HST quilt for Nina

Posted on April 19, 2013 by

I’m so slack here lately.  I have been doing things though!  Recently I finished this little quilt for my daughter Nina, for her birthday.

Penny really wants to be in the photos.

Really.

I made this quilt from one pack of flannel Marmalade charm squares and some left over strips from a jelly roll, the one I use to make this. The back is also a flannel as Nina said she wanted something that was cozy.  I have not yet gotten over my aversion to machine quilting so I hand quilted this.  Even though I was doing it at the last minute (what’s new!!) I do actually enjoy just sitting and hand stitching, same with sewing the binding on.

Still quilting Elliott’s (his birthday has been and gone) and also a little quilting to do on my niece’s for her birthday in 2 weeks – that one should be done in time!  More pics soon!

Sarah xxxooo

 

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February Makes

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

So much for blogging weekly!  It’s practically Easter -don’t ask me what I’ve been doing – who knows but I run around like a crazy person, stay up late and pass out every night from exhaustion.

Anyway, I’ve made a couple of little things which has been fun.

First up I did some mini bunting from The Simple Life range by Tasha Noel – painstakingly slow, I have no idea why.  Super easy and fun – great result.

Okay, last one!

Then I had a crazy 2 day deadline to make my first Dresden Plate pillow – again, I used the same fabric because, well, it’s just so cute.

You can clearly tell I haven’t done one of these before, but I was pretty happy with the outcome.  I stitched it on by hand to a linen fabric backing.It turned out pretty big – a size 22 cushion insert was required – so about 22 inches!  It’s now adorning a friend’s bed in Townsville.  I plan on making another using the smaller template which uses 20 blades.  I think I’m going to use the same fabric, call me crazy!

My kids birthdays are coming up so I’m starting on some simple half square triangle quilts for them – I need the practice.  Not sure if anyone else has the issue of doing all the sewing and folding out the square to discover it’s not really square at all.  All tips and advice are welcome!

Night,
Sarah xxx

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Happy-Go-Lucky is here!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by

I have actually been doing quite a bit of sewing this week, and I will get back to you really soon on that, but this is just to up date that we now have some of Bonnie and Camille’s new line Happy Go Lucky – charm packs to start off!  Australia is pretty lucky as we get the first lot of precuts ahead of the US even!  They are limited though and will restock when the yardage comes in May – so be quick!  We are getting quite a bit of yardage – especially the navy – who doesn’t love a good navy?!

The very tempting photos of the fat quarter bundle is not available for sale – just a little tease really – but if anyone is interested in a fat quarter or fat eighth bundle let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

Happy Sewing,

Sarah

 

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Summer Holidays

Posted on January 20, 2013 by

What have you all been up to on these fine Summer holidays?  We’ve been on a few little trips about Victoria which have been nice.  Just after Christmas we headed up to Creswick, just in between Daylesford and Ballarat, and had a really lovely time.  We went to Sovreign Hill, my first trip in about 25 years, and it was amazing.  I think Sergei and I appreciated it more than the kids, so amazing to see how life was over 150 years ago.

Here’s a little of the magic we saw.

Sergei was very determined when panning for gold.  After we had a little lesson he actually found a decent little piece.  Nothing like the enormous nugget found in Ballarat this week though!

I love these last 3.  And here’s one of me with a friendly horse – they are so beautiful.

I have a few other pictures of the amazing cottage garden at Sovreign Hill which I will do a post on later in the week.  Photo overload already!  All these pics care of Sergei.

On a sewing update, I have cut out my 3 of 4 blocks from my Mystery block of the month, and plan to do some sewing tonight.  I also have a gift to make (and a deadline – love those deadlines) so will be cutting into my beautiful The Simple Life fabrics from Tasha and making some bunting, a little different from the usual, and I’m thinking a bib too.  So stay tuned for some actual sewing!!

Cheers,
Sarah xxx

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A resolution or two and makes from 2012

Posted on January 9, 2013 by

*Sovreign Hill Garden

I have lofty hopes for this year. I never make resolutions, or maybe just one but I don’t tell anyone.  This year I have tonnes, but I really hope/believe that I can achieve them all.  I am turning 40 so maybe that’s a big catalyst, but also I have just gotten a bit lazy with myself and my health and I always get to a critical point where something must be done – and that time is now!

So here’s a few of the things that will be going on over here this year:

- eat better
- ride beautiful bike more
- walk dog more
- blog weekly
- sew at least weekly
- work on business
- eat out less
- go to Spotlight a lot less!

I also have many aspirations in the sewing department.  I want to:

- take some classes to learn new skills – like this one
- make some hexies
- finish the hand-pieced quilt my Mum started over 20 years ago by putting together and hand-quilting.
- make up some new patterns

Here’s a review of my projects from the last year.  I am really proud of what I have achieved this year.  I learnt to quilt!  I have sold fabric for ages but strangely enough never actually had much interest in quilting.  But after discovering Camille Roskelley’s blog – Simplify – I am hooked.

Here are some of my makes from 2012:

What do you have planned for 2013?  Do tell!

Happy Sewing,
Sarah

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Gettin’ things done

Posted on December 16, 2012 by

Well, sort of.  I was pretty good to myself a while back – her are some little goodies I picked up at Treehouse Textiles.

The perle thread is to hand quilt the pin wheels quilt from the last post.  I still haven’t started and it’s going to be a Christmas present!!  The little bits of Liberty I bought, well, just ’cause they’re so pretty, and I’m thinking I might actually make some hair clips for my daughter and I.  I feel like a bad mother sometimes when I see that she does not have one pretty hair clip to her name – even though I sell hundreds of them.  Bad.

