it's about time

I bought this dress about 5 or 6 years ago, and thought it would be great for hanging around at the park on hot days - nice and loose and cotton, but it was a bit short - bottom revealing short if you happened to be chasing a toddler. No problem I though, add a border and it'll be fine.

So I managed to get it done this week, yay! No toddlers to chase now though.

I'm quite pleased with the result, I used a bit of Kaffe Fassett fabric, that I coinsidently bought at around the same time - I think they work well together, lets hope the sun sticks around for a while so I can wear it. 

I went shopping for curtain lining today - I got a little side-tracked in the shop. Ooops.

Thinking that stamp fabric will make a great cushion...

Genuine creative spaces can be found over here.

tag

I've been tagged, by Oh Abigail and I've lost my blogging mojo, so this might spur me on a little.

These are the rules...


^ Post these rules

^ Post 11 things about yourself

^ Answer the questions provided by the one who tagged you

^ Create 11 new questions for the people you tag

^ Go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged!

11 Random things about myself...

* I don't like the colour blue, but often buy blue fabric, which then lingers like a bad smell * I love beans on toast * I can't knit * I snore myself awake, often * I like postage stamps and have a passed down and very neglected collection * I have even bigger feet than Abigail, size 9 or 10, making shoe shopping HELL * Chocolate digestives are the best dunkers * I start more than I finish * I'm not keen on pets * in a different life I'd be a talented children's book illustrator * I love to learn *

Oh Abigail's questions:

1. Are you a radio listener? If so what programmes float your boat? I always have the radio on, BBC London is my favourite, Robert Elms has the best show.
2. What do you like best about yourself? my hands and my patience
3. What is the best compliment you have ever received? my cakes are delicious
4. What would your life look like if it could be exactly the way you wanted? I'm very happy with what I have, though a slightly fuller purse wouldn't hurt.
5. What place would you most like to visit? Australia, I've never been but I imagine I would love it.
6. Have you ever had a 'Domestic Fail'? Lots of cock-ups, I keep my expectations in the cooking department low and my challenges simple, I don't like to be disappointed.
7. River or Sea? The Sea - it fascinates and terrifies me.
8. If your house was on fire, what five things would you save? (After people and pets!) Precious photographs, the jewellery that has been passed down to me, my children's favourite teddies, the treasures my girls make and insurance papers: ever practical.
9. Do you play an instrument? No, I'm musically challenged.
10. Who is your favourite Author? This is tough, I don't think I have a favourite, but Bill Bryson books always make me laugh out loud.
11. Night Owl or Morning Lark? Morning Lark - but only if the girls have slept well at night - HA!

My 11 questions, I'm feeling lazy, tell me your favourite -


food, memory, book, smell, colour, handmade gift, music, place, fictional character, hobby and cake.


I'm tagging - Flaming Nora, Ali at with love, cupcakes and biscuits, Jenny at Love and Peas and Syd the Wyd. 

dragonflies...

I finally finished my first quilt top today, and I love it. The colours, the print, the simple lines, everything. 

 

Just need to choose a backing now, and to machine or hand quilt it? It's not that big, 106 cm square-ish. 

Heart says by hand, time says by machine.

I also got a cushion made for my Mum, for Mother's Day last week. I LOVE how this turned out too, she's lucky I actually parted with it.

I made it with some linen I've had hanging around forever (about 15 years) and some cotton that has also been lingering for ages. 

I hand quilted this, sort of following Kate Conklin's advice, thanks Kelly for pointing me in the right direction. I am more than thrilled with the result.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and Our Creative Spaces and wondering what to start on next? 

finish and start

I've managed to get quite a bit done lately, which has been very satisfying. I finished my Heart Hot Pad. I'm really pleased with it overall.

   
I still have a very long way to go to get my hand quilting the same on the back as the front, but I shall enjoy practicing.

I'm very excited to be making a start on my first actual quilt. Darn shame I have to keep stopping to feed the children / reload the washing machine etc. 

