We have made our own Christmas Cards this year. Little E is very proud.To do the same you will need:1 A5 Sketch pad1 set of crayons, especially whitepaintbrushesWater based paint - I have used water colours, my friends have assured me food colouring does the trick too.Step 1 - Get drawings, with the white crayon. Add some coloured bit so you know where...

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Dear Family Circle,Your recipe is a crock. How could you let me down like that? My gingerbread houses fell in a crumpled heap and I hold you responsible.I have remained loyal for years. As the recipe books were thinned annually, I kept you along side my beloved Nigella. I extolled the virtues of your Vichyssoise, gingerbread, Chicken chasseur, fish pie and so many...

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This quilt uses 45 degree triangles cut from string pieced fabric (refer to string tutorial 1). Triangles are then pieced to give 8” finished blocks. This quilt is similar to String with Red Centre from Gwen Marston's Liberated String QuiltsTo make these blocks, start with a 45 degree offset when joining the strings. Continue joining the pairs until the fabric is 7” or...

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This tutorial explains how string pieced fabric, from string tutorial 1, was used in the “If It’s a Boy” quilt that I made earlier this year. String pieced fabric is cut into squares and rearranged at different angles to create the overall effect.The quilt uses approximately 3 pieces of 44” long string pieced fabric. The strips were cut from fat quarters and joined...

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This tutorial looks at using the strings by replacing a conventional piece of fabric with one that has been created with the strings, as in string tutorial 1. The blocks above have used the string fabric, in place of a patterned fabric, to create the two different patterns.These Christmas decorations also use string pieced fabric in place of a plain fabric. They were...

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I’ve fallen for string piecing in a big way. It seduced me with the seemingly quick results, hooked me with the unplanned combinations and then reeled me in. This tutorial looks at string piecing without using a foundation to create a string fabric. The following tutorials detail how the string fabric has been used in three different projects, including the blue cross quilt.Step...

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As I took up the challenge to use every last scrap of the left over fabrics, this quilt came together. I raided my stash for other fabrics that might bulk up the selection. If you look closely you can bits of beloved Katie Jump Rope patterns, Heather Bailey and even some treasures pink Park slope from Joanna.I am not a fan of foundation...

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It appears, I like the second quilt I make from any fabric, more than the first. Does this happen to anyone else? I think it’s the moments of sewing, staring intently at the fabric and thinking wouldn’t this or that look great too?As the scrappy hedgerow pattern came together, I found myself wondering what to do with the remaining strips. There was about...

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I have fallen for this fabric over and over. First as a dress, and now as a quilt. The little plants and flowers seemed to lend themselves to becoming the centres in some scrappy hedge row blocks. This one was slow in coming as I pieced away 2 hours at a time; A little bit every Tuesday and sometimes, even a stolen moment...

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The Middle of the Muddle - Rainbow Chard, Seeded Coriander and GarlicIn the middle of the muddle the smallest things become treasures. My crafting space is a mess and my garden is even more so. However, I never thought I would get so much pleasure out of some failed cabbages and a few stolen hours.Neglected, But Jewel Like GreensThe garden has become an...

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Little E is into Sesame Street in big way at the moment. Elmo is referred to as LaLaLa and tearing all the toilet paper from the roll is "being dookie monster".When I read about these I just had to give it a go. It is so hard to eat them without singing that song.. C is for cookie and it's good enough for...

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The Anzac Bee is progressing well, but we need some help. I am looking for one more member to join our bee. If you are interested, please let me know as I'd love to hear from you.This month, we are all making red and black Essendon stars for Corrie. It had me reaching for the dictionary thinking Essendon was colour I hadn't heard...

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I have a new found appreciation for scones*. When I was growing up they were the staple. Mum would whip them up at a moment’s notice when visitors were imminent or the shearing gang needed feeding at the woolsheds. They were part of the fabric of our home. Mum made it look easy. I didn’t appreciate this until I had a hankering for...

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I caught sight of this while sorting out our bedroom. From underneath a pile of forgotten, important things, too important to put away, was a piece of paper on how to tidy a house. I love that the only headline you can read in the pile of stuff is “Don’t Gather Junk”.Amy, of A Common Place Life, is gathering together a collection of...

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The random number generator has chosen - #6 Anna Fogg. Anna is a quilting Mom to 7 and you can find her blog here - www.bohemiancotton.blogspot.com. I can't outdo the computer that came through her mailbox but I will be hunting down some treasures.Anna I will get in touch with you to get your postal details. ...

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Dear GodThank-you coming my house.AmenGrace, as offered at dinner earlier this week by Little E.Luminous Clouds hanging above our house yesterday afternoon. I adore the wavey fringes and just wish I knew more about clouds so that I could give this one a name. ...

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Last May I started on the Start Quilt Along. Now, well over a year later it’s on my bed.I’m really happy with it but it has taken some time. I had it long are quilted and picked it up in January this year. It has taken a while for the quilting to grow on me. At first I doubted the pattern, then the...

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I have been indulging in string piecing again. This time it was for Vintage Fern's block as part of the Stash busting bee. The aim was to make enough string fabric for a disappearing 9-patch block. As I got a little carried away, the remainder was framed up for a second block.Some reminders also -Louise of 20 Cent Mixture is hosting the NZ...

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I have a habit of planning to do far more in a day than I possibly could. Some days start out in an impossible rush and fizzle into a reality by morning tea time. Thursday, two weeks ago, was one of those days, but it was not so bad.I was planning to drop E off at crèche, drive up to the next town...

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I have a weakness for ticking. I love the way that a simple design can evoke such a feeling of nostalgia. Add some rick rack and I am completely over the moon. Now, both my daughters have ticking curtains.There was rush to get them finished for the spare room, allowing E some time in her new room before the arrival of her sister....

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