Winter is almost here ...... + A Printable Gift

Wednesday will be the first day of winter here in Tasmania and believe me it is freezing here all ready.  2 nights this week I have been huddled under a snuggly quilt in front of the fire with my stitching on my lap.  Even though it is cold outside it is one of my favourite times of the year for stitching.



I have been working on Block 2 of Berries and Blueberries - I am really enjoying this BOM although I am already 2 months behind LOL

I have also been playing with a few designs that have been in my sketch book for ages - I have no idea what they will become yet

But I am enjoying doing them and will put them aside until the inspiration hits me..........

And spending lots of time with my grandbabies.  Here is Madeliene acting all coy sharing her bowl of treats with her beloved "Mimah" Doll.  You may remember that this was a doll that I designed about 2 years ago now - Her and Madeliene are inseperable.  She is now looking very much worse for wear but is truly loved so that is the main thing !!

Now you all know how much I love sayings........  Whilst away on our little trip a few weeks ago we spotted another wonderful saying which is very apt for me.  I am by nature a worry wart when it comes to my family and things that affect our lives and have had plenty of reasons lately to add to the abundance of grey hairs which seem to be sprouting from my scalp at a rapid rate.  So I thought I would make the saying into a JPEG Printable to share with you all.

Just right click the image and save it to your computer.  I now have this written on the chalk board in my dining room to remind me to keep looking forward and not back.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Hugs - Fee XX

Monday Morning Bliss

Do you remember me telling you about having Monday's off - Well today being Monday is another day off and it is Blissful.  I have been so productive on these days  with no distractions and no timetable or agenda.  I just pick up whatever I feel like doing.  I have managed to finish my baby Hexies Quilt which I am going to call - "It's as easy as 1,2,3 ......."

The last few days have been pretty dull with lighting so I have found it hard to photograph but the colours are very bright and a nice contrast against the white.  I have had a lot of fun putting this one together.

It has 1 1/2" & 1" hexies

Sadly I am almost at the end of my Bubblegum Basics stash - I love it's freshness but there are so many new ranges coming out all of the time I am sure that I will find a new favourite.  I have an inkling that it is going to be Ruby.......  Be Still my Beating Heart........ You can see RUBY here .  Don't say I didn't warn you !!

Not one for waste I used the left over bits from the quilt to make this Book Bag for Tom.  He proudly tells me that he is allowed to borrow books from the Early Learning Centre Library now and that he needs a Big Strong Bag for his heavy books.  I never tire of listening to 3 year old chatter - He just has a way with words - LOL.  I had enough to cut out 5 of  these so all of the little people in our family will be receiving them as gifts.

So now it is time for a little break for morning tea whilst I browse your blogs and see what you have all been up to.  I think I could get used to this.......

I will be indulging in this gorgeous Apple Slice which is a Kerry Swain Recipe from her book Blackberry Jam & Cream.

Have you seen it before?  It has some great patterns in it along with some lovely recipes.  I wonder what I will get up to this afternoon - Whatever takes my fancy.......  and I am loving it !!

Hugs - Fee XX

Let's Get Stitched in Tassie

Want to come and join in all the fun and frivolity - A few little shopping excursions, a gala dinner and lots of stitching and giggling?  If so set aside the 9th, 10th and 11th March next year for some good old fashioned  fun !!  Lots more details to come soon.

Hugs - Fee XX

Tutorial - Removing Hexie Papers + A New Project

To say that things have been a little chaotic in our household the past few weeks would be an understatement.  But we had a little break in Victoria at the end of last week which helped immensely.  I am back at work now feeling a bit more refreshed.  I have been stitching up a new design in some brighter colours than I would normally use.

It is ready for the sewing machine to do it's magic now and then comes the horrible pattern writing - Not my favourite part at all.

I have been asked by a number of ladies about the gluing method of making hexies.  I first watched Sue Daley use glue and have found it to be wonderful.

You can use any type of fabric glue but I prefer to use Sewline glue pens.  Do not use too much and just fold and glue and then press down all the way around each hexie.  Then sew your hexies together to form a flower.  These flowers without centres are the type that I have used for my Lorraine's Flowers Table Runner which you will find in this month's Patchwork & Stitching Magazine.

As you can see the glue holds really well.

