Merry Christmas

I have made so many great friends in blog land and to all of you I would

 like to wish you and your families  a Great Christmas 

and a

Happy and Joyous New Year.

Will be back in 2011 after a well earned holiday in Thailand.

Whimsy Place Mats

I've been a busy girl

making these place mats and Pot Holders for Chrissie pressies.

I have been inspired by Jackie from Tallgrass Praire Studio

I just love the whimsy look and these

 are just that.

Pot Holders

My favorite one is the gifts, I loved free handing the bows with my darning

foot on my domestic machine.

I also love this little house.

These have turned out so cute and I have many ideas in my head

of more I want to do, not necessarily Christmas ones though.

Just need to finish the bindings on these and I'm done.

Happy Quilting!!

Splurging

Recently at AQM (Australian Quilt Market) I purchased some goodies,

an early Chrissie present you might say....lucky me !!

Sweet Broderie

By

Rosalie Quinlan

 

Panto's from Anne Bright all the way from America.

 

I couldn't resist these cars they are soooo cute can't wait to

use this one.

Lily and Will - Blue

Oasis by

3 Sisters

 

Lollypop

by

Sandy Gervais

That's it no more fabric!!!  How many times have you said that to yourself??

Like me, too many, this is definitely an addiction.

Now I have lots to continue with over the holidays, so lots of show and tell in

the New Year.

Happy Quilting!!

Look what the Postie Delivered

What a pleasant * SURPRISE* in the mail today, one of my

bloggy friends* HELEN* from Aunt Hennys sent me this lovely

Christmas Card and Coaster.

Thanks soooo much Helen, I love it!

A Wedding to plan

A few weeks ago we had a big

surprise in the SST Family

Kym (my daughter) and her boyfriend Darren

went to Thailand for a holiday and when they came back

they announced their Engagement.

We were all very excited about this news

So Congratulations!!  Kym and Darren on your

Engagement!

They have set their date for May 20th 2012, which gives us

a bit of time to organise things.....luckily. 

So now we have a Wedding to organise isn't that exciting?

Charlie

I have been inspired by Lizzie from

A House in the Country

who made a new lead for her new

puppy Molly

As we have recently had a new addition to the

SST family I thought I'd give it a go.

So here he is Charlie, he is a Cavoodle, cross between a Toy poodle and

King Charles Cavalier

Isn't he the cutest??

His new lead, we have already given it a test run

and all went well, though I would only use it

for small dogs, so now he has a Designer Doggy Lead...haha!

We are very lucky to have Charlie as when we first got him he was very sick

(which we didn't know)

He had bad gastro and landed at the vets for 5 days, with drips, etc. and had to

be operated on, as they first thought he had a blockage, turned out

it was the gastro, but he pulled through and has not looked back.

So yes he does get spoilt, but how can you resist that face.

Happy Quilting!

Funky Feathers

Today is the first day that I have managed to get on my longarm
since AMQ Festival which was the beginning of October. How bad is that?!!... I have been having
withdrawal symptoms. I feel so much better for playing around and putting
into practice what I learned at AMQ.

I have been practicing on paper and couldn't wait to
get to the machine and today I did it.
My C Curve feathers

I am really pleased with how these turned out, a few little
hitches here and there but I'm sure with more practice this will
disappear.

Today I tried the hump and bump way of doing these feathers
and I found that they bedded together better and had a nicer shape, so I think
I'll be changing to this way.

Can't wait for tomorrow to do some more practicing.

Happy Quilting!!

Look what the Postman delivered!

3 x Bliss Charm Packs

3 x Fandango Charm Packs

1 x Maison De Garance Layer Cake

and

12 Fat Quarters of 12 Days of Christmas

  

I so love sending presents to myself, I love the anticipation

of receiving yummy goodness in the mail.

Does anyone have any good ideas of what to make from a Layer Cake?? 

I'm in need of some inspiration.

If your like me they may have to sit on the shelf for a while so I can

enjoy the eye candy before

cutting into them.

Its an obsession!.....I know..I KNOW!
I'm sure I'm not the only one, I promise to get treatment soon.

Happy Quilting!

A Gardeners Journal

Finally Block H and D are finished, I have had these two completed for 

a while but with lifes little happenings I haven't been able

to blog.

Doesn't help that my computer has decided to go on holiday, so excuse my bad photos

cause all my photo editing programmes are on it.

More posts soon I promise!!

Happy Quilting!

Home Early.....

Homes Early from AMQ Festival???

Why you may ask.

Unfortunately my daughter was admitted to hospital on Saturday

afternoon with bad pains, turns out she

has an infected gallbladder and gallstones.

Being in Adelaide at the time I was feeling quite helpless and finding out

that surgery was scheduled for Monday I had no hesitation in jumping on the next flight back home.

So yes I am home and my daughter is comfortable and in good hands 

in hospital.

I am really disappointed in missing out on my classes with Pam Clark, she was one

teacher that I was really  looking forward to meeting.

But that's not to say that I didn't enjoy my time at AMQ Festival and  I did learn

soooooo

much valuable information, hints and tips.

