Swap-a-Rama

I actually started my blog because of a swap.

SummerSadie started the Around the World Quilting Bee nearly this time last year and I must have been surfing the net for ideas when I came across her post. You needed a blog to join in, ideally, so, hesitant as I was (I was always a bit of a hit and miss diary keeper), I thought I'd give it a go.

We made a starter block (mine is the Prints Charming Dove, 2nd row, 3rd place) and sent it on to our designated person, who added their block and sent it on, etc, etc.

I have enjoyed that swap so much, learned lots and met up with lots of lovely bloggers from all over the world. It really opened up the beauty of blog world to me.

I sewed my ATWQB quilt top together this morning. It's travelled a lot of miles!
There are some gorgeous blocks in there - a lot of very talented people contributed.
I'm trying to finish it today so I can send it off to my lovely mother -in -law who has a birthday next Sunday.

More swaps...

Around the World Christmas Block Swap - same theory as above, my Placemat starter block (thought placemats would be of more use to me at Christmas than a quilt!)

Placemat Quilt swap - my lovely placemat from Caryn. It's an straight swap and I blogged about the placemat I made for Caryn a few posts back.
 I can't tell you how much I love this colour combo, which will reign supreme in my new kitchen one day - she must have ESP or something! Now I just have to add to them...

The Beehive God knows how you describe it succinctly...When your designated month arrives, you send your fabric off to the other swappers, they produce fabulosity and send them back to you. Well, the blocks I have received are the HEIGHT of fabulosity.

Here are my contributions to Katrina's quilt. Let's hope she sees some fabulosity!

Happy Sunday everyone! It's an absolutely spectacular day here in Melbourne and I'm inside, blogging and sewing a quilt top! The joys of crafting...

Yawn....

 I dragged my littlest duck out of his cozy nest this morn so we could journey to the airport as Mr. Luv-a-Duck and big duckling are going on a soujourn to NZ for 4 days. I tried to persuade him that taking a taxi was better for all concerned (well, me...) but the guilt (and the thought of little duck's performance when he found out he's missed seeing the planes) overwhelmed me - the thought of a spiced chai latte at Villa and Hut may have helped too...

We are about to build a house over there. Our Dream House. On a hill, overlooking the sea and islands. We are having issues with the architect, though, hence the visit.

I don't really know if I want to leave Melbourne - whenever that day may be. I've made lots of friends here and I love this place. Kids seem to have so many opportunities here that are harder to come by in NZ. It's a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city. So many reasons to stay.

But man, I want that house. And that view. Every day. 

(Did I mention that there is a crafting room? It's pretty big. And it's all tucked away so it doesn't matter how much shite I leave lying all over the floor. All for me.)

Sew it Together

Foolish creature that I am, I have almost missed the boat on posting about my amazing time at Sew It Together on the weekend! The lovely Sheridan was an organiser extraordinaire and suffice to say, a fantastic time was had by all.

I took narry a photo, so have photographed the sum total of craft work I got done -

50 or so French Knots were all I managed to achieve! Andi made a whole quilt, for pity's sake and this was all I could eke out!!! I think my Form 4 Geography teacher may have got it right when he said in my end of year report...

"This is a surprising result due to the amount of talking that Tanya does. She must learn to control her tongue."


These lovely things were in our goodie bag...such gorgeousness!

Thanks so much  to everyone involved - It was fantastic to meet you all and I had a most excellent time both at the crafting session and the dinner. Definitely be in for next year!

Stitches and Craft Loot and Pics

Went Wednesday with Little Man and two of my Crafty Gym Buddies, Tori and Sniff

Thanks for providing the best entertainment ever, Tania. He spent ages making the sandwiches then "eating" them (so if you had any dribbly, manky ones at the end, you know who to blame).

Bought the Ink and Spindle fabric for this...

and the trim for this...

Admired this...

On Saturday I had booked into the Ink and Spindle screen printing course, so went a bit earlier, of course, and bought this from Earthgirl....

and this from Pear Tree yarns....

and this from Crayon Chick.

and this was one of the tea towels I printed at the most excellent course! The other one was raindrops and an umbrella that I gave away to a friend that night at a baby shower.

Had such a good time! Thanks to all the team at Ink and Spindle and Lara from Harvest Textiles, who taught us.

The Fame

We have a slightly famous neighbour - that's if you follow the AFL, which we don't, really, that is until the little big man took up Auskick. He has become an ardent Hawks supporter. He even knows what "barack" means, previously a foreign and slightly sneered at Australian term.

We are from New Zealand, after all, where rugby is King and shall remain so for all eternity. Go, the Mighty Blacks! (I might add here that I am not a sports fan, as such. My husband is a huge sports fan, however. I tolerate this. He tolerates my overspending)

Anyway, back to said neighbour...I am in the bath, the doorbell rings. Dom says it is him from next door!
Alas, Alack, I must greet him in my dressing gown and Ugg boots!
He wants to borrow the kids to take photos for his new cooking with kids show.

Many photos were taken. Shirt was signed. Cooking utensils were wielded. Little Big Man got to cuddle up to his new hero - I'm surprised he didn't plant a kiss on his cheek! Littlest Man made himself at home on his couch.

Tv stardom beckons! I will become a "Stage Mom"! Let me know if autographs are required. I have Pay Pal (snort!)

Skirt fever!

I've madly been making winter skirts, having seen some gorgeous fabrics around and feeling that, since I can sew in a zip (sort of) , I could actually make a simple pattern into something fantastic. 

First one was made with Ink and Spindle Birch fabric in two colourways, Black on Charcoal and Red on Cream.

I kept the selvedge on instead of making a hem at the front.

Second was from Prints Charming fabric. I saw a great photo of a similar one on their blog and felt that, seeing imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, that I would do my best to imitate it!

 Lots of lovely trim on the bottom.

Bonne Fete, Maman!

This is the greeting I awoke to on Mother's Day from my little Francophile!

Had a great day - started with the Mother's Day Classic 4 km walk around the Botanical Gardens (aka "The Tan") in Melbourne, with all the boys, them back home on the train and off for a spot of lunch at Giorgio's in Malvern. The afternoon was spent buying a freezer from The Good Guys and finally relaxing the evening away with Masterchef on the telly and me not having to cook!

Here is my big pressie. Love it. Bought at Canterbury Art Exhibition a couple of weeks ago. Thanks darling!

Flowers from the boysies. I'm trying not to count the freezer....