Blogtoberfest #31 ~ I made it (perfect)

31 days has October AND Blogtober(fest) and I made it ~ without missing a post! Thanks to Tinniegirl for hosting it again in 2009 and I can't wait to join in again in 2010!  Here are a few things that I think make blogtoberfest the best fest around!

1. I find myself CREATING more as the month goes by, due to added pressure to find something to blog about

2. I find myself BUYING more... pretty parcels are the best fillers for daily blogging!

3. I find myself READING more... adding new blogs to my expanding bloglines & making me feel more worldly ;)

4. I find myself WRITING more... well duh, of course - which really isn't that hard for me, although my written journal has been sadly neglected for most of October!!!

 

Thanks heaps Cathy! I had so much fun!

**************************

And for my last post of the Month ~ I was hoping to show off the carved pumpkin that DH was going to do for Miss K for Halloween! Except we weren't about to pay $24 for a (single) pumpkin at Woolworths :o highway robbery woolies!!! Shame on you.

So you will have to make do with a viewing of my completed (and far from perfect) "Make it perfect" sunhat!

Modelled by Tenderheart Care-bear because Miss K is asleep and it is a little too small on her...

I was so impressed with how easy this came together, I have cut out a further 2!

Blue floral & blue spot for ME

Pink Frog and Green Swirl for Miss K

I even offered to make one for dear hubby, but he flatly refused to wear one... hmmm I might make him a fishing one for Christmas just because Tee hee hee...

Blogtoberfest #30 ~ Note(s) to future self

1. DO NOT TOUCH the sewing machine when suffering from the common head cold (aka man-flu)

2. DO NOT attempt to sew a pattern while suffering the common head cold (aka man-flu)

3. HORMONES and SEWING MACHINES do not mix. Refer point 1 and 2 and replace the words head cold with hormones.

4. CHECK that the *insert profanity here* bobbin has not run out of thread BEFORE cutting into the side seam of the brim and turning your creation inside out, only to find it all fall apart on you... 

 

 

 

Hoping your final days of Blogtoberfest are faring better than mine ;)

Blogtobefest #29 ~ Pay it forward!

Last year I signed up for a couple of pay it forwards, except I lost track of who and how many I signed up for... *whoops*

Turns out Selina's PIF was a definate YES

And that's what I said when this gorgeous little gift arrived in my mailbox today!

& the best part was contained within ~ this gorgeous little Christmas wall-hanging that is far too cute to be packed away each year. I think this one will be staying on my walls!

 

So in keeping with the Pay It Forward tradition. IF you would like to play along and pay it forward (leave me a comment & I will book in the first three comment(ors)! The rules are simple. I will make you a hand-made gift and send it to you sometime within the next 365 days. All you have to do is pledge it on your blog to Pay it forward and make three someone's something within the next 365 days. And so on, so forth. It's all about sharing the love.

BUT (there is always a but) IF I don't get any takers to play along with the pay it forward (I realise this meme has been doing the rounds & some people have probably paid it forward time & time again...) 

I do solemnly pledge that I will choose THREE people who have commented on any of my blogtoberfest posts (and there WILL be exactly 31 posts) and I will send you three a pay it forward gift. If you want to share the blog love, then by all means you can do so, but you are in no-way obliged (consider it ME fulfilling my pledge) so come on.

NOTE: if you want to Pay it forward, please say so in your comment, if NOT just comment as usual!

Blogtoberfest #28 ~ quilting again

Don't go getting yourself excited by my blog title!!! Although this technically counts as part & parcel of Quilting ~ I didn't even make it to the machine today...

4 blocks all cut up ready to piece as part of the EBNQ Round Robin Swap. Only 2 more blocks after these four, then we will get a parcel of 12 individual blocks returned to us in time for Christmas *yay*

 

Meanwhile ~ my head is thumping, my throat is sore... OMFG I think I'm coming down with man-flu ;)

I'm tired, run down & excessively hormonal - I'm thinking it's time to go relax on the couch, with a hot lemon & honey tea accompanied by the FULL block of chocolate in the fridge ;)

If only I had some stamina to keep working on this little sweetie! 

 

Only THREE days to go for Blogtobefest ~ bought to you by Tinniegirl. 

Blogtoberfest #27 ~ raindrops on roses

brown paper packages ~ tied up with string!

Oh how I wish I could keep the contents for ME!

Aren't they gorgeous!

Blogtoberfest #26 ~ nothing to see here...

I signed Miss K up to another day at daycare (she now goes 3 days in total) so I can allocate a day for working from home, 2 days at my old/new job (which incidentally is going well, I am really enjoying it!) so today was spent doing bookwork and drinking coffee. So nothing crafty to see here folks.

I did however start this book this morning.

Recommended & leant to me by my SIL, it's another vampire saga. I'm really getting into these vampire books, reminds me a bit of my late teen phase with Interview with a Vampire saga in the late 90's! Anywho, what I'm keen on knowing is this is book 1 comprised of 3 short(ish) stories. Do I count each story as ONE book in my 2009 Read 50 challenge? I think I might. Must bump the figures up somehow!!!

