Happiness

Image via here

I love this photograph.  It is a little symbolic don't you think?  We do hold the power to be happy in our own hands.  Sometimes, however, we give our happiness to someone else to hold or it gets taken away by something sad. 

So this week I am grateful for my own happiness and the smiles and support of my friends and family.  My lovely father-in-law Des died suddenly on Saturday and we are all a bit sad.  I like to think of my happy memories of Des.  He loved birds, vegetable gardens and his dogs.  It is sad to think that I won't see him again.  Death is such a final thing.  I am so very pleased that I had the chance to know him, love him and learn from him.  Thank you Des for you xxoo

Strips of Goodness

I have been very busy designing.  There is a pieced quilt top on my sewing room couch waiting to have the binding sewn on by hand and another that is about to be sandwiched together for quilting.  These however are Secret Squirrel projects so I can't share yet!

I do have something that I can show you though that I am very pleased with.  It is a Kaffe Fasset design from his book "Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts".  The design is very simple and easy to make.  It is simply 4 large pieces made out of 2 inch and 3 inch strips. Such beautiful colors.

These strips then go together, laid out on the floor to get an idea of colour distribution, like so:

Then when I am happy with how it looks I sew them together.  This is one bit that I have already sewn together.

My Creative Space

I would like to start my foray back into the world of the Creative Space with a riddle.

What honks but has no horn?

Answer: A Goose.

That is what I have been doing this week; about sixty flying geese to fly around my sewing room.

What have you been up to?  Do you like flying geese?  Or do you steer clear?

Silence is Golden

Well maybe not golden in this case but certainly productive.  There has been a frenzy of stitching, threading and sewing going on.  I have even been finishing things!  Miracles do happen, my husband says.  Lol!! 

I have a finished quilt awaiting binding.  Ted was the first one to test out the quilt.

The official quilt tester however got a bit huffy and kicked Ted off, regaining his position as official quilt tester.  He thought the new quilt was pretty alright and settled down to read his favourite night time story.

We will have to be quiet now because Puss is reading.  *In a whisper*  Do you like secrets?  Yes, well just as well we are whispering then!  I have been stitching away on a secret project that I can't show you yet.  Now I know that it  isn't very exciting without a visual but I can say that it looks amazing and I am very pleased with it.  A flurry of red, black, white and green.  Cuteness!  Can't wait to show it to you. 

Last but not least, Hubby and I have been out scouting around for inspiration on our recent holiday.  We visited the lovely Sue at Mill Rose Cottage in Ballan, chatted with the bubbly Merrilyn at Thread Needle, pondered fabric choices with Emma at Ballarat Patchwork and searched around a pile of fabric with Gail at  Gail's Patchwork Emporium.  Of course there has been some beautiful fabrics added to the stash.  Will show you more next time.  Better go now so that I don't wake Puss. It seems he has fallen asleep!

Another Crafty Friend

On Saturday the Crafty Little Fox met Morgan from The Crafty Squirrel.  It is a delightful little shop in Ballarat that is full of lots of little treasures.  Even Mr Crafty Fox found things there that he liked.  She has even added her magic touch to the pole outside the shop.

Now don't you think that all power poles should look like that?  I have some foxy treasure too.....

Morgan's business card was so sweet so I added that in as well.  My other goodies have already found homes.  Do go and visit Morgan if you are in Ballarat.  She is very friendly and her store is well worth a look. 

On other business I have been giving my cutter and the sewing machine a bit of a workout.  I have finished another quilt top with a beautiful new range called Storyboek that I got from Emma at Ballarat Patchwork.  It is the most beautiful fabric.  Now that the top is almost fnished we are off tomorrow to look at fabric for the final border, binding and backing.  With the miserable Ballarat weather and a weeks holiday I am going to have plenty of time to stitch.  Yay!!

Would you like to see a photo of the finished quilt top?  What projects have you been working on?

I Am Grateful For Home

Via here



It has been a long two weeks of travel, cars, trains, conference food, discussions and learning.  I don't mind saying that although my brain is tired and resembles, figuratively at least, mush I did enjoy it.  There was so many interesting and excitng ideas and great people to learn from.

Despite the fun I had, coming home Thursday night on the train seemed to be the longest part of the journey.  In fact I couldn't get home quick enough to the heating, to sit next people I actually knew and to cuddle up on my warm couch and hug my family.  I am grateful to be home.

Has anyone else travelled a bit for work?  What were the bad bits?  What were the good bits?

For more grateful posts head over to Maxabella

I Am Still Here

Image via: RGB Stock

Despite all appearances the Crafty Little Fox is still here!

I have been commuting to Melbourne for the past week and a bit.  Time on the train is interesting.  I get to read, check out the graffiti art (not tagging, it's ugly) on the back of industrial buildings and observe my fellow passengers.

My favorite passenger to see each night is the Colored Sock guy.  Bright purple and bright green socks so far this week.  Can't wait to see what socks he has tomorrow.  Isn't color wonderful?

I am looking forward to getting back amongst the fabric again.  Can't wait!

Has anyone else needed to commute before?  What did you like about it?  What didn't you like?  And what was the strangest or best thing you have seen on your way to work?

Grateful for ..... Rain

Via Free Speak Planet

It has been so very cold at home today and it seems to have constantly drizzled rain.  I don't mind the rain (as long as I am not in it) but I must say it would be nice just for a little while to see a few rays of sunshine.  Just as a hint, a reminder of things to come. 

The rain however has given me the chance, and an excuse, to bake, drink hot chocolate and make popcorn for the children while they watch dvds.  I have also got a fair bit of stitching done. 

For all those reasons I am grateful for the rain. Head over to Maxabella to see what else others are grateful for.

Do you like the rain?  Do you like thunderstorms, heavy showers and rainbows?  What do you do to keep yourself and yours entertained when the rain comes down?

Itching for Stitching

So much time that I have not found much space to stitch.  Can't wait for the long weekend!

YAY for long weekends.

My Creative Space

Have been a bit quiet lately with the 'space'.  I have just started a new job and am finally working under my own speed.  So much to do!  Anyway I did clear Tuesday and managed to finish quilting my 'Bird' quilt.  This afternoon I am adding the binding.  Thanks to Mum for stitching back through all the quilting threads xo.

I don't know if you can see in this photo but I machine quilted some little hearts around the birds.  The effect is rather sweet.

I have also been stitching some reindeers for the Xmas quilt. It is really starting to come together.  All the blocks are made, all the 'snowballs' are gathered and ironed ready for stitching and four reindeers are cut out and basted on the blocks they belong too.  You may have already met Cupid before in a previous post.  If not check him out, he is seriously adorable.

This little guy just needs and eye, a nose and some antlers and he is ready to be added to the finished pile too. 

Happy stitching everyone :)

Green Tomatoe Pickles

Finally decided that it was well and truly the end of warm weather and picked the last of the summer veg.  (Took us awhile to get the hint and the thunder this morning with the torrential rain finally sealed the deal) We had heaps of little green cherry tomatoes left on the tomato bushes. What to do?  We made pickles!

This made me think about how we use up the left overs of things.  Like scraps of fabric left over when you cut out a quilt. 

What do you do with your left over scraps?  Do you cut them into shapes or sort them by colour?  Have you ever made quilts from something other than quilt fabric?  Felted jumpers, old denim jeans or cotton mens' shirts are popular. Have you ever tried any of those? 

The Travelogue



Have covered a few kilometres in the last few days and today we are off to the Big Smoke.  For those who have not read my blog before a quick background story.  A few months ago my Mum lost the feeling in her legs and has since then had very limited mobility.  So has begun a journey through the medical system that is all of the following words: frustrating, anger inducing, fruitless and time consuming.

It is like being sucked into a really bad carousel.  Round and around you go.  With no answers, doctors who don't really care and some that do and the eternal waiting.

Does anyone out there in blogland have a family member with chronic illness?  Have you felt that noone listens because they are too busy?  Or have you found that doctor that is one in a million?  What are your experiences?  Please share xo

P.S  If you left a comment on my blog last week and I did not reply I apologise.  It seems that Blogger deleted the comments when they 'improved their service'. Not happy Blogger!

Organized? Yeah Right!

This week has been hectic, hence why no Creative Space for me.  I have had to be organized as I started a new job this week.  While I am excited about my new headspace it is also a little terrifying.  How do you manage to fit everything in?

Via miss retro

For me 'the list' is King.  Without a list I tend to run from one thing to another like a madwoman.

What do you do to stay organised?  Do you write a list?  Or do lists make you break out into hives? 

Do you subscribe to the Winnie the Pooh philosophy that:

"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day my fellow Mums!

Some days are like this....

via Bugginout

And some days are like this....

Still, I wouldn't change being a Mum for anything in the world!!

No Longer Legless!!

A miracle has occurred!

The birds are no longer legless!!!!!!!

For awhile there it seemed that the birds might remain legless for at least another week (see Cat Nap).

For humans to be no longer legless it usually requires coffee, sleep and a hangover but this only required time at my machine.

