Christmas Challenge Pictures Update.

The photo's for the Christmas challenge have started to roll in...I will update the pics daily (or as they come in) till the end of the month...don't forget to have yours in by June 30th to be in the draw for the prize.

Great work Ladies.

Amanda

Christmas Challenge...3 saturdays left...

Today is Saturday (here in Australia), this is the 3rd last Saturday in the month of June...how are you all going with your challenge? the tree Ornament/Decoration.

I have heard a lot of chatter and many happy excited people...lets keep up the momentum Ladies and get those challenge items done.

I have added a couple of links on the sidebar for inspiration, take a look and hopefully if you have not found what you are going to make by now, this will help.

Just remember it is not meant to be stressful, it is meant to be fun. this is not a competition for who can make the best, but merely a challenge to get something done. and the prizes are picked randomly.



A Hint:

choose something that you are comfortable and confident in making. you can challenge yourself to make something harder if you want but don't let it stress you out.

Note: If you have joined the challenge and your name is not on the roll call please email me I have emailed a couple of people to clarify blogs and to double check they are in the challenge...maybe that is you..check your email. or if you are concerned email me.

well happy sewing everyone...

Amanda

It's My Birthday...Yipee

*UPDATED UPDATE*

I placed an order online from the Fat Quarter shop in the US on Friday the 4th of June.Well to my complete surprise it arrived today (11th June).

Yummy Fabrics... and a two patterns...I am so blessed.

more for my stash...

It is my Birthday today ( 8th June ) and I have been having a ball.

I have been just doing whatever I pleased, I went down to Bargain Box Fabrics (my favourite fabric shop in Ipswich) and bought a few lovely fabrics, including some Christmas fabric for the Christmas challenge (see previous post).

I love going down there because they have lots of wonderful fabrics, but they are also a very tidy shop and the customer service is terrific.

I am spending the birthday money i got from the lovely ladies in the birthday swap in the craft group I am in.

I also went to Handmade Heaven at the top of town and had a bit of a look, bought a little brooch for a friend. it's a very nice shop and they have a vast array of handmade things for just about every taste.

I had a look in the Hospice second hand book shop and found a retro sewing book which looks very interesting.

Last night My First born DD came over at about 8:30pm and surprised me with a very lovely cake that she had baked.

now the wonderful thing about this cake is that she does not cook, it is just not her thing. so for her to go to such an effort and make such a lovely looking cake it is a big thing.

Of course the cake is for tonight when we all get together for my Birthday dinner.

I can't wait to try it...

I am stretching out my Birthday that's for sure...I have a voucher for spotlight to spend so I am popping over there tomorrow, I have seen some new FQ bundles there that I have my eye on and I also need some new pinking shears so I think I know how to spend the money.

I also put an order in for some yummy fabrics from the Fat Quarter shop in the US, can't wait for them to arrive.

So really my Birthday has been just lovely, I now have to get started on the Christmas Challenge and get myself organised with this new fabric and what to do with it.

happy sewing everyone

Don't forget to be making your Christmas Ornament for the challenge for June.

Hugs

Amanda

Christmas in July...Well sort of.

There have been a few Christmas in July themed challenges and sew-a-longs that I have seen around just lately. some are extremely expensive just to join up... it got me thinking...why can't we do that without all the great expense? so I have decided to put up a little challenge...oh what fun we will have.

My Challenge

Basically we will make 1 item a month from now until the end of November. So that is 6 items all together.

I want to encourage novice sewers to take part in this challenge too so I Will make it a bit easier on all of us by allowing you a lot of freedom in what style and pattern you choose. we will have 4 basic items that I have chosen to make and 2 items that will be open.

To Join:

To be a part of the fun there are just a couple of requirements.

1) you don't have to follow me, but it may be a good way for you to keep track of the challenge.

2) Post about the challenge on your blog.

3) Always be Encouraging, we are not all expert sewers so the best way to be an encouragement is to "Be Nice".

4) Have Fun.

And so as to create more fun there will also be prizes. (at the end of post)

Item List:

June: An Ornament for the tree- your choice of what to make and what medium you use. e.g. fabric, paper etc.

July: A Place mat or Table Runner- your choice of style.

Medium: fabric

August: A Table decoration/ centrepiece - your choice of medium again.

September: A Doll - you can choose to make an Angel or Santa or a Reindeer etc. what ever you choose it has to be made from fabric.

October: your choice - make it from fabric but it must be Christmassy..

November: your choice - any medium.

the theme is of course Christmas so all items must be be Christmassy.

The finish date is the 30th of the month, at the end of the following day (31st or 1st) I will check out your items and get the random generator to pick a winner.
Note: the delay in picking a winner is to allow for time zones to catch up.


