tsk tsk

A little more time.

It's that time of year again.

Time to finish work and projects on the go.

Time to reflect on the why, the when, the what for.

Time to catch up with friends.

Time to say goodbye to little classmates.

Time to really clean up the house, not just move piles from one spot to another.

Time for Christmas shopping.

Time to stay away from big, ugly shopping centres.

Time to try and think of something really great to give to Mr N for his birthday.

Time for just keeping cool in the pool.

Time to batten down the hatches.

Time to think about wanting to work on new projects.

Time to stop thinking about wanting to work on new projects and just learn to relax.

finished

Finished. For my niece who will be taking the very big step to boarding school next year! Hopefully she will like it and it will keep her warm on cold nights. Just have to sew on her name tag.

This is the Hop Skip Jump pattern from Denyse Schmidt's book.

finish it!

I'm over 2008! well, the last few weeks have been quite busy and I just feel a little exhausted. Just at the point where I want things to slow down. I refused to work this weekend and feel so much better for it. Instead the quilting bug has hit me again and I am so keen to start a new quilt! But wait, I can't. I have 3 that I haven't finished. 3 that I started more than 3 years ago!

So I have promised myself to finish at least one before Christmas. This weekend I have progressed from sewn panels to sewn top to quilting to one side of sewn binding...now just the hand binding to go! I WILL, YES I WILL FINISH IT THIS WEEK!!!!!

But I still couldn't help myself this morning, and started cutting fabric for a new quilt. Call me hopeless, BUT, this time I'm trying not to buy any new material. I'm really trying to make it from my existing stash. I have no idea how big I am making it or really how it is going to look or even the fact that I really need one. So here are my first 4 panels. I photographed each panel as I cut, then pinned each panel until I am ready to sew them together....

but there still is that hand binding on the other quilt so the new quilt will have to wait.

Here are some fantastic scrap quilts that I've been peeking at.

mail and thanks

Thursday is a good day to get mail...well any day really is a good day to get mail. REAL mail that you can oooh and ahhh about and be thankful for something that is isn't an electricity bill!

Today it was double oohhhs and ahhhs.

Sandra from Herzensart sent me a gorgeous package today with some papers and some of her artwork. He is so cute! Thank you Sandra.

And my biggest 'investment' this month was purchasing this. I love this magazine. Bought a copy whilst in Paris at the Orla Kiely shop and although I'm still sewing up the hole in my purse, I know that I will love this for a long time. I'll keep it in my car so I can drool over the pages whilst waiting at school pickups.

Thank you also to Natalie at Daily Imprint. I was asked to participate in an interview. You can see a little of me {trying to hide out of the frame}. I feel really honoured being amongst some amazing and inspiring people. Truly I feel like I'm just an ordinary mum at home making artwork when I can. At times I really don't feel like I'm taken seriously or apart of a greater circle of creativity. I don't mean that in a 'booo hooo' way. More like I'm just doing my thing because I like to and I'm shocked to be apart of so many talented folk!  So for this I am thankful.

Christmas Blossoms

I now have for sale 4 new Christmas greeting cards in the shop or you can purchase directly from me via email, or even via the comments.

Mixed packs available of 1, 2, 3, 4 or more. Blank inside.

free wallpaper

Three French Hens for your computer...well kind of!
{Click on the side menu to the left and set the image to your desktop for a bit of Christmas cheer.}

christmas gift tags

I'll be sharing some Christmas delights here for awhile. I have a few offerings for 08. Some even free!!!!

for now, I have some gift tags for sale in my little shop. Australian customers can contact me for $AUS.

There are 5 to a pack and they are quite large in size, a friend of mine said they could even work as mini-cards.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Ravi-o-loni

Marrying an "Italian" has its benefits. Esp if he can cook.

Mr N is away at the moment, and there is just enough ravioli left in the freezer for three.

Ravioloni ....BIG ravioli just like his nonna made.

Filled with chicken, pumpkin, ricotta, rocket, pinenuts, nutmeg, parmesan cheese and I think a little pancetta served with a simple tomato sugo!

Bought pasta just doesn't compare!

week day verse

"hurry up please.
what do you want for breakfast?
what do you want on your sandwich for lunch?
eat over your plate please.
can mummy just have her tea?
peach or pear today?
OK if you are finished go and clean your face and

brush your teeth.

Have you brushed your teeth yet?

Come on we have to go."

defrosting

I'm going to try and join along with Kitchen Poetry this week started here on Simple Sparrow. I'm a day late, but given that I live 12-18 hours ahead of most places in the world, I'm probably on time.

Defrosting::
Home made sausage rolls::
For a Melbourne cup lunch with friends::bring a plate:: boring I know, but I have nothing else to offer

Made by my husband::
He stole the recipe from my mother::
His are a little better::
Don't tell mum.