An Unexpected Project

Sometimes projects just happen.

My youngest child has a banana pillow and every time we wash it it makes me gag.  No matter what I do it won't come clean. (No, I have no idea why we purchased a white pillow case).

So Saturday saw me digging out some long forgotten fabrics to create a couple of pillow cases that I can live with.

The old pillow case made the perfect pattern

 and we now have bright balloons

 and colourful crayons.

 These are fabrics that I'm not even sure why I had them.  I'm very glad they are now in a project.

 

So 2 more finishes for May OPAM and no feral pillowcase to have to look at.

Catch you soon.

Debra ~ Outback Crafter

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I have Super kids... really

As crafters, you all know the feeling.... "Mum, its (insert event here) tomorrow and I need a costume"

A feeling of dread overcomes you.  You are the Mum who makes stuff.... your child is the one in the handmade outfit.... you've had a migraine all day....the kids give you the big puppy eyes "PLEEEEASE".

That was me a couple of weeks ago on the eve of the school Cross Country.

I had been flat on my back with a migraine for the greater part of the day, I just wanted to curl up in a dark hole.

My response to the eldest son (12) was "I will make capes but you have to  help."

Why did I suggest this when feeling unwell????

I set him up on the over locker to edge the green rectangles - one of them is no longer rectangular and the other had an artistic hole in the middle.

enter the vsleiofix, pinking shears and fabric offcuts to mend the hole.

Applique on some giant letters and we have.....

Arcadia Capes.

 and masks

 

The Arcadia Avengers are ready to head off to school.

 The capes even flutter in the breeze when scootering.

 By all accounts they had a good day.  The capes & masks did not enhance their performance, but they looked good doing it.

It is Show Time

May is show month here in Roma.

I had a few items to enter and decided at the last minute to make a 'novelty pincushion'.

Bee flower was the result.  I chopped up the base of an enviro shopper to make sure the pins don't stab me in the wrist - it is inserted in the base of the flower under the felt.

 Bee hive fabric with a cute beehive button.

 adjustable elastic with a cute bee button to keep it on my wrist.

It does it's job and I don't get stabbed.

The entries at our show were a little light on this year but there were some lovely exhibits.

 Hubby entered a leather belt and pocket knife holder

 My pincushion and the other two in the pincushion section.  I came 2nd.

 Some of the lovely exhibits.

 These 2 quilts were made by my UFO craft group. 

They placed 1st (left) and 2nd (right) n the collaborative quilt section.

 My pinwheel quilt came 1st in the 'quilt' category.

Second was this beautiful bright scrappy quilt by my friend Gayle.  

 

The boys entered some woodwork

 

 

and some LEGO.

 

This amazing cross stitch of a photograph won the Grand Champion handicraft exhibit.  I have no idea how many stitches it was, but it was stunning.

 

 

We entered photos

 and a scarecrow (middle one)

 

checked out the school display

 and rode the bumper cars.

All in all, a good show.

March Finishes

Yes, I realise today is the 1st of June and I am posting March finishes, but I wanted to get these posted before I shared April &  May.

I had previously posted about my Fallen Warrior Quilt and poppies, so I just needed to share T-shirt remodel for son #2.

My in-laws had been on holidays to New Zealand and purchased shirts for hubby & boys, unfortunately when they purchased the shirts they could only find adult sizes, that meant that my size 10 son looked like he was wearing a dress.  it was just too big, so he wouldn't wear it.

 My very not kiwi boys trying to give their best Maori inspired face.

My unwilling model and his shirt that fits.  Thanks to friendly overlocker it is now a regularly worn piece of clothing.  It is a win - win.  He will wear his shirt & Nanna knows her gift is appreciated.

See you soon for my April finish.

February???? Hello has anyone seen February???

Is it just me or did someone lose February??

I am sure I have only just mastered writing dates like 04/02/13 - how can it be that I am now writing 04/03/13??