I love how the colours look together. 

More creative spaces over here. 

sticker waste = fabric stencilling

We get through a lot of reward stickers in this house and I have often thought that the waste bit would make a great stencil, but never actually got around to doing it. Despite being a terrific hoarder I did actually throw them away, which I am now regretting ridiculously.

They are the best ready made stencils for using on fabric. I found a couple and gave it a try.

Here's how:

Take a pre-washed and ironed scrap of fabric, a bit of old bed sheet in this case, stick on the 'waste' sticky bit.

Get some fabric paint, I used Setacolor, in a shallow dish and with your stipple brush, apply to the fabric keeping your brush upright. You want to keep your brush quite dry and build up the colour, if there's too much liquid it will just bleed through the fabric (see my spots further down - I was in too much of a hurry).

Allow to dry. Be patient here.

Peel off the sticky stencil.

Fix the fabric paint as instructed, in this case I ironed these for 5 minutes.

Voila. Some original fabric scraps. Use them in your next creation - a pocket on a child's garment, in some patchwork,  as a cosy for a gadget - whatever you choose. 

I have painted with these fabric paints before and they wash surprisingly well, I used them on baby clothes, and you know they're never out of the washing machine! The paint does leave a slightly firm texture to the fabric, but I can live with that.

More creative spaces over here.


I added a new page at the top with some of the scrappy stuff I've made. If you make any, be sure to let me know so I can ooh and ahhh over your makes too.

happy

I finished this skirt for Missy Big last week. This was a compromise skirt, she wanted a straight denim mini skirt (as seen in a magazine at the library). I don't think so. 

I persuaded her that frills would be fun. Agreed. Would you like one or two pockets? NO! Only if they are invisible, (in the side seam) would she have a pocket. Some trim, some embroidery? NO! 

I added the buttons without asking, I think I got away with them. When did 6 year olds get so focused on the details of their clothes, I wasn't expecting this for at least another few years.

This weekend was a good one. No rushing around, no trying to cram in more than is possible, no (huge) tantrums, warm days to play in the garden (they made a wormery) and lots of things crossed off the endless list of things to do. All very satisfying.

Following a great weekend, I noticed blossom on the trees this morning. Spring is coming. *big smiles*


Then the postman came, *even bigger smiles*. I was lucky enough to be a runner up in Jenny's giveaway over at Love and Peas. I love her embroideries and her paintings are so charming, so I was thrilled with the gorgeous note book and brooch that she kindly sent to me, and some choccies too, mmmm. Thank you Jenny! 

Jenny also woke me up to the perils of pinterest and a whole debate that is going on. It had passed me by completely, but I will revisit my boards on pinterest and delete any pins that aren't credited back to their original source, though I'm wondering if that's enough? It's all leaving a very bitter taste.


Hope your weekend was a good one, x

why, thank you

A very kind lady recently passed the Liebster Award on to me. So I thank you Flaming Nora and I am blushing very slightly.

The Liebster award comes with some rules.

(shamelessly copy & pasted from Nora's blog)

 

A Liebster blog award is given to blogs that are gaining popularity but have less than 200 followers. The rules for nominating are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to her/him.

2. Reveal your top picks and leave a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too!

 

So now to pass them on:

 

Greer from ..typically red is a straight talking Mum of 3 (including twins) whose posts always make me smile and remember what is important in life.

Kelly at Jeliquilts, as my new obsession in quilting grows I have looked at MANY qulting blogs, and as a fellow member of the LMQG, I like her quilting style. Though I haven't actually met her yet. 

 

Nicole at MamaLoveQuilts, again with the quilting, this very new blog has helped me heaps already and Nicole makes some wonderfully colourful creations.

Anna at casual, casual easy thing, yes, she is my sister-in-law, hope this isn't cheating, but I love her honesty and sometimes scary kitsch taste she shares with us.

So now I will put on my best frock and celebrate this award in style. Or maybe have a cuppa before school pick up. Happy Weekend x