Hobart Craft Fair

Yesterday a friend and myself drove down to Hobart to go to the Craft Fair. It was actually the first time I had been (I had been when it was in Launceston, but hadn't been since it went to Hobart)! I didn't buy much, just a couple of patterns, a zip coin purse kit, some wool and wooden needles to make some socks:

There were heaps of lovely quilts on display, here is a selection:

I totally LOVE this one, hand pieced...... it must have taken SO long to make this - how AMAZING!!

And, I left the best until last......... how cool is this one??!!

On the way down, we stopped of at Campbell Town for a 'half way coffee' and ran into Cathy, Leanne and friends who were already stopped for their re-charge!

Then, when we were browsing all those gorgeous quilts on display, we found Jo!! Jo was working on one of the stands as well!

Better get going, I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

x Sarah

Our Little Sophie

On Wednesday Sophie had a hair cut! She totally 'hates' it! I am sure the neighbours think that she is getting murdered from all the commotion coming from the van parked out the front!!

Here is her 'before' do:

Not really that long:

But, it did need doing:

And, here is the 'after'!

It is quite short, poor thing will be so cold in winter, but she HATES being brushed, so short it is!

Look at those eyebrows........ :+)

On other news, I am working on my very first Newsletter for my online store, if you have not already signed up, and would like to receive this please pop over here and sign up.

Off, to finish making Lasagna......YUM
x Sarah

Surprise mail

7 Posts in 7 days - I think this is a record for Me!! But, I REALLY have to show you something!

Look at all these GOODIES I received in the mail from the lovely Amanda! I won her competition, guessing the correct snake common name (which is very surprising as I don't know anything about snakes lol)........

She made me all these GORGEOUS things!! I had seen one of these little button broaches that she makes on her blog and was secretly hoping one of these would be in there....... and it was!! Cool!!

And, a wrist pin cushion!! I don't have one of these and I think it will come in VERY handy!

I totally love this little thread catcher with shell buttons! I have never seen polka dot felt before! She must have been spying on me sewing away in my sewing room as the note said 'place next to your sewing machine to save putting your stray threads on the floor' lol

And, you have to check this out....... how cute!! It is a little felt basket with a strawberry on the handle and some strawberries hanging of the front!!

Plus, she gave me a 4 leaf clover necklace AND a vintage Scarecrow pattern!!


So, how lucky am I??!!

Thankyou SO much Amanda! I TOTALLY love all my gifts xx

x Sarah

Another finished project

I don't have any hand stitching going on at the moment, so decided last night I needed to do something........ so, I made one of these up! This one is made from the Spring Magic fabric range:

I decided to use a magnetic clasp instead of the velcro, and used an oversize button as the feature:

It is actually bigger than I thought it would be - would make a perfect makeup bag or toiletry bag when going away! I am not sure if I will keep this one myself or if to give it to a friend for her Birthday in September.......

In the kit you get 2 mini Honey Buns (of different ranges of fabric), this is enough to make 2 bags. Aren't they cute?!

This morning I was up bright and early....... 5.30am in fact! I was off to drop my SIL & BIL to the Airport as they are off to France (for 2 whole months) to meet up and bring back with them their DD - Emily! She has been there nearly 12 months as an exchange student (how time flies!!). On arrival, we were told that their flight was delayed and was to leave at 10am...... I left the Airport at 9am. I received a phone call after lunch from my SIL saying they were STILL in Launceston due to the FOG!! And, they had to re-schedule their international flight for tomorrow - oh dear!

Best be off....... I picked up my frame part today and yes Kerry, it is defiantly worth the wait!! I will show you all some pics tomorrow.

x Sarah

PS: You still have time to enter my Giveaway which will be drawn at the beginning of July. See details here.

More Tidy Bins

Look what arrived today....... Janelle Winds new pattern Suzie's Sweet Shoppe!! Just GORGEOUS!! I have these available as either patterns only, but if you wish to make one up the same as Janelle's, I have them in kits with the Sweet Layer Cake at a great price for a limited time only:

Ok, so whats my store, with some pre-made items without these...... Tidy Bins!! These are a big favourite! Everytime I go to any stitching day, mine comes too and I ALWAYS get comments about it!! It has a pin cushion and a place to put your scissors.... and the little bin can be taken off! I have made one in Green and Mustard:


And, one is Pink and Brown (Buggy Barn Fabrics - YUMMY!!)

If you would like to check them out a little further, pop over to have a look here.

