Cat in the Hat

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Quiet weekend

I got lots of sewing done on the weekend.  I’ve finished the first of 2 Cat in the Hat cot quilts I’m making for the shop, just need to bind it today.  It will be good to get something finished.

 Lilly, Cam and I went over the hill to the Hutt on Saturday.  We had a play down at Petone beach (mostly the playground as it was blowing a gale), then browsed some shops, had lunch and went to Maidstone Max Park on the way home.  Not a bad way to spend the day.  We’ve decided that if it’s fine next weekend we will go to Southward Car Museum and Raumati beach for the day.  If it could rain during the week instead of the weekend that would be good.  We are getting desperate for some rain, I’m too scared to check the water level in the tanks, but I know they are getting very low.

We took Cameron to the little BMX track just up the road yesterday.  That’s the first time for him.  He can get around so fast on his running bike!  Lots of fun.

Anyway, back later with pics of the quilt.

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Gratuitious shop post

Lots of cute baby shoes in the shop today, including some cute Cat in the Hat ones.  Go on over to the shop if you want some

Might have to make some jumbo size ones for cam for winter, he doesn’t have any slippers that will fit this year.

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6.3 in Christchurch !!!!!!!!!!!

Sad news that Christchurch has again been hit by a major earthquake.  This one was much shallower and closer to the city centre than the Sept 4th quake and the damage is much worse.  There is loss of life and many with injuries.  We are watching the news unfold.    Our hearts go out to everyone affected.

Edited to add : 65 confirmed dead so far

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Catching up

I feel like I’ve been working hard but not much to show for it.  All up in the past 2 weeks I’ve made 11 pairs of kids pants.  I guess that’s not too bad as they average out at about 3 hours each with all the topstitching.  4 of those were for Cameron, 2 for a friends boy, 1 for another friends boy, 2 custom orders, 1 Dr Seuss pair and 1 spare which I’ll put in the shop soon (size 1).  Here’s cam in his plain denim ones.  I think I like these even better than the ones with contrasting pockets and patches. 

So now that I’m pantsed out, I thought I had better get onto February’s bee blocks.

1 and a half blocks for Amy.

2 blocks for Lori.

I almost finished a very cool Mondrian inspired block for Gwen, but I ran out of the sashing fabric, so Gwen is going to finish that instead of sending more fabric out.

Just 2 more blocks left to make for the other Amy and I’ll be done !!  Yay.

Our garden is not producing very well this year.  This (see pic) plus 3 other small cocktail tomatoes is all we’ve had from our plants so far.  The plants are healthy enough, just slow.  Not many zucchini either.   Actually there is one plant doing well – my gherkins.  I’m too lazy to preserve them so I’m letting them grow into cucumbers instead.  We’ve had some lovely Gazpacho (sp??).

 

Here’s hoping it rains sometime in the next few days, it’s so dry here.  Almost 30°C today.  I’m going to take the kids down to the river for a quick swim before dinner.

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Just what the Dr ordered (Seuss that is)

I really love the Dr Seuss fabric.  I’ve had it waiting in my cupboard for a couple of months now.  Boy was it hard to resist cutting into it for so long.  On Monday I caved in.  I was good though, by using a stack and whack type pattern I was able to get the whole quilt top completed i a day (about 5 hours all up).  So I don’t have to feel like I have unfinished work sitting around.  The completed top will be quilted up before Winter for Cameron.  He hasn’t seen it yet.  I worked on while he was at Kindy and I hid it in my quilt top drawer.

Now that I have that out the way I know how much spare Dr Seuss fabric I have left and can plan some quilts for the shop.  Today I got 3 pairs of jeans finished, 2 commission ones and one for the sale.  I put these Dr Seuss pants up for sale and have to say was pretty stoked when they sold in just over a minute.  Fast eh?? Was to one of my repeat customers who has purchased quite a few pairs of jeans for her boys.  Always good to have satisfied customers.

I didn’t give Cam a chance to see them either, otherwise he would have snaffled them up.  I finished a heap of baby shoes for the shop on the weekend, there are still a few pairs there if anyone is after some.

Alrighty then, it’s off to bed for me.  More sewing, arguing with teenagers and preschoolers tomorrow I suppose.

Happy sewing.

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An auction for Hope

On one of the forums I’m has a family in need.  Their little girl Hope has been battling Cancer for the past 2 years.  After a gruelling round of treatments Hope was in remission, but sadly the family have had the bad news that Hope’s cancer is spreading and she is no longer in remission.  Such sad news for the family, wee Hope is just about to turn 4 years old. One of the things that we can do to help is to ease the financial pressure for the family as Hope’s parents spend as much time as they can with their beautiful daughter.

