2012… new year, new resolutions, new me...

2012… a new year awaits and my head spins with all the opportunities it may hold. Looking back at my goals for 2011 I actually didn't do too bad considering all that life decided to throw at me. To look back and see that I not only managed to pull myself out of a deep hole & if not complete most of my goals but make great shifts toward them is saying a lot. After me listing 2011 as a spectacularly crappy year by most standards, maybe I should be looking at it as a spectacular year of learning and growth! A (very) quick wrap of what I wanted to achieve in 2011 and how I stand 1 year later…

1. Organise my Life - I managed a WHOLE year using the OTI organiser. I've already started filling out the new one for 2012!

2. Organise my Home - I started with small steps and achieved a lot. Enough to make my husband see (this is GOOD).

3. Live simpler - Have sort of stalled on this one, hoping to get back into reviewing areas again in 2012.

4. Address my Health Issues and Lack of Exercise - 2 operations and some new medications and the health issues are still on-going. A few new things on the cards to try in 2012. Exercise? Well I bought the WII. That's about as far as it got. Ask me again next year!

5. Creative - Writing: While the daily writing didn't happen, I did manage to give NaNoWriMo a darn good crack. PLUS I signed up to a course and scored a DISTINCTION for my first assignment!

6. Creative - Photography: I managed the 365 challenge until around September and am proud of my efforts. I did NOTHING further with the course (*blush*)

7. Creative - Sewing and Quilting: After months and months and months, I finally found the enjoyment in sewing / quilting again. Totally raring to go in 2012.

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So 2012? Following in the same vein, I hope to get my house and life completely ORGANISED and stick to it. Live more SIMPLY. Be CREATIVE. Stay HEALTHY.

Operation Organise!

* OTI Diary - I want to continue on utilising my OTI daily PLUS I want everything linked up to my computers / phones etc. With the recent installation of iCloud I think this will work. Appointments added to either my iPad or iPhone will end up on my personal laptop as well as my Work Computer.

* Home & Life Organiser - I started one a few years ago but it never really worked too well as it was aimed for the American market. I want to create one of my own to hold all those important life details that I constantly have to search for.

* Domestic Guru - I have the Domestic Guru Organiser half printed out and ready to start (tomorrow!) I am also on the search for natural cleaning products and want to prove to the nay-sayers that they do indeed work. I stumbled across one earlier in the week Dawn dishwashing detergent and warm white vinegar for shower screens - OMG they have come out so clean!!   

* A place for everything and everything in it's place. My biggest issues in the past is not thinking how I wanted to store things. I'm still working on that but am slowly getting better!   

Operation De-clutter!

* House: I started de-cluttering in 2011, this year I want to be ruthless with it. I have far too much CRAP and it's weighing me down. I will be targeting a room each month and following Skips 25 days of de-clutter I am hoping that my house will continue in the same vein I started this year.

* Social Media: THIS is a big one for me. I realised the other day that I have far too many blogs in my reader (350 seriously!) so I started culling. I have whittled it down to 300 with more to go but for now it's such a relief to only have to read about 30 blog posts per day rather than the 50+ I was getting! I am also trying to utilise Evernote, Pinterest and Bookmarks to keep track of crafty ideas I may stumble across.

The Simple Life

* Gardening - create a vegetable garden that LASTS and actually gives us produce.

* Greenhouse - I am waiting for the other half to build me a greenhouse

* Solar - with our new Solar Hot Water we have managed to pretty much eliminate our last power bill, we want to continue on in this vein and look at other ways to save on power.

* Water Tanks - I still want another tank, hubby is not sold (yet)

* Chickens - we still want to get chickens but we need to think it through as they will need a yard away from the pooch!

* Budgeting - I am committing to a weekly budget and am pledging to spend less and use more of what we have here.

* SPEND LESS.

Creative Life

*Writing - I have 11 assignments that I would like to complete either this year or by the end of 2013. THIS will be my priority for 2012. I also want to attempt NaNoWriMo again but this time better prepare myself for it.

* Photography - I NEED to start my course. THIS year I want to submit at least half of the assignments. While I am not doing a 365 or committing to other challenges as I want to make my course a priority, I am doing a personal happiness project (much like the 365 Gratitude ones popping up around the place) this one will be simply instax photos of things that make me happy accompanied with some words (cause we all know how much I love my words!)

