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last quilt top of the year

December 30, 2011 By corrie 13 Comments

Yesterday, retro daddy went to the hardware store whilst the girls and I went to Spotlight. I was there for more cotton reels and lots of batting. When I got back in the car with a huge bag from Spotlight I got in trouble – What did you buy????? Which is code for you don’t you have enough craft ‘stuff’ and aren’t you supposed to be clearing out your craft room. But it’s hard to finish off projects if you’ve run out of batting. I know you all understand.

don’t they look excited waiting in the queue

And so if it’s new year’s eve then this is my last quilt top of the year. I doubt I’ll get it finished to make it the last quilt of the year though. But this quilt top was easy. I cut all the squares with my go baby in a morning and then pieced together over a couple of mornings. 196 squares in total. 14 squares across by 14 squares down and a nice white crisp border of 10 inches all around.

Have a safe new years eve if you’re up to anything exciting. We are going with a couple of families to watch the fireworks near home. I hope I don’t regret it as we don’t really take the little ones out at night time. But I’ll be back tomorrow for a wrap up of the year and a few goals for 2012. Yawn. I know. Same old, same old goals from me that I never achieve.

Filed Under: new years eve, new years resolutions, quilting

maternity outfit 1

December 29, 2011 By corrie 43 Comments

I thought it would be fun to share some maternity outfits this pregnancy. Baby number 5 means I was out of my regular jeans and into maternity jeans much earlier than usual. Thank goodness that my favourite mavi maternity jeans were the only thing I saved when I had a huge clearout of my wardrobe a few months ago. Well retro daddy did say no more babies.

I am not a fan of maternity clothes. I find they are not my style, not my colour and not my usual brands. So instead I like to go up a size or two in my favourite brands where necessary so I still get to shop at my favourite shops.

Today we’re heading off shopping, doing a bit of sewing and cleaning the house. So I have my mavi maternity jeans. About $150 from David Jones but this will be the 2nd pregnancy in them and I wear them all the time from the start to finish of my pregnancy so I consider them very good value. I’ve bought cheaper maternity jeans before that I’ve grown out of mid pregnancy, have fallen down as my tummy has grown, haven’t been a good fit and just didn’t last well. This pair don’t need yanking up, have adjustable tabs on either side, are a great dark denim and are super comfy to wear. I feel like I’m wearing my regular mavi jeans and are the best maternity jeans I’ve found.

The top is a bargain buy from Country Road this week. $22 reduced from $59. This is an XS and it’s a very roomy tee with plenty of room to grow. At that price I bought two. Of course. And for a bit of colour……….red saltwaters. Comfortable and cool.

And that is today’s outfit. Hope you enjoyed that.

Filed Under: maternity wardrobe, pregnancy

i love the holidays

December 29, 2011 By corrie 13 Comments

Well we are certainly enjoying our holidays here. Yesterday we hit Manly for one of our favourite things to do – fish and chips followed by ben & jerry’s.

The little one’s idea of a perfect day. And we had some of our favourite relatives with us – Julie and family up from the country. Retro daddy and Julie’s husband are brothers. So nice to have a crafty sister in law who loves fabric as much as I do. But apparently my craft stash is much worse than Julie’s. Ooops.

One of our other favourite things to do in Manly (and a little healthier) is taking people around to Shelley Beach. It’s such a pretty walk however doing it on a really hot day with 6 children is not as much fun as a leisurely stroll with adults. But with the promise of an ice cream afterwards we made it half way around and turned back.

The views are amazing, the water is so clear and if you haven’t done it yet then it really is one of the loveliest things to do in Sydney. Shelley Beach. Remember it. Retro daddy and I used to do the walk when it was just us and then just keira in a pram, then the twins and now Elodie. Now if only I could live overlooking the beach. Now that would be nice.

Then it was back to our place for a swim and a chat and time to say goodbye to the cousins. Hope we get to see them again soon. We always have so much fun but live so far away.

Then I had promised keira that she could decorate her own pavlova. She was dying to do it on boxing day but I was a little control freakish and wanted to decorate it myself but with the promise that keira could do her own. And she did a lovely job complete with a few marshmallows too.

