the great divide.

The Great Divide. Generally it refers to an east-west divide of the mountain variety. There’s “them”, who live on the coast, and major cities (like the old joke goes, what does NSW stand for? Newcastle, Sydney, Woolongong!). And there’s “us”. The country bumpkin cousins, in the colder, drier higher altitudes.

But the great divide that the title of this post refers to, is more a man made one. A north-south divide. Of the canetoad and cheating footballers variety (disclaimer – I didn’t watch Origin *gasp* but the way my twitter and facebook feeds exploded, I’m still not 100% sure if we were talking about a football game or declaring war on our neighbouring statesmen). My brother-in-law is a *cough*Queenslander*cough*, and, I must admit, we don’t mind paying him out constantly a bit of a stir every now and then. But then. A transfer meant a move for my sister and brother-in-law. To the “wrong” side of the border…

So therein lies the basis of the design. The true inspiration was a visit to their home, where I noticed they had two clocks. One for Qld time, one for NSW time (insert preferred curtain fading quip here). And that got the old cogs turning, and hence was born a little mug rug for my sister. The river that marks the border between states. The clock with an hours time difference. The dark side and the light side. I think I’ll leave it up to her to decide which is which!!

 

It’s heading off in today’s post, so hopefully she should have it in a couple of days. She doesn’t know about it, so it should be a (hopefully!) nice surprise in her letter box when it arrives.

 

Today we are all battling the first big hit of winter lurgies. Boy2 is down, I’m down, Butterfly isn’t far behind. Next in line is Daddy and Bear, bother who have started with a niggle. Joy joy. We declared yesterday a movie and jammie day, and did a great deal of nothing. I managed to find myself at the halfway point of a doily I’m crocheting, Boy2 came and sewed with me for a bit and got the top of his Cookie Monster quilt done. Though of course Butterfly thinks she needs a turn on the sewing machine. Darling girl, you are 19 months. How about no? Today is more of the same. I’ve got covers setting for a handbound journal I am making for a friend, and if I get the covers and my doily done, I’ll be a happy camper. Two small children out for the count, an hour until we need to think about school pickup. Time to get busy and kick Tuesday in the butt, lurgy or no lurgy. But just a gentle kick. Let’s do this!

 

{Linking up today for the first time at Diary of a SAHM for I Blog on Tuesday}

progress…maybe.

So I started the quilt-in-a-day challenge. And given the various demands on my time, I got a fair way in. But then, the quilt sat, and sat and sat. And finally over the weekend, I got the binding attached to not only that mugrug I’ve been blathering on about for weeks, but also the star quilt. Perfect timing now the nights are getting cold, stitching it down will be a pleasant way to snuggle under a quilt while watching a bit of telly. I must admit, the stitching of binding is probably my least favourite part of quilt making. Though on the upside, today is Tuesday, so a bit of Big Bang Theory while stitching sounds like a pleasant way to pass the evening. It also means, aside from my swoon blocks which I have packed away for now, the decks are reasonably clear, freeing up the machine for small people who are keen to get their share of quilting time!

 

One small person is in bed, one at preschool, one at big school. With 2 hours until pickup, I’m rapidly running out of time to get much done. The girl and I have been out at a friend’s place this morning, and now she’s in bed, I’m thinking some lunch, a spot of housework and then if I can manage it before she wakes, a bit of down time in the sun. Maybe with those quilts, maybe some knitting, possibly some painting. I was quite excited to get notification that my fabric has shipped, so now I just need to wait so I can sew and prep charm packs for the shop. I also received a delivery of handmade paper from the States yesterday, and it is even more delightful than I expected, so I’m keen to order the remaining supplies and get stuck into some journal binding. I think my to-do list is conspiring with the housework to keep me away from my studio, both are growing exponentially. Time to knock them on the head. Mojo, oh, mojo, wherefore art thou?

swapsy changy

 

This is a little something I made for Anna as part of a Mothers Day swap – a little peas-in-a-pod wrist pincushion (something made), a box of yummy Lindt balls (a treat), and a beaded stitch marker (something senders choice) because I know she is just joining the rest of us in the addiction that is crochet!

 

Friday is here, and we are winding down for the weekend. Getting the admin out of the way so we can kick back tomorrow. If I get the housework all done, I might try and paint. We have friends coming to play this afternoon to get the weekend off to a great start. I’m already thinking ahead to tomorrow’s Saturday Bloggers Boogie. I hope you all have a wonderful creative weekend! x

lazy friday

It’s been a lazy Friday, in a busy kind of way. School drop offs, toddler music lessons. A girl down for a nap and a boy to occupy seemed as good an excuse as any to wash the car, and the boy went nuts with a bucket of water. He’s patiently crafting and drawing in the studio behind me as I race through the Friday admin tasks as quickly as I can, and then we are going to sit down together and sew a dolls quilt for his Cookie Monster.