* Sewing / Quilting - I want to clear out the pile of WIP this year. I also want to try my hand at other areas (making clothes for me as well as for Miss K and the Dolls)

Healthy Life

* Exercise more

* Drink more water

* Eat healthier foods

* Research ways to make living with endometriosis easier on the day-2-day.

PHEW. That's a big list! While I am trying not to 'commit' to anything much this year, I have signed up for three challenges - I know right?

1. AJ's 12 WIP in 2012, as blogged here and here!   

2. Skip is having a 2012 'year of the cheap' it actually blends in with AJ's WIP challenge.

3. Buy no (new) Fabric. I am aiming at buying VERY little this year and trying to utilise the bulging stash WHERE possible!

Oh and one more thing, remember yesterday I summarised my reading in 2011… I went and counted the "still to read" books on my shelves and OMG I have well over 100 books to be read :o So I am officially on a book buying ban. Actually I don't think I will spend any money in 2012 unless it's for organising my life better.   

  

   

12 WIP in 2012

AJ has come up with a little challenge for 2012! A challenge to finally finish all those (sometimes pesky) WIP projects we all (except Belinda) have hanging around in our craft rooms! Well I reckon I would have to be the QUEEN of Work In Progresses! I really don't mean to be, but I just tend to bounce from idea to idea and while some days I am perfectly happy to curl up with my crochet hook, others you will find me cross-stitching or quilting or knitting. And don't get me started on the Art Journalling! Today I have listed my immediate quilting projects that have been hanging around for some time now and I have listed them here in the hopes of completing all in 2012. Some I will be donating to charity, some will be given away and some will be for us to use and enjoy!

Quilting WIP (in order of the least amount of work and what needs doing)   

1. Eye Spy Play Quilt: Bind

2. American Jane Lap Quilt: Baste, Quilt, Bind

3. Round Robin Quilt: Baste, Quilt, Bind

4. Black & White Heart Wallhanging: Baste, Quilt, Bind   

5. AJ's Mystery Quilt: Borders, Baste, Quilt, Bind

6. Disappearing 9 Patch: Piece Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

7. Happy Camper Quilt: Piece Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

8. Spotlight Jelly Roll Lap Quilt: Piece Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

9. Vintage sheets Picnic Quilt: Piece Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

10. Matroshka Dolls / Star Quilt: Piece, Top, baste, Quilt, Bind

11. Foundation Pieced Wallhanging: Finish Piece, Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

12. Spring Fling Lap Quilt: Cut, Piece, Top, Baste, Quilt, Bind

There is an entry fee to this challenge, 1 FQ to be sent to AJ to compete for the grand prize at the end of the 12 months! The beauty of this competition is that only 6 projects need be 'already started' luckily I have 12 that have definitely been started! Since 6 projects can also be new I have plans to make 2 quilts for presents that are not included in this list so happy to know that I can use those projects IF need be!   

Reading in 2011

The year was a little lean on the reading front. I struggled to find my stride and to be totally honest I struggled to find books to suit both my mood and my interests throughout the year. As much as I enjoy reading, this past year it was given the back foot in priorities and it showed when it came to making a full list of what I did read. 30 is a pretty poor effort considering I was originally aiming for 50! I am hoping next year I will manage to read a little more and I am going to make a concerted effort to read less blogs of a night-time and more books. I might even store my iPad in the office overnight to keep me from checking Facebook one last time before bed ;)

I finished the last book of the year today - The Brave by Nicholas Evans and found it to be a pretty good read. Didn't particularly like the ending but it was better than the previous book completed - Land of Painted Caves by Jean M Auel... I do NOT recommend that one!

I've wandered around today trying to find a new book to read to bring in the new year and found I have tonnes of books waiting to be read on my bookshelves. I am thinking I've probably got close to 50 'not yet read' so this afternoon I am going to make a list of all those books and in 2012 I am planning on reading through that list - I am hoping to read most of them by the end of the next year! I am also putting myself on a book buying ban... it would seem that I buy for the sake of buying and am not getting to them, as well as having them clutter my house! So in 2012 no new books unless I read 5 copies from here. Op Shop copies allowed but must be re-op shopped when finished unless I enjoy them immensely. I am also going to attempt to read more on my iPad - I have already downloaded a few books that I have been wanting to read, so those too will be added to my pile.
   

