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I think I've been working on this appliqued quilt for about 18 months now. Actually perhaps not so long, perhaps just a year. It's getting towards the end of the appliqueing, then onto the quilting part of it. I think I may get someone to quilt this professionally for me, not sure. I've only ever made patch quilts for the girls before and the finish on them is decidedly homely. I don't mind that, I'm just not sure how to quilt around these pieces and also it's queen sized, so don't think my machine could handle it. Not so fond of hand quilting the whole thing, that doesn't appeal so much.

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Will you think me awful if I offer you my scraps?

I've been distracted again today. I have a lot to do to ready myself for our Christmas hosting this year, so decided to clean out the laundry, reorganise all my fabric, clean everything, put stuff in the shed etc. Don't your guests inspect your laundry cupboards when they come for dinner? I know, of all the things to waste an hour (or more on)!

So, I cleared out a lot of fabric and as a result have about a kilo of pieces ranging from fat quarters, little snippets to bigger pieces, perhaps half a metre. I won't lie and say that it's all imported, because it's not. Aside from a small piece of netting and some silky purple stuff, it's all cotton.

In case more than one of you gets excited at the idea of MORE fabric, I'll pick a number at random within the next few days if more than one of you is interested. I'm happy to post within Australia, although realistically it won't be until the new year.

Thank you - the fabric has found a new home.

The kindness of strangers

After my last post I received a lot of lovely, encouraging comments - thank you so much. One comment I received was from Leonie. Not only did she encourage me, she was also so sweet as to send me 3m of a grey homespun she has an oversupply of to use for my mock up dress (what's the proper term for this pre good material dress?)

I know a lot of us have had experience of the generosity of strangers via this blog experience of ours. PIF's, giveaways, sharing of supplies and items you think others would like, it's so nice, don't you think. It's not the items so much, as lovely as they are, it's just the thinking of others, the consideration of it all - not to mention the expense if only in the postage. So thank you Leonie, for your generosity and to everyone for being so nice!

Gums

Children are a great motivator. If they show the slightest interest in something you're making for them, it spurs you on to finish when you otherwise would put that button hole off for, oh, another month or so.

Ella's tooth is getting wobblier by the day so if action wasn't taken, the tooth could have arrived with nowhere to go. She saw me sewing and had no idea what it was, so in the time I took to make it we were both kept entertained with her guesses as to what it was (cat, dog, horse!!)

This idea was totally borrowed from HopSkipJump and it was super easy and for some reason so very satisfying. I didn't get a shot of the reverse but I made a very small draw string bag and stitched it on for the tooth to live in until the fairy collects it. My shape, looking at it now, isn't very toothlike - but Peggy is very cuddly and I think rather sweet. Just got to wait it out now.

Swapping cards

Did anyone else join Amber's Christmas card swap? We joined last year and had such a lovely time that we signed up again this year. I confess to being a little late sending this year, but we've already received our first three cards from lovely prompt posters!

We did these in a hurry, but I think it's a really sweet idea (picture one side, message the other with a pipe cleaner hanger so they can go on the tree) they're often borne of necessity aren't they, good ideas? If I wasn't already starting to feel so crafty-spent I'd suggest to the girls that we make a whole bunch for our tree - but not sure I've got it in me. Not today at least.

Because she's so kind

a lovely parcel arrived with this morning's mail bringing a smile to my face. Pina sent me the most gorgeous parcel with some handmade goodness for me and my lovely girls, as well as some Slovenian goodness!



Pina is very interested and passionate about the history and beliefs of the native American Indians and she made me a beautiful dreamcatcher. She sweetly said she felt sure I had sweet dreams already, but here was something to aid in ensuring that they kept coming. It's gorgeous, so fragile, but sturdy - if the contradiction makes sense to you. It's now hanging on the picture wall which faces Geoff and I as we lie in bed. The wall is covered with pictures of the two of us and the girls (who hold most of our lives dreams) so an apt place for it to live. The girls also received a beautiful bath mit each with a lovely bird (which won't go swimming in the bath) attached (that's not even mentioning the chocolate and a little cook book).

If you haven't had a look at Pina's blog, you should. Not only is she a very generous, compassionate and kind person - she's very interested and interesting, takes great photos and should be employed as a full time staff member for the Slovenian tourism board! Thank you - so much xx

BOO!

We won't be trick or treating; we haven't made any costumes; Ella was grossed out by the insides of the pumpkin and disappointed she couldn't do the carving; the cookies were a big hit; and next year she wants to make a haunted house cake and have a party; it's a work day and I didn't get any photos of the cobwebs Sandy inspired, or the ghosts hanging from the kitchen ceiling and the pumpkins lining the hallway; we've collected and washed the pumpkin seeds but still have to roast them.

