I was introduced to the delights of the Hippeastrum last year when we were given one by the L.F's grandmother, as a house warming present.
This year our Hippeastrum has bloomed and now we have two new bulbs and at present three of these glorious flowering trumpets. I find it such a treat to walk out into our garden at this time of year and spy new growth. Spring, for me, really is such a magical time. So, I thought I'd share it with you.



I started work on this quilt top on Friday. It's for friends of ours, who had a baby boy last week. I'm impressed with my progress. There's nothing like a quiet weekend away to finish off craft jobs, especially if the sun don't shine... (it was 18 degrees in Lorne and 34 in Melbourne...go figure, Lorne seems to have a micro climate of it's own).
This morning I've been off to Spotlight to purchase the backing fabric and batting. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I haven't made up my mind, Spotlight were having a massive "20% off Sale Today Only". The queues were quite another thing. It was almost as bad as the Myer Stocktake Sale in there.
Now it's time to finish my quilt and get myself organised for gocco printing with Anna tomorrow. I can't wait.

Oh yes, while I remember two new blogs I've come across which I thought were worth a mention are Two straight lines and Rummage. You may already know them but to me they're new friends. xox

Bag lady

Here is one of the bags I made this weekend at Patchwork on Central Park. To take a peek at the other two...check out my flickr. This one is made from an Amy Butler fabric with a wool lining and bias I made from polka dot fabric. It's totally reversable too.

Apple & Eve

I received this sweet parcel in the post from Germany yesterday. It came from Eva over at Apple & Eve. It was so beautifully wrapped... I didn't want to untie it. The wrapping was hand stitched with lovely wool and the thank you card....ohhhh.



This delightful bird was inside. He's even more delicate and beautiful than I imagined. You can see more of Eva's creations (there are birds, bunnies & kitties) over at her Etsy Store. Thank you Eva, I really do love him! xo

Pillow talk

This is my new bag, whipped up in a flash yesterday, using an old pillow case. I got the idea from none other than, the beloved....Martha Stewart, herself. Check out her directions here. It takes no time at all and makes a perfect summer bag to fling over the shoulder and head to the beach with. Oh, the excitement of summer is building.

Patchwork potholder

This little patchwork pot holder tutorial is another great way to use up fabric scraps. I have a pile of left over fleece from my quilting (recommended by an experienced quilter instead of batting. It's easier to manage...and very warm. I must say, I'm converted), so I'll use that again here to line the pot holder.
I love getting rid of all my scraps. It means I can go out and restock with a whole lot of new exciting fabric and a trip to Patchwork On Central Park.
A big thank you to lindamade who put the tutorial together.

Another box ticked

Today I finished off my Amy Butler Gum Drop Pillow, which I posted about earlier.
The pattern specified Nature-Fil stuffing which I was unable to find anywhere here in Australia. So, I opted for good old Hobby Fill. Three large bags, were just enough to tightly pack this heavy poof. Now I can sit bak with my feet up and watch tv on him.

Finito!

Here's a little peak at my finished quilt. For more photos take a look at my Flickr.

Simply French

I love the cover of this book, Simple Sewing with a French Twist. As Eliza, over at Miss Woolly, will tell you... I'm mad for red in my craft projects, which is no doubt why I love the look of this book.
'Céline Dupuy presents sewers of all skill levels with more than fifty projects, each with a touch of something wonderfully, whimsically French. Including easy items to sew for the home, fashion accessories, delightful gifts, and innovative ideas for customizing your favorite pieces of furniture...'
It's on sale over at amazon.

PS. Thank you to those who tried to leave comments..and emailed me instead. I have now updated the comments section so everyone should be able to leave a comment. They are very much appreciated!

Amy Butler Gum Drops

I took a trip to Patchwork On Central Park yesterday and quite by chance came across this fantastic pattern by Amy Butler for gum drop pillows. Ta da, my project this week is to source the fabrics, filling and materials to create one.
It was my first trip out to Patchwork on Central Park and it was such a worthy adventure. The ladies there were so helpful, they have a long list of classes and their fabrics are awe inspiring! I've enrolled to take a bag making course in September and can't wait to get back there to select my fabrics.

There are a whole ton of other great patterns by Amy here too.