Scrap box days

 

 It has been a scrap box day today.  Everything used in this quilt-as-you-go floor/bathroom mat is from the scrap box ONLY.  Nothing snagged out of the cupboard to add to it.  That was my challenge.  Wadding and all.  

I started out pretty roughly.  A largish piece of backing fabric face down, then the wading on the backing centered top and bottom, left to right or as near as you can get it.  Don't get to finicky .  I picked some different toned scraps selecting my initial start out piece and point on the wading then sewed the randomly spaced lines. 

For each new piece I did the quarter inch seem,  then  finger pressed the piece over, and then the lines up and down again.  The lines are random widths - I didn't want it to look that accurate.  Jigsawed the different pieces to add on with ease.  The straighter the lines the better the effect.  It does use up tonnes of thread thou so keep that one in mind as you are sewing.

For the binding, I rolled the backing fabric to the front and pinned it as you would normal binding cutting off any excess as I went.  A quick zigzag on the machine and its done.  

Into the washer and see how it comes out tomorrow.  

Lessons learnt with the project?  Try and miter the corners more so its not so bulky for the machine.
Practice straight line sewing....  :)

K x x x 

Shenanigans in Sydney

Oh my they have been few and far between of late.  I spent a couple of days catching up with friends in Sydney recently.  So good to have some time to catch up, and celebrate the new year with some more bubbles and snacks & do some fun stuff.  

J says come to Anish Kapoor with me...  Who?  Anish Kapoor who's that?  sorry textbook brain.  

Off we went to the Anish Kapoor exhibit - if you have time get along to it.  Very interesting to say the least.  

this is the first piece that's me in the reflection on the right....  and it is at the entry of the museum.

 This was really interesting.  It was moving collecting the wax as it went.  The colour amazing and full of depth.

Please turn off your flash.  Doh - how do you do that?   How great does this look.    Our reflection in the image is inverted. Oh and I did manage to turn the flash off.

This ones depth as you walk past it gives you this look that it is hollow.

Massive.  Took up the whole room.

Fascinating my total recommendation for a visit.  

Don't forget to turn your flash off if you want pics :) 

Pitt Street Mall.  Busy as ever - But renovations have happened everywhere.  Centrepoint is now a Westfield - It has been years since I have been wandering through the city.  

Obviously something I need to do more of.

Gorgeous Pete with me.  We were ready for some Yum Cha having some happy snaps.  

Imagine waking up to this view every day?  Not too shabby.

& these guys?  Loved the light and expression on their faces.  

Not to mention the party hats.  

Maybe they are all partied out after the new year celebrations - they just all look so cheeky.

Its been disgustingly hot here today.  Well over 40 degrees.  If you are elsewhere in the world where it is a bit chiller lucky you.  Waiting on a cool change to blow on through.  Fingers crossed for some sleep tonight.

Too hot to be in the sewing room.  Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
I have things to do.

K x x x x 

Healing - Comes in different ways

Sometimes you come across things and people in life just when you need them.

What you believe in is whatever you believe in.  

Some stuff - better left unsaid.  Other stuff shared.  Which is what this post is about "sharing" my experience.

I visited with someone a couple of days ago.  Along the lines of clearing out emotional blockages.  Not a clairvoyant but someone who works with auras and emotional energy.  It was strange and surreal watching  someone "remove" my emotional blockages.  Some from childhood others inherited.

Sounds weird.  I know.  But you know it felt comforting.

Whether or not it does anything long term.  I don't know, but what I do know is that the session has left me quite and at peace.

Emotions unlocked if you are interested. 


Sessions can be Skyped or on the phone.  I'm under the impression after the initial chat you could leave her with it.  So she can do her thing.

No need to bring out all your baggage for all and sundry.  
Does not change anything about who you are or what you might believe.

But it may assist in changing some of personal patterns and the way you might handle different situations.  You may find something you feel as thou you are missing.  Who knows.  I'm sure everyone's experiences are very different. 

What I do know is that it didn't hurt.  She was kind and open and even managed to get a hug out of me.  :)  

Would I do it again?  Yes, I would.

