Bravosgrandkid

Tick tock

2012-01-31T22:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, like everyone I am extremely time poor... hence only blogging once a fortnight. My work life is out of control, I've taken up another hobby, I've joined two committees and I'm learning another language so I am quite taken with baby quilts at the moment. Little pieces come together on my board and they can be pieced so quickly. I love it!! It's satisfying to finish something, albeit, something very small.

I was laughed at by a friend the other day when I told her about my Gant chart for my unfinished or planned quilts. It tells me when I can start and when I need to finish a quilt. For instance, I know I have until the beginning of March before I have to start something I want to finish at the end of April..... I think it's pretty cool..... but then again, I am a bit of a nerd..... hmmmm not quite Sheldon Cooper, more like Leonard Hofsteader.

Time flys

2012-01-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

We've been having a big clean out around here, (except for Mumma's sewing room) and I came across a book in my son's book shelf that we read nearly every night for years and years. I sat on the floor and read it to myself... the end I was a blubbering mess. I was given this book when we had Bravo's Great Grandkid, 8 years ago.

It's a little tale about the love a parent has for their child.

I know I am banging on about it, but this is a fabulous book that will make you cry.....

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

as long as I'm living,

my baby you'll be."

The debate

2011-12-09T03:25:00.000-08:00

Today I took a well earned annual leave day for my birthday. I planned the day starting with helping in a craft class with my son's class. Then off to a favorite quilt shop an hour away for 2 hours of uninterupted serious fabric shopping..... bliss. All was perfect until I remembered with a shudder that this quilt shop tear your fabric off the bolt. I feel the tear everytime and it always annoys me that there are always threads everywhere. I'd been given money for my birthday to spend on fabric. I bit the bullet and asked the lady if it would be at all possible to cut my fabric, not tear.... a fairly innocent question....not too unreasonable. She said no.... Huh? Really? Ok, tear away, I thought.... Tear away for the last time. I got home, squared up my fabric, cleaned up all the loose threads and low and behold all of my pieces of fabric were well short of what I had actually requested. Not happy, not fair, not ever going back.

It is easier to shop online sadly, no travel, cheaply well cut fabrics. Sad huh?

I think I've banged in about this before. Sorry, just gave me the shits!!

All that aside, I got loads of gorgeous fabrics. I'll post pics tomorrow

I want to learn to crochet

2011-11-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Haven't blogged much, busy with work, life, and sewing... not quilts, clothes. Who knew? I signed up for a sewing course and I can actually make things. Amazing!!

Now all I need to do is learn how to crochet. Did a course once, but the teacher had a really funky smell going on so I couldn't keep going.

Fabric at Amitie - $18.50 per metre

2011-10-06T01:19:00.000-07:00

Jenny at Amitie has reduced her prices to $18.50 per metre!! (excludes Liberty & linens)

I very much like and appreciate that an Australian store is passing on the savings to customers!!

Amitie has moved, they are now in a gorgeous much smaller store in Gardenvale.

103A Gardenvale Road, Gardenvale

Before the fabric buying diet begins.....

2011-06-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

With flabby rolls and bulges of fabric I could hide no longer, I put myself on a fabric buying diet.

Before doing so, however, I waited until both Loulouthi ($23.10 for 10 FQs) and Price Charming ($16.25 for 7 FQs - so I bought two packs) were back in stock at Hawthorne Threads and I pounced, then I quickly put away my credit card.

So, now, with the dietary rules in place, I'm back to actually looking through my fabric bundles and using things out of my stash.... what a novel idea!

MMQG Pin Cushion Swap

2011-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

I really find swaps very stressful. I'm not normally a stressed person, however, when making something for someone else I am filled with dread.

I think my receiver will like the concept, it's pretty, it's simple, it's red and black and has a skull front and centre. As soon as I finished it, I made one for myself.

Here's a sneaky peaky

Comfort for a loved friend

2011-05-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went fabric shopping with Lainey. We went out to Gail B's and rummaged through all they have to offer and had a good shop. After dropping Lainey off, I nicked in to Amitie to see if I could find what I was looking for..... I was really on a hunt for something mauvey/lilacy. Boy, did I find it at Amitie. Innocent Crush, $17 per metre, grabbed half a metre of each, some solids and some other purplish fabrics and I was out of there in 12 minutes flat.

I was originally making this for my middle sister (who adores purple, lilac, mauve - you get my drift), however, the whole time I was making the blocks, I was not sure she would really like it, actually I am pretty sure she it would be too much colour for her. A minute or two after that realisation my hubby came in and as soon as he saw the quilt on the design board, said, "Oh, is that for *******? She will love those colours, how nice." He is so right, ******* will love this quilt and it will be nice to hibernate under whilst she recovers from her chemo treatment (again). ****** is a beautiful family friend who we all love dearly. She is a fighter!

I am still moving blocks around, there are a few spots of light and dark..... it was very random, perhaps too random. It'll be fine.

So, my sister will get the next quilt. I will have to choose carefully. I know she won't mind. xx

Sewing Room Progress

2011-04-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

I love the panoramic app on my iPhone, so whilst it's not quite finished, I thought I would share the progress of my sanity space......

Notice the fabric wedged into that one poor bookshelf on the right..... that's all gonna change!! YAY!!!

My Dad's quilt

2011-04-22T03:03:00.000-07:00

My Dad is pretty awesome, he is always there when you need him. He is a great Dad, a fantastic Grandad and a wonderful friend.

