Winter’s ‘magic’-al coat, FQ swaps and reminiscing.

  I know I shouldn’t complain because we don’t get it as cold as some but….for us, 11 degrees in the morning is FRRRRREEEEEEZING!!!! I know, I know…..but remember….I do live in ‘Tropical’ North Queensland, home of swaying palm trees, blue skies, sandy beaches, you know….beautiful one day….perfect the next!!!  But it seems someone forgot to tell good ol’ Mother Nature…..chilly toes and chattering teeth every morning for the past five days or so…..veeeery unusual…..I mean, our winter generally lasts a maximum of about 2 weeks a year and it doesn’t usually begin until June so……….what does a girl do apart from don the daggy tracksuit pants, sweatshirt and fluffy slippers???? Well, my poor naked girl………received a brand spanking new ‘magic-al’ coat to keep her nice and warm…… totally inspired by Bloom and her ‘Beyond Measure’ sewing machine cover but with an individuality that’s oh so ‘girly’!!! Here’s the front…. the beautiful mother of pearl buttons and ricrac to match her piped edges and frills……. and as she does a little twirl……you can see the back…. You can see Bloom’s version here and you can even buy her pattern too, or if you have a copy of Australian Homespun 10th Birthday Issue, Number 90 Vol 11 Number 11.  And you’ll notice, just like I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve added my free “Mothers Make Magic” Mothers’ Day stitchery, which you can still download from here Now my lovely girl is all snuggly and warm, ready to stitch some new ‘magic’ at a moment’s notice and not frozen to the core!!!! LOL (and I have my first OPAM for May…yippee!!!) I thought I’d have heaps of time whilst I was recovering, but you know, time is like wages…..the more you’ve got, the more you seem to use and it never seems like you’ve got enough….just slips through your fingers!!!!….can you relate????  Anyway, with ALL this time I have, *wink* I’ve been reflecting on how my hobby has developed over the years.  I am a stitcher from way back.  In fact, I think I was born with a needle in my hands but quilting only came to me via a very good friend about 13 years ago.  She was an avid quilter and had 4 young daughters so was making them softies and quilts all the time.  I admired all her goodies and she promised to help me with my very first design of my very first ‘quilt’ What lessons I learnt, blanket stitch around curves need care, it does look much better when you match corners and make sure you use good quality fabric!!!! Despite that, it still gets good use on my stitching and recovery chair in front of the tv and it certainly started a lifelong love of quilting. The reason I’m reminiscing is whilst I read Jenny’s blogpost about her quilting journey, I noticed her and I had made the same table topper early on in our journey.  In fact, it was the second item I made.  Here is hers….. …and here is mine…. …and like Jenny, this remains my favourite piece too!  Visiting blogland over the past couple of years, I’ve found many of us share such similar tastes, choosing to do the same projects without ever being aware of other’s until much later…..must be why we all love this bloggy culture so much!!! Last month I decided to join a fat quarter swap with Cathy over here April was swapper’s choice and I was Chris’ partner.  She chose blue and yellow as her colours and, silly me, forgot to take a photo so hopefully she posts a piccie.  I chose blue or red and look at the goodies I received….. How wonderful…..Chris, you even got the ‘kind’ of blue right!!!!   Absolutely love it…thank you so much! This month is yellow and my partner is Cathy, so Cathy, I’m on the look out for some ‘yummy yellows’!!!!! Hope a wonderful week is in store with lots of magic-al moments! sugary hugs Wendy  :0)

Winter’s ‘magic’-al coat, FQ swaps and reminiscing.

 

I know I shouldn’t complain because we don’t get it as cold as some but….for us, 11 degrees in the morning is FRRRRREEEEEEZING!!!!

I know, I know…..but remember….I do live in ‘Tropical’ North Queensland, home of swaying palm trees, blue skies, sandy beaches, you know….beautiful one day….perfect the next!!!  But it seems someone forgot to tell good ol’ Mother Nature…..chilly toes and chattering teeth every morning for the past five days or so…..veeeery unusual…..I mean, our winter generally lasts a maximum of about 2 weeks a year and it doesn’t usually begin until June so……….what does a girl do apart from don the daggy tracksuit pants, sweatshirt and fluffy slippers????

Well, my poor naked girl………received a brand spanking new ‘magic-al’ coat to keep her nice and warm……

totally inspired by Bloom and her ‘Beyond Measure’ sewing machine cover but with an individuality that’s oh so ‘girly’!!!

Here’s the front….

the beautiful mother of pearl buttons and ricrac to match her piped edges and frills…….

and as she does a little twirl……you can see the back….

You can see Bloom’s version here and you can even buy her pattern too, or if you have a copy of Australian Homespun 10th Birthday Issue, Number 90 Vol 11 Number 11.  And you’ll notice, just like I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve added my free “Mothers Make Magic” Mothers’ Day stitchery, which you can still download from here

Now my lovely girl is all snuggly and warm, ready to stitch some new ‘magic’ at a moment’s notice and not frozen to the core!!!! LOL

(and I have my first OPAM for May…yippee!!!)

I thought I’d have heaps of time whilst I was recovering, but you know, time is like wages…..the more you’ve got, the more you seem to use and it never seems like you’ve got enough….just slips through your fingers!!!!….can you relate???? 

Anyway, with ALL this time I have, *wink* I’ve been reflecting on how my hobby has developed over the years.  I am a stitcher from way back.  In fact, I think I was born with a needle in my hands but quilting only came to me via a very good friend about 13 years ago.  She was an avid quilter and had 4 young daughters so was making them softies and quilts all the time.  I admired all her goodies and she promised to help me with my very first design of my very first ‘quilt’

What lessons I learnt, blanket stitch around curves need care, it does look much better when you match corners and make sure you use good quality fabric!!!!