A scarey 31st to you all.

Little Joy

I went shopping alone for a few hours on Saturday with very little success. I went with a very open mind, looking for everything from underwear to everyday wear to special clothes for our anniversary trip in a couple of months. I managed to buy clothes for both girls, a couple of Christmas presents and five el cheapo tshirts for everyday home wear. I did manage to buy one quality item, but I'd seen them in a mag and only had to go into the shop and buy my size. Cool though no?

I came home so disillusioned. I just don't see anything I like. I've never been a very enthusiastic shopping, but now it's not a matter of seeing things I can't afford, I just don't see anything I like. I am excited about Seed Femme coming online in October, as I love their clothes for the girls and have high hopes they'll stock things I love. So, trying another direction yesterday, I went online and bought these two patterns. I haven't sewn for myself since high school although do so regularly for the girls. I love aline skirts and find them hard to find, and I thought the top looked cute. If anyone's made from these patterns, let me know if there are any quirks.

They make them for grown ups too

and Jodi's giving one away, a vintage one no less.

Minimum expense, maximum pleasure

I think a lot and I like to be organised. This translates to me being organised about things like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and Christmas a long way in advance. Ella turns 5 in October and today we started making the take home goodies for her guests.

Made with scraps the supplies themselves cost something like $5.00 USD for 60 self covering buttons of varying sizes; the headbands to cover were about $5.00 USD for 12; the bags to put both items in were about $4.00 USD and the stickers around $3.00. Priceless, the amount of fun that Ella and I had together this afternoon making a start on them. Honestly though, I couldn't buy lollies for 14 kids for that much. Of course there's effort involved, but if it wasn't fun that we wouldn't be doing it. Making buttons is so satisfying and super easy for kids to do with the minimum of supervision. The headbands aren't something I've done before so these first two are a little messy still. Cute though don't you think - again for nothing more around 75c each and some very sticky fingers and a little fiddling and you have a very cute gift.

Stay tuned for the invites, which we're yet to decide on. Ella's decided on a garden theme, but the execution is still up for discussion - ideas welcome.

Girls on film

I LOVE updating my etsy shop. It's such a sense of achievement when the girls are finally in the shop, on show. It always gets me motivated to lift my game and update more rapidly, I can see my work on show, if for nothing more than the pleasure of that alone it's worth it.

Sorry Sandy,

I lied, I didn't send it on Tuesday, I'm posting it tomorrow! I did buttonboles on this little one so I could use the sweet buttons, but they're not my strong point - don't look too closely!

PS Don't worry, you won't be getting the dodgey material in the background, that's my ironing board cover!

Three little girls

I've got my crafting mojo back, now all I need is more time. I know that different people have mentioned this at different times, but I honestly don't know how some crafty mothers out there manage to achieve all they do. Actually forget the crafty bit, just managing the day to day well is impressive enough for me (what clean house?!).

My girls are almost 5 and 19 months and aside from the two days a week I'm at work and they're with family, they're with me all day every day. Ella has kinder one day when I'm not at work, but that's only for 4 hours and then Leila's with me and awake. I certainly don't play with both of them every second in the same way that I did when Ella was younger - then it was all about her - but I am with them all the time and don't really manage to do anything that doesn't involve them. When I'm sewing I include them with crafts of their own, but invariably the process is disturbed, for me, with another distraction of some kind. Leila's too small to really participate and if she does it usually involves a LOT of mess. That's all fine, but my whole point is wondering how other mothers manage their time. I know that some craft at night but that's not me. We don't eat until around 8:30 so after that I can manage some time with Geoff and then I'm headed to bed.

I can only think that perhaps others have time without the kids much more than I do. I have a friend who has no family around and uses childcare for her own sanity two once a week so she can have time for herself. I certainly don't judge her doing that, but it's not something I'd be comfortable with. Perhaps other children are more self sufficient than mine, perhaps other mums are less interactive with their kids, I honestly can't figure it it. I wish I could, because I end up feeling a little inadequate that I can't juggle more than 6 things at a time!

I had hoped to participate in this market in November, but honestly, it's not realistic to think I could - I just don't get enough time to work on the dolls. I would want to go with at least 30 dolls to make it worthwhile and to make that many - well, even if I worked on 3 a week (which would be huge for me), that would take me at least 3 months and I just don't have that time. I'll just have to try and crank it up a little and get more into the shop in the next couple of months, hopefully tempt some sales for Christmas.

So, after all that distraction, these three little girls just need to be dressed. They're for a custom order, three little girls for three little sisters in Brisbane for Christmas, I'm so excited that they'll be together!