A parcel of happiness and quilting inspiration

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? I have been busy with family commitments these past couple of weeks but have still managed some time to get some sewing in… it’s like a little bakers shop at my desk! But more on that later!

I received a wonderful parcel last week from the gorgeous Cyndi over at Bluebird’s Wing! Have you visited Cyndi? She is such a lovely, lovely lady and full of inspiration – if you know her already I’m sure you would agree! She’s sweet and kind and makes the most amazing handbags that always have me drooling. Well, Cyndi also has some amazing giveaways on her blog and I was lucky enough to win one of them!

Look at these sweet little charm squares, I’ve never seen fabric packaged so cute!

The line is called Buttercup by Joanna Figueroa, Fig Tree & Co for Moda. I wonder what I shall make with them? Any suggestions? I also love the card Cyndi gave me, illustrated by one of my favourite artists, Mary Engelbreit.

Cyndi also included some sweet stationery and some chocolate – thank you SO much Cyndi!!!

I am busting at the seams to make a handbag… I have a design in my head ready to be put on paper. I always do most of my designing in my head before the pencils come out, fine-tuning and nutting out the –how to’s! I guess that’s because most of my designs do not involve drawings as such – although stitchery is definitely an area I want to explore more of. Anyhow… I’ve been wanting to get into more traditional patchwork too, and spent some time on Mothers’ Day watching this dvd…

“Make a lone star quilt” with Michelle Marvig. The dvd came with this month’s issue of Australian Homespun magazine. It’s excellent! Michelle is so clear and easy to listen to, I’d imagine her classes would be lots of fun and you’d learn so much. If the dvd is anything to go by, she’s a great teacher. so this is another project added to my ever increasing to-do list! My friend, Vicki, made a lone star quilt and I was fortunate enough to see it in progress – I’ve been keen to make one ever since and now at last I feel more confident to give it a go… okay, ALMOST confident to give it a go!!

Okay – back to the baking! Ha ha! I’ll show you soon!

Hugs!! Vikki xx

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Polka dots… you know I love you!

I have gone super-crazy, stark raving bonkers and wild with passion over red and white polka dots! (As some might say… I don’t get out much! Ha!)

The love affair began a few months ago when I started collecting kitchenware items for the gorgeous Deb in NZ. Deb is doing up her kitchen (hence the theme) and I wanted to surprise her with a special package because she’s such a sweet friend. A friend who has really made a difference and has put a smile on my dial more times than I can shake a stick at! :-)

(There you go Deb – some wonderful mental imagery for you – me looking in the mirror and shaking a stick while I smile!!!)

Egg cups, tea bag saucer, apron, mushroom decorations, buttons, chocolates and a very special item designed especially for Deb – that I am yet to be able to show you – so there’s just a sneak peek in the photo.

Deb also won the Christmas-themed photo album cover that I gave away after designing it for ‘Simply Christmas’ over at the Shabby Art Boutique (talking of which – have you seen Kerryanne’s recent sneak peeks? GAWJUS!!)

Back to the polka dots! The love affair has been in full swing, and I recently succumbed again when making a bag for my friends’ birthday…

I created this bag using the Bella bag pattern by Moonshine Designs, and the pattern is absolutely fabulous! :-) Easy to follow with great instructions to get that professional finish.

I added a key fob to the inside of the bag so that keys or a mobile phone holder (in this instance) could be attached. To the inside pocket I added a love-heart shaped zipper pull manufactured by Birch. Very easy to do with only a couple of minor ‘naughty’ words uttered during the installation process!

I then put together a mobile phone holder and in true Vikki fashion, I was still sewing half an hour before I left for the party. Due to my panic, I wound up making it too small. Mr SUDs very helpfully contributed: “You should have got the dimensions for the phone!”…

…to which I replied, “I DID!”

We both had a good giggle, with Mr SUDs obviously thinking that he should have seen that one coming!!!

But hey – I bet no-one else has a lipstick holder attached to a key fob in their hand bag????!!!! Ah yes – that’s what it was intended for all along!!!! <cheeky grin> :-)

My friend really loves to coordinate her attire, and I love to make coordinating ‘everything’, so I purchased a wooden bangle and covered it in strips of fabric, adhering them to the inside edge of the bangle using a hot glue gun. It was quick and easy to make… and as a dear friend of mine in England would say, “Yeah – it looks it n’all!!” LOL

Well that’s enough spotty dotty news for one day… but I’m sure there will be future instalments!

