The Weekend

How was your weekend?  Mine was full of a number of "To Do's" on a list.  Last night I happily crossed off a few things that I had achieved - Some of which I can't show you yet including a tutorial for a friend's blog coming to you soon.

We managed to spend some time in the vegie patch and I am happy to report that it is looking slightly better than when I showed you last time.  Hopefully after a few more days work it might be worthy of another photo.  We managed to plant Zucchini, Tomatoes & Corn yesterday so still have a few more beds to get ready for more productive planting yet.

I managed to make a start on "The Friendship Tree" which is a sister project to the other Natalie Bird one I finished a few months ago.  I am really enjoying stitching it and I am contemplating if I should order the Christmas one too?

I made a little more progress on my "Rosalie Quinlan" Christmas Star

And I hung this quilt over my office chair to remind me that 3 months with binding sewn on is quite enough and that I must get it sewn down !

I finished a "new" project for a Brand New Club being launched over at "The Shabby Shack" on the 15th November - It is our 12" Mini Quilt Club

This gorgeous fellow is the November Quilt.  Each month club members will receive a new pattern and kit to make another 12" mini quilt - Imagine being able to change the quilt on display in your home every month?  This one is going to be lots of fun.  Details are over HERE  We also have a limited number of white stands in stock which will go on the web site in the next few days.

If you are a subscriber to my newsletter you would have received an e-mail this morning launching our "Gift of The Month Club" which begins onthe 1st November (although you can join at anytime).  The first pattern and kit is this adorable Shabby Roses Decorative Pillowcase designed by my dear friend Jenny of Elefantz.

There is so much going on at "The Shack" at the moment.  Very exciting times indeed.

Have a lovely Monday.

Hugs,

Fee xx

Busy, Busy & Embarassment

I've been trying to get myself organised and finish all of my commitments to the end of the year so I can have a little downtime over Christmas.  I want to try to avoid that pre-christmas rush if I can so I have finished the Framed Hexagons for the 4th month.  Here is a little peek of them before they were framed.

I have also been working on my "Blessings Sampler" in a new colourway.  The stitchery and applique is now complete so I just have the piecing left to do on this one.

And I have been working on a project which will be the first part in a new club coming to "Fee's Shabby Shack" in a few weeks.

I wanted to make sure that the project was easy to understand and make as it is not one of mine.  I have almost completed this one so now all I have to do now is to choose the fabrics which will be released in the first month of this club from the studio shelves.  Once it is finished I will be able to tell you all about it.

I have to say that I am very embarassed to show you this picture.  This is my beloved vegetable garden that has been very neglected over winter as you can see.  But there is a perfectly good reason.  I have wild rabbits that love getting in here and eating anything that I plant so our plan now is to wire the picket fence and fill up the gaps - Let's hope they don't dig in under !!  As you can see I have already cleared one bed next to the rhubarb ready for spring planting.

Hugs,

Fee X

Another step ......

You guys are just the best, the comments and e-mails have been lovely and I will get back to you all soon I promise.  Thanks for listening.

Today we took another step in the right direction and set-up the home office.  The equipment and supplies arrived and it was a lot of fun unpacking it and setting it all up in between packing orders for "The Shack"

This morning we ran errands - We took a list and had about 8 different stops - One of which was my first visit to Spotlight in about a year - I was desperate for some threads to finish off my BOM to be released in January.  I was a good girl and didn't buy anything that wasn't on my list except for 6 wine glasses for just $3.00 - I just had to have them - BARGAIN !

Tonight I will be finishing off the next 3 blocks in the Framed Hexagon Club to be released on the 1st November.  

This Club is so much fun - We have just started up a Blog for participants which hopefully will grow as the Club members discover it and start posting.  You can start at anytime and there are 72 Blocks to collect.  3 Blocks each month for 24 months at just $10.00.

Next week I will start on Month 4 which features the cutest little snail and a few more heartfelt verses.

How is your week going?

Hugs,

Fee xx

Life ........

I've been in a very reflective mood for the past few weeks.  It's funny how life changes from day to day and how we sometimes want to go back in time and go back to the way things used to be.

I remember clearly the joy of being able to stay at home with my children when they were little, the creative freedom it gave me and the licence to do whatever I wanted.

I remember trying to convince my husband into letting me go back to work when our youngest began school so I could contribute to the family income and make our lives "better"

I remember the fear of re-training and entering the corporate world once again and the time that it has taken me to get where I am today but now I feel my heart sliding back down the other side. 

The want and need for life to get simple again. 

I try very hard not to wish my life away but all I want is for life to be uncomplicated,  I want to enjoy the little things again and savour every moment instead of not having the time to enjoy any moments, because the little things do matter.  But the BIG things that can be avoided if life was to change, just get in the way.

