{this moment}

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{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - via soulemama.

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Joy in small things

After recently completing a couple of larger projects, it's been fun to whip up some quick delights over the last few weeks.

I made these dresses for my girls using the free Oliver & S Pop Over sun dress pattern. Mia's is from a kit from Be Be Bold in Lismore and Lily's are some Kokka fabrics I bought from Sewco. Check out the Flickr photo pool of dresses made by other people using the same pattern. Divine!



Inspired by this post by the delightful Amanda Blake Soule, I too wanted to make some placemats to brighten up our dining table, and bring a bit of beauty and ritual to our shared meals. I used some left over blocks from my first ever quilt.





I finished this apron this morning. Its made from a panel also from Be Be Bold.



So what next?! These are the scrumptious fabrics for my new quilt. They are Folksy Flannels by Anna Maria Horner. Yumbo! I thought they were quite a bargain, 16 high quality fat quarters for US$38 plus postage (I didn't manage to find anywhere in Oz who sells them). I plan on cutting quite large shapes to show off their gorgeous prints. I want a large, cuddly quilt that my family and I can snuggle under this Winter.

Hearts

I recently made this quilt for a dear friend. It was a special experience to design it, select fabrics and weave my thoughts of love and support into it's creation. I hope it warms my friend and her family.

I am sew mad

Things have been quiet on the blogging front, as I have been busy finishing a yet-to-be revealed quilt (I only have two followers so it's no surprise who it might be for!).

I've also been busy whipping up lots of little projects in the last few days. The girls asked for a frog each using the Purl Frog pattern that I made a few posts back. No, these two below aren't mating - the perfectionist in me placed the the pink one on top to hide the two extra sets of eyes that Mia drew on her blue one with texta.



I made three skirts using the free SUPER SUPER EASY Lazy Days skirt pattern by Oliver & S. I modified it by making binding for the bottom instead of using ribbon as per the pattern, plus I added pockets. Firstly I made one for a friend's daughter's upcoming third birthday. And of course then my girls each wanted one!







I have managed to survive thus far without a pin cushion, but I have been wanting one for months. So I made the Very Easy Pin Cushion using another free pattern from the Purl Bee. I used some fabric given to me by my dear friend from The Woolly Tree, just waiting for the right project. I've stuck all my pins in it now and I love it!

Amy Butler Frenchy Bag

After owning Amy Butler's pattern for her Frenchy Bag for six months, I finally made it today! I attended a workshop at Sewco with a lovely woman called Stephanie.

I used the two fabrics that I'm MOST in love with in the whole wide world at the moment. Do you sometimes love fabric so much you want to eat it? Okaaaaay, maybe not, but that is how I feel about Amy Butler's Nouveau Trees in Green. I also used a Liberty print that I've had for years which has been too precious to use until now.



I used homespun for the lining. I love the pockets too.



Can you tell how much I LOVE this bag?!!!



Stephanie will be doing another class on Sunday 11 April, this time making Amy Butler's Birdie Sling bag.

Raspberry lime splice quilt

I made this quilt for my dear friend Anna, to celebrate her birthday, blessingway and the upcoming birth of her baby. She is having her baby at home very soon, and I am honoured that she has asked me to support her at the birth (along with a team of other women including the indescribably amazing midwife I had for Mia's birth at home).

Six months ago I spotted Fiona Hammond's pattern for “Raspberry Lime Splice Quilt” in Down Under Quilts magazine (Issue 128, Jan 2009). I immediately wanted to make it for Anna, with it's curvaceous curves reminding me of a pregnant woman. Unfortunately it's not one of the issues they have available online, so if you want to make it you'll have to order a back copy or get the issue from the library.

I made it in less than 2 weeks, in time for her blessingway.

As I mentioned in my previous post I used these fat quarters, mostly by Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler, from the half price sale at Patches at Indooroopilly.

The finished quilt, with borders and binding on!



If you go to Fiona Hammond's blog you can see this same design in other colourways.

I gave the quilt to Anna before her blessingway, and we used it in the middle of the circle:



Blessings and love to Anna for her birth!

Frogs, fairies and fabulous fabric!

I made this cute frog on Friday for my friend Anna's son Louis for his first birthday (I started one hour before the party started!). I used this free pattern from The Purl Bee. They have an amazing array of free patterns for sewing and more.





I finished Mia's fairy quilt today for her 2nd birthday this coming Thursday.





Mia at Michelle's place saying "I lub these" about these gorgeous Amy Butler "Love" fat quarters that Sarah bought me from Patches at Indoorpilly's half price fat quarter sale. I lub them too!



I just had to check out their sale myself and bought these yummy goodies. Hmm, wonder whose baby will get a quilt containing these.....



...and these (I bought the white Moda Jelly roll from Patches too).....?





Looking forward to some lovely sewing time over the next few weeks making quilts for two precious friends who will be greeting their babies soon. I'll be infusing the quilts with love, strength and support with every stitch.