Wednesday 28 May 2014

Show & Tell: His and Hers

Hello lovely people,

Show & Tell Thursday's

A couple of weeks ago one of ' workmates got married.  A lovely young couple that we're fond of, and wanted to give something a little different, a little special.

I dont know quite where the idea came from but I had visions of lovely calico cushions with a boy and a girl on them. Simple and understated.

They turned out quite nice I think, and were a lovely simple, satisfying project to work on. Tick tick tick.

What lovely things have you been working on? Any winter creations in progress or completed?
Looking forward to seeing what you've been up to!
L xx

Show & Tell Thursday's






The Hottie Project 2014

The last couple of days have been f-f-freeeezing... It's all relative of course, but here in Auckland things like frost, icicles and not feeling your toes, means is pretty darn cold for us!

And we're lucky.  Toasty clothes, toasty house, toasty toasty toasty... It's easy to forget how fortunate you are when you think you're shivering your backside off!

Last year Lisa launched The Hottie Project.  With the help of Kidzcan and wonderful people like you, from all over the world, hundreds of children in Christchurch received warm hottie's with covers to keep them toasty during cold winter months.  It was a great success, and this year it's on again!

Head over to Lisa's Hottie Page and signup!  You don't have to be a crafter, there are other ways you can help!  Crafters and non-crafters alike will receive a welcome letter with all the details and ways to help, including patterns and additional information.

I'm looking forward to participating this year again... it will be great to have you along!
Thanks and keep toasty!
L xx

Sunday 25 May 2014

21/52



L:  Your imaginative independent play has gone to a whole new level lately. I could listen to your stories and play conversations all day long. On this phone call you were discussing some serious business relating to biscuits. You have also started a very funny/sweet thing whenever we're in the car... "are you happy Mummy?". Gorgeous checking in on everyone's happiness levels.

H:  Cuddles with Daddy, after almost 3 weeks away. You (and your sisters) have enjoyed snuggling and talking and cuddling with him this afternoon. So precious and fills my heart. Lately when you ask something and we reply with "maybe" or "we'll see" or some such phrasing... you say: "maybe means yes, thank you." or "we'll see means yes, right?" Too funny.

A:  The amount of time you spend getting your bed just so, and the blankets and distribution of animals exactly to your liking is something else. Very precise and very sure of it all you are my gorgeous girl.


L xx


Joining in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

Thursday 22 May 2014

Turning saints into the sea

This song always reminds me of one of my favourite movies: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.



Have a great weekend everyone!
L xx

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Show & Tell: Toucan Can

Hiya!

Show & Tell Thursday's

Recently I got to do some secret squirrel testing for Juliet... Lucky right?

But look at this cutie! Man, Juliet is good. Doesn't he look just like the one from the book? Crazy good! And I thoroughly enjoyed making him!  And... you can win your very own one over on Juliet's blog - go go go enter!

This little dude is destined to become a cushion cover and will go hand in hand with a book (surprise surprise!) as a birthday gift for our stash :)

Do you have any secret squirrel projects you can share? Do you keep a birthday gift stash too?
Tell me all about it!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
L xx

Show & Tell Thursday's





Sunday 18 May 2014

20/52



H:  You are such a serious wee dot.  A first in our household was a trip to the hairdresser to chop off all your locks, your sensible idea (though not to this level) to deal with years of the tears at hair-brushing and tying up time.  What a big girl you were, not moving a muscle, whispering in your hairdresser's ear... And how well this new hair-do suits you and your personality.  Too cute : )

A:  Running accross the paddock, loving visiting some friends out on a farm - always a smile on your face.

L:  A tired content girl with hands full of dandelion flowers.  You did not let go of them for hours.  Literally!

L xx


Joining in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

Thursday 15 May 2014

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Show & Tell: A long time coming...

Happy Thursday!
Show & Tell Thursday's

Today I am so happy to finally show you a very long work in progress that was completed at midnight one Friday night a few weeks ago.  (Yeah I know my Fridays nights are crazy : p)  Brace yourselves.  It's a bit of a long post...

The Sampler Quilt

At the beginning of 2012 I signed up for the Modern Sampler Block Bee... Gosh have I learned alot since then! I knew nothing of 1/4" seams, rotary cutters, quilting, hexies, binding, all the gorgeous quilting fabrics, paper piecing, and so on and so forth. Nothing. Now here we are. This is the project/quilt that started it for me and it is now the 6th quilt I've completed. No that's not very many, but for me it's alot, and I've got another one in the wings and yet another that's a few weeks away from being bound!  Making quilts is now part of me.