Till next time – don’t forget to have some fun!

Hugs! Vikki :-)

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Sweet baby Eloisa…

Tiny fingers, dinky toes

Rosebud mouth and button nose…

My friends’ first babe, a pure delight…

A happy, healthy little Sprite!

Six months old and each day cuter…

Your daddy will battle the queues, for your suitor!

May this quilt comfort you day and night…

in to your future, oh so Bright! :-)

Dear sweet baby Eloisa, thank you for your sweet smiles and gorgeous giggles! Love you to bits! Auntie Vikki xxxxx

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A day of needle turn appliqué!

I have had a full and inspirational couple of weeks on the sewing front… I’m sure that each day I have discovered at least five pieces of sewing thread attached to my person while on social outings – every ‘stitcher’ out there would have recognised me as one of their own!

But the highlight for me was last Friday, when I had the great pleasure of welcoming the lovely Gail Pan and Simone Gooding in to my home to wile away a few hours chatting, eating cookies and learning the wonderful art of needle turn appliqué.

I met Gail and Simone at the AQM last November, and they’re such lovely ladies! When admiring Gail’s exquisite needle turn appliqué, she kindly offered to teach me along with Simone. And what fun it was! Gail is such a fantastic tutor!

Here is my first practice piece, a little ‘May Blossom’ birdie designed by Simone!

This birdie proved to be a great shape to practice on – with some inward and outward curves and a couple of points. I then went on to practice some more…

I purchased some Straw Needles by Jeanna Kimball’s Foxglove Cottage, and some silk thread from here. This needle is the same thickness all the way along its shaft and therefore doesn’t leave an unsightly hole in the fabric when it is pulled through. The silk thread glides effortlessly through the fabric and is a sheer pleasure to work with.

Thank you so much ladies, for sharing your time and your skills, and for an absolutely fabulous day! I thoroughly enjoyed myself! :-)

We didn’t take any photos during our get-together, but here is a photo of me with Gail at the AQM. We are standing in front of Gail’s “Berries & Bluebirds” quilt – isn’t it stunning?

Simone is a bit more camera shy, but you can see her beautiful face smiling on her blog, along with a link to her gorgeous designs, here. :-)

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Before I bid you adieu, I’d just like to send out a prayer to our friends (known and unknown) in Christchurch, NZ… and a big hug and kiss for our lovely Deb. I can’t begin to imagine what these courageous people must be going through, but I hope they are feeling the love and support that is being sent their way.

Until next time…

Hugs! Vikki :-)

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The ‘best gift in the world’!

Hmmm… are you wondering, “What is the best gift in the world?”! What pops in to your mind??

I know it sounds corny, but I can’t think of anything more wonderful than the gift of friendship. And I have been very blessed with some wonderful and very dear friends! So when a friend takes the time to create a special gift for you – it’s double prizes time!!!

When I first started blogging more than a year ago, Mai was one of the first blogging buddies I made. We did a couple of swaps over the year and got to know each other through emails between The Netherlands and Australia (gosh I love the Internet!!!) At Christmas, Mai sent me this amazing pieced book-mark! It’s in the above picture, and this is what it looks like off the book…

How clever (and gorgeous) is that?!! The book-mark is adjustable - with Velcro straps - to fit almost any reading material. It’s clever and just so darn pretty! I absolutely adore the fabrics!! Thank you so much, Mai!! x

I am a very spoiled girl aren’t I?!

This past week I received another gorgeous gift from a dear friend who always puts a smile on my dial! She is fondly known by a few of her chums as Miss Penny Goodgiggles – and I couldn’t think of a name that is more appropriate for her! :-)

Miss Goodgiggles is also known as Cheryl, and this gorgeous gal gifted me with a special iPod cover, made in my fave fabrics – Pure by Sweetwater for Moda! Don’t you just love the way this talented lady has utilised the fabric by creating a little tag depicting the word, “Joy”?

The morning before I received the parcel I was admiring another friend’s hand-made iPod cover and thought, I really must make me one of those! Then lo-and-behold – as if by magic – I was housing my gadget within a special designer pouch that very afternoon!!! Thank you so much Miss Goodgiggles!!! x

I shall be back real soon with more news of the week that has been… It’s been so much fun!

In the meantime – I’d just like to say thank you so much for your visit! I made you a cup of coffee – did you see it in my photo? Now, would you like biscuits or cake to go with it? :-)

Hugs! Vikki :-) x

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My little Preppie & a ‘Pure’ lap quilt

The school summer holidays sure did fly past quickly and I can hardly believe that my baby is now a school girl… Where, oh where, did that time go?

