Loving Rita @ Red Pepper

I have been following Rita's fabulous blog (Red Pepper Quilts) since almost the beginning.  She is a prolific quiltmaker and I love her quilt designs and the fabric combinations and the straight line quilting and everything!

Anyway, I was the lucky winner of a Pave the Way quilt kit (including backing and binding fabric). The Anna Maria Horner fabric is gorgeous and I'm itching to get cutting and stitching. So this will be my reward once I've finally finished my Case Study in Transport (yawn)!

I have snuck in a little bit of sewing and finished a couple of blocks for the last month of the Australasian Quilt Bee.

Demi-septuagenarianism (+ the giveaway winner)!

It was my birthday yesterday.  I turned 35, making me a demi-septuagenarian!  Yesterday was a day like any other day.  It was Tuesday, I went to work (except someone sent me lovely flowers for my birthday which I struggled to hide from my collegues), I went to singing and got home just in time to read stories before getting some dinner and crashing into bed.  However, today involved a delicious chocolate cake that was lovingly made by my family, decorated in true pre-school fashion (on the sly while I was having a shower, in sugary technicolour glory) and friends came over for lunch and they sang to me - a lovely celebration of another year.
Anyway, enough about me!  On to the giveaway draw.

Old fashioned, 20-names into the hat kind of draw!

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Cherrie at Willy Wagtail!  One vintage sheet layer cake will be winging its way to your place very soon.

PS.  For anyone who didn't win - go and try your luck over at Lila Tueller's blog, she's giving away some of her own gorgeous fabrics!

Auctions & Giveaway

I'm working full-time for the next couple of weeks so there has been little time and energy for blogging or crafting this week.

That's me at work, 6 years younger and trying to look sophistocated whilst standing on the side of the road!!

But I just wanted to pop in here to say - how amazing it is that we-bloggers-we have collectively raised $45,000 for the Queensland Flood Appeal.  Again, a huge thanks goes out to Toni and Carli for getting our butts into gear.

One of my auctions still has no bidders.  This photo box may not be the most exciting looking thing on the planet but my word it is useful.  I have one at home and it is fabulous for safely storing photos until you get a chance to put them into albums - and to be honest, I actually have two of these on the go for our photos because I have the best intentions in the world to put my photos into albums but life seems to take over.

Anyway, a big thank you to the generous souls out there who have bid on my other two auctions - vintage sheet layer cake and EQ7 software + book.

And, for anyone still reading this - my 200 post, half-way to 70 birthday giveaway is still open so go and leave a comment for your chance to win.

201 Posts = Giveaway!

I'm finally up to 200 posts which means it's time for a giveaway.  Thanks to everyone who has visited my little part of the blogasphere over the last couple of years!  This blog is really my indulgence - I record details of my crafting which is really something that not many people in my "real life" know about and share some of the silliness that is my family!!  For me this blog is a way to connect with likeminded people at a time and place that is conveninent (which is great with pre-school aged children - couldn't get out of the house after 7pm to attend a knitting or sewing get-together).


And I'm going to cut into my vintage sheet stash and make up a "layer cake" to share!  Just like the Moda layer cake, there will be 40 fabrics, cut to 10 inch squares - more authentic than Dream On!  I'm yet to see whether I have 40 different sheets so the layer cake may double up with the prints!  I'll probably throw in some other bits and bobs as well!

Dream On by Urban Chiks for Moda (this is not what I'm giving away - my layer cake will be better!!)

So to be in with a chance to win all you need to do is to leave a comment on this post - perhaps tell me what you're looking forward to most in 2011.  I'll leave comments open until my birthday (Tuesday 25 January) and draw on Australia (Wednesday 26 January).  Open to anyone, worldwide.

Thanks again for dropping by!

Flower Sugar Giveaway @ Retromummy

So I'm posting about this giveaway so that you can have a chance to enter too.

Corrie over at Retromummy is giving two people the chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the new Flower Sugar fabrics - click on over to have a chance to win yourself!

And this will be my 196th post so I will be having a giveaway of my own in the New Year - keep an eye out!!

I have been busy beavering away at my sewing machine for the last few weeks but can't reveal anything just yet for fear of spoiling the surprise!!  Hope all your Christmas preparations are coming along - only 5 sleeps to go!

Blogtoberfest is over (and there is a winner)!

Blogtoberfest has made me realise I'm never really going to have something new and exciting to say here everyday! I'm never going to be a daily blogger. But I have enjoyed trying to find something exciting and interesting to say (and I think I only missed one day) - so that's 30 posts in 31 days which is a pretty good result I think!

