sunny days

I've been trying to finish off this tote for a friend's birthday and it's finally done! I usually have trouble matching up the lining and outside fabric (and end up with little gathers) but I think I might have gotten away with just a small pucker this time. I also attached the handles to the outside for a change and did a wobbly little criss cross.....it was a little trickier than I thought it would be.

And while the machine was out, I sewed up these cushion covers. I haven't made cushions before so the back is an envelope closure. Now I have to work out how to make buttonholes on my machine before I add on some buttons!

Now it's time to head outdoors....the sun is out and it's a beautiful day!!!

where do the hours go?

Looking forward to the weekend and hoping there will be some time to sit and sew up some of the ideas that are swirling around in my head.

Thanks for your comments, the two names picked for the giveaway are Allison and Kirsten! (please leave your email in the comments so that I can get in touch with you)
Have a great weekend everyone!

one year on

Have you seen these Petit Pattern Books? I managed to find the one on Scandinavian Style and it is full of beautiful geometric patterns that are also provided on a CD so that you can upload them on your computer and copy or change them as you like! It's a beautiful book and I'm looking forward to playing around with the patterns. Here are a couple of my favourites.....

isbn: 9784861003868 (take a look at print & pattern for more)

It has also been one year since I started this blog. I'm not very good at posting as I find it hard to juggle everything all at once most of the time. I do enjoy it though and I'm happy to just go along at my own little pace. I appreciate each and every comment that is posted and to say thank-you I'd like to send a couple of goodies your way! One is a japanese craft book on aprons and the other is an issue of Cotton Friend (current issue) which is packed with goodness. Just leave a comment and I will pick out a couple of names in a few days!

new home

The quilt is all finished and has a new home now!

sashiko

It's school holidays and we have been busy here trying to keep the little ones entertained each day. This morning we braced the cold and ventured out to the grower's market where we found some deliciously sweet strawberries. I planned to spend the afternoon baking with the kids, using the strawberries but they just didn't last long enough!

I also recently found a sashiko kit and made this little patch. It is a form of traditional stitching used in Japan, originally used to hold layers of fabric together for extra warmth. I really like the simple geometric patterns and one of my favourites is this wave pattern. The kit came with a stencilled piece of fabric which made it easier to stitch these waves. You can find them from abundia if you like. Not sure what I'm going to do with the patch now, maybe turn it into a pocket for something?

spots and stripes

The quilt top is done! The pattern is from here and I used very similar fabrics as I liked it's bright and happy colours. I changed the border fabric to a deeper blue as it is for a boy and the original has more reds and pinks.


Now it's time to sandwich it together and start the hand quilting!

moopies

What do you do when friends and family are all popping out babies? Make mini-moopies of course!

card making

I visited the shoppe not long ago and couldn't resist these beautiful cards. They arrived so quicky (unusual for us in Australia!) and were packaged so perfectly. They inspired me to make some cards over the weekend.....

When we were in Japan we found a beautiful washi store in Ginza that sold traditional japanese paper. There were so many patterns and styles and I ended up choosing red, navy and white designs. I used them on these cards underneath teardrop patterns.

.......and on the back, I used a traditional Korean stamp with my name carved out on it in Korean characters.

friday

I love fridays. I can start to relax at around 3pm when I've picked up the kids from school/kindy and we're on the way home. No more rushing around, trying to bath and feed them and having them in bed by 7pm. It's even better when you know you will have a morning to yourself the next day. I'll be spending the morning with a friend for a coffee and a catch-up (hopfeully some shopping too!).

There is so much I want to do this weekend.....finish off a quilt top, do a little sewing, make some cards, start a new quilt and the list goes on. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

beads n wire

We went to visit my sister-in-law's bead store on Saturday and It was just like going into a button shop, colours everywhere and so much to choose from!


These tiny floral beads are my favourite.....

We spent Sunday threading them up, making bracelets for Ash, Josh and their friends....might have to visit again this weekend!

Beads N Wire, Shop 5, 7 Hillcrest Road, Pennant Hills 2120

wip

I have a bit of trouble coming up with quilt ideas for boys. I always end up choosing floral themed fabrics and tend towards red stripes or spots. This one is for my nephew and it's looking very bright....we'll have to see how it turns out. I'm hoping to finish it before his christening in July so fingers crossed!

change of mind

I started this quilt months ago when I found out I was going to be an aunt and it turned out to be a very girly quilt. I now have a new nephew James so I have had to start another one! Ash has claimed this one for herself and it just covers her as she is three.