1. HUNTED - PC & Kristen Cast [finished 02.01.11 - p.439]

2. TEMPTED - PC & Kristen Cast [finished

3. LAST SACRIFICE - Richelle Mead [finished 15.01.11 - p.

4. BURNED - PC & Kristen Cast [finished 23.02.11 p. 323]

5. AWAKENED - PC & Kristen Cast [finished 03.03.11 p.290]

6. HEART OF GOLD - Fiona Palmer [finished 06.03.11 p.

7. SHOPAHOLIC & SISTER - Sophie Kinsella [finished 14.03.11 p.

8. SPINNING OUT - Christine Darcas {p. 402}  

9. SUCCUBUS BLUES - Richelle Mead [finished 21.04.11 p. 477]

10. SUCCUBUS NIGHTS - Richelle Mead [finished 10.05.11 p. 462]

11. THE QUILTERS KITCHEN - Jennifer Chiavernini [finished 15.05.11 p. 204]

12. SWEET VALLEY CONFIDENTIAL - Francine Pascal [finished 23.05.11 p. 273]

13. DEAD RECKONING - Charlaine Harris [finished 11.06.11 p.325]

14. BEYOND FEAR - Jaye Ford [finished 13.06.11 p. 422]

15. DIVINE BY MISTAKE - PC Cast [finished 26.0.11 p.575]

16. IF I STAY - Gayle Foreman [finished 04.07.11 p. 240]

17. DIVINE BY CHOICE - PC Cast [finished 08.07.11 p. 382]

18. DIVINE BY BLOOD - PC Cast [finished 14.07.11 p. 391]

19. ELIZA'S GIFT - Rachael Herron [finished 16.07.11 p. 319]

20. LUCY'S KISS - Rachael Herron [finished 17.07.11 p. 347]

21. PAYCHEQUE - Fiona McCallum [finished 23.07.11 p.368]

22. SING YOU HOME - Jodi Picoult [finished 29.07.11 p. 466]

23. NORTH STAR - Karly Lane [finished 16.08.11 p. 304]

24. BLOODLINES - Richelle Mead {finished 30.08.11 p. 421}

25. BREATH - Tim Winton {finished 13.09.11 p. 265}

26. WICKED LOVE - Melissa Marr {finished 28.09.11 p.328}

27. THE GLITTERING FIELDS - Patricia Shaw {finished 25.10.11 p. 374}

28. THE SECRET LIVES OF DRESSES - Erin McKean {finished 26.11.11 p. 372}

29. THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES - Jean M Auel {finished 24.12.11 p. 661}

30. THE BRAVE - Nicholas Evans {finished 30.12.11 p. 487}

Started but not yet finished!

PILLARS OF THE EARTH - Ken Follett

A CHANGING LAND - Nicole Alexander

Finishes and Inspiration

There's nothing quite like spending a day with a crafty friend to get the inspiration and motivation flowing! I finally finished this little embroidered lavender filled matryoshka, she is so adorably cute and I'm sure she smells good too - I just can't smell a thing with this head cold!


My friend Cath was showing me her current cross-stitch projects and I've come home inspired to start doing and maybe finishing some of mine! Starting with a seaside dimensions I have had for years!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A finished Object…

Once upon a time I bought a cute little cushion for my lounge - the man of the house is against any type of cushions 'living 's the couch - but I used my (then) pregnancy hormones to convince him I truly needed it because my back got sore while sitting. It's been there ever since and now after 6 years it's getting a wee bit ratty and old looking.    

I had mended it once before but even that mending popped out and started ripping further… :(

Even the inside of the cushion was looking a wee bit sad and sorry for itself.

Today I gave it a new life. Now anyone else would have turfed it in the bin & bought a new one. Heck the old me would have done just that. BUT my new policy for 2012 is fix it till it can't be fixed no more! This will hopefully help in my pledge to make 2012 the year of the cheap as well as my fabric ban that I signed up for last night with the EB girls. No fabric purchases unless it's absolutely necessary (like backing for quilts made from the stash!) I barely bought any fabric in 2011 (well apart from for the DQ swap, AJ's Sew in and at the craft shows… but that still counts right?)

