Teachers Gifts/Bag Lady

I think I'm turning into a bag lady!

These bags are what I decided on for Teachers gifts this year, fortunately the kids class teachers are all women (and fabulous teachers) - not sure that this pattern would've gone down too well with a fella! Maybe I'll have to find - or make - a pattern for a MANbag!

I had the kids take notice of the colours their teachers most often wear to school and ended up with the following combinations:

For Jesse's teacher... For Tali's teacher... For Micah's teacher... It was REALLY hard to give them away. I wanted them all!!! They were really well received though, so it was worth it. The pattern is dead easy and comes together quickly (unless you're still finishing one at 2:30am and you stitch the exterior and the lining together the wrong way round... ...and even though you have this bizzare feeling that you're stuffed it up, you stitch it a second time to re-inforce it and THEN the penny really drops, you utter a few mild expletives to the world - who's asleep and can't hear you anyway - and sit up in bed, watching some trash on the tv and begin the painful process of reverse sewing. Aaargh. Boo boo's suck! lol) The pattern can be found here: http://artsycraftybabe.typepad.com/tutorials/pleated_tote_pattern.pdf I love this pattern so much I'm making more bags - and I'm keeping AT LEAST one!

Treasure Hunting

Christine and I went treasure hunting recently.

I found some nice goodies. I love Op shops!

I almost always find a little something to add to my collection of treasures.

Some are seemingly unattractive on their own but they seem to work together.

From the Devonport Emporium:

Pressed Tin from shoestringchateau's store...

Small pink polka-dotted dish...

What an amazing place the Emporium is is!

I'll be going back!! :-)

I also found 2 lovely plates that the kids are going to give me for Christmas - so I'm not allowed to show you yet. lol (at least when you choose your own pressie you know you're gonna like it!)

Oh. I also found a gorgeous basket that I've forgotten to take a piccy of.

From the Devonport City Mission Store:

Jug..

Well loved ramekin that I've decided makes a rather nice candle holder...

Pretty Tablecloth...

Vinegar/oil jars...

and Bag from Vinnies. These fat 1/4's are from Wells' in Latrobe.

Milo came to check out what was going on

and ended up INSIDE the old BBQ!

What a wally! lol

Summer's here!

Wow! Where has the year gone??

Today is the first day of Summer - and I'm freezing!!!

I'm sitting here at the computer with the heater on.

I can't believe there's only 14 days of school left and the summer holidays begin - YAY!

I love not having to get up and rush around in the mornings.

Bring on hanging out with the kids, lazy days in our pj's, swimming at the beach,

bike rides and bbq's in the backyard.

Micah and Tali swimming at 'the dog beach' in Penguin on Oct 16th 08, yes that's right - in the middle of Spring! Its too Cold now!

Birthday's, Ross and Bargains

WARNING!

VERY LONG, PHOTO HEAVY POST (making up for being so slack!!)

One of Tali's friends received this Pencil Roll and Journal Cover for her birthday last friday.

It was alot of fun to make - and really easy considering I didn't have a pattern.

Just a case of getting the measurement right.

It was also my first attempt at 'proper' binding.

Now I can't work out why I ever thought it was difficult!!

Mikayla was very happy with her gift :-)

That's always a plus!!

Last Saturday we had our first (hopefully of many) Tassie Quilting Bloggers & Friends Day

in the stables at the Ross Village Bakery.

Sarah and Jo did a fantastic job organising the day and preparing the room for our arrival.

Thanks so much girls - your hard work is much appreciated!!! ;-)

Here's Leanne trying to avoid having her piccy taken (Sorry Leanne! lol) We each received this gorgeous little package

and inside ...

... jelly babies and pretty floss. Mmmmmm! Thanks to the generosity of The Quilted Crow and Helen Stebbings we ALL received a lucky door prize too!

Amazing!

Mine: Boobie Button and Gorgeous 'Festive Roses' Pattern by Helen and Paypaya Soap

And for the Secret Santa Sway I received these two pretty fat 1/8's in Pinks.

Rather yummy huh!

Miss Tali, my 8 yr old joined us for the day and had the time of her life. She did a little bit of stitching (a little more than this piccy shows)

She was very excited by the Secret Santa Swap and the Lucky door Prizes and announced loudly, "Oooo, this is Great - I'm coming again." lol

She scored very nicely: Pretty Fabrics from the Quilted Crow, one of Helen's Boobie Buttons and a Bobkin for threading ribbons/elastic etc... ...and for her Secret Santa - pretty blue fabric with the roses.

It was a wonderful day! Great to catch up with other bloggers and meet her people. Isabella travelled down with us and when I got home I discovered this in my boot:

Isabella had mentioned to me in a email (after seeing my addiction for jugs in a previous post) that she had a jug I might like - she was right! Its very 'at home' on my dresser.

Thanks Isabella! And lastly...

...Yesterday's Bargains from our local Vinnies store.

Gorgeous Woolen dressing Gown $5

Not sure yet if I'll felt it or keep it as a Shepherd Costume.

and these reels of cotton (most of its polyester actually, but as I sew clothing too that's okay... ...and what doesn't get used will look great in my large glass jars - if it fits!).

$13 for 79 Reels!!!!

That's 16 cents each!

Slacker!

I've decided that I'm really slack when it comes to this blogging thing - I love it and all, I'm just really, really bad at posting!

Another month has gone by and...

...nothing, absolutely nothing to show for it.

Its not like I've been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs or anything.

I've been busy - just with other things.

My boys are in Emusicians, a Burnie based Inter-Primary School Concert Band which is celebrating its 25th year, so during the last week in Oct we toured the Hobart area for a week, which was GREAT, but very tiring.

Micah playing his Clarinet at a combined Emu's/Grade 5/6 Southern Schools Concert Band Rehearsal

(approx 120 kids in this room - all sounding amazing)

Jesse playing his Euphonium at the same rehearsal

(shocking photo I Know, but I didn't dare leave him out).

We had a great time away and it wasn't all work. We also visited the Aquatics Centre, Zoo Doo, Richmond Gaol (and the lollyshop) and Putt Putt Golf

We met this dear little lady at ZOO DOO just outside Richmond.

and this gorgeous guy, popped his head into the safari bus to say "G'day"

and this, not so little, girl was just delightful.

I'm still trying to recover, having FMS (Chronic Fatigue type thing) sure slows down the recovery period!! It was soooo worth it though - the Emu's kids are AMAZING!!!

We came home to Birthday Parties, Sports Carnivals, a Junior Sports Award Dinner, Basketball Games, a Basketball Tournament, Band Rehearsals (another band!), a Band Concert and all the other general madness of life!

Think I need to go for a lie down now - exhausted just thinking about it. But no time for that - off to pick up the boys for Emu's rehearsal!

Will post something crafty next time - I Promise!!! :-)

Blue and White

I have this thing about Blue and White

I love it!

Actually some of my 'whites' are more on the cream side...

... and who doesn't love cream?!

Here are just a few from around my house:

mixing bowls

Jugs on the kitchen dresser

I call this little masterpiece

"Scones on Blue Willow"

oh, no cream!!

my favourite chair

- such pretty Toile fabric -

I loved 'doing up' this old chair.

I have a bit of a thing for chairs too, in fact it borders on an addiction!!! Lol

- will show you sometime soon.

blue door knob and string of hearts