As you've noticed it's not 'my' quilt as such. Somewhere along the line I decided it would be for Anya. For her 5th birthday. She is now well over 6... anyhoos. Good things take time right? Half of the blocks in here were from other bee members - Laura, Nin, Juliet, Cat, Treena, Lisa, KelliSharon, Deb... (I hope i haven't forgotten anyone? And see that Butterfly?  Juliet designed and made it especially for Anya - Lucky!!)  Thank you ladies for your gorgeous blocks - we still love them!

It took ages for me to find sashing in a shade and pattern of pink that I was happy with.  Eventually after lots of trials and discussions (and months!) we found a winner.  The top was finally put together!

In November last year it went off to Leeanne who quilted it. I still marvel at the beauty of her work every time I see it. Isn't is just exquisite and perfect?

The next challenge was finding binding fabric that I was happy with... I probably sound pedantic but after all that effort and time and cost... I was not going to blow it on just making do. The hunt lasted for a few months until we stumbled upon the patterned green fabric at Spotlight in April. Yes! The right shade, not solid, perfect!

The night after I finished the baby quilt from last week, I sat down and sewed the binding on. And once it was started, it had to be completed! Almost 2 1/2 years later, it was finished. All  70"x 84" (180 x 213cm) of it.  Just like that.

Anya woke up the next morning under her new quilt. She ran into our room to wake me and tell me that: "I woke up Mummy and thought the blanket felt different. Then I looked down and saw it was my quilt! It's finished! Thank you Mummy! I love it!" and off she went, dragging it to the living room where she proceeded to use it for the rest of the weekend. I could not have asked for a better reaction. Yay!

Hooray for finishes!!
Do you have any finishes to share?  Or have you embarked on any big projects?  Do share, do tell!
Thanks for stopping in lovelies - always nice to see your faces : )
L xx

Some more of this quilt's history here.
My 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th quilts.

Show & Tell Thursday's





Saturday 10 May 2014

19/52


L:  Expeditions like these see you go quiet, focused and serious whilst you are captured by your surroundings and 'the task at hand'.

H:  Weeeeeee!  You had this wee contraption to yourself and enjoyed being able to go at a much less crazy pace than the one your sisters set!

A:  Your pockets were overflowing with shells, whenever you ran they spilled out.  But you continued sorting, searching for more until the kowhai seeds were discovered...

A morning at a beach playground was a morning well spent.  So much fun, so much to see, to collect, to do on a perfectly gorgeous day.
L xx


Joining in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

Thursday 8 May 2014

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Show & Tell: Triangulate

Hello hello!

Show & Tell Thursday's

Anya had a lovely teacher last term.  Had... because she is now on maternity leave!  We wanted to give her something special and a little different for her wee little girl when she arrives and beyond.  Queue a quilt!

I decided pretty much overnight to try a triangle quilt in pink, aqua/blue and grey.

And best of all I had all the fabric in my stash!  Some I've had for a few years now, and some arrived recently!  Bonus bonus.  Many were favourites that I'd been saving for something special like this.

I looked up triangle quilts - guess what?  They're called Isoceles triangle quilts! Sounds fancy eh?  There are a number of tutorials, tips and tricks out there.  I just ended up going for it and learned as I went.   The rows were 6" high and triangles from that, and just kept going until I was happy with the size.

I'd love to hear if anyone has tricks for getting perfect points every time...  I had cut the triangles accurately, had sewn the seams exactly and handled the fabric carefully.   Still there were some intersections between the rows that were not as precise as I'd have liked...  Any recommendations?  Advice?  Help?  For next time?

I straight line quilted for the most part, with interspersed complete triangles.  the whole thing was entirely cotton so safe for a baby and beyond.  Finished size: 214m x 142cm.  I really loved how it turned out.  The colours, the patterns, and that baby fabric!

Anya and I dropped it round to her teacher a few weeks ago. She loved it, her reaction was just the best!We hope they will get lots of years of enjoyment from it  : )

What did you get up to over the holidays?  Have you started any winter projects yet?
Thanks you guys for stopping by and linking up. Always hugely inspiring!
L xx

PS:  Please make sure you have a working link on your post so people can find the link-up party! Thanks :)
Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Show & Tell Thursday's





Saturday 3 May 2014

18/52



A:  Running around, climbing, jumping, chasing seagulls.  You were having a ball on our zoo visit this week.

L:  Tearing around the place, screeching with delight!

H:  You are forever hitching up your pants no matter how well they seem to fit.

My three delightful sweet troublemakers.  I could have watched you for hours playing and being happy kids here.  I could watch you for hours most of the time : )  It's been a holiday of recovery for you three who always seem to live at full speed and full volume.  Luckily you are ready for another term of throwing yourselves into your little lives!

L xx


Joining in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

Thursday 1 May 2014