Using my Go Granny Fabric from Ms CurlyPops I whipped up a cushion front.



On the back I was going to cut into some denim I had bought with the intention to make myself a skirt, but instead decided to use an old pair of jeans legs I had cut off after they got a hole near the crotch :( Cut down one leg seam, leaving the opposite seam still intact I used that and I think it came up pretty good. A point of difference and fully recycled!



I struggled with the zip though. :( I'm thinking I need to whip up a bunch of zippy pouches so that I can get some practice because I quite obviously still SUCK at it! It's all bulgy at the bottom which is probably due to cutting it a little too big.



And the old cushion cover… binned? NO WAY! I've set it aside for my Art Journalling ~ I'm about to start a new book and hereby pledge to use entirely recycled items in it! Hopefully by the end of the year I will have used up a fair bit of my scrapping stash - well that's the plan anyhow! Stay tuned!   

Christmas It's a Wrap

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The big day has now been and gone. We celebrated for three days and today I am absolutely knackered. Actually I've barely moved off the couch (which is owing more to a summer head cold then exhaustion) but it's been good resting up. I'm getting a bit bored though as I didn't even have the energy to do any craft while relaxing and vegging out!

Christmas Day arrived in our house nice and early - 6:05am with a little girl, a big cheesy grin and a great big sack of Santa's pressies. Absolutely convinced that the top present was a pillow pet.   

Well what do you know… a Unicorn Pillow pet. Declared BEST present ever! Gee if I knew I could have stopped spending at $14 I'd have saved myself a lot of money! LOL. All other gifts have been played with to death already with special mention to the Barbie Jet, the Barbie house and her new big girls camera. She really is a sweet little girl, she told me she was very spoilt with so MANY gifts this year. I know she was, but gosh it has warmed my heart to see her so appreciative & play ALL Day with her new barbie stuff and go to bed happy!

It would seem that the the small girl presents were a hit with the big girls too. These are her next cousins up and it's hard when you are the only 'child' on Christmas Day, but the big girls more than made up for it, continuing to play with the barbie jet and barbies long after the little girl wandered off! It's also hard when you are a poor underfed dog waiting for someone to notice you waiting at the snacks table!

I scored REALLY well from my Big J & Miss K this year! A keyboard & case for the iPad (this is all GOOD news for my novel writing plans); Smallville (final) Season 10 on DVD - cannot wait to see this one again, Harry Potter Deathly Hollows Part 2 DVD; A nerd herd shirt (do you watch Chuck? No…. well that's probably why you don't get it!) and a new Blythe Girl to add to my (growing) collection. Feeling VERY spoilt!

Isn't my new girl just gorgeous! I sent my hubby an email with about 4 different girl suggestions and let him decide. I wasn't really 100% sure on a couple of the girls I suggested to him (but I was in a rush and they were on the cheaper end of the scale…) Though after seeing this new girl arrive, I am SMITTEN! Seriously! Her hair is a reddy-brown and not as long (nor as short) as my other 3 girls, her skin tone is darker and she is just so sweet. So the big Question… am I done with my dolly family? I honestly don't know. Seeing the four of them lined up together feels like I am, but I honestly can't say. I have everyone on the lookout at op shops / antique stores for a vintage - I can dream can't I? Ask me again around my birthday - I would really love to try my hand at customising… perhaps my next girl will be for that?

Boxing day was spent at my parents with my brother and his family. A yummy lunch, lots of presents and good company! My dad got a new camera - a Nikon Hybrid that we had a good play with. He managed to get some awesome photos with it - some were better than mine :o I'm not sure if that's because he was shooting auto and I was on full manual settings? Either way I am looking forward to a few photography excursions with him and I WILL get him off the auto mode! He just doesn't know it yet ~ I need to read up about it all prior so I actually sound like I know what I'm talking about! We discovered an interesting fact though - we have Poppy's feet. His resemble his normal foot, mine resemble when he had the gout ;) LOL   

I'd had 2 beers by this stage, perhaps that's why my photos were of feet & becoming a little hit and miss!

