Threads of Friendship

When I'm not making bags, I'm...

2011-10-10T13:06:00.004+11:00

...doing some recreational sewing - basically, sewing is my therapy ;) I've had this 'Charisma' charm pack for a wee while, so I thought it was time to create with it! Katherine was lovely enough to share some of her leftovers from her Charisma quilt to add to it. I sewed up the 1/2 triangle squares on a day sewing with my friend Julie, then added the borders at the '1st Friday Night Sewing Group' with Lisa, Jenny, Vic & Tracy.

With Love

Janellybelly xx

A Very Special Baby

2011-08-27T22:39:00.001+10:00

There’s a friend’s baby on it’s way very soon and I had the honour of making a quilt. The request was for a Very Hungry Caterpillar Quilt and after a little net surfing we found the perfect one! The pattern is by Jean Ann Wright and sold by The Fat Quarter Shop.

Here it is being basted ready for quilting.

Over a few days I quilted it in a large stipple while the family ate dinner at the kitchen bench!

There was enough fabric left over to make a pillowcase and cushion cover, I now have my quilting mojo back and must get on and finish a few of the quilt tops that are folded away in the sewing cupboard.

I see there is a Grouchy Ladybug quilt…..anyone else having a baby??

I’m off to eat through one ice cream cone….one pickle….one lollypop….

Happy stitchin folks

a little bit of origami

2011-08-12T14:34:00.001+10:00

Slowly adjusting back to Melbourne time after a fabulous week in Western Australia with the sewing sisters. While there, Katherine and I had a go at this little Origami Bag. Quick and simple to put together and looks rather cute I think.

Katherine managed to convince me to give English Paper piecing a go and I think I am now addicted. So much easier when you buy the pre-cut papers and use special glue to tack them down. This project may now take over the as the piano quilt and I’ll finish the triangles on the machine!

Happy stitchin :)

Reunited

2011-08-06T22:17:00.007+10:00

Cause it feels so good... The Sewing Sisters are in the same state again, Katherine and Kylie arrived in WA on Wednesday afternoon. Since then there has been much laughter, chatting sewing, shopping, snorting, singing, eating etc... Here's a little of the sewing we have done so far.

My 'Andalucia' Hexagon Quilt

Kylie's 'Fabulous Fall' Coming Home quilt (pattern by Camille Roskelley)

& Katherines 'Naomi' Pyramid Quilt

We are off to High Tea tomorrow afternoon with a special bunch of gals, should be lots of fun ;)

With Love

Janelle, & Katherine & Kylie XXX

LOST!

2011-07-28T21:13:00.001+10:00

I have been lost somewhere between illness, school holidays and 40th birthday parties (not mine!!).

Sorry for the absence, life kinda got me busy…

My oldest child turned 10 last year and I promised him a quilt (as you do). It didn’t get finished by his birthday (as happens). It did get done while he was still 10 and before his 11th birthday!

The colours were chosen by the birthday boy and his obsession with bows/arrows and targets gave me some inspiration for the design. I used the same fabrics in stripes on the back. I needed some help with the quilting as this is a big quilt and was losing inspiration. I also like the sticky bun design. I like the finished result!

We have recently rearranged the children’s bedrooms and my little two now share a room which is painted blue and red. The pink and purple quilt belonging to my youngest no longer matched. So, of course it was time to buy new red and blue fabric and this is what I came up with:

The picnics and fairgrounds fabric by DS was perfect. It was very well received and became a dance stage on this particular day for my 3 and 5 year olds!

There have been a few other quilts progress and many in the planning, but more for another day. My oldest daughter turns 9 this weekend and we are having a ‘LIttle House on the Prairie’ party tomorrow. I have made pioneer bonnets for all the girls and now it’s time to make cornbread, popcorn balls, and oatmeal cookies. I must say I am enjoying this theme and re-living my childhood days too!

Until next time,

Happy stitching,

Krafty KJ

202

2011-07-14T15:52:00.008+10:00

Yes, this is the 202nd post on our lovely & creative, but poorly neglected, blog. I have been lured over to the dark side (aka facebook) and am ever so sorry for not posting here regularly. I promised some friends of mine (you know who you are!) that I wouldn't just use the blog to promote my 'shop' - but as this is the bulk of my sewing lately, I thought I'd share some of the bags I've been creating lately.

Reversible Denim/'Betty Dear' fabric Shoulder Bag

Girls 'Kokka' Babushka Bags

& an apron I made at work recently.

I am enjoying spending the winter school holidays with my cherubs - sleeping in, cooking, watching kids movies, sewing etc. What are you creating these holidays?

With Love

Janellybelly xx

The Piano Quilt

2011-06-09T13:18:00.001+10:00

A few weeks ago now my DD started piano lessons. She’s been so excited and enjoying it so much it’s lovely to see. I’ve been enjoying sitting and listening to her lesson each week, it’s nice to stop and sit quietly for half an hour in the midst of my busy week.

And so the beginning of a new quilt was born. Something that was portable, hand pieced yet not too complex. At the recent AQC I purchased these two fat quarter bundles, a mix of Kaffe Fasset, Phillip Jacobs and Brandon Mably.

So inspired by this piece and my 60 degree ruler I set about cutting and ruling enough pieces to get started. I’m still not exactly sure how it will all come together but I’m enjoying watching it evolve.

I must get online and buy some yardage of a few of these prints to finish it off one day… I can piece 2 or three triangles a lesson, so at this rate she might be a concert pianist by the time it’s finished!

Blessings for your portable projects :)

Happy Birthday KYLIE ;)

2011-05-22T14:25:00.001+10:00

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday dearest Kylie

Happy Birthday to You

Much Love & God Bless Always

Your Sewing Sisters - Katherine and Janelle xx

More Softie Love

2011-05-11T18:15:00.001+10:00

When I first dusted off the sewing machine 10 years ago, after a significant sewing break since Home Ec at High School, I made cloth dolls. Now that I’ve been making some softie samples for work, I have got my softie mojo back (there is more to Janelle than just bags!). Today at craft I made this little cutie.

Little Kitty pattern by Melly and Me

She has already been claimed – for a new baby due in October ;)

With Love

RETREAT!

2011-05-01T22:14:00.001+10:00

I have just experienced a fantastic weekend away, with some fabulous girlfriends (old & new), sewing, chatting, eating, creating, laughing, staying up too late and having lots of fun. My goal this weekend was to create some new samples for a special craft night we are having at work (Midland Textile Traders) this Thursday night. This is what my Janome and I got up too…

‘Phoebe’ the Elephant – pattern by Melly and Me

(she still needs her eyes and toes sewn on!)

a cute ‘Sangsang’ softie – pattern also by Melly and Me

& a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ bag – pattern by Rosalie Quinlan Designs

Miss R also asked me to make her a Trefle/Kokka Babushka Bag of her own, with 1 specification - “Please can it be purple”. She was very pleased with the result.

Must go and join my family and watch Masterchef

With Love

Birthday stitching

2011-04-05T21:46:00.001+10:00

I had an interesting day on my birthday. Not exactly the day I would have planned for myself, but I spent it with my family and had a lovely visit from Kylie in the afternoon.
I also started playing with a new range of fabric ‘1974’ by Urban Chicks for Moda. A jelly roll, charm pack as well as yardage made this one easy.

I’ve had this in my stash for a little while now. I had to buy it as 1974 was the year of my birth. This is a photo of where i got to and now I can’t decide if I should sash it or sew as is. I was thinking about sashing in a cream based fabric from the range with red cornerstones… any ideas or suggestions welcome!

As I was undecided and still had a lot of left over fabric (it was on clearance and I couldn’t resist) I started playing with this design:

I am now a big fan of this ‘rich red’ in the kona solids range. I am taken by this design too. It came together so quickly – think I may need to make a scrappy version with all my darker and muted colours. This is also at a stand still as I can’t decide whether the green check, blue or grey/purple dots. Help please!! I must say I am loving having the energy to be back sewing again.

Happy Stitching!

Krafty KJ

.

Happy Birthday Katherine

2011-04-02T13:27:00.001+11:00

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dearest Katherine

Happy Birthday to YOU

Love your Sewing Sisters Kylie and Janelle xx

Too cute and cold!!

2011-03-31T17:39:00.001+11:00

My youngest daughter is turning 3 soon and is obsessed with the water. She is very aware that we have said she can join her brother at Saturday morning swimming lessons when she is 3. Recently she found this swim set that I bought at the end of season sale and had to try it on…

Children in goggles are so funny – I had to laugh and grab the camera when she came out with these on. It’s the eyes!

If only it were beach weather, but no it’s too cold!! SORRY I was distracted…

My new phone was also feeling the cold as I continued in my scrap use today making a warm and protective cover for it. I just made up the pattern, but the elastic loop makes it quick and easy to slip out to answer/use.

I’m organising my sewing room and needed a container to hold all the pens, scissors etc on my desk. So I made this with the same left over fabric. I just covered an old tissue box with the top folded in:

The scraps are left over from this quilt which I finished on our weekend away…

There has been more scrap action here, but I’m really getting over scrappy strips. Will show you more progress soon. It’s my birthday on Saturday, so I think it’ll be a day of cutting into yardage!! I bought a new rotary cutter blade today to add to the joy…Yay!

Happy stitching!

Krafty KJ

PS. Janelle there are plenty more of these left -overs coming your way!

Book Shopping

2011-03-25T19:01:00.001+11:00

Whilst browsing at my Favourite Online Bookstore, I came across this…

Sewn Toy Tales by Rosalie Quinlan and Melanie Dekker Hurlston of

Melly and Me

It just happens to be published right before my birthday, so I saved DH the trouble and have pre-ordered it ;) You too?

With Love

My Kinder boy is 5!

2011-03-23T12:11:00.001+11:00

In the weeks leading up to school going back my little boy turned 5! It happens so quickly; the sleepless nights and kissable newborn cheeks, the introduction of solid foods, transition to cot and then bed and now it’s off to kinder. As he is one of the oldest in his class (being a January baby), he was well and truly ready for long kinder days.

The night before kinder began, he remembered that I said I would make him a bag out of the tool fabric Janelle sent me… why do children seem to remember such plans when there is so little time left to fulfil them? At this time I was also not well and barely coping with life. But a promise is a promise, so a very simple bag was whipped up and finished in the minutes before we had to leave. A pocket on the front for his hat was a prerequisite.