Anyway, without further ado - I did the random generator thingo and came up with comment 43 which belongs to Naomi at Beeshebags. Naomi had a pair of white ankle boots that she wore to death and still wishes she had!

Everyone seems to have some fabulous memories of clothing from childhood - many of you had boy-short haircuts like me in the 80's, or fabulous outfits handmade for you by your mum or grandma. Some of you liked the matching outfits - others of you didn't! So funny reading all your responses.

And to prove that I have actually been doing stuff other than blogging this month - here's my latest bee block. It's the most complicated quilt block I've ever attempted! I call it Geese Flying through a Spotted Technicolour Sky!!

Anyway, here's to the end of another Blogtoberfest. Cheers!

More Op-shop Goodness

Yes, I missed yesterday in Blogtoberfest but I had nothing to say and the computer was really slow and I was watching Packed to the Rafters!

Anyway, I had a fabulous day at a couple of the op shops near my work today! Got an absolute mass of stuff and change from $20 - I love a good op shop day.

Anyway I ended up with some music books...

A green heart sheet and some other fabrics...

And the very best Atlas from 1961!

And if you can guess which item cost me the most and how much I paid for it I'll send you some of my favourite chocolate truffles from Anvers! First correct is the winner. If there are no correct answers by Monday 25 October then the winner will be the closest to the price paid! I'll post this overseas but can't guarantee that they won't be melted in transit - they'll still taste good though!

If you haven't yet, please enter my other Blogtoberfest giveaway here!

EDITED: This giveaway closed. Correct answer was The Atlas for $6.50, and Teresa guessed it correctly!! The Heart Sheet was the best bargain at $2.50 and everything else was a dollar or less! Thanks for joining in. Blogtoberfest Giveaway still open until next week.

Blogtoberfest Giveaway & Childhood Favourites!

So I've decided to giveaway a copy of this fabulous book.

Plus I'll find a few other bits and bobs from my craft room to throw in for the winner.

Leave a comment on this post to be in the running - maybe tell me about your favourite outfit from childhood! All comments must include a means for me to contact you. And, because this is a pretty heavy hardcover book I'll only post within Australia. Any followers get a second chance in the giveaway - just leave me a comment telling me you follow. I will draw the winner on Sunday 31 October 2010!

And after asking you the question I should really share what my favourite outfit was from childhood - but I can't really recall one favourite! I was a child of the 80's so there was a lot of fluoro (think mesh socks over non-mesh socks), rara skirts and hand-me-downs. I recall owning a pair of suede ankle boots (at about age 12) that I'd tuck my jeans into. My brother and I had matching (but not the same) puffer rain jackets in neutral colours so they could be worn by us both. I wore a lot of tracksuits and raglan-sleeve t-shirts with my super-short shorts. My favourite colour was red and every second year I would have my long hair cut really short (like boy short - see photo below).Oh, and twice a year we'd go and select outfits for the season. Mum would put it on layby (usually at Venture or Kmart) and there'd be the inevitable catwalk fashion show for my grandparents when the layby was finally paid-off and picked-up!

I can't wait to hear about you're favourites!

Advent Day 21 - Everyone's a Winner!

Well I only had five posts on my giveaway (and Mel declined to be entered in the contest) so on that basis I think I might send everyone a little something!! Over the weekend (yes, AFTER Christmas) I'll have a peruse of your blogs and put something together and pop it in the post!!

As for the Advent Blogalong - I give up! Christmas has been too hectic this year by half. I have been making and taking photos but just haven't had the hours in the day to download them and post about it!

Advent Day 9 - One Pretty Thing!

Yes, I was featured on One Pretty Thing in their Christmas Round-up on 7 December (for my Lolly Holly Tutorial)! One Pretty Thing is one of my favourite sites and where I get lots of inspiration - I just wish I had more hours in the day.



To celebrate this exciting news and also my 111th post I'm having a little giveaway - leave a comment on this post, get an extra 10 entries if you've made some lolly holly and post about it on your own blog (and tell me about it)! Entries close Friday 18 December - happy to post overseas.

The giveaway will include some of my overflowing stash (matched to the winner, based on a quick flick through their blog) and probably some chocs.

Giveaways Galore

Retro Mummy is having a giveway - 12 fat quarters of Rosalie Quinlan's new fabric!Go check it out here, and enter if you'd like!

Check out this giveaway!

There's a fabulous giveaway over at Hawthorne Threads. They've got three prizes to giveaway. A lovely bag kit...




...or one of two fat quarter sets.

All prizes designed by the very talented Patricia Bravo of Art Gallery Fabrics.

So click on the link and go and enter yourself for a chance to win! Good luck to you!

