I'm really enjoying learning some new techniques and skills from the tutorials for the quilt-along over at quiltgallery.com.  These are the first 5 blocks of my quilt, I've learnt to piece together squares, rectangles & triangles so far. Cut, sew, press- easy so far.


block 1 game of Hopscotch
block2 Peek over the fence (two by 3)
block3 Time for ice cream (shoo fly)
block4 Jump in the pool (Double monkey wrench)
block 5 count the stars (friendship star)


The only real problem I've had is to work my rotary cutter the right way. This is the first time in using a cutter & board, at first I put it together wrong (hubby fixed it), then I wasn't holding the ruler down enough or the handle on the right angle. A few bad words were mumbled, then I checked out U-Tube to learn what I should be doing, I'm getting better.

                                                           

This block is Count the Stars- aka frienship star

So I've caught up to the quilt-along and submitted my 5th block on time for a chance at some of the great prizes.  

I'm Having ago, Beginner's Quilt -Along

I saw a link from Craft Gossip about This beginner's quilt-along at quiltinggallery.com the other day. 

It's a step by step block process that is worked on each week till September and hopefully at the end you have a finished quilt. 

The quilt-along has already started and is up to week 5 ,

but anyone can still hav ago and start it at anytime. 

My family and I went to Dunkleys craft show in Hamilton today,

there was a quilting stall, I brought some fabrics- so I guess I'm having a go at my first quilt!

I purchased the fabric from Cushlas Village Fabrics, they have stores in Waihi,  Auckland and online( http://www.cushlasvillagefabrics.co.nz/)
The ladies were very helpful while I was selecting some fat quarters and my son had some input as well.

Once home I had to have a go, I've done the first of the 12 blocks, the 1st is

"Play a game of Hopscotch",

a very simple block to begin with,  the blocks gradually get  more complicated

as the quilt progresses.

I'll take alook at the 2nd block tomorrow, and if I catch up to the Quilt-along/challenge I can enter for the prizes.   

Cold & Busy

I haven't had alot of time to get much crafting (or blogging) done,  I've been hell busy.
The chilli winter weather is here,  the days are shorter and the nights are long and cold, you'd think there's heaps of time for indoor crafting but that hasn't been the case.
The last couple of weeks have been very busy-
my daughter shari turned 8 and we baked and decorated 55 cupcakes for her to share with friends & family.
We baby-sat my parents motel for a night which was busy- I was so knackered after that.
I also altered a ball dress for a friends daughter & she looked gorgeous in a silver-grey beaded grecian style gown - I so love sewing pretty dresses.
And of course I been working most days, busy with the kids & school stuff and theres my crazy animals to tend to as well.
I have managed to knit some clothes for the goth doll I'm makin, a dress, knickers, stockings & shoes and I've also done her hair.

 

She's a hit with the kids already even though there's no face yet, I've got a practice head ready to have a go at the facial features when I get the chance. There's also suspenders for her stockings, lace wristcuffs & jewellery to make, maybe a peirceing or tattoo too!

IN THE GARDEN my swede & turnip patch is a bit of a disaster, in the 10sq metre patch there are about 12 swede & I can't even find a turnip- what a flop, I had put in about 200 seeds.
My watercress that I have growing in a tub of water is growing well in this cold and frosty weather even when the water in the tub freezes it doesnt care, it's a awesome dark green colour with a wicked fresh peppery bite to it- yum in salads & soup!

In the glasshouse everything is growing nicely, the lettuce is growing well, the sliverbeet not quite as much growth but is strong & healthy with vibriant coloured stalks already.

                                           We'll be eating fresh lettuce salad soon-ish.
Time to start thinking about spring & summer flowers & the crops we want to grow & eat.
We have just finished the last of the potatoes that we grew last season, they were so much nicer than what you can buy in the shops & my hubbys got the spud-bug & wants to double the plot we planted last year- which was 8kg of seed spud, we harvested between 50-60kg (we had raided the plot for baby taters on a few occasions) and we will to try some different varieties this year too.

IN THE KITCHEN I've tried out a really simple pizza base recipe twice in the last couple of weeks in which I used leftovers to make yummy pizzas quickly for dinner. I forgot to take pics, they looked & tasted great.

                                                 Quick & Simple Pizza Base Recipe

To make 1 30cm X 30cm base (roasting pan size)

1 Cup Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Cup grated Cheese

1/4 Cup Milk

Pinch salt

1TBSP Dried Herbs of of choice; basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary.

Sift together flour, B.P & salt, mix in cheese.