Every time I give my Mum, my son, my husband, one of my sisters, or my nephew, a friend or a neighbour (you get the idea) a quilt, he asks with a smile, "Where's my quilt?" and I always reply "Oh yeah, I'm still making that". I didn't ever think he would want a quilt, but the last time he said it I realised he might be serious..... so here it is... almost finished. I will baste and quilt it before the Easter break is over!

This is my version of Jaybird Quilts 'Unwind'.

hmmmm... I might have to piece this back a little more, I'm not sure it is wide enough.... my tape measure obviously wasn't working when I measured it.... :)

The best of both worlds

2011-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

I adore making scrap quilts and I love foundation piecing, so this simple idea made me smile this morning.

It is so very basic and there is no real challenge, but sometimes you need a project that you can do with your eyes closed (you may need to peek so as not to sewing over your fingers) and you can finish within a couple of days.

How satisfying to turn this;

Into this;

Sewing room overhaul

2011-04-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

With the arrival of the new machine (which I am a bit nervous about using - I'm only half joking....), I have decided to give my sewing room an overhaul. Anyone who knows me, knows I am messy and I have stuff everywhere..... I do try to be neat and organised, but I need help, (thankfully Mr Bravo is a neat freak and can tidy up like no-one else I know!).

When we built our new place, we decided that we would make one room a study/sewing room. Okay, that works fine...... however, we now think it would work better if it was just a sewing room. So that means a tiny desk in the corner and the remainder of the room is mine, all mine...... (and any sewing friends who care to join me - seriously!!)

Here's the start of the new 'organised' space. I smile just thinking about how it will be........ more updates as they happen.

FOR SALE: My Brother....

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

My Brother has been with me for nearly 18 months...... I do love my Brother, very very much, however, it's time for him to leave and live with another family... maybe he could be your brother......

For Mother's Day this year I am being spoilt beyond my dreams. We never really go in for big pressies like this, it's not about material possessions, it's more about real handmade goodies from my 7 year old prince. This year however, I think my nagging paid off, because I pick up my new Bernina in the morning.

$450 ono

Comes with Walking Foot and Free Motion Quilting Foot, Hardcover case and manual.
This is a great machine. I noticed the difference going from my first machine to this one, very smooth.

http://www.brother.com.au/products/sewing_machines/computerised_sewing_machines/nx-200qe.aspx

The website blurb.....
The NX-200QE is a user-friendly computerised sewing machine with a convenient touch-pad operation panel. It features 50 built-in stitches and has a host of features which make sewing fun and easy.

The range of features include: ·

F.A.S.T. automatic needle threading system ·

Quick-set bobbin ·

Presser foot pressure adjustment ·

F.A.S.T. bobbin winding system ·

Extra large sewing bed ·

One-step automatic buttonhole ·

Six-point feed-dogs With a new aesthetic and slimline design and a host of time saving features, the NX-200 is a delight to work on.

RRP Price                    RRP $799.00
Model      NX-200
LCD Display    Monochrome LED
Stitch Select Display Direct Stitch Selection
Stitch Number    50 plus 50 utility stitches
Button Hole Method   Auto
Stitch Width      7mm

General Model NX-200 Display LCD Display

Monochrome LED Stitch Select Display

Direct Stitch Selection Sewing Stitch Number 50 plus 50 utility stitches

Feed Dog7 Point MAX Sewing Speed 850 spm

Button Hole Patterns 5 Button Hole Method

Auto Stitch Width7mm Start/Stop Button - Yes

Speed Controller - Yes Foot Controller           Separate Needle Position Key (up/down) Drop Feed                                                 Presser Foot pressure adjustment
Thread Bobbin Type Horizontal                      Thread Tension Auto
Automatic Needle Threader                            Quick Set Bobbin

This looks familiar.....

2011-04-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I love Tula Pink..... I love her designs. Whilst I haven't bought every single line as I have done with Amy Butler's ranges, I do adore her work.

So, imagine my surprise when I opened her blog today and found a sneaky peek at her new design to be launched this year.... beautiful...... but I couldn't help but think it was very very very similar to an Amy Butler design from the Belle range. You be the judge.

Twins Quilts

2011-04-03T03:20:00.000-07:00

I'm making a couple of quilts for my Mum's next door neighbour, who has just given birth to twins..... her third and fourth children.... yes, she does have her hands full, but this chick is amazing!

I did start a couple of quilts for these babies a while back, but I hated them and found I couldn't finish them. These quilts are much better and I love them!!

One down.... another to go (that orange one on the right is the second one)

Update you on these later.

xx

ah.... fabric shopping.....

2011-03-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I zipped down to GJs in Lygon Street during my lunch break and the rumours were true..... all the patchwork fabric was now on the ground floor. I won't miss the stairs up to the dream room ont he top floor!

The entire ground floor is is filled with shelves containing everyone's favorites and it's all fresh and new and beautiful! You still get the 'ahhhhh' feeling, only now you get it as soon as you enter the store!

The price of tea in China

2011-03-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm not going to really rant about the price of tea in China, however, I going to rant about the price of fabric and patterns in Australia! I just purchased two patterns plus shipping from Heather Bailey's online store (including postage) for US$23.02 (AU$23.22). Purchasing the same from an online store here in Oz would have cost me AU$37 (incl postage)...... WTF??

So, when prices go up, fabric costs go up.... however, when our dollar is strong and we are getting more bang for our buck, aren't the wholesalers and store owners also reaping the rewards? Why is it that when the prices really go down, we never see any decrease?

I know I may see things fairly simplistically as I am not a trader and don't buy wholesale, but the whole premise of a strong dollar, buying from a country like the US with a weak dollar means you save some..... don't you?