And doesn’t elodie enjoy pavlova

That girl loves food full stop. She had just eaten her dinner, taken a bit of cake leftover from afternoon tea, half a banana and then hit the pavlova. In fact the only thing she won’t eat is cheese. So far.

I hope you’re enjoying your holidays too. Retro daddy is about to start painting various rooms and spots in the house so I hope he still enjoys his holidays.

Filed Under: holidays

festivities are over

December 27, 2011 By corrie 14 Comments

Well the festivities are over here. Boxing day lunch was lovely with more family and a good catch up. The kitchen received lots of comments and everyone managed to fit in.

And it was another day of eating. I really am over eating for a while.

And I’m really over dishes too. But you’ve got to love having an extra huge sink to hide those dirty dishes.

And since everyone has left now it’s time for a little bit of crafting. I’ve decided to make a large quilt to cover one of the girl’s beds.

I cut these out using my Go Baby again and had a little helper with the scraps. This little lady does not like being left on the floor when there is action going on.

and after all that cutting we hit the sales late in the afternoon for a bit of shopping. I am just loving having retro daddy at home for a while and hope you’re enjoying some family time too.

Filed Under: christmas, quilting

Grandma Betty’s quilt – finished!

December 23, 2011 By corrie 19 Comments

Well, I had visions of myself sitting up until the early hours of Christmas Day finishing this quilt. But look here. Finished. Before 9am on Christmas Eve. I’m thrilled. And relieved because I have to clean the house top to bottom, do 5 loads of laundry, put clothes away and start baking and preparing for tomorrow not to mention a chuch rehearsal at 10am and off to Christmas eve mass around 4pm. I’ll get there. I always do.

So the brief was a patchwork square quilt in her favourite colours and it had to touch the floor when put on her single bed.

And I’m pretty confident that I’ve delivered. I’ve used Moda charm squares from Summer Breeze, Flora, Hullabaloo, Hideaway and then basic white charm squares and my own white squares. And I quilted it BIG. I went pedal to the metal on my machine on the fastest speed setting and moved my quilt faster than usual. I’m really happy to say it was quilted in about 3 little sessions in one day.

Now making a back on a large quilt can be a bit tricky. Thankfully I had some fabric on a bolt that I picked up for $5 a metre from my wholesaler on clearance. I ran it down the back of the quilt and put an equal length of white quilters muslin on either side. It was pretty handy that I could split the white quilters muslin on the fold and then sew it to each selvage of the green fabric.

And for binding I used some premade binding. In an ideal world I would have done a green binding but with time not on my side I used some pink premade binding from A Day in the Country. Thanks Julie for sending me some.

And there you have it. One large quilt started and finished in under a week and about to be wrapped and under the tree. I really love it and when things have settled down over the holidays would like to make a few for the little ones in their favourite colours as I love that you don’t need a valance on the bed once it’s on.

Oh and just for the record. I am exhausted. I couldn’t stop yawning all morning! But I’ll be back later tonight to share my Christmas Day menu.

Filed Under: free motion quilting, quilt, quilting

one quilt top

December 23, 2011 By corrie 5 Comments

Well I flopped into bed at 2.30am this morning. But it was worth it because here is the finished quilt top.

I’m just waiting for little people to nap, be quiet, have a little lie down and I’ll get stuck into sandwiching it all together and maybe even quilting it today. So I’m going to be quiet online until I get this finished because let’s not forget I’m also hosting Christmas Day and Boxing Day and am trying to organise and prepare for those events while getting this finished.

But I love a challenge.

edited to add that someone asked what sewing machine I use. I use a Brother Innovis QC-1000 and love it. It has lots of features. is computerised and does everything I need a machine to do. The only thing I would say is that if you are a fast free motion quilter you might want more speed. I’m getting to the point where I would like a bit more than 1000 stiches per minute but apart from that it’s a fabulous machine for a sewer or quilter.

Filed Under: free motion quilting, quilting

chunky rocky road

December 22, 2011 By corrie 9 Comments

Well my local supermarket is all out of mini marshmallows. I’m guessing the locals are making a lot of rocky road. Rather than panic I went over to the lolly aisle and bought a bag of large marshmallows. Ok, no I’ll admit it. You know me too well. I bought 2 bags of marshmallows and we ate one. Ok, I ate one bag. But I also used one bag to make chunky rocky road. And I didn’t cut the raspberries before I used them. So much easier. This is definitely a winner.

