Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Two new quilts

Simplicity - Lack of ostentation or pretension.  In other words, plainness, simpleness, unassumingness.

And so the  new quilt is aptly named.....  Take a piece of pre printed patchwork fabric (aka 'cheater cloth'), add a little border, add a wider border, quilt and bind.  That's it!  This will also look great made from a pretty allover print, not necessarily a patchwork print.  It's cheating isn't it?   NO!!  It's called 'saving time'.   If you're scared to try your hand at making a quilt with all of those little seams that need to meet, or you just can't bear to cut up that gorgeous print - this one is definitely for you! 

Simplicity

And... Happy Times - Bright, happy, flannel colours in the middle of winter.  5 prints, half a metre of each and an extra 2 metres of the happiest one for the border.  The binding is made from all of the leftover bits and pieces.  No waste but none for the stash either!  this is the one Ratty helped me bind.

A tad busy this past week.........

Bloss took her baked delights to the Cabarlah markets again on Sunday and had a ball.  The real treat was watching the little faces at the 'Kids Cupcake Station' where the tots designed their own mini cupcakes.  Such fun!  It was a big hit with littlies and the grown ups, Bloss has decided it will be a regular event.  Along with her white choc, jam filled lamingtons and cookies n cream slice and sprekkles, and brownies and cup cakes and big fat cookies etc etc....

Here's little Kodi about to tuck in to her very own design

 

On the quilting front, I've been busy completing a few customer quilts so I haven't had any spare time to post any news.  Not a lot happening on the home front though.  Our waterboy turned 28 today, so grown up.  He's in Melbourne this week with his lovely Michelle.  Had a big chat on the phone tonight which is almost like having him here but not quite.  Hopefully we'll see them in early November (if we don't make a surprise trip beforehand).  Moo started a new job and is very excited, still the same employer just a new challenging role. Still waiting for the computer to come back from repair so I haven't made any more progress on the new patterns.  I have two new quilts finished though and will post photos of them tomorrow.  One cuddly flannel and the other a very simple cheater cloth with two borders. 

a big thank you to everyone who visits my blog, it's always a thrill to check the 'honor roll' on the side bar and see where all the visitors come from....

happy stitching

cheryl xx

Keeping warm?

Ratty thought this was a good place to nestle in to this morning while I completed some bookwork.... but he keeps looking at me as if he's expecting to be taken somewhere.  Maybe he wants to go on picnic??

I think he looks like a grown up version of Lynette's little bundle

Winner!

The new quilt is covered in little butterflies and there were lots of suggestions for a name that includes a reference to these babies.  Thanks to everyone who left a comment to be in the draw!!

Norm and Ratty had a tough time with all the cute suggestions... However, they chose 'Spring Giggles' - it's fun, bright and can be adapted to any range of happy fabrics.

Sooo,   Bev C | July 15, 2008 at 12:43 PM - you are the winner of the new 'Spring Giggles' pattern and 'Butterfly Fling' charm pack.  Can you please email me with your snail mail address so I can send your  parcel to you. 

On the home front - we had a weekend away at the Gold Coast for the Titans v Panthers rugby league game - such a gorgeous weekend.... blue sky and balmy breezes.  Stayed at a golf resort which was very schmick and soaked up the very summery weather for two whole days.  But it rained here at home overnight and it's cold, windy and drizzly today.  I have nowhere to go and it's perfect weather for quilting!

happy stitching

cheryl xx

Pressies in the post

I never get presents in the mail (hear the violins?)  Usually, the postie leaves bills, statements, junk mail, the odd catch up letter, (the even odder cheque for payment...) but today this unexpected little surprise arrived from a new friend.  My favourite things, how did you guess Lyn?  A vintage theme notebook and cute sewing kit, beautifully gift wrapped too.  How exciting... Thank you so much, (and check out Lyn's Christmas in July giveaway)

If you're a fan of Lynette Anderson or labradors or ginger kittens or all three, this is a must read.

happy stitching

cheryl xx

Oops!

Sorry, in all the excitement of playing with this new blog theme, I forgot to add Blossie's cupcake blog link - thanks Bevvy....  You'll find it to the right just under my very glamourous photo (believe me, I'm much more daggy in real life).  Bloss has added a slide show of her baked delights, check it out

I've been a tad busy the last few days, three customer quilts finished and the middle bit of my new quilt put together.  Having a day out today - deliveries - but I hope to find a few stolen hours this afternoon to do a bit more of the quilt. Here's the progress....

Maybe a checkerboard pieced into the border to use up every inch of jelly roll

 

such happy colours!

overcast and drizzly today, a great day for stitching.  Hope you find some time

Cheryl xx

Stitcher's Angel project

Helen from Hugs n Kisses has launched a fabulous swap project called 'I'm a Stitcher's Angel'.  I've just joined and can't wait to see the projects.  Have a look at her site (or click on the button in the sidebar), read all about it and then sign up... it's so easy and will be fun.  Imagine getting little gifts in the mail from your secret stitching angel swap partner!  Lynette Anderson is one of the seven designers - yay, one of my favourites.  Have a look at her latest post about the little 'found' ginger kitten, the photos with Hugo are so gorgeous, I don't know how she'll give it back if the real owner is found.  And Hugo might need therapy...

On another note completely, my DH took me shopping today for a new bedroom suite.  The old one is showing signs of 'oldness' and the glossy mahogany finish doesn't really suit our new home - SOOooooo - off we went.  BIG SMILES!!!!  We found the perfect suite AND it was on special (even more perfect for DH)  It's so pretty, french provincial style and plenty of storage.  BIG PROBLEM!!  I have to wait for 6 weeks because it's coming from Sydney - by horse and cart apparently.  Why would a truck take 6 weeks to travel from Sydney to Toowoomba?  BUT... turning this into a positive, I now have up to 6 weeks to make a new quilt for the new bed.  Not sure what to make, maybe something fairly traditional in muted tones?  Here's a pic of the new suite, I just love it!  But I'll love it more when it's mine

happy stitching

cheryl xx

New Theme, new pattern....

I was a bit tired of looking at the old banner on my blog so I found this new typepad 'theme'.  I love the colours and the little flowers standing tall are so cute.  They make me smile....

Speaking of smiling, look at these gorgeous prints!

Moda have a new range called Butterfly Fling, only available to us as jelly rolls and charm packs at the moment.  My new pattern is under way, a single bed sized quilt featuring large log cabin blocks with a charm square centre and some simple piecing in the outer border.  This is a little sneak look BUT.... it doesn't have a name yet!  I was thinking 'Hula Hoops' because it's a fun, bright pattern that is pieced around the centre square.  Help me out here.... if you can come up with a catchy name for this cute quilt, you'll win a pattern AND a Butterly Fling charm square pack.

Leave a comment so that Norman and Ratty can draw the winner next Friday 18th July at 6.00pm Aust eastern time. 

Noah's Ark BOM

Lynette Anderson Designs has a free downloadable pattern each month for these cute little stitcheries.  They'll eventually end up all together in a Noah's Ark wallhanging.  This is my progress so far... they're little and quick to do so have a look at her blog for the patterns and instructions.  I've used fabrics from the stash swap from Janie to border mine, nice rich country colours that go really well with the stitcherie designs. Click on the Noah's Ark photo on the left side bar, it will take you to Lynette's site for all the photos and details.

I've been a bit slack this week, my computer doesn't want to play internet so I'm using Blossie's (check out her latest cupcakes, delicious) laptop.  What a fun toy!  Might have to save my pennies and get one for me....

A couple of client quilts to complete before the end of the week and then I can play some more!