Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Another Stitcher's Angel project finished

 

Made to match the armchair caddy..... but I added a tail of beads to the twisted cord and gave the kitty some whiskers and a little button trim - quite dashing I think.  I've been sewing and doing needlework for almost 30 years but I've never made myself a scissor keeper.  This one is going to my stitching angel partner - xxxxNx - (guess who!) 

 

and remember the wisteria from two weeks ago?  Bloss took this photo on the weekend but since then the leaves have sprouted and now the crazy wind is blowing puffs of petals across the yard.    

Waterboy and his mermaid phoned last night, they are so happy that he's now finished work in Sydney and has moved to Melbourne.  They plan on moving back up to Airlie Beach in January but before then, they're coming to spend a week with us.  Can't wait till October 28th, we'll be counting the sleeps!

Sew Tidy

Hmmm, still a work in progress but slowly getting there.  My newest project...... 2009 block of the month

some english paper piecing...

   

some applique and pretty embroideries...

 

some traditional patchwork blocks...

 

delicious fabrics....

 

what will it be?

My favourite things

 

Every time I look at this photo the girls took at Taronga Zoo, I think of my three sisters and I.... we're definitely not giraffes.  At 5' 2", I'm the tallest   :-)

The weekend was great, I sold almost everything at the craft fair and Blossie's cupcakes were a hit.  They looked so pretty, one lady asked if they were real!  Yesterday I finished a customer quilt (can't show a photo yet but you'll see the quilt soon at Precious Time in Toowoomba) and today is tidy up the office day.  All the boxes and props from our weekend display are piled up in here and I can't move!

If you'd like to see a pretty garden - and only two years old - have a look here.  It gained a second place in the Carnival of Flowers garden competition and Leisa is having a giveaway to celebrate.

have a happy stitching - and gardening - day wherever you are....

cheryl xx

A warm day, a brief storm and a cupcake

That's why I love Spring.  All of a sudden the cold days are gone and today the temperature was up around 28 degrees.  The blue sky disappeared behind dark clouds, the rumbly thunder started to build and the cats disappeared underneath the quilt on my bed.  Two lumps, it must have been like a mini sauna under there.  We had about 20 minutes of good rain, filled the tank again and gave everything a nice bath.  The chooks enjoyed it but a wet chook is not a pleasant scent, believe me. 

Today, Shaz and I set up our stall at the Geham Craft Fair.  Hopefully we'll sell some things so that we don't have to bring as much back home~!  Bloss has also been busy with her cup cakes, way too delicious for my own good.  Cupcakes by Lisa will be available at the fair - a mixed half dozen for just $12, yum.

   

More warm weather predicted for the weekend, don't you just love it?

Have a nice weekend, whatever it is you plan to do....

cheryl xx

I think it's Springtime! Must do the laundry....

Yep, Mother Nature has nudged the wisteria into flowering and that means it's Spring..... Yay!  Winter is gone for another 9 months.  Well, give or take a day here and there.

 

This has only been in the ground for 18 months and it promises to be positively dripping with flops of lavenderous blooms.... In a week or two I'll add another photo because right now the little fat furry buds are abundant!

The feathered girls like the sunshine and give us three sunshiney eggs a day now.  They're always announced by boisterous cackling, just to make sure the locals know how clever chooks can be.  What an amazing thing an egg is...

 

Lavender cupcakes!  How angelic!

  

Let me tell you about today.  It was a busy day.... I finished and delivered a cute little 'Teds in bed' quilt, also delivered Yvonne's 9 patch, dropped some patterns up to The Quilters Angel, posted a special little parcel to Sweden, called in to my printer's for more patterns, then had a visit with mother duck, who needed a new laundry trolley and basket.  She was wearing summery blue, Mum really does look lovely in blue.

On my next visit I'll take a photo of the old one... (laundry trolley, not mum  :-)  The one she's had FOREVA.  Solid as, heavy as, and so cumbersome.  So up to KMart we went - on a mission. 

OMG!  KMart were having a 'rearrange the furniture' day and the laundry-esque items were no longer in the laundry-esque south west corner of the store.  Instead were piles of ginormous cardboard boxes on big metal shelves surrounded with bright orange 'keep out' plastic tape.  I know it said 'keep out' but please, it was only plastic!  I dived in but there were no trolleys to be seen. 

