February 2014 and I’m back in Blogland!

The story of my death has been totally exaggerated! Just keeping my head above water, with full time work, many things have slipped, and Facebook has me in it’s deathlike grip!

Foolishly I thought when I bought my first smart phone I would be content to just puddle around with it, still keeping up with my other modes of communication.  Sadly I am a changed woman, and perhaps not for the better…..I use my tablet and my phone almost to the exclusion of all other communication tools, so here my laptop sits waiting for me to come back to her and spend some quiet time together!

The situation is not helped by the fact that one week I’m in bed before 9pm and the other week not home from work before 11pm. Even so, I’m sure there are a few moments between sleeping and being at work I can make the time to keep a record of what I do in my sewing room or of the many other things I’d like to have a journal-like record of for the future.

A number of years ago I had a blog-book printed and it was so interesting to look back at what I had accomplished so let’s see if I can get my groove back and blog-on!

First things first, here is an updated photo of my beautiful grand children, my how they’ve grown!

Photo’s of Quinn & Brooklynn at one day old to remind me of how it all began.

Brooklynn & Quinn now!

 

While I have been doing very little stitching, I have managed to make some cards and get lots of reading done.

 

This project was for a swap we had at our Brisbane SC Quilters group  At the Christmas breakup day we swapped “Ugly Fat Quarters” then it was suggested we make something with our “Ugly” and swap again at our first GTG for 2014.  These boxy bags are what I came up with. Below is the bag I received in this swap.

   

A pattern for this bag was gifted to me by my dear friend Sharon and it took me a while to finally make the wristlet, but at last it’s done. I’m sure to make more, it’s a very versatile design.

    

This is my current WIP, scrappy hexagons. I used my Sizzix Big Shot to cut the fabric from my scraps.

I’m now reading part two of Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy, Winter of the World. Having just finished Fall of Giants, part one. I have been eager to keep following this gripping tale.  The writer has woven fictional characters into a historical story, it’s an eye opener for me, not having a deep knowledge of modern history, the first book travels through the lead up to and the 5 years of WW1.

It has certainly given me a different view of world events.

  

Some of the cards I’ve been making:-

     

This is still to be completed, so far I have a square, it may or may not become a cushion cover in the future? For now it makes a nice photographic backdrop.

 

I think this is as much as I can remember to catch up on, so I do hope I can keep up with my activities on my blog, because back tracking is tough work!

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx

Cards and paper crafting……

My sewing machine has been in for its annual service, and while it was away I did some card making and found myself really enjoying the fast pace and quick turn around of the craft.

Choosing paper patterns to coordinate and contrast reminds me of making a quilt, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I enjoyed the process so much.

    

  Card for all occasions.

  

This box and card set was the result of a class I went to recently.  The box along with the cards and gift tags were included and I plan on using them as gift’s in due course.

I went home and completed a second set and was thrilled that I managed to remember the finer details of the workshop and finished it in quick time.

Tonight I have been following a You-Tube tutorial for making covered boxes.  I wanted boxes to store or gift a set of greeting cards and this one was so simple and easy to follow I’ve completed 3 very quickly. Thanks to some great ‘tools & equipment’ my paper trimmer and scoring block.

 

 

 

I joined a Pin Cushion Swap earlier this months and this week I received my Pin Cushion from my Angel, Alison Wellham.  She included some delightful little pins and a block of Fruit & Nut Chocolate. I felt very spoilt.

 

I’ve also ben doing a little knitting.  These camo yarn booties are for Quinn.

 

Greg and I went for a drive in the country 2 weekends ago, it was a perfect winter day, clear and cool.

 

 

Here is Greg guarding our coffee and fudge, the farm dog was a little nosey and when he wasn’t ‘leaning’ on us, he was looking for unprotected food!

  

The final word goes to my darling grand children, Brooklynn and Quinn.

  

  

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx