The Future

Wouldn't it be nice if sometimes we could get a little glimpse of what the future holds for us?  I work in an industry which is totally reliant on government funding for it's existence.  The whole world is going through a tough financial period and our little state of Tasmania is not exempt.  Our government has had to make lots of harsh and hard decisions and I fear that I am about to become one of it's victims in the near future.

Even though that would mean a financial disaster in many ways for us - I know that we will make it through one way or another - My frugal ways will come in very handy I am sure.  Don't get me wrong it's not all gloom and doom - I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and maybe that phase of my life is coming to an end and I am ready to open another door?   

I have been planning and plotting for months for what may be the next phase and in some ways I feel that I am prepared for whatever happens.  It could be just the push I need.........

One thing is for sure I miss blog land.  I haven't been around much lately but that's about to change.  I have missed visiting all of your gorgeous blogs and I have missed telling you about what has been happening around here.

Today was a day off for me but mother nature didn't play fair - It was a dark and dreary day of just 8 degrees.  No sunshine at all.  Bring on Spring !

I did manage to finish off a project today for a magazine commission and wrote a pattern

And I framed this gorgeous stitchery of Natalie Bird's that I finished during the week.

And of course I had my fur babies to keep me company as Mr Fee is interstate at the moment.  Hasn't little Charlie grown?  He is off to his first Cat Show on Sunday.  I hope he likes it.

I'll be back really soon.

Hugs - Fee XX

It's Just A Mixing Bowl .....................

It's just a mixing bowl or is it?  Are there objects in your life that remind you of happier times?  Of treasured people in your life?

Whilst wandering around a local auction house at an estate sale last week I came across a lot of 5 boxes of mixed sundries.  Bundled up amongst this lot was this mixing bowl.  The exact same bowl that my grandma had.  The bowl that she would flip onto it's side and hand whip butter to a cream.  The bowl that so much homemade goodness came from.

I just had to have it.  I bid probably far way more than I should have but it was all for the bowl......  I am now the proud owner of it and even though it didn't belong to my grandmother she had an exact replica.

So now everytime I use it I will be reminded of her and inspired to create as much goodness as she did from hers.  It was wonderful for mixing up a double batch of rissoles at the weekend and also for baking a 4 tiered rainbow cake for Miss Mia's second birthday.

But I had help.  My daughter Sam has been unwell so both Tom and Maddie came to stay with me for the weekend and helped me bake Miss Mia's birthday cake.  Maddie loved doing the dishes.

Look how proud she is of our accomplishment.

She made me cups of tea and cake all weekend from her delightful little wooden tea set.

Isn't it just the cutest little set you've seen?  And apparently just $10 from K Mart if you are inclined to get yourself or a little person in your life one.

Hugs - Fee X

Planning, Plotting & Sewing

I am a Dreamer, A Plotter and A Planner.  I like to know where I'm going, What I'm doing and How I'm going to do it.  I don't do - "Let's just see what happens....."  very well at all. 

Life is full of topsy turvy changes and for us it means a few changes will have to happen in the coming year.  I'm not sure how we'll go but I will be planning and plotting until we get there.   How about you do you have to plot and plan too or are you just happy to see what happens and deal with it when it does?



Part of being a plotter and planner is that I make lists - Lots of them.  I currently have a list of To Do's in the sewing room along with some work in progresses of which this gorgeous Natalie Bird Sampler is one.  I am really enjoying stitching this one.

Another thing I enjoy is playing in swaps - I love making gifts for other people and I also love receiving them.  Here are my gifts that I received from Marina in Cheryl's "A Little Bit French" Swap.  My partner hasn't blogged about hers yet so I will wait to show you the gifts that I sent.

I joined a Santa Sack swap too over at Cheryll's and this is the sack with some gifts that I sent my partner Melody. 

And this is what she sent me - It is going to be a lot of fun.

Today is my day off and I have 3 patterns to write for magazine commissions and a dilly bag to finish off so I had best get back to the studio.  This is a little sneak peek of a Gingerbread themed quilt for Patchwork & Stitching's Christmas Issue.

I hope you have a great Hump Day and an even better finish to your week.

Love and Hugs - Fee X

Auditioning A New Sewing Assistant & A New Quilt

It is no secret that this household loves animals.  We have lots of pets including a number of cats.  We do attend shows every month and now my middle daughter Kaitlin has caught the showing bug and has a new baby who will attend his first show at the end of the month.

His name is Charlie (aka Prince Nikolai officially) and he is a Siberian Forest Cat.  His parents were imported to Australia from Sweden.  The breed is a centuries old breed from Russia.

Much to my delight Charlie loves to help me in the sewing room and often can be found each evening on my lap helping out with embroidery

Tonight he wanted to audition as my new sewing assistant as Dreamer is just way too sleepy and the abys are way too fiddly,  but look what happened !  Charlie fell asleep on the job - Right in the middle of cutting calculations for the new quilt I was putting together.  We were doing the math and the next thing I knew he was snoring !

Look at the look I got when I questioned his commitment to the job !  Men !!  I think the job will just have to be filled by one of the female kitties.

So without his assistance I began the task of putting together a new quilt top

Luckily the cutting calculations were correct - No thanks to Charlie.......

I am now onto the next border but I am going to call it a day and catch up on some much needed beauty sleep.  Hopeully Candy will be willing to give me a hand tomorrow?

Or will she?  It looks like these two are hatching some sort of plan.

Until next time,

Hugs - Fee x