Miss Maude the House Mouse

You will remember Miss Maude the House Mouse?

She's the mouse with attitude!

Well there are 2 more stitcheries completed.

There are 6 stitcheries in the set, only 3 more to do.

Of course she's pretty laid back at times!

These original Madness and Mess patterns will be for sale in my Etsy store very soon. (you can find the link on the right)

Combine them to make a wall hanging, make individual hangings, or use them to embellish.

Have fun,

Carole :)

Of cats and cake...

The last few days have been pretty darn hairy, and I'm not referring to abnormal rates of growth here! 

We have had gale force winds, hail storms thunder and lightning and torrential downpours.Over the last 2 weeks we have had just over 240mm of rain.

We have lost a few more trees to the wind, blown over as the ground was so waterlogged they couldn't hold on any longer.

Poor Shelby has watched as her dog kennel has been thrown around the back lawn like it was a cereal box. And it's not a small kennel either!

The animals have spent quite a bit of time sleeping indoors, in their beds, or at our feet :)

Buddy and Wednesday don't normally curl up together, but sometimes when it's scary outside, it's nice to have someone to cuddle up next to.

As I am starting my new job on Wednesday I decided I had better do some baking, something nice to put in my lunch box :))

A large slab of fruit cake. 

And of course, I had to do some quality control checks!

It passed. 

Have a nice day!

Carole :)

Need a quick personal handmade gift for someone?

I was talking to Shane recently about making a gift for someone and mentioned these book covers. They are quick, colourful and handmade by you.

Here is a quick tutorial so that you can zoom off and make your own!

I use small journals or notebooks, although using a 2011 diary would make a great gift :))
You can use any size book, but I like the smaller sizes as these can easily be kept in a handbag. I buy mine at a local stationery store which means that when one book is full I can buy another and slip into the cover.

* Measure your book, then find some pretty fabric and some batting.
* Make a sandwich of 2 layers of fabric with a layer of batting in the middle.
*Trim them so that they are about 2 inches larger than the size of the book.
*Quilt the fabric, and embellish it if you chose, add stitches, buttons, applique etc...

* After quilting the fabric, trim the fabric down to allow 1/2" around the book, so the fabric is 1/2" bigger than the book.
* Sew with a zigzag stitch right around the outside edge of the fabric.
* Cut 2 more pieces of fabric to match, fold under one long edge and stitch down it. Add any embellishments you want to to this fabric.
* To attach these to the cover, sew around 3 sides so that they form a pocket, you will slip you book cover into these.

*Get some cord, wool, or strings and cover them with a zigzag stitch to make a decorative cord.
* Sew one end of this cord to the centre top inside of your cover fabric. Attach a bead to the other end. This will hang down between your pages, make sure it is long enough when cutting your original threads.

* Slip your book into the cover! :))

You can normally make one of these covers from scraps you have at home. I have had mine for 3 years now. Each year I replace it with a new diary.

On these ones below I zigzag stitched a bunch of mixed fibres to the outside of the cover fabric once they were finished.

Hope this inspires you!
Have fun,

Carole :)

fun with mail art

The girls in my card class have almost finished their first card.
We're getting it ready to mail :))

Nothing nicer than receiving some pretty mail!

Carole :))

Catching up...

I have been trying to catch up on projects that have been calling my attention.
I hope to get as many completed before I start work.
I'll still be busy in my sewing room, but I won't be able to pass the time of day so leisurely from next week.

One of these projects was quilting this large quilt made by my friend Christine.
It is the same Leanne's House quilt pattern that I made last year, but she has done hers in blues.
She doesn't have a machine that she can stipple with, so she asked me if I could do it.

She asked that I do a large stipple pattern all over it, but leaving the wee stitcheries unquilted.
I said yes without thinking of the implications of quilting someone elses beautiful work.
Knowing they have put many hours of love and attention into it, I am hoping it is ok.
What if it's not? What if she doesn't like it? Now I'm stressing!

I think I'll do some more work on Miss Maude the House Mouse, she always makes me smile!

