Awake, asleep....

The two faced, "Awake, Asleep" girls are finally finished....

On the "awake" side......

on the "asleep" side, tucked up in bed.....

with her quilt and pillow....
Will be available soon at Our Shabby Cottage and My Shabby Cottage Etsy shop.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend, Kathryn. XX

Kris Kringle....

Well, it is getting closer and closer to Christmas Day and I am finishing off a few presents for family and friends. Last year I made 19 gifts! I went a bit crazy really - aprons, oven mits, name cushions for kids, doorstops, cushions, hairclips tidy's etc...... This year I am being a little more restrained and have scaled it down a little. I am still making things - just things that aren't so time consuming!

On Hubby's side we do a Kris Kringle and this year I am "buying" for my sister in law - (I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog).

We have a $25 limit so I thought I would buy some fabric in her favourite colour (burgandy - it looks a bit on the brown side in the photos) and see what I could make for $25.

She has made comments on the bags I make for a while now, so I thought it a good idea to make her one of her own... and a brooch (which I have pinned to the bag) ...and a zipper purse...and a tissue case...and a notepad and pen folder....

...and her very own Matryoshka Doll. I still have some fabric left over so I may make something else... I'll see how much time I have left over!
Not a bad present really for $25, when I'll probably get a vase....
Oh well, it is the joy of giving that is best!
Kathryn. XX

Quilt part 3 - Finished!

After hours and hours of hand quilting, it is finally finished...

I'm really happy with how it has turned out!

Sew much sew, I have begun planning the next one....Look out "quilty people" here I come!!!

Kathryn. XX

A little two faced....

These sweeties are an idea my hubby had - double sided Matryoshkas.

(or "Two Faced you know what's" is what he suggested. How vulgar for something so sweet!)

Anyway, I must say, he does come up with some good ideas...we know him as the "Ideas Man" in our household....I think he really should have been an inventor but that's another story...

So, on one side we will have "awake" and on the other side "asleep".

I am going to make little mini quilts to go with them....maybe a pillow....maybe a....

Double the fun, double the imagination, double the delight....

Right, get cracking and sew them up.....

Kathryn. XX

P.S. I finshed the binding on the quilt last night, just the tag to go then I'll show you......

Hail....in November????

This just happened...in November! Two weeks away from Summer and we have 11 degrees C and hail....

Master 7 out in it....look at those bare legs! No sense, no feeling!

But he does have his Gumboots on though....

Kathryn. XX

Quilt - part 2

Gee, I tell you what, this quilting malarkey is harder than it looks!

I have tried sooo hard to get these squares straight and even, and I know they are not!

So don't look too closely OK?

Terrible pictures, I know, but it's overcast and raining today!!! Yeah!!!

Here it is all pinned together. It's about 40" square so it will be nice as a lap quilt or on her bed.

I am going to hand quilt it like Annie did with her red and white quilt.

(with perhaps some flowers in the corners!)

I was going to add another border in a creamy white (if I could find it) around the edge but Hubby said it didn't need it and, if I did that, I would have to go hunting for wider backing or piece bits together for the back and blah, blah, blah, the quilt may have turned into a big fiasco. So, no, I have stuck with how it is now and I have a lovely piece of fabric for the back that blends in beautifully.

OK, so time to do the quilting......breathe.....it will be OK...won't it?

Here are some more Shabby Cottage Christmas Stockings which are available now at
Our Shabby Cotttage.
Mandii cleared me out last week so I thought I had better make some more.....Thanks Mandii!!
I have also made a couple of Ladies aprons, which would be wonderful presents for Christmas, and will be in the shop soon.
Kathryn. XX

Quilt...

I have been surrounded by quilters lately....and you know what?

These "quilty people" have hijacked my every thought for a few days now....

so much so that I began this on the weekend......

Yep, I have begun a quilt. Yes you heard me, a fair dinkum, dinky die quilt.

I decided to make it for my Grandmother for Christmas......

