Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Dear Me...

I'm feeling the need to make a Dear Jane quilt.  Well ..... probably not 'make' one.... more like 'start' one....  but I've decided to rename mine 'Dear Me'

That's what I'll be saying as I piece the 114th block and realise I'm only half way  :-)

I do like it tho - here's a reminder (and the photo is from the Dear Jane site - thanks)

One day when I have nothing else to do, I'll make a start....  (If anyone out there is using the Dear Jane software, can you tell me how good it is?)

However, today is the 'tomorrow' I mentioned the other day.  Remember?  I said 'come back tomorrow for some fun'   ....  I didn't say which tomorrow :-)

The funny little man hammered and sawed and made lots of zzzzzzing noises last weekend and proudly produced this

If you can guess what it is, you can have it.  SERIOUSLY...............  :-)

(no Ina, it's not a duck kennel... the duck hasn't happened yet because Blossie slept in on Sunday - and the funny little man breathed a big sigh of relief)

Tell me what you think it is and if you guess right you can choose one of my patterns.  If there's more than one clever person out there to guess the identity of this marvel of carpentry cleverness, there'll be a draw from the pink bucket

We share our back steps with hundreds of these little guys and the warmer weather has them busier than ever.  I sat them all down one day and asked them not to sting us.  So far, they've kept their side of the bargain :-)

Anyways... I have to go shopping for a new printer.  The car needs new tyres.  My hair is annoying me and needs a trim.  The laundry is messy.  So what should I do?  

Of course!  Eat a chocolate bar!  I knew you'd say that,  thanks...

have a fun day.  See ya tomorrow... not sure which tomorrow but I'm pretty sure it will be one of them

and Verandah Views block 9 will be here next Tuesday - only one more to go after that one and it will have something special  :-)

Why a duck?

Blossie wants to get a duck.  Now that the chicken coop is 'empty' - that's a whole other story - she's feeling the need to replace our little feathered chookie friends with a feathered friend from a different bird family.  Driving home from Brisbane on Saturday - Moo's Tupperware party - we were chatting about how there's a little gap in the family now that the girls are all in their feathery heaven.  Here's how the conversation progressed....

Bloss - 'I've been thinking I might get a duck'

the mother - 'Hmmmm' with a half smile and one eyebrow raised...  'a duck?'

Bloss - 'Yeah, how much fun would that be... I'll go to the market this Sunday and get a Penrith garden gnome (just what every garden needs) and a duck'

the mother - 'Does sound like fun, but why a duck?'   

(expecting the response to be something like 'they're cute' or 'we've never had a duck' or 'the furbies would love one') - no, her response was ......

'I can teach it to dance'

what do I say to that.........

Imagine Blossie jiving around the garden with her little duckling weaving and jiggling along behind her and 'Black Betty' belting out in the background....

Yes, we must get a duck :-)

From the garden = tonight we ate baby carrots and 6 peas each with our dinner.  And some of the carrots were TEENY BABY ones :-)  but delicious all the same

And if you're interested, Tereasa from Homespun & Beautiful in Jimboomba will have my 'Sewing Companions' pattern in store later this week

She's also selling full kits.  Contact details...

Tereasa

Homespun & Beautiful

Shop 11, 689 Cusack Lane

Jimboomba Qld 4280

07 55478822 

 

Just have a look at what Ina has been up to....  How cute!!  Making cushions from the Verandah Views stitchery blocks.  Gorgeous mushy fabrics and colours...  Clever girl

It's always fun to see what you've created so send me a photo and I'll post it here to share with everyone else in the whole wide world :-)

 

Check back with me tomorrow afternoon for a bit of fun...

'Sewing Companions' is now available

Too gorgeous... and so damn deliciously girlie and pretty :-)

Pattern winners (aka Sheila, Rachelle, Sara and Kim) - your parcels are on their way

AND!!! Don't despair if you didn't win one in the giveaway because.....  DA DA...

