Summer Holidays and a little Recovery...

I know you normally do a "Spring Clean" in Spring, but because I work full-time, my spring clean comes whenever I get the time.

At the moment, I'm on holidays, it is Summer, so I get to do my cleaning now!! I love to wash everything, vacuum every surface and get everything spotless ready for the next year!!

So I decided to recover the Sofa, as I washed the other covers, while on my mad cleaning spree and they promptly fell apart!! Why does that always happen???

So I took a trip to my local fabric shop, and bought some fabric and spent 2 days measuring and stitching, and finally the Sofa was done.

I Think it Looks Good!! Nice and fresh!! Ready for the next year of wear and tear!!

Doing A Little Work Lately...

It seems that I have been taken over by the quilting monster recently....I have been consumed by getting some of my quilts that I started awhile ago, finally finished...and I can say I have almost done it...

Here are some final pictures of "Swoon"...finished..

A little mini quilt using a sampler pack of "Vintage Modern" by Camille Roskelley...finished...

Some hand quilting on "Flower Sugar"...almost finished!!

And the finished "Kiss Kiss" Nightshade Quilt...which I am very proud off...and has gone to my new daughter-in-law for her birthday....and she loves it!!

Am I allowed to start something new now!! Always!!

Quiltology...

I saw this quilt on the "Hawthorne Threads" website....

and really liked the colours and the design, it looked really simple and really effective, 

so I bought it and it sat on my shelves in my 

sewing room for a few months, 

before I rediscovered it again and decided I really 

should make it....

Well, why not, I had everything in the kit to do it, 

I didn't even have to go out to get anything else...

I downloaded the odd shaped hexagon from my pattern in ebooks, and began cutting!! 

Next, I had to cut all the cream fabric into triangles to stitch to each of the corners of the hexagon...hundreds of them...

Then I began to stitch...and I'm still stitching...but this is what it will look like when I'm finished... 

I even took a photo of all the scraps as I put them to the side, they look so funky, I decided to put them in a jar on my sewing room shelves...kind off like a jar buttons!!

The Farmer's Wife...

Okay!! So I'm addicted...I found this amazing quilt and decided I just had to do it....but it's got 111 blocks!! 

That's right....I've started "The Farmer's Wife" Quilt....

Already I have made 6 blocks and have another 

12 blocks cut out....

I have an order to things...

Work out my fabrics and which colours 

I want for each block....

Put each block, when it's cut, into a zip-lock bag for safe keeping until I'm ready to stitch it.... which are all numbered as to which block it is...

And my finished blocks so far...

#Block One - "Attic Windows"

#Block Two - "Autumn Tints"

Oops...Block Three is still being finished as there was some hand work...

#Block Four - "Basket Weave"

#Block Five - "Bat Wing"

#Block Six - "Big Dipper"

For more amazing pictures of this quilt visit..."Simplify"

Until Next Time...

xoxo

WIP WEDNESDAY

This is new to me, but I like the idea....

to share some of your WIP, so that others can see what you're up too, all in a snapshot; 

so I am joining with those that have linked with Freshly Pieced...

A bit of hand-stitching with Leanne Beasley.... "Vignette In Stitches"

Some hand-piecing, I'm making my first hexagon quilt...

"Apples For Jam" Quilt is finally at the quilter's, and the binding is cut, ready to apply...

"Swoon" by Camille Roskelley, finished and ready to take to the quilter's...loving this one!!

And the first two blocks of The Fat Quarter Shop's, Block of the Month Quilt, made and ready for the next one... featuring the fabric, "Vintage Modern" by Bonnie and Camille.

Summer is coming!!

Here is the promised picture of my "St Clementine" Quilt, which goes off to the quilters today, I am so excited!! I just love the fresh crisp colours of this quilt. It's not all put together yet, in these photos, but I haven't taken a complete photo of it yet, but I think you get the idea!! Once it is quilted, I'll post a completed picture, so you can see the detail in the quilting, as the gals at "Edge to Edge" do a great job!!

And all the daffodils are coming out, at our house at the moment, and this just reminds me that Spring is around the corner, sunny days and longer nights are not too far away!!

We have had the longest, wettest winter this year, and yes! I am ready for summer, to feel the sun on my face, and not to feel cold anymore!

I can't wait to get this one back from the quilters, so I can display it in the house to add a splash of summer colour!!

Until next time

xoxo

Time away from the computer creates results...

It's been a little while since my last post, all due to fact that a new computer entered the household, and I had to learn how to use it, or should I say get used to the new features and the way the programs worked, why does every computer have to be just that little bit different!! I just wish I could do all this on the iPad, but I can't upload photos on the iPad version of this site, any suggestions??

Anyway it has given me plenty of time to stitch - I have finished 5 quilts (not all yet quilted, but tops are done!!) - "Apples For Jam", "St. Clements", " Kaffe Tapestry", "It's A Hoot!" and "Kiss, Kiss" and made three more blocks for my "Swoon" quilt!!

I have also completed a project for "Country Threads" magazine, which unfortunately I can't show you...shh! It's a secret! Oh! Okay just a titbit okay! Just to whet the appetite!

And here are the next three blocks for my "Swoon" quilt, by Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms...

And next time I will show pictures of the quilts I have completed during my break!!

SWOON....