Here he is with his kinder bag ready to go – couldn’t even stay still enough for the camera to focus!

We love you gorgeous boy!

Thanks Janelle for the fabric inspiration – one day the quilt to match might happen too.

Happy Stitching!

Krafty KJ

Back in the land of the living!

2011-03-22T11:49:00.001+11:00

It has been some time since I’ve had the space in my life for blogging or really anything else other than survival. It has been an exhausting time – not even the energy to think about a sewing project.

It’s good to be back! I continue the sewing room battle – order will return… some time!

I finished binding our camping quilt by the fire on the long weekend and it is now in it’s new home, our caravan. There were a few fights over who would have it on their bed the first night, so I look forward to many memories associated with this quilt.

Kylie and I went away a couple of weekends ago and had a lovely time. For me it was a weekend of finishing quilts or quilting them. I spent four hours sorting through my scrap box which was overflowing – how that weighs me down sometimes!

I cut strips for the full four hours until I could strip no more!

BUT, more on that another time…

Happy stitching!!

Krafty KJ

We have a winner…

2011-03-07T20:17:00.001+11:00

Congratulations to Anita L who is the lucky winner of the wheat bag!

Drawn from the old button tin I was gifted recently and I’m currently sifting through. I have a strange addiction to old buttons, here is a shot of my button collection, stored in an old wooden box my grandfather made. Both my children have spent many hours sifting, sorting and playing with these buttons while I sew.

Till next time, keep smiling

brrrrrr, it’s a giveaway

2011-03-04T14:12:00.001+11:00

It was freezing this morning in Melbourne, as I type the rain is pouring down outside and the hot chocolate is sitting by the computer ready to thaw my frozen fingers. Janellybelly and her family have been sweltering in above 30 degree temperatures for over three weeks so it may seem crazy to those on the other side of the country to be doing this giveaway!!

Today I made up a few more heat bags and thought I would send out the toasty warm love with a giveaway. So if you would like to win this lovely heat bag to warm up your toes this Autumn leave a comment and I will draw a winner on Monday afternoon. I may even add a few surprises to your parcel ;)

snuggle up with a loved one and keep warm peeps xo

ahh, what a lovely weekend…

2011-02-27T20:31:00.001+11:00

Katherine and I have had a lovely weekend away sewing. There was a fair bit of eating, laughing and unpicking as well….

It’s not Terry’s it’s mine...yum!

Managed to make an ooshka babushka or two from the Red Thread, can’t show you the other one, it’s a gift for a wee girl who’s Mum just might read this blog!

We also celebrated an 8th Birthday here in our house, Aunty Janellybelly sent over some lovely crochet edged ( Thanks Mum!) pillowcases to match the quilt, doesn’t it look lovely.

happy stitching everyone :)

That’s Collaboration

2011-02-25T17:15:00.001+11:00

I just caught a glimpse of the date of our last blog post – I thought I’d better get one done before it clicked over to “4 weeks since the last post’.

2 out of 3 sewing sisters have been sick, I had the flu all last week and Dear Katherine has had pneumonia and is still in recovery mode – please get well soon sweetie.

I have a few photos from my collaboration with Anna from Gooseberry Bush Kidz. I love how my Girls bags match so beautifully with her Boutique toddler clothing :)

Isn’t Miette the model doing a marvelous job ;)

We in Perth, are in the midst of a humid heat wave. The only remedy is to stay indoors (preferably with refrigerated aircon) & create :) What have you been creating over the Summer (Winter in the Northern Hemisphere)?

With Love

clean sewing room = new inspiration

2011-01-26T21:19:00.001+11:00

Amazing how a quick tidy and sort out in the sewing room inspires some fresh creativity.

I’ve been churning out (a reference to the ice-cream maker in the back of this picture!) the folding sewing bags and venturing into making some nappy wallets and small multipurpose pouches.

I have been pleased how they have come together and added some tissue covers to the mix also.

I’ve been busy over the school holidays doing a few of those jobs that have been hanging around for years, putting up DD’s new curtains and covering the pelmet being one of them.

Reading time has also increased over the break and I’ve managed to finish 3 new books over the past few weeks, ahhh, what a luxury. The house is clean and tidy, the wardrobes are purged, the pantry now has all the use by dates in the future rather than the past.. and so when I venture back to work next week I wonder how long it will last…

Happy Australia Day Stitchin :)

Celeste’s Younger Sister

2011-01-20T21:12:00.001+11:00

Celeste has being doing a beautiful job displaying bags & things for me at markets. My newest junior models name is Miette, she will be in charge of modeling the younger range of Janellybelly Bags.

Do you know how hard it was to leave the mini model behind!

With Love

Eye Candy

2011-01-10T00:53:00.001+11:00

Consider this a Bag Test Pattern till we get another blog post done – soonish ;) BTW Happy New Year, we’re only 9 – make that 10 days late…

With Love

PS For those who have been asking, here is a photo of my DD in her graduation dress :)

‘Twas the night before Christmas

2010-12-24T23:03:00.001+11:00

And I am ready for a holiday :) I managed to finish my custom orders, the last ones were delivered yesterday.

Its lovely to think that they will be given out as presents tomorrow on Christmas Day.

The Postman also delivered some lovely presents my way. I was the recent winner of a 3rd Blogiversary giveaway over at Katherine’s blog - Sew Me Something Good. Look what lovely treats I received…

Thanks ever so much Katherine, your creativity inspires me!

Then the Postie dropped off 2 parcels, for me and my family, from my beautiful Sewing Sisters Katherine and Kylie.

Some Babushka goodness from Katherine, &

Some Bag and Babushka goodness from Kylie.

Thanks heaps precious friends!

”Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night”

May you all have a Safe and Blessed Christmas, love Kylie, Katherine and Janelle xx

Bosom Friends, Books, Babies, Bon Jovi, Bags etc…

2010-12-12T16:57:00.001+11:00

I have always been fond of alliteration :)

I caught up with ‘Booky’ Bosom friends - ‘The Bronze Horseman’ Book Club on Tuesday night for our Christmas break up. We shared a gorgeous Italian meal, book titles we’ve read/going to read this summer, and I got to cuddle the most delicious 10 week old baby named Xander. I will have to get a copy of the photo off Cheryl.

My Wednesday consisted of a ‘Bloggy’ Bosom friends Christmas catch up with Lisa and Susan. We exchanged gifts,

LHS from Susan, RHS from Lisa – THANK YOU xx

we toured Midland for some fabric shopping at work, a delicious lunch at Sweet Country Abode, a browse at Handcrafters House and Afternoon tea at Midland Patisserie. It is always a joy to spend time with these girls.

My afternoon was spent teasing & crimping my hair, putting on the stone wash denim and bedazzled shirt (only joking!) to go and see Bon Jovi – The Circle Tour, in Concert!!!! I last saw them 20 years ago so it was a real trip down memory lane for me. I even convinced my Mum to come with me – I wouldn't have 20 years ago :) My Bosom friend Vikki and Elise came too, we had the best night though it has taken me a wee bit longer to recover from the late night…

I have my store work party tonight. Do you remember how we made & exchanged aprons last year? Well this year we didn't have a theme, we just had to make something for the person we were given. Below is the evening bag I’ve made for …

It’s made from navy and gold shot silk. All the presents will be on display at Midland Textile Traders until Christmas Eve.

Speaking of presents, this arrived in the mail

My gorgeous Filly Dilly bag made by none other than Ros/Bloom/Muriel – another Bloggy Bosom friend. Thanks ever so much sweetie, I LOVE it.

My DH says I am using ‘Bosom Friend’ a bit too much, I blame it on my recent viewing of Anne of Green Gables ;)

Much Love

PS Look at the Korker hair accessory Erika has made to go with Rachel’s graduation dress – Gorgeous!!!

Professional Photos

2010-12-03T23:07:00.001+11:00

My friends Erika texted me last Sunday to say her gorgeous daughters were getting photographed modeling her new range of hair accessories called Hair Flair, & asked if I would like some of my Janellybelly Bags to be photographed too – I said YES!

I even convinced Erika to model too :) The photographs were taken by Michelle Martin

If you would like to see more photos I have put an album on my Janellybelly Bags and Things facebook page

With Love

Just in case you were wondering…

2010-11-29T00:45:00.001+11:00

This fabric

turned into this

Mmmm :) The fabric is Lotus by Amy Butler from work. The pattern is another modified ‘Pleated Beauty Bag’ by Amy Karol – LOVE this pattern.

With Love

This is…

2010-11-24T15:31:00.001+11:00

the dress my daughter has chosen to wear for her Primary School graduation, my 1st baby is growing up!

A custom order ‘Pleated Beauty Bag’ for Ali

The fabric I am playing with today.

With Love

Weekend Retreatin’ by the Beach

2010-11-18T00:37:00.001+11:00

I spent the weekend with 9 precious crafty friends, on a creative retreat, and had a FABULOUS time of sewing, eating (no cooking or dishes!), laughing, staying up late, chatting, consuming chocolate etc… We stayed at the Sisters of Saint John of God Retreat Centre in Shoalwater, WA. Here are a few action photos from the weekend.

Our sewing/scrapping/crafting room.

Lisa & Vicki working on their quilts.

Ali clipping Vicki’s shaggy quilt, whilst Jenny & I sew bags behind her.

Michelle, Zoe and Chanoa working on their photo albums.

Shelley with her finished quilt & Cheryl with her WIP.

A HUGE Thank You to Cheryl for organising this fantastic weekend, I can’t wait for the next one :)

I made 7 bags on the weekend and came back with 5! This bag below is based on the ‘Pleated Beauty Bag’ from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol – and now lives in Busselton with Chanoa :)

I also finished a few more bags today for an upcoming market, I love bag making.

With Love

Babushka, Babushka, Babushka-ya-ya

2010-11-05T16:37:00.001+11:00

It’s one of those song choruses that gets in your head and stays there for days. I don’t really mind though, you all know how partial I am to babushkas :) I have made some babushka girls bags to go with Anna's gorgeous children’s clothes – Gooseberry Bush Kidz. Here is a sneak peak…

Anna is going to be at Market Girl Boutique Markets for boys and girls this Sunday 7th November 10-4pm at the Joondalup Reception Centre, Boas Ave, Joondalup (next to the library).