Buying online from the US is crippling our stores, it means that we may have less stores where we can peruse and fondle beautiful crisp quilting cottons.... however, the price of health insurance, school fees, interest rates, food, petrol, car insurance, doctors bills (you get my drift), mean that I will save money where I can and if I can save $15 for 2 patterns coming from the US, sadly I will do it guilt free. Whilst I will buy Australian as much as possible, it is not always right for me.

I would love to hear your view.

PS: here are the patterns I purchased, cute huh?

I found my quilty mojo.......

2011-03-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

I've been down for a couple of months, not interested in much, not even quilting..... I know, awful huh! Anyway, things are getting a whole lot better and much more enjoyable and I have found my quilty mojo, right where I left it...... Phew!!

I have looked at the Curlicue Crush on Bec's blog, Chasing Cottons over the past few weeks and I have ummed and ahhhed about ordering the pattern.... if I ordered it, I would have to make it and that seemed too hard to contemplate.

Well I ordered the pattern the other night, got the PDF (I love downloadable patterns so much), and have cut out about half of the requirements. I'm loving it so far! I'm using a mix various French General ranges - some I've been collecting for a while, others I have only bought today from Essendon Patchwork. Not my usual colour combos, but it will suit our place, lots of red, taupe, creams.

_____________________________________________________

By the way, common behaviours associated with depression include:

moodiness that is out of character
increased irritability and frustration
spending less time with friends and family
loss of interest in food, sex, exercise or other pleasurable activities
being awake throughout the night
staying home from work or school
increased physical health complaints like fatigue or pain
slowing down of thoughts and actions.

If you think you might need some help, go to the Beyond Blue website for more info.

Money well spent

2011-01-31T21:52:00.000-08:00

I just subscribed to the Fat Quarterly eZine (12 month subscription) and can I tell you it is really USD$28 worth spending. There are patterns galore, fabric previews, interviews, oh and did I mention all the fabulous patterns?

This eZine is the brain child of bloggers you would know, including John from QuiltDad, Kate from One Flew Over, Katy from Iamagingermonkey and Brioni from FlossyBlossy and with an approximate 85 pages, it is really a great buy!

New years morning

2010-12-31T14:29:00.000-08:00

Happy new year!!

Hope everyone had an ace Chrissy. We headed to Mildura for a couple of days..... happy to be home.

Got a few cookbooks from the fam, this one was my fave,

Jane Kennedy: Fabulous Food Minus the Boombah

Love it!!! You have to adore a book with the word 'boombah' in the title!

Well, no headache this morning, yay! I showed great restraint, even with the trays of cosmopolitans floating around the NYE party last night. Good girl. What a night. Thanks S&D, we love you.

New years resolutions:
loose 20 kilos,
get preggers by end of 2011 - (no pressure Fitz),
have saved mega $ for the NYC trip in 2012

XX

Christmas Cards

2010-12-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late in making my Christmas cards this year. I usually cut the card myself, use ribbons, fancy cutters etc etc. This year, I am less motivated. Maybe I'm just too busy, maybe it's because I'm too tired, (turning 40 makes you a bit tired and emotional....)

Do you think I can find ready made pieces of white card ready for a photo to be banged on the front? Officeworks have nothing! Spotlight - nothing! Any ideas peeps??

PS, this is the pic I'm using for my cards this year. Merry Christmas!

Finished just in time....

2010-12-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Today is my little man's last day of school..... I know, it's only the 8th of December. In the 70's we didn't start Christmas holidays until much much much closer to the 25th. Anyway, today is the last day of school and as I leave everything to the last possible minute I only just completed his teacher's Christmas present last night.

Everything that could go wrong with this quilt did go wrong. My ever faithful, always reliable machine, started to play up and the tension of some of the stitches was wonky wonky...... pulled them out, started again, more time delay. The binding didn't catch when I sewed it on.... this never happens to me, it did this time. Then to make matters worse, whilst hand sewing the binding down I pricked my finger so hard I almost touched the bone. I was so stunned with pain I didn't move my finger quickly enough and a droplet of blood found it's way onto the beautiful lined backing. Scrub scrub scrub.... more time delay.

It all worked out in the end and I am sure she will love it! My little boy wrote her a note and I scanned it onto the quilt label, v. cute.

All packed up ready to go!

Vintage Amy Butler

2010-12-05T00:48:00.000-08:00

I love and adore my Amy Butler fabric and find it difficult to use. Sometimes I would rather just love and caress my Amy Butler fabric instead of actually cutting into it.

The decision to use the last from my Amy Butler Belle range was a no-brainer when it came to making something for my son's teacher's Christmas present.

How do we thank someone for teaching our child, for being a champion for our child, genuinely caring for our child, for being a wonderfuly tough but fair teacher? Well, the way I do it is by cutting up my beloved Amy Butler.

On another exciting note, we have a new puppy. Lucille (toy poodle, 12 weeks), joined our family during the week and we are totally besotted with her. You would have to be completely in love with something to forgive all the weeing and pooing indoors......

Happy Wedding Kel & Paul xx

2010-11-26T16:05:00.000-08:00

The gorgeous Kelli from Kelli's Pieces is getting hitched to her fella today and I wish them both love and happiness for the most wonderful adventure.

Love ya Kel xx

Desperately Seeking Fabric: Spring by Monaluna from Mingle

2010-11-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

Help!!

Does anyone know of a store (pref in Australia) who sells this Robert Kaufman fabric? I bought it from the wonderful City Quilter in New York City and I didn't buy enough (isn't it always the way!!)

'Spring' by Monaluna from the Mingle Range

I am midway through two quilts (a gift for twins) and I am close to running out..... urghhhhh.......