I bought that beautiful big piece of Liberty for myself to make a little camisole top.  The fabric is just so amazing I couldn’t resist.

I’m plugging along with my Chistmas preparations, just two quilts to quilt!  Eeek!!  And I’ve never hand quilted before.  Can’t be that hard right?  Any tips?  Things I definitely should or shouldn’t do?

Hope you are enjoying this festive season and finding some time to relax and be creative.

Also, just to let you know for all December purchases from the store you will receive a voucher for 25% off your purchase in January (discount can be applied for the month of January only folks – discount code will be emailed Jan.1).

Happy Sewing,
Sarah

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A Day at the Treehouse

Posted on November 19, 2012 by

It was an amazing weekend for sewing, I felt so inspired by my fellow sewers and the stunning scene for our day down at Treehouse Textiles in Merricks North on the Mornington Peninsula.

Isn’t this so beautiful?  Every detail was just like this.  The day was hosted by Sarah and Emma, a mother and daughter team that have converted a B&B on Sarah’s property into an amazing craft studio set amongst the trees.  I wish I took more photos but I will be back, so next time!  I went down with the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild (MMQG) and we had the place all to ourselves.  It was heavenly.

There is everything you could possibly need at your fingertips; cutting mats, rulers, rotary cutters, irons, even unpickers!

Our delicious lunch was served in these lovely timber boxes.    Then Sarah and Emma were back to serve more coffee and chat about sewing.

All of this, and, I actually managed to get some work done too!  I am slowly geting caught up on my mystery blocks.  Please don’t look too closely – but these are so fun and satisfying to make.

And this is a present for my niece Phoebe for Christmas.  I am going to hand quilt this with some lovely pink perle thread I bought there.  I got some other fabrics too – I’ll show you next time! So one block done, another cut out and a quilt top finished.  Not bad!

So I cannot recommend highly enough that you go down and do a class at Treehouse Textiles or get a group together for a day retreat – you won’t regret it!

Happy creating,
Sarah xxx

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Craft and Sewing Show Caulfield Wrap Up

Posted on October 30, 2012 by

Oh my goodness !  These craft shows are a whirlwind and I love them so much.  I am also super happy that my life is resuming to normal this week.  But I still have the show buzz and busy thinking of everything I want to achieve for the next one!

Here’s some pics:

I really do not take a good photo – my husband is continually clicking in the hope of getting one decent one – my expressions change all the time.  The is the best we got!

Thanks again to my helpers Jane, Kath and Yael and of course, my ever so patient husband.  He made the amazing sign which is just perfect and I absolutely love it!

Had some great neighbours – Mill Rose Cottage from Ballan – cannot wait to go and take a class there.  Also met Jodie from The Haby Goddess who had an amazing stand and some great products – like a tube turner, that I was desperately in need of when making my apron!!

If there’s anything you like from the photos, check out the shop – it’s pretty much all there.  Back to the stock take!

Sarah

You can also follow along in Instagram – @sgriffiths7

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One Direction

Posted on October 25, 2012 by

It may seem like this post is going to be about the latest boy band craze, but, alas, no.  Just quilts.  Well, one quilt.

Here is the newest quilt that I have just completed for the craft show I’m currently exhibiting at – Craft and Sewing Show is Melbourne – Caulfield Racecourse.

Apologies for the average shot, I promise I’ll take some better ones before it gets shipped off to it’s new home with my sister and brother-in-law to be in chilly Vancouver – Happy Engagement Miriam and Jordan!

But I digress.  This quilt is Pow Wow by Cluck Cluck Sew – a really fun quilt to make.  Here’s the cover shot:

Spot the difference?  I didn’t, until my daughter came into my room and asked me to hold up the quilt while she looked at the pattern cover.  She then told me “it’s almost the same, except your arrows just going in one direction and the ones on the pattern go up one way and down the other”.  I nearly died.  This was after it was quilted and one day before the show – there was certainly no going back.  So I like to call it the One Direction Pow Wow.  I think l may just have to make another now!

I am going to blame it on too much Alias!

I still like it.

Have fun and stop by the show – on til Sunday 28 October – stand 159 – Caulfield Racecourse.

Sarah

 

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Busy

Posted on October 12, 2012 by

I haven’t stopped this week, not so much sewing but just running around like a crazy person.  Oh, and maybe watching a bit of this:I’m addicted  I decided a couple of weeks ago to treat myself to a movie while I did my tax one Saturday night, yes, still going with that. I got The Upside of Anger – amazing movie. I sure know how to party!

But I also picked up an Alias dvd and now I can’t stop watching it.  And I have so much to do before this show at Caulfield in 2 weeks, I’m starting to realise it was not such a good idea.  I am trying to use it as a carrot for getting things done.  Either work and watch or work first watch later.  Um, yeah, not exactly working.

Went and visited this little guy – Edison

I actually gave him some bunting I made but no photos.  It’s kinda been like that.

Went to the Red Hill Market which is pretty famous round these parts.  Kids had fun…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Impressed that Elliott didn’t paint the whole picture in one colour this time!

Nina also made these cards for her teachers over the past couple of weeks.  They are made from fabric, some are sewn together and some are glued onto the cards.  I am so impressed with her design skills – she has a great imagination and was so keen to work on these until they were done.  I am happy she is not a procrastinator like her mother!

So after a tonne of driving around this week I am glad it’s Friday night – cos I think I’ve worked hard enough to watch some Alias!

Happy weekend.
Sarah

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