I finished making the other bag from the Butterick pattern in my previous post. I used a yummy red blended linen fabric from work. The pattern has a set in, gathered base which works really well. Please excuse the dusty cupboard slats in the background :)

DH has just put the kettle on, so I am off to have an Organic Earl Grey tea – many thanks to my Bergamot supplier in Melbourne ;0)

Hope you have a great weekend!

With Love

a little Christmas stitchin

2010-10-31T17:07:00.001+11:00

What can you do in a few spare hours? A little Christmas project to get you into the christmassy mood!

I picked this kit up at Winterwood last week and thought she would be a very cute start to the silly season! Katherine and I got together last night for our regular Dear Jane evening. The grand plan being if we set aside time to do a block each month we may eventually finish the quilt top by the year….2029. I have, however, managed to talk Katherine into doing something else the last few Dear Jane nights (didn’t take too much convincing!) and Little Holly was the very productive result of my latest Dear Jane Procrastination Session :)

I have never attempted any wool felt projects quite like this and I really enjoyed making her. She’s quite tiny, the base being about as big as a 20 cent piece. The pattern is from De Witte Engel and there are other flowers in the series, ooh the possibilities.

Hope your Christmas preparations are full of fun and stitchin!

Zig Zaggy Bag

2010-10-28T01:25:00.001+11:00

I brought home a new bag pattern from work on Tuesday night, to make up as a sample for the store. It’s a Butterick pattern – B5449 and comes with 2 bag patterns. It also happens to be in the ‘See and Sew’ range so it’s quite cheap ($5.80 AUD/$2.99 USD).

I chose to make the frilly one first, here is a close up of their version…

& here is my version

the Zig Zag fabric is ‘Pink Brick Path’ from the Woodland Delight Collection by Paula Prass for Michael Miller. I also used pink cargo drill for the lining and orange velvet trim. My DD has put her hand up for this one :) I hope to get the other bag finished on Friday, my other sewing day!

With Love

Creative Catch Up

2010-10-20T19:28:00.001+11:00

I love to spend time catching up with friends, especially when they are like-minded! Last night I went out with my book club friends to see Eat Pray Love, starring Julie Roberts and Javier Bardem.

We’d read the book as a group earlier this year, and went to an Italian restaurant to discuss it – as well as enjoy some extremely delicious food. Going to see the movie was the icing on the cake, it was great to see visually some of the locations/characters that were described in the book. We had a mini debrief in the cinema afterwards too.

Today I caught up with my bloggy friends Lisa and Susan, at Susan’s home. Our get togethers often seem to include chatting, book browsing, eating & gift giving – today was no exception.

From Lisa I received a copy of Stitch magazine (complete with a couple of her projects within), a reindeer cookie cutter, some divine twine and some Lindt chocolate :)

From Susan I received some gorgeous Babushka tape and some groovy muffin cases. These precious girls bless my cotton socks off, not just with gifts, but with love, encouragement and wisdom too. Thanks heaps xx xx

We also got to do a little crafting too, Lisa brought her Cricut along and Susan allowed me to dip into her paper stash to create these…

I will have to ask Susan what paper ranges we used, it has totally slipped my mind!

(edited to add – Basic Grey ‘Kioshi’ and ‘Lemonade’ papers)

My friend Vikki had a birthday last month, but she didn’t get her present till last week. You can probably guess what she received – but what colour did she choose???

Answer: Silver.

With Love

Where did that 2 weeks go?

2010-10-02T14:37:00.001+10:00

With school holidays, and being sick with a virus, the blogging has been on the back burner. Now that I’m on the mend, I have been doing so more sewing therapy to brighten my mood. Before I do some show and tell, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Katherine and Kylie for a wonderful time spent together in Melbourne. It was a Joy to hug, chat, shop, laugh (& cry), eat, stitch, giggle & sew together. You can read more about our ‘Immerse’ experience, and see the stitching projects, at Leanne & Rosalie's blogs.

Rachel requested something to decorate her room, that would match in with her new quilt – so I made my first baby some bunting :)

She loves the finished product, so do I.

The next bit of sewing was an 18th birthday present for Emma, our junior at work. She is studying dressmaking and design at Bentley TAFE. She is quite fond of my rose bags, so I made her a limited edition one in Ivory with bamboo handles.

I have managed to get a few more limited edition colours for the rose bags.

If you are interested in any of these colours, you can email me at janellybellybags@gmail.com I will update the shop very soon.

Off to watch the AFL grand final – again! I hope your team wins…

With Love

Immersed in Stitches…

2010-09-19T20:15:00.001+10:00

What a gorgeous day of friends, food and frivolity we all had at the “Immerse yourself in Stitching” day. It was lovely to finally have all the sewing sisters together at this special day.Here are a few photos of some special people who we shared the day with.

The wonderful designers had put so much effort in before the day even began that it was amazing to see the room all set up with our treasure bags waiting. See here for a visual. Here are the gorgeous woman responsible (pictured with Janelle)

Janelle was lucky enough to receive the following goodies during the day:

She also treated herself to one of Melly’s beautiful bag samples, which Kylie will be studying as she purchased the “Toffee Apple” pattern and plans to make her own version.

Why is it that such special days go so quickly?

Tonight has been spent finishing off a modified version of the Amy Butler ‘Diaper Bag’ (NO, we are not pregnant!) from her Little Stitches book – & drum roll please… here they are

Katherine’s Bag made out of ‘Recess’ fabric bought on our trip to Warburton (see last post). This may well be the first time she has purchased and sewn the fabric within a week!

Guess which fabric Janelle chose to make hers out of?

Such Fun :)

Off to do some more hand stitching on our Immerse projects (more about them later) whilst we have a hot chocolate, watch a DVD and eat Connoisseur ice cream.

Off to Miss Marples tomorrow for a girls day out – including little girls :) we’ll miss you Rachel!

Happy Stitching

Krafty KJ & Janellybelly

Then there were 3…

2010-09-16T20:25:00.001+10:00

Designers going to be at the Immerse Stitching day/weekend, and 3 Sewing Sisters attending – YAY! Janelle arrived safely and soundly on Wednesday, and was greeted with great Joy by 3 out of 4 of my children. The afternoon was spent giving and receiving lots of hugs and kisses, chatting and catching up on news, receiving of gifts from the West and planning out 6 days worth of fun. It didn’t take long for the sewing machines to come out – me on my Bernina and Janelle on the good old Janome – it’s a good thing we had 2 machines to use! We decided to make a modified version of the Pleated Beauty Bag by Amy Karol. My fabric of choice for this project was ‘Eva’ by Basic Grey (for Moda), and Janelle made my sisters Christmas present out of a printed linen blend that I bought at an Amitie sale possibly 2 years ago (or maybe she wouldn’t like it after all :P ).

Today the SS’s were reunited and spent the day hugging, laughing, fabric shopping, driving, eating, more fabric shopping etc… doing what we do best! We visited Catharina's Country Collection and purchased some lovely autumn fabrics (that were on SALE), and Janelle managed to find some more Babushka fabric that she didn’t already have in her vast collection. The larger printed fabric may just turn into an extra piece of hand luggage for the trip back. The next stop was to The Patchwork Teahouse in Warburton. We had a delicious 2 course lunch and did a bit more shopping – I got some more ‘Recess’ and ‘Farmers Market’ fabrics that were on sale.

This photo may be removed for psychological reasons… Thanks to the volunteer photographer!!!

Until next time,

Krafty KJ, Smiley Kylie and Janellybelly

5 more sleeps…

2010-09-10T15:27:00.001+10:00

Till I fly to Melbourne to spend some quality time with my precious sewing sisters Katherine & Kylie, and 8 more sleeps till Immerse Stitching Retreat with Rosalie Quinlan, Leanne Beasley and Melanie Hurlston :) Can you tell I am a wee bit excited? I have been sewing up a storm to help fund the trip, and loving it.

Girls PVC Bags that match Gooseberry Patch Kidz Clothing

Denim Reversible Shoulder Bags

My Bags will be at the Mundaring Rotary Markets this Sunday 12th September from 9am-3pm, Nichol Street, Mundaring. My friend Leanne has an indoor stall in the small hall, so if you feel like going for a Sunday Drive that includes some bag shopping, head off to Mundaring. I will pop the unsold bags in the Shop when I come home from Melbourne.

I had Morning tea with my friend Vikki for her birthday (Happy Birthday for the 14th), we went to Wooly Latte’s, Paper Fusion, and our last visit to Hot Possum! The shop in Wembley is closing on the 25th September and they are having a SALE, it’s definitely worth a visit. The online shop will continue and they will still be at the craft shows – Phew.

With Love

Blue

2010-08-31T22:29:00.001+10:00

Is the colour of the Ribbon Rose Bag I chose to giveaway, so that means out of the 2 people who chose this colour the winner is…

ERIN

Congratulations! Please email me via the ‘Contact Us’ button on the sidebar so I can pop it in the post to your place – Enjoy. I am also going to send a runner up prize to TJ, she will be receiving one of my Roll Up Shopping Bags.

More Book Depository finds

I have been a huge fan of Lisa Lam of U-handbag for quite a while. She has some excellent bag patterns and great ‘how to’ tutorials on her blog. So when she wrote about publishing a book, I knew I wanted to get my hands on a copy. Here are a few pics

If you are only going to buy one bag making book, this would be a great resource to own. It is full of techniques, tips, patterns and great photography.

I am making some children's PVC bags to match some of the gorgeous Boutique Toddler Clothing by Anna of Gooseberry Bush Kidz.

She will be having a market stall at the Kalamunda Kids, Children’s and Families Expo on Friday 10th September 9am-12 noon @ Hartfield Park Rec Centre, Hale Road, Forrestfield.

15 sleeps till Melbourne, and counting…

With Love

Bags, bags, bags, they’re very useful things…

2010-08-24T21:13:00.001+10:00

…if we didn’t have bags, what we use to put a lot of things in! Hands up if you knew that was a ‘Play School’ song (and you sang it)? My family would say it’s kind of my theme song :) This post has a lot to do with bags, firstly this arrived in the mail yesterday.

I pre-ordered this from The Book Depository for less than the price of one of her bag patterns. It is full of delicious Amy Butler fabric made into stunning bags. Here are a few.

Secondly I have been putting together a tutorial for a Roll Up Shopping Bag I am teaching at a Craft Night this Friday night.

I made the prototype out of flocked taffeta and herringbone tape from work. If you would like to download a copy of the pattern, you can click on this LINK or click on the photo on the sidebar.