Join the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild

2010-11-14T00:56:00.000-08:00

What is modern quilting?

Modern quilting is about fresh colours and simple patterns or traditional blocks with a modern twist, young designers and old favourites, contemporary tools and techniques. While modern quilting is steeped in quilting tradition there are no rules, offering creative freedom, accessibility, and exciting new ideas.

What is the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild?

Created in May 2010, the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild is a group for modern quilters in and around Melbourne, Australia interested in modern quilting. The first to start up outside of the USA, the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild is a branch of the now international Modern Quilt Guild.

What does the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild do?

Website

On our extensive online website, our members share their quilting ideas and projects through forums, photo albums, and blogs, and participate in group activities and discussions.

Monthly Sewing Days

Members of our Guild also meet in person once a month for a fantastic day of sewing, showing and telling, swapping, chatting, and general camaraderie, in a bright modern room in North Melbourne. All kinds of quilting endeavours can be seen at these meetings, from machine piecing to hand quilting and paper piecing.

Special Events

Being a very new Guild, we’re currently creating and planning our first year of events. On the agenda are swaps and challenges, sew-alongs, retreats, make-and-take sessions, tutorials for different techniques and projects, as well as special guest appearances, and shop-hops.

Is the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild for you?

Do you go to sleep at night dreaming of fabric combinations and quilt blocks? Or do you dream of one day learning to quilt? If so, be bold, jump in. Join in the chatter on the forums, create your own blog and a photo album to share your quilting endeavours with us, be inspired by our members’ handiwork, come along to one of our meetings, and be part of our growing, developing, flourishing, nurturing community . We’d love to get to know you!

Determination

2010-09-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Melbourne time: Saturday 25th September, 11.45am

I need to post this so I can look back at the end of the day and see how much I have accomplished...... (nail biting starts now).

I am going to complete my nephew, Jake's quilt top
I am going to complete the binding on a baby quilt for a neighbour's baby who is about to turn one.... the quilt was for her birth (wow, that time flew by.....) DONE
I am going to sew up the HST quilt top

I better get moving if I am going to get all of this down and watch some of the grand final.

Go pies!!

Note: I got caught up in the excitement of the game and only got the binding done....... fooey!

The Sea Breeze Quilters

2010-09-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I went off to a general meeting of the Sea Breeze Quilters today and it was awesome!! I've known about this group for a while, but it's never been the right time to join. Both Wendy and I will definitely join now. The ladies are all so friendly and welcoming. We had a great time and saw some amazingly brilliant quilts.

Their president, Kim, invited me up to speak about the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild which was great. The two groups are very different. Sea Breeze has been running for a while and they are very organised, they run quilt shows and they have competitions, monthly stitchlotto and door prizes.... quite amazing. MMQG are newly formed and still finding it's feet, working out what members really want.

Whatever group you are part of, I hope you enjoy it. It is so lovely being part of a quilting community.
xx

All needles are not created equal.....

2010-09-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the needles on the left (not to scale!) are able to be taken onto an aeroplane, however, the teeny tiny needles on the right (to scale), are not allowed onto a plane... what the? I could fatally wound someone with a bamboo knitting needle, not that I would.... unless they were trying to take a teeny tiny sewing needle off me....

I will continue with my research. The thought of a long flight with nothing to do with my hands freaks me out a little bit, maybe I could get a doctor's certificate to say that I will go mad if I don't have my handsewing... okay, you can laugh at me now.

Anyone got a definitive answer about needles on planes?

Del xx

Projects, projects everywhere....

2010-08-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have a real problem with finishing off a project before I start a new one. I am a chronic non-finisher.

Here are two works in progress,

The first is a quilt for my darling nephew Jake, he and his parents (my sister, Dina and her husband) move into their new home in a few weeks and little Jakey will go into a big boy bed with his new quilt.

The fabric is really cute, 'Baby Animals' by Benatex. Easy to match with other fabrics.

The second quilt was inspired by a similar quilt made by the amazing Rita from Red Pepper Quilts, I just loved it and wanted to do my own. This will be a work in progress for a while.... so many HST, so much piecing..... didn't make a very large quilt top...... I will power on.

Today we are taking Master Fitz (he doesn't want to be referred to as 'Baby Fitz' anymore) and Jake to the pictures to see 'Marmaduke'

Have a lovely Sunday. xx

Wanted: One longarm quilting machine.....

2010-08-20T03:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am saving for my O/S trip, but I have made the decision to also save for a longarm quilting machine. I actually need one, badly. I have the room ready for it.

If anyone knows of a machine for sale, please yell out!! :)

Oh how I love You Tube.....

2010-08-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

What do you do if you're sick and you are too sore to stay in bed day after day?

Well, if you're me, you read a million and one blogs, then surf You Tube..... Aside from finding some great quilty related clips - like the hand basting method Gina used at one of our MMQG meetings with the two boards.... (fascinating!) - there are so many awesome music clips and anyone who knows me, knows I love music more than fabric.... I know, I know, shocking!

Anyway, I love this song, but I love the clip better..... v. clever.

Then there is the brilliant Phil Hansen (Philinthecircle). I check out his artwork every few months.... he is quite amazing. This is one of his earlier clips. Enjoy

The hexie project continues......

2010-08-06T03:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not well, so I'm sitting up in bed sewing hexies, hexies, hexies. This is my little work station (a stable table tray) and the sections I have managed to sew together. I seem to be sewing constantly, and don't have too much to show for it..... I really do love my pretty gems though.

