Colour

I've continued to spot colour around our house this week.

An Hawaiian applique cushion my parents gave me recently.

My first attempt at freezer paper applique. The obligatory pony for my client's quilt;-)

I'm particularly pleased with this one. The design is from the "Someone to watch over you" quilt out of Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

The results of a mini-production line this afternoon. Two are for birthday gifts and two for either the gift box or two resident girlies.

It's the Little Wallet pattern, and great for stash busting.

Sarah's post will taunt me all weekend. We had that colour sky here this morning and it is distinctly not that now. Snow is even expected on the road north of town.

O Sunshine, Where Art Thou?

Seriously Spring, where are you? We are now into our sixth month of having a fire going. Not cool. I give up waiting for some decent lighting to take pics of my finished objects.

One of my long term goals is to get into patchwork quilting. I made M10 a cot quilt as a first birthday present with the idea to do one for each child but I stalled there. I even bought a walking foot for my sewing machine a couple of years ago which has sat languishing. I dragged it out recently, and grabbed my Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts book for a bit of how-to and whipped up some quilted coasters to pop into my gift box. Fun. I quilted!

My couch is in serious need of reupholstering, but until funds allow I thought a few cushions would obscure some of the worn-out-ness. I tried Log Cabin for the first time and used up some scraps and fat quarters that had been lurking in the stash.

Next step is to get brave enough to cut into the Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric I've got to make a lap quilt with.

I've also made another Gratitude Wrap and a matching letter satchel for a cousin's birthday next week but that's been posted sans photos.

Now, I'm just waiting for some cute patterns to arrive to cut into the Ginger Blossom stash for the girl's summer wardrobes. I really hope I can be disciplined enough to make quite a bit of their stuff. (Please excuse the link fest in this post. I know, I know - not an original idea to be found! Works for me though.)

Spring

I could almost weep with relief that we are now officially in Spring. Winter and I are not good companions but I got through with lots of knitting, crafting with the kids, snuggling together with good books, and great coffee made by The Man Who Works In The Shed.

I started a little spring display by making these birds with some repro vintage 1930's prints from my local quilting store. I used the pattern from Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts. I6 has added a paper butterfly and we'll make pink tissue paper blossoms for it too.






















I am completely into children's books at the moment, particularly those with captivating illustrations. We borrowed Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children about Their Art from the library and it is FANTASTIC. We read about a few of our very favourite illustrators this morning: Mitsumasa Anno, Quentin Blake and Eric Carle. The respect with which these published artists speak to my little 'already artists' is wonderful. The kids all had a go at Eric Carle inspired collages.


I feel the same about art as I do about poetry. School did me no favours in this area. I would love to learn more about making my own art one day - particularly drawing and watercolours. Yet again, my children inspire me with their passion, interest and creativity without boundaries.

Frenetic Friday

Today is not a physically frenetic day but there is a lot racing around in my mind. I'm going to bung some of it here in the hope it will lighten the mental load, in the absence of Rescue Remedy or Gewurztraminer in the house;-)

1. Last night, Hubby & I went on a hot "Peak Oil" date to hear Richard Heinberg speaking. What a personable fellow as he delivered his grim message. He has clearly moved beyond the depression and stages of grief that people experience when they get to grips with Peak Oil, as he was able to present some positive outcomes to the whole deal. I wish he'd had more time to talk about Transition Towns as they really tickle my "Good Life" fancy!

2. Melissa's post about her new craft book reminded me that "Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts" arrived in my box this week. The new book buzz is somewhat tarnished by the fact that NZ Post have lost my Thomas Jefferson Education and Encyclopedia of Country Living. Darn you all to heck, NZ Post!! Here are some of the projects that I'm dying to do for/with the kids:

3. I finished I5's yoga socks this morning. We may all do Pilates in front of the TV later...me with naked feet since I haven't managed to whip up a pair of socks for myself;-) Isn't that always the way with motherhood?