Like sitting in the sunshine and relaxing, really sitting and really relaxing and not making 100 mental lists of the things that need to be done once I stop sitting in the sunshine - I know you will understand - It happens to you too - It happens to all of us.

But how do we get off this merry go round we are on?

I suppose we have to want it bad enough.  Be prepared to make the sacrifices and make a priority of the things that matter to us.  Shedding the things that don't ........

And do what makes us happy for our short stay in this life. 

As you know I have been making changes for the past few months, all of them have come from much thought, discussion and tears.  Letting go is always the hardest and the fear of the unknown the worst BUT each day I try to remind myself that I will fulfill my dreams in the end. 

Fear keeps creeping in and making me doubt my decisions, But I am trying very hard to steady my resolve and feel comfortable with the unknown.  Hopefully one day I will look back on this time and wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

But one thing I do know is that something has to change.  I do not want life to have passed me by and left me wondering what it would have been like had I chased my dream of a creative and simple life.



So now I am on a journey of the heart - If only my brain would just butt out ! 

For those of you that have supported part of that dream "Fee's Shabby Shack" I thank you from the deepest loving chambers of my heart.  Your support and custom has been amazing and I hope that The Shack can continue to bring some joy into your Inbox each day.  The calls and e-mails of support have been wonderful and I simply cannot thank you enough.



So for now I am keeping on the path of following my dreams.  Who knows where they will take me BUT one thing I do know for sure is that I will enjoy every moment of it, I will savour it and hopefully in the end I will be brave enough to endure it.

Love and Hugs,

Fee xx

A Finish, Some Treasures and Ugly Ducklings

My Dragonfly Coins Quilt is finally finished.  It has been beautifully quilted by my friend Dawn and The binding is on.  The pattern and Kit for this quilt are my Daily Deal today over at Fee's Shabby Shack.  The kit even comes with the pre-cut dragonfly's and all of the fabrics are identical to the original.

I managed to go on one short treasure hunt this week and found these delightful English Shabby Rose Plates - I love old mismatched china and can't wait to use them next time I entertain.

I found these two at the same shop - Aren't they pretty?

I received a text from Helen yesterday morning who was doing a spot of Garage Sale shopping and came across two ugly ducklings that she thought I might be interested in - After texting me the photos it was a very easy decision to say YES.  I can just imagine this one prettied up with some shabby fabric in the doors.

Hubby and I spent some time last week at furniture shops looking for a cupboard suitable for our bathroom - We had no luck BUT this beauty will be perfect for what we wanted - With some TLC she will be beautiful.

And here is the second ugly duckling - I know that you can see the potential in this one too - Imagine gorgeous crystal handles and a nice crisp white paint job - Yummo !!  I can't wait to get started on them which hopefully will be sometime this week.

Unfortunately I have had to face reality that Christmas isn't far away and if I am to stick to my resolution of last year of making gifts for my family and friends and not buying commercial stuff I had best get moving ! BUT I have decided to include items made by others so I will spend some time looking around Made It and Etsy to fill the gaps that I can't complete.  I think it is so very important to support other artists so it will be fun choosing just the right gifts for my loved ones.

This week I will make my list and see just how much I have left to do.

How about you - Are you starting to get a little scared at the prospect of Christmas creeping up on us?

We are off  out for dinner tonight so I had best get a wriggle on.

Hugs - Fee X

What was meant to be ......

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and no matter how well we plan sometimes things just don't work out the way we had hoped.  It seems that since the GFC and the bad economy of recent times,  that house prices have fallen considerably.  This is ok in normal circumstances because you usually make up what you lose when you buy but unfortunately not in our case.  We have spent some major $$ in the past few years on our beloved home and it seems that it now owes us more than it's worth so our plans to sell it have been put on hold - After all I love it too much to give it away !!

So instead we have decided to continue with the few changes we would have made to the house should we stay and have decided to re-assess our situation and change our future plans accordingly.  It means changing a lot of what we had planned but that's life.......  

What do you think of my new chairs I purchased last week?  They were the bargain of the century !!  Cream Leather Electric Recliners which retail at $1999 each, we purchased them from the local auction house for just $540 for the pair - can you believe it?  They have been on my wish list for sometime and I am thrilled to own them.

This week I have been paper piecing again - I can't seem to get enough of it lately - It is just so easy to do in front of the telly at night and I love fussy cutting to make up new shapes and patterns.  I now have 17 in my pile of "This Goes With That" Hexagons

Including this week's additions

I have also added some hexagons to my Shabby Hexagon Quilt stash - I am really enjoying doing these ones - A lot of them are made from my favourite fabrics and will be a constant reminder of them once it is made.

What do you think?  It has been hard cutting into some of my treasured pieces but I think it will be worth it in the end.

This afternoon I have fussy cut another batch ready to be sewn through the week.

What about you - What's in your sewing basket this week?

Hugs,

Fee XX