Lastly, as a way to celebrate my new bag shop, I am giving away one of my Ribbon Rose Bags.

If you would like a chance to win one just leave a comment with the colour bag you think I might be giving away!!! For those of you who choose the correct colour, you names will go into a hat and a winner will be drawn.

With Love

Don’t you just love Bloggy Friends

2010-08-20T18:33:00.001+10:00

I had the joy of winning a blog giveaway recently. My bloggy friend Clare (who has also won one of our giveaway’s) was giving away a 2nd copy of ‘Crafting Tilda’s Friends’ that she had received from The Book Depository. The funny thing about me winning her giveaway is the fact that I was the one who told her about ‘The Book Depository’ in the first place :) I also received an extra special surprise in my parcel, a DVD copy of ‘Julie and Julia’

This movie holds a special place in my heart. It was the first ‘Chick Flick’ that my DH has volunteered to see in a VERY long time. After seeing the movie, he also asked for Mastering the Art of French Cooking for Christmas and has been using it – Mmmm.

Clare is having ANOTHER craft book giveaway, go and enter here & tell her I sent ya (the winner is drawn on Monday 23rd August).

I want to say a HUGE Thank You to some other bloggy friends who have been promoting my Janellybelly Bags and Things shop. Love ya heaps!

Linda

Lisa (aka A Spoonful of Sugar)

Ros (aka Bloom, aka Muriel)

Susan (aka Suzitee)

I am just about to add a few ‘Things’ to the shop

With Love

Birthday girl, presents, cake, party etc.

2010-08-14T22:32:00.001+10:00

She’s 12 now, and has celebrated in style. The Gelati quilt and pillowcases are now on her bed and have already been slept under.

She has partied with her friends, they all created a photo canvas under the fantastic instruction of Susan.

Then there was cake – white chocolate Piñata cake to be exact.

& of course there was presents. She has been wanting a selvedge bag like Mum, but wanted to be able to wear it across her body.

(bag modeled by my new mannequin ‘Celeste’)

With Love

I Don’t have the Crochet Gene

2010-08-10T22:26:00.001+10:00

But fortunately my Mother does! She has just returned Rachel’s crocheted pillowcases in time for the birthday girl this Friday, and they look ever so beautiful.

The Posh Pillowcase pattern is by You Go Girl.

Mum also managed to crochet me a queen sized granny rug, I just love it and it’s so cozy! Thanks Mum xx

Rachel is having a Papercraft 12th Birthday Party this Saturday, the guest teacher is none other than the fabulous Suzitee. Rachel is so excited to be having an “actual” Scrapbooking Teacher come to teach at her party. Susan has put together a gorgeous mini canvas project, I’ll share the photos after the big day.

Many Thanks for the lovely encouraging comments about my bags and my online bag shop – you are all sweeties :)

Much Love

Janellybelly Bags and Things – Now Open!

2010-08-02T22:00:00.001+10:00

After 6 years of serious bag making, and lots of procrastination, I am pleased to announce the opening of my online shop – Yay. I have started with a Blog based Shop and I am really excited about it. I am passionate about bags and love creating with fabric. Here are a few samples of the bags I will be selling.

Ribbon Rose bags

PVC Totes

I will also be selling fabric covered notebooks and key rings, as well as some of my de-stashed fabric (there is plenty to go around). I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all my special bloggy friends who have encouraged me to spread my wings and sell my bags online.

Vikki has had her Irish Chain quilt quilt by Kathy, it looks ever so beautiful.

With Love

master chefing

2010-07-30T21:24:00.001+10:00

Last weekend we had a bit of a cook up. Macaroon's were top of the list…..hmmm, they were not easy, how can so few ingredients go so horribly wrong? Anyhooooo, we will have another go at some stage, the strawberry butter cream filling worked out beautifully and here’s the best of the bunch, we still ate them, they tasted pretty good, even if we had to scrape most of them off the tray with our fingers and dip them in the butter cream!

Then we made Chinese pork dumplings, these were a huge success, probably because we have made them before, can’t show you a cooked one, if I stopped to take a photo there would be none left….

Then a lovely friend got us onto these delicious little morsels, Nigella Lawson’s Cheesy Feet, we made stars instead of feet, may I recommend not doing a google image search of cheesy feet without the word recipe in the search line….. These little bikkies are yummo, and all done in the food processor.

What will we cook this weekend??
Love

stitchin stuff

2010-07-27T22:27:00.001+10:00

So, here’s a little peek at what I’ve been stitchin…

Doing a little quilt for my Mum, and free motion quilting it, that’s been fun, I’m improving slowly.

Made myself a new lanyard for work, this one will allow me to make lot’s of different straps to suit my mood and my outfit, very chic! Look how beautifully the edging foot helped me stitch nice and straight along the edges, LOVE my new Bernina :)

Made my Mum-in-law a quilted notebook cover with a little fmq design, this one was lot’s of fun. Forgot to take a finished photo, doh!

Oh and we went to a Bush Dance on Saturday night and had an absolute blast! oh look, I’m wearing the lanyard, yes I was even working at the bush dance! Everyone should have a sparkly red hat, they’re very in at the moment, apparently...

Love and stitchin

Production Line

2010-07-23T13:31:00.001+10:00

I have been busy in the Janellybelly craft room making rose bags for my ‘soon to be’ Etsy shop. These will be my regular colours, along with a few limited edition colours (silver, brown and cream). Bag making is such a joy for me, and it’s a dream come true to be able to share it with you all.

Rachel went to a birthday party last weekend and asked me to make a present for the birthday girl. She chose the pattern & the fabrics – a reversible denim bag with a matching notebook.

The fabric and the raw edge appliqué is ‘Two Young Street’ by

Prints Charming

Back to the sewing machine :)

With Love

Sewing, sewing, sewing…

2010-07-16T13:23:00.001+10:00

Hi all, my apologies for not posting sooner. With work and sick kids on school holidays, I have been a busy girl.

Without further ado, the winner of the McCall’s bag pattern is

HOPE

Congratulations, we hope(!) you enjoy your prize and share a photo of the bag you create with the pattern. Please email us your address via the ‘Contact Us’ button on the right hand side bar.

Another drum roll please….. Here is Rachel’s completed Gelati quilt

I finished 2/3rds of the binding at the Friendship Day at Parkerville last Saturday, and completed the rest in the evening. The photos were taken at my friend Jenny’s (Jennywren) house. We had a sewing day together on Wednesday. We spent the day creating one of these each.

The pattern is McCall’s M6045, also known as The Sylvia Sling by Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studio.

I also received a lovely parcel in the post this week. My Beaufort Bag arrived from Thimbelina.

It is is use already, and DD has her eye on it too. Thank you ever so much!

My birthday has come and gone and still no Etsy shop! I am so sorry for the delay, it is taking longer to set up than I anticipated. I *should* have it up and running by my Mums birthday (29th July). Thank you for your patience :)

With Love

I Heart Babushkas

2010-07-09T19:10:00.001+10:00

If you are familiar with this blog, you will know that I have quite a soft spot for Babushka/Matryoshka dolls. Well, this was also reflected in some of the birthday presents I received recently :)

Apron, mini bowling bag, bag tag, necklace, magnets & a bag sewing kit

pencil case, measuring cups & The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook (I know it has nothing to do with Babushka dolls, I just wanted to show you I have a copy) plus more.

Many Thanks to my precious family and friends, including bloggy friends, for the lovely birthday wishes and fabulous presents – you bless me so very much.

Remember these bags,

well Ms Thimbelina has just made her version of the McCall’s M5790 bag pattern & it looks fantastic!

I was lucky enough to be one of the winners of Thimbelina's recent 100th blog post giveaway – I won the Beaufort bag and I couldn't be happier. Well, since I won something I’d like to give something away. If you’d like to win your own copy of the McCall’s M5790 bag pattern

just leave a comment on this blog post and it just might wing it’s way to your house! The giveaway is open to Australian and International bloggers, good luck!

I have just sewn the binding onto Rachel’s Gelati quilt. I am taking it to Parkerville Baptist Craft Group’s ‘Friendship Day’ tomorrow to do the hand stitching. I will be thankful to have the quilt on my lap to keep me cozy.

With Love

Friends, Fabric, Food & Fun – Again…

2010-07-02T22:55:00.001+10:00

I spent a truly lovely day with these 2 precious bloggy friends – Susan & Lisa. We had morning tea at Lisa’s, where I got to open some early birthday presents – boy was I spoilt!

We then headed out and about, our first point of call was to a ‘new to us’ fabric store called Materialise in Nedlands. We stood in awe of all the gorgeous fabric, then we came to our senses and made our purchases – some more than others!

We had lunch at the Choux Cafe again, it was delicious. My dessert of choice this visit was a Paris Brest – Oh My!

The minutes ticked away far too quickly because before we knew it, it was time to head on home. Thanks ladies for a beautiful day, and for my gorgeous gifts.

Have a wonderful weekend

Birthday Boy

2010-06-30T18:20:00.001+10:00

Happy 10th Birthday James – who woke up every 1/2 hour from 4am onwards asking “Can I open my presents now?”. He was so excited & thankful to get some more DS games, Lego & books, and was happy that Mum had finally made him this…

He shares a birthday with our friend Sammy, who is also 10 today. Her Mum Kathryn asked me to create her a bag, she chose the fabric and this is the end result.

Its a reversible denim and fabric bag, about 2/3’s the size of my usual bags. I have made her a matching fabric covered notebook with the lining fabric which is ‘Zen Blossoms’ by Michael Miller.

I have been borrowing some more fabulous crafty reading from the library again, take a look at some of these inspirational books.

The chocolate cake is in the oven and the birthday boy has chosen meatballs and spaghetti for dinner tonight. He will be having a party on Friday with 6 boys, pizza making with Dad and a bouncy castle!

With Love

PS Thimbelina is having a 100th blog post giveaway with 2 prizes, just leave a comment (and become a follower for an extra entry) and you could win either one of these. Entries close on the 4th July.

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours :)

2010-06-24T11:30:00.001+10:00

I have always loved the idea of bartering. Remember this bag -

I made this Ivory rose bag for Janet in exchange for these gorgeous Amy Butler ironing board covers.

It makes ironing a lot more fun!

