Tuesday, October 25, 2011

some progress pics of my star project and the first I spy book

The inside of the book

Pieces cut and ready to go/sew

Fleur de lis ready to make round 3

getting the pieces ready for round 3

Round 3

The top row is the inside ready to be sewn and the bottom is the outside including clasps.

The stationary clasp 

The clasp up close

The tag clasp

The front cover

The back cover

The first couple of pages inside the book

book pages

The back when its all opened out.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

FNSI pics

Snowman card design
Angel card design



Star card design

cut templates and fabrics to make a wheel of fortune pattern

row number 1 - a lonestar

round 2
more templates cut and fabrics lined up for the next rows.

Friday, October 21, 2011

10 random things about me + FNSI

 It occurs to me I havent blogged so much lately. Uni, family and life in general seem to keep getting in the way of both crafting and blogging. I have done some things but instead of telling you that I cleaned my house last week and reorganised my sewing table, and that I have the week off and many projects in mind - both UFOs and new projects - and promise to blog again at the end of the week particularly since I havent done much in the way of OPAMing I shall be insired by Clare and tell you 10 things about myself.

1. I am tantalisingly close to being done with my uni degree.

2. I have absolutely no idea what my plans are for next year, but I do know there will be crafting!

3. I'm the second oldest of 5 kids. But my brother was always the rebel so I still get 'you're the oldest you have to set the example' *sigh*

4. Sometimes I feel I'm in my forties at heart because I truly am a housewife. I love to cook, both for myself and others and I love making other people happy, I also sew, knit, crochet and bead and I really am happy at home with my own setup.

5. I am quite nervous about my family meeting my boyfriend on Sunday - not because I'm concerned about their opinion but because he is. I don't want them to scare him off.

6. My guitar currently has rainbow coloured strings on it. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

7. I really do love the smell of clean washing. Particularly that of clean sheets when you get into bed. However I loathe making the bed.

8. My house is lived in. It is not dirty, but often cluttered. However I know exactly where everything is and you can always navigate your way around. Mind you, my house consists of 2 rooms so there's a limit to how cluttered it can get and still be manageable.

9. I love my nephew dearly, he really is quite cute, but gee he's an odd duck. He walks like a penguin, makes the cutest face when he's in trouble and the other day when I was doing uni work discovered which button to press on my phone to make it light up. Sounds cute until you hear he was supposed to be brushing his teeth so now my textbook, laptop keyboard and my touch screen phone are covered in white sticky fingerprints.

10. I have many projects in mind for this week including a hand pieced quilt. I am determined! however, to finish my hexi quilt before starting another large hand piecing project. I may just try the pattern out on a cushion instead.


So there you go. Ten things about me. Enjoy, feel free to play along. Happy friday.

P.S. Anyone following the Christmas Sew-along over here, today is friday. Keep an eye out for block 5.

P.P.S. Tonight is Friday night sew in  - sign up here

Monday, October 3, 2011

I spy fabrics + more cards

I've been experiment with my cards, checking what works, what looks best, how long things take etc. I also wandered through Spotlight on Saturday and found they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale on FQs and found some I could use for an I Spy book. Then when I got home I went through the things I have already to see if I had anything that would suit. Im thinking some combination of the below fabrics and solid colours could work nicely for nephew.





Thursday, September 29, 2011

My latest endeavor and a Giveaway

 Last year I stumbled across a new craft called Pickpoint, also known as Prick and Stitch or card embroidery. This blue card was the first card I completed and my father got it for Christmas. Since then I have sketched different designs and played with different ideas as well as finding more patterns online. Check out what I've made so far....












If you would like to receive one of my lovely cards just leave a comment telling me your favourite design, favourite colour, or suggestions for other pretty things to stitch on cards and I will draw a winner. This giveaway is open to Australian residents only and the choice of card has not been decided yet. If you would like one of the designs you see here in particular, let me know, if you want something in a specific colour feel free to ask and I'll see what I can do.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My first OPAM for this month.

I tried my hand at reverse applique last night. Basically you sew 3 layers of fabric together with patterns on the back of the last piece and then very carefully cut around the inside of the stitching to leave the right colour fabric left. 

This is the first finish for the month. I have some UFOs I want to finish so I can sell them at the markets so hopefully there will be more pictures later this weekend.


Reverse applique cushion.
I started with three layers then as I was sketching patterns
 to sew I decided to add a fourth colour.


After stitching but before cutting.
The same piece after cutting out the appropriate layers.


The first layer cut out - not the final colour.

The finished front.


Monday, September 5, 2011

the case of the missing post.

As it seems blogger has eaten my post again I shall repost what I remember. Starting with....

This lovely person had a birthday last week.


he's a Dragons fan so I unearthed everything I could in suitable colours....
cut 2.5" strips and sewed them end to end....
and ended up with this. Backed in flannel its all cosy and perfect for leaving in the car for football games or  picnics. He loves it :D

Also, I'm in Melbourne at the moment staying at my aunt's farm, so I thought I'd share some photos with you.
This is Ginger, she's one of the resident grass munchers. She's beautifully soft and  very friendly . Fred hangs out a little way away from her on his own patch.
random old tree, good for sitting on/under and taking it all in.

peacocks in a tree, cuz that's what they do.


Mr Peacock posing for a photo, had to get his best side you know.