Hotter than Sydney!

It was 28 degrees yesterday in Hobart (and forecast for 30 today) - hotter than Sydney!! So the kids had their first go in the paddling pool for the year.

Kelvin was loving it...

...and then decided he'd try to fit into that saucepan - unlikely given those thighs!!

I'm home sick today with the sorest of sore sore throats (can barely swallow) so an email from Amy at Badskirt was a lovely surprise - I won her pre-Japan fat quarters giveaway!! I've only just received some fabric that I bought from Amy. I'm loving the Cogsmo and the duckies are very cute.

I've also been op-shopping again and found some more fabulous vintage linen - thinking pillowcase dresses and lounge pants (aka pyjama bottoms).

Blogtoberfest - Trev does his best Delvine Delaney!

Blogtoberfest is over.

Thanks to everyone for dropping by and leaving comments, and to my old and new followers! There were 100+ entries into the giveaway (and Trev has done his best Delvine Delaney and drawn the winner in an old-fashioned out-of-the-hat selection process)!

And the winner is Jeanette - keep an eye out in the post for a parcel wining it's way to you.

And I think that Mel needs a "most consistent" award for commenting almost everyday. Mel is one of the new people I have met through Blogtoberfest - so it has well and truely been worth my while signing up for the challenge!

This is also my 100th post! No giveaway for this post but maybe for my 111th post!! Keep an eye out.

Blogtoberfest - Day 20 - Look what came in the post...

...a lovely package from Anna Bartlett.

She's printed a lovely angel panel and asked people for their suggestions (via her blog) as to what they could become. In a fit of creativity I commented that they'd make lovely guardian angels interspersed with fairy lights above a little-ones bed - and she thought so too! Now to work out how to do this!

She included some lovely cards, tags and some Anna Maria Horner fabric too. I can't wait to get a chance to start creating something from this beautiful "Shiny Happy Angels" panel!

Blogtoberfest - Day 16 - Chocolate, Champagne & Craft

I'm having a Girls Night In at my place tonight - chocolate, champagne and craft for the Cancer Council!They're the Toblerone Mousse Cups awaiting a strawberry on top.

The 'bubbles' is chilling in the fridge.


And the bright lights are warming up, ready for the knitting, stitching and scrapping that will be happening here tonight.

Come and join us in person or just craft along in spirit. Donations welcomed if you're so inclined - any blogger friends that donate get an extra 10 entries into my Blogtoberfest giveaway (as well as the satisfaction of contributing to cancer research and support programs through the Cancer Council)!

Hope your evening is as fun and crafty as mine should be!!

Blogtoberfest - Day 14 - More Skirts

So here are four Lazy Days skirts cut out and I have sewn their side seams and am about to go and iron the waist bands ready for some edgestitching.
All the fabric is either thrifted or has been in my stash for what seems like forever! I think these may be destined to become Christmas presents.

PS. Don't forget about the upcoming Handmade Expo in Queensland - happening this Saturday at the Ipswich Turf Club. If it wasn't so far away I'd love to join in on the Guiness World Record attempt at "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". Also, Handmadies are having a giveaway to celebrate 50 posts (as well as the expo) - so head over there and enter!

Blogtoberfect - Day 9 - I like your old stuff better than your new stuff...

I bought this book...

and was disappointed by the roll out fondant and pack mix instructions - so I bought this one...

and all is well with the world!

PS. A fabulously generous giveaway over at Lila Tuella - go check it out for your (quite remote - 1 in 600+) chance of winning a jelly roll, layer cake and patterns from her lovely new fabric.

Sewing Green!

I picked up a copy of this from the library today and was perusing it during my lunch break.

Now I just want to go home and read and sew or go op-shopping rather than doing my day job!

PS. There is also a very generous blogiversary giveaway over at BubbaChenille. If I was in Brisbane next week I'd have to join her at The Handmade Expo and sing along with the world record attempt to sing Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes! Alas, I will be at my day job, dreaming of crafting and probably humming along on my own...

Blogtoberfest Giveaway

I've still to decide what I'll giveaway for the Blogtoberfestivities but I reckon it'll include some fabric and other bits and bobs floating around in my craft room. Some of it may be thrifted, some of it may be new.

How to win?

Anyone who was following me when I posted this already has one entry (thanks to those 19 devotees)!

Anyone who is following me at the end of October will also have one entry!

Anyone who comments on any of my blog posts during October will also be entered - one entry per comment (but please make them constructive and/or interesting comments - I like useful feedback).

I might have an oldfashioned - drawn out of a hat method of winner selection. I'll do that in early November! Good luck.