A few weeks ago one of my favourite customers at work came in and gave us all some fabulous stretch shopping bags (no photo – I’ll update later). I asked her if she would make me another one for my Mum, and I’d be happy to pay for it. She said no to being paid, but asked would I please help her finish off a quilt UFO she’s had since 1998 – how could I say no!

The pattern is called ‘Reef Fish’, and she did the class 12 years ago with Wendy Sier at Calico House, now known as Calico and Ivy. She did all the hard work, I just finished the borders for her.

Some more happy news! The Sewing Sisters are going here in September.

We 3 will be attending the Saturday workshop on the 18th September with Rosalie Quinlan, Leanne Beasley & Melanie Hurlston. Are you coming too?

With Love

The Postman Always Rings…3 Times!

2010-06-18T16:08:00.001+10:00

Lots of happy mail today :)

This bundle of goodness arrived from Katherine in Canada. I asked Katherine if she would consider doing a swap – one of my rose bags for a set of her gorgeous Babushkas, and she said YES! Not only did I get this customized family of dolls (shabby chic with brown hair), she also included some vintage Ric Rac, a cupcake fat 1/4, a bar of dark chocolate (which has disappeared…)& a sweet card – which all came wrapped and presented in this fabulous zippered selvedge bag.

Thank you ever so much Katherine, you have blessed my socks off!

The 2nd parcel to arrive was this…

Bree organised an International fat 1/4 swap, I was lucky enough to be partnered with Ali from Georgia, USA. She sent me 2 fat 1/4’s (we both agreed that 1 just wasn't enough!). The 1st is Earth by Amy Schimler – who lives in Georgia like Ali - & the 2nd is Summer Soiree by Paula Prass – who is from Carmel, Indiana - near where Ali was born & raised. Thank you ever so much Ali, I love the fat 1/4’s & the stories behind them both. I am going to laminate the handmade card to use as a bookmark, which leads me to my 3rd parcel…

I’ve been shopping at The Book Depository again, but this time it’s for the kids – Really! Rachel has been reading these books at school and wanted a copies of her own. James got some books too, I will show you them when I finish making his cowboy vest :)

My friend Vikki came over to work on her daughters quilt and was very impressed with all the parcels. Here is a photo of her work in progress.

Our girls are both getting quilts for their 12th birthdays this year - Yay

With Love

Gerberalicious

2010-06-16T21:03:00.001+10:00

It was love at first sight when this fabric - ‘Gerberalicious’ by Michael Miller - came into work. I knew I just HAD to make a sample bag out of it. I used Butterick 5367 and came up with this.

I chose black velvet for the pockets and used sew in Shapewell as my stabilizer. I am not usually a red kinda gal, but this has changed my mind.

I have made some more ribbon rose bags…

This one is travelling to Katherine in Melbourne

& this one is winging it’s way to Canada!

I also got to catch with my bloggy friends last week. We had a wonderful time chatting, browsing through craft books, eating delicious food (Lisa brought lemon macaroons & Susan made cherry choc slice) and even getting a craft demonstration. Susan’s creative studio is a wonder to behold, thanks for inviting us over.

I have a birthday boy in 2 weeks time – the Big 10/double digits! Katherine knows what I mean, her boy turned 10 on the 3rd June (Happy Birthday Joshua). I was asking DS what he’d like for his birthday and he said “Well, I really need a magicians hat and wand, & I’d really like you to make me a cowboy vest” – music to a sewing Mum’s ears.

With Love

A Weekend for stitching

2010-06-08T20:35:00.001+10:00

Kylie and I went away for another of our semi regular sewing weekends last weekend. It is always a lovely time away. This time we stayed in a different holiday house in the coastal town of Anglesea. We both apologised to our Janome’s for leaving them at home and took our new Bernina machines.

I finally pieced my son’s 10th birthday quilt – his birthday was actually last Thursday!!

Now I need to find an orange border fabric, finish the backing and drop it off to be quilted – it might be his 10th Christmas present!! I now have twin nephews, also born on Thursday, so I made these small quilt tops which can be side by side in a cot or used in the twin pram. They are made with “Giggles” flannel – very snuggly!

Kylie was also very busy with lots of tiny pieces of happy fabric… she might fill you in with her progress there. We both got out the BSR foot and had a go at free motion quilting. It was a little stressful and my shoulders were quite tight by the end of it all, but we did it!!! Here is my practise piece…

I then moved on to our “camping quilt” which has been in a pile of quilt tops waiting to be finished…

Not too bad for a first effort – even if I do so say myself! Here is a close up… I worked one square at a time for the centre section and then did the borders.

It was a lot of fun quilting this one, especially as I knew it would be going to the bush and not as a gift for someone’s bed or couch! Here is a shot of the back (I loved this “Happy Campers” fabric):

Here’s to many more hours of sewing and let me encourage you to give it a go too – it might not be as hard as you think…

Happy Stitching,

Krafty KJ

Market time…

2010-06-08T15:58:00.001+10:00

Our local kinder had an open day and fair on the first weekend of June and I had a stall there to advertise my NEW BUSINESS!

There were little gnome and fairy homes…

Dress up crowns, button hair ties, and these little men…

There were also kits to make peg dolls, and other creative projects – but more on that another time… I have lots of pattern writing to get to and that’s never as much fun as the creating and making!!

Happy stitching,

Krafty KJ

Winners are Grinners, so are Runners Up.

2010-06-04T12:45:00.001+10:00

My 2 cherubs are huge Saturday Disney fans (I am quite partial to Phineas and Ferb myself). Last December, Rachel thought it would be a great idea to send Shae, Sally and Jack (the hosts) a Christmas present. The conversation went like this – Rachel - “You make bags Mum, lets make them a bag together”. Me - “What about Jack?”. Rachel - “He can have a notebook”. I bought some Disney fabric from work and got creating with Rachel, I sewed and she ironed, turned out handles, made cups of tea, whinged… Anyway, this was the finished product.

We parceled them up with a Chrissy Card and express posted them, that was the end of that – until just recently. The kids got a parcel from Saturday Disney with a letter saying they had won a runner up prize, there was much rejoicing and dancing around the house. They won a Justin Bieber cd, some pens and a signed photo.

The best news was that there names will be in TV tomorrow (5th June). Why do kids find it easy to get up at the crack of dawn on the weekend when they can’t get out of bed during the week?

The Sewing Sisters are off on another sewing weekend, was it really 3 months ago that I got to join them! I have been making a few bags for gifts, orders and work samples.

A denim Babushka bag made as a work sample that now belongs to my dear friend Vikki.

Another rose bag for Janice

DH has also been working on a banner for my Etsy shop, what do you think?

With Love

‘The Book Depository’ Love…

2010-06-02T18:19:00.001+10:00

Mr Postman dropped off 2 lovely parcels from The Book Depository yesterday – I love getting fabulous books, at great prices, with FREE delivery.

This is Prints Charming, the first book by the Sydney based fabric designers Cath Derksema and Kirsten Junor of Prints Charming original fabric. Rachel & I have been pouring over the pages and have already chosen a few favourite projects.

The 2nd book is Small Stash Sewing by Melissa Averinos of Yummy Goods – this is her first book too.

I am a huge fan of Melissa’s fabric designs, on of my favourite’s is the pink cupcake fabric (which she designed for Robert Kaufman fabrics) featured in the apron below. I have also spied another bag I MUST make :)

I have also pre-ordered Tilda's Summer Ideas for the amazing price of $6.29AUD! Here is a wee look at the cover, cute huh.

I am going to get together with my bloggy friends next week so we can pour over each others new book purchases.

OK, back to the sewing machine

With Love

A wee bit Polka Dotty

2010-05-26T15:16:00.001+10:00

I spent Saturday with 2 special creative friends at the Quilt and Craft Fair. It was lovely to be surrounded by all things crafty, especially yummy fabric. I managed to add to my stash (I was seriously lacking in Polka Dots!), some of the fabric came from the Patchwork with Gail B stand (their shop is in Bayswater, Victoria) – the fat 1/4’s were $3.50 and they have $14pm fabric at the shop. I also bought a Better Homes and Gardens showbag with a current and back issue of the mag and lots of samples. Some jumbo ric rac also made it’s way into my shopping bag along with a ball of cotton for crocheting (not me, my Mum), 2 x 1/2 metres of Barefoot Roses and some fat 1/8’s…

Saturday also happened to be smileykylie’s Birthday – Happy Birthday from your Sewing Sisters! I made Kylie a rose bag, I thought I’d show you a before and after photo of the progression from cushion cover to bag.

Apparently she took it out to dinner – with her family (not just the bag!). I am planning to have an Etsy shop by my birthday, which is 5 weeks away, & I’ll be selling these babies in my shop.

With Love

It’s freezing cold – weather for stitching!

2010-05-23T22:05:00.001+10:00

This weekend has been very cold (below zero over night) and the fire had been going almost constantly. Definitely indoors weather – those weeds in the garden can keep growing for now! As promised I got out my new sewing machine and sewed on it lots this week. In particular I’ve been working with wool felt and using the blanket stitch on the machine – it almost looks hand done. Much faster than doing it by hand! Here’s a couple of the things I’ve been making for an upcoming market. My 10 year old wants the green crown and my nearly 8 year old loves the pink one… I just love working with the hand dyed wool felt…

Crowns for dress-ups or birthday celebrations!

The next one’s not quite ready to show, so just a sneak peak… I have been having fun.

I can’t reveal any more about my little secret quite yet, but I can show you the results of my four years old’s hair styling (the camera has been replaced and all photos retrieved).

What is most disturbing is that my gorgeous girl looks so pleased with his efforts. Not sure that trusting her brother at all times is such a good thing at this stage in both their lives!!

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Krafty KJ

She’s Leaving Home (and coming back after camp).

2010-05-19T12:31:00.001+10:00

I sent my first born off to camp this morning. This is her first camp, she missed year 4 camp because we moved back to Perth - and they didn’t have a year 5 camp last year. After imparting wisdom - “Be Safe, Be Kind, Have LOTS of Fun”, DH went & dropped her off to the bus. The eyes were a wee bit misty. Now I have 3 days to bind and make pillowcases for this…

Kathy (KC Quilting) dropped it off at work yesterday, she has done a beautiful job. The quilting pattern is called Sticky Buns (the same pattern that Kylie has on her version). Here’s a close up of the swirls.