Cheers.

K x x x   

The fat man is on his way

Merry Christmas everyone

There is something about taking the time to cook over the Christmas period that I love.  I went trawling through my recipe books looking for a baked cheese cake.  Finally I remembered - Nan used to make a great one.  I went digging through her gorgeous recipe book which is falling apart and stuffed full of all the useful tit bits that a budding housewife needs along with all of her treasured recipes.  I love seeing all of the families different hand writing of different recipes over the years, tried and tested favorite recipes handed around the family.  

Just in case anyone needs any hints on how to be a good housewife.  :)

Recent work road trip.

Lake George - En-route to Canberra (the capital of Australia - Just for those interested)  You can actually see water which is amazing.  The water had been lapping at the road a good 30 years ago but over the years of drought it had dried up.  Fingers crossed for more rain I would love to see it at capacity again.

I will be enjoying some of the simple pleasures over the silly season including time with loved ones, food, laughter and love.   Oh and sun on this side of the planet.  Lots and lots of sun and warm weather.

May you all have a safe and happy holiday.  

K x  

Do you freecycle?

Its a simple concept, pass on what you are not using to someone who can. given and received - with good outcomes all around.

Saves on land fill, cuts out middle men Oh and you get something that you want/need for free.  Could it get any better?

Well my latest acquisition was an overlocker.  Who gives away an overlocker I ask you.....  a little old lady who said she just popped it back in the box and hasn't had a chance to use it.

I set it up and it didn't work - doh but tell you the truth it looked like it had hardly been used.  The needle area was all jammed up.  Off it went to a repairer, $95.00 later and I have a working overlocker.

I'm looking forward to putting it to use in the formidable sewing room.

I've been collecting fabric and patterns for skirts.  My mum's booked in for a couple of lessons when we get the chance to get it happening.

Have you ever freecycled?  Did you have good experiences?

K x

seriously - more fabric

I couldn't resist hitting the sales in the US last week.  What can I say....  Hmmmmm  something else to add to the fabric stash.

I must say I do love this range from echino I picked it up from Pink Castle Fabrics.  At an absolute steal.  

and this one is Odds and ends by Cosmo Cricket for Moda - positive affirmations on fabric - makes me happy. :)

I went to a fashion parade the other night at Wendi Leigh Designs.  She is a local dress maker here in the Illawarra making a statement on a local level and online, connecting with small business and networks.  

She has some amazing outfits and is happy to assist in tailoring for the individual.  You know as much as I do love buying online I also love seeing local business getting their groove on and putting it out there.  In particular women passionate about there craft.  Wendi's joy was obvious on the night and in her cloths.  You know I'm not just about just the talk, I'm happy to say I did walk out with a little purchase ok a big purchase.  What can I say - local businesses need our support now and in the future.  Oh and what I purchased just suited me amazingly.

Thanks for a great night Wendi, I look forward to wearing my new wardrobe pieces and coming to your future events.

Well that's about it for me for the evening.

Happy weekend all

K x 

ahhh - the long awaited *sigh*

and just like that after 5 straight days of study where my eyes were getting blurry with reading, a 3 hour exam, a very big *sigh*  the university session was done..   Blink and you miss it that's another 2 subjects done.   

So you know there was a little happy dance to celebrate and a couple beers.
Lucky for me I made it in one piece and my sanity intact.     

Two more subjects to go and I will have myself a completed Masters in Management. 

I'm visualising the whole cap and gown,  :)  Something to aim for.  Keep me focused to hit the end result. 

Well that's nearly me for the year.  So good to realise the year is wrapping up, summer is trying to come and the fat man in the suit isn't that far away and then a nice little holiday poking around and hopefully hitting the sewing room. 

So you know I found a great quilt as you go tutorial a couple of weeks ago.  And can you believe that I cant find it now.  I have been trawling through all the usual blogland haunts and nothing.....    I sort of have it in my head as to how it is supposed to go.  So I was thinking I might just give it a crack and see what I can come up with. I will post a couple of pics along the way and share with you all.
 :)  Fingers crossed.

