for another swap!

And the winner is........

My apologies for the delay on picking the winner as I'm sure you are all dying to get a copy of this book.

I set my girls to the task of cutting up the names and putting them in a bowl. (That's you out the back Ali.)



And with a bit of a swish around...



Lucinda pulled out a name.



But who is it?



The lovely Laura Jay of course - congratulations!!

Email me your address Ms LJ and I'll get the book on its way to you - I hope the mail from Australia to Canada is a little faster than the reverse!

Guess What.....

Sometime in 2008 I had a mini quilt design accepted for a Lark publication called Pretty Little Mini Quilts.

It seemed like forever to wait until 2010 for it to be published but guess what has just arrived.............



I am so excited and proud to be in one of these gorgeous little books as they are just lovely. The front section is filled with all sorts of fabulous quilt making information and then there are pages and pages of fabulous little quilts. From embroidery to applique, machine to hand sewn and traditional to abstract, there is something for everyone.

Here's mine.



And I'm in fine company. This one's from the very talented Kate from Two Little Banshees. I think it would make a great quilt for a baby given its slightly larger size.



And this one is from a fave read of mine Beki from artsy-crafty babe.



This is one of my favourites in the book but of course I have many!



So simple and sweet.

And just because I know so many of you enjoy making these gorgeous little quilts I have one to GIVE AWAY. So leave me a comment and I will pick a name Sunday 21st March.

Doll Quilt Swap reveal time again!

Finally finished my quilt for the 8th round of my very favourite swap - the Doll Quilt Swap.

I absolutely LOVE this quilt and it was loads of fun to make too.



I think there will be more dresden plates appearing soon!



It is now flying to its new home far, far away and hopefully that person will love it as much as I do.



Go and have a look at all the stunning quilts in this round. Seriously these just get better and better every swap.

And for all those who like making doll quilts, or any quilt for that matter I will have something special for you in the next couple of days so look out! And yes it does include the word 'giveaway'!!

Oh and did you notice that I have now completed two of those projects I had in my post the other week. That's not bad really. And the third I should be able to finish tomorrow so maybe you will even see that here soon!

101

Well what a lovely response. Thanks for all your nice words. I hope I didn't cause too many falling off chair with shock surprises!

So I guess you all want to know who the winner is.

Well after removing Jodie's comment and the weirdo Japanese one, I stuck the numbers in the random thingy and it came up with this.



And that is Jenny from Ohjoh. Jenny is new to blogging so go on over and have a look at all her lovely creations. And I have actually met her as she is a customer at amitie.

And now I have to think of something to send you Jenny. I'm thinking something quilty as you are quite new to that craft. So email me with your address and I will get something out to you shortly.

And here is one of those projects finished.



It is a cotton scarf for my lovely sister in law Sacha who can't wear wool. She has seen it unfinished so this won't be a surprise.



I am really happy with it but won't be doing more crochet for a while as my shoulder has locked up. Last time it got my wrist. Not sure I'm meant to crochet which is sad because it's really pretty.

And just because I haven't posted for ages and because I have a new camera, here is my beautiful baby girl Daphne. Who is not such a baby anymore!

Let's just get on with it shall we!

I promised my dear bloggy friend Thimbleanna that I would post this week. So I sat and wondered what I would write about as I'm slightly out of practice. And given this is actually my 100th post I thought it needed to be special and important.

Then I realised that there was never going to be a really special time to start again and that I should just post. So hi! I'm back. Hopefully some of you are still about.

Here's a couple of pics of some stuff I'm currently working on.







All taken with my brand new baby!



Of course there are many other projects I have on the go but I'll get into those further down the track. And I do know that I owe people things which are coming I promise!

And I guess I should mark this occasion by giving something away. Not sure what that will be yet but I'm sure I can dig up something. So leave me a quick hello so I know you are still out there and I'll get one of the girls to pick a winner this Sunday 21st Feb.