Jesus and the Loch Ness Monster

2010-08-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Baby Fitz said something that made me laugh today. He goes to a Christian School where they obviously do a lot of religious instruction. He asked me, "Mumma, is Jesus like the Loch Ness Monster?"...... "Um, I'm not sure what you mean" I say. My mind was racing trying to find the link.... He says "Well, I think he is, because some people believe in him and some people don't". I think this is a very good analogy for a 6 year old. Then he says "I mean really, a guy who lives in the sky... come on!"

Okay, what on earth can I say to that, I was still back at the part where my child was comparing Jesus to the Loch Ness Monster? (You should know that I am not religious at all in any way shape or form). I think I said something about it being really wonderful that people can have differing views and make up their own minds about things like Jesus. I am wondering, however, what the answer will be if he asks one of his teachers this question. Oh to be a fly on the wall...... very interesting.

She's done it again.....

2010-07-31T02:31:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I cannot keep up with Tula Pink's fabric lines. I am still stuck at 'Nest', I have worked through 'Neptune', I am keeping 'Plume' for a special occassion (although exactly what, I have no idea), and now she's about to release, 'Parisville' - this is really only a sneaky peak.... I am loving the colours, but can't wait to see the designs - you just know it will be spectacular!!

I know it is OTT.... but I lurve it!

2010-07-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Mr Fitz complains that this light is a bit over the top, however, I disagree...... or do I? Actually I know it is OTT, but I simply don't care, I love it love it love it! It will hang in our dining area and will be beautiful. (One of the cash jobs for that electrician I am searching for)

Light purchased from a friend who runs Heavenly Lights
Oh, one more thing..... Amitie Sale Day is Friday 6th August, be there or be square!!

A case of the verbals

2010-07-28T18:01:00.001-07:00

I can't stop talking today. As part of my job I talk, I negotiate, I sympathise, I advise, I talk talk talk.... but today I am in a super super mood and have a bad case of the verbals and I really can't afford to be chatty, too much to do.

Okay, so this is my silent way of talking..... Firstly, Mr Fitz, some friends and I had dinner at last night at the most fabulous place . Carsons Lounge in Yarraville is SENSATIONAL! It wasn't only that we didn't have any ankle biters with us, it really was amazing, well priced, awesome service, the food was incredible.... need I say more. 33 Ballarat Street, Yarraville. For those in the west - do yourself and favour! For those on the over the bridge, don't be frightened, come on over, it's worth it!!

Secondly, and this is more of a cry for help. Does anyone know of an Electrician who does jobs on the side. I got a quote from a company last week and nearly fell off my chair. Anyone??

That's all. have a great day!

81 days and counting.....

2010-07-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

81 days until my big trip with my Mumma. I am starting to get so excited... and nervous. How will I cope without Mr Fitz and Baby Fitz for 3 weeks? I know I will cope and there will be oodles to do, but 23 days without my little munchikin makes me feel a little ill.

Anyway, here are a couple of places in NYC I am dying to visit!

The City Quilter looks pretty good. It has a big range and gets some good reviews.

but wait, there's more......... drum roll please........

ta daaaaa - heaven on earth....... Purl Soho.

I have been dreaming of visiting Purl for years when they were in the world's tiniest shop front. I love everything about this shop and I can't wait to step over the threshold. (all pics will be loaded on our holiday bloggy)

So, you can imagine, how many pennies I am saving. I am so annoyed I got rid of my credit cards, all of them..... no more fantastic plastic for me...... :( Needless to say, I am just about ready to rip up our new carpet at home to sell.

81 days, 16 hours, 59 minutes and 3 seconds til take off.

H.A. - Hexies Anonymous

2010-07-13T17:32:00.000-07:00

"My name is Mrs Fitz and I am an addict"

Ahhhh, my beloved hexies.....I am now starting to dream about hexies..... I think about them constantly. Every time my gammy fingertip taps on the keyboard it reminds me of my hexy project..... I have covered thousands and thousands of papers with beautifully coloured fabrics, I have sewn thousands of colourful gems together and my needle has gone backwards into my finger tip a countless number of times - this is your cue to say "ohhhhh poor you".

It is worth it though, this is going to be a wonderful diary of all my favorite fabrics. As with handquilted projects, the cottony softness is a constant reminder of why I love fabric and quilting so much. Patch Andi took some shots at our most recent Modern Quilt Guild meeting, so here's a snippet of my hexy project. I am currently joining all of my metre x metre pieces together.

(PS: my post title was not intended to make light of any type of addiction and that is not really my finger!!)

Oh, I almost forgot, today is Wonderful Wednesday (even though it says Tuesday above), it's hump-day! Time for one of my favourite tracks.

2. Brandi Carlile - 'The Story' from her album 'The Story' 2007 (click image to listen)
She is pretty cool, a little folksy, a little country (country is not my style). The lyrics in this song are really beautiful.

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-06-30T03:59:00.000-07:00

Music is a huge part of my life and a huge part of our family. My love for music runs deeper than my love for fabric.... and that is saying something!

From here on in I am going to celebrate each and every Wonderful Wednesday with one of my favourite songs. So, whether you care or not, if you visit me here on a Wednesday you'll only get a song. Here is this week's loved one;

1. Neko Case - 'Hold on Hold on' from her album 'Fox Confessor Brings The Flood' 2005 (click image to listen)

Some things are too precious to part with.....

2010-06-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

I have had some pieces from Tula Pink's 'Nest' range on eBay for the past few days and every time my sister gave us all an update on our eBay sales I would see my beautiful Tula Pink on the list and nearly cry. I don't need to sell it, so I had it removed..... urghhhh, I am never going to put a dent in this stash.

