Baby Pillow...

I had to show you this cute little baby pillow which I finished this morning.

(It is available now at Our Shabby Cottage - click on the pic to go straight there)

I have had a few of these fabric blocks for ages (...2 years or more) and I found them the other day and decided it was time to put them to good use before I lose them again.

It is such a sweet little vintage picture.

A cute cuddly baby surrounded by fluffy pillows, her rattle and dear 'ol doggie finishing off her bottle. He does seem to have a slightly guilty look on his face!
I forget the name of the artist. Maybe someone out there can tell me?
Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Kathryn. XX
P.S. the website has just been updated with the lovely picture frames from the previous post - click on the "Website Update" pic on my sidebar.

Nearly finished and New stuff....

I've just about finished the "Matryoshka Doll Quilt". I just have to do the label for the back.

Here it is "mid stipple"!

I had some left over strips from the quilt so I made this cute little zipper purse.
If you look closely at the zipper pull you may see an angel....
These are some fabric covered canvases that I finished off the other day.
I have used Rachel Ashwell's "wildflower" fabric along with some pretty pink ribbon and roses....

I found these frames this morning and had to put some of my all time favourite fabrics in them. They will all be for sale at Our Shabby Cottage and My Shabby Cottage soon....

(except for the quilt!)

What are you crafting today?

Kathryn. XX

On a diet (only for today!)

This is what we had for dinner last night....

It was Shrove Tuesday after all.....
Yummmm!
No savoury fillings here...just Maple Syrup (Pancake no.1),
blueberries with Maple Syrup (Pancake no.2),
lemon and sugar (Pancake no.3)
and then to finish off (Oh yes I had 4!) Maple Syrup with ice-cream!
Need I say more?
Did you have pancakes last night?
Kathryn. XX

Another peek...

I have almost finished the "Matryoshka Doll Quilt" and since these photos were taken, I have quilted it and made the binding.
All it needs now, are the rosey cheeks and the binding sewn on.

Doesn't this look yummy!

I spent Friday morning with Kylie from "A Bite of Country Cupcakes" at her lovely home with her two gorgeous little girls.
Kylie had made date scones, and plain scones with....butterscotch butter, blackberry cream, cream and jam.

I think I will go to her home again...

Thank you Kylie, for a lovely morning.

Kathryn. XX

It's official, I am a winner!

Of a giveaway, that is!

I have been blogging, now, for 9 months and have entered many giveaways but this is the FIRST one that I have won! You can imagine my excitement can't you!Heleen from Dutch Colours had a pretty giveaway on her blog recently. The gift was a beautiful pink "Valentine Sweetheart" embroidered with little flowers. It arrived this morning and I was thrilled to open this little package.
Not only did she send the heart but all the supplies I would need to make my own heart, some pretty fabric and a lovely card.
Thank you so much Heleen, I love it all!
Some new Shabby Union Jack cushions...after the disaster the other day! They are in my shop now.
And finally, an award passed on to me by "Happy Loves Rosie". I had not come across Happy's blog before but I was delighted at what I saw - lovers of Cath Kidston and vintage delights start swooning!

Upon receiving the Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and gratitude.

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude

3. Link to your nominees within your post

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

So here are the 8 blogs I will pass the award to:

Marie - Spun by Me

Kylie - A Bite of Country Cupcakes

Kerryanne - Shabby Art Boutique

Kristina - Shabbily ever After

Gail - Originals by Gail & Tony McCormack

M - Tales from an O.C Cottage

Andrea - The Pink Poodle

Sairer - Vintage Pretty and Shabby

It's going to be a great day!

Kathryn. XX

More quilts, a disaster and hubs blog.

I decided to use up some more of my fabric from the shelves. Instead of leaving it to gather dust and fade, it was time to put it to good use.

The peaches and cream fabrics I have had for about 2 years which, to me, is shameful. Why buy it, if you are not going to use it straight away....well, I tend to buy fabric when it is on sale, so I stock up, then it sits....until I get around to it.

There is another pink and green quilt too. This one is more cot size.
Pinned and ready to be quilted.

Now, this was the disaster. I had just about finished this cushion when I ruined it!

I overlocked the seams, turned it right side out, put the insert in, then realised I had caught some of the backing in the overlocking....."Oh, cr*p" I said, quickly reaching for the quick unpick all the while hoping that I had not caught the fabric in the cuttter of the overlocker..... but it was not to be - and now I had a bloomin' great big hole in the backing.

POOP.

And because the zipper was along the bottom, it was going to take way to long to unpick everything, and replace the backing, so I just thought it would be quicker to make another one. It has been cruedly fixed and will be destined to live on one of my shelves.

It looks fine from the front. (But not the back!)

Now, for some great news....Hubs has started his blog about building our house.

"Go Build a House"

Pop on over and say "Hi Greg!".

Make sure you bookmark it so you can follow us on our house building journey.

Kathryn. XX

My sewing mojo has returned.....

It's back......

I made these cute little pin cushions yesterday. They will be in the shop and etsy soon....
The trim on this Union Jack cushion is vintage and I found it at the "Dookie Emporium".
I knew, as soon as I spotted it, where it was destined....I have two of these - available soon on the website and etsy.

