I'm NOT a model, you'll know what I mean......

....when you look at these photos!!!

HA!!

Stand up straight and suck that tummy in!

Well, I have had two kids.

So, obviously this is the "rebel" skirt I was telling you about.
The one with the outside zipper. It doesn't look overly messy and inside out does it? I love the buttons; they are metal with a slightly celtic pattern on them. Maybe I could do an Irish jig?

Now this would never do in a photo shoot, see the white thread hanging off my leg?

I'm sure I'm not on my own here, am I girls? I often get strange looks when I go to the shops and I realise I'm covered in threads!

Back view.

Perhaps I can blame the photographer for not making me look like a model?

Kathryn. XX

The sky is.......

Burning?

It does look like it's on fire doesn't it!

These pics were taken from the back patio two nights ago.

Amazing.

And in other news....

*Nearly finished the skirt and it's looking good.
*School holidays start at 2.30 this afternoon and we can't wait.

*Listening to SIA at the moment and loving it. (She is also on the Eclipse soundtrack!)

*going to see Eclipse next Friday whoo hoo!

*Trying to keep warm - it's 5 degrees outside.

*Making Moussaka for dinner tonight. YUM, reminds me of Greece.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, Kathryn. XX

My creative space.....

Inspired by Catherine (the amazing fashionista), Nikki's friend, at Sewjourn a few weels ago, I bought some fabric yesterday with this skirt in mind.
I have pleated it the same on the back too. I think I will leave the sides flat at the seams - I don't need more enhancing in the hip department! And, I'm going to be daring and put the zip on the outside of the seam. It seems to be the thing to do at the moment.
I am usually one of those sewers who do most things by the book with my mother in my head saying "you must make it look neat".
So, I am going to be a rebel! (and not wear this skirt in front of my Mum!!!!!)
I'll post a photo when it is finished.
What's going on in your creative space today?
More over at Kirsty's here.
Kathryn. XX

Sewing room curtains.....

Well, Thursdays' "tomorrow" has turned into today, Monday, and I promised photos of the sewing room cutains.

My parents have been with us for three days, staying with us on the last leg of their journey home. They have been away, again, in the USA/Canada. So, I have been little preoccupied!

Anyway, here they are.....

Opened.Closed!

I made them in the same Roman Blind system that the others have been.

Easy, but back breaking.
Housework is calling my name. See you all tomorrow, Kathryn. XX

My creative space.......

Today, in "My Creative Space", I have been taking more photos of the cushions I have just finished.

This fabric is from the "Fragonard" collection by Richloom fabrics. I bought it years ago and I haven't had the guts ( I hope my MIL isn't readign this - she hates the word "guts". It is pretty awful isn't it) to chop in to it. But what is the point of having these wonderful fabrics if we don't use them?
And this one is made with a Laura Ashley fabric from the US. I have no idea what this one is called. Perhaps I should have looked at the selvedge?
I finished my sewing room curtains today too (YEAH!) and hubs helped me put them up. I will take a photo tomorrow and show you.
What happened in your creative space today?
More over here at Kirsty's.
Kathryn. XX

Linen and Lace.....

I've been having fun with "Linen and Lace" over the last few days making more doorstops.

I am trying to make do with what I have lying around and using up my precious vintage carved Mother of Pearl buttons too...gasp!
Playing around with raw edge applique....and the darning foot on the machine.

They are available in my Etsy shop if anyone's interested and I also have a few things on SALE in the shop too!

Have a great day, Kathryn. XX

A winner and a weekend at Dookie....

Christine from Auntie's Quaint Quilts is the winner of the giveaway! Congratulations Christine. I will be in touch with you soon!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

And, it was wonderful to hear from bloggers who have been following me for ages but never commented. I hope it won't stop here! Over the long weekend we visited my amazing Grandmother in Dookie. See this post about DookieThe boys climbed "Saddleback" - what a view. I forgot my sneakers.....
We had a wander about the little town and visited
The Dookie Emporium again. As usual it was stocked to overflowing with wonderful treasures. I walked out with a whole spool of black velvet 1" ribbon for $5! Bargain.We didn't have room in the car for much else!

The emporium shares space with the

Dookie Havest Cafe. We had a really great coffee here.Now, as usual, after coming home from my Grandmother's I am going on a diet - too much wonderful food and pudding! We had a great long weekend. I hope you did too?