Have a great weekend all.
K x

Cookie cut outs? Not !

I read some mummy and me blogs.  You know the ones, where the kids always look like cookie cut outs and mum and dad just seem to have it all going on.  Good looks, great house, car, kids... blah blah blah.

Funny how that quick second snap of the flash on someones life can make it all appear veneerial.  No pimples on chins or unwashed snotty nosed kiddies, not a hair out of place.  I'm sure you know the type. 

Well I love it when they to talk about their bad days too.  Cause know its all about keeping it real folks.  No one is the cookie cut out.  LOL even if on the surface they may appear to be.

The past few weeks/years of my life have revolved around working my butt off in attempting to do a Masters in Management at uni.   I've undertaken (self inflicted) an Advanced project management subject this semester.  OMG....... the amount of work is ridiculous particularly whilst trying to work full time and have some sort of life in between. 

Well first assessment in, what an absolute disaster.  I swear I was nearly crying by the end of the class.  In embarrassment.  What can I say, I just didn't get the brief.  I couldn't get my pea brain around the whole thing, didnt know who to talk to or where to get started.  I ended up turning in something that was seriously no where near the standard that it needs to be at for what I'm attempting. 

So I f*cked up. But don't we all at some stage?

I don't have an undergraduate in anything.  Just life per say. 

I'm personally paying to put myself through this.  Character building I'm sure some would say.  Absolutely mad is all that I can hear from myself.

But you know I made the decision, this is where I am.  Warts and all trying my hardest and in the process of sucking it up and getting on with it.

There is no time to continue to beat myself up, the session runs through in 11 weeks and there is only 6 weeks left.  So I need to be able to turn it around pretty quickly and get on with the next assessment and prepare for the exam. 

So this weekend i'm popping on the war paint, coming up with a plan and slipping on my big girl panties and getting on with it. 

Assessment 2 is due in a couple of weeks.  So fingers crossed I can get some ground back.

Have a great weekend all.

K x 

P.s....... Oh and remember its the warts & all that makes it all so much more interesting.

93rd Post

Heavens above, how time flies when you are having fun

93rd post..... 

Not like I'm counting at all.

Well I have been doing the mad chase around for a new car.

My car is 16 years old this year and she is getting a bit tired of all of it. 
I went and test drove a couple of new ones and the one that I thought I wanted just isn't going to cut it for me.  It just feels too small, not enough leg room to the pedals and the gear box is in a strange place.  So now what to do?  Second hand?  how many K's is too many? how much is too much $$?  whats around?  oh the choices.

So I've decided to stop freaking out and just relax.  I will find one when it is ready to come to me. 

Doesn't really help that I have so much else going on either. 

The 3000 word essay dead line is drawing near as is delivering a presentation on it.  Trying to get my head around what I want to actually say in a clear and concise manner.  LOL Really it a process to get it all together sometimes.  :))

Oh how I long to potter to the craft room and just randomly pull something together. 

Mind you it is still packed to the rafters.  Oops

One day it will mysteriously clean itself up and all will be well with the world.

Have a happy week all.

K x

P.s.  Things I'm grateful for?  the opportunity to study so late in life.  :)

Tough day. . . .

Too cute...  Would be gorgeous for a new born or toddler.

Couldn't resist.  Was nice to have a little splash.  Even if it isn't going to be used straight away.

Stopped by the little shoppe in Loftus, Julies today.  Such as busy little shop and a delight to visit.  Tucked away off the main roads.  Took me ages to find it a couple of years ago.  But you know there is something about the familiarity of dropping by your favorite patchwork shop.  I think my car could just take me there.  Somethng about the connection of like minds, happy women loving and sharing their passion with others.  Always a kind word and a friendly laugh of how much do you NEED....  LOL which the response is usually "I dont need it".  He hehehe I want it though, just to sooth my soul and need to consume.

Terribly sad day today.  But you know you just pick it up and keep on shuffling along.

Life.  I wonder. . . . .   There are some strange moments in it hey.

K x