So that was our Christmas 2011, it was a big one & I've hit a wall and am about to take this little body off to bed. I'll be back in a few days, I've many thoughts about my goals for the coming year, I'm just waiting for my head to clear so I can write it out properly!

Advent Blog-a-long #24 Merry Christmas (eve)

We've arrived at the end of the Christmas Countdown. I've had fun again this year, though the past few days have seen me petering out somewhat and wishing that the Christmas Anxiety wasn't rearing it's ugly head. BUT we made it peeps. Tomorrow is day one of celebrations with a follow up celebration on Boxing day and while I spent yesterday pretending that EVERYTHING was completely under control… it appears it wasn't. The house looks as though a bomb went off. I have a million 'must try' treats that I haven't got around to. I want to make a trifle to take on Boxing day and have no idea how to make a trifle (LOL) and all I want to do on this dreary (torrential down pour) that is Christmas Eve is curl up on the couch and do some knitting - is that so bad???

Instead I have been productive… White choc peppermint Oreos for presents!

One bag of Elbow pasta cooked ready to add the ingredients - which I need to grab at the shops later today.

All the plates stacked & lined up ready to be washed for tomorrow.

A box of sweet stuff that I had intentions to bake up and make up… still not done Big J will be happy post Christmas to munch away on all that is left!

And now I'm escaping. I'm taking a time out because my anxiety levels have increased after a certain 4yo had a little dinger… give me strength to last the next 24 hours!



So it's my time for Krispy Kreme and coffee.



I hope you and yours have a safe and happy Christmas, drive safe on the roads and enjoy some Christmas cheer. Thanks to the girls who joined in with my meme this year, I meant to get around and visit once more, but time is not on my side… perhaps this afternoon while I knit and iPad I will come by for some Christmas bevies? See you sometime after the Christmas Fun!

Advent Blog-a-long #23 where's the day gone?

I have done NOTHING remotely Christmassy today! Today was moving day for the boat. For those who don't know we bought a vintage (ex) trawler years ago, oh dear it was UGLY. My husband has spent the last 4 years and practically every weekend renovating it into a more original version complete with bunks so we can sleep on it eventually. In this time we managed to source a mooring in the passage and by some miracle the mooring we were given was right off the front of the mainland where there are only minimal boats moored AND it's literally a stones throw from Nanna's house. Standing at her back gate you can now see our boat.

So the day has been spent dropping husband off, taking some photos of her journey and racing over to Nanna's where we walked along the bridge to get some shots as they boys drove her to her new home.



Arriving home later than expected I was disappointed to find ONE of the Christmas presents ordered hadn't arrived in time for Christmas, but absolutely stoked to find a letter from the College with the results of my first assignment I submitted. I was so excited to see I had earned a Distinction!



YAY ME! For the record, a Distinction is the 2nd highest result (there are 7 rankings) Best Christmas Present Ever… (well actually a new Blythe doll will be the best chrissy present ever, but this comes pretty darn close and it's giving me the oomph I need to start the next assignment!)      

Advent Blog-a-long #22 The business end & comic relief

Getting down to the business end now and after the day I had today (was thinking I could knock over the final work of the year in an hour and it took me nearly 4 :o plus errands, my daughters last day at daycare - forever! it was somewhat crazy!)

So to keep up the spirits I am piking on today's posts while I go drink me some real spirits (trust me I NEED it!) and sharing some funny Christmas pics that have been doing the rounds on Facebook this month - these were all shared by my friend, no idea who they all link back to. Hope you enjoy them & get a little giggle out of them. Tonight I will be giggling as we relax on the couch with National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!



Trust me Yule absolutely love it, Get your copy from here

This last one is so FUNNY… you see one year I did get underwear from Santa. A g-string of all things & I had just turned 18 - my grandparents used to throw a Christmas Eve Party and organised for a "Santa" to arrive in full costume. This particular year it was one of my Uncles Mates who had the special job and I honestly don't know who was more embarrassed when I opened my G-string and my Aunty spying it pulled it out and batted Santa with it saying "what a naughty Santa" I never could look the poor bloke in the eye after that little encounter. And the perpetrators behind this little story… yes my darling parents, who duly stood by and giggled hysterically. Real Funny.

SCARRED FOR LIFE!!!   