Kathryn. XX

It's giveaway time!

To celebrate my 250th post and my 200th follower I am having a cute giveaway! Yeah!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment, it's that simple. Everyone can enter.

I'm hoping all of my followers out there will leave a comment, so don't be shy.

Look what you could win......

This cute little Matryoshka doll named "Elsa" made by me!

A cute "Lavender Strawberry Kit" which includes the instructions,fabric and all of the embellishments needed to make two pretty strawberries! You can pick which kit you like the best.

And one of my handmade "Elizabethan style Kissing Balls". This will be made especially for the winner depending on where they live. (ie. with lavender if you are in Australia or without if you are international)
Plus a few other assorted goodies that I may squeeze into the post bag!
This is my way of saying thank you to blog land for wonderful friends and crafty peeps who keep me going!
Now, go on and enter.
You have until Tuesday morning 10am AEST.

Goodluck! Kathryn. XX

My creative space......

Camera in hand in our lounge room, trying to get the perfect pattern cover shot for the "Matryoshka Rose" doll quilt and pillow. (coming soon)

And, pattern writing. Not much else. I wonder what everyone else is up to? Hop on over to Kootoyoo's "My creative space" here to check it out.
Kathryn. XX

Wordless wednesday.....

More here.

Kathryn. XX

Party, Party, Party!

What a fantastic night!

We ended up having 45 people here and everything went so smoothly. I was super organised and everything was ready about 1/2 hour before our first guests arrived so I was able to enjoy the night too.

I want to thank the person who invented the "Slow Cooker"!!!

Hubs' Mum made the cake, thank you Nanna!
I think we had nearly as many kids here as adults!
Everyone enjoyed the food. I made a "Beef and Guninness" casserole as well as a "Thai green curry" with rice, chat potatoes, beans, peas, salad, garlic bread, bread and of course lots of party pies and sausage rolls for the kids both young and old!
And here I am, snapped by master 7 before everyone arrived (wearing the funky new top I made at sewjourn - thanks Lara.

It was our first big party event.

Our other house would not have survived it...and neither would I.

"Thank you" to those who left Hubs a birthday message on the previous post too; he was chuffed.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend too.

Kathryn. XX

Fly in a bottle.....

Yep, that is me, a fly in a bottle; organising food, drinks, house etc... for Hubs 40th birthday tomorrow night! (wall art by me -fabric covered canvas and a little tin sign I picked up the other day)

I think I need to take this ladies advice and go and have a coffee.

(maybe not the bit about doing stupid things though!!!)

Why?

35 friends and family are to arrive at 6 for dinner and drinks.

The slow cookers are at the ready, food is prepped, drinks are chillin', jobs have been delegated, presents bought ...oh!........ not wrapped........

Better go, see you on the other side of madness!

Our cat Coco looking on "while I work", yeah right!

Kathryn. XX

Has it really been that long???

Hello everyone!

Yes, long time no see.

It is lovely to be back and feeling rejuvinated!

I hope you are all well and happy?

I can't believe that I have been away from blogland for so long!
So, what have I been up to......
Well, of course more painting...blah! But it was my sewing room to be done so it wasn't too painful! I am so pleased to have 90% of it done. Just the wardrobe doors to put on and hang the roman blinds I have made - this ruined my back for 4 days; bending over on the floor all day was not a very good idea, don't do it people!

These are the roman blinds I made for the Kitchen. I wanted something a bit cute in here so I used Cath Kidston's Strawberries!

And these are the ones I made for the box bay window. Lincraft quoted me $1000 to make roller blinds for the large window and the two very small ones on the side. I nearly died....so I decided to make a Roman blind myself all for $100!!! Please don't look at the state of the windows - that was something I did not get done!

I have also hung pictures all over the place...I'll show you more later. It is looking much more like our home now with a few more finishing touches about.

And we let the builders back to make more mess!!! Finally our retaining wall, back patio and pergola have been done. Hubs wants to do crazy paving all over it. We will be able to sit outside on a beautiful winters day and enjoy the beautiul sunshine we have been having lately.

Besides working around the house, I have also enjoyed a wonderful weekend away at Sewjourn with a lovely bunch of gals, caught up with friends, listened to lots of great music, read books, watched movies, watched endless soccer matches, had lots of family time and just generally enjoyed life.
It feels good to be back.

Kathryn. XX