To help you with ideas you can go to Freebies for Craft and get free patterns to download from many different people on the net. just have a look at the categories on the right hand side of the site for Christmas.



Some Rules.


to keep it fair and as for everything in life there have to be some rules.


1) to go in the draw you must finish your item.


2) post about it on your blog.

3) Please leave a comment so I know you are joining the challenge.

4) send me a pic so I can post about it to keep everyone updated.



Let There Be Prizes.
Now of course there will be Prizes, at the end of each month there will be a draw using a random number generator. to be eligible see the rules.
one lucky winner will be the new owner of 4 Fat Quarters of their choice from The Fabric Cafe.
there will also be random extra prizes along the way.
So are you up to the challenge...are you in for the fun...the satisfaction of making something for Christmas, either for yourself or to give to a friend.
I will be starting my first item on the weekend.
Hopefully I have not left anything out, if you think I have then please email me.
If you have any problems please don't hesitate to email me here.
Happy sewing friends.
Amanda

...Finished Some Projects...

Look At This Great Bag Pattern...




I made up Khris's Sling Bag last week in my spare time, I even had to give Khris a call because I had not made it up before and needed to clarify something (or was it just an excuse to have a chat??) I am happy with the bag and am pleased to recommend it to everyone...


I also had a chance to sew up another little owl for a dear lady...who shall remain nameless until such time as I get it in the post to her.



This is the one I made for Khris for our "Mothers Day Swap"...I just love this pattern...thanks to Emily at Toads Treasures .


I did not get much time to sew this weekend (as I planned to embrace my sewing machine fully) due to being "Mum the Taxi Driver"...Elijah had a birthday party on Saturday morning which finished in the afternoon, but I had to take Wayne off to work in the middle of it all so no sewing for this little Duck. I did start sewing some of the coasters I wanted to get done.
And this evening (Sunday Night) had a little go at the "Log Cabin Quilt- As -You Go- Quilt" on Freebies for Crafters, Thanks Khris for the link.
it is getting a bit late for me now so I bid you all Good Evening...

Remember we were all created...no wonder we are so creative.

Happy Sewing
Amanda

"The Little Things"

While I was recuperating and mum was here we did a couple of little projects to keep us busy...truthfully we both would have gone nuts if we did not have something to do.

so the first little thing I did was to make an IPhone cover for my eldest daughters IPhone.

I cut them out and put the applique on and Mum did the hand stitching.

a very nice combined effort I think.

this is the finished product...we also made one for Mum's phone.


well as the week progressed and I felt a bit better we started on a sewing caddy Tutorial Link that we found on freebies for crafters (thanks Ladies) by Ginabean handmade.

we went to bargain box and got some cute fabrics, well that was tiring and I wished I had much more money to spend.

Mum did the first bag so she could get a feel for the pattern (and because I was way too tired to make anything that day).

After a few adjustments she finished it...and I think it is fantastic.

the next day I had a go, well Mum did the hard work of cutting out because I was just too sore to do it. I did do all the sewing though.

this is my bag which I am currently using as a handbag for the time being (until I grow tired of it I guess).

Mum's bag and my bag together.

don't they look great...

well enough blogging today..will rest and hopefully get to some more over the weekend.

Happy sewing everyone...

Amanda

...Update...

Well it was an experience, my stay at St. Andrews was quite pleasant and most of the nursing staff were just wonderful.
The nicest nurse was not on the payroll though...after my surgery when I was back in my room and recovering (sleeping lots) from the anesthetic my darling husband gave me a bed bath and changed my clothes, straightened my bed (probably because a messy bed drives him nuts). He said to me that I would feel better after I have a wash and get changed...He was right of course.
It really pays to have a Husband who is an RN, I have to have needles each day for blood clots so Wayne gets to do that too. and he is really gentle...lucky Me.

I am home from hospital, came home at 2pm Saturday. I was feeling fine in hospital and wanted to get home so the Doctor said go home.

Mothers Day Sunday was a doozy, we had a lovely breakfast and then lunch with my mum and all my family. it was lovely but I was the sickest I have been since the op. Wayne called it the day 4 thing...it is said day 4 after surgery is the worst, well someone could have reminded me and I could have moved our mothers day to Monday..oh well never mind.



Monday was the only day that Wayne was home from work and Mum was with us too so they all decided to take me out for the morning, which was fine cause I was feeling good (famous last words). we all went off to the Brisbane Art Gallery to see the Ron Mueck display.

I slept well that night that's for sure...more about the art gallery in a later post.

need to rest...

happy sewing

Amanda