Also, arrived today is the brand new pattern by Janelle Wind called 'Suzie's Sweet Shoppe'. I have it on sale with the Sweet Layer Cake for a limited time..........

x Sarah

PS: I will be picking up my frame part tomorrow - hopefully!!

Pieced backing

Can you remember that I was doing a Staked Coin Quilt challenge with Angela?? Well, Teresa has chosen to join us too!!
I decided to actually make a pieced back for my quilt out of the same fabric range! Here is the back:

The idea came about while talking to Bec one day, as she has done a pieced back a few times! I had bought the kit for the Amy Butler Lotus Brick Path Quilt a while ago, and decided this would be great project to have 2 quilts in 1!! This quilt went together very quickly, I just sewed them together, not thinking of pattern placement at all - there as some that are sort of next to one another, but I am not too fussed about that! I am going to be making my Coin Quilt about the same size as this (its about 70"sq). Might get some more done this week........ maybe!!
x Sarah

Some June finishes:

I totally LOVE these gals! They are Raggedy pincushions..... to nice to stick your pins in huh lol! They are made from a Country Keepsakes pattern (just love their designs!) and I have made these to sell in my store. If you click on the pic, it will take you straight to them:

So, these are 2 finished projects for the month of June - for the OPAM Challenge..... Tomorrow, I will pop back to show you something, not finished, but some progress on an Amy Butler quilt!

Oh, and THANKYOU to all you lovely ladies who have put my button on your blogs..... and placed an order! Good luck in the draw (which will be drawn at the end of the month).... So, there is still time to enter my giveaway, if you would like more info, click here or scroll down a little :+)

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend
x Sarah

A little bit of shopping and a quilting class??

Yesterday afternoon, Roseanne popped around after work, we were having a coffee, when we decided to go for a run over to see Pauline! We haven't been for SO long! While over at her shop, I found these BEAUTIFUL fabrics! Now, I am not a 'blue' person at all, but these really did appeal to me! Maybe because of the lovely baby blue shade it is, with a dash of pink, blue and a cream tone! I bought it with a special bag project in mind - but I think I have changed my mind!



I was chatting to Pauline about a quilting class, the Deborah Louie technique. If any of you Tassie Girls are interested, Pauline is taking names - so give her a call and let her know that you are, she might be able to give you a little info. If we get enough people to make a class, we can then talk dates!! If you would like to see Bec's comments on one of the classes, click here.
I know I promised some 'finished' pics, but that can wait until tomorrow!!

x Sarah
Oh and....... got a phone call today saying the part for my frame is on its way!! I CANT WAIT!! YIPPEE!

The excitement continues......

It really must be MY week!! First was the launch of my brand new online store, then Tuesday I received a phone call from one of the Supervisors at my 'old workplace' offering me my job back!! Well, well! They have found a buyer at the very last minute (they were closing down at the end on June, so gave us all a redundancy), I really didnt think it would happen! So, they will be starting back up and had only offered 2 of us ladies to return (and a couple of the men).......... All day work, full-time (doing 9 1/2hours a day for 4 days) so that means a LONG weekend every week YAY!!





I have LOTS to share, some new yummy fabrics purchased today and some completed projects..... So, I will pop back tomorrow and share some of that.
x Sarah

More stock arrived today....

Yes, more stock arrived today for my store, and, it contained this: The new Melly & Me book Kaleidoscope! Don't forget, price is $35 which INCLUDES postage if you click on the pic, it will take you straight there..... I don't have many left, so be quick!!

And, I received a whole bundle of other patterns - don't forget patterns posted free (the only book posted free is Kaleidoscope):

Thankyou to all the lovely ladies who have purchased so far........ good luck in the draw :+)

On another note, I received these BEAUTIFUL invites in the mail for an up and coming wedding we will be attending in QLD in September:

The Wedding is for my brother, Simon and his lovely lady Kate! I am not sure if Kate made these herself........

Nice invites huh??!! They are actually magnets! We are really looking forward to going to Qld as we have not been for a couple of years and this time we have booked for 3 whole weeks....... yay!

Better get going

x Sarah

Some exciting news - and a GIVEAWAY

Yes, a BIG announcement!! My online store is now OPEN!!

After about 3 years of selling on Ebay, and after hearing that I was losing my job at the end of May, I have decided to open a 'online store'!! It has been something I have wanted to do for so long, and took this as my opportunity to 'go for it'!! I have spent the last couple of days loading everything into it and now it is ready! Roseanne has come to celebrate with me tonight with some 'bubbly'!!