Blogtoberfest #25 ~ The Haul

My BIG haul from the Quilt show yesterday... consider yourself warned - a picture heavy post abounds ;)

Better Homes & Gardens were there (again) selling these goodie bags. It's official, I am a total SUCKER for bags and freebies. In my defence - the bag is totally waterproof and WILL be used for my daughters swimming lessons ;)

Not to mention the current issue of BH&G which is a jam packed full of Christmas crafts and food.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Which led me to buying this pattern:

with 20 individual stitchery designs + a table topper pattern!

Then mum bought me a copy of this pattern:

with a further 12 stitchery patterns!

Then of course I just HAD to buy this gorgeous Christmas fabric + some itty bitty bells to use on the above decorations! Luckily mum bought the other pack of fat quarters, we are going to share the fabric between us.

Of course when I saw this cute Teapot, I had to get it for my Christmas tree (I buy a decoration or two every year!)

**********************************************

Moving on from the Christmas theme... Mum bought the two vintage look green fabrics for Miss K, I am planning on whipping up a little outfit for her... maybe she can wear it on Christmas day!

The super cute Pink Froggy fabric and Green swirls were also a gift to Miss K from mum, this is because Miss K was entranced by the froggy quilt that was on show in the fantasy section of the Quilts and would NOT shut up about it ALL DAY!!! The blues are two 30cm pieces of flannel that I am going to use as backing for some bibs!

After seeing the gorgeous fantasy quilts, I was in a trance and simply had to buy some *bling* fabric ~ I think this cute fairy fabric and matching pink silver fleck fits the bill nicely. 

Then we went past a stand that sold Mellie & Me patterns and fabric packs. Of course I've had poor Hilda sitting in the cupboard for some time now, awaiting the perfect fabric so I can make her up. You see Hilda is pretty groovy and not just anything would suffice! So I now have a pack of groovy "austin powers" groovy baby fabric (finally!)

Ok now I'm getting a little embarrassed at the sheer volume of stuff I bought yesterday... but honest, I spent less than $200 (I think!!! gawd, I hope I spent less than $200!!!)

The Kids Quilts stand was G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. I could have done some serious damage there, but restrained myself to a mere $60 (including the fairy fabric above!) This little cutey found her way into my basket & I have every intention of making her for Miss K's Christmas present... or maybe Birthday present...

The gorgeous purple and green fabric included and I bought the ABC pattern too!

 

And how gorgeous are the Ella & Skysie patterns & kits? I swear I was a little tired by this stage which is why they fell into my basket and came home with me... thinking of that beautiful lavender smell ~ hmmm... makes me want to sleep & have sweet quilting dreams!

& some quilt labels for those times the printer runs out of ink and you simply must have a label RIGHT now.

Last and most probably least, an assortment of odds and ends that were a just because I can buy!

Do you like the little Teapot brooch on the right ~ it's so cute!

Blogtoberfest #24 ~ Sore Feet

The phone rang at 8am this morning, mum & dad were on their way to the Quilting & Craft Fair that was in Brisbane this weekend {how on earth I managed to forget or miss this event I don't know} & wanted us to join them! Miss K & I put our running shoes on and were out the door by 8:24am... not a bad effort considering we were both in our PJ's (or poo-jays as she calls them) ;)

An hour later we arrived, along with every other woman in Brisbane.

6.5 hours later we walked out of the convention centre ~ hip pockets lighter, pram 10 times heavier. Tired Mummy grabbing a coffee to tide her over on the hour long trek home, a doubly tired Miss K (entering overdrive - I'm so tired, but must keep running phase) doing circles around mum & dad (literally) and a tired and much broker mum & dad probably happy to wave good-bye & go out for a relaxing dinner sans the cheeky chatterbox & her mummy!

I'm seriously broke. I'll be even broker if I decide to go ahead and purchase that machine I was eyeing off... Tomorrow I will share my loot - prepare yourself for a picture heavy post ;)

*****************************************

Last night we met our best mates for dinner on the waterfront. Fish & chips (I had prawns and calamari cause I don't do fish) It was a gorgeous night and oh so relaxing. A perfect end to a busy week!

Whoops on the blurry shot!

Blogtoberfest # 23 ~ Arts & crafts

The toddler & I have been busy today, I awoke this morning after a night of tossing and turning to find myself cranky and tired. Too tired to attempt arts and crafts... but the hours before lunch stretched ahead of me and with a bored toddler at my leg hounding me to watch BUGS LIFE for the 5ooth time (this week alone) I finally relented and let her go wild with the arts and crafts box. In hindsight, not my smartest move considering my house was only cleaned YESTERDAY and is now promptly trashed ~ whoops!

***********************************************

Part 1

After pulling everything out of the box and dumping it on the floor and having to re-pack the whole arts & crafts box, I told Miss K to choose ONE thing to do. She decided she wanted to do a plate picture with blue glue!

A paper plate collage with absolutely NO HELP from mummy. Isn't she so clever.

***********************************************

Part 2

I pulled out my copy of Trish Kuffners' "The arts and crafts busy book" and found an activity for Soap Clay.

I of course was too lazy to find a soap bar and grate my own, so used

1.5 cups of  Lux flakes

Water

Food Colouring.