I would never have thought in a million years that one day (when I was a ‘grown up’) I would live on the ‘other side of the world’ and have a little girl who looks like she could walk out of a set from Neighbours or Home and Away!! I always think of those two infamous soaps when I see the Aussie school uniform. How cute is that dress???

As for me on the home-front… listen to this…

… can you hear it?

Yes my friends – I believe that is the sound of silence!!!

Did you notice I said, “believe?” That’s because It’s been so long since I’ve heard nothing, that I can hardly remember what nothing sounds like. But I tell you what – nothing sure sounds GOOD!

Ha ha! Okay – you got me – yes I’m missing my little Preppie and her big brother like crazy! But what is a girl to do? Yeah you guessed it… SEW! :-)

A simple lap quilt, lovingly made for the husband of a dear friend in England.

I absolutely adore this fabric range – Pure – by Sweetwater for Moda. Got to love those inspiring positive affirmations… pure grace… pure elation… pure love… pure joy. (My friend’s name is Joy.)

I took inspiration from one of the fabrics – which reminds me of a coffee-cup-ring-stain. I sewed circles of chain stitch around some stitched words, using variegated thread. Then I quilted the finished piece in circles, using a CD as my template.

Washed, wrapped and on an aeroplane to England…

Wherever you are in the world and whatever your plans for this weekend – I hope you have a good one! :-)

Hugs! Vikki x

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A bit more eye candy and an ode to 2010

As promised, I’m back again with more eye candy for you, and this post is overflowing in shabby goodness - so set your peripheral vision to soft focus! :-)

I was so very blessed to have won an amazing giveaway just before Christmas, from the lovely Linda over at Lilly Cottage. My parcel arrived on Xmas Eve so I placed it under the tree to open on ‘the big day’. When I did so, my mouth dropped open and out spilled a multitude of Oohs and Aahhs. Check out this beautiful bunting… even more gorgeous-er in real life!

It is currently hanging in DD’s bedroom because she has the prettiest room in the house. But I’ve advised her it’s only a loan until I get my very own pretty craft space and then it’s game over!!

Here’s a close-up of the delicate vintage doilies and silk ribbon…

The bunting was the giveaway prize that Linda offered after doing a guest post over at the Shabby Art Boutique (for Kerryanne’s Simply Christmas). But that was not all that Linda gifted me; and I felt completely humbled that this lovely lady, who I have never communicated with before, added other hand-made goodness (and a beautiful glitzy key ring) in to the mix for someone she did not know. Isn’t that beautiful? I’m so glad I saved the parcel for Christmas Day because it really did hold the true spirit of Christmas! Thank you SO much Linda! :-)

Tiny little sequins, dyed lace and beads – and the scent of lavender – sheer delight!

I also received these beautiful hand made lovelies from two my very dear friends over in the gum trees, Jenny and Joy. I’m sure you can guess the style of each designer – they have gorgeous distinctive signatures don’t you think?!!! :-) Love em’ to bits! Thank you so much, girls! x

There is one more pressie to show you but I’m holding off on that one because it is so apt for me at the moment that it’s uncanny! I’ll save it for another post! {{Thank you Judith!}}

Last but not least, I received this beautifully-sweet hand-painted gift box from my dear friend Kerryanne, as a thank you for participating in Simply Christmas. Kerry – it was my absolute pleasure - but thank you so much for this gorgeous treat! :-)

The pretty box was beautifully wrapped and overflowing with minty-chocolate lollies, which have since been placed in the sweet jar for midnight snacks when my DS and I stay up late to watch comedy DVDs!

Talking of which… I’ve finished my sewing for this evening and will no doubt embark on my final ‘Midnight DVD stint’ for 2010! Where has it gone?!!!

My Ode to 2010

Thank you for a year of ‘firsts’,

Kinder, High School, and a wedding rehearsed!

After 10 years – Mrs Collumbine – I’m Legit…

My rellies visited – we enjoyed every bit!

My first published designs, my first pattern sold…

My first AQM was a joy to behold.

Gorgeous new friends, and old friendships that thrive

Creativity, bubbling, and welling inside!

Thank you 2010, you have taught me new things

but now I yearn for what 2011 brings… :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

Hugs, Vikki xoxoxo

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A sneak peek…and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Boy oh boy – I am loving this lead up to Christmas! I get as excited today as I did when I was five years old! I even bought myself an advent calendar this year – an ‘old fashioned’ one with pictures - as opposed to chocolates!! :-)

I have been busy designing and creating, but there’s nothing I can show on that front just yet. But here’s a sneak peek of something that I WILL be sharing with you REAL soon!