I am bag making today (Surprise, Surprise), I have a birthday bag to make and get in the post TODAY, and another bag for a swap I have organised with a fellow blogger. I’m off to the Quilt And Craft Fair on Saturday with Jenny – can’t wait :)

With Love

A new hair product to get you off the couch!!

2010-05-18T20:50:00.001+10:00

I’ve been busy lately with some secret developments which will be revealed soon… Very exciting times…

…Then a nasty bug hit me with a case of I can’t do anything or move anywhere – which I might say is a bit of a challenge, particularly when you have a creative four year old like mine. I would show you the photo I took of my daughter with PVA craft glue rubbed through her hair, “Look mum, her hair is all spikey!”… if the memory card wasn’t stuck in the camera (possible due to an interfering four year old- we have no witnesses though). If you ever find a child with PVA through their hair, act quickly wash with shampoo, conditioner and comb thoroughly with a lice comb… I think it’s all gone!!

So no photos today… I think tomorrow I’ll be back playing with felt, fabric and some ideas that have been running through my head…

Happy Stitching!

Krafty KJ

Everything's coming up Roses

2010-05-11T21:33:00.001+10:00

I have been super busy making my favourite (well, the current favourite) bag for orders and a birthday present.

Ivory Roses for Janet (she’s taking it to a ball).

Red Roses for Christine (a ‘Red Hat’ lady), &

Burgundy Roses for Lisa, who had a Birthday last Thursday!

Most people know how much I love Babushka/Matryoshka dolls, so it was lovely to actually receive a bag on Mother’s Day with these precious poppet's on the sides. Thank you family xxx

Oh, one last thing before I sign off – I finished my Amy Butler Midwest Modern Triangle-less Zig Zag Quilt last night, YAY!!! I even mitered the borders :)

We have nicknamed it ‘Gelati’, it has been sent to the quilters and will be ready in plenty of time for Rachel’s 12th birthday in August. I am planning to make some crocheted pillowcases to match it, my Mum will be doing the crochet - I don’t possess the crochet gene.

With Love

A big brown box from Perth…

2010-05-07T06:41:00.001+10:00

It was quite a while ago now that Janelle showed a brown box in her sewing room. She and her wonderful husband escorted that box (with a little help from their daughter who guarded it on the luggage belt) to Melbourne on their recent visit. It has been unpacked, polystyrene discarded and is now living at my house. My little ones are loving the box and have spent many hours playing with it… .

I have NOT had the same joys with the box’s contents – Don’t get me wrong, there has been no problem with the machine’s operation or functions, I’ve just not had time to do anything with it other than open it, thread it, watch the CD Rom, and put it back in it’s carry bag. OK… I am a little intimidated… I will get it out within the next week and use it. I PROMISE!! There, it’s in writing… now I have to do it!

Driving along a week or so ago, I came across a couple of old chairs on the edge of the road, and promptly went home and ~~sent~~ asked my kind husband if he would go and collect them for me. I wasn’t chicken – I only the had the small car with me. He brought two home despite saying they were filthy and old. Here’s a shot of one (along side two previous finds that also need some work).

I’ve always wanted to try recovering furniture and well, what could I lose? I gathered some reproduction civil war fabrics and made up a couple of blocks… Then had fun with the staple gun. Not too bad for a free chair – and comfortable too! Thanks to the old owners!

I needed the first one I made to live in our front room which has a more formal feel. It’s quite traditional. The next one I do will be in bright fabrics and live in my sewing room!

Here it is all finished next to our new piano. What fun!

Happy stitching!

Krafty KJ

My baby is two!!

2010-05-05T15:26:00.001+10:00

I can’t believe how fast time flies – how often do we say that? My little baby… my fourth little baby… probably my last little baby… who I was only dreaming about conceiving a little blink-of-an-eye ago, has just turned two. I think I was in denial as I hadn’t arranged a party, a gift or a cake until last Thursday. A walk through K- Mart found a little couch all in pink (with no sign of Barbie, Dora or any other such brand) as the knitted doll I was making her is not quite finished. She was very pleased with it and her new books from her siblings.

Her favourite book about cats inspired the cake, which probably looked more like a teddy bear, but tasted great!

A cake and balloons are all that’s really needed to celebrate a birthday and we did that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Big 2 year old!! Don’t grow up too quickly…

Krafty KJ

PS. Stay tuned for her 21st photos!!

Domestic Goddess

2010-04-26T19:20:00.001+10:00

My DH has been at it again, this time he made us Norwegian Cinnamon Buns. The recipe comes from another Nigella Lawson cookbook, ‘How to be a Domestic Goddess – Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking’. They tasted as good as they looked!

I was also influenced by the title of this post to whip up another sample for work – no, it’s not a bag, it’s an apron :)

The pattern is by Jan Lutz (The Apron Lady) for McCall’s – M5997. It was a joy to make and I can’t wait for it to come and live at my house.

With Love

2 bags for the price of 1

2010-04-21T18:33:00.001+10:00

My friend Cheryl asked me to make her a reversible denim shoulder bag similar to the Anna Maria Horner ‘Taxi Tote’ pattern. After a bit of discussion & tweaking of the pattern we came up with this.

It has a loop and ‘duffle coat toggle’ (does it have a real name?) closure and has an internal and external pocket – the external pocket is worn against the body for extra security. The floral fabric used is ‘Kleo’ by Alexander Henry.

My DH has been cooking again, he uses my Kitchenaid more than I do! After watching ‘Nigella Feasts’ on Saturday night, he made her ‘’Quadruple Chocolate Loaf Cake on Sunday – I had a tiny slither and it was delicious.

I got to catch up with my special bloggy/crafty friends Lisa and Birthday Girl (for the 20/4) Susan. We went to the gorgeous set of shops lined up in Gratham St, Wembley - Woolly Latte’s (Knitting cafe and supplies), Paper Fusion (Papercraft supplies) & Hot Possum (Funky fabric and patterns). We then went on to a great shop called UK 2 U, a homewares, china and gifts store with factory outlet prices. We had lunch at Floreat Forum before we made our way home to collect our kids from school. Susan was able to spend a bit of her birthday money on some very special bits and pieces – it was lovely to celebrate with you!

I also got a text from TJ today to say that due to volcanic ash, they won’t be flying out tomorrow & will be staying in Perth till the 12th May – I think another catch up will have to be planned!

I have managed to put one mitered border on my Midwest Modern Zig Zag quilt with a little help from this tutorial. One more border to go and I can get it off to the quilters so it’s ready for Rachel’s birthday – it would be nice to have it finished in under 1 year :)

With Love

hello kitty

2010-04-16T20:11:00.001+10:00

On a recent trip to Winterwood for some beautiful wool felt I stumbled across this gorgeous kitty pattern by Kristen Doran, well you know cats have a mind of their own and you can’t tell them anything, so next thing I know he has jumped into my bag and come home with me.

I used an old pair of holey jeans, some Lara Cameron Houses and Bicycles fabric and a little wool felt for the tummy and voila, kitty….I think there may be a whole litter of kitties by the end of the weekend!

Keep Smiling (c:

Guess who just came to dinner!

2010-04-11T23:47:00.001+10:00

TJ and her precious family came over for a BBQ tea tonight – and I did give her that big squeezy hug! They have been enjoying the lovely Perth Autumn weather, quite a change from the freezing winter they have just experienced in the UK. They have been busily sorting, packing and selling their things to head back to England for another few years (sniff, sniff). I HOPE to be able to visit them whilst they’re living there. TJ showed me her completed Big Owl cushion (with a little help for Cath), the pattern is by Hot Possum.

I did quite well at the markets yesterday, I tried a few new designs that proved to be popular. Remember when I fell in love with Paullina Simons' Valentino Rosier Taffeta Tote?

Well we got these great taffeta cushions at work recently and I refashioned one to make my own taffeta rose bag – it was the first bag to sell!

I was also inspired by the Melly & Me ‘Sherbet’ bag I made in Melbourne & came up with this.

The fabric is ‘Jitterbug’ by Cosmo Cricket

Time for bed, I have work tomorrow. I wonder if I’ll come home without buying any fabric :)

With Love

To Market, to market

2010-04-09T12:49:00.001+10:00

The Inglewood Artisan Markets are on again tomorrow – Saturday 10th March from 9am-1pm. I will be sharing a bags and things stall with Leanne, one of the talented customers from Midland Textile Traders. This is the final market for the season, I will be searching for a new market/forum where I can sell my bits and pieces.

Other bits of news…

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Katherine (Krafty KJ) for the 2nd April – We love ya heaps :)

2. Both Kylie and Katherine have Big Brown Bernina Boxes!!!

3. Welcome Home TJ, Kev, Kaleb and Talia, enjoy your holiday and I can’t wait to give you all a big squeezy hug xx

Off to do some last minute sewing

With Love

a wonderful week

2010-03-30T23:10:00.001+11:00

We simply can’t believe a week has flown by in a flurry of fabric, fun and frivolity…

We enjoyed a weekend away at the beach house sewing, creating and being a wee bit silly. Katherine was working on a number of beautiful projects, a quilt for her eldest boy, with gorgeous “Haul it” fabric by Michael Miller, a fabulous star quilt with Sandi Henderson’s Farmer’s Market, plus a quilt to bind, a Moda Charisma by Chez Moi quilt to finish (oops no photo, it was truly stunning).

Katherine and I worked on a hexagon quilt with our Michael Miller “Andalucia” fabric by Patty Young, that we received from Janelle last June, I think they worked out great, mine still needs a white border and Katherine added a striped boarder to hers.

Janelle, packed her Rosalie Quinlan “I Remember” block of the month quilt to piece together. She did a wonderful job of piecing together her blocks ready to appliqué the pieces onto them. This turned out to be a challenge, substituting some of the fabrics from those sent with her kit!

A lesson in needle turn appliqué, saw Janelle concentrating her way to a beautiful first complete block, it all looks so delicious!

I worked on a few purses, and covered notebooks, finished my Mum’s quilt finally, she will be pleased.

Monday we went to the Zoo and saw Mali the baby elephant. Tuesday saw us at Miss Marples in Sassafras eating scones, Hand Me Downs for some bargains, Geppetto’s for some special gifts, Savers in Greensborough for some more bargains, Katherine’s for chai and raspberry muffins. Katherine opened that big brown box that came over from Perth with Janelle and we all oooohed and aaaaahed, I will let her tell you all about it. We’ve just got back from a lovely dinner out together and are feeling sad that they’ll be heading home tomorrow :( However we presented Janellybelly with a money box to save up for a trip back in September for the Spring Stitch-In, hosted by Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley. She has started her fabric diet, keep filling that box Janelle :)

Well until next time, I’ll be waiting by my front door for a big brown box to be delivered to me!!!!