I have it well stocked at the moment, and am still waiting on more products to arrive........... So, for the month of June all patterns are posted FREE (not including books!) AND every purchase goes in the draw to win Janelle Wind's Candy Girl pattern.


So, to all you lovely blogger ladies out there, who would love to promote me, add my button to your side bar and post about it and you will go in the draw to win some goodies too!! Let me know you have done this, I will come to check and add you in the draw.

One prize is a Janelle Wind pattern Holly's Bouquet:

AND, if you are a follower of my blog as well, you will also receive 4 Pillow Panels from the range 'Oh Cherry Oh':


Here is my Shop button:

I have some Melly & Me Kaleidoscope books arriving next week, price is $35 which includes postage, if you would like me to hold a copy for you, just let me know!

Also, you can sign up for early news of up and coming specials - just subscribe to the enewsletter.

Off to have another drink - I need it!

x Sarah

PS: Just want to wish my good friend Kerry a lovely Birthday today! I hope it is a good one xx

Sewing update

Today I managed to finish of a little bit of sewing. As it is one of a few secret squirrel projects I am working on at the moment, I thought I would just share a couple of snippets!!

Isnt he such a cute little teddy bear!!

I wonder what it could be???

x Sarah

Busy, Busy.....

Blogger is being a pain today!!

Anyway..... I spent 2 1/2 hours this afternoon cutting up my Amy Butler fabric range Midwest Modern that I bought SO long ago:

And they have become this:

Ange and Myself are doing a 'Coin Quilt' Challenge. I am not using a pattern, as I want a certain size, but Ange is doing the free Moda pattern here. We have both decided to have this done by mid August........ Anyone else interested in joining us??

Now, I am yet to locate my homespun......... my sewing room is a shambles at the moment!! lol

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

x Sarah

Giveaways and Bday's

Firstly, I would like to wish the lovely Isabella a BEAUTIFUL Birthday!! I hope you had a fantastic day xx If you click on the pic, it will take you to her lovely blog!

Also, I thought I would share the news that I won Amanda's Giveaway for choosing the right snake...... well, chose the GENUS name not the common, but I did get the correct snake! YAY!!

AND, I also 'won' the 'traveling table runner' pattern from Cathy!! The deal is, once you make it, you blog that it is ready to be on the move again, and anyone who wants it, comments, then I sent it to the 'winner'! Cool!! I look forward to making it..........

Am I on a winning streak..... Do you reckon I should buy a lotto ticket??

I hope you are enjoying your weekend - its a long one here...... plenty of sewing time :+)

x Sarah

Sewn

Sewn will be launched on the 8th of this month - this coming Monday! Sarah Fielke, previous co owner of Material Obsession is the founder of this fab site! It is going to be jammed packed full of great hints/tips and advice on all your sewing needs! There is going to be interviews from all our favourite designers...... so keep an eye out for that!! Lots of tutorials and competitions as well!! Colour Wheels, Fabricmatcher, Forums, oh you name it, it has it!! So pop on over, sign up for the newsletter and your in the draw for a HUGE amount of giveaways!!

Speaking of giveaways....... Pauline is having a giveaway to celebrate the launch too - A Threadbare pattern and The Rainbow Cottage book by Lynette Anderson!

x Sarah

Thankyou and lost blocks

Firstly, thankyou SO much for the lovely heart warming comments and emails regarding my job loss..... it has been lovely!! xx

While going through some pics on my camera, I came across these:

These were some Birthday Blocks I made way back in March for a lovely blogger friend and I totally forgot to show!! I totally love the design of this block.... something a little different! I love the pink and brown block - Buggy Barn fabrics!!

So far this week, I have been quite lazy (and I STILL have not got through my back log of emails)....... I have been doing a little stitching - but for 'secret squirrel' stuff.... so I will share soon...........
I hope you all are enjoying your week
x Sarah

A shock to the system

As some of you know, I have been made redundant from my job and today is the first time in my life as an un-employed woman!! The uncertainty of 'whats around the corner' is a little scary..... but I am up for it!!
I do however, have afew things in the 'pipeline' - so watch this space!! This is my new Ideas Journal I made for all my little notes:



So now, I should (notice I say should) have more time to actually comment on the MANY blogs I visit instead of being so time poor that I just lurk.......... And, I should (another should) be able to answer my emails a little quicker too lol!! I suppose one upside of being a 'Lady of Leisure' is that I also should be able to get heaps of sewing done!! hehehehehe.......

x Sarah