 

 

As much as I am aching to do my own sewing, I love helping and guiding my little people. Their pride at creating something mostly on their own, makes those beautiful little faces shine, and that is all the reward I need. It seems all three have developed their mummy’s love of anything creative, and I am keen to encourage that. And what better way to spend some quality time, really? We are also planning to bake up a storm this afternoon ready for the weekend ahead. I might potter along on a couple of projects as he plays and sews and crafts. Standing in the sun daydreaming as I hang five loads of washing that backed up with yesterday’s rain.Just easing our way into the weekend. Friday is here and the count down to the weekend is on! Let’s do this!

swirls and hearts

A while back, I made a quilt in a day. 22 hours from purchase of fabric to final stitch in the binding. It was a crazy but fun project. When AJ mentioned she’d been working on one, I felt the itch again. A few of us banded together, and the ANZAC Day 24 hour quilt challenge was set in motion. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to make. A vague design in mind. But hitting up Spotlight in the holidays, I couldn’t find what I wanted, and ended up with something completely different. But workable. I thought. But then life intervened, and I got barely any sewing done over ANZAC Day. It’s still coming together, but I must admit I am quite chuffed with how the FMQ is coming together. Likely because I’m actually using a darning foot now on my machine. Instead of a, um *cough* button sewing foot *cough*. Yeah. That could explain a lot. With the proper foot, I can actually get a good rhythym and flowing motion, and aside from a few early problems with travel lines not quite lining up, I am really enjoying exploring quilting patterns. Lucky I have at least four quilts currently in the “to make” queue!

 

The sky is grey and threatening. Slow drizzle masks the view through the now-damp window. It’s the kind of day to stay inside and get crafty. I’m busy working on a foundation-pieced mug rug, and I’m also hoping to get the stars on the quilt above quilted, and hopefully the binding pieced. If I’m lucky, even attached. I’m working on a painting, but oil is SO SLOW to dry, so it will have to wait a day or two for the next layer. I want to draft up a dinosaur softie and stitch it up. We’ve read and sang and legoed our way through the morning, and Butterfly has just toddled off to bed for a nap as the rain gets heavier and the beat of the drops of the roof lull her off to sleep. Buster is happily playing in the toyroom, and I’m going to sneak off for a coffee and maybe even make myself some sugar pastries and ignore the washing that needs to find it’s way onto clothes horses while watching another episode of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Youtube gold. I’ve promised him we’ll make some cookie monster cookies for afternoon tea. A quiet day, in a busy kind of way. Hello Thursday, nice to have you along for the ride. Let’s do this!

he sews.

For a while now, Bear and Buster Boy have hovered nearby as I create, wanting to join in. Occasionally, they pop up on my knee, and if they are good, maybe operate the reverse lever. But at 5, I felt Bear was big enough to have a go on his own. The morning chores done, I called to him. “Would you like to learn how to sew properly, baby boy?”, and his little face lit up with such joy, my heart thought it would burst. I dropped a small kiss on top of his head, and hand in hand, we walked to the studio. I suggested maybe a little quilt for his Pooh Bear, and he danced in delight. “With squares and rectangles” he declared as I pulled open the fabric container. He selected two red and white fabrics, and carefully laid them out as I grabbed a piece of paper, and sketched a rough rectangle. “How shall it go, sweetheart?” “Squares across there, please.” He smield as I lay in the squares. “Then a rectangle. More squares, lined up with those ones. Rectangle, and then squares”. He stood back, pleased with the result, then went stash-diving again. “And this for the rectangles mummy”. So I lay out his three fabrics, and quickly cut them up for him. Then I settled him at machine with some basic instructions, and worked the pedal for him as he joined the blocks together, watched as I pressed them, and then joined the rows. Before long, a sweet little quilt top, surprisingly accurate, emerged. He chose a deep gold for the backing, and with some scrap bamboo batting, we pinned the quilt, and after attaching the walking foot and setting the machine on a boy-sized table, he set off to quilt it all on his own, in complete control. When quilted to his satisfaction, he declared the gold perfect for the binding, and for the first time in the project, I was actually invited to participate. I stitched on the binding for him, and showed him how to hand stitch it down. At which point he decided he was hungry. Which I believe is 5-year-old-code for “not that into this, really”, and so mummy to rescue, I stitched it down, and one little boy was very proud of himself. One mummy was very proud of him too.

 

And now, of course, Buster wants a turn. A square one for Cookie Monster. But for now, they sleep. A chocolate cake is fresh out of the oven, it’s scent wafting temptingly through the house. The washing flaps in the breeze. The silences holds me captive, and my mind soars with a burst of itching creativeness. A stolen moment or two, and I hope to knock out a Swoon block. Shhh, my babies. Sleep well, dream long. This afternoon, we will play and sing and cuddle. For now, I sew.

Stitch, stitch, stitch…bugger…unpick.

So I had a good run at my Swoon block yesterday. I got to the end, pressed it flat, and despite the imperfections, was please to call it done. Then I looked again. Hang on, something’s not right. Bugger. One corner had not only been stitched in upside down, but the smaller components had also gone in back to front. Out came the unpicker, and 10 minutes later, a correct swoon block emerged!