All will be revealed in a couple of weeks! :-)

I am also enjoying creating projects from others’ patterns, and have just started on this gorgeous wall-hanging by one of my favourite designers, Laurraine Yuyama from Patchwork Pottery. :-)

This is the project – on the front cover of the first issue of Quilter’s Connection – the gorgeous Canadian magazine for, you guessed it, quilters!

Isn’t it divine? I love the way Laurraine marries muted country colours in her stand-out signature style. What a talented artisan she is – and an absolutely beautiful person, to boot!

Here are the fabrics I have chosen:

Very similar to the original – but why change perfection?!!! he he…

I purchased the magazine through Laurraine’s Etsy store, together with Cotton Life – a Japanese publication featuring another of Laurraine’s patterns.

Laurraine’s parcel arrived a few weeks ago, wrapped beautifully and containing an extra gift for me…

One of her sweet fabric birds…

Thank you Laurraine for your sweet gift – and for your inspiration, enthusiasm - but (most of all) for your friendship! x

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There’s something so special about hand-made isn’t there? Nothing tops it! Over the past few years I have been gifted handmade creations by dear friends, and they are so special to me. I think it’s the energy that is passed through the fabric from one person to another.

My family and I put up our Christmas decorations a couple of days ago and it was so sentimental to hold the handmade holiday decorations that have been hiding in boxes for the past 10 months. I had a smile on my face as I thought of each person in turn and what they mean to me. That’s one of the best things about this holiday season isn’t it? Remembering our loved ones and dearest friends. :-)

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So! On a final note… are you all set to open the first door of your Advent calendar tomorrow???? How exciting!!!!

Catch you soon!!! Hugs! Vikki :-)

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Fairy frolics, RAKs and cuteness…

Thank you so much for your kind words of understanding and support in my last post. You girls are the best! :-)

Are you enjoying the weekend? We had beautiful weather in Melbourne yesterday so my family and I sat in the back garden to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I finished stitching my daughter’s fairy house and she thought Christmas had come early! :-)

This is the third fairy house I’ve made – the other two were for my son and another friend’s daughter. I used this gorgeous pattern by Julie McCulloch of Magic Threads. To this house I added a love heart to the top tendrils, and decorated the outside walls with some ribbon embroidery and buttons.

Talking of fairies… here she is! My own real life little bundle of fairy mischief!

Looking a wee bit dishevelled – as some fairies do! *wink* :-)

Do you see the beautiful hand-made bag she is cherishing? It was a delightful surprise gift this week from the gorgeous Deb in New Zealand! Deb and I have been blogging buddies since I started out on my blogging journey and we have become good friends over the past year. In an email I disclosed to Deb that my DD has had some anxiety issues of late, which has caused her not to want to go out anywhere because she is afraid of noise. So Deb made this sweet bag for Rosie, to encourage her to want go out shopping with mummy. How gorgeous and thoughtful is that?

Thank you Deb – you are such a sweetheart – and I cherish our friendship! xx

Deb is a Material Chick! By that I mean she is one of the founders of an on-line pattern store named Material Chicks! They are having a sale at the moment and I was quick to snap up this gorgeous BOM by Libby Richardson.

I have already started collecting the fabrics and over the Christmas holidays I plan to put the materials with each block – so that I create a job bag from which to work from each month. I love being organised! And one of my favourite pastimes is putting piles of fabric together! Is there a word for this kind of behaviour?!!!

On my fabric hunting-gathering expeditions I also picked up these little beauties:

They’re called ‘Embroidery Angels’! Aren’t they sweet? I shall keep one pair and the other is destined for a gift.

I’ll leave you for today with one more photo of cuteness… my pup, outside in the garden, covered in freshly cut grass and begging her mum for a play!

How could I resist?!!!

Until next time – Hugs! Vikki :-) x

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A great day at the Craft and Quilt Fair!

My Saturday adventure got off to a slow start as I’d decided to take the train in to the City, but the line had been closed down so a bus took me to the next Station… overall - I love taking public transport! I don’t think I’d like to do it on a daily basis – but it’s exciting when it’s a journey to somewhere special!

