On the weekend...

Leading up to this event, I was hoping I would be able to get some amazing pics out of it as we were supposed to head to the park, hang bunting in the trees and have a table of flowers, party bags and picnic food.  Unfortunately, the forecast was for rain on Sunday, so we had to move the party to my sister's house and the bunting didn't look quite the same under the patio, the flowers stained my jeans on the way over and I forgot to take my camera!  


It was very difficult to get a decent photo indeed but wound up to be a wonderful day so all was not lost.

This is my friend Jenna.  We made the bunting together for Clare (it was her baby shower/birthday).  There turned out to be 15 metres of it!

The Marshmallow Game

As a studying teacher, the series 'Life' on ABC has been really interesting.  Anything that helps explain why children behave the way they do is fascinating.  For anybody else who may work with children or even just have children, it is well worth having a look.

1920s style

I have been reading Phryne Fisher, Poirot, Miss Marple and watching lots of the last two on TV too.  I love the style of the 1920s and 1930s!  They seem to drink lots of tea, make lots of house visits and solve many murders!

from here

from here

from here

another visitor!

This is so bizarre.  Our backyard must be attractive to pets.  After our visit by the guinea pig, then the rabbit, look who turned up at our back door while we were eating breakfast today!  Fortunately, this time we found the owner two doors down.  What a cutie- his name is Jack.

My Creative Space... peg bag!

I got frustrated with never having enough pegs so I bought more.  Then I got frustrated with not being able to fit all of the pegs in the teeny tiny basket we had.  So I made a peg bag using log cabin squares and scrap fabric!  Im not sure this qualifies as creative but i suppose it is at least resourceful?

More authentic creative spaces can be found at kootoyoo.

Fox in the Bed Quilt

I have been meaning to share this for some time.  I made this 'Fox in the Bed' quilt for my sister for Christmas and finished it at my parents house on Christmas eve so I didn't have time to take any photos before it needed to be wrapped in time.  I finally managed to take some yesterday at my sister's place.

You would have seen this on the front cover of this lovely lady's book.  I was actually given Sew La Tea Do for Christmas but used the pattern for this from Frankie mag (issue #38, p. 107) beforehand!

It was my mum's idea to quilt the top part in criss-cross and I was really glad I took her advice because I think it turned out quite nice.  My sister was happy too!

You can see more things made from the book here.

Vintage fabric scraps

I scored these vintage fabric scraps a few weeks ago for $2 each.  They are decently sized for remnants (75cm for the blue one and 50cm for the white one) and now I am hunting down the perfect quilt pattern/design idea to use them in!  So far I like these...

:: Half Square Triangle quilt found here

:: This Dresden block

:: This block based on cotton spools, which is very random, very original and very cool.

I linked my blog to this list and have been using it to find an amazing array of talented quilters.  I welcome any suggestions for these fabrics too!  Hope you are having a relaxing weekend!

Festival Atmosphere

The Festival is definitely underway.  I saw Lucy Guerin's 'Human Interest Story' last night and it was amazing- very watchable contemporary dance for someone who does not know enough about it (despite the fact I work at a contemporary dance organisation).  Then my friend and I went to the opening party at Beck's music box, which is where I took this pic.  I don't know a whole lot about DJs but Sampology's set was really great- lots of people having fun and dancing, open air, nice breeze, lots of couches and free food and drinks!  It was a great night.  The Fringe is also on at the moment so the atmosphere in the city is very lively and artsy and relaxed.  Its a nice time of the year.

my creative space... working on a present

Isn't it funny how a pile of scraps can look pretty?

found on etsy

I got me an iphone yesterday!  I can check my emails and read blogs with full mobility now- its so exciting.  Now I am looking at cases on Etsy.  If anybody can recommend any Australian handmade case sellers please let me know in the comment section.  At the moment I am eyeing off this one from this shop.

from here

morning harvest

Eggplants from the garden.  I think a moussaka is called for!

from my place

I live in an old house that the owner does not maintain very well, but it has lots of natural light, floorboards and neutral (if somewhat grubby) walls so it is okay! I like the colours of the egg cartons together and I am wondering whether I could use them as inspiration for a quilt.  That is idea is to be filed away for the moment- I have a few more urgent projects that need to be finished (and started!) first.  Hope your morning has been nice and bright too!

Thanks for the comments on the 'egg' quilt top too- its great to get positive feedback on something you don't feel too positively about yourself!

My Creative Space... 'egg' quilt top

I started this quilt piecing with the best intentions of making a scrappy quilt top using yellows, creams and whites but I started getting so frustrated (this was completely due to my lack of foresight/planning) and I went a bit crazy with the rotary cutter, so you can see that there are some very, very skinny strips of fabric in there.  Oh well, it wasn't a complete disaster because it confirmed that I liked the colours together and that I am one of those people who needs to roughly draw an idea I have in my head rather than embark on improvisational crafting!

More creative spaces over at kootoyoo.