Summer quilt time

Now the weather is warming up, I tend to change my darker, wintry quilts for lighter, fresher "summer" quilts.

By doing this I tend to get in the "mood" for spring...and also a bit of spring cleaning! The number of blankets are reduced & the bedding aired in the glorious sunshine...don't you love that fresh smell? This quilt was from a pattern called Tag sale by miss Rosie's Quilt Co. DH gave me the pattern & some fat quarters to which I added some more fabrics. I like the faded softness & scrappiness of this quilt...it was peaceful to construct & it always makes me feel fresh!

Cardygirl xx

Dusting off & starting anew!

After a few weeks of not a lot happening in my sewing room, it was nice to have a day to do a little catch-up. There were a few little jobs that needed to be finished, so with a cold wind blowing I had a great excuse for giving the weeds a few more days of life. So I headed off, cleared the cobwebs from the door & dusted off the machine (with the weather here lately this is not an exaggeration!) LOL! First job was to finish the apron that DD had embroidered a pocket for...it is a gift for her friend's 21st birthday. it looks really pretty & she is doing a mug bag to match it.

Then it was time to face the MO BOM- Block 2. I have had it cut out for a couple of weeks but, to be perfectly honest, I was a bit nervous about it. It is a challenging BOM...but it really is helping to expand our skill repertoire. Despite my grumblings I am pleased that I have taken this project on as it is something different & it is nice to share some MO even though I am a few hours from Sydney. It is also great to share our journey on the blog.

Lastly I will share a quilt I made a few years ago. I purchased a starter kit from Timeless Threads at Mittagong as I needed a dramatic quilt for the upper landing in my home. It certainly fits the bill, but doing this month's BOM made me remember that working with bias edges is not an easy thing to do! But every time I look at it I have to smile as I remember all the frustration & then achievement that was the reward of this quilt's journey.

Hope you have some stitching time today!

Cardygirl xx

Blowing in the wind!

A blogger problem...can't move pics around, so I will type around them & see how I go!

Above is some stitching for Chrissy presents that I did on Monday...

looking good I think!

Like many bloggers on the east coast of Australia, we woke this morning to a surreal burnt orange sky.

It had a creepy "end of the world" feel to it, but it was the most amazing dust storm swept up by wicked winds overnight. Visibility was reduced to about 300m!

I have an amazing amount of fine dust through the house...some serious dusting & floor washing is ahead!

Sadly the topsoil carried by the wind will be sorely missed out west...

hopefully it won't hit New Zealand as predicted.

...hope all the Aussie bloggers weathered the dust storm!

Cardygirl xx

A grand day out!

What a lovely day I had today with Kristen, Susan, Kim, Meredith, Jo & Leanne.
We went to Susan's fabulous stitching shed, shared ideas, talked, stitched, ate & laughed.

Here is the view from Susan's...

and inside too.
But one of the highlights of the day would have to be when Jo pulled out her block from Material Obsessions BOM with Sue Ross! OMG...here, not 5 minutes from my home is another blogger & MO BOM'er!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable....here is her version of Block 1...

I caught up with presents...can't show it all now!

Cardygirl xx

Who's laughing?

Tomorrow will be spent in the pleasant company of some newish sewing friends. I started a new job a few months ago & some of these ladies are having an all day sew-fest near to where I live...and they invited me!

What to do...what to do????

Who is that laughing????

I have been running around like a mad woman all evening trying to decide what I will take to do... the possibilities are endless but I have decided on a quilt binding, some Chrissy present preparation, an apron I promised I would make for DD & some handwork for good measure.

It was tempting to start something new, but I decided to clear a bit of a fabric log jam.... then in the near future the new projects can flourish without a touch of guilt!

I have made a Hummingbird cake for a treat & hopefully I will wake ready & raring to go!

I will share some pics tomorrow.

Cardygirl xx

Feeling pretty!

Off to Newcastle today to buy DS a shirt & tie for his upcoming Yr 12 grad.

Don't you love buying men's ties...gorgeous colours, textures & designs...he was pleased!

Then I saw a dress...loved it...I don't do that very often!

Funny how we lose the confidence that we look nice as we get older...

I am a comfortably built girl...healthy, my grandfather called me...never dainty or cute...never will be either...LOL...I usually am pretty conservative, don't like to draw attention to how I look...but this dress is red & I feel pretty...DH said I looked lovely too...isn't he sweet?

It has the obligatory cardy (now you know why it is my blog name...thanks Nundle girls!)...& I am looking forward to wearing it to grad night.

To all you gorgeous women out there...we should believe in ourselves!

Cardygirl xx

Working to a theme...

A present for a friend....it is fun working to a theme!
Something useful....

something fun & inspiring....

and something just because it was too beautiful to leave behind!

Would you believe this delicious cupcake is soap?
It smells like the yummiest peppermint...just gorgeous.

And a spring photo to just enjoy as my garden springs to life.

Cardygirl xx

You better watch out....

I don't know how or why it happened, but suddenly I had the urge to make Christmas presents!

So many people are so organised...I must have absorbed it over the blogways!

I think that starting my SSCS pressie probably pushed me over into HOHO mode....

hope I can hang onto it & get some stuff done.

Here is a snippet...

Cardygirl xx

To Sydney & back again!

A quick trip to Sydney & home again!

Phew!!!

Lunch with some friends & hit the highway...homeward bound.

Silly me forgot the camera (not thinking of picture opportunities at 0530hrs!)

so I missed some lovely shots of Coogee Beach on a glorious spring day!

Close your eyes & imagine...

seagulls, gentle surf, beach volleyball & sunshine...

a really lovely spring day.

Sadly no pics though.

But a quick shop at The Crewel Gobelin...

I love Blackbird Designs...

I have decided I need to give up sleeping as it is impinging on my stitching time!

Cardygirl xx

Pretty stuff

Pretty garden pics... I love this time of year!

I love this time of year...hope it is lovely wherever you are!

Cardygirl xx

Thelma bag finished....quite pleased with it...

don't know it's destination yet!

Fussing around with my SSCS pressies today....

I hope my partner likes them!

It is both fun & scary to make a gift for a stranger...

will she like it????

I want so much for her to like it...

it puts the excitement back into Christmas!

Cardygirl xx

Too pretty!

This tea towel came with the latest Australian Country Style magazine...

too pretty to wipe up with?

I was thinking...maybe a bag????

What do you think?

Cardygirl xx

Ding dong!

Lucky me...the postman has a delivery! It's a squishie for me...yay!
An indulgence, but welcome nonetheless...

these are for a quilt...fun & bright

...the makings of another Thelma bag...I saw this gorgeous one that Maree made & it reminded me of how great a pattern it is.
I had made one for DD for Christmas. I have had the vintage buckles sitting around for a while...waiting for the "right" project!

Better head to the sewing room!

Cardygirl xx

Bits & pieces

A pincushion for the Christmas present box...out of scraps...yes, that is a paw ready to flick it onto the floor!

Doing bits & pieces to put aside for gifts...a very pink coin quilt...
lovely for a baby girl...and a spool from Nundle to hold some binding

and a gift for a 21st...shop bought...but look at the cute ladybird on the wrapping!

Cardygirl xx