 

In between Swooning, I also managed to whip up a little friend. A few friends and I had been giggling along to the adventures of Beyonce over at The Bloggess, and wondered whether we all chipped in, how much postage might be to Australia. But it was enough to get the inspiration turning, and I dug through the stash, and soon appeared, Cerise.

Cerise is the official mascot of the Sisterhood of The Travelling Chicken, and I am blessed (?) to be her current hostess. She’s cheeky and demanding, but awfully fun to have around. Head on over to her blog to keep up with her adventures.

 

Good Friday came and went, church, a play in the park with friends, a picnic of fish and chips. Those cheesecake eggs were the bees knees. Shall blog them later. Today it’s been a quiet-ish day. A spot of shopping, a bit of tidying, some blogging and working on my intercessions for church tomorrow. Bear has been keeping me company in the studio and doing some painting. I was thinking of doing another Swoon, or making a bag, or maybe some painting. But I’m feeling kind of lazy, so maybe just a movie and some stitching down of binding. And raiding the fridge for the last cheesecake egg. Shhhh…. Hope you are all having a wonderful Easter x

swoon me up, buttercup

It’s all the rage in the quilting world at the minute – Swoon. The mega-block mega quilt. And so when a sew-a-long was suggested in my online quilting group, I thought I’d best check it out for myself. It looked nice, so I bought the pattern, and started playing with fabric combinations. But it makes 24″ blocks. Yowsers. Big blocks aren’t my style, especially for a quilt with no purpose other than to be sociable and make a quilt! So I rethought my plans, and ended up downsizing the pattern to make 6″ blocks, from which I will make a dolls quilt for Butterfly. Yesterday I started cutting and laying out my first block, and started with the piecing. I think once I find my groove, it’ll come together quickly!

 

 

 

I also managed to squeeze in another quick little project at nap time – a friend was chasing a ruffled nappy cover and wondered if I made them to sell. I said I didn’t, and pointed her to my two stand-by sites for such prettiness, but no luck, so I promised I’d have a go at making a pair, and aside from a couple of small imperfections, was quite pleased with the end result!

 

 

Post nap, Butterfly had a blast hovering in the studio and playing with some scraps, before we popped Dolly in the pram and went for a wander around the street, and had a delightful little chat as we adventured. I love the days where it’s just me and her. I love my boys too, of course, but as the third, her time alone with me to date has been very limited, so it’s nice to share some one on one time with her as well. Though after two boys, it’s like learning to play all over again!

 

We’ve had an easy morning today, after a rough night – Butterfly with a cough, Bubba Boy with a tummy ache. Coffee is my friend. We had an assembly to see Bear get a Principal’s Award at the end of his first term of Kindy. Bubba Boy and I have hung out and read stories and practiced numbers while Butterfly slept off her restless night. Both are now in bed asleep, and the housework calls. So does swoon. And a little painting is tickling the edges of my brain begging for escape. I’m stalking the postie for a parcel or two due to arrive. More coffee is desperately needed. *yawn* one day until holidays. Bring it on!

mug rug

{mug rug made for Joy in the recent swap}

Phew. The end of a busy day is tantalisingly close. Two in bed, one to go. Drop offs, outings, pickups, classes, work, cleaning, cuddling, playing. Little Bear, as expected, has gone down with a bug. Butterfly isn’t far behind. One more jobs and I’m calling it knock off time. Better blogging tomorrow, promise.

a stitch in time.

Leaning back against the lounge, I relaxed, letting the chatter wash over me. Lazily my gaze swept the room as I listened, half to the conversation, half to the suggestion of commotion outside the door. How long, I wondered, until Butterfly started demanding my presence. Our study done, the talk had turned to admin, and then on to travel. Adventure looming for friend, my ears prick up as she tells us of the red-tape for visiting a Ugandan orphanage. No gifts, no special treatment. The best thing you can do is share skills with them, help them learn to improve their chances of getting jobs. I thought I might do some sewing, she says, and immediately, the cogs fall into place, and the wheels in my mind start turning.

 

A lazy Saturday night in, and with a little help from a very kind friend, my plan came together easily. A little sewing caddy – wool felt to hold some needles, a place to tie in a reel of cotton, a little pocket to hold scissors or embroidery floss. (the card is also mine, one of set of unsold note cards made with one of my early watercolours).

 

Saturday, and everyone is present, accounted for and healthy. Running Bear is home after a few days away at a conference. Little Bear is ready for a rest as the end of first term approaches, so we are laying low. A productive trip to the nursery means an afternoon in the garden, if the rain holds off. Some painting to scratch an itch ignored for too long. Some filing and washing. A party for the same dear friend the sewing caddy is for. Prep for Sunday School. Books with my babies. Bubba Boy helping daddy outside while Butterfly naps and Little Bear keeps me company in the studio. A lovely easy Saturday, just the way we like it. Let’s do this!