Evie and my Scarf

There was only one child at home to model my scarf today. I managed one photo in focus. Evie has become the walking, climbing, child proof gate opening, draw emptying, hard to catch, house destroying child that makes you want to tear your hair out. Luckily she smiles and laughs all the time. Who could be cross at this little face?

Rain

My weekend consisted of rain, rain and more rain. It has been a struggle to occupy the girls inside without us all going crazy and to get any washing dry. Chris took them all for a walk in the bush for the little bit it wasn't raining yesterday and I managed to finish a few bags.
These have gone to Freo.

These will be in the shop soon.

Sewing Tip

I have been sewing strips from jelly rolls together which in the past would have driven me insane until I realised my Pfaff sewing machine has this thing they call an Integrated Dual Feed System that works like a walking foot. It is perfect for patchwork as you can use your 1/4 inch foot at the same time. It is on the back of the sewing machine and you just clip it into the foot you are using (I've drawn an arrow to it in the picture below) and sew away. It ensures that the top and the bottom fabric are fed through at the same rate and there is no puckering or stretching of one fabric. I have it clipped in all the time when I am quilting now and has made a huge difference.

Finished Little Quilt

I have finished binding the little quilt and it is ready to send to its new home. The sun finally came out for a few minutes so I could take pictures. It is slightly more 'green' than I wanted it to be, but I do love all the bright colours in it.
Thanks for all your scarf love. More pictures when it has dried. I wish I had thought of the fantastic colour combination, but I think I saw it here first. I used hald a skein of Socks that Rock Watermelon Tourmaline and half a skein of Farmhouse, both lightweight.

Chevron Scarf

The neverending Chevron Scarf is nearly finished. It is blocking and just needs to dry. It seems like I have been knitting this forever and according to Ravelry I started it last July. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in the 'more than 8 hours category'. I won't argue with that. Mine took considerably more than 8 hours to knit.

Rain

It feels like we have been stuck inside forever due to the rain and it's making us all a little crazy. These lucky creatures get to leave the chaos tomorrow for Freo.

Five Minutes

I have days of being really productive and then there are the days where not much is done, there is often a lot of thinking and planning but not much to show for it. This has been so true lately with the cold rainy weather and with children stuck inside you usually only get short periods of time where everyone is playing nicely. Today I resolved to change that. I am going to stop thinking and being overwhelmed by the big picture and start thinking about the little things that I can do and using all the five minutes of the day that I have been wasting. Five minutes of cleaning the desk, 5 minutes of replying to emails (yes I have been bad at this lately), 5 minutes of sewing here and there. These 5 minutes can really add up and it is amazing what you can achieve in a day with little effort.

And what Pip said, so much more eloquently than I could put it.

Little Quilt

Nothing like news of a new baby to get you planning something new and wanting to make it immediately.

I love it when a quick idea and plan works out. I think it is even better than I hoped for. The squares actually fit together. Hopefully tomorrow I will have the rest of the blocks done.

Slowly, slowly

Slowly, slowly this week. The rain has well and truly settled in which makes for restless little people and a very loud house.
I am slowly getting me head around what I need to do for The Stitches and Craft Show. I have a few patterns half written including my favourite fat fish. I am also slowly making a few more toys and bags to send to The Fremantle Arts Centre.

Melbourne

We are back from a few days in Melbourne with my sister and travelling with Eva was surprisingly easier than I thought. After twins doing anything with one child is not that bad.

We caught trains and trams and walked and walked. Much food was eaten and a little bit of shopping. I even found my dream shoes, but at $369 they didn't come home with me. It was so nice to see fabric in real life that I usually only see on the computer screen. I made it to Amitie, Meet Me At Mikes, Tessuti and the Melbourne Design Markets where I bought some great Ink and Spindle fabric. I can't ever see myself living in a city, but Melbourne is one city I would think about living in.

Today has washing and cleaning and sorting and hopefully tonight a little sewing.

Nina's Flowers

I am feeling a little calmer today. Hand sewing on binding while watching DVDs will do that to you.

I have had my doubts about this quilt while I have been making it. It is more pink and 'girly' than I am used to having in my house, but I think it is growing on me. It is definitely a hit with the small girls of the house.

More squiggly quilting with flowers. Now back to the pattern writing.

More Shoes

I know I have said it before, but I love comfy shoes. These were a present from Chris for my birthday last week. Not only are they comfortable, but they have hexagons on them!

I was going to write a witty and insightful look at turning 35, but sleep did not happen last night. I can't even blame Evie. She had the best sleep she's had for months. No I was thinking about the Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney. It seems like I really am going. Everything anyone has said makes it seem like the most fun, amazing thing. I hope so because at the moment it is the scariest thing I have ever said yes to. I have been fairly anonymous and have hidden in this blog for a few years. I sew and I show things on here, but I have met very few bloggers and crafters face to face. This is definitely so far out of my comfort zone. Not to mention all the other things in my head like, getting there, staying there, sorting out the children to stay back here, making enough stuff to take etc etc.

I used to be really good at adventure, Chris and I taught all over the state, travelled for 6 months overseas with no real plan. We would change the course of our lives with a split second decision. So when the opportunity came up a few months ago (and August seemed like soooo far away) I made one of those split second decisions. If nothing else at the moment I will have some comfortable shoes to wear.

Winter

It finally feels like winter here. I could whinge about head colds, sick children, trying to give them antibiotics, cold houses, non sleeping children, trips to Bunbury with three children etc. Instead here is a picture of some pretty quilt blocks and some magazines I have been reading on the couch.

Holiday Monday

A quiet holiday Monday here. Everyone is playing mini golf and I am quilting squiggles and little flowers.