The commission Quilt

Well I have pieced the quilt together, it is a lap size quilt. Now comes the super fun part of free motion. This one will have lots and lots of feathers creeping up the quilt with cool fillers in between. I will post lots of photo's and if there are any fillers that you like and want me to show you, then I will include it in one of my videos.

Went and saw Skyfall today. Wow!! I am a big James Bond fan and this did not disappoint. I loved it, it was so much fun and it didn't hurt that Daniel Craig didn't have his shirt on a few times :)mmmmm great movie. Seen any good movies lately?

Jane

New Video Is Up :)

So the quilting video is up and running on YouTube!! So exciting, take a look...
A Quilters Pleasure.

I said in the video I would have a pattern up for the free motion work, so here it is. Just print it out and trace around it and have fun :). Try making your own pattern up too.

I have another customer order, so exciting every time I get one, so I am busy doing that right now. Will show photo's very soon.

Wanting to read more of Louise Penny's new book A Beautiful Mystery. She is an amazing author and there just isn't enough time to devour the book in one sitting. And, like watching tv, chocolate too would be great... actually I am going to go and have some now mmmmmm.

Jane

Feathers

It has taken so much time to get this youtube quilting video together. We have finally finished doing the title and the intro, so now we can work on the first episode! That has left me hardly any time to quilt. But I did manage to squeeze in some feathers.

I intend to have swirls and more feathers coming off these main ones and fillers in between. Oh for a day of just sewing :) And chocolate, and a good tv show :) I am still loving Grimm. What are you watching?

Jane

A Couple of Things

While I have a spare few hours (ha!) I have been working on these.....


This is a baby quilt for a friend, she has i girl and two boys, and when she got pregnant she really really wanted a girl :) the two boys are really boys :) so she is so excited to have a girl. So pink and purple were in order. The trees have owls in two of them and the other two have gorgeous little baby birds and then one square with the whole family portrayed as cute birds.

This one is so fun! I love swirls and bright colours and I could see this in my head sooo clearly and so far it has turned out the way I want it. YESSSSS! that is pretty rare so I am pretty happy about that.

So I am nearly finished doing the baby quilt and then I can work on filling this with wonderful fun free motion work. wohoooo. 

On another note, bought some weed killer, tons of bindi in our backyard, and sprayed it yesterday, no rain expected for a few days at least, the weed killer doesn't work so well with rain in the first 24 hours. So what do you think it did today?? Of course it rained. Man!! Oh well, we'll see if it has killed them off. 

Now I am off to watch So you think you can dance, I love it, think it rocks. What do you like to watch? 

Jane

A New Start

With the beginning of my youtube videos hopefully just around the corner, I decided to start over with this blog, but I am going to add some old posts from a more personal blog, so that is why they are all created in November :)  just so there is something to read on here :). So here goes.

New Brother and a Light Box

Now I am pretty excited about two things. Obviously my new sewing machine, which I love love love. Thought I would give a little review as when I tried to find some on the net there wasn't many.

So the sewing machine is a NX400, and first off, great price at $750, I went to a place called Echidna sewing supplies in Brisbane and they gave me a trade in on my old clunker, very handy not many sewing shops do that, and so I got it for $650. It was on special from $1000. So that is brilliant. 

Then there is the fact that it is so easy to use, just turn it on and the screen shows you what stitch you are on and you can just change the width with a press of a button. There is even a button with a question mark on it, press this  and that has a manual built into the machine :) shows you how to get around the machine. I can save my stitches and load up multiple stitches for embroidery, which I thought was cool since it isn't a specific embroidery machine. 

What I also like is that it is quiet :) nice. And it sews so smoothly. I know that in about 4 years time I will wish this was still true hehehe but right now it is smooth. So far, I am very happy with it. 

Now onto  another thing, my desk is glass and my latest idea needed some tracing onto fabric. I drew it onto butcher paper and I wanted to have it transfered onto the fabric. I usually stick the design on the window and stand for ages tracing it onto fabric that way. So then now that my desk has moved and there is more light ( don't ask me why I didn't think of this earlier)  I came up with a great idea, why don't I put my lamp under the desk and tape the image and the fabric to the desk and trace!! well of course it worked :) duh :)

(Sanctuary on my ipad there :)

So quick too and I could leave it there and come back, because of course as soon as I sit down someone needs something or fights :) I wonder if I stood up would they bother me??