Did you know that some people only buy fabric with a particular project in mind.... isn't that amazing? I thought everyone just bought as much fabric that they can afford.... ha.

Anyway, long story short I have an evening to myself, so I am trawlling sites looking for a project for my beautiful Nest fabric, my beautiful fabric that I almost let go in my moment of madness.

So, I have calculated that if I live to 113 I should be able to finish all my UFOs and utilise my stash. Easy.

One more cool thing before I go.... I found this whilst surfing, V & A Museum Patchwork Pattern Maker

I spent way too long mucking around on this

The next meeting of Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild

2010-06-24T12:45:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder for anyone involved in the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild. The next meeting has been moved to Sunday 11th July (instead of Sat 10th). Same time, same place.

A family affair

2010-06-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Even though I have a sewing room, I still find it helpful to lay a quilt out on the rumpus room floor for a couple of days so we can all live with it and everyone can put in their two bobs worth.

There have been some minor changes, as it is Baby Fitz thinks the white z/z are too close..... Mr Fitz has given some advice and thinks I should bind around each point at the end of the rows...... hello? Is he mad???..... actually the more I think about it, the more I like the idea...... hmmmmmm

I love it when a plan comes together

2010-06-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

When Mr Fitz works nights and Baby Fitz has gone to bed, I can spend my entire night in one room. I have the computer, a telly, my sewing space and chocolate..... yes, it is heaven on earth.

So last night, after my mega clean up, I continued on my Zig-Zag quilt that I started at the last meeting of the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild last week. Here is where I am up to. Still loads of cutting, cutting, cutting. I have been planning doing this quilt for an eternity, so this plan is coming together.

I can have my reward now.....

2010-06-19T03:02:00.000-07:00

I knew if I posted a photo of my horridly messy sewing area I would be forced to make an effort to clean up.... and my reward will be an evening of sewing, ahhhhh.

My fabric stash is all over the place, however it is folded and on the shelves, better than where it was yesterday.

Help? I have no idea who this happened...

2010-06-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have had a shitty week, a real doosey and you could say I have been a bit absent minded of late.... but this is ridiculous!

I started to tidy up my fabric stash last weekend, I had very good intentions, then on Monday my Gran past away and I dropped my bundle completely. My beautiful and wonderful husband has been keeping things going and keeping the Fitzy household running..... however, everything he can't find a home for he has been piling up on top of my fabric stash on my cutting table..... what the?? (how embarrassing... things have even fallen to the floor)

If he wasn't such a kind and wonderful hunk of a man I would get rid of him :)

Guess what I'm going to try to tidy up with weekend......

My lovely Gran

2010-06-15T02:57:00.001-07:00

We lost Gran yesterday. She was wonderful.

I love the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild

2010-06-13T00:48:00.000-07:00

I've just arrived home from our monthly meeting and I just have to say how fantastic it was. It was 7 hours of awesomeness... sewing, laughing, talking, eating, sewing, laughing, learning, talking, talking, talking, a bit more sewing.... I am already looking foward to next month's meeting.

For anyone reading from the guild who attends the meetings, thank you, you are all such good fun.

My nerdy side......

2010-05-28T21:03:00.001-07:00

The nerdier side of me means that I will spent an eternity measuring and drawing using a computer program to get an idea of what a quilt will look like. Sometimes I spent more time planning than actually piecing the quilt. True!

This half baked pic of my latest quilt drawing is part of my 'process pledge' to document how my quilts come together. I decided to do this due to the fact that I rarely finish a quilt.... this way I will be able to track my quilts from beginning to end and record the process.

Anyway, this quilt is for our lounge area, predominently dark beiges, khaki, red, black, dark wood. As much as I LOVE bright quilts, a quilt using funky lime greens and hot pinks would look bizarre in our lounge!

I'm using linen and fabrics from French General; Rounneries and Rural Jardin, for this quilt. I know this will be a no brainer super simple quilt, but I love the big shapes to show the beautiful fabric and best of all, it should take me all of about an hour to piece together and a little longer to add some brown appliqued bird shapes to add a smidge of interest. Let's see how I go.

My other project for this weekend is tidying up my sewing room.... good lord, I let it go during the week, I figure that my spare time (after work work and house work around 10pm), is time to sew, not time to clean up..... are you with me?

Three things to share today

2010-05-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I've been home sick this week, trying to stay warm, trying to sleep, I haven't been out of the house in over 6 days..... it feels really odd.

Anyway, as I haven't physically been able to stay tucked up in bed for the 144 hours that I've been housebound, I have had a couple of minutes at the machine in the wee hours of the night when I just can't sleep.

This is what I've come up with. I have been hand-sewing thousands of 2" hexies together to make a mega quilt, so I grabed a few I had sewn together and made a cute little pot holder, the inspiration came from Elizabeth at oh fransson. Not bad for a sicky chicky effort I guess.

Secondly, anyone who knows Crazy Mom Quilts will be happy to know - she's back! After signing off at the end of 2009, she has returned and has posted a few snippets. She has heaps of great tutorials and resources on her blog. good stuff!!

Thirdly, our second home is Scienceworks, we love it, we live there and visit at least once a fortnight. I took this silhouette pic of my blonde prince the other day, it looks like he's praying, but I actually think he is doing his Mr Smither's "eeeexcellent" impersonation (The Simpsons). Either way, I think it's a precious pic.

I need help....

2010-05-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you saw my fabrics from French General, a good mix of 'Rouenneries' and 'Rural Jardin' - although I love love love this fabric and the colours, I really don't want the finished quilt to look too country.... that is so not me, so not my family and so not my open plan modern house.....

