Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Holiday was great!

If you need to relax and unwind completely, take a break on a houseboat.....but probably more importantly, take your own skipper!  My brother in law (Wayne of 'Wayne's quilt' fame) is a boatie from way back so it was a foregone conclusion that he wear the skippers cap for the week.  He did a great job, it was a bit tricky driving the tank on water.  We had an unexpected surprise on Wednesday when we walked across to the ocean side of Sth Stradbroke Island, sat on the dunes to enjoy the sunshine for a bit and then spotted a pod of humpback whales just off shore.  We stayed for almost an hour watching them slowly making their way up the coastline towards Hervey Bay for the winter months.  A real treat! and how lucky were we to be there just at the right time and for free....

We also went to the Outback Spectacular on Thursday night, great food and fab entertainment. You should go if you get the chance.

Anyway, back to reality, we spent today helping Bloss do the last minute bits and pieces for her stall at the Cabarlah markets tomorrow.  She's cooked up a storm of delicious yummies.....

No more news, no photo tonight but Bloss, Moo and I have just played with photoshop and laughed ourselves silly for half an hour.  I'll post the funniest one tomorrow night, it's a hoot.The Beaches quilt in the previous post was actually a gift for my sister's 50th birthday a few weeks ago.  They also spent the week on the houseboat with us and I gave it to her this week.

Beaches

This quilt reminds me of a day at the beach - beautiful cream coloured sand crinkling under your toes, the bright blue sky above reflecting into the water and a spattering of little puffy white clouds.  This was a really quick quilt to make, just 48 x 6 1/2" squares, a 2 1/2" first border and finished with a 6 1/2" outer border. No pattern required but if you'd like to make it without the thinking, leave a comment and I'll send you the info.  It's about 52" x 64" in size, great for a lap quilt or baby's crib.  (one of my fave quilting designs - fire flower) 

Only 5 more sleeps till our holiday... and I'm not taking any stitching.  That will be a first for me!  With a glass of wine in one hand and nibblies in the other, there won't be any spare stitching fingers.

How cute is this cookie pop?  Bloss played in the kitchen.

And remember the scrappy cabins from melly & me?  Here's the latest, I think these are destined to become a set of coasters.  Not my usual colours but I love the combination.  Made these from a scrap bag swap from Janie

 

happy stitching

Cheryl xx

'Cute as a Button' .....

A big thank you to those who left comments to be in the draw for one of my new patterns - Cute as a button.  It's so nice to read through all of the comments, makes me want to give a pattern to each of you!  The lucky readers were  Donna | June 11, 2008 at 03:14 AM, sue | June 04, 2008 at 07:15 AM and  Lyn | June 13, 2008 at 01:16 PM.

Girls, I'll need your snail mail addresses so please email me with your details and I can get your little parcels away asap.

Waterboy phoned me this morning, he's in Melbourne with his lovely girlfriend taking a short break from work.  So nice to hear from him and I'm such a sook, I had little happy tears for the next hour.  Moo phoned last night, she's had a busy week and had to work most of the weekend.  Only a week now until our houseboat holiday, can't wait and I'll have some photos after the event.

Blossie went shopping this morning and now she's in the kitchen making cooking sounds......... 

the last day ----- reds

I really don't do much with red so this was a challenge.  The leadlight waratah in my front door, a heart stitched in red (of course), the box where I store my basting pins - hand made by bloss in year 5, red threads fabrics and ribbons, red Ronan Keating who serenades me while I'm working, bright lights on the Gammill....etc

Natalie, this has been fun........

happy stitching

Cheryl xx

chocolate and cream day....the challenge continues

Mmmm my fave!

Clockwise from the top left - 1. my old faithful chooky pin cushion (it's a bit cream!) sitting beside afternoon tea - one of Bloss' choc ganache cup cakes.....2. a little chocolate coloured tin to keep your laundry soap safe :-), nestled on a spread of chocolate coloured fabric....3. a bundle of coffee dyed laces, so much more delicious looking when they're all tumbled together.....4. a stretch of chocolate and cream mini pom poms....and 5. chocolate buttons with a chocolate ribbon. 

Now I'm off to the ice cream parlour..............

Blue stuff

A few blue things for today's challenge....... 1. Blossies newest cupcake apron..... 2. a totally treasured trinket from the littlest herb, on delicious blue and beige fabrics..........and 3. two little bluebirds from a Bareroots table runner in progress (it's only been a project for about two years - on the 'must finish' list)

Thanks Natalie for a lovely idea....there are colourful photos popping up all over the place!

happy stitching everyone, and good luck if you've left a message to be in the draw for my new pattern.

cheryl xxx

Having a green AND pink day today

Delightful Natalie, of Cinderberry Stitches fame, started something the other day......

My green day

and now for some pinks.....

Giveaways...don't forget

Cute as a Button giveaway will be drawn this Friday, leave a comment if you'd like to be in the draw.........

This is how the sunrise looked this morning through my kitchen window

Tagged.......by Kris

1.  What was I doing 10 years ago?

1998 - Working and teaching at a fabric and craft store that was also a Janome sewing machine dealership here in Toowoomba.  Sharing my life with my dh of 20years and our three kids.

2.  5 things on my to do list?

Phone the computer repair man - it keeps shutting down

Decide what to wear to the birthday dinner this evening - Indian restaurant, so something that can expand easily....

Prepare the spare room ready for visitors in two weeks (it will take me that long!)

Give Moo and Bloss a hug for making their dad's birthday special today - waterboy is still in Sydney and can't be with us

Very carefully approach the pile of UFOs.....too many to list so they collectively become one of the five things on my to do list

3.  What snacks do I enjoy?

A nice glass of wine, some brie or camembert on a lite cracker with a swipe of quince paste. 

4.  What would I do if I was a millionaire?

Buy the kids a house each.  For me, I'm not sure that too much would change, I don't need an extra million dollars to enjoy life......the important and most precious things are those that can't be bought for cash!  Maybe I'd write dh a letter of resignation to give to his boss  :-)

5.  Places I have lived

Brisbane, Rockhampton, Gracemere, Roma, Toowoomba, Hodgsonvale, Meringandan

Another job crossed off the list

A 4.30am start this morning (Norman desperately needed to eat and I couldn't sleep) has meant that 'Cute as a Button' is finished, the pattern is written, the layout for the cover has been decided and it's off to the printers. What a day!  It's very pretty....

So..........maybe a blue for little boys?  The fabrics are just delicious........I'll have to 'boy' up the little carriage a bit though, can't have frills and pretty things.

happy stitching

Cheryl xx