Quilting

Log cabin cot quilt

I can show you this now it has been gifted to my newest nephew whom I had the privilege of meeting today.

I started out using a log cabin pattern from Lincraft, but as I often find it difficult to follow instructions I ended up going my own way, as usual.

Many thanks to Hilary for helping me to pick out a design and colours, and to Robyn for suggesting some applique which really helped to fill in the white space.

He is beautiful! Babies are such a precious blessing, I do so love them 🙂

With the birthday being tomorrow I’ve finished just in the nick of time. This was one of my longest projects and admittedly, if it’s long, it may not get finished. But having a little nose over your shoulder asking when it’s going to be ready is a good motivation.

I initially planned a lot more hand embroidery, but realistically it was going to take too long.

I love how the free motion quilting on the borders turned out. The bulk of the quilt is stippled.

Cute?

Have you seen the Leah Day tutorials on free motion quilting on Youtube? So very, very helpful!

I allowed the birthday girl to choose the flannel backing. What else does a 3 about to be 4 year old girl choose but pink fairies?

The matching cushion may not be finished, but considering I spent hours lastnight at the local hospital emergency department with a post fall, head injured, concussed and vomiting five year old I think I’m off the hook.

She’s fine, by the way – God answered my prayers yet again and she is her chirpy old self today.

Winds of change

by Kelly 9 Comments

This week I have done things differently – you may have noticed my absence here and it has been deliberate. Time away from blogging, facebook, twitter and all things online has allowed me some breathing space this week. Not only that – but I have committed myself to taking the children out every day while the weather is fine. What an improvement this has made! Yes, I’m totally exhausted but in a good way. Now to share some of our week with you:

Lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake, recipe here

I love how my 5 year old has such a strong mothering instinct, she attracts little ones wherever she goes.

I love how my children are growing and changing and feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Op shop finds + daytura flowers = happiness!

Enjoying local sights.

Jar makeovers with paper, mod podge, colour papers and ribbon.

I printed out an old picture I like, soaked in tea and dried. Then coloured lightly with watercolour pencil and sealed with mod podge. Attached and layered with mod podge also. Tied a velvet ribbon around and placed some dried poppy heads in. Easy!

I’ve re – committed to my desire to live fully on baked bread. I’m going pretty well with no bought bread for about 2 weeks. I bake it every second day.

Slow and steady wins the race. I hope I’ve finished stippling this quilt by M’s 4th birthday next month!

Rock cakes are a constant favourite here. I’ll try to post the recipe on my other blog sometime soon.

If I haven’t visited your blog lately I do apologise – I don’t want to become one of these bloggers who expect comments but don’t give any. Perhaps you’ll decide to remain silent today in protest!

Hope your week has been as productive as mine. God bless!

Phew, it’s finished!

by Kelly 1 Comment

You know how some projects just drag on and on, you lose your enthusiasm or don’t have the tools you need?

I started this cover for my A4 size art journal yonks ago, I don’t even remember when. I really liked these fabrics from a Crafty Mamas swap with Carolyn so I wanted to use them to make something I would be seeing often.

I started out hand quilting but realised it was going to take me forever (those who hand quilt entire quilts now have my utmost admiration!) so I bought a free motion foot for my sewing machine and made this my guinea pig. It took a while to get used to and I still need practice. Youtube was a big help, except when I saw that 4 year old girl machine quilting like a pro, then I felt really embarassed!

My son has been having a go at fabric painting and has had some fantastic results! Here are a couple of his first swatches.

He’s looking forward to doing lots more.

Ok, that’s all from me for now, I have to get back to baking that lemon curd tart I started. I want to say thank you to those who commented on my last post – all very helpful and constructive advice.

Watch out for a giveaway here in the very near future.

Well, it’s a start!

by Kelly 4 Comments

This is one of my winter projects, now that it’s spring I thought I’d better make a start. My 3 year old girlie loves the Maisy books so I couldn’t go past this fabric when I saw it at the Craft and Quilt Fair back in July. I’m going to keep it simple and make it up as I go along with lots of red and green spots, white homespun and hand embroidery. Hey, who knows, it might even be finished by next winter!

Blue Willow Cottage

by Kelly 2 Comments

I took a morning jaunt out to Blue Willow Cottage at Werribee South. The shop is in a beautiful old farmhouse (over 100 years old) surrounded by market gardens and has a lovely, homely feel. The photo above is the entrance (ooh, is that a fairy on the doorstep?)

I love the rustic feel of the place, the inside is just gorgeous, the walls are lined with quilts, it even has the original carpet! There are lots of fabrics, patterns, notions and everything a crafter could want.

If you’re ever out that way its definitely worth popping in for a look.

Winnie the Pooh quilt

by Kelly 1 Comment

I had this Winnie the Pooh cot panel in my stash for so long….

I selected some matching fabrics from the Spotlight clearance table (including the backing which is a beautiful soft and warm pink baby flannel)…..

I hand quilted the middle section and attached about 20 flower buttons I received in a

Crafty Mamas swap. Then I machine quilted around the borders.

Now its on one of the girl’s beds and she’s very happy with it.

Lovely weekend

by Kelly Leave a Comment

We spent the weekend at my husband’s parent’s farm. The weather couldn’t have been more glorious, we spent most of our time outdoors working in the garden, plucking ducks and pottering around.

The children had a marvellous time running and riding their bikes in the wide open space.

Gee I miss looking out the window and seeing open fields and being surrounded by the huge skies. Even during a long drought there is so much beauty in the country. My urges to get out of the suburbs grows daily….

These quilts were made by my husband’s great aunt many a moon ago. They were all folded in one of the bedrooms at the farm, I simply had to spread them out on the beds. This style of quilt is not my cup of tea but as a crafter I have a great appreciation of the work that went into them and the fabrics of a bygone era.