School Starts and Some Tips.

School starts in the morning and darling Son 12 will be doing 8^th grade work from tomorrow so I am going to be a bit busier again.

To keep me sane and give me something fun to do in my spare time (apart from sewing) I will be working on my blog, researching different crafts to do and being inspired by lots of amazing people.

Here a couple of tips that you may not have heard before, have you got any handy tips that might help someone else? I would love to hear them.

Household Tip…

You can divide and store ground meat in a zip loc bag. Just break off how much you need and keep the rest in the freezer for later. So much easier than dividing and individually wrapping. See the tips here...

Quilting tip…

Never use a fabric’s selvedge in a quilt – it may shrink and pucker your finished project.

I am looking forward to starting the new school year on a good note so will make sure I get to bed on time tonight, I am just so  done in if I don't get a good nights sleep these days.

Not much happening here on the "Sewing" front I am afraid, I need to be inspired to get my Mojo back...it is possibly because I am still in "Holiday Mode".

I got some really nice fabrics (french General) a couple of months ago now and had an idea of what I would like to make with them...I just have to make that a reality.

I hope you all are being inspired and are having fun sewing away on your projects. 

Until next time

Happy Stitching...

Summer Break Nearly Over...What have I Achieved?

Well as the title implies our Summer Break is nearly over and exactly what have I achieved?

Did I do much on my “To Do” list, Or have I been a slacker…

Perhaps I should have reviewed my to do list a bit better, included some things and excluded others.

So have I achieved anything?

Of course I have, I have had a fantastic summer of coffee with friends, movies and lunches with friends, Rest and relaxation.

Now is any of this on my list…well maybe not so much, but it could come under the heading of “Have Fun”.

I have spring cleaned some, but not all I had hoped to do.

I still have a week left before school starts so I still may get something done.

I guess the point really is that though you may have big and amazing plans, they don’t always work out the way you imagined them to. Life is like that isn’t it?

I have had a few health issues that have prevented me from doing some things so I am ever mindful of re-organizing my time and prioritising.

Coming up this year I am hoping to have a once a month spot about the people that inspire me, from all walks of life…

So I shall be posting this at the end of each month hopefully. I will also have a few giveaways this year as well. Keep an eye out for more…

I hope you are inspired by others, I hope you are able to use that inspiration to inspire others…

Happy Stitching

A Great Start to 2012...

What a lovely start to 2012 for us, the weather here is perfect and we have about 3 weeks left of Summer holidays...

First Project for 2012 Complete…

Well the first project for 2012 is complete and sitting on DD2’s bed.

DD2 has asked me to teach her how to sew, she picked some fabric from the local fabric shop and chose to make a cushion.

I had purchased an old sewing machine last year for her so she could learn on something that might have a bit more resilience than my modern machines.

Top view of the pillow shows how it joins up nicely…

This is the side Ally did mostly on her own…

This is the side I helped teach Her how to cut, iron seams and sew everything straight.

She did a great job for her first attempt...She will have lots of practice as she has lined up a bunch of projects already...

I love that she wants to learn how to sew...

That is it for me for now, I must get back to the sewing room...

Happy stitching

Amanda

Merry Christmas

Just popping in to say 

And not forgetting the reason for the Celebrations...

I pray this Christmas is a safe and happy one for you all, may your hearts be filled with joy as you celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy your time with much loved family and friends…

Many Christmas Blessings

Amanda

To Do's

“Summer to do list”

Ok so now I have been working on my Summer to do list and am just about ready to add it to my Blog.

I do have a few extra things to add so keep an eye out for changes over time.

These are not in any kind of order, and I may have managed to get some done already.

·      Bake Christmas Goodies

·      Organize meal plans

·      Sew a Union Jack table runner

·      Finish the Disappearing 9 patch bed topper top

·      Have Fun

·      Reduce…Reuse…Recycle…Spring Clean everything.

·      Tidy up my Blog…Learn the “How to’s”

·      Sew something out of one of the new books I got

·      Do a Tutors Course in Orton-Gillingham for Dyslexia

·      Get back into my walking routine

·      Lose more weight

Maybe that is enough for now…

I will tick them off as I achieve them, and add to them as I come up with more bright ideas.

Very happy Stitching…

Amanda

Update...

"Update on Union Jack"

 I have managed to get the A2 sized "Union Jack" done... I went off to Officeworks and had the pattern enlarged to what I thought would suit.

It was a challenge, again...

 But not too hard, just having to get my head around "which way was I placing the fabric again"?

It came together nicely.

 Looks familiar doesn't it.

 Love these colours.

 Final piece to stitch together...

 Viola! all done, well the top was but I still had to put a lining and back on it.

She can use this for her dresser, or wherever she likes really.

Finished pUnion Jack is at the top of the page along with the one I made earlier...

hope she likes them...

happy stitching

Amanda

What a Day, What To Do...

It has been raining all blinking day...

What have I been up to all day then?

Well you may ask, and I shall delight in telling you I have almost completed a Christmas present for our dear sweet “Adopted” daughter Rachel…

She loves all things “Union Jack” and I found a pattern for a paper pieced mug rug sized union jack over at the Four Twin Sisters site.

I know you are probably thinking how crazy I am doing a union jack for my first paper piecing attempt… you be the judge (be nice though).

I have Pieced it, added batting and stitched on a back...now all I need to do is some hand top stitching for added effect and hey presto a little union jack mug rug is done.

Because of time issues I have only made this size (10 inches x 5 inches) but will in the near future make her a table runner that she can put on her duchess.

i may even get that done before Christmas but I am not holding my breath, because I am busy and have more stuff to make.

I forgot to mention how lovely it was when we went to Southbank with my Sister and her family (when they were here in October). we went to Max Brenner (first time for me) and had a decadent time.

This is my Danish hot chocolate (extremely sweet) I could not drink it all so had to leave it in the end...

This is my Dessert, how decadent does that look?

it was chocolate ice-cream with choc fudge, choc dusted crispies and choc coated crunchy toffee...with a melted chocolate sauce to pour over it.

Did I manage to eat that ? no way...I ended up giving all but 1/2 a piece of fudge to my nephew and I ate mainly only the ice-cream.

This is Hubby's dessert, he didn't want any but I thought perhaps a piece of fudge would be small enough...think again.

he had the chilli hot chocolate and loved it.

So if you ever see a Max Brenner around and are a chocolate lover, do yourself a favour and have the chocolate experience of your life.

well I must get a wiggle on, I am popping out to pick Hubby up from work this afternoon and it is getting close...keep an eye out for my "Summer to do List" coming soon....

Happy Stitching

Amanda