Carole :)

Now this will be a challenge!

I have enrolled to do an online class, participate in one, not teach it :)
I am going to be challenged from all directions.
And what's the class on I hear you ask,
well it is with Jane LaFazio, and it runs thru Joggles.com

It is a watercolour painting class over 6 weeks.
And of course I can't draw for nuts,
so it's going to be very interesting to see what develops on paper! LOL

These 2 pics are examples of her work, I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can make something that remotely resembles what I'm looking at! LOL

I'll keep you posted!
Carole :)

Fantastic News!!

Well I'm very excited, I have managed to secure a job!!
Can't believe it, amazing :))

After finishing university 2 months ago, I have applied for several jobs with no success at all. Then with the advice of my daughter I looked at my CV. tweaked it a bit and the first job I applied for I got an interview!

It's amazing going into an interview to think that you may be competing against younger more talented applicants, and then receiving a phone call to say they picked you!

It is a six month contract, with our local City Council with the possibility of it becoming permanent full time at the end of 6 months.

My official job title will be Communication Officer with the Executive Support Unit,
(which sounds amazing, but really
I am just writing the press releases that go out to the media and public.)

I don't think it's quite sunk in yet, I start in 2 weeks time.

I'm chasing olives!
DRINKS ALL ROUND ON ME!! LOL

Carole :)))

A few cards for fun

These wee beauties will go in my Etsy store shortly
Carole :)

speaking of Nathalie...

Here is a sneek peek at her stitchery project. It has visited everyone except Patty, so it is nearly home again.

Getting excited Nathalie??

Keep a watch on the QB5 team, (links on the right) to keep up with our stitchery progress.

Carole :))

I never ceased to be amazed by Nathalie

One of my bestest friends Nathalie from An Artist's Legacy never ceases to amaze me. She started an Etsy store selling all manor of "can't live without" items that a crafting wizard must own.

Her latest finds are vintage, somewhat rusty, suspender clips. Just think of the uses for these little babies!
I'm wondering if I can incorporate them into a wierd and wonderful necklace? What do you all think?
This might be my next challenge!

And today she has an embroidery kit complete with vintage buttons, antique linen and laces!
Her store is called rubyfloy, and it provides a great shopping trip :))

Thanks for the inspiration Nathalie!!

Carole :)

A touch of bling

We had family staying on the weekend, as a nephew was celebrating his 21st birthday. I had a new top to wear and needed a necklace to wear with it.

I admire some of the beautiful jewellery I see on blogs, but as much as I would like to be a clever clogs and make my own, I never seem to have much luck. I think my fingers are much too big and clumsy and things don't sit right, or they break after 30 minutes of wearing! LOL

But then I spotted this bracelet (above) in a store and decided I would have a go at turning it into a necklace, my top had pinks and reds in it, it was perfect!

I used calico wrapped around wire,
And tied pieces of lace and silk ribbon to the calico.

Then I decided it needed a little something extra just to balance it out,
so I added small dangly beads.

It sat beautifully when it was on, and the red glass sparkled nicely when caught in the light.

I was very pleased with my new necklace, and love all the little ties.
Don't you think this style suits me?

And guess what? - Yep you guessed it, it didn't even break!

Carole :))

last weekend, part 2.....

Then we were off to the Rose City Quilters exhibition.
There were all sorts of amazing quilted work by some very clever girls.
Here is just a brief glimpse of some of the work. I have used my camera without a flash in the light available.

There were seagulls, and fishing boats,

and shoes,

and quilts made from curtaining fabrics,

and quilts with stitcheries in them,

that made your fingers itch to stitch,

and cupcakes, good enough to eat,

and moasic work,

that must of taken simply ages to complete,

and bold quilts,

and flowery ones,

and even more cupcakes,

and we also discovered Amiee busy hand quilting a quilt made of recycled woolen blankets and colthes!

It was a beautiful display,
many thanks to the girls at Rose City Quilters for all their hard work!

Carole :)