2 bags of white chocolate melts (375g bags)
1 bag of raspberry lollies
1 bag of marshmallows
1/2 cup desiccated coconut and extra to sprinkle

Melt chocolate in large bowl in microwave. I do 3 minutes on medium and stir a couple of times. In a large bowl combine the raspberry lollies, marshmallows and desiccated coconut. Pour in melted chocolate and stir well. Pour into silicone tray (I use a tupperware slice tray) or a lined lamington tin. Sprinkle with extra coconut. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes until set. Slice and serve or wrap up or eat.

Filed Under: chocolate, christmas, christmas recipe, recipe, rocky road, white chocolate rocky road

making a quilt for Christmas

December 21, 2011 By corrie 9 Comments

I may just become queen of the last minute quilt for Christmas this year. Earlier in the year I said that I would make my Grandma Betty a quilt. She told me it had to be big enough to entirely cover her bed and reach the floor, be in her favourite colours of green, yellow and purple (I had to drop the purple) and be patchwork squares. Lucky for me I have charm square packs coming out of my ears and had no trouble finding a few ranges to suit. But of course I’ve left until now to make a start and have it finished for Christmas Day.

I also decided to break it up and make it a little more subtle with white charm squares too. I’m so glad I did this as the white really shows off the other squares.

Unfortunately I didn’t work out how many charm squares I would need and with 4 rows still to go I ran out of white charm squares. I’m sure a smarter person would have worked out how many charm squares were needed BEFORE starting. So it was time to pull out my accuquilt go baby and make 50 or so white charm squares in no time.

My grandma has a large single bed so I am doing 21 charm squares down and 16 across to fit the bed and hang to the floor. That is a lot of charm squares but I’m happy to report that I have 3 more rows to finish before I can join the quilt top together and start quilting. And the quilting will make Part 2 of my charm square quilt tutorial. Because I know you’ve been waiting.

And this is how to keep a little one distracted so I can grab an hour of quilting time in the day! Now I’ve bought down 2 big tubs of toys from upstairs and Elodie is in heaven, the twins and Keira are watching The Santa Clause, it’s raining and I’m going to get stuck into the quilt today.

Filed Under: charm squares, quilting

our kitchen renovation : day 23

December 20, 2011 By corrie 22 Comments

Well I’m cooking in the kitchen! Now that’s what I call a great day in a kitchen renovation. We’re not entirely finished as I need to get the painter back to the cornices and skirting boards and a few touch ups and then we’ll be finished. And do you love the chux hanging over the tap – don’t think I’ll do that again. Old habits…..

It really is the loveliest kitchen to cook in. I’m still trying to remember where I put everything and trying not to make a mess of my pantry. One of my really bad habits is not keeping a tidy pantry. I love it when retro daddy organises it for me so am hoping he’ll get to it over the Christmas break. It’s the accountant in him that loves having it all organised.

Filed Under: kitchen, renovation

our kitchen renovation : day 22

December 20, 2011 By corrie 12 Comments

OK, so technically this is day 26 because the electrician has just finished up 3 afternoons of work here. But I’m showing pre kitchen photos today as it’s a big day here. The rip out! I don’t even know how I lasted 3 years in this kitchen.

And you wondered why I never showed you pictures of my kitchen? I’ve been dreaming of my hampton’s kitchen for a long time. Goodbye old 70’s brown kitchen with carpet panelling that I tried to pull off a few months ago and realised it was glued down and wasn’t coming off.

Filed Under: kitchen, renovations

Lecien Colour Basics Giveaway

December 19, 2011 By corrie 228 Comments

As promised, another giveaway sneaking in before Christmas. I love Lecien Colour Basics. They are great fabrics to make contrasting trims, bindings, backing fabrics, clothes, craft projects, anything you like really. So I’m giving away a 4 metre bundle of these fabrics – you’ll get 1m of each fabric shown in the picture. Talk about building up your stash. Or maybe your stash is like mine……out of control but you can’t say no to more.

Just leave a comment and tell me what you’d use the fabric for and you’re in the draw. Wherever you live. I’ll draw later in the week.