 Once you have joined your flower you can then begin to lift the fabric away from the cardboard.  I prefer to use a large florist pin to slide between the paper and the fabric.

As you can see it is much bigger than a normal sized pin.

Then once you have broken the seal on all sides of the hexagon paper you can use the pin to lift the paper out.  This avoids tearing of the paper which means thatyou can press it flat and then re-use it again.

There will be a few stitch marks where you have joined your flowers but the paper will be fine to re-use a few more times.

Once the paper is out press the folds down and continue all the way around removing papers.

Then press the entire flower flat to seal the folds.

To baste down onto your background fabric use some basting glue around the edges.

I prefer to use Roxanne's Glue-Baste-It



To ensure that nothing moves I also use tiny Clover Applique pins in the centre of each hexie.  Then you can sew down using your preferrred method (machine or needleturn).  I hope that these photographs have helped illustrate this easy method to you.

If you are wondering about the gorgeous fabrics I have used in the photo's it is Bubblegum Basics by Quilt Soup and this is a new quilt design that I have almost finished.  Hopefully I can show you it completed soon.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and be sure to hold those that you love close to you.

Hugs - Fee XX

Progress

How have you been?  Sorry it has been a little while - Life has been pretty hectic around here.  I have made some progress and have just a little more stitching to do on Block 1of Berries and Blueberries.  Block 2 is also pieced and ready to go.  I am really enjoying stitching these blocks and am really looking forward to seeing it all together one day.  Hopefully it won't become another long lost UFO........  I really hope not.



This week my very own woven labels arrived.

I am so in love........  They are so pretty........  I can't wait to start sewing them onto some of my creations.

I wanted to show you some of our new friends that have moved in.  Our garden is literally alive with bunnies !!!  This is looking out of my studio window.

They are enjoying eating our back lawn.



We have lots of babies too - We love spying on them out of the window -They have really made themselves at home here and we couldn't be happier.

Have a lovely week.  We are taking a little break but I will be back really soon.

Hugs,  Fee XXX

A Bit Blurry.....

The week went past in a bit of a blur and here we are parked at the weekend again - The term that Time flies is certainly true this week !!!  I received this gorgeous box in the mail from my friend Joy - Isn't it gorgeous !!  We did a little private swap - I sent her up some Jelly (as in Roll) and she sent me down this divine box which I will store hexie gear in for the "Confetti" quilt I just bought the pattern for.

Also this week I received a lovely package from Barb at Theodora Cleave.  She paints the most beuatiful wooden buttons and had a give away. I was lucky enough to win a gorgeous bag of buttons .

Look at them all - I am feeling so very spoilt.

I have a perfect project in mind for a number of them.

But of course some of them are way too good to actually use - They will just be kept and admired for a little while.

My friend Jo and I went treasure hunting this week.  I brought home a suitcase full.

Including some gorgeous glass pearls

This lovely mixing bowl

Some Vintage Needles



And some Mill House Glass Seed Beads for Needlework.

Lots of lovely treasure.

I am hoping to finish Block 1 of my Berries and Bluebirds quilt today so hopefully I can pop back tomorrow and show you it finished.

Do you have much planned this weekend?  I have a birthday in the house today - Kaitlin is 17 and had a sleepover last night so I am about to tidy up and bake the birthday cake for tonights family celebration.

Happy Mothers Day for tomorrow to all of the Mummies out there.

Hugs - Fee XX

The Sewing Assistant

Today I am linking up with Melody's Tuesday Treasures which this week is about our beloved pets.  Most of you would have met "Dreamer" or as he is commonly known around here         "Mc Dreamy" named after the dreamy doctor on Grays Anatomy - Surely you know the one???. 

All of these photographs were taken over a 3 hour period last night - He was on my lap the entire time.

It is a race each night between Dreamer and Jack to see who can get on my lap first and make it their own.

He has many positions over that 3 hours all of which are made without even opening his eyes.

I have become an expert at stitching with a cat on my lap - It's a case of having to.

He truly makes himself at home.

He is mummy's little man that's for sure.

I adore all of my pets and can't imagine not having them.  They bring us so much joy.



A huge thankyou to everyone who left comments yesterday - Thank you so much I truly had a wonderful relaxing day and am already looking forward to next Monday.

Hugs,

Fee XX