How is your week going?

Are you having a good week? We still have snow around us and it is not very warm. But it is great weather for stitching. Look what the mailman brought me this week. A lovely pincushion and pins sent to me by my friend Vicki - I guessed correct in a competition she ran on her blog and this was my prize. I will treasure it Vic.

So with the weather so cold I have been stitching each evening - I have 2 more blocks finished for my Simle Pleasures quilt. That makes 6 and I am working on No 7. Just 5 more to go.


I have also been working on a new design in some fun bright colours using that little silver item there - I wonder what it is? Do you want to guess? I will send the first person who can guess correctly something special in the mail.

I have also been playing with some hexies for another new project. Don't forget that tomorrow is the day that Block 2 is released and the Giveaway is drawn.

New Identity

Good Morning...... It is very chilly here today - Snow down to the 200m level so all over the hills around us.

Recently I have reflected on the future direction of my business. I have decided that I will no longer operate "Mothers Cupboard" and have instead decided to re-name the business - "Designs by Fee". I have a new blog header and a new domain name. It shouldn't affect the way you see my blog as it has just been moved to the domain name and all traffic will be re-directed by the host. I hope that I haven't caused you too much confusion.

Don't forget that Block 2 of my Flowers of Love FREE Blockof the Month will be released on Friday.

Another Busy Weekend in the MC Household.......

This weekend has gone past in a blur........ I am Chief Taxi Driver around here and have spent the majority of the weekend ferrying the family around. I did manage to move some recently painted furniture into the house. Here is a little occassional table with metal feet. I have had it for ages and have only just painted it. I am really happy with the way it has turned out.

Do you remember the blue book case that I purchased a few weeks ago?


It is finally painted and in our dining room.

It looks a little bare at the moment but Mr MC assures me that I will collect more "junk" to put on it in the coming weeks - LOL........ He really has no appreciation for treasures......

I have a few more pieces of furniture undercoated and waiting for more coats - Hopefully this week I will find the time.....

Slowly but surely I am working away on my Simple Pleasure Blocks - I am 1/2 way through Block 5 at the moment.

and I have finished 2 designs this week. Here is my "Heartfelt Doily"

I finished stitching this yesterday whilst watching the footy. Did you watch the amazing draw too....... How cool that we get to watch another game for the season. I did feel very sorry for the players though they all played so hard.

And I finished a Hanging Fragrant heart stuffed with gorgeous home grown lavender.

I am cooking Chicken Wellingtons tonight for dinner and had best go and take them out of the oven. I hope you had a lovely weekend.

A Finish, Some Re-Styling and Some Inspiration

After stalking the mailman for 2 days my Bliss yardage finally arrived yesterday and I was able to finish my latest design "Blissful Garden"

It is now all packed up and ready to be shipped off to the quilter to work her magic. As soon as it arrives home and is bound I will introduce you to her.

I recently purchased 2 of these vintage lamp shades from the local thrift shop for 50c each. Tonight I decided to give them a new look.

I decided on some pink and white gingham with some white trim.

And some soft cream with pink feathers and ecru trim.

And transformed them into "shabby lovelies"

They were so easy to do with just spray on adhesive and craft glue.

A huge box of new stock arrived this week for my Ebay shop including this beautiful hand dyed wool in the most beautiful colours. This will be my weekend inspiration and I am pretty sure that I know what it wants to be made into. Stay Tuned.......

Seude Thimble Pads, Embroidery Scissors, Wool Felt, Buttons, Sun Bonnet Sue Quilt Squares and much much more have just been listed from this latest shipment. Pop over here for a LOOK SEE.

Today's "New" Treasure's

Today is Treasure Tuesday over at Clare's. I thought that I would show you some "New Treasure's" today. We had a look around the trash and treasure market again this weekend and I managed to find 2 new additions to our household. This gorgeous little house is made from wood and tin and when you open up the front door you can put a little tea light inside. Isn't it cute?

I also found these 2 painted louvre doors. They already have picture hangers on the back so they are ready to be mounted on a wall. I just have to find the perfect spot.

Something else that "I love" around here is this lovely "Flowering Gum" which is just outside our bedroom window and attracts so much bird life. One of my favourite things is to lay in bed on a sleepy Sunday morning and watch the birds playing amongst the branches.

Do you remember when I showed you this? I have been painting up a storm lately and have just given it a final coat of paint.

Here it is...... All transformed with a bit of "Shabby Love"

Bbbbbbbrrrrrr Spring where are you?

Mother Nature is a little confused at the moment yesterday she sprinkled us with snow and sleet and turned on the wind machine to HIGH. What is going on? It is Freezing and not like Spring at all....... I hope that she is feeling a little better today. Nevertheless the Spring Bulbs have still decided to bless us with their blooms. Here is one of my double daffodils - Isn't it pretty?

The Garden is just waking up and the scent is incredible.

This Giant Hyacinth is bursting it's sides to bloom - Just another few days I think......

Not a great shot but this is the side of my nose..... I have had a few health issues for the past 6 months and along with that comes "vertigo"..... I had another "episode" on Tuesday night and fell into the wooden doorway and cut my nose open. I am back on the doctor merry go round and get shipped off to yet another specialist in a few weeks time - Tralalala

So the best idea is to "just sit" when I am feeling like that and of course do a little stitching. This is part of a new project just completed for publishing.

Even though I haven't been able to show you very much stitching I can tell you that I have been very busy stitching all of the blocks for "Flowers of Love" and just have a few more left to do now. How are you going with yours? I have received some beautiful photographs of blocks and will have a show and tell over the weekend.

Finally I wanted to show you a gift that I have just bought to put in Amy's Christmas Stocking. "Sublime Stitching"

Amy loves to stitch but struggles to find things that she likes to stitch - As she is a beginner she needs clean cut stitching and easy tracing. This iron on transfer book is perfect for her.

It is full of cute little stitcheries - A5 size.

I bought it from HERE . It was just $12.07 with FREE delivery from the UK. I am going to purchase her a few more over the next few months as it is her birthday in February too... Pop over and take a look - They are great if you have a budding stitcher in your life. Have a great stitchy weekend !!

Good Monday Morning

Good Morning................... It is a very chilly one here in Brighton this morning. I took an early walk around the garden and picked these lovely little grape hyacinth's. They look lovely in the little vase that I found treasure hunting last week. Lots of my bulbs are bursting with buds so we will have some lovely cut flowers in the house for the next few weeks.

As promised here is a picture of the project that I have been working on using those Bloom fabrics.

I just love the sentiment on my "Friendship Cushion".

And here is the second project that I have been working on using the same fabrics. It is a quilt called "Flowers In Bloom".

These are the first 2 blocks. The rest are all cut out and ready to stitch.

How are you coming along with your first block in my Flowers of Love BOM? I would love to see your finished block. Please e-mail me some pics - goldwen at bigpond dot com.

It is my day off today so I will flit around with the vaccum cleaner and then settle down in front of the fire for an afternoon of stitching.