I love magazines

I have a bit of an addication, apart from caffeine and the occasional glass of wine.  I love crafting magazines.  Unfortunately I tend to like the more expensive, international magazines.  Here are some of my more recent indulgences

The Maire Claire Idees Christmas edition, Quilting Arts Stitch and Sew Hip a UK sewing magazine.  None of these magazines are particularly easy to come by, but once found they are a treasure to drool over as you sit down with a cup of tea and dream of a life where you can spend endless time creating.

Here are a few of the gorgeous photos from the Marie Claire Idees and Sew Hip.

I am getting ideas for this years Christmas Swap.

These guys are great.

And I love this.  Time to stop looking and get making.

A Great Book and the Cats that Own Us

I would like to share with you a great book that I am reading at the moment called Cleo how an uppity cat helped heal a family. Written by Helen Brown, a New Zealand journalist, it is a true story of a cat that came into her family's life shortly after the death of her son.  I like Helen's slightly irreverent style of writing and I cannot recommend this book enough.

I am a cat person - I/we are owned by two cats Alley (aka Elvis, Alley Belly Ballerina) and Harley (aka H-man, Harlemesiter).  We were only ever meant to have one cat (says Alley) but a couple of years ago we fostered kittens for the SPCA.  We were going to be home over the Christmas, New Year holidays and the SPCA was desperate for foster families.  We were interviewed, had our house inspected and deemed worthy fosterers.  So three kittens came into our lives, all black and white and all from different litters.  A few days later the SPCA asked whether we could take one more - he was black and white - so of course we had to say yes.  We named him Harley because he roared around the place like a bikey on a Harley Davidson.

Now when we entered into the world of fostering I was very clear to my family that WE WERE NOT KEEPING ONE.  Well it was me that crumbled - I was sprung by family one day introducing Harley to Alley. 

So Harley joined our family..

The rest is history and we would not go back.  But for now I am banned from fostering for the SPCA.  Alley would not allow it.....  it might spoil her beauty sleep.

I would however highly recommend fostering, it was a great experience, but be aware you may end up with an extra cat or two and a new lived in look for your lounge suite/curtains.  It was all worth it.

New Fabrics and Quilt Top Finished

Yeah the Lizzy House Red Letter Day fabrics have finally arrived!  I am loving these - they are happy fabrics.  I wish I could have got more.  This is called Ugly Duckling but I think he/they are gorgeous.

In a record time (for me) I finished the Princess and the Pea quilt top.  The not overthinking things seems to have worked.  No procrastinating, no wondering about if, buts or maybes.

Do you want to see...

This photo is not the best, more ironing, better lighting and angle etc all would have helped but you get the picture!  Now I need to decide on backing fabric and binding etc.  Any suggestions?

Missy Moo very innocently asked who's it for?  I don't know I replied.  To which she said could she have it.  How many quilts does a 12 year old need?

It is nice to have something go well, because just recently I seem to have been plagued by computer problems which has a serious mood altering effects on me.  I have been ready to throw either myself or the computer out the window.  I have been grumpy.  Compterman (like Superman but more nerdy) came around today and he can make it all better again - Windows 7, more memory, more money.... sigh.

Also on a brighter note my sister and brother in law arrive in town today ready for the Martinborough Fair on Saturday.  I will be Market Assistant for Glitz Art Glass, my sister's art glass jewellery and Missy Moo is going to be the able Market Assistant to the Golden Bay Toy Boy aka my brother in law, who is a toy maker.  If you are in Martinborough come and say hello - we are in The Square.

Trying not to overthink things...

I have tendency to overthink things especially when it comes to my sewing, quilting, crafting.  Is it good enough, should it be wider, smaller, are the colours right.  You get the drift.

Well after a dry patch of very little sewing I am trying to get back into the swing of things with a new quilt.  The rules of this quilt are that it has to be put together quickly, no mucking around, no overthinking things  -JUST DO IT!

These are the fabrics I decided upon...

These are from Heather Ross's Far Far away range with a couple of spots thrown in for good measure.

This is what I got done in about an hour or so this afternoon

Now you will see the green dot is absent.  I couldn't help myself.  I just wasn't sure about it.  See what I mean.  I am intending to put sashing between each row.  The great thing about this quilt is that apart from the width of the pieces nothing else is measured.