Happy stitching, love

Friends are Forever

2010-03-25T20:58:00.001+11:00

Whoo Hoo, our wonderful friends from Perth have arrived. Only having to wait 4 weeks from announced holiday to arrival made for a very exciting time! The kids have been excited because the whole family are here and that means sharing a bedroom and lot’s of crazy fun :)

We’ve already managed to fit in some sewing, Janellybelly has already finished making Melly and Me’s Sherbert bag, she’s a stitching machine, and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s another beautiful Janelle creation.

This trip is especially exciting as Janelly has managed to visit over a sewing weekend at the beach house, so the sewing sisters, ALL THREE of us, are off tomorrow morning for a fun filled weekend of sewing and chatting and eating and sewing and…. we’ll update you on Sunday night with photo’s and a rundown of the weekends pursuits

We’ll be leaving the Dad’s and eight children home to fend for themselves, eat take away, go to see the doggies play the magpies, and generally let things slide into disarray until we arrive home Sunday night. Thank you precious husbands of ours.

Here’s a photo of my finished zig zag quilt that we all started back in June when Katherine and I went to visit Janelle in W.A. It look’s delicious on the wee princess’ bed and now I really should make a few matching pillows to finish off the look!

Today we met up with two beautiful bloggy friends Bronwyn and Jan at Handorfs chocolate shop for lunch, a chat, chocolate and coffee, yummo! Thank you so much for taking a bite out of your busy days to catch up with us, it was lovely. Then we topped it off with a quick trip to Brandsmart outlet factory for a spot of shopping, new shoes, clothes, trinkets and other delights :)

Well, must be off, there’s fabric on the table ready to be cut up and packing to be done for the weekend (projects, not clothes, we wear our PJ’s all weekend anyway!) see you on Sunday…

Love and hugs

Friends, fabric and food.

2010-03-18T13:00:00.001+11:00

I spent St Patrick’s day with 2 special bloggy friends, Lisa & Susan, traipsing around the West coastal suburbs of Perth in pursuit of yummy fabric and food – we were not disappointed! After starting our day at Lisa’s with a cup of tea and a nectarine cupcake (Mmmm), we headed off to Calico and Ivy in Mosman Park. I made my way to the specials cot (a vintage wrought iron cot, just gorgeous) and found some bargains.

These fabrics are from Sandi Henderson’s (Portabellopixie) first range called ‘Ginger Blossom’. She has a book coming out in May called

Sewing Bits and Pieces!

Lisa and Susan managed to drag me away from the bargains to look at the rest of the store. There was gorgeous stationary, lots of creative books, luscious wool & yarn and plenty of yummy fabric. We all walked out with a brown paper bag, mine also included these.

Some cute Kokka Babushka fabric – of course!

Our next stop was inspired by an episode of Poh's Kitchen (10th March) on ABC. My DH and I watched pastry chef Emmanuel Mollois make Chocolate Éclairs. I researched Emmanuel to see where his patisserie was located, thinking it would be in the Eastern States, and to my surprise found it was in Swanborne! We headed to the Choux Cafe for lunch and enjoyed a delicious meal – my taste buds were having a party. I even brought DH a chocolate éclair home.

If you would like to see my DH’s attempt at Chocolate Éclairs (and have a good giggle), check out his new blog called ‘The Parsons Nose’.

After the lovely comments about my fabric stash, I have decided to do a De-Stash and share the fabric love around. I sent my friend Jennywren, and her daughter Amy, home with a bag full of fabric to create with. I will also share some as a bloggy giveaway when I get back from Melbourne – 6 more sleeps!

Much Love

Butterfly Kisses

2010-03-13T15:37:00.001+11:00

I love all things creative (though my first love is fabric), & I enjoy the opportunity to dabble in a wee bit of papercraft too. Yesterday I went to Tomorrow's Memories for a ‘Card Makers Tea Party’ with Suzitee. The cards had a butterfly theme and featured Bo Bunny’s Flutter Butter papers.

Susan was a very patient and encouraging teacher, she even included some sewing on one of the cards! The class included a Devonshire morning tea, I did have half a scone with jam and lovely cup of tea in a sweet china tea set. Thanks for letting me borrow some of your tools Susan.

We had a rent inspection this week, I thought I’d take a photo of my craft room to show you that it can look tidyish – approximately 4 times a year!

See that brown box on the floor, it’s not mine! It’s a little extra luggage coming to Melbourne with us :) I’ll let the new owner explain themselves (11 sleeps to go).

With Love

A new baby

2010-03-09T21:05:00.001+11:00

Have you seen this little baby yet? We went and joined the queue’s at Melbourne zoo a little while ago and spent some time oohing and ahhing over this amazing little creature:

What a cutie! It is amazing watching a playful elephant – much like a playful puppy only much, much bigger! This is one of the sights Janelle and her family will have to see when they come over. Only 2 weeks from tomorrow! Here’s a close up – a slightly blurry one!

Any sewing going on? I’ve just finished another batch of school dresses for our school – I am so over gingham!

Kylie and I have committed to doing a Dear Jane quilt. Do you remember Kylie starting hers last year, well she needed some motivation to keep at it… I volunteered. I have a bit of catching up to do, but with some reproduction fabrics (I’m going traditional this time). I’ve almost quit a couple of times this week and I’m only on block 7!! I thought I was starting on the easy ones too. Seven down, 218 to go!

Now to something a little brighter for the rest of the month. I must finish binding my zig zag quilt… will take a photo when it’s done.

Happy Stitching!

Krafty KJ

Hello Kitty

2010-03-06T16:07:00.001+11:00

I’d like to introduce you to Kitty, my new KitchenAid mixer – lucky, lucky me. My Nanna’s 23 year old Kenwood Chef (which was on permanent loan from Mum) started smoking when DH last made bread. DH was most apologetic and offered to buy me one of these baby’s. My friend Traceylea (TJ) bought a pink one before she left the USA & I’ve wanted one ever since I laid eyes on it. You’ll be happy to know that Kenny the Kenwood has gone off the be repaired and will take up residence back at Mums house.

I received some lovely mail yesterday, my PIF prezzies arrived from Maree at Farmyard Crafts. Take a look at these precious goodies made by loving hands – I am truly blessed, thanks ever so much Maree.

My friend Jennywren rang me up yesterday for a chat and to ask “so, are you going there or are they coming here for the sewing weekend?” well, we are taking a family holiday to Melbourne over the last week of March & I can’t wait! Whilst the Sewing Sisters go to Port Arlington for our sewing weekend, the DH’s will be in charge of the cherubs. Don’t fret for them, they have already planned a trip to the footy for the first round of the season. We will also be doing some visits to our favourite places – Miss Marples in Sassafras, Savers at Greensborough (the Best Op Shop), Melbourne zoo etc.

My spirits are well and truly lifted now :)

With Love

A “Thank You” & a cute baby photo.

2010-03-01T19:56:00.001+11:00

Many thanks for the words of encouragement on my last blog post. Tomorrow was a much brighter day, and has been since. I am blessed by bloggy friendships – local, national and worldwide. Now for that cute baby photo…

My cousin Marissa sent me a photo of Jackson on his new quilt – I think he looks quite pleased. I can’t wait to kiss those gorgeous cheeks later this year!

I did have some fantastic news the day after my last post which I’ll share with you next time – lets just say that the Sewing Sisters are going away on a sewing weekend at the end of March (ALL the Sewing Sisters).

With MUCH love

When the going gets tough, the tough get sewing.

2010-02-24T21:52:00.001+11:00

I have had a few disappointing situations happen to me & my family this past week. So instead of turning to the chocolate, I have been doing some sewing therapy – much more productive and better for the hips :)

Another version of the McCall’s pattern M5599/M5790 as a work sample using some of the new fabrics in store – the outer bag fabric is Flourish by Alisha Place Frost for studio e fabrics (please excuse the poor photography!).

My selvedge handbag! I decided to keep the selvedges on one side only, & found this nifty fabric at work that looks like selvedges for the other side.

And yes, I did finish Jackson’s quilt in time, it flies off to London tomorrow.

I am choosing to remain optimistic throughout all of these new twists and turns going on in our lives, and take comfort from the words of wisdom from Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) -

“Tomorrow is a new day, always fresh with no mistakes in it - yet”

(italics are my added words)

May you enjoy your creative therapy too.

With Love

A little bit of colour

2010-02-20T21:33:00.001+11:00

I’ve been having a bit of fun playing with colour lately. Summer seems a very colourful time and as it’s been too hot to get out in my garden, I’ve had no option but to sew (what a pity!) A little while ago I bought a pre cut 5” pack of Kaffe Fassett fabrics… It was so much fun to open the pack and lay out all the squares!

I’d never tried the disappearing nine patch that Janelle wrote of in the last post, so I though it would be a bit of fun. I used a common purple square for the centre block and chopped away.

What a quick and easy layout. There’s something very satisfying about starting and finishing a quilt top in one sitting! It finished up a 44” square, so I guess it’s a lap sized quilt. I may even hang it up in my sewing room. Here it is as a completed quilt top…

I don’t have any backing fabric that’s quite right, so for now it’s been folded up and put aside for backing, quilting and binding! Meanwhile, I’ve been playing with some new fabric – thanks to a little shopping on etsy with cottonthreadfabrics . I placed my order, paid with paypal and the next day received a refund on the excess shipping. How gorgeous! I’ll be visiting there again.

More pinks with Verna Budding by Kate Spain for Moda:

Then I needed some boy influence for my son’s 10th birthday quilt (Still not sure what form this will take and I need to start in the next week or so!!). These are Haul it Citron Spice Prints by Michael Miller :

And I couldn’t pass up some more ‘little boy’ fabrics for the stash. My brother and sister in law are expecting twins mid year so I may be needing two quilts made with these… or two with a pinker theme. We know they are having two babies of the same gender, but not which… such information does not help in the making of quilts for when they are born!

I hope you are finding time for soaking up all the colour around you, whether summer or winter colour!

Happy Stitching,

Krafty KJ

Ride ‘Em Cowboy

2010-02-17T22:25:00.001+11:00

We have had lots of cowboy prints at work lately, so I thought I’d make a Cowboy cot quilt for baby Jackson. The fabrics are a mix of Michael Miller, Robert Kaufman and Timeless Treasures.

