2014!

 

May the New Year bring the very best of everything your way.

Here's to new adventures in everything you do.

 I aim to make stitching fun in 2014!

Happy New Year everyone! 

Carole x

Things to come!

Plans are afoot,

2014 is going to be a busy one!

Carole x

Working on a new project

You might even like to come along for the ride...

Carole x 

I wish for you.....

A very happy Christmas

Time with friends and family

Good food

New stitching adventures

Whether you are celebrating at the beach 

Or snug and warm in front of the fire

May the joys of Christmas be yours

Carole x

Looking for a free motion challenge?

If you want something different to do over the Christmas holidays, 

something that offers a challenge? 

Why not embark on a free motion class? 

Thought I'd remind you all that the free motion class,

'The road to my house'

is still open, which means anyone can join at any time!

If you've never attempted to tackle FMS, this is the class for you. By the end of the class you'll be confident in dropping your feed dogs and going for it! 

Together you'll use scraps from finished projects, machine stitch, add a touch of hand stitching and then embellish like crazy!

You'll end up with a fun wall hanging that tells a story and gives you the confidence to go on to bigger and better things.

The class cost $US55.00 and you can work at your own pace.

If you'd like more info check here: 

'The road to my house' 

Or email me for more information.

I look forward to hearing from you :)

Carole x

Secret Society of Stashbusters

The Secret Society of Stashbusters is meeting!

If you're not doing anything on Friday 6th Dec come and join us

6.30 to 9.30pm

Krazy Cow Quilt Store,

Old Railway Station

Levin. 

And guess who's running it?

ME! 

What to bring:

Bring along your project to work on,

$10 for the evening,

A fugly fat quarter that you don't like, (to swap) 

 So come and join me on Friday night and lets do some social stashbusting!

(and have a few laughs)

Carole x

More scrumptious hot pink.

A riot of hot pink.

Unnamed.

A true sign of summer!

Carole x

One always needs another pin cushion!

A little square pin cushion made from scraps on my sewing table....

not quite perfect, but cute all the same lol

Carole x

The great pink quilt is finished!

Finally I got it finished! And for a colour combination I ummed and ahhhed over I am really pleased with how it's come together. The pink is pretty 'in your face' bright and the 63" x 79" quilt 

certainly adds a WOW factor to any room. 

I'm really pleased with it. 

Here are a few pics taken at different times during the day on Sunday....

It screams sunshine, and heat, and summer! Yay!

As I originally made it with the intention of putting it in my Etsy store I now have to decide if I can bare to part with it!

Do you form an attachment to the quilts you make? I've made a lot of quilts that have been given away, and some that I've sold, but I think there is always so much of the person who makes it in the quilt itself. 

There is love and memories and frustration and patience and thankfulness and gratitude........

did I leave anything out?

Carole x

I sure don't like green eggs and ham!

Thought I'd put a wee cushion together using some of the bright Dr. Seuss fabric. You'll find it with the range of fabric at the KC quilt store in Levin if you're passing.

 I'm pretty sure I've love this on my bed if I was a kid!
Made anything unusual this weekend??

Carole x

Anyone want to come on a mini-break with me?

Well the sewing machine has been working hard and the quilt is almost finished. 

In the mean time Mr M&M celebrated a big birthday, one with a zero on the end of it! 

I organised a surprise birthday weekend, and all the children would be there waiting for us.

We went to Tokaanu at the south end of Lake Taupo.

My little sis and Traci

We stayed in the old post office which happened to be celebrating its 100th birthday. It had been renovated a little so that it resembled a home. 

Here are a few pics from the weekend.....

This was the music room and was the postmasters room.

There was also a ski room and a fishing themed room.

But Tokaanu is renown for its thermal activity, especially the hot pools!

These pools are filled with boiling water.

Little sis and I get some jumping for joy in

 

We also discovered these man-made pools fed by water from a small thermal pool that kept erupting.

There were also lots of plopping thermal mud pools

And thermal pits that locals were using to cook food in. The steam cooks the meat and vegetables.

 However, the best part of the weekend was this. 

It's a hot tub and with the turn of a tap bubbling hot water is pumped out of the ground and straight into the tub.

Traci checks the temp

 

 

 

It didn't matter that it was a scorching hot day, it was great fun!

 We did go for lots of walks to explore all the surrounds, there was some stunning vistas.

Little sis and I do some more jumping on the shores of Lake Taupo

 

And we got to have a few more cuddles.....

I'll post some pics of the quilt when I get the binding on.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Carole x

My iron is my new best friend

Back side of the quilt

I love iron-on batting! I don't need to baste at all! This one is polyester and cotton mix.
What's your favourite batting? 

Carole x

Want to make a Journal?

I've had a few emails lately from people asking about my journal class and if it's still available.

Well the great news is, that the class blog is always open!!

So if you'd love to challenge yourself to make a journal, do a little deconstructing, a little dying and aging of fabric, stamping, painting, machine and hand stitching. If you'd like to try using transfers and enjoy embellishing until the cows come home, well, maybe you'll enjoy this class.

It's taught via a private, invitation only blog, where I'll instruct you using tutorials, photos and videos. Once you've joined the blog you'll have exclusive access any time of the day or night.

Each journal will be unique to you, no two journals are ever the same.

The class has been open for some time now and there are loads of journals for you to look at. So if you feel like making yourself a journal, don't forget the class is still open!

If you'd like to join look for the Paypal icon on the right.

Any questions, I'm right at the end of an email!

Carole x

Thank you and a small visitor

First off I must thank those of you who sent good wishes for my MIL. She is stable now and has been moved from critical care to a ward. A big relief for the whole family.

 At Labour weekend we had the children come down to visit their grandmother and we got to spend time with Neve, who is now 16 months. What a gorgeous wee girl!

Carole x

to sash or not to sash...that is the question

What do you think? 

 

I have some leftover fabrics and am wondering if I should add a sashing? 

Mostly pink, with some slashes of greens and browns. Or is it enough as is?

What do you think? 

What do you think Buddy??

Carole x

sidetracked by fabric...like that's never happened before!

I had a couple of days off and I decided to work on one of my unfinished projects.

I had all the pieces cut, so just had to put them together, trim each block to size and sew the blocks together. I decided to work outside my comfort zone with this quilt top, using bright pinks and greens and brown.

 The pattern is a store bought one and quite contemporary for me. It was lots of fun to lay the blocks out ready for stitching together, and at the end of the day it was all put together. It doesn't have a sashing, but I've got a few scraps of fabric left so I'm going to add one using the scraps.

Of course I should have been working on the next class sample for 2015 Symposium, but I've made a start, and it's looking very exciting so far...

I'll keep you posted!
Have a great day - Carole x