I am blogging about this to keep myself honest (no going back) and also as a motivational tool to get it finished in keeping with the illusion of everything is effortless (NOT).

Stayed tuned for more quilt updates!

Back to Welly and Back to Work

Well we are back home and there has been no rest here, straight back into work, Stitchbird work and HR work. Plus it is the school holidays here and there is a certain expectation from my kids for fun and entertainment, which ususally involves me spending money!  Thankfully the weather has been good and there has been a lot of swimming at the beach and wharf jumping - low budget, high value.

The sales trip went very well and I met some lovely people who make beautiful things. 

I would like to share with you some photos that I took at es design this week.  Eleanor was one of my first customers and she has made some wonderful cushions using the Kokka and Echino fabrics.

 These cushions have a beautiful hot pink backing and piping.  And another

They have seriously cool stuff in their store, which is in Marion Street for those of you who haven't visited already.

Escaping and Looking for the Sun

Tomorrow we are heading off in search of some sun, sand and relaxation.  Wellington's weather has improved over the last couple of days, but prior to that it has been grey, wet and windy.  So off we go in search of sun.  It is also an opprtunity to meet up with a few retailers to hopefully sell some fabric wholesale.  Fingers crossed.

In a previous post I mentioned buying a needle felting book and because I can't take my sewing machine on holiday I packed a little bit of wool and a needle felting needle and spent a little bit of time playing.  It was great as I could sit in my sister's studio as she made her beads and I stabbed at wool.

Two wee guys emerged.  The penguin is a gift for a penguin lover.  The mouse has a slighlty gammy leg, but his friend the penguin doesn't mind.

Happy New Year and Favourite Fabrics of 2009

Happy New Year everyone!  Sorry I did not get to post before we went away but with the madness of packing and Christmas preparations I ran out of time.  We had a great holiday in the South Island but unfortunately there was not much sun.  More about that in another post.

What I wanted to tell you about is a great giveaway at True Up.  For those of you that do not know about it True Up is a great blog about all things fabric.  To be in the giveaway you need to prepare your list of your 10 favourite fabrics of 2010 (there are a number of different categories) and link it back to True Up.  An opportunity to talk about fabrics and the chance to win something!  What could be better.

So here is my list for 2009 -

Favourite Quilting Weight Cotton Collection

Well that would have to be either the Saffron Craig or Heather Ross Far Far Away fabrics both are gorgeous. 

 Favourite Trends (Colours)
I love the way designers are breaking away from traditional colour combinations and putting colours together differently, for example Saffron Craig has put pink and red and yellow and red together in her Dandelion fabrics.  I also love that there is more orange out there it is such a happy colour.

 Biggest Fabric World Story/News
That would have to be that the Far Far Away range of fabric is Heather Ross's last.  I felt I had only just got to know about her great designs (we tend to get fabrics in New Zealand after the rest of the world), only to find out there will be no more boo hoo.

Favourite Overall Designer
This is a toughy there are so many great designers out there to choose from.  I love Etsuko Furuya for her funky bold designs and I also love Heather Bailey - her new Nicey Jane range is great.  (Am I allowed 2?).

Favourite New Designer
I love Lizzy House's Red Letter Day  designs.  Again she may not be so new overseas but she is here.  I am pleased that I have been able to source some of her fabric for my shop! (Watch this space).

Favourite Novelty Print
Hard decisions!  How can I narrow it down to just one.
One of my favourite in 2009 (but may have been 2008 elsewahere) was Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo.  I bought this overseas and wish that it had been available here.  The unavailability of some great fabrics did lead me to start importing fabrics to NZ though, so maybe it was a sign!

Here it is in a quilt I made for my new nephew:

 Favourite Print from Japan
The new Etsuko Furuya Bird Song - I am head over heels for this fabric.  This fabric should be in NZ In February.

Favourite Juvenille Print Boys

The zoo print from Kokka.  The images are beautiful.  This could be for either girls or boys.

Favourite Juvenille Print Girls
I think the Farm Girl is so sweet.
 

Favourite Solid/Non Printed
I love the Kona cottons.  Does anyone know where we can get from here in New Zealand?  I may have to investigate further...

Favourite Fabric Shop
Stitchbird Fabrics of course!

Thanks True Up for an awesome fabric blog and the opportunity to win some more fabric.  There is never enough fabric!!