Filed Under: fabric, giveaways, lecien

settling in

December 17, 2011 By corrie 15 Comments

Well we have power, the builder has finished up and the electrician worked late to give us power and my pendant lights. He’ll be back today to put the foxtel out the back and put all the lights in. But it hasn’t taken us long to settle in. Keira and I stayed up late to start wrapping a few Christmas presents. The island is so perfect for doing anything on as it’s just so big.

The pendant lights are perfect. We have the wrong lightbulbs in just till I can go and get some big bulbs but they look perfect and really frame the kitchen. Good decision.

And this morning we had our first breakfast in the new kitchen. Vegemite toast and tea. But let me tell you that emptying the old kitchen is no fun and I’d love to know how many steps I took walking everything from the front of the house where the old kitchen is out to the back but I’m about three quarters done.

And we went to a couple of open houses yesterday as we’re in the market for a bigger house but I think we might be tempted to stay with such a lovely kitchen as I keep comparing them to my lovely one. And there is no comparison.

Filed Under: kitchen, renovations

Don’t Look Now Giveaway

December 16, 2011 By corrie 117 Comments

Another day, another giveaway. As promised. This time it’s two of my favourite quilting patterns from Don’t Look Now. If you love girly girl and pink then you will love these. First up is Worry Dolls and this is so good for presents. The pattern includes instructions and full size templates to make the large quilt as well as cushions with an individual doll and a girl’s name. So sweet and so achievable if a big quilt scares you.

The second pattern is Pretty in Pink and includes instructions and templates to make 4, yes 4, pretty girly cushions. You don’t have to use pink either – choose whatever colour you like. And start with the easiest and move up to a harder pattern. Anyone can enter where ever you live in the world. Just leave a comment to be in the draw! I’ll draw a winner early next week and get it in the post for Christmas.

Filed Under: don't look now, giveaway

another flower sugar giveaway

December 15, 2011 By corrie 253 Comments

Well it’s Christmas and I’m a little embarrassed that I fell behind with my giveaways. I’m going to draw and email the winner of the oops a daisy giveaway which seems like forever ago. And it probably was. To make it up to you, I have 3 giveaways coming up over this weekend. First up is a gorgeous half metre pack of the latest Flower Sugar range I have here. So you’ll receive 4 metres in total if you win. Nice prize and perfect for sewing and quilting

Just tell me what you’ll make with it and I’ll draw a winner next Monday so I can get it in the post and under your tree. Anyone can enter where ever you live in the world. Good luck. I love a good giveaway and feel happier already.

And there is still time to check out my ebay sales here. I’m having a big clearout of stock and still have lots more fabric and wool to list over the weekend. I had no idea how busy I would be at home so keep checking my facebook page where I will put updates after I’ve listed something.

Filed Under: giveaways

the busiest time of year

December 15, 2011 By corrie 14 Comments

I’m going to admit something to you. I thought that when Keira started school that things would get easier. Wrong. Oh so wrong. The end of year activities and stuff at school combined with a renovation that is still not finished since the builder and electrician are too busy to finish it off, sick kids, Christmas shopping and just general home life are stressing me out. I haven’t been this busy since I had baby twins at home. Christmas for me is normally busy but school just makes it a whole new level of busy. Am I right or am I right?

Tomorrow, school is over for the year. We have a thanksgiving mass (I’m thankful…………for holidays) where Keira is twirling a ribbon apparently, a school picnic nearby and then home. Bring it on. And all of this busy has meant I have had no Christmas baking mojo left. Not a drop of it. Oh no wait, I did do 2 batches of rum balls today which cheered me up. A little. I’ve been buying my fruit mince pies from Bakers Delight (one at a time so I don’t eat the whole pack) which is definitely a sign I need to be in my new kitchen and baking.

Anyway, I’m a bit over the kitchen not being finished. So tonight I cooked dinner in the old kitchen and we all ate it at the new island and it was lovely. Keira said she felt like a grown up because she was sitting up high and the twins can climb on the stools themselves so they are happy. Oh and Elodie shuffles around on her bottom around the island doing laps. It’s very cute.

And we’ve christened the new table with some Christmas card writing too. As in Keira wrote 3 cards and gave them to me to finish……. Anyway, I promise to be my normal cheery self tomorrow at about 1pm when I leave the picnic and school holidays officially begin!

Filed Under: christmas, school