Jane

Colour!

Went to my favourite quilt shop, east coast fabrics and got this gorgeous laminated fabric. The chairs need recovering all the time since they get dirty, and I saw this, first time they have had some laminated fabric, so I got some and covered the seats today. They look fantastic.

This is my new design, I have sewn over it first and now am colouring in with this amazing paint. I love the paint and will do a review on it on my you tube channel :) wohoo.

Jane

Done!

I have finished snow :) she is now on etsy, which has been so dead lately. But oh well that's life.

The 3D leaves turned out sooo well that I am going to make more 3D things. I saw one website where she made shells, and they were amazing. Got any ideas?

Leaves

Ok so this is what I am working on now.
I am sewing the leaves onto the wash away, I will be filling them in with a lighter green and then as it is called, I will just wash away the filmy fabric and the leaves are just left.

 Then I will stick them on these vines

I am not so sure about the tree, something is off and I don't like the symmetry or something about it.
Needs more light green leaves maybe?

So here's to trying something different :)
Anyone reading anything interesting lately? I need to find some more great authors with tens of books to their name :).  Also I am again starting the menu planner, are there meals that you love that you could  share with me? I saw a show where each night had a theme - monday roast night, Tuesday Mexican etc. Weighing up whether that would be easier. Just want to try different meals.
Jane

A New Start

With the beginning of my youtube videos hopefully just around the corner, I decided to start over with this blog, but I am going to add some old posts from a more personal blog and that is why the date will be the same, just so there is something to read on here :). So here goes.

America The Beautiful

I know school holidays have started when I mop the floor and it is dirty that night. Why do I bother?? :) Anyway, to keep me sane through the holidays I have been working on the U.S quilt. But saying that I think that, this actually might drive me nuts :) and I am dieting so no chocolate to help me through. ughhh

This is taking quite along time. I would love to be able to put items on Etsy  every couple of weeks. So I won't be making one this big for a while. I am half way through painting and still need to do my thread magic :) 

Watched This Means War last night, gave me a few laughs and a great perv at the two gorgeous men. So a winner for me :) Watched anything good lately?

Jane

p.s any ideas of how to get through a day without eating chocolate?

Something Different

Did something different today, I found some 'wet and gone' webbing stuff that is super fine and you sew on it and then put it under water and it is gone :). It is very fun and cool to watch it just disappear. I tried this, first try so give me a break :)

 That purple and gold thing is supposed to be a flower :) two of them of course.

 I shaped it so that it curled up at the edges, you just do whatever you want to it while it is wet, super fun.

Jane

What I am up to

Here is what I have been working on

 Anther baby quilt, I painted some cute little birds on it as that is what they like, well here's hoping it's what they like :)

Off to sew and do some fancy work on this thing and eat an apple to make up for the mini choc croissant :)
Jane

Another Done!

Finished!! Have a look at my Etsy shop and see the JewelTree new quilt. I am loving this one :) it is hanging in my home with a lamp shining on it and giving it a gentle glow.

Had the vomitng bug go through the house this last week and I am hoping really hard that I don't get it. Went to take D1 to her violin lesson and well, we didn't make it. Instead she lost her lunch poor thing. Today I cleaned the carpets so I am hoping that nothing happens during the night to wreck all that work :) of course I care about her being sick as well.

Now I am going to see what is on TV and ponder on the fact that I have nothing to sew and no idea's in my head..... anyone with any ideas??? I was thinking doing a map of the U.S like the Aussie one, which by the way has not sold, price too high maybe, but I still think it would be cool.
Jane

Jewels

Well another one to add to my growing pile in the cupboard :) maybe I can stitch them all together and have a big blanket. Then they will be of use :). something to look at as your falling asleep too :)

The blue sky is opalescent and the jewels on the three are very sparkly metallic, but none of that shows up in the photo's. But they look fantastic with the metallic thread.
Don't you love the gorgeous swirly bubbly sky!.
Once I have bound this thing it will go on my Etsy page and hopefully get some hits, here's hoping.
Jane

Some more

Well I finished this

and uploaded it to Etsy. Now just waiting for another super quick sale :)
Ate too much of my baked cheesecake and now feel much bigger. Darn, why cant we just eat baked cheesecake and not get fat.:)

I painted this

The one on the left is called JewelTree and the one on the right I am not even sure I like. I painted it last night while watching Miss Marple, I had fun but once I finished... I wasn't sure that it sits right. The dark green up the top sucks I think, I could always cut that bit off. What do you think?