(I know some of my family read my blog so please DO NOT say anything or there will be trouble...)
I have made 9 blocks already with this one being the central one.
I never thought I would say it... but I think I am beginning to like quilting!!!!
Maybe these "quilty people" have good reason to be so obsessed.
Wish me luck...
Kathryn. XX

Backpack, Table, Gum, Rain....

I feel like I have been a little absent this week with my blogging......

This is why.....

A custom order shabby backpack which has kept me occupied for the best part of two days.....designing, tweaking, sewing, jiggling.....
Some revamp painting.
This old T.V stand was in need of some TLC so it has been given the "shabby" makeover.
I also made a little fabric padded cloth to sit on top -
(so the T.V. doesn't ruin all that hard work!!)
I also painted a little childs play highchair (white of course) ,which I want to add some pretty rose decals to, and an old bread box. I'm not sure what I will use the box for - maybe some special things from my work room... I'll show you when I have finished those next week.

And this which has actually inspired me for the swap I'm participating in at the moment.
(The challenge in a bag mini quilt swap)
This is a Flowering Gum Tree which is in the next door neighbours front yard. Isn't it beautiful?
I can't show you any pics of my mini quilt yet because it hasn't been mailed out.

We have had some much needed lovely rain over night.
For all of my international visitors....You can tell we have been in drought mode for ten years when it is a surprise to hear rain on the roof........Bit sad really when you have to flush the loo with water from the shower and water the garden with washing machine water.......
Anyway, hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Kathryn. XX

You have got to enter this giveaway.....

This has got to be one of the most amzing giveaways. Old Red Barn is giving away these three beautiful quilts to three lucky winners......How generous is that?

Go and check it out - but I want to win OK?

Not much other news today - I am busy, busy, busy with a custom order for a backpack! I designed the pattern yesterday and have nearly finished it... more tomorrow...

Kathryn. XX

String and sticky tape....

What do your kids do to entertain themselves?
Mine do this......

A ball of string and some sticky tape.. It is a little hard to see in the photo, but they had string all over their bedroom, bits hanging off it.....It was a bit hard tucking them into bed last night. They had fun though! Now, they are busy trying to take it down. Our agreement was only for the weekend! They named it "The Spiders Web". It will be interesting to see what they come up with next......

If you are wondering about the horse in the background, my Dad built it from scratch. As soon as we announced our engagement my Dad was out in his shed whistling away happily working on it. My Mum painted it and Dad also did all the leather work on it. He is contemplating making another one so there aren't any fights over it later on !!!!

It was a glorious weekend here. Our weather is starting to improve. Yeah! I hope you all had a lovely weekend too!

Kathryn. XX

How do they do that?

100% today - Yippee!!!

I have managed to get some sewing and crafting in (during the dull panadol moments!) and listed these little "Poochikins" on the website under "Toys" yesterday.

That's another story in itself!

It took me ages to load the photos properly and I had to get hubs to investigate for me when he came home from work. I was becoming more and more frustrated with "Filezilla" so I gave up. So I had listings with no photos, some with half of the photos......blah blah blah! Then Hubs comes home and fixes it all in 2 Seconds.

How do they do that?

He said "it probably just timed out" Oh, OK, so I spent ages thinking that I was a complete and utter idiot for nothing???? Mmmm.

Anyway, a few kids I know will be receiving these for Christmas! I find it hard to "buy"
for kids - you never know what they are into but those kids who have a dog....look forward to getting a Poochikin!

Kathryn. XX

Carpe Diem

I have a had a headache for the past few days.

(yep secret women's business - gosh it's hard being a woman sometimes)

I dread them more than "the curse" which some of you may find it hard to believe.

So, with that in mind, I was soooo pleased when I dropped my boys off at school this morning. They woke up in the silliest of moods - both of them running around the house like headless chickens and generally driving me, and my headache, up the wall. I drove up to the school gates and said to myself "here you go, you can have them....", then drove a way with a smile on my face. Does that make me an awful Mum? No, just a sane one (for 7 hours anyway!!)

So here I am sitting, peacefully, at the computer wondering what on earth I can show you today...

I have a big pile of dishes on the sink from last night (because I just felt like cr*p and didn't want to do them) but you don't want to see those.

Perhaps we need something cheery?