Advent Blog-a-long #21 Holiday Play

Tomorrow is Miss K's last day at daycare - EVER! I'm excited because we have 4 weeks together at home before she starts Prep at the end of January. I'm also a little sad because she's been at this daycare since she was 15 months and will miss her little friends who won't be starting school until the following year. We headed to the Island today for a playdate and since we were driving past Chickenfeed we just had to stop in for a quick look. I was actually looking to see if any of their Christmas stock was on special, but they had limited stock remaining which is sad - it's still another 4 sleeps away!   

While there I decided to pick up a couple of little games/things for us to do over the coming weeks. I plan on getting a few more of these to alternate each day to keep her amused plus it's something I can help her with - this is GOOD for me as there is only so much Polly Pocket, Barbie & Pony play I can indulge in!

First up for a whopping $2 was this frog game. 8 little jumping frogs and a pond. Best $2 I ever spent, we have already played with them for an hour out the back first by jumping them into the pond, then doing frog jumps to see how many tiles we could clear (FTR I won that one with a whole 2.5 tiles!)   



Our second bargain buy was a bit more expensive at $2.99 ~ a Princess Puzzle. I was a little worried because it has 100 pieces but she sat with me on our new Outdoor table & we put it all together and she did an awesome job helping (though I did finish it off) I am planning on popping back by the store tomorrow and picking up some more of these little puzzles to make a rainy day/holiday activity box as well as for gifts for little girls / boys her age. For $3 you really can't go wrong!

Earlier in the month I picked up one of these "Lenticular" puzzles. It has 63 pieces and was (until today) one of the biggest puzzles we own. It was actually really hard to put together as most of the pieces were green and they change colour each way you look at it. Particularly hard doing this one upside down too - I really don't recommend it and it can give you a headache - but the puzzle in itself was good and at $5.99 well worth it for little people gifts!

  

Do you have a holiday box of games / things to do? What others would you suggest?

Advent Blog-a-long #20 Christmas Lights

Each year we take a drive to see the Christmas lights around the Island. Sadly in recent years there are fewer houses participating but there are still a couple that go all out. Usually these places are inundated by people - even last years trek to see the lights in the rain had line ups of cars waiting to see them too.

Tonight though, we were one of very few out looking. We could take our time and I even managed some semi clear shots on my iPhone - which is pretty cool since my phone doesn't like night shots!

This is by far the best Christmas Display the Island has to offer (in my opinion) it has jumping Kangaroos (only in Australia) across their front fence and the whole front yard is filled with blown up Christmas toys - santas sleigh and all. It is pretty cool. I would have got the other side of the house except hubby is not one for stopping long - Men - Sigh!



A quick photo of Mr and Mrs Clause, again only half a display fast husband, slow 3G in instagram!

On the beach side of the Island there is one street that everyone flocks to - most of the houses in the street do some type of display and these are my 2 favourites! This guy goes all out and has a cool ambulance and some Christmas thingy in his garage (I can't remember what and tonight it was too late to stop and see it again, shame because the weather was perfection today!)

Across the road is another favourite, the lady sits in a camp chair out the front with her dog and greets everyone as they pass.

And arriving home our daughter commented that we don't have any Christmas Lights up yet. We are trying to convince her that the 13 x $2.50 Solar lights we just bought and put in our front gardens are Christmassy enough. She isn't sold though. Sadly with our latest power bill coming in at a measly $46 ($34 of it being the GST componant) I can't see anyway to convince Mr Power Nazi to agree to Christmas lights unless they are solar powered and doesn't cost us or affect our super low power bill!!! LOL.

So please settle for my Christmas Tree all lit up.

And a funky shot - just because I can!

  

Quilt #2 - 2011 Quilts for Qld

Oh dear. Another embarrassing one. This was started the weekend of the floods. I postponed the basting & the quilting (as I usually do) for months and months. No excuse really except for losing my quilting Mo-Jo (see previous post!)

This one is a jelly roll from Spotlight sewn full length in rows.

Quilted a 1/4" on either side of the ditch, it was quick, effective and no ends to tie in (not that I really bother to tie them in LOL)

   

Backed with a rose purple spot from Spotlight and bound in the same (I could NOT for the life of me find anything in the matching range) I actually really like this little quilt and while perhaps NOT to everyone's cup of tea, I do so hope that someone gets some use out of it. Now I need to slink off and email Corrie and find out where to send it.

