Pillowcases

So, I know I'm meant to be finishing the Wedding Quilt, but I changed my mind with the backing fabric and so I ordered something else (which I thought would have arrived by now). It wont matter if it's a bit late, who needs a quilt in this heat.
So, while I've been waiting for it to arrive, I've been making pillowcases.

I found this great charity Pillowcases for Oncology Kids on Facebook the other week and decided to help out and make some. Turns out the charity has been set up by a young girl in Queensland who has been through a lot by the sounds of it. What a great show of spirit to be able to do something like that. 

They are so fun to make and come together so quickly, I used Ashley's great tutorial found here.

I will definitely be making some more this year.

One Year Today

How cute is this kid? He turned one today. He loves chickens so of course, we had chicken cupcakes (googled, found some and copied). Too cute! I love this kid to the moon and stars and back.

Sunshine & Pinwheels

I started making this quilt a fair while ago. All the way back in December 2010. Then I blogged it here, that I was going to finish it. Well, I lied. I didn't finish it then. I must have gotten swamped, but I finished it this morning. 

I love it. I was given the fat quarter set for Christmas 2009 and I had no idea what line they were from or who they were. It was just a lovely yellow and green and teal fat quarter set. I didn't realize until yesterday that the majority of the prints were Heather Bailey! Once I found that out I ordered some more!

I have hand quilted around each pinwheel and around the sashing on the border. I'm in love with hand quilting now. It really makes the quilt extra special.

I want to keep it, I really do, but I've listed it in my Madeit store. Someone else should be able to enjoy its sunshine cheeriness!

Sweetwater, Joel and Jeni

So, the dairy farmers are getting married. The ones that own the farm that surrounds us. They are so lovely and fun and young and in love. I'm glad we know them. Anyway, for their wedding gift, I thought I'd make them a quilt. Silly me. It is nine days away. I don't know if I'll finish it in time. 

There was a lot of cutting

There's been a lot of sewing

The blocks look like this 

And the finished quilt should look something like this, from the new Sweetwater book A Simple Home.  But it will be a bit different. I'm using Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry (love it)  It's a big quilt and I'm really hoping that I can pull it off in time. Especially as I hope to hand quilt it too. I know, I must be dreaming, crazy, lost the plot. Oh well, It's the thought that counts.

And speaking of thinking, I was thinking what to make Ben's grandma for Christmas, a bit late I know, but we  are only just seeing her now. Anyway, she is a mad keen knitter so what better to make for her than a knitting bag. She currently uses a plastic shopping bag.

I know everyone has been making these and I so have I. Well, one other one using Jeni from In Color Order's  tutorial , I did in the size that the tut said. But I thought it was a bit small for Ma's knitting, so I made this one bigger. It measures 16in x 20in and to jazz it up a bit more I appliqued it. She loved it and so do I. It's a great tutorial and a great pattern and so easy to change the sizing to what ever you need.

I'm off to continue the wedding quilt. xxx

Meet Xav

This is Xav.













Big Xav he's known as around here. He's one of my riding horses that I haven't been riding. That is until this week.  Last Sunday to be exact.
This is what he looks like from where I sit. He's very high up, meaning it's a long way to fall, but I'm trying not to think about that! Having babies changes things that's for sure!




















It is (more than) nice having the time to myself to be able to get on, no kids around and do something that used to be the biggest part of my life (and losing some of the waistline too!)

New Piggies!!

We have new piggies!

 How cute are they! There are 10! Yep ten!

This little guy is my favorite! All black with two white front legs

                                 
Mum is a Tamworth, Dad is a Wessex Saddleback (a HUGE one!)
Can't wait to see them out running around! Mum is doing well, and they all seem healthy and active, even the runt.

A Saucy Affair

Today I turned these lovelies

Into this. 

One of our favorite things here at home. Every year I plant more tomato plants, make bucket loads of sauce, and every year we still run out! It is never enough. 

I use the Ezy Sauce recipe and doctor it a fair bit, adding herbs, zucchini, balsamic vinegar and capsicum. Sometimes I roast the tomatoes and capsicum first, that makes for great pasta sauce. The recipe calls for 9kgs of tomatoes, but I find that a bit over whelming, so I divide it in thirds. Easy. I can highly recommend making your own.

The mulberries are ready...

I think these photos speak for themselves really!

Taali Quilt Done!

Well, I didn't finish it on New Years Eve, but I did finish it this morning, and I love it!

Just nice and simple, showing off the fabrics. It measures 112cm x 102cm - perfect baby size.

For the back, just little sheep (love the little sheep!). I've listed this in my shop.