update on all things Crafty

well, the first update is of course on my best creations (awwwwwwwwwwww) the cuties!

 this is the little human (now 2 and 1/2) in his big boy pj's - thomas the tank of course. he was very proud to wear them (coz thats what big boys wear when they sleep in big boy beds apparently), but after a few minutes in bed there was much carry on. when i went in, he complained that he couldn't get comfy because of the buttons down the front ;) so back into his tshirt he went! but the boxers stayed!

and this is the puglet, now 4 months, DESPERATELY trying to roll over.  i remember this stage with the little human - they get SO frustrated that they can't do it.  she can get herself onto her side, and has managed all the way to the front once, but thats all - other than a lot of grunting, and then crying!

now onto my blocks that i received in the swap for September - lucky me!

this is my beautiful wonky star for the Christmas Block Swap from Janet

and this is my shooting star block from Terry for the Quilting Block Swap.  im not sure if she did it on purpose, but the red star in the middle is great!

and finally, i finished the Cat in the Hat quilt for the little human a couple weeks ago.  he loves it!  he insists on sleeping with it so that the label is up near his face.  i just wrote the normal details on it, but he says that i wrote that 'mummy made this quilt for me because she loves me'.  im happy with that

pugs and kisses always
crafty
xx

crikey! where does the time go?

wow - the last date in this blog is last month!

i have been crafting, but haven't been blogging - sorry!

here is what i have been working on in the evenings - the stitchery parts for my mother in laws 60th quilt. it is coming together nicely! one is her fave bible verse, and the other is the centre square for the quilt. i have also ordered the photos on fabric so hopefully they will be ready this week and i can piece it all together!

this is a photo of a quilt in use!! my mum always says 'but what do you do with all these quilts' and 'how many do you need!' etc, but she was happy to see how much little human loved having this one on his new big boy bed.  there is something very special (and a bit emotional!) about seeing a little one that you love snuggled under something you have made especially for them with your own hands

and this is my final Pay It Forward gift - a tablerunner - on its way to Lana in the US.  I hope it gets there safe and sound!

my projects for this week are to iron all the backing fabric for two quilts i have ready to go.  the little human's cat in the hat quilt - which he is now begging for!  and a jungle quilt for the puglet's bed.

also, now that i have finished the stitching for my mum in laws quilt, i am back onto the butterfly garden quilt - and really enjoying it!

a couple of quick photos of my cuties to finish with - somehow, puglet is now over 3 months old!  she had her vaccinations yesterday and had a huge sleep last night and is still asleep for her morning nap now.  this is very unusual for her - she is a catnapper because of her reflux.  but i am happy to take it for today!!! i think i will go and make a cuppa and sit and watch the little human with his play dough :)

pugs and kisses always
crafty
xx

some crafty photos!

i know! about time i show some craft on this so called crafty blog!!

here are my gorgeous mug rugs that i have received from lynne - i love them both, but especially the more modern one.

she also included these gorgeous reusable fabric gift bags!  there is a tute on her blog if you want to create some too

now some blocks - this one is from robyn for me for last months christmas block swap

this i made for sharon in canada for this months swap

and this is my block for this month from the lovely leena for the quilting block swap

and the one that i made for her - man i found the mitred corners difficult!!

i also finished off my second Pay It Forward gift and that has been sent!  this is for Linden - a table runner

phew!  i think i am now up to date!
to finish a photo of the little human.  he loves to help out with everything, and as anyone who has ever had a 2 year old knows, that help can mean a huge hassle!! he he

he is desperate to help mummy with her 'craft' as he says, but i don't let him touch my machine.  so he found this hole puncher under my desk and a scrap of fabric and calls that his sewing machine.  he pushes the lever up and down on the fabric and then holds it up and says 'mmmmm'.  when i ask if he is happy with it, he says 'mmmm yes, very nice'.

such a cutie!!!!!

now tonight is FNSI, so i have to go and get everyone organised so i can sit down and sew!!! hope you get some done too

much love, pugs and kisses
crafty
xx

some photos of my cuties

can't resist showing these off!

here are my two, last weekend. little human now nearly 2 and a half years old, and the puglet is now 12 weeks old

puglet has found her smile

and this is a series of photos from when we went to a cafe for my mum's birthday.  we all got coffees afterwards, and the little human got a babycino and a gingerbread man (his fave)

look everyone, ive got a gingerbread man!

isn't he beautiful?!

hello gingerbread man

i will love you forever!

and smother you with kisses

he got so attached to the gingerbread man that he couldn't eat him.  we had to take him home with us, and the little human held onto him in the car the whole way home!

too cute!

pugs and kisses
xx

Vignette heaven

look what arrived in the post the other day!

this is the quartlery publication by my favourite design Leanne Beasley from Leanne's House.  Her stuff is SOOOOOO beautiful.  Maria was blogging about one of the great projects, and i had to get the latest issue, and the back issues (of course!)

and now i am hooked - i have read them over and over and over again, but stopped myself from starting anything until i have cleared some of my backlog of projects!