Just need to find some time to put it all into practice.

Will post some photos and bits about AMQ Festival  as soon as I get over this week.

Happy Quilting!

Mandy

And the Winner is???????

True Random Number Generator has revealed the winner and that is 

No. 10

Congratulations to Claire

from

Tea and Bickies

you have won the Jelly Roll !

Please email me your details and I will 

pop it in the mail.

Thanks everyone for entering.

Now I need to go and pack my bags for Adelaide!!!!

Yeah!!!

Happy Quilting!

AQM Festival

How lucky am I, I'm off to the AQM Festival in Adelaide for four days, four days of

longarm classes and quilty goodness with 2 fantastic friends.

We leave Friday morning and return Monday night, some of the best longarm

teachers are coming from America like Pam Clark, so it should be fun and hopefully we will learn heaps

and be able to come home and put it into practice.

There is also a quilt show as well and I know that both Karen and Anita have

entered some of there own quilts, so cross our fingers that one of them will win.

I will be taking lots of photos so will post about everything next week.

Check out the AQM festival website here.

By the way last day to enter my giveaway, 29.9.10, will shut off at 

5pm EST time.

Blogaversary--Giveaway

Today is my first Blogaversary, 1 year, boy has that flown by.  I have

achieved alot in the last year quilting, even though  life has been hectic, but I have met alot of great 

people and made some new friends near and far.

But the best thing is the inspiration from all the great things that you girls

are doing or have done, at times I find myself so inspired that getting to

sleep is a problem.

I love seeing all the new ideas, tutorials, and the latest fabrics, it's absolutely

fantastic.

I have really enjoyed my first year in blogland and look forward to many more.

So I am having a give away, a Jelly Roll, Simplicity by 3

Sisters, plus some other bits and pieces, but that's a surprise for the winner.

All you have to do is :-
1. Become a follower or mention that you already are a follower, for one entry.
2. Post about the giveaway on your blog for second entry.
(Dont forget to leave a second comment if you do this)
and the winner will by drawn by 

true random number generator on the 30th September, 2010.

Good Luck!!

Giveaway Closed

Winner announced soon!

Home Sweet Home

Well I have finally finished travelling around the country side and I am back home

where I might add its freezing cold.

I have been to Yarrawonga which is up on the Murray River, the border of Victoria and New South Wales, to be with my Mum,while Dad had his knee Replacement Operation. Turns out he is the star

patient they discharged him today and he only had the op on Monday, not bad for 78.

Back to my quilting, while I was away I did manage to find some Patchwork Shops and brought

some fabrics.

An assortment of blues for hubbies quilt.

He's always hinting that he doesn't have his own quilt, so I have

decided to make a Wonky Log Cabin Quilt, I got the tutorial from

Jackie 

at Tallgrass Prairie Studio.

I have made a test block

and so far so good.

Also I purchased some brights for the backing for my summertime quilt

So all I need to do is get busy, so

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

Greetings from Sunny Queensland

I have managed to sneak a little time to blog, while hubby is snoozing, the weather here is absolutely

gorgeous about 20 to 24 degrees, sunny and not much wind. We have enjoyed some fantastic restaurants

here in Broadbeach, most with fantastic views of the beach. Today we enjoyed lunch at our favorite restaurant

Georges at Sanctuary Cove, I could not resist a photo of what we had, it was delicious, we could not get through it all. We were both so full afterwards.

We were both up early today and went for a walk to Surfers Paradise along the beach 3.7km there and back,

hubby decided to run 2kms of that, and that........... probably explains why he is now asleep at 4.00pm.

I have even been in the pool as well today, don't you just love holidays when you can concentrate on doing

things you never get a chance to do at home like, long walks, swimming, shopping, eating healthily  I am so looking forward to retirement, when your time is your own.

Have Fun!!

Mandy

Holiday Time

 

Finally the time has come for me to pack my bags  and head off to Sunny Queensland for

10 days with Hubby, a well deserved break from the Business before the Christmas rush

approaches. Don't worry I have a few Patchwork Shops on the agenda, so looking forward

to new shops and quilts, and possibly,.... cross fingers some fabric. I have thought of packing the machine but as we are flying it's not possible...(I have been known to take my machine on

holidays before).

I will not go empty handed as I have packed my stitching for My Gardner's Journal Quilt, hopefully I will catch up as I am behind at the moment.

Soon as we get back I'm heading to Yarrawonga as my Dad is going to have a knee reconstruction,

so I will spend a couple of days with Mum and visit Dad as well.

So Blogging will be on hold for a while. 

Happy Quilting!

Mandy

Block C

A little late but I have completed my Block C

This was the biggen of the blocks, so glad to get this one done

the rest will be a breeze....not!!!

Happy Stitching!

Mandy

Jelly Roll Quilt Along

I'm not sure what number block we are up to in the quilt along as

I have fallen behind again, (story of my life)

But I'm sure I'm up to date now.

Happy Quilting!

Mandy

Bright and Sunny

Hot of the machine is a quilt I quilted for Rose

I have quilted an edge to edge pattern called

Daisies Galore by Timeless Quilting

This is a lovely quilt so bright and warm reminds me of the beach.