And, I could stand it no longer. My old ironing board cover had a great big gapping hole in the middle of it (not to mention the revolting fabric itself) so a new one was in order. I have decided to try and start decreasing my fabric stash and get and use it.

This fabric is called "Kate" by Laura Ashley and I have had it for ages.....

It was much easier to make than I thought and I was finished in 45 minutes. The hardest part was threading the elastic through!!

*

The kids are having a "Free Dress Day" at school today with a gold coin donation to raise money for the bushifire victims. I saw a lot of kids with $5 notes. With nearly 600 kids at the school they should raise quite a lot of money. One of the teachers' brothers' hired a truck and will be going down to Whittlesea today with donated toys, clothes, animal supplies etc...

People have been wonderful haven't they?

Kathryn. XX

Sod (n.surface of ground) off!!! I'm not being rude!

Something exciting happened last week - the boys performed the "Turning of the Sod Ceremony".

Then something exciting happened this week - the builder really turned the sod....

It is all beginning to happen for us. The dream is slowly turning into a reality. Hubs is going to start his own blog about building the house. As a Building Practioner it is probably more exciting for him to see his plans come to fruition.

I have finally managed to do the girls faces. I am yet to decide on their cheeks....embroider or just "rub" a little pink on - pencil, paint, blush, a bit of lipstick just to give it a softer look.

I'm pleased with how they all look...so far.

These funky wristlets are in my Esty shop now.

I am slowly getting back into it!

Take care, Kathryn.

P.S. The Australian Red Cross has raised inexcess of $31 million Australian dollars. Isn't that amazing. People are wonderful in times of crisis.

A few ways we all can help....

A few wonderful bloggers have come up with some great ways in which we crafty people can help those devastated by fires on the weekend.

Silly Gilly is organising a big Ebay auction of goodies. Please contact her here for more info and details on where to send toys, bags, clothes etc...

Monica from Beyond Pink and Blue is organising comfort packs for children to keep them busy while Mum and Dad are busy rebuilding their lives, but would love some handmade bags to put them in. Any donation of childrens items would be greatly appreciated too. Click here for details.

The Toy Society is trying to round up lots of toys to give to children. Please donate what you can. Click here for details.

Any gift, no matter how big or small, will make a difference to someone so go and sew something or rummage through your stash of goodies and give.

("Pink and Green handmade quilt")

On a brighter note (which is hard at the moment) I have updated the website - at last. You can click here or on the picture in my sidebar to see what has been listed.

Kathryn. XX

We are safe

After receiving many emails from my friends around the world I thought I had better do a quick post to let you know that we are safe and well.

There are hundreds of fires still not under control right around our state of Victoria.

Fortunately, none near us.
The biggest fire wiped out a whole town (Kinglake) killing many people who where trapped in their homes. The wind changed and they had no where to go.
More Information can be found here.

Fire-fighters from around the country are travelling long distances to come and help.
Donations are flooding in (money, food, water, shelter, clothes, nappies etc..). Our emergency plan has been put into place for the many thousands of people left homeless.
Over 110 people now have been confirmed as dead with many more missing and countless homes left to be inspected for the dead.
It has been a horrible weekend one like we have not seen before.

Thankfully, everyone we know is OK and we are safe.

Please pray for those who have lost their loved one's, their homes, their memories.

Donations can be made through the Red Cross.

Every little thought, prayer or donation will help those who have lost everything.

With thanks to my wonderful blogging friends.

Kathryn. XX

Is it just me?

I am finding it really hard to get back into the routine lately.
The kids have gone back to school and I have so many things on my list of things to "make and do" but I just can't seem to get back into my routine.

Is it just me, or are you all suffering from it too?

I said to myself at the end of last year that I was not going to do any sewing for the shop over the holidays. It was time to spend with the family.

(lavender strawberries)

But, I did make a few things over the 5 weeks I have had off.

I couldn't resist the temptation.

(Barkcloth cushions - small one with lavender sachet inside)

The lure of the sewing machine was too great and I did make myself the pink quilt.

(Shabby Bunting)

And I did dream up the next quilt. I have done all of the blanket stitch around the dolls and they are ready for faces (which I have been putting off 'cause it's all just too hard...).

But why is it all so hard now?

I have time on my side, no kids to hassle me, no tennis on the T.V. to distract me (shame) and cooler weather.

Um, dunno? Maybe next week will be more productive.

Kathryn. XX

Hello Possum.....

I know I have been A.W.O.L for a few days and that is due to the extreme heat we experienced last week. We had nearly a whole week of 40 plus temperatures and I couldn't even sit in front of the computer because it was too hot! Even the air conditioner struggled and, sitting right under it, I still felt hot.

This poor little lady (a ring tailed possum) wandered into our garden one evening looking very hot and bothered. She plonked herself in a shady tree and stayed there calmly while I took some photos.

She had a baby in her pouch - you can just see the tiny feet above hers on the tree. I put some water out for her because there isn't much of it about. I hope she found it.

This is a little wristlet purse I finished as a present for a friend last week..
That's the only sewing I have done lately but it is back to it this week because.......

........my little munchkins are back at school today! Woo Hoo!

The sewing room won't know what has hit it.

I hope everyone is cooling off this week!

Kathryn. XX