The binding on this one has been machine sewn (from the front to the back) I don't usually attempt this and probably should have hand sewn the backing down, but considering it's taken me 11 months to get it to that stage, I didn't relish another 12months of waiting to hand sew LOL. So I machined it in place and while it's not perfect and I probably should have used purple thread, it's tacked down and sturdy enough.

So quilt #2 - 2011 Quilts for Qld finished in December 2011.

I wonder what 2012 will hold. I am inspired now to spend a vast majority of the new year quilting… but we will see what happens, I have a niggling idea for 2 such quilts about mid year and of course I totally need to do something for our bed SOON!

Quilt #1 - 2011 Miss B's Playquilt

Highly embarrassing. THIS quilt was started back in November 2010. Actually this quilt should have been finished back in 2010 because it is by far the most easiest and quickest I've managed to put together. A panel of bright coloured animals (is it Alexander Henry?) that Kayscha sent me, teemed with some blue that she sent and pink cornerstones (from my stash) I had the top done in a couple of hours.  



The quilting took me MUCH longer to actually action. I put it off and to be honest I had completely LOST the drive of quilting. I wanted to finish it, I just didn't have that creative urge to get it done. I feel so bad about it because I'm sure the mother thinks I am SO Slack at not giving anything to her bubba who is now 1 and a bit :( It was just a difficult year for me to find any type of motivation. BUT it's finally done. I quilted it very basically. Straight lines in the 'ditch' where the panels slit and then in the wavy fishy area, I have free motioned following the waves. It looks a little dubious from the reverse and my thread tension started to play up somewhat - but by that stage I just wanted it DONE!



So finally Quilt #1 - 2011 Miss B's Playquilt is finished in DECEMBER 2011.   

Advent Blog-a-long #19 Quilting

A very picture heavy post today… I don't apologise for that - I am very excited!!! A few weeks ago Skip threw down the challenge to finish a quilt for her son for Christmas. Now although this challenge was hers ~ I can't help but gate-crash current challenges & decided to use her as my inspiration to finish my daughters Care bear Quilt! Today I decided it would be finished I had managed to get myself to the binding step and decided at the last minute to use the tutorial for back to front binding as found here. Basically you machine sew the binding on the back of your quilt, then fold it over and sew it down from the front. I had a matching pink cotton on hand and because this one is intended for use on her bed daily and will be receiving weekly washes, I figured it needed something a bit more sturdy than my dodgy hand sewing! LOL

The quilt pegged out on the line - it is so large it takes up the full width of my line and I couldn't hang it the other way as it drags on the ground!   



The quilting on this was very basic, I stitched in the ditch (and surprisingly managed to stay in the ditch) around & through each checkerboard square as well as around the care bear wonky log cabins. I had a large panel at the top of the quilt that I decided last minute to practice some Free Motion Quilting and it appears I still suck at it and need more practice! I was going so well and only managed to pucker up one little section of the top and one square on the main body. Not bad!

Now the fun part was lying it on her bed today while she is at daycare. We bought this new bed for a couple of weeks ago and apart from the initial issues we experienced (ok it was more than an issue, the blasted bed broke in two :o and I didn't receive ANY compensation nor apology from the store. They deemed fit to replace the broken parts and put it together for me. Needless to say I was NOT impressed and I'm still a bit jacked off at how they treated the whole thing. BUT there was no injury and that's the main thing) so back to my quilt :) with the delivery of the new bed (take 2) I was inspired to get to and finish this quilt for the girl. Can you believe she is 4.5 and THIS is her first mummy made quilt (ok I lie, I did do a blanket style daycare one a couple of years ago!)   

I absolutely adore the bright colours against the bed and it's a real point of difference to the normal 'licensed' doona covers she normally has gracing it!

A close up arty-farty shot - because I can!

And her bedroom from the door way. It's finally starting to look how I want it, though that bookcase needs YET another clear out!

So this is Quilt number 3 for the year (plus the doll quilt) all of which were finished in DECEMBER! Stay tuned there will be another 2 blog posts today to show off the other 2 finishes!