Sewing: Quilt top #1

A little happy dance going on here.

After a few days of after-lunch-sewing-time and quilting the horizontal and vertical seams of this quilt,  Quilt #1 has just had the binding stitched on and the remainder safety pins removed. Hand stitching only to go.  All before a birthday next week.

Nice and clear Binding Tutorial link.

Shhh. Don't say a word. I have been able to sew while she is at school and thankfully the youngest hasn't let out a peep.
Will post finished photos soon.

L.

House mini-update {nine}

We are in. The mega paint-a-thon paid off, the carpet deadline was met and we have finally been able to move in. The first Tuesday of the school holidays; what better timing!

Just a few sneak-peak shots of upstairs as we are still waiting on two shower screen panels and no wall hangings/shelving/book racks have been put up either. When the kids are back at school I will take some photos.

And so that completes house stage #1. Yes, truly. Here is the beginning of house stage #2:

Now that the children's old bedrooms have been vacated, we are opening up the two bedrooms right through to the current lounge that you can see down the passage. The two bedrooms including the passage will become our new lounge. The current lounge will become a dining area and the front entry way is in-between. 

Just when you thought I now had no reason for a untidy and dusty house. More white dust... 

Really looking forward to finding my craft again now that I don't need to paint in any spare minute I have. Well, not for a while anyway.

L.

crochet: working in rows/turning your work

Lee.

sewing: quilt tops - they are back!

I have dug them out of hiding, and after sorting some backing and batting, I was shown how to layer them last week. I am getting excited about getting them all finished now. Actually, the girls are just as excited. I would love to just sit and sew them, but there is painting that just needs to be done, and painting fairies don't exist!

Here are a few bright progress photos for today. 

 Two more waiting patiently.

I just couldn't resist. I just had to stitch a few seams. 

The postie also brought some happy bits to my letter box this week. Here is a little link. Go and check out her new online shop. Lots of little special things for your home and crafty-urges :) 

L.

crochet: felt coaster

A set of 8 soft coasters for a Friday morning. These were fun and quick to make.

Original idea via Pinterest. 

I did modify the pattern slightly - I punched holes evenly around (need to be an even number) with my eyelet punch from my scrap booking stash and used my crochet hook to make the first round using drop dc stitches into the holes and chain stitches. Then the second round was made up of shell stitches. Finish off two ends and bingo, your done! A set is definitely on my to-do list for ourselves.

Enjoy your weekend. It's looking like a painting filled Saturday coming up for us. :)

L.

House Update {eight}

It has been a while since the last update. We have been pottering along upstairs. We are nearly done. Nearly. 

Scroll through for some photo updates. Not a great deal has been done outside as yet.

After seven sample pots, we decided on a wall colour.

 And one feature wall colour. It's called Roasted Capsicum. Lovely, huh. (Really trully, I love it!) And he wondered why we only did one wall in his room this colour.

First coat of waterproofing in the bathrooms.

I had help painting for a few days, which was a great motivation and we got a good lot done.

 Screed ready for another coat of waterproofing before tiles.

  Bathrooms tiled.

Carpet picked... and booked.

Meters of skirting painted before nailing.

 Door frames and doors still to be painted.

And the valances finally hung! It looks so girly in her room.
Link: Valance Pattern

L.

Crochet: Group CAL

In a craft facebook group, we have started a CAL that will be going for approx six months. First section was seven granny squares. I chose to use up the left over 10ply wool from Bendigo that I used for Froggy and also another project that I have currently on the go, and ordered a few more colours to add to it. Here are my first seven squares along to go with the quilt top for the daughter I am making both for.

Colours from the Bendigo Luxury range in 10ply used:

Ruby, Leaf, Denim, Cream, Aquarium, Navy Blue, Lake, Autumn Glow and Koala.

I actually didn't use any Autumn Glow in the granny squares. I only used Ruby, as I wanted the squares to be more blue then red. Autumn Glow will appear in some of the other sections. Such nice wool to work with!

L.

Completed Froggy.

I think the photos say it all. 

There is one very happy boy with his new Froggy. 

Enjoy the pics. (They were all super duper. Had to include them all!)

Link to: See the Old Froggy, New Froggy story here.

Thanks to his mum for the beautiful photos. :)
See Froggy in his making and also the pattern link here.
 L.

Crochet: Amigurimi Frog

My largest Amigurimi crochet to date. I used 10ply wool from Bendigo with a 4.25mm hook.

 

Purchased Pattern:  Froggy

Pinterest Link: Karel

I like adding stuffing pellets. It gives a bit of weight and makes it sit nicely. I have had that they sometimes find their way out through the little gaps, especially if forced. This time I added a sack of stuffing pellets that was stitched closed.

Another post coming soon with some (very cute!) photos of a completed and happy froggy.

L.

Sewing: Dr Seuss Bunting

A little bit of sewing from last week. Some Dr Seuss bunting, especially made for two little boys born. I knew their mum had sewn Dr Seuss play quilts while she waited for her unborn twins. With smallish amounts of fabric left over from the Dr Seuss floor pillows  it was just enough for bunting.  

3m of bunting. 15 flags.

L.

Crochet: amigurimi giraffe #2

Another giraffe. Zebi is very well loved in this house, and I just couldn't resist making another one. This time I used a variegated yarn - Stripped Effect by Carnival. It worked up a lot easier and no colour ugly changes going up the back of each piece.
After finishing it, I quickly managed to sneak in a few photo moments of her before she was squashed into a suitcase and traveled to the other side of the world to a little niece.

Meet Elsie.

Zebi and Elsie sharing a few moments together. Pattern from here: ilovebuttonsbyemma.

L.

Sewing: mini bunting

Sewing of some mini bunting from the scraps from the girls square quilts.

 *Don't look at my icing skills. :( but she was very happy with cake and thats what counts. *

 I currently have some normal size bunting cut out, waiting for a spare few minutes here and there to stitch it up. Will post soon!

 L.