Weekending

Lots of sewing - I am gradually working my way through my challenges list.  Another zippered pouch - this time for Miss B. Various batik fabrics she picked to go with the green zip, again from Noodlehead's tutorial.
(The colours are actually brighter and clearer looking in real life)

Two inch squares, then half square triangles (another of my challenges) made into coasters for a swap I am participating in.  I am really pleased with how these turned out, especially after  I made a slight miscalculation with my sizing, and all my squares ended up being 1 1/2 inches.

Lunch in the sun with a new magazine that arrived in the mail, freshly made Busy Peoples Bread and caramel latte.

A little spot of colour in my winter garden -  flowering Lachenalia bulbs given to me by my late grandmother.

Between Sisters

For the past couple of years, my sister Janine, who lives in Brisbane and I have done a Mid-Winter Girls Night In swap.  Our parcels to each other must include chocolate of some description, a chick flick and a magazine.  This year we decided to add a couple of crafty items to inspire some winter crafting. We decided a fat quarter solid, at least 40 scrappy 2 1/2" squares from our own scraps, and a pattern of some description to use up our scraps.  The top photo is what I sent my sister and the second photo are the goodies I received.  We opened them together as we talked on the phone - you should have heard the laughter as we realised we had both sent each other the same coral coloured fat quarter.

Next year we are planning a sew-a-long of some sort too.

Day Tripping

My mother-in-law and I met up yesterday at a fabulous craft shop -  The Ribbon Rose, in Mt Wellington, Auckland.  They have recently moved from a quaint century old house to this large spacious store and increased the range of products for the different crafts they cater for.  We must have spent at least an hour there - beautiful wools and knitting needles, silk threads, hand dyed embroidery threads and ribbons, beads, felt, quilting fabrics including a large range of Kaffe Fassett. Also a great selection of crafting books, patterns and new classes too.  I could have spent a small fortune there - if I had the money.  There are  tables and chairs set up for browsing through pattern books, and having tea and coffee. They very kindly didn't mind if I took some photos and there are more on there website.  It is well worth a visit here with like minded friends and family - give your self plenty of time to enjoy it and the inspiration they provide with beautiful quilts, cushions, embroideries and knitted pieces.

Where I Create

This is my sewing, cardmaking, mess making space.  We have a room off our garage which is used for the computer and my sewing room.  My sewing desk is made from an old wooden door that  The Scout stripped  it back to natural timber - it originally had about 7 layers of old paint on it. My table is in front of the window so that when I am in there creating,  I can keep an eye on  Miss B and Mr J if they are outside.  To the right of my desk is my shelving/ storage area - it houses cardmaking supplies,  sewing books, jewellery making supplies, ribbons, buttons and other haberdashery..  The narrow blue/cream bookshelf was made for me by Mr J.  To the left is my inspiration board and containers of pens, scissors and other pretty things.  the rabbit and peg doll were made for by my very clever sister.

**Please note that my desk was tidied up especially for these photos - it never looks like this  normally**

Linking up to Where I Sew Month 2013 at Pink Chalk Studio.

Weekending

A very cold frosty start on Saturday gave us the most beautiful sunny day.  After lunch Miss B and Mr J scootered while I walked along our local reserve walk.  Lots of people out enjoying the fine weather.

Some sewing got completed too - I finished my pincushion from the book Patchwork, Please . It is a little fiddly at times to make, however it does make a nice sized pincushion. Also quilted and completed was my Kaleidoscope Cushion. This is made of  fabrics from Laura Gunn - Cosmos,  Simply Color, Riley Blake, Michael Miller and Flirt by Sandy Gervais.  The solid is a Prima Homespun from Spotlight.  I am really pleased with how this has turned out as it was my first paper piecing project.  I am looking for my next one now, definitely no shortage of inspiration on Flickr and Pinterest.