Today I started work on my version of the "Swoon" quilt by Camille Roskelley from Thimbleblossoms. 

I know that many have been made and I love all the variations that I have seen. It's the kind of quilt that can be made in whatever your favourite colour way is, and it works. Here are some of my favourites, here and here and here.

And of cause! My Block One... I have chosen to do rich pinks and charcoal grey colours for my "Swoon" quilt.

St. Clementine...

Work on my "St. Clementine" quilt is coming along nicely... all the pieces have been cut out, now work begins on stitching it all together into the blocks.. Two of the blocks are finished...using the main fabric, in which I used to gather together all the other fabrics for the quilt.

And why did I choose the name - " St. Clementine"....oranges and lemons...the bells of St. Clements!! That's why!! And a green and navy to calm down the citrus colour way!

Sorry the photos are a little dark, but we have been having very wet gloomy days lately and it's really hard to get a good shot!! But I think you get the idea!!

Fresh New Palette

This colour combination has captured by attention!!

Love the freshness of it and the depth of the colours...

So I thought I would raid my fabric stash and put together some of these colours to make myself a quilt!! I have chosen a block to do, it has been called either "Cross Bars" or "Good Fortune" over the years... but I like it because it works really well with a crisp white fabric... it brings out the intensity of the navy, green, orange and yellow. It should look stunning when it's finished!!
I'll post a photo when I start!! 

These are the fabrics I've chosen so far!!

"Scoot" quilt finished...

I have finished my "Scoot" quilt - I think it looks kind of cute!! 

 I'm really happy with the result!! 

 I pressed all the seams open and I think it helped with making the seams match perfectly, great tip I picked up on in the book "A book of Practical Quilting".

 It really does make a difference, it is a little bit more work, but the results speak for themselves. 

 The fabrics are "Sherbet Pips" by Aneela Hoey. 

You can find them at "Patchwork with Gail B" in Bayswater, Victoria.

 My daughter loves it too!! Just need to find a funky backing fabric to finish it off!! 

I'm pretty fussy when it comes to even the backs, so now I'm on the hunt for the perfect backing fabric!!

The Wedding....

Well you may have been wondering where I have been lately... 

Well I have just celebrated my eldest daughter's wedding. 

We had a wonderful day....there was loads and loads of FUN work to do and heaps to organise....

I pretty much did everything from the wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses to the order of services and the wedding cake!! But wouldn't have have it any other way!!

Here are some of the photos of the day!!

Afternoon tea was shared by all... and everyone brought cupcakes to share...

Every guest received a basket of goodies to take home...

My beautiful daughter, Nastassja and my cheeky son, Shaun...

My other daughter Hannah, isn't she gorgeous....

The Bridal Party...

Some of my handiwork...the buttonholes for the boys...

The cheeky bride and her new husband Joseph!!

The Cake!!

Scoot....

I bought these fabrics the other day with the thought to make my daughter a quilt for her 18th birthday... she just bought herself a skateboard...and this fabric range has little girls riding scooters... I think it's cute!!

The fabrics are; of course, my favourite colourway, so making this will be fun... I have a design in mind...pictures to follow...

This range is called "Sherbert Pips"...by Aneela Hoey for Moda.

Welcome to My New Look....

Hey Everyone... thank you, if you are still following after I have had a change in name and in look....I thought that in 2012, I needed to change...and to freshen up my page!!!

I'm not perfect when it comes to blogs, but I love the interaction from bloggers and love the inspiration they provide.

In late 2011, my daughter and I embarked on our own design label - "Lyrebird and Lamb", a line of homecraft that uses natural fabrics, like linen and cotton, and by making funky homewares and products....

Here is a selection of some...

And "Lyrebird and Lamb Quilt Designs" is my journey, discovering and making funky quilts, loving fabrics, and just being creative!!

So join me, tag me, follow me, and see what I get up too....I hope I inspire you to be passionate about your craft!!

Plum & Vanilla Bean Jam!!

Okay, so who doesn't love a good easy homemade jam!! This was really easy and it tastes delicious!!

From this:

To this:

PLUM & VANILLA BEAN JAM!

Here goes...

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 1/2 hours approx

Quantity: 2 litres (8 cups)

Ingredients...

2kg blood plums, quartered, stones removed, you can leave the skins on!

2 cups water

80ml (1/3 cup) fresh lemon juice

1.35kg (6 cups) sugar

2 vanilla beans, cut and stripped of paste or 2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste

1 pkt (50g) Jamsetta

Method...

1. Combine plums and water in large saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour.

2. Add the lemon juice and sugar to the pan and stir, without boiling, until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30-40 minutes. At the 30 minute mark, sprinkle the Jamsetta over jam and mix in. Boil for a further 5-10 minutes, before testing jam (see note).

3. Ladle the jam immediately into 8 clean 250ml (1-cup) jars and seal. Invert the jars for 2 minutes then turn upright and set aside to cool. Label and date the jars before storing.

Notes...


This jam will keep, unopened, in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months. Once opened, keep in the fridge for up to 8 weeks. To test if jam is ready to bottle, place 1 tablespoon of jam on a cold saucer in freezer for 1-2 minutes. Remove jam from freezer, tip plate sideways and if the jam runs and forms wrinkles, it is ready!!