So, my question is, what pattern do I use to make the most of these fabulous fabrics so we end up with a contemporary looking quilt.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks
xx

Stitches and Craft Show

2010-05-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Have I got enough browny points to get to this? I have used my babysitters to the absolute max lately and hubby currently working a million hours a week....

Maybe the small blonde man in my life might like to tag along with Mummy.... I doubt it, but I will bribe him with banana bread :) (and thank god for Nintendo DS)

Will you be visiting the Stitches and Craft Show in Melbourne??

I love the quilt show!

2010-04-30T23:23:00.000-07:00

My budget was blown today, but you know what, I had an awesome day. Had good quality alone time wandering around the quilt show, then met up with some friends, had a great chat fest, it was wonderful.

Driving home I couldn't help but think about all the husbands at the show today working in the stalls with their wives. They might not all be happy about it, (some of them looked bored stiff), but most were there, enthusiastically helping out their better halves. It was really nice to see.

Okay, so my purchases..... I finally bought myself an Ottlight, it's beautiful and bright and now I won't get zapped when I re-position the lamp light.... always a good thing I think. I also fed my 'French General' obssession, I love all the deep reds, the leaves, the birds, you get the drift. This is a quilt for my lounge area, (finally one for us!) Those prints above are some I bought today. I also have a collection of these beautiful fabrics to pick up from GJs on Monday, then that's it! No seriously....

xx

'Soul Blossoms' - Amy Butler's new line of fabric

2010-04-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Any fan of Amy Butler can relate to me dancing around my office today. While looking for a logo for Westminster Fabric, I found Amy Butler's new line of fabric, Soul Blossoms, due for release in September 2010.

Check it out!!

This woman can do no wrong.....

Best part, it was be released in time for my US trip in October 2010...... woo hooooo, it just keeps getting better.

Hope you're having a great day!
xx

I'm inspired!

2010-03-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

I did the best two day course at Amitie during the week with Deborah Louie, machine quilter extrodinaire, and it was fantastique!!! I loved it. I learnt so much and I think I will get better with time. Practice, practice, practice. Thankfully Deb is a very patient (and kind) teacher. If you are looking to learn machine quilting, free motion, trapunto, machine applique etc. then Deb is your woman! Her blog has a list of stores/groups she is teaching at this year.

Deborah Louie

Speaking of Amitie, good God, I love that shop.... spending two days there was like being in heaven. Jenny and the girls are all so wonderful and seeing all that fabric shelved beautifully colour co-ordinated is enough to make a grown woman weep with joy, (I am not a drama queen!!)

Woo hoo! The first meeting of the Melbourne branch of the Modern Quilt Guild is being held on 22nd May, I'm pretty excited! I don't know how I will hang on for two whole months, but I have plenty keeping me busy so the time will fly.

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it....

2010-03-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

I'm going to a class on free motion quilting at Amitie next week run run by Deborah Louie and I am so excited that every time I think about it I let out a little squeal..... (normal?)

I actually get excited about going to Amitie regardless, so this is a real double doosey.

Anyone who knows me, knows I cannot free-motion (stippling) quilt for peanuts.... I have tried, I have watched tutorials, watched demos at quilting shows, taken little classes... it's just not a happening thing. So, I bit the bullet and booked in to be taught by who I think is one of the best teachers around. Wish me (and her) luck!!

xx

Addicted to hexies

2010-03-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

We went away to Tocumwal last the weekend and I was really annoyed about all the wasted time in the car without a quilt ready to bind, so I thought I would try my hand at paper piecing 1" hexagons. I printed out hundreds, I cut them all out, got all my scraps ready and proceeded to make about 500 hexies over the weekend..... I can't stop..... every lunch break at work I eat my lunch then start on my hexies.... my GenY workmates think it's hysterical....
Thanks to Simon Scoggins, for the inspiration!!

My self-imposed fabric diet meant that I might miss out on 'Plume' by Tula Pink. But a diet is a diet and I need to save for my overseas trip in October where I will be able to buy fabric to my heart's content..... Anyway, I found (yes 'found') $37 in my Paypal account and with Kelani Fabrics free postage offer, I knew I could get at least a couple of bits and pieces from the Plume range. Isn't it magnificant?

Bye for now, I'm off to do more hexies..... xx

Two down, one to go..... for now.....

2010-03-11T03:53:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I know about 12 people having babies, they are everywhere! So this is number 2, I have one more to make for the moment.

This is the second baby quilt I have finished in the last two weeks. I love the blues and greens in this one and the quilting was super fast, (half an hour to baste and quilt a 1.2 x 1.2 metre piece - I likey!)

Something to make you laugh....

2010-03-10T01:34:00.000-08:00

Tonight I stopped off at the supermarket after a big day at work.

I walked all the way from my car into the supermarket, all the while thinking that my foot felt weird... not uncomfortable, just strange.

It wasn't until I noticed a woman staring at me, our eyes met, she looked at my feet and smiled, then our eyes met again..... at was at this stage that I looked down and noticed my two very different shoes. One shoe was open toe, the other wasn't.

Go on, you can laugh now!

An Owly Week

2010-03-08T00:23:00.000-08:00

Recently I picked up this very cute fabric, 'Spotted Owl' by Alexander Henry. As a number of my girlfriends are currently pregnant, I knew I wanted to make a cot quilt with this adorable find.

When it came time to work out what to do I actually couldn't bare to cut it, so I did a simple whole cloth quilt, (which I never do), but I tell you what, I'm pretty happy with it! The small border is a stone washed orange fabric find and the larger border is a lime spot.