It's a simple quilt, nine inch squares and hand quilted with a criss cross pattern. I'm so glad it's finished!

coming up for air

It's been a busy few months. I took a small break to spend time with the kids, get used to new routines and to try and get a little more organised around here. I can now pack two sets of lunches in 5 minutes, half asleep, at six in the morning!

We made a trip to Japan and Korea to visit friends and family in April. It was wonderful (and tiring) to take Josh and Ash away. We just missed the cherry blossom festival but managed to find a few still in bloom!

big school

Guess who started school?
He is having a great time and I'm happy to say that there were no tears on the first day (from Josh or from me!). We are now getting used to new routines......earlier bedtimes, morning traffic, packing lunches, ironing uniforms and tying up shoelaces!

happy australia day!

It was Australia Day yesterday and we celebrated at home with friends, a bbq and yummy pavlovas! They were fun to make and decorate, although I forgot the most essential ingredient.....passionfruit. I thought something was missing, they just weren't the same without passionfruit and now we have half a dozen sitting in our fruitbowl. I think I will have to make another batch today!

I've also been tagged by Tiff, to mention 5 things that I haven't mentioned before on this little blog! I find it difficult to say too much about myself and my family, which is why I prefer taking and posting up pictures. So for a change I am going to let you know a little bit more about us.........

1. I'm 34, been married for 7 years, work part-time and have two little ones that keep me busy!

2. I was born in West Germany, to Korean parents and have been living in Australia since I was 2.

3. I can't cook (much prefer cleaning). I can't resist a good recipe book but always end up baking up something from the dessert section.

4. I studied economics and didn't like it, which is why it took me 6 years to finish a 3 year degree!

5. I love being an at home mum.

I'd like to tag Ali and Kirsten, if you haven't been tagged already!

three and six

Miss Ashley turned three yesterday! I can't believe how quickly the time has passed and how much she has grown up in the past few months. She always loved her dummy as a baby and when she turned 2, we took it away from her as she hardly spoke at all and we were getting a little worried. Now she is 3 and a little miss chatterbox who always has something to say!

I took these cupcakes to kindy for Ash and her friends (I didn't bake them), they are from babycakes where they make delicious baby cupcakes. The cupcakes themselves are yummy in many different flavours, but the little ones still ended up just licking the icing off anyway!

I've been tagged by Ali , here are six weird things about me.....
- I love doing laundry. I won't let anyone touch the laundry as I love to sort, hang and fold the washing almost each day!
- I love green thai curry that my husband makes, and can it eat it for breakfast.
- I can't go to sleep in an unmade bed. Even if I am going to bed in 5 minutes, I have to make the bed before I get in.
- I don't like animals without legs. Snails and worms terrify me!
- The toilet paper roll has to have the paper hanging over the top, if it isn't, I turn it around.
- I can't wear the colour white. I have white tops but if I put them on, I change my mind as I feel like a lightbulb.

Most people I know have already been tagged so feel free to join in!

starting again

Thank-you for all your suggestions and comments on making a quilt label. They are a big help and I am going to give them a try as they all sound like great ideas......I will let you know how I go! I started on another quilt a few weeks ago, with applique which is something I haven't tried before. I've done my first square and only have 35 more to go! Not sure how long this will take me as it is fiddly and trickier than a straight running stitch (which is why I like my square patches).

all finished

My very first quilt is finally finished! It's all stitched, hand quilted and binding has been done. I thought it would just take a couple of months to complete but it took a whole 6 months (and it's only a cot sized quilt)! I've learnt a lot, mainly that these things take time and I've really enjoyed making it. Now it is all bundled up and ready to be sent to it's new home. The only thing is, I haven't been able to find any quilt labels that I like. I'm looking for something simple, does anyone have any ideas?

small things

This is a small drawstring pouch I made for a friend with a little present tucked inside and a small vintage button on the front. We had a fun Christmas with Josh and Ash, watching them unwrap their pressies from Santa and sharing Christmas dinner with family. This Christmas has been a special one for us, it has made us realise how important family is and to remember our loved ones. I hope you have also had a lovely Christmas.

happy christmas

Happy Happy Christmas! We have three birthdays in December and one in January for our family so it's always a busy time of the year for us. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday with your loved ones!