Despite that, it still gets good use on my stitching and recovery chair in front of the tv and it certainly started a lifelong love of quilting.

The reason I’m reminiscing is whilst I read Jenny’s blogpost about her quilting journey, I noticed her and I had made the same table topper early on in our journey.  In fact, it was the second item I made.  Here is hers…..

…and here is mine….

…and like Jenny, this remains my favourite piece too!  Visiting blogland over the past couple of years, I’ve found many of us share such similar tastes, choosing to do the same projects without ever being aware of other’s until much later…..must be why we all love this bloggy culture so much!!!

Last month I decided to join a fat quarter swap with Cathy over here

April was swapper’s choice and I was Chris’ partner.  She chose blue and yellow as her colours and, silly me, forgot to take a photo so hopefully she posts a piccie.  I chose blue or red and look at the goodies I received…..

How wonderful…..Chris, you even got the ‘kind’ of blue right!!!!   Absolutely love it…thank you so much!

This month is yellow and my partner is Cathy, so Cathy, I’m on the look out for some ‘yummy yellows’!!!!!

Hope a wonderful week is in store with lots of magic-al moments!

sugary hugs

Wendy  :0)

Mothers’ Day Magic

  The first Sunday in May is traditionally Mothers’ Day in Australia….a day where we take the time to honour, treasure and recognise the most special people in our lives. As you know, my mum is no longer with us in body (and twenty-one years certainly has passed in a heartbeat), but is definitely here in spirit and I’m looking forward to buying a lovely bunch of flowers in remembrance, to celebrate her ‘special day’. This year, with all this time on my hands (LOL), I’ve been thinking about how my Mum worked her magic in our family…..dishes just seemed to get ‘done’, the house was kept tidy ‘effortlessly’, delicious dinners were always (well mostly!!) ready on the table for a hungry hoard, and food just magically appeared in the cupboard/fridge/ pantry…we just opened the door and there it was!  Mum never complained about her ‘job’ as Mum to 3 sons and a daughter, despite holding down a full time job and running a family business with my father.   She was always there to cuddle and wipe away tears, provide that magic ‘spray’ that got rid of those nasty monsters that hid under our beds, she was always there with a kind word, support and love at the drop of the hat…..and there’s sooooo much more!   Now, with all that going on in my head, I just had to design something to celebrate her, and all other mums around the world that mean just as much to their families.  So, I have designed this little stitchery for you to make into whatever you’d like for your mum…..maybe a notebook cover, a bag, tea towel, cushion….the list is endless.  You’ll notice I’ve used back stitch for the wand, and wording, satin stitch for the bursts of ‘magic’ hearts and blanket stitch for the inner heart on the wand, but you can let your creativity go wild! If you click HERE you can download the free PDF file which gives you the line drawing.  Make sure you  click on the blue download button, then follow the instructions.  Remember to wait the 20 seconds or so downloading time before the magic appears! I can’t wait to see what you make with yours.  Mine is destined for a sewing machine cover for ME so that it will remind me of Mum every time I sit down at the machine.  I’ve used DMC threads to pick up the colours in my Moda “Vienna Nights” by 3 Sisters charm squares, which I’ve had sitting around for a long time waiting for just the right project.  But I’ll tell you more about that soon! Enjoy! Sugary hugs Wendy :0)

Mothers’ Day Magic

 

The first Sunday in May is traditionally Mothers’ Day in Australia….a day where we take the time to honour, treasure and recognise the most special people in our lives.

As you know, my mum is no longer with us in body (and twenty-one years certainly has passed in a heartbeat), but is definitely here in spirit and I’m looking forward to buying a lovely bunch of flowers in remembrance, to celebrate her ‘special day’.

This year, with all this time on my hands (LOL), I’ve been thinking about how my Mum worked her magic in our family…..dishes just seemed to get ‘done’, the house was kept tidy ‘effortlessly’, delicious dinners were always (well mostly!!) ready on the table for a hungry hoard, and food just magically appeared in the cupboard/fridge/ pantry…we just opened the door and there it was!  Mum never complained about her ‘job’ as Mum to 3 sons and a daughter, despite holding down a full time job and running a family business with my father.   She was always there to cuddle and wipe away tears, provide that magic ‘spray’ that got rid of those nasty monsters that hid under our beds, she was always there with a kind word, support and love at the drop of the hat…..and there’s sooooo much more!  

Now, with all that going on in my head, I just had to design something to celebrate her, and all other mums around the world that mean just as much to their families.  So, I have designed this little stitchery for you to make into whatever you’d like for your mum…..maybe a notebook cover, a bag, tea towel, cushion….the list is endless.  You’ll notice I’ve used back stitch for the wand, and wording, satin stitch for the bursts of ‘magic’ hearts and blanket stitch for the inner heart on the wand, but you can let your creativity go wild!

If you click HERE you can download the free PDF file which gives you the line drawing.  Make sure you  click on the blue download button, then follow the instructions.  Remember to wait the 20 seconds or so downloading time before the magic appears!

I can’t wait to see what you make with yours.  Mine is destined for a sewing machine cover for ME so that it will remind me of Mum every time I sit down at the machine.  I’ve used DMC threads to pick up the colours in my Moda “Vienna Nights” by 3 Sisters charm squares, which I’ve had sitting around for a long time waiting for just the right project.  But I’ll tell you more about that soon!

Enjoy!

Sugary hugs

Wendy :0)