"Excuse me, do you work here?" I gently enquired of the 12 year old young lady with the name badge that read Sachayna. 

"No, but I might be able to help"   How bizarre.... no, but I'm wearing a badge so maybe??? 

"umm, we're looking for a folding laundry trolley, do you have any?" 

"Not sure, everything's been moved" (lovely big smile)   Hhmmmm..... let's find someone else....

Ooh good, a 40'ish year old woman who should be familiar with the laundry process.  Same question...

"Yep, the laundry things are straight ahead, turn right, go down two more aisles, halfway along the next - on your left, $29.95 each, there you go..."  Man, I was right, she knows stuff.

Except what's right and what's left....  Half an hour later, we finally found the one and only folding lightweight metal laundry trolley in existance.  Well, KMart Toowoomba existance anyway.  Should have just gone to Bunnings..... but then we'd have missed out on the scones and tea we had at the cafe.

Tomorrow is IKEA day, another YAY!!  I LOVE Ikea, only been once but I still love Ikea.  Especially the restaurant right in the middle, right when you're ready for a break.  And I'm taking the Treasurer (day off) who has been known to make impulsive purchases.... with only a hint of encouragement from me..... 

A picnic dinner in the park by the lake, stay the night in Brisbane with Moo then home again Saturday morning. Lovely...

Happy stitching

Cheryl xx

Ta Dah! Finished!

With a bit of morning sustenance....

 

the photo is a bit dull, if you're familiar with "Louise" by Moda, I made it from a jelly roll and a few other bits.

 

What a thrill!

I had the pleasure of quilting one of Catherine's creations a few weeks ago and she's just posted some of the photos so pop over and have a look.

I am overwhelmed by Cathy's generous comments, and just a little bit excited at the thought of quilting the little baby boy quilt that's coming my way.  Thank you so much.....

Today I'm finishing Gypsy Rose but it will take a cappuccino and maybe a pce of rocky road brownie slice to get me started.  Photos later...... (of morning tea and the gypsy :-)

happy stitching, eating, and quilting today

Cheryl xx

Whose bed is it anyway?

I give up.  One day they'll let me sleep in my own bed....

Gypsy Rose and other delights

But first some Macaroons.... pink ones even!  How delicious, I made these as a trial run for Blossie's next market stall at the end of September.  Perfect!  and they didn't last long when the stitchin' girls got their hands on them.   

Here's the spring flush of lavender at my front steps.  I give it a really severe haircut twice a year and it just flourishes.  Covered in lots of busy little bees fluffing around doing what bees do...... 

 

And this is Gypsy Rose behaving herself on the quilting frame, almost finished.  I'm really happy with how it's quilted up with the 'ruffles' quilting pattern.  When I've finished tittivating it all up with some ruffles and flowers I'll show you some more. 

 

 

the last little tempt is the project I'm working on for my sscs partner...... just one part of a bundle of pressies.  I'm a bit excited because she's a longarm quilter too!  Pretty clever of chookyblue to team me up with this stitcher. 

 

and just another before I go.  I made May Britt's stitcher's angel project but turned it into a little needlecase.  I love stitching on linen.

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the dad's out there! Hope you've been spoiled all day.....

I couldn't sleep....

on Saturday night so I sat up and stitched this cute little pincushion!  'Renaissance' will shortly be accompanied by her friends, the little needlecase and scissor keep.

I've also been busy working on Gypsy Rose, another new quilt pattern.  Made using a Louisa jelly roll by Moda, it will feature some freestanding flowers across one corner.  If you liked Wisteria Walk, you'll love Gypsy Rose!  Here she is cavorting with my newest friend, the Janome Memory Craft 6600P (from QuiltCraft in Toowoomba).  I'm in love.....

Wisteria Walk, patterns are available from The Quilters Angel in Highfields.

and speaking of new patterns..... 'Spring Giggles' will soon be finished and the patterns done because the Butterfly Fling range has just hit the shops.  I've been waiting for this so that the final borders can be added.  Bev C if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten you!  Your pattern is not too far away now.