I was constructive in Feb ( I think) unfortunately most of what I did is still unfinished.

Let's have a look.

This is the Lucy's Crab Shack Layer cake quilt with extra length, now waiting for quilting, it is destined to be a care quilt.

 This is my February front wreath decor.  A tribute to Valentines, Day but focused on the greater things of faith, hope and love. ( Um mm just realised I am now in March, might have to change it again.)

 A wonderful parcel I received as a prize.

 This came from the lovely Sharon of Lilabelle Lane  I was so excited.  Sharon had hosted a giveaway for a Pattern from Thimble Blossoms.  The lovely Camille  has a blog entitled "Simplify" and she designs amazing patterns, so that was all the motivation I needed to enter the giveaway.  Sharon asked us which Thimble Blossoms pattern we would like if we won,  my answer was "I can't decide, so when I win, surprise me".

He, he, he...... Like I expected the email saying I had won. Yahoo.  I was super excited.  So Sharon did surprise me.

The chosen pattern is "Round and round". Included in the parcel were  2 adorable pincushions made by Sharon herself.  That turtle is made from tiny tiny hexagons that are stitched by hand. Way too cute to put pins in.  E (my almost 8 year old) keeps stealing the turtle as he has a thing for animals.

There is also a baby charm pack. The squares are only 2.5".  Adorable hey??

Thank you so much Sharon.  I am touched.

Now onto other progress.

This quilt has 'come out of ' the scraps in the patchwork room.  I am seeing boy care quilt.

 And I finally managed to stitch faces onto E's kangaroos.  I am relieved they are done and E is glad they are finished. They do look cuter with faces.

Well that is one OPAM for Feburary, a bit of progress and one happy prize winning me.

Creative Children

This adorably cute little man is E my youngest.

 

E and his grade 2 class have just finished learning to blanket stitch.

They all stitched a heart for a quilt for their Teacher's wedding.

 Miss Maybury had no idea what they were up to.  We had worked in lunch hours over the last 3 weeks.

 She was stunned

 and surprised, and happy.

 Group Hug.

I am so super proud of the kids.  They all worked really hard and they seemed to enjoy themselves.  Now it is back to my sewing for my deadline.

ANZAC Day

Now it is not often I post about something other than craft, but today is special.

Today is ANZAC day & I was lucky enough to have Mum & Dad visiting us in Roma.

The boys marched with Dad in the ANZAC Day parade.

Look how proud they are. (Dad is beside E)

 I never thought I'd see the day we would all be in the same place to see Dad march & for the boys to march with him.  

It was awesome & Mum  and I shed a tear or two.

The boys were able to wear the medals of their Great-Great Grandfathers who both fought in WWI and WWII.  E wore GG Grandfather Richer's medals & T wore GG Grandfather Blakey's medals. 

 They were proud and honoured to be permitted to march with these medals.

To all our service people.  THANK YOU!!

A Stitching Son...

This butterfly was made by E.

He was very excited on Saturday when we were in our local Crazy Clarkes as we found a couple of sewing kits.  He was even more excited because one was a butterfly.  So after a few hours and some glue drying time (eye attachment etc) we had a very proud boy.

 So proud and driven in fact that this is what greeted me before school today.

"I have stitching to do" he declared when asked to pack his bag.

I love his enthusiasm, if not his timing.

The Big Reveal - what the boys were up to

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I blogged about my boys being up to 'secret' business.

Well, now that the recipients of the gifts have received them, I can reveal the secret.

They were making key rings for their Granddad and Grandpop.  The boys were so excited about this.

Here is T with the keyring for Grandpop.

 And E with his keyring for Granddad.

 

Now for a few close ups.

This is the front of E's design.  He drew/carved a submarine under the water.

 and on the back, stamped Granddad's initials.

 

Grandpops' design by T, has initials and some stamped images.

We hope the granddads like these, as the boys had a great time creating them.