2 years ago Kylie sent me a link to a blog that had a tutorial about making a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt. Since then, I have been hooked on this pattern – especially if you want to whip up a quick quilt. Here’s what mine looks like so far.

Now just to sew it up, add a boarder, quilt it and bind it before Uncle Doug heads off the the UK. I work well under pressure :)

Have fun creating!

With Love

Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

2010-02-08T16:40:00.001+11:00

Yesterday my daughter and I headed to the town of Loch for the annual quilt hanging. It was a girl’s day out to remember. Emily had a lovely time and by the end of the day was expert at working out if a quilt was hand or machine quilted. She also was amazed how many quilts were made of diamonds and triangles.

These were two of her favourites and she wants to start one like the latter, later this year… Perhaps I shouldn’t have said, “This would be a good design for a first quilt”!

These were two of my favourites, I decided I’d like to make a three coloured quilt like this blue, yellow and white one. It had a great range of sampler blocks, alternating with a simpler, common block – very clever.

Here are some of the others we saw…

The work on this one was inspiring – must give this style a go some time…

And here is the local CFA fire truck shed – transformed into another quilt hanging spot!

All in all a wonderful day, and well worth the travel time from Melbourne. Unfortunately I heard that this was the last one planned at present as the current organisers have been doing it for the last 10 years. I’d say they deserve a well earned break and a big WELL DONE! But it will be a missed event on the quilting calendar.

Happy stitching to you all,

Krafty KJ

Cake and hammers!

2010-01-31T20:19:00.001+11:00

It was time to celebrate Oliver’s birthday with friends and family today. It was a 10 day wait for Oliver, a long time when you are ~~three~~ four. He requested a rocket party with woodwork and real tools. Here is the birthday boy with his tools, thanks to nana!

We visited reverse art truck to get all the wood off cuts and the empty knitting machine cones which the children used. They had a lot of fun making rockets, space ships and even a castle!!

The afternoon finished off with birthday cake and ice cream in cones (It was a very hot day!) This year it had to be a rocket cake with three sparkler jet engines and a space man candle!

It is always a great feeling to get to the end of a birthday party and know everyone had a lovely time and there’s a break for a little while before you have to do it again!

School is back tomorrow – my 7 1/2 year old can’t wait and has been counting down, my 9 1/2 year old doesn’t want to go back and would rather be on permanent holidays. I think I lie somewhere in between… the school clothes are clean and ready the lunchboxes are out… let the year roll on…

Krafty KJ

Sweet Dreams little monkey!

2010-01-26T15:25:00.001+11:00

I have a little boy who has just turned 4. He is blessed with a very cheerful disposition, has so much energy for life and so much curiosity for learning, that at times I struggle to keep up! He is happy almost 100% of the time – what a gift! So what fabric does one choose to make a quilt for their happy, cheeky monkey?

With a summer birthday, I couldn’t resist the bold, bright colours of Malibu Monkeys by Michael Miller. I love the beach ball fabric. It measures 45” by 68”, just smaller than single bed size, but small enough to wrap around the shoulders of my gorgeous 4 year old!

and sock monkeys on the back…

To finish it off I had it professionally quilted with a monkey and bananas pattern. I tried to get it in a photo – sorry it’s such a bad one, but I think you can see the dancing monkey and the red banana!!

I do wonder what monkey business this year of being four will bring to my dear boy… Here is a photo of him under his new quilt. It was such a hit that he said he didn’t need his ‘blankie’ anymore. We’ll see how long that lasts!!

Many blessings on you Oliver as you enjoy being 4! You are one special little monkey!

Krafty KJ

Bright Sunshiny Days

2010-01-23T13:58:00.001+11:00

We have been thoroughly enjoying the Summer School holidays – sleeping in and catching up with precious friends. Jenny and her gorgeous kids came over for a day of sewing and fun. Amy has just started sewing lessons and showed me the selvedge pin cushion she had made. So I got my stash of selvedges out and started sewing them together – it is VERY addictive. I hope to turn this lot it into a bag (eventually).

The kids also found a picture of babushkas in the newspaper and made me a card too, Miss Georgia is the model. Thank you very much, I love it!

Look who is staying with us for the weekend…

DH and Mr smileykylie (Kylie’s DH)

He is over in Perth for work. We had a yummy cooked breaky this morning (which explains the state of my DH’s t-shirt). The boys have just gone off to Hillarys Marina and are going to see Avatar in 3D tonight. There are plenty of Tim Tams in the fridge too (their biscuit of choice).

Katherine isn’t the only one doing some internet fabric shopping :) I managed to get 10 half yards of Rosalie Quinlan's ‘Grandmothers Flower Garden’ fabric (from the fabricbee Etsy store) to go with my Christmas present from DH - ‘a Stitch in Time’ (Rosalie’s 2nd book).

Hope you have a Fantastic weekend

With Love

PS Welcome to the world Jackson Thomas Lane, a precious baby boy born to my cousin Marissa and her DH Matt in London. Isn’t he a cutie.

We’re all going on a summer holiday!!

2010-01-17T22:40:00.001+11:00

I am just back for two days of stitching in peace and thought I’d share some of our holiday fun… There was a day picking strawberries and of course eating them. I recommend the chocolate fondue at Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm. Delicious!!
The beach was beautiful and so refreshing after a hot day and extra special when you’ve never built a sand castle there!

I got home to a parcel at the door and waited very patiently until children were in bed to open it… I had spent some Christmas money at Hancock’s sale and it was all sooo cheap (less than $6 a yard!) and look what I found…

Some Moda Lila Tueller Santorini in pinks – this will be the year I finally make a pink quilt… Stay tuned…

Some Kaffe Fassett fabrics, because you can never have enough of those gorgeous colours,

some bright American Jane Snippets Daisy dots in blue and a Chez Moi Swanky honey bun!! What a lot of fun will be had with these. Eye candy for the present…

Kylie and I had a lovely day yesterday at Somerset with our hand piecing class. Two reluctant hand stitchers who are addicted to the whirr of their machines, may have found another way… It’s not as hard as we thought it would be… Here’s some proof…

Kylie even looks as though she is enjoying herself!!

Kylie was the student of the day finishing her star first!

I did a slightly different layout and this is all I got done during the class.However, as I have no children at home with me, I sat down today with a long movie and got quite a bit more done… not sure how big I will do it…

Don’t tell my DH, but I may have another addiction – and it’s so portable!!

Happy stitching to you all,

Krafty KJ

Summer stitching…

2010-01-11T22:47:00.001+11:00

It is sooo hot today that I’ve contemplated hopping into my freezer on a number of occasions. It is 8.30pm and still 40 degrees! (that’s about 105 Fahrenheit!) We are all enjoying doing very little these holidays – in fact we haven’t really been out of the house other than to get groceries!! I have been reading my new Christmas book – I am hooked on the Elm Creek quilting series, it’s official. We are due to go down to the beach tomorrow, so tonight it’s time to pack and the book is definitely on the list.

But a little update on our household craftiness… Kylie gave my big girl a craft book for Christmas which has started her knitting up a storm… despite many obstacles in her life!

After two days of knitting we welcomed “Brown Bear” into our famiy…

We were all very impressed with this little fellow and the expression on the owners face tells it all!

I have finally finished the binding on my Recess quilt – I just met the 2009 deadline! I’m really pleased with how it turned out-

The quilting is called “sticky buns” and softens the angular nature of this quilt. If only I could say I’d quilted it, but, alas… in time… in time!!!

Must get packing and enthused about holidays. It’s me and the four cherubs for the rest of this week and then I return on the weekend for some mummy only time as my DH is taking charge by the beach. Kylie and I are off to do a little hand piecing class at Somerset Patchwork and Quilting. Oh that will be wonderful….

Happy stitching to you all,

Krafty KJ

Like Mother like Daughter

2010-01-11T21:39:00.001+11:00

The apple hasn’t fallen very far from the tree when it comes to a love of bags, my DD Rachel has quite a collection of her own. Today we added to that collection by making a bag together. Do you remember me giving her this book and fabric for her 10th birthday?, well we FINALLY used one of the patterns to make this:

The ‘Slouchy Shoulder Bag’ is reversible, so she gets 2 bags for the price of one – I hope she lets me borrow it :)

With Love

& daughter xx

New Shoes..

2010-01-03T23:22:00.001+11:00

Starting a new year feels a bit like getting a new pair of shoes, shiny and new, no scuff marks, potential, no smell, you want to wear them with every outfit…. You look back at that old pair of worn in, slightly grubby last years pair and forget about the blisters, the hole in the sole, they were lovely, but now you’ve got a new shiny pair…

We’ve just arrived back from a week down at the beach house, it was dreadfully hot and then raining, we still enjoyed some time out, swimming in the ocean, lazing in the hammock, afternoon siesta’s, iced coffee’s, cooked breakfast and a little shopping! Now to deal with the mountains of washing that follows a week at the beach…

While wandering the local shops, a lovely treasure trove of little gems to ooh and ahh over, I spied this lovely Missy Mao Mao bag, hhhmmmm, how can I justify another bag, no must walk away I told myself, until today when I let the family go for a walk down the pier and I went to buy bread…the shop is on the way to the bakery….I just had to have one last look…the rest as they say is history, so now I have a new bag and a new year. You must check out Marilyn’s blog and website, she has many lovely bags to drool over.

This is one for the dog lovers out there, our DS received a camera for Christmas, we now have a few hundred photos of our dog Lucy, I thought this one was cute :)

Break in transmission as I have a lovely chat to Janellybelly in Perth, can’t get used to them being 3 hours behind at the moment. Love you precious friend. Speaking of precious friends I’m having morning tea with Katherine tomorrow, time to plan a few more sewing weekends ;)

Enjoy the exciting potential of the year ahead, watch out for the blisters and enjoy the special people in your life who will lovingly supply the Band-Aids.
Love

Happy Christmas to you & to you & to you…

2009-12-25T00:26:00.001+11:00

It’s officially Christmas day in the Eastern States of Australia, so I thought I’d wish you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS on behalf of the Sewing Sisters. Thank you all for visiting our blog & giving your encouraging & beautiful comments about our various crafty endeavors.

With Love and Many Blessings

Janelle, Kylie and Katherine xxx