I love how quickly I was able to finish this. I quilted it with inch wide diagonal lines, this was super easy, made with the same amount of love and better still, it's another finished (albeit tiny) quilt!

The other owl in our house is Hoot. My son loves 'Giggle and Hoot' on ABC. This is a child who wants me to make clothes for his guinea pigs... outfits like Alvin and the Chipmunks. The only way I got out of making those darn clothes was by making something that resembles 'Hoot'. Thankfully since Hoot arrived in our house, the guinea pig wardrobe has not been mentioned again...... yet.

Lastly, and this has nothing to do with owls, Happy Birthday to my baby sister who turns 35 today! She was born at 25 weeks and weighed a little less than a pound and a half (660 kilograms). During lunch today Mum mentioned that she would sometimes dress this tiny baby in dolls clothes, there just wasn't the tiny premmie clothing around. She was our little miracle baby. Happy Birthday Macca xx

After a long break....

2010-02-22T03:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I have had a super long break from blogging. With Christmas and a new job, things have been pretty nutty in my life... but please hang in there, I will post as much as I can soon.

Nearly done....

2009-09-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

Another quilt top is finished. This is the Neptune Beto Box I'm doing for Mr Bravosgrandkid. Whilst I won't get it done for his birthday on 09/09/09, I might get close.

I love the 'Neptune' (by Tula Pink) range of fabrics and I'm glad I get to keep this one at our house rather than giving it away (as much as I love giving my quilts away to people I love).

I did it, I did it!

2009-09-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at this Spider String Quilt tutorial at Quiltville for ages and just haven't gotten around to trying it. Why did I wait so long to start? Well, apart from the millions of other projects I have on the go, it's because I loath instructions, I am impatient and if something doesn't make sense immediately I work out another way to do it.... So true to form I did alter this pattern. My blocks/quilt will be like the background you see on the Spider String Quilt page at Quiltville, (large & small shapes)
This was FUN!!

Finished.....

2009-08-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

I tell you, the title of this blog is going to be a recurring one. I have so many quilt tops that need to be finished and I can't help but start new ones as I see new ideas, buy more fabric..... I have a problem!

The way I see it, I will never catch up. I work 40+ hours a week outside the home, I have a little person who I want to spend mega amounts of time with, I have a hubby who if often neglected and I have about 16 quilt tops to complete..... if I live to be 173 I will never ever ever catch up. Now don't think I'm complaining, I love the constant chasing my tail..... honestly I do. Am I alone in feeling this way??

Anyway, here's one I finished for my lovely Aunty Bev. This one is machine pieced, and hand quilted it with circles. It took FOREVER, but it was worth it, she loved it. I choose a gorgeous butterflies and ladybugs fabric called Woodsy wonders by Janet Wecker-Frisch for this one. Aunty Bev's daughter, Vanessa, died a while back - (There is a genus of butterfly called 'Vanessa') My aunt understood the significance of the fabric choice and the circle quilting.

The owner of one of my favorite shops, GJ's Discount Fabrics (Lygon St, Brunswick, Melbourne), Georgina, showed me some awesome fabrics she was going to order way way back months ago, well, they are about 6 weeks away now.... I love them. I know they are so very different to my usual Amy Butler, Heather Bailey standard, what do you think?

I'm back!!

2009-08-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Hello!

It's been a huge 6 months since I stopped blogging, I had a rest from all things crafty to concentrate on other areas of life, I am so glad to be back and if you're reading this, I'm glad you found me!

I have found after a bit of time off, I have come back to my quilting with a vengence.... I have completed 2 UFOs in 2 days. Not huge jobs, but things I had put off (you know how it gets, quilt tops just seem to build up!!). I have also whipped up a few quilt tops and drafted a couple of patterns for the first time. What's happening to me? Actually, it has something to do with leaving a job that was sucking the life out of me.... sad huh? Happily Mumma (me) got her life back and everything is falling back into place and chugging along as it should - Yay for me!

The first quilt I completed was this little windmill quilt for friends who had a baby last week. I started it when we got the news she was expecting and I only just finished it.
The second quilt is for my amazingly beautiful nephew, Jake. He's 18 months old and I started this when he was born. I used a Michael Miller cowboy print which is so so so cute! Sadly didn't take a pic of this one.... :(

With those little pieces done I have moved onto a Bento Box using this fantastic tutorial by Ashley from Film in the Fridge (great blog, awesome tutorials, brilliant inspiration, very pretty - that's what makes a blog a good read!!). I am doing this Bento Box using the 'Deep Sea Blue' palette of Neptune by Tula Pink - yummo, it's gorgeous. This one is for my beautiful husband, he is the only one I've neglected to make a quilt for and truthfully, he deserves one over anyone else, he is my love. He came into my sewing room, saw it and said it was beautiful, (thank god! - He doesn't know its for his birthday.) I will post photos as I work through it, but here's the start....

so much more piecing to go, I'll get there!

Another quilt top I finished off over the last week was a foundation paper pieced Stringy Quilt using another tutorial from Film in the Fridge (I'm telling you, she's awesome!!). I love how this worked out. I used scraps from all my past creations, loads of vintage Amy Butler mixed with all my new favourites. Now I just have to baste and quilt it....

Thanks for reading my blog. I will try to post every few days when I have something worthwhile to share or show.

Cheers
Adele

PS: I have got a bundle of Empress Woo in Yellow. Some has been fussy cut. I no longer want these pieces and I am happy to give away. If you want them and will use them (not sell them), let me know!