My first date at the show? Catching up with my sweet gumnut sister, Vicki (from Tozz’s Corner). Vicki arrived sooner than me so had some scrummy show n’ tell to share as we sipped our coffee and had a natter… and a few hugs!

Vicki met up with her lovely friend to attend a workshop, and I headed off into the crowds to start shopping! And chatting! Have I ever mentioned that I like to chat?

Meet Barb, the creative goddess behind Theodora Cleave. She must be a goddess because I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I cast my eyes on the exquisite buttons that she designs and hand-paints! It took me ages to make up my mind which to purchase, if I was a rich lady I would have bought them ALL! I am very happy with my choices – want to see?

Aren’t they gorgeous??? Barb was joined by the lovely Brownyn, who says she reads my blog but does not have one of her own (yet?????). HI BRONWYN!!!! :-)

I also met up with the gorgeous Brenda Ryan – geesh I love her work and was so rapt to be able to hold one of her infamous fabric boxes in my own hands and admire her embroidery. I was too busy chatting to take any photos! I also chatted to Katie from Cottage Garden Threads – who has started blogging… if you’d like to say hello, pop on over HERE! You can also read about Brenda through the same blog :-)

I look a bit like as stunned rabbit in the next photo – I was awe-struck when I met Lynette Anderson from Lynette Anderson Designs. Silly really as she is so friendly and down to earth!

I could not decide what pattern to buy… I really must start doing the Lotto – wouldn’t it be nice not to have to worry about budgets?! :-) I loved viewing Lynette’s work. Seeing hand-made creations close-up is so wonderful isn’t it? This is what I bought!

I got chatting to a lovely lady on the Homespun stand (did you know that I love to chat?!) Again, I was too busy talking to get the camera out… but I’d love for you to meet my new friend – Leanne Knell from Petals & Patches. (Does talking to someone for 10 minutes count as friendship?!!! Are you worried I’m a stalker, Leanne?!! LOL) Leanne designs quilts, dolls and other gorgeous patchwork items and I’m in love with her new BOM; “On Freedom’s Wings” – you can see it HERE!

There was also a quilt show at the event – I took a few photos to share with you.

This quilt is titled “Remembering Thylacines” by Cindy Watkins. The colours were striking and the stars in the sky were diamante's and twinkled beautifully. (Thylacines are Tasmaninan tigers).

Would it be too corny is I said that I fell in love with the above quilt?! It was my favourite in its beautiful simplicity. It was created by Anne Davis and is titled “First Kiss”.

The detail in this quilt was incredible, and it’s difficult to tell from this photograph, but the teddy in the boys’ arms was two-dimensional. The photographs around the edges of the quilt were printed on to fabric and stitched on. It is entitled “Hand me downs” and created by Jocelyne Leath. I loved Jocelyne’s Mission Statement and would like to quote her: “We live, we learn, we remember as it always was in the past. The frame may hold some memories but the mirror always reflects the truth”.

There was also an exhibition of wearable art – would you like me to share some pictures with you during the week? I didn’t want this post to get too long!

I’ll finish off for now with a few pics of my purchases!

How appropriate is this ‘gumnut girl brooch’ for a Gumtree designer? (Okay girls – now you know what you’ll be getting for Xmas!!!) The brooch is designed by one of my all-time-favourite Aussie designers, Karlene Atkins from Katkins Designs.

I want to get into some patchwork and piecing… I bought some hexy templates and this small-sized lazy susan cutting mat, rulers and cutter set. A show special! I bought it from Amitie. (Girls – if you live in Melbourne – Amitie is having a sale on Friday 6 August – instore only.)

I also purchased the above background fabric from Amitie. It’s called November Books Geschichte in Waldern. The cowboy-boot fabric is for an upcoming project… and the buttons are a staple in my stash – country style hearts from ‘Dress it Up’!

I headed home from the show after five hours…. across the river…

Well – over a bridge actually!

I passed a lady who was picking up fallen leaves from the concrete pavement… I told her that I was glad I am not alone in doing such things! She was going to use them for fabric printing purposes… guess where she had just come from?!!!

The journey home was fun – the train was full of footie fans leaving the City – one gentleman almost fell asleep on my shoulder and apologised once he’d realised. I told him that it was okay but his snoring was pretty loud – then laughed at the look on his face before admitting… “only kidding!” :-)

Home again… via a Fast Food shop… with cuddles galore from DD who said she’d missed me…

Cheeky little imp isn’t she? I don’t know where she gets it from!

See you tomorrow! I’ve got a pincushion to show you!!!!

Hugs! Vikki xx

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