I really enjoyed quilting this quilt, pity my back wasn't so obliging.

Happy Quilting!

Girls Day Out

I was lucky enough to be invited by Pam Phillips of CIKA (Cancer in Kids) to the Girls Day Out run by the auxiliaries for the Royal Childrens Hospital.

This was a workshop on different craft projects so as to raise money for the different auxiliaries.

We were lucky enough in the morning to be presented with a 3D presentation of what the hospital will

look like and the facilities, I have to admit that I was blown away with what this hospital will have to offer,

they have taken every aspect into account for the patients, parents, doctors, nurses etc. I think the main thing

is everything is accessible to the kids so even the toddlers can see out the windows as they are virtually

floor to ceiling height and 80% of the rooms will have a view to the natural parklands and the remaining 20% will have views to Garden courtyards add to that, all rooms have internet access and movies available 24/7, provisions  for parents to stay, plus 2 storey aquarium with sharks and shark feeding maintained by Melbourne Aquaruium, Motel, IGA Supermarket, Increased parking, possible meerkat enclosure, playgrounds and access to outside from all levels, this is just a few of the many facilities. This is so amazing and we are fortunate enough to have this great hospital opening up at the end of next year. With completion of the whole project in 2014.

To see more on this great hospital you can visit 

http://www.newrch.vic.gov.au/Home

Kid Aprons

We had different workshops on Knitting, Quilting, Aprons and Bag Making, most of all

we had an enjoyable day and met some lovely people.

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

Truck Cushion

So I have been playing with my new skills from

Kellie's class and taa dahhhhhh!!

Tow Truck Cushion

I have made this for my girlfriends, daughters son Jett for his

1st Birthday, I am pretty happy with the way it has turned out.

I was soo excited when I finished it I had to show Jett's Mum and Nana, so

they know it's coming, I'm hopeless with surprises.

I did cheat though on this one I did the machine quilting on the 

longarm, next time though I promise to do it on the domestic....

This was taken from Don't Look Now

Pattern in the latest Homespun magazine.

Happy Quilting!

Mandy

Raw Edge Applique

As you all know I love Kellie from Don't Look Now and I was lucky enough to

take a class with her last Thursday. We were all learning the raw edge applique technique with your darning foot on your machine. After a few @#$% words and groans we all managed to get the knack of it.

Wish you were here! cushion

This was our practice piece for the class. Next class we will be learning how

to quilt the background on our domestic machines.This will be the most challenging

part as it's a different technique to longarming.

More soon

Happy Quilting!

Mandy

What not to Do!

This  is what not to do when cooking roast pork.When I

pulled my roast out of the oven to turn the potatoes, I placed it on the cutting board

then placed it back in the oven, only to soon discover a plasticky smell eminating from the oven.

That's right the board had stuck to the roasting dish and was melting away.

So I call it my green cutting board slice, I certainly did a good job. Don't ya think??

Now its hubby's job to clean up the mess!

I think I will give up on cooking pork as last time I did a roast pork the glass

dish shattered all over the oven, so takeaway it was.

Happy Cooking!

Mandy

Worry Dolls

Look what arrived in the mail today, the latest pattern Worry Dolls from Kellie of

Dont Look Now  . I love Kellie's patterns, they are so bright and cheerful,

great for any child. Kellie has better photos on her site its definitely worth a look.

And what a nice surprise, a bonus cushion pattern as well. I guess I'm 

not going to be bored in the near future.

You must go and have a look at her website, be prepared

to lose a few hours though.

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

Bits and Pieces

Well its been so long since I last blogged, life has been busy and unfortunately there hasn't been much time for quilting. I think I have over committed myself with different projects but hey!! I'm having fun so who cares right!

My 7th and 8th Block in the Jelly Roll Quilt-a-Long

This one is quite bright, I can't wait to see this quilt put together.

My house stitchery is completed finally, this one was a biggen, now onto

the next two to complete the block.

Promise it won't be so long until the next post.

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

A Gardeners Journal

 

Block A Completed for the Stitch-a-long, and on time

I might add, which is amazing for me as I'm always behind, lets hope

it stays that way.

 

 

 

Block 6 Finished in the Jelly Roll Quilt A-Long

I think that's about half way. Yay!!

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I am participating in the Blogger's Quilt Festival organized by Amy from Amy's Creative Side, from May 21st to the 25th, 2010. The quilt I have chosen is designed by Sharon Wilkinson and is called Flower Power.

My Girlfriend Lillian asked me to make this for her friend getting married in London.

It has raw edge applique flowers with a checkerboard border and a plain border.

I have machine quilted feathers in the plain border and quilted line dancing

in the checkerboard with an all over meandering in the body of the quilt.

Lillian choose the fabrics, and I really love the bright colours set against the white,

I really enjoyed machine quilting this quilt and I hope that Lillian's friend

enjoys her Wedding Present.

Stitch-a-long

I have complete my stitchery's for Block A, now to cut all

the fabric for this block. So far I'm ahead but not sure if that will stay that way.

Happy Stitching!!

Mandy