who can sew when there's a cat around?

Sampson was a wonderful help on the weekend...

But there's no way I can get angry with him - he's just too sweet!

a good start to the weekend...

My Friday night consisted of a bit of this
and this

I also recieved some new fabric during the week

which inspired a bit of planning

and some drawing

I plan to stitch these blocks on our holiday (we have a lot of train trips!). Hopefully I will come home with a lovely reminder of our holiday.

where did all my time go?

I haven't been able to do nearly enough sewing lately...and it is making me fidgety. Does anyone else ever get like that? I have itchy fingers and can't wait to spend a whole day or two immersed in my own world of fabric and rotary cutting. I have so many projects on the go at the moment, but I haven't finished a single one that I can show you. So instead of having a photoless post (how boring!), I thought I'd show you a picture of the cute little notebook that I carry in my handbag. Currently it has my 'sewing shopping list' written in it: new machine needles, batting,

quilting thread, giant ric rac, backing material... And also a list of things I need to do before we leave for our holiday (18 days to go!): stop the mail delivery, buy powerpoint adapters, get some blocks ready for handsewing on the trains (!) ...

Thankfully this weekend looks like it will be a quiet one in our house which means I CAN SEW! My husband told me last night (after noticing my fidgeting), that I can even sew on Saturday night if I want...huh? Normally we would be out or cooking together on a Saturday night...Then I realised, his footy team is playing on Saturday night - Yay, more time for me!

Sunday at the quilt show

Sunday was a dreary, grey day in Sydney - perfect for going to the Craft and Quilt show. I went in the afternoon with the hope of attending a crochet workshop for beginners. Unfortunately, when I tried to book a spot that morning, I was told it was already full - bummer!

Having extra time to wander around the quilt show was fantastic though. The quilt that won the Best in Show Award was simply amazing (check it out here). The colours were gorgeous and the handquilting was unbelievable - I can't imagine how long it must have taken!

I was very restrained in the market area. I didn't buy much at all. But I could not resist Melly's new book - Kaleidoscope. It is a beautiful book and the projects are all so cute - I can't wait to have a go at some.

I also grabbed some fat quarters that I just loved. hmmmm... do you think I like pink?

Mum and Dad are coming to Sydney this weekend to visit and Mum and I are planning an afternoon of shopping. Probably here, here and here. Perhaps I should stay away from the pink this time!

why can't every weekend..

be a long weekend?

My weekend really started on Thursday night when my husband and I went out for dinner for our wedding anniversary. And yes, we did meet Manu! My husband also got me some gorgeous flowers - and they smell wonderful too. Then on Friday I met Delta at a fun run to raise money for the new Cancer Centre at work.

I decided not to go to spotlight on the weekend as I wanted to save my money for the craft and quilt show this coming weekend. So instead, I worked on some WISPs. I put together another angel block - only 3 to go now! (Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can stop my fabric from fraying? These blocks are becoming a bit of a hassle)

I now have a bunch of bodies waiting to be stuffed.

Started on a another One Red Robin pattern I have been wanting to make for ages (and practised some grid quilting too).

Made Pea and Ham soup for dinner

And made some pumpernickel fruit and nut loaf for morning tea

And that was just yesterday! Phew! I wish I had three days off every week!

Guess who I met yesterday...

Delta!

Gosh she makes me look pasty white...eek!

Projects on the go...

I started on one of my baby quilts over the weekend - using a Moda Honey bun I got on sale from the Fat Quarter Shop. I had actually gotten onto the Fat Quarter Shop website to look for the Soiree range, but when I saw that the Swanky range was on sale, I jumped at it. The picture below shows what it has become so far - but there is still lots of sewing to do! For a range that I wasn't so sure about - I am really happy with how it looks in real life as opposed to on the computer screen. I think it will make a gorgeous quilt for a little girl.


Remember these?

They are all together now - all 36 blocks. I just have to decide on whether to put a border on it, or just bind it in the medium blue homespun... decisions, decisions! Hopefully I will be able to make it to Spotlight this weekend to get some batting so I can start (free motion - eek!) quilting it.

And tomorrow is our 3 year wedding anniversary.

This block is from my Leanne's House quilt, which I spent a bit of time hand quilting on the weekend too. My husband keeps telling me he can't wait to hang it on the wall - isn't he a sweetie!

To celebrate, we are heading out for dinner on Thursday night - to L'etoile. For all you Masterchef and Ready, Steady Cook fans, check out who the head chef is! I have it on good authority that he will be there too.