Now the birds stride out in style.

For more creative loveliness pop over and see Kirsty @ Kootoyoo

Cat Nap

Via: Pearls & Tea

Cat to Lady:  "Wake up!  There are birds on your quilt needing legs, reindeers to stich with embroidery floss and ladybug blocks to assemble.  Why are you sleeping??"

Lady to Cat: "(Snore) Zzzzzzzz"

This Week I am Grateful For ...... Coffee and Cake

Picture via Artskool

This week I am grateful for coffee and cake.

When I think of all the good things that coffee and cake bring with them: good times with girlfriends, stories told and worries shared and occassionally even time on the couch with a good book.

On top of that I do love good coffee and good cake.  Yum, yum.

Do you like coffee and cake?  Do you have a favourite cake recipe?  Or do you like tea and biscuits better?

Either way pop over and see Maxabella and see what others are grateful for.  May I say grab a cuppa?!

Creative Space: Nine Birds

Progress has been made on the Nine Birds quilt by Emma @ Ballarat Patchwork!  Quilt top is finished, quilt layers put together and quilting has begun.  Don't my men do a good job of modelling it for me?



I have even learnt something new.  A new method of raw edge applique.  It doesn't look too bad.  Thanks to Pam for being such a patient teacher.

 

Smile for a close up birdy :)

Would you like to see their legs tomorrow?

Ruth de Vos @ AQC

This week I will put up a few photos that I took at the AQC last week.  I only wish that I took more photos that featured the name of the quilt makers!  The Exhibition buildings in Carlton are beautiful buildings and were a great setting for the display. 

One of my favorite quilters was a Western Australian art quilter called Ruth de Vos.  Her quilts were amazing. 



The detailed quilting was something to be admired and made me think about some of the quilts that I have made recently.  Sometimes you thik of the quilting as secondary to the making and design of the quilt top.  A means to which you join the backing to the quilt front you have laboured over.  I never would have thought of drawing in extra detail and it definitely added to the impact of the quilt.

Notice how she has done the circles inside the flower by cutting the circles in the top layer of the lighter brown fabric.  The next quilt was what we dubbed the Autumn quilt.  I have no idea what its real name is but again the quilting became part of the design.

The children quilts were amazing and had me standing there quite some time just wondering how they were done.

I love the words.  It is almost like a hidden picture.  You see the large picture from a distance and admire it and then as you come closer you can see the story in words and it only adds to the beauty.  I hope you have enjoyed the photographs as much as I have and they leave you inspired to try new things.

In a couple of days I will post some photographs from a quilter named Dianne Firth.  They are striking and I am sure you will enjoy them.

A Little Birdy Told Me

Well actually nine little birdies told me.  They told me how cute they were and they asked if they could be sewn together in a flock. 



Pretty little birdies, yes you can!

A Glimpse

What did you say Dear Husband?  I can go to the Quilt Shop?  Yay!!!

My trip to Ballarat Patchwork gave me an opportunity to drool over the Amy Butler fabrics.  So beautiful!!   I attended the Nine Birds class in the new classroom. 

 Would you like to see my quilt beginnings?





A Creative Space

Which deer am I?

Been having fun with felt this week.  It is like playing fuzzy felts when I was little.  I have picked up my reindeer quilt where I left it before Christmas. Only problem is that I don't remember which one this little cutie is meant to be.  Hmm.....will have to look at my notes :(

Isn't it nice to pick something up and love it again?  What about you peeps in Blogland?  Do you like rediscovering old projects?  Or do they become little time capsules in your cupboard? Or are you like me and start more than you finish?  Mrs Sticky Beak today aren't I!

For more crafty explorations head over and see Kirsty

Donkey Date No. 3

I haven't had a lot of time to search and seek out new and interesting lands.  That having been said I think that some of the images I did find will appeal to those who enjoy a little of the "hook and yarn" action. 

Not sure now where I got that image from as I have lost the sticky note...  How about this!

Lark in Daylesford, Victoria

I love this photo too... This is the definition of an obsession.

Urban Flea

Isn't it amazing?!  If you would like to see others Pinterests visit Kate at Another Donkey Design

Another Donkey Play Date

One of my great loves is photography.  I love nothing more than to fiddle with my camera and take shots of things that inspire me.  A lovely photographer, called Heidi Lender, who I just happened to stumble across yesterday took a series of photographs called Once Upon.  They are truly exquisite.

I do wonder though...... What is the dog thinking?

Please visit Kate at Another Donkey Design today.  It would make her smile and maybe you too :)