hope you have had some inspiration this week too

much love
crafty
xx

p.s. it was a lovely day in adelaide today, and so we went to the park to feed the ducks - a very underrated kiddie activity!  here is the little human in full flight :)

bits and pieces

hi!
ive enjoyed a quick fly around some of my fave blogs just now - and people have been doing some really lovely things! i love the soft colours that people seem to be using at the moment - just beautiful!

well, here are the things that i have been working on....

this is a (dodgy) sneak peek photo of my Christmas in July Mug Rug Swap that we ran through the Christmas Block Swap.

the back...

the front....

just have to get some little pressies to put in and then send it off to my partner.

next is my finished cat in the hat quilt top!  im really happy with it - the colours are great, and i like the way the four patches make a pattern diagonally.  i am about to start work on the back - my dad has written out the story of cat in the hat on fabric for me (he has neat handwriting!) and i am going to cut it up and piece it into the back.

and my final creation is a pin cushion for my mum.  she is a bit 'anti-craft' in that she thinks it is all a bit much (why would you cut up fabric just to sew it together again?.....and how many quilts does a person need anyway?).  i gave her a pin cushion that i had made, but didn't have a use for and she said that she didn't want it because pins always go through pin cushions and prick her leg when she mends in front of the telly (her extent of craft work!).

so this one has a piece of cardboard sewn into the bottom piece of fabric, and then is stuffed with polyfill.  i am going to see her on tuesday and will give it to her then - so i will let you know her thoughts :)

and to finish with - a piccie of the little human enjoying a day at the zoo - its always great when the get to interact with the animals!

much love and kisses
crafty

xx

i am back in the world of the internet!

oh my gosh!  can you belive that i have not had internet since the 3rd of march (or a home phone for that matter)
what a nightmare - you can see why people never swap service providers for anything!!!!!!
but anyhoo, it is sorted now, and all is well

so to update all that has been happening.....

LITTLE HUMAN
- the little human just had his 2nd birthday - that went very fast somehow?
here with a pressie from his uncle

 here having a good time at his birthday party, complete with bump on head from earlier fall :)

and the bob the builder cake i made him for the party

he has also discovered jumping......lots and lots.  he loves it!  he goes to kindergym and they had a photographer there last week - this is him in full happy flight

PUGLET
- pregnancy going well - now at 32 weeks and feeling HUGE and tired all the time.  booked in for a mandatory c-section on the 26th of May, so only 6 weeks to go!!!! yay
all fine with the baby - one last scan next week to check on position of placenta, and then the count down is truly on!

CRAFT
all right - lets get to it!

- block swaps
this is a sneak peak of this months wonky star block to Minette for the quilting block swap

this is what i received last month from shauna - don't you just love this pattern!  soooo awesome - can't wait to put together all the beautiful blocks that i am receiving

this is a sneak peak of the block i made for cheryl for the christmas quilting block swaps.  she asked for a log cabin in christmas colours

and this is what i got last month from heather - the little stars and moons are actually santas - so cute!!

- easter swap
i was lucky enough to get in on Jewell's easter swap this year!  this is the parcel i sent off to Portugal for my lovely lady - containing, as specified, some chocs (haighs of course, in a travel suitable package!), an easter flannel, a craft mag, and an easter tea towel (eggcellent easter - he he , still cracks me up!)

- stuff for baby
finally finished the wall quilts for puglets room!!!!  they are up, but i still have a few ends to trim when i can be bothered :)
(for some reason my computer won't let me upload that photo to the blog...... not sure what that is about!  will try again next post?)

before the little human was born, i made him a blanket, embroidered with a duck in wool.  just a lovely project to make, but not overly practical once he was born.  he was a chucker and i couldn't be bothered carefully washing the blanket every time etc etc, so i stopped using it all together.  so this time, i decided to just make quilts.
i have finished the quilt top for both a boy, and a girl - ill find someone to give the other one to once we have had ours!

i have also made a nursing cover!  big thanks to Freshly Picked for the tutorial.  i am very happy with how it turned out.  i couldn't find them for cheaper than $50 on the net, but the materials for this one cost about $11.  very happy!  for those not familiar with them, it is for breastfeeding in public.  its like a wide apron with some boning in the front so you can keep on eye on the little one.  ive put some terry cloth in both corners on the inside for cleaning up spew, and a pocket in the front, which i imagine will be used for the little human to keep his trains in :)

i am also working on a baby sling at the moment, so will let you know how that turns out!

- presents
my gorgeous friend nat had a baby girl a few weeks ago, and i made this little wiggle-around quilt for her

- hexie flowers
well, i have taken the plunge.  after watching sue daly on a quilter's companion dvd, i thought i would like to have a go at paper piecing.  so i found a pattern from a mag, and just decided to have a go!  i have bought pre-cut papers, and a template for cutting the little hexies, and am finding it quite soothing.  and such a portable project!  i have taken them to my obstetrician's rooms many times to wait, and have found that before i know it, it is my turn!  i think they will also be good for the hospital stay with the puglet.....they are saying 7 days in, and i know that hubby will be out and about with little human more this time, so i may have some down time......perhaps ill sleep though :)

so i have to make about 120 of these (see below) and then join them together with more hexies to make the quilt....i haven't picked the fabric to join them all up....any suggestions?

whew!  i think that is it - all updated!
and internet still going strong - all good :)

thanks for reading and many pugs and kisses to you and yours
xx