Ok, what about me in another life travelling the world, footloose and fancy free in my 20's....that always cheers me up...

London '94.

I had worked, for 15 months to save up, in a little place called Halls Gap in the Grampians National Park here in Victoria. With nothing to spend money on it was the perfect place to save up for my "dream". I had had this dream since my parents took me overseas at 13. I was an only child and feel very privileged to have been at that age. I left Aussie soil, at the age of 21, and didn't return until nearly 3 years later.
I really want to win the Lottery so I can take my boys overseas to all the places I (and Hubs) have been. We met in "The Lake District" in the UK (both on "working holidays") and we both look back on those times with such appreciation. I hope my boys will have the same love of travelling that we do.

Before we had children we decided to save up like crazy and have one last trip in 2000. Little did we know that when we took off around the globe there was a little person tagging along for the ride!!! Not many kids can say they have been around the world! We visited the USA, England and .....
Greece .

We had both been before (seperately) and knew that we had to see it together. Hubs celebrated his 30th birthday on the island of Ios. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have enough money to be able to do it when ever you wanted to? Right now, it's kids, a home and work...maybe...one day....
The world really is an amazing place.

Carpe Diem!

Kathryn. XX

Etsy Lovin' !!!

Would ya look at this! My very first feature on a "Treasury"! See my little "Bag of Mischief" down the bottom left? I feel very honoured. That's all I'm going to say.....

Speaking of Etsy, my Etsy shop, "My Shabby Cottage", had been updated with all of the "Pussikins" and the "Poochikin! Check them out!

(Remember prices on Etsy are in US dollars and I will take bank deposits from any Aussies - you just go through the checkout, submit your order, then I will email you with the converted rate and my bank details. Easy peasy lemon squeasy!!!)

Kathryn. XX

WOOF!!!

I just had to show you the little pooch I have just finished.

"Woof!"
A suggestion was made the other day that I should make a dog softie.
So, I had a fiddle around with some ideas for the face and Voila!

She is well trained, doesn't chew on the furniture, doesn't bark much (accept if there is a "Pussikin" around), doesn't eat much and loves to be cuddled!!! The perfect pet!

If I make a few more, I will have to think up a name for them like my "Pussikins" cats. Any suggestions?

Kathryn. XX

( EDIT note: I just thought of "Poochikins" it would kind of go with "Pussikins"??)

I love your blog too!

This special award was passed on to me by Marie!

Thank you Marie. Check out Marie's blog here for wonderful family life, vintage ephemera, craft and general bloggy goodness.Now, I have to pass it on to seven other bloggers. Please don't feel obligated to blog it if you receive it.

Apple and Eve For beautiful embroidered softies and more!

My Pink and Cream Cottage for wonderful shabby handmade delights and for Lyn's honest approach to the world!

Dutch Colours for her wonderful photos of the Netherlands, her wonderful sweater bags, and vintage books.

Shabby Vintage Mandii for all things Shabby to Chic, restored furniture, lamps, and general girlie goodness!

The Pink Poodle just because I love Andrea's blog, I love that she loves Cath Kidston too!

Shabby Art Boutique Kerryanne is one of the nicest bloggers, always leaves a comment, paints beautifully and is so talented!

Floresascores Sandra was my secret bag swap partner a while back and I just love reading her blog from Portugal
If you accept the award you may pop it in your sidebar but you must blog it and pass it on to seven others - (leave a comment on their blogs to let them know)

Kathryn. XX

Pussikins!

I finished my "Pussikins" last night in front of the T.V.

I thought since I had started them the other day

(for the order - which was cancelled),

I may as well finish them.....

These little "Pussikins" have been busy catching their supper.....

I added a few extra touches......The dead birdies!!!

"It wasn't me...I promise"!

Oh, yeah, so what's that hanging out of your mouth then???

"Charlotte" is very prim and proper.

Butter would melt in her mouth....but a little birdie would!!

"I got it!!!" (a mouse)
This little lady is so fat but she is always hungry.
"Have you any "tid bits" for me?"

They will be listed on Our Shabby Cottage and Esty soon....
Kathryn. XX