Miss K requested Green Soap today

Mixing, mixing, mixing

The idea is they can use it like clay and get their hands (& mummies kitchen bench & kitchen floors) dirty in the process. We shaped it all together and patted it down in a plastic bunny mould.

Which is now residing on the bathroom window-sill to dry out, hopefully we will have ourselves a lovely green bunny cake of soap in a few days time ~ Soap making is so much fun!!!

After cleaning up our soapy mess, which is actually very easy to clean ;) we moved onto

***********************************************

Part 3

Roller Painting

From the same book. We folded A4 sheets of paper in half and used old medicine droppers to drip paint on one half. We then folded it in half and used the rolling pin to smooth the page together. Open the page & you have yourself some funky prints, these will look good for our Christmas cards this year ;) 

 

Or if you are bored, drip some paint directly onto the rolling pin and roll it along the page ~ this was fun!

For future reference - it might be easier if mummy controls the eye-dropper & perhaps uses the suggested paint from the book (they use tempera paints, I used crayola paints - harder to squeeze up) a certain little person is covered head to foot in paint and mummy has lovely splotches of red  and blue on my jeans and feet & legs (actually I had it smeared up my arm too at one point ;) such fun!

 

& you know what - mummy is now feeling so much more relaxed and not quite as cranky. Some days I guess we just need to let go of our emotions and step back and smell the roses and see the world for what it is, through a childs' eyes. Hope you have enjoyed your crafty Friday as much as me ;)

Blogtoberfest #22 ~ For the dolly

For her 2nd Birthday, Pop built Miss K a cradle for her dollies.

 

She also got a dolly as part of her gift

 

& mummy was handed a bag of fabrics to put together the bedding - yes I know, your probably wondering why my uber-crafty mum didn't just make it herself? Well she had a broken finger at the time (a nasty incident between the dog, the lead and her finger) so I was given the job.

Except ~ I've been slack.

FINALLY got around to doing something about the bare cradle yesterday (to be honest, I was sick of Miss K knicking off with all my washers and hand-towels) so 1/2 hour later we whipped up a mattress

(excuse the dodgy top stitching, I used 2 layers of batting and it was quite a feat getting it under the machine ;)

 

and a pillow for dolly to rest her head

 

Doesn't she look so darn comfy :)

Blogtoberfest #21 ~ Stitching & Watching

So much I could have been doing today, instead priorities come first... I sat & got stuck into hand-sewing the binding on the Doll Quilt whilst catching up on recent episodes of The Vampire Diaries which is currently showing on Go (Channel 99)

Photo from here

Nearly 3/4 complete, hope to finish it tonight and label it ready to be mailed end of the week - a week ahead of deadline :) YAHOO!!!

I also pieced the backing for Liam's Quilt ~ ready to be basted, which I might get around to doing tonight (or I might not) and I've been busy sewing some (dodgy) accessories for Dolly (Miss K's little doll) but you need to wait till tomorrow to see the by-product, I need to eek these posts out a little as we only have 10 entries to go in Blogtoberfest ~ How are you going? I haven't missed a day yet (but there's still time!!!)

Blogtoberfest #20 ~ Art deco... bugs

As you can see from my side-bar, I am quite the Work In Progress Queen... sometimes I wonder how my dear hubby puts up with me ;)

Anyhow this is my cross-stich of Art Deco Bugs that I started years ago and never got around to finishing (story of my life)

I had every intention of having this one finished & hanging on my first born's wall... except that didn't happen, let's not mention that I had over 3 years from deciding to try for a baby to actually bringing a baby home, nor will we mention that that same baby is now nearly 2.5 years old... whoops!  Guess I will have to get back to him one of these days! All I have to go is the full black & silver frame and the backstitching - easy peasy... except all that black framework using 3 strands of cotton is S.L.O.W. going... one day!

 

The cross-stitch and all the charts currently live in this little home-made stored bag which was another of my many birthday pressies from Nanny :) I love that I have kept pretty much everything she ever gifted to me... well nearly everything, we won't mention the granny knickers :)

Blogtoberfest #19 ~ this & that...

A busy crazy but good morning here already.

 

There's been baking with the toddler...

 

Lots of sewing...

which has resulted in a completed ( :o ) yes completed quilt top!

 

A spot of gardening...

Ok I lie... I didn't touch the garden, this little (bulb) flower keeps flowering every year & I never tire of it's beautiful colours ;P 

 

& lastly some therapeutic hand-stitching

I have a problem with my hand-stitching. None of my stitches are the same size nor are they straight...? and let's not even mention the back... let's just say I hope my swap partner is FORGIVING and as it's hanging on a wall we won't mention how some of my stitches have become vertical lines instead of all horizontal - whoops *blush*

But you know what... I LOVE IT! Not all my points ended up matching, not all my hand-stitching is straight and ok it's a little bubbly cause I obviously haven't learnt how to baste properly yet without causing hills and bumps... but I like it still for all it's imperfections. Let's hope my partner likes it too.

Now I'm off to finish the hand-stitching while drinking a cup of tea and watching the latest installment of The Vampire Diaries!