Jenny over at Elefantz has challenged everyone to dress up their sewing machines by the end of August - I joined the party and gave a 'Sewing Companions' pattern as part of her first prize.  Jenny has added a gorgeous book - Tone Finnanger's "Sew Sunny Homestyle" 

Run over to Jenny's place to read all about the challenge rules, you'll love it  :-)

'Sewing Companions' pattern is now available from my Etsy Store.  I will also have a limited number of kits available in original 'Patisserie' fabrics, including the beaded fringing - how delicious!  And the patterns will be available from some local Aussie patchwork stores, I'll let you know who.... 

What else have I been doing?  Well... I've been at Mum's pulling up carpet, scrubbing floors, moving furniture, installing a new TV, going to a football match in Brisbane, quilting, quilting, quilting and working on a secret project.  Here's the proof...

Panthers just scored - Blossie loves her Panthers... and Moo loves the Broncos... makes for quite an interesting cheer squad :-)  separated on the benches by the Ma and Pa of the family

Maree's Flower Fields quilt - couldn't you just eat it all up?  Mmmm chocolate, mint and strawberries with cream.....

and the back - playing with paisley quilting

Patrina's Slumber Party (oops... it's actually Double Delight) - Pattern is by Majella of Kookaburra Cottage designs

Number 1 has 'whimsy' allover

and number 2 has pudgy little love hearts... too cute

Lyn's Southern Comfort quilt

'Angel Wings Begonia' quilting - gorgeous on a batik quilt

a collection of delicious hot beverages by Chriss

A very grown up scrolling leaf border with a bunch of happy curls and wispy steam tendrils through the middle.... does it not make you want to froth some milk?  Ridiculously good....

Ina's gorgeous hexy lap quilt... just a simple holly leaf allover (it's a christmas themed quilt)

There... now you know where I've been hiding

And something happened when I looked at my Fig and Plum jelly roll last week.  It has the strangest collection of colourful bedfellows but they seem to work so well together and they inspired my needle and threads - I just couldn't stop

sweet little sentiments...

waiting to be brought to life

A fun day today... although I probably should have been tidying my office.  I'll show you that one day

have a lovely, crazy, chaotic day

'Sewing Companions' pattern draw

Oh so pretty...

Patterns go to ............

 Sheila | August 09, 2009 at 06:12 PM

Rachelle | August 07, 2009 at 11:20 PM

Sara | August 08, 2009 at 04:08 AM

FUN!!!  Well done girls, I'll be contacting you by email for your postie address

So ..........  thanks everyone for your messages and, as promised... here's my (little) Paducah parcel

Gorgeous border print

We love Beatrix Potter - panels and contrast stripey

2 x Pigling Bland cot panels (shoulda ironed the creases out)

the BIG Paducah parcel is on it's way... I'm hiding the credit card statement...  but I can't wait and I can't sleep till it gets here... don't worry, there'll be photos

I've been working on making stuff from these babyling lovelies

Wee little bebe shoes for wee little tootsies.  Rather therapeutic, all by hand in front of the telly. These are the 'first draft' pair, I need to tweak the shape a little and add a couple of ribbons.  There's a boy pair coming.... imagine pudgy little bubby feet wriggling round in them :-)

And I'll share this quote with you.  Not sure who said it but it comes from my funny little man who was flicking through one of those 'inspirational quotes' booklets.  He says it reminds him of me and my doings...

'when I sit at my table to write, I never know what it's going to be until I'm under way.  I trust in inspiration, which sometimes comes and sometimes doesn't.  but I don't sit back waiting for it, I work every day'

I hope you find some fun today  :-)

What fabric is that? "Patisserie" by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda...