Make a well in the center, add milk & herbs, mix together till mixture combines to a ball

( add a little extra milk if dry) 

roll out with a rolling pin to 5mm thick

place on lightly oiled tray/pan

add all your favourite toppings

Bake in a 200'c preheated oven for 10-12 mins

ENJOY!

A little plaid mad.

I gone alittle bit plaid mad, making myself a pink & black plaid dress!

It's same Burda pattern I used for the 'I will wear it in public challenge' that I had entered over @ Riccohet & Away last month ( please vote for me-push the vote button link on the right). 

I'm so loving the shirt/dress that I made for the challenge,

the twisted neck is cool- something different, it's super comfy and the pockets are so handy.

So why not make it again- but knee length and with a gathered waist and in a Hot Pink & Black plaid wool blend fabric. 

It only took a few hours to put it together and Pink Plaid dress was born-    

I'm happy with the finished dress, I can't wait to wear it!

GARDEN UPDATE: My winter salad garden is doing really well- apart from 2 transplant deaths. I've watered them a few times and they are defiantly growing, maybe well be eating some in a couple of weeks,  I'll post a growth pic next week.

 I've also been preparing a patch for our seed garlic, it's that time again here- nearing the shortest day, 

I've done a bit of garlic growing  research to try and increase our yield cause we love garlic so much. 

The patch is where our mobile chicken coup was last year, so I'm hoping the soil is not "to rich"- fingers crossed, we'll find out in about 6 months!

WHAT I'M KNITTING at the moment is from a new book I brought from Paper Plus-

Gothic knits by Fiona McDonald and no it's not all black clothes- but Gothic Inspired Knitted Dolls!

I saw the book and I had to get it, I've never seen anything like it, their are 9 different dolls- male and female and they are freaks- cool.

I've knitted one doll so far and I put her together last night, the long legs are so funny.

 I've never knitted any type of doll or toy before, it's been good to try something different.

The patterns in this book are quite simple and easy to follow, all knitted on 3mm needles in 8ply.

The dolls have knitted clothes and shoes -so that's next on the needles and embroider the facial features,

I think I might do a test head to have a practise first!  

Winter Glasshouse Garden

It is now officially winter here in New Zealand and after last years vegetable quality and prices  I have decided to try growing some salad veges in my glass-house over winter.
I follow the lunar garden cycle so I started preparing the soil in my glasshouse for the 'planting days' of the cycle.

I purchased some plants from www.awapuninurseries.co.nz  as I find the traditional value bundles are good healthy plants delivered to your door for less than you can buy in the shops.

I have planted 3 types of lettuce- 'Iceberg', 'Hearting Mix' & a 'Mesclum mix'.
I ended up with about 45 lettuce plants- costing $11.85 for the 3 bundles- about .25c a plant.

The lettuce prices last winter were $4+ so they will hopefully pay for themselves in no time. 

I also planted some 'Bright lights' coloured silverbeet around the edge of my lil glasshouse, to use in salads as young leaves - and to add abit of colour. That 1 $3.85 bundle contained 18 plants!

I left it to late to plant my "Arctic Tomato"seeds, they will grow in sub-zero temperatures as long as they get sun. Which is a bummer as tomato's hit a $17 a kilo high last year. I will try a couple of seeds in the next 'planting cycle' maybe they might do something.

This week I will be planting out my own seed garlic that I saved from last season, I've been reading up on what garlic loves so hopefully this crop will exceed the last.

Onto other things, remember the lovely lace pattern alpaca scarf that I knitted a couple of weeks ago?

Well I found the 1st time I wore it that I am allergic to alpaca fibres!  Damn it, it brought me out an eczema type rash on both sides of my neck. It now is hanging in my sewing room doorhandle so I can at least enjoy looking at it. 

I did make the best Lemon Meringue Pie I've made in years this week, maybe it was the lemons that my hubby bought home from Tapu, up the Thames Coast.

It had the most gorgeous flavour and set like a dream.

Yummy!

Gorgeous Colour Livingstone Daisy

I took this pic on friday afternoon, when I got home from work this beautiful cerise/pinky/purple livingstone daisy was smiling out at me from a planter pot by my front door.

I think it'll look great printed on a  canvas to brighten a wall.

I just had to share it:) 

'Lace of Hearts' Pot Holder

Embroidered 'Lace of Hearts' Pot Holder.

Here is my latest finished project, a pot holder.

 I have been doing lots of different machine embroidery designs with my new Singer Futura,

using FREE download designs from embroiderthis.com.

I have been wanting to turn some of my samples into something usable- and here's the first on many.

I plan to make many more quick usable 'things' from my ever growing stack of of embroidered pieces of fabric, any suggestions for projects would be great.

I am loving the way it looks hanging in my kitchen, maybe I'll make a matching Pot-Mitt next.