Anzac day, gives us such great feelings of pride in our service men, and we are very proud of them.
Jane

Done!!

I have finished the tea towel :) and I love it.

I am about to upload it to my Etsy site, so go have a look at it and up my hits on Etsy :)

Jane

Another Finished

Finished another wall hanging. Now I can start on the Australia quilt. I always start a quilt by staring at it and wondering what on earth I am going to do with it :). No different this time, actually it is a bit harder since I have the map to follow. I am hoping this will be good enough for the QLD quilt show.

I need to name this one and have no idea... got any?

School holidays are slowly coming to a close. The fighting makes me feel like I have failed as a mother, guilt follows me like the screaming voices :) it is such a wonderful feeling. Today I got the kids to mop parts of the house, the oldest daughter said 'how boring'(with loads of teen attitude too) and I replied with welcome to my life :) she didn't say anything else hehehe. Then I go them to vacuum their rooms. They did it, and didn't complain that much. The mopping didn't make my life easier but that isn't the point :) but the vacuuming was great :). Now I just need to get them cooking dinners and my life is so much easier hehehehe.
Exercised twice today, so I expect to be wayyy skinnier when I wake up tomorrow :)
Jane

Photo's

My Brother came over yesterday and helped me take AMAZING photo's of my quilts to revamp my Etsy site. Have a look at  Michael's Flickr 
 So here is one, and here is the link to  My Etsy Site

Now at Easter, in Malta Figoli is what they eat, and it is sooo yum. You cannot buy it where we live so my wonderful in laws make it, I have done it in the past, but it is alooot of work and the mixture makes alot and it is soooo yummy and I just end up eating all of it and gaining alot of weight :). I am going to make it next year and get the whole family to make it a tradition. See, this is what it looks like

 And this is what is in the middle, it is an almond meal, sugar and other stuff that I can't remember :) but it is sooo yum.

If you want to try some, the wonderful in laws gave us some, so kind, come on over in the next couple of days before we eat them. :)

Jane

Nearly There

Well have a look.... here is the map, all done and ready for batting and free motioning

Here is the something I made out of fabric thingy :) will bind it tomorrow and see if it is worth anything :).
The kids had cross country today and it was so exciting to see them running their hearts out. So adorable. They did such a good job too. It is one of my favourite things to do at school with the kids and I love cheering them on and watching the joy on their faces when they finish the race and they are so proud of themselves. Gorgeous.

Holidays are soon, time to sleep in at least but hopefully the kids will get along and enjoy each other, mmmmm what a nice dream that was :)
Jane

Fun

I thought this week that I have a great life. My kids are healthy and listen to me just enough so that they stay alive :), I am healthy and my husband has a great job. On top of all this, once I have finished my hetic household schedule :) I have time to myself. I love being a stay at home mum and sooo enjoy every moment of it. So with the time that I have had this week, this is what I have done....

This was something I just wanted to make out of fabric, it's great just playing with fabric

This one is another swirl one, since I love swirls why not do more :) and this is with the pearlescent paint added to the colours and it is only about 20cm wide and about 1 1/2 metres long, so it is a bit different with the size.

 Close up

 This is for my sister in-law, who wants something for her iphone to absorb the vibration at night so it doesn't wake her up :) it is about 15cm/15cm.

 This is my Australia quilt, nearly finished... and I don't think it looks so much like a tourist tea towel now :) those are whales in the water :)

Just finishing up the water.

Went to a craft show on Thursday with a couple of friends and it was so much fun to go with them. The show was really small and we were done in about two hours, but I got a really fun watch there :) but no craft stuff.
Today I bought the most gorgeous shoes, and wow was it fun :) gorgeous shoes make me feel gorgeous I have discovered :) I will have to tell Hubby that this will occur every week to keep me feeling gorgeous hehehehe
Jane