I’ve donated one of the quilts in my shop for auction to raise funds.  If you’d like to buy this lovely quilt and have your purchase help this family, you can go here : The Nappy Network and go to the forum, you will find this and other auctions to raise funds for Hope in the Trading Post section.  To access this area of the forum you would need to create a user account, please don’t let this put you off, it’s quick and painless   Alternatively you can contact me through the email address in the sidebar and I would be happy to make a proxy bid on behalf of any of my regular readers.

Below are details of the auction:

Current bid is $70 NZD  now $100 NZD(freepost NZ wide, international buyers will need to pay post.  Funds accepted through direct deposit or Paypal)

Auction closes Tuesday 15th 8pm (NZ time)

Stunning and vibrant. This quilt is one of a kind. It has a sister quilt, but no other quilt is the same.

Gorgeous colours which appeal to babies and fantastic prints that appeal to babies and parents alike.

The outer fabric for the front is 100% cotton, the outer fabric for the back is anti-pill Egyptian cotton interlock, which is lovely and soft like t-shirting. Batting is 100% cotton.

Approximate size is 90cmx 125cm.

Perfect as the top layer for a cot yet small enough to be portable for taking in the buggy, carseat or using as a playmat.

Machine washable on gentle cycle and can be line or tumble dried. This quilt will take on an antique, crinkled look after washing.

This beautiful quilt would make a great gift

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A preview

It’s my month to be queen bee for the Fresh Modern bee.  Look at some of the blocks made for me so far……………

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Februray already….

I can’t believe how fast the past two weeks have gone.  It makes such a big difference when the kids are all at school and Kindy.  It’s been a smooth start to the year for all of the kids.  Cameron was so pleased to get back to Kindy and all his friends again.  He looks forward to going every day.  Lilly was so bored at home for the last of the holidays and excited and nervous about starting college that her bag was packed a week before school started.  Nathan was chilled as expected.  I’m pleased to say Nathan passed his NCEA level 1 maths exams so is doing level 2 this year (a year ahead of schedule).  He is happy with all of his teachers and subject choices which makes a huge difference to his attitude about school.

With the kids back into routine I’m trying to get mine sorted.  I am just getting back into proper exercise and diet, no weight loss for the past 3 weeks, but I’m happy that I have maintained and not put any back on.  Now to get back on track and lose so more weight and improve my fitness.

I’ve been sewing up some clothes for the coming winter.  Pants for the boys (Cam and his mate).  I have pics of 2 pairs, but I’ve made 4 so far.  2 more to go.  I can’t show pics of 2 pairs as my big computer is dead at the moment, looks like the power supply is gone.  I’m sure Ian will have it up and running again very soon (fingers crossed).

I’m really pleased with the pants, they are all made from fabric that I was either given or found at the op shop ages ago, so have cost virtually nothing.  Yay.  Not so happy that I broke both my twin needles though   which are expensive to replace.  Bugger.

I’m making baby shoes for the shop and to give as presents.  I know a few people who are due to have babies soon and the shoes make a cute present.

Just a reminder for those of you out there who are marvelling at the quilt progress lately, remember that last few are all half done already, I’m just trying to finish them.  I’m not some kinds superwoman quilter .

I’ll leave you with a pic that cheered me up today.  Free food.  The blackberries this year are seriously sweet and juicy.  Cam helped me pick them (at least I know he’s had some vitamins today).

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Six

Number 6 is done – YAY!!!

I have admit this one nearly didn’t get made at all.

It’s a quilting bee quilt, sort of anyway.  Out of all the bee’s I’ve been in (10 in total, 4 of which are still currently running) this was the worst and nearly put me off quilting bees completely.  It was only the 2nd or 3rd bee I’d participated in and I was still a bit naive I think.  I only ended up with 8 blocks back instead of the 11 I should have had.  I asked for paper pieced blocks, which is something I would never do now that I have hindsight, not only because a lot of bee participants will say yes they are happy to do paper piecing, but in reality they are not that keen, but also I got everyone to print off their own pattern pieces and not everyone was printing to scale (including me)! So out of the 9 blocks I had (including mine), 3 were the wrong size, one was made from different white fabric than I sent (it did matter as it was almost a cream instead).  So 3 blocks had to be remade just to make up the 9 that you see here. 

I like the quilt now that it’s made up, but it was a bit of a mission to get it complete.

I haven’t been totally put off quilting bees, in fact some of them have been fantastic!

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