Get Ready for Blogtoberfest!

OK, in a weak moment I have signed up for Blogtoberfest. I have been blogging for nearly a year and if I stick with the Blogtoberfest challenge I will increase my total blog posts by 50%.



Hopefully I can find something interesting to post about...

Hopefully I manage to take some photos to accompany my posts...

Hopefully it doesn't send me over the edge into total insanity (or has that already happened)...

Anyway, in order to make it more interesting for everyone involved I think I'll join in on the Blogtoberfest generosity and have a bit of a giveaway. But I won't post about it all today - I have 31 posts to do over the next month, don't want to put all the good stuff in here now!

Girls Night In!

I'm having a Crafty Chat as part of the Cancer Council's Girls Night In! If you're in Hobart and want to come along on 16 October from 8pm then let me know. If you'd like to donate then click on the link below. Thanks (and I bet you can't wait to see photos from our Crafty Night In).

Girls Night In!

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Look what I read about...

...I have copied this idea for a post directly from Splitting Stitches! But there are plenty of giveaways and bargains out there that I want to share.

Firstly, Fiona over at Mother's Cupboard is having a sale in her shop and a giveaway to celebrate. Go check her out at http://mumscupboard.blogspot.com/.

Also, you can win the bits and bobs for a quilt top, some already sewn, most already cut out at http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-new-new.html - half the work already done for you if you win!

I've also been checking out the Spin Spin shop and blog - I wish I was this clever (or i could resign myself to the fact that I work hard enough and earn enough to buy this stuff)! http://spinspin-handmade.blogspot.com/

Oh, and Sandra is having a giveaway at Pepperberry & Co. http://pepperberryandco.blogspot.com/ - gorgeous handmade cards!

Happy Birthday Trev!

Yes, that's 8 candles on the cake meaning that Trev is 35! Happy Birthday for tomorrow and enjoy your few days in Melbourne for work.

Retro Mummy Giveaway

Have been blog-hopping this evening (instead of sewing - my mind wants to sew but my body is tired). I started out at Two Little Banshees and then discovered that Corrie at Retro Mummy is having a giveaway.

I love this fabric - my Mum adores ladybirds so maybe I'll need some of this to whip up something for Christmas or her birthday!

And this pattern is lovely and I'd really like to make another jellyroll quilt!

Or maybe this one - I can't go past a good matryoshka doll!

Wish me luck or go check it out for yourself!

The blog-world doesn't know what's hit them now that The Gumtree Designers have decided to launch!

http://gumtreedesigners.blogspot.com/

Go and check it out! Tomorrow is the start of their giveaways and then the freebie designs start being posted from Monday 5 October - helping us all get ready for Christmas (AAAARGH - to much to do, so little time!).

A visit from Grandma!

We have had a lovely few days with my grandma visiting us from Devonport. She came down on the bus and we spent five fun days with her tagging along with our usual stuff.
We went down to the Tahune Airwalk and had a lovely time wandering amoungst the trees. She and my grandfather were avid bushwalkers but Grandma broke her hip a couple of years ago and it has slowed her down a bit.

We also spent a morning playing at the West Hobart Train Park, wandered around the shops before lunching in Salamanca Square and generally had a lovely time.

I think it's great that my kids get to hang out with a lady who is nearly 90! My grandma is hopeless with names and spent the whole time calling Matilda "Angela" - to which she politely replied "I'm not Angela, I'm Matilda!". After the five days Matilda was just answering to Angela - even at 3 years old you can work out when it's just not worth it!

Kelvin was also 11 months old during the week. He and Grandma had a wonderful time together - chatting to each other and just hanging out. I can see how raising children in a house full of extended family might work. The oldies would hang-out and play with the littlies, singing to them, chatting with them - not having to worry much about the running of the household.It was lovely having Grandma to stay - life gets a bit lonely for her since my Grandad died five years ago and I'm glad we made the effort to catch up. However, she was staying in the spare room (aka my crafting space) so I'm itching to get back in there!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I have been following Made by Rae for a while and she is giving away a backpack or a sewing pattern for the backpack at Grosgrain - check out the link below and wish me luck!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Marathon is Over...

...and this is what I have to show for myself (part of the "contemprary" mystery quilt)!

Last night I also laid out the sashing and attempted my first try of applique! I think vlysofix / "wonder-under" could be my new best friend and I have many ideas...

You can see my blocks on Helen's site - I'm not so sure about the colours but Matilda informed me the other day that her favourite colours a red and pink so this might have to be hers. I used fabric that would never normally choose - it was Basket of Flowers by Mary Engelbreit (the jelly roll that I'd won through Quilt Qua).

I was also lucky enough to win some fabric that was donated by The Fabric Cupboard (no photos but it's from the Botanical Fantasy range).

Oh - and here's Kelvin's most favourite thing in the house! Our washing machine - he'd probably stand there and watch a whole wash cycle if I let him!!