 

And of course you'll need one of these

gorgeous darn things....

yes, a pincushion of beaded proportions to go with this

let me remind you... it has an end pocket - beautiful AND useful :-)

and why add a machine mat?   Well... there's a bit of fabric left over so we need to use it up.  A mat helps to reduce vibration and noise when you're sewing on an open table - don't worry, it won't make your machine dance across the table - AND you need somewhere to hide your precious embroidery scissors.  You know, the ones that some people like to 'borrow' and use when they treat themselves to a home pedicure.  Well, they are nice and sharp... and pointy...

Carrie P do you recognise the scissor fob? (i love it)

the mat pocket section hangs off the front edge of your tabletop (almost finished... just need to do the binding)

and did I show you the 'secret stashing spot' ?  - you can hide your pennies... or quarters... or maybe a few dollar coins... or even a second pair of little sharp pointy scissors

Giveaway - for one of three 'Sewing Companions' patterns - closes at midday on Friday my time - leave a message on this post OR the previous post

Good luck...

And just so you know I haven't been idle today

corn, zucchini and horse poo were added to the vegie gardens this morning

see ya round like rissoles

me xx

and my parcel arrived from Paducah but I'll show you that next time... I love parcels :-)

Pretty things

'Sewing Companions' is my latest creation -very mushy and loaded with bling...

a sewing machine cover - thanks Shaz :-), machine mat and beaded pincushion (machine mat - thanks for the idea, Perri - under construction... pincushion is tonight's beading project - I promise they'll both be beautiful and a necessity)

this belongs to 'C' for Cheryl...

raindrops of prettiness...

a generous pocket in one end...

handy...

Sooooo... another giveaway :-)   Patterns will be ready by the end of next week, if you'd like to be in the draw for one of three 'Sewing Companions' patterns just leave a comment.  I'll draw the winners next Friday my time ....

Jenny's blog has a challenge ...  very timely :-)

 

Verandah Views - block borders 7 & 8

First Blooms with it's borders

and Enjoy the Views with borders

Find the instructions here.... (and in the verandah views link on the sidebar)

GREMLIN ALERT!!  some words on the diagrams disappeared during file conversion  -  use the pictures as a guide  :-)

Download Block borders 7 & 8

The scheme of things and where they sit

On September 1st I'll show you the simple cornerstone designs and the instructions for the filler blocks

Do you like?

See you tomorrow.... there's a new pattern brewing.... If you like loveliness, pretty bling and mushy stuff, you'll like this one :-)

Planes, Boats and Automobiles - and a little snorkelling

Remember the surprise I mentioned on July 13th? 

Moo, Blossie and I had a weekend away.  We had to keep a secret for 2 months.... Have you ever tried to keep a secret for 2 months?  Settle in with a cuppa and see where we went

Moo and I waiting for our plane - Blossie took the photo

In flight snack - obligatory... arrived in Mackay, collected hire car, drove to Airlie Beach to say

'Surprise!!!  and Happy Birthday!!' to our waterboy  :-)

Moo arranged it, so he was expecting her to visit.  The tag along sister and Mum were a big surprise...

oh my... the shimmery bliss of the tropics 

and the kiddies wake up to this view from their deck... how could you cope with that every day...

Precious cargo

our three angels - from left - Bloss, Moo and the Mermaid on Whitehaven Beach... waiting for the skipper to catch up

Here he is, working hard with our floating chariot in the distance

"Willowberry Designs woz 'ere"

Snorkelling waterbabies, Bloss and Moo.  I dipped for a while but decided I was too cold, old and unfit.  Water temp 22degrees C.  And my wet suit wasn't heated like I thought it might be....

waterboy rounding up the strays

Weekend over, home again and feeling all mumsy.  I miss my boy and his mermaid...  and I made them this for their birthdays.  Nemo hiding in the Coral reef... 

and that's my excuse for not having the instructions ready for the block 7 & 8 borders - sorry :-)  I hope to finish it today and post it tomorrow....

and just to clarify -

Verandah Views info

Block 9 (cornerstones and filler blocks) - available September 1st

Block 10 (putting it together, quilting and binding) - available October 1st

If you're going snorkelling today, have fun - and....